Archive for metal music

Scott Columbus – Rest In Peace

Posted in Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on April 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SCOTT COLUMBUS – Numerous reports have been made, from credible sources such as the official website for MANOWAR, stating the sad news of Scott Columbus (ex-member/drummer for MANOWAR) passing away on Monday, April 4th, 2011. Scott Columbus was 54 years old. Metal Odyssey extends condolences to the family, friends, ex-band mates and fans of Scott Columbus.

As it is stated on the official website of MANOWAR:

“It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our brother Scott Columbus. Scott Columbus was a rare talent and equally a rare individual. He was a father, a friend and a brother of metal. All of the great moments we spent together in the studio, in our homes and on the road are burnished in our hearts and memories forever. These words are spoken with heavy hearts but we have the comfort of knowing that he is in a good place and at peace. He will never be forgotten. Your family and brothers, Joey, Eric, Karl, Donnie and all at Magic Circle Music”.

My thoughts are: As the past few years (and time) have proven, our Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal heros can never be taken for granted. I am shocked at this news of Scott Columbus passing away and certainly I am not alone. Such a talented drummer that I and countless fans worldwide enjoyed listening to and watching. May Scott Columbus rest in peace.  – Stone

Click the link below for the official MANOWAR website:

MANOWAR – Official Website

Rest In Peace, Scott Columbus.

Stone.

Cannibal Corpse’s Pat O’Brien Steps In As Guest Guitarist For Slayer

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, guitarists, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo: Metal Blade Records)

As taken from the Metal Blade Records News Update, April 5th, 2011:

Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien will fill in for Exodus’ Gary Holt when Holt leaves the Slayer European tour to play with his own band Exodus at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile on April 4. Holt has been filling in for Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman since the tour kicked off February 26 in Australia.

Holt’s last show with Slayer will be April 4 in Padova, Italy; O’Brien will join the band for the April 6 show in Croatia, and will finish the European dates with Slayer that wrap up on April 14 in Holland.

Hanneman has amazed his doctors with his speedy recovery from an infection thought to have been caused by a spider bite. Following surgery on his right arm, he continues his physical therapy and has already been practicing with his guitar.

Remaining dates for Slayer’s European tour are as follows:

APRIL 2011:

06 – Zagreb Arena, Zagreb, Crotia (Pat O’Brien, guest guitarist)

07 – Gasometer, Vienna, Austria (Pat O’Brien, guest guitarist)

08 – Arena Budapest, Budapest Hungary (Pat O’Brien, guest guitarist)

10 – Prague O2 Arena, Prague Czech Republic (Pat O’Brien, guest guitarist)

11 – Lodz Sportshall, Lodz, Poland (Pat O’Brien, guest guitarist)

13 – Volkshaus, Zurich, Switzgerland (Pat O’Brien, guest guitarist)

14 –  Klokgebouw, Eindhoven, Holland (Pat O’Brien, guest guitarist)

* For more info click on the links below:

CANNIBAL CORPSE – Official Website

SLAYER

METAL BLADE RECORDS

Metal Odyssey wishes Jeff Hanneman a quick recovery.

LONG LIVE JEFF HANNEMAN.

LONG LIVE PAT O’BRIEN and CANNIBAL CORPSE.

LONG LIVE GARY HOLT and EXODUS.

LONG LIVE SLAYER.

Stone.

PENTAGRAM “Last Rites” – New Studio Album Releases April 12th, 2011 On Metal Blade Records!

Posted in classic metal, doom metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 4, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

PENTAGRAM – Last Rites, the seventh studio album from Doom Metal Pioneers and Metal legends, Pentagram, will be released on April 12th, 2011, on Metal Blade Records. Last Rites is the first of a three album agreement Pentagram has with Metal Blade Records. Pentagram is led by it’s founding member and ever constant vocalist Bobby Liebling.

Pentagram alumnus and guitarist Victor Griffin returned to Pentagram in 2010, collaborating with Bobby Liebling on a studio album for the first time since 1994’s Be Forewarned. Last Rites contains eleven brand new studio tracks, proving once again, that Pentagram is far from closing the Metal history book on their Metal legacy.

* Last Rites has the Metal distinction of being the studio album released during the 40th Anniversary of Pentagram.

PENTAGRAM:

Bobby Liebling – vocals

Victor Griffin – guitar

Greg Turley – bass

Tim Tomaselli – drums

Track Listing For Last Rites:

Treat Me Right

Call the Man

Into the Ground

8

Everything’s Turning To Night

Windmills and Chimes

American Dream

Walk in Blue Light

Horseman

Death in 1st Person

Nothing Left

* For more info on PENTAGRAM, click the links below:

THE PENTAGRAM ARCHIVES – myspace music

METAL BLADE RECORDS

LONG LIVE PENTAGRAM.

Stone.

VASTUM “CARNAL LAW” – Death Metal Debut Album Unleashes Wicked, Raw and Old School Savagery

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 3, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

VASTUM CARNAL LAW – In the vastness of the dark and melancholy world that is my love affair I have for Extreme Metal, one genre that never fails to recruit it’s bands and followers is Death Metal. A new Death Metal band has emerged from California’s San Francisco Bay Area and they are not playing it safe, nor are they carbon copying legends of this savage and torment stricken sound. Carnal Law releases on May 31, 2011, on 20 Buck Spin. Carnal Law is a Death Metal album that should grab ahold of Death Metal loyalists and shake their enraged Metal world apart… it has shook mine and I’m pleading for more.

The paths that Carcass, Death, Autopsy, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary and Grave (to name a many few) have made for new Death Metal bands to navigate will forever be revered by the Old School. When a band like VASTUM can take the Deathly Metal influence from such legends and fabricate their own vicious sound, style and grooves, then I’m not just listening… I’m breathing a Metal sigh of relief that a new Death Metal band gets it and gets it done. VASTUM exhibits that credible Death Metal persona in their sound, which should make them quite known among the Metal masses in a hurry.

With six songs to sink your Metal scorched ears into on Carnal Law, I only wish there were twelve. Then again, these six songs stack up with such raw Death Metal intensity, that this album more than saturates the inner depths of my Death Metal hungry soul. The dual vocals of Dan and Leila spewing forth Deathly resounding regurgitation, mixes together with extremely memorable riffs and leads, all congealed together with a potently penetrating rhythm section. The Death Metal grooves I hear on Carnal Law thunder along, without the need for over-the-top technical bullshit or over impressive speed. Metal be thy name.

As a Metal bonus, these songs are not annoying Death Metal epics, the Death Metal blitz is done in Old School fashion, without needless passages of unnecessary exquisiteness. There are many melodic guitar moments, which exemplifies the keen awareness that VASTUM has towards making a Death Metal album of songs… and not noise coming from a rented garage. Lyrically tapping into the gray-shades of psychological disparity and yes, death themes, VASTUM are Death Metal students that have studied their Metal craft with merit. VASTUM are ready to share their own Death Metal thesis with all and they are… with Carnal Law.

VASTUM:

Dan – vocals

Kyle – guitar

Leila – vocals & guitar

Luca – bass

RD – drums

Metal Odyssey Gives VASTUM – Carnal Law 4 out of 5 Metal Fists!

Track Listing For Carnal Law:

Primal Seduction

Re-Member

Devoid

Umbra Interna

Carnal Law

Spirit Abused

* For more info on VASTUM, click the links below:

VASTUM – myspace music

20 BUCK SPIN

LONG LIVE DEATH METAL.

LONG LIVE VASTUM.

Stone.

ARGUS “Boldly Stride The Doomed” – Sophomore Metal Album Releases On May 3rd, 2011!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 3, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Italian Heavy Metal label Cruz Del Sur Music confirms May 3, 2011 as the official release date for the sophomore album from Pennsylvania-based ARGUS, entitled Boldly Stride The Doomed. This is the first release from ARGUS via Cruz Del Sur.

Boldly Stride The Doomed Track Listing:

1. Abandoning The Gates Of Byzantium

2. A Curse On The World

3. Wolves Of Dusk

4. The Ladder

5. Durendal

6. 42-7-29

7. Boldly Stride The Doomed

8. Fading Silver Light

9. Pieces Of Your Smile

10. The Ruins Of Ouroboros

ARGUS stormed onto the underground Metal scene with their twin guitar-driven, Doom-tinged, working class Metal sound with a self-recorded demo in early 2007, on John Brenner’s (Revelation/Against the Nature) DIY label, Bland Hand Records. The band was roundly welcomed by the Metal community at home as well as abroad and established its foundation amongst friends/fans within the scene. With this initial momentum, the band created a buzz that was only solidified by their punishing live performances. Their self-titled debut album was released on Shadow Kingdom Records in 2009 receiving praise from media outlets worldwide. The band continued to gain notoriety attracting like-minded fans worldwide who celebrate the genre and its core values of: hard work, discipline and integrity.

Featuring the powerful voice of former Penance vocalist Butch Balich, ARGUS prepares to cement themselves within the Metal archives with their sophomore effort, Boldly Stride the Doomed!

(Source: Earsplit PR)

Stone Says:

* Head on over to ARGUS – myspace music and hear for yourself Wolves Of Dusk currently streaming… this song is nothing short of amazing! The riffs stick in my Metal mind like Metal glue! Old School Metal, Traditional Metal or just Metal. Call it what you want… ARGUS plays it damn great. ARGUS = METAL. Metal be thy name.

* For more info on ARGUS, just click the links below:

http://www.myspace.com/theargus

http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/cruzdelsurmusic

LONG LIVE PENNSYLVANIA METAL.

LONG LIVE ARGUS.

Stone.

DERAILED – 2011 Live Show Updates On A Fast Rising Canadian Metal Band!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock concerts, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on April 2, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

DERAILED – Here a couple of “live” shows of note that DERAILED fans and Metal fans should know about:

* On Thursday, March 31st, 2011, DERAILED performed a 30 minute set at the Kings Head Pub in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Over $12,000 was raised! All proceeds from this event will go to the Red Cross in support of the recent Japan earthquake disaster. Metal Odyssey gives DERAILED a big horns up for their charitable Metal efforts!!

* DERAILED have made the finals for “Best Original Calgary Band” and will perform a crushing set this Wednesday, April 6th, 2011, at The Viper Room in Calgary, Alberta, Canada! Starting time is 9:00 p.m.! The Viper Room is located at 302-3rd Ave. SW, right next door to the French Maid. Come on down and support original music as this will be a great night! (See The Viper Room link at the bottom of post).

Metal Odyssey wishes DERAILED all the Metal best in winning the “Best Original Calgary Band” title… this is one terrific Metal band that deserves it!!

NEW DERAILED ALBUM UPDATE:

* “Underground”, the new and highly anticipated concept album from DERAILED is well underway. This album will focus on another world “Underground” where one ordinary man becomes the “chosen one” to save a dying race.

* ATTENTION RECORD LABELS THAT KNOW METAL:

DERAILED SHOULD BE SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED. TAKE IT FROM STONE… DERAILED CAN PLAY.

(Judgement Day – debut album – 2010)

* To read my interview with Dean Boland of DERAILED, just click link below:

DERAILED

* For more info on DERAILED, click the links below:

DERAILED – Official Website

DERAILED – myspace music

* For more info on The Viper Room, in Calgary, click link below:

THE VIPER ROOM

* To find out how you can donate/help the victims of Japan’s earthquake & disasters, please click on the link below:

http://www.google.com/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

LONG LIVE DERAILED.

Stone.

HEAVY MTL 2011 In Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Heavy Metal Festival! Bands Listed and Ticket Info!

Posted in classic rock, concerts, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock festivals, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on April 2, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HEAVY MTL 2011 – Here are the bands that will be performing at the HEAVY MTL 2011 (Festival) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at Parc Jean-Drapeau this July 23rd and 24th! Metal be thy name, this looks to be two days of Heavy Metal bliss! For more event and ticket info, see the links at bottom of post.

HEAVY MTL 2011 DATES and BANDS:

SATURDAY, JULY 23RD, 2011:

Disturbed

Godsmack

Billy Talent

In Flames

Trivium

Unearth

Kingdom Of Sorrow

Red Fang

Machine Head

Suicide Silence

All Shall Perish

Straight Line Stitch

SUNDAY, JULY 24TH, 2011:

KISS

Motörhead

Opeth

Anthrax

Children Of Bodom

As I Lay Dying

The Sword

Times Of Grace

DevilDriver

* For ticket info click here: HEAVY MTL 2011 – BAND PRESALE

* For event info click here: HEAVY MTL 2011 – Official Website

Did You Know:

* Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec.

* Montreal is the second largest city in Canada, Toronto is the largest.

* French is the official language of Montreal.

* Parc Jean-Drapeau comprises two islands: Saint Helen’s Island and Île Notre-Dame. The island of Île Notre-Dame is an artificial island, created for the Expo 67, which celebrated Canada’s Centennial.

KISS and Motörhead RULES.

LONG LIVE CANADA.

LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL.

Stone.

SLEEP – Stoner Metal Legends Announce 2011 Live Dates!

Posted in concerts, doom metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, stoner metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Following the successful Marijuanaut’s Return tour of September 2010, West Coast Stoner Metal legends SLEEP recently announced three North American dates for 2011. The mini run of dates will include New York City on June 22, Los Angeles on June 26 and an appearance at the Sled Island Music & Arts Festival in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on June 24.

SLEEP 2011 Tour Dates:

6/22/2011 Terminal 5 – New York, NY

6/24/2011 Sled Island Festival – Calgary, AB, Canada

6/26/2011 The Wiltern –  Los Angeles, CA

Said Noisecreep of the band’s last live excursion: “…if the band put any more stacks on the stage, it just might have collapsed.” Rolling Stone Brazil gave the band’s performance a perfect 5 out of 5 rating while Redefine Magazine noted: “SLEEP, despite being broken up for over ten years, seemed like they hadn’t missed a beat — and Holy Mountain never sounded so good in the process. This was the definitive show of the weekend, if not the definitive show of my year.”

Check out live footage of the band’s Denver show last year HERE.

About SLEEP:

SLEEP split in 1997 after two hugely influential albums. Members went on to form OM and High On Fire. Original members Al Cisneros and Matt Pike were joined by drummer Jason Roeder of Neurosis last Fall for a short stint of reunion dates that floored their earliest fans and converted new ones.

The band debuted with 1991’s Volume One album, recorded for San Francisco label Tupelo. Earache Records received the band’s next recordings in the mail as a demo. The label — impressed by SLEEP‘s single-mindedness and unique vision — immediately signed the band and released the tape exactly as it was received. Record stores worldwide have stocked SLEEP’s Holy Mountain from November 1992 to this day.

The band then signed to London Records. Their debut album for the major took the form of one mammoth 63-minute leviathan of a track entitled “Jerusalem.” They resisted the label’s attempts at radio edits and bringing in their own engineer to remix the album in view of “marketability.” London balked at the prospect of promoting what probably still is the most extreme music ever recorded for a major label, consequentially shelving the record and dropping the band.

In addition, SLEEP‘s music has been featured in films by Harmony Korine and Jim Jarmusch.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on SLEEP, click the links below:

SLEEP – facebook

WEEDIAN.com

LONG LIVE SLEEP.

Stone.

GRAVEYARD – Spanish Death Metal Band To Release EP Via Pulverised Records!

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 29, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

GRAVEYARD – Singapore-based Pulverised Records is pleased to announce the release of The Altar Of Sculpted Skulls, the brand new EP from Spanish Death Metal squadron, GRAVEYARD. The Altar Of Scultped Skulls, which offers up four new tracks and two re-recorded tunes was produced by guitarist J. Bastard, with the entire effort recorded, mixed and mastered at Moontower Studios. In addition, the disc features the ultra detailed and wholly grim horror art from famed illustrator Matt Carr of Putrid Gore Art (Autopsy, Impetigo, Hooded Menace).

The Altar Of Sculpted Skulls Track Listing:

1. The Altar Of Sculpted Skulls

2. An Epitaph Written In Blood

3. Deathcrowned

4. Cult Of The Shadows

5. Howl Of The Black Death (originally featured on 7″ Split w/ Terrorist)

6. Ritual (originally featured on the Into The Mausoleum EP)

GRAVEYARD was formed in 2007 and has since released the Into The Mausoleum EP and One With The Dead full-length debut. The band churn a filthy strain of Death Metal in the vein of Entombed, Autopsy, Bolt Thrower and Asphyx. An official release date is to be announced in the coming weeks. (Source: Earsplit PR)

GRAVEYARD:

Julkan – Vocals, Bass

J. Bastard – Guitars

Sbe – Guitars

Gusi – Drums

* For more info on GRAVEYARD, click the links below:

GRAVEYARD OF DOOM.com

GRAVEYARD – myspace music

GRAVEYARD – facebook

PULVERISED RECORDS

LONG LIVE GRAVEYARD.

Stone.

MARDUK – Swedish Black Metal Legends to Unleash Three Song EP! Plus “Seven Bowls Of Wrath” 2011 North American Tour Dates!

Posted in Black Metal, black metal albums, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Swedish Black Metal Legends MARDUK recently completed recording three new songs for an upcoming EP. Dubbed Iron Dawn, the EP is set for release via Regain Records on May 27, 2011, at the Maryland Death Fest IX where the band will make their long anticipated appearance. The EP will also be available at the six additional North American shows to follow with a worldwide street date of May 30, 2011.

Additionally, the Iron Dawn EP will be issued as a digipak and on 12” vinyl (limited to 500 copies worldwide). Further details to be announced soon.

Iron Dawn Track Listing:

1. Warschau 2: Headhunter Halfmoon.

2. Wacht Am Rhein: Drumbeats Of Death.

3. Prochorovka: Blood And Sunflowers.

MARDUK – Seven Bowls Of Wrath North American Tour 2011 w/ Aura Noir, Black Anvil, Panzerfaust, HOD:

5/27/2011 Maryland Deathfest IX – Baltimore, MD (MARDUK, Aura Noir only)

5/29/2011 Cafe Campus – Montreal, QC

5/30/2011 Wreck Room – Toronto, ON

5/31/2011 Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL

6/01/2011 I-Rock Nightclub – Detroit, MI

6/02/2011 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH

6/03/2011 Williamsburg Music Hall – Brooklyn, NY

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on MARDUK, click on the link below:

MARDUK – Official Website

LONG LIVE MARDUK.

Stone.

AMON AMARTH – “Surtur Rising” Deluxe, Limited Edition Box Set: Releases March 29th, 2011!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, melodic death metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 27, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

AMON AMARTH – On March 29th, 2011, the Deluxe and Limited Edition Box Set of AMON AMARTH – Surtur Rising will be released via Metal Blade Records! This is a Metal potent box of Metal goodies, that will have Amon Amarth fans raising their swords to the sky in Metal victory! It’s gonna be a Metal treat to hear Amon Amarth cover the “2” Heavy Metal Classics included in this box set: KISS – War Machine and ACCEPT – Balls To The Wall. Whoa… now we’re talking about Heavy Metal reverence here and I’m nodding in Metal approval!

Surtur Rising Deluxe, Limited Edition Box Set Includes:

* Limited and collectable Surtur Figure

* Surtur Rising 10 track album

* 2 Bonust Tracks: KISS “War Machine” and ACCEPT “Balls To The Wall”

* 28 page full-color booklet

* Multi-panel digipak

* DVD includes over 4 hours of live concert footage!

* For more info on AMON AMARTH, click the links below:

AMON AMARTH – Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/amonamarth

http://www.facebook.com/AmonAmarthBand

http://twitter.com/amonamarthband

LONG LIVE AMON AMARTH.

The words “goodies” and “treat” were used in this post.

Stone.

AMON AMARTH – Full Album Stream of “Surtur Rising” Hosted By Bloody Disgusting!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, melodic death metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Today, popular Horror site Bloody Disgusting streams AMON AMARTH’s long-anticipated full-length, Surtur Rising, in its entirety! Scheduled for North American release via Metal Blade on March 29, 2011, the record, which was voted among Decibel Magazine’s most anticipated albums of 2011, marks the eighth studio offering from the melodic death metal tyrants. The stream will go live at 11:59pm EST on March 25, 2011 and ends at 11:59pm EST on March 28, 2011.

Noted Decibel of the record: “it’s a pleasure to learn one of metal’s most consistent bands remains as indefatigable as ever.” Stereokiller commended the production stating: “Johan Hegg’s vocals continue to be one of the bands strongest points, captivating the listener with clearly enunciated, yet gruff and powerful vocals,” while Metal Assault commended the band for “an album that has enormous aggression, entrancing melody and everything in between… the band’s most well-rounded and musically richest album to date.” Added L.A. Music Blog, “Surtur Rising is the epitome of what death metal should be: ferocious and crushing…possibly the band’s best work to date.”

To check out Surtur Rising, point your browser HERE at midnight.

Pre-order packages for Surtur Rising are still available at tha band’s official landing page: http://www.SurturRising.com.

Coinciding with the record release, AMON AMARTH will make their way to the U.S.  for a near two-week stretch of live dates. Simply dubbed “An Evening With AMON AMARTH,” this very special trek will find the band performing two separate sets each night, one which will feature Surtur Rising in its entirety while the other will boast a collection of songs from the band’s previous releases. The Viking-inspired festivities will commence on April 14 in Chicago, Illinois. Confirmed dates below:

An Evening With AMON AMARTH

4/14/2011 The Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL

4/15/2011 Station 4 – Saint Paul, MN

4/16/2011 Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS

4/17/2011 The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO

4/19/2011 Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR

4/20/2011 Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA

4/22/2011 The Regency – San Francisco, CA

4/23/2011 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA

4/24/2011 House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA

4/25/2011 Nile Theatre – Mesa, AZ

4/27/2011 White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX

4/29/2011 Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL

4/30/2011 Beacham Theatre – Orlando, FL

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* Tickets are on sale now through all local ticket outlets.

* For more info on Amon Amarth, click the links below:

AMON AMARTH – Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/amonamarth

http://www.facebook.com/AmonAmarthBand

http://twitter.com/amonamarthband

LONG LIVE AMON AMARTH.

Stone.

NAILS – Metal Injection Premieres Brand New Video “Conform/Scum Will Rise” Today!

Posted in Extreme Metal, extreme music, hardcore metal music, hardcore music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Just moments ago, online Metal video juggernaut Metal Injection posted the brand new video from California-based hardcore warriors NAILS! Part of Scoin’s ongoing bi-annual underground artist series, the video is for the brutally pissed “Conform/Scum Will Rise” from their acclaimed 2010 Southern Lord release Unsilent Death, and was directed by Joel Perkins.

Check out the video right now at this location and get ready to smash something.

NAILS also just annihilated audiences at the Scion Rock Fest in Pomona, California, and are also about to embark on a three-date assault on the Northeast U.S. alongside labelmates All Pigs Must Die. They’re also confirmed to play the New England Metal & Hardcore Fest, Maryland Deathfest, Rain Fest and more in the months to follow.

NAILS Live Attacks:

3/31/2011 – Great Scott – Boston, MA – Great Scott w/ Burning Love, All Pigs Must Die, New Lows

4/01/2011 – Union Pool – Brooklyn, NY w/ Burning Love, All Pigs Must Die, New Lows

4/02/2011 – The Barbary – Philadelphia, PA w/ Burning Love, All Pigs Must Die, New Lows, Deathbeds

4/16/2011 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA @ New England Metal & Hardcore Fest

5/27/2011 – Sonar – Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest

5/29/2011 – Neumos – Seattle, WA @ Rain Fest

6/03/2011 – Cobalt Cafe – Canoga Park, CA w/ Cruel Hand, The Carrier, Former Thieves, The Greenery

Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming NAILS album, additional live dates and much more.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

http://www.myspace.com/unsilentdeath

http://www.southernlord.com

http://www.myspace.com/southernlordrecordings

http://twitter.com/twatterlord

LONG LIVE NAILS.

Stone.

VOLBEAT UPDATE! Plus Info On Ticket Giveaways and More VOLBEAT!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, rockabilly with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Danish rockers Volbeat kicked off their first U.S. headlining tour Thursday night, March 23rd at Irving Plaza in NYC… with a BANG! The sold out crowd sang every word, while Volbeat rocked out with their signature blend of Hard Rock meets Metal meets Rockabilly. I think Metallica’s James Hatfield put it best, calling it “Some kind of Elvis Metal.”

Volbeat has clearly invaded the U.S. Metal scene. Don’t have tickets for your city? Be on the lookout: for each U.S. tour date, Volbeat will be posting a status update on their Facebook page where fans can enter to win tickets to that night’s show. While fans are on Volbeat’s Facebook page, they can also access the “Poll” tab to pick which song from Beyond Hell/ Above Heaven they want played that night.

Volbeat’s latest album, Beyond Hell/ Above Heaven debuted at #1 across Europe, reached #1 on CMJ’s Loud Rock chart, debuted in the top 10 on the iTunes Rock chart and was #5 on Revolver Magazine’s best albums of 2010 list.

Volbeat will also be performing at Revolver’s Golden God Awards, where they are nominated for Album of the Year.

Check out the video for “Fallen” here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBaVlDIMKCU&feature=channel_video_title

http://www.vevo.com/watch/volbeat/fallen/DKNE11099901

Check out Volbeat on:

Facebook

Twitter

Beyond Hell / Above Heaven is available on iTunes | Amazon

LONG LIVE VOLBEAT.

Stone.

Metal Odyssey Says: Happy Metal Birthday Scott Coverdale!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, classic rock, classic rock music, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HAPPY METAL BIRTHDAY SCOTT COVERDALE! – Metal Odyssey would like to wish contributing writer and Metal Researcher, Scott Coverdale, a Happy Metal Birthday! Yes, Scott turns (?) old today, March 24th, 2011. Let’s just say that Scott is “old enough” to “somehow” remember going to the 1988 Monsters Of Rock Festival in Foxsborough, Massachusetts and NOT “old enough” to remember watching the Beatles make their historical debut on the Ed Sullivan Show.

I would like to thank Scott Coverdale for his contributions, fact finding research and digging through CD’s for Metal Odyssey. Remember, my best Metal Buddy Scott… it’s all done in the name of METAL!

I chose the 1988 album cover of AC/DC – Blow Up Your Video (top of post) due to the Metal memories it provides me. You see, this 1988 AC/DC concert is single handedly, the most obnoxiously funny time I’ve ever had with Scott Coverdale at any we went to together. AC/DC Rocked the hell out of the Hartford Civic Center that night too! 1988 was a very cool Metal year indeed. Heatseeker! Uh… Metal be thy name.

LONG LIVE SCOTT COVERDALE.

“HAVE A DRINK ON ME”

Stone.

Frankie Sparcello of Exhorder – Rest In Peace

Posted in groove metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

It has been reported just about everywhere, that Frankie Sparcello (bass guitarist) of EXHORDER passed away on March 22, 2011. This is sad news for the entire Metal world. The loss of Frankie Sparcello only adds to the long list of Metal heros our Metal community has lost in the last two years alone. Metal Odyssey extends condolences to the family, friends, band mates and fans of Frankie Sparcello.

EXHORDER was scheduled to play at the Maryland Death Fest IX, which runs May 26th through May 29th, 2011, at the Sonar in Baltimore. EXHORDER originated from New Orleans, Louisiana, back in 1985. With two studio albums and one “split” live album in their catalog, EXHORDER has always maintained their loyal fan base, receiving the respect and brandishing influence among their peers, regardless of any periods of inactivity. Frankie Sparcello was the bassist for EXHORDER on their 1992 studio album The Law.

EXHORDER Discography On RoadRunner Records:

Slaughter In The Vatican – (1990)

The Law – (1992)

EXHORDER On Split, Restless Records:

Live Death – (1994)

Long Live The Metal Of Exhorder.

Rest In Peace, Frankie Sparcello.

Stone.

HUNTED “Welcome The Dead” – Colossal Progressive Metal To Prize

Posted in classic metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HUNTED – In my Metal quest for delivering to visitors of Metal Odyssey, unsigned bands that are decidedly worthy of their Metal existence, I have uncovered yet another exemplary band. This Progressive Metal band is based in Cardiff, Wales and is known as HUNTED. Remember the name of this band, cause once a record label signs them (and Hunted will get signed) you can say, with Metal pride, you knew about them “back in the day”. Welcome The Dead is the debut album of ten songs that ruptures with proficiency, the Progressive Metal of Hunted. Hunted is a band that’s on the Metal advance and I’m on board for their Metal offensive.

The Metal influences are easily detectable from the Progressive Metal sound that Hunted plays. I hear Geoff Tate’s influence resonate from the vocals of Chris G and trust me, this guy can sing like his life depends on it. Picture if you will, Iron Maiden fusing their Progressive Metal with Dream Theater and you have what Hunted reminds this Old Schooler of and openly agrees with. Hunted is light years from being a copy-cat band, so rest assured you will be listening to a band that has taken such legendary Metal influences and carved out their own flaming ball of Metal originality.

Minus any keyboard atmospherics, Hunted remarkably pulls off an ambiance of Progressive Metal space that excels. This band can play heavy, my ears don’t doubt this for a second. I Want Nothing has it’s tempo changes, only it plays out quite Heavy in both it’s Metal and vocal personality. There is a lot to be said, as to how Hunted structures their songs, leading the listener on a Metal landscape that evolves with it’s intensity and simmers down with melodic majesty.

The totality of musicianship and the vocals of Chris G carry Hunted in unison, combining for a band that plays extremely tight. While not radiating an over-polished listen in sound, there is an air of rawness to this album that many superstar bands are missing today. I am impressed by the talents of Tim Hamill and Hunted in producing and mixing this album, these are songs that can’t be thrown together with their delicate parts. Hunted comes across as a band that planned this Welcome The Dead album a long time ago, in a Metal galaxy far, far away. This is not an album you can listen to three times over and write about. Instead, Welcome The Dead is an album that needs to be digested for a month, enjoyed and continually savored.

The articulation of Chris G’s vocals coinciding with the Metal articulation of Steven Barberini on guitar could not have happened overnight… or over the course of one year, these songs are that luminous with profound energy, thought and dynamism. The melodic leads and solos that Steven plays are so flavorful, that I am launched into a world of swirling Metal highs because of my hearing them. Sounds sappy? Not to me. Music, especially Metal, can move me like there’s no tomorrow. Metal be thy name.

Aria (In Memoriam) plays out at 8:49 and is one of the finest Progressive Metal epic songs I’ve ever listened to. Emotion spills over from both this songs music and vocals. If your going to make Progressive Metal songs that last this long, the key is to keep the emotion on high and never let up and Hunted does just that. The title track/intro begins with the sounds of war, bullets ripping through the air, marching boots and an air raid siren. This is Progressive Metal. An intro such as this sets the stage, mood and impending anatomy to the songs that follow.

Hunted plays as if they have been together for twenty years. Layered songs with clever lyrics, the enthusiasm and competence this band exhibits through their playing of these songs cannot be denied. I’m already looking forward to another album from Hunted… right now. Then again, Metal, Progressive Metal that is this grand, cannot be manufactured or served up fast-food style. Welcome The Dead is an album of Progressive Metal and Metal for discerning fans of Metal Music. I’ll just end this rave review by adding: Hunted is without question, in the sparse crème de la crème crowd of unsigned Metal bands. Metal be thy name.

Track Listing For Welcome The Dead:

Welcome The Dead (1:19)

The Silence Of Minds (6:03)

Chosen (4:28)

Aria (In Memoriam) (8:48)

The Incident (0.33)

Impaled (5.11)

Scars (5.23)

I Want Nothing (5.41)

Shadows (7.00)

The Heart Collector (Bonus Track) (5.49)

HUNTED:

Chris G – vocals

Steven Barberini – guitars

Jon Letson – bass

Matt “Animal” Thomas – drums

Metal Odyssey gives HUNTED Welcome The Dead Five Metal Fists out of Five!

* Welcome The Dead was mixed and produced by Tim Hamill and Hunted.

* Welcome The Dead was mastered by John K. (Biomechanical)

* Welcome The Dead was recorded & edited by Tim Hamill at Sonic One Studio, Wales, UK.

* Album cover art by: Marcela Bolivar

* For more info on HUNTED, click here: HUNTED – myspace music

LONG LIVE HUNTED.

Stone.

Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads Tribute – Live Album From 1987 Is Priceless, Old School, Heavy Metal History

Posted in classic rock, guitar legends, guitarists, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal history, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

OZZY OSBOURNE RANDY RHOADS TRIBUTE – How often do you turn to your collection of music, whether it be CDs, vinyl, cassettes or (gulp) 8 tracks for that refreshing listen in Old School?  And as you rummage through your music collection, you find that one Old School release you haven’t listened to in quite some time? It happened to me a couple of days ago. This Old School album I’ve revisited is Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute. I have this live Heavy Metal masterpiece on CD and cassette, once owning it on vinyl. This is a “double-album” release and all 14 songs are on one CD.

Why do I refer to this album as a masterpiece you question? This is the first and only live Ozzy Osbourne album that features the infinitely legendary Randy Rhoads (Randall William Rhoads) as guitarist. Randy Rhoads passed away at age 25, back on March 19, 1982. It was a “freak” small plane accident that took Randy Rhoads away from us all, halfway through the Diary Of A Madman tour. I won’t get into anymore details about this sad story… the internet is loaded with the complete story on this horrible day in Rock Music history.

There are three Black Sabbath classics heard on this live album: Iron Man, Children Of The Grave and Paranoid. Randy Rhoads did these Black Sabbath classics spectacular Metal justice on Tribute. Yes, Tony Iommi is the originator and guitar master of these Black Sabbath songs, there is no dispute. If anything, Randy and Tony are on the same Metal tier in my most honest Metal opinion. Two entirely different guitar styles and two unique legends of Heavy Metal and Rock history are they both. Each guitarist has carved out his individual Metal legacy for all eternity. What more can I say about that?

As I listen now, some 24 years after this live album has been released, the chills still run up and down my body when I crank these Heavy Metal classics up… just as it happened to me in 1987. When a live album or any album for that matter, can never lose it’s euphoric Metal vibe that it gives me, such as this one, then I Metal ordain it a Metal Masterpiece. I’m forever left spellbound by listening to Randy Rhoads play his riffs, leads and solo’s throughout this entire live album. The studio out-takes of Randy Rhoads playing Dee never ceases in capturing my full attention. The all encompassing Metal high I get from hearing these live versions of Flying High Again, I Don’t Know, Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley is a personal feeling that is priceless.

Randy Rhoads has a featured guitar solo on Suicide Solution and it is a dizzying listen into just how immense, influential and dynamic his guitar playing was… and forever will be. Ozzy’s vocals on these live songs sound just incredible to my ears, it’s vintage Ozzy. There will never be another Ozzy Osbourne, just like there shall never be another Randy Rhoads. These two ultra-amazing men of Metal created two magical albums together with Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary Of A Madman (1981). Those were two back-to-back Heavy Metal albums that essentially catapulted Ozzy’s solo career to iconic heights and made Randy Rhoads, the guitarist, an everlasting influence and legend.

Both of these iconic Heavy Metal albums are celebrated on this live Tribute album and Ozzy Osbourne paid tribute to Randy Rhoads through it’s release. The guitar playing and song writing of Randy Rhoads shall be celebrated forever by this Metalhead. This is a live album that belongs in every Hard Rock and Metal fans collection of music, I can’t fathom any reason otherwise. Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute is a live album that captured important Heavy Metal and Rock music history, which will be passed down for Metal generations to come.

The band as listed in the “original” album liner notes:

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals

Randy Rhoads – guitar

Rudy Sarzo – bass

Tommy Aldridge – drums

Track Listing For Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute:

I Don’t Know

Crazy Train

Believer

Mr. Crowley

Flying High Again

Revelation (Mother Earth)

Steal Away (The Night) (With Drum Solo)

Suicide Solution (With Guitar Solo)

Iron Man

Children Of The Grave

Paranoid

Goodbye To Romance

No Bone Movies

Dee (Randy Rhoads Studio Out-Takes)

* Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was produced and engineered by Max Norman. The executive producer was Ozzy Osbourne.

* Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was released March 19, 1987, on Epic Records.

The combination of knowing that the month of March marks the passing of Randy Rhoads and speaking with “DeadDave” of Dead Daves Radio.com about Old School Heavy Metal over this past weekend, prompted me to dig out this classic work of live Heavy Metal… without my even thinking about it. I guess needing to listen to Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was imbedded in my Metal sub-conscious, all along this past week.

I met “DeadDave” for the first time in my Metal life at the COLD, KOPEK, Egypt Central, Oceans Divide and Maddam Ink. concert at the Crocodile Rock Cafe on Saturday, March 19th. I’ll tell the world this much… “DeadDave” is one cool dude who likes his Horror, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Thanks for the conversations “DeadDave” and for the Metal knowledge you shared as well.

Long Live Ozzy Osbourne.

Rest In Peace, Randy Rhoads.

Stone.

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – Stream Entire New Album “The Fight Of Our Lives”, Giving Away Single For FREE Via iTunes!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal festivals, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Tom Medvedich)

(New York, NY) — STRAIGHT LINE STITCH is streaming their entire new album “The Fight Of Our Lives” this week over at AOL Music, to celebrate it’s release that comes out today, March 22, 2011.

Listen to “The Fight Of Our Lives” here: http://aol.it/gLKCmO

Their current single, “Conversion” is featured on iTunes as the FREE “Discovery Download” single of the week. Download it here: http://bit.ly/hLdGni

The band has no qualms about staying on the road this year. They recently announced off-dates with the one and only IN FLAMES during their run on the  2011 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL. They’ve also announced a handful of dates with road mates NONPOINT, Revolver magazine’s “Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock: Hell Hath No Fury” tour supporting IN THIS MOMENT and last but not least, DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL.  All dates can be found below.

Supporting Nonpoint:

4/6 Tallahassee, FL @ Floyd’s Music Store

4/7 Charleston, SC @ Jimbo’s Rock Lounge

4/8 Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligans

4/9 Johnson City, TN @ Capones

4/10 Winston Salem, NC @ Johnny and Junes

4/18 Fayetteville, AR  @ Rogue

4/19 Amarillo, TX @ The Sorority House

4/20 Farmington, NM @ Top Deck

Supporting In This Moment:

4/25 Sparks, NV @ The Alley

4/27 Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory

4/28 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven

4/29 Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom

4/30 Spokane, WA @ The A Club

5/01 Billings, MT @ Railyard

5/03 Des Moines, IA @ House Of Bricks

5/05 Madison, WI @ The Annex

5/06 Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection

5/07 Barrington, IL @ Penny Road Pub

5/08 Evansville, IN @ Boney Junes

5/09 Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music Hall

5/10 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck

5/11 Tulsa, OK @ The Marquee

5/12 Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s

5/13 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad

5/14 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock

5/15 Flagstaff, AZ @ The Orpheum

Supporting In Flames:

7/18 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium

7/25 Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theatre

7/26 Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights

8/01 Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend

8/08 Kansas City, MO @ Harrah’s

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2011 Tour Dates:

Jul. 09 – San Bernardino, CA @ San Manuel Amphitheatre

Jul. 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

Jul. 12 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater

Jul. 13 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre

Jul. 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Jul. 16 – Albuquerque, NM @ Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion

Jul. 17 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

Jul. 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Front woman Alexis Brown is the featured “Hottest Chick in Hard Rock”, in the newest issue of REVOLVER MAGAZINE. Copies are on stands now!

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH originally hailing from Knoxville, TN, features Alexis Brown on vocals, Seth Thacker and Kris Norris on guitar, Jason White on bass, and Kanky Lora on drums.

(Source: eOne Music)

* For more info on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, click the links below:

Straight Line Stitch – MySpace.com

http://www.facebook.com/straightlinestitch

LONG LIVE STRAIGHT LINE STITCH.

Stone.

Withering Soul – Apochs.net Now Streaming Four Tracks From “No Closure”!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, gothic metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHERING SOUL – Packed with more Metal than your grandma’s hip replacement, our good buds at Apochs.net have again extended a fiery set of horns and are currently streaming four (yes, four) new tracks from the recently released slab of Blackened brilliance No Closure from Chicago’s WITHERING SOUL. Hook your laptop up to the good speakers and cruise over to: Apochs.net – Apochs Metal Review

No Closure is a combination of Symphonic Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal with some Gothic overtones thrown is as well. As an added treat, guest backing vocals have been provided by Melissa Ferlaak. Inclusive of quality Scandinavian influences, but now with mature competency, they have carved their own path that is destined to generate a buzz in the underground and capture fans across the board.

(Source: Clawhammer PR)

* Check out my full review for No Closure (posted on February 20, 2011), by clicking the big header link below:

Withering Soul – “No Closure” Explodes With Black Metal Impressiveness

Track Listing For No Closure:

Night of the Revenant

Phantasmal Chaos Divinity

The Sequitor

Tides of the Accursed

Possession of Deception – Part II

Sadistic Redress

Manifest Transparency

Lifeless They Lie

Unquiet

Requiem of Sorrow

* For more info on WITHERING SOUL, click the links below:

WITHERING SOUL – Official Website

WITHERING SOUL – REVERBNATION

LONG LIVE WITHERING SOUL.

Stone.