Former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. frontman Udo Dirkschneider — who turned 60 this past April — was honored with a “lifetime achievement award” by his record label, AFM Records, at this year’s Wacken Open Air festival, which was held on August 2-4 in Wacken, Germany. Dirkschneider‘s award recognized his status as one of the most popular and respected voices in metal ever, having had a massive impact on future generations of metal musicians.
In other news, U.D.O. and AFM recently extended their long-term deal and look forward to continuing on the path of success.
U.D.O.‘s November 16, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria was professionally filmed for release as a DVD+CD and Blu-ray+CD. Entitled “Live In Sofia”, it will be made available on September 28 via AFM Records.
“Celebrator”, a collection of rare tracks from U.D.O., will be released on double vinyl on August 17 via High Roller Records. It is limited to 500 copies in three different colors. The set was made available in Europe on May 4 via AFM Records and was released in North America on June 19.
U.D.O.‘s latest album, “Rev-Raptor”, was released on May 20, 2011 via AFM Records.
American symphonic metal band KAMELOT will release its new album, “Silverthorn”, on October 30 in North America, October 26 in Germany and October 29 in the rest of Europe via Steamhammer/SPV. The set will arrive in Japan on October 24 through King Records. The CD will mark the band’s first release with new singer Tommy Karevik, the 30-year-old Swede who previously fronted SEVENTH WONDER (a group that he is still a member of).
The “Silverthorn” LP and limited edition will have one version of the cover artwork, while the standard version of “Silverthorn” will have a different but equally exquisite version. The standard version is presented as an Ecolbook. The limited edition contains the Ecolbook, a bonus CD with nearly 60 minutes of music, a 44-page book and an exclusive poster. The double LP version is a gatefold on colored vinyl and includes the CD.
KAMELOT guitaristThomas Youngblood says of the artwork: “Artist Stefan Heilemann captured the true essence of the story and the main character. The booklet and 44-page book is packed with amazing images!”
In a recent interview with RockLiveBG, KAMELOT keyboardist Oliver Palotai stated about the band’s new vocalist, “[Tommy] was already with us on some tour dates as a guest singer, and he was singing on one or two songs. And in the past year, we were considering which singer to take. I was strongly on Tommy‘s side because he made a huge impression on me. Personality. of course. is really important. and he is a little bit introverted and I like this ‘Scandinavian feel’ about him and he fits KAMELOT really well.”
He continued, “The final decision for him was sending in vocals, lyrics and recorded melody on a ballad that I wrote which is on the album. And it was so great and impressive. We all had goosebumps and when we heard that for the first time we knew immediately that was ‘it.’ He wrote most of the vocal melodies in the album also.”
On the topic of the upcoming CD, Palotai said, “The cover was done by Stephan Heilemann. He also did covers for EPICA and my other band, SONS OF SEASONS. He is one of my best buddies, living in the neighborhood, and in my opinion, he is one of the greatest designers in the whole world. The amount of songs is … I think 9 or 10 without the interludes. . . It’s a concept album and it has a story. In the special edition you will get a little book where the story is described. All the songs will be around the story. It will be something like [2005’s] ‘The Black Halo’.
Regarding how the upcoming CD compares to 2010’s “Poetry For The Poisoned”, Oliver said, “To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of ‘Poetry For The Poisoned’. For me, ‘The Black Halo’ is a bit like a reference also when I produce bands in my studio. So we wanted to go back to ‘The Black Halo’ but also include modern elements, which we included since then. You will never hear from a band, Our new record sucks,’ but this record is a real killer and brings KAMELOT back on track. It is exactly what I wanted, and I’m really happy with it. I hope the fans will like it as well.”
Thomas Youngblood previously stated about Karevik: “We had around 800 candidates for the vacant position, among them a number of really renowned musicians, and having to reject them really wasn’t easy.”
In KAMELOT‘s search for a new singer, Youngblood found YouTube to be an amazing tool. “I listened to a clip of a studio production featuring Tommy and have to confess that his performance really amazed me,” he said. “His approach to melodies and themes suits KAMELOT perfectly, and during our European shows we had plenty of opportunity to find out what a great guy he is.”
Tommy first appeared as one of the guest singers on KAMELOT‘s very successful 2011 Pandemonium World Tour.
Youngblood on the style and content of the forthcoming KAMELOT concept album: “The new songs sound more symphonic and melodic than our last two studio recordings. The material brings to mind albums such as ‘Karma’ (2001) and ‘The Black Halo’ (2005). In addition, this will be the best production that KAMELOT have ever delivered. Because while other acts tend to opt for low-budget productions due to the difficult market situation, we have gone the opposite way: the new album will be a real statement, in terms of our compositions as well as in terms of our sound.”
KAMELOT will support Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH on a North American tour in September and October.
KAMELOT has posted a five-minute video clip featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the band’s appearance at this year’s Wacken Open Air festival, which took place August 2-4 in Wacken, Germany. Check it out below.
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw has assembled the following lineup of musicians for his November 3 concert at Sparbankshallen in Varberg, Sweden:
* Mark U Black (M.A.N., ex-DREAM EVIL, KUNG DIAMANT) – Lead Guitar
* Petter Karlsson (ex-THERION, DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA) – Drums
* Vikki Valkyrie (ex-ICE AGE, THEM SLUTS) – Bass
Snowy states: “Like last time around, I’m delighted and grateful to be joined on stage by some of the best friends from my former bands… and I’m looking forward to one helluva kick-ass performance with a specially designed Halloween theme that will make last year’s performance seem like a band practice by comparison.
“For obvious reasons, I won’t reveal any of the special guests, though it would ruin the surprise and fun of it. All I can say is, I don’t think anyone will be disappointed.
Wolf Hoffmann is an amazing artist indeed, a legend for many of us who influenced many bands and musicians. He is one of the founders of the legendary band ACCEPT who play Metal loud, heavy and powerful. I am one of those lucky journalists who got a chance to have a talk with Wolf and ask him some questions. I believe you’ll find his answers interesting. Check them out below:
Mohsen: Hello Wolf, How is it going today? Any shocking news?
WOLF: Mohsen, nice to meet you. It is a real adventure to be talking to someone from IRAN!
Wonderful news ….plenty. STALINGRAD has been as successful as BLOOD OF THE NATIONS – both albums are still selling and both have been in the top of the charts, sometimes even competing with each other! We are very happy about that. The tours are going great and we have been around the globe twice in not even 24 months and we are starting another tour around the world again in a few weeks.
Mohsen: To begin with, we had a tribute project to Ronnie James Dio and we got several nice messages from many artists like your band mate Stefan, but I’d like to know your opinion about Ronnie and if you have any particular memory of him?
WOLF: Like everybody, I remember him well and he has been one of the greatest and he has left a huge legacy for all of us to enjoy….forever. One of the great artists and great human beings!
Mohsen: You’re going to tour the USA and the Canada with KREATOR this September, it would be a long tour and I’m sure it won’t be a new experience, but would you tell me how do you find living on the road? Myself personally and perhaps our readers would like to hear if you have any particular or funny memories?
WOLF: The tour is about 5 weeks with KREATOR. We share the bill with them as co-headliners. This package is a historic one. It is to bring GERMAN HEAVY METAL to the fans. Both bands are from the industrial area of Germany, where the German Steel is coming from. ACCEPT opened the door for KREATOR and Mille told me, ACCEPT has been his first concert. The interesting aspect of KREATOR is, that he did not copy anybody, they took the inspiration and created their own niche, they made their stand and will leave their vey own legacy. So this is a very special co-operation and the fans will love it!
Mohsen: You shared a stage with Swedish heavy metal band WOLF in the UK last year. The vocalist Nik is a good friend of mine and they are one of my favorites, but what are your thoughts about them?
WOLF: You know, I guess they are a cool band. But, we are so very busy that we hardly have time to hang around. I wish we cold have seen them. However, they did a good job.
Mohsen: Let’s go back to 2009, when the best news of that year, “Metal Heart Beats Again” was published. Can you tell me more about those days, how did you and Peter get the idea of a reunion and did you expect such success that you got from both of your latest albums at the beginning of this reunion?
WOLF: We lived a different life for many years and it has been sheer destiny, that Mark Tornillo – who lives very close to Peter – never ever met Peter. But, he ran into us one day and like us, he had a different life and being a musician has not been on his agenda at that time. In a spur of a moment we invited him to jam with us, fell in love with his voice and he with our music and the rest is history!
Mohsen: ACCEPT seems to have followed the same themes in writing and recording the “Stalingrad” album as you did in your previous album “Blood Of The Nations” (For example writing lyrics which were influenced by WWII). Would you tell me more about it and what exactly the band wanted to say with those albums?
WOLF: ACCEPT has been one of the very first Bands who made very controversial lyrics and it is always about suppression, dark sides of humanity and a reminder, that there is something you can do about it. We cannot talk about that here, you really have to read the lyrics from BALLS TO THE WALL on….you will see, as the majority of the songwriters and the lyricist are still together there is a golden thread running through it and Mark Tornillo had the gift to continue our tradition.
Mohsen: Some of your fans believe that ACCEPT with Mark is even better than Udo and some do not, but how did you find the differences between working with Mark and Udo?
WOLF: Every time in your life has different circumstances. The voice of a singer is a matter of taste. Today – with Mark we feel absolutely on top of the game! To compare the times we are living in NOW with the past – is not possible. We all grew into different directions and Mark is with us at a time, where we are at our happiest.
Mohsen: Some critics and people believe record labels were killing metal in the 90’s when they were supporting Nu-metal bands. How do you see metal music and the industry today?
WOLF: Yeah, there is something to it. Same thing here, you can not compare the past with the present. Nothing is the same and the Internet has changed EVERYTHING. Today you have to do totally different things than in the past. I consider it as normal. Times change and who cannot change will be left behind!
Mohsen: Would you tell me more about ACCEPT’s future plans and when do you think it would be time for the band to retire? Hopefully not soon though!
WOLF: Hey…we just started…how can I think about RETIREMENT!!! Not possible. We are at our best and as long as the fans want us, we will be there…
Mohsen: You’ve chosen Andy Sneap for both of the band’s latest albums, would you tell me what was the reason and how it was working with him?
WOLF: Andy Sneap is the perfect match for us. We really got close and our creativity is exactly where it needs to be … FLYING HIGH!
Mohsen: Have you any plans to work on another solo album, as your “Classical” album is a masterpiece indeed?
WOLF: yes, that is my secret dream and like with all dreams, they take their time…but something is coming up. I miss that music and I can never let go! You got it …this is MY PASSION!
Mohsen: Photography is one of my favourite kinds of art, so I’m glad to ask you about that part of your life, how did you find out that you like photography? And would you tell me more about your techniques and influences?
WOLF: I am an Anselm Adams scholar…but drifted towards corporate photography in later years. I always work, when I can. Lately ACCEPT’s taking up all my time. But, this will never leave me – like CLASSICAL MUSIC.
Mohsen: As a final word feel free to leave a message to your die hard fans and our readers.
WOLF: I am really sorry, that we have no way of coming to your country. Please follow us on our web site – if you can. We wish for you, that times will change and that we will be able to live in a world without borders. We can only write songs ….telling you, that we understand you and that we love you!
Mohsen: Thanks a lot Wolf for giving me your time.
WOLF: THANK YOU and you are always welcome to write to us!
New York hardcore veterans SWORN ENEMY have completed work on a new four-song EP at MEI Studios in Westbury, New York.
The band, which has spent much of the last two years touring the U.S. and Europe with the likes of SEPULTURA and BIOHAZARD, took this summer off to write and record new music.
There is no set release date for the new material, pending label and management negotiations. However, SWORN ENEMY does promise its fans that the EP will be made available “sooner rather than later.”
SWORN ENEMY‘s last album, “Total World Domination”, was released in June 2009 via Century Media Records. The CD landed at position No. 114 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Like its predecessor, “Maniacal”, “Total World Domination” was recorded with producer Tim Lambesis (AS I LAY DYING).
According to Rolling Stone, reunited grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN have set a November 13 release date for their as-yet-untitled new album. “It re-establishes that we still rock, we’re still heavy, and we’re still a little weird,” SOUNDGARDEN guitaristKim Thayil tells the magazine. The CD will feature tracks like “Blood On The Valley Floor” and “A Thousand Days Before”, the latter of which “has a little Indian thing and some chicken-pickin’,” Thayil says. “We call it ‘country and eastern.'”
After reuniting in 2010, SOUNDGARDEN completed recording earlier this year on its first set of all-new material since 1996’s “Down On The Upside”.
The group’s new song “Live To Rise” recently topped the Active Rock radio chart. The tune was taken from “Avengers Assemble”, the companion soundtrack to the blockbuster movie “The Avengers”.
According to The Pulse Of Radio, SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell recently revealed in an interview with the New York Times that there are some 15 songs from the band’s earliest days that have yet to be released in any form. Cornell explained, “It was the first 15 we wrote. It was on a cassette that Kim [Thayil, guitarist] always referred to as ‘The First 15.'” He added, “We were a band for a couple of years before we really did much (recording) . . . when we would go in to record, we tended to record the newest things we had written, because it was what we were most excited about.”
Cornell continued that as a result, some of that earlier material fell by the wayside. He said, “We just got together in our room and started writing songs and did it very quickly. And then we would sit around and discuss what that sounds like, and then over time, I think we would maybe be critical about some of the things we were writing and playing and excited about some of the new stuff we were bringing into the band.”
Drummer Matt Cameron told The Pulse Of Radio that the band’s approach to making music hasn’t changed that dramatically since its early days. “We started out very humbly here in the Northwest and I don’t think we’ve ever really gone too far from those sort of ideals, which were, you know, real do-it-yourself, kind of ’80s underground ideals,” he said. “And it just feels good to lock up in a room together and write music together and play together that is uniquely our own thing.”
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Thomas Youngblood says of the artwork: “Artist Stefan Heilemann captured the true essence of the story and the main character. The booklet and 44-page book is packed with amazing images!”
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 