SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya recently spoke to Gary Graff of Billboard.com about the band’s plans for the remainder of the year after it wraps its run on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in early August. “We’ll probably get together and start writing together and start making a new album,” he said. “I think after [Mayhem] we’ll just go back to the drawing board and take a look at what we’ve got and start putting it together. These days we’re a bit more like, ‘Let’s see what comes out.’ We don’t chomp at the bit like we did in the early days. You just sort of have to let it happen and see what the end result is, and hopefully we’ll like it…Everything we’ve done as a band has been like that — ‘Wow, let’s do it.’ We know the outcome is going to be good.”
Regarding the status of guitarist Jeff Hanneman — who in January 2011 contracted necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, and has been undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and intense rehab since — Araya said, “Jeff‘s had a long ordeal. He’s working on his playing ability, and that’s something that’s gonna take some time. He’s working on strengthening his arm and his ability to play. He can play, but it’s not for an extended period of time. Like anything else when you have some kind of not only muscle damage but nerve damage, it takes a bit for a lot of your functions to come back. They’re not going to come back and easy and quick.”
He added, “On this [latest tour] more than others it’s dawned on me that he’s not there. The audiences have been very favorable, capacity crowds, really good. I just kind of look out and think, ‘Jeff, God, where are you? You worked 30 years for this. You should be here.’ He should be enjoying this part of his career. I can’t wait for him to (be back).”
Honda has chosen JUDAS PRIEST‘s classic 1982 track “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” for its new campaign dubbed the “Honda Summer Clearance Event.” You can check out the 30-second commercial below.
Back in 2010, Honda used another PRIEST song, “The Hellion”, in a commercial for its redesigned 2011 Odyssey minivan. The 30-second spot featured a young, ex-rocker dad and an iconic Marshall amp.
Both “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” and “The Hellion” come off PRIEST‘s classic eighth studio album, “Screaming For Vengeance”, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Released on July 17, 1982 — with a remastered CD version released in May of 2001 — it remains the top selling release of JUDAS PRIEST‘s career.
Former PRIEST guitarist Kenneth “K.K.” Downing‘s official web site, Steel Mill, earlier this week posted a new blog from K.K. on the recording, impact and legacy of “Screaming For Vengeance”. Check it out at this location.
On how “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” came together, Downing said, “As it happened, I seem to remember that we were quite happy with the album but decided late on that we could add one more song. I know we had some of the parts but we set about completing ‘Another Thing Comin” during the mixing sessions at Bee Jay studios. It came together quite quickly, and I seem to remember that we all had a good feeling about it as it did sound like a good driving song and possibly a good radio track.”
I AM I, the new band led by former DRAGONFORCE singer ZP Theart has announced the addition of drummer Phil Martini (DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ, TOKYO DRAGONS, THE QUIREBOYS) to the group’s ranks.
With things really starting to build momentum after the release of their debut album, “Event Horizon”, the members of I AM I found themselves in need of a professional, talented drummer with the same desire, humour and passion for their music as they had, and it didn’t take long before they found themselves the ideal man.
Following a chance meeting at a CLAYTOWN TROUPE gig, ZP and Phil found they got along famously and once Phil had heard the album, he was in!
Commented ZP Theart: “We hadn’t even started to look for a drummer yet but the first time I saw Phil playing, I knew he was the man for us. He’s a great guy, really easy to work with and fitted straight into the band at first practice, and we’re stoked he’s now part of the I AM I team.”
As previously reported, I AM I recently signed a worldwide publishing deal through Sony/ATV Music. Their deal, via Albam Songs, means they join a roster that includes Bob Dylan, THE BEATLES, Robert Plant, PEARL JAM, BON JOVI and Lady Gaga.
“I AM I are an incredibly exciting band. It’s great to be involved from the very beginning,” says Alan Bambrough of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Limited. “‘Event Horizon’ is a brilliant album and there’s no limit to what these guys can achieve.”
I AM I‘s next live appearance will take place on August 11 at this year’s Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Hall in Walton On Trent, Derbyshire, England.
I AM I made its live debut on May 27 at Birmingham, England’s O2 Academy 2.
I AM I released its debut album, “Event Horizon”, independently on May 26. Written and produced by Theart and Jacob Ziemba and mixed and mastered by Roland Grapow (HELLOWEEN, MASTERPLAN), the CD is described in a press release as “an absolutely blistering slice of heavy rock liberally infused with Theart‘s passion, energy and soaring vocals.”
“Event Horizon” was, according to I AM I, the first-ever heavy metal album to be released solely on USB. The stick is packaged in a CD case and includes full artwork and all the usual content you would expect on a disc and more. The effort is available to order from the official I AM Iweb site.
“Event Horizon” track listing:
01. This is My Life
02. Silent Genocide
03. Stay A While
04. Cross The Line
05. In The Air Tonight
06. King In Ruins
07. Kiss Of Judas
08. Dust 2 Dust
09. Wasted Wonders
10. Pave The Way
The “Silent Genocide” video can be seen below.
DRAGONFORCE parted ways with Theart in March 2010 “due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion,” according to a statement released by the British extreme epic power metal band.
After entries from thousands of hopefuls across the globe, DRAGONFORCE in March 2011 welcomed then-23-year-old Marc Hudson to the group.
Myötätuulirock festival takes place in Vantaa, Hakunila sports ground 3.-4.8.2012. The festival is organized by Rockfest Finland Oy who is behind the first Rentofest festival in the end of May 2012. Myötätuulirock once again stays true to Finnish hard rock and heavy metal music but there are also a few foreign bands included in the lineup. On stage you can find for example Ensiferum (who will release their fifth studio album in the end of August) and always the legendary Pelle Miljoona. Tickets to Myötätuulirock can be bought in advance from the festival webpage, Tiketti, Lippupalvelu and Makuuni (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa). From 23.7. on tickets can also be bought at Alepa stores (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa).
Price for one day ticket to MTR is 20 € (in advance), 25 € (from the festival entrance gate) and price for 2 day ticket is 35 € in advance. You get 5 € discount from your ticket if you buy it from Alepa and use your S-etukortti card. Notice that it is not possible to buy 2 day tickets from the festival entrance gate anymore.
Festival bill: Friday august 3
Gates open at 15.30
16.20 –
17.10 – FM2000
18.20 – AMORAL
19.35 – LOS BASTARDOS FINLANDESES
20.50 – TO/DIE/FOR
22.15 – BLAKE
23.45 – TURMION KÄTILÖT
Saturday august 4
Gates open at 12.30
12.40 – TRACEDAWN
13.40 – HAMMERHED
14.40 – PELLE MILJOONA
16.10 – FEAR OF DOMINATION
17.30 – ENGEL (SWE)
19.00 – INSOMNIUM
20.30 – SKINDRED (UK)
22.00 – AMARANTHE (SWE)
23.30 – ENSIFERUM
Alaska’s rock radio station KWHL conducted an interview with STEEL PANTHER singer Michael Starr at this year’s Download festival, which was held June 8-10 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below.
STEEL PANTHER is the ’80s metal/hard rock tribute band formerly known as METAL SKOOL. The group’s lineup includes guitarist “Satchel” (real name Russ Parrish; ex-FIGHT) and singer “Michael Starr” (real name Ralph Saenz; ex-L.A. GUNS). Onstage, the band both pays tribute to and lampoons the heyday of ’80s glam metal. The group’s between-song comedy includes jests at conflict between bandmembers, discussions of drugs, sex, and improvised humor with the crowd.
STEEL PANTHER‘s sophomore album, “Balls Out”, sold nearly 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on November 1, 2011 via Universal Republic Records, the follow-up to 2009’s “Feel The Steel” contains 14 soon-to-be classics such as “Just Like Tiger Woods”, “Gold Digging Whore” and “Weenie Ride”. The album also features cameos by Dane Cook on the album opener “In The Future” and NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger and EXTREME axeman Nuno Bettencourt show up on an instant classic “It Won’t Suck Itself”. “Balls Out” was produced by Grammy-nominated producer/mixer Jay Ruston who produced the band’s “Feel The Steel” debut and is known for his work with ANTHRAX, MEAT LOAF, THE DONNAS and MORRISSEY, to name a few.
U.K.-based modern thrash heroes SYLOSIS recently completed work on their new album, “Monolith”, with Romesh Dodangoda at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales. The CD will be released on October 5 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork was created by Dan Goldsworthy and can be seen below.
“Monolith” track listing:
01. Out From Below
02. Fear The World
03. What Dwells Within
04. Behind The Sun
05. The River
06. Monolith
07. Paradox
08. A Dying Vine
09. All Is Not Well
10. Born Anew
11. Enshrined
Commented SYLOSIS vocalist and guitaristJosh Middleton: “We’re beyond pleased with the artwork for ‘Monolith’. It needed to be something to accentuate the dark, gloomy vibe of the album without going for anything too cliché or stereotypically metal.
“We listen to a lot of ’70s progressive music and with the Art Nouveau style was quite popular at that time.
“At this point, we don’t want to reveal too much about the concept but one of the figures on the cover loosely represents the devil in disguise or a satyr. Some of the inspiration behind the concept came from Greek mythology.
“Working with Dan again was awesome. He’s very patient, eager to please and can very quickly tap into what we’re trying to put across.
“We always like to pay as much attention to the artwork as possible and it’s never been an afterthought for us. It’s about creating a complete piece of work so the music and the packaging really go hand in hand.”
Added Goldsworthy: “Visually, the cover artwork for ‘Monolith’ has taken notable inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement. Diverting from the usual flowery aesthetic of the style, ‘Monolith’ has a significantly darker vein running thoughout, as fitting with the sonic nihilism of SYLOSIS‘ music. As far as the concept goes, it is merely my interpretation of the band’s vision. Much like their previous album, ‘Edge Of The Earth’, the artwork is completely related to certain themes running throughout the songs, so if you wish to extract any deeper meaning, I would recommend studying the lyrics as well.
“Josh and I kept a very close working relationship throughout the entire design process, such was the importance of having the artwork represent his lyrics and the story they tell. However, the cover art and illustrations throughout the packaging are only small snapshots of the bigger picture so open the booklet, press play and enjoy the journey.”
Middleton recently stated about “Monolith”: “‘Monolith’ is the best representation of us as a band in terms of our diverse influences and stylistically it’s what we’ve always been aiming for. A mixture of thrash, big doomy riffs and dark atmospherics and ambience.
“Overall, ‘Monolith’ has a darker vibe to anything we’ve done in the past, both lyrically and musically. It’s a concept album which is just something I like to help guide me writing the lyrics. I like the fact that I can write about personal issues but dress them up in a way that people might not know exactly how they relate to me (if at all in some instances).
“The idea for the concept was very loosely inspired by the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. It’s quite far fetched but it’s about this guy who loses his wife and tries to bring her back from underworld. This giant monolith starts to grow out of her tomb. The most prevalent theme beneath it all is sort of accepting that you might not be as nice a person as you once thought. It sounds really cheesy but everyone has a darker side to their personality in terms of being selfish, manipulative or dishonest.
“A lot of metal lyrics are always ‘you’re this, you’re that, you suck’ and in a lot of cases it’s probably really hypocritical. Some of the lyrics on this album are about owning up to those flaws and almost reveling in it.
“Some parts of the album is us covering new ground but everything that people have come to love about our band is still present. It’s not necessarily a change in direction or something we’re moving more towards, it was just about making a unique vibe for this album as a whole. There’s a real urgency to a lot of this material and the really natural and honest production helps mirror that. We really wanted more of a ‘live session’ feel. Both Romesh and Jens [Bogren; mastering] have done a great job in giving this album a unique sound. Too many bands these days rely on technology and it can just suck all the life and personality out of the music.”
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 