If there’s one thing Freddy Madball is NOT, it’s one-dimensional. Most notably known as the front man for New York Hardcore stalwarts, Madball, a venture into the Hip Hop culture he grew up admiring has led him to take that admiration to the stage and on record. In 2009, Freddy released his debut solo Hip Hop record, Catholic Guilt which saw him gain praise and much credibility outside the comfortable confines of fronting a Hardcore band — a bridge not too many artists can gap well. July 14th at Gramercy Theatre NYC, Freddy Madball (featuring DJ Stress) will once again hit the stage in support of Jedi Mind Tricks and La Coka Nostra to prove once again, regardless of the musical medium, there isn’t a stage FMB can’t not destroy.
Rock legends KISS are rolling out into London in July and taking over the U.K. with not just a single release, but also a book release and an intimate show at London, England’s Forum on July 4.
Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer will be performing to their KISS Army of fans at the celebrated London venue for one night only as a fundraiser for the Help For Heroes charity. The band has always supported the U.S. troops at their gigs over the years but this year, on Independence Day, the U.S. rockers will be backing our wounded, sick and injured servicemen and women by raising money with this unique concert. All proceeds from the concert will go to the charity.
Ahead of the new KISS album, “Monster” (due out in the autumn), the band will also be releasing a single on July 2. Also, KISS are happy to announce that they will further be raising funds for our wounded, sick and injured troops as all proceeds from the single will be donated to Help For Heroes.
Paul Stanley states: “The greatest national treasure of any free country is the army that defends it at all cost. Bringing attention to the obligation we all share to those returning heroes has been our mission in the U.S. and now the U.K. We pay tribute to those brave men and women and urge everyone to show their thanks with donations.”
Bryn Parry, CEO and co-founder of Help For Heroes, “We are absolutely delighted to have the support from KISS and are certain the concert will be a huge success! The money raised will be used to provide direct, practical support to those wounded in the service of our country. We have already spent or allocated £millions and we have a shopping list of future projects that will ensure they get the very best. We may not be able to prevent them from being hurt but we can certainly do our bit to help them get better.”
When the world’s most visual band release anything, EVERYONE notices. And the launch of their latest book is no different! KISS “Monster” is a collection of artworks, 126 photos from the band’s 40-year career including never-before-seen images from the world’s greatest rock photographers.
Not known to do things by halves, KISS “Monster” really is a beast of a book at approximately 3 feet high by 2.5 feet wide and 2 inches thick. HUGE, in fact! It weighs approximately 4 stone. A must for fans of the band, KISS “Monster” will be available fully signed by all four band members and limited to only 1,000 copies worldwide.
There aren’t very many instantly recognizable metal vocalists these days – the extreme style of death metal vocals ironically has the effect of making too many frontmen sound the same. But once upon a time, metal singers were not only actually singing, but doing so in highly individualistic, iconic styles, and one such icon is Kim Bendix Petersen, better known as King Diamond. His piercing upper register is astonishing and unmistakable, putting him in the company of classic frontmen like Judas Priest‘s Rob Halford, Iron Maiden‘s Bruce Dickinson, Ronnie James Dio and Geoff Tate, and he turns 56 today, June 14.
Diamond first emerged as singer for Mercyful Fate, who released two undeniably classic albums on Roadrunner – 1983’s Melissa and 1984’s Don’t Break the Oath. When that band broke up, the King wasted no time in going solo, and he released a string of albums on Roadrunner: 1986’s Fatal Portrait, 1987’s Abigail, 1988’s Them, 1989’s Conspiracy, and 1990’s The Eye. Even after leaving the label, he remained active throughout the ’90s, issuing seven more studio albums under his own name between 1995 and 2007, including 2002’s Abigail II: The Revenge, and also reviving Mercyful Fate for several more releases. Throughout his career, he’s been known not just for his amazing vocal talents, but for his striking face paint and overall theatrical presentation. A King Diamond performance is more than a rock concert – it’s a show.
Though he’s had some recent health problems, King Diamond is still very much with us. He appeared with Metallica during their 30th anniversary concerts in December 2011, and performed a comeback set at the Sweden Rock Festival earlier this month. So Happy Birthday to King Diamond – long may he reign!
Scottish death metallers CEREBRAL BORE have confirmed dates for an Eastern European tour, which kicks off on September 5th in Szeged, Hungary.
The band will be joined by Israel’s VISCERA TRAIL and England’s FLAYED DISCIPLE on the tour, which follows CEREBRAL BORE’s trek across North America on the Summer Slaughter tour in July and August. The band have also confirmed three off-date shows during the Summer Slaughter tour, with GOATWHORE and EXHUMED.
CEREBRAL BORE guitarist PAUL MCGUIRE comments:
“Time to score another seven new countries off the list on this one, and great to do it with two bands who we are already close friends with. We will be starting this tour less than a week after Summer Slaughter, so we should be on top form as far as our playing is concerned, which is always a good thing when playing to new audiences. A stop at Bathory castle is also in order!”
See CEREBRAL BORE on tour in Eastern Europe at the following shows:
Sep. 05 – Szeged, Hungary – Club Noir
Sep. 06 – Bucharest, Romania – Ageless Club
Sep. 07 – Varna, Bulgaria – Bar Grind
Sep. 08 – Istanbul, Turkey – The Mekan Concert Hall
Sep. 09 – Thessaloniki, Greece – 8 Ball Club
Sep. 10 – Belgrade, Serbia – TBC
Sep. 11 – Sarajevo, Bosnia – Cinemas
Sep. 12 – Maribor, Slovenia – Gustaf Hall
Sep. 13 – Prague, Czech Republic – Exit Chmelnice
SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR
Jul. 20 – Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
Jul. 21 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
Jul. 22 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
Jul. 23 – Scottsdale, AZ – Venue of Scottsdale
Jul. 25 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Jul. 26 – San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
Jul. 27 – Mission, TX – Pharr Events Center
Jul. 28 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Jul. 30 – Tampa, FL – The Ritz
Jul. 31 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
Aug. 01 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Aug. 02 – Knoxville, TN – The Valarium
Aug. 03 – Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend
Aug. 04 – Baltimore, MD – Sonar
Aug. 05 – Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero
Aug. 07 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
Aug. 08 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Aug. 09 – Albany, NY – Northern Lights
Aug. 10 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Aug. 11 – Montreal, QC – Heavy Montreal
Aug. 12 – Toronto, ON – Heavy Toronto
Aug. 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Howlers Coyote Cafe *
Aug. 14 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Aug. 15 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s
Aug. 16 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Aug. 17 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
Aug. 18 – Louisville, KY – Expo Five
Aug. 19 – Sioux Falls, SD – The Vault *
Aug. 20 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
Aug. 21 – Boise, ID – The Venue *
Aug. 22 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox Sodo
Aug. 23 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Aug. 24 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
Aug. 25 – Anaheim, CA – The Grove
EX DEO, the Ancient Roman-themed arsenal fronted by KATAKLYSM singer Maurizio Iacono, will release its sophomore album, “Caligvla”, on August 31 via Austria’s Napalm Records. The CD was mixed by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, who has previously worked with MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX and DESPISED ICON, among others. The artwork and layout for the album were handled by SEPTICFLESH‘s Seth Siro Anton. The booklet for the new album will feature commentaries and descriptions from frontman Iacono with his views on each song. The limited first pressing will be released as a six-panel digipack featuring the bonus track “Burned To Serve As Nocturnal Light”, a song dealing with Caligvla‘s madman rival emperor Nero. In addition, catch Iacono‘s girlfriend and Colombian model Suzzy in the upcoming video “I, Caligvla”. Shooting commences June 22 in Philadelphia, where Caligvla‘s twisted dominion will come to life again!
Commented the band: “Eight months in the making and we are sure we have a classic album in our hands, producer JF Dagenais has done a fabulous and great production, all guests appearances are massive, the gods are pleased. Expect the artwork to be unveiled very soon and also a new teaser trailer. Where all have failed in the past… EX DEO will succeed, Roma caput mundi!! Epic Roman-inspired metal!!”
EX DEO debuted “I, Caligvla”, on April 1 at Club Soda in Montreal, Quebec, Canada as part of the “Paganfest America Part III” tour with TURISAS, ALESTORM, ARKONA and HUNTRESS. Video footage of the performance can be seen below.
In addition to the previously announced guest appearances by ALL SHALL PERISH guitarist Francesco Artusato and TRISTANIA singer Mariangela Demurtas, “Caligvla” will feature contributions from SEPTICFLESH‘s Seth Siro Anton and GRAVEWORM‘s Stefano Fiori. Every invited guest on the album is of Roman or Greek descent.
“Caligvla” track listing:
01. I, Caligvla
02. The Tiberius Cliff (Exile To Capri)
03. Per Oculos Aquila
04. Pollice Verso (Damnatio Ad Bestia)
05. Divide Et Impera
06. Burned To Serve As Nocturnal Light
07. Teutuborg (Ambush Of Varus)
08. Along The Appian Way
09. Once Were Romans
10. Evocatio: The Temple Of Castor & Pollux
EX DEO recently canceled its participation in the “Paganfest America Part III” tour due to delays in the production of “Caligvla”. The band still performed with Paganfest on April 1 in Montreal at Club Soda and April 2 in Toronto at The Opera House.
EX DEO last year completed a North American tour with NILE, PSYCROPTIC and KEEP OF KALESSIN.
“Romulus”, the debut album from EX DEO, landed at position No. 90 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.
On their own, Family Guy and KISS are two of the most recognizable names in entertainment. Today, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and KISS are proud to announce an upcoming co-branded Family Guy/KISS product line that will hit shelves this coming fall. Moving forward, Fox Consumer Products and Kiss will look to create a line of co-branded merchandise inspired by other prominent guests from the show.
The Family Guy/KISS line is an organic collaboration that taps into the band’s references within the show. So far, KISS has appeared three times on the series, providing viewers with insightful and hilarious nuggets that include Peter Griffin’s love for the band and the fact that Lois Griffin once dated KISS’ bass playing Demon, Gene Simmons before he became famous.
To support the program, Fox Consumer Products and Live Nation Merchandise, Kisses’ licensing agent, will be looking for partners in the following categories: vinyl figures, bobble heads, apparel, plush, novelty,barware, social expressions and fine art.
According to KISS’ lead singer/guitarist and co-founder Paul Stanley; “With KISS merchandise, endorsements and co-branding heading to the billion dollar mark we are focusing more and more on the upper tier, blue chip opportunities for prestige partnerships. Family Guy’s track record and consistent success with it’s demographic makes this match up ideal.”
“Lois, our night together is a memory I will cherish.”said Gene Simmons
“KISS and Family Guy coming together for a line of products is a great mash-up of two iconic brands that speaks directly to fans who will be able to enjoy something a little different and special with what we have in store,” said Jeffrey Godsick, president of Fox Consumer Products.
“Kiss is the leading concert artist brand with a huge and growing base of licensed product worldwide. The ever increasing Kiss Army legion of fans are the most loyal in the music industry. Kiss loves Family Guy and are very excited to be in partnerships with Fox Consumer products”, said Doc McGhee, Kisses’ longtime manager, who brokered the deal.
Outside of co-branding efforts, Fox Consumer Products is developing character collections based on Stewie, Brian, Peter and Quagmire, while expanding into new product categories. One new area includes pet products. A deal with Fetch…for pets!, already in place, will introduce a full range of pet toys, clothing, collars, leads, bowls and even backgrounds and accessories for fish and reptile tanks starting in 2013.
The Family Guy brand will also continue to forge into the interactive space. A recent agreement with Activision Publishing Inc. for Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse will offer fans an unforgettable, interactive third-person action experience inspired by one of the series’ most popular episodes. Family Guy Online was alsorecently launched, providing fans with a fully interactive version of Quahogfor the first time. Family Guy Online allows users to create new characters, interact with the Griffin family, quest through adventures based on episodes from the show, and more.
Family Guy is one of the most-watched and influential shows of the last decade, reaching over 33.5 million viewers weekly in the US, and is the number two TV show on Facebook with more than 45 million ‘likes’. In the US, the series is the number one TV franchise on DVD with more than 25 million copies sold.
Source: Bravewords.com
Chief Shock Video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Ads
Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
01. I, Caligvla
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 
