As previously posted, Metal Hammer Magazine were in the running for this year’s PPA Award. Editor In Chief Alexander Milas posted a picture last night (10th July) showing that the magazine won ‘Front Cover Of The Year’, see the picture below:
Significantly, Metal Hammer was the only music magazine up for the award, which is described as “the most coveted in the UK magazine and business publishing industry, showcasing talent, rewarding innovation, and providing a benchmark for excellence.” The award was for the cover featuring SLIPKNOT. Congratulations Metal Hammer!
SAVAGE MESSIAH are auctioning off Joff Bailey‘s Schecter V-1 custom Diamond series guitar, with all proceeds will go to the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy (Registered Charity no. 280960) as part of a pledge campaign started by Dave Silver (Singer and guitarist from the band) for doing a charity bike ride entitled ‘Heavy Metal Truants’. Dave rode 161 miles from Alexandra Palace in London, to Donington Park to join everyone at the Download Festival.
Having entered the race at a very late stage, Dave has been granted additional time to collect donations now. As such, they have offered Joff’s actual Schecter V-1 custom Diamond series SIGNED by the band. You can see the guitar being used in the official video for “All Seeing I” below, taken from their Earache debut, “Plague Of Conscience”:
The guitar itself is in matt black, with 10 beautiful dark Mother of Pearl cross inlays embedded in the neck. This particular model is now discontinued and you can only purchase one second hand. It is in fully working order, and currently has a fresh new set of 10-46 gauge Ernie Ball Slink guitar strings fitted. There’s just under 4 days remaining until the end of this auction, so you haven’t got long if you want to win this awesome guitar!
Oakland-based metal icons MACHINE HEAD have posted the fourth part of the ongoing production video blog the band’s upcoming album and debut for Nuclear Blast. Check out the video below:
The band also launched their brand new homepage this week. Check it out at this location.
Singer and guitarist Robb Flynn recently posted a new entry of his ongoing column “The General Journals: Diary Of A Frontman… And Other Ramblings”. The newest episode called „Is it me you’re lookin’ for…“ in which the legendary frontman talks about his favorite beer, the album artwork and more, can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/ogxrn9f
In April MACHINE HEAD released the prestigious 10“ vinyl EP “Killers & Kings” featuring the demo version of the title track as well as a cover of the IGNITE classic ‘Bleeding’. The EP is available in two different colours (red & blue) and can be purchased with four different cover artworks.
“I remember growing up in the thrash scene and always wanting to hear the demo version of songs,” commented vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn. “You searched them out. Thankfully my buddy Jim was a big ‘tape trader,’ and through trading we had both METALLICA demos, EXODUS demos, bootlegs of songs sometimes ‘years’ before they came out. I knew how to play every note of »Pleasure Of The Flesh« by EXODUS, easily 2 years before the record was out! My friends and I would debate the merits of each, but we all agreed, It was so much cooler to hear it BEFORE the album is out! So we’re gonna do that for you. I can’t wait for you guys to hear this stuff.”
AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson has revealed the band has completed work on the follow-up to “Black Ice”, according to metalhammer.teamrock.com.
The Geordie hero returned to his hometown of Newcastle today (Wednesday 9th July) to pick up his Doctorate in Music from the city’s Northumbria University.
And he confirmed AC/DC’s new album is done and dusted following a series of quickfire recording sessions in Vancouver.
The 66-year-old says: “It was brilliant over there. We’re done. I’m very excited and we’ve got some great songs.”
But Johnson admitted the continued absence of founder member Malcolm Young had cast a shadow over the band’s latest stint in the studio.
He adds: “We miss Malcolm obviously. He’s a fighter. He’s in hospital but he’s a fighter. We’ve got our fingers crossed that he’ll get strong again.
“Stevie, Malcolm’s nephew, was magnificent, but when you’re recording with this thing hanging over you and your work mate isn’t well, it’s difficult.
“But I’m sure he was rooting for us. He’s such a strong man. He’s a small guy but he’s very strong. He’s proud and he’s very private so we can’t say too much. But fingers crossed he’ll be back.”
Johnson admitted the band had discussed a number of album titles with the new release due to hit stores later this year or early 2015.
And he added: “I wanted to call the album Man Down. But it’s a bit negative and it was probably just straight from the heart. I like that.”
Johnson received his honorary degree from Northumbria University’s vice chancellor Prof Andrew Wathey, who says: “Brian has been an inspiration to the people of the North East and rock fans the world over. “His ambition, dedication and talent is second to none. His passion for excellence has propelled the boy from Dunston to the top of the rock world.”
AC/DC are readying a world tour with Johnson hinting that the band will play UK dates at Wembley Stadium and Glasgow’s Hampden Park next summer.
Swiss superstars of New Wave Of Folk Metal, ELUVEITIE, just released a brand new song of their upcoming new masterpiece “Origins” today.
‘The Call Of The Mountains’ is the second single of the album and the band has recorded it in all four of Switzerland’s beautiful national languages.
Check out the multilingual track video (incl. all versions) here:
The band states:
“This one’s long overdue. Another “Origins” song you say? Well, yes indeed. Finally, a song about our beautiful mountains? That, too. But also an idea we’ve considered for
a number of years now: a song released not just in English and/or Gaulish, but in all four of Switzerland’s beautiful national languages! So we present to you: “The Call Of The Mountains”!
A song about the long searched for destination at the end of the epic journey of the Celts, who were to become the Helvetians – a song about our mystical and unparalleled alps.
Besides the English album version, you will find the full song in Swiss German, French, Italian and of course Romansh both on Nuclear Blast’s mailorder edition and on iTunes, where you will of course be able to get them separately, too. We can’t wait to hear how you like it!”
The single ‘The Call Of The Mountains’ (English version) will be available digital on July 25, 2014.
The full song in Swiss German, French, Italian and Romansh will be on the beautiful Nuclear Blast Mailorder-Edition of “Origins” and via iTunes.
Tracklist:
01. Origins
02. The Nameless
03. From Darkness
04. Celtos
05. Virunus
06. Nothing
07. The Call Of The Mountains
08. Sucellos
09. Inception
10. Vianna
11. The Silver Sister
12. King
13. The Day Of Strife
14. Ogmios
15. Carry The Torch
16. Eternity
“Origins”, the bands sixth full length album was recorded at the New Sound Studios by Tommy Vetterli (CORONER, KREATOR & many more) and is the successor of the most acclaimed album “Helvetios”.
Swedish metallers WOLF have released their video diary from the studio, showing the fans what went on behind the scenes when making their upcoming album “Devil Seed.” The band stated:
“People have asked us about the making of the “Devil Seed” album. Luckily our guitar player Simon Johansson took a camera to the studio and recorded a studio diary so people can see what’s going on behind the scenes. Citizens of Europe, mark August 25th in your calendars, citizens of North America, mark September 2nd in your calendars because that´s the day this baby is born! Meanwhile we bring you the “Making of ‘Devil Seed’ – The Studio Diary.
What happens when a studio runs out of coffee? Did they really use a xylophone on one of the tracks? What’s more useful, a roll of toilet paper or a bass player?
The answers to these questions dwell within this epic mini documentary.”
Check it out below:
“Devil Seed” is due for release on 25th August in Europe and 2nd September in North America, via Century Media Records.
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 ) 