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Your Demise Guitarist Gets Tased by Skinhead in South Carolina

Nothing says “welcome to America” like being tased in the neck. Ozzy Porkchop, guitarist of the St. Albans, UK hardcore act, YOUR DEMISE got to experience this now seemingly common American tradition firsthand during a recent stop in South Carolina. While playing a show on the Small Town Shakedown tour, the band encountered a skinhead audience member who they would later run into again later that night. The band had heard that the man was carrying a taser and decided to have a bit of fun with him. What resulted can be found below:

YOUR DEMISE is currently on the Small Town Shakedown tour with THE GHOST INSIDE, FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS and SUFFOKATE. Here are the dates:

February 9 -- Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
February10 -- Syracuse, NY @ Westcott
February11 -- Buffalo, NY @ Xtreme Wheels
February12 -- Nitro, WV @ Brickhouse
February13 -- Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre
February14 -- Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasants

Catch YOUR DEMISE on the Atticus Metal II Tour with  UNEARTH this spring.

Twiztid Release New Tour Dates

TWIZTID has announced a slew of new tour dates. Their touring cycle will start February 18 and will last until April 10. Special guests on the tour will be Blaze and Kung Fu Vampire. Full spring schedule is here.

The band also released a video for the song “HA Ha HA Ha HA Ha” which can be seen below:

Bret Michaels Records Duet With Miley Cyrus

Poison’s BRET MICHAELS has recorded a duet with Miley Cyrus. Yes, you read that right. The single is available for download at Amazon.com starting today. You can check out a sample of the song on the rocker’s new website which looks like it was made sometime circa 1999…nice font choices Bret!

Woe Of Tyrants Unveil Album Title, Release Date for Third Album

WOE OF TYRANTS’ new album, Threnody, will be released worldwide on April 13 while the band will be on the road with Overkill and Vader. The artwork and first track will be up on the band’s myspace, myspace.com/wot, in the coming weeks. Before then, SiriusXM Liquid Metal listeners will be treated to an exclusive premiere of the first single, “Creatures Of The Mire” on Friday, February 12.

Vocalist Chris Catanzaro discusses the themes of Threnody:

Well 2009 proved to be a monstrous one for Woe of Tyrants. It was a year of accomplishing goals such as releasing our debut Metal Blade album, touring with bands we’ve grown up listening to, and meeting thousands of awesome people all over the country. As we embark into 2010, our goals have shifted up a few gears. We have a brand baby spankin’ new record that we finished recording at the end of 2009 with Jamie King producing, and to embrace the cliché “this is the most epic brutal stuff we’ve ever done and we’re stoked on it!” The album is entitled Threnody. Now for those of us who do not know what that word means right off hand (I had to look it up as I was reading a passage from Ralph Waldo Emerson long ago), a threnody is a song or hymn inspired by the grief of losing someone you love. The album tells a story of a non-specific individual traveling between planets searching for answers, while paralleling Satan’s fall from grace to damnation at the same time. We all experience a change at some point as we travel through life, albeit not of the same magnitude as Lucifer, that will render us either content, or disgusted. When disgust is the feeling, then we begin to miss our former self as if they were an entirely different person. I’d like to be clear that I’m not referring specifically to Christians, or Muslims, or Amish or whatever else the kids are doing these days. Threnody, as we are using it, is a story of grief over losing oneself. This album will surprise those familiar with our band, and hopefully surpass any preconceived notions of those who are listening to us for the first time. If you have expectations for this record to sound like our last two albums, it doesn’t. Well, a little like the others, as we still prefer playing leads over doing breakdowns, and we still wish we were Wintersun or Decapitated. But for the most part, this record is new territory for us and we are excited to unleash it.

We have a huge touring schedule kicking off in the spring, preceded by some regional shows in February as a part of the “Metal as Art” tour with Hypno5e, Starring Janet Leigh and Fallen Martyr. At the end of March, we leave on the KILLFEST tour which features Overkill, Vader, God Dethroned, Warbringer and Evile. We couldn’t be happier about being involved with such an epic tour, and to join Overkill on their 25th anniversary tour is truly an honor. Much love!”

Threnody track listing:

1. Tetelestai
2. Creatures Of The Mire
3. Venom Eye
4. Tempting The Wretch
5. Threnody
6. Bloodsmear
7. The Venus Orbit
8. Lightning Over Atlantis
9. Singing The Surrender
10. Descendit Ad Inferos (The Harrowing Of Hell)

Cancer Bats Post New MP3, “Scared to Death”, to MySpace

CANCER BATS have posted a brand new track on their MySpace titled “Scared To Death”. The track is taken from the forthcoming album Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones which will be released in the United States and Canada on April 13. It can be heard over at www.myspace.com/cancerbats. You will also find tour dates in support of AGAINST ME! there.

High on Fire Premiere Eight Minute Title Track from “Snakes for the Divine”

World-renowned power trio HIGH ON FIRE premieres the eight minute title track from its forthcoming new album Snakes for the Divine today via SPIN. When asked for comment on Snakes for the Divine, frontman Matt Pike described the song as “A tale of the atmospheric union of alien crossbreeding with Man’s DNA and the creation of all Earth’s religion by the reptilian agenda.”  He continued, “It will also kick your ass!”  Check out the SPIN world premiere of HIGH ON FIRE’s “Snakes for the Divine” at this location.

Caspian, Red Sparowes Spring Tour Dates

CASPIAN will be embarking on a US tour this spring. They’ll share the stage with RED SPAROWES for a few dates:

March 9 Washington DC @ Black Cat **
March 10 Harrisonburg, VA @ Blue Nile **
March 11 Johnson City, TN @ The Hide Away **
March 12 Nashville, TN @ The Muse **
March 14 Orlando, FL @ Wills Pub **
March 16 New Orleans, LA @ Dragons Den **
March 17 Shreveport, LA @ The Rustic Cowboy **
March 18 Houston, TX @ The Mink **
March 19 Austin, TX @ SXSW Festival
March 20 Austin, TX @ SXSW Festival
March 21 Austin, TX @ SXSW Festival
March 23 Tucson, AZ @ TBA **
March 24 Scottsdale, AZ @ Rouge Bar **
March 25 Los Angeles, CA @ Pehrspace **
March 26 San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe **
March 27 San Francisco, CA @ TBA **
April 1 Murray, UT @ SHO **
April 2 Denver, CO @ 3 Kings **
April 3 Albequerque, NM @ Winnings **
April 5 Austin, TX @ Mohawk **
April 6 Dallas, TX @ Lounge on Elm Street **
April 7 Kansas City @ Record Bar **
April 8 Vernon, IA @ Orange Carpet **
April 10 Champaign, IL @ Mike N Mollys **
April 11 Fort Wayne, IN @ TBA **
April 13 Toronto, ON @ Rancho Relaxo **
April 14 Montreal, QC @ Divan Orange **
April 15 New York, NY @ Webster Hall Studio **
April 16 Philadelphia, PA @ Northstar Bar **
April 18 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop ^
April 21 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall ^
April 22 Madison, WI @ High Noon ^
April 23 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar ^
April 24 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown Jr. ^
April 26 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge ^
April 27 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge ^
April 29 Seattle, WA @ Neumos ^
April 30 Vancouver, Canada @ Biltmore Cabaret ^
May 1 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne ^
May 2 Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall ^

^ = with Red Sparowes
** = with Arms and Sleepers

New Megadeth Band Photo with David Ellefson

Below is the first official band photo of MEGADETH that features returning bassist David Ellefson. The pic was taken by Stephanie Cabral and features the line-up of the band that will be on the Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour.

From left to right: Shawn Drover (drums), Dave Mustaine (guitar/vocals), Chris Broderick (guitars), and David Ellefson (bass)

David Ellefson Rejoins Megadeth

MEGADETH founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group.  This reunion is appropriately timed to Megadeth’s upcoming historic month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA.  At these incredibly special shows, Megadeth will play their landmark, genre-defining 1990 album Rust In Peace in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites.

“This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness,” Mustaine says.  “David Ellefson belongs in Megadeth. Next we are going to show you the power of getting your asses kicked…HARD!”

David Ellefson concurs: “This is a huge moment for all of us, band and fans alike. It is a great celebration of the music from one of the biggest landmark albums of our career.”

Ellefson will join Mustaine and Megadeth band members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar) on tour in support of the group’s current CD Endgame, which has received some of the highest critical accolades of the band’s career.

“We’d like to thank James LoMenzo for several years of loyal service on the bass, and wish him the very best,” Mustaine adds.

Darkthrone to Release ‘Circle the Wagons’

The unrelenting Norwegian duo, DARKTHRONE, will welcome a new decade with a new album, to be released on Peaceville Records. Circle The Wagons, a creative feast of metal and punk, will initially be released on vinyl on March 8^th, through the Peaceville Records webstore, as an exclusive taster for the legions of metal supporters out there who still care about great music delivered the classic way.  The vinyl will also include a link to download a digital version of the album, which will be available when the regular and special edition CD versions of the album are released on April 6^th.

The vinyl edition can be pre-ordered now at www.peaceville.com/darkthrone.  The packaging and contents of the special edition CD will be announced shortly, and will be available to pre-order from the Circle The Wagons mini-site, which will launch on February 12^th.

Circle the Wagons was self-recorded at Necrohell II Studios.

Artwork for the album comes once again courtesy of Dennis Dread, notable for his talents on previous Darkthrone albums, F.O.A.D and 2008’s Dark Thrones and Black Flags.

Darkthrone sails against the tides of trend and disposable metal, uncompromising and defiant as ever, an ideology expanded upon by Darkthrone drummer/lyricist, Fenriz, when explaining the meaning behind the title…

“The new metal decade starts with our album.  It is a message to the invaders of our metal domain to circle their wagons!  With our own brand of heavy metal/speed metal-punk we are a constant ambush on the modern overground metal traitors.  Join us in our fight against instant gratification, and let’s see who stands when the smoke clears.”

Therion Title Upcoming New Album

Christofer Johnsson, mastermind for Swedish progressive metal experimentalists THERION, has posted the following update on the band’s official webpage:

“I’m happy to announce that THERION are now entering the later phases of the recording of the new album, which will be mixed at the legendary Polar Studios in Stockholm. The album title will be Sitra Ahra. 13 songs are being recorded, but it is at this moment not certain which, or if all, of those will end up on the actual record.”

Vocalist Thomas Vikström (ex-Candlemass) became a permanent member of the band in May 2009.  Stated Johnsson: “Thomas is, besides being a very warm and nice person, an incredibly talented singer and songwriter. And while also being a classically trained tenor, he simply fits perfectly in the band.”

Visit THERION online at www.myspace.com/THERION.

DragonForce Releasing 2 Expanded Reissues This Month

DRAGONFORCE have their first two studio albums – Valley Of The Damned and Sonic Firestorm – re-issued on February 23rd via Spinefarm Records.

Both titles will now be available with updated packaging and bonus audio/DVD content, some of it exclusive to these releases.

Formed in 1999, DragonForce issued their Valley Of The Damned debut in 2003 – an impressive nine-track showcase for their accomplished power metal forays. Containing a host of songs that still rank amongst the most popular of their output, the likes of “Black Fire,” “Evening Star” and the title track itself, VOTD has now been remixed and remastered to allow every aspect of the recordings to make maximum impact…

“Fans who have heard the original mixes many times might find that the songs sound a bit different now,” observes guitarist Herman Li, “but that’s how we always wanted the original songs to sound. We just didn’t have the time back then to make everything sound the way we wanted.”

The studio track, “Where Dragons Rule,” has now been added to the audio side, and there is a bonus DVD featuring never-before-seen live footage (”Valley of the Damned,” filmed in Japan), behind-the-scenes material (also from Japan), video commentaries, plus in-studio interviews and clips (shot in Denmark & the UK), all of it lovingly assembled by Li himself.

2004 saw the release of the follow-up album, Sonic Firestorm, which gave the band the chance to hone their skills and push their fast-lane tales of fantasy to a whole new level. They were happy with ‘Sonic…’ at the time and remain so to this day, which is why the mixing and the mastering have been left just as they are; however, the packaging has been upgraded, an extra track added (”Cry Of The Brave” – a song the group felt uncomfortable taking off first time around), and – as with VOTD – a bonus DVD added, this one featuring live footage from Japan (”Fury Of The Storm”), video commentaries plus freshly recorded interviews with the band members themselves.

Pre-order the bonus reissues of Valley of the Damned here and Sonic Firestorm here, for $11 each!

RSVP Your Free Tickets to See Skeletonwitch

Blackened-thrash overlords, SKELETONWITCH, will play two free Scion shows this week; Wednesday the 10th in Atlanta and Thursday the 11th in Los Angeles. The Ohio titans will appear at both shows with Massachusetts’ DOOMRIDERS, who feature members of Converge and Cave In. The shows are all ages and free, but you must RSVP to attend. Get there early as attendance is not guaranteed. RSVP now.

Here are the details:

February 10 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
February 11 – The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA

Evocation Issue Vlog Wrap-Up from European Plague Tour with Cannibal Corpse

EVOCATION, death metallers from Boras, Sweden just posted a brand new European Plague Tour wrap-up video clip. The music is mighty “Razored To The Bone” from their acclaimed 2008-album Dead Calm Chaos:

“Hi there folks!

Finally we managed to cut together a video of all the footage we managed to take during the amazing European Plague Tour with Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus and Obscura. If you attended some of the shows and hanged around us there is a good chance you are also caught on tape! Thank you all for coming to the shows around Europe , hope you enjoy the video.”

Former Behemoth/Vader Bassist and Mastery Drummer Available for Hire

Novy, bassist for bands such as BEHEMOTH and VADER is currently available for studio/session work individually or as part of a rhythm section. Drummer Kevan Roy (ex-Mastery) rounds out the self-proclaimed “Rhythm Section from Hell” who are available for hire. For further details, contact their management at mj@desertcore.com or visit www.desertcore.com

Additionally, rumor has it that Novy and Kevan Roy are currently putting together a new band, tentatively called ROAD’S END, with lead guitarist Chris Cannella (N17, Autumn’s End).

Kill the Client Sign to Relapse Records

KILL THE CLIENT has signed to Relapse Records.

KILL THE CLIENT formed in 2004 and has previously released two full-length albums in addition to split releases with AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED and THOUSANDSWILLDIE. The band has also appeared on For The Sick – A Tribute To Eyehategod and 2008’s This Comp Kills Fascists. Audio samples taken from these releases can be heard now via the band’s MySpace.

KILL THE CLIENT has a number of shows lined-up in and around Texas and California including shows with MISERY INDEX, MAGRUDERGRIND, PHOBIA, DESPISE YOU, SHITSTORM and more. The band will also take part in the 2010 Relapse Records SXSW Showcase on March 17 in Austin , TX . A listing of confirmed tour dates and cities can be found at their MySpace.com, with more to be announced soon.

Mastodon US Tour Dates with Between the Buried and Me

MASTODON will return to headline the Volcom Tour with support from BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, BARONESS and VALIENT THORR. It will all start on April 16. Confirmed tour dates are below:

April 16 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
April 17 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Center
April 18 – Richmond, VA @  The National
April 20 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head
April 21 – Sayreville, NJ @  Starland Ballroom
April 22 – Hartford, CT @ Webster
April 23 – Worcester, MA @ Palladium
April 24 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
April 26 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Palace Theater
April 27 – Rochester, NY @ Water Street
April 29 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Orbit Room
April 30 – Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue
May 1 – Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
May 3 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
May 4 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto
May 5 – San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues
May 7 – Pomona, CA @ Fox
May 8 – Oakland/San Francisco, CA @ Venue TBD
May 9 – Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
May 10 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater
May 11 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
May 13 – Billings, MT @ Shrine
May 14 – Fargo, ND – @ Venue
May 15 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Hall
May 16 – Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
May 18 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum
May 19 – Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club
May 20 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood
May 21 – Knoxville, TN @ Valarium
May 22 – Lexington, KY @ Busters

KoRn Plot Canada Tour Dates with Five Finger Death Punch

KORN will make it up north to Canada for a series of headlining tour dates. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will support:

March 29 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
March 31 – Calgary, AB @ Big Four Building
April 2 – Regina, SK @ Agribition
April 3 – Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Convention Centre
April 6 – Toronto, ON @ International Centre Arrow Hall

Suidakra US and Canada Tour Dates With Orphaned Land

SUIDAKRA are making their triumphant return to North America on tour this March with ORPHANED LAND.  There will be three dates in the United States one in New York, one in Chicago and one in Austin, TX (during the South By South West Music Festival).  The tour will also touch down in Canada in both Montreal and Toronto.

March 8 – New York, NY @ BB King’s
March 10 – Montreal, QC @ Les Foufones Electriques
March 13 – Toronto, ON @ Wreck Room
March 14 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
March 17 – Austin, TX @ Red 7

Pathology Announces New Members, Entering Studio to Record

Recently signed to Victory Records, San Diego ’s PATHOLOGY will enter Doubletime Studios today to record their label debut. The band feels very comfortable there with producer/engineer Jeff Forrest, having worked together on the group’s previous recordings. Doubletime has been going for 20 years and has a great and diverse client list including As I Lay Dying, Atreyu and Bleeding Through. Upon completion of the tracks, the album will be mixed in March by Hate Eternal guitarist Erik Rutan at his Mana Studios (Cannibal Corpse, Vital Remains) for an anticipated early summer release.

“We are excited to be working with such a death metal legend,” expresses drummer Dave Astor. “We are confident that Erik will help bring us to the next level of brutality!”

In addition, the band have more news as they have undergone a line-up change with the new album with returning vocalist Matti Way and the addition of second guitarist Diego Sanchez (both ex-Disgorge) joining drummer Dave Astor and guitarist Tim Tiszczenko. The band will be adding a bassist to become a 5-piece when touring commences in May.

“We are very excited to be bringing Matti Way back,” states Astor. “We feel Matti is the voice of Pathology, and it would not be the same without him.”

In the meantime, the band wants to close with this – “We’re prepared to lay down the new Pathology and it’s our most brutal and heaviest to date,” promises drummer Dave Astor. “We are stoked to show our fans what we have been working on.”

More over at www.myspace.com/pathologydm.

Joe Satriani Peforming on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Tonight

Tune in tonight to Late Night With Jimmy Fallon to see Joe Satriani perform with The Roots.  The legendary guitar player released his new live CD & DVD Live in Paris: I Just Wanna Rock on February 2.  The two-disc CD & DVD was recorded on May 27, 2008 at The Grand Rex Theater in Paris , France .

The Who’s Halftime Show at Superbowl XLIV

Footage of THE WHO performing at this past Sunday’s Superbowl XLIV can be found below:

HIM Streaming New Album on Myspace Now

Finnish rockers HIM are now streaming their seventh studio album Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice on their MySpace profile.

The album, which was produced by Matt Squire (The Used, All Time Low, Saosin) was recently described by frontman Ville Valo as being “the most sexual album we’ve ever made”.

Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice will be hitting stores in the US on February 9.

The track listing is as follows:

1. In Venere Veritas
2. Scared to Death”
3. Heartkiller”
4. Dying Song
5. Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness)
6. Love, the Hardest Way
7. Katherine Wheel
8. In the Arms of Rain
9. Ode to Solitude
10. Shatter Me With Hope
11. Acoustic Funeral (For Love in Limbo)
12. Like St. Valentine
13. The Foreboding Sense of Impending Happiness

Goatwhore March US Tour Dates with Enfold Darkness

GOATWHORE are lining up a series of US tour dates. ENFOLD DARKNESS will be the support act:

March 3 – Eau Claire, WI @ House Of Rock
March 4 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
March 5 – Milwaukee, WI @ Vnuk’s
March 6 – Detroit, MI @ Blondie’s
March 7 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
March 8 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
March 9 – Wheeling, WV @ Yesterday’s
March 10 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
March 11 – Wilmington, DE @ Mojo 13
March 12 – Newport News, VA @ Buddha’s Place
March 13 – Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11
March 14 – Chattanooga, TN @ Club Fathom
March 15 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero
March 16 – Atlanta,GA @ Masquerade

Job For A Cowboy, Cattle Decapitation US Tour Dates?

Metal Blade duo, JOB FOR A COWBOY and CATTLE DECAPITATION, look to have a few shows scheduled together. Potentially the beginnings of a full blown US tour:

April 23 – Hackensack, NJ @ School Of Rock
April 29 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre

However: Strangely enough, CATTLE DECAPITATION and GAZA are already booked for a series of April tour dates, of which the April 23 date conflicts. Confusion. Setting. In.