Visceral Bleeding – Part Ways With Guitarist

Swedish death metallers VISCERAL BLEEDING have announced the departure of guitarist Marcus Nilsson with the following update:

Due to other commitments, Marcus has decided to discontinue his guitar work in VISCERAL BLEEDING.

Marcus comments:
“It’s been an interesting and exhilarating ride, that’s for sure, but I feel my lack of commitment to the band at this point will likely only hold the other guys back. I therefore step aside to let someone else join forces and strengthen the VISCERAL momentum for future brutalization!

My musical endeavors do not end here though. I will never put down the guitar and will continue exploring the vast realm of music, indefinitely. I wish VISCERAL BLEEDING the best of luck and hope they will succeed in whatever they aspire to!

I’d like to thank all the people I have met through the band, for their support and good times: Cheers to you all!!!”

There are absolutely no hard feelings involved in this departure and Marcus remains a very close friend to us all, we go way back and chare a lot of history and VB wishes him the best of luck with everything he decides to put his focus on in the future.

Martin “Germ” Bermheden (ENSHRINED) will be filling the spot as lead guitarist and is already preparing and focusing 100% at this and he will appear on the upcoming CD.”

Tom Petty vs. The Red Hot Chili Peppers – Last Dance With…Guitar Riffs – Same Tune?

Have THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ripped off TOM PETTY‘s famous hit ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance’? What is being dubbed as “damning evidence” has been made available in MP3 format courtesy of the Dan Gaffney Morning Show on American radio station WGMD – you be the judge…

To listen – click here.

Darkest Hour – Kris Norris Posts DVD Teaser Clips Online

DARKEST HOUR guitarist Kris Norris has posted a clip of one of his DVD’s online. Three more clips are expected later this week. To check everything out, click here.

Cinder – Back With New Album – “House Full of No Trust”

Former Geffen act, CINDER is back with their new album, “House Full Of
No Trust” which will be relesed August 8 through Rock Ridge Music/ADA. It will be available for pre-order in July and the first single will hit the radio in late June. A nationwide tour will kick off in CINDER‘ s home town of Ft. Myers Florida on June 8 with REVERY.

Ill Nino – Set Record Straight Regarding Breakup Rumors

ILL NINO has set the record on rumors concerning the band:

“First off no one has left Ill Nino! There seems to be a lot of rumors surrounding this topic, so we want to inform you of all the facts. Due to personal family problems Jardel Paisante will not be able to do any touring for the upcoming 3 months. Long time friend of Jardel and Ill Nino, Diego Verduzco will be taking his place on the upcoming Ill Nino U.S. and European tours. We fully support Jardel and his present situation. Ill Nino will be embarking on a 28 city tour with God Forbid, Silent Civilian, Eyes Of Fire, and Bleed The Sky, which begins in New York City on Wednesday, May 10th, throughout June 11th.”

Avenged Sevenfold – Pantera Cover of ‘Walk’ Available

You can hear AVENGED SEVENFOLD‘s version of the PANTERA classic ‘Walk’ here. The song will feature in a special Kerrang! CD this June.

Crisis – Possible Last Interview…Ever

CRISIS announced several weeks ago that they were going on indefinite hiatus. antiMUSIC’s Morley Seaver spoke to Karyn Crisis for what might be their last interview ever. Despite refusing to comment on the reasons behind the breakup, she looked back at the struggles of the band.

Here’s a sample of what she had to say:

antiMUSIC: Do you have any regrets, band-wise — not personal or personality-wise but anything that the band didn’t get to achieve?

Karyn: I don’t have any regrets as far as the band is concerned. I mean, we worked our asses off and we sacrificed a lot of things to be in a band. I mean, bands these days have it a lot easier, they live at home or they have easier financial situations. We literally had no one backing ourselves up other than ourselves. And you know, we had a real rough road of it in the earlier days. In terms of things we would have liked to accomplished, some of the things are not in our control. They have to do with the business side of things. And you know, Crisis always wanted to do a lot of big things, but the industry was always just like “no you’re too extreme, no, you’re too weird, no, you have a woman singer.” And of course as we’ve seen along the way, labels have literally, like you know how the Backstreet Boys were formed�put together a lot of female-fronted bands in our image so they didn’t necessarily want to take a gamble on what WE were doing because that was something they couldn’t quite understand. But hey finally came around to the idea of the concept that a female-fronted band was a good thing. But you know these people control a lot of your fate and unfortunately the industry never really backed up Crisis. We were like a thorn in everybody’s side, except for The End Records, which was an amazing label. But in terms of getting Crisis to a bigger level, we were more of a thorn in everyone’s side because we were so different, and so unique. We just refused to be fake and stylish for the sake of selling records so, I have absolutely no regrets with the way the band has done…you know we’ve done everything with our sense of integrity. I wish we could have done a lot more but that was not in our control.

You can read the whole interview here.

Exodus – Final Night SF Pics Available – Watch Them Die, Full Blown Chaos Shots Up Too

Live pics from the final day of EXODUS‘ current tour have been made available courtesy of Dirt Junior. WATCH THEM DIE and last minute addition FULL BLOWN CHAOS also played.

Pics #1
Pics #2
Pics #3

Trivium – Like Light to Flies – Live Video on UVTV

There is a new live performance of TRIVIUMplaying their track ?Like Light To The Flies? available for viewing on the Underground Video Television website. The footage was taken at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, NY.

Lzyanxia – Sign Worldwide Deal with Listenable Records

LYZANXIA have signed a worldwide deal with LISTENABLE RECORDS. Their new album “UNSU” will be released in September all over Europe and shortly later in the USA. “Unsu” was recorded and mixed at the Fredman Studio with producer Fredrik Nordström in Sweden and was mastered by Peter In De Betou at Tailor Maid Studio.

Lost Prophets – Back With New Album – “Liberation Transmission” – 1st Single Streaming Online

Following up on their last album “Start Something” and the smash hit ‘Last Train Home’, Wales’ finest – LOST PROPHETS – are back with a new album. “Liberation Transmission” will be in stores on June 27 thru Columbia Records. Fans can check out their new media player, which features the full track ?Rooftops,? the first single off the release here.

Breaking Benjamin – Announce Single-2-Radio Date – Album Release Info

BREAKING BENJAMIN will share theirs August 8 when they release “Phobia” on Hollywood Records. It?s the much-anticipated follow-up to their explosive platinum 2004 album “We Are Not Alone”, which produced a pair of compelling #1 rock hits, ?So Cold? and ?Sooner Or Later”.

“Phobia” will be launched June 6 at radio with the single ?The Diary Of Jane,? a song that impressively builds on BREAKING BENJAMIN?s mix of hard-charging rock, sharp hooks and soaring vocals.

BREAKING BENJAMIN rejoined forces with producer David Bendeth, who did the same honors for We Are Not Alone. ?The goal was to make a solid, mature and cohesive record, not just a few singles and filler,? says bassist MARK JAMES. ?We had some time to live with the songs and as a result the album is much more thought-out. I’ve never felt this strong about any album. This was our second time working with David so everything was a lot smoother this time around. We’ve all gotten a lot better at our craft and we knew we needed to take it to a higher level.”

The above mentioned 1st single can be heard online breaking_benjamin_the_diary_of_jane_wma_hi.asx”> here

Light This City – Touring Heavily – Trevor Strnad Provides Guest Vocals

Bay Area thrashers LIGHT THIS CITY will be touring heavily this summer in anticipation of the band’s forthcoming record. The band will hit the road beginning July 14 with SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL SHALL PERISH, wrapping up in early September.

The follow-up to 2005′s ‘Remains of the Gods,’ an effort that was released to rave reviews in metal press and landed on Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles’ year-end list, is currently scheduled for a Sept. 12 release through Prosthetic Records. Having returned to the studio in March, LIGHT THIS CITY again met up at Castle Ultimate Studios in Emeryville, CA with producer Zach Ohren (ANIMOSITY, ALL SHALL PERISH) for recording and have enlisted Mario Garza (HELL WITHIN) of Robot Plague for the album’s artwork. Both assisted in the recording and designing for ‘Remains of the Gods,’ as well. THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER‘s Trevor Strnad makes a guest vocal appearance on a song from the new record called “Fear of Heights.”

Dirty Rig – Ink Deal with Escapi Music – Film Video for Lead Single

DIRTY RIG has joined the Escapi Music (Ryko/Warner Brothers) family. The band has signed a world wide deal and will release their CD titled “Rock Did It” on June 27.

The band will be filming a DVD on June 12 with director David Brodsky (ALL THAT REMAINS, GOD FORBID) from My Good Eye here in NYC. The video will be for the lead off track “Suck It”.

The Used – Branden Steinekert Looking for New Talent to Produce/Sign

THE USED drummer Branden Steineckert is producing bands and artists during free time. Branden recently produced the Utah based band called BROKE, who he also helped get signed to Maverick/Warner Bros Records. Their debut album entitled “The Answer” will be out in stores this summer.

Interested parties can mail a demo to:

“Demo for Branden”
P.O. Box 970518
Orem, UT 84097

*demos will not be returned to you

Meat Loaf – Releases Song From Next Chapter in Bat Out of Hell Series Feat. Nikki Sixx, John 5

An un-mastered song from MEAT LOAF‘s next chapter in the Bat Out Of Hell series began to appear on peer-to-peer file sharing sites last week, providing MEAT LOAF fans around the world an unexpected first taste of “Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose”, the long-awaited third installment to rock music?s most successful series of all time.

The escaped title track, “The Monster is Loose”, was co-written by Nikki Sixx (MOTLEY CRUE), JOHN 5 (guitarist for MARILYN MANSON/ROB ZOMBIE) and Bat Out of Hell III producer, Desmond Child. JOHN 5 also performs on the track, which features MEAT LOAF‘s distinctive vocal over the epic, hard-rocking track, the combination that forged the unique Bat Out Of Hell sound.

The album is due to be officially released in October, 2006 by Mercury Records.

Said a Mercury Records, UK spokesperson, “We’re investigating the source of the leak from the studio, but once the “Monster is Loose”, you really can’t stuff it back in its cage. Because the track has already been leaked it has been made available at MEAT LOAF‘s website and MySpace page”.

MEAT LOAF‘s two previous Bat Out Of Hell albums have sold 45 million units around the world. “Bat Out of Hell”, released in 1977 and produced by Todd Rundgren, included such massive hits as “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”, “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” and the show-stopping “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights.” The Jim Steinman-produced Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, released in 1993 included the classic “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” which hit #1 in 29 countries and earned MEAT LOAF a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance.

Twin Method – UK Prog Metal Act – 1st Video Uploaded – To Support Drowning Pool on US Tour

TWIN METHOD‘s video for the track “The Abrasive” has been posted online at this location. The video was shot and directed by Danny Roew and Matt Zane (SOCIETY 1) in Los Angeles.

“The Abrasive” is the first single from TWIN METHOD‘s debut album, “The Volume of Self”, to be released June 13 on Crash Music. The band will be hitting the road for their first US tour supporting DROWNING POOL, kicking off in Springfield, MO., on June 13.

Municipal Waste, Annihilation Time – First Tour Date Released

MUNICIPAL WASTE and ANNIHILATION TIME will be teaming up for a tour this summer. The first date to be released is as follows:

July 8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Oakland Cafe

Sounds of the Underground – More Bands Confirmed

Bands representing all points along the hardcore and metal spectrums have been added to this year’s Sounds Of The Underground tour. The tour, which represents some of the best independent-minded music available today, begins appropriately over the Independence Day holiday week, on July 8 in Cleveland, and runs through August 12 winding up in Universal City, California.

Joining the tour on…

July 8 – July 12: HORSE THE BAND, one of the most visceral bands to blend screamo and noise, will be on the tour from its launch until July 17 in Columbia, Maryland (with the exception of July 12 in Montreal).

July 9 – July 17: CONVERGE, one of the leading voices in hardcore, will play seven shows starting July 9 in Tinley Park, Illinois and running through July 17 in Columbia, Maryland.

July 26 – 29: JOB FOR A COWBOY will take the SOTU stage July 26 in Mesa, Arizona and will play three shows, ending July 29 in Mountain View, California.

July 26 & July 28: SHADOWS FALL, modern metalcore band, IT DIES TODAY and metal upstarts, STILL REMAINS (7/26 Mesa, AZ. & 7/28 San Diego, CA)

July 29 – August 5: Heavy rock trendsetters, MACHINE HEAD, will storm the stages from Mountain View, CA on July 29 through St. Paul, MN on August 5.

Several other bands will play one show each:

7/14 in Mansfield, MA – KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
7/16 in Camden, NJ – VISION OF DISORDER
7/17 in Columbia, MD – MUNICIPAL WASTE and DOG FASHION DISCO
8/10 in Vancouver, Canada – 3 INCHES OF BLOOD

Skinless – More North American Dates Announced

New York death metal favorites SKINLESS have announced a few more upcoming shows:

May 27 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar (Maryland Deathfest)
June 16 – Bucksport, ME @ The Kave
June 17 – Cohoes, NY @ Saratoga Winners
June 23 – Yonkers, NY @ Club Pure
June 24 – West Islip, NY @ Almost Home Cafe
June 25 – New York, NY @ CBGB
June 30 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Loft
July 23 – New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club w/ Cryptopsy
August 3 – Trois-Rivieres, QC @ Rock Cafe Le Stage
August 5 – Montreal, QC @ Club Saphir
August 6 – Quebec City, QC @ L’Ariequin
August 9 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx w/ Immolation
August 11 – Sommerville, MA @ Goodtimes Emporium
August 12 – Bedford, NH @ Mark’s Place

Bloodletting North America V – More Tour Dates Released

More dates have been released for this summer’s Bloodletting North America V tour featuring DEEDS OF FLESH, VILE, DECREPIT BIRTH, and ODIOUS MORTEM:

July 14 – Corona, CA @ Showcase Theatre
July 15 – San Marcos, CA @ Jumpin Turtle
July 16 – Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory
July 17 – Glendale, AZ @ Bull Dogs
July 18 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Compound
July 19 – Lubbock, TX @ The Slaughterhouse
July 20 – Tulsa, OK @ The Pink Eye
July 21 – St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl
July 23 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
July 24 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Peppermint Beach Club
July 25 – New York, NY @ Downtime
July 26 – Montclair, NJ @ Bloomfield Ave Cafe
July 27 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Backstreet Billiards
July 28 – Toronto, ONT @ El Mocambo
July 29 – Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus
July 30 – Ottawa, ONT @ Mavericks
July 31 – Madison, WI @ The Loft
August 1 – Arlington Heights, IL @ Knights of Columbus Hall
August 2 – Minneapolis, MN @ Station 4
August 4 – Denver, CO @ The Grimm Reaper
August 7 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
August 8 – Portland, OR @ Rock N Roll Pizza
August 9 – Eureka, CA @ The Eureka Vets Hall
August 10 – Fresno, CA @ The Belmont

Pungent Stench – Cancel U.S. Tour

Due to problem’s with the booking agent, PUNGENT STENCH have canceled their previously announced May U.S. tour. They’ll instead only be performing at the Maryland Deathfest and are expected to perform at CBGB in New York City on May 26th with MUCUPURULENT, SPLATTERHOUSE, MACHETAZO, PUTRID PILE, and others.

Death In The Forest Festival – Pictures Uploaded

Return to the Pit have uploaded a ton of photos from last night’s (May 20th) Death In The Forest festival, which took place at Club Speed (it was moved to there from Avalon on the day of the show) in New York City. Pictures include:

ALL HEAVENS BURN (30 pics)
ANAL CUNT (53 pics)
BLOOD THRONE (50 pics)
CALMSITE (56 pics)
DEATH SICK (40 pics)
DEIMOS (51 pics)
DIMENTIANON (64 pics)
DISTORTED MIND (25 pics)
DIVINITY DESTROYED (34 pics)
ENGORGE (62 pics)
EXPULSIVE INCISION (9 pics)
FECAL CORPSE (92 pics)
IMMOLATION (108 pics)
IMPALED (93 pics)
NATHANIEL WHITE (70 pics)
QUINTA ESSENTIA (64 pics)
SEMPER TYRANNIS (27 pics)
SKINLESS (82 pics)
VITAL REMAINS (129 pics)
ZIRCON (55 pics)

You can check those out over at www.returntothepit.com.

Belphegor – Cancel Tonight’s New York City Appearance

Due to “visa problems,” BELPHEGOR have also pulled out of tonight’s (May 20th) Death In The Forest festival set to take place at Avalon in New York City.

1349 – Cancel Death In The Forest Fest Appearance

Norwegian black metallers 1349 have issued the following statement:

“Due to delays in the processing of the visa-application to enter the USA, 1349 will unfortunately have to cancel their appearance at the Death In The Forest festival, scheduled to find place tomorrow 20′th of may in New York. We’ve done everything in our power and have followed every procedure to make this happen, and this matter is out of our hands. It is with great dissapointment that we have to announce this, and we share with the fans the frustration this causes- this is mutual from our side.”

WITHERSOUL have also been forced to cancel their appearance:

As much as we hate to do this, but Withersoul has cancelled from being
on the festival. We’ve talked to TJ and informed him of our cancellation. We can’t risk driving 400 plus miles each way for a festival that has been teetering on the edge of cancellation and constant replacements all week long. Also the fact we have no hotel reservations (plus we’d not be able to afford anything inside NYC either). Not to mention to have all those bands two stages for a 20 minute set isn’t a good thing for a band that plays 10+ minute songs. This trip alone would have cost us well over 1000 dollars all together at it’s current location. We have very set & limited finances and we can’t risk coming up all that way for very little. If this would have happened a week earlier, something could have been arranged. We are all seriously bummed out over this, and have been looking forward to this for almost 6 months now…
We hope everything goes well for TJ Morris and Watchers Entertainment and everyone has a kickass time…”

The expected set times for the festival, which will take place tomorrow (May 20th) at Avalon in New York City, can be viewed here.