Doom Shall Rise IV – Solitude Aeturnus and Veni Domine Confirmed

U.S. doom masters SOLITUDE AETURNUS and Sweden’s VENI DOMINE have have been the latest pair of acts confirmed for the Doom Shall Rise IV festival, set to take place March 31 – April 1 2006 at the Chapel in Göppingen, Germany. Doom Shall Rise is the world’s biggest annual event exclusively dedicated to Doom-Metal. The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

AGAINST NATURE (USA)
BEEHOOVER (Germany)
BUNKUR (Netherlands)
DANTESCO (Puerto Rico)
DAWN OF WINTER (Germany)
DEBRIS INC. (USA)
DOOMRAISER (Italy)
GLOW (Spain)
HEAVY LORD (Netherlands)
IRON HEARSE (UK)
JACK FROST (Austria)
LOW MANS TUNE (Germany)
SOLITUDE AETURNUS (USA)
VENI DOMINE (Sweden)
VERSUS THE STILLBORN-MINDED (Germany)

One final band will be announced shortly.

Celtic Frost – Announce Int’l Licensing Agreement with Century Media

CELTIC FROST and Century Media are proud to announce the signing of an international licensing agreement covering all territories. The first release, scheduled for Spring 2006, is the band’s highly anticipated new album titled “Monotheist”, CELTIC FROST‘s first album in 13 years. The album features 11 songs produced by the band with Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY/PAIN).

Tracklisting for the release is as follows:

1. Progeny
2. Ground
3. A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh
4. Drown In Ashes
5. Os Abysmi Vel Daath
6. Obscured
7. Domain Of Decay
8. Ain Elohim Triptych
9. Totengott
10. Synagoga Satanae
11. Winter (Requiem, Chapter Three: Finale)

The album will be released simultaneously in all territories in three different configurations including a limited-edition Digipak containing the bonus track “Temple Of Depression” and a vinyl LP with another bonus title, “Incantation Against You”.

“I am extremely excited to have such a high profile legend joining the Century Media Records repertoire,” says Oliver Withöft, Managing Director of Century Media Records. “Their new album is a historic comeback.”

CELTIC FROST will support the release of “Monotheist” by numerous live appearances in 2006. The band will play a full North American tour in fall 2006. In Europe the following festival performances have been confirmed:

* Sweden Rock
* Wacken Open Air, Germany
* With Full Force, Germany
* Hole In the Sky, Norway
* Tuska, Finland

More shows and festivals will be added soon. Further information regarding the release date and “Monotheist” will follow.

Confirmed North American dates so far are as follows:

September 12 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
September 13 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
September 14 – New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club
September 15 – New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club
September 18 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
September 19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
October 1 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
October 6 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

Devildriver – ‘End of the Line’ Video Uploaded

DEVILDRIVER‘s new video for the track ‘End of the Line’, off their 2nd release “The Fury of Our Makers Hand”, has been made available online at this location.

Single Bullet Theory – ‘Hollowed Out’ Video Finally Made Available for Fans

SINGLE BULLET THEORY have posted a quicktime movie of the song “Hollowed Out” at this location.

The video was shoot by Jay Bones in an abandoned asbestos factory in Ardmore, PA. Due to problems between the band and the label, the video never was released and this is the first time its been available anywhere.
The song comes off the sophomore release “Behind Eyes of Hatred” (Crash Music inc) which was released in February 2004. “Behind Eyes of Hatred” featured guest drum duties by Matt Thompson (KING DIAMOND) and two guest solos by James Murphy (TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY). The record was also produced, mixed and mastered by James Murphy.

SINGLE BULLET THEORY are now in the final stages of the newest offering “THe Killing Floor”. The record was recorded at Angry Chair recordings in Glenside , Pa. and is the first to feature new guitarist Dan Loughry and Drummer Darren Patrick. The record is a marked return to the more aggressive sounding “Route 666″ cd and set to feature 11 songs.

SINGLE BULLET THEORY will begin shopping the new disc to labels within the next month. The band is now also seeking licensing deals in all territories.

nearLY – ex-Nine Inch Nails – Prepare for Debut Release in April

JEROME DILLON, best known for his work over the past six years as drummer and occasional guitarist with NINE INCH NAILS , will release “reminder”, the first album from his band NEARLY on April 11 through KUFALA Recordings/La Cosa Nostra. NEARLY‘s “reminder” was recorded in Los Angeles and features Dillon as the primary writer, producer, performer and arranger, accompanied by former 12 Rounds vocalist Claudia Sarne, Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers’ Greg Dulli, former NINE INCH NAILS programmer Keith Hillebrandt, violinist Petra Haden, and engineer/co-producer Brett Pierce.

NEARLY‘s “reminder” began in 1999 while Dillon was on a break from NINE INCH NAILS‘s “Fragility” tour. He had cut demos on a digital four-track in various hotel rooms throughout Europe on that tour, and the project then evolved over the next two years as Dillon and Pierce experimented in the studio with different musical textures and tones.

These miscellaneous recordings were compiled and Dillon and Pierce began to sift through them while beginning the search for a vocalist. “The only things I knew for sure were that I didn’t want to make a “rock” record, I wanted to be honest, and I didn’t want to sing,” Dillon said. “I had written some vocal melodies and lyrics but I wanted someone else to come in and take them to another level. Claudia was a perfect fit for this record – we began with her learning the chord progressions on piano and singing along as she played. This made the writing process feel much more natural and organic, as opposed to approaching the vocals as just another overdub. She understood where I was coming from, musically and emotionally, so we began to collaborate and finished the songs together.”

Slipknot – Turn Down Headlining Spot For Ozzfest 2006

In a new MTV.com article, SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor announced that the band turned down the chance to headline this year’s addition of Ozzfest, and instead he’ll be focusing on his other band, STONE SOUR. Here’s what he had to say:

“We were out on the road for two years, and we did the entire 2004 Ozzfest. It [was] time for some of us to take a break. They offered us a lot of money, but it wasn’t about that. If you burn up the audience, they’re not going to come back. How much more can you do, on an album that came out two years ago? I’m much more interested in doing STONE SOUR these days.

“Now, if they asked me to do STONE SOUR on Ozzfest, that’s a different story.”

Deicide – New Demo Clip Posted

DEICIDE have posted an untitled demo clip of a song off their new album, “The Stench of Redemption,” on their recently launched official MySpace page.

Giant Squid – Sacramento Quintet Relocate to Austin, TX – SXSW Scheduled

The End Records’ latest signing GIANT SQUID have relocated.

The native Sacramento, California quintet made the trek on Tuesday January 17th to their new home in Austin, Texas. Frustrated with the lack of live music venues and the insane housing costs of California’s capitol city, the band decided to relocate to the “live music capitol of the world” where gigging opportunities in town and in state will be plentiful.

Guitarist/singer Aaron Gregory is excited with the move and adds, “Touring either coast — as well as mid-West states — will be much easier from Austin’s central location.”

GIANT SQUID‘s first gig in their new home town will be The End Record’ showcase at South by Southwest (SXSW), Austin’s legendary annual, weeklong and city-wide music festival, sharing the stage with label mates THE GATHERING (Holland), GREEN CARNATION (Norway) and UNEXPECT (Canada). More information on the showcase to come.

Following SXSW, all the bands embark on an East Coast tour together with THE GATHERING and UNEXPECT . Dates and venues to be announced.

The band recently re-recorded their 2002 independent release Metridium Field with Billy Anderson to serve as their debut for The End Records.

Overkill – Fall Tour Planned – First Date Revealed

OVERKILL have put plans in motion for a Fall tour of North America. No support acts have been announced as of today, but the first date released is below:

September 8 – Lakewood, CO @ Eck’s Saloon

Cryptopsy – Nominated for Canadian Metal Artist Award – Possible Far East Tour Planned

Montreal extreme metallers CRYPTOPSY have been nominated for Favorite Independent Canadian Metal Artist as part of Canadian Music Week. The Indies, The 6th Annual Independent Music Awards, will be hosted by the Trailer Park Boys, and the awards will be presented at Toronto’s The Docks on March 1st at 7:00 PM.

Decimating 2006′s NAMM, located inside the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, drummer Flo Mounier will be performing live at the Pearl Drum booth at 11:00 AM Sunday, January 22. Although not open to the public, those attending will have a chance to watch him demonstrate techniques from the band’s new album “Once Was Not”. Pearl will host Flo’s autograph session immediately following the performance.

Headlining “The Domination Tour 2006,” CRYPTOPSY will lead the five-week massacre across Europe, which will include Grave, Dew-Scented, Aborted and more. Returning to Canada immediately after, CRYPTOPSY will then headline the MQM Canadian Music Festival Showcase March 4 at Toronto’s The Vatikan. For more information and tickets click here. Look for CRYPTOPSY to continue touring throughout 2006 including a possible tour of the Far East and another North American tour.

Eyes of Fire, Losa – Team Up For U.S. Tour

EYES OF FIRE and LOSA will be teaming up for a U.S. tour starting next month. Confirmed dates are as follows:

February 3 – Phoenix, AZ @ Metal Devastation 2
February 5 – Houston, TX @ The Engine Room
February 6 – Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory
February 7 – Dallas, TX @ Darkside Lounge
February 8 – Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Records
February 9 – Bossier City, LA @ Diver Down Lounge
February 10 – Baton Rouge, LA @ The Darkroom
February 13 – Tampa, FL @ Transitions Art Gallery
February 15 – Atlanta, GA @ Lenny’s Bar
February 16 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero
February 17 – Fayetteville, NC @ Jester’s Pub
February 18 – West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx w/ Overkill
February 19 – New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club w/ E-Town Concrete
February 21 – Rochester, NY @ Penny Arcade
February 22 – Vernon, NY @ Nothing Fancy Café
February 23 – Detroit, MI @ T.N.T’s Bar
February 24 – Chicago Heights, IL @ Mr. Kelleys Musicbox
February 25 – Kansas City, MO @ El Torreon
February 26 – Denver, CO @ The 15th St Tavern
February 27 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Boom VA
February 28 – Boise, ID @ The Bouquet
March 1 – Portland, OR @ Rock N Roll Pizza
March 2 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
March 6 – San Francisco, CA @ The Pound
March 8 – West Hollywood, CA @ Whiskey

Deicide – New Album Title Announced

Floridian death metallers, DEICIDE have unveiled the title of their latest album. Entitled “The Stench of Redemption,” the record will be the first DEICIDE album to feature new guitarists Jack Owen (formally of CANNIBAL CORPSE) & Ralph Santolla (ex DEATH / ICED EARTH) who have been touring in the band since the departure of the brothers Hoffman in 2005.

In total, 10 instrumental songs have been demoed and Glen Benton is currently locked away working on suitably sick vocals / lyrical themes to rival the brutality of the compositions.

“The Stench of Redemption” will be produced by Jim Morris and the band will be entering Morrisound studios in the next few weeks to commit it to tape for a May release through Earache Records. A full European tour is currently being booked to follow the release.

Sanctity – Sign To Roadrunner Records

Asheville, NC “classic-metal quartet,” SANCTITY have signed to Roadrunner Records. The band will record their debut for the label this summer, with a fall 2006 released expected. You can read more on the signing here.

Morbid Angel – Earache to Release Dual Disc of “Altars of Madness” – To Include DVD

Earache Records are to release a Dual Disc format version of the landmark Death Metal album “Altars of Madness” by MORBID ANGEL on March 13. Considered by many to be a defining moment in the genre, “Altars of Madness” was first released in 1989 and is still held in reverence by the majority of Death Metal fans.

The DVD side of the Dual Disc features the long sought after November 1989 Nottingham Rock City show filmed on the bands first ever European outing, the legendary Grindcrusher Tour (alongside NAPALM DEATH, BOLT THROWER and CARCASS), and is the first MORBID ANGEL material to see an official DVD release.

A free replica ticket of this show is available with the first 5,000 copies pressed.

Spock’s Beard – U.S. Shows Announced

Progressive rockers SPOCK’S BEARD have announced the following U.S. dates, with more expected to be released shortly:

May 5 – New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club
May 6 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
May 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club
May 13 – Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre

Dark Tranquillity – Second Headlining Date Announced

DARK TRANQUILLITY and THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND have confirmed they will be performing at a second off-date from their tour with OPETH. Here’s how the tour is shaping up:

OPETH, DARK TRANQUILLITY, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND:
February 15 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
February 16 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
February 17 – Towson, MD @ Recher Theatre
February 18 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s
February 19 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
February 20 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners
February 21 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
February 24 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
February 25 – Providence, RI @ Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
February 26 – Quebec City, QC @ Le Capitole
February 28 – London, ON @ The Drink

OPETH, DEVILDRIVER, DARK TRANQUILLITY:
March 3 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Eagles Club
March 4 – Loop Station, MN @ First Avenue
March 5 – Winnipeg, MB @ Miscellaneous Venues Winnipeg
March 8 – Edmonton, AB @ Red’s-West Edmonton Mall
March 9 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
March 10 – Spokane, WA @ Big Easy
March 11 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall
March 13 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
March 19 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
March 21 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues

An Evening With OPETH:
February 23 – New York, NY @ Town Hall
March 2 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

DARK TRANQUILLITY, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND:
February 22 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom
February 23 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx

THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND:
February 27 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace

Celtic Frost – Two More Shows Confirmed

Two more date has been confirmed for CELTIC FROST‘s upcoming headlining tour. Dates are as follows:

September 12 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
September 13 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
September 14 – New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club
September 15 – New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club
September 18 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
September 19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
October 6 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

Rob Zombie, Lacuna Coil – Toronto and Massachusetts Dates Announced

Two more dates have been announced for ROB ZOMBIE‘s upcoming North American tour with LACUNA COIL. Dates are as follows:

March 18 – Miami, FL @ Bicentennial Park (Global Gathering Festival)
April 1 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
April 4 – Toronto, ONT @ Kool Haus
*April 6 – Columbus, OH @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
April 7 – Detroit, MI @ State Theatre

*-Date pending.

The full itinerary is expected to be announced within the next two weeks.

Psycroptic – Post 2nd MP3 Online – Announce Australian Launch Tour

Following a successful support of the devastating BEHEMOTH Aussie tour, PSYCROPTIC have released a second MP3 from their forthcoming album entitled ‘Symbols Of Failure’. Download the track ‘Epoch of the Gods’ from Neurotic Records here.

PSYCROPTIC will be embarking on a headlining Australian album launch tour that will see the band play Melbourne, Geelong, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. This will start mid Feburary and exact dates, venues and lineups will be announced very soon!

Emperor – Ihsahn Lands Line 6 Endorsement

Musician Ihsahn, known most for his work with EMPEROR, recently conducted an interview that is featured at www.line6.com. The vocalist/guitarist is currently working on his first solo record, titled The Adversary, that is expected for release in early spring.

Ihsahn, now an artist endorsee for Line 6, in addition to completing work on The Adversary, is scheduled to start rehearsals for Emperor’s final performances – the first at the annual Inferno Festival held in Oslo, Norway. The four shows for the US already are selling fast with the first shows in New York and Los Angeles nearing sell out levels.

Line 6 is a music products company dedicated to integrating technology with music products to develop innovative solutions for musicians. Line 6′s growing success has resulted in significant recognition by top-tier companies and media, including the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies for two consecutive years, Deloitte and Touche’s Fast 50 and Nationwide Fast 500, LA Business Journal as #5 in the top 100 Fastest Growing Technology Companies, San Fernando Business Journal as both one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies and Largest Technology Firms, and the Pacific Coast Business Times as #6 in the Top 25 Companies To Watch.

Clawfinger – Prepare for North American Release – 2006 Update

CLAWFINGER frontman Zak Tell has posted the following statement on the band’s official website:

“We celebrated the New Year in good old fashion, in other words eating and drinking too much in the company of friends & family so then we as a human race can just start over with another year of madness, insanity, and irrational behavior around the whole world to prove that we have learned absolutely nothing from all our wrong doings!”

Regarding their upcoming European tour in support of their latest album, “Hate Yourself With Style”:

“We have yet to rehearse or decide which songs we will be playing, but obviously we’ll be playing quite a few from the new album, at least 6 tracks or so. Beyond that, we might try out a few old classics that haven’t been played in a while, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the rehearsals go down and which songs seem to come across the best! So people, be sure to buy your tickets, bring your party hats, good attitudes, cameras, and whatever else is required to create a good atmosphere! We’re looking forward to partying with you, working on our tinnitus, and turning our days & nights around completely! We’ll see you all soon? Until then take care and beware, it’s a wild fucking place out there; all the same enjoy the ride. Peace.”

CLAWFINGER‘s “Hate Yourself With Style” is set to hit North America on February 7.

Sworn Enemy – Album Available for Streaming – MP3 for Download

After a successful run with ANTHRAX and GOD FORBID, SWORN ENEMY will continue to stay busy in support of their new album, “The Beginning of the End.” With support from WSOU and AOL Music, SWORN ENEMY‘s new album willreach a new breed of fans! On Friday, January 13th at 11pm EST, the mighty WSOU-FM out of South Orange, N will be playing the full album. The CD will be the featured album of the night on WSOU’s weekly “Pirated Advance” show, which will also include a whole slew of on-air giveaways of the album. You can tune in to 89.5 WSOU-FM or click the “listen now” link at this location. With a Modern Active Rock format, WSOU is the number-one college radio station in the New York metro area and has been the first station to break many rock and metal acts over the years.

The new release drops January 24th;to coincide, AOL will post a full CD listening party where you can listen to the album in its entirety from January 23 through January 29th here.

Additionally, the first single from the album, “Scared Of The Unknown”, can be heard and downloaded for free at this location.

An e-card for the new album can be viewed here.

UVTV – Joe Altier of Brand New Sin Hosts Century Media Blowout

The Underground Video Television Century Media Blowout ’06 episode is available for viewing on the website. The show features music videos and exclusive live performances of Century Media artists and is hosted by Joe Altier of BRAND NEW SIN.

Buckcherry – Yahoo! Music Offering Exclusive DOwnload of ‘Crazy Bitch’ – Video Up on SuicideGirls

Beginning today, Tuesday, January 17, Yahoo! Music will offer an exclusive download of BUCKCHERRY‘s raucous track “Crazy Bitch” on Yahoo! Music at: http://music.yahoo.com. Simultaneously, an explicit sexed-up version of the video will premiere on SuicideGirls.com at this location.

The song and video, directed by Ulf Buddensieck (CHEVELLE, BUSH), mark the first glimpse BUCKCHERRY fans have of the band’s new album “Fifteen”. In addition, “Crazy Bitch” is currently the #1 most-requested song on XM Satellite Radio’s “Boneyard” and “Squizz” hard rock and alternative rock channels for three consecutive weeks. To download the track exclusively available on Yahoo! Music go here.

In other news, BUCKCHERRY will make a live appearance Wednesday, January 25 on the “CHAOS” rock show on Indie 103.1 FM (10:00PM-12:00AM Pacific) in Los Angeles. To listen in live, click here.

Lupara – Snag Worldwide Deal with Crash Music Inc.

Crash Music, Inc. today announces that LUPARA, the Chicago-land extreme-metal band formed by ex-BROKEN HOPE guitarist, Jeremy Wagner, has officially signed a multi-album record deal with Crash Music, Inc.

LUPARA was formed in the summer of 2003 by guitarist Jeremy Wagner. Wagner, best known as the founder and chief-songwriter/lyricist and rhythm guitarist for BROKEN HOPE, decided to put all of his energy into a new project after his original band dissolved.

Wagner took the name LUPARA from his fascination with the Sicilian mafia and the novel, “The Godfather.” A “lupara” is a sawed-off, Sicilian shotgun that mafia soldiers of old carried as one of their primary weapons. A lupara was rumored to be so powerful, it can blow a man in half.

Since January 2005, LUPARA released a critically-acclaimed promo-CD, and performed throughout the U.S. and out of the country with OBITUARY, NAPALM DEATH, DEAD TO FALL, OTEP, AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE, GOD FORBID, NUCLEAR ASSAULT and many others. LUPARA were also chosen as the only unsigned American metal act to perform at the 2005 Monterrey Metalfest in Mexico with MOTORHEAD, WASP, DANZIG and more.

Regarding the deal with Crash Music, Jeremy Wagner had this to say, “Mark Nawara of Crash Music was the first man on the planet who had the guts to sign BROKEN HOPE in 1990 to Grindcore International Records when no one wanted us. Grindcore was the company who released our classic debut, ‘Swamped In Gore’. After that, BROKEN HOPE went on to a decent career with Metal Blade Records. Now, after shopping to various labels for the last year, Mark Nawara is working with me again. Crash Music stepped up and gave us a great offer and opportunity to take a bigger step into this world known as the metal music industry. Their vision and belief in LUPARA is more than an indie metal band could ask for.”

Crash Music’s Mark Nawara comments, “We are very excited and pleased to be working with Jeremy Wagner and LUPARA. Jeremy has proven over the years that he has what it takes to be successful in this business. Once I heard his new project, I knew I had to be involved. I look forward to a long and successful relationship with LUPARA“.

Regarding what fans can expect from the debut LUPARA album, Wagner says, “Well, I’m sure as hell am not gonna say it’s going to be the next ‘Master of Puppets’, as a number of bands seem to be fond of saying nowadays, but I will say that after working with pre-production for a while, this could will be one of the heaviest, most abrasive, and relentless metal albums of 2006. I’ll fucking guarantee that statement with every fiber of my being?so look out!”

LUPARA expects to begin recording their debut album sometime in March. The band will record at Mercenary Digital Studios with Scott Creekmore and the band producing. Also, LUPARA has already commissioned MNEMIC guitarist, Mircea Gabriel Eftemie to create the album-cover artwork for the debut. Crash Music is looking to release the album this summer.

LUPARA is:

Thomas Noah: Vocals
Jeremy Wagner: Guitars
Scott Creekmore: Drums
Tom Brandner: Guitars