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Has MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN Secretly Been At Work On TOOL Album?

Has TOOLsinger Maynard James Keenan secretly been working on lyrics for the band's long-awaited fifth album since the spring? According toThe Pulse Of Radio, Keenanappeared on comedianMarc Maron's "WTF"podcast and, when asked about new TOOL music, replied, "I'm gonna stop by the rehearsal space today. In theory, having beaten them up going, 'Please give me music, please give me music, please give me music, please give me music,' they have a CD for me today. They're like, 'Look, listen to some jams so we can get this thing going.'" What's interesting, however, is that while the podcast was broadcast last Sunday (August 18), the interview itself was recorded in March — withKeenaneven making a reference to his 49th birthday happening in April. So hasKeenanbeen working on the newTOOLrecord since last March? Keenansaid he needed to hear music before he could begin to formulate lyrics, explaining, "I can't write words 'til I hear the sounds, and I haven't heard the sounds . . . I've gotta listen to the sounds and go from the sounds." The vocalist toldThe Pulse Of Radioa while back that he gets restless atTOOL's slower pace of doing things. "I can't sit still, so when those guys hesitate, it takes us so long to do stuff, and it's like a snake eating its own tail situation, 'cause then I get distracted and I go off and do a thing, and then I get blamed for not being around to do the (TOOL) thing," he said. "But nothing was getting done when I was standing there, so I got bored and left. It's just an endless cycle."

DREAM THEATER Singer JAMES LABRIE: ‘Back On The Ground’ Lyric Video Released

The official lyric video for the song "Back On The Ground" from DREAM THEATER frontman James LaBrie's new solo album, "Impermanent Resonance", can be seen below. "Impermanent Resonance" will be released on August 6 in North America and July 29 in Europe via InsideOut Music. In addition to the standard CD and the digital download format, the effort will be made available in Europe as a limited-edition digipak featuring alternate artwork and two bonus tracks ("Unraveling" and "Why"), as well as on limited LP version (with the full album as bonus CD). The previous LaBrie album, "Static Impulse" from 2010, will be released for the first time as LP (with the full album as bonus CD) on the same street date as

DREAM THEATER Singer JAMES LABRIE: New Solo Track ‘Agony’ Available For Streaming

"Agony", a brand new solo track from DREAM THEATER frontman James LaBrie, can be streamed below. The song comes off LaBrie's new solo album, "Impermanent Resonance", which will be released on August 6 in North America and July 29 in Europe via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2010's "Static Impulse", "Impermanent Resonance"was once again conceived with LaBrie's songwriting partner for over a dozen years, Matt Guillory. Guillory not only took the leading role in composing the material, he also handled all of the keyboards and background vocals. The album's lineup is intact from the previous recording, featuring Marco Sfogli from Italy on guitar, Ray Riendeau (HALFORD, MACHINES OF LOVING GRACE) on bass and Swedish drummer Peter Wildoer(DARKANE, MAJESTIC), who was a finalist in the DREAM THEATER drum auditions. Additionally, former SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers came into the fold to contribute songwriting and studio guitars. "To me, this album incorporates and continues with the styles and musical direction that we have created with the previous releases," says James LaBrie. "The difference being that the music on this disc is to me a true telling of the songs evolving and taking on a sense of identity that is every band's ultimate goal. It is powerful, memorable, hook-driven and above all extremely musical. It shows how the writing and the band itself have matured. I truly feel that this is our quintessential album."

Former THERION Backing Singer JOHANNA MÅRLÖV Dies At 38

Christofer Johnsson of Swedish progressive/experimental metallersTHERION has released the following statement: "Today the sad news reached me that Johanna Mårlöv passed away.Johanna was singing in the live choir for THERION during the'Lemuria'/'Sirius B' era and travelled with the band and did shows in over 25 countries. She had been struggling bravely with her cancer for a number of years, but lost the battle in the end. "My thoughts are with her family at this difficult time. "She will be remembered as one of the happiest and most positive persons I've ever met and it was a privilege to have met and get to know her." Added former THERION bassist Johan Niemann: "Sometimes, reality hits you like a ton of bricks, and you realize that things like money, fame, career doesn't mean shit. Today, the world lost a truly amazing human being, so gentle and never a negative word spoken about anyone. I'm lucky to have known her.

Backing Singer Says She Was ‘Forced’ By Management Of GEOFF TATE’s QUEENSRŸCHE To Quit Tour

Nina Noir (pictured below) was selected by Geoff Tate to take part in the 2013 QUEENSRŸCHE tour after making a guest appearance on the band's new album, "Frequency Unknown", says in an online posting that she was "forced" by QUEENSRŸCHE's management "into [the] decision" to discontinue her involvement in the trek. She continues: "I hope them nothing but the best! They are fantastic musicians and ever better people. Nothing but love for them." She adds in a separate posting: "This was my decision and is in no way a reflection of the band members… I had such a good time on tour aside from some unnecessary stress." Nina sang a duet with Geoff on the group's epic song, "Suite Sister Mary". Nina mastered speech level singing with renowned vocal coach Seth Riggs. In 2011 she performed on "America's Got Talent", where she received high praise from Sharon Osbourne. She has gone on to formTHE LIONS, a rock band based out of San Francisco, California. They are currently recording their debut album with producer Jason Slater(QUEENSRŸCHE, THIRD EYE BLIND, SMASHMOUTH, SNAKE RIVER CONSPIRACY). She has played many roles in music and is currently fronting an all-female QUEEN tribute band called THE KILLER QUEENS asFrederica Mercury. The girls have headlined sold-out shows on their winter tour and are currently booking dates for their 2013 summer tour across the Western United States.

AMBERIAN DAWN Releases First Video With New Singer, Parts Ways With Bassist

Helsinki, Finland-based, female-fronted symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN will release a compilation album of songs released on their first four albums — "Circus Black" (2012), "End Of Eden" (2010), "The Clouds Of Northland Thunder" (2009) and "River Of Tuoni" (2008) — to showcase new singer Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen after the departure of Heidi Parviainen. "Re-Evolution" will be made available on June 14 in Finland, distributed by Suomen Musiikki. Comments AMBERIAN DAWN guitarist Tuomas Seppala: "We all thought that the best way to introduce our new singer Capri to our fans is by re-recording a compilation album of our best songs. It was very important for us to give you all a broad overview about Capri's great talent in all its facets and present her vocal sound and way of singing to you before we start recording a whole new studio album. We hope very much that you like the fresh sound created through Capri's voice and the re-recording of the music parts which was necessary due to some required key changes. I believe that this compilation album is an excellent 'visiting card' of the newAMBERIAN DAWN sound and style, all in all we all are really happy with the results we achieved."