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Manos Spanos

SONATA ARCTICA: ‘Pariah’s Child’ Track Listing Revealed

Manos Spanos
Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA will release their eighth studio album, "Pariah's Child", on March 28 via Nuclear Blast. The cover artwork for the CD can be seen below. "Pariah's Child" track listing: 01. The Wolves Die Young 02. Running Lights 03. Take One Breath 04. Cloud Factory 05. Blood 06. What Did You Do In The War, Dad? 07. Half A Marathon Man 08. X Marks The Spot 09. Love 10. Larger Than Life Comments SONATA ARCTICA vocalist Tony Kakko: "There are some instant SONATA 'greatest-hits' songs there, which feels good. "I think we reached the result we had in mind, each of us in our own field. "We went on to create the next SONATA ARCTICA power metalesque album and I think we achieved it adequately. "I have to say that I had drifted pretty far away from those 'days of thunder,' that speedy, happy-go-lucky attitude. "I was happy to notice this style can still make me smile. It's good. Music has to do that to me. It also shows the other older songs in a totally new light for me. "I can now understand and appreciate why the fans enjoy what we did in the early days." Regarding the new CD title and cover artwork, Kakko said: "As always, it's pretty hard coming up with a name for the new baby. I tried to approach it from many angles; how this is our eighth album and how easy it would be to abuse that fact. All the symbolism of figure eight, eternity and so on. But that just did not feel right, as it's been done so many times. Then I started to think how we'd in ways abandoned our 'totem animal,' the wolf and all what comes with the territory. "As the music on the album is bowing more towards the 'old' SONATA, meaning more power metal-style elements and wolves in many of the songs in one form or another, it was clear we need a wolf on the cover. An abandoned wolf. A pariah. Or pariah's child, actually. The new generation to bring the old logo back." SONATA ARCTICA last August parted ways with bassist Marko Paasikoski and replaced him with Pasi Kauppinen (SILENT VOICES, ex-REQUIEM, WINTERBORN). The band will launch a European headlining tour in support of "Pariah's Child" on April 10 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. SONATA ARTICA's latest album, "Stones Grow Her Name", was released in Europe on May 18, 2012 and in North America on May 22, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. "Stones Grow Her Name" sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 9 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
03 min read

CRADLE OF FILTH: 20th-Anniversary Release To Be Announced Soon

Manos Spanos
Vocalist Dani "Filth" Davey of British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH has revealed plans for a a forthcoming twentieth anniversary release in April that "old-skoolers will absolutely love to bits." No further details have yet been made available. In February, CRADLE OF FILTH will embark on a 19-date European co-headlining tour with Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH. Comments Dani: "We are very much looking forward to touring with BEHEMOTH et al, as I think the combined lineup for these momentous shows is definitely very killer. "Prepare for some riotous shows immersed in such esteemed dark company, as CRADLE traverses an old-skool tour program set against a viscerally visual backdrop of nocturnal metal supremacy. In other words, be there or be squared. Pinhead-style!" 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of "The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh", the historic debut album from CRADLE OF FILTH on Cacophonous Records. To honor this momentous occasion, CRADLE OF FILTH is planning a whole smorgasbord of exciting stuff, including the first-ever CRADLE OF FILTH comic, the release of a career-spanning double disc best-of, and, of course, the subsequent touring. The story for CRADLE OF FILTH's upcoming adult comic book was scripted by the comic writer Kurt Amacker (with assistance from the band's singer, Dani Filth). Several artists are in the process of mocking up some example pages for the prospective publishers. Dani previously stated about the project: "I am very excited about this venture, as it promises to be a very adult story woven straight from the CRADLE OF FILTH universe, featuring a liberated Oscar Wilde, the Demoness Lilith, nefarious sexual magickal practices and an errant Suffolk Lord who is in the unenviable process of being charged under 19th-century blasphemy laws, discovering himself engaged in a nightmarish occult netherworld." CRADLE OF FILTH's tenth studio album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous full-length effort, "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa", opened with 5,800 units in November 2010 to land at No. 99.
02 min read

MEGADETH’s DAVE MUSTAINE: We’re The Biggest Right Now We’ve Been Since ‘Countdown To Extinction’

Manos Spanos
TheRockRevival.com's Matt Bishop sat down with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine backstage on the band's "Super Collider" tour to talk about the group's latest album, touring, and what's next for the band in 2014. Asked what it means that "Super Collider" entered the The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 6, marking MEGADETH's highest chart debut in the U.S. since "Countdown To Extinction" and "Youthanasia", Mustaine said: "It means a lot of different things." He continued: "People that like the record like the record. "The public made their statement. "A lot of people that don't particularly agree with my viewpoint, whether it's spiritually or religiously or politically, they attack our music instead of saying, 'I disagree with what Dave says.' "We've gotten to the point where people are so vicious in the things that they say. Because they are not very educated and they don't really understand The King's English, they'll say words that are much more heavier than what they really say. Perfect example is when you watch politicans speak; they pick their words very carefully. And they don't have to go overboard and say, like, 'That guy's a fucking asshole.' They can say, 'Well, we question his integrity,' and stuff like that. Or, you know, 'Experience shows that this is the wrong decision to make.' And you can bitch-slap someone pretty good without having to get down and dirty with it. "The problem is, with critics, it's their job — to criticize things. "The fans spoke; they like the record. "Obviously, when you're with a record company, they have songs that they believe in and they pick an order of songs, and all kinds of stuff like that. "There's a lot of wisdom in watching the way record companies develop bands. "We're kind of at a point right now where we get to, kind of, do what we know to do, and they trust us with it, which is really cool. "There was just so much life infused back into the band when we got signed to Universal; just the writing progression… 'Cause when we first got signed, it was, like, 'OK, great! This is really cool.' And we started writing and stuff. And as that record came out and the subsequent touring and all the good that happened with that, the guitar playing started getting a lot more ferocious. Because we weren't really relying on radio anymore, because we're back. "We're the most popular we've been, I think, since 'Countdown' right now. Record sales don't really correlate popularity, because of piracy and stuff like that. But I honestly believe we're the biggest right now we've been since 'Countdown'. It's a great feeling." "Super Collider", sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart. "TH1RT3EN" opened with 42,000 units back in November 2011 to enter the chart at No. 11. The band's 2009 CD, "Endgame", premiered with 45,000 copies to debut at No. 9. This was slightly less than the 54,000 first-week tally registered by 2007's "United Abominations", which entered the chart at No. 8. 2004's "The System Has Failed" premiered with 46,000 copies (No. 18) while 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" moved 61,000 units in its first week (No. 16).
03 min read

Brutal Assault confirms six new bands

Manos Spanos
Brutal Assault announces British metalcore band ARCHITECTS, American brutal/death metallers SUFFOCATION, Taiwanese black metal band CHTHONIC, German thrash metallers CRIPPER, Norwegian stoner metal band KRAKOW and American metalcore band STRIFE. More bands coming soon.
00 min read

Thai Black Metal Musician Allegedly Murdered For ‘Tarnishing Satanism’

Manos Spanos
According to the Bangkok Post, Samong Traisattha (a.k.a. Avaejee), the 36-year-old bassist/vocalist of the Thai black metal band SURRENDER OF DIVINITY, was stabbed to death in his house on Wednesday, January 8. The deceased musician's widow, Jaruvan Surapol, said the murder was committed by a fan of her husband's band. She claimed the suspected murderer came over to the couple's home "to have some shirts screen-printed and to have a drink." After she put the couple's child to bed, she went to check on her husband and found him lying on the floor in a pool of blood. A Facebook user going by the name "Maleficent Meditation" has since taken credit for the crime and has posted gruesome photos of Samong's body in addition to offering a detailed confession. "I have intended to end my life since I was 25," the suspect wrote, according to the Bangkok Post. "Because I'll die eventually, I want to drag down those who tarnish Satanism with me. But I refrained from killing women and children. "In my view, I have more respect for devoted Buddhists, Christians and Muslims than those who call themselves Satanists without knowing anything about it. "If I did not kill him, I'm sure he would be murdered by someone else later." A one-foot knife and a mobile phone belonging to the suspected killer were found at the crime scene, said Police Captain Chainarong Daengnokphum, an investigator at the Sai Mai police station in Bangkok.
01 min read

GRAND MAGUS: New Song ‘Steel Versus Steel’ Available For Streaming

Manos Spanos
"Steel Versus Steel", a brand new song from Swedish heavy rockers GRAND MAGUS, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track is taken from the band's seventh album, "Triumph And Power", which will be released on January 31 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2012's "The Hunt" was recorded with producer Nico Elgstrand and engineer Staffan Karlsson (ARCH ENEMY, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS) at Studio Sweetspot in Halmstad. The track listing for the CD is as follows: 01. On Hooves Of Gold 02. Steel Versus Steel 03. Fight 04. Triumph And Power 05. Dominator 06. Arv 07. Holmgång 08. The Naked And The Dead 09. Ymer 10. The Hammer Will Bite 11. Blackmoon (bonus track) Commented the band: "'Triumph And Power' has been completed. It's a metal triumph of Viking power!!! "Once again we worked with Nico Elgstrand as producer, a tradition that started with 'Hammer Of The North' back in 2010. "This is our strongest album yet. It has the northern feel, it has the power and the melody that has become our mark of excellence. "Fans of true metal will take this album to their hearts. To top everything off, we have the striking and epic artwork of Anthony Roberts. "The album cover perfectly captures the work on this album and GRAND MAGUS as a band." Due to family obligations and work commitments, drummer Sebastian "Seb" Sippola left GRAND MAGUS in 2012.
02 min read

PERIPHERY: Entire ‘Clear’ Album Available For Streaming

Manos Spanos
"Clear", the new experimental album from Maryland-based progressive metallers PERIPHERY, is available for streaming in its entirety below. The effort is set for a January 28 North American release via Sumerian Records. Comments PERIPHERY guitarist Misha Mansoor: "'Clear' is an experiment to explore all of the different writing styles in the band. "It's rare when you have a band where every member is capable of writing and producing music. "With each member controlling their own track, this recording enabled us to go down any path we chose in terms of style and sound. Every track also contains a melodic theme established in 'Clear''s intro track, 'Overture'. This common thread links all of the songs together, even though they all sound wildly different. "'Clear' shouldn't be confused with our new third full-length album that we're currently working on, nor should it be considered an EP as it rides somewhere in between clocking in at 30 minutes." PERIPHERY's latest album, "Periphery II: This Time It's Personal", which sold nearly 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 44 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released in North America on July 3, 2012 via Sumerian Records and was made available in Europe on July 16, 2012 through Century Media Records. It features guest appearances by John Petrucci (DREAM THEATER), Guthrie Govan (THE ARISTOCRATS) and Wes Hauch (THE FACELESS).
01 min read

ADRENALINE MOB: ‘Men Of Honor’ Title Track Available For Streaming

Manos Spanos
"Men Of Honor", the title track of the second full-length album from ADRENALINE MOB, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. ADRENALINE MOB recently inked a North American deal with Century Media Records, the label the group was previously signed to only for the European territory. "Men Of Honor" will be released February 18 in North America and February 24 internationally. ADRENALINE MOB's current lineup includes Russell Allen (vocals; also of SYMPHONY X), Mike Orlando (guitar), John Moyer (bass; also of DISTURBED), and the band's latest addition, drummer A.J. Pero (also of TWISTED SISTER). "Men Of Honor" features 11 new original songs produced by Allen and Orlando. 01. Mob Is Back 02. Come On Get Up 03. Dearly Departed 04. Behind These Eyes 05. Let It Go 06. Feel The Adrenaline 07. Men Of Honor 08. Crystal Clear 09. House Of Lies 10. Judgment Day 11. Fallin' To Pieces Drummer Mike Portnoy (FLYING COLORS, THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) quit ADRENALINE MOB in June 2013 due to "scheduling conflicts." In a recent interview with Brazil's "Wikimetal", Allen stated about Portnoy's departure from ADRENALINE MOB: "He's been, obviously, real busy with THE WINERY DOGS. The truth of it is we wanna keep working, we wanna keep doing ADRENALINE MOB and we don't wanna wait around for Mike to have the time [to put into ADRENALINE MOB]. And he doesn't know when he will have the time again, so that's really what's going down. Mike Portnoy was asked to be in the band by myself. Me and Orlando had already written all the material, so [ADRENALINE MOB's debut album] 'Omertá' was completely finished before Mike joined the act. And it's a bummer, but he's got his sights on other things, and he's not gonna stick around. So we wish him the best of luck, but the MOB's gotta go on." ADRENALINE MOB released "Covertá", an eight-track EP featuring cover versions of some of the group's favorite songs, on March 12, 2013.
02 min read

ICED EARTH’s ‘Plagues Of Babylon’ Cracks German Top 5

Manos Spanos
"Plagues Of Babylon", the new album from North American power metallers ICED EARTH, has entered the official German chart at position No. 5. Says the band: "We want to thank our German fans for the highest chart entry in the band's history. "Germany has always been special to us and it's a great feeling to know how much you continue to support the band." ICED EARTH is joining forces with record stores to release 500 limited-edition, hand-numbered vinyl "bootleg" copies of "Plagues Of Babylon". This extremely limited "bootleg" pressing, which is available only in record stores in North America, goes on sale today, January 14, and is sure to become an instant collector's item. Click here to find your nearest local participating retailer. ICED EARTH makes its triumphant return with the January 21, 2014 North American release of new "Plagues Of Babylon" on Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Principal Studios (KREATOR, IN EXTREMO, GRAVE DIGGER) in Senden, Germany and was mixed at NHow Studios in Berlin, Germany. Guest vocals on "Highwayman" were laid down by VOLBEAT frontman Michael Poulsen and SYMPHONY X/ADRENALINE MOB singer Russell Allen. Guest vocals on "Plagues Of Babylon", "Among The Living Dead", "Democide", "Resistance" and "If I Could See You" are by BLIND GUARDIAN vocalist Hansi Kürsch. The cover and additional artwork was created by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, HATEBREED). "Plagues Of Babylon" track listing: 01. Plagues Of Babylon 02. Democide 03. The Culling 04. Among The Living Dead 05. Resistance 06. The End? 07. If I Could See You 08. Cthulhu 09. Peacemaker 10. Parasite 11. Spirit Of The Times 12. Highwayman Songs 1-6 form the "Plagues Of Babylon" story line, part of the ongoing "Something Wicked" Universe Exclusive "Plagues Of Babylon" pre-sale bundles are on-sale now at CM Distro. Album and merchandise packages include the following: "Plagues Of Babylon", the new album from North American power metallers ICED EARTH, has entered the official German chart at position No. 5. Says the band: "We want to thank our German fans for the highest chart entry in the band's history. "Germany has always been special to us and it's a great feeling to know how much you continue to support the band." ICED EARTH is joining forces with record stores to release 500 limited-edition, hand-numbered vinyl "bootleg" copies of "Plagues Of Babylon". This extremely limited "bootleg" pressing, which is available only in record stores in North America, goes on sale today, January 14, and is sure to become an instant collector's item. Click here to find your nearest local participating retailer. ICED EARTH makes its triumphant return with the January 21, 2014 North American release of new "Plagues Of Babylon" on Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Principal Studios (KREATOR, IN EXTREMO, GRAVE DIGGER) in Senden, Germany and was mixed at NHow Studios in Berlin, Germany. Guest vocals on "Highwayman" were laid down by VOLBEAT frontman Michael Poulsen and SYMPHONY X/ADRENALINE MOB singer Russell Allen. Guest vocals on "Plagues Of Babylon", "Among The Living Dead", "Democide", "Resistance" and "If I Could See You" are by BLIND GUARDIAN vocalist Hansi Kürsch. The cover and additional artwork was created by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, HATEBREED). "Plagues Of Babylon" track listing: 01. Plagues Of Babylon 02. Democide 03. The Culling 04. Among The Living Dead 05. Resistance 06. The End? 07. If I Could See You 08. Cthulhu 09. Peacemaker 10. Parasite 11. Spirit Of The Times 12. Highwayman Songs 1-6 form the "Plagues Of Babylon" story line, part of the ongoing "Something Wicked" Universe Exclusive "Plagues Of Babylon" pre-sale bundles are on-sale now at CM Distro. Album and merchandise packages include the following:
04 min read

THERION: ‘Adulruna Redivia And Beyond’ Artwork Unveiled

Manos Spanos
On February 21, two new releases from THERION will be made available: the deluxe edition CD plus DVD of their all-time classic "Theli" as well as a three-DVD package (limited edition including bonus DVD) called "Adulruna Redivia And Beyond". THERION's fifth studio album, "Theli" was released in August 1996. The CD featured the band's legendary hit "To Mega Therion" as well as the outstanding ten-minutes epos "The Siren Of The Woods" and the hymn "Cults Of The Shadow". It features two different choirs and Dan Swanö from EDGE OF SANITY as a guest singer. The deluxe edition of "Theli" has three more bonus tracks: "In Rememberance", "Black Fairy" and the SCORPIONS cover version "Fly To The Rainbow" as well as a bonus DVD with the entire album performed live. In addition, there will be a double live DVD plus bonus DVD, limited-edition digipak called "Adulruna Redivia And Beyond". The two shows were recorded live in Atlanta in 2011 and in Budapest 2007. Commented the band: "The concert recorded in Hungary was a concert on the 'Adulruna Rediviva' 20th anniversary tour in December. The idea of the tour was to play the entire 'Theli' album plus a set consisting of songs that the fans had voted for on the band web page. Piotr Wawrzeniuk and our old friend Messiah Marcolin joined in to make this evening extra special. The concert in Atlanta was the band's only show in the USA since 2007 and was shot during the band's headline performance at the ProgPower USA festival 2011." "Adulruna Redivia And Beyond" track listing: DVD 1 01. The Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah 02. Son Of The Sun 03. Midgård 04. Asgård 05. The Wine Of Aluqah 06. Wisdom And The Cage 07. Kali Yuga I 08. Kali Yuga II 09. Kali Yuga III 10. Lemuria 11. Via Nocturna 12. An Arrow From The Sun 13. Typhon 14. Ginnungagap 15. Preludium 16. To Mega Therion 17. Cults Of The Shadows 18. In The Desert Of Set 19. Interludium 20. Nightside Of Eden 21. Opus Eclipse 22. Invocation Of Naamah 23. The Siren Of The Woods 24. Grand Finale / Postludium 25. Adulruna Rediviva 26. Black Funeral DVD 2 01. Sitra Ahra 02. The Wine Of Aluqah 03. Typhon 04. Perennial Sophia 05. Hellequin 06. Nifelheim 07. Clavicula Nox 08. Voyage Of Gurdjieff 09. Ljusalfheim 10. Dies Irae 11. Ginnungagap 12. Kali Yuga III 13. Call Of Dagon 14. Siren Of the Woods 15. The Wild Hunt 16. Blood Of Kingu 17. Lemuria 18. Abraxas 19. The Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah 20. To Mega Therion 21. Quetzalcoatl Bonus DVD 3 01. 011 - An Adventure with Therion 02. 011 - Documentary And Behind The Scenes 03. Amazing Voice Adds THERION: "011 is the name of a board game made by the italian game manufacturer Scribabs. In a very ambitious way to market the game, they made this fantastic short film, starring the band members as actors, playing their roles in the game. The main man behind the game and the film, Paolo Vallerga, is currently writing a novel on the story behind the game and there are even some plans for a movie." "'Amazing Voice' is a Japanese TV program about great singers. This episode had Thomas Vikström as main focus and the TV team flew to Sweden to interview Thomas and record some live singing exclusively for the program." A new THERION studio album is scheduled for late 2014.
03 min read

Manos Spanos

Manos Spanos (Metalpaths' co-editor-in-chief), eight years in this site but still can't be characterised as a metalhead.