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Manos Spanos

CORONER: Teaser For Forthcoming Documentary Available

Manos Spanos
Filmmakers Bruno Amstutz and Lukas Ruettimann have released a teaser for the upcoming documentary about the reunited Swiss metal band CORONER. Due next year, the film will feature interviews with Tom G. Warrior and Martin Ain (CELTIC FROST), Max Cavalera (SEPULTURA, SOULFLY), Franz Treichler (YOUNG GODS), Chris von Rohr (KROKUS), Chris Glanzmann (ELUVEITIE), Stephan Eicher and more. Originally part of the road crew for fellow countrymen CELTIC FROST, CORONER went on to become one of the most progressive extreme metal acts of the Eighties. The connection between the Zurich band and CELTIC FROST was so strong, in fact, that CELTIC FROST frontman Tom G. Warrior offered to handle vocals for the emerging band's demo. Warrior and CORONER entered Switzerland's Magnetix studio on October 10, 1985, and nine days later they walked out with the impressive four-song 1986 release, "Death Cult". While subsequent bootlegged CDs included the bonus tracks of "Arrogance in Uniform" and "Hate, Fire, Blood", the original four-track demo consisted of the following tracks: "Spectators of Sin", "Spiral Dream", "Aerial Combat" and "The Invincible". (Only "Spiral Dream" would make it onto CORONER's 1987 debut LP, "R.I.P.") According to The BNR Metal Pages, CORONER "progressed from the raw speed of 'R.I.P.' to the more laidback style of 'Grin', releasing five albums (not counting the semi-compilation 'Coroner' album) that are all different and yet all are undeniably related, and undeniably CORONER. The band called it a day in 1994, actually before the release of 'Coroner', with Marky Edelmann joining APOLLYON SUN and Tommy T. Baron going to KREATOR, though neither is still with those bands."
02 min read

ALICE IN CHAINS’ DUVALL: Illegal Music Downloaders Are ‘Sticking It To Themselves’

Manos Spanos
KLAQ's Lisa Sanchez conducted an interview with ALICE IN CHAINS members Sean Kinney (drums) and William DuVall (vocals) on August 31 at Revolt On The Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below. On the state of the music industry, how the Internet affects musicians, and where they think the record business is going: Kinney: "Any music that can generate money will be the dumbest, shittiest lip-syncing crap that's made for the lowest common denominator, made for the masses, just kind of like reality TV — cheaper, shittier, dumber, dumb it down. "The next LED ZEPPELINs and everybody they're playing right now, they'll never get a chance because if you don't support these things, there's no infrastructure to let a band turn into a band and mature and grow. It's financially impossible. I mean, we're out here doing this. We get paid for what we do, but we'll spend almost every penny we make to do this. We spend almost all our money to do this, and we're fortunate. To move six semis and twenty buses. Each bus costs 30,000 dollars a month. That's not counting gas. It costs millions of dollars to do this stuff at a certain level. And it's what we love to do. And we're fortunate that we kind of make it work." "The record companies fucked every human that ever recorded music in the history of music. Every single person — [from] the first recordings — has been permanently fucked because the record companies didn't get their shit together and nobody regulated anything and found a way to distribute [digital music] right."
03 min read

THE GATHERING: ‘Afterwords’ Title Track Available For Streaming

Manos Spanos
Dutch/Norwegian rockers THE GATHERING will release their new 43-minute album, "Afterwords", in September on CD, vinyl and other formats. In addition to the three songs that originally appeared on the "Afterlights" EP in 2012, the new disc contains two fresh "Disclosure" remakes as well as three brand new THE GATHERING tracks and a cover version of a song called "Areas". The album's title track, "Afterwords", features a guest appearance on vocals by founding THE GATHERING member Bart Smits and it "shows the 'other' side of Bart's dynamic voice," according to the band. Contributing "great trumpet parts" to the CD once again is Noel Hofman. "Afterwords" track listing: 01. S.I.B.A.L.D. 02. Echoes Keep Growing 03. Afterwords 04. Tuning In, Fading Out 05. Areas 06. Gemini III 07. Afterlights 08. Sleep Paralysis 09. Bärenfels The song "Afterwords" can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below. THE GATHERING has scheduled shows in The Netherlands, Norway and France in November. This will mark the band's first time playing in Norway since 2001, and the first THE GATHERING show for singer Silje Wergeland — who was previously in the Norwegian band OCTAVIA SPERATI — on her home turf. THE GATHERING's latest album, "Disclosure", was released on September 12, 2012 via the band's own Psychonaut Records. The CD cover artwork was created by the Chilean artist Carlos Vergara Rivera.
01 min read

PRIMAL FEAR Begins Mixing New Album

Manos Spanos
German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have begun mixing their new album with Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, PRETTY MAIDS, DESTRUCTION) at his Hansen studio in Ribe, Denmark for a January 2014 release via Frontiers Records. 12 songs were recorded during the new CD sessions, including "two epic songs, one guitar ballad, and nine crushing metal songs with all the trademarks you know and love to hear from PRIMAL FEAR," according to the band. The CD was engineered by Achim Köhler (EDGUY, MASTERPLAN) and is being produced by PRIMAL FEAR bassist Mat Sinner. In a recent interview with Jump Metal, PRIMAL FEAR vocalist Ralf Scheepers stated about the musical direction of the band's upcoming album: "It's not so far away [from what we've done in the past], because we have our style, you know. It was hard for us to imagine… because [2012's] 'Unbreakable' was a pretty tough... and really, in our ears, pretty great album, and for us, it was somehow hard to top it. But as soon as we started to write the new songs, and as soon as I heard what Mat and Magnus [Karlsson, guitar] did in the first place — because then they sent me some stuff and I added my ideas on it — I just thought, 'Wow, this is amazing.' And in the end, it really turned out to be a better album than 'Unbreakable'." Frontiers and PRIMAL FEAR in January announced that they have renewed their partnership for another multi-album deal, which will include two more studio releases and one live CD and DVD.
02 min read

LAMB OF GOD: 10th-Anniversary Edition Of ‘As The Palaces Burn’ Due In November

Manos Spanos
Richmond, Virigina metallers LAMB OF GOD will release a special 10th-anniversary edition of their "As The Palaces Burn" album in November. After some serious detective work tracking down the original album master tapes, the band went in with producer Josh Wilbur (who also produced LAMB OF GOD's "Wrath" and "Resolution" CDs) and gave "Palaces" a full-on, ass-kicking remix and remaster, front to back, top to bottom. The remixed version of "Palaces" is now how they had originally intended it to be. To go along with the album re-release, LAMB OF GOD also shot a brand new DVD documentary recounting the recording process and the stories behind the music which features new interviews with original producer Devin Townsend, the band members and current producer, Josh Wilbur. LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler comments: "We are lucky to have the opportunity, a decade after our first attempt, to bring what I consider to be our master work up to speed sonically. "Ever since the original release, we've been distraught about the sonic qualities of 'As The Palaces Burn'. "The band had captured lightning in a bottle and the budget limitation of a sophomore album turned our lightning into a firefly in a jar. "The songs are undeniable and we've always been very proud of how this album launched our career. It feels appropriate to revisit now that we can and give this very special album the chance to reach our original hopes and it's true potential." "As The Palaces Burn" 10th-anniversary edition track listing: 01. Ruin
02 min read

GRAND MAGUS Begins Recording New Album

Manos Spanos
Swedish heavy rockers GRAND MAGUS have entered the studio to begin recording the follow-up to last year's "The Hunt" for an early 2014 release via Nuclear Blast. The band is once again working with producer Nico Elgstrand and engineer Staffan Karlsson (ARCH ENEMY, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS) at Studio Sweetspot in Halmstad. Commented GRAND MAGUS drummer Ludwig "Ludde" Witt: "The time has come! Warriors! Things have been quiet around here recently, you know us well enough to know that we haven't been sitting around idly though... We have finished writing our new album and we enter the studio!!! Monday the 2 of September marks the start of our new journey. The result will be something to behold. That is a promise. You want something heavy? You'll get it. This will be our strongest album to date." Added the entire band: "The MAGUS have been busy bees with an elaborate pre-production phase, meaning that we have demoed all the tracks and it certainly pays off now. The recordings proper started off this Monday and we already have some killer basic tracks brewing. We are working simultaneously on several tracks to ensure flow and proper impact. It feels like it's going to be something extremely powerful this time... The drums are killer and with the perfect touch we've learned to expect from Ludwig, there will be a wall of ferocious guitars and grinding bass guitar that will shake the bowels. Among other things we worked today on 'Holmgång', which has a lot of riffing going on and we think the guitar sound is the best we've ever had on a recording. Pure power!" "The Hunt" was released in Europe on May 25, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD's cover artwork was created by Arik Roper (CATHEDRAL, HIGH ON FIRE, SLEEP), who also handled the art on GRAND MAGUS' "Iron Will" LP. Due to family obligations and work commitments, drummer Sebastian "Seb" Sippola left GRAND MAGUS last year.
02 min read

SEPULTURA: Second ‘Mediator’ Album Trailer Available

Manos Spanos
The second trailer for "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart", the new album from Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA, can be seen below. The CD will be released on October 25 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was created by Brazilian artist Alexandre Wagner, who specializes in charcoal drawing techniques. Guitarist Andreas Kisser commented on how he discovered the work of Alexandre Wagner. "It was through Silvio Bibika, who was my roadie for a long time," he said. "He always shows me things in general that SEPULTURA might need. Alexandre, who is from Belo Horizonte, Silvio showed me a year ago. So before we went to the United States, to record the album, I was at his house to talk about the cover, tell him the album title, talk about the concept of the film 'Metropolis', so he could do something original. But when I saw the picture with the drawing, I thought it was all about what we wanted and we did not need something new. I asked him to do a tribal S in the style of the cover. The S made by Alexandre will be on the back cover." Said Alexandre: "I did this series of charcoal drawing work when I still lived in Belo Horizonte. They were all made there. They were quick drawings without much reference, almost an experimentation that may have came from a desire to use the most basic of basic materials — coal, paper and wood. The cover design was already done, Andreas saw it and liked it. We talked a little more and I also sent some other pictures for the booklet. I was pleased with the choice of the theme of the album, I like Fritz Lang very much, and not only 'Metropolis'. 'Dr. Mabuse der Spieler' is a fucking great movie." As a Mineiro, from Belo Horizonte like SEPULTURA, Alexandre was glad to be part of the band’s history. "It's impossible to be from Belo Horizonte and not know the band," he said. "Some of their albums followed me for a long time, especially 'Chaos A.D.' I remember seeing 'Refuse/Resist' on TV and thinking it was wonderful. It’s really cool to work with the guys, being part of something together. It is somehow a shared history." "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" track listing: 01. Trauma Of War 02. The Vatican 03. Impending Doom 04. Manipulation Of Tragedy 05. Tsunami 06. The Bliss of Ignorants 07. Grief 08. The Age Of The Atheist 09. Obsessed 10. Da Lama ao Caos (CHICO SCIENCE & NAÇÃO ZUMBI cover)
05 min read

BLACK SABBATH To Release ‘Gathered In Their Masses’ DVD

Manos Spanos
A teaser for the forthcoming BLACK SABBATH DVD, "Gathered In Their Masses", can be seen below. The set will contain footage from the band's tour in support of its long-awaited reunion album, "13". BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler told the Chicago Sun-Times that the band's current tour could very well be his last. Asked why he thought that, Butler explained, "I don't know. I just got a feeling. It's getting tough, it really is. I can't lie about that. I'm old now. It really is tough going on every night. You wake up the next day, all the pains you never had before. I don't want to go onstage for the sake of the money. You have to have a lot pride in yourself, and I honestly think I'm coming to the end of the top of my job." Butler also said that he's enjoying the current SABBATH tour, adding, "I've always said as long as I can play, as long as I can do it to a good level, then I'll keep doing it, because I still really enjoy playing. I'll know when the day comes I can't do this anymore, can't play to my usual standards. That's when I won't go out anymore. I won't do that to me self. But at the moment, I just love playing with the band. It probably will be the last time, will probably be the last tour. But I want to go out on a high. The band is playing really well at the moment." Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and singer Ozzy Osbourne reunited in late 2011 to record their first new album together in 35 years. Original drummer Bill Ward was on board at first but dropped out over contract disputes. Progress on the record was slowed first by Ward's departure and then by Iommi's January 2012 cancer diagnosis.
02 min read

BEHEMOTH: ‘The Satanist’ Cover Painting To Include NERGAL’s Blood

Manos Spanos
Tennille Secomb of Australia's Heavy magazine recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. On the artwork for BEHEMOTH's new album, "The Satanist", which will contain Nergal's own blood blended into a painting by Russian symbolist painter Denis Forkas to give it "a more organic feel": Nergal: "I wanted to incorporate some of my DNA into the art. This album seems to be so defining of who we are now as people and as individuals, and considering all the instances in recent years, [we wanted] to make it more 'ours' than it is usually. "[The cover is] very arty; it's very artistic and it really has no heavy metal clichés in it. Expect something very special and spectacular, and deeper than all of the other products that are in the market." On producer Colin Richardson quitting "The Satanist" mixing process afer four weeks following creative differences and being replaced by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED, CHILDREN OF BODOM): Nergal: "We just couldn't agree [with Colin] on certain concepts and visions of what the record should sound like. [Colin] did a great job actually — but Matt was always supposed to be the main mixing guy for the record. Within a week or two weeks with Matt, I had the whole record mixed and believe me, it's the best-sounding BEHEMOTH record for sure. It's very organic, it's very different — I love it." On being diagnosed with and overcoming leukaemia in 2010: Nergal: "I have always been ahead of others, so to speak. I'm very much into hard work and being motivated, and I'm more than ever like that. It's the conscience that life is just a temporary thing — it has taught me to appreciate life more than anything else, you know. I am a fucking life-worshipping motherfucker. "All of the so-called negatives that have happened in my life recently — I turn them into positives and
02 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.