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Manos Spanos

CARCASS Frontman Says MICHAEL AMOTT Was ‘Too Busy’ To Continue Playing With The Band

Manos Spanos
Raymond Westland of Ghost Cult magazine recently conducted an interview with bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker of reactivated British extreme metal pioneers CARCASS. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Ghost Cult: Can you talk us through the point CARCASS reformed to the moment you actually started to work on the new album? Walker: We got together in 2007 when Bill [Steer; guitar] finally agreed on doing a couple of gigs. We didn't play any gigs that year, because I walked away from the whole thing, due to certain business arrangements I wasn't happy about. In 2008, the whole reunion thing came about. It was never meant as a long-term thing. Then 2009 came about and we got more and better offers coming in. Same thing in 2010, including a couple of events and venues we hadn't played before. Last gig we did as CARCASSwas in August 2010 with Michael Amott and Daniel Erlandsson of ARCH ENEMY. That was the closure on the whole reunion thing, becauseMichael made it explicitly clear he'd be too busy with his own bands to even consider doing anything in the future with CARCASS. At that point, we hadn't discussed doing anything beyond the whole reunion thing, so that was quite a relief. At some point, Bill contacted me about whether I'd fancy doing anything with Dan Wilding, who was a member ofABORTED when they toured the U.S. Bill has a thing with drummers and he wanted to do something musically with Dan. As for me, I was really prepared and willing to do more music with CARCASS back in 2009. When you're in a band with Bill Steer, Michael Amott and Daniel Erlandsson, it would be wasting a great opportunity not to. Daniel would have made himself available if we would continue doing music with CARCASS, but when push came to shove, he had to make a decision and he decided to stay with ARCH ENEMY. It wasn't really a matter of choosing for him. If he stuck around for longer, a CARCASS album would have been around sooner perhaps.
05 min read

SLAYER’s KERRY KING And The MARSHALL Refrigerator

Manos Spanos
Video footage of SLAYER guitarist Kerry King checking out the Marshall Fridge can be seen below. Designed to look like a classic Marshall amp half stack, the Marshall Fridge holds 4.4 cubic feet of beer, according to CNET. A freezer incorporated on the top shelf is perfect for chilling down the hard stuff. In addition to the power and standby switches, control knobs are included on the facing — and yes, they do go to 11. The Marshall Fridge was made available last October, retailing at a price of $299.
01 min read

MIKE PORTNOY’s ‘Blabbermouth’ Voodoo Doll

Manos Spanos
Drummer Mike Portnoy (THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER,AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB) has tweeted a photo of a gift that he received from a fan during THE WINERY DOGS' current South American tour. He wrote: "Got this from a fan...kinda cool, but also kinda creepy!! Maybe it's a Blabbermouth voodoo doll?? : ) " THE WINERY DOGS is the power trio featuring Portnoy, legendary bassistBilly Sheehan (MR. BIG, TALAS, DAVID LEE ROTH) and guitarist/vocalistRichie Kotzen (MR. BIG, POISON). THE WINERY DOGS' self-titled debut album was released in North America on July 23 via Loud & Proud Records and in Japan on May 15 via Victor Entertainment. The CD was mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, ADRENALINE MOB, STONE SOUR and STEEL PANTHER. Portnoy announced his departure from ADRENALINE MOB last month due to "scheduling conflicts." A replacement drummer has not yet been announced.
01 min read

PAUL DI’ANNO: U.S. Tour Officially Canceled

Manos Spanos
Former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno's previously announced U.S. tour, which was originally scheduled to kick off in January, was then postponed until May/June, and then pushed back to the end of the year, has now officially been canceled due to issues with the tour's promoter.Di'Anno states: "My apologies to the American fans who have been let down and to the various promoters who got so badly burnt in this way." Di'Anno completed his first North American tour in early 2010, 17 years after he was deported following a prison term for guns and drug offenses. On August 27, 2011, Di'Anno played his first show since serving time in a U.K. prison after he falsely collected U.K. government benefits by claiming he suffered nerve damage to his back that prevented him from working. Due to a number of health issues, including a knee problem which will req
02 min read

Video: VENOM Performs At Finland’s HAMMER OPEN AIR Festival

Manos Spanos
Fan-filmed video footage of VENOM's July 20 performance at theHammer Open Air festival in Lieto, Finland can be seen below. VENOM is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on its new album for an early 2014 release via Spinefarm Records. Commented VENOM drummer Danny "Danté" Needham: "The new songs are sounding amazing; the whole album has a great feel. "I'd say the strength of this band comes from our determination to create great music, and that comes from forward thinking, new ideas and fresh challenges." Added VENOM bassist/vocalist Conrad "Cronos" Lant: "I believe this isVENOM at its best. The songwriting keeps getting better, and the live shows are tighter and heavier than ever. "It's clear to me now that all of the lineup changes this band has been through over the years has been an inspiring journey to find the right band of warriors. "VENOM continue to keep growing stronger and unstoppable".
01 min read

ANNIHILATOR: ‘Feast’ Track-By-Track Breakdown (Video)

Manos Spanos
A track-by-track breakdown of "Feast", the 14th studio album from Canadian thrash metal veterans ANNIHILATOR, by the band's mainman, guitarist ,b>Jeff Waters, can be seen below (courtesy of MetalItalia.com). "Feast" will be released on August 23 in Europe and August 27 in North America via UDR. The deluxe eco-book version will also feature a bonus CD containing 15 of the best ANNIHILATOR songs re-recorded in 2012... a grand total of 24 songs in one package... with a 3D cover! Jeff Waters and his bandmates tear through each release with honest, raw power and energy, along with excellent technical skill, giving the metal world the most-tasteful mixtures of huge, metal riffs with the idea of the perfect song and some legendary solo shredding as the icing on the cake. That's why Jeff and ANNIHILATOR have been a major influence on countless well-known metal acts and musicians around the world. Tours with everyone from JUDAS PRIEST to PANTERA to TRIVIUM, plus dozens of headlining tours and festivals around the world, have been going on steady since 1989 for this band; no rest as the demand for this band never ends.
02 min read

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY: Third ‘Gigantour’ Webisode

Manos Spanos
The third in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's participation in this year's Gigantour can be seen below. Also appearing on the bill are headliners MEGADETH, along with HELLYEAH, DEVICE, NEWSTED and DEATH DIVISION. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's new live DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Video,"Unblackened", will be released on September 24 by Eagle Rock Entertainment. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde's label home, eOne Music, will also release the audio version of the"Unblackened" DVD under the same name. The double disc release will have six additional tracks not found on the DVD, including
02 min read

DEVILDRIVER Frontman: ‘I’m Completely Socially Awkward’

Manos Spanos
Omar Cordy of Ghost Cult magazine recently conducted an interview with vocalist Dez Fafara of Californian metallers DEVILDRIVER. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Ghost Cult: You've been with Roadrunner Records forever, basically. So this is your first time away from Roadrunner. What made you decide it was time for a change? Dez: You know, I think it was beneficial for both of us. I think the label and I came to the same conclusion. A lot of people were leaving the label, a lot of people were getting let go, a lot of people that worked me and signed me, getting let go. A lot of the bands were getting let go. I didn't feel the passion there. I felt like on "Pray For Villains" and on "Beast", especially in the United States on Roadrunner, they didn't really pay attention to it, and that bummed me out, man. You need to have passion within the people that you work with, and that work alongside you, and I just wasn't feeling their passion anymore. Napalm Records, I feel their vibe I feel their passion for the music. They're a great business partner. We still have Roadrunner/Warner Brothers over in Australia, and we signed with Metal Blade in Japan, so we have good working business partners with this. It's difficult for me, because I'm artistic and I don't like the art to be turned into a commodity, but you have to, at a certain point, in order to get out there and tour and reach certain goals. You have to have people, that if they are going to do that, they are not just numbers people, they've got some kind of passion behind them, and everyone that I'm working with now on the business end has a lot of passion for the music. So I'm pleased to be with all these new business partners. It's a new venture, it's a new record, it's a new bass player, it's a new feeling for us, and we've definitely captured a record that's going to back all that.
04 min read

CHIMAIRA Frontman: ‘Many People On The Internet Thought We Were Done For’

Manos Spanos
Raymond Westland of Ghost Cult magazine recently conducted an interview with CHIMAIRA vocalist Mark Hunter. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Ghost Cult: "Crown Of Phantoms" is very strong album. Does the overall quality validate the new lineup? Hunter: I certainly hope it does; it was our goal. "Crown Of Phantoms"is the culmination of three years of going through tons of changes, harsh realities but also excitement. It's something brand new and when you put all those things together you get "Crown Of Phantoms" as a result. These are exciting times for the band and it's the polar opposite of where I was with the band two years ago. Ghost Cult: With all the old members leaving, a lot of people on the Internet thought CHIMAIRA was done for. Did you ever seriously considering pulling the plug on the band entirely?
03 min read

CATTLE DECAPITATION: ‘Your Disposal’ Video Released

Manos Spanos
"Your Disposal", the new video from San Diego-based deathgrind mastersCATTLE DECAPITATION, can be seen below. The band worked with Mitch Massie once again to create an irreverent, grotesque clip. Comments CATTLE DECAPITATION vocalist Travis Ryan: "Director Mitch Massie has presented us all with a bizarre retelling of the story of Adamand Eve using themes from our latest album, 'Monolith Of Inhumanity'. Here we see Eve giving birth to humanity, a living, breathing piece of primordial meat birthed into the dirt making its way through the garden of eden, hellbent on destruction... A clean and conscious monolith foretelling what could be possible given the fact that humans exhibit superior traits of intelligence, instead the earth is flooded with technological fallout and debris by the hands of man. "This video is very much a prequel to our other videos 'Forced Gender Reassignment' and, of course, 'Kindgom Of Tyrants'." The "Your Disposal" single features the B-side "An Exposition of Insides", which was previously available only as a Japanese bonus track on the band's most recent album, "Monolith Of Inhumanity". The single is available (both black and clear vinyl) for order on-line onIndieMerchStore.com for $5.50, as well as in a bundle with a t-shirt for $18.99. Fans attending this year's Summer Slaughter Tour can grab their copy at the band's merch booth throughout the tour.
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.