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THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN: ‘Happiness Is A Smile’ Video Released

Manos Spanos
"Happiness Is A Smile", the new video from THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, can be seen below. "Happiness Is A Smile" was made available on limited-edition colored seven-inch vinyl via the band's merchandise table and as a cassingle through the group's VIP packages during THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's U.S. tour, which kicked off on April 3 in New York City. The artwork for "Happiness Is A Smile" was created by BBC Radio One presenter and occult artist Daniel Carter. Says THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN: "So we wrote a song. Rather than wait for a new album and try to figure out how to make it make sense as part of a group of other songs that would be written later, we recorded it instantly so it could be captured as its own statement. We pressed it on a limited-edition 7" vinyl, in a quantity of 500 (never to be pressed again), and have it available on this current tour. It's called 'Happiness Is A Smile'. We've been playing it every night. Here it is." THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's fifth full-length album, "One Of Us Is The Killer", sold around 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 25 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on May 14 through the band's own Party Smasher Inc., in partnership with Sumerian Records in North America. Party Smasher's partnership with BMG covers the rest of the world, including licensing deals with Grind House for Japan and Remote Control in Australia. "One Of Us Is The Killer" was recorded in Southern California with longtime producer Steve Evetts (GLASSJAW, THE CURE, SUICIDE SILENCE), with additional production at guitarist/co-founder Ben Weinman's studio. Mastering was handled by Tom Baker (DEFTONES, NINE INCH NAILS, BEASTIE BOYS). In an interview with Killer Tours, Weinman stated about "One Of Us Is The Killer": "A lot of the inspiration for this record has to do with codependency. This band has a huge impact on everyone in our lives. The conflicts that occur from both being around the same people constantly and also being away from some people constantly makes you evaluate things in a way most people never could. A lot of our lyrical and musical content is a vessel for dealing with that."
02 min read

DEFTONES: Previously Unreleased Song ‘Smile’ Featuring CHI CHENG Posted Online

Manos Spanos
DEFTONES have posted their previously unreleased song "Smile", from the shelved album "Eros", on YouTube on Sunday (April 13) to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of the band's bassist Chi Cheng. Check out the track below. DEFTONES singer Chino Moreno said last year that he believes that the band should and will release "Eros", the album it recorded before Cheng was left in a semi-comatose state by a car accident in November 2008. Although Moreno was not sure if the disc would ever surface, his feelings have changed since Cheng's death. Moreno told MTV Hive, "I get asked about that record a lot. For a while, I was giving the same answer, 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no.' After Chi's passing, I went back and listened to some of the record and it was a pretty intense experience to say the least." Moreno added, "I think it should be released, but we don't have any definite plans. There's some work to do on it. DEFTONES have been moving forward in a strong, positive motion, so for us to stop and reflect on something five years ago, I don't know if we're ready for that." But he also said, "It is a special thing for us: it's the last thing Chi played on. It will see the light of day. I just don't know when." Cheng performed on DEFTONES' first five albums, with his last released work being on 2006's "Saturday Night Wrist". Bassist Sergio Vega played on "Diamond Eyes" and the most recent DEFTONES disc, "Koi No Yokan".
01 min read

COREY TAYLOR: I Don’t Think We Will Ever See An End To RONNIE JAMES DIO’s Legacy

Manos Spanos
Corey Taylor recently spoke to Adam Lawton of MediaMikes.com about the SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman's involvement in "This Is Your Life", the tribute to album to legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. MediaMikes.com: What was your first exposure to Dio? Corey Taylor: I got into Dio when I was still quite young. I remember seeing the video for "Rainbow In The Dark" on MTV. That was my first taste of Dio. It wasn't until years later that I realized he had this whole career with RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH and even going back to ELF. When I saw that video it instantly became one of my favorite songs. There was just so much power and clarity in Ronnie's voice. It was like he could sing anything. When I went back years later and really explored his catalog I found his voice to be just so vibrant and he really became one of my favorite singers. MediaMikes.com: Did yours and Ronnie's paths ever cross? Corey Taylor: They did. I actually met and got to spend time with him shortly before he passed away. We met at the [Revolver] Golden God Awards [in April 2010] as we were both up for best vocalist. I never really root for myself at these things so I was rooting for Ronnie like crazy. I wanted to him to win really badly and he did. I was backstage doing an interview and Ronnie walked up so we in a sense hijacked him into this interview. Ronnie was everything I wanted him to be. He was just so cool and gracious. Even at the end he was fighting. It was really awesome to feel that from him. There was a mutual respect that he didn't have to put out there. I told him I was a big fan and he replied "likewise." That lit me up like the Fourth of July. It was very cool. I had seen him perform live a handful of times but to get to meet him like that meant the world to me. I was just crushed when he passed. MediaMikes.com: What do you feel is the biggest factor in Ronnie's ongoing appeal? Corey Taylor: I think it's a lot of different things. He was so good at fitting in with whoever he was playing with. He had his own style, but I think he was able to elevate the music to another level. Ronnie's material has a natural life to it, which is something a lot of music from that same time period is missing. Not to say that some of those bands aren't great, but Ronnie had this consistency to take things to that next level and put it over. I think that's why people keep coming back and rediscovering Ronnie's work. I don't think we will ever see an end to his legacy. Read the entire interview at MediaMikes.com. "Rainbow In The Dark" (featuring Corey Taylor) studio version: "Rainbow In The Dark" (featuring Corey Taylor) live performance:
03 min read

MADBALL To Release ‘Hardcore Lives’ Album In June

Manos Spanos
New York hardcore veterans MADBALL have set "Hardcore Lives" as the title of their ninth studio album, due on June 27 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was tracked and engineered by UNEARTH guitarist Ken Susi and mixed and mastered by longtime collaborator Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, AGNOSTIC FRONT, SOULFLY, TERROR, WHITECHAPEL). Official promo photos were taken by LAMB OF GOD's very own Randall D. Blythe. Commented MADBALL frontman Freddy Cricien: "I shouted 'Hardcore Lives' on MADBALL's first release, 'Ball Of Destruction'. I was twelve then. It wasn't pre-planned or written down... It was an ad-lib that I just threw out there and we kept it! "Back then, there was no choice, really, not the way we were recording — two-track live at Don Fury's... NYHC style! "I feel the sentiment behind the expression still holds true today, maybe even more so. Hence the reason we finally chose to use it as a title. Sure, it's about waving the flag for our genre/culture, etc. "I've always felt that 'we as a scene' had to scream just a lil louder... to be heard! That said, 'Hardcore Lives', at least to us, is not just about a cool 'catchphrase,' it's about that rebellious spirit that doesn't give in... in life, music, whatever. It's about growing, evolving, and maintaining your integrity in the process. It's about family, overcoming adversity, and respect. All the things that matter inside and outside of the music realm. It's for everyone and anyone with an open mind and heart." "Hardcore Lives" will be available as limited-edition digipak and on black vinyl, both including two additional bonus tracks: "The Beast", which also appeared on 2012's EP "Rebellion", and "Spit On Your Grave", from 1994's landmark release "Set It Off". Both tracks have been exclusively re-recorded for the inclusion on "Hardcore Lives". The album will also include guest appearances by some of hardcore's most notable singers: Scott Vogel (TERROR), Toby Morse (H20) and Candace Puopolo (formerly Kucsulain, WALLS OF JERICHO). "Hardcore Lives" track listing: 01. Intro 02. Hardcore Lives 03. The Balance 04. Doc Marten Stomp 05. DNA 06. True School (feat. Scott Vogel) 07. The Here And Now 08. Nothing To Me 09. My Armor (feat. Toby Morse) 10. Beacon Of Light 11. Born Strong (feat. Candace Puopolo) 12. Spirit 13. Mi Palabra 14. NBNC 15. For The Judged Bonus tracks: 16. The Beast 17. Spit On Your Grave 2014 Later this month, MADBALL will embark on the fifth installment of the band's renowned Rebellion tour with BIOHAZARD, DEVIL IN ME, WISDOM IN CHAINS and FINAL PRAYER. madballhardcorelivescd
03 min read

IN FLAMES To Release ‘Siren Charms’ In September

Manos Spanos
Swedish metallers IN FLAMES have set "Siren Charms" as the title of their eleventh album, due in September via Epic. The CD was recorded at Hansa Studios (DAVID BOWIE, DEPECHE MODE, U2) in Berlin, Germany. Photos from the studio — courtesy of the German magazine Metal Hammer — can be found at Metal-Hammer.de. IN FLAMES lead singer, Anders Fridén recently stated about working at the legendary facility where such milestones as David Bowie's "Heroes" and Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" were created: "When I visited Hansa Studios [last] year, I got goose bumps. There is so much history both inside and surrounding the studio and I want to be a part of that. Magic has been created here and hopefully that will affect us." IN FLAMES' "Deliver Us" single was recently certified platinum in Sweden for sales in excess of 40,000 copies. (Note: On-demand audio and/or video song streams are now counted towards the threshold required for gold and platinum certifications.) IN FLAMES has released a video for"Sounds Of A Playground Fading", the title track of its tenth studio album. The clip, which is made up of concert footage, was produced by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others. "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" (Century Media) sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart. IN FLAMES' previous album, "A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) opened with 20,000 units to land at No. 28. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which shifted just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to enter the chart at position No. 58. "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" was the first IN FLAMES album to be recorded without founding guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who quit the band in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction. IN FLAMES guitarist Niclas Engelin sat out a few of the band's shows last year. His temporary replacement for those gigs was Patrik Jensen from THE HAUNTED.
02 min read