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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

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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

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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

SIXX Says It’s ‘Absolutely Not True’ MÖTLEY CRÜE Wanted BACH To Replace NEIL

Manos Spanos
MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has dismissed as "absolutely not true" Sebastian Bach's claim that the former SKID ROW singer was once asked to replace Vince Neil in MÖTLEY CRÜE. Neil was fired from MÖTLEY CRÜE in 1992 due to personal differences and was replaced by John Corabi. With Corabi on vocals, MÖTLEY CRÜE released one critically acclaimed full-length CD, which ended up being a commercial failure in the wake of grunge despite a Top-Ten placing on the album chart. Asked by a fan on Twitter if he was ever considered to replace Vince in MÖTLEY CRÜE, Bach replied that he was not just "considered" but that he was actually "asked" by CRÜE if he wanted to join the band as its new lead singer. He then added that the story of how close he came to becoming a member of MÖTLEY CRÜE might be included in his upcoming autobiography, which he is currently working on and for which he recently revealed that he had "a big offer from a big book company." When another fan pressed Bach on why the singer turned down the offer to join MÖTLEY CRÜE, Bach replied: "The short answer is that I actually thought at the time this band SKID ROW was better." Sebastian then added, "Gee, I sure know how to pick 'em." Speaking on a recent edition of his "Sixx Sense" radio show, Sixx addressed Bach's comments, telling his listeners: "I read something online. It's not true, and I wanna talk about it a little bit. "Sebastian Bach, who was the lead singer from SKID ROW — and I still think he should still be in SKID ROW, and I've talked to all of them about that many times; they just can't along — he says that MÖTLEY CRÜE wanted him to replace Vince Neil. And I'm just gonna say right now that is absolutely not true.
03 min read

EPICA Announces Special Album-Release Show

Manos Spanos
Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA will return to the stage on April 30, 2014 for an album-release show at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands. After taking a break from the road due the pregnancy of lead singer Simone Simons, the release of a new concert DVD, "Retrospect", as well as the writing and recording of the band's upcoming CD, the sextet will put on a memorable show, with plans to perform both old and new songs. EPICA is currently finishing up the pre-production of the follow-up to "Requiem For The Indifferent", with plans to enter the studio in October with producer Joost Van Den Broek (the former AFTER FOREVER and AYREON keyboard player who has previously worked with REVAMP and STREAM OF PASSION). To make the album-release show even more special, EPICA's fans will not only be able to purchase regular tickets, but there will be two exclusive bundles available for this event. The first bundle contains a signed version of the upcoming album and the second, larger bundle will consist of a goodie bag, containing a signed copy of the upcoming album, an exclusive T-shirt, flag, lanyard, VIP laminate and a limited-edition poster. Tickets and bundle for this show will go on sale Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 10:00 CET through Ticketmaster.nl. There will be special "early-bird" tickets available at reduced price. This offer is valid until September 28, 2013. EPICA celebrated its 10th anniversary with a one-night-only event, dubbed "Retrospect", on March 23 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The band was accompanied by the seventy-piece Reményi Ede Chamber Orchestra and the Miskolc National Theatre Choir, playing an unforgettable three-hour best-of set.
02 min read

SHADOW GALLERY’s ProgPower Europe Festival Performance To Be Filmed For DVD Release

Manos Spanos
SHADOW GALLERY's performance at this year's edition of the ProgPower Europe festival — which is scheduled to take place October 4-6 at JC Sjiwa in Baarlo, Netherlands — will be professionally filmed by eight cameras for a future DVD release. Comment the festival organizers: "We are extremely excited about a new milestone in the history of ProgPower Europe. The performance of SHADOW GALLERY on Friday evening October 4 will be recorded. The show will be filmed by eight cameras with the intention to officially release as a DVD some day in the future. "To make this all happen, some improvements have been made inside the venue JC Sjiwa. We will rent stage barriers to give two cameramen enough space between the stage and the crowd. Different sizes of drum and keyboard risers will be rented as well, to make it visually attractive. Our own sound guy Niels, who is also the permanent sound guy of Dutch band DEWOLFF, will take care of the sound. He invited the permanent light engineer of DEWOLFF to take care of the lights during this show. "As you can see, we try to do everything possible to make this an evening we will never forget, with hopefully an official DVD release someday in the near future." Adds SHADOW GALLERY's Gary Wehrkamp: "The band captured some of our last tour, and will do the same again at ProgPower Europe so we can share the show. "Our setlist has a changed a bit and we are excited to throw in some new songs, including some exclusive tunes for ProgPower Europe.
02 min read