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THE HAUNTED Guitarist: ‘The New Stuff Is Definitely Going To Be Heavy And Fast’

Manos Spanos
David E. Gehlke of DeadRhetoric.com recently conducted an interview with new THE HAUNTED guitarist Ola Englund (also of SIX FEET UNDERand FEARED). A few excepts from the chat follow below. On joining THE HAUNTED: Ola: "[Patrik] Jensen [guitar] gave me a call after he's been watching a lot of my videos, really. Started talking about gear and stuff and he eventually popped the question. I didn't know any one of the guys from before. I've been knowing this for almost six months and it's hard to keep it in, for sure, especially when you're so excited about something. But we kept our cool, which definitely gave the unveiling a lot more impact.” On new THE HAUNTED material:
01 min read

MIKE PORTNOY: ‘I Think I Am One Of The Most Misunderstood Artists In The World’

Manos Spanos
Jason Price of Icon Vs. Icon recently conducted an interview with drummer Mike Portnoy (ADRENALINE MOB, FLYING COLORS, THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Icon Vs. Icon: Do you feel there are a lot of misconceptions circulating about you? Portnoy: I think I am one of the most misunderstood artists in the world! [laughs] Any time I go on the Internet and I see these web sites with an article with a quote for shock value as the headline, I realize the misconceptions about me that are out there by the fans and non-fans as well. I think the biggest one is that I am band-jumping or opportunity-jumping and jumping from band to band. That is not the case. Like I just said to you, it is me following my heart. I spent 25 years in one band and was so unbelievably dedicated to one band. I don't think you will find more dedication than I do for what I did for DREAM THEATER for 25 years. I mean, I literally oversaw every single step, every minute of the day. You won't find a more committed artist than me. I did that for 25 years, so I think the biggest misconception is that I am not committed. That is so far from the truth. I am just doing lots of different things. I am enjoying having this musical freedom right now. Every one of the bands and projects I am involved with are so different from each other. THE WINERY DOGS is one thing, TRANSATLANTIC is another, ADRENALINE MOB is something else. There are each so different from the other and I give all I can to each of them. The biggest problem is when you give 100% to five different things, inevitably there are going to be schedule clashes and it is not always going to be easy to juggle so many things. That is one of the difficulties I have been having lately and I am trying to make it all work. I am doing my best and I don't think you are going to find an artist with a stronger work ethic than I have. I am a total workaholic and passionate about everything I do. It is hard to always juggle it all without a scheduling conflict here or there! That has been the only problem, trying to solve that and make it all work.
06 min read

SEPULTURA Completes Recording New Album

Manos Spanos
Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have completed recording their new album for a tentative October release via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was tracked over a 40-day period at producer Ross Robinson's (KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, SLIPKNOT) studio in Venice, California and will be mixed and mastered by co-producer Steve Evetts, who previously worked with SEPULTURA on the "Nation" (2001), "Revolusongs" (2002) and"Roorback" (2003) albums, in addition to having collaborated with Rosson a number of other projects in the past. The follow-up to 2011's "Kairos" will contain nine songs, including "The Age Of The Atheist", "Tsunami", "The Vatican" and "Trauma Of War", and two bonus tracks (covers of DEATH's "Zombie Ritual" and a track from the
03 min read

Does MACHINE HEAD Use Fake Guitar Amps?

Manos Spanos
Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel (pictured below) of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD have defended themselves against accusations that they use fake amps as a part of their stage show, insisting that it's something that's been a part of rock shows for decades. Responding to an article that was posted on the web site of the El Paso, Texas radio station KLAQ 95.5 FM that attempted to call out MACHINE HEAD for using dummy cabs on stage, the band released the following statement: "Wow? "While it seems absurd that El Paso, Texas-based radio station 95.5 FM KLAQ would choose to go through the effort to post this on their website, we guess in-light of the big hub-bub about BLACK VEIL BRIDES getting 'called out' by the drummer for THE BRONX for having 'fake cabs' on theWarped tour earlier this month, some 'brain donor' over at the station has decided to drop the 'newsflash of the century' and 'call out' MACHINE HEAD for having 'fake amps' too! A practice that for over 40 years now has been common-place in rock 'n roll going back to the days of VAN HALEN and AC/DC.
03 min read

DEATH ANGEL Completes Mastering New Album

Manos Spanos
San Francisco Bay Area metallers DEATH ANGEL have completed mastering the follow-up to 2010's "Relentless Retribution" for an October release via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's seventh CD was tracked at AudioHammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with Jason Suecof(TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER) and DEATH ANGELguitarist Rob Cavestany handling production duties. The cover artwork is being created by Brent Elliot White (JOB FOR A COWBOY, CARNIFEX,WHITECHAPEL), who also worked on "Relentless Retribution". Says the band: "Now the record is DONE done! Final masters approved!Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York did a brutally beautiful job, as he did with 'Relentless Retribution'. Completely and absolutely satisfied. So excited for you to hear it."
02 min read

PHILIP ANSELMO: ‘Bedridden’ Video Released

Manos Spanos
Philip Anselmo, legendary frontman of PANTERA and DOWN, will release his career-first solo album, "Walk Through Exits Only", on July 16 via his own Housecore Records (MRI/Megaforce). "Walk Through Exits Only"will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl. Produced by Anselmo and Michael Thompson, and recorded over the past couple of years at Philip's New Orleans studio, Nodferatu's Lair, with his band THE ILLEGALS — guitarist Marzi Montazeri(ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL) and drummer José Manuel Gonzales(WARBEAST) — "Walk Through Exits Only" is abrasive, aggressive, anthemic and 100% Anselmo. The album's eight songs are as unstrained as it gets, from "Battalion Of Zero" to "Usurper's Bastard Rant", to the album's title track that goes against the grain and right through the exits. Brash, brutal guitars cut through punishing percussion as Anselmoscreams with uncompromising ferocity and uncontainable fire. "Walk Through Exits Only" track listing: 01. Music Media Is My Whore
07 min read

DREAM THEATER: New Album Release Date, Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed

Manos Spanos
Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER will release their new, self-titled album — the band's 12th studio release overall, and fourth withRoadrunner Records — on September 24. Says guitarist John Petrucci about "Dream Theater": "I see every new album as an opportunity to start over. To either build or improve upon a direction that has been evolving over time or to completely break new ground. "This is the first self-titled album of our career and there is nothing I can think of that makes a statement of musical and creative identity stronger than that. We've fully explored all of the elements that make us unique, from the epic and intense to the atmospheric and cinematic. "We're incredibly excited about 'Dream Theater' and can't wait for everyone to hear it."
03 min read

AS I LAY DYING Frontman: ‘Some Day I Will Be Able To Tell The Story Of All That Has Happened’

Manos Spanos
AS I LAY DYING frontman Tim Lambesis, who is out of custody on $2 million bond posted at the end of May after being arrested on suspicion of soliciting the murder of his estranged wife, has posted the following message on his official blog: "I've come across many comments, both private and public, asking me to explain more about my case or to explicitly state what my current worldview is. "First, I simply am not allowed to do either of those things.
03 min read

VENOM Putting Finishing Touches On New Album

Manos Spanos
British black metal pioneers VENOM are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their 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."
01 min read

DAVE MUSTAINE Says EXODUS Would Have Been Most Qualified Candidate For Expanded ‘Big Four’

Manos Spanos
MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine recently spoke to Radio.com about the band's new album, "Super Collider"; almost hiring late PANTERAguitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abott to play in MEGADETH; and politics, among other topics. You can now watch the chat below. Asked which band should have included if the "Big Four" (METALLICA,MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX) were expanded and considered the "Big Five", Mustaine said: "You know, people will say there's a whole another generation, like the 'Medium Four' [laughs], and I think there's a lot of great bands that fit that bill, too. But I think probably EXODUS, because there was nobody else at the time that had that kind of pull or that kind of importance in the metal community. Granted, it was with [lateEXODUS singer Paul] Baloff, and Baloff had a voice that you had to have an acquired taste for, but you know, I liked him." "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. The CD arrived in stores on June 4 via Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). The effort is available as a limited-edition CD with 3-D cover and bonus tracks, regular CD, regular LP, limited LP plus a bonus colored seven-inch single with two bonus tracks, and a download voucher.
02 min read