miércoles, 30 de abril de 2008

Thrasho de Mayo III


More Bands to be Announced!

Goreaphobia inks deal with Ibex Moon Records

Philadelphia'sdeath metal legends GOREAPHOBIA inks a deal with Ibex Moon Records.

JohnMcEntee (INCANTATION, FUNERUS) Comments: “Jim (Roe) and I have beenjamming with GOREAPHOBIA for about 6 months now and have donenumerous shows along with working on new material. Things areworking out great. It was pretty much a no brainer to inviteGOREAPHOBIA to the IBEX MOON roster. For me it's awesome to beworking with this legenary band.”

ChrisG.Mezzadurus (BLOODSTORM, ABSU) Vocals and bass player forGOREAPHOBIA add's “We are very excited about becoming part of theIbex Moon roster! They put alot of excellent press and fulladvertisement into their releases.The label has been one of the best hard working metal record labelswith A consistent, and positive track record among the extreme heavymetal underground! Also, We are really looking forward to doing sometouring with Ibex Moon's roster of bands like; ESTUARY, DENIAL FIEND,and PENTACLE just to name a few great acts! The people behind IbexMoon are in perfect balance, and matching influences for extrememetal like we have in Goreaphobia. We never second guessed theexcellent work relations that Goreaphobia would have with A realhonest underground metal label! Both Ibex Moon, and Goreaphobia havethe same respect, and admiration for each others place in the metalworld. Their have been to many labels; that we all have felt, thatare not sincere, and true to the pure, raw, extreme, aggressive, andintense essence that real high energy blackend death metal is! To thebands and fans alike!!! Most of your high profile 'metal' acts areunder the control of their big labels. It mite as well be glam rockof the 21st century. To be told how to have your band 'sold' to Avast, and mixed audience. To please everyone(?) Rubbish to all theweak!!! If Motorhead, Venom, and Iron Maiden took the advice of thepeople running labels at the start of their careers. Then it wouldhave been quit possible, that our beloved heavy metal music probablywould have never been born to be the most potent, and highlyinspirational music on the planet! So when bands, and their labelsare working together for the same love, and desire of heavy metalmusic.Then the all of our scene will grow stronger, and become moreof A groundbreaking force of sound!!! We can't wait to finally recordGoreaphobia's first full length studio album after all these years!We have everyone of our strong metal fans, heavy metal maniacs, andmetal death thunder tyrants to thank for keeping us alive, andfocused on our quest! Ibex Moon records is A true home for the blackiron heavy metal heart! To end this statement; in A favoritepersonal quote, buy the mighty words of Exciter 'LONG LIVE THELOUD!'

GOREAPHOBIALINE UP IS:
ChrisG.Mezzadurus (BLOODSTORM, ABSU) Vocals/bass
AlexBouks (INCANTATION) – Guitar
JohnMcEntee (INCANTATION, FUNERUS) – Guitar
JimRoe (INCANTATION, MR GRIM, D.O.M.) - Drums

Lookout for the debut yet untitled full length GOREAPHOBA releasesometime in 2009.
www. goreaphobia. com
www. myspace. com/goreaphobia
www. ibexmoonrecords. com
www. myspace. com/ibexmoonrecords

Unleashed US Tour

Warriors !!!
Unleashed are once again ready to attack the shores of North America/Vinland, this time we'll join forces with Obituary for a full tour in September/October!!

Johnny & The Boyshttp://www. unleashed. se

April 28, 2008
World Management and Unleashed would like to announce that the mightlyUnleashed will be team up with Florida's OBITUARY for a U.S.tour inSeptember/October. Supporting on this run of dates will be San Diegodeath metallers CARNIFEX.
Unleashed newest release "Hammer Battalion" will hit the stores on June10th. The album is full of some of the best material ever written byUnleashed and will be on Spv world wide.The band are currently playing anumber of Euro festivals and will shortly film a video for the song "Black Horizon" ( video will be filmed in Serbia.Video Director is IvanColic.Producer is Stanimir Lukic Type O Negative/ Kamleot / Symphony X). Johnny and the boys are excited to return to launch the " HammerBattalion North America Tour".

Confirmed dates are as follows:

Sep.16 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
Sep.17 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
Sep. 18 - Ft.Worth, TX @ Ridglea Theater
Sep.19 - Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
Sep.20 - San Antonio, TX @ Scout Bar
Sep.22 - Mexicali, MX @ The Metro
Sep.24 - West Hollywood, CA @ House of BLues
Sep.25 - San Francisco, CA @ Slims (w/ POSSESSED)
Sep.26 - Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk
Sep.27 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
Sep.28 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Sep.30 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Oct.01 - Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club
Oct. 02 - St.Paul, MN @ Station 4
Oct.03 - Mokena, IL @ PEarl Room
Oct.04 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabodys Down Under
Oct.05 - New York, NY @ BB King Blues Club & Grill
Oct.07 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Oct.08 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
Oct.10 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
Oct.11 - Baltimore, MD @ RamsHead Live
Oct.12 - Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasants
Oct.13 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend
Oct.14 - Charleston, SC @ Music Farm

Tickets for all shows are now on sale through EnterTheVault. comexclusively until May 21, at which point tickets will be made availablethrough all normal ticketing systems.

Joey Belladonna To Play Full Anthrax Set In Toronto

The following press release has been announced:

Joey Belladona, former lead singer of the legendary group ANTHRAX, has been featured on over 10 albums that have sold over 8 million records worldwide. While Belladonna was with Anthrax, the band was nominated for three Grammy awards, appeared on the Fox sitcom Married With Children, and was voted #1 metal singer two years in a row by Metal Forces Magazine.
In the late '90s, Joey Belladonna released his first two solo albums with great reviews from around the world. After Anthrax's successful worldwide reunion tour in 2006, Joey is now onto his solo project. With a world tour for 2008 entitled Never Look Back, Joey has recruited a new powerhouse band and is currently taking Canada by storm! Belladonna will be coming through Toronto on May 19th for an all ages event and rocking a full Anthrax set!
The show is scheduled for May 19th at The Reverb/The Big Bop Concert Hall - 651 Queen St. W. - Toronto, ON. Tickets are available at TicketWeb.ca, Rotate This (651 Queen St. W.) and The Big Bop Box Office (416.504.6699).

Anaal Nathrakh Announces More Tour Dates

ANAAL NATHRAKH have lined up the following North American tour dates for next month:

May 17 - Toronto, ON @ The Kathedral
May 18 - Kitchener, ON @ The Gig Theater w/ Cryptopsy
May 20 - Ottawa, ON @ Cafe Dekcuf
May 22 - Montreal, QC @ The Plaza Theater
May 24 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar (Maryland Deathfest)
May 28 - Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory

Obituary Plays Benefit Show In Equador

OBITUARY frontman John Tardy has issued the following update:

"14 flights, 11 countries and 8 shows in 12 days!!! What a run that was.
4 great shows in Brasil, packed house in Chile and almost 2,000 fans in a bullfighting ring in Venezuela! Everything was going great when we got word that the final show in Ecuador was canceled.
The club we were scheduled to play caught fire and tragically killed 17 people inside, one week before we were to play there. When you play places like this all the time and then hear about things like this it really makes you think!
We were then asked to play a benefit concert where the proceeds would go to the families of the victims. When we said we would do it I don't think we new what we were in for.
First, there was almost 20,000 fans that showed up and we were the headlining band. Then, when they started to bring in survivors, friends and family members of the deceased into our backstage, it got real sad very fast.
This was an entire community that came together and to be part of it was something I will never forget."

lunes, 28 de abril de 2008

RIGOR MORTIS confirmed for Ozzfest 2008 in Dallas - August 9

Texas thrash/speed metal pioneers RIGOR MORTIS have been confirmed to perform at Ozzfest 2008 in Dallas, Texas on August 9. METALLICA will be headlining this event.
RIGOR MORTIS will perform with its original lineup consisting of Bruce Corbitt (TEXAS METAL ALLIANCE), Mike Scaccia (MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS, BLOHOLE), Casey Orr (GWAR, MITRA, X-COPS, THE HELLIONs, BLOHOLE), and Harden Harrison (MITRA, PERVIS, SPEEDEALER).

miércoles, 23 de abril de 2008

Nominon Announces First North American Tour

Swedish death metallers NOMINON will be embarking on their first North American tour with the Alabama black death metal band QUINTA ESSENTIA.
Perra, Nominon's drummer, commented: "We are looking forward to our first time ever to tour the USA this July. Nominon celebrates fifteen years of existence in 2008, and what better way to do it than to play live with some of the most legendary death metal acts ever, like INCANTATION, DIABOLIC, GOREAPHOBIA, MASSACRE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, BRUTAL TRUTH and others. Most of the shows we will share with our good buddies in QUINTA ESSENTIA, they are a very talented band from the new era of death metal. You guys should be prepared, because Nominon will bring you freaks some old school death metal in its purest form. See you in hell!"

Confirmed tour dates include:
July 10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Smiling Moose
July 11 - Parma, OH - Jigsaw Saloon and Stage
July 12 - Kalamazoo, Mi - Redrum, Michigan Extreme Metal Fest
July 15 - Philadelphia, PA - The Manhattan Room
July 16 - Raleigh, NC - Volume 11 Tavern
July 20 - Urbana, IL - Canopy Club - Cental Illinois Metalfest

Pulverized Signs with Asphyxiate Recordings

Pulverized from Mexico will work with Asphyxiate Recordings for their next full length album. Described as "crushing, violent and innovative death metal for maniacs possessed by the likes of Incantation, Morbid Angel and more sinister technical death metal without losing the pure underground touch," Pulverized released their debut album in 2002 titled "Spheres of Depraved Philosophy" on The Art Records.
Pulverized have possessed thousands across the globe with their violent death metal music, touring Europe and playing along side the likes of like Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Exhumed, Incantation, Monstrosity, Vital Remains, Malevolent Creation, Rotting Christ, Pandemia, and the best from Mexico like Disgorge, Cenotaph, Anarchus, Under Moonlight Sadness, Pigsty, Warcrusher, Ravager, Hacavitz and many more…
You can check out some of the band's material on their MySpace page.

sábado, 19 de abril de 2008

Slayer To Re-Release Vinyl Effort

Available now through Nuclear Blast mailorder is SLAYER's "Live Undead"/"Haunting The Chapel" combo (from 1985 and 1984, respectively) as a numbered new edition in blue splatter vinyl. The vinyl reissue is limited to 500 pieces.
The track listing is as follows:

Side A - Live Undead:
01. Black Magic
02. Die By The Sword
03. Captor Of Sin
04. The Antichrist
05. Evil Has No Boundaries
06. Show No Mercy
07. Aggressive Perfector

Side B - Haunting The Chapel EP:
01. Chemical Warfare
02. Captor Of Sin
03. Haunting The Chapel
04. Aggressive Perfector

For more information, click here.

Source Metalunderground.com

Venom Post Audio Samples Of New Material Online

British black metal pioneers VENOM have posted streaming audio samples of eight songs from their forthcoming album, "Hell". Click here to check out the following tracks:

* Hell
* Straight to Hell
* Stab U in the Back
* The Power & The Glory
* USA for Satan
* Evil Perfection
* Hand of God
* Dirge

According to a posting on the band's web site, the CD — which will be released in May via Universal — is "packed with 13 brand new malevolent tracks from the masters of black metal," including "Armageddon" and "Kill the Music".
VENOM will perform at the Hellfest (June 20-22) in Clisson, France. More shows will be announced soon.
A brand new VENOM band photo can be viewed at this location.
VENOM last year parted ways with guitarist Mykvs (a.k.a. Mike Hickey; ex-CARCASS, CATHEDRAL). "Personal unavoidable commitments in the U.S. have forced Mykvs to announce that he cannot commit 100% to VENOM's schedule," the band previously wrote in a statement. A new guitarist by the name of Rage has been drafted in to replace Mykvs.
With regards to the direction of the band's next album, VENOM frontman Cronos previously said, "VENOM will be even darker and heavier for the next release. The new song ideas that Antton and I have been composing over the last year will be exactly what the 'legions' expect from us, and will really test the abilities of the band members. There's going to be a lot of blood spilled making the next album. This band belongs to the fans and I'm going to stay true to the spirit of VENOM no matter what sacrifices have to be made."

Benediction Release Tracklisting For New Album

Long-running UK extreme metallers BENEDICTION have revealed the tentative track listing for their new album, entitled "Killing Music". According to the band, "[these titles are] in no particular order and may not necessarily make the final album release as there are still more being recorded."

"Killing Music" tentative track listing:
01. Hells Gate
02. Cold, Deathless, Unrepentant
03. Killing Music
04. Dripping With Disgust
05. Dissembler
06. Rats In The Mask (Controlopolis)
07. Betrayer
08. Immaculate Facade
09. They Bleed
10. Frozen Heart
11. The Grey Man
12. As Her Skin Weeps
13. They Must Die Screaming
14. Seeing Through My Eyes (BROKEN BONES cover)
15. Largactyl (AMEBIX cover)

The album is due before the end of the year via Nuclear Blast Records is expected.

Source: Metalunderground.com

viernes, 18 de abril de 2008

Hypocrisy To Re-Release Album With Bonus Material

Poland's Metal Mind Productions will re-release the debut album from the legendary Swedish extreme metal band HYPOCRISY — "Penetralia" (1992) — on May 12 in Europe (July 8 in the USA via MVD). The limited-edition digipack title (limited to 2,000 copies) will be made available on golden disc, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology.

"Penetralia" (remastered + bonus tracks) track listing:
01. Impotent God
02. Suffering Souls
03. Nightmare
04. Jesus Fall
05. God Is A…
06. Left To Rot
07. Burn By The Cross
08. To Escape Is To Die
09. Take The Throne
10. Penetralia
Bonus tracks:
11. Life of Filth
12. Lead By Satanism

HYPOCRISY's latest album, "Virus", came out in September 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records

Deicide Post New Song Online For Download

Earache Records have announced that a brand new song from DEICIDE has been made available for streaming and download.
Following on from the first song, 'In The Eyes Of God', the crushing new track 'Till Death Do Us Part' is another brutal offering from the upcoming album of the same name. With its relentless riffing and delightfully devilish melodies, this is the soundtrack to death itself!
To listen to the songs or to download them for whenever the devil inside you pleases, head to the official Deicide myspace page.
Till Death Do Us Part is released on April 28th in Europe and May 13th in the US. The album will be released as a special edition CD with a free "Glen For President" woven patch (while stocks last), or as a standard CD, limited edition 12" picture disc LP and limited edition 12" colour vinyl LP.

Dark Tranquillity Latin America Tour

Jun 13 Mexico City, Mexico @ Circo Volador
Jun 14 Monterrey, Mexico @ Café Iguana
Jun 15 Guadalajara, Mexico @ Teatro Estudio Cavaret
Jun 18 Bogota, Colombia @ Downtown 727
Jun 19 Santiago, Chile @ Teatro Novedades
Jun 20 Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Teatro Flores

Venom To Headline Hellfest

This message has been posted in Venom official myspace:

"Venom will be appearing at HELLFEST in Clisson, France on June 20th, 2008! The band are set to headline the first night of the three-day festival and promise to kick the festival off with a bang.
Currently in production rehearsals with their new stage show, the band guarantee a truly spectacular event for their French Legions."

Mayhem Postpone Australian Tour

Due to the recent amendments of the entertainment visa requirements set by the Australian Immigration Department, MAYHEM will not be able to get their visas approved in time for their scheduled Australian and New Zealand tour dates. As a result, tour promoter Just Say Rock in conjunction with MAYHEM, have decided to postpone the tour to later this year.
All parties are now working on new dates for the MAYHEM tour. The new dates will be released ASAP.
Anyone who wants a refund for their current ticket can receive one by returning it to the point of sale to get the face value refunded. However, tickets will still be good for the rescheduled show.

Source: Metalunderground.com

Testament Tour

05/01/08 Flint, MI - The Machine Shop
05/02/08 Cleveland, OH - Peabody's Downunder
05/03/08 Mokena, IL - The Pearl Room/Chicago Powerfest

05/24/08 Valencia, Venezuela - Gillmanfest Carabobo
05/25/08 Bogota, Columbia - Teatro Astor Plaza
05/31/08 Belgrade, Serbia - Legacy Fest

06/01/08 Erstfeld, Switzerland - Transilvania Live Fest
06/02/08 Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
06/03/08 Eindhoven, Netherlands, Holland - Dynamo Club
06/05/08 Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Fest
06/06/08 Tampere, Finland - Sauna Open Air Fest
06/07/08 Athens, Greece - Gagarin 205
06/08/08 Thessaloniki, Greece - Hydrogios
06/17/08 Saint-Petersburgh, Russia - Orlandina
06/18/08 Moscow, Russia - Tochka
06/20/08 Clisson, France - Hellfest
06/21/08 Istanbul, Turkey - Festival Valley
06/22/08 Bilbao, Spain - Rock Star Live
06/23/08 Vigo, Spain - A
06/24/08 Madrid, Spain - Heineken
06/25/08 Barcelona, Spain - Apolo
06/26/08 Bergara, Spain - Jam
06/27/08 Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Fest
06/28/08 Bologna, Italy - Gods of Metal
06/29/08 Szczytno, Poland - Hunterfest

07/23/08 Victoria, B.C.

- Save On Foods Memorial Centre
07/24/08 Vancouver, B.C.

- General Motors Place
07/26/08 Calgary, Canada - McMahon Stadium/Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters Of Rock
07/27/08 Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre
07/29/08 Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Centre
07/30/08 Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre

[NOTE: All dates subject to change. Always check with the venue first.
Also all July Canadian dates are in support of Judas Priest.

jueves, 17 de abril de 2008

Review: Vedmak "Attack of Hate"



Great four piece Black Metal band from Russia, obscure, aggressive, heavy in one word Metal.In their songs i can hear some atmospheric and folk elements, for moments they remind me to Darkthrone, Urgehal or some early Aeternus.

The song Attack to Hate is amazing, open with strong and blasting combination of vocals, riffs and beats, the sound quality for me is good, sounds dirty but i really like that sound, the instrumental song is amazing, that kind of atmospheres create a new dimension in the album, Keepers of to Eternity nd Deaths is another great song, totally Black, Cool Ash, Refuge Dark Essence and Blood Rain are the best song of the album, i have to say is a good debut album, i found only one error, in the end of the songs sound like a cut, sounds incomplete, in general is a good album!!

You can check this guys in:

lunes, 14 de abril de 2008

SEEDING DARKNESS - Baja Tour 2008 Regional

FEURER METAL PRESENTS:-I- "SEEDING DARKNESS IN BAJA - Tour 2008"
-I-INFINITUM OBSCURE
Erebo (Morelia, Michoacan)
Lord of Darkness (Guadalajara Jalisco)

Jueves 12 de Junio / Thursday June 12th, 2008
ENSENADA, Baja California @ Cafe Bohemia
With support: TBA

Viernes 13 de Junio / Friday June 13th, 2008
TIJUANA, Baja California @ Hard Rock Cafe
With support: Man Destroys Himself & Infernal Conjuration

Sabado 14 de Junio / Saturday June14th, 2008
MEXICALI, Baja California @ Jardin del Silencio rock bar
With support: Tombstoners

AVULSED Drummer in Hospital

www. avulsed. com - www. myspace. com/avulsed - info@avulsed.com

Yesterday night, our drummer Ricky suffered a loss of coscience and once in the hospital he remained in the Intensive Care Unit. It seems like he suffered a small brain stroke or something like that. this is, one of the veins was broken and some blood was spilled, so he need some surgery to take that blood out.
At this point we don't know much about it, since he liked 200 km away, and this is the information provided to us by his girlfriend, but what it's sure is that we'll have to cancel the AVULSED performance at the DELIRIUM FESTIVAL that's taking place near Paris 8France) next Saturday 19th of April. Also, right now we're not sure if we'll be able to perform at the UNDERGROUND METAL FEST in Lyon (France) next saturday 26th of April as well. We still have to see how Ricky develops from this and then we'll see, although this really doesn't depend on us.
We're very sorry for not being able to perform at the DELIRIUM FESTIVAL on which AVULSED was the headliner sharing the bill with quite some cool bands like HACRIDE + NO RETURN + DEGRADEAD + EMBRYONIC CELLS + HYSTHERESY + E-VICE. We hope our fans and the organizers will understand us in this critical situation and we really hope to play at next year's edition of the festival.

ACHERON films Live DVD in CLeveland Ohio April 19(FREE SHOW)

ACHERON"RITES OF THE BLACK MASS"
LIVE APRIL 19TH, 2008! AT PEABODY'S IN CLEVELAND, OHIO

THIS WILL BE "THE LAST RITES 2008" SHOW FOR THE U.S.A.! THE BAND WILL PLAY THERE WHOLE DEBUT ALBUM "RITES OF THE BLACK MASS" AND BE FILMING IT FOR AN UPCOMING LIVE DVD RELEASE.

SO COME OUT IN YOUR ACHERON GEAR AND RITUAL ATTIRE! THIS WILL BE A NIGHT OF DARKNESS, INSANITY, PERVERSION, MAYHEM AND DRUNKEN CHAOS! DON'T MISS IT! THE SHOW IS FREE, BUT YOU NEED A TICKET, FLYER, OR COPY OF THE SHOW'S AD TO ENTER THE CLUB. YOU CAN GET TICKETS DIRECTLY FROM ACHERON BY WRITING TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES. YOU WILL NEED TO SEND YOUR MAILING ADDRESS AND THE NUMBER OF TICKETS YOU ARE REQUESTING.

viernes, 11 de abril de 2008

Patrick Uterwijk joins resurrection of the mighty Pestilence

Studio line-up:
Patrick Mameli - guitars and vocals
Tony Choy - bass
Peter Wildoer - drums

Live line-up:
Patrick Mameli - guitars and vocals
Patrick Uterwijk - guitars
Tony Choy, bass
Peter Wildoer, drums

lunes, 7 de abril de 2008

Metal Church Unveil New Album Artwork

Long-running Seattle metallers METAL CHURCH have issued the following update:
"After an overwhelming response to the album cover art [contest] for our new release, we have finally decided on a wining cover. The artist's name is Rainer Kalwitz from Germany who is amazingly talented."
"Due to so many talented entries, we have decided to incorporate several of the other submissions for the inner sleeve of the CD. This has really shown us what dedicated fans we have that truly understand our music and we are so fortunate to have the best fans in the world. We raise the horns to you, the Congregation!"
"We would also like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for your hard work, and for all of you that gave your opinions on the art we put up on our MySpace page. The ones on the MySpace page are only a fraction of the entries we received so you can imagine the difficult decisions we were faced with when choosing the winner."
"Once we have had a chance to contact everyone whose artwork we have decided on, we will release their names. All artists' names will also appear on the CD with a very special thanks."
"We are so excited seeing the new release come together and we are stoked to share it with you. The fact that our fans were a part of this process makes us very happy. We will keep you posted on the actual release date which should be early summer."

Source: metalunderground.com

Stratovarius Break Up

Stratovarius’ Timo Tolkki issues the following statement on his website:

“Dear Stratovarius Fans,”

“It is time to stop the silence and announce what some of you have already been speculating. Stratovarius is no more.”

“Last October I told the guys that I am stopping the band and told them the reasons why. This letter is addressed to you, Stratovarius fans, who have supported the band for so many years. I first thought that I would write just a very generelized, typical ”music business” statement that basically never says anything. Then I decided that you deserve to hear at least parts of the truth what has been going on behind the scenes so you will be able to understand my decision better.”

“All the time, since TK and Jörg joined the band, there have been tensions and negativity flying around. This has been concentrating on me, TK and Jörg. The reasons Jari Kainulainen was fired some years back were so absurd that I am not even try to explain them here. If I write a book one day, maybe then. Anyways, I think the seeds were planted already back then, something like 12 years ago. There were many confrontations, Jörg has been complaining to me about TK and TK complaining to me about Jörg. At a times it was a mess, although of course, it never would show outside to the fans. It is not my intention to disrespect TK and Jörg here. They are both fundamentally good guys. Things just sometimes happen and relationships go to directions we don’t want them to go. It’s like a divorce, nobody wants it to happen but sometimes it is best for all so everyone can continue their own lives. Plus I want to tell how things have been behind the curtains. You always only see the good side anyway, you don’t really know what is going on.”

“We had amazing years, 14 records, 6 world tours with over a thousand shows all across the Globe, 3 gold discs, a Finnish Grammy and almost 3 million records sold. I have arrived to my decision after careful, long and rational thinking of over a year and I know it is the right way for me. I just felt so bad being in Stratovarius. Something was terribly wrong in there and nobody seemed to care.”

“The countdown really started from the last Stratovarius album in 2005. At that time the atmosphere in the band was extremely weird. I had spent most of 2004 recovering from my nervous breakdown in April 2004 when I was hospitalized. It was at this point when things started to change. Jens supported me immensely during 2004 with his phone calls. We then did that ”Stratovarius” album, which I think is an awful album and went for the subsequent tour production. By that time it was apparent to me that things really were bad. Nobody seemed to care about anything. I had the idea to use projection screens and for that, you need to produce graphics. I planned those and basically the whole show. Nobody seemed to have any interest in it. It was more like, the less the better. The atmosphere at the rehearsals was awful. Lauri Porra who had just joined the band was wondering what is going on with this band. Jörg Michael came straight from Saxon to this tour wearing a Saxon shirt during most of the shows. His attitude for most of the tour was extremely arrogant, pretty much towards everybody. But especially towards me and TK. And TK’s attitude towards me was lukewarm and polite, but I could sense the hostility. Of course we as professionals put on very good shows but it was more craftmanship and rehearsed performance than a great united band playing emotionally from the heart. I think TK was always very bitter about that he could not get his songs and/or lyrics on Strato records. I did not understand this really cause he had/has his solo band where he could do what he wanted. It took me many years to learn to simply tell him that I don’t like his songwriting and lyrics and that the main difference between me and him is that I am writing songs that end up being Strato songs while he is trying to write Strato songs that end up being Kotipelto songs, which means they belong on a Kotipelto record. It is not easy to say to someone that you don’t like his music. You guys and girls dont like all music, neither do I. Neither does TK. I am not anyone to tell what is good and what is bad music, but I do can tell what kind of music I like. And TK’s stuff just doesn’t do it for me. I do have to say that I think he has written many great songs as well during his solo career. Plus he probably would say the same things about my songwriting. We are just very different. He has a very different sense of humor than I have. Maybe the weirdest thing in Strato was that we never really were friends in the band. I visited TK in 12 years perhaps 5 times. To me Jens was the closest in the band and lately Lauri Porra, who is a wonderful guy. But none of use was really ever real friends. It might be surprising to you but that is the truth.”

“The tour continued and Jörg’s drum roadie told me drunk that Jörg is leaving the band after the tour but he is doing the tour cause ”he is a businessman”. I guess you could say that Jörg’s attitude pretty much culminated what he said to me in Seattle on that tour. He told me that he thinks the band is over. We tried to record, 3rd time, a live DVD in Sao Paulo but could not use the shootings because we played so badly. It was just plain awful. Although we rocked lot of crowds on that 120 date world tour, still the overall vibe was very much like ”going to work”. Not for me though. Not still at that point. But it felt to me that nobody’s heart was in the band and it was just for the money.”

“The tour came and went, we survived and Jörg didn’t leave the band. But it was the weirdest tour I have ever done. Very succesful, but still it felt like forcing something. It was not fun. It was sad.”

“The next thing I had in mind was to write a really fresh good old fashioned Power Metal album in the vein of Visions. I felt our fans deserved it and I felt it was the right thing to do. This was the infamous ”RR” album. The songwriting was flowing and the songs sounded really nice and melodic and very much like old Strato. I was all the time on my toes because of the situation in the band and I was anticipating difficult recording sessions. Anyways in late 2006 we completed a demo tape containing 10 brand new songs. I wasn’t too happy about the demo, but it did serve its purpose, to present the songs to the record company. I then booked 12 days from Sonic Pump studio in Helsinki for March 2007. This was the weirdest session I had ever had. Jörg was all the time talking about that we have to get the ”Visions hunger” back, although I don’t think he himself had that hunger. Nobody had. The session was nothing like the recording sessions before. Nobody had rehearsed the songs really and everything sounded pretty awful. I tweaked the drum tracks for a week and gave up. It was around this point when I really was starting to think why am I keeping this alive when it’s so difficult. I remember how much time, energy and money we put to Elements 1. There was nowhere to go after that anymore without just repeating the past. I do know that TK didn’t like that album at all, which yet again shows the difference between him me. It doesn’t mean that he has to like it of course, but to me Elements 1 represents the peak of the Strato evolution and perhaps I should have stopped the band already then."

"Last year, 2007, was the turning point for me in many ways. I felt better, but regarding Strato I felt worse. There were fights about everything, even about trivialities, which really annoyed me. A lots of fights. A lot. I had to use a lot of energy to try to get merch to Stratoshop, which was on the shoulders of Jörg and TK, because there was no merch for people to order but still they were ordering cause the items were on the page. The SSL certificate that proves the site is secure was expired a year ago, I tried to get that fixed, could not do it because I wasn’t authorized to do so. The most popular items from the shop were sold out and Jörg refused to print more. I could not understand any of the things that were going on. At the same time, I was having more fun than in years with my rock opera Saana. When I was making that, I realized what was lacking in Strato: the enthusiasm, creativity and fun. It wasn’t like that in years. Saana gave me hope that there still could be something new for me to learn at this age and it gave me a whole new world of things and a start for something new. Plus I knew I had some really cool new Metal songs in the works."

"We did have 8 festival shows during 2007 and it was then, when I was standing on stage in Wacken Germany before 45 000 metalheads , when I fully realized that this band is over. I remember clearly playing those same old songs we had played so many times before and a feeling came to me that told me: this band has no soul anymore. I looked around and I felt like I am part of a play that has a script or machine and that there is nothing fresh and exciting happening anymore. The band sounds awful. Nobody’s heart was in it. It was just the same old song. Jörg worked at this point full time in artist production company doing tourmanaging and he was working at Wacken too. He literally came to play from production office and returned there after. Everybody was polite, on the surface, but there was no friendship, all I could sense were the underlying tensions of relatioships that had come to an end. I had felt during that year that the band existed only for one reason and that was the money. I had felt that this was the main motivation what kept Jörg and TK in the band still despite of the underlying tensions. While standing on Wacken stage to my absolute horror, I understood that also for me that had now become a reality. I was keeping this alive for money. It was then when I decided that I must stop the band."

"So it was during this show, I decided that it’s over. I was still thinking about everything but I felt that for my future, it was the only logical thing to do. I did not want to fire TK and Jörg because they are and have been as much part of Strato as I have been and it would not be fair to the fans. I then decided that it is best to lay rest what is already dead. I informed guys by email in October 2008 about my decision and explained in detail my reasons hoping they would see my points and agree what is real. Only Jens and Lauri answered. TK and Jörg did not even answer to that mail. Jens understood my decision, Lauri did not. I understand him, he got a taste of what it is to be in a succesful rock band touring the world. It is not easy to give that up. He did fail to see my side of the story. That TK and Jörg did not comment anything really speaks for itself. I did want to finish the Stratovarius saga with style and naive as I am, in February 2008 I wrote a mail to the band and proposed that we would say goodbye to our fans with style and do one more tour. I won’t go into details here, but this time I did get a response from TK and Jörg. I wished them well and wrote back that I can see there cannot be any more tours with this band because of the hostile reactions.. So that was that. I felt good about my decision, but not good that out of legal reasons I have had to wait for this announcement for so long."

"Then I thought that since I have all these great songs in my hands, I wanna put these out somehow. So I contacted a few friends, we laid the basic tracks in the same place where the Strato RR session had taken place a year ago and it was just flowing. There was happiness. There was energy. The songs sounded great. My friends Michael Kiske and Tobias Sammet agreed to sing on the album. I decided to form a new band called ”REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE” which would continue the legacy of Stratovarius. In this first album I just wanted to release these songs finally so I did not have time to search for a permanent line up. I am now, so if you are interested, drop me a mail! The album comes out 6.6.2008 through Frontiers Records."

"I am excited and happy…for the first time in years. I can hardly wait what the destiny has in store for me with my new band, projects, songwriting. I am living a very creative times. I have my production company and I am doing lots of different projects and not only metal but basically anything that moves me."

"First I would like to, despite of all, thank Jörg, TK, Jens, Jari, Lauri, Tuomo, Antti and Jyrki for these 22 years. It was a quite a ride. I wish Jens, TK, Jörg and Lauri the very best with whatever they decide to do in their life and success with it."

"Last but most importantly, I want to thank you Stratovarius fans for your love and support and for the great life. We will be seeing each other in some ways, somewhere. You will always remain in my heart."

"With Love, Timo"

ESTUARY at New England Deathfest

ESTUARY will be playing the New England Deathfest.
Ohio death thrashers ESTUARY will be playing the first annual NEDF. It will happen on August 9th & 10th, 2008 at Club Hell & Jerky’s (71-73 Richmond Street) in Providence, Rhode Island 02903.

The fest will have 2 stages showcasing over 30 brutal bands from all over the US.
This is an All Ages event, with a bar available to the ID carrying 21+ crowd.
Make sure to check out the NEDF Pre-Show on Friday August 8th.

Tickets:
Pre-Show - $12 @ door
2 Day Pass - $40 advance / $45 @ door
1 Day Pass - $25 advance / $30 @ door

Bands:
Dying Fetus (MD)
Pyrexia (NY)
Malignancy (NY)
Circle of Dead Children (PA)
Mortal Decay (NJ)
Pessimist (FL)
Waking the Cadaver (NJ)
Condemned (CA)
Terminally Your Aborted GhostCephalotripsy (CA)
SexcrementInsidious Decrepancy (TX)
Distorted Impalement (Austria)
Wasteform (NY)Sikfuk (MN)
The Partisan Turbine (NY)
Mucopus (NY)
PilloryGorealityAtrocious Abnormality (NC)
Estuary (OH)
Decrepit (OH)
DysenteryInhuman Dissiliency (PA)
LeukorrheaProteusAbacinate (NJ)
Deterioration (MN)
AbnormalityParasitic ExtirpationTentacles (NY)
CompostedStrappadoPsytoxia (NY)

HALLOWS EVE New Album Info Revealed

This info was recently posted by former Rigor Mortis vocalist/guitarist Doyle Bright....

Atlanta-based thrashers HALLOWS EVE have set "The Never-Ending Sleep" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in July. The CD — which features original HALLOWS EVE members Stacy Andersen (vocals) and Tommy Stewart (bass) alongside Doyle Bright (guitar), Jim Gorman (drums) and Chris Abbamonte (guitar), was produced by Doyle Bright of RIGOR MORTIS and is said to be a conscious effort to achieve the feel and sound of ’Tales of Terror’ (1985) and ’Death and Insanity’ (1986).

"The Never-Ending Sleep" track listing:
01.Night Of The Never-Ending Sleep
02.Dominion Resurrected
03.Army Of One
04.Dance Of The Dead
05.72 Virgins
06.Bed Of Nails
07.Interface
08.Doors Of Misery
09.Through Dark And Dawn
10.The Sun Must Die

A demo version of the "Dominion Resurrected" track has been posted on the band’s MySpace page.

EXODUS + EVILE Euro Tour Starts Tomorrow!

EXODUS + EVILE Euro Tour
April
8th Camden Underworld - London*
9th Rios - Leeds*
10th The Voodoo Lounge - Dublin, Ireland*
11th The Cathouse - Glasgow, Scotland*
12th Corporation - Sheffield*
13th Vera - Groningen, Netherlands
14th Dynamo - Eindhoven, Netherlands
15th Biebob - Vorselaar, Belgium
16th Musikzentrum - Hannover, Germany
18th Turock - Essen, Germany
19th Roxy - Saarbrucken, Germany
20th Backstage - Munchen, Germany* + Gama Bomb

Bloody Sign to tour the Balkan

Bloody Sign to tour the Balkan and Eastern Europe in April 2008 along side their long time friends in Agonize.

Kalevi UIBO Bloody Sign's guitarist comments: “We're very proud to announce that we'll tour in April in the Balkanic area/ Eastern Europe, Some of the most brutal audiences in all of Europe. We toured there three years ago, and we have such great memories from the gigs and from the metal maniacs over there. We cannot wait to go back and play our guts out every night. The tour will cross countries like Bosnia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey and many more, and we'll destroy the stages with our great friends from the Bosnian band Agonize.“
John McEntee from Ibex Moon Records comments: “Bloody Sign has been establishing themselves as one of the premier death metal acts in the worldwide underground scene. They have transcended all the metal trends and have been keeping the cult of death metal alive. I have played many shows with them, and Bloody Sign live are a force to be reckon with.”

Confirmed dates are as follows:
April 16 - AG - SARAJEVO - Bosnia & Herzegowina
April 17 - PALMA - TUZLA - Bosnia & Herzegovina
April 18 - 8th BALL CLUB - SOFIA, Bulgaria
April 19 - AREA 51 - VARNA - Bulgaria
April 20 - DOROCK - ISTANBUL - Turkey
April 21 - CASTRO - SKOPJE - Macedonia
April 23 - BIZIZ - ANKARA - Turkey
April 24 - LIVE METAL CLUB - BUCURESTI - Romania
April 25 - CLUB METAL BOX - TIMISOARA - Romania
April 26 - BAROCK - PETROSANI - Romania
April 27 - ROCK BLUES JAZZ BAR - DEVA - Romania
April 28 - AFTER MUSIC CLUB - BUDAPEST - Hungary
April 29 - RC RACHOT - BLANSKO - Czech Republik
April 30 - RC BROOKLYN - BRNO - Czech Republik

BLOODY SIGN second full length release “Explosion Of Elements” was release in April 17, 2007 on Ibex Moon Records.
http://www. myspace. com/bloodysign
http://ww. bloodysign. fr. st
www. ibexmoonrecords. com
www. myspace. com/ibexmoonrecord
 

Copyright 2007 ID Media Inc, All Right Reserved. Crafted by Nurudin Jauhari