01.07.05 (RockAndMetal.com) DAFT PUNK will be releasing their first new studio album in 4 years worldwide on March 22nd via EMI/Virgin Records. Entitled "Human After All," the upcoming release is the third studio effort from the band, and is the follow-up to their last musical revelation, "Discovery." DAFT PUNK, known for their innovative and artistic visual work, have won several video awards and worked with video directors such as Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry. The French electronic music duo came to worldwide attention in 1997 with the release of their debut album, "Homework," which garnered the duo both critical and commercial worldwide success. "Homework" had a revitalizing musical impact, and assisted in encouraging Dance music to reassert its merit once again. In 2001, DAFT PUNK released "Discovery," their second album, which again broke ground musically and visually through the use of Japanese animation, which portrayed the band as robots. 'One More Time,' the initial single from "Discovery," debuted at #1 in France, #2 in the UK, and #1 on the Eurochart, and eventually hit #1 on the Dance/Club chart in the U.S., and #1 on both the Canadian and Japanese international radio chart. DAFT PUNK members Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel De Homem Christo recorded the 10 tracks for "Human After All" in just six weeks between September and November 2004 in their home studio in Paris. On the new album, DAFT PUNK's music remains as diverse and fresh as ever while still retaining their trademark sound, this time with a more spontaneous and direct quality to the recording. A mix of guitars and machines, "Human After All" takes the listener from the hardcore tracks 'Brainwasher' and 'Technologic' to the addition of more Rock-oriented tracks like 'Robot Rock.'

01.07.05 (RockAndMetal.com) A new SOULFLY compilation DVD, "The Song Remains Insane," is slated to be released worldwide February 21st via Roadrunner Records. Rising from the ashes of his former group SEPULTURA, frontman/guitarist Max Cavalera and SOULFLY burst onto the Metal scene almost a decade ago with abrasive guitars, pounding rhythms and a primal guttural roar sounding their arrival. Elements of Thrash, Hip-Hop, Reggae and World beats collide and blend on record to create a sound that is altogether engaging, unique and unmistakably SOULFLY on the four studio albums the band has released so far. But those albums are just a part of the equation - to see SOULFLY live is to see them at their best, and "The Song Remains Insane" captures just that. Edited by Kimo Proudfoot and produced by Jason Cohon, the upcoming DVD is an all-access journey with the band captured live around the world throughout their career. Complete with all of the band's videos, over an hour of live footage, interviews with Max Cavalera and 6 additional bonus performance clips, "The Song Remains Insane" is like a concrete exclamation point to the undeniable Hard Rock and Metal statement that is SOULFLY. Live Performances: 1. Eye For An Eye • 2. Living Sacrifice • 3. Bring It • 4. Refuse/Resist • 5. Execution Style • 6. Seek 'N' Strike • 7. Roots Bloody Roots Promotional Videos: 1. Bleed • 2. Back To The Primitive • 3. Seek 'N' Strike • 4. Prophecy Bonus Performance Clips: 1. Attitude • 2. First Commandment • 3. No Hope = No Fear • 4. Pain • 5. Mars • 6. Wings
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01.06.05 (RockAndMetal.com) THE SECRET MACHINES have announced the following upcoming tour dates for January, February and March, with special guests MOVING UNITS and AUTOLUX in the U.S. and several dates in the UK with THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS: 01/27 Boston, MA [The Middle East] • 01/28 Troy, NY [Revolution Hall] • 01/29 Brunswick, ME [Bowdoin College] • 01/30 Burlington, VT [Higher Ground] • 02/01 Montreal, QC [The Cabaret] • 02/02 Toronto, ON [The Mod Club] • 02/03 Detroit, MI [The Magic Stick] • 02/04 Chicago, IL [The Metro] • 02/05 Minneapolis, MN [The Ascot Room @ Quest] • 02/07 Madison, WI [University Of Wisconsin] • 02/08 Ames, IA [Maintenance Shop] • 02/09 Omaha, NE [Ranch Bowl] • 02/10 Lawrence, KS [The Bottleneck] • 02/11 Boulder, CO [The Fox Theater] • 02/12 Salt Lake City, UT [Lo-Fi Cafe] • 02/14 Portland, OR [Doug Fir Lounge] • 02/15 Vancouver, BC [Richards On Richards] • 02/16 Seattle, WA [Neumo's Crystal Ball] • 02/18 San Francisco, CA [The Independent] • 02/19 San Diego, CA [Canes] • 02/20 Los Angeles, CA [The Avalon] • 02/21 Phoenix, AZ [The Mason Jar] • 02/23 Oklahoma City, OK [The Green Door] • 02/24 Austin, TX [The Parish] • 02/25 Dallas, TX [Tree's] • 02/26 Houston, TX [The Engine Room] • 02/28 Athens, GA [The 40 Watt] • 03/01 Carborro, NC [Cat's Cradle] • 03/02 Charlottesville, VA [Starr Hill] • 03/03 Philadelphia, PA [Theater Of The Living Arts] • 03/04 Washington, DC [9:30 Club] • 03/05 New York, NY [Irving Plaza] • 03/11 Manchester, UK [Carling Apollo] • 03/12 Glasgow, UK [Carling Academy] • 03/14 Leeds, UK [Cockpit] • 03/15 Wolverhampton, UK [Civic Hall] • 03/16 Dublin, Ireland [The Point] • 03/18 London, UK [Brixton Academy] • 03/19 London, UK [Brixton Academy] • 03/21 Paris, France [Le Boule Noir] • 03/22 Brussels, Belgium [Botanique Witlobar] • 03/23 Amsterdam, Netherlands [Paradiso] • 03/24 London, UK [Electric Ballroom]
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01.06.05 (RockAndMetal.com) SOCIETY 1 have finished shooting their fourth video, a nerve-rattling clip for the new song 'It Isn't Me.' An adrenalized slab of the band's trademark Industrial Metal Shock Rock stomp, 'It Isn't Me' is the lead-off track off the band's upcoming album slated for release via Earache Records, entitled "The Sound That Ends Creation." With director Danny Roew at the helm, shooting took place December 31st through January 2nd in SOCIETY 1's hometown of Los Angeles. Roew has directed commercials for Diesel, Starbucks, HBO and Bud Light, and has directed videos for the likes of COOLIO. According to SOCIETY 1 frontman Matt "The Lord" Zane, the 'It Isn't Me' video explores such themes as "the realization and acting out of personal taboos" and "the sinister secrets of the dark side of human consciousness." Zane also had this to say regarding the experience of filming the brand new video: "This was almost more grueling than the suspension video. Danny (Roew) put us through some seriously strenuous situations that bordered on real experience, not acting. We are far from actors, so he believed the only way to get realistic reactions was for the situations to be real. It's an interesting concept that seems to follow what this band is all about. I have worked with other directors, and I have to say Danny's directing style and the ways he manipulated the camera to achieve certain effects at times seemed groundbreaking. I believe this video will be the first to really capture what we are on an instinctual level."
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01.05.05 (RockAndMetal.com) The raucous rulers of the sex-and-drugs-fueled nightlife on L.A.'s Sunset Strip have returned to their old stomping grounds. All four original members of MOTLEY CRUE, the Rock and Metal gods who've sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and who paved the way for other seminal rock acts, have reunited for the first time in six years, announcing a new world tour -- "Motley Crue: Red White & Crue Tour 2005...Better Live Than Dead" -- and giving their fans a live taste of a new definitive 2-CD "Greatest Hits" collection entitled "Red, White & Crue" that chronicles MOTLEY CRUE's entire musical career. The new compilation also includes three brand-new songs from the band, including the first single 'If I Die Tomorrow,' which has also been made into a highly stylized and autobiographically-driven music video. Tickets went on sale for the first leg of the tour last month. A press conference at the Hollywood Palladium took place in December as well, announcing the tour, the new album and the release of the brand new single. The upcoming tour, which commences February 14th in Puerto Rico, results not only from strong demand by homegrown audiences, but has been largely fueled by the diligent efforts of Mags Revell, a UK promoter with Metropolis Music Group, who launched his own grass-roots campaign in the UK designed to get the band to reunite. Taking the unprecedented steps of placing advertising in UK media and putting a hold on concert venues in the UK for June, 2005, Revell's efforts quickly gained traction with MOTLEY CRUE fans all across the world, who added fuel to the fire by taking to the internet and spreading the word. Says Revell: "I honestly did not know until now whether Motley Crue would respond to our efforts. With the help of tens of thousands of fans in the UK and around the world, I wanted to show the..." [full story]
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01.05.05 (RockAndMetal.com) HATESPHERE have signed a new recording deal with SPV/Steamhammer Records, and are set to unleash a new 4-track EP, entitled "The Killing EP," as a preview of their upcoming full-length album, set for release sometime in the Spring. The Danish Thrash metallers had just finished up a tour with EXODUS and RE:AKTOR before ensconcing themselves in Jailhouse Studios with producer Tommy Hansen to record "The Killing EP" this past June. An upcoming joint tour with KREATOR beginning in February has also been confirmed. For a few years now, namely since the release of three demos and their self-titled debut album in 2001, HATESPHERE have been causing a stir on the metal scene. Several line-up changes and the production of their second album, "Bloodred Hatred" (2002), kept the band on their toes in the early stages of their career. Shows with MNEMIC, VADER, TESTAMENT and DESTRUCTION followed, after which came a European tour with THE HAUNTED and MASTODON in April 2003. After the release of the mini-CD "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed And Something Black" (2003), featuring a brand-new track, a high-speed version of Ozzy Osbourne's 'Bark At The Moon,' a cover of ANTHRAX' 'Caught In A Mosh' and live recordings of four older songs, HATESPHERE brought out their third album, "Ballet Of The Brute," this past Summer, for which the band went on to tour to support with EXODUS, and then with CROWBAR in Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France and Britain.
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01.04.05 (RockAndMetal.com) SoCal Indie Rockers JUPITER SUNRISE will hit the road with singer/songwriter Amanda Rogers beginning this Friday. As a special treat to their hometown of Los Angeles, the band will be playing several free shows in that vicinity, including four at The Block in the next two weeks. JUPITER SUNRISE mixes dynamic Pop/Rock with an eclectic style reminiscent of days gone by. "One minute, we're caressing your cheek with a lover's touch. The next, we're crushing worlds... One moment, we're discussing the pain of honesty. The next, we're talking about being in goofy love," explains bassist Aaron Case. Tour Dates: 01/07 Orange, CA The Block (Free Show) • 01/08 Orange, CA The Block (Free Show) • 01/09 Hollywood, CA Hotel Cafe (Acoustic Show) • 01/11 Los Angeles, CA UCLA Quad (Free Show) • 01/12 Fresno, CA [TBA] • 01/13 Fountain Valley, CA [House Show] • 01/14 Orange, CA [The Block] (Free Show) • 01/15 Orange, CA [The Block] (Free Show) • 01/16 Rancho Mirage, CA [Olympia Restaurant] • 01/17 Lake Havasu, AZ [House Show] • 01/21 Manhattan, KS [PJ's] • 01/22 Omaha, NE [The Ranch Bowl] • 01/23 Topeka, KS [TBA] • 01/25 St. Joseph, MO [The Bone] • 01/26 Atkins, AR The [Godbey] • 01/27 Cookeville, TN [The Obscure] • 01/28 Oxford, AL [Cheaha Clubhouse] • 01/29 Marietta, GA [Swayze's] • 01/30 Jacksonville, FL [JackRabbit's] • 02/05 Gainesville, FL [Purple Porpoise - Old Common Grounds] • 02/06 Pensacola, FL [Sluggo's] • 02/09 Arkadelphia, AR [Thrios] • 02/11 New Orleans, LA [TBA] • 02/12 Baton Rouge, LA [TBA] • 02/25 Deep Ellum, TX [The Door] • 03/12 Anaheim, CA [Chain Reaction]
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01.04.05 (RockAndMetal.com) AURORA BOREALIS have finally started work on their 5th CD, with the band lineup finally coming full circle at long last. Tony Laureano (Nile, Dimmu Borgir, Angel Corpse) will be drumming as well as collaborating on writing the new material for the forthcoming album. Laureano also played on the very first AURORA BOREALIS CD in 1996. Recording of the still-untitled release will be done at Nightsky Studios in Waldorf, MD beginning January 31st. The concept of AURORA BOREALIS first originated in 1994 when vocalist/guitarist Ron Vento was playing with Atlanta-based Death Metal act LESTREGUS NOSFERATUS, with whom he parted ways to pursue a different style and lyrical approach to the music. After endlessly searching for players in Atlanta, Vento ventured to Tampa, Florida, where he first met Laureano, and the first AURORA BOREALIS MCD, "Mansions Of Eternity," was completed in May of 1996. All vocals, bass and guitars were performed by Ron, due to never finding adequate players. Upon completion, Vento relocated to Maryland to write and record AURORA BOREALIS' 1997 full-length debut CD, entitled "Praise The Archaic Lights Embrace." The band's third installment, "Northern Lights" was later recorded and released directly by the band, as well as through Die Hard Music with five bonus tracks from "Praise The Archaic Lights Embrace." AURORA BOREALIS' most recent CD is "Time, Unveiled," as fast and brutal an album as any of the band's previous efforts. Any labels interested in AURORA BOREALIS' upcoming album should contact Ron Vento at AURORA4DTH@aol.com, or visit www.auroraborealis.org for more info.
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01.03.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Highly touted Southern Rock band TISHAMINGO are set to release their second album, "Wear N' Tear," come next month. The band, comprised of Jess Franklin (guitar/vocals), Cameron Williams (guitar/vocals), Stephen Spivey (bass) and Richard Proctor (drums), play a brand of music that reflects a high caliber of musicianship, making the group both somewhat of a throwback to their musical ancestors and a frontrunner in today's crowded musical bandscape. Two bluesy-yet-melodic lead guitars with fat tones and two lead vocalists with world weary Soul have drawn comparisons with numerous legendary artists such as THE ALLMAN BROTHERS, GRAND FUNK, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, JIMI HENDRIX, and STEVIE RAY VAUGHN. "Wear N' Tear" has a strong southern flavor mixed with good old Blues-based Rock 'N' Roll, skillful jamming, soulful singing and honest lyrics. To ensure a creative vibe on the new album, the band secured producer David Barbe (Drive-By Truckers) and mixing guru John Keane (Widespread Panic, R.E.M., Stockholm Syndrome) to take the controls. TISHAMINGO are slated to begin a U.S. tour shortly after the album sees its release next month. As far as similiarities go as to how the band initially grew to come together as a unit, flash back to the following scene in the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?": The three main characters stop at a crossroads in rural Mississippi, where they see a black man standing with a guitar. The man asks if they're headed to Tishomingo, a place where he heard people can get paid for singing into... [full story]
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01.03.05 (RockAndMetal.com) DARK TRANQUILLITY will kick off an extensive European tour next month with KREATOR, HATESPHERE and EKTOMORF following the release of their seventh studio album via Century Media on January 24th, entitled "Character." 02/01 Straubing, Germany [J.V. Frauenhofer Halle] • 02/02 Salzburg, Austria [Rockhouse] • 02/03 Zagreb, Hungary [Tvornica] • 02/04 Budapest, Hungary [Petofi Hall] • 02/05 Wien, Austria [Planet Music] • 02/06 Graz, Austria [Orpheum] • 02/07 Llublijana, Slovenia [VTK] • 02/08 Treviso, Italy [New Age] • 02/09 Milano, Italy [Rolling Stone] • 02/10 Montpellier, France [Rockstore] • 02/11 Bergara, Spain [Jam] • 02/12 Madrid, Spain [Aqualung] • 02/13 Barcelona, Spain [Razzmatazz 1] • 02/14 Lyon, France [Transbordeur] • 02/15 Paris, France [Elysee Montmatre] • 02/16 London, UK [Electric Ballroom] • 02/17 Antwerpen, NL [Hof Ter Loo] • 02/18 Tilburg, NL [013] • 02/19 Osnabruck, Germany [Dutehalle/Georgsmarinenhutte] • 02/20 Oberhausen, Germany [T-Club Turbinenhalle] • 02/21 Langen, Germany [Stadthalle] • 02/23 Stuttgart, Germany [Longhorn] • 02/24 Nurnberg, Germany [Hirsch] • 02/25 Pratteln, CH [Z7] • 02/26 Kaufbeuren, Germany [Zeppelinhalle] • 02/27 Glauchau, Germany [Alte Spinnerei] • 02/28 Berlin, Germany [Columbia Club] • 03/01 Hannover, Germany [Faust] • 03/02 Hamburg, Germany [Markthalle] • 03/03 Goteborg, Sweden [Musikens Hus] • 03/04 Oslo, Norway [Betong] • 03/05 Stockholm, Sweden [Klubben]
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[Music News: 12.13.04 - 12.19.04]
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