01.14.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Following the departure of band member Charlie Simpson, BUSTED announced today that they have decided to split up. Over the last two years, James Bourne, Matt Willis, and Simpson have become household names. BUSTED have had eight top three hits including four number ones. Both BUSTED albums, 2002's "Busted" and 2003's "A Present For Everyone" have clocked up over 1 million sales each. Last year, BUSTED won "Best Pop Act" and "Best Breakthrough Act" at the 2004 BRIT awards, and were also nominated for "Best British Group." Most recently, they topped the charts with the theme to the "Thunderbirds" movie, which was also voted "Record Of The Year." In the course of their career, BUSTED sold out 50 UK arenas including 11 at Wembley Stadium, and last year sold more tickets there than any other artist (equaling the all-time record), consolidating their position as the biggest Pop act in the UK. Says Matt Willis: "It's a really sad day for all of us but we've always said that if one member left then we'd call it a day. The last three years have been unbelievable and I'd like to say a massive thank you to all our fans- you've been amazing." Says Charlie Simpson: "I'm incredibly proud of everything that we've achieved in Busted. We've enjoyed some of the best times in our lives together. I wouldn't change one single bit of it. This has been a really difficult decision and I hope the fans will understand." Says James Bourne: "I'm devastated that Charlie has chosen to quit Busted, but I have to respect his decision and I fully support him and wish him all the best for the future. I would like to say a personal thank you to all the fans who have made the last three years the best years of my life. I'll remember these years forever."
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01.14.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Code666 Recordings have announced the signing of a recording deal with UK Apocalyptic Industrial Metallers MINE[THORN]. The duo play an amalgamation of numbing black space sounds, mechanically thunderous percussion and jarringly violating riffs with vocals dragged screaming from the pulsating wreckage of the urban world, all fueled with spite-ridden trance like isolationism of life in the modern metropolis. Melding together Ambient and Industrial soundscaping, concrete heavy guitars with pounding percussion at times mechanistic others tribal, MINE[THORN] call what they create "Biomechanical Disturbance Metal," akin to "the sound of city-sized slabs of living ancient alien machinery descending from the sky and grinding across the face of the planet consuming all life to replace it with more of their own," as they like to put it. Proto-Minethorn started jamming in the winter of 1999 as a dull Black/Death Metal band. "We where shit, and in 2003 after shedding the skin holding us back and loosing all non-essential members the band found its musical calling and direction and began plowing mercillesly onward, releasing the 'JunkH1ve N01r' with only 4 hours rehearsal," says MINE[THORN] founding member Brooke. As he puts it, MINE[THORN] draw their main inspiration from the industrial sprawl and urban deterioration of their native Teeside in northeast England, as well as a plethora of writers and films which harbor no particular spiritual, political or musical alliances. "Mine[thorn] simply wish to create music that is both crushingly heavy and rich with visual identity," he says.
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01.13.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Swedish band THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES (TSOOL) are poised to take the Modern Rock music world by storm March 15th with the release of "Origin Volume 1," the long awaited follow-up to their 2002 breakthrough album, "Behind The Music." Arguably one of the most engaging live bands on the current Alternative Pop/Rock scene, THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES have racked up numerous awards in their home country, and have rightfully earned much critical praise throughout the rest of Europe and in North America. The band will hit select American cities this month to preview tracks from "Origin Volume 1," with a full Spring tour currently in the works. Formed in Gothenburg in 1994, THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES has all the signs of true greatness: excellent songs, outstanding musicianship, powerful live presence and possession of an inner radar always steering them in the right musical direction. They have been likened by some critics to OASIS, KULA SHAKER and THE VERVE, but TSOOL is a band that defies comparison. Trying to describe their style isn't easy, because their sound is very much their own. The soundscape of their music has developed during a longer time than the lifespan of Brit Pop, and has grown out of much more intricate influences than just a couple of BEATLES albums. There's definitely some 60's Pop, Soul and Garage Psychedelia in there, and a bit of 70's high-energy rock'n'roll, plus a tinge of boogie. But there is more at work here than mere musical graverobbing. To put it simply, THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES move between different genres without effort, picking out the best parts and piecing them back together in a new, unexpected and most enjoyable fashion.
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01.13.05 (RockAndMetal.com) THE RED CHORD's new album, "Clients," is currently being recorded at Planet Z studios with engineer/producer Zeuss. According to new drummer Brad Fickiesen: "The record sounds amazing so far. Zeuss has been working the hell out of u,s and we're all extremely psyched with the progress to this point. The drum tracks are 100% finished. We're about midway through tracking guitars now and we just started vocals." In regards to the new album, THE RED CHORD's guitarist Mike McKenzie says: "Floating science crown." Bassist Greg Weeks contributed his two scents adding "diarrhea trombone." "Clients" is slated for a release date of May 17th via Metal Blade/Black Market Activities. THE RED CHORD are a five piece Hardcore/Metal band from Revere, Massachusetts. The band was originally formed by vocalist Guy Kozowyk and guitarist Kevin Rampelberg under the name of "Ictus," and after several line-up changes as well as a few members switching instruments, they debuted as THE RED CHORD in August of 2000 with BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED and UNDYING in Taunton, Massachusetts. In the Summer of 2001, the band did a brief East Coast tour by themselves solely on the strength of a 3-song demo CDR. In early December, the band hit New Alliance Studios in Boston with Andrew Schneider to record their debut full-length album, "Fused Together In Revolving Doors," which was released by Robotic Empire in 2002. Look for supporting tour dates for "Clients" to be announced in the next couple of weeks.
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01.12.05 (RockAndMetal.com) January 25th marks the official release date of the debut album from the JIMMY CHAMBERLIN COMPLEX, "Life Begins Again," via Sanctuary Records. As the drummer for both SMASHING PUMPKINS and ZWAN, there are few places Jimmy Chamberlin hasn't traveled, magazines he hasn't been in, and stadiums he hasn't filled. After the breakup of ZWAN was officially announced in September of 2003, Chamberlin decided he was ready to start thinking seriously about doing something all for himself. Throughout his 12 years with SMASHING PUMPKINS, thoughts of a solo career drifted in and out of his thoughts and daydreams. Although Chamberlin may have occasionally mentioned the idea to his bandmates, part of him never actually believed that those dreams would turn to reality -- at least not as quickly as his solo bow has evolved from casual conversation to finished product. Through 10 long days in the Summer of 2004, he morphed his dream into 11 cinematic, sometimes dark and jagged-edged songs that would become the whole of "Life Begins Again." With the floodgates open, Jimmy Chamberlin's life, at least professionally and creatively, quite literally began anew. His new label gave him the one thing that "Life Begins Again" is all about: Freedom. The freedom to harness musical inspiration as it hits, and preventing it from being diluted by bottom-line concerns. And with that freedom, Chamberlin and a cast of trusted friends and peers bounded into an L.A. studio and cranked out his first solo statement in record pace. "I'm amazed that we did it. There was a lot of internal laughing going on while we were making it, just because we were thrilled at the progress we were making and we were actually pulling it..." [full story]
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01.12.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Fresh from their debut European tour with DISMEMBER, Technical Death Metal destroyers ANATA have begun to put together the follow-up album to last year's impressive "Under A Stone With No Inscription," with most of the material apparently already written and arranged. However, recording is not scheduled to take place until sometime in June, with a possible release in line for October of 2005. In the meantime the band have sent the following message thanking their fans for their support during the tour: "ANATA are back from a 4-week European tour. ANATA would like to thank the ultra-cool guys in Dismember, Psycroptic, Soul Demise and Fall Of Serenity for making this tour such a pleasant trip. But most of all, we would like to thank all the people who came to see the shows, you people rule! Thanks for your support, we hope to see you all again!" Formed in Varberg, Sweden in 1993, ANATA's penchant for penning unrelenting death metal with a razor-sharp sense of melody has always been an inherent trait in their songwriting. As the band has grown as musicians and songwriters over the years, their music eventually shifted into a much darker, more Death Metal direction. Performing early live shows with fellow Swedish bands DISSECTION, LAKE OF TEARS and BESEECH, ANATA developed themselves out of that friendly competition to be an intense live outfit. Previous releases by the band include ANATA's 1998 debut for Season Of Mist Records, "The Infernal Depths Of Hatred," which was followed by "Dreams Of Death And Dismay" in 2001.
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01.11.05 (RockAndMetal.com) The CHRIS STAMEY EXPERIENCE are set to release their new album, "A Question Of Temperature," via Yep Roc Records on January 25th. It's safe to say that Chris Stamey is a relatively political man. So it's a given that this year's political Sturm und Drang has naturally left him somewhat hot and bothered. Fortunately for him, some of his old neighbors came together to help him whip that feverish inspiration into the music featured on "A Question Of Temperature." And fortunately for the listener, those old neighbors just happened to be ubiquitous rockers YO LA TENGO. And the resulting Pop squall is definitely no ordinary ruck of Rock. As the founder of kudzu-pop originals THE DB'S, and producer of several very influential bands like WHISKEYTOWN and LE TIGRE, Stamey has always had street cred to spare. And YO LA TENGO's no slouch either. The YLT trio of Georgia Hubley, Ira Kaplan and James McNew have played with nearly everybody "cool" who's still alive, and were dubbed "one of rock's last true visionary bands" by USA Today. With another Rock veteran, LET'S ACTIVE's Mitch Easter, at the mixing board, Stamey and company traded licks on a variety of originals and choice covers on "A Question Of Temperature" like THE YARDBIRDS' 'Shapes Of Things' and the Eddie Harris/Les McCann Vietnam War-era recording, '(Let's Make It Real) Compared to What.' And if you're still not sold on "A Question Of Temperature," Stamey even throws in Yep Roc label mate and honey-throated songbird Caitlin Cary, wunderkind keyboardist Tyson Rogers, award-winning Yep Roc Bluegrass quartet CHATHAM COUNTY LINE and a pro-voting PSA for the price of admission.
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01.11.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Metal Blade recording artists UNEARTH are slated to begin a new North American tour alongside ATREYU, NORMA JEAN and SCARS OF TOMORROW beginning February 8th. Tour Dates: 02/08 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 02/09 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 02/10 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues] • 02/11 Tucson, AZ [The Rock] • 02/12 Tempe, AZ [Marquee Theatre] • 02/13 Albuquerque, NM [Sunshine Theatre] • 02/14 Dallas, TX [Trees] • 02/15 San Antonio, TX [White Rabbit] • 02/16 Houston, TX [Meridian] • 02/18 Covington, KY [Madison Theatre] • 02/19 Winston-Salem, NC [Ziggy's] • 02/20 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade] • 02/21 Tallahassee, FL [The Beta Bar] • 02/22 Lake Buena Vista, FL [House Of Blues] • 02/23 Ft. Lauderdale, FL [Revolution] • 02/25 Norfolk, VA [Norva Theatre] • 02/26 New Haven, CT [Toad's Place] • 02/28 Philadelphia, PA [Trocadero] • 03/01 Washington DC [9:30 Club] • 03/02 New York, NY [Spirit Performance Center] • 03/04 Rochester, NY [Water Street Music Hall] • 03/05 Worcester, MA [The Palladium] • 03/07 Montreal, QC [Spectrum] • 03/08 Ottawa, ON [Capital Music Hall] • 03/09 Toronto, ON [Phoenix Concert Theatre] • 03/10 Pontiac, MI [Clutch Cargo] • 03/11 Louisville, KY [Headliners] • 03/12 Grand Rapids, MI [Orbit Room] • 03/13 Chicago, IL [House Of Blues] • 03/15 Cleveland, OH [House Of Blues] • 03/16 Milwaukee, WI [Eagle's Club] • 03/17 Minneapolis, MN [Quest] • 03/18 Lawrence, KS [Granada Theatre] • 03/19 Denver, CO [Ogden Theatre] • 03/20 Salt Lake City, UT [Lo-Fi Cafe] • 03/22 Seattle, WA [Graceland] • 03/23 Portland, OR [Meow Meow] • 03/24 San Francisco, CA [Fillmore] • 03/25 Sacramento, CA [Colonial Theatre] • 03/26 Santa Cruz, CA [Catalyst] • 03/29 West Hollywood, CA [House Of Blues]
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01.10.05 (RockAndMetal.com) UK trio LITTLE BARRIE have just signed a recording deal with Artemis Records in the U.S., and are currently finishing work on their debut album, set for release this Spring. Produced by Edwyn Collins and recorded over a series of 23 consecutive Wednesdays, the gritty, lo-fi recordings represent a fiery combination that encompasses "blistering funk energy, punk rock attitude, and from-the-heart-fiery soul testifying," says Mojo. LITTLE BARRIE's debut will be preceded by the February 22nd stateside release of the band's self-titled EP, already hailed as "an astounding collection of bluesy-soul future classics" by London's Independent. The band will also play a series of U.S. dates including multiple shows at Austin's South By Southwest music festival in March. Artemis President Daniel Glass comments: "Late one night last year, I walked into a dark, smoky, packed rock club in London and in an instant I knew I was seeing a very special artist. I was floored, I was thrilled and I knew I had to be involved with Little Barrie." Originating in the tiny British Midlands town of Beeston and now hailing from London, LITTLE BARRIE (vocalist/guitarist Barrie Cadogan, bassist Lewis Wharton and drummer Wayne Fullwood) are winning over fans at a prodigious rate. Recent highlights range from packed solo shows to nods from artists including Johnny Marr (who tapped Cadogan for his HEALERS project) and Paul Weller, who recently invited the band to open his massive Hyde Park show this summer. Little Barrie has also turned heads in the hip hop community, opening several shows for DE LA SOUL in London, and attracting JURASSIC 5's DJ Nu-Mark to remix their song 'Burned Out.'

01.10.05 (RockAndMetal.com) With a U.S. tour fast approaching alongside KING DIAMOND, NILE and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER in support of their upcoming album, "Demigod, BEHEMOTH front man Nergal updates things in 2005 with the following: "We feel like we've got something to say with 'Demigod,' and we will push hard and not give up! I don't wanna say that this album is our 'make or break,' but it's opening new doors and I'd like to believe it's some kind of payoff for all the hard work and dedication. One thing is obvious: there is so much confidence in the band nowadays, and we are on the right track to prove it!" For some, the end of the year and the begining of a new one is a time for reflection, but Nergal feels differently: "I hate these kind of categories. What is 2004? For me, there is no difference, no meaning. I have worked hard for last 12 months and I'm gonna work even harder for the next 12 months. The funny thing is all the 'all the best for 2005' wishes we got from all pseudo-friends, back stabbers and people who used to hurt or disturb us in this way or another. Keep those wishes for yourself. We need no hypocrisy here, no Santa Clauses, no Christmas, no New Year's wishes...we are FAR beyond all of that bullshit. Behemoth is what it is: one of the most hard-working bands on the planet, and we will win our happiness and tranquility with OUR determination and consequence." But don't expect BEHEMOTH to slow down any time soon. "We are not gonna stop," Nergal enthuses. "Right after the show we play in London, we get on a plane to Atlanta to join Suffocation for a month-long tour of the U.S. I can't wait. We will be there right on time, as 'Demigod''s street date is Jan. 25. It's gonna be amazing: new songs, new lineup...it all works sooo perfectly these days, and I wanna show it to the American audience."
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[Music News: 01.01.05 - 01.09.05]
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