01.28.05 (RockAndMetal.com) THE KILLS, the Anglo-American duo of VV (a.k.a. Alison Mosshart [vocals, guitar]) and Hotel, (a.k.a. Jamie Hince [drums, vocals, guitar]), will release their sophomore album, "No Wow," on March 8th via Rough Trade/RCA Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Keep On Your Mean Side," "No Wow" is teeming with some of the most alluring love-hate dichotomies ever put to music. The duo's chemistry is evident in every lyric and every fuzzed out guitar chord, with the album gnawing at you like an itchy sweater of libidinal bliss. 'The Good Ones,' the first single from "No Wow," is raw and sultry, with lyrics adapted from a diary entry. Yeah, but whose diary? Listen and decide for yourself. London, England. Brixton Academy. October 29th, 2004. Two figures under dim lights that obscure obscure more than illuminate. One, his jacket zippered up to his chin, eyes glaring headlight-style at the distant balcony, slashes and twitches in time to the rhythm of his guitar riffs. The other, her raven hair matted over her face, sways and rocks and thrashes along, incanting into her microphone the sweetest seduction one moment, then untethered rage the next. For one song, she sports a large floppy-brimmed hat. Afterwards, she removes it. THE KILLS force you to engage deeply in their music. Where most contemporary groups hit you with an elaborately orchestrated reading of a song, attempting to erect their own perfect castle in sound, THE KILLS reduce Rock 'N' Roll to its barest components. As much as what's played, you hear what isn't played, the space between the notes, music as a force that flows between the people creating it and listening to it. The girl stares out the guy. He fires an intense volley of noize into her stomach. She spits back at him, an inch or two from his face, and collapses to the floor. He places the body of his guitar, now rampaging into feedback, on the ground between her knees, and angles... [full story]
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01.28.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Italian Melodic Metalcore band LINEA 77 are getting ready to head off to Los Angeles to record their eagerly awaited 4th album at the end of February, where they will be recording the still untitled follow-up to 2003's critically acclaimed album, "Numb," at Paramount/Ameraycan Studios in (Fear Factory, Linkin Park, Depeche Mode, Monster Magnet, Zakk Wylde), for which Dave Dominguez will be in the producer's chair. The "Numb" album was the rare result of a band doing what it wanted, influenced by anything they saw as relevant, be it world issues such as war, economics, or just TV - an album as distinctive and colorful as the Southern European culture from which it sprung. The fact that LINEA 77's inspiration comes untainted by preconceptions is now to their distinct and undeniable advantage. Guitarist Chinaski had this to say about the upcoming recording: "we are very excited to be finally able to work with Dave Dominguez, and extremely happy that we will be doing this in the USA, in a studio where some great albums were made in the past, we're hoping to breath that 'special' air and let it flow into our music! Dave was also going to produce our previous album 'Numb,' but in the end he was unavailable much to our disappointment - we just happy it's finally happened. We're still writing new material that could still find its way onto the album, some of the songs are defined while others still need to be shaped. We are all very excited about these new songs, especially because you can definitely hear the Linea 77 sound, but we've added some new elements as we always do in our records. It will be a very varied album, with each of the songs having a very different feel to them, at the moment we have eight songs in English and one in Italian, but I think we'll add a couple more both in English and Italian."
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01.27.05 (RockAndMetal.com) GATSBYS AMERICAN DREAM have just finished recording and mixing their new album, "Volcano," for Fearless Records with Casey Bates and Tom Pfaeffle in Seattle, Washington. The band has posted the cover art for "Volcano" on their microsite at PureVolume.com, which will be released on April 12th. Meanwhile on Thursday, February 3rd, GATSBYS AMERICAN DREAM will be posting 2 new songs and one new song every Thursday afterwards exclusively at PureVolume.com. Additionally, the band has been chosen by Alternative Press Magazine as one of the "100 Bands You Need To Know About." The band will also start a 4 week tour with BEAR VS SHARK and CIRCA SURVIVE at the end of February, and are confirmed for Bamboozle and the SmartPunk stage on The Warped Tour. GATSBYS AMERICAN DREAM are a five piece Rock band based out of Seattle. After testing their chops on their debut, "Why We Fight," the band released their critically acclaimed album "Ribbons And Sugar." Produced by James Paul Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever), Ribbons and Sugar was a concept album based loosely on the book "Animal Farm." Foregoing choruses but incorporating catchy hooks, indies and majors quickly took notice. The band respectfully declined the offers, wanting to stay true to their style. Their most recent work, the EP "In The Land Of Lost Monsters," is an anthemic aural assault on all those who advised the band to change their style. Upcoming Tour Dates: 02.28 Salt Lake City, UT [Lo-Fi Cafe] • 03.01 Boise, ID [The Venue] • 03.06 Orangevale, CA [The Boardwalk] • 03.08 San Francisco, CA [Bottom Of The Hill] • 03.09 Anaheim, CA [Chain Reaction] • 03.10 San Diego, CA [Ground Zero Building] • 03.11 Hollywood, CA [Knitting Factory] • 03.13 Tempe, AZ [Neckbear's] • 03.15 Odessa, TX [Earls II] • 03.26 Greensboro, NC [Ace's Basement] • 03.29 Latham, NY [Valentine's] • 03.30 Philadelphia, PA [Owl Cove] • 03.31 New Milford, CT [The Maxx]
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01.27.05 (RockAndMetal.com) New Jersey quintet AGENTS OF MAN have signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records, and have also just finished recording their sophomore release, entitled "Count Your Blessings." Composed of former members of such acclaimed hardcore acts as BULLDOZE, COLD AS LIFE, ONE 4 ONE and TRAIN OF THOUGHT, and with a new line-up recently completed by bassist Mike Couls (Sworn Enemy), AGENTS OF MAN have always strived to forge their own unique musical path, ignoring current trends or fashions, opening themselves to a limitless canvas. The group have put more emphasis on developing captivating hooks and vocal melodies lately, and as a result have greatly matured as songwriters. They spent the past four years honing their craft combining a stunning blend of underground and pop culture alike, which quickly evolved into a brilliant fusion of catchy and melodic, yet aggressive music that can't be easily categorized. Couls describes the group's excitement over joining the Century Media family: "We are very pleased to have signed with Century Media Records, and are extremely confident in their abilities to market and promote our band. We went back to Purple Light Studios (Candiria, 40 Below Summer) once again with Mike Barilie to record 'Count Your Blessings,' our debut full-length album. It's been a long time coming, and we are ready to take our opportunities to the next level. Thanks to everyone who has supported us thus far. A new website and new merch will be coming soon. Until then, see ya on the road." AGENTS OF MAN's first release, "AOM EP 01," was recorded and co-produced by Mike Barilie at Purple Light Studios in 2001. To date, the EP has sold over 7,500 copies, despite very limited distribution. The group have already toured the U.S. with 36 CRAZYFISTS, CANDIRIA, FULL BLOWN CHAOS and SWORN ENEMY, and have played countless shows with such acts as BIOHAZARD, GOD FORBID, HATEBREED and THURSDAY, to name just a few.
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01.26.05 (RockAndMetal.com) MTV Australia are throwing a free, all-ages live gig with rising star MISSY HIGGINS at 7PM this Monday, January 31st at Sydney's Darling Harbour. According to MTV Australia, she will be performing all her hits including the songs 'Scar' and 'Ten Days,' which will also be filmed live for broadcast purposes. Meanwhile, The WAVEAID benefit concert being held in Australia this Saturday, January 29th that MISSY HIGGINS will also be a part of has now nearly sold out, with the exception of corporate box seating. Gates to the show will open at 12PM, with MISSY HIGGINS slated to perform at 2:35. For a full run-down of performers and other important information, go to www.waveaid.com.au. Fans who can't make it to the concert will be able to hear it broadcast on both Triple J (nationally) and Triple M (Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne), as well as watch it on both FOXTEL and AUSTAR. Highlights of WAVEAID will air the following day on Sunday, January 30th from 7-11PM EST across the following Australian subscription TV channels: FOX8, Arena TV, Channel [V], MAX, Club [V], MTV, VH1 and The Country Music Channel. MISSY HIGGINS is a singer/songwriter from Melbourne whose music is unadorned, as well as unforgettable. She started singing in her early teens, lying about her true age to get into local bars to sit in with her brother's jazz combo. Higgins was thrust into the limelight in her homeland when she won a demo competition conducted by the national alternative broadcaster, Triple J. Although she was still in high school, her song 'All For Believing' quickly became one of the station's most requested tracks of 2001. At the time, many music industry types urged Missy Higgins to capitalize on her national radio exposure by quickly releasing a CD. However, she wanted more time to grow as a... [full story]
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01.26.05 (RockAndMetal.com) EPHEL DUATH are ready to record the follow-up to their acclaimed current album, "The Painter's Palette." The band will head into Studio 73 in Ravenna, Italy beginning on February 16th to start recording their new opus, "Pain Necessary To Know," with producer Paso, who worked previously on both "Rephormula and "The Painter's Palette." EPHEL DUATH main man Davide Tiso states: " After a year and half of hard work the drums, bass and guitar of the 9 new songs that will give life to 'Pain Necessary To Know' are finally ready. We're planning on continuing to work on the vocals after the recording of each song's skeleton. The vocals will have the same importance as that of an additional instrument, and will appear only in the songs where there is the perfect mood for them. 'Pain Necessary To know' has been born with an instrumental slant." He continues: "Our live show line-up will record the album (drum, bass, guitar, screams). There won't be any melodical vocals this time, as 'Pain Necessary To Know' doesn't need it, and there will also be different guest artists contributing on the brass instruments, and piano." When asked what could Êbe expected from the new material, Tiso replied "an intelligent use of pain in music!" EPHEL DUATH were spawned in 1998 to satiate the band's members' desires to create, innovate and articulate the all elements of their music. In October of that year, their first demo, "Opera," was unleashed upon a cynical world, and EPHEL DUATH were soon being hailed as genuine forerunners in an aggressively over-populated scene. "Opera" set out the band's stall, showcasing their unique take on Metal music, fusing complex rhythms, technical guitar and synth work, epic Classical scores and heart soaring melody. Described by some as "black metal for the computer generation," EPHEL DUATH are all that and more.
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01.25.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Trustkill Records has announced the signing of Atlanta, Georgia Modern Hard Rockers FIGHT PARIS to a recording deal. The newest addition to a growing roster of quality bands, FIGHT PARIS have been together for a few years now, playing gigs on both coasts, and spreading their "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll" philosophy to unsuspecting kids everywhere. The band are currently geared up to enter the studio in February to record their debut album for Trustkill, which is slated to be released sometime this Summer. Four years ago, a group of friends began playing music together with a passion and a dream, and thus FIGHT PARIS was born. Comprised initially with a core line-up of vocalist Kevin Phillips, guitarist Neil Warren and drummer Jason Krutzky, FIGHT PARIS went through several changes before finalizing the line-up with the addition of guitarist Matt Tanner and bassist Champ Champagne in the Summer of 2003. FIGHT PARIS have already played numerous shows in Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and practically every venue in and around Atlanta, Georgia with bands including CHIMAIRA, GOD FORBID, COLD, DOPE, SCHOOL FOR HEROES, 36 CRAZYFISTS, UNDEROATH, HOTWIRE, [MINUS.DRIVER], SCATTER THE ASHES, and more. FIGHT PARIS strictly adhere to a "party hard, work harder" philosophy. They record all their own music, create and distribute their own merchandise, and have even shot their own music video. FIGHT PARIS were first signed to 720 Records last Spring, however no recordings ever surfaced out of that partnership and both parties amicably went their separate ways, prompting the band to self-release the 6-song "Satisfaction Guaranteed EP" on their own SouthernStyle Records label.
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01.25.05 (RockAndMetal.com) BORN FROM PAIN are currently in the process of recording their Metal Blade debut, "In Love With The End." The band are recording at Antfarm Studios in Denmark with Tue Madsen, who previously worked with the band on their second album, "Sands Of Time," and who has also worked with the likes of THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, CATARACT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, ILLDISPOSED, ABORTED, and many more. The album will be mixed and mastered by the middle of February, with a release date set for April 18th. "In Love With The End" will also be released on picture disc vinyl as part of a limited vinyl box set in exclusive packaging, which will also include picture discs of "Sands Of Time" and "Reclaiming The Crown," as well as the "Immortality" MCD as a gatefold double 7". The vinyl box set will be released through the band's former label, GSR Music (www.gsrmusic.com). According to Metal Blade Records, BORN FROM PAIN will be hitting the road hard during 2005, playing shows all over the world, including a stop at the Summer Breeze Festival in Abtsgmund, Germany in August. In the meantime, a headline tour of Europe is slated to take place starting in late April through the month of May. Supporting BORN FROM PAIN for that tour will be ZERO MENTALITY. Tour Dates: April 29th Dessau, Germany [Beatclub] • May 6th Marburg, Germany [KFZ] • May 7th Germany Weinheim [Cafe Central] • May 8th Ludwigsburg, Germany [Rockfabrik] • May 12th Hengelo, Holland [Innocent] • May 13th Roermond, Holland [e Azijnfabriek] • May 14th Durbuy, Belgium [Durbuy Rock Festival] • May 15th Lichtenstein, Germany [Riot] • May 16th Ulm, Germany [Venue TBA] • May 19th Geneva, Switzerland [Cabaret L'Usine] • May 28th Montauban, France [Hardcore Fest]
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01.24.05 (RockAndMetal.com) UK Modern Rockers KASABIAN will release their new self-titled album on March 8th via RCA Records. The release will be supported by an upcoming month-long North American tour, which kicks off February 17th at Irving Plaza in New York City. "Passion" is not a word you hear very often any more when it comes to music, but collectively, the members of KASABIAN possess it by the tractor-load. As they describe it, they're not making music to be famous, or because it's a good career, they're making music because they need to. Because it's etched somewhere deep in their souls. "Why be in a band?" asks vocalist Tom Meighan. "Because it's the only thing I could do. There's nothing else I ever wanted. Nothing, nothing. This is what I've wanted to do ever since I was four. This is why I'm here." The members of KASABIAN all grew up in Leicester, a city hidden in a sprawl of suburbs, the kind of place where you listen to music, watch football, get drunk and wander the streets at night singing, because there's nothing else to do. Except the raves. In the early 90s, midlands cities within the UK like Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry and Wolverhampton were the focus for what was dubbed "hardcore," a style that fused House music with Hip-Hop beats and a dark sensibility. Unlovely and unloved by most of the media, it was the party no one in mainstream club culture wanted an invite to. Instead, it appealed to alienated young teens who gradually developed it in all kinds of new and interested directions. Like "Jungle," "Drum 'N' Bass," or like KASABIAN's pounding Electronic Rock. "When we were younger, the hardcore years, that was always there," they say. "The Midlands was the place to be when that was all going on. And it was interesting. It's like..." [full story]
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01.24.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Nuclear Blast Records has announced that legendary Doom kings CANDLEMASS have signed a new deal with the label. After their heroic return to several Summer festivals in 2003, evidently the band are more alive than ever now. While rumors were being spread around about a possible split, CANDLEMASS were actually recording a new album. Slated for a release date of May 2nd, the album will simply be entitled "Candlemass," and will mark a return to the classic sound of CANDLEMASS releases like "Nightfall" and "Tales Of Creation" A band that have got their own chapter in The National Encyclopedia Of Doom, CANDLEMASS released their first masterpiece of misery in 1986 with the classic "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus." From that moment on Doom fans have judged the true meaning of the word "heaviness" with a whole new criteria. If you dropped an anvil from the top of the Empire State Building you'd understand just how heavy CANDLEMASS is. Darkness isn't dark enough and massive sucidal thoughts ooze out of their music with the weight of a black hole. In 1987, "Nightfall" was released and the band were darlings of the press just like that. Destined for world domination and fame, the Swedish band toured the world over and over again. They even had a monk on stage. Almighty CANDLEMASS vocalist Messiah Marcolin ruled the scene back then, and his impressive vocal talent (together with the "doom dance") made sure people came to the shows and bought the band's records. After nearly half a million sales on both sides of the Atlantic, CANDLEMASS disappeared from the scene in 1993, reuniting briefly for 1998's "Dactylis Glomerata" and 1999's "From The 13:th Sun."

[Music News: 01.17.05 - 01.23.05]
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