03.04.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Jam-packed at nearly 80 minutes and featuring liner notes written by noted journalist Steve Silberman, CROSBY, STILLS & NASH's most well-known songs will be released together on "Crosby, Stills & Nash: Greatest Hits" via Rhino/Atlantic Records on March 15th. Book-ended by the glorious three-part harmony of the track 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes' and the immaculate vocal work on the song 'Daylight Again,' "Crosby, Stills & Nash: Greatest Hits" features 19 of the finest songs recorded by this enduring trio, including 'Helplessly Hoping,' 'Wooden Ships,' 'Teach Your Children' and 'Wasted On The Way.' Since their original formation in Los Angeles 36 years ago (when they were instantly dubbed a "supergroup"), CROSBY, STILLS & NASH have become one of the most successful and influential groups in Folk, Pop and Rock history, inspiring scores of contemporary singer/songwriters along the way. When the trio of two-time Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductees (David Crosby with both THE BYRDS and CSN, Stephen Stills with both BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD and CSN, Graham Nash with both THE HOLLIES and CSN) made their debut at the Woodstock music festival in August of 1969, their self-titled debut album had been released just three months by Atlantic Records prior to that performance. After their highly impressive Woodstock set, "Crosby, Stills & Nash" went on to become one of the biggest and most important Rock records ever recorded, with its gorgeous three-part harmonies lifting the group to the pinnacle of the then-budding singer/songwriter movement. Seven unforgettable tracks from "Crosby, Stills & Nash" appear on "Crosby, Stills & Nash: Greatest Hits," which also culls a trio of tracks from the group's 1970 follow-up effort, the #1 album "Deja Vu."
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03.04.05 (RockAndMetal.com) BATTLELORE are currently in Soundsuite Studio working on their third studio album under the guidance of producer Terje Refsnes (Tristania, The Sins Of Thy Beloved, Green Carnation, etc.). Bombastic choruses and sound collages are described by the band as just some of the elements that will grab listeners' attention on the upcoming release, due for issue in June via Napalm Records. BATTLELORE guitarist and founding member Jyri Vahvanen first began toying with the concept of putting together a true "Fantasy Metal" band in 1996. Forming under its first line-up in 1999, BATTLELORE's music tells the tales of an ancient world filled with magic, heroes and glorious battles. Basing their lyrics on the texts of J.R.R. Tolkien, the band are no novices when it comes to working in the recording studio. Among their previous releases are two early promo CD's in 1999's "Warrior's Tale" and 2000's "Dark Fantasy, while BATTLELORE recorded their full-length debut album for Napalm Records, "...Where The Shadows Lie," at Music Bros. Studios in Imatra, Finland in the fall of 2001. That album featured the line-up of Vahvanen (electric and acoustic guitars) along with co-founding bassist Miika Kokkola, drummer Henri Vahvanen, 7-string guitarist/vocalist Tommi Havo, vocalist Patrik Mennander, keyboardist Maria and female vocalist Kaisa Jouhki. Following the completion of "...Where The Shadows Lie," Havo amicably parted ways with BATTLELORE due to personal circumstances that prevented him from dedicating the necessary time and energy to the band. In 2003, BATTLELORE returned to centerstage continuing their Tolkien-inspired saga with a rare double release in the "Sword's Song" album and "The Journey" DVD, which comprised over 45 minutes of BATTLELORE bliss, including the wonders of the Finnish landscape featured in the video for the song 'Journey To Undying Lands.'
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03.03.05 (RockAndMetal.com) If you didn't catch the traveling freak show that is MOTLEY CRUE's spectacular "Red, White & Crue Tour 2005...Better Live Than Dead," you're in luck, as the band has just announced a new run of 55 additional shows dubbed the "Carnival Of Sins." The new dates, which follow their tour in Europe and Asia, start on July 26th in Los Angeles, CA and run through October 16th in Sioux City, Iowa, with general tickets going on sale March 5th. The "Carnival Of Sins" tour will include some festival-style amphitheatre and arena dates, with special guests including fellow Island/IDJ Records recording artists SUM 41, THE EXIES and some of the hottest new bands in various markets, those of which are still yet to be announced. Programming and music directors nationwide have responded strongly to the song 'If I Die Tomorrow,' which has garnered Top 5 airplay at the Active, Heritage and Mainstream Rock formats. Clear Channel Regional Vice President of Rock Programming Jim Richards comments: "Radio stations are getting a big response from Crue fans because they know they are part of something special." The band's current tour, co-promoted by VH1 and VH1 Classic, has been drawing record crowds around the world, with the group eventually playing before an estimated 1 million in the U.S. MOTLEY CRUE had offers from more than 100 cities for their Summer run, many of them conducting "Bring The Crue" campaigns through local radio stations and media promotions that resulted in petitions being signed, which led to the now-confirmed series of 55 dates added in the U.S. through the Summer and Fall. A similar promotion in Canada saw the band's new album, "Red White & Crue," certified platinum, with several concerts north of the border added to the tour. The reviews from the first few dates of MOTLEY CRUE's self-proclaimed "Loudest Show On Earth," which includes fire-breathing midgets, aerial displays and assorted circus freaks and geeks, have been uniformly... [full story]
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03.03.05 (RockAndMetal.com) DARK TRANQUILLITY are slated to embark on a month-long headlining tour of North America beginning early next month alongside SOILWORK, HYPOCRISY and MNEMIC. The upcoming trek is in support of the band's latest studio album, "Character," which was released via Century Media on January 24th. Thought of by some to be DARK TRANQUILLITY's most ground-breaking and challenging offering yet, "Character" is as brutal as it is thought provoking and introspective, pummeling the listener with a barrage of menacing riffs, atmospheric keyboards and memorable hooks. The band have also begun airing their brand new video for the song 'Lost To Apathy' (from "Character"), which was shot by Roger Johansson. The acclaimed director has also been at the helm in the past for videos by other notable Metal bands, including IN FLAMES and SOILWORK. 04/05 Buffalo, NY [The Buffalo Icon] • 04/06 Chicago, IL [House Of Blues] • 04/07 Milwaukee, WI [The Eagles Club] • 04/08 Lawrence, KS [Granada Theatre] • 04/09 Englewood, CO [Gothic Theatre] • 04/10 Salt Lake City, UT [Lofi Cafe] • 04/12 Seattle, WA [Graceland] • 04/14 San Francisco, CA [The Pound @ Pier 96] • 04/15 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 04/16 West Hollywood, CA [Key Club] • 04/17 Scottsdale, AZ [Venue Of Scottsdale] • 04/19 Austin, TX The [Back Room] • 04/20 Houston, TX [Engine Room] • 04/22 Winston-Salem, NC [Ziggy's] • 04/23 Philadelphia, PA [The Trocadero] • 04/24 Worcester, MA [The Palladium] • 04/26 Atlanta, GA [The Masquerade] • 04/27 Orlando, FL [The Social] • 04/29 West Springfield, VA [Jaxx] • 04/30 Hartford, CT [Webster Theater] • 05/01 New York, NY [BB King's] • 05/03 Quebec City, QC [Le Capitole Theatre] • 05/04 Montreal, QC [The Medley] • 05/05 Toronto, ON [Opera House] • 05/06 Cleveland, OH [Odeon Concert Club] • 05/07 Detroit, MI [Harpo's]
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03.02.05 (RockAndMetal.com) THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS are gearing up to set this Summer's upcoming V Festival alight. On the weekend of August 20th and 21st, the popular duo will be performing on the second stage for this year's V Festival, which marks the 10th anniversary of the annual extravaganza. Organizers of the V Festival - sponsored by Virgin Mobile - also recently announced that THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS are confirmed to play Hylands Park in ChelmsfordÊon Saturday and Weston Park in Staffordshire on Sunday, with legendary firestarters THE PRODIGY playing those same locations on the alternate days. Both bands are scheduled to join main stage co-headliners SCISSOR SISTERS and FRANZ FERDINAND as part of what will be no less than an 80-artist line up this year. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS will appear exclusively at this years V Festival, their only scheduled UK festival performance. Check out www.virginmobilelouder.com for V Festival updates and a chance to win free tickets to the event. Having delighted a cross-section of music lovers over their 10-year career, the duo continue to reign supreme in the Electronic music field. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS' latest offering, "Push The Button," is their fourth consecutive #1 album and their fastest selling release ever in the UK. Most probably still have their latest infectious single 'Galvanize' imprinted on their minds, currently charting at #3, which is the band's highest single chart position since 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' in 1999. As if that weren't enough, the single has completely dominated the #1 spot on the UK download chart for five consecutive weeks. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS have also confirmed their second single to be released from "Push The Button" is the song 'Believe,' featuring Kele Okereke from BLOC PARTY. The package will include remixes from Erol Arkan and Mathew Jonson, along with two exclusive tracks in 'Giant' and 'Spring,' the entirety of which is slated to be released on April 18th.
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03.02.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Swedish Power Metal merchants FALCONER are set to release their fourth studio album, "Grime Vs. Grandeur," on May 2nd via Metal Blade Records. "It is what we would like to call a comeback," states FALCONER guitarist and mastermind Stefan Weinerhall, "since the last album felt a bit too unfocused and not as good as it should have been. This time though... oooh, how I have rubbed my hands to some of the stuff!" On "Grime Vs. Grandeur," Weinerhall shared the songwriting duties with singer Kristoffer Gobel to some extent, which gave the whole creative process more variety and a new approach, allowing Weinerhall to only bring forth his best ideas and dump the rest. "Kristoffer was also more confident in the studio this time," continues the guitarist, "which cannot be missed by anyone. He fits the songs like a glove! With songs like 'Humanity Overdose,' 'Emotional Skies,' 'Child Of The Wild' and 'I Refuse,' we feel like if people don't like this it's time to start doing something else!" "Grime Vs. Grandeur" also features guest performances by KING DIAMOND veterans Snowy Shaw on drums and Andy LaRocque on additional lead vocals. "People will recognize the Falconer sound but also get to discover a new aspect of it," says Weinerhall, a former member of the band MITHOTYN (along with the band's drummer, Karsten Larsson). "So prepare to get a dose of the best melodies in the metal world spiced up with more attitude and a heavier sound than ever before." Recorded at Los Angered Studios outside of Gothengurg, "Grime Vs. Grandeur" is also FALCONER's first recording featuring new lead guitarist Jimmy Hedlund and new bassist Magnus Linhardt. Both were acquired after the departure of previous guitarist Anders Johansson and former bassist Peder Johnsson, both of whom departed from the FALCONER fold last May due to musical differences.
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03.01.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Chicago's OK GO kick off a 5-week U.S. tour tonight beginning in Tucson, Arizona. The tour will wrap up April 10th at the Black Cat in Washinton, DC. OK GO combined off-kilter guitars, quirky samples, and straightforward power pop sensibilities to produce eccentric, complex songs that are also undeniably catchy. In contrast to the bands that dominated Chicago's arty Post-Rock scene in the late 90s, OK GO formed in the Fall of 1998. After just a few months together, the band quickly garnered considerable media attention without recording a single full-length album. OK GO's grassroots success can be attributed partly to their exuberant stage presence and frequent shows. Opening for the likes of ELLIOTT SMITH and THE PROMISE RING, OK GO first built a strong fan base in their hometown, releasing two early 3-song CD singles to tide fans over until a full-length could be recorded. Signed to a major label deal with Capitol Records in 2001, OK GO released their self-titled debut in September of 2002. Tour Dates: 03/01 Tucson, AZ [Club Congress] • 03/02 Santa Ana, CA [Galaxy Theatre] • 03/03 San Diego, CA [The Casbah] • 03/04 Los Angeles, CA [Spaceland] • 03/05 San Francisco, CA [Cafe Du Nord] • 03/08 Salt Lake City, UT [Club Sound] • 03/09 Denver, CO [Larimer Lounge] • 03/11 Omaha, NE [Sokol Underground] • 03/12 Lawrence, KS [The Bottleneck] • 03/14 St. Louis, MO [Blueberry Hill] • 03/16 Nashville, TN [The End] • 03/17 Louisville, KY [Phoenix Hill Tavern] • 03/18 Ann Arbor, MI [Blind Pig] • 03/19 Toledo, OH [The Underground] • 03/20 Napoleon, OH [Legion Hall] • 03/21 Cleveland Heights, OH [Grog Shop] • 03/23 Pittsburch, PA [Modern Formations] • 03/25 Philadelphia, PA [North Star Bar] • 03/26 Northampton, MA [Pearl Street Downstairs] • 03/29 South Burlington, VT [Higher Ground] • 03/30 Portland, ME [The Space] • 03/31 Cambridge, MA [T. T. The Bear's] • 04/08 Hoboken, NJ [Maxwell's] • 04/09 Brooklyn, NY [North Six] • 04/10 Washington DC [Black Cat]
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03.01.05 (RockAndMetal.com) TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and former SAVATAGE guitarist extraordinaire CHRIS CAFFERY has been very busy in the recording studio as of late. Last year marked the release of his solo debut, "Faces," with which the main album also contained an 8-song bonus CD by the guitarist entitled "God Damn War." Seven new songs are currently being recorded by CHRIS CAFFERY in thee studio, all of which will be added to the "God Damn War" bonus CD and then released separately under the same title as a whole new album unto itself come early Summer on Greek Metal label Black Lotus Records. The songs include the first ever studio recording of a lost DOCTOR BUTCHER (a band Caffery used to be a member of in the early 1990s) track, entitled 'Iraq Attack.' The song features SAVATAGE's Jon Oliva and Caffery on vocals, as well as original DOCTOR BUTCHER bassist Brian Gregory. Along with the additional music, the album will include the full "God Damn War" story and all of the lyrics. With CHRIS CAFFERY currently booking his first-ever solo world tour, which will commence at the end of April, the band includes the "Faces" studio line-up of SAVATAGE/TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA drummer Jeff Plate and TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA bassist Dave Z, who will be headlining a tour in the U.S. dubbed "It's All Good." Other acts on the bill will include THE ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO and various other TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA members performing in several outside endeavors. April 28th marks the first date of the tour, which will kick off in New York City at BB King's Concert Club. The following weekend, CHRIS CAFFERY and band will also be headlining the first night of the Brave Words And Bloody Knuckles "Six Pack Weekend" festival in Cleveland, Ohio. Planned European and additional U.S. dates are soon to be confirmed, and will be announced shortly.
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02.28.05 (RockAndMetal.com) After collecting the Grammy Award for "Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance" last night for the song 'Code Of Silence' from the compilation album "The Essential Bruce Springsteen," BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN has announced plans to release his upcoming new studio album, "Devils & Dust," at the end of April via Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Produced by Brendan O'Brien, who also was at the helm for "The Rising," "Devils & Dust" is BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN's 19th album. Featuring twelve new studio songs that were created with a revolving list of collaborators and musicians joining the core band of Springsteen on guitar, producer O'Brien on bass and Steve Jordan (Steely Dan, Keith Richards) on drums, "Devils & Dust" was recorded at Thrill Hill Recording Studios in Los Angeles and New Jersey, with additional engineering done at Southern Tracks Recording in Atlanta, Georgia. "Devils & Dust" is BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN's first album since 2002's critically-acclaimed "The Rising," which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, on which it surpassed Double Platinum sales status. While dates and countries haven't been announced as of yet, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN has confirmed that he will be staging a special acoustic tour in support of the new album. "I was actually signed as an acoustic act, and I've always enjoyed playing in an acoustic setting," Springsteen said. "Even when I was in a band, back in my early days, I was always writing songs that weren't meant for the entire band," he added. "Devils & Dust" Track Listing: 1. Devils & Dust • 2. All The Way Home • 3. Reno • 4. Long Time Comin' • 5. Black Cowboys • 6. Maria's Bed • 7. Silver Palomino • 8. Jesus Was an Only Son • 9. Leah • 10. The Hitter • 11. All I'm Thinkin' About • 12. Matamoras Banks
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02.28.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Relapse Records recording artists SOILENT GREEN have completed work on their long-awaited new album. The follow up to the band's 2001 release, "A Deleted Symphony For The Beaten Down," the still-untitled new album was recorded at Mana Studios in Tampa, Florida by producer/engineer Eric Rutan (Premonitions Of War, Hate Eternal). Mastering is currently underway courtesy of Alan Douches (Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan) at West West Side Music. The forthcoming album is currently slated for a Summer release. SOILENT GREEN, who have undergone a string of band-related tragedies in recent years including multiple on-tour auto accidents and the shooting death of former bassist Scott Williams, have channeled their recent life events into their new music, returning with arguably the strongest recording of their career. On the topic of the new album, SOILENT GREEN front man Ben Falgoust comments: "Many unfortunate events have taking there toll on our progress since our last release. Not only were the two accidents a great stumbling block for our band and personally, but we also endured the tragic, life-ending loss of a fellow musician and close friend Scott Williams. All these things combined would bring most to just throw in the towel and leave the past behind. As a band that has played together for over 10 years now, we are committed to each other to stick it out and work hard regardless of tragedies in one's life - that you have got to stand up and keep moving forward, no matter what holds you back. It was a great feeling to finally be able to make another record after all that we've been through. Not to mention, to make that record better than anything we've ever done before." "Recording Soilent Green has been a tremendous experience," says Eric Rutan. "I am grateful they gave me this opportunity to prove my engineering and producing skills. All of you are in for one hell of an album."
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[Music News: 02.21.05 - 02.27.05]
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