05.28.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Yes, she's a teenager. True, she's a singer/songwriter with anthems of rebellion to spare. Still, never, ever compare KATY ROSE to fellow female singer/songwriters. "I want to be my own person. I hope people take what I do as my own, and don't label me." One label that does stick to her, however, might be "provocative." Indeed, Rose, on her debut album "Because I Can" (released at the end of January on V2 Records) takes listeners on a cathartic emotional journey right up to the edge that has more to do with the likes of early Liz Phair or PJ Harvey than her adolescent peers in the Top 40. It's an urgent missive from a teenage wasteland that's all her own. "I'm such an open book," the sixteen-year-old explains. "I'll tell you the honest truth about anything in my life." In fact, it would be hard to find such a truthful, poetic peek into the mind of a smart, savvy young woman who's seen more of life than maybe anyone needs to. "I got serious about songwriting when I was 13," Rose says. "It was a shitty-ass year. There was a lot of self-destructive..." [full story]
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05.28.04 (RockAndMetal.com) SYSTEM OF A DOWN have been holed up in a North Hollywood, CA rehersal space since January, writing and rehearsing songs for their highly-anticipated new album and follow-up to 2001's "Toxicity," due out later this year. "We've all been stretching and growing as musicians," says guitarist Daron Malakian. "The musicianship on the new songs is more complex, more intricate and technical. We're all so excited about being in this band and about getting into the studio to start recording the new album. There are a lot of things we want to try once we're in the studio. We'll be doing a lot of experimenting with these new songs." Vocalist Serj Tankian explains: "There's a good amount of social commentary in our new songs, as is typical with our writing in terms of lyrics. There are also songs where we deal with love, with reminiscing, relationships, politics, and funny experiences. But the thing that I find about the songs is that they're less specific. They are more open to interpretation, which we like a lot more."
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05.28.04 (RockAndMetal.com) CROSBY, STILLS & NASH are slated to begin a Summer tour of the following venues starting on July 1st:
7/1 Prior Lake, MN [Mystic Lake] • 7/3 Milwaukee, WI [Marcus Amphitheatre] • 7/4 Muskegon, MI [Heritage Park] • 7/6 Lansing, MI [Common Ground] • 7/7 Rochester Hills, MI [Meadow Brook] • 7/9 Clio, MI [Clio Amphitheatre] • 7/10 Indianapolis, IN [White River Park] • 7/12 Wheeling, WV [Wheeling Island] • 7/13 Cleveland, OH [Tower City] • 7/15 Toledo, OH [Zoo Amphitheater] • 7/16 Dayton, OH [Fraze Pavilion] • 7/18 Pittsburgh, PA [Chevrolet Amphitheatre] • 7/19 Canandaigua, NY [Finger Lakes] • 7/21 Shelburne, VT [Shelburne Museum] • 7/22 Boston, MA [Fleet Pavilion] • 7/24 Manchester, NH [Verizon Wireless] • 8/3 Hyannis, MA [Cape Cod Melody Tent] • 8/4 Portland, ME [Cumberland Center] • 8/6 Wallingford, CT [Oakdale] • 8/7 Newport, RI [Newport Folk Festival] • 8/9 Holmdel, NJ PNC [Bank Arts Center] • 8/10 Bethlehem, PA [Musikfest] • 8/12 Wantagh, NY [Tommy Hilfiger At Jones Beach] • 8/13 Atlantic City, NJ [Borgata Center] • 8/15 Dover, DE [Dover Downs] • 8/16 Baltimore, MD Pier [Six Concert Pavilion] • 8/18 Virginia Beach, VA [Verizon Wireless] • 8/19 Charleston, SC North [Charleston Coliseum]

05.28.04 (RockAndMetal.com) THE POWER & THE GLORY's latest effort, "Call Me Armageddon," will be released in June via Deathwish Inc. Formerly known as DOWNPOUR, THE POWER & THE GLORY walk the fine line between the different worlds of Crust Punk, Contemporary Metal, and Hardcore, creating a post-everything musical bombardment as compelling as it is difficult to classify into a single genre by traditional means. "Call Me Armageddon" is an awe-inducing musical juggernaut of sonic inducement, recorded and produced by Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, CAVE IN, CURL UP AND DIE, OLD MAN GLOOM). From song to song, the album rages forth as a soundtrack to worldly and emotional catastrophe. Building to an epic finale that evokes the apocalyptic spirit of their contemporaries NEUROSIS and CONVERGE, THE POWER & THE GLORY still maintain their own sense of character - shaking the foundation of the independent music community as it firmly roots them in place as a new and powerful mainstay.
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05.28.04 (Reuters) R.E.M. frontman MICHAEL STIPE has produced a high-school comedy feature called "Saved!," starring Mandy Moore as a zealous Christian whose idea of Halloween fun is to distribute religious tracts instead of candy. The United Artists film, which opened in select U.S. cities today, offers an alternative view of the well-worn teen genre from the perspective of "Jesus-centric" kids at a Christian school in suburban Baltimore. Everyone associated with the film is careful to say that the film is primarily a comedy and does not ridicule religion. "I would not work on a film that I thought might insult the people in my life," says Stipe, who comes from a long line of church ministers. "I think it challenges certain ideas that are put forward. But anyone, Christian or otherwise, I believe, who is secure enough in their beliefs, who can laugh at themselves, they will like this movie." Stipe produced the $5 million movie with Sandy Stern, his partner in Single Cell Pictures. Together, they produced the 1999 cult hit, "Being John Malkovich."

05.28.04 (RockAndMetal.com) TWILIGHT OPHERA's new album, "The End Of Halcyon Age," will be released worldwide via Crash Music, Inc. on July 13th. TWILIGHT OPHERA demolished the sinister night in Autumn 1996. In Spring of 1997, the band released their first promotional tape, which resulted in a deal with Cacophonous Records. Later that year, TWILIGHT OPHERA released their debut full-length album, "Shadows Embrace The Dark." In 1999, "Midnight Horror" was recorded released. Cacophonous Records had difficulties soon afterwards, which resulted in the label dropping all their artists, which meant that TWILIGHT OPHERA was free to search for a new recording deal. In 2000, the band went through some line-up changes, and later on the year the band had composed six new songs, part of which were recorded. After searching out a new vocalist in Mikko Hakkinen recording once again continued. Three of those songs got included in a new promotional release from the band, "Promo 2001." "End Of Halcyon Age" was recorded in 2003, and mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Nino Laurenne.

05.27.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Last year's "Vicious Cycle" release was a triumph for Southern Rock veterans LYNYRD SKYNYRD, and by far the biggest highlight of the band's 2003 30th Anniversary. It was their biggest selling studio album in decades, and contained Classic Rock's #1 song of the year, 'Red White And Blue.' Not long after the release of "Vicious Cycle" came the filming and release of the soon to be Gold DVD, "Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve." The audio from that release has since been remastered for the ultimate Skynyrd sound on the companion double-CD "Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve" set, which is scheduled for release on June 22nd via CMC International/Sanctuary Records. Recorded live on July 11, 2003 at the Amsouth Amphitheatre in Nashville, TN, "Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve" contains 19 tracks in total and runs 105 minutes in length. "Live shows are really what this band is about," says LYNYRD SKYNYRD founding guitarist Gary Rossington. "We love to play live, there's nothing else like it. We don't know anything else to do. We got it down now, people are enjoying it so were enjoying doing..." [full story]
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05.27.04 (RockAndMetal.com) British Extreme Metal legends NAPALM DEATH have officially signed a worldwide deal (excluding Japan) with Century Media Records. The first release under the new alliance will be the follow-up album to the "Leaders Not Followers" EP, the long-awaited collection of covers, entitled "Leaders Not Followers 2." The album also features an appearance on two songs by Jim Whiteley, the band's original bass player. Bassist Shane Embury explains Whiteley's surprising guest-appearance: "Well, basically Jim and I have remained friends over the years and have shared many nights out in Birmingham, and I thought it would be a good idea to get him playing on a couple of tracks for fun as well as for personal reasons really as I think his input into the band in the early days was sorely overlooked. His lyrics on the b-side of 'Scum' are for me unique..." Mark "Barney" Greenway comments: "I'm very happy with the deal. We did heavily consider releasing albums ourselves, but it would've been too much for any of us to handle at this point in time."
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05.27.04 (RockAndMetal.com) With five highly acclaimed records and more than five years of successful world tours under their belts, THE HELLACOPTERS' recent signing of a recording deal with Liquor And Poker Music has set in motion the coming North American release of the band's latest album, "By The Grace Of God," on July 13th with two added bonus tracks, two videos and an EPK. Liquor And Poker will also issue the second installment of THE HELLACOPTERS' collected non-album works soon, "Cream Of The Crap! Vol. 2." What KISS, CHEAP TRICK and THIN LIZZY are to countless rock fans past and present, Stockholm, Sweden's Hellacopters are one of the massively popular rock bands to beat in that part of the world. Over the past 10 years, THE HELLACOPTERS are a band with a true sense of identity and a clear idea of what their place is in rock history. The band's songs have a strong tradition of being timeless and honest that can only come straight out of their hearts and souls and their pure love of everything that is rock 'n' roll.
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05.27.04 (RockAndMetal.com) DIMMU BORGIR begin a U.S. tour with OZZFEST beginning July 10th in Hartford, CT. Tour Dates & Venues:
7/10 Hartford, CT [Meadows Music] • 7/12 Boston, MA [Tweeter Center] • 7/14 Wantagh, NY [Tommy Hilfiger At Jones Beach] • 7/16 Holmdel, NJ [PNC Center] • 7/18 Bristow, VA [Nissan Pavilion] • 7/20 Columbus, OH [Germain Amphitheatre] • 7/22 Nashville, TN [Starwood] • 7/24 Denver, CO [Coors Amphitheatre] • 7/27 Seattle, WA [White River] • 7/29 San Francisco, CA [Shoreline Amphitheatre] • 7/31 San Bernadino, CA [Hyundai Pavillion] • 8/03 Albuquerque, NM [Journal Pavilion] • 8/05 Dallas, TX [Smirnoff Center] • 8/07 San Antonio, TX [Verizon Amphitheatre] • 8/10 Kansas City, KS [Verizon Amphitheatre] • 8/12 St. Louis, MO [UMB Pavilion] • 8/14 East Troy, WI [Alpine Valley] • 8/17 Detroit, MI [DTE Center] • 8/19 Cleveland, OH [Blossom Music] • 8/21 Chicago, IL [Tweeter Center] • 8/24 Indianapolis, IN [Verizon Center] • 8/26 Camden, NJ [Tweeter Waterfront] • 8/28 Pittsburgh, PA [Post Pavilion] • 8/31 Raleigh, NC [Alltel Pavilion] • 9/02 Tampa, FL [Tampa Amphitheatre] • 9/04 West Palm Beach, FL [Sound Advice Amphitheatre]
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05.27.04 (AP) Barry and Robin Gibb, who went to Buckingham Palace to be honored Thursday, said THE BEE GEES died with their brother, Maurice. During an emotional ceremony, Prince Charles made the brothers "Commanders Of The Order Of The British Empire," or CBE's. Maurice's son, Adam, received the award on his father's behalf. "It's bittersweet. It would have been wonderful for all three of us to be here," Barry Gibb, 57, said afterward. "We have mixed feelings. Knowing Mo, this would have been right up his alley. He would have still had his hat on." Gibb said the Bee Gees are now a thing of the past. "We are not the Bee Gees now, in respect for Mo," he said. "Maybe the time's just right for a bit of free flight. Maybe at some point we will do something together." Adam Gibb, a 28-year-old film student, looked close to tears after collecting his father's award. "My mother was supposed to do it, but she wouldn't have been able to" because of the emotion, he said, as his father's widow, Yvonne, watched from the audience. Maurice Gibb died last year at age 53 after a heart attack.
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05.27.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Vancouver, Canada Metalcore crew BLUE MONDAY have signed a recording deal with Bridge 9 Records, who will release the band's full-length debut album in early 2005. BLUE MONDAY's approach is straightforward and stripped-down. Taking influence from early 80s Hardcore (think DYS, NEGATIVE APPROACH) as well as mid 90s "youth crew"-style music, the band has a sound that's not retro or paint-by-numbers. Coming from Vancouver BC, a city known for great bands that never really make their mark outside their area, BLUE MONDAY refuse to fall into the same trap. They have a firm grasp on the notion that being in a hardcore band is more than just playing music; it's about working your ass off. So from the get-go, BLUE MONDAY set up a steady regiment of shows. In their first few months of existence, they played with bands including CHAMPION and HATEBREED. By Spring 2003, BLUE MONDAY had recorded 7 new songs with Jesse Gander, which brought them to the attention of Stab And Kill Records, who later released their "What's Done Is Done" EP.
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05.26.04 (AP) COURTNEY LOVE pled guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance and agreed to enter a drug rehabilitation program. "Guilty," Love said softly when the judge asked for her plea. Love, 39, also answered "Yes" several times when asked if she understood the terms of the plea agreement. Sentencing was set for July 16th. Assistant City Attorney Jerry Baik told reporters that the rehabilitation effort will last several months and is an outpatient program that includes classes, counseling and probably random drug testing. At the end of the program, Love may petition to have the case dismissed. If she fails the drug program, she could be sentenced to at least 90 days in jail. The count to which she pleaded involved cocaine and other opiates found in her system. A count of disorderly conduct will most likely be dismissed at sentencing, Baik said. Love, in a lilac sweater, floral print dress and teal high heels, was low key compared to recent court hearings, including a rambling speech in the women's bathroom after a court appearance in New York earlier this month. On Tuesday, Los... [full story]
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05.26.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Crash Music, Inc. has announced that they have signed long-time Thrash Metal act FLOTSAM & JETSAM to a two-album deal. FLOTSAM & JETSAM was formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 by bassist Jason Newsted, who eventually left the band to join METALLICA. FLOTSAM & JETSAM debuted with tracks on the "Speed Metal Hell II" and "Metal Massacre IV" compilations, which led to a recording contract with Roadrunner Records. The band later released several albums later on MCA Records and Metal Blade Records. Crash Music Inc.'s Mark Nawara comments: "We are very excited to be working with such a legendary band as Flotsam & Jetsam. They will be getting back to their roots with this new album, and it should prove to be one of the best Flotsam albums in some time." The band, which consists of Eric A.K. (vocals), Craig Nielsen (drums), Jason Ward (bass), Mark Simpson (guitar) and Ed Carlson (guitar) will hit the studio next month to begin recording their new album, which will be released by Crash Music, Inc. either this Fall or by early 2005.
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05.26.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Veteran Punk band BAD RELIGION will release their new album, "The Empire Strikes First," on June 8th through Epitaph Records. Like its predecessor, 2002's "The Process Of Belief," the forthcoming disc was co-written and co-produced by guitarist Brett Gurewitz and frontman Greg Graffin. Says Graffin: "We really put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make the best album we could. 'The Process Of Belief' is considered by many to be our comeback, since Brett and I started writing together again. After so many years doing this, we're really only interested in making a record, writing the songs and producing if we know it will be really good." As for the implications of the album's title, Graffin explained: "We're not in the business of jumping on political events, but this is a particularly interesting time. So we just decided to write a couple of songs about the current administration. But in typical Bad Religion style, I think the new album is general enough that in 10 years time, we won't be embarrassed we wrote these songs."
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05.26.04 (RockAndMetal.com) On the 10th of August, Metal Blade Records will release THE CROWN's new "Crowned Unholy," which will also include a bonus DVD. "Crowned Unholy" is a remake of the bands fifth album "Crowned In Terror," with re-recorded vocal tracks by Johan, re-recorded bass tracks by Magnus, a new version of the intro (originally written by Marko, now programmed by Janne), drum sound digitally enhanced by Janne, and cool synthesizer-spiced parts here and there, all programmed by Janne. The album was recorded, remixed and remastered at Bohus Sound Recording with Dragan Tanaskovic. Drummer Janne Saarenpaa comments on the release: "Finally, 'Crowned In Terror'='Crowned Unholy' sounds just the way it's supposed to! After a long, LONG journey through different studios and mastering facilities, we once again achieved the unique sound of THE CROWN. When you hear Johan's voice in the brutal new mix, you will once again realize that you've been struck by the magic of THE CROWN -- a perfect ending for quite a ride that lasted for 14 years!"
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05.26.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Philly Blues/Rockers SILVERTIDE are set to kick off a new arena tour with VAN HALEN. Upcoming Dates:
June 11th Greensboro, NC [Greensboro Coliseum] • June 13th Hershey, PA [Hershey Park Stadium] • June 14th Buffalo, NY [HSBC Arena] • June 16th Philadelphia, PA [Wachovia Center] • June 17th Philadelphia, PA [Wachovia Center] • June 19th Worcester, MA [Worcester Centrum] • June 20th Worcester, MA [Worcester Centrum] • June 22nd East Rutherford, NJ [Continental Arena] • June 25th Washington, DC [MCI Center] • June 26th Albany, NY [Pepsi Center] • June 28th Hartford, CT [Hartford Civic Center] • June 29th Pittsburgh, PA [Post Gazette Pavillion] • July 1st Indianapolis, IN [Verizon Wireless Amphitheater] • July 2nd Cleveland, OH [Gund Arena] • July 3rd Toronto, ONT [Air Canada Center] • July 7th Columbus, OH [Value City Arena] • July 9th Grand Rapids, MI [Van Andel Arena] • July 10th Detroit, MI [Joe Louis Arena] • July 11th Auburn Hills, MI [The Palace Of Auburn Hills]
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05.26.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Italian Progressive Death Metallers ILLOGICIST are scheduled to release their latest album, "Subjected," in North America on July 13th through Crash Music, Inc. Is there no end to Italy's wealth of skilled metal musicians? The land of pasta and the Vatican has already produced such luminaries as AYDRA, EPHEL DUATH, ESICASTIC, GORY BLISTER, and THY NATURE, and now ILLOGICIST must be added to the list, as they can definitely hold their own when it comes to Progressive Death Metal. ILLOGICIST plays a melodic Gothenburg-style form of Technical Death Metal. On "Subjected," the vocals are powerful, supported by technical bass drum frameworks and twin guitar lines. Prouction is also much-improved over the quality of the band's last release. ILLOGICIST's influences includes such Technical Death Metal masters as CYNIC, PESTILENCE, or most of all, DEATH. ILLOGICIST's music is both technical yet accessible, and heavy yet melodic -- a balance that many groups strive for but fail.
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05.25.04 (AP) PHISH, the enormously popular jam band that experimented with myriad musical genres and whose legions of dedicated fans made them a younger version of THE GRATEFUL DEAD, announced Tuesday that they are breaking up. The surprise announcement came as the band prepared to release a new album, "Undermind," on June 15th. They will still embark on a Summer tour June 17th at Coney Island in New York City. Band leader Trey Anastasio made the announcement on www.phish.com. "Last Friday night, I got together with Mike, Page and Fish to talk openly about the strong feelings I've been having that Phish has run its course and that we should end it now while it's still on a high note," he wrote. "We all love and respect Phish and the Phish audience far too much to stand by and allow it to drag on beyond the point of vibrancy and health." In PHISH-land, the news hit hard. Dean Budnick, senior editor of the music magazine Relix and editor of jambands.com, said he had gotten about 100 e-mails in two hours "just expressing grief on some level..." [full story]

05.25.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Veteran Industrial Metallers MINISTRY will release their new album, "Houses Of The Mole," on June 22nd via Sanctuary Records. Until NINE INCH NAILS crossed over into the mainstream in the mid-90s, MINISTRY did more than any other band to popularize industrial dance music, injecting large doses of punky, over-the-top aggression and roaring heavy metal guitar riffs that helped their music find favor with metal and alternative audiences outside of industrial's cult fan base. Now, MINISTRY is back and stronger than ever on "Houses Of The Mole." Mastermind Al Jourgensen has delivered what he believes to be his best work since 1992's "Psalm 69." Jourgensen -- sometimes known as REVOLTING COCKS, PAILHEAD, 1000 HOMO DJ's, ACI HORSE, or PTP -- has been making music as MINISTRY for over twenty years. During that time, the band has had two Billboard Top 40 albums in both "Psalm 69" (#27) and "Filth Pig" (#19), and was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000. Al Jourgensen has also written music for various films, including... [full story]

05.25.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Artemis Records recording artist JESSE MALIN is set to release his self-produced, sophomore album "The Heat" on June 29th. A special, limited-edition vinyl version of the album was released early today. "The Heat" finds Malin taking on the additional role of producer. "I became producer by default. We had some ideas and a few producers in mind. I went in to the studio to do some demos. I went back out on the road for a few months and listened to the demos, and decided I wanted to keep those tracks. I went back in to do a few more songs, and by the time I knew it, I had an entire record. I had learned a lot from working with producers like Ric Ocasek, Ryan Adams and Tony Visconti, plus having great musicians and a great engineer around helps a lot." "The Heat" is the follow-up to Malin's debut album "The Fine Art Of Self-Destruction," released on Artemis in 2002. "The Heat" also sizzles with guest appearances by Ryan Adams, Pete Yorn and FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE's Jody Porter. JESSE MALIN first entered the spotlight as lead singer of the band D GENERATION.
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05.25.04 (RockAndMetal.com) NEUROSIS have announced they will perform a special live event at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA on July 21st. The performance will be an extended 2-1/2 hour set, and special guest Jarboe will join NEUROSIS to perform songs from the acclaimed "Neurosis & Jarboe" album. During the show, NEUROSIS will also debut live material from their upcoming album, "The Eye Of Every Storm," which is slated for release on June 29th via Neurot Recordings in North America and Relapse Records for the world. Neurot Recordings will also release "The Eye Of Every Storm" on a limited-edition, 180-gram colored vinyl DLP with an exclusive gatefold sleeve and poster insert. Early reviews of "The Eye Of Every Storm" have been very positive, as guitarist/vocalist Steve Von Till's urgent, rasping wail heralds impending eruption as bass player Dave Edwardson plucks a quickly pulsing line that tugs Scott Kelly's guitar along, the crashing waves of open-tuned riffs hitting that signature "Neurosis note" of bent guitar strings that sound like a bloodthirsty beast coupled with a metal machine press on songs like 'No River To Take Me Home.'
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05.25.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Memphis Alternative Country/Rockers HALFACRE GUNROOM are slated to release their debut full-length album, "Wrecked," on Deathwish Inc./Icarus Recordings in July. The album was crafted at Easley-McCain Recording Studios with the help of engineer Doug Easley (The White Stripes). "Wrecked" is an album carved from the pain and confusion that only love can bestow. Highly personal, yet uniquely comforting in its honesty, passion and genuine humility, "Wrecked" is a testament to that true healing power and magical quality music has - proving that it can be your best friend in the darkest of times. Now including the searing leads of guitarist Brian Wallace and the talented organ and piano work of Aaron Brame, HALFACRE GUNROOM are a force to be reckoned with. Powerful, personal and often pissed, main man Bryan Hartley's songs aren't just performed by the band, they are attacked. In a sea of trends and copycat "country" outfits, HALFACRE GUNROOM bring an air of originality and sincerity to both the stage and your stereo.
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05.25.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Blackened Gothcore outfit THE AGONY SCENE are the latest band to sign a recording deal with Roadrunner Records. THE AGONY SCENE is best known for the dark imagery and sonics that abound on the band's 2003 Solid State Records self-titled release, produced by none other than KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Adam Dutkiewicz. Over the course of several tours with the likes of bands including DEMON HUNTER, AS I LAY DYING and BELOVED (as well the Vans Off The Wall Tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and THE SUICIDE MACHINES), THE AGONY SCENE has quickly developed a ferocious live reputation. F.Y.I., THE AGONY SCENE were slated to be main support on a KILLSWITCH ENGAGE tour last year. The way things turned out, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE had to forego that tour in favor of writing their new album, "The End Of Heartache." Looks like THE AGONY SCENE are a perfect fit with Roadrunner, too: Dark, pure metal riffs, fiendish energy, and whisper-to-scream-to-shriek vocals. THE AGONY SCENE will hit the studio this Fall for an early 2005 release.
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05.24.04 (Reuters) Eminem's favorite English pop singer may have sold 20 million albums, but DIDO is no diva. In fact, she is so mild mannered she has to make New Year's resolutions to get tough. Fame and fortune appear to have had little effect on the woman who was given a license to act out when her progressive London parents named her Dido Florian Cloud De Bounevialle Armstrong 32 years ago. For DIDO, there are no legions of bodyguards, no public displays of debauchery, not even the odd temper tantrum. Just don't accuse her of being too nice. "I love a confrontation," DIDO said in a recent interview with Reuters. "One of my New Year's resolutions last year was to just say what I think, when I think it." The old DIDO used to feel taken advantage of all the time. The new DIDO had no qualms about pulling rank when it came to planning her current North American tour, which started on May 17th. Her advisers wanted her to play big venues, as she did at the tail end of her last jaunt. But she demanded -- and got -- a tour of more intimate theaters. "I know that when I..." [full story]

05.24.04 (Launch) A woman named Susan Balfour is trying to stop the Aggressive Music Festival from taking place in Glens Falls, New York on July 17th and 18th, according to local news channel Capital News 9. The concert, featuring SLIPKNOT, also includes performances by SLAYER, HATEBREED, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SUPERJOINT RITUAL and other bands. Balfour, who said, "People have no idea what these lyrics are. How powerful they are to young children," is reportedly going around the Glens Falls area, showing people the lyrics of some of the groups, and asking them to sign a petition to have the concert cancelled. Balfour has collected around 300 signatures, and plans to present them to city officials. Some residents who signed the petition said that young children shouldn't be attending the show. Others in the area disagreed, saying that no one is forced to go, and that it's up to parents to decide whether their children attend. Spokespersons for the Glens Falls Civic Center, where the concert will take place, said it will go on as planned, and that a huge turnout is expected.
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05.24.04 (RockAndMetal.com) LIARS' fiendishly titled new single, "We Fenced Other Gardens With The Bones Of Our Own," has been released via Mute Recordings. This is the second single from their recently issued album, "They Were Wrong, So We Drowned" and the release follows the wrapping up of a UK tour that took place this month. The new single, on CD and 7", comes backed with two new tracks, a great cover of early L.A. punk band THE GERMS' 'Sex Boy' and a third song, 'The Fountain And Its Monologue.' The CD version also includes videos for both b-sides, each directed by the band. The UK live tour started in Bristol on May 4th, and saw the band play London's Meanfiddler on May 10th, and were the first dates in the UK since the release of the new album and their incredible sold out shows last November. Prior to the May tour, LIARS played at the Mute nights at this year's Triptych Festival in Scotland. They played three shows, one in Edinburgh, one in Glasgow and one in Aberdeen, on a bill that included the likes of WIRE, KAITO, PAN SONIC, PINK GREASE and MODEY LEMON.
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05.24.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Metal veteran crew ANNIHILATOR's new album "All For You" has been released in Europe through Germany's AFM Records. The release is ANNIHILATOR's first studio recording output with new singer Dave Padden and drummer Mike Mangini (Steve Vai), the result being a stylistically interesting mix of "Carnival Diablos"-style metal and some of the early ANNIHILATOR classic albums such as "Alice In Hell" and "Never, Neverland." The cover artwork for "All For You" actually represents a further stage of the infamous "Alice In Hell" cover layout. "All For You" was produced, mixed and engineered by mastermind Jeff Waters himself at Watersound Studios in Canada, with mastering duties fulfilled by John Vestman. The album is also available in two different formats: Standard jewel case format and limited Digibook, which contains 20 exclusive ANNIHILATOR booklet pages, plus rare bonus material, 6 video clips and several multimedia extras. Meanwhile, ANNIHILATOR will also be playing several upcoming European shows with JUDAS PRIEST beginning next week.
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05.24.04 (RockAndMetal.com) TRACY AND THE PLASTICS have released their first new album in nearly two years on Troubleman Unlimited Records, entitled "Culture For Pigeon." The new release comes in both vinyl and CD formats, with a bonus DVD containing two original full-length films designed to be played along with the album. TRACY AND THE PLASTICS are an Electronic Art/New Media Punk band conceived and performed by Lesbian Feminist video artist Wynne Greenwood. Greenwood started the band in 1999 while running an underground moviehouse called The Murdra, dedicated to showing independent films and videos. The music on "Culture For Pigeon" is a combination of a stumbling fury of sampled drums, insistent bass loops, and weary keyboard melodies. Drum sounds are courtesy Rachel Carns (KING COBRA, THE NEED), bass grooves and beats are played by JD Samson (LE TIGRE), and vocals were recorded at Studio G by Joel Hamilton and Tony Maimone of PERE UBU. TRACY AND THE PLASTICS have performed all over the country at places like Harvard, LTTR, CCA, and Ocularis.

05.24.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Gore/Grind veterans MORTICIAN will release their new album, "Zombie Massacre Live," in North America via Crash Music Inc. on July 27th. Featuring a whopping 39 tracks of pure terror, the album is an official live release from the band, with over 60 minutes of music. MORTICIAN was founded in 1989 by Will Rahmer (bass/vocals) and Matt Sicher (drums) under the name of CASKET. The band named their first song 'Mortician,' and soon after decided to use the ominous title as their own, resurfacing later that year under that moniker. A rehearsal tape was recorded in December 1989 for promotional Êpurposes, and in February of 1990 the songs were re-recorded for the band's first demo. John McEntee of INCANTATION played guitar on the recording, and remained a member of MORTICIAN throughout most of 1990, a time period that coincided with Rahmer singing for INCANTATION. The cult demo was later released by Seraphic Decay Records under the title "Brutally Mutilated." Throughout the 1990s, MORTICIAN recorded several classic albums for Relapse Records.
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[Music News: 05.17.04 - 05.23.04]
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