06.11.04 (AP) RAY CHARLES, a transcendent talent who erased musical boundaries between the sacred and the secular with hits such as 'What'd I Say,' 'Georgia On My Mind' and 'I Can't Stop Loving You,' died yesterday. He was 73. Charles died of acute liver disease at his Beverly Hills home at 11:35 a.m., surrounded by family and friends, said spokesman Jerry Digney. Blind by age 7 and an orphan at 15, the gifted pianist and saxophonist spent his life shattering any notion of musical categories and defying easy definition. One of the first artists to record the "blasphemous idea of taking gospel songs and putting the devil's words to them," as legendary producer Jerry Wexler once said, Charles' music spanned gospel, R&B, soul, rock 'n' roll, country, jazz, big band and blues. He put his stamp on it all with a deep, warm voice roughened by heartbreak from a hardscrabble childhood in the segregated South. Smiling and swaying behind the piano, grunts and moans peppering his songs, Charles' appeal spanned generations. Aretha Franklin called Charles "the voice of a..." [full story]

06.11.04 (RockAndMetal.com) ELDRITCH, one of Italy's most successful Metal bands, have released their new album entitled "Portrait Of The Abyss Within" through Limb Music Publishing. The new effort's not only a well done mixture of all their former creative phases, but draws a good balance between aggressive and progressive parts, and lots of catchy tunes. It was Limb Schnoor himself who made it possible for ELDRITCH to release their debut album, "Seeds Of Rage," on InsideOut Music in 1995 - followed in 1997 by "Headquake," which ELDRITCH toured Europe in support of with ANGRA. The band concluded that year with a performance in front of more than 10,000 fans at the "Gods Of Metal" festival in Milano, Italy. In 1998, ELDRITCH released "El Nino," for which the media showered the band with good reviews and increased attention. With the release of "Reverse" in May 2001, it became more evident that ELDRITCH was not your conventional Metal band. Influenced by MACHINE HEAD and PANTERA, the band showed off a harder, more modern edge to their music.
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06.11.04 (RockAndMetal.com) THE CURE's Curiosa Festival is slated to kick off July 24th in West Palm Beach, FL, and will run through the month of August. Other acts include MOGWAI, THURSDAY, AUF DER MAUR and HEAD AUTOMATICA. Confirmed Dates And Venues:
7/24 West Palm Beach, FL [Sound Advice Amphitheater] • 7/25 Tampa, FL [Tampa Amphitheater] • 7/28 Nashville, TN [Starwood Amphitheater] • 7/29 Atlanta, GA [HiFi Buys Amphitheater] • 7/31 New York, NY [Randall's Island] • 8/1 Camden, N.J. [Tweeter Center] • 8/3 Cincinnati, OH [Riverbend Music Center] • 8/4 Cuyahoga Falls, OH [Blossom Music Center] • 8/6 Columbia, MD [Post Pavilion] • 8/7 Mansfield, MA [Tweeter Center] • 8/9 Toronto, ONT [Molson Amphitheater] • 8/11 Clarkston, MI [DTE Energy Music Theater] • 8/12 Tinley Park, IL [Tweeter Center] • 8/14 Dallas, TX [Smirnoff Music Center] • 8/15 Spring, TX [Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion] • 8/17 Denver, CO [Coors Amphitheater] • 8/18 West Valley City, UT [USANA Amphitheater] • 8/24 San Diego, CA [Coors Amphitheater] • 8/25 Phoenix, AZ [Cricket Amphitheater] • 8/27 Carson, CA [Home Depot Center]

06.11.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Two years after the release of their killer album, "Resurrection Through Carnage," Swedish Death Metal All-Stars BLOODBATH have finished the recording of their new album entitled "Nightmares Made Flesh" with producer Jens Bogren at Studio Kuling (Katatonia, Vomitory, Lambretta, etc.) in Orebro, Sweden. BLOODBATH went through line-up changes when vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth) left the band, but their new one is none other than the great Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain), while drummer Dan Swano (Nightingale, Edge Of Sanity, etc.) has left his place behind the kit and is now handling guitar duties. The new drummer for BLOODBATH is Martin "Axe" Axenrot (Witchery, etc.). "We promise you a fukking brutal and varied piece of work, with especially outstanding performances by the new members Axe and Tagtgren, proving Bloodbath is no longer a only tribute to Death Metal. We are Death Metal's very own elite", the band comments on the new material. "Nightmares Made Flesh" will be released in late Summer/early Autumn on Century Media.
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06.11.04 (RockAndMetal.com) As her first Australian tour in 15 years draws closer, CYNDI LAUPER is set to release her new DVD, "Live...At Last," Down Under on Monday, June 21st. "Live...At Last" documents CYNDI LAUPER in her element, live on stage at the Town Hall in her native NYC. The set includes tracks from her latest album, "At Last," as well as plenty of classic 80's hits including 'True Colours', 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' and 'Time After Time.' The DVD also contains a very special bonus of Cyndi getting back to her roots and giving fans a guided tour through her old neighborhood in the borough of Queens. Also, to coincide with her upcoming tour, "At Last" will be re-released. The album is a varied collection of songs, with Cyndi putting her unmistakable stamp on classics such as 'Unchained Melody', 'Walk On By,' 'You Really Got A Hold On Me,' the title track popularized by Etta James, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs' 'Stay', 'Until You Come Back To Me' (with Stevie Wonder on harmonica), as well as a duet with Tony Bennett on 'Makin' Whoopee.' The new version of "At Last" is interactive and allows users to access exclusive online bonus material.

06.11.04 (RockAndMetal.com) "Alone In The Dark," the upcoming horror movie based on the popular computer game series, will also feature an appropriate dark soundtrack: The first bands confirmed for it are modern Thrash Metallers MNEMIC, Sweden's most successful Melodic Death export IN FLAMES and Sweden-based Melodic Death giants SOILWORK, and SOLUTION COMA. Also under discussion for the "Alone In The Dark" soundtrack are US Thrashers DEATH ANGEL, Finland's top selling Gothic Metallers NIGHTWISH, German Power Metal chart breakers EDGUY, US stars ANTHRAX and several more. In the "Alone In The Dark" movie itself, slated for release in the Fall, Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) is a private investigator specializing in unexplainable supernatural phenomena. With the help of his ex-flame, archeologist Aline Cedrac (Tara Reid), and his bitter rival, government agent Richard Burke (Stephen Dorff), Carnby is about to learn that just because you don't believe in something, that doesn't mean it can't kill you.
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06.10.04 (Reuters) The bad boys of rock are back: Sober, older and wiser, but still hoping to turn the music world on its head. Supergroup VELVET REVOLVER have released their debut album, "Contraband," on RCA Records. There are three different color covers: White, red and black, and all three are available in both cd and vinyl formats, with the vinyl version being issued as a double-LP. GUNS N' ROSES ruled the '80s with a mixture of punk and glam rock, while STONE TEMPLE PILOTS were one of the top grunge bands of the '90s. Both crumbled under an avalanche of alcohol and drug abuse, but now individual members have recovered and merged to bring back rebellious rock anthems as VELVET REVOLVER. The supergroup emerged when GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash, bass player Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum co-opted STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland and WASTED YOUTH guitarist Dave Kushner. "Guns N' Roses just got so big and we were so young and didn't know any of the pitfalls, both on the physical level and on an ego level," McKagan said in an interview. "Scott has seen it too with Stone Temple Pilots, so I..." [full story]
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06.10.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Legendary Doom Metal act CATHEDRAL will release a monolithic double CD set on June 21st detailing all of the band's time spent with Earache Records, entitled "The Serpent's Gold." Fresh from his collaboration on the recent Dave Grohl-driven PROBOT album, vocalist Lee Dorrian's post-NAPALM DEATH work with long-time CATHEDRAL cohort Garry Jennings is fully documented on the collection. Featuring over two and a half hours of material, the album contains 27 tracks, including 11 completely unreleased tunes. Housed in traditional Dave Patchett artwork, "The Serpent's Gold" showcases CATHEDRAL classics like 'Midnight Mountain,' 'Ebony Tears' and 'Hopkins (Witchfinder General)' on disc one (subtitled "The Serpent's Treasure"). Disc two (subtitled "The Serpent's Chest") features a wealth of material including tracks from CATHEDRAL's second demo, rare live performances, three completely unheard tunes, radically different versions of established favorites and even the WITCHFINDER GENERAL cover song, 'Rabies.'
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06.10.04 (RockAndMetal.com) RUSH has unveiled details of their upcoming first-ever collection of cover songs, "Feedback," scheduled for release June 29th via Atlantic Records. The unique set sees the renowned trio - Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart - celebrating the band's 30th anniversary by performing cover versions of eight Rock classics from the Sixties. "Geddy, Alex, and I were channeling back to 1966 and 1967, when we were thirteen- and fourteen-year-old beginners,' writes Peart in the liner notes to "Feedback." "We thought it would be a fitting symbol to commemorate our thirty years together if we returned to our roots and paid tribute to those we had learned from and were inspired by. We thought we might record some of the songs we used to listen to, the ones we painstakingly learned the chords, notes, and drum parts for, and even played in our earliest bands." The coming release of "Feedback" marks the first time that Rush has recorded songs by other artists and writers. Included are such groundbreaking staples as BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD's 'For What It's Worth,' THE YARDBIRDS' 'Heart Full Of Soul' and THE WHO's 'The Seeker.'
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06.10.04 (RockAndMetal.com) VADER are back on the road again, starting in Europe next week into July and September. Tour Dates:
6/17 Salzgitter, Germany [Forellenhof] • 6/18 Nijmegen, Holland [Doornroosje] • 6/19 London, Great Britain [Ulu University] (Deathfest 2004) • 6/20 Paris, France [La Locomotive] • 6/21 Lyon, France [TNMD] • 6/23 Montepellier, France [Rockstore] • 6/25 Marlach, Germany [Rathouse] • 6/26 Aalen, Germany [Rock It] • 6/27 Schlitz, Germany [Fulda] • 7/4 Geneva, Switzerland [Geneva Festival] • 7/5 Dronten, Holland [Rock Barak Nirwana] • 7/6 Alkmaar, Holland [Parkhof] • 7/7 Bremen, Germany [Buchte] • 7/8 Munster, Germany [Live Arena] • 7/9 Hannover, Germany [Labor] • 7/10 Dusseldorf, Germany [Celtic Rock Festival] • 7/11 Berlin, Germany [K-17] • 7/15 Poland Olecko [Festival] • 7/24 Verona, Italy [Valpolicella Metal Festival IV] • 9/2 Maarianhamina, Finland [Pub Bastun] • 9/3 Turku, Finland [Klubi] • 9/4 Tampere, Finland [Klubi] • 9/5 Jyvaskyla, Finland [Lutakko] • 9/6 Oulu, Finland Kuusisaari] • 9/7 Helsinki, Finland Nosturi]
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06.10.04 (AP) MORRISSEY, outspoken lead singer of '80s rockers THE SMITHS, has sparked an Internet storm with reported comments about President George W. Bush. The Manchester Evening News said today it had received a record number of hits after reporting on its Web site that MORRISSEY, 45, had interrupted a Dublin concert Saturday with news of former President Ronald Reagan's death, adding that he wished Bush had died instead. MORRISSEY's record company, Sanctuary Records, could not confirm the remarks. "We do not have a recording of the gig, but as far as we can tell, MORRISSEY was just alerting the audience to the fact that Ronald Reagan had died," the newspaper quoted the company as saying. "He then simply followed that up with his comment about George Bush, which was his own opinion. He is no stranger to controversy." A newspaper spokeswoman said thousands of people, 90 percent from the United States, had contacted the site to complain. A few expressed support for the remarks.

06.10.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Candlelight Records has confirmed June 29th as the US release date for "Infernal Gathering, The Second Chapter." The mid-line priced recording features a collection of headline artists that performed at the 4th Annual Inferno Fest this past April. Norway's Inferno Fest has, in its short time, established itself as one of the most important Extreme Metal festivals in the world. With an audience that found attendees all the way from countries including Mexico, The United States, Japan, India, Australia, Europe and others, the Oslo-based 3-day event took over two of that city's most cherished venues. With a capacity of just 1,500 attendees a day, Inferno is a very intimate festival, where the audience gets to mingle, drink and talk with the bands. This year's event included several high profile performers including England's MY DYING BRIDE, Norwegian notables KHOLD, Black Metal veterans MAYHEM, Extreme Metallers ZYKLON, Poland's DECAPITATED and more. Candlelight also plans to release a DVD version of this year's fest as well.

06.09.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Platinum recording artists FASTBALL have returned with their Rykodisc debut, "Keep Your Wig On," their loosest and strongest collection yet. Recorded at Viewpoint Studios in Austin, TX, the bulk of the album was produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon), with production contributions from Sheryl Crow songwriter Jeff Trott ('Our Misunderstanding') and FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE's Adam Schlesinger ('Someday,' 'Red Light'). The album was mixed by the legendary Bob Clearmountain. On "Keep Your Wig On," FASTBALL co-leaders Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo are in fine form, delivering stunning songwriting, Beatlesque charms and buoyant Garage Rock. There are also nods to soulful R&B ('Drifting Away'), British Invasion Pop ('I Get High') and Dylanesque Folk/Rock ('Perfect World'). There are even hints of Honky-Tonk Country ('Mercenary Girl') and a Latin feel that became one of the FASTBALL's definining characteristics in their big smash, 'The Way' ('Falling Upstairs,' 'Red Light'). In the song 'The Way,' FASTBALL's Tony Scalzo sang of an elderly... [full story]
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06.09.04 (RockAndMetal.com) L.A. Dark Metalcore band CRISIS have released their latest album, "Like Sheep Led To Slaughter," via The End Records. Originally hailing from New York City, CRISIS was formed in 1993. The band originally signed with Too Damn Hype Records, who released their eight-song debut, "8 Convulsions." They then signed to Metal Blade Records and released the highly acclaimed "Deathshead Extermination" in 1996 and "The Hollowing" in 1997. During that period, CRISIS relentlessly toured the USA and Europe. In the beginning of 2000, they moved to Los Angeles to shake things up on the West Coast. Live shows continued, and, after a "hiatus" of sorts, the band entered the studio to begin working on their new album with famed producer Billy Anderson. A continual evolution from their previous albums, CRISIS once again manages to offer another true original full of head-spinning songwriting complexity on "Like Sheep Led To Slaughter," which fully showcases the band's (dis)harmonic balance of Dark Art Metal and Experimental Hardcore.
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06.09.04 (RockAndMetal.com) UK phenomenon and Vice Records recording artists THE STREETS are about to embark on a new North American tour beginning Saturday in Mountain View, CA. Led by 22-year-old mastermind Mike Skinner, THE STREETS' debut, "Original Pirate Material," focuses on the unglamorous existence of an everday kid played out between the sneaker store, the bus stop, the drug dealer, McDonald's, the club, the passenger seat of a car, and a session on his Playstation. THE STREETS are influenced by the UK garage scene. Tour Dates:
06/11 Mountain View, CA [Shoreline Amphitheater] (Live 105 Festival) • 06/12 Los Angeles, CA [The Wiltern] (with Dizzee Rascal) • 06/15 Seattle, WA [Nuemo's] • 06/18 Park City, UT [Harry O's] • 06/19 Boulder, CO [Fox Theater] • 06/21 Minneapolis, MN [Fine Line Music Cafe] • 06/23 Chicago, IL [Metro] • 06/24 Detroit, MI [St. Andrew's Hall] • 06/25 Toronto, ONT [Mod Club] • 06/26 Montreal, QUE [Club Soda] • 06/28 Boston, MA [Avalon Ballroom] • 06/29 New York, NY [Irving Plaza] • 07/01 Washington DC [9:30 Club] • 07/03 Atlanta, GA [Earthlink Live]
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06.09.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Norwegian Progressive Dark Metallers EXTOL recently parted ways with guitarists Christer Espevoll and Ole Borud. Vocalist Peter Espevoll, drummer David Husvik and bassist John Robert Mjaland commented on the departure during a press-conference in Oslo. Peter: "My brother Christer and Ole decided to leave the band a couple of months ago. At first it came as a shock, although we understand their reasons for leaving, but still it was sad to lose two great bandmembers, one just after the other. After 10 years of playing we reached a point where we could try to bring the band to the next level, but neither Christer nor Ole felt they could make the commitment it required so instead now, they invest their time and energy elsewhere, with our blessing of course." David: "Yeah, I mean, their parting was at one point very sad for obvious reasons, but there was never any hard feelings or ill will between any of us through the process. We are still the best of friends, and that's a good thing really. We wish them all the best, and I know they wish the same for us."
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06.09.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Reggae legend TOOTS HIBBERT of TOOTS & THE MAYTALS has released his new album, entitled "True Love." The album starts from the premise that the world needs to be reintroduced to Hibbert, whose songbook is one of the most covered in Jamaican music. Yet the record silences any anticipatory qualms about star-studded tribute sets with sheer good vibes. 'Still Is Still Moving to Me,' a simmering duet with Willie Nelson, and 'True Love Is Hard To Find,' a bluesy tag-team with Bonnie Raitt, are cross-cultural revelations. Toot's rich growl can't help but make collaborators like Ryan Adams ('Time Tough') and Ben Harper ('Love's Gonna Walk Out on Me') sound thin. But the album really takes off with the summit meeting of Toots, The Roots and Bootsy Collins on 'Funky Kingston,' along with an exuberant remake of 'Bam Bam' with crossover hit maker Shaggy - a unique collection of songs that seamlessly bridges nearly four decades of Jamaican music, from rock-steady to dance-hall. All are shouting, jump-up testaments to the size of TOOTS HIBBERT's heart.
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06.09.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Razorback Records bills GIGANTIC BRAIN as "a humanoid creature that does nothing but eat people. It has never lost a battle to a human, and in its free time it writes music." GIGANTIC BRAIN is also one of the most insane drum machine-fueled Grind bands around today. Themes of alien creatures taking over humanity blended with ultra-tight, pinsharp accurate laser-blast beats and an assembly of incredibly frightening vocal effects is what you can expect to hear when you enter the bizarre world of GIGANTIC BRAIN. So Grind fans get ready for some of the most memorable, creative, original, and downright terrifying sounds you have ever heard. Really. GIGANTIC BRAIN is scheduled to issue a collection CD of all their past recordings through Razorback beginning sometime in mid-Summer, including their recent split release with UMBRELLA. Also, beginning in early 2005, GIGANTIC BRAIN will concentrate on recording their full-length debut album for Razorback, which will consist of brand new material.
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06.08.04 (RockAndMetal.com) "To Tulsa And Back," released today, is J.J. CALE's first new studio album since 1996's "Guitar Man." But as Cale says, "It doesn't seem that long." You just can't rush the good things in life, and that includes J.J. CALE, who, for his Sanctuary Records debut, went back to his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma to record. "To Tulsa And Back" is at once different than albums before it, while reassuringly retaining the trademark sound that has made Cale an American music legend for more than 30 years. Cale is best known for his compositions -- some of them hits for Eric Clapton and others for himself -- including 'After Midnight,' 'Cocaine,' 'Call Me The Breeze,' and 'Crazy Mama.' His songs have been covered by everyone from LYNYRD SKYNYRD, DEEP PURPLE, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, JOHNNY CASH, THE BAND and SANTANA to CAPTAIN BEEFHEART and BRYAN FERRY. Beyond the songs, his style profoundly influenced DIRE STRAITS, Clapton and many others. Fittingly, the album has been released right in the eye of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival which took place this past weekend in Dallas, Texas... [full story]

06.08.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Swedish Thrash Metal titans THE HAUNTED have signed a worldwide multi-album deal with Century Media Records. The band has already completed work on their upcoming fourth album, which will be released this Fall. Comments guitarist Anders Bjorler: "We are happy to have chosen Century Media for the next couple of albums. They are is a legendary metal label, and we feel strongly they'll support us in the best way possible." Phil Hinkle, director of A&R for Century Media America, added: "It's an honor to be working with THE HAUNTED, and they make our already outstanding roster that much more stellar." Leif Jensen, A&R manager for Century Media Europe, said: "Personally and professionally, we look forward to leading this great band to full worldwide success. Their time is now!" THE HAUNTED also have a new addition to the fold in original vocalist Peter Dolving, who crushed on the group's genre-defining, self-titled debut release, and returns with a vengeance. Regarding Dolving's return and the new album, Bjorler said: "It's nice to have Peter back in the band. He's energetic, hardworking and has thousands of fresh musical ideas."
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06.08.04 (Reuters) Representatives of THE BEATLES are in discussions with various online music services about licensing their songs for distribution on the Internet, people familiar with the discussions said today. THE BEATLES have been one of the biggest holdouts in releasing their catalog for sale online, and the lack of such mega-hits as 'Let it Be' and 'Yesterday' has been cited as a major weakness for fledgling, web-based music stores. Negotiators for THE BEATLES have talked with several companies, with a particular emphasis on Microsoft Corp's MSN. Sources familiar with the matter said the current round of talks is being steered by THE BEATLES' representatives rather than their record label, EMI Group Plc. Representatives of the band's two surviving members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, could not be immediately reached for comment. EMI owns THE BEATLES' master recordings and would be involved in any final agreement, the sources said. The label has been trying for years to urge THE BEATLES to grant permission to distribute their songs online.

06.08.04 (RockAndMetal.com) DARK TRANQUILLITY recently returned to Sweden from Germany where they appeared at the Rock Hard Fest premiering a track from their still-untitled upcoming studio album. Vocalist Mikael Stanne sent this note to fans: "Just got back from an adventure in Gelsenkirchen, Germany where the mighty Rock Hard magazine had their festival. It was a beautiful weekend, and we had a blast. We ran through an hour of material, and we managed to squeeze in a new song entitled 'One Thought' from the upcoming album. The crowd really went crazy for it, which further adds to the frustration of not letting the world hear the new album this very instant. But soon, my pretties, you will." Additionally, DARK TRANQUILLITY's new compilation, "Exposures: In Retrospect And Denial," will be released by Century Media on June 15th. The band has unleashed rare tracks and unreleased songs on "Exposures," all remastered for a modern edge. The new album also comes with an extensive 20-page booklet containing exclusive photos from all stages of the band's 15-year career.
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06.08.04 (RockAndMetal.com) There will be 2 new releases out this week from Netherlands Emocore band MALKOVICH. First is the band's "017" CD-EP on Reflections Records, which contains 3 new songs from the sessions for the band's debut full-length, "A Criminal Record," which have been recorded at Bunt Studios. The songs '017' and '024' will also appear on the forthcoming album, scheduled for release September 14th through Reflections. The other song, '030,' is an exclusive track for the "017" CD-EP. The second MALKOVICH release is the CD re-release of the band's debut 12." It was initially issued on a single-sided 12" by Cheerleader Productions and Transit Recordings in mid-2002. Those recordings have now been remastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (where the final mastering is also currently being done on "A Criminal Record"), which will be released tomorrow by Coalition Records with all new artwork. In other MALKOVICH news, the band will embark on a European tour beginning June 10th with American band MODERN LIFE IS WAR.
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06.08.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Goth Metal group LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE's sixth album "Ave End" has been completed, and will be released on June 28th as both a regular jewel case version and as a limited-edition digipack edition through Napalm Records. With the new release, LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE celebrate their return with beautiful, emotive Rock and Metal music reminescent at times of the band H.I.M. A strong, dark, and graceful album, "Ave End" presents tracks caught between melancholy and aggression that skillfully retain their depth. Vocalist Christopher's voice not only lends a dark and soulfoul edge to this release, but also conveys deep, strong feelings. "Ave End" represents something unique, as no single track sounds like any of the others. With LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE's melodies keeping the listener captive, there is no hope without despair however - a perfect soundtrack for rainy Summer days and cold Autumn nights. Mastered at Finland Finnvox Studios by Mika Jussila (Sentenced, Moonspell among others), "Ave End" is a fresh take on an ever-changing musical genre.
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06.07.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Simmons Records/Sanctuary Music Group will release the highly-anticipated solo album from GENE SIMMONS tomorrow, entitled "Asshole." The release marks just the second solo album from the "God Of Thunder" since his self-titled platinum solo debut way back in 1978. Produced by Simmons, a founding member of KISS, this forward-thinking, genre-splitting effort, is an ambitious musical tour-de force through Simmons' psyche - revealing yet another side to the multi-talented artist. "Doing a solo record is important because I write so many different kinds of songs. I literally have hundreds of songs that are demoed up that aren't right for Kiss, and some songs that weren't used on Kiss records I still like, like 'Carnival Of Souls' and 'Sweet & Dirty.' In assembling the album, I went and reviewed over a hundred songs that I had lying around, and then it was by process of elimination I determined what would go on the record." But at the end of the day, above and beyond style, I had to like the songs." stated Simmons. Like his 1978 solo album... [full story]
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06.07.04 (Reuters) METALLICA documentary "Some Kind Of Monster," the band will issue an eight-track EP of the same name. The Elektra Records package, set for a July 13th release, will feature two versions of the song from which the film takes its moniker: one drawn from the 2003 album "St. Anger" and an edit by producer Bob Rock. Six live tracks recorded June 11, 2003, in Paris, are also featured: 'The Four Horsemen,' 'Damage, Inc.,' 'Leper Messiah,' 'Motorbreath,' 'Ride The Lightning' and 'Hit The Lights.' Limited editions of the EP will bundled with a compressed T-shirt in large and extra-large sizes, emblazoned with the film's poster art. Directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, "Some Kind Of Monster" offers an unvarnished, behind-the-scenes look at METALLICA's recent past, including the departure of longtime bassist Jason Newsted and vocalist James Hetfield's stint in rehab. METALLICA is in the midst of a European tour that ran into a snag last night at the UK's Download Festival, when drummer Lars Ulrich was unable to perform due to an undisclosed medical emergency. [WATCH]

06.07.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Long Island's ONE TRUE THING will release their new album, Finally, on July 13th via Play The Assassin Records. Looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow Long Islanders TAKING BACK SUNDAY, FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES, and BRAND NEW, ONE TRUE THING can rock furiously while still maintaining a pop sensibility. While as a unit, ONE TRUE THING only begin their journey in becoming a household name, a few of its members are no strangers to the indie rock scene. Vocalist Melanie Wills contributed vocals to the track 'Short Stories With Tragic Endings' off FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES' debut release "Too Bad You're Beautiful," as well as lead vocals on 'Autumn's Monologue' on the band's Vagrant Records follow-up, "The Fiction We Live." ONE TRUE THING bass player Antonio Longo was also the original vocalist for Victory Records' TAKING BACK SUNDAY. With those formal connections, ONE TRUE THING has created a buzz in the East Coast rock community, making "Finally" one of the more anticipated indie releases of 2004.
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06.07.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Rockford, Illinois' THE HEAVILS not only create and builds their own distinctive guitars, known as "Meanies," but also use them when recording and playing live. Says guitarist Mossy: "We have been together for about 3 years, and our first album came out in March of last year. Brian and me started writing songs together, and a friend had a guitar on the wall with missing strings and it was fretless. I strung it up and played it. Brian hated it at first but it really sounded different. He came to practice the next day with the Toilet guitar. They really don't sound like any other guitar, they have 5 strings and sometimes sound like motorcycles or bees riding chainsaws... Brian has made about 20 guitars since then, and they all have different names." "Heavilution," the new album by THE HEAVILS, was produced by none other than Devin Townsend: "We got Devin Townsend to produce the new album. I have known him for a long time and knew he would get the sound we wanted. We went to Vancouver for a month and worked hard. Shaun Thingvold mixed & engineered."
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06.07.04 (Reuters) Guitarist ROBERT QUINE, one of Punk's most daring soloists, was found dead Saturday in his New York apartment. He was 61. According to close friend and guitar maker Rick Kelly, who discovered Quine's body, the musician died of a heroin overdose Memorial Day weekend. He had been despondent over the recent death of his wife. Quine was heavily influenced by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, whose music he recorded obsessively while living in San Francisco. He moved to New York in 1971, and became the lead guitarist for RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS, with whom he recorded two albums. His skittering, unpredictable work with Hell defined the possibilities of punk guitar. During the '80s, he recorded and toured frequently with Lou Reed and played on avant-garde saxophonist/composer John Zorn's best-known albums. Quine also made key guest appearances on Tom Waits' "Rain Dogs" (1985) and Marianne Faithfull's "Strange Weather" (1987). In 1989, Quine began a long association with Matthew Sweet. He also worked regularly with Lloyd Cole.

06.07.04 (RockAndMetal.com) THE CHASM's Daniel Corchado sent this message from the studio shortly after the completion of the recording of the band's upcoming album, "The Spell Of Retribution": "Finally, after several delays, all the tracks have been completed, and the last 2 recording sessions took place on Sunday (vocals, leads) and Monday (acoustics). After all these layers had been finished, we really can say that this is one very unique, dark and destructive piece - easily the deadliest in our career. Some never-before-used elements were incorporated on some songs, and the true believers will be surprised, in a very positive way. We already started to do some tests with mixing, warming up with 2 covers, the results are very satisfactory, but there's still some tweaking to do. We are going back to start the heavy work of the real mixes of the originals. MP3s to be posted soon." Recording of "The Spell Of Retribution" was put on hold after a fire at Soto Sound Studios in Chicago, Illinois, where THE CHASM were holed up creating the new opus.
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[Music News: 06.01.04 - 06.06.04]
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