07.22.05 (RockAndMetal.com) "Road To Rouen," the fifth album from SUPERGRASS, will be released by Capitol Records on September 27th. The album signals the beginning of a new chapter for the pioneering Brit-Pop combo, comprised of vocalist/guitarist Gaz Coombes, bassist Mick Quinn, keyboardist Rob Coombes and drummer Danny Goffey. After releasing "Supergrass Is 10: The Best Of '94-04" last Fall to the delight of fans and critics alike ("There is not one band in the last 15 years with a collection of singles as fresh, sparky and consistent as the songs here," said NME of the 21-track retrospective, while Q, Uncut and Mojo each gave it four stars), the quartet repaired to a Normandy barn, which they converted into a barebones recording studio, and turned their attention to making the first album of their next decade. With "Road To Rouen," the ghosts of the past have been exorcised and (sort of) laid to rest: SUPERGRASS are ready to face their future, firmly shaking off their old frivolous, cheeky image. There are surprises at every turn, particularly for those who expect them to be doing buzzsaw Pop ten years after they reinvented the style with their debut album, "I Should Coco," which was followed up in 1997 by "In It For The Money," 1999's "Supergrass" (a.k.a. "The X-Ray Album") and their most recent studio offering, "Life On Other Planets." In a very positive way, "Road To Rouen" is all over the map instrumentally. A zither, a ukulele, Led Zep-style Psychedelic Folk, brass, strings -- even the model of drum machine used by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE -- are all are put to intriguing use on the new album. "Road To Rouen" is about a journey. Going places, moving on, and growing up. "We've had some trying times over the last couple of years," reflects Gaz Coombes hesitantly, "and it changes the way you do things. It changed the way I wrote songs." SUPERGRASS recently played a series of shows in the UK, and will embark on an international acoustic tour shortly, after which they plan to tour the United States in early 2006. SUPERGRASS formed in 1994 after failing miserably in the job market as factory worker (Gaz Coombes), plunger/dishwasher (Mick Quinn), astrophysicist (Robert Coombes) and dinner lady (Danny Goffey).
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07.22.05 (RockAndMetal.com) BEHEMOTH will join DANZIG, CHIMAIRA, HIMSA, MORTIIS and THE AGONY SCENE for their third U.S. tour in support of their most recent album, "Demigod." The tour will kick off in San Diego, California at the end of September and will conclude on Halloween at an unconfirmed venue on the West Coast. BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal comments on the tour: "We were honored to be a part of the first edition of 'Blackest Of The Black' festivals in 2003. But back then, we opened for the whole festival package and this time we will play a 30 minute long set right before Chimaira and Danzig. It's very exciting to be going back to U.S. again, I can tell you. But what thrills me the most is the fact that Behemoth is going to share the stage with one of my all time favorite artists, Glenn Danzig. This tour is going to be HUGE, I can assure you!" Shortly before joining the "Blackest Of The Black" in the U.S., BEHEMOTH will start the fall leg of their European "Demigod" tour. The madness starts on the September 2nd in Milton Keynes, England and will be spreading through most of Europe. Released in January of 2005, "Demigod" quickly surpassed what its predecessor did in two years in just two months. BEHEMOTH have always pushed the limits of their abilities and defied the boundaries of Death and Black Metal. Originally formed by a teenage Nergal in 1991, the band quickly made a name for themselves in Black metal circles with four early cult albums: "From The Pagan Wastelands," "...And The Forests Dream Eternally," "Sventevith" (Storming Near the Baltic) and "Grom." But it wasn't until the release of "Pandemonic Incantations," with the addition of drummer Inferno, that the band started to realize their true potential. Songs were catchier and the musicianship and production vastly improved. With "Satanica," BEHEMOTH started to incorporate more of a Death Metal approach to their songwriting. The high, raspy Black Metal screeches of the first four albums were replaced with a forceful yet audible Death Metal growl. Two successful European tours followed with DEICIDE and SATYRICON as the band started to amass a rabid following. As BEHEMOTH built a name for themselves throughout Europe, they soon caught the ears of America's Olympic Recordings, who released 2001's "Thelema.6," followed by the groundbreaking "Zos Kia Cultus" (Here And Beyond) in 2003.
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07.21.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Southern California's IGNITE, who hail from Orange County, have officially inked a worldwide deal with Abacus Recordings, a subsidiary label of Century Media. IGNITE are one of the most recent signings to the L.A.-based label, who have also recently signed TURBONEGRO and THE JULIANA THEORY. IGNITE frontman Zoli Teglas says: "It feels good to get the deal we wanted with a great label like Abacus, who give us complete creative control and the ability to get our music everywhere." Abacus plans to release IGNITE's first studio album since 2000's "A Place Called Home" during early 2006. The next IGNITE release will be followed by an intense worldwide touring regiment for the band. Bassist Brett Rasmussen comments: "We are really excited by the fact that we are signed to one label worldwide, and that we will have domestic releases, with great distribution, in all of the territories around the world that we tour." IGNITE look forward most of all, to having a label in the U.S. that's going to push them and provide the support that they have always wanted but never received before domestically. The four-piece band -- Teglas, Rasmussen, guitarist Brian Balchack and drummer Craig Anderson -- will be entering the recording studio in September with engineer/producer Cameron Webb (Social Distortion, Motorhead, Sum 41, Silverstein). First, however, the new material will be road tested, to smooth out some final wrinkles, when the group ventures to Europe in August to play festivals in Sweden, Germany, Holland, Hungary and also a handful of club shows. "We did the same thing when we recorded our last album. We did the European Warped Tour, then came home and went straight into the studio. We were very prepared and very tight because of it," added Teglas. Formed in suburban Orange County in 1994, IGNITE, whose fan base has largely been developed through near-constant global touring, deliver an intelligent, socially and politically aware, melodic brand of Hardcore that has taken them and their message to over 30 countries worldwide. Their high-spirited career includes several critically lauded recordings, including "Call On My Brothers (1995), "Past Our Means" (1996) and "A Place Called Home (2000). IGNITE have also released various live records and split CD's from which all proceeds have been donated to many environmental groups that the group supports, including The Sea Shepherd Society, Earth First and Orange County's own Pacific Wildlife Foundation.
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07.21.05 (RockAndMetal.com) MOTORHEAD are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year with a brand new 2-disc DVD entitled "Stage Fright," which has just been released via SPV Records. MOTORHEAD have shined on the world's most prestigious stages, graced countless important music magazine covers and released numerous classic albums. The fact that the band counts among the most authentic and charismatic Rock and Metal acts worldwide is without a doubt due to the never-tiring enthusiasm of Lemmy, who continues to live his own visions of musical earthiness irrespective of trends and fashions. "Stage Fright" is not just merely a Rock 'N' Roll statement chiseled in stone, but also an extraordinary look at the band's life. "Stage Fright" was recorded during a show at the Phillipshalle in Dusseldorf on December 7th, 2004. The set features 20 songs from the entire MOTORHEAD catalog, including 'Overkill,' 'Ace Of Spades' and 'Iron Fist.' Directly after the show, the band embarked on a three-month U.S. tour, culminating in a performance at WrestleMania in Los Angeles, California in front of 20,000 wrestling fans. The event was broadcast in 50 countries and witnessed by over 50 million viewers. DVD #1 features the Dusseldorf show, shot with 23 high definition cameras under the direction of Sven Offen (Papa Roach, Heather Nova, Gronemeyer, Die Toten Hosen). Gert Hof, famous not only for his work with RAMMSTEIN, was enlisted to take care of the show's light design. As a special bonus, there is an interactive DVD check with MOTORHEAD, with the three musicians contributing lots of interesting comments about the DVD. DVD #2 reveals previously unreleased insights into the inner life of the band, as well as interviews with MOTORHEAD mastermind Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee, as well as the road crew who talk about life on tour. Viewers also get a rare chance to watch the roadies doing their work, listen in to a sound check, meet the band's cook, and accompany their entourage on the road. Other special features include a 'Life's A Bitch' cellphone ringtone, MOTORHEAD wallpaper for your PC and cellphone, photos from the WrestleMania show in Los Angeles and an extensive discography. All in all, "Stage Fright" offers over 4 hours of MOTORHEAD mania, and comes in Dolby digital 5.1 and AC3 stereo sound.
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07.20.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Steamhammer/SPV Records have announced the signing of down and dirty Rockers NASHVILLE PUSSY. While countless bands appear happy with their attempts to feed their luke-warm standard fare to the masses, NASHVILLE PUSSY's totally wild Rock 'N' Roll makes their listeners hungry for more. Considered the missing link between classic yob Rock along the lines of ROSE TATTOO or MOTORHEAD and the snotty Punk attitude of the likes of ANTISEEN or TURBONEGRO, NASHVILLE PUSSY consciously over-emphasize the "sex meets rock 'n' roll" factor. September 26th will see the release of their latest album, "Get Some," which was produced by Daniel Rey (Ramones, etc.) and mixed by Glen Robinson. Anybody not infected by the Nashville 'n' roll virus after listening to the recording should probably have their hormone levels checked. NASHVILLE PUSSY's releases celebrate timeless American Rock of the most radical variety: dirty, vulgar and very direct. The four-piece consists of a married couple, Blaine Cartwright (vocals, guitar) and Ruyter Suys (lead guitar), plus bassist Karen Exley (a.k.a. "Cuda") and drummer Jeremy Thompson (a.k.a. "Remo"). Albums such as "Let Them Eat Pussy, "High As Hell" or "Say Something Nasty have caused an international stir, and their 1999 single release 'Fried Chicken An Coffee' even earned the band a Grammy nomination in the category of "Best Metal Performance." NASHVILLE PUSSY came together in 1996. "We were tired of seeing bands that were boring, all style and no soul. So we decided to play the kind of music that we would like to hear," comments Ruyter Suys on the birth of her band. Ever since, NASHVILLE PUSSY have been performing a strenuous annual gig marathon, touring with acts like SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, SEVENDUST, MOTORHEAD, MISFITS, THE DICTATORS, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and LYNYRD SKYNYRD. A renowned American music magazine rightly referred to NASHVILLE PUSSY as "the hardest band working in show biz." Following the release of "Get Some," which features a cover version of Ike & Tina Turner's 'Nutbush City Limits' alongside a dozen other original compositions, NASHVILLE PUSSY are set to embark on an extensive tour afterwards, determined to document impressively what their audience has come to expect under the heading of "spectacular stage show."
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07.20.05 (RockAndMetal.com) MANOWAR will release their new DVD box set entitled "Hell On Earth IV" next Monday, July 25th, continuing the "Hell On Earth" saga - complete with fantasy epic artwork and packaging, high quality video and audio and unparalleled MANOWAR Metal. Also included in the new box set will be an extra bonus audio CD with the brand new song 'King Of Kings,' taken from MANOWAR's upcoming new studio album. "Hell On Earth IV," once again directed by Neil Johnson, was filmed using state-of-the-art cameras, lenses, and more than 70 camera angles to capture the pure power of MANOWAR, as well as the raw energy of their fans in 5.1 Surround Sound. "Hell On Earth IV" is a tribute to MANOWAR fans, who have proven to be some of the most dieheard followers on the planet. The fans' appreciation of the band's various moods is just one component of an intense, magical bond between them and their following. Stories of MANOWAR fan loyalty have become legendary. Fans constantly send the band letters signed in their own blood and photos of themselves tattooed with the band's imagery. On a recent European tour, a Norwegian acolyte flew over 1,000 miles South from beyond the Arctic Circle to see MANOWAR play in Oslo, Sweden. When a group of Australian fans heard the group were playing in Japan, they caught a flight there and attended all four shows. Devotees in Argentina collected thousands of signatures pleading with the band to come to their country. "We have the greatest fans in the world," attests MANOWAR drummer Scott Columbus. "For a long time, our fans have stood by us. They've given everything to the belief that together we are the defenders of the heavy metal faith. That's why we've been able to keep playing our brand of music. That's why we haven't wimped out or bowed to commercialism. Our fans are at the core of everything we do. That's the way it's been done from the beginning." MANOWAR live shows have also garnered a reputation for the band's "all-out" attitude. "The whole purpose of playing live is to blow people's heads off," says bassist and founding member Joey DeMaio. "That's what we do; that's the energy of this band. We're out there to kick ass. We're out there to turn our gear on and blast. We're out there to kill. That's what metal is. Anybody who says otherwise is not playing heavy metal!" MANOWAR have sold over 8 million records to date. Their most recent album, "Warriors Of The World," went gold almost immediately after it's release, topping the Metal charts around the world.
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07.19.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Rushmore Records recording artists HOUSTON CALLS will release their debut full-length album, "A Collection Of Short Stories," on August 2nd. In "A Collection of Short Stories," an indelible cast of characters finds a hundred ways to escape a soulless life: some by Amtrak, some by the bottle, and some with a scrawled note of farewell. But the authors of this collection are no Pulitzer Prize wannabes. Rather, HOUSTON CALLS are a New Jersey-based group that prove to be fierce defenders of classic Pop melody as well as capable storytellers. Writing songs that mirror the short story genre came naturally. "Most of the songs follow a plot," says vocalist/lyricist Tom Keiger. "I like to tell stories of my experiences, mostly in the third person, so I can sit back and relate as well." Produced by Ed Rose (The Get Up Kids, Motion City Soundtrack, Spitalfield), "A Collection Of Short Stories" was recorded in Eudora, Kansas - population: 5,000. "The only good thing in Eudora is the studio and the Chinese-Mexican restaurant," laughs Keiger. "But working with Ed was awesome, and incredibly beneficial to an up-and-coming band like us. He emits a great, comfortable vibe and provides a laid back, yet challenging, work environment. He helped us solidify all of our ideas, and was very willing to work with us extensively on each song to reach an amazing final product." " "We poured our hearts into this," adds HOUSTON CALLS keyboardist Richard "Okie" Okamoto. "Every piece adds up, and everyone's love of music shines through." Musically, the band draw on a sunny Pop/Punk style to underscore the storylines, but the lyrics are invariably pointed, poetic and deep. Though Keiger wrote most of the thought-provoking words on "A Collection Of Short Stories," Okamoto contributed three of his own songs. HOUSTON CALLS pride themselves in their songwriting process, as it is a collective effort. Overall, "A Collection Of Short Stories" shimmies and shines with electrified keys and punched-up drumming that whip the eleven tracks on the album into an infectious Pop/Rock frenzy. Stand out tracks include the playful 'Exit, Emergency,' the heartbreaker 'Amtrak Is For Lovers' and 'Bob And Bonnie,' an homage to Tom Keiger's parents. "It was one of the most rewarding points in my career as a musician to finally document a few years of thoughts and ideas into a full length CD," adds Keiger. HOUSTON CALLS previously released two EPs independently and toured extensively across the U.S., honing their skills before signing to Rushmore Records in 2004.
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07.19.05 (RockAndMetal.com) German Epic Power Metallers BLIND GUARDIAN have announced a replacement for long-time drummer Thomen Stauch, who left the band in April after 20 years. The new man behind the kit is Frederik Ehmke, so far fairly unknown in the world of Metal. The band have released the following statement regarding the replacement of Stauch: "The seemingly endless time of waiting for a new drummer and speculations who could possibly be the new one has finally come to an end. We have found what we have been searching for... A few weeks ago, an unknown guy who introduced himself as Frederik Ehmke applied for the job as a drummer in a fairly firm manner. His vital, expressive and skillful performances of some Blind Guardian classics ('Journey Through The Dark,' 'Time Stands Still' and 'And Then There Was Silence') blew us away completely. Pretending not to be convinced, we invited him to do a shoot-out recording session under real production terms to check out if the creative chemistry would also work out fine. After finishing these recordings it was obvious to us: Frederik is going to be our new drummer! It was essential for us to find a musician who on one side would be able to integrate old Blind Guardian trademarks in his playing, but on the other side would also be confident enough to bring in his own vision of the Blind Guardian drums in a tasteful and, for the music, suitable way. Frederik is a calm and handsome fellow, who's aware of his abilities and who also knows what he wants. For us, he is the lucky draw. We are convinced you will be as impressed by his drum performance as we are. Now we are looking forward to starting the next album production. There is a good amount of work ahead of us, but we are absolutely ready to go. You can expect a very interesting album with strong songs. We will keep you informed." The production of BLIND GUARDIAN's debut on Nuclear Blast Records will start soon with the help of Charlie Bauerfeind. An album title has not been chosen as of yet, but it looks like there will be a total of ten songs. Some working titles which may or may not be kept include 'Carry The Blessed Home,' 'The Edge,' 'In Search For The Lionheart,' 'Market Square,' 'Another Stranger Me' and 'Otherland'. The release of the first single is planned for February of 2006, with the album to follow in April, after which BLIND GUARDIAN will embark on a European tour in September.
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07.18.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Described as "nothing less than extraordinary" by Mojo magazine, PLAYERS will be releasing the follow-up album to their 2003 debut via Sanctuary Records on September 19th. Combining several styles of music including Rock, Funk and Blues, this aptly named veteran group of musicians mix a 21st Century attitude with cunning grooves and seasoned musicianship honed from years of experience, while at the same time paying respect to the past while creating music for the future. In short, PLAYERS mix a fresh contemporary approach to music charmed by an infectious familiarity. Now following on from their critically acclaimed 2003 debut, "Clear The Decks," comes "From The Six Corners," an album of all new material. The first single to be taken off "From The Six Corners," 'What's Your Problem,' will be released on September 5th. PLAYERS' nucleus boasts an illustrious pedigree. There's Mick Talbot, Hammond organ maestro, who's provided the keys for acts including DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS, THE BUREAU, THE STYLE COUNCIL and GALLIANO. There's also Steve White, talented drummer who's provided the backbeat for the JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET and THE STYLE COUNCIL, and is currently playing drums for Paul Weller, formerly of the latter band and THE JAM. Lastly, there's bassist Damon Minchella, formerly of OCEAN COLOUR SCENE and currently a member of Paul Weller's band alongside Steve White. "From The Six Corners" also features the impressive vocal talents of Kelly Dickson, whose raucous, funky delivery recalls that of Marlena Shaw's during her late 1960's run on Cadet Records. Guitarist/vocalist Ken Papenfus and percussionist/vocalist Carl Papenfus round out the PLAYERS current line-up, both of whom are from Irish band RELISH, who's last album went platinum in their homeland. In other PLAYERS news, exactly one week after the band's new line-up debuted at this year's Glastonbury Festival Of The Performing Arts, both Steve White and Damon Minchella proved they are up there with the best by stepping in to play with Rock legends THE WHO at Live 8. "Performing to an audience of over 200,000 people, playing bass with The Who at Live 8," reflects Minchella - "bloody hell, that's going to be difficult to beat!"

07.18.05 (RockAndMetal.com) GREEN CARNATION, the Norwegian band featuring guitarist Tchort (Terje Vik Schei) from BLOOD RED THRONE, EMPEROR, SATYRICON and EINHERJER, are currently at Brown Sound Studios working on their first acoustic album, tentatively titled "The Acoustic Verses." The album will celebrate the band's 15th anniversary, and will be released as a limited two-disc edition, featuring lots of exclusive material from the history of the band and its members. The album will be issued later in the year via Sublife Productions, the new label owned by Tchort and GREEN CARNATION vocalist Kjetil Nordhus. Sublife Productions will also work as the management and booking company for GREEN CARNATION, BLOOD RED THRONE and CARPATHIAN FOREST. Other releases through Sublife Productions will see the light of day next year. Tchort had the following to say about Sublife Productions: "In addition of the acoustic album featuring only new songs written for the album exclusively and cover songs, we have some releases lined up for next year that make us really excited about the whole Sublife thing. Some of these releases will blow people away and set new standards in music, but we also have some very interesting historical documentaries coming up on DVD that we hope to land a deal on." Adds Nordhus: "It will probably take some time yet to finish it, but I do think we have some cool material from hearing the ideas of the other guys. It's again going to be a very different album from Green Carnation, but I guess no one will be surprised by that." After the overwhelming response from the gigs on their recent mini-tour in UK and Ireland, GREEN CARNATION are more eager than ever to tour. They are currently discussing several trips all over Europe, and work is in progress for a full European tour during the Fall of 2005. Nordhus is delighted by the interest in the band: "Things are looking better now than in a long time for us. The band is on the up after our recent gigs, and there's nothing we want more than touring more. It seems like there's quite a lot of interest in the band from different European countries, and that gives us great satisfaction. We haven't been the most active touring band up until now, but we hope we can do something with that during the next half year or so." In related tour news, GREEN CARNATION are doing a one-off exclusive show as headliners in Toronto, Ontario on October 14th as part of this year's Day Of The Equinox festival in Canada. Other bands slated to perform on the bill include AGALLOCH, DECEASED, UNEXPECT, NOVEMBERS DOOM and WOODS OF YPRES.
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