09.02.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Atlanta, Georgia-based Alternative Rockers ILLBREAK are set to release their debut album, "The Flood," via Imprint Records this Tuesday, September 6th. It isn't every day that a band wins a regional competition with a recording contract as the grand prize, but ILLBREAK did just that with Imprint's "Search For The Next Rock Star" contest held last Summer. Imprint Records is the label owned and operated by 3 DOORS DOWN bassist Todd Harrell and his wife, Jennifer. After sifting through over a thousand entries for the competition spanning six states and representing 11 rock radio stations, 11 finalists were selected, and ILLBREAK were the unanimous choice selected by a panel of judges made up of several industry veterans, including major label A&R reps. When asked how it felt to win the Imprint contract, drummer Matt Payton conveyed the kind of confidence that is likely to take ILLBREAK to new levels. "We were stoked," Payton says. "We knew we had something and the competition just confirmed it." 3 DOORS DOWN's Todd Harrell agrees with Payton. "From the moment I heard the music, I knew they had something special, he says. "Out of thousands of bands, Illbreak had the most unique sound, strongest guitar riffs, and strongest vocals. I am proud to work with them and give them the same opportunity I have had." "The Flood" was produced by an impressive team consisting of Chris Henderson (guitarist for 3 DOORS DOWN), Paul Ebersold (producer of 3 DOORS DOWN's "The Better Life") and Geoff Ott (engineer on 3 DOORS DOWN's "Away From The Sun). The album's first single, 'How It Feels,' is an emotive track balancing slick production, walls of guitars and the powerful voice of lead singer Gareth Asher, and one that is sure to put this new band on everyone's radar in a hurry. Other standout tracks include the haunting and melodic 'Wake' and 'Carry The Light,' the riff-laden 'Flesh & Bone' and the breezy 'Safe.' Together as a band since 2002, ILLBREAK have drawn comparisons with bands such as INCUBUS, LIVE and TOOL. The band are already getting a taste of bigger things to come, as tour dates to support "The Flood" are in place with 3 DOORS DOWN, STAIND, BREAKING BENJAMIN and NO ADDRESS.
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09.02.05 (RockAndMetal.com) UK Metallers MISTRESS' new album, "In Disgust We Trust," has been released. Rooting from the classic late 80's Earache Records sound, MISTRESS has a tone which recalls artists such as NAPALM DEATH, BRUTAL TRUTH and EXTREME NOISE TERROR, while bringing forth a new found enthusiasm representative of the more modern-day Grind bands. Ranging from old-school Hardcore and Grind to Sludge, political Punk and 80s Metal throughout the new album, MISTRESS cover all bases on "In Disgust We Trust" while remaining a relentlessly bludgeoning beast of a band. Formed in Birmingham, England in 1999, a pattern of slaughter was established, and the band have continued in the same vein since. After reviews such as "...one the of the most incendiary gigs I've seen in years" and "like a 300 pound hillbilly about to smash your head in with a crowbar," UK underground label Rage Of Achilles were impressed enough to agree to release the first two MISTRESS albums. The first self-titled album of "total fucking antisocial doom/grind/sludge" received -- among other reviews -- five K's in Kerrang and a place in the Terrorizer magazine "Albums Of The Year" poll. Quotes at the time included "after listening to the first Mistress album, I felt like I needed a shower. And probably would have, had not "Mistress" induced such a state of depression I couldn't get up off the couch." A song taken from the album and put on a split 7" with Doom lords SALLY was even picked up on by Radio 1's John Peel for airplay on the late host's show. There were gigs with ELECTRIC WIZARD, MEDULLA NOCTE, EXTREME NOISE TERROR, UK Metal gods BOLT THROWER (one review of the Camden gig with Bolt Thrower and Benediction included "putting Mistress on this bill is like pissing in your kid's dinner"), as well an appearance at the semi-legendary Morrowfest in Nottingham. MISTRESS' second album, "The Chronovisor," was released in late 2003. A raucous mixture of grindcore, hardcore punk, filthy sludge and howling alcoholic depression, it received feature reviews in many metal mags, as well as being placed once more in the Terrorizer "Albums Of The Year" poll. Gigs with NAPALM DEATH and MAYHEM followed, plus a series of headline gigs around the UK with tortured Londoners PALEHORSE, soon after which Earache signed MISTRESS to a recording deal last Summer.
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09.01.05 (RockAndMetal.com) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN has added an extensive third leg to his North American tour with seventeen newly announced Fall concerts. Kicking off October 6 in Rochester, NY, the additional dates for the solo acoustic tour will stretch through November 21st, spanning eleven states, where Springsteen will perform in arenas modified to theater format. "We're coming back to some of our favorite cities to make sure the fans get a chance to see how this tour has evolved over the course of the last 50 shows. Bruce just keeps stretching the boundaries of his performance night after night, and the result has been some of the very best concerts of his entire career," says long-time manager Jon Landau. With ever-changing set lists and a seemingly inexhaustible repertoire, the performances have functioned as an acoustic retrospective of BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN's entire career. This year, Springsteen has performed such classics as 'Blinded By The Light,' 'Racin' In The Streets,' 'The Rising' and 'Bobby Jean,' as well as selections from his new album, "Devils & Dust." Many unexpected rarities have also appeared on the tour. Springsteen has brought out 'Open All Night' and 'Used Cars' from "Nebraska" - each played for the first time in nine years. He also played 'Nothing Man' from "The Rising," performed only three times before this year. From "Tracks, he has also performed 'Sad Eyes' and 'Iceman,' neither of which had ever seen a stage before, while "Tunnel Of Love's 'Valentine's Day' saw its live premiere in 2005 as well. As an encore, Springsteen has also dramatically reinterpreted SUICIDE's 1980 song, 'Dream Baby Dream,' for the pump organ. In other BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN news, on September 6th, Columbia Music Video will release an expanded and completely re-edited DVD version of his historic solo "VH1 Storytellers" concert. The stunning solo performance is now nearly two hours long, and features a total of eight complete Springsteen songs including 'Devils & Dust' and 'Jesus Was an Only Son' from the "Devils & Dust" album. New Tour Dates: 10/06 Rochester, NY [Blue Cross Arena] • 10/07 Hartford, CT [Hartford Civic Center] • 10/09 Nassau, NY [Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum] • 10/12 Minneapolis, MN [Northrop Auditorium] • 10/13 Chicago, IL [United Center] • 10/15 Madison, WI [Dane County Arena @ Alliant Center] • 10/20 Worcester, MA [DCU Center] • 10/21 Providence, RI [Dunkin' Donuts Center] • 10/24 Richmond, VA [Richmond Coliseum] • 10/28 Boston, MA [T.D. Bank North Garden] • 11/03 Fort Lauderdale, FL [Office Depot Center] • 11/04 Tampa, FL [St. Petersburg Times Forum] • 11/08 Philadelphia, PA [Wachovia Center] • 11/11 Norfolk, VA [Constant Convocation Center At Old Dominion University] • 11/13 Atlantic City, NJ [Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall] • 11/16 East Rutherford, NJ [Continental Airlines Arena] • 11/21 Trenton, NJ [Sovereign Bank Arena]

09.01.05 (RockAndMetal.com) New Wave Of American Heavy Metallers GOD FORBID are ready for action with their brand new song 'Chains Of Humanity,' from the upcoming album "IV: Constitution Of Treason," now online (listen below). "IV: Constitution Of Treason" was produced by Jason Suecof (Trivium, etc.) at Audiohammer Studios and Eric Rachel (Atreyu, Dillinger Escape Plan) at Trax East, who also handled mixing duties. The new album will hit stores September 19th, and will be available both in regular jewel disc and limited Dual Disc (audio CD and DVD on two sides of one disc) formats. GOD FORBID will be on the mighty Tourturing Europe 2005 Tour with THE HAUNTED in November and December, and will also play a single show in London in September. Tour Dates: September 13th London, UK [Barfly @ The Monarch] • November 17th Rotterdam, NL [Baroeg] • November 18th Harlem, NL [Patronaat] • November 19th Hellendorn, NL [Laantarm] • November 21st Portsmouth, UK [Wedgewood Rooms] • November 22nd Exeter, UK [Lemon Grove] • November 23rd London, UK [Mean Fiddler] • November 24th Nottingham, UK [Rock City] • November 25th Birmingham, UK [Carling Academy 2] • November 26th Leeds, UK [Cockpit] • November 27th Sheffield, UK [Corporation] • November 28th Verviers, Belgium [Spirit Of 66] • November 29th Paris, France [Noveau Casino] • December 1st Bilbao, Spain [Bilbo Rock] • December 2nd Madrid, Spain [Arena] • December 3rd Barcelona, Spain [Apolo] • December 4th Marseille, France [Jas Rod] • December 5th Lyon, France [Le Marche Gare] • December 6th Bologna, Italy [Estragon] • December 7th Treviso, Italy [New Age] • December 8th Zurich, CH [Abart] • December 9th Munchen, Germany [New Backstage] • December 10th Wien, Austria [Szene] • December 11th Munster- Breitfeld, Germany [Live Arena] • December 12th Koln, Germany [Underground] • December 13th Essen, Germany [Zeche Carl] • December 14th Hamburg, Germany [Logo] • December 15th Copenhagen, Denmark [Stengade] • December 16th Stockholm, Sweden [Klubben] • December 17th Goteborg, Sweden [Sticky Fingers]
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08.31.05 (RockAndMetal.com) The debut from Chicago's MINSK, "Out Of A Center Which Is Neither Dead Nor Alive," is set to launch via At A Loss Records on September 25th. The band surges with a punishing and unique brand of post-Doom agression coupled with searing sub-melodies and an organic overall tone as if the band poured forth from the center of the planet. As that release date approaches, MINSK join HIGH ON FIRE, FU MANCHU, YAKUZA and more as part of Chicago's Electric City Rock Fest, with extensive touring to follow in support of "Out Of A Center Which Is Neither Dead Nor Alive." Drawing inspiration from a remote Belarussian city nestled deep amidst the in-betweens of the East and the West, a city that has been burned to the ground on several occasions only to be rebuilt like a Phoenix rising from its ashes, MINSK is a sort of dark cerebral experimentation - an emotive conceptualization that sears the visceral and hopes for something real. Their music lies somewhere between the conscious and the unconscious, a roller coaster of passion, noise, rhythm, and trance. Drawing its brand of eclecticism from a milieu of broadly spaced musical and conceptual influences, MINSK combine a sonic onslaught of dirge-like walls of Doom and Metal with HAWKWIND and JETHRO TULL-inspired 1970's Psychedelic Rock and tribal elements reminiscent of DEAD CAN DANCE. The vocals range from soulful singing, to three and four part anthemic arrangements, to barbaric screams, and the result is a dynamic and emotional piece of sensory overload that has been compared to NEUROSIS, MASTODON, CULT OF LUNA, ENTOMBED and ACID BATH. MINSK formed in the Summer of 2002, performing their first show in early 2003 and completing a demo CD, "Burning," in the Fall of that year. Still in the infant stages of their efforts, they embarked on a tour in support of "Burning," which took the band from Illinois to the West Coast and back. 2004 and 2005 have begun the realization of the band's labors, allowing them to share the stage with many incredible bands at the Templars Of Doom, South By Southwest, and Emissions From The Monolith festivals. Recording with producer Sanford Parker (Pelican, Unearthly Trance, Lair of the Minotaur, Venomous Concept) at Volume Studios has yielded both their debut album as well as a new bassist in Parker himself - also noted for his work in the band BURIED AT SEA.
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08.31.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Pioneering Thrash Metallers ANTHRAX, one of that genre's most innovative and respected groups, are back with a vengeance. Commemorating their 20th anniversary by touring with their original lineup for the first time in 13 years, ANTHRAX are currently exclusively playing their classics from 1985 to 1991, both on the Gigantour in early September (western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest) and with JUDAS PRIEST from September 24th through October 18th (across Canada, as well as the East and Midwest of the U.S.) with additional dates to be added. Those classic tracks can also heard on ANTHRAX's most comprehensive "best of" collection ever issued, their first two-CD retrospective, "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)," and first video compilation, the DVD "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991) The Videos" (both on Island/UMe Records), as well as on the separate live CD and DVD packages entitled "Alive 2 (2005)" (on Sanctuary Records) which document the group's momentous Summer 2005 reunion tour. All four packages will be released on September 20th. One of the most acclaimed Metal bands in history, ANTHRAX reunited their original lineup of vocalist Joey Belladonna, guitarists Scott Ian and Dan Spitz, bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante for the "Alive 2 (2005)" DVD, capturing the actual meeting in which the five came together for the first time in over 10 years. Along with band rehearsals and behind-the-scenes footage, the DVD also spotlights 13 performances on the group's triumphant reunion tour. The "Alive 2 (2005)" CD reprises the audio for 11 of those songs ('Madhouse' and 'I'm The Man' are only on the DVD): 'Among The Living,' 'Caught In A Mosh,' 'I Am The Law,' 'A.I.R.,' 'N.F.L.,' 'Deathrider,' 'Medusa,' 'In My World,' 'Indians,' 'Time' and 'Be All, End All,' and adds the track 'Antisocial.' In a unique twist, the booklets from the DVD and CD releases form an exclusive poster. As for the original recordings, "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)" marks the first time that ANTHRAX's recordings are being released with newly remastered versions of their classic hits. In addition, just prior to the release of the four landmark collections, the band will launch a new fan club web site (to supplement its longstanding anthrax.com headquarters). The Anthrax CDC, home of the official ANTHRAX worldwide fan club, will be the online source for ANTHRAX exclusive content, contests, merchandise, etc. AnthraxCDC.com will be the place to mosh in cyberspace.
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08.30.05 (RockAndMetal.com) JOURNEY have announced that they have joined forces with Sanctuary Records Group. The label will release the band's 13th studio album, "Generations," on October 4th to U.S. retail outlets, with the first single 'A Place In Your Heart' set to impact at radio September 12th. The 14-track offering, which includes a 10-page booklet with new photos and lyrics, was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito, CA, where the band recorded 1986's multi-platinum "Raised On Radio." Their first new recording since 2002's "Red 13" four-song EP and 2001's full-length Arrival" album, it's what loyal JOURNEY fans have been waiting for. "There's a real sense of harmony and melody on this album filled with heartfelt lyrics," proclaims keyboardist Jonathan Cain. "It has the ballads that people would expect from us, and the rock 'n' roll that I think has the Journey signature sound to it. There's something for everybody. There's a mix of fun, playful songs along with some solid rock tracks. I don't think it's going to disappoint anyone." The band turned to an old friend, Kevin Elson, to produce "Generations." The man responsible for the band's multi-platinum "Escape," "Departure" and "Frontiers" albums, as well as their double-platinum "Captured" live album, it was long-time JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon's idea to enlist Michael Fraser (Metallica, AC/DC, Aerosmith) to team up with Elson to engineer the sessions. The new album's title, represents the constancy of the band's followers throughout the past 30 years. "There's a whole new generation that has become fans of ours," says bassist Ross Valory. "For the last seven years in particular, I've been noticing that there are younger fans at the shows. Being that Journey has been popular for so long, there are at least three if not four generations of Journey concert-goers and listeners. We find people older than us and kids in the front row. So many of the lyrics on the album address the lives of these people." In an interesting twist, "Generations" is the first JOURNEY album in which all the band members get a shot at being the frontman. "Everyone is singing at least one, if not two songs on the new album," says Valory. "We've been doing that on the past few tours, and the audiences love it. We're spreading the talent around. I like to think of it as a blossoming of new singers who've just been playing their instruments before." As a sign of gratitude to the fans who helped put JOURNEY in the top 30 best-selling music groups of all time (over 75 million albums worldwide), copies of "Generations" have been given away free at most of the concerts along the band's current U.S. tour. However, the Sanctuary Records version of "Generations" includes two new songs in 'The Pride Of The Family' and 'Never Too Late,' - neither of which are on the disc being given to fans at concerts.
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08.30.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of CELLADOR to a recording deal. Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, CELLADOR are a Melodic Speed/Power Metal band formed last Summer by guitarist Chris Petersen. CELLADOR was founded with the purpose of introducing aggressive European influenced Power Metal to the Midwest, where the style is pretty much non-existent and virtually unknown. CELLADOR spent the Fall and Winter months of 2004 writing and rehearsing, and began playing live this past March. In May, the band came out with a demo, "Leaving All Behind," which members of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER passed on to Metal Blade boss Brain Slagel, after CELLADOR opened for them in Omaha. Impressed by their skill and musicianship, Slagel made an offer to the band, which they quickly snapped up. "I am truly excited about Cellador," says Slagel. "They are a young band with incredible musicianship and songs. We have been looking just for this type of band who mix the old school metal with a fresh attitude." "We are very proud and excited to be welcomed to the METAL BLADE family," commented CELLADOR's Chris Petersen. "With its current roster and unprecedented history of dedication and integrity, it is with great honor and gratitude that we have been chosen and given the opportunity to represent true American melodic speed metal on one of the biggest labels in the world of metal. Their past success and dedication is only a greater source of inspiration now for us to press forth with pushing true metal to its extreme. Look out for us!!" CELLADOR are currently writing and rehearsing material for their full-length debut album, which they plan on recording in December, with a release slated for sometime in the Spring of 2006. In other news regarding the band, CELLADOR are currently auditioning for the position of lead guitar and keyboard player. Potential guitarists must excel in playing both lead and rhythm at slow to often very energetic speeds, and must also have and maintain a committed, motivated and cooperative personality that benefits the band as a whole. CELLADOR would also prefer a young and energetic individual between the ages of 18-24 who is able and willing to travel, and with a background in Metal. If interested, send an email with your name and past band experience to contact@cellador.com for more information.
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08.29.05 (RockAndMetal.com) LIZ PHAIR will launch her new album, "Somebody's Miracle," with a headlining tour of North America that kicks off in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on October 6th. Highlights include shows at New York's Irving Plaza (10/17,18), Chicago's Vic Theater (10/25) and at the House Of Blues in Los Angeles (11/7). "Somebody's Miracle," a bold, ambitious work featuring 14 songs written by Phair, has already captured critics' attention in advance of its October 4th release. "Liz Phair doesn't need your stinking 'indie cred.' She's not nostalgic for her bad-girl years. And she's back with her best album yet," said New York Magazine in a recent feature, which went on to note: "She is thinking about more than hooking up on this album; she is writing about stuff that is (even) more interesting than sex." Her stripped-down, sold-out Summer club tour, which was limited to eight cities, put her songwriting front and center. Said the New York Post of a recent show: "What's incredible about Phair, who just finished an intimate, two-show engagement at Joe's Pub, is how she musters the courage to sing about her deepest sexual desires. No other artist, male or female, comes close to understanding lust like Liz... As hot as her lyrics are, she's much more than a pretty blond waif who likes to talk dirty. Her songwriting and unconventional guitar playing shine through the steam." Later this month, Phil Harder will direct the video for 'Everything To Me,' the album's first single. "Somebody's Miracle" is the follow-up to Phair's 2003 self-titled album, which included the gold-certified single 'Why Can't I.' Tour Dates: 10/06 Ft. Lauderdale, FL [Revolution] • 10/07 Orlando, FL [House Of Blues] • 10/08 Tampa, FL [Janus Landing] • 10/10 Atlanta, GA [Roxy Theatre] • 10/12 Washington, DC [9:30 Club] • 10/14 Boston, MA [Avalon] • 10/16 Philadelphia, PA [Theater Of The Living Arts] • 10/17 New York, NY [Irving Plaza] • 10/18 New York, NY [Irving Plaza] • 10/22 Montreal, QC [Cafe Campus] • 10/23 Toronto, ON [Phoenix] • 10/25 Chicago, IL [Vic Theater] • 10/26 Milwaukee, WI [Pabst Theater] • 10/27 Minneapolis, MN [First Avenue] • 10/29 Denver, CO [Gothic Theater] • 10/31 Dallas, TX [Gypsy Ballroom] • 11/01 Austin, TX [La Zona Rosa] • 11/07 Los Angeles, CA [House Of Blues] • 11/08 San Francisco, CA [Fillmore] • 11/11 Vancouver, BC [Commodore Ballroom] • 11/12 Seattle, WA [Neumo's] • 11/13 Portland, OR [Crystal Ballroom] • 11/15 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 11/16 San Diego, CA [House Of Blues] • 11/17 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues]
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08.29.05 (RockAndMetal.com) "Carpathia," the new album from Horror Metallers THE VISION BLEAK, has been released via Prophecy Productions. The duo, never having been of the modest kind, go for the grand and sweeping gestures on the new album. Thus it comes as no surprise that THE VISION BLEAK claimed "Carpathia" to be a success in every regard well before its official release. Actually, when compared to "The Deathship Has A New Captain," the skeletal schooner with which Allen B. Konstanz and Ulf Theodor Schwadorf made their debut two years ago, sophomore release of "Carpathia" is not just a fall of masks bringing the band's dark grimaces to light, but also a manifestation of an even wilder passion. While the tracks on "The Deathship Has A New Captain" were haunted mainly by movie characters, now THE VISION BLEAK turn more towards an even weird fictioner - their own. The unusual thing is that the plot at the base of "Carpathia" works even without the music, its power not just limited to the many shadowy figures and the ephemeral, dark scenarios on the album, but also effective in bringing the horror toward an inevitable climax also in the music itself. "This is the fateful story of a businessman becoming heir to the old estates of his family in far and strange Carpathia," Schwadorf points out regarding the concept behind "Carpathia." "We, the listeners, accompany the young man on this journey through creepy mountain passes, sit beside him in his cab, sense the slow assembly of evil, share his shivers as he encounters the rustic villagers of Carpathia, travel further into the exotic and fearfully outlandish world of 'Arabian Nights,' and at the end we know the protagonist is cursed, probably even possessed by that evil," he says So you can see already that 'Carpathia' is an incomparable and sinister musical drama. Not without good reason have Konstanz and Schwadorf brought up the whole musical spectrum of their artistic careers so far. Forceful Black Metal riffs swirl over ultra-heavy drums surrounded by full and multi-faceted vocals on "Carpathia," each track vibrantly brimming with sheer intensity and energy. The new album has also been released in a limited edition Digipak version with a bonus CD, which includes a multimedia section with the 'Wolfmoon' promotional video, as well as some exclusive live audio and video clips.
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[Music News: 08.15.05 - 08.21.05]
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