11.19.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Hopeless Records has announced the signing of EVER WE FALL. The Portland, Oregon trio provide a fresh alternative to the often-typical Indie scene, with flavors varying from ambient/emotional to Pop-influenced Rock. Appealing to fans of everything from Emo to Hardcore, EVER WE FALL are a good bet for breakout success in 2005. The band has been honing their craft in Portland for the past two years, and spent this past Summer on their first-ever U.S. tour. Ranging in age from 17 to 19 years old, the members of EVER WE FALL are currently preparing to do some more touring as well as continue writing some new tunes to go on their debut full length set to hit the streets in 2005. Vocalist/Guitarist Adam Brazie had this to say about the signing: "We're so excited to be signing to one of the labels that we've grown up listening to, and a label that we have so much respect for. Plus being label-mates with our brothers Kaddisfly just tops off the excitement!" The Hopeless full-length will be the follow-up their debut EP, "Endura," which was released through Rise Records, a label the band signed with in September of 2003. Recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle with John Goodmanson (Death Cab For Cutie, Vaux, Sleater-Kinney) at the controls, EVER WE FALL recorded the 6-song EP in 4 days. The ironically titled debut release is a stunning, relentless call-to-arms, wrapped inside dense walls of guitar layered with acoustic guitars and piano.
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11.19.04 (RockAndMetal.com) THE RED CHORD have posted the following update on their official web site regarding the recruitment of a new drummer into the band: "After the last year of having a rotating spot behind the kit, we have finally found a drummer who we believe will be the permanent guy from here on out. His name is Brad Fickeisen. Some folks from Massachusetts may remember his playing from being in a band from the area called Eviscerate years back. We had some pretty huge shoes to fill with previously working with drummers like Mike Justain, Jon Dow and John Longstreth. Brad can definitely hold his own, though. He has some great chops, hits hard and can blast with the best of them. He has an interesting style that flows with our new material. I definitely don't foresee there being any disappointment from people familiar with us once you all get to check this guy out. As for the new recording, we are going into the studio with Zuess at Planet Z starting the first week of January, which sets us at a May release date for the release of 'Clients.' Some songs that will definitely be on the new album include 'Fixation On Plastics,' 'Upper Decker,' 'Stupefaction,' 'Hospice Residence' & 'Antman.' The band will resume playing shows in February/March after the recording is complete, and will probably be on the road for the majority of 2005."
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11.18.04 (RockAndMetal.com) A six-song preview EP by Alternative Rock singer/songwriter TARA ANGELL entitled "Down And Out: The Come Down EP" has gone online on the Rykodisc Records website here. The "Come Down EP" is an exclusive free preview of six of the songs to come on TARA ANGELL's upcoming full-length debut album, "Come Down," which is slated to be released by Rykodisc sometime in February. Angell's music is a collection of classically poignant songs, combining the Southern Gothic tradition of dark humor and years of experience studying the great North American songwriters of the 20th century. Angell's songs are deeply sensitive, and come from life spent in and around New York City's underground culture, which is where she has lived for many years. With guitar in hand, TARA ANGELL's sexy attitude and pure determination quickly garnered notice within the New York City music scene -- not exactly an easy accomplishment for any artist. Club owners, musicians and music-lovers found themselves drawn to her songs and her sultry voice, and simply needed to hear more. In 2002, "Come Down" was completed, which she took to Austin, Texas, where she was accepted to perform at SXSW, after which Rykodisc VP of A&R Jeff Rougvie immediately offered Angell a recording deal. With regard to her live show, TARA ANGELL likes to mix it up. She performs solo/acoustic, as a trio, with a full band, and sometimes solo with just an electric guitar in hand.
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11.18.04 (RockAndMetal.com) German Melodic Metal band EVIDENCE ONE have shot a video for the song 'Virus In My Veins' off their recently released new album for Nuclear Blast Records, "Tattooed Heart." Produced by the Huckleberryking company, who has done videos for J.B.O. and others, EVIDENCE ONE vocalist Carsten "Lizard" Schulz called the shootings a real strange experience: "We shot it outside Nurnberg at a deserted factory, where it was nothing but awfully cold! The story was that I was a patient in a sanatarium - the real psycho! I was to be punished by people in rude wards, only to be saved and rescued afterwards by a, in fact, beautiful young lady named Sarah. There was also a car chase... me breaking off the straightjacket, real cool! Unfortunately, when I had to break free and had to kick away chairs and stuff, I hurt my right foot so bad that I could hardly walk, even thugh I had to do all the escape and running scenes the next day! Anyway, especially the performing with the band inside that old facility was awesome, and we ended up with a great video! We shot 20 hours of video in just two days." Former DOMAIN vocalist Schulz formed EVIDENCE ONE in 2001 with FRONTLINE mastermind Robby Boebel, via a hook-up with AOR Heaven boss Georg Siegl at a KANSAS show in Munich earlier that year.
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11.17.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Aussie Rockers JET will get down to writing the songs for the follow-up to their highly successful debut album, "Get Born." when they take a well-deserved break from the limelight and their hectic touring schedule soon. Also, says bass player Mark Wilson: "I will start my regimen to get extremely fat, 'cause I got a couple months off." "We want to get Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson to guest on the album - as many talentless people as possible," joked JET drummer Chris Cester. "We want as many people who don't write their own songs as possible. That's the whole point. What the world needs are more talentless people." "We've been playing these songs for many years, even before the album was recorded, 'cause these were the songs we got our deal with," said Wilson. "We've been touring for a long time, and after you've been doing it for a while, all you want to do is write new songs and record new songs." "If we had new songs to play," added guitarist Cameron Muncey, "it would be really nice." Meanwhile, a new JET live DVD entitled "Family Style" is slated for a worldwide release next Tuesday, November 23rd. Featuring live concert footage shot in London in front of 4,000 fans, backstage moments and more, "Family Style" brings all the raw energy JET fans have come to expect from the group, plus several previously unreleased songs (in the North American territories) in the tracks 'Sweet Young Thing,' 'Hey Kids,' 'Take It Or Leave It' and 'That's Alright Mama.'
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11.17.04 (RockAndMetal.com) THE CHASM's Wicked World debut, "The Spell Of Retribution," has been released. Comprising 10 tracks with a running time of over 66 minutes, "The Spell Of Retribution" represents THE CHASM's most ambitious project to date, noticeably setting the band apart from the rest of the current Death Metal scene. Dark, somber and furious, the new album is rooted in the band's allegiance to the music of the old masters of Metal such as CELTIC FROST, SLAYER, BLACK SABBATH, SACRIFICE, and DESTRUCTION, plus an infusion of more contemporary acts like CARNAGE, WINTER, AUTOPSY, early MAYHEM and DISMEMBER, yet shines with its own utterly personal and creative style. Dark, epic and relentless, THE CHASM describe their own sound as "Melancholic Apocalypse." Intoxicated by the arcane aroma of ancient myths, legends and philosophies of their Mexican ancestry, the band construct a Metal utopia with "The Spell Of Retribution"'s highly conceptual epic themes that incorporate THE CHASM's unique and complex sound. Attention metal fans in Chicago and beyond: The official release party for the new album is set for this Sunday, Nov 21st at the Denim & Leather Party at Exit in THE CHASM's current hometown of Chicago. Arrive early and hear "The Spell Of Retribution" in its entirety, then stick around for Earache CD and t-shirt giveaways, and DJ sets by THE CHASM's frontman Daniel Corchado throughout the night.
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11.16.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Multi ARIA award winner DIESEL will be releasing his first live DVD on November 29th, entitled "The First Fifteen '89-'04 Live." One of Australia's most respected contemporary artists, he recently celebrated 15 years of music in a sold out, one-night-only show with a three-part performance encompassing solo acoustic, "stripped back" band and "slam dunk" electric, at Sydney's Metro Theatre this past Spring, wwhich show was recorded live on high definition video in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. DIESEL first erupted out of Perth in 1988 with his band THE INJECTORS, after which he launched his solo career in 1991 with the release of the single 'Love Junk,' followed by his debut album "Hepfidelity, which sold over 300,000 copies and delivered hit songs such as 'Tip of My Tongue' and 'Man Alive.' In 1993 the release of DIESEL's third album, "The Lobbyist," reached No.1 on the Australian charts, securing the ARIA for Best Male Artist for the second consecutive year. 1994's "Solid State Rhyme" became another multi-platinum smash for DIESEL, yielding more hits in 'All Come Together' and 'Fifteen Feet Of Snow.' The next few years spawned the Blues album "Short Cool Ones," "Soul Lost Companion" and "Hear," which received an ARIA nomination in 2003 for Best Independent Album. After forming his own independent Hepfidelity Records label, DIESEL released several singles, followed by the album "Singled Out," featuring stripped down acoustic versions of his better known songs.

11.16.04 (RockAndMetal.com) GOD FORBID guitarist Dallas Coyle checked in recently with the following road report from the band's current European tour on the Century Media recording label web site: "Dallas here again from Oslo, Norway to let you in on what's happening. First and foremost, we got the new video for 'Gone Forever' from Zach Merck (Atreyu, Shadows Fall), and we're all happy to say that it's amazing. He caught the live vibe of the band and shows us having fun and kicking ass. A lot of you Jersey boys might be in the video, so look out for it when it hits Headbangers Ball and Uranium. We are still in Europe right now with Caliban and Machine Head, and the shows are getting better and better. We finally got a new bus because our old one was what we called 'The Dirt Oven.' The new one is definitely like Las Vegas - mirrors, lights and clean! Some of our crew are gambling addicts so that just adds to the Vegas vibe. I want to send a big thank you to the kids in Helsinki, Finland for giving us the best shows we've played so far in Europe. Finland loves their metal! We can't wait to come back. We're really spreading the God Forbid name, and all the promoters and kids can't wait for us to come back. We have 6 more weeks in Europe left, so we still got a ways to go! Well, that's it from me. We'll see you all soon."
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11.15.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Maverick Records has announced the signing of Pop-tinged Alternative Rockers AMERICAN HI-FI. The group's Maverick debut, "Hearts On Parade," was produced by Butch Walker along with the band, and is set for a March 1st, 2005 release. The themes on this new album reflect the transitions shaped largely by frontman Stacy Jones' relocation to Los Angeles last year after finding himself without a record deal. "We were just about to hit the road with Matchbox Twenty to promote our sophomore album, when our record company decided the future of music was with Emo bands," reflects Jones. "We thought we had it made -- a record we were proud of, a great tour and then the rug gets pulled out from under us." While settling into his new surroundings and adjusting to life without any definite future plans, Jones used his songwriting as a creative outlet. "After Island let us go, we took matters into our hands, built a studio, and made the record on our own terms," said Jones. "We were confident that we would find a home for this record." AMERICAN HI-FI have toured the U.S. extensively over the past year, including a co-headlining stint with friend Walker. The collaboration continues tonight as 3/4 of the band back Butch Walker as the opening act on the current Avril Lavigne tour, after which AMERICAN HI-FI and Walker will do a co-headlining tour come December 4th.
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11.15.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Swedish Melodic Death Metal All-Stars SCAR SYMMETRY have finished up with the recording of their upcoming debut album for Cold/Metal Blade Records, entitled "Symmetric In Design." The new offering can most closely be described as a mix of styles of Metal somewhere between EDGE OF SANITY and SOILWORK. SCAR SYMMETRY's much-traveled vocalist Christian Alvestam (Incapacity, Unmoored, Solar Dawn, Torchbearer, Carnalized, Evendim, Lord Of Thrones, Orgy Of Flesh, Sattyg, Red Skies Dawning, The Stink Bug Collective) is without a doubt one of the top five clean Metal voices in Sweden at the moment, not to mention the talent of well-respected guitarists Jonas Kjellgren (Carnal Forge, Dellamorte, Centinex) and Per Nilsson (Altered Aeon), whose twin guitar leads combined with heavy riffing and varied drum playing are all accompanied with keyboards to highlight the melodic aspects of the band on the debut as well. Other members of SCAR SYMMETRY include bassist Kenneth Seil and drummer Henrik Ohlsson (Altered Aeon, Theory In Practice, Mutant). Recorded at Black Lounge Studios in Sweden with Kjellgren at the helm in the role of producer as well, the "Symmetric In Design" album will come packaged in digipack form, with artwork designed by Par Johansson. A release date of January 31st has been confirmed.

[Music News: 11.08.04 - 11.14.04]
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