12.03.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Artemis Records has announced the signing of Alternative Rock veterans BETTER THAN EZRA to an exclusive contract for North America. An album of all-new material, as of yet untitled, is slated for a Spring 2005 release. Formed in 1988 in New Orleans, Louisiana, BETTER THAN EZRA began their career by playing college bars and fraternity houses at Louisiana State University. After independently releasing the cassette-only album "Surprise" in 1990, the band went on to make their major label debut in 1995 with "Deluxe." Fueled by the #1 Modern Rock smash 'Good,' "Deluxe" quickly earned platinum status. In 1996 the band's follow-up album "Friction Baby" went gold, and contained two Top Ten Modern Rock tracks. BETTER THAN EZRA have released two subsequent albums, 1998's "How Does Your Garden Grow?" and 2001's "Closer." In addition to his role as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for BETTER THAN EZRA, Kevin Griffin has recently begun writing and producing other artists. He has worked with artists ranging from BLONDIE to HOWIE DAY. Griffin's work with Day includes the single 'Perfect Time Of Day,' which hit #1 at Triple A radio and Top Ten at Hot Adult Contemporary, and Day's current single, 'Collide,' which is in the Top 15 at Hot Adult Contemporary and climbing. Griffin also co-wrote the biggest radio single of the year in Australia, 'Scar,' with MISSY HIGGINS. BETTER THAN EZRA are Griffin (vocals, guitar), bassist Tom Drummond and drummer Travis McNabb.
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12.03.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Norwegian Goth Metallers TRISTANIA will lead off SPV Records' 2005 release schedule with their upcoming new album, "Ashes," on January 25th. With a three pronged vocal attack, TRISTANIA have the ability to induce astmospheres ranging from brutal to beautiful and on to melodic. The combination that this 7 piece brings both to the studio and the stage is one as yet unmatched in both the gothic and metal genres. They have toured the globe through over 20 countries, including Europe, the United States, Mexico and South America, and are travelling to 11 European countries on tour with Therion to preview "Ashes" for live audiences. They plan to go on another tour as soon as possible again next Spring after the Therion shows. "No dates have been confirmed, but we will definitely go out and tour again in early 2005," says TRISTANIA guitarist Anders Hoyvik Hidle. For Hidle and keyboardist Einar Moen, teamwork is the keyword that characterizes "Ashes." Even more than in the past, the music presented by TRISTANIA on "Ashes" presents itself as a homogeneous hybrid of different influences and unified targets. Never before has the band's intricate mix of Rock, Gothic, Death Metal, Black Metal, Classical and Symphonic passages been translated more successfully than on the new album: "For us, 'Ashes' is definitely a big step forward," says Hidle. "At the same time, everything is based on the trademarks that have always been part of this band. Songs like 'Circus' or 'Cure' wouldn't have been out of place on our previous albums."
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12.02.04 (RockAndMetal.com) On the heels of his sold out U.S. tour, MORRISSEY will release a "deluxe edition" of his critically acclaimed current album, "You Are The Quarry," on December 7th via Attack/Sanctuary Records. The CD/DVD combo set will contain all of "You Are the Quarry" and an additional nine B-side songs, only six of which have been previously released in the U.S. The DVD will showcase MORRISSEY's three live performances on "The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn" in July of this year, the promotional videos for the songs 'Irish Blood, English Heart' and 'First Of The Gang To Die,' and a 29 picture tour photo gallery. An unprecedented success, "You Are The Quarry" is MORRISSEY's most successful album of his career, either solo or with THE SMITHS. With the support of radio and MTV, VH1 and Fuse, the album debuted at #11 in the U.S. and #2 in the UK, and has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Sold out tours in Europe and the U.S. followed, along with rave live reviews from critics around the world. Having already produced three Top Ten hits in the UK, MORRISSEY's next single for America, "I Like You," will be released in early 2005. "You Are The Quarry" Deluxe Edition B-Sides: Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice • It's Hard To Walk Tall When You're Small • Teenage Dad On His Estate • Munich Air Disaster 1958 • Friday Mourning • The Never-Played Symphonies • My Life Is A Succession Of People Saying Goodbye • I Am Two People • Mexico
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12.02.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Swedish Death Metal slaughterhouse RIBSPREADER recenty finished the recording of their second album for New Aeon Media. The upcoming release, entitled "Congregating The Sick" is the follow-up to their debut, "Bolted To The Cross," which was released by New Aeon this past April, receiving excellent reviews and lots of coverage in Metal media circles. "Congregating The Sick" was recorded and mixed at Soundlab Studios by Mieszko Talarczyk (Nasum, Rotten Sound, Insision), and was just mastered at The Room by Metal master and RIBSPREADER member Dan Swano. In an official statement, the band commented with the following regarding "Congregating The Sick": "We've put together a bunch of new, yet old school-sounding songs, and without talking shit they all blow our previous material to pieces. It's at all times both faster, slower, heavier, sicker and more eager to rip your flesh than anything we've done and the brutality reeks from tracks like 'Not Dead But Buried,' 'Maggots (Fucking Maggots)' and 'Worms Inside Your Coffin.' To keep the spirit of old school Death Metal alive, we decided this time to not only record an album very soon after the debut, but also make it even harder and more kick ass. Everyone into 'Bolted To The Cross' will definitely enjoy this new piece of rancid Death Metal and everyone into even dirtier and uglier stuff will be also be satisfied." RIBSPREADER were formed in the Summer of 2003 by vocalist/guitarist Rogga Johansson (Paganizer) and guitarist Andreas Karlsson (Paganizer, Another Life), after which Swano was invited to join RIBSPREADER to play drums.
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12.01.04 (RockAndMetal.com) THE MUSIC are set to release a new single, 'Breakin',' on January 10th through Virgin Records and not 'Bleed From Within' as previously announced by the band. 'Breakin'' is taken from THE MUSIC's second top ten album, "Welcome To The North," which was released in late September to high acclaim. Problems with the production of the video for 'Bleed From Within' has forced the change of plans, as band member Robert Harvey explains: "'Bleed From Within' is the one of the most important songs on the album. Lyrically it means a lot to me, and we put a lot of thought in to the making of the video. It's really important the video puts across what the song is about and what it means to all of us. There's still work to do on it, and it's not going to be ready in time for the single, but we think it will be special when it's done. We're just not prepared to compromise with this video." THE MUSIC, who finished a sell out UK tour in early October have announced a trio of dates there come late December. THE MUSIC are also consolidating their strong position in the U.S. following a clutch of sell out American shows in August. THE MUSIC are currently on tour in the U.S. with INCUBUS, having previously played a sell-out headline show in New York City with HOPE OF THE STATES and DUKE SPIRIT in mid October. Additionally, "Freedom Fighters" has already topped the International chart in Japan, where the album went in at number #2, making it one of the fastest selling albums by a UK band in Japan in recent history.
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12.01.04 (RockAndMetal.com) The following update has been made by GRIMFIST guitarist/bassist Ole Walaunet on the band's official web site: "Ladies and gents, it's time for another update from Grimfist! As some of you've noticed we're confirmed for the Inferno kick off show in London on the 27th of January. With regards to the line-up.. In early January, Dustin Pearl is coming over from California to join Grimfist! An awesome drummer and a great fucking guy. If everything works out well, he'll become the permanent skinsman for Grimfist. We are extremely excited, and can't wait to start bashing our heads together! The mighty Ares from Aeternus is joining us on bass as a session musician. This will be Grimfist's debut gig, so we wanna see you guys go fucking nuts over there!! In a couple of weeks I'm heading up to Skarrabakje and the Sunnmorske Trollish mountains for another session of pre-production alongside Frediablo in Godfed Studios. I CAN promise you this; The new album will fucking slay!!! During the weekend Frediablo will update the site with some more info, pics etc. That's it for now folks, stay tuned for more updates from yours truly... Ole." Combine pure Heavy Metal with brutal Death/Black vocals, and enough groove, blastbeats, and power to crush a ten ton brickwall, and you get GRIMFIST. The band hails from Norway, and the original collaboration between members Walaunet, drummer Horgh, and vocalist Frediablo resulted in 10 tracks of insane, grinding metal of the highest order on GRIMFIST's 2003 debut album for Candlelight Records, "Ghouls Of Grandeur."
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11.30.04 (RockAndMetal.com) PAUL McCARTNEY has been tapped to perform in the Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show on FOX at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday, February 6th, the NFL has announced. "We are extremely pleased to work again with Paul McCartney, one of the greatest musicians of our time, to create a memorable show," said Steve Bornstein, the NFL's executive vice president of media. Added Bornstein, who will oversee the show for the NFL: "As one of the world's most beloved artists and incomparable live entertainers, Paul McCartney will deliver an inspirational performance." "There's nothing bigger then being asked to perform at the Super Bowl," said McCartney. "We're looking forward to rocking the millions at home and in the stadium." "We're thrilled Paul McCartney has agreed to perform at halftime of Super Bowl XXXIX," said FOX Sports Chairman David Hill. "He is one of the world's most influential rock artists, and his music has been part of our culture for 40 years. He, more than any other musician, lives up to this year's Super Bowl theme of "Building Bridges." His music bridges generations, countries, cultures and musical genres. I'm also sure that the duet Paul performed with Terry Bradshaw at Super Bowl XXXVI was such a major event, that he couldn't wait to reunite with Terry in Jacksonville." This will be McCartney's second Super Bowl appearance. He provided a memorable pre-game performance at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans in 2002, the first Super Bowl after the tragic events of September 11th.

11.30.04 (RockAndMetal.com) DEVILDRIVER are currently holed up in Texas recording the follow-up album to their self-titled debut for Roadrunner Records. Working with producer Colin Richardson, the still untitled release will be mixed in England by Richardson after sessions are through, with a mid-2005 release date planned. DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara checked in with the following update from Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso: "First of all, DevilDriver would like to thank you all for a great year - anyone who supported us, bought the record, came to a show, our appreciation goes out to you. We'd also like to thank the following bands who believed in us and have taken us on tour over the past year: Superjoint Ritual, Morbid Angel. Opeth, In Flames, Caliban, and Ozzy, Sharon, and the whole Ozzfest camp. "Sorry no update in a while, but things have been extremely busy. Here's what is going on: We are currently in the studio with Colin Richardson, and having a great time. We started recording about 12 days ago, and are done with drums and well into the guitars. We've got 14 tracks, each one brutal as hell. All the musicians in this band, myself included, have stepped up. We're gonna wrap up 2 days before Christmas...and we're looking forward to a healthy dose of touring starting February 1st, the schedule is being worked out as we speak. "HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DEVILDRIVER, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT YEAR."
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11.29.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Earlier this month during a live concert appearance at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California, THE TUBES' lead singer and frontman Fee Waybill was bitten by a number of "Mouse Ear" bats. Waybill, who co-found the pioneering early shock rock band from San Francisco, has spent the past week in Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles undergoing injections for rabies and a series of blood tests. "This is the last time we play Agoura Hills," says Waybill. "Had we known that the area was awash with bats, we would have thought twice about playing the venue. The bat situation in California is getting out of hand. This is the first time any kind of animal has attacked me during a performance. The Tubes may be perceived to be an outrageous rock 'n' roll band, but this is too extreme." For the past week, Waybill has been slowly recovering while being placed on a rigorous health and fitness regime. Personal trainer Larry Gillespie says: "Fee's a trooper. Bat bites can drain the energy from your central nervous system, but Fee is making a speedy recovery and should be up to speed for THE TUBES' forthcoming "Wild West Show" UK concerts at the following venues beginning next week: 12/05 Stourbridge, UK [Rock Cafe] • 12/06 London, UK [Shepherd's Bush Empire] • 12/07 Liverpool, UK [Carling Academy] • 12/08 Glasgow, UK [King Tut's Wah Wah] • 12/09 Birmingham, UK [Carling Academy] • 12/10 Bristol, UK [Carling Academy] • 12/11 Manchester, UK [Academy 3] • 12/13 Penzance, UK [The Acorn Theatre] • 12/14 Portsmouth, UK [Southsea Parade Pier]

11.29.04 (RockAndMetal.com) Returning home to the U.K. after bludgeoning North American audiences with their punishing live performances, NAPALM DEATH vocalist Barney Greenway sent fans this message: "We would like to send out a hearty thanks to everyone who came out to support us on the U.S. tour. It was a really funny old time being there for the elections and seeing the sadly inevitable result, which I think gave us more of an incentive to try and rock like bastards. It wouldn't be an understatement to say that we had a truly fantastic time, and for us it bodes well for coming back on another tour sometime in the first half of next year. Peace, tolerance and respect." Supporting their October Century Media debut, "Leaders Not Followers: Part 2," the band performed 28 American dates with CANNIBAL CORPSE, KATAKLYSM and GOATWHORE, and 8 headlining dates with MISERY INDEX. In early 2005, NAPALM DEATH will release a new full-length studio album in "The Code Is Red... Long Live The Code." Guest vocalists include Alternative Tentacles boss Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) and MTV2's Headbangers Ball host Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed). NAPALM DEATH have been at the forefront of the Death Metal movement since they were established in Birmingham, England in 1982. By incorporating Hardcore and Thrash with Metal riffs, NAPALM DEATH virtually created what is now considered "Grindcore," and to this day have remained a sonically defiant and dissonant musical force.
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[ Music News: 11.22.04 - 11.28.04 ]
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