Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg Announces Their First Tour Dates Of 2012

Marky Ramone once again hits the road for a world tour. The tour kicks off mid-March in Argentina followed by a short U.S. East coast run that will include two hometown area shows for drummer and Brooklyn native Marky Ramone (March 28 @ Maxwell’s – Hoboken, NJ & April 1 @ The Bell House – Brooklyn, NY). Following the U.S. leg Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg heads to Greece, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Germany and the U.K. with more dates to be added.

Festival stops along the tour will include Festival de Guitarra in Barcelona, Ruhrpott Rodeo Festival in Germany, Plymouth Volksfest in the U.K. and Hard Rock Hell Ibiza Road Trip in Spain.

Grammy Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee, Marky Ramone (Ramones, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Dust, Wayne County), along with ex-Misfits frontman Michale Graves will be joined by Crazy Joe on guitar and Graham vanderVeen on bass.
Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg Tour Dates 2012:
March 16 – Cordoba, Argentina @ The Roxy
March 17 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Teatro de Flores
March 28 – Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s
March 29 – Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
March 30 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Atlantic City Convention Center
March 31 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
April 1 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Bell House
April 4 – Thessaloniki, Greece @ Mylos
April 5 – Ioannina, Greece @ Boxx Live Stage
April 6 – Patras, Greece @ Akti Dimeon
April 7 – Athens, Greece @ Gagarin 205
April 8 – Larissa, Greece @ All Alive Stage
April 15 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia @ KL Live
April 18 – Taipei, Taiwan @ The Legacy
April 22 – Macau, China @ Hard Rock Café
April 24 – Hong Kong, China @ Hard Rock Café
April 26 – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam @ Hard Rock Café
May 24 – Madrid, Spain @ Gruta 77
May 26 – Barcelona, Spain @ Apolo (Festival de Guitarra)
May 27 – Hunxe, Germany @ Ruhrpott Rodeo Festival
June 2 – Plymouth, UK @ Newnham Park (Plymouth Volksfest)
June 5 – Ibiza, Spain @ Hard Rock Hell Ibiza Road Trip

Iron Maiden to release En Vivo! on March 27th

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) is proud to announce the release of “EN VIVO!,” a new live IRON MAIDEN Blu-ray™, 2-DVDSet and double soundtrack album, on Tuesday, March 27, in the U.S. (available internationally, Monday, March 26). The 2 LP picture disc vinyl comes out on 4/10. A trailer for the release can be seen here: http://youtu.be/HVimi8oElBU.
“EN VIVO!” was filmed on April 10, 2011, in front of over 50,000 ecstatic fans at the Estadio Nacional, Santiago, during the Round The World In 66 Days leg of The Final Frontier World Tour, and captures a magnificent performance by the band, ardently embraced by the legendary Latino passion and energy of their Chilean fans. With spectacular stage backdrops, dynamic musicianship and a literally jaw-dropping appearance by Eddie, this live show encapsulates to perfection the heart and soul of Iron Maiden 2011.

Bass player and founding member Steve Harris comments, “For The Final Frontier Tour, it was really important to me that we filmed in South America as we’re always so overwhelmed by the fans’ reaction when we go to that part of the world and I wanted to reflect that in the filming. After much consideration, we chose the Santiago show as we felt it was one of our best performances of the entire tour and to play at the prestigious Estadio Nacional was a landmark moment for us. For reasons known to our fans, it took a long time before we got to play our first show in Chile, and once we did get to play a show, the response was so phenomenal we just had to keep coming back, and it’s got better and better each time!”

The concert was filmed digitally using 22 HD cameras and an octocam (a flying camera which captures aerial crowd scenes), recorded in both stereo and 5.1 audio and mixed by Maiden’s longstanding producer, Kevin “Caveman” Shirley, all of which serves to accentuate the incredible atmosphere of this compelling performance. Extensive use is made of split screens so fans can follow the individual members more closely, and the set list moves seamlessly between songs from Maiden’s most recent studio album, 2010’s The Final Frontier, through to classic fan favorites via the band’s vast and varied catalogue (full set listing below).Disc two of the DVD set is a bonus disc containing an 88-minute documentary, Behind The Beast. This is also an entirely in-house production by Maiden’s own Krew, led by Andy Matthews, and is intended as an interesting and revealing high quality “home movie” for their fans to see how Iron Maiden put on a tour and what goes on behind the scenes at a show. It describes the extraordinary story of one of the most acclaimed and ambitious touring shows in the world. It illustrates the day-to-day life and complex tasks of the Maiden Killer Krew and the other characters behind the scenes. The expertise and experience, the problem-solving and successes, the sheer scale and immense difficulties of the undertaking come to life through the day-to-day coverage of the tour and the background work of the crews in sound, lighting, carpentry, production and set design. As well as interviews with the Iron Maiden crew, it interweaves anecdotes from the band and their fans, and includes footage of the live show in this comprehensive guide to the intricacies of staging massive, live stadium shows around the world out of the belly of a Boeing 757. The bonus disc also contains an extended version of the promo video “Satellite 15…The Final Frontier,” a video about the making of “Satellite 15…The Final Frontier” plus the opening video sequence to The Final Frontier World Tour.In addition to the Blu-ray™, the 2-DVD set will initially be available as a Limited Edition double DVD in a Collectors’ Steel Book Case and Double Vinyl Picture Disc. As well as a traditional 2-CD soundtrack album, EN VIVO! will also be available as a digital download audio album and digital download video.


DVD DISC ONE “LIVE AT ESTADIO NACIONAL, SANTIAGO” (approx running time 120 min.)

1. Satellite 15

2. The Final Frontier

3. El Dorado

4. 2 Minutes To Midnight

5. The Talisman

6. Coming Home

7. Dance Of Death

8. The Trooper

9. The Wicker Man

10. Blood Brothers

11. When The Wild Wind Blows

12. The Evil That Men Do

13. Fear Of The Dark

14. Iron Maiden

15. The Number Of The Beast

16. Hallowed Be Thy Name

17. Running Free

BONUS DISC - DVD DISC TWO “BEHIND THE BEAST” (approx running time 102 min.)

1. Behind The Beast documentary

2. Satellite 15…The Final Frontier promo video (director’s cut)

3. The Making of Satellite 15…The Final Frontier promo

4. The Final Frontier World Tour Show Intro

Opeth + Mastodon to Embark on "Heritage Hunter" Tour

This is one tour that rock fans will be talking about for years to come and if you miss it, you'll be terribly sorry. Opeth and Mastodon will be embarking on a co-headline tour this spring, which kicks off April 4 in Portland, Maine and runs through May 12 in Atlanta, Georgia. It's the first time these two titans of progressive and forward-thinking hard rock have hit the road together and it's going to be one for the ages. Ghost will serve as the opener of the tour, which has been christened the "Heritage Hunter."

About the tour, Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt, in his trademark deadpan wit, stated, "We're touring North America together with Mastodon soon. Nice! One of the very few metal bands of today that I genuinely like. Good people too! Ghost are coming with us as well, and they are one of the hottest new bands to come out of Sweden in recent years, and I dig them too. I sound like an old fart, don't I? Well, I am.”

He continued, "Yet, am I right in thinking that this tour, this line up, is pretty decent? Would you all agree? Not complete s---, is it? Hope to see y'all out there! What are we playing? Not sure yet, but considering the company, maybe we'll have to pull out the big guns from time to time. In order to keep up, I mean."

Opeth released Heritage in September 2011, garnering critical acclaim from Rolling Stone ("a career record that reimagines prog as actual rock 'n' roll"), Pitchfork ("a pretty, well thought out collection"), AV Club ("wholly absorbing"), Decibel (which featured the band on the cover, in somewhat of a tradition for the band and the magazine), PopMatters ("Opeth still continues to make especially phenomenal music") and more.

Dates for this momentous trek are as follows. Pre-sale ticketing begins on February 1, with public on sales to follow on February 3. Go here to purchase tickets.

April 4 – State Theater – Portland, ME

April 5 – Orpheum Theater – Boston, MA *

April 6 – Metropolis – Montreal, QC *

April 7 – Sony Centre – Toronto, ON *

April 9 – Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA

April 10 – The Dome – Wallingford, CT

April 11 – Roseland – New York, NY

April 13 – Riviera Theater – Chicago

April 14 – Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI

April 15 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA

April 16 – TN Theater – Knoxville, TN *

April 18 – Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK

April 19 –Palladium – Dallas, TX *

April 20 – Backstage Live – San Antonio, TX *

April 21 – Concrete Street – Corpus Christi, TX *

April 23 – Fillmore – Denver, CO *

April 25 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV

April 26 – Gibson – Hollywood, CA *

April 27 – Fox Theatre – Oakland, CA *

April 28 – Grand Sierra Resort – Reno, NV

April 30 – Paramount Theater – Seattle, WA *

May 1 – Orpheum – Vancouver, BC *

May 3 – Edmonton Events Centre – Edmonton,AB *

May 4 – MacEwan Hall – Calgary, AB

May 5 – The Odeon – Saskatoon, SK

May 6 – Burton Cummings – Winnipeg, MB *

May 9 – The Fillmore – Washington, DC *

May 10 – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC

May 11 – House of Blues – Myrtle Beach, SC *

May 12 – Masquerade Music Park – Atlanta, GA

*Denotes Opeth close the show

3 INCHES OF BLOOD Reveals "Long Live Heavy metal" Track Listing and Album Artwork

Premiere metal act 3 INCHES OF BLOOD has revealed both the track listing and album artwork from their forthcoming effort, Long Live Heavy Metal due out on March 27, 2012 in North America and March 26th in Europe. Produced by Terry "Sho" Murray (City of Fire, Exhibitionists), the astounding twelve track achievement offers an explosion of sound, setting new standards for classic heavy metal. 3 INCHES OF BLOOD teamed up with Kim Thiessen to perfect their artistic vision for the album, which will be released as a digipack and when opened, lays out similar to that of a book. The track listing and album artwork can be seen below, and within the next week, fans should be on the lookout for news of a song premiere from the new album.



 Long Live Heavy Metal Track Listing:
01. Metal Woman
02. My Sword Will Not Sleep
03. Leather Lord
04. Chief and the Blade
05. Dark Messenger
06. Look Out
07. 4000 Torches
08. Leave it on the Ice
09. Die for Gold (Upon the Boiling Sea IV)
10. Storming Juno
11. Men of Fortune
12. One for the Ditch

In support of the release, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD will be heading out on the "Metal Alliance Tour 2012" with DEVILDRIVER, THE FACELESS, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, IMPENDING DOOM and WRETCHED.
 
"Metal Alliance Tour 2012"
3/15/2012 - Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn
3/16/2012 - New Orleans, LA @ The Hangar
3/17/2012 - St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
3/18/2012 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos
3/20/2012 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
3/21/2012 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
3/22/2012 - Danvers, MA @ Palace Ballroom
3/23/2012 - Montreal, QC, Canada @ Le National
3/24/2012 - Toronto, ON, Canada @ Opera House
3/25/2012 - Columbus, OH @ Alrosa Villa
3/26/2012 - Joliet, IL @ Mojoe's
3/27/2012 - St. Paul, MN @ Station-4
3/28/2012 - Winnipeg, MB, Canada @ Garrick Centre
3/29/2012 - Regina, SK, Canada @ Riddell Centre
3/30/2012 - Edmonton, AB, Canada @ Edmonton Events Centre
3/31/2012 - Vancouver, BC, Canada @ Rickshaw Theater
4/1/2012 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
4/2/2012 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
4/5/2012 - Oakland, CA @ The Pound
4/6/2012 - Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
4/7/2012 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
4/8/2012 - Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater
4/9/2012 - Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
4/10/2012 - Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium
4/11/2012 - Des Moines, IA @ 7 Flags Event Center
4/13/2012 - Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theater
4/15/2012 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
4/16/2012 - Tulsa, OK @ Cain's Ballroom
4/19/2012 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
4/20/2012 - Austin, TX @ Emo's East
4/21/2012 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues

UFOMAMMUT Reveal Details For First Chapter Of Two-Part Neurot Debut

More details on Oro: Opus Primum -- the first installment of the new two-album series from Italy's supernatural doom sorcerers, UFOMAMMUT -- have this week been confirmed.

Already known for their attention to detail with each release, including meticulous, quality artwork and packaging as expansive and layered as every obliterating UFOMAMMUT release is musically, this time they take it one notch higher and have completed a massive two-part album, set for release months apart.

Now confirmed for release in the UK on April 9th, throughout the rest of Europe on April 13th, and in North America April 17th, this week the artwork and track listing for the incredibly anticipated first installment of the series -- Oro: Opus Primum -- have been unveiled for the first time. Check it out at this location.

Oro: Opus Primum Track Listing:
1. Empireum
2. Aureum
3. Infearnatural
4. Magickon
5. Mindomine

More details on the album will be released in the weeks ahead as the world awaits the arrival of UFOMAMMUT's latest art. The second chapter in this monolithic two-part album, Oro: Opus Alter, will be released sometime in September with more details to be unveiled throughout the months following Opus Primum.

2012 will see UFOMAMMUT expanding their touring circles wider across the face of the planet in support of Oro. Stay tuned throughout the year as more details on the release and the act's tour schedule are confirmed.

Ripple Music to Invade Europe for the Festival Season

Building upon a year that found Ripple Music garnering accolades across the board and album of the year releases by Grifter,Iron Claw, and Trucker Diablo, Ripple is about to invade the European festivals headlong and bring their hard-driving rock attack to the masses.

Following their critically praised Ripple release, The Devil Rhythm, Trucker Diablo have their eyes set firmly on making an impact this year. Having already blown away those in attendance at 2011’s Download Festival then playing sold out shows in UK/Ireland with Black Stone Cherry, the boys will be steaming the big truck headlong into Hammerfest IV to share a stage with Anthrax and Skindred, as well as play with Skindred when the band rocks Belfast. With “Drink Beer, Destroy!” now blasting out across Kerrang T.V. and radio, bigger things are coming. Soon, everyone will know the band that Def Leppard's Joe Elliot has called "absolutely awesome stuff!" Look for Trucker appearing at Hammerfest on March 16th, the day that Anthrax headlines the bill.

Not to be outdone, Plymouth's Grifter plan to follow up on their collection of “Top 10 albums of 2011” awards by taking their fired-up, whiskey rock on the road, dropping into Desertfest (April 6th to 8th) where they share the stage with Orange Goblin, Karma to Burn, and similar-minded retro-rockers, Gentleman’s Pistols. This follows Grifter’s recent UK dates supporting Orange Goblin and will lead them right into the notorious Freak Valley Festival in Netphen, Germany on May 18th/19th with Colour Haze, My Sleeping Karma, Gentlemans Pistols, and Lonely Camel. Look for a new single and more material to come from the UK lads soon.

And while you’re at Desertfest, losing your mind in the psychedelic haze, be sure to catch Ripple stalwarts,Stone Axe. The band will be kicking off the Desert-festivities as Stone Free, playing a free set of Free cover tunes on the opening day of the festival, and following that up with their high-octane, no holds barred rock show that’s quickly becoming legendary. Touring Europe to support their Ripple release Stone Axe II: Deluxe Edition 2 CD package, as well as Stone Axe: Captured Live at Roadburn 2011 CD/LP package, Stone Axe is looking to decimate the countryside with tour mates, Stubb and Trippy Wicked.

All in all, it’s looking like a great year for authentic, hard-driving rock ‘n roll.

Trucker Diablo's The Devil Rhythm, Grifter's self-titled debut, and Stone Axe I and II Deluxe edition CD's are available world-wide through Code 7, Clearspot, and the
Ripple-Music store. If you haven't heard these albums yet, let us know. Promo copies are still available and the bands are always available for interview or articles. Just ask.


FROM ASHES RISE Record Brand New 7" For Southern Lord

This weekend, Portland, Oregon-based crust punk icons FROM ASHES RISE entered the studio to lay down two vicious new anthems for Southern Lord Recordings. The crushing recording session marks the first time the band recorded in nine years!

Recorded at Audible Alchemy, engineered by Bryan Sours and Steve Lobdell, and mixed at Audiosiege by Sours and the band's own Brad Boatright, the two tracks -- "Rejoice The End" and "Rage of Sanity" -- are being finalized for a rabid new 7" set to be let off the chain via Southern Lord in April or May. A final release date, cover art and more will be be locked down in the coming weeks.

FROM ASHES RISE formed in Nashville, Tennessee during the mid 1990s' American crust punk surge, their infectious downtuned moroseness catching on worldwide almost immediately. Having relocated to Portland, Oregon, the band have unleashed three LPs, a plethora of split releases, EPs and more to date, all amidst waves of heavy underground touring. Last May the band dominated the indoor stage at the annual Maryland Deathfest gathering in Baltimore, and then in November took part the Portland show of Southern Lord's massive The Power Of The Riff West Coast takeover.

FROM ASHES RISE remain one of the most brutally-charged and hauntingly melodic forerunners of the scene.

LANDMINE MARATHON Premiere New Video

Metal Hammer has debut LANDMINE MARATHON's brand new video for the track, "Beaten and Left Blind." Watch the brutal footage, directed by Raul Varela (Impaled) now! The track comes from the band's most recent album, "Gallows" which was released this past September in N. America and out across Europe this week, and can be ordered at the Prosthetic Store

"Gallows" was recorded by Landmine Marathon guitarist Ryan Butler at Arcane Digital Recording Studio (Exhumed, Nightrage, Misery Index, Phobia). The album features the debut of the band's new drummer, Andy York.

A review on Stereogum.com has stated, "Landmine Marathon's fourth album 'Gallows' finds the Bolt Thrower-nodding Phoenix, Arizona death-grind quintet finally capturing the energy that's made Grace Perry & Co's live shows some of the best over the past few years... 'Gallows' features the band's strongest, best sounding songs to date."

MESHUGGAH ANNOUNCE 2012 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Swedish masters of the extreme MESHUGGAH will be taking their sonic arsenal on the road and detonating sound systems in cities across the U.S. and Canada on “The Ophidian Trek” tour, which launches on April 29th in Houston. Direct support for all 19 shows will come from BARONESS; opening each night will be special guests & label mates DECAPITATED from Poland.

States drummer Tomas Haake of MESHUGGAH: “We’re really stoked to be coming back again!! A new album and two really awesome bands to join us on our trek across the U.S. and Canada!! There’s one word that comes to mind: Sweeeet!!

DECAPITATED guitarist / founding member Vogg adds: “FUCK YEAH! DECAPITATED with MESHUGGAH! We’re so proud and happy to be part of this amazing tour! It will be a huge honor to share one stage with such a great fuckin’ band! Cannot wait!”

Complete “The Ophidian Trek” tour dates with BARONESS & DECAPITATED are:

4/29/12 House of Blues - Houston, TX

4/30/12 House of Blues - Dallas, TX

5/01/12 Emo’s - Austin, TX

5/03/12 Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ

5/04/12 House of Blues - Anaheim, CA

5/05/12 House of Blues - Hollywood, CA

5/06/12 The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

5/08/12 Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, B.C. - CANADA

5/09/12 Showbox Sodo - Seattle, WA

5/11/12 Odgen Theatre - Denver, CO

5/13/12 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN

5/15/12 House of Blues - Chicago, IL

5/16/12 St. Andrews Hall - Detroit, MI

5/17/12 Sound Academy - Toronto, ON - CANADA

5/18/12 Theatre of the Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA

5/19/12 Palladium - Worcester, MA

5/20/12 Olympia de Montreal - Montreal, QUE - CANADA

5/22/12 The Fillmore - Silver Springs, MD

5/23/12 Terminal 5 – New York, NY

MESHUGGAH’s eighth studio album, KOLOSS, will be released in North America on March 27th. The North American deluxe digi-pak version will include a bonus DVD.

KOLOSS can be pre-ordered now from Amazon.com. Sign up here to receive the latest MESHUGGAH news.
2008’s obZen has sold over 82,000 copies in the U.S. and debuted at #59 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, clinched the #14 spot on the iTunes Top Rock Albums chart, was the #1 Most Added metal album on the CMJ Loud Rock and FMQB radio charts.

Alive, MESHUGGAH’s 2010 live DVD, debuted at #8 on the Nielsen SoundScan Top Music DVD Video chart.

DECAPITATED’s Carnival Is Forever debuted at #11 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart last July and captured the #43 position on GuitarWorld.com’s “Top 50 Albums of 2011” list.

Monday, January 30, 2012

LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY: NEW ALBUM DETAILS & STUDIO UPDATE

Italian composer & guitar shredder Luca Turilli reports that LT’s RHAPSODY’s new album will be entitled Ascending To Infinity and will be released this summer in North America by Nuclear Blast.

With over 60 minutes of music, the track listing to Ascending To Infinity is as follows:

01 - QUANTUM X

02 - ASCENDING TO INFINITY

03 - DANTE’S INFERNO

04 - EXCALIBUR

05 - TORMENTO E PASSIONE

06 - DARK FATE OF ATLANTIS

07 - FANTASIA GOTICA

08 - CLASH OF THE TITANS

09 - OF MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL AND LUCIFER’S FALL

I. ALMA MUNDI

II. FATUM MORTALIS

III. IGNIS DIVINUS

Luca checks in with fans about the production that’s currently happening in Kempten, Germany at Sebastian Roeder’s Backyard Studios:

“Hi to everybody! The production is proceeding perfectly and my friend Sebastian and I are having a great time while working on the new album here in the cold Kempten, with the snow visiting us from time to time. Nice atmosphere indeed!

“As you know, in December Alex Holzwarth recorded all his drum parts. Right now we just ended the recording of the new singer and all the choirs. In some days, it will be time for Dominique [Leurquin, guitarist] and Patrice [Guers, bassist] to record their parts while I will soon go back to Italy. There, in my private home studio, I will record the rest of the rhythmic and lead guitar parts, the keyboard, and the piano and will finalize the last orchestral arrangements for the mix. All in all, the entire studio production of the new album Ascending To Infinity will last around four months, but this is normal considering the artistic ambition of the release, the rich presence of choirs and orchestra, the people involved, and the record company’s unique support.

“If you ask me which has been one the most exciting moments of the studio production, I can tell you that recording the new LT’s RHAPSODY singer has been really amazing. I will use the words of my friend Sebastian to define the skill of the new front man: fantastic and with an unlimited potential. If you want to know more, I can tell you that on our band’s website. Exclusive news about him will soon be released. Stay tuned!”

Check the official LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY website at www.LTRHAPSODY.com on February 27th, 2012 for the exclusive presentation of their new, outstanding singer!

Visit LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY on Facebook here.

"BONDED BY BALOFF" ON-TRACK TO BE A SOLD-OUT EVENT

For those who were either born too late or living in the wrong part of the world while music which has now become legendary was exploding from the Bay Area’s thrash metal scene in the early-to-mid 1980s, here’s your second chance to re-live history.

With a very special All Ages show marking the 10-year anniversary of former EXODUS singer Paul “Pavel” Baloff’s passing, “Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance” will take place at the Oakland Metro Operahouse on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 and features the evening’s headliners EXODUS plus POSSESSED, FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN, and MAD AT SAM on the Main Stage. Playing the Second Stage are ANGERHEAD, MUDFACE, THE VENTING MACHINE, HELLFIRE, and HYSTERIA.

The evening is well on its way to being a SOLD-OUT event and may very well turn into the second installment of the recent Bazillion Points book Murder in the Front Row (which can be purchased
here), so don’t miss out!

Of the event, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt has previously stated:

"[We] knew it was high time we do something special to remember the legend of Paul Baloff, so we decided to put together a show the Bay Area will not soon forget. There are some nice surprises in store as well! It will be ten years and two days since the thrash world lost one of its greatest frontmen ever, and we will always make sure his memory lives on and is never forgotten. Long live The Destroyer!”

Advanced tickets for “Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance” can be purchased at
this location.

AURA NOIR Unveil Album Details

The ugliest band in the world is back! Featuring members of Immortal, Mayhem, Virus and Ava Inferi, AURA NOIR has announced their latest masterpiece "Out to Die". More intense and aggressive than ever, with an increasingly stark and raw vibe to it all, the bar is once again raised and another milestone of putrid Black Thrash Metal is born! "Out to Die," their fifth album overall, and first with Indie Recordings, will see a release on March 23rd in Europe and March 27th in North America. The new album sees the return of Blasphemer to AURA NOIR's ranks! The cover art has been unveiled (pictured above) and pre-order is now available in North America. Order the CD on its own, or with an exclusive shirt design NOW!

Check out the track listing of "Out to Die"!
1. Trenches
2. Fed To The Flames
3. Abbadon
4. The Grin From The Gallows
5. Withheld
6. Priest's Hellish Fiend
7. Deathwish
8. Out To Die

This summer, Aura Noir will make their first appearance at WACKEN OPEN AIR (August 2nd-4th), but in the meantime, the band will be playing in Norway with Nekromantheon and Skeletonwitch on the "Fire Walk With Me vol. 2" tour in February!

LAMB OF GOD Guitarist Mark Morton Offers Autographed Guitar and Strings for Auction to Benefit DM Research

Heavy metal fans now have a chance to own a piece of musical history and help find a cure for Myotonic Dystrophy (DM). LAMB OF GOD lead guitarist Mark Morton has donated the custom-designed and autographed Jackson guitar from his personal collection, and the strings and LAMB OF GOD guitar picks he used to record four of the songs from the band’s album Wrath, to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF). All proceeds from the sale of the guitar will support research into treatments and a cure for this devastating disorder.

This auction will be run through eBay MissionFish. Bidding begins at 5:00 PM PST on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 and ends at 5:00 PM PST on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

Three-time Grammy-nominated LAMB OF GOD has been helping MDF raise funds for DM research since 2009, when Randy Blythe (lead vocals) donated his Grammy nomination medallion as an auction item. Randy and Mark support MDF in honor of their friend Todd Stone, an MDF board member who has two young sons who are living with the disorder. In the last decade, great success has been achieved in DM research and potential breakthroughs are on the horizon. Your successful bid for this one-of-a-kind guitar will help make those breakthroughs a reality. Bid now on eBay.

JEFF LOOMIS To Release New Album "Plains of Oblivion" in April 2012

After releasing a handful of updates and teasers, JEFF LOOMIS fans have been dying to know when they can expect the ex-Nevermore guitar prodigy's forthcoming album. It is with much excitement that JEFF LOOMIS finally reveals the details of his highly anticipated sophomore effort entitled Plains of Oblivion. The new album will be released on April 10th in North America and April 9th in Europe via Century Media Records. The ten track effort will be produced by Aaron Smith (7 Horns 7 Eyes) and is some of JEFF LOOMIS' best work yet. The full track listing and artwork for Plains of Oblivion can be seen below. JEFF LOOMIS teamed up with Colin Marks of Rain Song Design (www.rain-song.co.uk) to create the intriguing artwork. Marks is most well known for his previous work with All Shall Perish, The End and Xerath.
Plains of Oblivion Track Listing:
01 Mercurial (featuring Marty Friedman)
02 The Ultimatum (featuring Tony MacAlpine)
03 Escape Velocity
04 Tragedy And Harmony (featuring Christine Rhoades)
05 Requiem For The Living (featuring Attila Voros)
06 Continuum Drift (featuring Chris Poland)
07 Surrender (featuring Ihsahn)
08 Chosen Time (featuring Christine Rhoades)
09 Rapture
10 Sibylline Origin

Topshelf Records To Release Code Orange Kids Split EP w/ Full of Hell on April 17

Code Orange Kids have a lot going on right now. The band is currently on tour, just announced that they’ll be releasing their next full length album with Deathwish later in 2012 and now Topshelf Records is happy to announce that they will be releasing a Code Orange Kids/Full of Hell split EP on April 17th.
Deathwish had this to say about them:

Fresh out of high school and with an average age of 18 years old, Pennsylvania’s Code Orange Kids remind us of our own embryonic days in the aggressive music scene. They do things their way, creatively cutting their own path through it all. Unconcerned with the direction of other artists, their brand of gritty hardcore/punk is simply refreshing to hear. Merging cryptic melody, dirty hardcore power, and intense dirges into their own uniquely inspired sound.

Code Orange Kids recently released their [seriously] fantastic Cycles 7” EP on Mayfly Records.

Lastly, Code Orange Kids are on tour now in the U.S. with Xerxes, dates are below:

· 01/26: Fresno, CA @ China Youth Center w/ Xerxes

· 01/27: Sacramento, CA @ The Dough Joe w/ Xerxes

· 01/28: Santa Rosa, CA @ Transient Lounge w/ Xerxes

· 01/29: Portland, OR @ Punk Tank w/ Xerxes

· 01/30: Tacoma, WA @ The Red Room w/ Xerxes

· 01/31: Boise, ID @ Studio 9 w/ Xerxes

· 02/01: Salt Lake City, UT @ TBA w/ Xerxes

· 02/02: Denver, CO @ Blast-O-Mat w/ Xerxes

· 02/03: Kansas City, MO @ Asshole Castle w/ Xerxes

· 02/04: Omaha, NE @ TBA w/ Xerxes

· 02/05: Cedar Fall, IA @ 1108 House w/ Xerxes

· 02/06: Peoria, IL @ Washington Illinois VFW w/ Xerxes

· 02/07: Chicago, IL @ Subterranean w/ Xerxes

· 02/08: Grand Rapids, MI @ DACC w/ Xerxes

· 02/09: Ashtabula, OH @ West End Art Space w/ Xerxes

· 02/10: Louisville, KY @ Chestnut House w/ Xerxes