HURRICANE IRENE DESTROYS DORO PESCH'S HOME IN LONG ISLAND

When Doro "Metal Queen" Pesch flew into New York from Düsseldorf, Germany yesterday three days after Tropical Storm Irene made landfall, she encountered a heap of ruins that used to be her home.

"I saw the pictures of Irene on TV when I visited my mother in Germany on the weekend. When a red rubber raft appeared canoeing through a road on Long Island, I already assumed the worst," Doro states mournfully. "The damage is disastrous. The whole ground floor was flooded. It stinks, electricity failed, and everything's wrecked inside of the house. From the TV to the fridge to the furniture. Everything's grime-stained, defective, unusable. The worst thing is that pieces of my stage costumes and lots of my souvenirs and presents from fans from all around the world are lost forever now."

Despite the damage to her house, Doro's previously announced concerts in conjunction with the North American release of her 25 Years In Rock 2-DVD/CD set will go ahead as scheduled.

"The shows will take place, of course," Doro says. "For now, I've found accommodation in a hotel in New York and will have to see where things will go from here."
In addition to the two special shows in New York City on September 9 and Chicago on September 11, DORO PESCH & band will be performing live at the Best Buy in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania on September 3, 2011. This is a FREE, all-ages event and will be DORO's only Philadelphia-area appearance in 2011. DON’T MISS IT!

Date: Saturday, September 3, 2011

Time: 2:00pm

Location: Best Buy, 310 Commerce Blvd., Fairless Hills, PA 19030

More information available HERE.

V.I.P. Tickets for the New York & Chicago shows include a viewing of clips from the DVD, limited edition merchandise, and an autograph session followed by a performance by the Metal Queen herself. Tickets are on sale now via the links below.
25 Years In Rock U.S. Release Shows:

09/03/2011 Best Buy - Fairless Hills, PA [FREE In-Store Performance]

09/09/2011 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY [BUY]
09/11/2011 Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL [BUY]

In 2008, DORO celebrated her 25th anniversary concert at the ISS Dome in her hometown of Düsseldorf, Germany. With over 8,500 people in attendance, the magical, full-documented performance featured her long-time band Nick Douglas (bass), Joe Taylor (guitar), Johnny Dee (drums) and Oliver Palotai (keyboards, guitar) and offered up guest appearances by Overkill’s Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, Grave Digger’s Chris Boltendahl, former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen, Scorpions’ Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker, Liv Kristine (Leaves’ Eyes), Floor Jansen (After Forever), Axel Rudi Pell and many others. The set was recorded in its entirety and resulted in the mammoth 25 Years In Rock 2 DVD/CD set which includes the once-on-a-lifetime concert as well as out-takes from DORO's 2,500th concert and more. 25 Years In Rock will finally be available to North American fans on September 13, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Check out the 25 Years In Rock landing page HERE. Check out the DVD video trailer HERE.

Like Moths To Flames Forced to Drop Off This Fall's IGNITOUR; Band Announces Lineup Change; Debut Rise Records Full-Length Set For Release On Nov 8

Columbus, OH’s Like Moths To Flames (Rise Records) have regrettably been forced to bow out of their run on this fall’s IGNITOUR which they were to begin on September 2^nd. The band has released the following statement:

"Due to the departure of our bass player, Aaron Douglas, combined with a delay in the studio completion due to Hurricane Irene, we regret to inform everyone that we will have to drop off the upcoming INGNITOUR with Ice Nine Kills and An Early Ending. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, but without a solid lineup, we don't want to disservice our fans in any capacity. We are going to finish up at the studio, head home and prepare for our two upcoming fall tours: Close Your Eyes/The Color Morale tour and then Thrash and Burn. We're super stoked on how our record is turning out and can't wait for you guys to hear it. We're working on a plan to release a few tracks prior to our November 8th release date"

Like Moths To Flames has also announced a change to the lineup in the wake of Douglas’ departure. Eli Ford (ex-My Ticket Home) has joined the band and will take on guitar duties while Aaron Evans will move from guitar to bass.

THRONE OF KATARSIS To Infect The Planet With Third Full-Length This Autumn

The Norwegian black metal horde known as THRONE OF KATARSIS are preparing to unleash their third full-length assault, the vile, seven-track LP bearing the title Ved Graven.

Ved Graven (fundamentally translated to “at the grave”) is ultimately the darkest material written by the band since their inception in 2004. Cold and raw, and with the bizarre aura of an everlasting funeral, THRONE OF KATARSIS recorded the seven rites of this album over three long nights, recording in total darkness. All instruments and vocals were recorded in a live séance in order to capture the aura the band creates during their convocations. Several guitar leads were added to this sinister mix, as well as an organ, recorded during a late night ceremony at a local church in Norway.

As with both of TOK's previous full-length releases -- 2007's An Eternal Dark Horizon and 2009's Helvete -- Ved Graven will also be released under the banner of Candlelight Records, and is set for public disbursement on November 1st, 2011. After seven years in existence, Ved Graven is the first recording in the band's lineage to see the duo Infamroth (vocal/guitar/organ) and Vardavlv (drums) expanding THRONE OF KATARSIS to a full lineup, now also including Skinndod (guitar) and Sanrabb (bass). The album was produced by Stein Sund (Einherjer), and bears hand-drawn cover art by infamous dark artist Njard.

Ved Graven Track Listing:

1. Profetens Siste Vandring

2. Helvete Kaller

3. Av Dypets Kulde

4. The Holy Remains The Weak

5. Mesterens Tilbakekomst

6. Apne Alle Sar

7. The Ultimate Shrine

DEAD IN THE DIRT Confirm EP Via Southern Lord; Tour Announced

An intensely bitter act hailing from the temperate climate of Atlanta, Georgia, DEAD IN THE DIRT have confirmed an upcoming 7" EP release via Southern Lord for late this September, simply and aptly entitled, Fear.

A savage fucking wrecking crew who merges blinding hardcore fury with blackened metallic might, DEAD IN THE DIRT simultaneously and effectively spew forth filthy, musical mayhem, while concurrently displaying clear and concise production values in their destructive hymns. The band's unhinged style draws from the discordant heaviness His Hero is Gone, the urgency of Cursed, the speed of DropDead and the blackened darkness of Deathspell Omega.

DEAD IN THE DIRT's debut EP, Fear, is literally one of the heaviest and most brutal recordings from a new act to come out in recent times! The Fear 7" will see a one-time pressing of 1500 copies via Southern Lord on September 27, 2011, and once it's sold out, it's dead...

In support of the release DEAD IN THE DIRT are set to hit the road for most of September, kicking the shit off with a record release show on September 10th with Earth and Mount Eerie.

DEAD IN THE DIRT Fall 2011 Live Aktions:

9/10/2011 Caledonia Lounge - Athens, GA *record release show with Earth, Mount Eerie

9/12/2011 Roundhill Community Center - Lexington, SC

9/13/2011 The Courthouse - Rock Hill, SC w/ Nail Biter

9/14/2011 The Warehouse - Richmond, VA w Fire And Ice

9/15/2011 The Blue Nile - Harrisonburg, VA

9/16/2011 Episcopal Church - Frederick, MD w/ Eddie Brock, Wire Tap, Passengers

9/17/2011 secret location - New Brunswick, NJ w/ Old Wounds, Divider

9/18/2011 The Acheron - Brooklyn, NY w/ Meek Is Murder, In The Shit, Scowl

9/19/2011 secret location - Wallingford, CT w/ Iron Hand

9/20/2011 New Catalonia - Providence, RI w/ Weak Teeth

9/21/2011 PT 109 - Brighton, MA w/ In The Shit, Hivesmasher, Lolita Black

9/22/2011 Dad City - Amherst, MA

9/23/2011 ROTA - Plattsburgh, NY

9/24/2011 *TBA/HELP WANTED - Buffalo, NY

9/25/2011 Roboto Project - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Masakari

9/26/2011 Tower 2012 - Cleveland, OH w/ Masakari

9/27/2011 321 Main Street - Barnesville, OH

9/28/2011 The Back Lot - Cincinnati, OH

9/29/2011 Little Hamilton - Nashville, TN

9/30/2011 Sluggo's - Chattanooga, TN

GOD SEED To Release "Live at Wacken" DVD and CD on October 25th in North America

We all thought we'd heard the last from GOD SEED; luckily we were wrong, and October 25th will see the North American release of their infamous live show from Wacken 2008 where they headlined the main stage in front of 75,000 Screaming fans. It will be released in Europe on October 21st. Pre-order the release in N. America now, HERE and in Europe HERE.

The Wacken performance was a reconstruction of the controversial Black Mass show from Krakow in 2004 filmed in a TV studio in Kraków, Poland. The concert featured sheep heads on stakes, "crucified" nude models, satanic symbols, and eighty liters of sheep's blood. The band came under fire for violating Polish anti-blasphemy laws as well as Polish animal rights laws, resulting in a police investigation with allegations of religious offence and cruelty to animals. The band went free of all charges and at Wacken 2008 they recreated this now legendary show in all its glory.

This spectacular show is made available as a Live CD, including the film of the entire show on DVD. The album is only available in a deluxe digipack edition and holds liner notes from the band about the process of recreating this special show.

GOD SEED came to life as a result of a dispute over the band name Gorgoroth and the name was chosen as the banner under which Gaahl and King wanted to continue their art. Gaahl and King went on to take the band to new heights in 2007 & 2008 when they played to sold out clubs and headlined some of the biggest festivals in Europe.

King: "GOD SEED represents a more spiritual side to us than what GORGOROTH did. GOD SEED represents the will to grow; the will to be the super man, so to speak. I think it's a suitable name for what we will represent in the future. I am also aware of the fact that we use the word God in the name. It will challenge the weak minded in the respect that we in the past used the word Satan a lot, but it's all about the same thing. The God within man, and the God within nature. I never believed in a Christian force named Satan. I believe in the God within man."

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM Track Premiere Via Pitchfork; Tour Underway

Today, Pitchfork Media are hosting a stream of "Thuja Magus Imperium," the opening track from the WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM clans’ new astral black metal document, Celestial Lineage. Weighing in at over eleven and a half minutes, the anthem beholds some of the band's most elemental blackened prowess, their signature cavalcade of percussion, and the contrast between both scathing and beautiful clean vocals, the track also boasts some of the most epic guitar leads the band has ever put to tape.

Hear the mammoth hymn at this location.

With Celestial Lineage set for release via Southern Lord in less than two weeks, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM have already embarked on their latest tour to promote the new material. The clan perform in Chicago tonight, then continue onward for another full month of live appearances across the North American continent.

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM North American Tour:

9/01/2011 Reggie’s Rock Club - Chicago, IL

9/02/2011 Rudyard Kipling - Louisville, KY

9/03/2011 The Mockbee - Cincinnati, OH w/ Thou

9/04/2011 Ravari Room - Columbus, OH w/ Thou

9/05/2011 Olde Jamestowne Hall - Saginaw, MI w/ Thou

9/06/2011 Soybomb HQ - Toronto, ON w/ Thou

9/08/2011 Death Church - Montreal, QC w/ Thou

9/09/2011 *outdoor show - Northfield, VT [92 Brooks Road]

9/10/2011 Deering Grange Hall - Portland, ME

9/11/2011 parking lot of 39 Manton Ave - Providence, RI w/ Thou

9/12/2011 The Bell House - Brooklyn, NY w/ Thou

9/14/2011 Death By Audio - Brooklyn, NY w/Thou

9/15/2011 Broad Street Ministry- Philadelphia, PA w/ Megaton Leviathan, Vit, Woe

9/16/2011 Steel City Firehall - Bethlehem, PA w/ Megaton Leviathan

9/17/2011 Strange Matter - Richmond, VA w/ Megaton Leviathan

9/18/2011 Legitimate Business - Greensboro NC w/ Mt. Eerie, Megaton Leviathan

9/20/2011 JD’s - Sheffield, AL w/ Megaton Leviathan

9/21/2011 The Little Hamilton - Nashville, TN w/ Megaton Leviathan

9/22/2011 Club 529 - Atlanta, GA w/ Megaton Leviathan

9/23/2011 The Chop Shop - St Petersburg, FL w/ Megaton Leviathan

9/24/2011 The Farside Collective - Tallahassee, FL w/ Megaton Leviathan

9/25/2011 Nowe Miasto - New Orleans, LA w/ Thou, Megaton Leviathan

9/27/2011 Red 7 - Austin, TX w/ Megaton Leviathan

9/28/2011 Lola’s Saloon - Fort Worth, TX w/ Garuda, Megaton Leviathan

9/30/2011 Rhinoceropolis - Denver, CO

10/01/2011 TBA - Salt Lake City, UT

10/02/2011 Visual Arts Collective - Boise, ID

10/03/2011 New Frontier Outdoors - Tacoma, WA

The Explorers Club welcomes Mark Linett aboard for mixing duties on new album

Band To Debut Tracks From Forthcoming Album Bundled With Covers In A Series Of Three EPs

The Explorers Club, a band hailing from Charleston, SC, is proud to announce that Mark Linett has come aboard to mix its sophomore set, “Grand Hotel,” scheduled for U.S. release via Rock Ridge Music in early 2012. After just finishing the mix on Beach Boys’ “SMiLE” for Capitol Records (which was recently called “the most famous unfinished album in rock & roll history” by Rolling Stone magazine), Linett is currently focusing on finishing The Explorers Club’s new album. In the past, Linett has worked with The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson (solo), Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Rickie Lee Jones, and many others.

Says Linett of working on the forthcoming Explorers Club album: “I am very excited to be mixing ‘Grand Hotel.’ As someone who grew up in the ‘60s listening to all of the records that influenced the band, their music really resonates with me, and it has been great fun mixing the album." The band was thrilled Linett was able to do the mix; as band mastermind Jason Brewer put it, “We’re honored that he’s signed on, and when we got the first couple of mixes back from him, we knew that ‘Grand Hotel’ was about to be enhanced beyond what we thought even possible! His association with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, among others, made him the perfect choice for us.”

“Grand Hotel” is the long-anticipated follow-up to the band’s close-your-eyes-and-you’d-swear-it-was-the-Beach Boys debut, “Freedom Wind,” and was produced in Atlanta by band member Jason Brewer, along with co-producer Matt Goldman. It features fifteen tracks that once again take listeners back in time to a period when radio was laden with songs by Burt Bacharach, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, and pop mainstays like The Grass Roots.

In advance of the release of “Grand Hotel,” the band has just announced via YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7-LCRsW0C0) that it has readied three EP “suites” that will each feature one cover song not on the album, bundled with two early “under-construction” (pre-Linett) mixes of tracks from the forthcoming set. The “suites” will be available in stages throughout the 4th quarter of 2011, with the release of “The Grand Hotel” coming in the early spring of 2012

• The “Californian Suite” will feature the Burt Bacharach standard, “Walk On By,” along with two Explorers Club originals (“Weight Of The World and “Summer Days, Summer Nights”).

• The “Carolinian Suite” reprises the Classics IV hit, “Stormy,” along with originals “Sweet Delights” and “It’s No Use.”

• The “New Yorker Suite” will feature the Explorers Club’s take on the Vanity Fare opus, “Hitchin’ A Ride,” and it will be tied to “Anticipatin’” and “Run, Run, Run,” the latter of which will later be released to radio as the lead track from “Grand Hotel.”

The Explorers Club’s debut, “Freedom Wind,” was released to accolades in 2008 via Secretly Canadian’s Dead Oceans label, and tracks from the album appeared on such hit television shows as “Bored To Death” (HBO), “The O.C.” (FOX) and “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS). The press praise was extensive and glowing:

• USA Today: “quite remarkable”

• Time Out Chicago: “indulgent fun”

• Uncut: “It’s a toss-up whether Jason Brewer’s classically crafted songs or the spot-on arrangements are more irresistible.”

• The Onion AV Club: “the album is beautiful – wholly, deeply, and truly.”

• UTNE Reader: “Pet Sounds just got 35 minutes longer.”

• Chicago Reader: “pristinely perfect”

• San Francisco Bay Guardian: “instantly hummable soda-fountain swooners”

• Performer Magazine: “a wonderfully cotton-candy sweet album of indie-pop gems that bring to mind the breezy/orchestral pop of years gone by.”

The Explorers Club is: Jason Brewer (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Dave Ellis (guitars, mandolin, accordian, percussion, vocals), Wally Reddington III (bass, vocals), Justin James (guitar, steel guitar, vocals), Paul Runyon (keyboards, vocals), and Kyle Polk (drums).