FORBIDDEN’s CRAIG LOCICERO ISSUES UPDATE

FORBIDDEN founding member / guitarist / songwriter Craig Locicero has issued the following update:

“Recently I've been getting bombarded with questions as to what exactly I am doing musically because I have so many updates about my different projects. FORBIDDEN, SpiralArms, Demonica, and now Manmade God have all been thrown out there. So please let me explain a little bit.

“At the end of 2011, I made a commitment to myself: 2012 will be the year I have the most musical gratification and fun I will ever have had in my life. So far my mission is working out pretty well.

“FORBIDDEN. We are writing a record presently and what we have so far is smoking-shit-hot-thrash-attack! Sasha Horn has been a lightning rod for our original energy since he's joined up. The only issue we have is the amount of time we get to spend together with Steve Smyth and Sasha both living elsewhere. But we have our “Four Dates of the Apocalypse” coming up here in April and we finish that up in Santiago, Chile and Sao Paulo, Brazil! That will be awesome. While we get together to practice, we also work on new songs. Then, it’s Wacken in August and recording the new record before the end of the year for a 2013 release. I sure hope there is a 2013!

“SpiralArms. Big plans for this year...FINALLY! When I joined back up with FORBIDDEN in 2008, we put Spiral on hold longer than we ever intended it to happen. I love this band, man! Tim Narducci has been finishing up the mixes for Freedom over the last few weeks and it kicks some MASSIVE ASS! There's a very positive response to the songs from every turn in the industry right now, and that's exciting, but I think we've all gotten over the idea of becoming huge and just want to do things right. Spiral can be a kick ass cult band and maybe a lot more, but we're cool letting momentum take us wherever we may end up. Great f'n band and I am committed to seeing things through. Can't wait for everyone to hear it!

“Demonica. We are in suspended animation while Hank Shermann is killing it in Volbeat and I'm so damn busy. Need a new drummer eventually. Maybe this time a guy from Europe that I don't already play with... hmmmm? But ultimately it's Hank and Klaus Hyr that call the shots in Demonica. So Marc Grabowski and I will await instructions.

“And yes, Manmade God got together for the first time on March 28th since our crash-and-burn in 2005. It was a kick-ass experience for all of us and very therapeutic. The idea is for us to love and respect each other and the music we wrote that hardly anyone got to hear. It was a surreal and wonderful experience playing the songs again along with some other gems that reminded us of why we did what we did. On one hand, seems like a small travesty that more people didn't know about MMG when it was happening. However, it seems like we're better equipped to deal with ourselves this time around. Honestly, I think we sound much better now! So we are gearing towards a show in late July and will take it slow. No hurries, no worries but for friendship, respect, and the love of our music. We made a new Manmade God band page on Facebook if you'd like to be updated. We're pretty much videotaping the entire process for later use. Go ahead and check that out.

“So that about covers it. I guess I've better get back to work.”

Watch the video for the track “Omega Wave” on YouTube.

WEST OF HELL Announces New Single ‘Water of Sorcery’, Upcoming Canadian Tour, and Pre-Sale Packages

Vancouver, BC’s WEST OF HELL is pleased to announce the release of their upcoming single, ‘Water of Sorcery’, cut from their upcoming album, Spiral Empire. The single will be released for sale online on April 19^th on iTunes, Amazon.com, CD Baby, and more. The track is the second on the album and is described by the band as a good ol’ drinking song.

“‘Watery of Sorcery’ is a quote by Kevin Spacey describing tequila. It's a drinking song as many before it,” states vocalist Chris Valago. “Deep as a pint and long as a horn. The moment of clarity when liquor reveals the soul.”

Spiral Empire will be released with Reversed Records on May 8^th, 2012, and features a unique sound that preserves the band’s legendary, distinctive influences whilst incorporating modern elements, creating a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Spiral Empire was recorded at The Factory Studios in Vancouver and is produced by Juno Award winning engineer Rob Shallcross (Strapping Young Lad, GWAR, Zimmers Hole, Fear Factory).

WEST OF HELL has Spiral Empire pre-sale packages available now exclusively at www. reversedrecords.com/estore.html. There are two pre-sale packages available now. See below for full package details.

WEST OF HELL EXCLUSIVE ''SPIRAL EMPIRE'' PRE SALE PACKAGES

Package 1. Pre-order Spiral Empire and receive a signed copy of the CD + Two FREE instant digital downloads ''Onslaught'' and ''Soul Taker'' - $12 plus S+H

Package 2. Pre- Order Spiral Empire and receive a signed copy the CD + Two FREE instant digital downloads + The official Spiral Empire t-shirt+ WEST OF HELL/Spiral Empire desktop wallpaper - $30 plus S+H

In celebration of the new album, WEST OF HELL will tour Canada from April 26^th through May 25^th.

WEST OF HELL TOUR DATES:

4/26 – Red Deer, AB @ The Vat

4/27 - Calgary, AB @ Lord Nelsons Pub
4/28 - Rocky Mountain House, AB @ Youth Hall

5/3 - Regina, SK @ The Exchange
5/4 - Brandon, MN @ North Shore Inn
5/5 - Winnipeg, MN @ the Zoo
5/9 - Sudbury, ON @ The Serbian Centre Bar
5/11 - Montreal, QB @ The Underworld
5/12 - Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck Bar
5/16 - Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos
5/18 - Edmonton, AB @ New City
5/24 - Canmore, AB @ Canmore Hotel
5/25 - Kelowna, BC @ Level Nite Club

FURZE: Black Metal's Peculiar Entity Preparing Fifth LP For Disbursement

Norwegian black metal deconstructivist cell FURZE has completed the fifth chapter in the band's curious discography, and are prepared to release their most psychedelically-inclined blackened rock spectacle to date, in the form of Psych Minus Space Control.

Those who have studied previous releases cultivated by the Furzement are aware how each album this rogue outfit unleash steadily dumbfounds and intrigues, the more adventurous musical deviants immediately come back for more. The songs of FURZE are almost completely cultivated by the infamous Woe J. Reaper -- who metaphysically cultures these hymns, from inception, through execution, all the way into production of the final product including the cultivation cover artwork and overall aesthetics of each release's delivery.

A plethora of FURZE releases have infiltrated the masses over the past fourteen or so, years including several EPs and a slew of scattered demos, amidst four LPs. Trident Autocrat (2000) and Necromanzee Cogent (2003) were initially released on Apocalyptic Empire Records and later reissued by Candlelight Records directly after releasing the UTD full-length worldwide in 2007, followed by the 2010-released Reaper Subconscious Guide via Agonia Records.

The newest opus in this lineage of experimentalism, Psych Minus Space Control, defies even the unconventional practices of past FURZE albums, more rock/jam/broken-prog-oriented than ever, yet not without the usual oddities evenly mixing up the entire production. Recorded in three different studios, with sessions dating over ten years, the album contains material dating back to 1992. With over ninety percent of the LP lying in the vocal-free realms, the overall odd yet infectious qualities of the 43 minutes Psych Minus Space Control bears let the music do the preaching, and transport the listener to questionable, otherworldly realms, whether you wanted to be taken there or not... FURZE transgress the borders of black metal and classic psychedelic rock, evoking a mystic sensation of terror and elevation, suggesting a musical archetype where the powers of Sun Ra, Hellhammer and Black Sabbath come into one. View the cover art to the album HERE.

Psych Minus Space Control Track Listing:

1. Occult Soul, With Mind

2. Psych Mooz Space Control

3. Reaper Subconscious Guide

4. Triad of Lucifer

5. When Always Ready

Psych Minus Space Control will see release under the banner of Fysisk Format, a Norwegian label responsible for releases by Obliteration, Arabrot, Okkultokrati and more, and will be available to the North American public on May 15th, under distribution of RedEye USA.

OCTOBER TIDE: Swedish Melodic Gloom Lords Sign To Pulverised Records

Sweden’s melodic gloom lords OCTOBER TIDE have officially inked a worldwide deal with Pulverised Records. Now featuring bassist Mattias Norrman (ex-Katatonia, ex-Interment, etc,) and vocalist Alexander Högbom (Volturyon, Spasmodic), who take the place of former members Pierre Stam and Tobias Netzell respectively, the morose collective are currently working on the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2010’s Candlelight-issued A Thin Shell full-length, which will once again explore the beauty of darkness and sorrow. The album will be recorded at Black Lounge Studio (Scar Symmetry, Carnal Forge, In Mourning, Centinex, etc) in Sweden later this Spring under the helm of Jonas Kjellgren.

Commented OCTOBER TIDE drummer Robin Bergh: "We are extremely pleased to sign with Pulverised Records for the next album and beyond. During the negotiations for the new deal we noticed that Roy [Yeo,] Calvin [Chiang] and the entire Pulverised crew were seriously thrilled about the band and the art we create, hence we are confident that this doomish union will bring OCTOBER TIDE to the next level. Our new lineup feels utterly satisfying and we are more than ready for the future to come. We are currently finishing up the writing process for the yet untitled fourth full-length which will be recorded during May and June. This upcoming OCTOBER TIDE recording will surely be a deadly doom metal masterpiece, mark my words!"

Added Pulverised Records label manager Roy Yeo: "Having been a personal long-time fan of the band, there was no way we would let this chance slip past us to sign them for the new album! Their brand of audio despondence is truly unique. Now that the album deal is signed and sealed, we now wait in anticipation on how the brand new opus will mould itself into yet another benchmark masterpiece!”

OCTOBER TIDE:

Alexander Högbom (Volturyon, Spasmodic) - Vocals

Fredrik Norrman (Uncanny, ex-Katatonia) - Guitars

Mattias Norrman (Dellamorte, ex-Katatonia, ex-Interment) - Bass

Emil Alstermark (Mandylon) - Guitars

Robin Bergh (ex-Gorement, ex-Amaran) - Drums

CROSSFADE ANNOUNCE NEW HEADLINING TOUR & SINGLE

Columbia, SC hard-rockers Crossfade have announced a summer headlining tour beginning June 1st in Knoxville, TN through July 1st in Charlotte, NC in support of the band's emotionally charged new single "Dear Cocaine," soon to be released. Crossfade will be joined by fellow Columbia band Weaving the Fate, as well as Candlelight Red from Williamsport, PA. Weaving the Fate's current cover of "Rack City" was co-produced by Crossfade's guitarist, Les Hall and is currently climbing the active rock chart. Tickets for the upcoming tour go on sale this Friday, April 13th and are available at www.crossfadeband.com. Please see below for a list of tour dates, with more to be announced this week.

"Dear Cocaine" is the 3rd single from Crossfade's We All Bleed and is a tell-all track that delves deep into a personal and emotional story of battling addiction. The song follows "Prove You Wrong" and "Killing Me Inside," which reached 16 on the active rock chart.

Crossfade released their third studio album We All Bleed on June 21st, 2011. After three years in the making, the new album explores lyrical themes of betrayal and isolation-a Crossfade trademark-but there's also more than a hint of renewal and resolution.

"We All Bleed shows the group used the time off to open some new sonic vistas beyond the meat-and-potatoes approach of its first two albums. The muscle is still there, but We All Bleed explores darker themes and incorporates electronics, more orchestrations and keyboards, and epic arrangements. A welcome return." - Revolver

"Crossfade cannot be stopped. The band has returned with We All Bleed, the best album they've ever recorded. The album delivers the radio-ready hooks they're famous for, but this time out the performances are much more intense." - AOL Noisecreep

The album's 10 tracks, produced by the band and mixed by renowned producer Ben Grosse, maintain the sonic thunderclap of Crossfade's previous efforts, while propelling its guitar-grinding signature with a tapestry of orchestration and programming, and a flourish of keyboards, thanks to the addition of guitarist Les Hall to the permanent line-up, alongside vocalist Ed Sloan and bassist Mitch James.

Tour dates are as follows:

6/1 - Knoxville, TN - The Valarium

6/2 - Greenville, SC - The Handlebar

6/3 - Johnson City, TN - Capone's

6/4 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage

6/6 - Syracuse, NY - The Lost Horizon

6/7 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance

6/8 - Bristol, CT - Bleechers

6/9 - Lancaster, PA - The Chamelon Club

6/10 - Toledo, OH - Frankie's

6/11 - Newport, KY - Thompson House

6/13 - Traverse City, MI - Ground Zero

6/14 - Flint, MI - The Machine Shop

6/15 - Jackson, MI - Avenue Billiards

6/16 - Libertyville, IL - Austin's Fuel Room

6/17 - Sauget, IL - Pop's

6/19 - Little Rock, AR - Juanita's

6/20 - Kansas City, MO - Beaumont

6/22 - Shreveport, LA - Riverside Warehouse

6/23 - Birmingham, AL - Crush

6/25 - Chattanooga, TN - Track 29

6/26 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerede

6/29 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

6/30 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm

7/1 - Charlotte, NC - Amos' Southend            

Crossfade's debut self-titled, self-produced album was released on Columbia Records in 2004, which spawned top 10 Mainstream Rock hits "Cold," "So Far Away" and "Colors," propelling it to platinum status.

CAVO'S 'THICK AS THIEVES' IN STORES TODAY!

St. Louis rock band Cavo's highly anticipated sophomore album Thick as Thieves was released today on Eleven Seven Music. The album, produced by Kato Khandwala (Blondie, Drowning Pool), David Bendeth (Paramore, Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin) and Dan Korneff(All That Remains, My Chemical Romance), was recorded at House of Loud Studios in New Jersey. The band solicited fans for help with the unique album art: they were asked to submit photos that appeared on the cover and gained artwork credit in the liner notes. Big supporters of the band, AOL Music ran an exclusive album stream last week and the band is currently streaming their complete album on their Facebook page. Listen here. 

Last week the band announced an intimate, invitation-only hometown CD release show at Cicero's in the Loop on Sunday, April 15th. In conjunction with 105.7 The Point and Eleven Seven Music, Vintage Vinyl is proud to present the Cavo 'Golden Ticket' promotion to offer entry into this 'one-time-only' show for a select few fans. Beginning TODAY, a limited number of special Golden Tickets will be hidden inside random copies of the band's new album Thick as Thieves, exclusively at Vintage Vinyl in the U-City Loop in St. Louis. The lucky few who purchase copies of Thick as Thieves containing one of the Golden Tickets will gain entry with one guest to the Cicero's show on the 15th. The 'Storytellers-themed' performance is a private event and only golden ticket winners will be admitted with their respective guests.

"Everything started here in St. Louis for us, with the support that the Point and the fans have given us," explained singer Casey Walker. "We're really excited to do a show like this here. We've talked about it for years, and now it's finally happening. We live by the fans, without them there would be no band. Being able to give whatever we can back means a lot to us!"

Cavo is currently on a headlining run with Janus as support. The tour will hit venues in the country's heartland, and wraps up with a return performance at the famed Rocklahoma festival on 5/25.

Tour dates are as follows:

4/10 - Barrington, IL - Penny Road Pub

4/11 - Ottawa, IL - Luciana's Rural Resort

4/13 - Madison, WI - RSR Stage

4/14 - Rockford, IL - Bar 3

4/15 - St. Louis, IL - Cicero's (private, Golden Ticket show)

4/17 - Sioux Falls, SD - Rookies

4/18 - Kearney, NE - The Garage

4/20 - Lubbock, TX - Lonestar Amphitheater

4/21 - San Antonio, TX - St. Mary's University

4/22 - Wichita Falls, TX - Kay Yeager Coliseum

4/25 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep

4/26 - Denver, CO - Majestic Theatre

4/28 - Mesa, AZ - KUPD Ufest

5/1 - Abilene, TX - The Lucky Mule

5/3 - Little Rock, AR - Juanita's

5/4 - Illopolis, IL - Bunker's

5/12 - Kansas City, MO - KQRC RockFest

5/18 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works

5/19 - Columbus, OH - Rock On The Range

5/20 - St. Louis, MO - KPNT Pointfest

5/25 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma Festival                

Cavo experienced an incredible measure of success with its debut, 2009's Bright Nights Dark Days, which yielded the No. 1 hit "Champagne." The band's rise to the top of the charts and subsequent touring nearly tore them apart, leaving their relationships with each other and as a unit in shreds. After a brief break and careful examination of their friendships and motives, Cavo decided to soldier on together. Thick as Thieves is the band's testament to their bond that was once broken and has now been rebuilt and even strengthened. The title track and first single showcases front man Casey Walker's soaring vocals with a message furthering the notion that things are tighter than ever in the Cavo ranks.

Formed in St. Louis in 2002, Cavo is Chris Hobbs (guitar), Chad LaRoy (drums), Brian Smith (bass) and Casey Walker (vocals). The band's last album, Bright Nights Dark Days, was released on Reprise Records in 2009 and sold over 120,00 albums and over 450,000 singles. Cavo has toured with Daughtry, Shinedown, Lifehouse, and Puddle of Mudd among others.

MESHUGGAH's KOLOSS: HIGHEST 1st WEEK SALES & BILLBOARD DEBUT IN NUCLEAR BLAST USA's HISTORY

MESHUGGAH - those shy, elusive musical geniuses from Umeå, Sweden - have roared into the American Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #17 with first week sales of 18,342 copies sold of their brand new album, KOLOSS, released in North America on March 26th. KOLOSS has also debuted at #25 on the Canadian Top 200 chart at #24 and currently occupy the #4 slot on the Hard Music chart.

KOLOSS is also #2 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart, #3 on the Current Hard Music Albums chart, #3 on the Top Hard Music chart, #9 on the Current Rock chart, and #16 on the Top Current Albums chart.

In Europe, the band experienced a career first on the German album chart: a debut at #48.

In the process of accumulating said accolades, they’ve also managed to secure the highest first week sales & Billboard debut positions in the history of Nuclear Blast USA.

“Absolutely amazing!!!” exclaimed label Vice President Jochen Maass at Nuclear Blast HQ in Germany.

“Killer music and the lovely people making it is the winning formula,” states Nuclear Blast USA’s Label Manager Gerardo Martínez.

From the other side of the world, the members of MESHUGGAH offer the following words:

“Great news!! Guess all the efforts, the covert sessions, and painstaking, soul-numbing seances performed to reach the souls of former chart toppers - now in the life beyond – have finally come to fruition!! We thank them and we thank you, our fans!!! We just made an album. You guys put it on the charts!!!”

MESHUGGAH will headline “SCION A/V PRESENTS: The Ophidian Trek” tour with guests BARONESS & DECAPITATED, which launches April 29^th. Dates 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 @ The Market - 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

Advanced tickets & V.I.P. bundles can be purchased at ArtistArena.com.

Check out the “none more black” video for the new MESHUGGAH track “Break These Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion.”