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Avantasia Project On Stage

News June 12, 2008 | News

Avantasia

Edguy frontman Tobias Sammet has taken his metal opera project Avantasia to the stage for the first time. The tour, which kicked-off on Thursday, June 5 at the Rocksound Festival in Switzerland, featureing many guest musicians, is set to take headline stage at both the Masters of Rock open air festival in the Czech Republic and Wacken Open Air in Germany.

Reach out for the Light - fan-filmed footage of Avantasia live at the Rocksound Festival in Huttwil, Switzerland on June 5, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mINJnGvHzys

The Toy Master - fan-filmed footage of Avantasia live at at the Rocksound Festival in Huttwil, Switzerland on June 5, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjmkRh7Yf78

Commented Tobias Sammet on the tour in April: “I’d like to take the opportunity to thank you for your great support. ‘The Scarecrow’ is an album that means a lot to me and it was quite a commercial risk to just follow my heart instead of doing exactly what people expected. But if I take a look at the chart positions and sales — it went into the album charts in 16 countries, hitting the Top10 in four countries — it seems like you appreciate my honesty! Thank you!

Cover: Avantasia - The ScarecrowNow preparing for the festival summer with Avantasia seems so surreal. Avantasia has never been on stage before and all of the sudden we are headlining the biggest festivals in the world, just been confirmed for the Sziget festival in Hungary on the 13th of August, playing amongst legendary bands such as R.E.M., Die Ärzte, Iron Maiden and the Sex Pistals. Amazing!

“The Avantasia line up will be Jorn Lande (ex-Masterplan), André Matos (ex-Angra), Amanda Somerville, Olli Hartmann, Bob Catley (Magnum — not all shows), Sascha Paeth, Miro, Robert Hunecke, Claudy Yang and Frank Lindenthal who is gonna replace Eric Singer who’ll be playing with KISS. ”

Avantasia, ‘The Scarecrow’ was “officially one of the 20 best-selling albums in whole Europe during the fourth week of January,” according to a press release.

Continue reading ‘Avantasia Project On Stage’

Iced Earth ‘I Walk Among You’ Single Online

News May 30, 2008 | News

Listen to Iced Earth’s forthcoming single, ‘I Walk Among You’, below. Move your mouse over the banner to activate the player.

Blabbermouth.net reports: With the framework for the Armageddon of Man firmly laid with the band’s 2007 full-length release, “Framing Armageddon - Something Wicked Part I”, Iced Earth is set to launch the next installment of Jon Schaffer’s “Something Wicked” saga with the release of “I Walk Among You” on the following dates:

Germany - June 6
Rest of Europe - June 9
USA/Canada - June 10

The full-length studio follow-up to “Something Wicked Part I” is due for release in fall of 2008.

The new single marks the return to the band of longtime frontman Matt Barlow, whose dark and sinister tones are the perfect fit to narrate the intense and viscous annihilation of mankind set in motion with the birth of the story’s main character, “Set Abominae”, in “Something Wicked Part II”. The single will allow fans to get a glimpse of the bright future for the band, and the perhaps not-so-bright future for humanity as we now know it. The single will feature three songs, an exclusive version of the song “I Walk Alone” and a few tracks from “Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)” with new vocal performances by Matt Barlow.

Due to the re-tracking of the lead vocals these tracks have been remixed and remastered. There will be an iTunes-exclusive version of the single “I Walk Among You” that features “A Charge To Keep” which has also been re-sung by Matt, remixed and re-mastered.

All tracks were recorded at Jon Schaffer’s studio, Soaring Eagle Sound, and mixed and mastered at Morrisound. The single, and following full-length platter will be released by Steamhammer/SPV.

Iced Earth’s official web site, IcedEarth.com, was recently updated with a brand new audio interview with the band’s mainman, Jon Schaffer. The wide-ranging 37-minute chat is available as a free MP3 download at this location (35 MB).

Mission:Metallica Website Launched

News May 23, 2008 | News

Mission:Metallica Metallica have recently launched a studio diary type website, MissionMetallica.com, to offer fans a wealth of exclusive content and teasers of new songs. The site also has a “platinum” level, entitling fans to a copy of the new album delivered on street date, with weekly “fly-on-the-wall” video clips, contests to travel to shows and/or Metallica’s San Francisco compound, live show downloads, ringtones and more.

Drummer Lars Ulrich told a Los Angeles radio station on May 5, “We thought, instead of doing the usual DVDs and all that, why don’t we just do it on the Internet and people can kind of tune in every day, watch clips, contests, get updates for what’s going on with the record and kind of watch the last couple of months of song titles, album titles, final mixes…So it’s kind of a little bit of a countdown type of thing. It should be fun.” Ulrich also told the station, “Knock on wood, this week should be our last week in the studio,” adding that the group expects to get its ninth album out in September.

Mission:Metallica Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFbm_pHCte0

Ulrich said that fans can expect to hear new material “about five minutes after we finish playing it — thanks to the Internet,” although he did not say how soon the band will begin playing some new songs live.

Continue reading ‘Mission:Metallica Website Launched’

Heaven And Hell New Album & Metal Masters Tour Details

News May 21, 2008 | News

Heaven And HellHeaven And Hell, the band featuring Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler along with former members Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice are preparing to release a new studio album by early 2009. Read the press release:

Five-CD Boxed Set Features Newly Remastered Versions Of Every Dio-Era Sabbath Album, Available July 22 From Rhino

Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice Are Currently Recording Long Awaited New Heaven And Hell Studio Album, Set To Be Released By Rhino In Early 2009

Heaven And Hell Will Return to the Road This Summer for the Metal Masters Tour With Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Testament

LOS ANGELES - Heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath were reborn in 1980 when founding members Tony Iommi and Terry “Geezer” Butler added vocalist Ronnie James Dio to the lineup. The band’s short but memorable time together added an unforgettable chapter in Sabbath’s storied history. Rhino relives the demonic fury conjured by the Dio era with The Rules Of Hell, a boxed set featuring all three of the band’s studio releases (Heaven And Hell, Mob Rules, Dehumanizer) and their double live collection (Live Evil) - each recently remastered for the first time. The set comes packaged in a deluxe slipcase with extensive liner notes featuring all new interviews with the band. This five-disc boxed set will be available from Rhino on July 22 at all physical outlets, as well as www.rhino.com, for a suggested list price of $54.98. The set will also be available the same day at all digital outlets for a suggested list price of $24.99.

Two years ago, Dio, Iommi and Butler and drummer Vinny Appice reunited to record a trio of new songs for Rhino’s Black Sabbath: The Dio Years before launching a highly anticipated and greatly acclaimed world tour under their new moniker Heaven And Hell. Revitalized by the reunion, the lineup is back in the studio now recording the first ever full-length studio album from Heaven And Hell, set to be released by Rhino in early 2009. Black Sabbath - The Dio Years

To whet the fans’ appetites for the new album, Heaven And Hell will return to the road for a short stint on the Metal Masters Tour, a month-long North American trek with Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Testament. This blistering metal juggernaut will launch August 6 in Philadelphia.

Heaven & Hell - Live at Radio City Music Hall DVD Trailer (2007)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_pbftZLA_s

The Dio-era’s first effort, Heaven And Hell, hit the racks on April 25th, 1980. Greeted by ecstatic reviews, the album peaked at #9 in Britain. In the U.S., its Top 30 success gave the group its first platinum disc in six years. Opening with the chugging anthem ‘Neon Knights’, the album also includes the epic title track, ‘Wishing Well’, ‘Die Young’ and ‘Lonely Is The Word’.

Continue reading ‘Heaven And Hell New Album & Metal Masters Tour Details’

HammerFall Singer Wins Sweden’s ‘Clash Of The Choirs’ TV Competition

News May 15, 2008 | News

Joacim Cans came out on top in the Swedish version of the reality show “Clash of the Choirs” last week.

“Clash of the Choir” enrolled the help of several music stars — including Cans — to assemble amateur choirs people from their hometowns and compete live for the title of Sweden’s best choir. Team Cans reportedly received 52 percent of the votes in the competition’s final to win the title. Watch footage of Team Cans’ performances below.

Hearts on Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0TqIMN2CM8

Oh, Fortuna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-81pmO-JyQQ

HammerFall recently announced the departure of guitarist Stefan Elmgren, who left the band in early April to focus on his new career as a pilot. His replacement will be Pontus Norgren (The Poodles, Talisman).

“Pontus is a fantastic guitar player with musical roots in Accept and neo-classical metal,” commented HammerFall drummer Anders Johansson. “I have known him for many years. I know how he works as a musician and as a person.”
Continue reading ‘HammerFall Singer Wins Sweden’s ‘Clash Of The Choirs’ TV Competition’

Judas Priest New Song ‘Nostradamus’ Online

News April 24, 2008 | News

Judas Priest 2008 Metal legends Judas Priest will be releasing their sprawling double disc concept album, ‘Nostradamus’ via Columbia Records on Monday, June 16th in the UK/Europe, and a day later in the US on Epic Records.

Scroll down the page to stream the title track from the new album, view the cover artwork and upcoming tour info. Dates include the Metal Masters Tour set up by Live Nation to include Judas Priest, Heaven & Hell, Motorhead, and Testament.

Long in the works, ‘Nostradamus’ takes epic storytelling to a whole new level, as it recounts the life of this mysterious, world-known 16th Century French prophet. Some of the events that Nostradamus experts have interpreted as his predictions include the great fire of London in 1666, the rise of Adolf Hitler, and most recently, 9-11, among countless other renowned events.

“As in any concept piece, the lifeline needs to be of a solid source, taking the music over many levels of interest and perception,” points out singer Rob Halford. “Nostradamus’ contains new frontiers explored and defined. The sense of adventure and the journey we undertook bringing the man’s life alive with metal was a real labour of love.”

“The ‘Nostradamus’ album - above all others - is perhaps the one I’m most proud of,” says Tipton. “Whilst in essence and character still very much Judas Priest, it has afforded the opportunity to explore areas of classical and operatic dimensions that the band normally wouldn’t. As a guitarist and writer it has inspired me to greater heights and opened new doors to intrigue and passion. From start to finish, it will take you through a magical experience filled with light, shade, drama, melody and emotion that reflects this unique man and his life.”


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Continue reading ‘Judas Priest New Song ‘Nostradamus’ Online’

AC/DC Set To Release New Album This Year

News April 20, 2008 | News

AC/DC

Iconic hard rockers AC/DC have confirmed the band are currently in the studio to record a new album. The following statement was posted recently on the band’s official website: “The waiting is almost over! AC/DC fans can expect the band’s next album of new material sometime later this year. The band are currently recording in Vancouver with producer Brendan O’Brien and long time audio engineer Mike Fraser. This will be the band’s first collection of new material since the release of Stiff Upper Lip in 2000.”

According to Reuters, the new album will be AC/DC’s first for Sony BMG’s Epic Records label, which reissued the band’s back catalog a few years ago.

Shouter Brian Johnson told a Los Angeles radio station this week: “We’re working with Brendan O’Brien, (Bruce) Springsteen’s producer, and he’s a great guy. He knows exactly what we want, and so far, it sounds really good. I’m well pleased.”

Listen to the full interview with Brain Johnson on youtube: Here

Leading Canadian metal webzine, Bravewords.com states that a classic interview from the early eighties with Angus Young and Brian Johnson has surfaced online. Watch the rare clip below…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwP7H4aWHRw



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