Nachtmystium prepare for big 2008 with two new CDs

Experimental death-metal stalwarts Nachtmystium are readying two new releases to tickle your eardrums in 2008. First on the band's plate is a five-song EP titled Worldfall, which will be available through Century Media and iTunes. The disc will feature two new original songs, including the title track and "Depravity;" a re-recording of their song "Solitary Voyage" from the Demise album; and two covers – Death In June's "Roseclouds of Holocaust" and Goatsnake's "IV."

The Worldfall tracks were originally recorded to release as a split-CD with fellow metal bands Leviathan. Due to legal issues with Leviathan's record label., the collaboration has been delayed. Nachtmystium will be recording new tracks later this year and releasing the split-CD at a later date.

In June 2008, Nachtmystium will release a new full-length album titled Assassins: Black Meddle Part I. The ten-song album will be released by Century Media in the United States and by Candlelight Records in Europe. Vocalist/guitarist and band founder Blake Judd says, "we are very excited and honored to be working with Century Media, a label whom over the years has showcased a ferocious dedication to extreme music."

Formed in Chicago in 1999, Nachtmystium began life as a raw, box-yer-ears-in black metal band. Through the years, the band has released albums on such underground metal labels as Autopsy Kitchen Records and Battle Kommand Records, honing their sound and adding a psychedelic dimension to their metallic, hard rocking sound. Over the past three years, Nachtmystium has toured heavily, performing with such fellow travelers as 1349, Boris, Goatwhore and SunnO))).

Deadsea readies assault on America!

Progressive stoner-thrash band Deadsea are in the process of lining up tour dates for 2008, and if you haven't heard these guys, you really should check 'em out. In fact, courtesy of the band, Chrome Leaf Records and Earsplit PR, we're providing a taste of the band's awesome power with a free mp3!

FREE MP3:
Deadsea - "Killing Faith (Crying Death)"

Deadsea was formed in 2003 by singer, songwriter and guitarist Adam Smith, who was looking to create music that would provide "apocalyptic visions for positive ascendance." He found a willing participant in bassist Alex Conley, and the two added drummer Jeremy Spears to the mix in '06 to round out the band's awe-inspiring molten blend of thrash-metal, doom, hardcore and progressive improvisation. The band released its album debut, Desiderata, on the Chrome Leaf label in 2005, following it up with a self-titled album for the label in 2007. They are currently looking for a larger label to handle the hot property that will be their third recorded effort.

Deadsea have a few tour dates already set, but are preparing an all-out aural assault on America throughout 2008. Get ahead of the curve and ready yourself for Deadsea's sound & fury now...before it's too late!

Upcoming Tour Dates:
03/08/2008 - Bourbon Street, Columbus OH w/Weedeater, Teeth of the Hydra
04/04/2008 - Thursday's, Akron OH w/Beast, Nihlitia
04/05/2008 - Ruby's, Columbus OH w/Beast, Nihlitia
04/18/2008 - Ruby Tuesday, Columbus OH w/Dead Child, Sword Heaven

Spend some time with Wildlife!

San Francisco avant-metal provocateurs Wildlife kick off a six-week tour on Sunday, March 2nd, 2008 with what promises to be a slam-bang performance across the Bay in Oakland. The band is touring in support of its recently-released Crucial Blast album Six, which is garnering gobs of praise wherever they're writing about it.

Decibel mag sez "...there’s something charming about how homemade it all sounds – if not otherworldly, then at least coming from another room full of awesome drugs, vocals muffled by fuzz and reverb." The good folks at Exclaim!, well, exclaim about the album, "toeing the line between cunning and codswallop, Wildildlife’s music is best illustrated by the mosaic skull on their album cover: spooky, crazily colourful and inviting inquiries."

Go see 'em! Here's where:
03/02/2008 Abco Filbert & 32nd - West Oakland, CA w/These Are Powers, Lumarians, Chen
03/06/2008 The Hemlock - San Francisco, CA w/Old Time Religion
03/07/2008 TBA - Santa Cruz, CA
03/08/2008 Smogshop - San Diego, CA
03/09/2008 The Smell - Los Angeles, CA w/Goliathbirdeater, Gangwizard, xnobbqx
03/10/2008 Cottage House - Flagstaff, AZ
03/11/2008 Meow Wolf - Santa Fe, NM
03/12/2008 1919 Hemphill - Ft. Worth, TX w/Fight Amp, Cougar Den, Healers
03/13/2008 Starcleaner - SXSW BBQ Party/Daytime Party Austin, TX w/The Slits
03/14/2008 TBA @ Austin, TX
03/15/2008 Holy Mountain SXSW Showcase @ The Tap Room - Austin, TX
03/16/2008 TBA @ Austin, TX
03/17/2008 Superhappyfunland - Houston, TX w/Pharmacy, Pleasure Boosters
03/20/2008 Secret Squirrel - Athens, GA
03/21/2008 Crackhouse - Atlanta, GA
03/22/2008 Earshot Records in-store - Greenville, SC
03/23/2008 Spazzatorium Galleria - Greenville, NC
03/24/2008 Nari Sushi - Richmond, VA w/Cough, Meditate Motherfucker
03/25/2008 Talking Head - Baltimore, MD w/Pygmy Lush, Darsombra, VBS, Ghastlycitysleep
03/26/2008 Danger Danger Gallery - Philadelphia, PA w/Birds of Maya, VBS
03/27/2008 Live on WFMU-FM, Hoboken, NJ
03/27/2008 Death By Audio - Brooklyn, NY w/Maw
03/28/2008 AS220 - Providence, RI w/Blue Shift
03/29/2008 Oxfam - Cambridge, MA w/Red Friends, Ho-Ag, Ganja
03/30/2008 Cake Shop - New York, NY w/Shellshag, Pharmacy
04/02/2008 Heartofgold - Chicago, IL w/Ladykiller
04/04/2008 Echo Base - Milwaukee, WI Col w/Father Phoenix, Novel
04/05/2008 a secret location - Minneapolis, MN
04/07/2008 Apop/Campconcentration - St. Louis, MO
04/08/2008 Eastside Tavern - Columbia, MO w/Jerusalem, The Starbaskets
04/10/2008 Rhinoceropolis - Denver, CO
04/11/2008 Red Light Books - Salt Lake City, UT
04/12/2008 Neurolux Boise, ID w/Pussygutt
04/15/2008 YMCA - Seattle, WA w/Cohran, HGR
04/16/2008 Rotture - Portland, OR w/Silentist, Chromewings

Soilwork tour dates announced

Our favorite Swedish death metal band Soilwork has announced North American dates for the band's ongoing "Scum Of The Earth" world tour with Throwdown, Through The Eyes Of The Dead and War Of Ages. Soilwork is on the road in support of its recent album, Sworn To A Great Divide.

Soilwork will appear on Fuse TV's "Talking Metal" program on Friday night, February 29th (12:00 AM EST, 9:00 PM Pacific), providing hosts Mark Strigl and John Ostronomy with a Swedish metal lesson. Legendary metal band Exodus will also be guests on the program; check out the Fuse TV "Talking Metal" web site for more details.

The "Scum Of The Earth" tour kicks off Friday night, February 29th, 2008 in Pomona, California, and hits the venues listed below over the next month. Soilwork will be in Australia in May, and return to Europe in June for the summer festival season. View a full tour schedule on the Soilwork web site.

Feb. 29 - Pomona CA @ The Glass House
Mar. 01 - Tempe AZ @ Marquee Theater
Mar. 02 - Albuquerque NM @ Launch Pad
Mar. 03 - Dallas TX @ The Door
Mar. 04 - San Antonio TX @ White Rabbit
Mar. 05 - Houston TX @ Meridian (Red Room)
Mar. 07 - St. Petersburg FL @ State Theater
Mar. 08 - Ft. Lauderdale FL @ Revolution
Mar. 09 - Orlando FL @ Firestone (The Club)
Mar. 10 - Atlanta GA @ Masquerade
Mar. 11 - Charlotte NC @ Tremont Music Hall
Mar. 12 - Norfolk VA @ Norva
Mar. 13 - Springfield VA @ Jaxx
Mar. 14 - Allentown PA @ Crocodile Rock
Mar. 15 - Worcester MA @ Palladium (Upstairs)
Mar. 16 - Philadelphia PA @ Trocadero
Mar. 17 - Rochester NY @ The Penny Arcade
Mar. 18 - New York NY @ Blender Theater (at Gramercy)
Mar. 19 - Montreal, Quebec CANADA @ Les Foufounes Electriques
Mar. 20 - Toronto, Ontario CANADA @ Opera House
Mar. 21 - Detroit MI @ Magic Stick
Mar. 22 - Chicago IL @ Logan Square Auditorium
Mar. 23 - St Paul MN @ Station 4
Mar. 24 - Cedar Falls IO @ Reverb
Mar. 25 - Denver CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
Mar. 26 - Salt Lake City UT @ Avalon Theater
Mar. 27 - Boise ID @ The Big Easy
Mar. 28 - Seattle WA @ El Corazon
Mar. 29 - Portland OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Mar. 31 - Orangevale CA @ The Boardwalk
Apr. 1 - Fresno CA @ The Belmont
Apr. 2 - Hollywood CA @ House Of Blues

Boris ready new LP, rare NYC performance!

Japanese doom-rock noise merchants Boris will be releasing Smile, their first non-collaborative studio album in two years, in April on Southern Lord Records. For fans wanting a quick fix, the band has released a song from the album, "Statement," backed with the non-album B-side "Floorshaker," available by mail order as a limited-edition, old-fashioned 7" single with yellow and gold colored vinyl. Smile is said to build upon the sound the band explored on Pink, their 2006 album.

For almost 15 years, Boris has cranked out their own inspired and unique brand of ear-sludge, blending doom-metal, stoner rock, instrumental feedback, psychedelic imagery, to break down the barriers between noise and music. More recently, Boris has worked on album-length collaborations with Merzbow and sunnO))).

Boris will also be making a rare U.S. appearance with a March 4th, 2008 show at the Knitting Factory in New York City. Tickets to this performance may already be sold out, but you can go to the show for free if you hit up Mondo Kim's at 6 St Mark's Place, or Other Music at 15 East 4th Street, both in NYC. Buy any two Boris CDs released by Southern Lord Records and you'll receive one FREE ticket to the March 4th show and a very cool, limited edition Boris poster. I'm certain that the offer is only good while supplies last, and it's only good in store and not online.

In the meantime, enjoy this video for "Statement," from the upcoming Boris CD Smile:

Gratuitous Plug: Of Fate And Chance

Every now and then "Dancing On The Edge" will be providing a worthwhile band with a gratuitous plug for their music. This time around, we're providing New Jersey band Of Fate And Chance with our unsolicited endorsement.

After checking out the band's MySpace page (link through banner below), we found singer Sean Massaro's voice to be self-assured yet friendly, providing a welcome urgency to the material. What they lack in emotion, they make up for with commitment and control. There's room for improvement, which should come as Massaro grows into his voice, but the vox match the instrumentation well. The band's guitarwork, courtesy of Massaro and Micah Payne, is riff-driven with some interesting flights of fancy. Ryan Bergamotto adds some fluid, imaginative bass lines to the material, and drummer Jon Fleck compliments the rhythms with a solid, yet subtle use of his kit.

Lesser rockcrits would probably hang the "emo" tag around their necks like an albatross; we found the band's sound – slightly metallic roughneck punk with an inspirational lyrical undercurrent and progressive undertones – to be free of guile and pretension, i.e. these guys rock! Surprisingly, Of Fate And Chance are currently unsigned, which is an industry oversight...we could see these guys easily slotted between Coheed & Cambria and Three on your favorite retailer's shelves.

No money will ever change hands for our "gratuitous plugs," though bands can feel free to send us compact discs, photos of their girlfriends, copies of their favorite comic books, or even one of their mom's best recipes....

"Earache My Eye" DVD

Earache Records has long enjoyed a reputation for offering some of the most brutal, uncompromising music that the heavy metal world has ever heard. Hardcore, grindcore, deathcore, metalcore, rotten-to-the-core – Earache has unleashed it all on an unsuspecting world over the past two decades.

Originally released on VHS videotape back in 1989, Earache My Eye offers a visual bludgeoning for metal fans that haven't found the aural assault of the label's regular album releases sufficient enough to provoke a long-term coma. Earache My Eye has been out-of-print for a long time and has since become a coveted collector's item among extreme metal afficionados. Thanks to the headbanging fools at Music Video Distributors, this fine collection of musical mayhem will be available on DVD for the first time on April 15, 2008.

Earache My Eye offers up a full hour of musical torture, 60-minutes of full-blown, blow-out-the-speakers, blowin' yer mind metal chaos with videos from some of the hardest core of extreme music. Among the thrill-a-minute vids here are Entombed's "Wolverine Blues," "Crush My Soul" from Godflesh, Napalm Death's "Greed Killing," and "No Love Lost" from Carcass. Also among the strong baker's dozen offered by Earache My Eye are videos from Dub War, At The Gates, Cathedral, Pitchshifter, Sleep, Brutal Truth and others. At a ridiculously righteous list price of $14.95, you won't find a better way of entertaining yourself short of taking a jackhammer to a pile of rubble. Be there or be square....

(Click on the DVD cover to buy Earache My Eye from Amazon.com)

Metalmania 2007 DVD

The annual Metalmania festival may well be the biggest, baddest shindig on the European continent, and our friends at Music Video Distributors will be bringing the best of the fest to your home on May 13, 2008. Last year's festival will be released as Metalmania 2007, a two-disc, DVD/CD set with an explosive line-up of talent.

The Metalmania 2007 DVD features performances by metal legends Testament and Sepultura; doom-metal giants Paradise Lost and Entombed; cult bands Vital Remains and Destruction; and up-n-coming bands like Zyklon, Darzamat and Korpiklaani. Shot with an amazing seven cameras, the performances caught on tape are the next best thing to being there. The DVD also includes band biographies and discographies, web links, a photo gallery, festival history, desktop images, and short interviews with all the main stage bands.

The bonus CD focuses on the developing young Polish metal scene, featuring electric performances from bands like Tyr, Carnal, Horrorscope, Witchking, Benediction and others. This incredible two-disc set runs over four hours altogether, and will sport an affordable $19.95 list price – crazy-cheap, really, for a boppin' metal set of this magnitude!

Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash DVD

Music Video Distributors has announced an April 15, 2008 release date for the Aural Amphetamine documentary DVD. Subtitled "Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash," the 95-minute disc looks at the birth and development of thrash metal, with an emphasis on the perspective of Metallica, one of the defining bands of the metal sub-genre.

Aural Amphetamine features interviews with members of Metallica, Megadeth, Machine Head, Diamond Head, Elixir, Neurosis, Laaz Rockit, Sacrilege BC, and many others. The disc also includes performance footage from all the pivotal thrash bands as well as a review and re-assessment of the genre from music journalists Malcolm Dome, Lonn Friend, and Joel McIver. The DVD will also feature archive material, location shoots and other goodies for the headbanger at heart.

(Click on the DVD cover to buy Aural Amphetamine from Amazon.com)

"Somewhere Back In Time" tour announced by Iron Maiden

Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden have announced North American dates for the band's upcoming "Somewhere Back In Time" world tour.

The tour was inspired by Maiden’s recently released concert DVD, Live After Death. Filmed and recorded over four spectacular nights at Long Beach Arena on the "Powerslave Tour" in 1985, this has long been a benchmark for rock concert videos and live albums, and the CD remains one of the biggest-selling live albums ever with sales in excess of six million worldwide. Tickets for most of these shows go on sale on March 1, 2008 – check with your local venue for details. Tour dates are as follows:

05/21/08 San Antonio TX @ Verizon Wireless
05/22/08 Houston TX @ Woodlands
05/25/08 Albuquerque NM @ Journal Pavilion
05/26/08 Phoenix AZ @ Cricket Pavilion
05/28/08 Concord CA @ Concord
05/30/08 Los Angeles CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
05/31/08 Los Angeles CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
06/02/08 Seattle WA @ White River Amphitheatre

Check out this news report on the tour from Sky News in Australia (includes concert footage):

Combat Zone Wrestling & Locomotive Vision unite!

Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) has announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Locomotive Vision for worldwide release of its DVD titles.

The distribution deal represents a great step forward for the independent wrestling organization. “It’s exciting to know that Locomotive is planning to really get behind CZW and help push the company to the next level,” says CZW founder John Zandig. “This deal will enable us to reach many more fans throughout the country and around the world. It will help CZW grow as a whole. As DVDs sell, we will increase our market which, in turn, will allow us to expand our live events. We’re thrilled to know that Locomotive is as excited to work with us as we are with them.”

Combat Zone Wrestling was formed in 1999 and presents its loyal fans with an electric mix of high-flying moves and technical-style wrestling with enough hardcore action to satisfy the most bloodthirsty CZW fan. Most of the organization's talent is homegrown and trained in CZW's own wrestling school. The company currently runs shows monthly at the New Alhambra Arena (formerly home to the legendary ECW) in Philadelphia.

Locomotive Vision is a division of Locomotive Records, one of Europe's leading rock and metal labels. Formed in 1996 in Madrid, Spain by music producer Goyo Esteban, the label has since expanded to South America and the United States, pursuing a pure vision of rock & roll with its CD releases.

Demon Hunter announces "Stronger Than Hell" tour

Critically-acclaimed Christian metal band Demon Hunter will launch its "Stronger Than Hell Tour" this summer in support of the band's brand new album for Solid State Records, Storm The Gates Of Hell.

"The 'Stronger Than Hell Tour' will definitely be an amazing experience for everyone involved," says singer Ryan Clark, who formed Demon Hunter with his brother, guitarist Don, shortly before the release of the band's self-titled debut album in 2002. "We can't wait to play some new material and get to know more of our amazing fans."

The tour will also feature special guests Living Sacrifice, the legendary metal band that included future members of such chart-topping outfits as Evanescence and P.O.D. This will be that band's first tour since re-uniting. The "Stronger Than Hell Tour" will also include opening acts Oh, Sleeper as well as the Famine (featuring former Demon Hunter guitarist Chris McCaddon) and North Carolina's Advent. Tour dates are listed below:

05.26.08 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
05.27.08 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
05.29.08 Sacramento, CA @ Club Retro
05.30.08 Pomona, CA @ The Glasshouse
05.31.08 Pomona, CA @ The Glasshouse
06.02.08 Phoenix, AZ @ Clubhouse
06.04.08 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
06.05.08 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
06.07.08 Snyder, TX @ Red Letter Festival
06.08.08 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit
06.09.08 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
06.10.08 Dallas, TX @ The Door
06.11.08 Little Rock, AR @ The Village
06.12.08 Oklahoma City, OK Diamond Ballroom
06.13.08 Joplin, MO @ The Foundry
06.14.08 Kansas City, MO @ The Beaumont Club
06.17.08 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
06.18.08 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
06.19.08 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
06.20.08 Cleveland, OH @ House Of Blues
06.21.08 Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
06.22.08 Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
06.23.08 Towson, MD @ Recher Theater
06.24.08 Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
06.26.08 Nashville, TN @ Rockettown
06.27.08 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
06.28.08 Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House Of Blues
07.01.08 North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues
07.05.08 Bushnell, IL @ Cornerstone Festival

(Click on the CD cover to buy Storm The Gates Of Hell from Amazon.com)

Magenta signs with The Laser's Edge

The Laser's Edge has announced the signing of popular Welsh progressive rock group Magenta. The label will release the band's fourth album, titled Metamorphosis, on May 6th in North America.

Magenta was formed in 2001 by keyboardist Rob Reed, formerly of the band Cyan. After working with Christina Booth on a project called Trippa, he recruited the talented vocalist for a prog-rock project that he was working on that became Magenta. The band released its debut album, Revolutions, in 2001 and has since become a favorite with prog-minded audiences worldwide. In 2004 the band received Classic Rock Society awards for "Best Female Vocalist" and "Best Live Band," placing Magenta among other prog stalwarts as IQ, the Flower Kings, Pallas and Spock's Beard that have received CRS honors. Magenta released its previous studio album, Home, in 2006 and a collection of re-recorded tracks called Magenta: The Singles during the summer of 2007.

"I think this album is going to surprise a lot of people," says Reed of Metamorphosis. "It will challenge many people's preconceptions of what Magenta are, and what we are capable of musically. Most of it was written on guitar, so some of the material is heavier than before, whilst retaining most of the elements of the Magenta sound."

Sensory label news: Nation Beyond, Kingfisher Sky, Dark Suns & Zero Hour

Sensory Records, part of The Laser's Edge group, has announced three exciting metal releases for the coming months: The Aftermath Odyssey by Nation Beyond is scheduled for March 11, 2008 release; Dark Suns' Grave Human Genuine will land on these shores on March 25th, as will Hallway Of Dreams from Kingfisher Sky.

Nation Beyond began as a side project of Debase guitarist Jonas Karlgren and Face Down bassist Joakim Hedestedt. The two death metal veterans had released albums on labels like Nuclear Blast, Black Lodge and Sanctuary/Noise with their respective bands, but what they had in mind was an epic concept album that ventured down a different musical path. The duo found not one, but two powerful vocalists in Nielz Lindstrom and Sara Heurlin and, with help from some of their Debase and Face Down bandmates, created The Aftermath Odyssey, a dramatic tale of love, hate and betrayal set in the wake of a nuclear apocalypse. A potent blend of power and prog-metal, Nation Beyond is already being compared to classic bands like Savatage.

Kingfisher Sky began with the duo of drummer Ivar de Graaf, formerly of Within Temptation, who had decided to leave that band after its Mother Earth album, and haunting vocalist Judith Rijnveld. The two began writing heavy, atmospheric music influenced by such diverse sources as Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Porcupine Tree and Clannad, developing an eleven-song demo tape that led to the band being signed to the Dutch label Uburban Records. They recruited a stellar line-up of musicians that includes bassist Eric Hoogendoorn from Orphanage, guitarists Daan Janzing and Edo Van der Kolk and keyboardist George Van Olffen. Kingfisher Sky recorded Hallway Of Dreams during the summer of 2007, licensing the album to The Laser's Edge for North American release. The band has already received favorable comparisons to both Within Temptation and The Gathering.

Dark Suns' third album, Grave Human Genuine, is the result of two years of exacting work. After two successful tours opening for prog-metal faves Pain Of Salvation, the band worked on a follow-up to its acclaimed 2005 album Existence. Charting new musical territory, the band says that they have "created a haunting album full of autonomy and instrumental class, self-consciously charting new musical territory."

In other Sensory Records news, the label will be releasing the anticipated fifth album from prog-metal band Zero Hour on April 29th. Titled Dark Deceiver, the San Francisco-based band promises a few musical surprises guaranteed to delight Zero Hour's growing fan base. Want a taste of the new Zero Hour CD? How about a track from the Nation Beyond disc? Right click on the links below to download songs to your computer:

Zero Hour - "Dark Deceiver" [mp3]
Nation Beyond - "New Eden City" [mp3]

Man - Live At The Roundhouse DVD

Music Video Distributors has announced a March 18, 2008 release date for Live At The Roundhouse, the long-lost final concert film featuring Welsh prog-pop cult band Man. Recorded live at The Roundhouse in London – the scene of possibly the band's greatest moment, their appearance at the Greasy Truckers Party in 1972 with Brinsley Schwarz and Hawkwind – this 1976 concert film has rarely been viewed and should prove as somewhat of a revelation to prog-rock fans who have heard the name but remain unfamiliar with this criminally-underrated band.

Man was formed in late-1968 in the Wales region of the U.K. as the Bystanders, a vocal harmony group. The band evolved into a more prog-oriented outfit with extended on-stage jams and a sound that was a mix of pop melodies, prog overtones, psychedelic shading and space-rock jams, and changed its name to Man somewhere along the line. Described as a cross between Nektar and Quicksilver Messenger Service, Man's sound was fueled by the scorched-earth leads of guitarist Deke Leonard. Clive John, an early member of the band, would leave to pursue a solo career, his 1975 album You Always Know Where You Stand With A Buzzard a cult favorite among period record collectors. Leonard has also released a number of solo albums through the years.

After releasing nine studio and a live album to mixed commercial success (Man was HUGE in Germany and virtually unknown in the United States), Man decided to call it a day in 1976, filming the band's final performances at The Roundhouse, a former railway shed turned London cultural center. The band's line-up at the time included founding member and vocalist Mickey Jones, guitarist Deke Leonard, bassist John McKenzie, Phil Ryan on keyboards and drummer Terry Williams. Live At The Roundhouse offers up six songs, half from the band's 1976 album Maximum Darkness along with Man's earlier U.K. hits "C'mon" and "Let The Good Times Roll." The band would later re-unite in the '80s, performing and recording sporadically, with various line-ups, up to the present day.

RIYL: Caravan, Camel, Barclay-James Harvest, Gentle Giant

(Click on the DVD cover to buy Live At The Roundhouse from Amazon.com)

Zebra - The DVD

Cult hard rock trio Zebra will be releasing the band's first DVD collection on March 18, 2008. Simply titled The DVD, the disc documents the band's 2006 performances at House Of Blues in New Orleans and at The Downtown in Farmingdale, New York and will be released by Music Video Distributors (MVD).

Formed in the mid-70s in New Orleans, Zebra quickly struck gold with its self-titled 1983 album. Produced by Jack Douglas (Aerosmith), the band's unique mix of pomp-rock and Led Zeppelin-inspired hard rock yielded chart hits in the songs "Who's Behind The Door?" and "Tell Me What You Want," and the album rose to #29 on the Billboard Top 200. Douglas was also behind the board for the band's sophomore effort, No Tellin' Lies, but by the time of 1986's brilliant 3.V, the band's sound had changed significantly and Zebra was overshadowed by the rising tide of mid-to-late-80s nerf-metal bands.

Zebra's The DVD runs two hours and features sixteen songs as well as band interviews and other bonus material.

RIYL: Triumph, April Wine, Kingdom Come, Led Zeppelin

(Click on the DVD cover to buy The DVD from Amazon.com)

Pallas - Moment To Moment DVD

Scottish neo-prog legends Pallas will be dropping their third live performance DVD on April 15, 2008, released by the good folks at Music Video Distributors (MVD). The disc captures the band's dynamic performance at the Wyspiański Theater in Katowice, Poland in late October 2007 and features twelve songs running over two hours. The DVD also includes two video extras: "Tales from the Tourbus" and "The Rehearsal Tapes" as well as interviews with Pallas members Alan Reed and Graeme Murray.

Formed in the early-80s as part of the rising tide of European prog bands influenced by the works of King Crimson, Yes and Pink Floyd, Pallas released its first album, The Sentinel, in 1984, following with The Wedge in 1986. Due to conflicts with their record label, the band went on hiatus for almost 13 years before releasing Beat The Drum in 1999. Since coming back, Pallas has released a series of critically-acclaimed albums, and the band's appearances at NEARfest have increased interest in the band's impressive body of work among prog-rock fans.

RIYL: Marillion, IQ, Pendragon or the Flower Kings

(Click on the DVD cover to buy Moment To Moment from Amazon.com)

Paganfest 2008 North American Tour

Fresh from stomping across Europe, Finnish folk-metal titans Ensiferum will be headlining the 26-date North American Paganfest tour, beginning on April 25th, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario. Turisas, Tyr and Eluveitie will be sharing the stage with Ensiferum, bringing each band's riff-happy brand of pagan metal to the masses. Dates are listed below, check out the Paganfest web site for more info, etc.

04/25/2008 @ The Opera House - Toronto, ON
04/26/2008 @ Medley - Montreal, QC
04/27/2008 @ The Palladium - Worcester, MA
04/28/2008 @ Jaxx - Springfield, VA
04/29/2008 @ Peabody’s Down Under - Cleveland, OH
04/30/2008 @ Harpo’s - Detroit, MI
05/01/2008 @ Chicago Powerfest (Pearl Room) - Mokena, IL
05/02/2008 @ Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
05/03/2008 @ Cervantes Masterpiece - Ballroom Denver, CO
05/05/2008 @ Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
05/06/2008 @ Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR
05/07/2008 @ The Boardwalk - Sacramento, CA
05/08/2008 @ House of Blues - Hollywood, CA
05/09/2008 @ The Avalon - San Francisco / Santa Clara, CA
05/10/2008 @ The Vault - Long Beach, CA
05/11/2008 @ The Cell Block - Phoenix, AZ
05/12/2008 @ Chics - El Paso, TX
05/13/2008 @ The Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM
05/14/2008 @ Crush Lounge - Tulsa, OK
05/15/2008 @ Ridglea Theater - Fort Worth, TX
05/16/2008 @ The White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX
05/17/2008 @ Java Jazz - Houston, TX
05/19/2008 @ The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
05/20/2008 @ Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC
05/21/2008 @ Crocodile Rock - Allentown, PA
05/22/2008 @ BB Kings Blues Club - New York, NY

Sahg II coming on March 18, 2008

Norway's kings of doom- metal, the almighty Sahg, will be releasing their much- anticipated second album, simply titled Sahg II, on March 18, 2008. The album will be released stateside by Regain Records. Sahg II is the band's follow-up to their critically-acclaimed 2006 debut album.

“This album is definitely a big step forward for us, both musically and technically/sound-wise,” said guitarist/vocalist Olav Iversen. “The songs are more diverse on ‘Sahg II’ because we have allowed ourselves to think more freely and be more receptive to a wider range of inspiration. There are so many directions we want to explore with this band, and this is just what we had time for in this round.”

The recording of Sahg II turned into a challenge for the band, as the recording studio they were working in was torn to the ground by the landlord after the Sahg had recorded just three songs. Undeterred, the band used a tiny rehearsal room as a temporary studio while seeking out another location. They finally settled in at Audiopilot Studio in their native town of Bergen, Norway. The studio sits by the ocean and is full of vintage guitar amps, effects, tape machines, and a Fender Rhodes piano.

“It really felt like being under some vicious spell,” Iversen says. “But, finally, we landed it, with a bunch of pretty intense recordings in our hands that are very much colored by the strife and frustration we were in. All the hardship turned into something good.”

Link to: Sahg web site

New England Metal & Hardcore Festival

This year the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary with the event's biggest and baddest line-up yet! The largest and most successful metal festival in the United States, this year's show will be presented by ESP, Randall, EMG and exclusive magazine presenter, Metal Maniacs. The festival will take place the weekend of April 25-27 at the Palladium in Worcester, Mass, the event's home since its inception a decade ago. Sumerian Records will sponsor the “Summer Slaughter Tour” second stage.

Hosting this year's "Gigantour," Friday night's festivities will feature Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job For A Cowboy and High On Fire. Saturday's event will be headlined by Dimmu Borgir, Shadows Fall and Behemoth while Ministry, Meshuggah and Nevermore will officially close out the festival on Sunday night

Other bands scheduled to perform this year include: A Life Once Lost, Dead to Fall, Demiricous, Dillinger Escape Plan, Emmure, Ensiferum, God Forbid, Hate Eternal, Hemlock, Keep Of Kalessin, Overkill, Shai Halud, Sons of Azrael, Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganze, Tyr, Veil of Maya, Vital Remains, Waking the Cadaver, Winds of Plague, and many more!

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival is also sponsored by Metal Edge magazine, Monster Energy drink, All In Merchandise, 518 Prints, The Syndicate, Mazur PR, Heavy Hitter, Scott Lee Clothing, and others to be announced.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, February 15 at 10 a.m. EST. The cost is $47.50 for Friday, $45 for Saturday, $45 for Sunday, or $129 for a three-day pass. Tickets available at all Strawberries / FYE Stores, by calling (800) 477-6849 or online at tickets.com.

Link to: New England Metal and Hardcore Festival

"Dancing" CD Review Index

CD REVIEWS

American Speedway / Ship Of Fools

Burzum / Anthology

Diamond Dogs / Up The Rock

Hammerfall / Masterpieces

Harem Scarem / Hope

Hermano / ...Into The Exam Room

Ihsahn / angL

King's X / XV

Leverage / Blind Fire

Meshuggah / Obzen

Pestilence / Spheres

Sahg / Sahg II

Terror / Live June 10, 2004

To-Mera / Delusions

Whitesnake / Good To Be Bad

DVD Reviews

Iron Maiden / Live After Death

Zebra - The DVD