A new look & a new album for Lordi

Finland's current heavy metal faves, the apocalyptic pranksters Lordi, are preparing a new look to go along with the release of their upcoming new album, Deadache. Scheduled for October 28th, 2008 release by The End Records – just in time for Halloween! – Deadache includes such surefire future classic numbers as "Man Skin Boots," "Girls Go Chopping," "Dead Bugs Bite," and the album's first single, "Bite It Like A Bulldog."

To accompany the new album, the band has fozzed up its costumery to create a new look...designed by Mr. Lordi hisself...which you can sneak a peep of above. Kind of a mix between Orcish GQ and Addams Family chic, Lordi will unveil their new threads onstage during their upcoming Popkomm performance in Berlin in October.

All kidding aside, horror-metal has a long and hallowed tradition in the heavy metal universe, skull-crushers like Gwar providing more bang for your entertainment dollar. Few do this sort of schtick better than these impish Fins. Lordi's previous album, 2006's The Arockalypse, sold over 350,000 copies worldwide...not too shabby for an indie album...and was released in over 30 countries.

Lordi's guitar-driven, metal-edged classic rock sound is just hard enough to interest those of us with a high tolerance for pain, and yet smooth enough to be swallowed by those with wimpy ears...besides, if hearing Lordi gets just one kid to go a step further and discover, say, Darkthrone or perhaps Candlemass, then my job here is done....(huh?)

Meshuggah & Dimmu Borgir get reloaded!

The day that you have to get back to work after your Labor Day weekend, the good folks at Nuclear Blast Records are softening the blow of your return to the grindstone with the release of the first two shots in their "reloaded" reissue series.

On September 2nd, 2008 the label will release "reloaded" versions of two crucial albums from their extensive and impressive metal catalog: Meshuggah's radical 1995 breakthrough album Destroy Erase Improve and Dimmu Borgir's classic 1997 breakthrough, Enthone Darkness Triumphant. Both album will be packaged in an uber-cool "super jewel" cases with a snazzy side opening button and, well, lots more music for your buck!

Meshuggah's "reloaded" technical-metal masterpiece Destroy Erase Improve also includes songs from the band's long out-of-print Selfcaged EP as well as tracks from their 1994 None EP. Later in the month – on September 30th to be exact – Nuclear Blast will follow up with "reloaded" reissue versions of Meshuggah's unbelievable 1991 debut album, Contradictions Collapse, which will also include tracks from the band's 1997 True Human Design EP. On that same day, NB will also reissue the band's classic 1998 album Chaosphere, again with bonus tracks from True Human Design.

The "reloaded" version of Dimmu Borgir's black metal classic Enthrone Darkness Triumphant includes a bonus track in the form of the spanking "Raabjorn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde" as well as a live video clip of the song "Entrance" that you can peep on your computer, a Dimmu photo gallery, a ultra-spooky screensaver and some entirely appropriately Borgir WinAmp skins.

These are two Hall of Fame entrees in the metallic Valhalla, freshly remastered and awaiting your purchse. The Rev sez "check 'em out!"

(Click on the CD covers to buy either album from Amazon.com)

Halford & heavy metal get a little love from New York film festival!

Heavy metal legend Rob Halford, frontman of the larger-than-life Judas Priest, founder of metal cult faves Fight, and a hall-of-fame-worthy solo artist in his own right, is helping heavy metal get a little respect from the Big Apple's intellect crowd. The acclaimed singer/songwriter's Halford Resurrection World Tour Documentary has been made an official selection of the New York International Independent Video and Film Festival (NYIIVFF), which will be held from September 18th - 25th, 2008, nominated in the category of Best Music Documentary.

The film will receive special screenings during the festival, at 8:00 PM on both September 22nd and 23rd; tickets to this one-time (OK, two-time) event are available through Halford's website or through the NYIIVFF website.

The love that Halford and crew are receiving from the NYC elite couldn't come at a more opportune time. The band's new DVD, Halford Resurrection World Tour - Live At Rock In Rio III, will be released on October 7, 2008 in a custom-designed digi-pak with a 28-page booklet. The set also includes Halford's debut CD release, Resurrection, the disc remastered with 16 songs, including two new Halford tracks.

The whopping three-hour DVD includes Halford's complete "Rock In Rio III" performance in 5.1 surround audio, with the band's visual stageshow captured by an amazing 13-cameras. The metal legend's performance is said to be the stuff of myth, delivered in front of a raucous audience of 200,000+ rockin' Brazilian metalheads. The setlist is a mix of classic Priest, Fight, and Halford solo songs, and the disc also includes a rare studio performance by Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson with Rob Halford.

(Click on the DVD cover to buy Live At Rock In Rio III from Amazon.com)

Pro-Pain signs with Regain for new album!

NYC sound terrorists Pro-Pain have signed with the Sweden-based metal label Regain Records for the release of their 11th and latest album, No End in Sight. The album is scheduled for August 22, 2008 release in Europe and will be released by Regain in the U.S. on October 14th, 2008.

Over the course of 16 years, Pro-Pain has continued to expand upon its brutal, skull-crushing sound and No End In Sight is said to be the band's most accomplished and melodic work to date.

Pro-Pain vocalist and bassist Gary Meskil says, "I think that is an accurate description. The new CD offers a wide variety of styles, more so than any of its predecessors. However, a fair percentage of the recording is also very traditional - in the Pro-Pain sense - and sonically heavy. No End in Sight is exactly the type of album that we wanted to create this time around, so we couldn't be more pleased with it."

For stateside fans that can't wait for mid-October, the band is offering streaming audio from the new album on both their website and on their MySpace page.

(Click on the CD cover to buy No End In Sight from Amazon.com)

All Shall Perish tour dates w/Job For A Cowboy

Technical-metal burners All Shall Perish will be returning from Europe soon, and jumping right back into the fire with a cross-country slash-n-burn tour with fellow destructors Job For A Cowboy, Hate Eternal, Animosity and Annotations Of An Autopsy. Kicking off on November 13th, 2008 in Pomona, Cali the band is psyched to be bringing their own unique brand of terror to your town.

All Shall Perish drummer Matt Kuykendall sez, "we can't fucking wait to do this tour! This is a full on death metal onslaught not to be missed. We have known Job For A Cowboy, Animosity, and Hate Eternal for a while and so its going to be a reunion as well. This is Job's last tour on this record and our first U.S. tour on ours, so everyone be ready to hear some new tracks and get to see Job For A Cowboy one last time on this disc!"

All Shall Perish will be releasing their new album, Awaken The Dreamers, on September 16th on the Nuclear Blast Records label. For this 12-song explosion, the band's follow-up to 2006's The Price Of Existence, All Shall Perish worked again with producer Zack Ohren in Oakland.

All Shall Perish Tourdates:

Nov. 13 - Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse Music Hall
Nov. 14 - Bakersfield, CA @ The Dome
Nov. 15 - Sacramento, CA @ The Boardwalk
Nov. 16 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Nov. 17 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Nov. 18 - Boise, ID @ The Venue
Nov. 20 - Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
Nov. 21 - Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
Nov. 22 - Iowa City, IA @ The Picador
Nov. 23 - St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
Nov. 25 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
Nov. 26 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Strummers
Nov. 27 - London, ON @ The Embassy Hotel
Nov. 28 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Nov. 29 - Portland, ME @ The Station
Nov. 30 - Providence, RI @ The Living Room
Dec. 01 - Framingdale, NY @ The Crazy Donkey
Dec. 02 - Sayerville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Dec. 03 - Baltimore, MD @ Otto Bar
Dec. 04 - Richmond, VA @ Canal Club (Downstairs)
Dec. 05 - Wilmington, NC @ Soapbox Laundro-Lounge
Dec. 06 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Dec. 07 - [to be announced] NC @ [to be announced]
Dec. 09 - Little Rock, AR @ The Village
Dec. 10 - Tulsa, OK @ The Marquee
Dec. 11 - Dallas, TX @ The Door
Dec. 12 - McAllen, TX @ Cine El Rey Theatre
Dec. 13 - Austin, TX @ Red 7
Dec. 14 - Odessa, TX @ Dos Amigos
Dec. 15 - Farmington, NM @ Big City Night Club
Dec. 16 - Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre

Living Colour at CBGB live set to be released!

One of the Rev's fave gang of hard rockin' funkateers, Living Colour, will be represented by the second live set of the band's career when Music Video Distributors releases Live August 18, 2005 as part of "The Bowery Collection" in their acclaimed CBGB OMFUG Masters series.

Documenting a 2005 CBGB benefit show, the career-spanning collection features Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover and extraordinary guitarist Vernon Reid pounding out the band's trademark brand of hard rock, metallic funk, hardcore punk and radical reggae. Among the twelve songs included on Live August 18, 2005 are Living Colour hits like "Glamour Boys" and "Cult Of Personality" as well as socially-conscious material like "Open Letter To A Landlord" and "Sacred Ground."

Live August 18, 2005 is a pristine soundboard recording guaranteed to peel the plaster from the walls of your humble abode...but you'll have to wait until October 28, 2008 to hear it!

Living Colour CD reviews (courtesy of Alt.Culture.Guide):

Live From CBGB's
Vivid
Pride

(Click on the CD cover to buy Live August 18, 2005 from Amazon.com)

Pulverised Records comin' your way!

Our good friends over at Earplit PR sent us this info on three new banging CDs comin' your way from Pulverised Records, so it's Monday morning press release time, kiddies! (The Rev just don't feel like messing around with wordz today....)

Impiety - Dominator MCD

It’s never too early to Die by Power! The Barbaric Horde of Apocalyptik Storms unleashes their all-new 5 track Mini Album entitled Dominator. Savage, Punishing and Unmerciful – One of their most brilliant creations to date! Mini CD version limited to 1000 only in a special slipcase edition exclusively by Pulverised Records. A cover of the Sarcofago song “The Black Vomit” had been specially recorded for the Dominator MCD. Founded in 1990, IMPIETY has long been the leading Black/ Death Metal act hailing from Singapore. They've executed 3 European tours, 1 Mexican tour and countless performances throughout Asia, and will headline an upcoming European tour of 27 dates this fall, alongside Dawn of Azazel (Nz) and Spearhead (UK).

Netherbird - The Ghost Collector

The Swedish cruel masters of melancholic Black Metallers Netherbird finally brings forth 13 tracks of symphonic malevolence, filled with the beautiful darkness to enchant even the most estranged lost souls. This grandeur creation by Nephente and Bizmark has summoned some of the most elite fiends in the battalion, which includes Adrian Erlandsson (ex-Cradle Of Filth, ex-The Haunted, At The Gates), Janne Saarenpää (ex-The Crown), Brice LeQlerc (ex-Dissection) and Mojjo (The Project Hate, ex-Lord Belial, ex-Runemagick, etc) on the drums.. Let the Black Bird soar eternally!

Those Who Bring The Torture - Tank Gasmask Ammo

A filthy spectacular display of an album that reeks of what the forefathers of this genre manifested in the early years, Those Who Bring The Torture lucidly brought it up to another level, filled with the perfect dosage of Death Metal, Grind and a colossal amount of groove; enough to leave the listener tasting regurgitation in their own mouth and yet filled with delight. Tank Gasmask Ammo is probably the ultimate marriage of current groove-grind that putrid like Aborted and early gore-grind that stinks of an aroma like Carcass.

TWBTT is comprised of some very well-known musicians in the scene. Rogga Johansson (aka Crawl) is involved with countless bands including Paganizer, Ribspreader and Demiurg. Rogga was also called on board by legendary multi-instrumentalist Dan Swano to be the main singer for Edge Of Sanity’s Crimson II album. Ronnie Bjornstrom (aka Worm) is also the guitar player for Taedeat, Knife In Christ, etc. David Ekevarn (aka Maggot) is currently involved and playing drums with Ghamorean, Apostasy, Mesolimbie and more.

(Click on the CD covers above to buy any of these titles and you'll be supporting our own massive metal addiction!)

King's X - XV CD review

We all know what to expect from King's X ... sure, they have grown, and that is natural with any band. Only two major detours have taken place in their career – the heavily grinding Tape Head, which tended to lack the lush sophistication that we know them for, and Please Come Home Mr. Bulbous, which was almost a little too out there to be a King’s X record. But with their days of commercialism and experimentation, which was widely done on their own terms, behind them, the power trio still possesses their trademark harmonies, the hooks, and the tight grooves.

With XV (wow, has it been fifteen records already?) the sound of the rumbling twelve-string bass finds itself amongst a regular four-string, a multi-textured production is hammered out (Michael Wagener is behind the board again for this one), and the songwriting pool is as diverse as it has ever been; still, the band is expanding its sound, writing a new chapter instead of re-dubbing something from the past.

The album opens up with the soulful “Pray,” which is a typical King’s X tune, grinding with melodic hard rock glory and powerful emotion…yet the next track, “Blue,” is a laid-back bluesy number, exposing the band’s knack for diversifying their sound – and that is what is what XV is all about. You have elements of hard-edged power pop with the straightforward and rockin’ “Alright,” darkened metal on both “Rocket Ship” and “Go Tell Somebody,” funkified prog with “Move,” as well as psychedelic tendencies on “Stuck;” where elements of their simplistic pop sweet-tooth tends to compliment the nuances that make up the record, instead of completely dominating it.

XV is a solid rock and roll record which still sees the band as one of the finest hard rock/metal acts around. Everybody holds up well – Pinnick’s vocals are at their finest, Tabor really stands out with some of the solos on this album, burning the axe, and Gaskill’s drumming is at its utmost technical and skillful – this might not be Gretchen Goes to Nebraska or Faith, Hope, & Love, but it’s certainly a King’s X record. (Inside Out Music) – Review by Tommy "Hashman" Hash

(Click on the CD cover to buy XV from Amazon.com

Uriah Heep returns with Wake The Sleeper CD!

Heavy metal legends Uriah Heep will be roaring back onto the slumbering music scene on August 26th, 2008 with the American release of Wake The Sleeper, the band's first studio album in almost ten years.

Wake The Sleeper was recorded last year with producer Mike Paxman (Status Quo), and released to overwhelming critical acclaim by the notoriously cranky British music press. Classic Rock magazine chose it as their "Album of the Month" in their June issue, giving Wake The Sleeper an impressive 8/10 rating.

Unfortunately, Wake The Sleeper is the band's first album recorded without original drummer Lee Kerslake, who had to leave the band due to ill health in January 2007. Standing in on the kit is well-respected drummer Russell Gilbrook (Tony Iommi/Black Sabbath). Uriah Heep's current line up is made up of guitarist and band mainstay Mick Box, bassist Trevor Bolder, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, vocalist Bernie Shaw, with the aforementioned Gilbrook behind the drum kit.

For over almost four decades, Uriah Heep has remained one of the unwavering and important musical influences on the hard rock and heavy metal scenes. The road warriors in Heep have performed in some 52 counties, and were the first British band to play Russia. Along the way they've sold over 30 million records, and stand at the pinnacle of '70s-era rock alongside Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest. Wake The Sleeper is said to be a return to the band's classic, bone-crunching sound, and I for one can't wait to hear the album shake some plaster from these walls....

Blackwinds to debut with Flesh Inferno

Blackwinds' skull-crushing Regain Records debut album, Flesh Inferno, is haunting your local record store's shelves right now, so what are you waiting for, bunkie?

Although Blackwinds, the band, is itself a fairly new phenomenon, they ain't no kittens, kiddies, but rather meat-eating carnivores with sharp teeth and claws. Blackwinds includes several members of the '90s-era black metal cult band Setherial, including guitarist Lord Mysteriis, razor-blade vocalist Lord Kraath, and powerhouse drummer Zathanel.

Blackwinds pursues a similar black metal tact as Setherial, a no-frills, unrelenting aural onslaught that mixes dark-hued terrorism with lyrical blasphemy. Then again, any band that describes their music as "the utter celebration of the death of all beings, the quintessence of the destroyer" can't be all bad, can they? Check out the video trailer below and decide for yourself...then click on the CD cover to add Flesh Inferno to your metallic library.

Blackwinds - Flesh Inferno video trailer

Diamond Dogs - Up The Rock CD review

When you think of power pop, the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is Big Star and Cheap Trick, as well as followers such as Brit-popsters Teenage Fanclub and American sub-Seattle (actually Bellingham to be exact) heavyweights the Posies. But whatever happened to grittier, riff-driven rock and roll? Diamond Dogs is the answer, and ‘rock things up’ is what they do on their appropriately titled record called Up The Rock.

Hailing from Sweden, the band possesses the sound of classic Cheap Trick (think of the first three records), the glam infusion of Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie (soundwise, but not image), and T-Rex a la Slider or Electric Warrior; perfect for hailing the raucous rock and roll spirit that invokes catchy hooks, melodic riffs, and churning grooves. The album’s upbeat stance is heralded with cuts like “We May Not Have Tomorrow,” “The Closest I’ve Ever Been To Memphis,” and “Put Your Hands Together,” where the latter is self explanatory – and even with the dark balladry of “Where Are You Tonight” and the soulfulness of “Make It To The Other Side,” the album still stays on its buoyant course, through and through.

Up The Rock’s production also mirrors that of the early days of power pop – reverb, tape delay, close-miked acoustic guitars (remember when you could hear the pick hitting the strings?), and arrangements that include organs, dancing piano, and a growling sax – the Visconti-esque vibe is all over the place. Vocalist Sulo fronts the band, mixing punkish attitude and soulfulness, and the band plays out multifaceted arrangements without going into stoner rock territories or getting redundant (and thankfully, they aren’t jam happy either). Up The Rock proves that Diamond Dogs are real troubadours of the classic edgy power pop sound – something welcome in the world of bubblegum teenybopper schlock. (Locomotive Records) – Review by Tommy "Hashman" Hash

(Click on the CD cover to buy Up The Rock from Amazon.com)

SUNN O)) presents: Shoshin/GrimmRobes USA tour 2008

Doom/drone legends Sunn O))) don't get out of the house often, but when they do, they generally make a splash in the ol' molten magma pool when they cannonball onstage...OK, enough o' the purple prose, the truth is that Sunn O))) is going to be performing a limited handful of shows this October, and you should be there if it's humanly possible for you to do so....

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the band's creation, along with the recording of the debut Sunn O))) sunburst, The GrimmRobe, these shows will feature material from that album exclusively. There's nothing else to say that the Southern Lord press release on these shows didn't cover, so here it is their own words:

It will be a return to their primal origins, and approach respecting a concept of shoshin (初心), the beginner's mind, the yet undyed pure wool, the clarity in initiation upon the untraveled. The attitude of embodying the basics precisely, point by point, line by line, with an immovable faith in the teaching, experience and of beyond the possibility. Of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when approaching, even with much experience, just as a beginner would upon the initial impetus and thirst to seek the path. And so, with this mindset, they will be approaching these live concerts. Pure, raw, uninhibited invocations featuring O)))s core members: Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson ONLY. No guests, no vocals, no keyboards. We hope you will join us....

Sunn O))) performance dates:

10/10 @ Safari Sam's, Los Angeles CA w/John Weise
10/12 @ Berbati's Pan, Portland,OR - Fall Into Darkness Fest
10/15 @ Knitting Factory, New York NY w/Tony Conrad, Thou

10/16 @ First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia PA w/Thou

Sunn O))) video clip

Harem Scarem - Hope CD review

I have said it so many times, had Nirvana never hit the scene in the early 90’s, there is no telling how big these guys could have been – but let’s not dwell on what could have been, for Harem Scarem has been loved abroad: they're big in Japan, and in their home country of Canada, as well as having a good following in Europe – they even landed music in the TV show Degrassi High…not bad at all!

Even with the alternative rock dominating the charts and with the music changes over the past decade, the band still played great melodic rock, even when they might have jumped on the bandwagon at times (with releases such as Rubber and Voice of Reason), there was something about the harmonies, the sophisticated pop, and the lush melodies that always saved the music from being schlock.

Now, after twenty years, Harem Scarem is sadly packing it in and their final album, Hope, is the last will and testament from one of the finest melodic rock/AOR acts to ever hit the stage – in fact, the whole AOR/melodic rock genre seems to circulate around them (just like alternative circulated around R.E.M); everybody always compares other bands to Harem Scarem when talking about AOR.

They take the songwriting styles reminiscent of Jeff Paris and Paul Sabu, the harmonies of Queen and the Beatles, the pop prowess of John Waite and Bryan Adams, the arena rock stature of Journey and Bad English, and the hard rock/metal edge of Extreme, Def Leppard, and Giant – all of the best, you couldn’t ask for more.

On their final piece of melodic rock mastery, the only sign of the band actually letting up was the actual announcement that Hope would be their last – for this is a review that most of us wished we would never have to write. Following up Human Nature, Hope is a plethora of AOR mastery, possessing catchiness wherever you listen, tracks like “Time Bomb,” “Dark Times,” “Beyond Repair,” and the hard-grinding “Calm Before The Storm” see the band still executing their hard rock soul in full force, while more emotionally-laden cuts such as “Days Are Numbered,” “Shooting Star,” and the acoustic “Nothing Without You” (with lyrics that state “It’s Hard to Walk Away,”) stay within a more laid back/balladry approach where sadness is invoked in more ways than one, seeing that the band has hit the end of the road.

Even so, the album, through its eleven songs, feature the signature Harem Scarem sound, with the songwriting being top notch, solos here and there, harmonies being highly lush, and vocalist Harry Hess’ voice singing out at it’s finest – for which he has one of the most distinct voices in the rock world.

So as the band leaves us with their final Hope, we can look back and listen to a band that stood the test of time, shunned trends, and also fit in with them. Harem Scarem has a vast catalog of music, but most of it you will have to dig deep into the online import bins, which means a lot of it tends to be pricey. Nevertheless, listen to just about any release from this band and you will not be disappointed – and even with their disbandment, they will still reign as the kings of melodic rock and AOR. (Frontiers Records) – Review by Tommy "Hashman" Hash

(Click on the CD cover to buy Hope from Amazon.com)

Ehnahre's death-doom molestation....

OK, so the Reverend is feeling kinda lazy and more than a little hungover this morning, so I'm just gonna go with my buddy Dave's the press release on this one....

The first cooperation between Earsplit and the UK's Sound Devastation Records comes in the from of the crushing and tumultuous debut release from Bostonian outfit Ehnahre. The members of the avant-death project culminate from fallout of bands such as Biolich, Kayo Dot, Forcefedglass (went on to form Converge...) and more, here combining their influences into a uniquely infectious, technically-driven, artistically-drunk gut-punch of death/doom experimentation. A concept record in five parts, based on the writings of Donald Justice, the debut album The Man Closing Up is something that can only be digested, not described accurately... dig, delve, and disgust yourself in it's gutsy glory... clips from the monstrosity are posted on the band's MySpace page now.

Well, now that we're finished with that, I guess that the least that I could do is to recommend that you get thee hence to Ehnahre's aforementioned MySpace page and check out the band's tunes...'cause they totally rock!

Hammerfall - Masterpieces CD review

Beloved Gothenburg power/trad-metalers Hammerfall play the human jukebox; and it’s all for the right reasons – to bang your head and raise your fist in the air. Compiling tracks from various albums, compilation appearances, single B-sides, etc, Masterpieces is a celebration of the influences that helped shape the sound of one of metal’s more modern influences.

All the tracks on here are pure metal, no covers of jaded 70’s classic rock or new wave songs for that matter (there is a band out there that is guilty of covering “Manic” from Flashdance, but I won’t say who, and I’m not going to try to figure out the shtick). Hell, the lightest song covered here is “Man on the Silver Mountain,” and we know how much that one rocks – and these guys really crank it up!

Nevertheless, it’s all heavy fucking metal – some tracks we might know, such as their cover of Helloween’s “I Want Out” (Feat: Udo Dirkschneider and Kai Hansen), staples such as “Breaking the Law,” “Detroit Rock City,” and even a new recording of “Youth Gone Wild” (one of three new cuts on this comp); but the band dives into a broad range influential metallic material.

They really get into some tracks, such as melodic metal opuses from Pretty Maids (“Back to Back”), Accept (“Head Over Heals”), and Riot (“Flight of the Warrior” – another new recording), but we get in with what some might seem like obscurities with their takes on Warlord’s “Child of the Damned,” Heavy Load’s “Run With the Devil,” and Picture’s “Eternal Dark.” Now you know what you are going to want to do when you hear these versions, right? Get on iTunes and hope like hell you can delve into the original artists’ catalog – there might be some new discoveries to be made for some of you folks out there.

But not is all based on mainstay staples and deep tracks: there is homage paid to guitar gods such as Malmsteen (“Rising Force”) and David Chastain (“Angel of Mercy”), and even more hair metal opuses such as Twisted Sister’s “Were Gonna Make It,” Loudness’ “Crazy Nights,” and Europe’s “Aphasia” (the final new track, which beats the hell out of a cover of “The Final Countdown”). Eighteen tracks in all, some of which you might already have, spanning Hammerfall’s entire catalog. Masterpieces, like last year’s Steel Meets Steel - Ten Years of Glory "Best of" compilation, would make a great introductory companion to the band, or maybe fill in the gaps, etc…

With a band as influential as Hammerfall, it won’t be surprising that in ten years we see a covers compilation of their songs…maybe I shouldn’t get into that, but anyway, you listen to it, this is a tried and true compilation of metal – redone the right way. (Nuclear Blast Records) - Review by Tommy "Hashman" Hash

(Click on the CD cover to buy Masterpieces from Amazon.com)

Hammerfall - "Last Man Standing"

Nashville Pussy Live In Hollywood DVD

On September 30th, 2008 our friends at Music Video Distributors will be releasing Live In Hollywood, the second concert DVD from hard rock heroes Nashville Pussy.

Capturing the unique Nashville Pussy club show experience, Live In Hollywood includes 19 songs featuring a band line-up of singer and guitarist Blaine Cartwright, guitarist Ruyter Suys, drummer Jeremy Thompson, and new bassist Karen Cuda. The DVD also includes "home movie" footage, an interview by Motorhead's Lemmy, and other bonus features.

(Click on the DVD cover to buy Live In Hollywood from Amazon.com)

Nashville Pussy - "Fried Chicken and Coffee"

Therion releases Live Gothic CD/DVD on Aug. 5th!

Swedish metal legends Therion will be releasing its fantastic three-disc set Live Gothic next week on August 5, 2008. The two-CD live album captures a February 2007 show from Warsaw, Poland and features a band line-up of guitarists Christofer Johnsson and Kristian Niemann, bassist Johann Niemann, and drummer Petter Karlsson.

Live vocals for the Warsaw show were provided by Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate), Mats Leven, Lori Lewis and Katarina Lilia. The entire 22-song performance offered on the two CDs is also featured on the enclosed bonus DVD, and includes classic Therion songs like "To Mega Therion," "Lemuria" and "Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah." Check out the DVD trailer video below and get a taste of Live Gothic and the majestic metal of Therion.

(Click on the CD cover to buy Live Gothic from Amazon.com)

Therion - Live Gothic DVD trailer

Kataklysm headlines Death By Decibels Tour, v2!

Canadian skull-crushers Kataklysm will be headlining shows during September and early-November in what is being called the second annual "Death By Decibels Tour," which will also feature the bands Dying Fetus, Eluveitie and Keep Of Kalessin. Future dates in Canada, with opening band Arsis, will be announced shortly.

Kataklysm has been hard-at-work touring in support of its recent Nuclear Blast album, Prevail. The album features guest solo appearances by Pat O'Brien of Cannibal Corpse, Dave Linsk of Overkill, and producer/guitar shredder Jason Suecof. Prevail also includes a bonus DVD with a full Kataklysm performance recorded from a live 2007 Internet concert stream at DeepRockDrive studios in Las Vegas NV.

(Click on the CD cover to buy Prevail from Amazon.com)

Kataklysm Tourdates
9/26 @ The Pearl Room, Mokena IL
9/27 @ Harpos, Detroit MI
9/28 @ Peabody's, Cleveland OH
9/29 @ Gramercy Theatre, New York NY
10/1 @ The Palladium, Worcester MA
10/2 @ Jaxx, Springfield VA
10/4 @ Ground Zero, Spartanburg SC
10/7 @ Meridian, Houston TX
10/8 @ White Rabbit, San Antonio TX
10/9 @ Ridglea Theater, Dallas TX
10/11 @ Soma, San Diego CA
10/12 @ Key Club, Los Angeles CA

Hades DVD to be released by Cruz Del Sur

Hades is one of those near-mythical names in thrash metal. The original band members were all still in high school when Hades formed in New Jersey in 1978, but it would be the decade of the '80s when Hades made its loudest noise, touring heavily and opening for bands like Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax and Nuclear Assault.

After having songs appear on both Metal Blade's Metal Massacre VI and Megaforce's Born To Metalize compilation albums, Hades released its debut album, Resisting Success, in 1987. They followed that up with If At First You Don't Succeed in '88. After the band's first tour of Europe, in 1989, they broke up, with members falling into bands like Non-Fiction and Watchtower. Hades briefly re-formed in 1999, releasing three well-received albums on Metal Blade before once again disappearing into the mists of legend.

In November 2008, Italy's Cruz Del Sur label will be releasing the first-ever Hades live DVD, capturing a December 1988 show in Boston, with the band opening for Manowar and Nuclear Assault. The set list for the show includes such Hades songs as "The Leaders?," "Nightstalker," "I Too Eye," and "Opinionate!" The DVD will also include "Behind The Metal," a mini-documentary filmed during the recording of the band's 2000 The Downside album.

"Behind The Metal" includes interviews with Hades members Dan Lorenzo, Alan Tecchio, Jimmy Schulman, Ed Fuhrman and Scott LePage as well as old video clips, live footage, and TV show appearances. The DVD also includes a video for the song "Frozen Planet," from Dan Lorenzo's first solo album. This is your chance to catch one of metal's more obscure heartbreakers, live on stage the was that it was meant to be....

Carcass reunion announces more show dates!

It's no big secret that grindcore legends Carcass have reformed and hit the road, hoping to sell a truckload of tickets, and maybe a few more copies of classic metal slabs like Symphonies of Sickness (1989), Heartwork (1994) or Swansong (1996). To achieve this goal, the band has enlisted the help of friends like Suffocation, 1349, Aborted, and Rotten Sound, all of which are accompanying Carcass on the road in their quest to explode eardrums across North America.

Carcass has announced a slew of new tourdates for September in both the U.S. and Canada, and we have 'em listed below. All of the above mentioned bands will be present and accounted for, and a few shows will include special guests, as listed below. The line-up of the reunited band includes founding members Bill Steer (vocals & guitar) and Jeff Walker (vocals & bass), as well as guitarist Michael Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson, both hailing from Arch Enemy. Original drummer Ken Owen, who suffered from a near-fatal brain hemorrhage back in 1999 that left him in a coma for 10 months, is traveling with his former bandmates when possible, and will be appearing at select shows.

Carcass Tourdates
9/05 @ The Palladium, Worcester MA **
9/06 @ Nokia Theatre, New York NY *
9/07 @ Medley, Montreal QC
9/08 @ Opera House, Toronto ON
9/09 @ Starland Ballroom, Sayreville NJ **
9/10 @ Sonar, Baltimore, MD +
9/11 @ Volume 11, Raleigh NC
9/12 @ The Masquerade, Atlanta GA
9/13 @ Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg FL
9/15 @ Emo's, Austin TX
9/18 @ House of Blues, Los Angeles CA
9/19 @ The Grand Ballroom, San Francisco CA
9/21 @ El Corazon Seattle WA
9/22 @ Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver WA

* w/Necrophagist
** w/Necrophagist & Dying Fetus
+ W/Pig Destroyer & Misery Index

Nachtmystium to tour with Opeth, High On Fire!

Nachtmystium will be joining fellow metal stalwarts Opeth and High On Fire in September as their opening act for the first half of the two bands' North American tour. Nachtmystium has been hitting the road heavy in support of its recent Century Media release, Assassins: Black Meddle, Pt. 1.

The album has received widespread critical acclaim from the usual suspects, metal zines like Metal Maniacs, Terrorizer and Decibel as well as from unlikely sources such as CMJ New Music Monthly. These three bands have widely varying metallic visions, so these shows should be real barn-burners. Be sure to check 'em out at a city near you!

Nachtmystium Tourdates
09/16 @ The Town Ballroom, Buffalo NY
09/17 @ Trocadero, Philadelphia PA
09/18 @ Nokia Theatre, New York NY
09/19 @ The Palladium, Worcester MA
09/20 @ Theatre Imperial, Quebec City QC
09/21 @ Centennial Hall, London ON
09/23 @ House of Blues, Cleveland OH
09/24 @ House of Blues, Chicago IL
09/25 @ The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids MI
09/26 @ The Rave, Milwaukee WI
09/27 @ Myth, St. Paul MN
09/29 @ The Garrick Center, Winnipeg MB
09/30 @ Odeon Events Centre, Saskatoon SK
10/01 @ Edmonton Events Centre, Edmonton AB
10/03 @ Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
10/04 @ Showbox @ The Market, Seattle WA