Gelap Pekat

MusikUniverse.net conducted an interview with bassist Orion (real name: Tomasz Wróblewski) of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH on June 29, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Watch the chat in two parts below.

"Evangelion", the ninth full-length studio album from BEHEMOTH, sold 8,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 56 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Commented Nergal: "Well... we have never been in this band for awards or charts. It's always been about the most honest music we can deliver. But I can't ignore the fact that people DO appreciate our new album. Thank you so much for buying the record and voting for us! It's sooo much motivating! We owe you! See you all on European tour very soon. You will not be disappointed!"

"Evangelion" was released in the U.S. on August 11 through Metal Blade. The CD was mixed at Miloco Studios in London, England by Colin Richardson, who has previously worked with MACHINE HEAD, SLIPKNOT, NAPALM DEATH and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, among many others.

"Evangelion" track listing:

01. Daimonos
02. Shemaforash
03. Ov Fire And The Void
04. Transmigrating Beyond Realms Ov Amenti
05. He Who Breeds Pestilence
06. The Seed Ov I
07. Alas, Lord Is Upon Me
08. Defiling Morality Ov Black God
09. Lucifer

The digipack edition includes a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes footage and expanded artwork.

Part 1:

The Sunset Strip Music Festival — taking place September 10-12 — will honor the larger-than-life rock icon Ozzy Osbourne as its "Sunset Strip Icon 2009." The tribute actually began on Thursday, August 20 when Osbourne’s immortal image was unveiled on one of the largest billboards in Los Angeles (see photo below). It hangs high above the Sunset Strip spanning 12-stories (6,500 square feet tall) off the east side of the famous 9000 building directly across the street from the Roxy Theatre and Rainbow Bar & Grill. The new signage is lit at night, allowing for its viewing from miles away.

Next, on Thursday, September 10, Osbourne will be honored at a tribute event to kick off the three-day music festival. The tribute event honors icons that have made an impact on the legacy of the Sunset Strip. On Osbourne's first U.S. tour with BLACK SABBATH in 1970, the band performed a five-night stand (November 11-15) at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go.

CAMP FREDDY — the all-star cover group consisting of Billy Morrison, Matt Sorum, Chris Chaney, Dave Navarro and Donavan Leitch — will perform in honor of Ozzy Osbourne at the festival launch tribute event September 10 at House of Blues. Also scheduled to appear at the Sunset Strip Music Festival are KORN, CHRIS CORNELL, multi-platinum hip-hop artist B REAL, PEPPER, KOTTONMOUTH KINGS, SHWAYZE, LMFAO, SHINY TOY GUNS, UNWRITTEN LAW, THE DONNAS, FISHBONE, IGLU & HARTLY, THE RINGERS, THE PRICKS, NICO STAI and THENEWNO2.

"This expansive wall not only celebrates our honoree, Ozzy Osbourne, it also serves to welcome everyone to the Sunset Strip and is certain to be a very photographed component of this year's music festival," noted Todd Steadman, executive director of the Sunset Strip Music Festival.

The second annual Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF) also includes the first-ever street closure of Sunset Blvd on Saturday, September 12. There will be 40-plus music acts throughout the day performing on two stages set up on the street and on club stages within the street closure — Key Club, The Roxy Theatre, Cat Club and Whisky A Go-Go. Tickets are available now for a discounted price of $39.50.

Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL will make a special guest appearance on the brand new Fuse TV show "Let It Rock" on Monday, August 31 at 7:00 p.m. EST. The band talks about its forthcoming album, "Retribution", and also shows the music video for "Still I Rise", the first single off the group's new album, "Retribution".

The show will re-air on the following days and times:

Tuesday, September 1 @ 3:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 2 @ 12:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 6 @ 5:00 p.m.
Friday, September 11 @ 2:00 a.m.
Saturday, September 12 @ 6:00 p.m.

Hosted by Juliya, Fuse's brand new weekly series "Let It Rock" premiered on Monday, August 3. The show airs the latest videos and updates viewers on the wide world of rock with news, interviews and special guests.

Juliya, Fuse's resident rock and metal expert, previously hosted Fuse programs "Uranium", "Slave to the Metal" and "No. 1 Countdown", and has also been featured in Maxim and Stuff magazines.

Another new BARONESS song, "A Horse Called Golgotha", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the Savannah, Georgia group's second full-length album, "Blue Record", which is scheduled for release on October 13 via Relapse Records. The follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed "The Red Album" was recorded in Dallas, Texas with producer/engineer John Congleton (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, THE POLYPHONIC SPREE, BLACK MOUNTAIN).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Bullhead's Psalm
02. The Sweetest Curse
03. Jake Leg
04. Steel That Sleeps the Eye
05. Swollen and Halo
06. Ogeechee Hymnal
07. A Horse Called Golgotha
08. O'er Hell And Hide
09. War, Wisdom and Rhyme
10. Blackpowder Orchard
11. The Gnashing
12. Bullhead's Lament

BARONESS will make its Australian live debut as part of the massive Soundwave Festival. Other acts taking part in the event include FAITH NO MORE, JANE'S ADDICTION, AFI, MESHUGGAH, PENNYWISE, SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE and ISIS.

Italian metallers CORROOSION will release their debut album, "Punish The Mind", on November 13 in Europe (three days later in the U.K. and Ireland) via Rising Records. The CD was recorded at 16 Cellar Studio in Rome and was mastered by Alan Douches (CONVERGE, MISFITS, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, HATEBREED, MASTODON) at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York.

"Punish The Mind" track listing:

01. Inconsistency
02. Waiting For Your Suicide
03. Mirror Of Void Mirror
04. Mind Punishment
05. The Flesh
06. Dechoerence
07. Lif Is Beautiful But, Sometimes, Hard Porn Is Better?
08. Enumerate Muriatic Breakdown
09. Unforgotten Scream
10. Colossal Misanthropy
11. In Death's Frequency
12. Faces Of Paradoxical Existence

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/corroosion.

Los Angeles, California's blackened-death metal force ABYSMAL DAWN recently returned home after an insanely long North American tour with GOATWHORE, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, DAATH and SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY.

Commented vocalist/guitarist Charles Elliott: "We're back after a crazy nine weeks on the road! It was the longest tour we ever had the pleasure of being a part of and we had fucking blast! We played a lot of places that we'd either never had the pleasure of playing or hadn't played since 2006, and we had a great time bringing the metal to you fuckers. We want to thank all the people that came out to the shows a tore shit up, drank with us, smoked with us, hung out with us, let us crash at their houses, or were just plan down to earth metal maniacs. You guys made it worthwhile!

"Unfortunately, we were sharing backline on the tour with the other bands and both SWWAATS and ABIGAIL WILLIAMS had to go home early. That meant that we were without a drum kit for the rest of the tour, and in turn, the last eight shows were cancelled because promoters weren't interested in a one-band tour package. We want to apologize to anyone that was planning on coming those shows to see us and we promise we'll be back soon!

"We are currently back at home and we've been busy continuing to write material for the follow-up to 'Programmed to Consume'. We can tell you already by some of the demos that this is some of the fastest, most technical, and yet still atmospheric stuff we've ever done. We hope to have a new album for you guys by next summer at the latest so stay tuned for updates!

"We'd like to take this opportunity to thanks Ken Bedene of BLOOD OF CAIN, who's been filling in on drums for us for our last two tours. Our former drummer, Terry Barajas, left last April due to not being able to financially keep up with the harsh touring lifestyle. He's still a good friend of ours and we wish him the best of luck and thank him for helping to get the band to where it is today. We love you, brother!

"We are currently auditioning drummers looking to join the band full-time who is either in the Los Angeles area or willing to relocate.

"If you're interested in trying out, please e-mail abysmaldawn@gmail.com or send footage of you playing the songs 'Walk the Path of Fire', 'Programmed to Consume' and 'Compulsory Resurrection' to the same e-mail address. We have scratch guitar and click tracks upon request.

"Until a suitable replacement is found, Ken has agreed to play all our upcoming shows and even play on our next record, if need be, so we shouldn't miss a step.

"Please only contact us if you're willing to tour, put your heart and soul into this band, and aren't just looking for a band to add to your résumé until something bigger comes along."

ABYSMAL DAWN's Relapse Records debut, "Programmed to Consume", came out in May 2008. An e-card for the CD can be accessed at this location.

"Programmed to Consume" was recorded in November 2007 with producer John Haddad (INTRONAUT, PHOBIA, EYES OF FIRE).

ABYSMAL DAWN's video for the song "Programmed to Consume" was shot in the band's hometown with director Gary Smithson (TOMAHAWK, HIGH ON FIRE, GOATWHORE).