Former DEATH/MONSTROSITY bassist Kelly Conlon has announced the launch of his new web site, Kelly Conlon's Riff-Xchange, at www.kellyconlon.net.
Commented Kelly: "This site is for anyone to join and everyone can participate. This Riff Xchange is for musicians to collaborate with each other, whether to gain knowledge or gain new contacts — everyone can learn. This community is for all genres of music where you can learn other styles you may not be familiar with. Learn new techniques on your instrument(s), post videos and ideas. Join up and start sharing your experiences. Everyone is welcome."
In addition to collaborating with musicians — including Kelly — you will also be able to keep up with his past and present projects, highlights from various bands he's been a part of, videos, tour news and memorable moments, and studio work. Kelly will also be independently posting videos of his bass stylings on the site.
To celebrate the launch of his new web site, Kelly has released a never-before-seen video from the original "Symbolic" lineup of DEATH — Chuck Schuldiner, Bobby Koelble, Gene Hoglan and Kelly Conlon — performing the song "Crystal Mountain" at the first show before heading to Europe for the "Full of Hate Festivals" in 1995. The clip can now be viewed on Kelly Conlon's Riff Xchange and YouTube. It is also available for viewing below.
DEATH: Never-Before-Seen Performance Video From 'Symbolic' Lineup Posted Online
DARK TRANQUILLITY Vocalist, Bassist Talk About New Album, Touring
Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY will make their much-anticipated return to North America on May 11 as they kick off a massive headlining tour with support from THREAT SIGNAL and MUTINY WITHIN. This promises to be the longest, career-spanning DARK TRANQUILLITY setlist yet, so diehard fans will not want to miss out.
An in-depth, introspective chat with DARK TRANQUILLITY vocalist Mikael Stanne can be viewed below. He describes the meaning behind the band's critically acclaimed new album, "We Are The Void"; the difficulties of getting into songwriting mode; the meaning behind some of his favorite tracks off the new disc; winning over new fans; and his touring essentials. The band's latest addition, bassist Daniel Antonsson, also speaks candidly about how he joined the group and what he likes most about being on tour.
Stanne previously stated about the upcoming trek, "We've been rehearsing like crazy to put together a set that will blow you away. It's been hard but we feel we have a good collection of songs that represents every aspect of the band and will please fans of both new and old material. Also, the mad genius Niklas (Sundin, guitar) [was] hard at work creating amazing artwork and animation that will look incredible and add a new dimension to the show.
"This is, without a doubt, the biggest production we've done in the States.
"We Are The Void", the ninth album from DARK TRANQUILLITY, sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 15 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"We Are The Void" was released in North America on March 9 via Century Media Records. The LP was made available in Europe as a CD, digital download and strictly limited-edition die-cut digipak featuring two bonus songs ("Stars Of Nothingness" and "To Where Fires Cannot Feed") and a bonus DVD.
DEATH Reissues, Final CONTROL DENIED Recording To See Light Of Day Via RELAPSE
Chuck Schuldiner's DEATH, one of the most important and influential metal bands of all-time, will see the first official digital releases of its legendary albums "Scream Bloody Gore", "Leprosy", "Spiritual Healing", "Human", "Individual Thought Patterns" and "The Sound Of Perseverance" tomorrow, May 11 at this location. These digital releases will come two days before Chuck Schuldiner would have celebrated his 43rd birthday.
Chuck Schuldiner passed away on December 13, 2001 at age 34 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.
Relapse will also reissue an expanded version of the classic debut album, "The Fragile Art Of Existence", from Schuldiner's progressive heavy metal band CONTROL DENIED in late 2010 as well as the first-ever collection by his pre-DEATH project MANTAS. The expanded version of "The Fragile Art Of Existence" will include bonus tracks, extra band photography, expanded art and packaging and more. Details on both releases are forthcoming.
Long-range plans include the completion and official release of the final CONTROL DENIED album "When Man and Machine Collide". Recorded over 10 years ago at Morrisound Studios with producer Jim Morris, "When Man and Machine Collide" was tracked by Schuldiner but left incomplete upon Chuck's passing. A range of officially licensed DEATH, CONTROL DENIED, and MANTAS merchandise has also been issued here. Many classic album art designs will follow in the coming months, making some highly sought-after designs available officially for the first time in years.
Stay tuned to EmptyWords.org, the official DEATH / CONTROL DENIED / Chuck Schuldiner web site, and Relapse.com for more information.
Guitar World has released its second TAB book, featuring the music of DEATH.
"Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection" is the first song transcription book based on the DEATH catalog. Created with the endorsement of Chuck Schuldiner's family, it features full transcriptions — including guitar, bass and lyrics — of eight classic DEATH songs, such as "Pull the Plug", "Zombie Ritual", "Flesh and the Power It Holds" and many others! Plus, "Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection" includes a life- and career-spanning biography on Chuck Schuldiner, death metal's pioneer and spiritual guide.
Transcriptions include:
* Pull the Plug", as heard on "Leprosy"
* The Philosopher", as heard on "Individual Thought Patterns"
* Crystal Mountain", as heard on "Symbolic"
* Flesh and the Power It Holds", as heard on "The Sound of Perseverance"
* Scavenger of Human Sorrow", as heard on "The Sound of Perseverance"
* Zombie Ritual", as heard on "Scream Bloody Gore"
* Spiritual Healing", as heard on "Spiritual Healing"
* Together as One", as heard on "Human"
For more information, go to this location.
ISTAPP: New Song Available For Streaming
Comments ISTAPP: "'Vinterriket' is a track that will permanently freeze the eardrums of the ones who worships the sun."
Hailing from Blekinge, Sweden, one of the traditional provinces of Sweden situated in the south of the country bordering Smaland, Scania and the Baltic Sea, are the three warlords that form ISTAPP; Mordechai von Renvaktar, C. Ashuck von Renvaktar and Fjalar. Setting out on a campaign to destroy the sun and all of its followers, ISTAPP is currently preparing to unleash the band's Metal Blade Records debut, "Blekinge", on June 8 in the U.S. and Canada.
"Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke that corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm," but ISTAPP's forthcoming album is anything but.
"We are confident that the piece of deadly art about to strike down on you all will be the first really true metal album ever to be released to this world," comments the band.
Cover art, which can be viewed below, was handled by none other than C. Ashuck von Renvaktar.
"Out of his memories Lord Ashuck himself created a picture of 'Blekinge' and its oak, fore-saying the inevitable path this world must wander. It will certainly hurt the eyes of many a sun-worshiper who dare to look upon it," the band states.
"Blekinge" track listing:
01. Vinterriket
02. Köldens Union
03. 1160 (Miovik)
04. I Väntan På Den Absoluta Nollpunkten
05. Evig Köld Koncentrerad
06. Snö
07. Fjällhöga Nord
08. Bortgång Af Alvrödul, Ljusets Förfall
09. - *
10. Blekinge
* Track 9 has a - listed for the song title as the band used a symbol to name this track
ISTAPP is:
Mordechai von Renvaktar - Vocals
C. Ashuck von Renvaktar - Bass
Fjalar - Drums, Guitar
Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN are continuing work on their new album, "Omega Wave", at Sonic Room/Audio Voyage Studios in Livermore, California. The CD artwork has been commissioned from Kent Mathieu (FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, AUTOPSY, EXHORDER). The album is being produced by FORBIDDEN guitarist / songwriter Craig Locicero and Tim Narducci. All tracks will be mixed by Sean Beavan (SLAYER, MARILYN MANSON, NINE INCH NAILS).
FORBIDDEN guitarist Steve Smyth has offered the following commentary on some of the songs that will appear on the upcoming CD:
"Swine": "'Swine' is a little different from the rest of the tracks to me, a little more on the 'doomy' side of things, but it has more than a few surprises in there. I'm not going to give away too much here… you'll have to wait for it!
"'Swine' has some cool odd-time stuff at the intro, FORBIDDEN style, and well-arranged by Craig [Locicero] and Mark [Hernandez]!
"I sort of created the intro riff for this song by accident. Craig and I were jamming on some of the other songs one day, and I just happened to be noodling on something, not really thinking about anything, and he looked at me, and said, 'What's that?! Play that again!' I played it again, and we turned this from something completely unconscious on my part into the intro of the song pretty quickly! Mark and Craig brought some odd-time and arrangement ideas into it from there, and the rest of the song came right into it. Awesome! I'm a huge fan of things happening like that. The riff I'm talking about has the influence of Randy Rhoads and SABBATH in it, no doubt from my years of playing a lot of that stuff in my OZZY/SAB tribute 'Sweet Leaf'. A very dark, eerie-sounding (I hope!) arpeggiated pattern that has a moving bass line underneath it as well.
"Behind The Mask": "This one starts off heavy and moody, and does not let up for a long time! Very heavy pounding metal with a lot of peaks and valleys, as well as a killer chorus that Craig came up with for this one, which absolutely is heavy as hell, and jumps around the beat; a little tricky, but grooves like a mofo!
"Again, I don't want to give away the farm on this one, but there's some really cool stuff I came up with in the bridge that I hope you'll all dig on; lots of melody in this section, and not the type of instrument or style I think was ever heard on a FORBIDDEN record, but rest assured, I kept it heavy!"
Songtitles on the new FORBIDDEN album are as follows:
* Alpha Century
* Forsaken At The Gates
* Swine
* Immortal Wounds
* Hopenosis
* Adapt Or Die
* Inhuman Race
* Behind The Mask
* Dragging My Casket
* Overthrow
* Omega Wave
Former ANTHRAX Guitarist DAN SPITZ: 'I Will Not Stop Playing And Touring Ever Again'
Former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz was released from the hospital last week after he received treatment for complications from his 2009 heart attack.
Spitz is currently hard at work on the debut album from his DEUXMONKEY project, which also features ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes, vocalist Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEATHERWOLF) and drummer Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P. ).
Commented Spitz: "We certainly have a legendary CD here in our hands.
"The song topics are just mind-blowing!
"The music is by far the best I've ever written. The guitar tone is awesome and the lead guitar tone is just sick.
"More than 12 songs [have been] completed [thus far] by Wade, and some other oddities I've penned as well. [There are] lots of brutal riffs, and, of course, my lead guitar work is light years above anything of the past.
"I've been hard at work getting to a new level of expertise in my playing these past few years since the ANTHRAX reunion ended. I'm actually working on classical guitar a lot these days as well for something special in the future. Of course, my southern rock- and blues-based memorable lead guitar stories will play a large role in DEUXMONKEY.
"There's a bit of everything for everyone to enjoy here for sure.
"DEUXMONKEY certainly has its own identity. The hardest thing for me was to achieve this goal.
"Wade has been a trooper! He has come through the recording process with flying colors. He's been known to completely finish two songs in a day, including learning from scratch lots of material. Un-freakin'-believable!!! His opera voice training certainly has paid off in this case. I've never witnessed anything like it. So very talented.
"I'll be tying up some loose ends with Peter Baltes and off to the mega-producer's SSL for the mixing, who I will be announcing shortly as well.
"We are in the best of hands for mixing anywhere on planet earth.
"Again, thank you all for wonderful emails and concerns regarding my health.
"Tentative summer tour already planned leading into global touring.
"We'll let the music do the talking.
"Just know I'm glad to have a guitar in my hands each day and my passion for my instrument and this band is really deep.
"I will not stop playing and touring ever again."
DEUXMONKEY is:
* Dan Spitz (ANTHRAX) - Guitar
* Peter Baltes (ACCEPT) - Bass
* Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P.) - Drums
* Wade Black (CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEATHERWOLF) - Vocals
For more information, visit the DEUXMONKEY MySpace page.
Spitz underwent open-heart surgery on June 5, 2009 after it was discovered that the main artery to his heart was almost "completely closed."
Spitz took part in the reunion of ANTHRAX's classic lineup in 2005 and 2006 but left the band after ANTHRAX's most recent split with singer Joey Belladonna.
In a January 2007 interview with Eddie Trunk of the "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian stated about Spitz, "Whether people are aware or not, Danny's, like, a big deal in the really, really fancy, expensive watch world — like crazy, super-high-end watches — and he's got his own line of watches coming out. It's weird, because before the reunion I would read this stuff online, and I would just kind of be like, 'What the hell…?' But then like after hanging out with the guy for 20 months and you actually talk to him and see the watches and what-not, I was like, 'Holy crap!' It's a pretty big deal."
ACCEPT: 'Teutonic Terror' Video Released
When asked how he came to be involved in making ACCEPT's "most metal video," longtime ACCEPT fan Blass states, "I first met [guitarist] Wolf [Hoffman] and [bassist] Peter [Baltes] back in '89 when they were touring with W.A.S.P. on the 'Eat the Heat' tour. I was a DJ in Boston doing the Sunday night metal show.
"I reconnected with Wolf later when we used a song from his classical album for a reality series I produced. After that, we talked on-and-off over the years. He reminded me that I had called him to do some photography on 'The Biggest Loser' when we needed some cool stylized photos of the contestants. The producers opted out of paying for a cool photographer and I ended up doing it myself.
"We touched base when the [band] reunion happened and talked about a video, and when it got closer, we all just decided to make it happen.
"Grid 41 is the video production company owned by Doug Jeffery who I brought in to do the project.
"I have worked with Doug for years and told him I needed a favor and that this would be a great project for his company as they are branching into music videos. They did the design work on the MILEY CYRUS 'Party In The USA' and RIHANNA 'Umbrella' videos, to name a few.
"Too pretty for my taste... I needed more tanks and fire!
"Working with the band was great. Peter was impressed when I pulled my 1985 ACCEPT shirt out of my bag at the shoot.
"I couldn't tell who was more excited, the band or the crew. Even those that weren't familiar with their music got caught up in the mosh. I mean, Wolf Hoffmann and his Flying V standing on a GIANT TANK surrounded by smoke and flames doing his guitar solo… how can you not love that?!
"Having spent many a night in high school waiting 'till midnight to catch 'Headbangers Ball' and wishing they would play 'Balls to the Wall', it was a very cool to be a part of the ACCEPT legacy.
"I think the best quote about the video comes from my production assistant, Reed Blake, who was awestruck after the first take with the huge flames, the crane, the smoke the drums, and the tanks. He said to me, 'I have never seen anything this METAL.'"
"Teutonic Terror" comes off the band's new studio album, "Blood Of The Nations", which is scheduled for release in North America on September 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's 15th LP was recorded at Backstage Studio in Derbyshire, England with acclaimed British producer and SABBAT guitarist Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE). The CD — which will mark the recording debut of the band's latest addition, vocalist Mark Tornillo (ex-TT QUICK) — will contain around 14 tracks, including "The Abyss", "Shades Of Death", "Blood Of Nations" and "Pandemic".
ACCEPT 2010 is:
Wolf Hoffmann: Guitar
Peter Baltes: Bass
Herman Frank: Guitar
Mark Tornillo: Vocals
Stefan Schwarzmann: Drums
The new ACCEPT lineup made its live debut this past Saturday night (May 8) at the 750-capacity Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. Metal Heart
02. Midnight Mover
03. Living For Tonight
04. Restless And Wild
05. Son Of A Bitch
06. Losers And Winners
07. London Leatherboys
08. The Abyss (new song)
09. Run If You Can
10. Teutonic Terror (new song)
11. Breaker
12. Bulletproof
13. Neon Nights
14. Bass / Drum / Guitar Jam
15. Flash Rocking Man
16. Up To The Limit
17. Demon's Night
18. Turn Me On
19. Starlight
20. Burning
Encore 1:
21. Princess Of The Dawn
22. I'm A Rebel
Encore 2:
23. Fast As A Shark
24. Balls To The Wall
"Teutonic Terror" video:
Behind the scenes of "Teutonic Terror":
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