KISS are planning on entering the studio in March to begin recording their new studio album for a late 2011 release.
During an interview with BackstageAxxess.com Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer said...
"The great news is that we are going in the studio again in the next month or two. We are starting to work on writing some songs, approach it just like we did with 'Sonic Boom' and keep it all in the band in terms of the writing, with no agenda besides writing great rock and roll songs that we love, then rehearsing them before recording them. It really felt good to us so we'll go the same way this time."
The band's guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley will once again produce the new album as he did with their last effort, "Sonic Boom".
Ben Sommer is a composer and performer making edgy, political prog-rock.
I must admit this discription, which is his own, is very apt as his music is very hard to categorize.
Whilst listening to "America'd" I heard lots of influences such as Frank Zappa, Rush, Warren Zevon, Yes and The Who to name but a few.
Ben has written all the lyrics and performs all the bass, vocals and guitar parts on the album.
"America'd" is Ben's vehicle for venting his opinions on political and economic matters plus more. I must admit after listening to the lyrics I can certainly agree with what he is getting at and definitely on the songs "Adult Children" and "Speekie Engrish".
The musicianship on this album I cannot fault or the production for that matter.
I did find that the song "Henry Kissenger" had too much going on in it, well for me anyway.
If there had to be a single release from the album it would have to be the catchy song "Adult Children" with the lyrics really ringing true.
The whole CD lasts around 35 minutes which is a tad short; but we are spoilt in this digital age. I can remember buying LP's that were always this length (Yes - "Close To The Edge" - 37 minutes). Anyhow I have always believed in quality not quantity.
Just a word of warning, traditional prog this is not; but if you have a wide taste in music like myself (although I cannot get my head around Rap) this is a worthy effort which I enjoyed.
Also give this album a few listens first and do not dismiss after just one play, it is certainly a grower.
I will be surely looking out for Ben's next album to see where he goes from here.
An artist definitely on the up.
Judge for yourself by visiting Ben's website HERE.
AMERICA'D Tracklisting... 01 Adult Children 02 Speekie Engrish 03 Henry Kissinger 04 Little Hitlers 05 Sumerian Proletarian 06 Right Wing Fiend 07 Saint Martha 08 Kill the Estrogen Queens
USA death metallers MORBID ANGEL have been confirmed for this year's Sweden Rock Festival, to take place from June 8th-11th in Sölvesborg, Sweden.
SAXON will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album "Denim And Leather" by performing it in its entirety at the festival.
The festival line-up is as follows (in alphabetical order)...
AGENT STEEL
BUCKCHERRY
CLUTCH
CRASHDIET
DAN REED BAND
DESTRUCTION
DOC HOLLIDAY
ELECTRIC WIZARD
FLÄSKET BRINNER
FM
GHOST
GROUNDHOGS
HAWKWIND
HELLOWEEN
JASON & THE SCORCHERS
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
JUDAS PRIEST
KANSAS
MASON RUFFNER
MOLLY HATCHET
MOONSPELL
MORBID ANGEL
MR. BIG
MUSTASCH
OVERKILL
OZZY OSBOURNE
RAGE (acoustic)
RAUBTIER
RHAPSODY OF FIRE
ROB ZOMBIE
SAXON
STRYPER
STYX
THE CULT
THE DAMNED
THE HAUNTED
WALTER TROUT
WHITESNAKE
JUDAS PRIEST is currently working on new material and more details will be made available at a later date on the band's website.
Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton's posted the following on his website...
"As you may already be aware, Priest have announced a fair well world tour beginning this summer.
We are all excited about the tour and are currently having meetings to discuss the stage production, but above all the set list. We intend to include some classic PRIEST songs that we haven't played before and of course the old favorites that everybody will want to hear.
To put everyone's mind at rest, this is by no means the end of the band. In fact, we are presently writing new material, but we do intend this to be the last major world tour."
Issue Fourteen of "Classic Rock Presents Prog" magazine, featuring STEVEN WILSON on the cover, is now on sale.
This current issue of the magazine has an extensive cover feature all about Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree.
Also featured is King Crimson, Barclay James Harvest, Steve Hackett, Caravan, Hawkwind, Robert Fripp, Tangerine Dream, Pallas, Mike Oldfield, Danny Thompson, Touchstone, Geoff Downes, Big Big Train, and many others.
There is also the usual round up of prog news and reviews plus all the Reader's Poll winners.
The free 9-song CD, "PROGNOSIS 14", has the following track listing...
01 ETHERS EDGE - Facing Reality
02 AISLES - Revolution Of Light
03 CREDO - Staring At The Sun
04 IN LINGUA MORTUA - Like The Ocean
05 AMPLIFIER - Interstellar
06 MODEST MIDGET - Contemporary Ache
07 PALLAS - Falling Down
08 PANIC ROOM - Dark Star
09 SPOCK'S BEARD - From The Darkness
The next issue is on sale on Wednesday, March 09th 2011.
Black Country Communion, Jethro Tull, Caravan, Mostly Autumn, Pallas, Michael Schenker Group, The Enid and Spock's Beard are the latest bands announced to appear at this years High Voltage festival.
High Voltage takes place in London’s Victoria Park, on July 23rd and 24th.
The festival is headlined by Judas Priest and Dream Theater.
The latest bands were announced on 25/01/11 via the Classic Rock Magazine website and the announcement reads as follows...
Following the launch of the UK’s new prestige rock festival in 2010, High Voltage returns in 2011 with exclusive performances from headliners Judas Priest and Dream Theater.
High Voltage takes place in London’s Victoria Park, July 23 and 24.
Tickets are priced at £99 (for weekend tickets) and £56.50 (for day tickets) – subject to booking fee. VIP tickets will be available at £105.00 for the day, £199.00 for the weekend – subject to booking fee. There will also be various VIP and hotel packages available, at varying price levels to suit.
In addition to Priest and DT, the further acts announced today are:
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION (Main Stage, Sunday) – UK festival exclusive
JETHRO TULL (Prog Stage)
SPOCK’S BEARD (Prog Stage)
CARAVAN (Prog Stage)
MOSTLY AUTUMN (Prog Stage)
MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (Main Stage)
THE ENID (Prog stage)
PALLAS (Prog Stage)
High Voltage is also pleased to announce its new deposit scheme. This applies to any weekend ticket (i.e. VIP weekend or standard weekend) and allows customers to spread the cost of the ticket over two payments. General admission and VIP weekend tickets can be purchased with an initial £50 deposit plus booking fee, with the final payment due on June 1. More info can be found at: http://www.highvoltagefestival.com/tickets/deposit-scheme
HEART are all set to release a brand new DVD and Blu-ray, "Night At Sky Church", on February 14th.
Filmed in high definition at Seattle's Sky Church venue in early 2010 the DVD/Blu-ray sees Heart performing a mix of classic hits plus tracks from their recently released studio album "Red Velvet Car".
The band are joined by special guest Alison Krauss on three tracks with fiddle and guitar player Ben Mink also guesting.
Track Listing...
01. Barracuda
02. Never
03. Straight On
04. Love Alive
05. Mistral Wind
06. WTF
07. Hey You
08. Red Velvet Car
09. These Dreams (with Alison Krauss)
10. Safronia's Mark (with Alison Krauss & Ben Mink)
11. Your Long Journey (with Alison Krauss & Ben Mink)
12. What About Love
13. Alone
14. Crazy On You
15. Sand
16. Magic Man
Classic Rock magazine has announced the launch of its latest "Fan Pack," dedicated to David Coverdale and WHITESNAKE.
It includes a 132-page magazine along with "Forevermore", Whitesnake's brand new studio album and an official band pin badge plus a giant-sized poster.
Fans who purchase the Fan Pack will be able to hear "Forevermore" three weeks before it goes on sale in the record stores. The Fan Pack version of "Forevermore" also comes with two bonus live tracks("Slide it In" and "Cheap An' Nasty") recorded live at Whitesnake's headline set at the Castle Donington Monsters Of Rock festival in 1990.
The bonus live tracks will not be on the record-store version of "Forevermore" and also the CD cover for the Fan Pack album will feature exclusive artwork as well.
The Fan Pack magazine, edited by Geoff Barton, contains an all-new interview with Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale, conducted at his home in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
01. Steal Your Heart Away
02. All Out Of Luck
03. Love Will Set You Free
04. Easier Said Than Done
05. Tell Me How
06. I Need You (Shine A Light)
07. One Of These Days
08. Love And Treat Me Right
09. Dogs In The Street
10. Fare Thee Well
11. Whipping Boy Blues
12. My Evil Ways
13. Forevermore
White-vinyl pressings of the WARRIOR SOUL albums "Last Decade Dead Century" (1990), "Drugs, God And The New Republic" (1991) and "Salutations From The Ghetto Nation" (1992) will be released today (January 24th) via Livewire/Cargo.
Warrior Soul are about to enter the studio to begin recording their new album for release later this year.
Warrior Soul's current lineup is as follows...
Kory Clarke - Vocals
Rille Lundell - Guitar
Johnny H - Guitar
Janne Jarvis - Bass
Freddie Cocker Kvarnebrink - Drums
Forthcoming tour dates...
Mar 23 - The Corporation, Sheffield, UNITED KINGDOM
Mar 25 - Ivory Blacks, Glasgow, UNITED KINGDOM
Mar 26 - O2 Academy, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
Mar 27 - O2 Academy, Islington, London, UNITED KINGDOM
Mar 29 - Diamond Rock Club,Ballymena,, UNITED KINGDOM
Mar 31 - Mephisto, Barcelona, SPAIN
Apr 01 - DURANGO CLUB,Valencia, SPAIN
Apr 02 - Sala Live, Madrid, SPAIN
Apr 07 - Cafe Opera, Stockholm, SWEDEN
Apr 15 - Sticky Fingers, Goteborg, SE
It has just been announced that the ELECTRIC GARDEN FESTIVAL has now been increased to three days!
The organisers have added a 3rd day to the progressive rock festival (Thursday May 19th) with CREDO headlining.
The event will now take place at the Beat Club in Blackpool on May 19th/20th/21st May 2011.
The full announcement is as follows... Electric Garden Progressive Rock Festival - now 3 days The organisers have added a 3rd day to the festival (Thursday May 19th). The extra day is free to all existing 2-day pass holders and there is no increase in the cost of a pass for the 3-day festival.
We are delighted to announce that 2 of the artists for this extra day have been confirmed as MATT STEVENS (who produced the outstanding 'Ghost' album in 2010, and the mighty CREDO who release their 'Against Reason' album in April. A track from the new album is featured in the January issue of Classic Rock Presents Prog magazine covermount.
There will be a limited number of Thursday only tickets available from the festival website.
Sound Sparxsound will be providing audio and PA facilities for the festival Sparxsound website
Discounted Advance Tickets Now On Sale Tickets for next years festival are now on sale at fantastic discounts. Why not plan ahead and make sur eof your place. All 3-Day pass purchases have the added advantage of a £12 discount over individual day tickets and include a free colour programme and official DVD of the event. (£31). Day ticket purchase is also available - Thursday (£6), Friday (£14), Saturday (£23) - Day ticket purchases also receive free colour programme. GET TICKETS HERE
"Faster", the new single from Dutch symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.
The song is from the band's long-awaited new concept album, "The Unforgiving", which is to be released on March 28th 2011.
"The Unforgiving" track listing...
01. Why Not Me
02. Shot In The Dark
03. In The Middle Of The Night
04. Faster
05. Fire And Ice
06. Iron
07. Where Is The Edge
08. Sinéad
09. Lost
10. Murder
11. A Demon's Fate
12. Stairway To The Skies
Joe Bonamassa will release his new album, "Dust Bowl", on March 21st which is the follow up to last year's "Black Rock"
"Dust Bowl" features collaborations with Nashville legends Vince Gill and John Hiatt, female vocalist Beth Hart and Joe's Black Country Communion band-mate, Glenn Hughes.
Joe said of the new album...
"This is the best album we've ever done. I'm finding more inspiration in storytelling in my 30s, in writing songs that are about something more profound than 'my baby left me.' I like albums that are made with the right intentions and sound organic and a little rough around the edges, like a great band playing live in the room, and that's what we accomplished with Dust Bowl."
The track listing is as follows...
01) Slow Train
02) Dust Bowl
03) Tennessee Plates (featuring John Hiatt)
04) The Meaning of The Blues
05) Black Lung Heartache
06) You Better Watch Yourself
07) The Matador Of Bayonne
08) Heartbreaker (featuring Glenn Hughes)
09) No Love On The Street
10) The Whale That Swallowed Jonas
11) Sweet Rowena (featuring Vince Gill)
12) Prisoner
Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks is set to release her first solo studio album in a decade during May, produced by former Eurythmic Dave Stewart.
"In Your Dreams" is released in the USA on May 3rd and is Stevie's first solo CD since 2001's "Trouble In Shangri-La".
A track from the album, "Secret Love", has been released online which is a new version of a late 70's Nicks track that's been handed around bootleggers for nearly 30 years.
It will be released as a single in February (see YouTube video at the bottom of this posting).
Prior to this Stevie Nicks will be heading out on the road in the USA with Rod Stewart on the Heart And Soul Tour in March/April.
The dates are as follows...
March 20 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
March 23 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
March 24 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
March 26 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
March 27 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
March 30 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
April 01 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
April 02 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Center
April 05 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
April 09 - Chicago, IL - United Center
April 10 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
April 15 - Phoenix, AZ - US Airways Center
April 16 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
The FUSED FESTIVAL organisers have just announced the day-by-day breakdown of the bands for this event.
The Fused Festival is the brainchild of The Classic Rock Society and the team behind the Summer's End Festival, the UK's longest running and best-loved prog rock festival.
The event will take place from April 1st-3rd 2011 at Lydney Town Hall, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5JW.
The line-up is as follows (Draft timings to follow nearer the event)...
FRIDAY APRIL 01st 2011
(Doors open at 7.00pm)
SATURDAY APRIL 02nd 2011
(Doors open at 12.00noon)
SUNDAY APRIL 03rd 2011
(Doors open at 12.00noon)
Just in case you didn't already know, the SUMMERS END FESTIVAL 2011 will take place on October 7th, 8th & 9th.
Dutch band De Staat will release their new album in March, and have a 4-date tour of the UK the following month.
Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart and Nick Cave are amongst the band's musical influences.
The album, "Machinery", will be releaed by Cool Green Recordings/Mascot on March 7th, and the five-piece band have the following UK shows booked for April... Wed 6th - London, Barfly Thu 7th - Manchester, Deaf Institute Fri 8th - Nottingham, Bodegs Sat 9th - Bristol, Louisiana
Band Line-up:
Torre Florim - vocals, guitar
Vedran Mircetic - guitar
Jop van Summeren - bass, vocals
Rocco Bell - percussion, keyboards, vocals
Tim van Delft - drums
German/Norwegian band LEAVES' EYES have decided upon "Meredead" as the title of their new album, due to be released on April 22nd in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Release dates for other countries will be announced very soon.
Producer Alexander Krull is currently overseeing the album's final mix at Mastersound Studio.
The artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann.
This is the band's fourth full-length album.
Leaves' Eyes recently parted ways with bassist Alla Fedynitch "for personal reasons." and played the last show of 2010 at the Metal Female Voices Fest on October 24th in Wieze, Belgium (with Dutch session bassist J.B. van der Wal).
Symphonic/power metallers OPERATIKA have been confirmed for this year's Metal Female Voices Festival, due to take place from October 21st-23rd, 2011 at Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium.
The festival line-up, so far, is as follows (in alphabetical order)... AMARANTHE BARE INFINITY BENEDICTUM DEADLOCK DIABULUS IN MUSICA DORO ECHOTERRA HANGING DOLL KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI LEAVES' EYES MIDNATTSOL NEMHAIN OPERATIKA STREAM OF PASSION SYSTEM DIVIDE THERION TRAIL OF TEARS TRIOSPHERE VISIONS OF ATLANTIS
Soundgarden are to release their first ever live album.
The 17-track album, "Live On 15", will be released in March and features tracks recorded on the band's West Coast tour of America in 1996.
The tracklisting is as follows...
01. Spoonman
02. Searching With My Good Eye Closed
03. Let Me Drown
04. Head Down
05. Outshined
06. Rusty Cage
07. Burden In My Hand
08. Helter Skelter
09. Boot Camp
10. Nothing To Say
11. Slaves And Bulldozers
12. Dusty
13. Fell On Black Days
14. Search And Destroy
15. Ty Cobb
16. Black Hole Sun
17. Jesus Christ Pose
The track listing and artwork for "The Unforgiving", the new concept album from Dutch symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION, has been released.
"The Unforgiving", produced by Daniel Gibson, is based on a comic book story written by script writer Steven O'Connell.
Comic artist Romano Molenaar has drawn the characters and scenery for "The Unforgiving", which will be released via Sony Music in Continental Europe and Roadrunner Records in the US, UK and Ireland, Japan and Australia.
The track listing is as follows...
01. Why Not Me
02. Shot In The Dark
03. In The Middle Of The Night
04. Faster
05. Fire And Ice
06. Iron
07. Where Is The Edge
08. Sinéad
09. Lost
10. Murder
11. A Demon's Fate
12. Stairway To The Skies
British blues-rock guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor has announced 12 UK dates for May.
On the York (23rd) and Buxton (18th) dates she will be with Glenn Hughes.
Joanne recently supported Black Country Communion at their two UK gigs in December 2010.
The May dates are as follows...
Tue. 17: Bilston, Robin 2
Wed. 18: Buxton, Opera House (with Glenn Hughes)
Fri. 20: Edinburgh, Caves
Sat. 21: Glasgow, Academy
Sun. 22: Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
Mon. 23: York, Grand Opera House (with Glenn Hughes)
Wed. 25: Newcastle, Academy
Thu. 26: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
Fri. 27: Sheffield, Academy
Sat. 28: Manchester, Academy
Sun. 29: Bristol, Tunnels
Tue. 31: London, Islington, O2 Academy
01. Can't Keep Living Like This
02. Dead And Gone
03. Same As It Never Was
04. Jump That Train
05. Who Do You Love?
06. Diamonds In The Dirt
07. Let It Burn
08. World On Fire
09. Lord Have Mercy
10. The World And It's Way
Poland's Metal Mind Productions will reissue the last three studio albums from WARLOCK, the band fronted by Doro Pesch.
"Hellbound" (1985), "True As Steel" (1986) and "Triumph And Agony" (1987) will be made available in a new digipak edition limited to 2,000 copies.
All three albums, which will have bonus tracks, will be released on January 31st.
“Hellbound” (re-release + bonus tracks)
1. Hellbound
2. All Night
3. Earthshaker Rock
4. Wrathchild
5. Down And Out
6. Out Of Control
7. Time To Die
8. Shout It Out
9. Catch My Heart
Bonus tracks:
10. Hellraiser
11. Hellbound (live)
“True As Steel” (re-release + bonus tracks)
1. Mr. Gold
2. Fight For Rock
3. Love In The Danger Zone
4. Speed of Sound
5. Midnite In China
6. Vorwäts, All Right!
7. True As Steel
8. Lady In A Rock’n’Roll Hell
9. Love Song
10. Igloo On The Moon (Reckless)
11. T.O.L.
Bonus tracks:
12. You Hurt My Soul
13. Turn It On
14. Evil
“Triumph And Agony” (re-release + bonus tracks)
1. All We Are
2. Three Minute Warning
3. I Rule The Ruins
4. Kiss of Death
5. Make Time For Love
6. East Meets West
7. Touch of Evil
8. Metal Tango
9. Cold, Cold World
10. Für Immer
Bonus tracks:
11. East Meets West (live)
12. Angels with Dirty Faces
13. Under the Gun
14. Something Wicked This Way Comes
