THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER: Changing of the Guard

"Well kids, enough with all the secrets… it's about time we in The Black Dahlia Murder clue you fans in and tell all about our recent hush hush bassist situation… I'm sure some of you who have seen us on tour in the last months have grown curious as to who this mystery man bass extraordinaire could be and have wondered what long time bassist Ryan "Bart" Williams could be up to. After months of tip-toeing around it, we've decided to break the silence and let you guys know the truth.

After six long, grueling years of relentless back-to-back touring, Ryan Williams has decided to step down from his full time position in The Black Dahlia Murder to pursue a career in recording (please stop and check out his new gig here). Although the remaining members are indeed saddened by his decision, the good news is that Ryan will still be involved in the band in many ways, from continued contributions of songwriting (Ryan wrote those sick Robocop riffs in "Malenchantments Of The Necrosphere", amongst several others, mind you) to overseeing and co-producing future BDM recordings. As you will clearly see by the statements of all parties involved, the change is completely amicable, and the love and brotherhood we've shared with Ryan over the years remains untarnished. We wish him the absolute best of luck with Augmented Audio and all of his future endeavors.

Max Lavelle was literally the first idea of a replacement for Ryan, we had toured alongside him when he was playing with Despised Icon a few different times and had the chance to become pretty good friends with the guy as well as be allowed the chance to see him perform live many times. Max is a diehard metal head, a great bassist, a monstrous live presence and a welcome shot of energy into the bloodstream of this band. His enthusiasm for forwarding the whole is inspiring and exactly what we need at this point in time." - Trevor Strnad

Check out the following video HERE for comments from Ryan "Bart" Williams and Max Lavelle.

LAY DOWN ROTTEN German Headlining tour for September!

Death Metallers LAY DOWN ROTTEN have just confirmed a German headlining tour for September under the banner The Coming Death Tour 2012! Support on all shows comes from DAMNATION DEFACED, DISCREATION and VOICE OF REVENGE!

Support the underground and spread the word!

The Coming Death Tour 2012
LAY DOWN ROTTEN
+ DAMNATION DEFACED
+ DISCREATION
+ VOICE OF REVENGE
07/09/12 – DE – Braunschweig – Schweinebärmann
08/09/12 – DE – Rodgau – Krawall Open Air
15/09/12 – DE – Saalfeld – Klubhaus Saal
21/09/12 – DE – Würzburg - Immerhin
22/09/12 – DE – Aalen – Rock It
28/09/12 – DE – Halle - Marktwirtschaft
29/09/12 – DE – Leipzig – Bandhaus
02/10/12 – DE – Hamburg – Bambi Galore

Stay up to date about the tour @ http://www.facebook.com/comingdeathtour

THE CASUALTIES and NEKROMANTIX to Headline the "TONIGHT WE UNITE!" Tour; Full Line-Up and Routing Announced

This summer the punk rock and psychobilly worlds rejoice as the two genres most prolific acts join forces for the first time to co-headline the Tonight We Unite! Tour. This much anticipated event features The Casualties and Nekromantix as headliners with support from Down By Law, Lower Class Brats, Flatfoot 56, and The Sheds. The tour kicks off July 1st in Hollywood, Ca and wraps up on August 5th in Santa Ana, Ca. This is the must see punk rock event of the year. See below to view the tour’s complete routing.

Comment from Jake: "We're pretty fuckin ready to hit the road again after all this recording! We have a big suprise for this tour in the summer. Also we will be stoked to play with our drinking buddies Nekromantix & LCB, not to mention the diverse line up of bands. To see all our new and old friends this summer is gonna be a nuclear beer blast that we haven't done in some time. Wait til ya hear what we're putting on the setlist... Yer in 'FOR' it."

Comment from Kim: “Psychobilly and Punk Rock... two of my favorites. The Tonight We Unite tour is gonna kick some serious ass!”

TOUR DATES:

07/01 Hollywood, CA @ House Of Blues
07/02 Oakland, CA @ Metro
07/05 Sacramento, CA @ Ace Of Spades
07/06 Portland, OR @ Branx
07/07 Seattle, WA @ Studio 7
07/10 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
07/11 Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
07/13 St Paul, MN @ Station-4
07/14 Joliet, IL @ Mojoe's
07/15 Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
07/17 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
07/18 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theater
07/19 Richmond, VA @ Kingdom
07/20 Springfield, VA @ Empire
07/21 New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
07/24 Reading, PA @ Reverb
07/25 Greensboro, NC @ Greene Street Club
07/26 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
07/27 Miami, FL @ Grand Central
07/28 Tampa, FL @ CrowBar
07/29 Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
07/31 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
08/01 Austin, TX @ Emo's East
08/02 El Paso, TX @ House Of Rock
08/03 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
08/04 Tempe, AZ @ Rocky Point
08/05 Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory

RIP Roadrunner Records

Roadrunner Records has yet to release an official statement regarding the rumors of massive layoffs on a global scale. A couple of bands from the Roadrunner Records family have openly expressed feelings of despair to the loss of a pioneering label that has helped many bands careers over the years. Read all about it HERE.

The Offspring Releases New Song “Cruising California (Bumpin’ In My Truck)”

The Offspring has launched a stream of "Cruising California (Bumpin' In My Truck)," the first Australian single from their upcoming album Days Go By. Have a listen to it HERE.

ARCH ENEMY RELEASES "UNDER BLACK FLAGS WE MARCH" VIDEO

Swedish metal band, Arch Enemy, recently released their new music video for "Under Black Flags We March". The track is off the latest studio album, Khaos Legions.

This video marks the cinematic debut of Arch Enemy's newest guitarist Nick Cordle, who recently joined the band after Christopher Amott's departure last month.

SPIDER ROCKETS Offering Free Download of New Single "Scream"

SPIDER ROCKETS want to be sure that everyone is ready to get Bitten with their new album on June 5th. To give the fans a taste of what they can expect on their new album, SPIDER ROCKETS are offering 10,000 free downloads of their new single "Scream". Head over to http://www.spiderrockets.com and download your free mp3 now.

Singer Helena Cos commented on the free gift the band has spun up for their fans:

"Group hug or a good scream? Sometimes nothing beats a good scream. Our song, 'Scream,' seems to resonate with people and we wanted to do something special to thank our fans for the support."

Be sure to check out the exclusive three part video "Coffee Talk" series which is being hosted exclusively by AMP Magazine. In the first installment SPIDER ROCKETS dissect the first tracks from Bitten and answer some very interesting and intriguing questions. The first video can be viewed HERE. Look for the second and third segments to be released in the coming weeks.

Check out the track "Going Down", which is currently streaming HERE.

SPIDER ROCKETS combines contemporary loud rock with classic rock elements. The New Jersey based band travels the sonic spectrum from dark and seductive to energetic to angry, with a dynamic live show and scream-along anthems. Interestingly enough for a band called SPIDER ROCKETS, it is a bit strange that every member of the band is afraid of spiders... Although it seems that they may be starting to overcome their fear based on the title of their new album, Bitten.

On Bitten, the band worked once again with producer Eric Rachel in New Jersey. In South Florida, Ryan Sambrook provided additional production and Zach Ziskin mixed the album. From both a compositional and performance standpoint, Bitten is the group's strongest work to date. Long before completion of the record, an early rendition of one stand-out track "Scream," garnered over 35,000 hits on YouTube without any promotional efforts and no official release. It is available for viewing HERE.

Now, savvy at the art of song-crafting, SPIDER ROCKETS is ready to unleash Bitten upon the masses. SPIDER ROCKETS will be lining up national tour dates in support of the album. Preliminary dates are listed below with more dates to be announced shortly.

SPIDER ROCKETS was one of the last acts famed manager Bill Aucoin (who has managed acts including Kiss, Lordi, Tantric and others) was contemplating taking on. When Aucoin passed away in 2010, his long time partner and companion, Roman Fernandez, took over day-to-day management of SPIDER ROCKETS. Fernandez did this because he truly believes in the band and wants to make sure SPIDER ROCKETS continue following in the legacy of Aucoin.

Bitten Track Listing:
1) Going Down
2) So High
3) Scream
4) Don't Need You
5) Break
6) Gasoline
7) Twilight Zone
8) Better When It's Loud
9) Nothing Left
10) Bring Me Around

SPIDER ROCKETS LIVE:
6/8 Altoona, PA @ Aldo's
6/9: Erie, PA @ Sherlock's
6/23: Philadelphia, PA @ The Legendary Dobbs
7/6: Hartford, CT @ Up or On the Rocks

WHITECHAPEL Brand New Album Announced! - Tracklisting and Album Artwork Revealed

Having spent several years lauded as one of the frontrunners in their genre, in 2012 WHITECHAPEL stand as a defining force in contemporary heavy music. Building dramatically on the trademarked bludgeon of their first three releases, with Whitechapel the Tennessean sextet have inarguably delivered their most intense, dynamic, and downright hostile record to date. Drenched in atmospheric darkness, the record is also rife with gripping melodies that drag the listener in to the tumult, willing or otherwise, and across its ten tracks it is infused with an emotional depth that pointedly separates the band from the plethora of two-dimensional mosh-starters that have sprung up in their wake.

Whitechapel, the band's self-titled fourth album, is slated for a June 19th release date via Metal Blade Records. Today WHITECHAPEL have unveiled the album artwork, tracklisting and released the first single from the album.

Tracklisting:
1) Make it Bleed
2) Hate Creation
3) (Cult)uralist
4) I, Dementia
5) Section 8
6) Faces
7) Dead Silence
8) The Night Remains
9) Devoid
10) Possibilities of an Impossible Existence

The album was engineered and mixed by Mark Lewis (Black Dahlia Murder, DevilDriver), who also handled production duties alongside the band. The album artwork was created by Aaron Marsh of Forefathers Group with art direction provided by WHITECHAPEL.

The first single from Whitechapel entitled "Hate Creation" is available for streaming exclusively HERE. Check it out and be sure to pre-order your copy of the album.

Returning to their rightful place on the road, the band are enthused to take these new songs to their rabid fan base. They stand confident in their belief that their followers will hungrily devour the latest evolution of their sound, and having dramatically bolstered their fan base through blowing away the unsuspecting crowds on 2010's Warped Tour they are sure to draw in new adherents anywhere they play.

WHITECHAPEL are set to tour with Miss May I, After the Burial, Within the Ruins, and The Plot in You as part of the "Recorruptor" kicking off May 3rd in Louisville, KY and running through May 17th in Portland, ME. Immediately following the tour, the band is set to play at this year's Bamboozle Festival is Asbury Park, NJ on May 18th. WHITECHAPEL will also be a part of this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival which starts June 30th. A complete list of all tour dates can be found below.

The" Recorruptour" w/ Miss May I, After the Burial, Within the Ruins, The Plot In You
5/3: Louisville, KY @ Expo Five
5/4: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
5/5: Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
5/8: Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
5/9: Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Live
5/10: Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm
5/12: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall Indoor Stage
5/13: Huntington, WV @ Big Sandy Supercenter Grand
5/15: Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
5/16: S. Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
5/17: Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall

Bamboozle
5/18: Asbury Park, NJ @ North Beach

Headlining Dates
6/26: Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music
6/27: Austin, TX @ Emo's East

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival w/ Slipknot, Slayer, As I Lay Dying
6/30: San Bernadino, CA @ San Manuel Theater
7/1: Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater
7/3: Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheater
7/4: Nampa, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheater
7/5: Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Sound**
7/6: Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
7/7: Albuquerque, NM @ Hard Rock Casino Presents The Pavilion
7/8: Englewood, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheater
7/9: Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion**(w/ The Devil Wears Prada)
7/10: Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center
7/11: Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
7/13: Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheater
7/14: Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater
7/15: Indianapolis, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
7/18: Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheater
7/20: Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7/21: Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
7/22: Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Center
7/24: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
7/25: Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
7/26: Syracuse, NY @ The Lost Horizon**(w/ Upon a Burning Body, I the Breather)
7/27: Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
7/28: Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
7/29: Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
7/31: Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
8/1: Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe**
8/3: Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
8/4: Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
8/5: Hartford, CT @ The Comcast Theater

**Headline shows. Not a part of Mayhem Fest

SOIL releases first live DVD from London with Ryan McCombs

SOIL has reunited with Ryan McCombs (formerly of Drowning Pool) for the bands first ever live CD+DVD entitled "Re-LIVE-ing The Scars IN LONDON" in stores MAY 8th 2012. This special release features the band at their very best from their sold-out UK performance on October 14, 2011 at the Electric Ballroom in London. This CD+DVD features all the bands biggest hits including Soil classics "Halo", "Redefine" and "Breaking Me Down" and also includes special never before released behind the scenes footage. A preview clip from the DVD can be viewed below.

Soil will be performing at the following festivals this spring:

Sunday May 20
Rock On The Range
Columbus OH

Friday June 8
Download Festival
Donington Park UK

CATTLE DECAPITATION: New In-Studio Video Footage Posted

In anticipation of the upcoming release of their forthcoming new studio offering Monolith Of Inhumanity, today CATTLE DECAPITATION unveils a new in-studio video clip. Check out the guitar tracking process and other CATTLE-related commentary at THIS LOCATION where you’ll also get to hear “A Living, Breathing Piece of Defecating Meat.”

Monolith Of Inhumanity is set for a North American release on May 8, 2012. Commended by Stereokiller in an early review for being “their most focused and intelligent album yet… another solid CATTLE DECAP release that proves again that they are not to be fucked with,” and noted for being “arguably the quartet’s strongest effort to date,” by Blistering, the record was produced by Dave Otero of Denver's Flatline Audio and finds the progressive grind conjurers exploring innovative new techniques in song writing without abandoning their signature formula of confrontational audio wreckage.

In related news, CATTLE DECAPITATION is currently bringing their audio pummel to the stage on the Occupation Domination 2012 tour. The band is joined by Origin, Decrepit Birth, Aborted, Rings Of Saturn, Battlecross and more! Check out remaining dates below. Finally, MetalSucks will be streaming Monolith Of Inhumanity in its entirety this coming Friday! Stay tuned for direct links!

CATTLE DECAPITATION - Occupation Domination 2012
w/ Origin, Decrepit Birth, Aborted, Rings Of Saturn, Battlecross [remaining dates]
4/30/12 The Rogue - Fayetteville, AR
5/02/12 El Rey Theatre - Albuquerque, NM
5/03/12 Cheyenne Saloon - Las Vegas, NV
5/04/12 Ruby Room - San Diego, CA
5/05/12 The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
5/06/12 The Whisky a Go-Go - Hollywood, CA
5/07/12 Slidebar - Fullerton, CA
5/08/12 DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA
5/09/12 Plea For Peace Center - Stockton, CA
5/10/12 The Alley - Sparks, NV
5/11/12 Branx - Portland, OR
5/12/12 Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
5/13/12 The Venue - Boise, ID
5/14/12 In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
5/15/12 The Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
5/16/12 People's Court - Des Moines, IA
5/17/12 Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
5/18/12 The Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS

Introducing the First Annual MAYHEM FESTIVAL CRUISE Featuring LAMB OF GOD, MACHINE HEAD, ANTHRAX, SUICIDE SILENCE, HATEBREED, KINGDOM OF SORROW and Many More! The Maiden Voyage Sets Sail on December 7th, 2012 from Miami, FL to the Bahamas! Tickets Go on Sale Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at 12 NOON EST

From the creators of the country’s largest touring heavy music festival experience and presented in conjunction with Hal Roseman of Rose Tours comes the first annual MAYHEM FESTIVAL CRUISE, taking place aboard the Carnival Imagination! The maiden voyage of the most crushing cruise on Earth sets sail on Friday, December 7, 2012 from the Port of Miami, FL and travels to the Bahamas, returning to the mainland on Monday, December 10th. Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 3rd at 12pm NOON EST with payment plans available. Get them before they’re “lost at sea”!

Hosted by Jose Mangin of Sirius XM Liquid Metal, fans will experience a blistering 90-minute set from each one of these killer heavy metal bands: LAMB OF GOD, MACHINE HEAD, ANTHRAX, HATEBREED, SUICIDE SILENCE, and KINGDOM OF SORROW—as well as additional showcase sets from Century Media, Metal Blade Records, Roadrunner Records and Sumerian Records artists including GOJIRA, PERIPHERY, BORN OF OSIRIS, BATTLECROSS, OTHERWISE, GIRL ON FIRE, ANTI MORTEM, and GYSPYHAWK. Mayhem veterans JDevil (Jonathan Davis of KORN) and DJ Starscream (Sid of SLIPKNOT) will also perform full DJ sets each night!

There’s more to this voyage than heavy metal impaling your eardrums! Come hang with Clown (of SLIPKNOT) as he curates his own art show on the cruise, as well as hosts to FANGORIA'S VIDEO NASTIES FILM FESTIVAL. (ADDING IN SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)

“FANGORIA is thrilled to be working with the Mayhem Cruise! The mix of heavy metal music and horror films should provide for an epic adventure on the high seas!” - Bekah McKendry, Fangoria Entertainment

Laugh along with ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL’s comedian BIG JAY OAKERSON and THE LEGIONS OF SKANK featuring LUIS J. GOMEZ and DAVE SMITH, who are set to perform two raunchy and raucous stand-up shows each night!

Enjoy daily artist panels with stories from the road and music industry tips! Speakers include ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL co-creators John Reese and Kevin Lyman, amongst other musical icons. Check out the Neo-Burlesque dance troupe IRON FIST VELVET GLOVE CARNAL REVIEW. See the diverse and sexy dancers in an edgy underground setting.

Other entertainment on board will include:
BEACHER'S MADHOUSE
A full casino featuring a three-night poker tournament with artists and fans side by side
Meet & Greets, signings, and photo-ops throughout the ship. For more information and to book your cabin, visit www.MayhemCruise.com.

“The 2012 MAYHEM FESTIVAL CRUISE will be a fun way to bring "Mayhem" to the high seas,” states festival co-creator Kevin Lyman.

"It is time to take the “Mayhem” to the seas,” adds festival co-creator John Reese. “There is nothing I would rather do than spend four days and three nights with 2,000 fellow metalheads witnessing 15 of the best heavy bands in the world while gambling, laughing with Big Jay Oakerson, being inspired by Clown of Slipknot and listening to bad ass DJ sets from Jonathan Davis and Sid.”

**Payment plans are available**
For more general information on the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL, as well as the first annual MAYHEM FESTIVAL cruise, visit www.rockstarmayhemfest.com and www.mayhemcruise.com.

SIX FEET UNDER: New “18 Days” Lyric Video Hosted By Bloody Disgusting

Today premier horror portal Bloody Disgusting hosts the latest “18 Days” lyric video from death metal merchants, SIX FEET UNDER. The apocalyptic hymn comes off the band’s forthcoming new studio effort, Undead, set for North American release on May 22, 2012 through Metal Blade Records.

Notorious for his elegiac themes of murder, death and the supernatural, on Undead vocalist and lyrical mastermind Chris Barnes revisits topics that will be familiar to fans of the band, though as always he brings something new to the table, aware that their followers will not accept recycled ideas. Notes Barnes: “The hypocrisies of daily life, things that affect us that spawn aggression, loneliness, sadness, there’s a lot of emotions going on across the record, and I guess that the dark horror that humans cause is my niche,” However, while Barnes has a very clear vision for his craft, he is always excited by the interpretations of his songs by those who listen to them, feeding on the emotional investment they put in. “I love it when people tell me what they’ve got from the music and the lyrics. It’s like being an artist, you put the painting up on the wall – you know what it is, but sometimes it’s a little abstract and someone sees something else in it, and that’s the biggest compliment to me. That I’m able to get inside someone’s head and they actually give thought to something presented to them is inspiring to me too, and something I always want to be able to do with this band.”

Check out the “18 Days” lyric video HERE.

Cattle Decapitation’s Travis Ryan Discusses New Album, Touring, and 10 Year Streak

Been around for over 10 years and on their seventh album to date death metallers Cattle Decapitation have been hitting it hard with touring the upcoming album and just what more they plan to dish out for the fans between now the end of this year! Frontman Travis Ryan discusses this as well as his thoughts into what he thinks about how long his band has been around and how the fans have been there both the diehards and haters alike.

1. You've been around for 16 years now what crosses your mind? Did you ever think that you would have still been around today?

Travis: Oh yeah no kidding, I didn’t think so at the beginning always figured it was going to be band to band and bands back then always try to find other things and thought it would be a off thing; but once we got signed with Metal Blade we had signed a 5 album deal and I didn’t think we would be able to fulfill that but we did even though it took 10 years but we did it.

2. So you have a new album called "Monolith of Inhumanity" how does it feel to have had released seven albums?

Travis: Yeah that’s the thing I always thought I’d run out of ideas by that time but the ideas keep coming somehow. The fans have always been there and been diehard fans with every show and every release.

3. How has the band’s sound evolved from The Harvest Floor to Monolith of Inhumanity?

Travis: We have a new bass player who added a lot to the sound. We knew we had to do better than the last record and had a little more time to write it but had the same time limit because we all work real day jobs so we didn’t have time to practice but managed to pull it off somehow.

4. Did the band have any definitive goals they were shooting for before the recording process began for this album?

Travis: Yeah pretty much to make a better record for the fans so we had something to work off of from our last one so we really did it with this and we’re happy about it.

5. When did you start writing for this album? How was the songwriting process different/similar to previous Cattle Decapitation albums?

Travis: Well started around January 2011 and wrote for all that whole year and had a new bass player came in with a new style come in so new dynamics occur. But at the same time we had maybe about an hour to two hours at night to try to write this record and were a pain in the ass but we were able to do it. It did take a while and we pushed it to the deadline and all we were able to do it but once in the studio we were able to get a hold of the loose ends and the producer thought we were the most prepared band he’s seen.

6. The Harvest Floor was a sizable critical success. Did you feel any pressure to follow it up?

Travis: Oh yes an amount of pressure our last record was critically acclaimed getting reviews all over the place so we really had to follow it up this time. It had made the haters liker’s and the diehard fans become even bigger fans. So this album was becoming better than anything we’ve done before, but some people didn’t know what to make of the vocals but that’s what you get when you try new things in this genre so that’s about it.

7. What are your expectations for the CD?

Travis: Just want to get out there see more countries and places. This release will get us more fans just judging on the reviews and all of the things we want to happen are likely to happen. Pretty much get to air out some things and get some things done.

8. Have you been road testing any of the new material? If so, how have audiences reacted to the new material?

Travis: We have been for the last few months on and off we wanted to test a bunch before on a tour but that didn’t happen. The response to the new stuff though is kinda embarrassing and the fans are like “Yeah” for the old stuff and want to hear the new stuff. Having the fans sing-along to the chorus is kinda weird but glad kids like it and it’s cool.

9. How has the current tour been going for you and the rest of the band?

Travis: Pretty well in some areas we really don’t know what to think of it. It’s just been alright having shows be good and others not so I don’t know a lot of bands out there and tours going on. I’m going to tell you the truth, the truth is it are only okay just to let you know.

10. What else can we expect to see from the almighty Cattle Decapitation?

Travis: Going to be doing a lot more international touring and doing another U.S. tour in July. After that I’m not so sure maybe some off things but we’re trying to get to South East Asia, Asia, Australia, but we want to get out to the places we haven’t been than the usual U.S. tours. We’ll probably do another video and just do the usual stuff.

11. Anything else you'd like to say or add?

Travis: Check out the new album and new video and see you on the road.

DECAPITATED: "HOMO SUM" VIDEO DEBUTS ONLINE

Decapitated's all new video for the song "Homo Sum" can be viewed below and DECAPITATED guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka shares:"Our new video for 'Homo Sum' is totally different than the previous one and really simple, but with the same energy! Check this out!"

Vocalist Rafał "Rasta" Piotrowski adds: "It was great to record this video in Kraków with our good friends. Great atmosphere + good mood + hours of moshing equals COOL VIDEO CLIP! I really like the song. It's a straight-punch-to-the-face, that's why it works in black and white. There are no colorful stories inside, no bullshit - just mosh!!!"

CANCER BATS confirmed to support DEMON HUNTER on the 'True Defiance Tour'!

CANCER BATS are excited to announce that they will be performing on The True Defiance Tour! The tour headliner is none other than Demon Hunter, whose new album, True Defiance, was also released this month and debuted at #36 on the Billboard 200 chart. Dead Set On Living, the latest effort from CANCER BATS, is now available worldwide after being released on April 24th in the US via Metal Blade Records. The band is currently in Europe until the end of May as part of their seemingly endless touring schedule.

Perpetually enthusiastic Cancer Bats vocalist Liam Cormier adds, "THIS TOUR IS GOING TO CRUSH ALL LIFE! We all can't wait to rip it up with our homies in Bleeding Through and our soon to be homies Demon Hunter! This shit is gonna fuckin rip!"

The reaction to Dead Set On Living across the globe has been overwhelmingly positive. About.com claims that "With positivity this ugly, it's hard not to find something to love", while the UK's Metal Hammer gives the album a 9/10; "It's heavy, it's catchy, it's relentlessly brilliant and, above all else, it's still quite unlike anything else you're likely to hear this year". Fans can pick up Dead Set On Living directly from metalblade.com, as well as on iTunes, Amazon, and at local record stores.

In other news, fans can now download a brand new CANCER BATS app for their iphones! Check it out on the iTunes app store HERE. It's an easy place to keep track of the band's tour dates, as well as listen to music, watch videos, and more.

BLUE COLLAR PRESS & REVOLVER MAGAZINE PRESENT:
THE TRUE DEFIANCE TOUR
Demon Hunter, Bleeding Through, CANCER BATS, The Plot In You, Willows
07/26 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater
07/27 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades
07/29 Tempe, AZ The Marquee
07/30 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater
07/31 Dallas, TX The Door
08/01 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
08/03 Denver, CO The Summit Music Hall
08/04 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
08/05 Boise, ID Knitting Factory

CANCER BATS EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
04/27 Milan, IT Honky Tonky
04/28 Rome, IT Init Club
04/30 Lyon, FR Marquise
w/ Everytime I Die, Set Your Goals & Make Do and Mend
05/01 Colonge, DE Underground
05/02 Frankfurt, DE Batschkapp
05/03 Stuttgart, DE Universum
05/04 Zurich, CI Abart
05/05 Munich, DE Backstage Halle
05/06 Vienna, AU Szene
05/07 Cluj Napoca, RO Gambrinus Pub
05/08 Bratislava, SK Randall Club
05/09 Prague, CZ Futtum
05/10 Schwienfurt, DE Stattbahnhof
05/11 Berlin, DE Columbia Club
05/12 Copenhagen, DK Pumphuset
05/13 Stockholm, SE Klubben
05/14 Gothenburg, SE Sticky Fingers
05/15 Aarhus, DK Train
05/16 Hamburg, DE Knust
05/17 Bremen, DE Lagerhaus
05/18 Hannover, DE Faust
05/19 Eindhoven, NL Dynamo
End Tour
05/20 Valenica, ES Rock City
05/21 Barcelona, ES Rock Sound Bar
05/22 Mallorca, ES Sala Assaig
05/23 Lisbon, Portugal Music Box
05/24 Porto, Portugal Hardclub
05/26 Leeds, UK Slamdunk North
05/27 Longdon, UK Slamdunk South - Herts Uni
05/28 Cardiff, UK Slamdunk Wales - Cardiff Uni
05/29 Glasgow, UK Slamdunk Scotland - ABC
For complete European tour listings, including festival appearances, head to cancerbats.com.

06/29 Chicago, IL Cobra Lounge
06/30 Detroit, MI Misfit Lab

Craig Owens Back In Chiodos!

It's confirmed Chiodos will be reuniting with Craig Owens! Check out the update HERE.

A LIFE ONCE LOST: New Studio Updates from Planet Red, Additional Summer Tour Dates and Philadelphia Residency Dates Added

Philadelphia, PA’s A LIFE ONCE LOST is issuing a new update from Planet Red in Richmond, VA on the recording of their upcoming full-length release with Season of Mist. Planet Red is owned and operated by producer Andreas Magnusson (The Black Dahlia Murder, Impending Doom).

“We are hustling along here with this album,” states vocalist Bob Meadows. “It’s going to be a beast of a record and fans can expect a little more honesty both musically and lyrically with an amalgamation of the ALOL signature style and some other surprises that have yet to be over played within the metal community. We are making this record because we enjoy the art of making music, not because we have to make a new record. As long as we are happy playing in ALOL, we will continue to grow and take our sound further.”

After only several days in the studio, the band is making quick progress without sacrificing important details. Meadows adds, “Right now we’re halfway done with guitars and bass. I’ve finished vocals for several tracks and we’re looking to finish basic recording and then fine-tune everything for the next few weeks. We’re going to be posting some video updates in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for those.”

Before leaving to record in Richmond, the band landed a residency for the summer at the infamous Kung Fu Necktie in their hometown of Philadelphia, PA. “We are doing a July residency at the most lawless club in Philly, Kung Fu Necktie (KFN),” states guitarist Doug Sabolick. “Every week we will have special guests playing and each show will be a different line up. Come check out all the new ALOL material as we tighten up our show and get ready to unleash our new album.”

Kung Fu Necktie, located at 1250 North Front Street in Philadephia, PA, will host the band for performances on July 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th. Stay tuned for line-up announcements coming soon!

In addition to the KFN performances, the band recently announced a string of summer tour dates with California sludge metal band Black Sheep Wall. The tour kicks off on June 23rd in Richmond, VA, ending on July 2nd in Philadelphia, PA.

A LIFE ONCE LOST TOUR DATES W/ BLACK SHEEP WALL:

6/23 – Richmond, VA @ Kingdom
6/24 – Washington, DC @ DC9
6/25 – New York, NY @ Lit Lounge
6/26 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott
6/27 – Keene, NH @ The Railroad Tavern
6/28 – Rochester, NY @ The Dubland Underground
6/29 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Roboto Project
6/30 – Lemoyne, PA @ Championship
7/1 – Fredericksburg, VA @ Blue Nile
7/2 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

The Adict’s Monkey Tenth Studio Album, Upcoming Showcases, and More!

Having been around for nearly 40 years English punks The Adicts have got a lot going on currently from getting signed to DC Jam Records to hitting the studio to record their tenth studio album to some upcoming showcases and everything in between. Frontman vocalist Keith Warren A.K.A. "Monkey" filled me in as to what else the band has in-store between now and the end of the year.

1. Can you introduce yourself and give us a brief history of your band?

Monkey: Yeah my name is Monkey I’m the one with the strange makeup and clothes and the band has been around since the late 1976 and as of today we still have 3 of the original members in the band.

2. You have been a band for nearly 40 years what comes to mind?

Monkey: Where did the time go? No it doesn’t feel like we’ve been around for so long so we just enjoy it and energetic about what we do.

3. So how did the signing with DC Jam Records come about?

Monkey: They were invited to come see a show my old manager knew a band who were apart of the label and they had come to a show in L.A. or Anaheim and they became interested. So we hadn’t really been on a label for quite a while, and these guys seem to have the right approach and attitude and look forward to working together.

4. How does it feel to be on your tenth album?

Monkey: We’re looking for to it and excited about it. Writing songs individually we don’t really get together to get all of our ideas together. We have a few shows in May then going into the studio so we’ll have some time to do some stuff and make it up as we go along.

5. You're going to be working with Derek O’Brien what do you think he will bring to the table for The Adicts?

Monkey: Hopefully he will bring lots of beer and also he’s got loads of experience working with different genres and bands. We haven’t worked with a producer before Mark Allen was the only other one the rest of the time we’d release everything ourselves. Hopefully we can bring it some good ideas because we had wanted to start fresh with a whole another angle.

6. Where are you recording the album?

Monkey: It’s in Derek’s studios in Santa Fe Springs, California.

7. Who writes the songs, what are they about?

Monkey: We all have individual ideas just haven’t gotten together to put them together. Just have our own offsets of what we want so we’ll bring it together when we go the studio. Right now we don’t know what the songs are we have some riffs and some ideas but the actual songs won’t get there until we hit the studio and it will be what it will be once we get together. We don’t have a concept or anything like that just writing songs, rehearsed and rehearsed, keeping things fresh and alive. It’s exciting for us banging out songs over and over again so it will be a surprise to us as to what’s going to happen because we don’t know yet.

8. Do you feel any pressure for a follow-up?

Monkey: Naw no there’s no pressure.

9. It’s been three years since the release of Life Goes On. Why such a long time period between albums?

Monkey: I don’t know we just toured and waited for the right moment. Ten albums in 35 years is a huge thing for us so we write when we can unless we don’t have the time.

10. What inspires you to do what you do?

Monkey: These days it’s each other exciting new projects, tours, stuff like that and getting out there and playing really. These people have been able to have a good time enjoying yourselves having fun really.

11. Does The Adicts have any more goals that they want to achieve or have they met them all?

Monkey: No there’s still some ambitions like some parts of the world we’d like to explore and like to make some money that’d be nice. I don’t know just keep going we’d so lucky to be able to still do it and all of the fans being able to buy our CDs and t-shirts and just be in this position without them we wouldn’t be able to do this at all.

12. Where do you buy your attire?

Monkey: Most of the time the stuff comes from online or thrift stores then I just add my own touch to it.

13. How many outfits would you say are in your personal collection?

Monkey: It depends on the length of the tour I’ve had stuff stolen before just have to make sure I have enough. Having enough makeup and clothes because I get worried about things getting lost and the character I play I like being able to do that persona I’m not really like that guy on stage all the time.

14. What more can we expect to see from you guys?

Monkey: We’ll do a little tour in May, east and west coasts then Punk Rock Bowl in Las Vegas then in the studio for 2-3 weeks off a couple of months in the summer and have the album released in September then have a couple of more shows in California, Chicago, Florida, then to South America I think.

15. Would you like to add or say anything else?

Monkey: No not really just looking forward to returning to the road meeting all of our friends and just having fun.

BURY TOMORROW RELEASES “ROYAL BLOOD” MUSIC VIDEO

British metalcore powerhouse, Bury Tomorrow, has released the official music video for “Royal Blood”, taken from the band’s impending Nuclear Blast debut, The Union Of Crowns. The Union Of Crowns is set to drop on July 17th in North America.

JOB FOR A COWBOY Issue Tour Wrap-Up Band Prepares For Summer Slaughter Takeover

Death metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY recently returned from the uber successful Metal Alliance Tour. The band performed alongside The Faceless, Dying Fetus, 3 Inches Of Blood, Impending Doom, Wretched, and headliners, Devildriver. Commented bassist Nick Schendzielos of the trek: "So we just finished up with the Metal Alliance tour. We had an absolutely killer time gettin' all loco with all our friends. We're also super brammed everyone's diggin’ the new tunes, which you'll be hearing more of in Japan, Puerto Rico, and of course Summer Slaughter! Thanks to everyone for picking up the new record, and make sure to hit us up on our Facebook to tell us what songs from Demonocracy you want us to play. See you soon!"

The band will bring their ruckus to Japan next month and wreak some havoc in June in San Juan, Puerto Rico before kicking off the Summer Slaughter Festival 2012! General Admission Tickets go on sale Friday April 27th. VIP tickets are available now through SoundCheck Hollywood. See all confirmed JFAC dates below.

JOB FOR A COWBOY will be touring in support of their brand new studio recording, Demonocracy, released in North America on April 10 through Metal Blade Records. The intricate, Jason Suecof-produced offering tackles various political and economic themes and continues to impressed fans and critics alike. About.com notes: “Demonocracy affords JOB FOR A COWBOY another album to legitimize their death metal sound, which was set forth starting with Ruination…Bringing in guitarist Tony Sannicandro and Cephalic Carnage bassist Nick Schendzielos translates to dynamics not heard on any JOB FOR A COWBOY album to date,” Ultimate-Guitar boasts: “The album plays like a constant assault, and while never backing off it still manages to add enough structure for individual songs to become memorable,” adding that, “the soloing is surprisingly catchy and well-executed while still managing to sit well in the context of the songs,” while Alternative Press calls Demonocracy "an ass-kicking, skull-cracking record." Decibel agrees crowning the record a “…very stronger exercise in slickly-produced, technically sound death metal smart enough to know that a little variety can do a tech-death band a world of good.”

JOB FOR A COWBOY:
5/18/2012 Shibuya Cyclone - Tokyo, Japan w/ United [Tickets]
5/19/2012 Sakae R.A.D - Nagoya, Japan w/ Infernal Revulsion, Death I Am, Hostile Eyes, Neuerwind [Tickets]
5/20/2012 Shibuya Milkyway - Tokyo, Japan w/ Arise In Stability, Metal Safari, Infernal Revulsion, Death I Am [Tickets]
5/21/2012 Chatan Salt & Papper - Okinawa, Japan w/ Illuminati, Shores, Roach, Shakes Beard
6/30/2012 La Respuesta - San Juan, PR

JOB FOR A COWBOY – Summer Slaughter Festival 2012
w/ Cannibal Corpse, Between The Buried and Me, The Faceless, Periphery, Veil of Maya, Goatwhore, Exhumed, Cerebral Bore
7/20/2012 House of Blues – Los Angeles, CA
7/21/2012 SOMA – San Diego, CA
7/22/2012 House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
7/23/2012 Venue of Scottsdale – Scottsdale, AZ
7/25/2012 House of Blues – Dallas, TX
7/26/2012 White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX
7/27/2012 Pharr Events Center – Mission, TX
7/28/2012 House of Blues – Houston, TX
7/30/2012 The Ritz – Tampa, FL
7/31/2012 Revolution – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
8/01/2012 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
8/02/2012 The Valarium – Knoxville, TN
8/03/2012 Amos – Southend Charlotte, NC
8/04/2012 Sonar – Baltimore, MD
8/05/2012 The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
8/07/2012 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
8/08/2012 Irving Plaza – New York, NY
8/09/2012 Northern Lights – Albany, NY
8/10/2012 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
8/11/2012 Heavy Montreal – Montreal, QC
8/12/2012 Heavy Toronto – Toronto, ON
8/14/2012 House of Blues – Cleveland, OH
8/15/2012 St. Andrew’s – Detroit, MI
8/16/2012 House Blues – Chicago, IL
8/17/2012 The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
8/18/2012 Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
8/20/2012 Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
8/22/2012 The Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA
8/23/2012 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
8/24/2012 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
8/25/2012 The Grove – Anaheim, CA

Monster High Coffin Bean, Powder Room, Scooter and Fashion Pack's Go Together!

Mattel's Monster High newest items to hit the shelves go hand in hand with one another somewhat anyway. The Coffin Bean set and newest fashion packs to include Operetta, Lagoona, Clawdeen, and Abbey go together as displayed on the Coffin Bean box photo, but of course you DON'T HAVE TO arrange it like that. Khols stores will have an exclusive version of Operetta and Clawdeen Wolf in doll form with their A:: NEW fashion attire on! While Costco stores will have an exclusive Coffin Bean set to include Clawdeen Wolf and Draculaura!

Also Ghoulia and Draculaura have got their own sets to distribute, Ghoulia with her all new ghoulish scooter and Draculaura with her fashionable powder room. All of these sets and packs are available at a store near you.

Costco Coffin Bean Set

Coffin Bean Set

Coffin Bean Set

Scooter Set

Powder Room Set

Fashion Packs

Clawdeen Wolf and Operetta Fashion Dolls

THE GREENERY ANNOUNCE UPCOMING TOUR DATES

Metallic hardcore punk act THE GREENERY will be appearing on tour in a town near you! The Long Beach natives, who just performed at the New England Metalfest and are currently touring alongside IWABO, will be joining hardcore acts This Is Hell and Xerxes on select dates of the “GREAT AMERICAN THRASH MMXII” tour sponsored by LAMBGOAT. THE GREENERY will hop on tour June 20th in Denton, TX and continue through the July 6th Seattle stop. The band will be out in support of their acclaimed 2011 Prosthetic debut “Spit & Argue."

The band commented, "We are very excited about our upcoming run with This Is Hell. Such a killer band with some wild guys...should be dangerous!"

The group also updated us on their current tour: "This tour with Iwrestledabearonce, Molotov Solution and Glass Cloud is rad. Sweet bands, good people, overall just mega fun." Dates for both tours can be found below.

SCION A/V recently posted an interview with two of the band's members, which also includes footage of the group performing live at Prosthetic's January label showcase at the legendary Roxy Theatre in Hollywood. Check it out HERE.

"Spit & Argue" was praised by Revolver as "a derelict blend of metal aggression, punk-rock scab-picking and sunburnt Cali sleaze," while Outburn hailed the group's "furious punk edge" in a 9/10 review. Since the album's release, the group has toured consistently alongside the likes of Such Gold, Ringworm, Cruel Hand, Vanna, Kids Like Us and more. A music video for the title track can be viewed HERE.

THE GREENERY with This Is Hell & Xerxes:
6/20 Denton,TX - Rubber Gloves
6/24 Midland,TX - The Pinebox
6/25 Albuquerque, NM - The Gasworks
6/26 Tucson, AZ - Skrappy’s
6/27 Mesa, AZ - Nile Underground
6/28 Fullerton, CA - The Slidebar
7/1 Santa Cruz, CA - Pioneer
7/3 Boise, ID - The Venue
7/6 Seattle, WA - Vera Project

You can also check out THE GREENERY on tour now here:
4/26 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews #
4/27 Iowa City, IA - Blue Moose Tap House #
4/29 Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre #
4/30 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad #
5/1 Flagstaff, AZ - Cinnabar #
w/Iwrestledabearonce, Molotov Solution, Glass Cloud

HAVOK: Sepultura Cover Song Streaming At MetalSucks

Today the metal-loving web moguls at MetalSucks premiere HAVOK’s rendition of “Arise” by Sepultura. The tune comes off the band’s forthcoming new EP titled Point Of No Return. Set for release on May 22 in North America, the EP was recorded by the band with final touches by James Murphy (Death, Testament) and contains two new thrash hymns and two cover tracks: the aforementioned Sep cover and a HAVOKed version of Slayer’s “Postmortem/Raining Blood.”

Check out “Arise” HERE.

Point Of No Return will precede the band’s first European adventure beginning early May with Goatwhore, Angelus Apatrida and headliners 3 Inches of Blood. The Denver thrash legion are currently on tour with Sepultura, Death Angel, and Krisiun. The North American Kairos Tour 2012 kicked off April 10 and will make its way through nearly three weeks worth of shows before coming to a close in New York City on April 30.

HAVOK w/ Sepultura, Death Angel, Krisiun [remaining dates]
4/25/2012 Club Soda – Montreal, QC
4/26/2012 Bogie’s – Albany, NY
4/27/2012 Sonar – Baltimore, MD
4/29/2012 Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT
4/30/2012 Irving Plaza – New York, NY

HOLY GRAIL ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES WITH VALIENT THORR

The Los Angeles-based, classic metal-inspired quintet HOLY GRAIL don’t believe in taking breaks! The band, currently on a national tour alongside Dragonforce and Huntress, will head back out on the road to support fellow rockers Valient Thorr just a few weeks after the Dragonforce tour wraps up on May 11. The first batch of Valient Thorr dates are below, with more shows still to be announced.

In recent weeks, HOLY GRAIL have continued to put the finishing touches on their follow-up to 2010’s critically acclaimed “Crisis In Utopia” with producer Matt Hyde (Slayer, Children of Bodom). A fall release is expected.

HOLY GRAIL with Dragonforce & Huntress:
4/25 Montreal, QC - Le National
4/27 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
4/28 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
4/29 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre
5/1 Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room
5/2 Calgary, AB - Republik
5/4 Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
5/5 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
5/6 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
5/8 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
5/10 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
5/11 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues (OC)

HOLY GRAIL with Valient Thorr:
5/30 Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
5/31 Little Rock, AR - Revolution Live
6/1 Dallas, TX - Double Wide
6/3 San Antonio, TX - The Korova
6/5 Tulsa, OK - Downtown Lounge
6/6 Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room
6/7 St. Louis, MO - Fubar

Over the last two years, HOLY GRAIL has toured alongside the likes of Amon Amarth, Blind Guardian, Eluveitie, Toxic Holocaust, 3 Inches of Blood, Saviours and more. Earlier this year, the band toured Australia for the first time, where they played the Soundwave festivals and several shows with Black Label Society and Hellyeah, and also performed several times at South By Southwest (SXSW). To date, the group has released one full-length -- "Crisis In Utopia," which Revolver named one of the 20 best albums of 2010 -- and two EPs (the now-out-of-print "Improper Burial" and last year's "Seasons Bleedings").

Celldweller Talks Technical Matters with Music

Celldweller discusses working with Motionless In White of Fearless Records along with the recording and writing of his own style of music down to the release of the all new DVD "Live Upon A Blackstar" find out even more about his discussion by reading on below!


1. Celldweller what does your name represent for you and the music your creating?

Celldweller: It originated from the fact that I spent most of my time making music in cellar studios.

2. What type of act are you?

Celldweller: Mostly fire breathing and juggling. I tried to do a bearded lady act but everyone figured out i was really a dude and it didn't go over.

3. Can you tell us the brief history of your band.

Celldweller: There is no band, just me, myself & I.

4. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

Celldweller: Musical, extremely varied. Much other influence is from science fiction movies and books, the people around me and the mysteries And wonders of our galaxy.

5. Who writes the songs, what are they about?

Celldweller: Me, myself and I.

6. Describe your show, visual and musically.

Celldweller: A picture speaks a thousand words and video a million, so head to YouTube and check out clips from my new live video release "Live Upon a Blackstar".

7. What inspires you to do what you do?

Celldweller: The inherent desire to create. I love my job.

8. How does music affect you and the world around you?

Celldweller: It affects my world directly. This is what I live for and how I make my living. Have I mentioned that I love my job?

9. How did you get to work with Motionless In White for the remix of "Beast"?

Celldweller: A relationship with Fearless Records budded into a conversation about me remixing Motionless in White.

10. Tell me about your sophomore release "Wish Upon A Blackstar" what does the title mean and is this a concept album?

Celldweller: It wasn't originally intended to be but over time it became one. There are very specific running themes throughout. The basic moral is "be careful what you wish for."

11. What about your Blu-Ray/DVD Combo "Live Upon A Blackstar" what made you say that it is time to release a DVD, what can we expect from it?

Celldweller: I had put a lot of time into my live show. When I started seeing. Ideas show up online from shows I thought "why not capture this so people who haven't seen it or want to relive it can have it?" I had never released a live album or video and felt like I wanted people to be able to see this show if they so desired.





12. What else can we expect from you?

Celldweller: Hopefully lots of new music and shows in 2012. My album is finally wrapped so it's on to bigger and better things.

13. Is there anything else you'd like to say or add?

Celldweller: I love my job.

Hawthorne Heights To Release Hope EP June 5 via Cardboard Empire Records 2nd In Planned Trilogy of EP’s Available for Pre-Order Soon Band Announces Dates For Summer of Hope Tour (June 1- July 14) with Support from Forever Came Calling, Failsafe and Super Prime; Life on Repeat and Set It Off To Play Select Dates

OH alt-rock veterans Hawthorne Heights have announced a June 5th release date for Hope, the follow-up to 2011’s Hate, and the 2nd in the band’s planned trilogy of EP’s.

Hope pre-sale packages will launch soon on the band’s label website www.cardboardempirerecords.com. Stay tuned for additional details.

The band will kick off the Summer Of Hope Tour on June 1 with support from Forever Came Calling, Failsafe and Super Prime. Life On Repeat and Set It Off will be doing select dates. The trek runs through July 14. See tour admat below.

For tickets visit: summerofhopetour.com.

Tour Dates:

DATE CITY VENUE

Fri/Jun-01 Canton , OH Auricle
Sat/Jun-02 Erie , PA Edinboro Campus Events Cntr
Sun/Jun-03 Rochester , NY Water Street Music Hall
Tue/Jun-05 Stowe , VT Rusty Nail Bar & Grill
Thu/Jun-07 Providence , RI Providence Social Club
Fri/Jun-08 Danbury , CT Heirloom Arts Theatre
Sat/Jun-09 Long Island , NY Vibe Lounge
Sun/Jun-10 Townson , MD Recher Theatre
Tue/Jun-12 Knoxville , TN Longbranch Saloon
Thu/Jun-14 Little Rock , AR Juanitas
Fri/Jun-15 Dallas , TX Trees
Sat/Jun-16 San Antonio , TX Green Room
Sun/Jun-17 Houston , TX Scout Bar
Tue/Jun-19 Albuquerque , NM Launchpad
Wed/Jun-20 Phoenix , AZ The Underground
Thu/Jun-21 San Diego , CA Casbah
Fri/Jun-22 Los Angeles , CA Key Club
Sat/Jun-23 Bakersfield , CA On The Rocks
Tue/Jun-26 Portland , OR Branx
Wed/Jun-27 Seattle WA Vera Project
Thu/Jun-28 Spokane , WA A Club
Fri/Jun-29 Casper , WY Sunset Bar & Grill
Sat/Jun-30 Provot , UT Velour
Sun/Jul-01 Denver, CO Hi dive
Fri/Jul-06 Wichita, KS The Scene-ary
Sat/Jul-07 Herrin, IL HITTS
Sun/Jul-08 TerreHaute , IN THMV
Mon/Jul-09 Evansville , IN The Hatch
Tue/Jul-10 Cape Girardeau , MO Pitters Café and Lounge
Wed/Jul-11 Indianapolis , IN Hoosier Dome
Thu/Jul-12 Whitesburg , KY Tourism Building
Sat/Jul-14 El Paso , TX Texas Tattoo Festival

Hawthorne Heights is also confirmed for the No Blur Circuit Festival in Udagawacho , Japan on July 18th.

CANNIBAL CORPSE Announce Australian Tour This Fall

After three long torturous years, death metal titans, CANNIBAL CORPSE, return to Australia for a sarcophagic frenzy of sordid and demented proportions! Set to commence on October 4, the band will ravage five cities — Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth — in support of their latest and ceaselessly hostile full-length, Torture.

Released through Metal Blade Records earlier this Spring, Torture proves that when it comes to combining unrestrained maliciousness, involved song writing and technical precision, there is no equal. On the twelfth full-length of their inspiring twenty-four year career, the Floridian quintet have never sounded so vital, the album building upon the wealth of powerful, dark, and memorable songs comprising 2006's Kill and 2009's Evisceration Plague and pointedly upping the ante at every turn. CANNIBAL CORPSE are the pinnacle of death metal and the sledgehammer force of the forthcoming live cannibalism will yet again prove this beyond any doubt.

CANNIBAL CORPSE Australian Torture Tour 2012:
Tickets on sale beginning May 1, 2012
10/4/2012 Fowler’s Live – Adelaide [Tickets]
10/5/2012 Billboard The Venue – Melbourne [Tickets]
10/6/2012 The Metro Theatre – Sydney [Tickets]
10/8/2012 The Hifi – Brisbane [Tickets]
10/9/2012 Capitol – Perth [Tickets]

In related news, CANNIBAL CORPSE, who are currently nearing the end of their U.S. Torture Tour with Exhumed, Abysmal Dawn, Arkaik will again brutalize North America headlining the upcoming Summer Slaughter Festival 2012! General Admission Tickets go on sale Friday April 27th. VIP tickets are available now through SoundCheck Hollywood.

CANNIBAL CORPSE U.S. Torture Tour 2012
w/ Exhumed, Abysmal Dawn, Arkaik [remaining dates]
4/25/2012 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
4/27/2012 The Blue Note – Columbia, MO
4/28/2012 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK w/ Behemoth, Watain, Exhumed, The Devil’s Blood, In Solitude, Abysmal Dawn, Arkaik
4/29/2012 Newby’s – Memphis, TN
4/30/2012 Exit In – Nashville, TN
5/1/2012 Zydeco – Birmingham, AL
5/2/2012 Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL
5/3/2012 Double Down – Gainesville, FL

CANNIBAL CORPSE - Summer Slaughter Festival 2012
w/ Between The Buried and Me, The Faceless, Periphery, Veil of Maya, Job For A Cowboy, Goatwhore, Exhumed, Cerebral Bore
7/20/2012 House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
7/21/2012 SOMA - San Diego, CA
7/22/2012 House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV
7/23/2012 Venue of Scottsdale - Scottsdale, AZ
7/25/2012 House of Blues - Dallas, TX
7/26/2012 White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX
7/27/2012 Pharr Events Center - Mission, TX
7/28/2012 House of Blues - Houston, TX
7/30/2012 The Ritz - Tampa, FL
7/31/2012 Revolution - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
8/01/2012 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
8/02/2012 The Valarium - Knoxville, TN
8/03/2012 Amos - Southend Charlotte, NC
8/04/2012 Sonar - Baltimore, MD
8/05/2012 The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
8/07/2012 Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
8/08/2012 Irving Plaza - New York, NY
8/09/2012 Northern Lights - Albany, NY
8/10/2012 The Palladium - Worcester, MA
8/11/2012 Heavy Montreal - Montreal, QC
8/12/2012 Heavy Toronto - Toronto, ON
8/14/2012 House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
8/15/2012 St. Andrew's - Detroit, MI
8/16/2012 House Blues - Chicago, IL
8/17/2012 The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
8/18/2012 Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
8/20/2012 Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
8/22/2012 The Showbox Sodo - Seattle, WA
8/23/2012 Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
8/24/2012 The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
8/25/2012 The Grove - Anaheim, CA

ALLEGAEON to headline Bay Area Metal Festival 2012

"We are proud to announce that we have confirmed Colorado based ALLEGAEON as our Bay Area Metal Festival 2012 headliner. ALLEGAEON will be at the helm of a 17 band line up filled with bands from around the world. We are excited to bring such a talented act back to the Bay Area and couldn't think of a better way to finalize an already solid line up."

Tickets for this year's Bay Area Metal Festival are on sale now and can be purchased here:
https://tickets.tikly.co/-/event/474

Keep up to date with all the latest B.A.M.F 2012 info:
http://www.facebook.com/bayareametalfestival

RSVP to the event:
http://www.facebook.com/events/321451547920989/

ALLEGAEON is set to release their new album "Formshifter" on May 8th via Metal Blade Records. Visit www.metalblade.com/allegaeon to pre-order, listen to new music and see behind-the-scenes studio videos.

Killswitch Engage and Five Finger Death Punch Headlining Trespass American Tour!

Killswitch Engage and Five Finger Death Punch will be headlining the new “Trespass America” Tour with support from Trivium, Emmure, God Forbid and more. Check out the tour dates below!

TOUR DATES:

7/13 Broomfield, CO 1st Bank Center
7/15 Billings, MT MetraPark Arena
7/16 Bismarck, MD Bismarck Civic Center
7/17 Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Falls Arena
7/19 Milwaukee, WO Eagles Ballroom
7/21 Fort Wayne, IN Allen County Expo Center
7/24 Lubbock, TX Lonestar Amphitheater
7/25 Belton, TX County Expo Center
7/27 San Antonio, TX Freeman Coliseum
7/28 Beaumount, TX Ford Pavilion
7/30 Nashville, TN Brigdestone Arena
8/03 Battle Creek, MI Kellogg Arena
8/07 Syracuse, NY SRC Arena
8/08 Glens Falls, NY Glens Falls Civic Center
8/10 Scarborough, ME Scarborough Downs
8/14 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
8/15 Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre
8/17 Worchester, MA DCU Center
8/18 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
8/19 Philadelphia, PA Penn’s Landing
8/22 Knoxville, TN Knoxville Civic Center Coliseum
8/25 Rio Rancho, NM Santa And Star Center
8/26 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
8/28 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium

NILE ANNOUNCES “AT THE GATE OF SETHU” RELEASE DATE

The reigning king of technical, historically-themed brutality, Nile, has announced a July 3rd release date for its upcoming studio album, At The Gate Of Sethu. The follow-up to Nile’s latest state-of-the-death-metal-art release, Those Whom the Gods Detest (2009), will once again be released via Nuclear Blast Records. Neil Kernon (Cannibal Corpse, Macabre) handled production duties for Nile’s seventh full-length.

Nile recently wrapped up a U.S. tour in support of Detroit, Michigan's melodic death metal outfit, The Black Dahlia Murder, which concluded with a performance at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on Friday night.