Hanne Hukkelberg Soph

PR reports: Riding on a wave of critical and fan acclaim throughout Europe and UK, Nettwerk is elated to announce the North American release of Norwegian singer Hanne Hukkelberg's sophomore release Rykestrasse 68 on March 04th 2008.

Hanne's 2005 debut album Little Things was an impression of life in Oslo, notable for its imaginative use of found sounds and eclectic array of instrumentation. Her elfin but idiosyncratic persona coupled with a lazily seductive voice drew comparisons to everyone from Nina Simone to Joanna Newsome and from Radiohead to Billie Holliday.

Her sophomore album RYKESTRASSE 68, her first since signing Nettwerk, is a tribute to the six months she spent living in Berlin and is far less whimsical, with a moodier, more widescreen production. Like her debut, it was produced by Kare Vestrheim at Propeller Studios in Oslo and features contributions from the cream of the Norwegian music scene, including members of Jaga Jazzist, Mari Boine band, Dinosau and Shining.
http://www.myspace.com/hannehukkelberg - Myspace page

Down Announce 2nd Leg for US

PR reports: After successful runs on the "Heaven and Hell" Tour in Australia and "An Evening With Down" Tour in the US, DOWN prepares to embark on the second leg of their US tour beginning on January 19 in Birmingham, AL and continuing through February 19 in Nashville, TN in support of their third album, DOWN III-OVER THE UNDER.

Tour dates:
January 19 Birmingham, AL Workplay Theatre
January 22 Little Rock, AR The Village
January 23 Oklahoma City, OK Diamond Ballroom
January 25 Springfield, MO Reminton's - more on this story

Five Finger Death Punch Tour

PR reports: Five Finger Death Punch is excited to announce an upcoming tour with friends All That Remains, Chimaira And Divine Heresy. The band is fresh off headline dates that they embarked upon following their high profile opening slot on the KORN tour and second stage headline on the 2007 Family Values Tour.

Euro-Metal veteran and previous U.P.O. guitarist, Zoltan Bathory, was the architect of what has morphed into Five Finger Death Punch, recruiting standout studio Metal drummer, Jeremy Spencer to add his trademark 'double-bass mayhem' to the equation.

Vocalist, Ivan Moody's previous band, MOTOGRATER, had played to huge crowds on Ozzfest and beyond, while guitarist Darrell Roberts toured with metal legends W.A.S.P.. Matt Snell, bassist of acclaimed experimental outfits ANUBIS RISING and DEADSETT, completed the circle by lending his considerable fretboard mastery to the band's music. - more on this story

Ed Sanders Post Fugs Albums Reissued

PR reports: In the era of the late '60s musical underground, The Fugs were about as underground as a band could be. Unlike L.A.'s Mothers of Invention, the New York-based Fugs recorded for a small indie label (ESP-Disk, home also to Sun Ra and Albert Ayler) and were often deemed too inflammatory for even the burgeoning (if short-lived) crop of "progressive" radio stations. The Fugs' two creative proponents, Ed Sanders and Tuli Kupferberg, drew inspiration from sources ranging from ancient Greek plays to Dada, and from Charlie Parker's seething sax to the silence of John Cage. But by 1970, it was over for the band – at least temporarily – as Sanders worked on two albums for Warner Bros./Reprise Records – Sanders' Truckstop and Beer Cans on the Moon.

Unavailable since long before the advent of the CD, Collectors' Choice Music will reissue the two Sanders solo albums on January 29, re-mastered with extensive liner notes by Richie Unterberger.

To the surprise of some Fugs fans, Sanders' Truckstop was a country-rock album. Tinges of country had permeated the band's final studio album, The Belle of Avenue A. This wasn't the Byrds, however, but rather what John Ware, drummer and keyboardist on the album deemed "country-Fugs-on-drugs . . . grad school hippies and a yahoo, buckaroo!" - more on this story

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to Party In The Dirt with Paco

PR reports: 2007 marked the historic 40th Anniversary of the Grammy award-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the fun has only begun! The band that is known world-wide for "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," and their #1 hits "Fishin' In The Dark," and "Baby's Got A Hold On Me," will be taking these hits and some close friends on tour in 2008 to 'Party In The Dirt'. Joining the NGDB, will be Poco and Jim Messina.

In 2008, POCO will be sharing a common celebration as the members of NGDB once did, marking their own 40th Anniversary as a band. Today POCO consists of Rusty Young, playing an impressive array of stringed instruments including mandolin, and Paul Cotton with longtime bassist/singer Jack Sundrud, and drummer George Lawrence. Their set consists mostly of material from the 1970s, including hits such as "Crazy Love," and "Heart of the Night." Young and Cotton also throw in a few of their own numbers from the early Epic Records era. - more on this story

Mudvayne Charts with By the People

PR reports: This week, Mudvayne--who've sold over 4.5 million units sold worldwide, with each of their six releases certified gold in America--scored the second highest debut on the Billboard Top 200 chart, entering at #51 with their entirely fan-generated rarities collection By The People For The People (Epic Records).

This news comes as the MUDVAYNE--featuring singer CHAD GRAY and guitarist GREG TRIBETT (also of HellYeah) and rounded out by drummer MATTHEW McDONOUGH and bassist RYAN MARTINIE--is preparing to record their fourth studio album for release in mid-2008. As always, the new disc will reunderline MUDVAYNE's position as one of the most creative and distinctive bands in the heavy music world. - more on this story

Tribute Bands Wanted

PR reports: Versailles Records is seeking a handful of unsigned bands to round out several star-studded tributes planned for release in 2008 to Kiss, Led Zeppelin, and Whitesnake.

Collectively, these tributes feature current/former members of bands including Whitesnake, Anthrax, Dio, David Coverdale Band, Kiss, Badlands, L.A. Guns, Ratt, House of Lords, Blue Murder, TSO, Warrant, Slash's Snakepit, Every Mother's Nightmare, Alice Cooper Band, Lillian Axe, Riot, Dangerous Toys, Pretty Boy Floyd, and a host of others. - are you up for it?

Lamb of God Instrument Give Away

PR reports: After a great first year, Grammy-nominated Lamb of God, their equipment sponsors, and The Congregation would like to say thank you to their fans with a great big instrument give-away!!!

Jackson Guitars is providing a guitar and bass; ESP Guitars is providing a guitar, and MEINL cymbals is giving away a Chris Adler custom Pure Metal Ride cymbal and carrying bag!

All four items are fully autographed by Lamb of God and will be sent to the randomly chosen winners. Congregation members are automatically entered in the giveaway; non-members can get in on the action by signing up for the Lamb of God e-mail list at www.lambofgod.tv (the last entry on the page). - go here

Protest The Hero Single and Tour

PR reports: Protest The Hero debut "Sequoia Throne," their U.S. single, today on the band's MySpace page. The track comes from the Whitby, Ontario quintet's sophomore Vagrant release, Fortress, which will be in stores January 29, 2008.

"Bloodmeat," the opening track on Fortress, is also available today on iTunes (IN CANADA ONLY). Fans can check out a teaser clip of behind-the-scenes footage from the "Bloodmeat" video shoot on the band's MySpace page. "Bloodmeat" can already be heard in rotation on the Sirius radio channel, Hard Attack!.

Protest The Hero also announces a major North American tour in 2008. The band will be on the road for a solid two months, with U.S. dates alongside Silverstein, A Day To Remember, and The Devil Wears Prada, beginning February 21st in Worcester, MA and currently wrapping March 30th in Pittsburgh, PA. - tour dates

iTunes Best Sellers of 2007

antiMusic reports: iTunes have sent over their list of the best selling albums and songs from this past year.

ITUNES BEST-SELLING ALBUMS OF 2007

1. Maroon 5 It Won't Be Soon Before Long
2. Amy Winehouse Back To Black
3. Kanye West Graduation
4. Daughtry Daughtry
5. Colbie Caillat Coco
6. Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight
7. Various Artists High School Musical 2 (Original Soundtrack)
8. Timbaland Shock Value
9. John Mayer Continuum
10. Various Artists Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture)

- see the song list

Soundtrack of a Down

HER reports: Shavo Odadjian, music video director, DJ, and bassist for the multi-Platinum, Grammy Award-winning rock band System of a Down, will add film scorer to his list of credits with his work on the upcoming sci-fi/thriller feature film, "Babylon AD," starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh and Gerard Depardieu. The film is being directed by Cannes Award winning French director Mathieu Kassovitz ("La Haine/Hate"), and will be released over the Labor Day Weekend, 2008.

Working closely on the score with Academy Awarding winning composer Hans Zimmer and composer Atli Orvarsson, Odadjian is collaborating with writing/scoring partner, Wu-Tang Clan's The RZA, writing and scoring several tracks for "Babylon AD," as well as various "futuristic-specific" musical themes and orchestration throughout the film. "Musically, our objective was to merge the sounds and energies of hip hop with classical music, seamlessly melting them into an unusual soundscape," explained Zimmer. "Shavo's unique talent, perspective and ability have achieved exactly that, and then some."

Much of the music for the score is being performed by Achozen, the musical alliance formed by Odadjian and The RZA. - more on this story

Rat Age Coming in 08

PR reports: Metal Mind Productions presents "Rat Age (Sworn Kinds Final Verses)" by Thy Disease - one of the most promising bands on the extreme metal scene in Poland. Thanks to the previous releases: "Devilish Act Of Creation", "Cold Skin Obsession" & "Neurotic World Of Guilt", Thy Disease quickly won themselves appreciation of both fans and the media.

The band's fourth full-length offering "Rat Age (Sworn Kinds Final Verses)" is a concept album which tells a story of the demise of civilization and steps beyond the last days of mankind. The album makes for a unique combination of death metal and cold avant-garde electronic sound.

The worldwide release of "Rat Age (Sworn Kinds Final Verses)" will be available on 21st January 2008 in Europe and 18th March 2008 in USA (via MVD). - more on this story

Kid Rock Beats Up Tommy Lee - A Top Story of 2007

antiMusic reports: For the rest of the year we are going to be looking back at the most read articles from the past year. Today we feature the biggest story from September about Kid Rock bitch slapping Tommy Lee. Here is the story: Something exciting actually came out of the snoozefest better known as the MTV Video Music Awards. Seems Kid Rock gave Tommy Lee a beatdown during the ceremony. Rock first bitch slapping Lee then punching him after Lee antagonized him according to a witness. Now Kid Rock is facing jail for doing what so many have wanted to do.

Hecklerspray details the fight. "At some point during last night's MTV VMA show, Pamela Anderson's ex-husbands Tommy Lee and Kid Rock got embroiled in some kind of schoolgirl slap-fight that ended when Kid Rock punched Tommy Lee, who was then dragged off by security."

"It looked like Tommy Lee initiated it because Kid Rock was ignoring him," rap producer Rich Nice, who was two tables away told AP "And Tommy Lee kind of antagonized him. And then when Tommy Lee stood up, it looked a little weird, like 'Yo, what?' When Tommy stands up is when Kid hit him the first time with a backhand. And then Tommy Lee looked like he was trying to get at him to aggressively retaliate and then Kid Rock hits Tommy Lee again - bong. And then security grabs Tommy Lee in a headlock and pulls him off." - more on this story

.... Rock Reads: Clapton - The Autobiography

Eric Clapton's lifelong battle with drugs, booze and various other demons is another in a long line of rock and roll dysfunction stories. Every cliche' about the depths of addiction and the long road back peppers this memoir. (3.5 stars) - Read the full Rock Reads: Clapton - The Autobiography review

.... Review: Will Hoge Live

There is something spiritual, genuine and sincere in each and everything he does when he hits the concert stage. There are no fancy outfits, no gimmicks, and no attitude…just a yearning to give the crowd an unforgettable experience. - Read the full Will Hoge Live - Hearts, Souls & Minds Are Gonna Roll review

.... Review: Evile - Enter the Grave

Despite having its moments, Enter the Grave is unquestionably a minimalist approach to thrash in which vague qualities are highlighted without any strain of authentic attributes or musical diversity. - Read the full Evile - Enter the Grave review

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