Children Of Bodom Banned From Heaven.

antiMusic reports: Attention Children Of Bodom fans, we have a preview from the forthcoming album Blooddrunk, which will see an April 15, 2008 release date. A stream of the song
"Banned From Heaven" has been posted online. We also have the tracklisting for you.

The final track listing is as follows: 1.) Hellhounds on My Trail 2.) Blooddrunk 3.) Lobodomy 4.) One Day You Will Cry 5.) Smile Pretty for the Devil 6.) Tie My Rope 7.) Done with Everything, Die for Nothing 8.) Banned from Heaven 9.) Roadkill Morning

In support of Blooddrunk, Children Of Bodom will tour North America as one of the featured acts of "Gigantour 2008." COB has been handpicked by Dave Mustaine to be a part of the 29 city trek, and will hit the road alongside Megadeth, In Flames, Job For A Cowboy and High on Fire beginning April 12 in Denver, CO. - Listen to "Banned From Heaven"

Sean Finnegan RIP

Punknews.org reports: Dischord Records is reporting the sad news that drummer Sean Finnegan of Void passed away on Wednesday January 30th from an apparent heart attack.

Sean played with the early hardcore act while the band was active from 1980 to 1983, and was most recently working on the set of HBO show The Wire.

In lieu of flowers his family ask that donations may be made to the Fisher House at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C - more on this story

The Human Abstract Lineup Change

Lambgoat reports: The Human Abstract has announced the departure of guitarist A.J. Minette as a result of artistic differences. Minette has been replaced by Andrew Tapley. Meanwhile, the band has also added keyboard player Sean Leonard to their roster. Here's the official word from singer Nathan Ells:

"I want to say all of this in the most honest and unbiased way possible: The Human Abstract have collectively felt it appropriate to inform its fanbase that A.J. Minette is no longer in the band. A.J. and the rest of the group had been at odds with each other about the artistic direction of the new album.

"A.J. was tired of playing metal, plain and simple, and the rest of the band wanted to continue the high-energy live shows and hard edged sound they had fashioned and developed over the past two years of touring, and felt like totally changing the sound on the audience of fans and friends they had built would have been like a smack in the face to all those that had been coming out and supporting the shows. A.J.'s exact words were: 'I don't feel like I can get onstage and feel honest about playing metal anymore.' The Human Abstract has always been, and will continue to be, a heavy band. We would all like to thank A.J. for his contribution and efforts in The Human Abstract over the past 3 years. - more on this story

Grand Ole Party Tour

PR reports: Following recent successful tours with Rilo Kiley and Vampire Weekend, San Diego's Grand Ole Party are celebrating the physical release of their debut album, Humanimals, this week!

Including a hometown record release show Tuesday night, the band have planned a brief West Coast tour this month to amp up for appearances at SXSW and Coachella

The band also recently stopped by the Daytrotter studios to record a session, including a blistering run-through of single "Look Out Young Son" and a previously unreleased song- "Next Day Nightmare." - dates and a link to the recording session

Synastry Debut

Myspace reports: Montreal based death metal quartet Synastry have signed with Year of the Sun Records for the release of their upcoming debut album "Blind Eyes Bleed". The album features guest appearances by Johan Liiva (Ex- Arch Enemy) and Alissa White Gluz (The Agonist). The band has scheduled a May 13th, 2008 release date through Year of the Sun Records with a supporting Canadian tour to follow.

"All of us in Synastry are eager and thrilled that BLIND EYES BLEED will be issued through Canada's own Year of the Sun Records. We are confident that Year of the Sun and Synastry's union is one of the most logical steps in Synastry's evolution," commented Synastry frontman Jimmy Anastasopoulos. "As we join the family of quality bands already on Year of the Sun's roster, we will be able to bring Synastry's live show to many more cities and constant and intensive touring will be our top priority so our fans will get to see us up close and personal."

Synastry has quickly risen through the ranks of the Canadian death metal scene. The band's non-stop work ethic has earned them spots opening for heavyweights like Rotting Christ, Forever In Terror, and 3 Mile Scream while the group's online presence has made them the #1 ranked unsigned band in MySpace's Death Metal category. - Synastry is currently streaming tracks from forthcoming debut album here

Slayer's RockHard Helmets

HER reports: Slayer, the Grammy-winning, undisputed kings of thrash/punk/metal, have joined forces with O'Neal USA, one of the leading manufacturers of motorcycle and BMX accessories, to produce a limited edition of Slayer helmets that feature the band's distinguished and celebrated artwork.

The helmets will launch under the name of RockHard, and will be sold at all Cycle Gear locations and at finer motorcycle dealerships worldwide . In addition, each helmet will be certified and numbered with its own Certificate of Authenticity. Slayer's RockHard Helmets go on sale on Monday, February 25 and once they're gone, they are GONE.

RockHard Helmets is also producing limited edition helmets for AC/DC, KISS, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Hustler in its current first "Tour" line up. With nearly 300 artists under contract with the RockHard project, what better way to launch the RockHard line than with the almighty metal icon, Slayer. - more details on the Slayer helmets

the bird and the bee EP

PR reports: the bird and the bee are now releasing the One Too Many Hearts EP just in time for Valentine's Day!

The four-song EP includes three new songs by the duo: "Birthday", "The Last Day Of Our Lives", which Inara George describes as "kind of a flower child-funk/Serge Gainsbourg-thing", and "Come As You Were".

The EP's closer, "Tonight You Belong to Me" is a duet sung by George and Gus Seyffert (a multi-instrumentalist who has toured with the band playing guitar and autoharp). The song was originally written in 1926 and was most famously made a Country hit by Dottie West in 1977 and later performed as a duet by Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin in the 1979 film The Jerk. - Myspace page

The Jam Plan New CD

Gigwise reports: The remaining members of The Jam, Bruce Foxton and Rick Butler, plan to record a new album this year, it's been revealed.

The pair, who now play under the name From The Jam – with guitarists David Moore and Russell Hastings taking the place once occupied by Paul Weller– said they also hope to release a live DVD this May.

"There will be new material, (but) it probably won't see the light of day until the end of this year," Foxton told Billboard. - more on this story

Iron & Wine Tour

Filter reports: Sam Beam is taking Iron & Wine back on the road this spring for a month long US jaunt.

They will be joined by friends and previous tourmates, Califone.

So stop shaving that beard now. After all, April isn't too far off.

Iron & Wine Tour Dates:
April
9 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
10 Tallahassee, FL - The Moon
11 Orlando, FL - The Plaza Theatre - more dates

Davey La Rotten In Denmark

PR reports: Rephlektor inkporporated is proud to present Rotten In Denmark, the debut solo EP release from NYC-by-way-of-London rocker Davey La. The four songs on this EP pick up right where Davey La left things off as the frontman of "On The Verge" UK quintet Ambershades.

Although the Ambershades disbanded just before its breaking point, Rotten in Denmark highlights what made the band a critical success in the first place - Davey La's urbane songwriting, spot on delivery and powerful live performances.

2008 is set to be a busy year for Davey La as he will embark on extensive tours of the US and UK throughout the spring and summer months. He's also working on a truly ambitious film project that will offer an honest account of what it's like to be an independent musician in 2008. Look for the involvement of some serious players from both the film and music industry. - Myspace page

Playradioplay Debut CD and Join Yellowcard Tour

PR reports: Playradioplay! Releasing full-length "TEXAS" due out March 18, 2008. Now, after a year of touring (with Gym Class Heroes, Fall Out Boy and Young Love, among others), Daniel Hunter is ready to unleash his first full-length opus, TEXAS. PlayRadioPlay! will also be on tour this spring with Yellowcard promoting TEXAS

Why Texas? Hunter, a die-hard Cowboys fan explains, "I named it for the love of the state. I assumed somebody had named their album 'Texas' before, but no one had. I had to do it before someone else did!" - more including tour dates

Beat Union Set US Debut

PR reports: Hailing from Birmingham, England, BEAT UNION--who fuse potent songwriting with an amalgam of influences from The Clash to Elvis Costello and The Jam--are set to release their U.S. debut album DISCONNECTED on April 22 via Science.

BEAT UNION--DAVE WARSOP (vocals/guitar), LUKE JOHNSON (drums), DEAN ASHTON (guitar), ADE PRESTON (bass)--are currently on tour in the U.S. with Bedouin Soundclash throughout February. In March, the group will head to Austin's SXSW festival for performances at "The Great Escape" showcase highlighting hotly tipped U.K. acts on March 14 at The Wave (rooftop, 406 E 6th Street) and "The Vans Warped Tour & Alternative Press Magazine" international showcase on March 15 at EMO's (603 Red River). BEAT UNION's invasion will be complete when they storm across the U.S. all summer long on the Vans Warped Tour, performing on the HURLEY.com stage for the entire trek. - more on this story

Emmanuel Jal Warchild CD Release and Film Premiere

PR reports: Musician/songwriter/rapper Emmanuel Jal has one of the most extraordinary life-stories you'll ever hear, and has incorporated his experiences onto "Warchild," his brand new album due out May 13, 2008.

"Warchild," recorded in London between 2006 and 2007, was mixed and additionally produced by Grammy winner Neal Pogue (Outkast, Talib Kweli, Stevie Wonder, TLC), and produced by UK-based writer/producer Roachie who co-wrote most of the 13 songs with Jal.

In addition, a full-length documentary on Jal's life, entitled "War Child," will have its world premiere on February 10 at the Berlin Film Festival, and his autobiography will be published by St. Martin's Press late this year. - more on this story

Margie Joseph Reissues

PR reports: Margie Joseph may not have soared to the commercial heights of her Atlantic label-mate Aretha Franklin. But in the '70s, she released six albums that bore numerous R&B hits. She also attracted some hit producers — Arif Mardin, Lamont Dozier and Johnny Bristol among them — as well as some of the hottest writers and session musicians around. Mississippi-born Joseph was influenced by Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Patsy Cline, along with the gospel music she heard in church.

In the mid-'60s, Joseph met New Orleans DJ Larry McKinley, who took her to OKeh Records. She began her recording career there with two singles in 1967-68 written by Willie Tee, George Davis and Lee Diamond. She then went to Stax's Volt label where she recorded two LPs in 1970-71. In 1971, it was off to Atlantic, a label she would call home for the duration of six albums. "One thing Atlantic did is they invested in me," she says. "I don't have any bad things to say about Atlantic. Atlantic treated me royally."

Those six albums will be reissued on March 11, 2008 by Collectors' Choice Music, with comprehensive liner notes by Chicago musicologist Bill Dahl that include quotes from Joseph, McKinley, and Lamont Dozier. - more on this story

Shiddy Group Named

PR reports: Diddy has unveiled the name of Making The Band 4's series-winning quintet. The group – currently starring in the latest season of MTV's reality series – will officially be known as DAY26.

The moniker is derived from the band's official formation last August 26th, when the five gifted performers were chosen by Diddy and MTV viewers around the world on the Making The Band 4 season finale. - more on this story

.... Johnathan Rice - Further North

It's obvious in Rice's music the influence of his favorite artist like Bob Dylan, Neil Young even Lou Reed have helped mold his sound. Rice's music seems to deal with much more honest and sobering issues while not sacrificing the melodies or rhythm. (4.5 stars) - Read the full Johnathan Rice - Further North review

.... The Octopus Project Review and Interview

Embedding jovial melodies and craggy distorted guitars within its pensive rhythmic backdrop, The Octopus Project's third installment explores varied sounds and shapes that the trio concoct themselves. Check out Erika's review and exclusive interview. (4 stars) - Read the full The Octopus Project Review and Interview review

.... Behold... the Arctopus - Skullgrid

Sometimes actions speak louder than words. Utterly devoid of vocals, the debut full-length album from this mind-bending New York City power-trio makes due by simply erasing the need for them. - Read the full Behold... the Arctopus - Skullgrid review

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