Cataract Hire New Bassist

BW&BK reports: Metal Blade Records has issued the following update from CATARACT: "Allright Cataractians, it's done, we're a five piece again! As of today Nico Schläpfer from END OF SUFFERING and TIMOR has joined us as our new bass player! We are confident that he will add a lot of new spirit and blood to the band – not just because he's a tiny bit younger than the rest of us, haha!

Next we'd like to announce our record release and 10th Anniversary show which is scheduled for the 20th of March 2008. It'll take place at Rohstofflager Zürich, we will have a couple of supporting acts and we will take care of a good sound as well.

We've got some other things planned for the release of our fifth full length and we will announce everything in time. - more on this story

Aiden Tour

PR reports: Aiden have announced their first dates of 2008. The band wrapped up 2007 after dazzling audiences worldwide on the International Taste Of Chaos tour, and are set to return to the States headlining "The World By Storm" Tour. Promoting their latest hit album, Conviction, Aiden promises to deliver and astounding live set that is sure to assault all the senses. Joining the assault are Madina Lake, Schoolyard Heroes, My American Heart, and Victory label mates Farewell To Freeway.

The first leg of the tour kicks off on January 26th in Anchorage, Alaska. Current hits such as "One Love" and "Moment" will drive the band across the US until its final destination at the Webster in Hartford, CT on March 20th. Their latest single, "Moment" was recently added to Fuse, but on stage is where you are visually assaulted. - more on this story

Prodigy Babel

Contact Music reports: MOBB DEEP star PRODIGY's upcoming album H.N.I.C. 2 will be released in 14,000 languages - with the aid of groundbreaking translation technology.

The rapper - real name Albert Johnson - will oversee the project along with Vox Music Group, whose company Voxonic will use a 10-minute voice sample from Prodigy and a foreign-language translator to create a completely translated song.

He says, "I remember when Mobb Deep was going overseas to Paris in 1995. The fans were saying our lyrics in the seats but backstage they couldn't understand us. - more on this story

Supergrass Set Release

NME reports: Supergrass have announced details of their forthcoming sixth album, 'Diamond Hoo Ha'.

The follow-up to 2005's 'Road To Rouen' will be released on March 24, and was produced by Nick Launey, who has also worked with Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The band are promising an album of glam-rock style songs, with the lead single, named 'Diamond Hoo Ha Man', released earlier this month. - more including tour info

Dispatch DVD

PR reports: Boston-based band, Dispatch, will release to DVD "Dispatch: Zimbabwe – Live at Madison Square Garden", a concert film exploring the trio's on-going efforts to raise money for the frightening situation in Zimbabwe. Set for a January 29, 2008 DVD release through self-owned Bomber Records (in partnership with AEG Network Live and VDI Entertainment), "Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden" was directed by renowned photographer Danny Clinch and filmed around the band's three-night sold out run at New York's legendary Madison Square Garden in July.

The release will include 2 hours of live concert footage and behind the scenes interviews plus an exclusive 30-minute documentary on the devastation in the African country. "Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden" will be sold in eco-friendly recycled packaging and come with a ten-song companion CD of the band's favorite performances from the reunion dates. Inserted in each package will be a DropCard, allowing fans to download audio from "Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden." Technical pioneer Brett Eliason who was responsible for Pearl Jam's landmark official bootleg programs mixed the recordings. - more on this story

Democide Lose Member

Metal Underground reports: The following message has been posted by Democide on their Myspace account: "Just to let you all know that we have parted company with our guitarist, Ben. He will be playing a last show with the band on 08/02/08 in Calne.

"The reason behind his departure is simply because we wanted someone who was more into what we were doing, we didn't want to change our direction we are taking and writing new material was getting difficult to please everyone.

"Moving on to who shall be replacing his place. We have a few options open to us, we shall make an announcement as to who the new appointment shall be after our gig in Calne."
- more on this story

Pierce The Veil Tour

PR reports: Pierce The Veil kick off 2008 with tour plans that extend through the end of the summer. Before taking to the road, the band will shoot a video for their single – as chosen by their fans in an online poll – "YEAH BOY AND DOLL FACE", in Los Angeles with director Nate Weaver (Static-X "Dirthouse", Jealous Sound "The Fold Out", Russell Simmons "I'm Not A Model").

On the road, the band find themselves in the coveted support slot for Emery's national headlining tour which kicks off January 29th in Nashville, TN and wraps up March 22nd in Greenville, SC. As Cities Burn and Mayday Parade will also be supporting the tour.

Shortly after, PIERCE THE VEIL will be appearing at Bamboozle Left on April 6th in Irvine, CA - more on this story

Aster Debut Preview

PR reports: Aster is Tim Hussman and Bryan Ellis, an Austin based duo named after an imaging instrument on the Terra satellite floating above us. On their impressive debut LP Some Things Seldom Heard Of, set to be released January 22nd, the group beautifully builds up layers of acoustic guitars, keyboards, synthesizes, samplers, and soft-spoken, heart filled vocals to create space age dream-pop sure to please any fan of American Analog Set, Electric President, Grandaddy, or space traveling legends themselves, The Flaming Lips.

Not quite post-rock for their pop sensibility and not quite pop for their affinity of atmospheric wall-of-sound aesthetics, Aster makes music that stretches genre expectations and truly speaks for itself. On their first single "Attempting To Multiply," Aster homes in on their unique sound that resonates as the soundtrack to a feel-good voyage, like one aboard an interstellar dingy with your closest friend.

This incredibly cohesive record sonically evolves through emotions of affection, nostalgia, fear, and ambition, proving they can be dynamic rather than mundane. "Some Things Seldom Heart Of," the title track of the debut, sounds more like a melancholic representation of being lost in space - flying past wandering comet fields and space dust, not knowing what else lies ahead besides star-filled black.
- Full Album Stream

Mower is Hiring

PR reports: Mower, who just recently completed a tour supporting Diecast, has checked in with the following re-cap of 2007: The group is currently searching for new members to fill the drummer and guitarist positions.

"We had a great 2007. 'Road Rage' was one of Sirius Radio's top metal requests for four straight months and counting. We toured with (hed)pe and Diecast, picked up new endorsements and sponsors and launched a whole new jazz/lounge alter-ego, Slower," says Mower frontman Brian Sheerin.

"Now we're looking to find two guys with touring and recording experience that are going to appreciate that we're set up with a label, management, and booking agent, and will make the most of the opportunities we have to get music out to people." - more on this story

Macabre Reissue

PR reports: Metal Mind Productions presents a re-release of the album "Sinister Slaughter" by Macabre. This classic material from Nuclear Blast archives will be available in a new digipak edition, limited to numerated 2000 copies, digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on golden disc.

The release date is set on 11th February 2008 in Europe and 15th April 2008 in USA (via MVD).

While metal music often tends to seek inspiration in the horror genre, Macabre goes a step further and transforms horror into music – the Chicago trio have developed their own unique musical style which they named murder metal. - more on this story

Mortification Reissues

PR reports: Mortification, Australia's most successful extreme metal band, now in their 18th year, is breaking into the metal scene in Europe once again. Under the license from
Nuclear Blast Records, Metal Mind Productions will be re-issuing 9 Mortification titles in a deluxe digipak format. The list include following albums: "Scrolls of The Megilloth", "Post Momentary Affliction", "Blood Wold", "Primitive Rhythm Machine", "Envision Evangelene", "Triumph of Mercy", "Hammer Of God", "The Silver Cord Is Severed" (expanded with additional CD "10 Years Live Not Dead") plus a DVD entitled "Conquer The World".

Mortification is well known for their fun approach to a combination of death metal, thrash, grindcore and Blitzkrieg classic metal. The power trio lead by front man/bassist/ vocalist Steve Rowe are unique in the metal scene. Focusing on lyrical subjects such as faith, religion, humanitarian causes and positive life choices, Mortification certainly have a positive approach to their extreme metal onslaught. With Rowe & guitarist Mick Jelinic now getting into their 40's they still manage to continue gaining more and more teenage fans every year to add to their long time fans. This appeal to youth seems to stem from many young people looking for heavy music without the dark themes. Rowe has toured relentlessly throughout the 18 years he has fronted Mortification, taking in their home land of Australia each year. Also beyond Australia and Europe, Mortification has toured extensively in the US, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and New Zealand, taking ground that no other Australian metal band has ever seen. Having 13 studio albums, 4 official live albums and a coming 4th DVD release there seems no slowing down for the Australian 3 piece. For a unique mix of extreme metal styles with a unique lyrical approach and street level credibility, Mortification looks set to continue to conquer the world for many years to come. One of Metal Mind's re-issues from the Nuclear Blast back catalogue is the "Conquer The World" DVD, which documents Mortification's 2001 world tour with bonus footage from a packed out show in Australia in 2002. - more on this story

.... GNR Legends Week: Guns N' Roses Live

For our GNR Legends week we revisit James Rodd's review of the 11/13/2006 concert at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland where they managed to blow him away with their show. - Read the full GNR Legends Week: Guns N' Roses Live review

.... The Harlem Experiment

You could call this a concept album and you wouldn't be wrong. The concept is to fuse DJs with jazz. Many of the songs are classic jazz tunes with a modern urban twist. The result is a funky sound that I can easily imagine filling clubs across the country. (4 stars) - Read the full The Harlem Experiment review

.... Intronaut - The Challenger EP

For a mere EP, the Challenger contains a heady mix of aggression, innovation, and evolution. Intronaut are pushing the boundaries of heavy music in new directions, and anyone who likes their music memorable but fresh will find something entertaining here. - Read the full Intronaut - The Challenger EP review

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