God, Guns and Kid Rock for Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd will be wrapping up the co-headlined, 22 city Rock & Rebels Tour with good friend Kid Rock in late August, while continuing on their own headline tour into Fall.

With a backbone of Southern rock and country, passionate Van Zant vocals, and trademark layered guitars, God & Guns manages to maintain the iconic Skynyrd punch while sounding completely contemporary. Sure to attract attention in these politically divided times is the title track, which harbors a sense of menace and unwillingness to back down that hearkens back to Skynyrd's earliest days. God & Guns, along with the unmistakable Skynyrd bite of the first single "Still Unbroken," which was shipped to rock radio this July, form thematic songs for an album laden with attitude, heart and purpose. - more on this story

Ian Brown Comeback Announced

BBC reports: Former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown has announced his return with a new album set for release in the autumn.

My Way, the Manchester solo artist's sixth LP, will feature 12 songs which were recorded at London's Battery Studios, the same building his former band used to make their debut 20 years ago.

The singer has also lined up a new single, Stellify, for release on 21 September ahead of his album a week later. - more on this story

Cass Elliot's Final Recordings To Be Reissued Plus DVD Set For Release

conqueroo reports: While Mama Cass Elliot is mostly remembered for her vocal harmonies with the quintessential California folk-rock quartet the Mamas & the Papas, her story did not end there. Elliot (born Ellen Cohen) came to music via the New York folk scene of the early '60s (with a detour into a road production of The Music Man). She was part of a Kingston-esque trio, the Big Three, which morphed into the proto-folk-rock outfit the Mugwumps. Eventually Elliot and fellow Mugwump Denny Doherty joined John and Michelle Philips to form the Mamas & the Papas, recording such monster hits as "Monday Monday," "California Dreamin'" and "I Saw Her Again." But as successful as the Mamas & the Papas were, they split after only a few years.

Starting in 1968, Elliot recorded two albums and a handful of singles (most notably Dream A Little Dream of Me) under the name of Mama Cass on ABC/Dunhill. However, her most spirited and independent work came when she signed to RCA Records in 1971, dropped the "Mama" and added her surname, and recorded three acclaimed albums. Of these, the eponymous Cass Elliot and its follow-up, The Road Is No Place for a Lady, will be reissued for the first time on CD on August 25 by Collectors' Choice Music. The single-CD reissue, titled Cass Elliot/The Road Is No Place for a Lady, contains two previously unreleased tracks, "We'll See" and "Try it Baby." In addition, Infinity Entertainment Group will release, on the same date, The Mama Cass Television Program, a 1969 television pilot starring Cass with guests Joni Mitchell, John Sebastian and Mary Travers. The program also makes its DVD debut.

The CD package features extensive liner notes by Elliot's personal historian, Richard Campbell, as well as by Owen Elliot-Kugell, Cass' daughter, who oversaw the project. Elliot-Kugell says in the liner notes, "How amazing (it was) in the year 2009 to be able to go into the studio and watch the now 37-year-old tapes be loaded into the machines and actually played. Nothing had disintegrated. And we were transported instantly back to 1972." Attending the mastering session was the original producer of the two RCA albums, Lewis Mermenstein (known also for his work on Van Morrison's Astral Weeks), who regaled Owen-Kugell with stories and memories. - more on this story

Chimaira Kick Off Tour

Adrenaline reports: Last night in Columbus, OH, Chimaira kicked off their summer touring schedule with a huge show in their home state.

The band is headlining a string of US dates before the Decimation of the Nation tour kicks off on July 31. Chimaira will be direct support to Hatebreed on the Decimation of the Nation tour, along with Winds of Plague, Dying Fetus, and Toxic Holocaust.

Guitarist Rob Arnold comments: "After a nice little two month break at home, coming off one of the best tours of our career with the mighty Disturbed, we kicked off our summer tour last night in Columbus, Ohio. Only two hours from our home town in Cleveland, anxious fans traveled from all over the state to catch the set. The response was fantastic, and we were glad to see all the die-hard Chimairians in attendance. We hope the upcoming shows will feel as good as last night did, and we're looking forward to spreading the Infection over the coming months! Keep checking Chimaira.com for tour updates and news, and be sure to check out the show when we're in a town near you!" - more on this story

Cannibal Corpse In A Digital Box

Metal Underground reports: Cannibal Corpse has released their ENTIRE discography in one digital package on iTunes.

Cannibal Corpse has always been a band that plays songs from their entire catalogue while on tour so here's your chance to learn the rest of the songs you might not know.

Head over to iTunes to grab this digital bundle for an incredibly low price. In total, you'll receive 16 albums and 196 songs. - more on this story

A Fine Frenzy Have A Millions Twits

EMI reports: Joining a select club of music notables, Virgin Records' A Fine Frenzy marks a milestone in its close online relationship to its fans, as the band surpasses 1 million-plus Twitter followers.

To celebrate the moment and to thank and acknowledge all of A Fine Frenzy's fans, the band is tweeting a free MP3, an acoustic version of the lead-off single, "Blow Away" that was recorded during a recent visit to Cincinnati radio station Q102. The album version was released digitally on July 14 and has been added to dozens of Hot AC and AAA radio station playlists already, while the band's second album BOMB IN A BIRDCAGE is scheduled for digital and physical release on September 8, 2009.

AFF frontwoman, singer-songwriter Alison Sudol (@AFineFrenzy), tweeting long before Twitter became a social magnet and a cultural marker, had already been among the top 10 most-followed musicians on the service for months, rubbing shoulders with top-line music celebrities Mariah Carey and Britney Spears; the inveterate blogger and online wit John Mayer; hip-hoppers P. Diddy, 50 Cent, and Soulja Boy; actor/singer Ashley Tisdale; Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and Coldplay. - more on this story

Crash Kings Hitting The Road

PR reports: LA based trio, Crash Kings, are putting their own unique spin on the three-man-band concept. Fusing keyboard-born compositions with aggressive layers of rock, their crafty tunes are accomplished without the hint of a guitar. Incorporating a clavinet (a keyboard with guitar strings) outfitted through a distortion pedal, the result is an arsenal of innovative and rich sound.

With their self-titled debut now available courtesy of Linda Perry's Custard Records, the brothers Beliveau (Tom on vocals/keyboard and Mike on bass) and drummer Jason Morris, will be taking their brand of high energy, hook-laden rock on the road this entire Summer, with an opening slot on Mason Jennings' September tour. - more on this story

fun Tour Plans

PR reports: The [overused cliche removed] debut album from fun., Aim And Ignite, approaches its August 25th release date with two very exciting North American tours.

Beginning August 14th in El Paso, Texas, Nate Ruess (The Format), Andrew Dost (Anathallo) and Jack Antonoff (Steel Train), who are collectively known as fun., will embark on a two-week tour with admirers, Hellogoodbye.

Soon after, the carnival-pop outfit will head out on their first headlining tour of the states beginning September 8th in Salt Lake City, Utah. Due to the overwhelming demand on message boards, the band recently gave fans another sneak peak at Aim And Ignite with their latest song, "Walking The Dog." Much like the news of this collaboration, the song was met with immediate excitement and resulted in a tremendous amount of online exchange between old and new fans. With just two songs available, the band's MySpace page is quickly approaching 700,000 plays. - more on this story

Mower Previewing New Album

PR reports: Mower's entire new album "Make It A Double" is now available for streaming from the group's MySpace page. The album comes out on July 28th through Suburban Noize Records.

"People are going to trip on 'Make It A Double' and we had to expect that putting out a CD with hard rock, punk and metal on the first half and a twisted jazz/lounge style on the other," says Mower's Brian Sheerin. "We're very happy with the recording and the response the songs are getting live. Eddie Wohl worked with us to get our cleanest sound to date and we were lucky enough to get some great musicians to guest and introduce some different instruments into the mix. Our fans are getting new Mower tracks and there aren't a lot of bands representing what Slower is doing. It's something different and it allows people to see a different side of the band."

Recorded in Los Angeles, CA with producer Eddie Wohl (Anthrax, Dry Kill Logic, 36 Crazyfists), "Make It A Double" is a split album between Mower and the group's new jazz lounge alter-ego, Slower. The effort includes nine new Mower tracks that will undoubtedly be the soundtrack to countless circle pits, while the six Slower songs offer fans a stony new vibe of mellow grooves served with punk rock attitude. The album also features guest appearances by Rob Caggiano (Anthrax), Mikey Doling (Snot), Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour) and Fernando Apodaca (Mad Juana). - MySpace Link

Jonah Smith Turning The Lights On

PR reports: Lights On, the latest effort from singer/songwriter Jonah Smith, is due August 18 via Smith's own Voluptuary Records.

Self-released, the album was recorded with fan funding allowing Smith to bypass the need for a record label.

It pulls from the deep well of American blues and many of its offshoots including soul, country and folk. Smith's previous efforts have been praised by MTV for their "rich blend of soul and Americana" and by the New York Times for their "languid, easy vocals." Smith is supporting the record with a national tour, see reverse for a complete list of dates. - more on this story

Trap Them Now Trapped On Prosthetic Records

PR reports: Prosthetic Records' has signed Seattle's Trap Them. The band's sound combines elements of old school Swedish death metal, punk, and d-beat and takes influence from bands such as Entombed, Black Flag, Nasum and Tragedy.

Trap Them has spent time on the road with Napalm Death, Disfear, Skeletonwitch, Victims, Rotten Sound, Toxic Holocaust, and Coliseum, amongst others and has appeared at Maryland Death Fest & New England Metal and Hardcore Fest. (In fact, Mark "Barney" Greenway of Napalm Death was quoted as saying, "Trap Them restored my faith in extreme music.") Before entering the studio to record their Prosthetic debut, due in the first half of 2010, the band will be releasing an EP through Southern Lord Records.

The band commented, "After a few months of very positive talks, we are proud to announce we have signed with Prosthetic Records. This is a step forward for the band and a move that opens up a lot of doors that we have not yet explored in the last three years of distortion. Prosthetic has been supportive of Trap Them's modus operandi for quite some time, just as we have a great respect for the high standards in which their label is run. - more on this story

Saint Deamon To Release Pandeamonium

PR reports: Frontiers Records is excited to announce the release of the new album from Saint Deamon "Pandeamonium."

Named after a fictitious ghost rider called S. Deamon, and with a nod towards the contrast between the heavenly/diabolical feel of the name, the Saint Deamon was put together in 2006 by drummer Ronny Milianowicz (ex-Dionysus and songwriter for Primal Fear, Cans and Place Vendome among others), together with bass player Nobby Noberg (also ex-Dionysus), guitar virtuoso Toya Johansson, and the golden voice of the Norwegian Jan Thore Grefstad (ex-Highland Glory). The band debuted in early 2008 with a stunning album "In Shadows Lost From the Brave," a record that garnered great acclaim from both critics and fans.

Saint Deamon toured extensively in support of the release during 2008, with gigs in Sweden, Norway, Austria, Italy, England, and USA appearing at some of the world's finest metal festivals like ProgPower US and Bloodstock UK, creating a buzz as being one of the hardest working bands in the scene. - more on this story

Pathosray To Unleash Sunless Skies

PR reports: Frontiers Records is delighted to announce the signing of Italian progressive metal band Pathosray for the release of its upcoming second album, "Sunless Skies."

Pathosray was formed in 2000 by drummer Ivan Moni Bidin and vocalist Marco Sandron, later joined by bass player Fabio D'Amore, keyboardist Gianpaolo Rinaldi, and guitarist Alessio Velliscig. The band released its self titled debut album "Pathosray" through Sensory Records in late 2007, gathering a great response from the progressive metal communities all over the world.

In support of the release, Pathosray played a few selected shows around Italy, and in September 2008 the guys went to Atlanta to perform for the first time abroad in front of an enthusiastic ProgPower USA Festival crowd. Two weeks later they played at ProgPower Europe in Holland with similar responses. - more on this story

Vision Divine To Explore 9 Degrees West of the Moon

PR reports: Frontiers Records is excited to announce the signing for a multi-album deal of the mighty Vision Divine, Italy's melodic metal finest. The new cooperation will bring the first fruits with the release of the band's brand new studio album "9 Degrees West of the Moon."

Born as a side project of the esteemed guitarist and songwriter of Labyrinth, Olaf Thorsen, to keep his working relationship with Fabio Lione (former Labyrinth vocalist who had moved on to Rhapsody), Vision Divine evolved during the years into a real band that released five acclaimed studio albums, one DVD, and toured several times in Japan, South and North America, and played in several European countries.

The new album is particularly important in the history of the band as it marks the return of Fabio Lione on lead vocals, after Thorsen's decision to say goodbye to Michele Luppi in June 2008. "Fabio's return is like going back to square one for us," said Thorsen. "However Vision Divine is a band that did always move forward and I think that with his voice and interpretation he has enriched the songs and gave them a very peculiar and personal edge. I am truly enthusiastic of his return to the band and look forward to bringing this record out there with his amazing vocal abilities." - more on this story

. Clutch - Strange Cousins from the West

If you are a fan of the band, I doubt you will be disappointed with this latest effort. If you are not familiar with this band at all, this is as good a time as any to become a fan. That is, unless you are afraid youre going to get your socks rocked right off. (5 stars) - Read the full Clutch - Strange Cousins from the West review

. Soraia: Shooting Stars

Ive seen arena acts flake out in theaters and club acts who fail to graduate to an arena setting, but Soraia stepped into the shoes of an arena act with ease. Only the rarest of talents can balance the two extremes of club and arena connections and Soraia did it with substance, style and stride. - Read the full Soraia: Shooting Stars review

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