Arch Enemy Preview Another New Song

The Root Of All Evil will be available as regular CD, LP (with the full album on CD as bonus), Digital Download, and Limited Edition CD including a special Mediabook packaging, three additional live bonus tracks, alternate artwork, an extended booklet, and an exclusive embroidered patch. - Myspace link

Mower Cut From Skinlab Tour

PR reports: Hold the presses. That Skinlab and Mower tour we told you about yesterday? Mower's publicist sent us the news about that, but we had to learn from the band's Myspace that they have been forced to drop off the tour. Here is part of what they had to say:

A decision made by a departing member yesterday has forced the band to relinquish our spot on the bill. We are beyond disappointed. Sometime between sound check and set time last night in Denver, CO, our guitarist Greg Russell decided to book a flight and leave the tour without alerting anyone in the band of his intentions.

The fact that he decided that his issues were more important than the fans, friends, band, crew, agents, club owners, promoters, record labels, sponsors, press, Skinlab, and all the local support acts is something that we can't even begin to understand or condone. The four remaining members of Mower looked into every possible replacement option to continue on the tour, but none of those options would have been viable in time. - more on this story

What's He Building In There? and Ninjaspy Hitting The Road

PR reports: Progressive metal force What's He Building In There? have announced the dates for their upcoming tour in Eastern Canada with Vancouver based Ninjaspy. Consisting of over twenty shows, the trek begins September 30th in Waterloo, Ontario and will be capped off with an insane Halloween show in Montreal, Quebec on October 31st.

When asked about the tour in a recent interview, the band responded, "We have some new material we're going to be playing at these shows - some of it has never been played live before. I think the new stuff will shock and surprise most people who hear it in a very satisfying way. We've spent the summer focusing on expanding our abilities as musicians, and as a band."

What's He Building In There? are currently touring in support of their self-titled debut album, which was released on Year of the Sun Records. The group's genre bending eclectic sound has drawn comparisons to Between The Buried and Me, Mike Patton, Tool, and Primus. - more on this story

Barren Earth Are Coming

PR reports: Scandinavian Progressive Death Metal titans-to-be, Barren Earth, have announced the release date for their debut EP, Our Twilight. Recently signed to the Progressive powerhouse, Peaceville Records, Finland's Barren Earth will unleash the Our Twilight EP on November 17th.

Barren Earth features an experienced line-up from a host of internationally renowned & acclaimed outfits. With former members of Finnish metallers, Amorphis, plus current members of Swallow the Sun, Moonsorrow, Kreator, and Mannhai, the members of Barren Earth are no newcomers to the Progressive Metal scene.

Recorded in late June 09 in Finland, at Seawolf Studios and Jive Studios, Our Twilight can be described as "Progressive and Folk-textured Death Metal", combining elements of modern and traditional Death Metal, with 70's Prog Rock and Folk, while drawing influences from artists such as Paradise Lost, Opeth, Pink Floyd, and Jethro Tull. The debut EP was produced by Jukka Varmo, with Dan Swanö at Unisound Studios handling the mixing and mastering. Artwork comes courtesy of Niklas Sundin of Cabin Fever Media (Arch Enemy,Soilwork, Dark Tranquility). - more on this story

Legendary Musicians Perform Atop Mt. Kilimanjaro

PR reports: The Love Hope Strength Foundation (LHS), an international rock n' roll cancer foundation, today announced details for "Kilimanjaro Rocks", a 12-day musical journey to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa taking place September 27th through October 9th.

Rock n' Roll legends from The Fixx, The Gin Blossoms, Squeeze and The Stray Cats, will join Nick Harper, and LHS co-founders Mike Peters of The Alarm along with survivors and supporters in a challenging music-fueled trek through the Tanzanian wilderness devoted to providing care to a region in desperate need of cancer awareness and support.

"Kilimanjaro Rocks" will take participants through the breathtaking African landscape of Tanzania where they will embark from the forest edge of Kilimanjaro National Park with prayer flags in hand, music in their minds, and a determination to bring love, hope and strength to the people of East Africa. Hikers will complete the seven-day ascent to the 19,341-foot summit of Kilimanjaro's Uhuru Peak with a symbolic acoustic performance, and the unveiling of 6,000 prayer flags baring the names of family and friends who have been touched by cancer. - more on this story

The Leftovers Are Eager To Please With The Queers

PR reports: Portland Maine's most ambitious post punk act, The Leftovers, will be playing a ton of dates this fall in support of their latest release Eager To Please. They'll be supporting the legendary pop punk act, The Queers.

The Leftovers recent full length Eager To Please was produced by Linus Dotson (of Hollywood) and features Kim Shattuck of The Muffs, Brett Anderson of The Donnas, Parry Gripp from Nerf Herder, Coz Canler from the Romantics and Jon Rubin of the Rubinoos.

"I knew that 'Eager To Please' was going to be a great album when I first heard the demos, but it wasn't until we got in the studio that I realized how amazing the songs really were," said Dotson. "Kurt Baker has a songwriting maturity that is way beyond his years and is able to channel classic artists like the Beach Boys, Elvis Costello and the Beatles, while still having a unique style all of his own. The Leftovers' live show is simply mindblowing and they have a fun and endearing charisma that has been lacking from rock'n'roll for a long time!" - more on this story

Matt Venuti Releases New CD Featuring Curious New Instrument

PR reports: Venus Central Productions announces the availability of Matt Venuti's newest CD, "Hangisphere," a collection of soul-stirring compositions featuring the PanArt Hang. The Hang is the most widely accepted new acoustic instrument of the 21st Century and one of the most captivating and versatile of all time. Venuti is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who for years has enraptured audiences with his custom-built Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI). Now the Hang is the basis of his newest work. It is an instrument as advanced and fascinating as the EVI but uses touch rather than breath, and a resonating steel structure rather than circuitry.

In his latest release, Hangisphere, Venuti reaches deep into the soul of the Hang creating spell-binding instrumental compositions. The first music video from this CD, "The Yolanda Trail", is a moving instrumental tribute, set in both the wilderness and in his recording studio and was selected for the opening of the Bernal Heights/San Francisco Open Cinema.

A phenomenon in itself, the Hang has a huge cult following popularized by many millions of YouTube viewers and countless bloggers. "Hangisphere" unveils the wonder and beauty of this magical vessel. The enigmatic Hangmakers, Felix Rohner and Sabina Shärer, became fans of Venuti's music after listening to his first Hang-inspired recording, "Dance of the Helix". While spending time on several occasions with them at the "Hangbauhaus" in Bern, Switzerland, Venuti has acquired an impressive collection of these difficult–to–obtain instruments in diverse tunings. - Learn more about this release and the PanArt Hang

Genitorturers 7 Inch Junkie

PR reports: Known for their shocking on stage antics, the Genitorturers are about to kick start the vinyl revolution by throwing themselves "in the mix" & delivering a "lasting" impression with the release of their first 7" Vinyl Single "Cum Junkie". While other bands maintain a safe distance with the 6ft rule, with this new limited edition collectors release, the band went to great lengths to offer up a piece of themselves...

Each hand numbered, colored vinyl has over the top packaging and insane themed layouts, pressed on high grade "virgin" vinyl. These will only be manufactured in limited runs. The band is stoked to be able to offer you the first of these "CUM JUNKIE" 7" vinyls which are available now on www.genitorturers.com. It will also be available in stores on September 30th.

Pre-orders for the vinyl offered to fan club members and email list members have been brisk, with this limited edition "batch" run including a "secret bonus" surprise & up to now, unrevealed artwork. - more on this story

Ian Walsh Goes Soph

PR reports: Singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and avid surfer, Ian Walsh has just released his second album, Seeing Stars on Plus 5 Records. It's been just over a year since 20 year old Walsh released his critically acclaimed debut, Please Remember. Taking a leave of absence from Berklee College of Music to focus on solely the new album, Ian is hitting the road with Rocket to the Moon and Summer Set

The sophomore record is notoriously one of the toughest hurdles a young musician has to clear—you've got to strike the perfect balance between where you want to take your music and the identity you've established for your audience. Singer/songwriter Ian Walsh has pulled off the juggling act with flying colors in the form of Seeing Stars, set for release September 25 on Plus 5 Records.

As for Seeing Stars—recorded at Hammerhead Studios with producer Ritchie Rubini and Grammy-winning engineer Nick DiDia— it replicates Please Remember's organic sensibility, but with a welcome infusion of energy. Walsh's confessional narratives shine throughout, particularly on the yearning "Melissa" and "Casting Shadows." - more on this story

Orphaned Land Announce New Album

PR reports: One of metal's biggest and most talked about sensations has to be Israel's Orphaned Land who mix mysticism, metal, oriental ambience, and Middle Eastern tradition steeped in religious and moral teachings, to bring us another masterpiece. From a hypnotic weave of choral arrangements and exotic instrumentation to a dynamic use of language and torrential guitar riffs, this band has all of the elements to create a very entertaining listening experience.

Orphaned Land made a rare and much celebrated U.S. performance at this year's Progpower and are currently finishing up their new album, The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR, which was mixed by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree and set for a Jan. 2010 release.

Kobi Farhi (vocals) states: "Playing in the USA is always an adventure for us. The fans are very much devoted and even the people who don't know your band give you the right attention. When we were announced for PPUSA last year I was sure that by this time our album would be out, but since it's a complex album, we delayed it and had to leave the studio just for this show, so in a way, the Progpower fans were the first in the world to hear us play an unprecedented, SIX brand new songs. The reaction was great and the fans were with us all along the show - clapping hands, jumping and even belly dancing. After so much time in the studio, we really needed that feedback and I'm very grateful of all the fans. I feel that our music is a new breeze for the metal scene, a breeze that brings a new tune and sound of metal from the Middle East and we know that this was just the starting point. It is now the time to bring our unique brand of music to all of North America, so stay tuned as we will be back soon." - more on this story

Exotic Erotic Ball Indie Band Winners

PR reports: Perry Mann's Exotic Erotic Ball, the legendary San Francisco event celebrating its 30th Anniversary October 23 and 24, 2009 at the Cow Palace Arena, has announced the winners of its Third Annual Indie Band competition, run in collaboration with Sonicbids.

Almost two hundred bands submitted electronic press kits through the Sonicbids platform vying to win the right to perform before thousands of elaborately (and scantily) dressed patrons at the 30th Annual Exotic Erotic Ball and Expo. After much deliberation, Super Geek League from Seattle was chosen as Best Indie Band, and CRGruve from Portland Maine won as Best Indie Act. In making the announcement, Perry Mann cited Super Geek League's outstanding theatrical production and presentation. Mann also lauded CRGruve's Craig Handley and Ramone Jones as "multi-talented musical visionaries with a comedic sensibility befitting the Ball."

Super Geek League and CR Gruve will share the bill with an awesome lineup of talent, musical and otherwise. Featured live musical performers include DJ Skribble, Missing Persons, Coolio, The Frail, LZ Love, Mini-Kiss, and the return of the most outrageous band to ever grace the Ball's stage - The Impotent Sea Snakes. Reality show superstar Tila Tequila will celebrate her birthday at the show, and she'll also judge the costume contests along with Danny Bonaduce and Seymore Butts. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded for the three contest winners, including all expense trips to Hedonism III. - more on this story

Ultra Violent Lights Said To Fill the Gap Between Nirvana and Echo and the Bunnymen

PR reports: On their forthcoming debut album Here In Filth—due October 27 from Command! Records/SideCho Media—Brooklyn trio Ultra Violent Lights profess there's "no reason to act like we do," a sentiment that is hauntingly evident throughout the album's 10 ambitious tracks, spanning a range of inspiration and influence from the band's rock 'n' roll predecessors of past decades.

Drawing comparisons to everything from Nirvana to Echo and the Bunnymen, Ultra Violent Lights layer sing-along melodies among raw, distorted rock. "It's really the only healthy way I've ever been able to get anything out of my system," confesses guitarist Adam Lewis. "So many things in life can make you feel small, but through music, I'm bigger than anything. Every anxiety and fucked-up thing I've been through comes out in notes and chords. The crazy and obscure comes from reality, and it's never been forced or contrived."

Rather than celebrating fantasy world excess, singer Nicholas Faiella makes listeners feel like they've been there every step of the way. "Lyrically I tend to push and pull between what I think I am, what I really am, and who I'd like to be," he explains. "I really try to speak for the three of us, instead of just writing for me." Among Faiella's subject matter, the music of Ultra Violent Lights echoes the band's own unraveling and triumphs, as well as those who came before them, bordering on nihilism and hope. - more on this story

. Pearl Jam Month: Lost Dogs

An album of B-sides is just a chance to release the crap that was not good enough to make it on a real album. There are a few exceptions. Pearl Jams Lost Dogs is a shining example of a b-sides collection doing good. - Read the full Pearl Jam Month: Lost Dogs review

.... Road Trip: Augusta to Athens: An East Georgia Sampler

"I look out my window as the light comes streaming in/It's quiet here this morning as the world begins to spin…" Those are the first two lines of the song "Traveling East Georgia," by Crosstie Walkers, one of the most successful working bands to come out of the part of eastern Georgia known as "The Classic South." - Read the full Augusta to Athens: An East Georgia Sampler Road Trip article

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