Welcome to the first, and possible only, installment of the Auditory Assault, Inside Pulse’s very own music column dedicated exclusively to metal and all things rock.
If you would like to know more about the author of said column (that would be me), be sure to visit my Author Profile.
The origins of this column date back to the late nineties, where I offered up tid-bits from the metal world for upwards of two years. Alas, my life moved on and the column was no more … until now, making its first appearance on the World Wide Web.
So, let’s just get on with it …
How hard can it be to hold onto a lead singer?
Ryan McCombs, the lead singer of Soil, recently quit the band, thus necessitating auditions for a new vocalist since the band is already working on its next album. “Family obligations” was the reason given.
Some people might not have been huge fans, but Soil put out one hell of a debut album (2001’s “Scars”) and the follow-up, “Redefine,” released earlier this year, wasn’t half bad either.
This is the third band that I like that this has recently happened to.
Amorphis recently lost its lead singer, Pasi Koskinen. The band’s latest release, “Far From the Sun,” recently saw its release in North America after a long wait for fans (it was out over a year ago in and around Europe). Amorphis was planning on touring with JP Leppaluoto (Charon lead singer) but there aren’t any dates set yet (more on this later).
The lead singer of Time in Malta, Todd Gullion, quit the band (on good terms) to return to school. According to a post on the band’s Web site in August, “(We) will start auditioning candidates as early as next week in hopes of finding someone with explosive personality and ability to go out and continue touring in support of the new album ‘Alone with the Alone.’ If interested, please email Chris (chris@timeinmalta.com).”
This is a real shame as Time In Malta was really a band to keep an eye on. A subtle mix of hardcore, alt-rock and metal, “Alone With the Alone” was a solid release this year. If you’re curious about the band’s sound, check out the Guns N’ Roses tribute album, “Bring You To Your Knees,” that features a killer “November Rain” cover by the band.
Hey, for every AC/DC or, more recently, Drowning Pool (bands that soldier on with new lead singers) there’s a Van Halen 3 (which I didn’t hate for what it’s worth) or Judas Priest with Ripper. Both were fine, but fans weren’t buying it…
Tours cancellations always happen in threes
Danzig’s Blackest of the Black tour was recently called off (seemingly at the last minute). The tour was set to feature Doyle, Death Angel, Mayhem, Devildriver and Eyes of Fire. There really hasn’t been any update as to reasons, though those involved are moving on to other tours. This was said to be Danzig’s last tour (in support of the recently released “Circle of Snakes”). Glenn Danzig is pushing 50, so who knows where this leaves the band …
Type O Negative’s tour with Amorphis was cancelled too, due to medical problems with frontman Peter Steele. Band management failed to elaborate further, but did point out the band was continuing work on a follow-up to 2003’s “Life is Killing Me” for release next year.
I’ve seen Type O Negative live and feel the band is more interesting in the studio, but man if I wasn’t psyched to finally catch Amorphis, even if it was with a “fill-in” frontman.
Then there’s Kittie, which had cancelled its most recent tour when drummer Mercedes Lander was hospitalized. Turns out things are better now, the band will do a date here and there before heading out with Otep and Crisis on the Metal Movement Tour.
Helmet and Iced Earth recently postponed some tours. Helmet will now hit the road later in the year in support of its new release “Size Matters” (due in stores Oct. 5) and Iced Earth won’t tour before the new year.
In retro news:
In celebration of the band’s landmark 1994 album, “Burn My Eyes,” Machine Head recently performed the disc, in its entirety, at a “tenth anniversary” show during a Philadelphia stop on the “Road Rage” tour.
The show was apparently filmed with a “six-camera, 24-track digital filming and recording rig” (thanks to Blabbermouth for THAT info) which means it should be a pretty solid offering.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind something like that coming out on CD for listening purposes, but the plan now is for the group to film an upcoming show at the Brixton Academy in London for a DVD release. (The group must have a hard-on for the venue as it was the location for its 2001 “Hellalive” CD as well.) The plan here is for the first pressing of said DVD to also include the “Burn My Eyes” show as a thank you to long-time fans. Quoth Machine Head frontman Rob Flynn, “After that first pressing has sold out, the bonus ‘Burn My Eyes’ show will go away, and the full London DVD will be available. So if you sleep on it, your loss.”
In other “retro” news, Slayer’s performance of its 1986 classic “Reign in Blood” is scheduled for release on Oct. 26. The DVD, “Still Reigning,” features the band’s original lineup – Tom Araya, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman and drummer Dave Lombardo – live at the Civic Center in Augusta, Me, earlier this year. The latter half of the set (I’m assuming) was “Reign in Blood” from end to end. During the final 45-seconds of the song “Raining Blood,” blood rains from the heavens completely drenching the band, their instruments, and the stage.
Some artwork (including a cover) for the upcoming release can be found here.
That must be a sight to behold. I’m pretty pissed I didn’t get a chance to make it up there, Augusta’s not that far away.
Slayer is preparing for the latest installment of the Jagermeister Music Tour which will also feature Killswitch Engage and one of my new favorite bands, Mastodon.
Playing catch-up
A couple of weeks ago, Inside Pulse ran an Opposing Elements column featuring the top 10 female vocalists of metal. There was an overwhelming response crying foul that Tarja Turunen of Nightwish was not included on the list. I can’t speak for Gloomchen, but I’m not too familiar with Nightwish. From the stuff that I’ve heard I think Turunen can hold up as a backing vocalist, but could never take the spotlight (think: any female vocalist for Cradle of Filth).
Floor Jansen of After Forever and Liv Kristine from Theater of Tragedy and Leaves Eyes were also mentioned.
You (and I) need to hear this
Here’s some CDs I recently picked up that I haven’t listened to nearly enough (you should check them out too):
The Hurt Process: “Drive By Monologue”
Amorphis: “Far From the Sun”
Senses Fail: “Let it Enfold You”
Suffocation: “Souls to Deny”
Ministry: “House of the Mole”
In closing
Well, that’s that. Let me know what you think (destroyer__78@hotmail.com). This may or may not become a regular feature, but I’ll always be here at Inside Pulse making sure no metal news falls through the cracks.
Take it easy…
