“So pride yourself on what you are, hold them all to words they can’t take back, I’ve seen a place (it comes) to me in dreams where fires die but light still shines for us to see.”
— from Rise Against’s “Blood-Red, White and Blue”
One more week until the music staff at Inside Pulse start to offer up their Top 10 albums of 2004. (There’ll be some music-type awards, picked and voted on by Inside Pulse staff, out there at some point too.) That’s what you have to look forward to next week. This week is mostly some news bites from around the metal scene. I thought I’d start things off with some “positive” briefs.
So, in keeping with the holiday spirit …
A whole bunch of musicians are doing good things this holiday season. Well, I’m sure these things aren’t being done for the holiday, but it’s nice to have a little positive news every now and then …
..:..A doll for a hole in the heart..:.. An 18-inch Joey Jordison (of Slipknot) doll was recently created as a fund-raiser for Raven Nicole Robinson, a four-month-old girl born with a hole in her heart. The doll is currently being auctioned via eBay (check here for photos, information and to bid). The doll is a miniature replica of the “Vol. 3” tour suit and pretty creepy looking. A benefit concert featuring a slew of metal musicians is also planned. For more information on the show and Raven’s situation, visit this site.
..:..The Cavalera orphanage..:.. The grandson of Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera recently passed away, so the Cavalera family will be adopting an orphanage in Belgrade (a city in Serbia where the grandson was born) in his honor. For more information, including an address for donations, check here.
..:..A Disturbing benefit..:.. Disturbed will put on a benefit concert next February to benefit the Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund. While the show will be held at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, other information (on-sale dates, ticket prices and other performers) will be released later. Check here for more information about the Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund.
..:..Another one for Dime..:.. Details are started to emerge regarding a planned Dimebag Darrell tribute concert taking place in Helsinki, Finland, next month. The show will be held at Rock ‘n’ Roll Station and all proceeds will be donated to an as-yet-undetermined charity. For more information, check out Scythes-of-Bodom.com.
..:..Rape in Canada is still rape..:.. Two guitarists with the metal band Satyricon are being held in jail up in Canada following an incident after a show in Toronto. Steinar Gundersen and Arnt Gronbech are “baffled by the charges,” which include dosing a fan with a date-rape drug and sexually assaulting her. An attorney is hoping to get the musicians released on bail on Dec. 30. As a result of the incident, the band was forced to cancel the rest of its North American tour. Not to make light of the situation, but Rape in Canada would be a kick ass name for a band. I think I’ll start one …
..:..A return to the Gates? ..:.. Peter Dolving, front man for the killer metal band The Haunted (formerly of At The Gates), recently spoke to Fourteen G E-zine about a possible reunion for his prior band: “I think it’s not impossible, they were talking about doing something like a one show [gig] in London but it still needs to be worked out. I think the initiative has to come from outside; someone else has to take the initiative for them. It would take a sound financial situation to make it whole!” I personally prefer the newer material. The Haunted’s latest, “rEVOLVEr,” is definitely one of the 10 best albums of 2004. Dolvings entire interview is a pretty good read, so check it out.
..:..Keith Richards meddled in GnR business..:.. Slash, once guitarist for Guns N’ Roses now with Velvet Revolver, recently told the magazine Mojo that Keith Richards had a part in Slash staying with the band as long as he did. “Guns N’ Roses was spinning its wheels. There was no way to get it back on track … Keith asked me about what I was doing with Guns, and I told him the situation with Axl. Keith said ‘You never quit.'” And then he did. Oh well, for more on this story head over to Blabbermouth.
..:..Ozzy gets his discs back..:.. Stolen gold and silver discs won by Black Sabbath (stolen from the Osbourne mansion last month) showed up in plastic bags in Tonbridge (near Kent? In England…) after an anonymous tip to police. A story over at Scotsman.com managed to work in the phrase “attack of Christmas spirit” to make this story more holiday-centric.
..:..Soil’s Christmas present..:.. A resent announcement via Soil’s mailing list, referred to a “special surprise” for forum-visitors on Christmas: “On Christmas Eve throughout Christmas Day, members of the Soil-Music.com forum will have a special surprise in store for them when they log on.” I imagine the surprise in question will be a new song or songs featuring the new line-up (ex-Diesel Machine front man AJ Cavalier). The forum can be found here. The band is looking to record and release a new album next year.
Here’s some CDs I want, recently picked up or already have that I haven’t listened to nearly enough (you should check them out too):
Rise Against: “Revolutions Per Minute”
Wilhelm Scream: “Mute Print”
Glass Jaw: “Worship & Tribute”
Dark Throne: “Transylvanian Hunger”
Opeth: “Damnation”
Well, I already told you what to expect next week … I’m thinking of taking a look at what’s in store for 2005 after that, but a lot can change in two weeks. I’m also trying to get a couple of reviews done before the new year. Stay tuned.
And that’s that. As always, drop me a line. Until next time, I’ll be here at Inside Pulse making sure no metal news falls through the cracks.
Take it easy… AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS~!
