“Dave (Mustaine, of Megadeth), break up the band, and pursue your new love for Jesus on your own. Leave the rest of us out of it.”
— Nuclear Assault /ex-Anthrax bassist Dan Lilker in regards to Dave Mustaine refusing to perform with bands due to his new-found religious beliefs.
This week’s most listened to CDs by yours truly were Nightrage’s “Descent into Chaos” and Sinners and Saints’ “The Sky is Falling”…
I’ve noticed a couple of people mention Sinners and Saints over in the Inside Pulse forums … I didn’t think anyone else had ever heard of the band. The group’s sound is a cool mix of rock, metal and punk and it comes across sounding like a mix between Social Distortion, Guns N’ Roses and the Foo Fighters, but in a good way. There’s even a cool nod to The Cars for those who can pick it out …
As for Nightrage’s latest … with each listen I am more and more impressed. Man, the solos on that album rock hard. Check out my review of the disc here.
No album of the week … just two recommendations for you …
..:..Nuclear Meshuggah..:.. After lengthy negotiations, Swedish “experimental extreme metallers” Meshuggah re-signed with Nuclear Blast Records. The band’s new studio album, “Catch 33,” which also happened to be the group’s final CD under its previous contract, is scheduled for release in the U.S. on May 31 via Nuclear Blast. The release is described as one continuous 47-minute song divided into 13 parts. I saw the band open for Tool a couple of years ago and wasn’t blown away … they were good, just not so good I had to run out and pick the album up. There’s talk of the band touring the new album in the U.S. this fall. I think I’ll check out some reviews before I think about picking up “Catch 33,” though I like the idea…
..:..Re-unleashed Priest..:.. According to reports from Sony Music Japan, Judas Priest’s upcoming live CD will be titled “Re-Unleashed in the East” (the band plans to release the album this fall). Priest filmed and recorded its May 18 and 19 shows at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan for the album and a full-length concert DVD. Reportedly, three cameras and two large screens were used during the sold-out shows, which were attended by a total of 20,000 people. In other Priest news, the band will launch its North American tour May 30 in Ohio with Queensryche. This is good news for Priest fans. Critics loved the shows last year and since the band knew it was recording for release, I bet the Budokan shows shred.
..:..Aggressive Music Fest — round 2..:.. The second annual Aggressive Music Festival is starting to take shape, with Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Mudvayne, In Flames, Soilwork, Trivium, A Dozen Furies and As I Lay Dying already confirmed for the show, set to take place Saturday, July 16, at Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York. As a special attraction, Hatebreed will perform its only summer show at the event. Hatebreed front man Jamey Jasta is a partner in this event. Tickets go on sale this weekend via Ticketmaster. This show pretty much blows Ozzfest away, and all the bands haven’t even been announced yet. Of course, this is a one-time thing while Ozzfest tours all summer. If you’re in the area, this looks like a show that’s not to be missed … I know last year’s was a big hit.
..:..Korn happy as a four-piece..:.. Even since Brian “Head” Welch left Korn earlier this year (to fully embrace his new-found Christianity) guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer has been pulling double duty in the studio as Korn preparing its new album. During an interview with MTV.com, Korn front man Jonathan Davis inferred the band didn’t really miss Welch. “Head had been having problems for years, and he wasn’t really there. … For a lot of the records, he was there, but he wasn’t there … When we were writing, he did his thing. But we’re not going to replace him. … I’d never say it will never happen, but right now, we’re going to be a four-piece. I don’t know if we’ll have somebody onstage or we’ll have someone playing guitar maybe offstage. We’ll figure that out. I don’t know how crazy someone would be having to perform off-stage as Korn toured, but I’m sure the band will pick someone up down the road if necessary.
..:..Opeth signs with Roadrunner..:.. After rumors were swirling around earlier this year, Opeth have recently confirmed, via a posting at the band’s official Web site, that a deal was reached with Roadrunner Records. A new album is set for release sometime around late-August/early-September. “The recording process is going well. One song is mixed and done, another one in the process of being mixed. Solos are being recorded as well as death screams.” Should be good stuff. The band’s last effort was a slower affair, so it will be nice to get some new heavier stuff.
Alkaline Trio: “Crimson” … new material from this band that blends puck, rock and metal …
Audioslave: “Out of Exile” … The stuff I’ve heard has been pretty mellow, but this is supposed to be a pretty rockin’ affair …
Bruce Dickinson: “Tyranny of Souls” … the Iron Maiden front man releases another solo effort …
Seether: “Karma and Effect” … I haven’t heard anything off this but if it’s like the last album, I’ll probably want to pick it up but never find time (just like last time) …
Brand New Sin: “Recipe for Disaster” … a straight-up metal band featuring three guitarists …
GWAR: “Live From Mt. Fuji” … Maybe not as great as actually seeing the band live, GWAR’s first live album is sure to be a hit with fans …
The Hurt Process: “A Heartbeart Behind” … One of those love ’em or hate ’em bands … alternative rock with alternating screamed and sung vocals …
Meshuggah: “Catch 33” … as I mentioned above, the album is said to be one long song split into 13 parts…
Here’s a little mix I put together featuring the songs of Corrosion of Conformity. I wanted to spotlight a band to try and turn readers on to music they might not be aware of. Check one, some or all of them out … who knows, you might discover something you like or remember something you used to …
“Albatross” (off “Deliverance” )
“King of the Rotten” (off “Wiseblood” )
“Stone Breakers” (off “In the Arms of God” )
“Doublewide” (off “America’s Volume Dealer” )
“Great Purification” (off “Blind” )
“Man or Ash” (off “Wiseblood” )
“Broken Man” (off “Deliverance” )
“Stare Too Long” (off “America’s Volume Dealer” )
“Dirty Hands Empty Pockets (Already Gone)” (off ” In the Arms of God” )
“Clean My Wounds” live (off “Live Volume ” )
Trust me … that doesn’t even scratch the surface …
FYI: The live version of “Clean My Wounds” off the live COC album is sick, with a crazy, blues-tinged jam tacked on towards the end.
Finally for today, Obituary released the cover art for it’s next album, “Frozen in Time,” due out in the near future. It looks pretty good and is in step with some of the better Obituary albums from the past (read: an eerie landscape as opposed to some death-related art). I love it and can’t wait for the new album…
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…
