VENOM Reveal Stunning From The Very Depths Cover Art!

VENOM Reveal Stunning From The Very Depths Cover Art!

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Album Out January 27 Via Spinefarm Records

VENOM announced the January 27 release of From The Very Depths(Spinefarm Records) last week, news that was met with elation among the metal community, from tastemakers to fans. The metal icons, who are pretty much responsible for authoring their own genre, have followed up the album release news by sharing the two-horns-up album artwork.

 

The cover is visually arresting, featuring skeletal beings bathed in red and orange tones. The image is dominated by the instantly recognizable VENOMlogo, and is a natural successor to the artwork for previous album, 2011’sFallen Angels, also released via Spinefarm.

 

And to think this is merely the cover! The album’s accompanying music slays,and early praise indicates that this could be one VENOM‘s best releases…ever. Even the album title is 100 per cent ‘Venomous’, referencing the band’s infamous live intro tape.

 

Screw the holiday season. January 27 can’t get here fast enough!

For More Info Visit:

www.venomslegions.com

www.spinefarmrecords.com

Can you feel the darkness?

-the Hellion

Columbus, OH Progressive Metalcore Band STRIKKEN Releases New Album “According to Purpose”

Columbus, OH Progressive Metalcore Band STRIKKEN Releases New Album “According to Purpose”

 

Buy Now via CD Baby for Just $7.99

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“According to Purpose – sophomore album from this exciting band that has the audacity to combine the intense majesty of power metal with the modern aggression of metalcore. Great heavy grooves abound and the mixture of clean and death vocals work extremely well together.”ProgMetalZone.com

 

Ohio’s capital continues to be a breeding ground to a hodgepodge of musical talent.  Rich and diverse in its artistic tapestry, many bands have come through this city to grace its various stages.  Recently, one band has risen with the potential to shine yet another bright light on such a great city.

 

Columbus melodic prog/metalcore outfit STRIKKEN recently released their new album, According To Purpose. Order it today via CD Baby and receive your copy for just $7.99: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/strikken1 – or order via Amazon and iTunes.

 

According To Purpose serves as a heavy-hitting follow up to their 2011 full length, Long Story Short, which received two award nominations upon its arrival – “Best Metal Album” at the Independent Music Awards and “Best Heavy Metal Album of 2011” at the Columbus Music Awards. Shortly after, their track ‘Ashes’ was named the #26 “Most Downloaded” track on Rockband in 2012. With this impressive list of accolades as a launching pad, According To Purpose stands to make an even greater impact.

 

Vocalist Ryan Henry states, “Our style of music has vastly changed between our last album, Long Story Short, and our new album, According to Purpose. At our core we remain the same – determined to deliver great, hard hitting passionate music. However, the music and writing process has matured considerably. This record stems from a far greater spiritual center with focus on the depravity of the world around us, yet with hope and resolution. The music is far more elaborate and fluid than the last record while remaining true to the style that has defined STRIKKEN.”

 

This history of STRIKKEN begins in 2010, when guitarist brothers Michael and Josh Enyart, drummer Steve Cotton, bassist Josh Burden and vocalist Ryan Henry came together for a project inspired by their favorite metal bands. Now, with successful releases boasting no backing from a label, plus new bassist John Collins and new drummer Kyle Smith joining the fold, the band is re-energized and ready to show the world the beauty and power of these 12 new songs on According To Purpose.

 

For more information on STRIKKEN, please visit these websites:

www.facebook.com/strikken

www.reverbnation.com/strikken

www.strikken.com

https://twitter.com/strikkenband

www.youtube.com/Strikkenbros

 

 

STRIKKEN is:

Michael Enyart – Guitar/ Vox

Kyle Smith – Drums

Ryan Henry – Vocals

Josh Enyart – Guitar/ Vox

John Collins – Bass

      new stuff

     -the Hellion Rocks

EXODUS Drummer TOM HUNTING Performs for New Jersey Music Students at Master Class Clinic

EXODUS Drummer TOM HUNTING Performs for New Jersey Music Students at Master Class Clinic

See Below for Photos from “Meetings with Masters” at New Jersey’s Old Bridge Music Center School

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This past Sunday, November 30th, students at The Old Bridge Music Center School in Old Bridge, New Jersey, were treated to a special Master Class clinic with EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting. The event was part of the school’s ongoing “Meetings with Masters” series that offers young music students the chance to learn from top music industry professionals from around the world.

 

Highlights of the Master Class included an inside look at Hunting’s successful career, drum tips and techniques, advice to young musicians looking to have a career in the music industry, and a Q&A session. Students were then given the opportunity to play along with Hunting on a second drum set with other student musicians in a series of “Double Drum” jams to close the event, much to the delight of all in attendance.

 

“Wow! What an amazing day! We had such a great time and it was really inspiring to take part in the very important work that The Old Bridge Music Center School does,” states Tom Hunting. “I couldn’t be happier about how the day went. We talked a lot about touring, and the lifestyle, practice techniques, different styles of music, and pretty much every aspect of music. And the kids were so smart, extremely talented, and very engaged in the process. I left there wishing we had more time to talk and jam!

 

Hunting adds, “Teaching is something I plan to pursue as a career when all the touring, recording, and traveling with EXODUS settles down in the future. This was my first time teaching (other than a few private lessons) and I left Old Bridge inspired and with a feeling that this is a good path for me. I wanna thank both of the Gregg’s and Zipperhead and everyone else involved in this school for one of my favorite days I can ever remember!  It was a true pleasure and I can’t wait to get back to Old Bridge! Cheers!”

To learn more about the Old Bridge Music Center and their programs, please visit www.oldbridgemusiccenter.com,http://oldbridgemusiccenter.wordpress.com, or www.facebook.com/oldbridgemusiccenter.

 

Tom Hunting and EXODUS are currently wrapping up their tour with headliners Slayer and fellow special guests Suicidal Tendencies. Afterward,EXODUS will embark on a quick run of headline shows from December 7th through December 14th. See below for all remaining tour dates.

 

EXODUS in North America with SLAYER & SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

12/04 – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN

12/05 – The Fillmore Detroit – Detroit, MI

12/06 – The Venue at Horseshoe Casino – Hammond, IN

 

EXODUS Headline Dates:

12/07 – Aftershock – Merriam, KS

12/08 – Gothic Theatre – Denver, CO

12/09 – Pub Station – Billings, MT

12/10 – The Hop – Spokane, WA

12/11 – Studio Seven – Seattle, WA 

12/12 – Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR

12/13 – Chico, CA @ Senator Theater

12/14 – Fresno, CA @ Strummers

 

 

On October 14th, EXODUS released their brand new album, Blood In, Blood Out, via Nuclear Blast. The record debuted at #38 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 charts in its first week, which concretes Blood In, Blood Out’s status as the band’s highest-charting album to date. Blood In, Blood Out can be ordered from the Nuclear Blast USA Webshop in CD, digi-pak + bonus DVD, 2-LP exclusive yellow vinyl, and imported limited edition box set formats. The album can also be purchased via iTunes, Google Play and Amazon. Or, pick up a copy of the album at your local music retailers.

 

Like: www.facebook.com/EXODUSATTACK

Follow: twitter.com/EXODUSATTACK

Watch: www.YouTube.com/EXODUS

 

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME VOCALIST, PRODUCER TO HOST FREE CREATIVELIVE.COM “STUDIO PASS” COURSE NEXT WEEK

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME VOCALIST, PRODUCER TO HOST FREE CREATIVELIVE.COM “STUDIO PASS” COURSE NEXT WEEK

Workshop streams live for free December 8-9

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SEATTLE, WA – Tommy Rogers, vocalist for progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me, and producer Jamie King will host a free, two-day CreativeLive “Studio Pass” workshop next week on Monday, December 8 and Tuesday, December 9 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. PST (12 p.m. – 7 p.m. EST). In this class, Rogers and King will share their signature approach to production – how things should run in a studio to get a final track that sounds like the band on its best day, but not over-produced. Viewers will also get a behind-the-scenes look as Rogers and King track drums, bass, vocals and guitar for a song from Rogers’s latest solo album Modern Noise. Head over to CreativeLive ‘Music & Audio’ at:https://www.creativelive.com/courses/studio-pass-tommy-rogers-jamie-king for more information and to enroll for free today.

Since its inception in 2010, CreativeLive has broadcast more than 600 courses to more than 2 million students worldwide. Now streaming live from studios in Seattle and San Francisco, CreativeLive hosts workshops in photography, video, design, business, audio, music, and software training, unlocking previously closed doors by making dynamic education accessible to everyone.

 

Tommy Rogers is the lead singer and keyboardist for Between the Buried and Me, a progressive metal band from N.C. Since starting the band in 2000 with former members of the metalcore band Prayer for Cleansing, Rogers has recorded eight studio albums and two live DVDs and toured internationally with bands ranging from Opeth and Dream Theater to Meshuggah and Coheed and Cambria. In 2011, Rogers released Pulse, his first solo album as Thomas Giles on Metal Blade. In 2014, he scored his first full-length feature film, due out in 2015, and recently released Modern Noise, the follow up to Pulse, on Metal Blade Records.

Jamie King is a highly sought after record producer, mixing and mastering engineer from Winston-Salem, N.C. He is best known for his work with Between the Buried and Me, producing most of their studio LPs. King has been recording since 1996 and has an extensive list of credits in metal and hard rock, producing and mixing albums for bands like The Contortionist, Scale the Summit, He is Legend, Alesana and A Skylit Drive. Labels like Metal Blade, Victory, Prosthetic, Solid State/Tooth and Nail, Tribunal and Sensory seek out King for his ability to create sonically discreet mixes with real, musical dynamics that still match the loudness demanded by modern rock and metal standards. King primarily works out of his private project studio, The Basement Recording NC, and occasionally offers workshops on recording theory and practice.

Stay tuned to CreativeLive’s ‘Music & Audio’ channel at:http://www.creativelive.com/audio for more information on “Studio Pass:Tommy Rogers & Jamie King” and other upcoming classes.

CreativeLive online…

 

http://www.creativelive.com/

https://www.facebook.com/clmusicandaudio

https://www.facebook.com/creativelive

https://twitter.com/creativelive/

https://www.youtube.com/user/creativelive

http://instagram.com/creativelive/

http://www.pinterest.com/creativelive/

https://plus.google.com/+creativelive

 

 

Tommy Rogers online…

 

http://www.thomasgilesmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thomasgilesmusic

https://twitter.com/tommybtbam

http://www.betweentheburiedandme.com/

 

 

Jamie King online…

 

http://www.thebasementrecordingnc.com/

 

 

-the Hellion

AC/DC: Rock Or Bust?

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The last great AC/DC record was Back In Black. There I’ve said it, and I’ll stand by it. I was worried about the future of the band with the loss of Bon Scott and was impressed with their release of Back In Black and then, it all fell apart for me. There were the occasional singles that were decent but overall I lost interest in AC/DC. All of the While I continued to purchase each release with the hopes of finding something inspiring within.

2014 brought us the news of Malcolm having health issues and leaving the band and Phil Rudd living up to the bad boy rocker image, and the news of a new record. Could these issues give the album a new fire? I hoped.

I received my copy and with fingers crossed, shut out the world, and listened.

What was there was an average AC/DC record. There were no tracks that jumped out and grabbed me like the songs of old. Don’t get me wrong, the tracks are not terrible, just not great. Their playing is still excellent and powerful, but the songs themselves are not. I feel that they have found a comfort zone and are playing safely within it. They’ve still got “Big Balls” though.

Rock Or Bust? Sorry AC/DC, it’s a bust for me….

it’a loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL

-the Hellion

Was Dimebag really that great?

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 photo credit: Chad Lee

THIS POST IS IN NO WAY INTENDED TO DISRESPECT THE MEMORY OF DIME

 

It has been almost ten years since Dimebag was shot to death onstage. It just so happened that I was talking to a very well known guitarist today (he wished to remain anonymous) about Dime and the impact he has had on the music community. His opinions and thoughts made me think about Dime and his influence.

I see so many people sporting the pink goatee and citing Dime as their main influence in guitar playing. But was he REALLY that good a player? I mean are there any songs by him that are truly game changers? Or is it “cool” to like him and therefore “cool” to cite him as an innovator? In my discussion with my friend the statement was made that Pantera filled a niche in the metal community and that was all it was.

In my opinion Dime played with heart and soul and THAT is good enough for me. If you look at the so called “A-List” guitar players you might find that their “skill-level”, or “technical mastery” might be lacking but their heart and interpretation was spot on.

I am just curious what you, loyal reader, have to say about Dimebag. Not looking for a slamming of him just some intelligent feedback.

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it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!

-the Hellion

King Creature releases video for “In Hell”

 

 

 

 

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A while back I fell in with a bunch of miscreants from the UK, KING CREATURE. These lads have a special place in my heart. Working their collective asses off they have learned from their idols and developed a sound worth listening to.  Making waves in the UK they have recently rubbed elbows with Down, HELLYEAH, and Kill Devil Hill. I can only expect better and better things from these guys. They have just released a new video for their track “In Hell”. I find that I hear nods towards COC, Down, Sabbath, and BLS in it. Very well done guys! Check out “In Hell” right here:

All Hail KING CREATURE!!!

-the Hellion

Help a touring band out!!!

OK Rockers listen up! Send an email to janaya64@msn.com and tell me why you like Crowned By Fire. Every entry wins something special and one entry wins something very cool and it helps them get on the road!!!. You have two days to get your emails in! Put CBF in the subject box please! FUEL THE FIRE!!! – the Hellion

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FUEL THE FIRE!!!

-the Hellion

 

Crowned By Fire: FUEL THE FIRE!!!

Hitting the road is rough these days. My buds in Crowned By Fire are fixing to bring their unique sonic assault to the masses and need your help to do it. They are offering some very cool merch and perks on their indiegogo site. Shirts, downloads, one-of-a-kind articles, it’s all here! Rock N’ Roll is not dead and Crowned By Fire is on a mission to FUEL THE FIRE!!!! SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!!!!

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click the link and support:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fuel-the-fire–2

it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s CROWNED BY FIRE!!!

-the Hellion

FREAK KITCHEN Video For “Freak of the Week” Streaming Now!

FREAK KITCHEN Video For “Freak of the Week” Streaming Now!

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New Album Out Now!

Swedish trio FREAK KITCHEN are back with Cooking with Pagans, their eighth and most frantic album to date. The album was released on September 16th via Laser’s Edge.  The album can be ordered HERE.

Thanks to a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, bringing in almost $150,000, a very ambitious animated video, directed by legendary artist (and author of Blacksad) Juanjo Guarnido to the track “Freak of the Week” has finally been completed by a world-class team of animators. The video premiered at the New York Comic Con and can be viewed HERE.

FREAK KITCHEN has always been a tremendously respected live act and for the first time the energetic live vibe of FREAK KITCHEN has been captured in the studio. With influences stretching from AC/DC to classical South Indian music the three Norsemen, lead by guitar virtuoso Mattias IA Eklundh, truly have a sound of their own. Cooking with Pagans offers eleven intense original songs plus a sophisticated punk pop version of the 1936 hit “Goody Goody” like you’ve never heard it before. Cooking with Pagans is solid, inspired song writing (not to say playing) from start to finish.

FREAK KITCHEN will tour the world from November and the better part of 2015 to support their new release.

Cooking With Pagans Track Listing:

1. Professional Help

2. Freak of the Week

3. Sloppy

4. Goody Goody

5. (Saving Up For An) Anal Bleach

6. Private Property

7. Mathematics of Defeat

8. I Don’t Want to Golf

9. Hide

10. Come Back to Comeback

11. Ranks of the Terrified

12. Once Upon a Time in Scandanaviastan

 

Band Lineup:

Mattias IA Eklundh: Vocals, Guitar

Christer Ortefors: Bass, Vocals

Bjorn Fryklund: Drums

 

For More Info Visit:

http://www.freakkitchen.com

https://www.facebook.com/freakkitchen

 

it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!

-the Hellion