Metallica Announce The Final Big Four Show with Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax

We promised you one more Sonisphere date, so here you have it! The Sonisphere Festival will be hitting Bucharest, Romania on June 26, 2010 at Romexpo. "The Big Four" (that's ?Tallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax) will be there, along with our friends Heaven & Hell. - more on this story

New Meat Loaf Album Coming in May

May 11th may not be a hot summer night but Meat Loaf fans will once again be able to offer up body parts to the wolf with the red roses for some new music from the iconic singer, who on Thursday announced a deal record deal which will bring his new album to fans this spring. Here is the announcement:

Roadrunner Records/Loud & Proud Records is pleased to announce the signing of Meat Loaf to the label. Meat Loaf has been a towering monument on the musical landscape for the past 35 years and his new deal with Roadrunner/Loud & Proud will allow him to retain his post as the pre-eminent voice in rock music and beyond.

His new album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear, whose title was taken from a line in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, is 13 tracks of classic Meat Loaf, primed and ready for the 21st century. More than four decades into his career, the man and his voice are as big, bold and relevant as ever. The album features a hot producer, a slew of impressive guest appearances, ranging from guitar god Steve Vai to actor Hugh Laurie, and of course, Meat Loaf's signature pipes! - more on this story

Fear Factory Map Out US Tour

Fear Factory has announced a string of upcoming U.S. Fear Campaign American Tour 2010 dates, in support of their new album Mechanize, available Now from Candlelight Records

In addition, the first of several planned in-store/meet-and-greets with Fear Factory on the band's upcoming tour will take place on Tuesday, March 23 at Hastings Entertainment, located at 4315 Wyoming Northeast, in Albuquerque, New Mexico beginning at 6 p.m.

This will be the first opportunity for fans to meet the band, which will be touring the U.S. for the first time in nearly three years.
- dates

Deftones Announces New Dates, Release New Video

This week the Deftones announce additional dates to their upcoming tour plans and released a new video. The first group of dates are for headlining shows and the second group look like festival appearances.

The band also posted a HD video for "Rocket Skates" from their forthcoming album, Diamond Eyes, which hits stores on May 18th.

Here are the new dates, followed by a link to details on how you can Tweet to get a free copy of the new HD video.

New Headline Dates
April 27 – El Paso, TX – Club 101
April 29 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street
April 30 – Mission, TX – Las Palmas Race Park

New Dates
May 1 - Frisco, TX - KDGE Edgefest @ Pizza Hut Park
June 19 - Scheessel, GER - Hurricane Festival
June 20 - Newhausen ob Eck, GER - Southside Festival

- Video info here

Smile Empty Soul Streaming Album Online

Smile Empty Soul is currently streaming their entire "Anxiety" album online at Tunelab.com. The album, which has been re-titled 'More Anxiety', hit stores this week through FOF Label Group/EMI and contains a bonus DVD of live, in studio, and on the road footage.

Smile Empty Soul recorded their sophomore effort "Anxiety" in 2005 as the follow-up to the group's gold certified debut album. The album never hit store shelves after the album's lead single was protested by fundamentalist groups, who organized a letter writing campaign against the group's record label.

Smile Empty Soul will hit the road with Soil and special guests Black Sunshine (ex-Filter/Theory of a Deadman) starting in Hollywood, CA on March 25th, 2010. - more on this story

Mike Patton To Deliver Mondo Cane in May

Mike Patton (Faith No More, Peeping Tom, Tomahawk) unveils Mondo Cane, his Italian language rock-meets-orchestra hybrid, on May 4 via Ipecac Recordings.

Recorded at a series of European performances including an outdoor concert in a Northern Italian piazza, the self-titled album features traditional Italian pop songs as well as a rendition of Ennio Morricone's "Deep Down." Patton worked with a 30-piece orchestra and choir to create the uniquely new Mondo Cane sound.

Patton's body of work continues to evolve and grow with a wide range of bands and solo projects including Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Fantomas, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom and most recently as a film composer and voice actor. - more on this story

Wishbone Ash Announce US Tour Dates

Classic rock legends Wishbone Ash will be performing a select number of US dates on their current major world tour that began this past October. Wishbone Ash embarked on an intensive 6-month tour plan, a 'final fling' taking the band 'round to next July in celebration of the 40th anniversary of its long career.

The October tour of the UK began on the 2nd and ended the first week of November. Then in January 2010 the band hit the road again for the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia. Canada's blues prodigy, Jimmy Bowskill, opened for the band on this 6-week tour.

After playing Finland and France, the USA east coast tour begins on March 24th in Annapolis, MD and ends April 3rd in Milwaukee, WI. The band will then proceed to Switzerland and Italy just prior to the usual spring UK tour. A US west coast tour, plus a possible Far East visit in conjunction with a two night confirmed Tokyo appearance, is being discussed for June. Also confirmed for June are 3 stadium shows in South Africa with Deep Purple. In addition the band will be revisiting Warsaw and Poznan in Poland plus Prague in the Czech Republic. - more on this story

Naked Raygun Head Back Into The Studio

Legendary Chicago punk rockers Naked Raygun are going into Transient Sound Studios March 19th to record a slew of songs for release on their 7" Series in 2010.

The first 7" (their first recordings in 20 years) sold out in record time and the 2nd in the series will be released on vinyl and digitally on June 15th. They'll also be filming a video for one of the new songs – look for it to arrive later this year. In late summer, Raygun descends on Europe and the UK -- details will be announced shortly.

Easily the most influential band bursting forth from the initial Chicago punk rock explosion, Naked Raygun also holds the distinction of being the longest running. When many of their peers were either breaking up or going metal in the mid-to-late 1980s, Naked Raygun soldiered on with their trademark sound, combining infectious vocal melodies with muscular guitar and a precision rhythm section. Echoes of the golden era of Raygun sound can be heard in punk rock circles worldwide. - more on this story

Obituary Join 70000Tons Of Metal

Organizers from the metal cruise, 70000Tons Of Metal, sent over this announcement about another impressive addition: After crossing the Atlantic we arrived in Tampa FL. The right place to read your own Obituary boys and girls! Welcome some real Florida Death Metal on board 70000TONS OF METAL, The World's Biggest Floating Heavy Metal Festival!

13 out of 40... our Skipper is getting restless, so we put out to sea again tonight. Our course: Back to the Florida Strait. Where may our next port of call be?

So far the confirmed 13 out of 40 bands are: Amon Amarth, Epica, Finntroll, Moonspell, Obituary, Raven, Saxon, Sodom, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Trouble, Uli Jon Roth and Witchburner - more on this story

Audio Excerpts from Upcoming Alice in Chains/Jane's Addiction Books Posted Online

Rock N Roll Books has just posted exclusive audio samples from interviews completed with Alice in Chains producer Toby Wright and engineers Bryan Carlstrom and Ronnie Champagne as part of the forthcoming 'Alice in Chains: in the Studio' book, due in stores May 20th, here.

Additionally, fans can check out exclusive interview audio samples from the forthcoming 'Jane's Addiction: in the Studio' book with engineer Ronnie Champagne, who recorded both 'Nothing's Shocking' and 'Ritual De La Habitual' in their entirety, along with interview material from former PSI Com member Kelly Wheeler discussing Perry Farrell's pre-Jane's days as the band's front-man. Check them out here:

In partnership with Songvest.com, both books will be the subject of a fan-auction that will begin at 3PM EST on Saturday, March 13 and end at 3PM EST on Saturday, March 20. Visit www.songvest.com for further details! -

Fabulous Thunderbirds' Johnny Moeller Sets New Album Release

Severn Records announces an April 20 release date for BlooGaLoo, the label debut from Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Johnny Moeller, which features special guests Kim Wilson, Lou Ann Barton and Shawn Pittman. The solid core band for the sessions includes Matt Farrell on piano and organ, Steve Gomes on bass and Rob Stupka on drums. Other guests include Gary Clark Jr. and Mike Barfield, among others. Severn Records is distributed in the U.S. by City Hall Records.

Austin-based Moeller, who leads his own band in addition to playing guitar in the Fabulous Thunderbirds, has crafted an album in BlooGaLoo that plays to his amazing versatility as a guitarist, playing wailing single notes as well as well as groovy, funky New Orleans inspired rhythms that recall one of his influences, the great Earl King. Moeller includes his own take on two classic King songs, "Trick Bag" (imagine a funky, Dylan-esque lead vocal and you've got some idea) and "Everybody's Got to Cry Sometime."

"This guy's a monster and should be recognized as one of the world's top musicians," says someone who should know: legendary T-Bird founder/singer/harmonica master Kim Wilson, who adds his vocal and harp magic on two tracks of BlooGaLoo. The First Lady of Texas blues and soul, Lou Ann Barton adds her trademark vocals on two songs; and fellow guitarslinger Shawn Pittman shows he's no slouch in the vocal department when he sings lead on the truly funky – and fun – Moeller original, "I'm Movin' on Up." - more on this story

Deer Tick, Delta Spirit And Dawes Supergroup MG&V To Debut at SXSW

The new supergroup MG&V will be making their debut at SXSW. Here is the announcement: MG&V stands for McCauley, Goldsmith, and Vasquez...More specifically, John McCauley - frontman of Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith - frontman of Dawes and Matt Vasquez - frontman of Delta Spirit.

Notoriously adverse to sitting still, John McCauley felt the urge to write and record during some of Deer Tick's recent downtime. Deer Tick chose Dawes to support a leg of their summer 2009 tour, during which McCauley and Goldsmith developed an affinity for each other's songwriting. McCauley decided that Nashville would be the perfect location to write some new songs, and invited Goldsmith to join him.

As the project began to take shape, McCauley and Goldsmith decided Matt Vasquez was the man to complete their vision for the project. A few days after tape started rolling, Vasquez arrived in Nashville - never having met McCauley. The three songwriters immediately bonded and proceeded to make a timeless masterpiece. Dawes drummer Griffin Goldsmith also joined the group to contribute percussion. - more on this story

IWRESTLEDABEARONCE Kick off North American Tour

The pride and joy of Shreveport, Louisiana, IWRESTLEDABEARONCE (IWABO), kicked off their first North American tour of 2010 this week with The Dillinger Escape Plan last night in NYC.

Darkest Hour and Animals As Leaders round out the bill and will lead the group directly into a massive European tour with The Chariot that sees them hitting everywhere from Russia to Ireland. IWABO then makes their grand return to the U.S. this summer as part of the Warped Tour package.

IWABO recently shot videos for the tracks, "See You In Shell" and "Danger In The Manger," with director Justin Beasley. The "Danger In The Manger" video was shot as a result of the original "See You In Shell" shoot being canceled due to a blizzard in Greensboro, NC. The band filmed a bunch of performance footage in front of a green screen in Beasley's garage and he is turning it into an insane animated masterpiece. - more on this story

HIM Sideband Daniel Lioneye Set New Release

The End Records is proud to announce the worldwide release of VOL. II from Daniel Lioneye (on Warner Bros. Records in Finland), the side project from members of HIM, on April 27th.

Consisting of Linde (HIM) on guitars, bass and vocals, Burton (HIM) on keyboards and Bolton (Enochian Crescent) on drums, the band has always embraced breaking boundaries and taking new directions, which is exactly what they did on their sophomore release.

Formed in 2001, Daniel Lioneye's debut album, The King of Rock 'n' Roll, was only released in Finland and Germany and was a "tongue in cheek" psychedelic stoner rock album. Earning the group quite a bit of attention, the band played at handful of festivals in Finland which resulted in the title track being the theme song for Bam Margera's TV show, Viva La Bam. Simply called VOL. II, the band's North American debut is heavier than the band's prior release, making it an extreme, yet melodic, rock n' roll album influenced by black metal. - more on this story

Wicked Jones Add Bonus Tracks To Reissue

Wicked Jones once again creates hard rock and soul in a very delicious flavor with two new bonus tracks on the re-released EP, Supernatural Flesh this spring.

Only to be followed up later on this year by the long awaited hard heavy hitting full length CD, Hell's Keeper slated to drop in the fall on Sonic Soul Records.

Singer Gregoria "G" D'Voldre spoke on the band's signing and music: "We're very happy about signing with Sonic Soul Records and we appreciate them letting us continue to be us musically. Performing live is what drives us though; and we hunger for that experience everyday." - more on this story

Hot Hot Heat Eye Dangerous Summer Release

Dangerbird Records is proud to welcome Vancouver's Hot Hot Heat to their expanding family. "Hot Hot Heat arrived on our doorstep with the best album of their career," reveals Jeff Castelaz, co-founder/CEO of Dangerbird Records. "When we heard the new record, we wanted them to be part of our gang. When we talked to them, and heard the determination and clarity of purpose in their voices, we had to have them." The Silver Lake-based label will release the band's fourth full-length, Future Breeds, this summer.

For frontman Steve Bays and his Hot Hot Heat bandmates, they knew they had found their new home immediately after their first meeting with the label. "Dangerbird got our vibe right away," explains Bays. "Because of the kind of record we were making, we realized early on that we needed to finish the entire record before looking for a home for it, if they 'got it,' then we could talk. Also, they're also just really cool people and that's huge to us because, at the end of the day, they are essentially inviting us to join their family. We are pretty thrilled."

Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Hot Hot Heat first came to prominence in 2002 with their breakthrough debut LP, Make Up The Breakdown, an electrifying dose of urgent, dancey rock anchored by frontman Steve Bays' characteristic yelp and highly infectious melodies. - more on this story

The Audition Acoustic In-Store

The Audition have announced a CD Release / In-Store Acoustic Performance to celebrate the release 'Great Danger'. The event will take place next Tuesday at Rolling Stones in Norridge, IL.

Victory Records says: Hear the band play an acoustic set and have them sign your copy of the new record, Great Danger. Get a free poster with your purchase of Great Danger on CD, available for only $9.99.

More info on the band and event 411: Aspiring to have each released record be the catalyst of their time, THE AUDITION push forward, but have sowed their roots in hopes to sprout inspiration for their latest Victory Records release, Great Danger. - more on this story

The Willowz Hitting The Road

The Willowz will embark on a month-long U.S. tour on April 1st in support of their latest album, Everyone (Dim Mak/Downtown Records).

The band will join up with Nebula and Lionize for the first two weeks and head out on their own for most of the remaining dates. (See below for tour itinerary.)

THE Willowz were formed in 2002 by Anaheim, California teens Richie James Follin and Jessica Anne Reynoza. They recorded a 7-inch for legendary Posh Boy Records, produced by Follin's stepfather, Paul Kostabi (White Zombie, Psychotica, Y.G.M., Detours), and hit the road immediately afterward. - more on this story

Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire Working on Prosthetic Debut

Prosthetic Records has signed Denver, Colorado's Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire. The band formed in 2006 and released an EP ("Harmonies From Bleeding Mouths") that year, and released their first full-length, "Omega Drunk On The Blood Of Alpha" in 2008 on Debello Recordings. They're currently recording their Prosthetic debut.

Their sound has been referred to as "funeral grind," as it's "too slow for grindcore, too fast for doom," and have been compared to the likes of Brutal Truth, Pig Destroyer, Discordance Axis, EyeHateGod and Napalm Death.

Vocalist Ethan McCarthy commented on the signing and new album: "Our new CD is being recorded by Dave Otero at Flatline Audio (Cephalic Carnage, Catheter, Cobalt) and it is our most dynamic, bleakest, and dirtiest material to date. We can't wait to go out and tour on this release, and we are proud to be a part of the PROSTHETIC roster." - more on this story

. The Best Films of the Decade (2000-2009): 25-1

We continue our Movie week with Tony Ks look back at the best 100 films from the past decade. - Read the full The Best Films of the Decade (2000-2009): 25-1 review

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