5 Star Prison Cell enters studio for new album

from: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/

They were only just here at the end of 2009, playing several dates in NZ, including a free (upon RSVP) gig at the transmission room, one which i attended and had a blast at..

Australian metallers FIVE STAR PRISON CELL will enter Sing Sing South Studios in Melbourne on March 1 to begin recording their third album, entitled "Matriarch". The band states, "We are very excited and sincerely feel this is our strongest work to date.

The group adds, "This album has been two years in the making, from the humble beginnings where we threw a good six or seven songs away to the last year where we have been focusing on the new materiel, meticulously critiquing every part of every song to make sure the end result is something we are happy with.

"We have worked so hard on these songs as it is important to us to evolve as a band and as musicians and to not put out the same album three times, but to always go a step above what we have done in the past. What is left is 12 songs that we are ready to hit the studio with. And naturally, as we want the best for our music, we have been lucky enough to secure one of the best producers in the country...
Enter Forrester Savell (KARNIVOOL, HELMET, FULL SCALE, DEAD LETTER CIRCUS) who will be recording and producing the entire album from start to finish over the next month. Artwork will be by our personal favorite artist, Seldon Hunt, whose talent always continues to astound us.

"We have a clip in the making, and everything else is falling in place for an April release. Then, of course, our 30-show tour, which will take place over May/June/July this year."

FIVE STAR PRISON CELL's second album, "Slaves of Virgo", came out in March 2007 via Faultline Records. The CD was produced by dw Norton at Back Beach studios in Rye, Victoria, Australia.

FIVE STAR PRISON CELL is:

Adam Glynn - Vocals
Marc Whitworth - Drums
Mark Holain - Guitar
Cameron Macdonald - Bass

As I lay Dying & Emmure + guests @ Transmission Room March 26th

Press Release Courtesy of Vasely & Deadboy Records.

RW ENTERTAINMENT & DEADBOY PROMOTIONS PROUDLY PRESENT

AS I LAY DYING (San Diego, USA)
EMMURE (New York, USA)
SAVING GRACE

with THE DAUNTLESS & CAST THEM TO RUIN

Friday 26 March -Transmission Room Auckland | Licensed & All Ages
Tickets On Sale Now from www.moshtix.co.nz www.undertheradar.co.nz and Real Groovy

-------------------------

San Diego's Metal legends AS I LAY DYING need no introduction.
Since the release of their 2003 debut 'Frail Words Collapse' on Metal Blade Records, the band has gone on to
become one of the most influential metal acts of the last decade.

Headlining numerous festivals and tours across the globe, selling well over half a million records and picking up a trophy room full of awards, this is the one metal machine that you don't want to miss seeing live as they hit New Zealand's shores for the first time
for a one off performance at Auckland City's Transmission Room on Friday 26th March.

Coming out of Queens, New York, EMMURE are leading the way for the new generation of pissed off, mosh driven hardcore.
The band have released 3 albums to date on Victory Records and have toured worldwide in support of their releases
to an overwhelming response and an ever-growing legion of loyal fans.

Emmure's 2009 record 'Felony' has created much hype in USA and worldwide and New Zealand fans will have the opportunity to see the band live for one night only as they land in the country hot off the tail of their Australian dates with Machine Head, Hatebreed & Bleeding Through before returning to the U.S. to hit the road on 2010's legendary Vans Warped Tour.

Rounding off the mid-card are East Coast hardcore heavyweights SAVING GRACE who since 2005 have been making their mark on New Zealand and beyond with a strong touring history in Australasia, Mexico and the U.S. as well as a myriad of international supports and festival appearances.

Their brand new sophomore album 'Unbreakable' was released in January 2010 on Strike First Records in USA and is now available in stores across New Zealand on Deadboy Records.

Fear Factory "Mechanize" giveaways

Tune in to tonights show, where Dale (might) have details on how to win copies of the new Fear Factory Album "mechanize". They will be given away by the blog, and those who maintain it, but Dale will be able to take your calls as you give him the required details we will use to send the cds out to you...

This album features the reunion of Dino and Burton, & some of you might have see them play live at the BDO earlier in the year. It's been receiving many good reviews & many of the songs were leaked onto youtube as well.

Overall, it's an anticipated album & must have for all Fear Factory fans, whether you've been waiting for it or it snuck up on you.

follow the link to online streaming options:
http://www.95bfm.com/default,live.sm

Black FKN Friday times

From: http://forum.nzmetal.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=245

April 2nd @ the Transmission Room*

8:30pm - Doors open.
9:00pm - WORD OF GOD (30 minute set)
9:45pm - CARNAL (30 minute set)
10:30pm - THE MARK OF MAN (30 minute set)
11:15pm - ZERSTIREN (45 minute set)
12:15am - CRIPPLE MR ONION (45 minute set)
1:15am - IN DREAD RESPONSE (45 minute set)
3:00am - Doors shut.

*yes, the bar will be open

Metal turns 40

From: http://www.metalsucks.net/2010/02/12/happy-40th-birthday-heavy-metal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Metalsucks+%28MetalSucks%29

As has already been pointed out on any number of other websites, February 13 1970, marks the 40th anniversary of the release Black Sabbath’s debut & self titled album in the UK. While there is a certain amount of controversy over the exact origin of the heavy metal sound, the majority of people (who bother with this kinda thing) are in agreement that Sabbath are pretty much the originators of metal, so this would kinda-sorta make it metal’s 40th birthday.
So, please join me in wishing the music we love a very happy birthday.

Up coming things of interest

This week I've had two interviews that will be broadcasted in the next couple of shows:
1st with Ben from "The Mark of Man" Who are playing at "Black FKN Friday" April 2nd @ The Transmission Room, Auckland http://www.myspace.com/themarkofman
http://www.myspace.com/deadboyrecordsnz

2nd with Kurt Ballou; a founding member & Guitarist of Converge, who are in NZ for 2 shows in New Zealand: MArch 12th @ Kings Arms (Auckland), March 13th @ Bar Bodega (Wellington) http://www.myspace.com/converge www.shogunmusic.com

And to top it all off: in advance of their album release show for "Final Fester" on the 19th of Feb at the Kings Arms- Mutangent will be in the studio for a chat this coming monday on the show (15th feb)
http://www.myspace.com/mutangent

Free Meshuggah song for legit download

The song is off their new live DVD, entitled "Alive"
http://www.store.limewire.com/store/app/pages/profiles/ArtistProfile/profileId/98/?refsrc=lwblog

Devin Townsend remixes Rammstein

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Playlist for 8th of Feb

STORMWARRIOR- Metal Legacy (Album: Heading Northe)
EYEFEAR- Darkness till Dawn (Album: The Unseen)
STEEL PANTHER- Eyes of a Panther (Album: Feel the Steel)
EVERY DIE I DIE- Kill the Music (Album: Gutter Phenomenon)
MUSTASCH- Mine (Album: Mustasch)
THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT- Addicted (Album:
SIKTH- Such the Fool (Album: The Trees are Dead & Dried Out, Wait for Something Wild)
DRAGONFORCE- Reason to live (Album: Ultra Beatdown)
TESTAMENT- The Evil has landed (Album: The Formation of Damnation)
TRIVIUM- Iron Maiden (Album: Shogun)
OVERKILL- Bring me the Night (Album: Ironbound)
SWASHBUCKLE- Splash 'n' Thrash (Album: Back to the Noose)
SET ON END- Fire for Amber (Album: Means to an End)
H.D.K- System Overload (Album: System overload)
OVERCAST- Allegiance to Flesh (Album: Reborn to Kill Again)
HATEBREED- Every lasting Scar (Album: Hatebreed)
THE RED CHORD- Hour of Rats (Album: Fed Through the Teeth Machine)
CONVERGE- Reap what you Sow (Album: Axe to Fall)
MESHUGGAH- Rational Gaze (Album: Alive)
BEHEMOTH- Daimonos (Album: Evangelion)
NILE- Lashed to the Slave Stick (Album: Annihilation of the Wicked)
HATE ETERNAL- Bringer of Storms (Album: Fury & Flames)

Fuelset's New Video Premiere

WANNA BE THE FIRST TO SEE FUELSETs NEW MUSIC VIDEO "50 LEAVES"?

Doing it in style, Fuelset will be showcasing their New Video "50 LEAVES", filmed by 24 THOUSAND, on the BIG SCREEN at Berkeley Cinemas Mission Bay, Thursday 18th Feb 2010, to a very select few...

Limited Tickets available as straight after the premiere they will be screening MARTiN SCORSESEs New Dark Thriller SHUTTER ISLAND on its Opening Day...
Included in the ticket price is your chance to WIN some pretty sweeeet prizes with your First Beer Freeeee! Prizes include Movie Passes, Free PopCorn, CDs & lots more...

Tix only $18- get them from FUELSET contact@fuelset.net
'tell em the HARD FAST & HEAVY SHOW sent ya \m/

http://www.myspace.com/fuelset.band

Fornax Chemica opening for Meshuggah

When Swedes Meshuggah grace our shores once again for two shows, one in Wellington March 3rd and in Auckland March 4th Experimentalists, Fornax Chemica will be warming up the crowd at both shows.

From : http://www.myspace.com/fornaxchemica

Musically, Fornax Chemica play a brooding, surreal form of progressive post rock, with a particular emphasis on innovative songwriting and technical prowess. Monstrous, high energy rhythms blend seamlessly with psychedelic interludes, mind-melting poly-rhythms and passages of pure ambient expressiveness. Influenced by everyone from The Melvins, Tomahawk, Secret Chiefs 3 and Kyuss to Angelo Badalamenti, King Crimson and Led Zeppelin, the band have shared stages with the likes of Meshuggah, Cult of Luna, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Kerretta, Black Boned Angel and This City Sunrise.

In a live setting, the full Fornax experience boasts high definition computer-generated visuals set over multiple screen projections, alongside striking lighting and laser effects to create a truly mesmerizing atmosphere that simultaneously pummels the audience into submission and then lulls them peacefully with audio-visual tranquility.

Fornax Chemica’s debut album ‘Chemical Furnace’ was recorded in mid-2009 at RadioStar Studios in California, under the guidance of renowned producer Sylvia Massy (Tool, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Johnny Cash) and mastered at Golden Mastering by John Golden (Primus, Sonic Youth, The Melvins). The album is scheduled for release worldwide in April 2010

Converge interview and show info

The Hard fast and heavy show is acting like a proper radio thingy and has an upcoming interview with Converge Guitarist Kurt Ballou- possibly one of the first interviews of an international thus far that We went for, as opposed to a promoter or label rep taking pity on us..
www.myspace.com/converge


From: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=188505446937&ref=ts

The Groove Guide, with Anchor & Shogun presents the Converge New Zealand Tour, Auckland and Wellington March 2010.

Converge, formed in the winter of 1990 and self described as "hardcore kids with leftover Slayer riffs", an uncompromised artistic vision and an array of influences ranging from The Cure and Black Sabbath to Black Flag, (notably being described as the former of this generation). Such ingredients have led the band to be credited with giving rise to an entire genre whilst retaining an individuality in their sound that is completely their own.

Converge now sit as being unarguably one of the most important bands in the history of aggressive music.

Though their previous albums - Petitioning the Empty Sky (1997), When Forever Comes Crashing (1998), Jane Doe (2001), You Fail Me (2004) and No Heroes (2006) have already established Converge as trendsetters and innovators, the bands sixth studio album, 'Axe To Fall', takes the band's maverick attitude to new highs.

After nearly 20 years, a solid run of releases, and an unparalleled live show that's gone from flailing kids to legendary exorcism for both band and audience. The band have earned a die hard cult following world wide.

This will be a monumental tour for the strong Kiwi fanbase that has waited years to see Converge; and with the chosen venues being notorious for sellout crowds, this tour promises to deliver unforgettable experiences.


8pm Friday March 12th - Kings Arms, Auckland R18
8pm Saturday March 13th - Bar Bodega, Wellington R18

Tickets onsale Monday 7th December
$40 +BF available from Real Groovy and Undertheradar.co.nz

www.convergecult.com
www.shogunmusic.com
www.undertheradar.co.nz

The Mark of Man recording & at the Black FKN Friday gig.

Recently, the former 8 foot sativa, now The Mark of Man posted this on their facebook page:

"Vocal tracking is DONE and mix master Zorran is now on the case. We got a veritable fucktonne of shit in the pipeline... will keep you all posted!"

Personally, I understood the term to be "Shit-ton" (or "Shit-tonne")

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from: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235804461126
Auckland and Christchurch Metal come together for one Hell of a Black FKN Friday. 2nd April at Transmission Room..

IN DREAD RESPONSE
CRIPPLE MR ONION
ZERSTIREN (CHCH)
CARNAL (AUCK/CHCH)
WORD OF GOD (CHCH)
and recently added: THE MARK OF MAN
$10 on the door.
LICENSED BAR OPEN ON GOOD FRIDAY

This is the day after Origin, Decapitated, Psycroptic, Misery Index.
--------------------

As we know 8 foot sativa is on an indefinite hiatus or something... but this new band with the same guys sans Gary and different name, (with any possible change in musical direction) has been heralded by some grumpy know-it-all-metalheads around town as a positive step, as 'back in the day' 8 Foot Sativa were known for their signature sound, which has since dramatically changed.

The Mark of Man are a band driven with purpose, or message at least: Veganism http://www.myspace.com/themarkofman
But in my usual way; they state "Heaven Shall Burn" as an influence, (amongst other bands which are also cool) so they get my two thumbs up.

Terminator 4's Sam Worthington denied "Best Metal Performance"

Metal at the Grammys is not a new thing, plenty of the big bands have been nominmated, or won or should have won something- everyone remembers a few years ago, Slipknot at the grammys in suits and their masks...

The "Best Metal Performance" nominees were Slayer, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Ministry, and Lamb Of God. Judas Priest won.

The "Best Hard Rock Performance" nominees were AC/DC, Alice In Chains, Linkin Park, Metallica, and Nickelblack. AC/DC won, much to Australia and New Zealands delight (esp after their live shows here recently)

How black metal is that!

from: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=134544
Last week the annual Bergen Gay Galla was held, and various awards were presented to persons and institutions that have contributed to the gay community in Bergen, Norway.

The most prestigious award was given to Kristian Espedal (a.k.a. Gaahl). The former GORGOROTH vocalist was named "Homosexual Of The Year" and accepted the award in person.

"I don't need an award to be myself. But if this can help other people in the same scene as me, it's a positive thing," Gaahl told local newspaper Bergensavisen.

Gaahl, 34, is involved in a relationship with 19-year-old Robin Jakobsen.

When asked how he met his current partner, Gaahl said, "It was after closing time. I was at Fincken (gay bar in Bergen). Robin came to the club to look for his former boyfriend. I was buzzed on white wine, and suddenly I saw a glowing figure in the door. That was Robin. I thought to myself that he must be mine."

Was it love at first sight?

"No…I had to work a little for it."

Were people surprised when you came out as a homosexual?

"I think it's strange that it wasn't known before, but I never had a need to go public with it. Finally a German journalist had the guts to ask the question, and I answered him. It wasn't any more painful than that."