Lost your password?

Search Results for

death angel

TESTAMENT Working On New Material

Manos Spanos
According to a new tweet from TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick, he is currently "holed up" in a San Francisco Bay Area motel with fellow TESTAMENT axeman Eric Peterson and their guitars and mini-amps writing tunes for the band's next studio album. Skolnick says: "[We have] great ideas so far!" TESTAMENT last week announced the departure of bassist Greg Christian. Metal fretless bass pioneer Steve DiGiorgio has rejoined TESTAMENT as Christian's replacement. Steve was previously a member of TESTAMENT on "The Gathering" (1999) and "First Strike Still Deadly" (2001) albums. Christian was forced to leave the band's North American tour with LAMB OF GOD and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in November for "personal reasons." Filling in for him was EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson. "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York this past February, was made available on October 18, 2013 (Europe) and October 29, 2013 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK) and mixed by Juan Urteaga (VILE, EXODUS, SADUS, MACHINE HEAD). It captures a total of 19 live tracks with countless cams onstage and high above the audience, plus a special moshpit cam that makes you feel like you're a part of the show.
01 min read

TESTAMENT Parts Ways With Bassist GREG CHRISTIAN, Announces Return Of STEVE DIGIORGIO

Manos Spanos
San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans TESTAMENT have released the following statement: "It is with much respect that we announce our mutual parting with bassist Greg Christian. Metal fretless bass pioneer Steve DiGiorgio will be returning to TESTAMENT. "Steve previously was a member of TESTAMENT on 'The Gathering' (1999) as well as 'First Strike Still Deadly' (2001). He will be joining TESTAMENT on their upcoming shows in Australia on the Soundwave Festival, Japan and Mexico City. Steve will also be taking part in the new TESTAMENT album. "We are looking forward to continuing the momentum you, the fans, have made possible." Christian was forced to leave the band's North American tour with LAMB OF GOD and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in November for "personal reasons." Filling in for him was EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson. "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York this past February, was made available on October 18, 2013 (Europe) and October 29, 2013 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK) and mixed by Juan Urteaga (VILE, EXODUS, SADUS, MACHINE HEAD). It captures a total of 19 live tracks with countless cams onstage and high above the audience, plus a special moshpit cam that makes you feel like you're a part of the show.
01 min read

Ultra-Violence
Privilege To Overcome

Manos Spanos
File under: Italian Thrash metal. Well the Italians were not as big as the rest of Europe (Germany that is) in terms of influence but made some well received names such as Bulldozer and Necrodeath or Children Of Technology in today's Thrash metal scene. The band reviewed today has been a pleasant surprise for the writer first of all with their name taken from the Bay Area classic "The Ultra Violence" by Death Angel. Their debut album "Privilege To Overcome" starts off with "Spell Of The Moon" with wolves howling and a groovy Machine Head riff kicking in only to turn into a violent Thrash riff followed by blastbeats with vocals like a mixture of Max Cavalera (Sepultura) and Mark Osequeda (Death Angel) including an amazing groovy chorus and top notch soloing and riffing showing the Bay Area influence. "L.F.D.Y." kicks in old school Bay Area style balancing between mid tempo and Thrashing parts with great solos ripping through. "Order Of The Black" has a few midtempo parts and being a full on Thrasher makes it a concert must especially that Slayeresque riff after the groovy mid part could definitely cause a lot of pain in the mosh pit. The violence continues with "Stigmatized Reality" ripping fast through the listeners ears before grooving a bit only to come back to the original speed and a kind of a Black metal-influenced pre-chorus leading to a groovy chorus then back to the mayhem with some kick ass soloing. An Exodus-influenced riff leads us to "Restless Parasite" which just keeps up the Thrashing tempo destroying everything in its path. Got to give credit to the awesome gang vocals (would make Exodus proud). "Turn Into Dust" starts with a Destruction-like fast riff and a headbanging chorus making it one of the best songs on the album and a middle section mentioning the album title giving goosebumps to the listener fading out with a kick ass groovy riff. A bass-drums intro leads us to the albums' longest "The Voodoo Cross" with headbanging Heavy riffage snapping some necks reminding a bit of Metallica's heavy riffing, followed by an acoustic part over a spoken sample then back to the Heavy riffage. Suddedly we come back to the S.O.D. influenced "You're Dead!" clocking at under 1 minute bringing back the full-speed-ahead motif. "The Beast Behind Your Back" starts with a stop-and-go fast riff reminiscent of Testament then moving
04 min read

TESTAMENT Bassist Leaves Tour, EXODUS’ JACK GIBSON Steps In

Manos Spanos
TESTAMENT bassist Greg Christian has been forced to leave the band's current North American tour with LAMB OF GOD and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE for "personal reasons." Filling in for him beginning with tonight's (Wednesday, November 19) concert at Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson (pictured). "It's an honor to be filling in for Greg," Jack tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "I've always thought he was one of the best metal bass players alive. "TESTAMENT is already family. Gene [Hoglan, TESTAMENT drummer] is a god. "This should be a lot of fun!" "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York this past February, was made available on October 18 (Europe) and October 29 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK) and mixed by Juan Urteaga (VILE, EXODUS, SADUS, MACHINE HEAD). It captures a total of 19 live tracks with countless cams onstage and high above the audience, plus a special moshpit cam that makes you feel like you're a part of the show. EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt is continuing to fill in for fallen SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman on the latter band's current tour.
01 min read

On The Tour Bus With FIREWIND And TURISAS (Video)

Manos Spanos
TURISAS and FIREWIND are featured in the latest episode of "Bus Invaders". Shot on February 10, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois, the clip — which can be seen below — features TURISASsinger Mathias Nygård and FIREWIND guitarist Gus G. giving a tour of their bus. FIREWIND celebrated its 10th anniversary by releasing a live album on June 24 via Century Media Records in Europe. Entitled "Apotheosis - Live 2012", the CD contains 17 songs recorded at special anniversary shows in Greece as well as all over Europe during the band's"Few Against Many" tour in 2012. With a playing time of 69 minutes, the effort is a great overview of the band's career so far, which consists of seven studio albums. It also marksFIREWIND's final release with singer Apollo Papathanasio, who decided to leave the group at the end of last year. He has since been replaced by Kelly Sundown Carpenter (ADAGIO,BEYOND TWILIGHT) as session frontman for all 2013 live activities. The cover artwork for "Apotheosis - Live 2012", which was released as a digipak in its first limited-edition pressing, was designed by FIREWIND's longtime partner in all design matters,Gustavo Sazes (ARCH ENEMY, ANGRA, DREAM EVIL) based on live photography by Hans-W. Rock. FIREWIND's latest album, "Few Against Many", entered the official chart in Greece at No. 42 and in Germany at No. 90. Released in Europe on May 21, 2012 via Century Media Recordsand in North America on May 22 through DisManic, Inc. via eOne Distribution, the CD was mixed by Jason Suecof and Eyal Levi at Audiohammer Studios (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, DEATH ANGEL) in Sanford, Florida. TURISAS's new album, "Turisas2013", was released on August 26 in Europe and was made available on September 3 in North America. The CD was once again produced by vocalistMathias Nygård and the majority of the album was recorded by Nygård and guitarist Jussi Wickström in a remote house outside of Helsinki that served as the "Turisas2013" command center and headquarters. Additional recordings were done in three other studios: the drums atAtomic Spa Studio and orchestral recordings at 5 by 5 Studio, both in Helsinki. A lot of vocals and numerous additional acoustic elements were laid down at Sound Supreme Studioin Hämeenlinna where TURISAS also recorded "The Varangian Way" and "Stand Up And Fight". The mix and mastering was done by London-based producer Jaime Gomez Arellano, who previously worked with GHOST, PRIMODIAL and ULVER, just to name a few.
02 min read

METALLICA’s KIRK HAMMETT Says CARCASS Will Perform At His ‘Fear FestEviL’ Horror Convention

Manos Spanos
Lifelong horror enthusiast and METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammettrecently spoke to Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone about his first annual horror convention, dubbed Kirk Von Hammett's Fear FestEviL, which will take place February 6-8, 2014 at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California. You can now watch the chat below. Created to honor the weird, the wonderful, the eclectic, and the things that make your hair stand up on end, the heavy doors of collector/curator/historian/guardian Kirk Von Hammett's crypt will be opened to the public to display the finest acquisitions in his extensive collection of horror memorabilia which includes rare movie posters and props, costumes, models, masks, and toys from various eras. "I've always loved horror, I've always loved collecting, I've always loved weird and macabre things and I've always loved conventions," confessed Hammett. "So what could be better than having your own Fear FestEviL where ALL those great and crazy things can be enjoyed by like-minded people under one pretty cool roof?! Nothing!!! And because I've seen some conventions turn from back-room gatherings of like-minded dorks into mainstream hipster extravaganzas, rest assured that it's my intention to make this a great experience where all things horror, weird, and nerdy are celebrated! So come one and all!!!" Already confirmed to attend as panelists will be Slash, makeup FX legend Greg Nicotero ("The Walking Dead"), Tom Savini ("Dawn Of The Dead"), and John A. Russo ("Night Of The Living Dead"). Private "Crypt" tours, signing sessions, and musical performances by Nuclear Blast artistsCARCASS, DEATH ANGEL and ORCHID will also be included in the three-day event. Visit www.FEARFESTEviL.com for the latest information on horror's newest and coolest fan convention. In 2012, Hammett released "Too Much Horror Business - The Kirk Hammett Collection", an oversized 228-page hardback book documenting his love of all things related to the horror genre and features more than 300 photos of items from the collection of horror memorabilia he has accumulated over the years. The book also included three lengthy interviews withHammett, who also wrote the captions for many of the photos. Hammett told the San Francisco Chronicle, "I've been into [horror] stuff since I was five years old . . . My love for this stuff is insane and totally obsessive-compulsive. It's just one of those things. I'm still waiting to outgrow it or get tired of it or get bored with it. But it does not seem to happen." Hammett, who has been collecting items and watching horror movies since he was a child, told Loudwire why he thinks the genre is so popular. He explained, "They're just fun. They're a fun experience. It's not unlike a roller coaster ride, you know? A good horror movie should have peaks and valleys, a good horror movie should move you emotionally, a good horror movie should be exciting to watch and energizing in a weird kind of way . . . horror movies deliver that." Hammett added, "I've always been attracted to the darker things in life. I was never one to go for light, airy stuff, even as a child. My whole aesthetic has always been one of the darker side. That rings true also in my tastes in music."
04 min read

SLAYER: JEFF HANNEMAN Photos From ‘Murder In The Front Row’ Book Posted Online

Manos Spanos
SPIN.com is honoring the life of SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman with a gallery of early photographs by Harald Oimoen, from the D.R.I. bassist's book "Murder In The Front Row: Shots From The Bay Area Thrash Metal Epicenter". The photos capture several live and candid moments from the rise of U.S. thrash metal circa 1984, including Hanneman andSLAYER performing outdoors on a plywood stage; SLAYER's very first face-to-face encounter with the members of METALLICA; Oimoen's classic sleeve photo from SLAYER's "Hell Awaits" album; and a moving portrait of Hanneman and his eventual substitute in SLAYER — Gary Holtof EXODUS. The gallery of photos from the book can be viewed at this location. "Murder In The Front Row" is a stunning volume that collects over 400 amazing color and black-and-white photos from the time when localsEXODUS and Los Angeles transplants METALLICA reigned in small clubs like the Old Waldorf, The Stone, and the infamous East Bay bastion of heaviness, Ruthie's Inn. Thrash metal upstarts SLAYER and MEGADETHfound a second home in the Bay Area, while a homegrown breed of tempo-crazed teenagers like LEGACY, POSSESSED, DEATH ANGEL, HEATHENand VIO-LENCE brought Bay Area thrash metal to critical mass. Hanneman passed away on May 2 from liver failure at the age of 49.
02 min read

MOTÖRHEAD’s LEMMY Co-Writes Song On New HUNTRESS Album

Manos Spanos
Los Angeles-based, occult-themed, female-fronted traditional heavy metal band HUNTRESS will release its sophomore album, "Starbound Beast", on June 28 in Europe and on July 2 in North America via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Hobby Shop Studios in Los Angeles with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED,MUNICIPAL WASTE). The cover artwork for the CD will once again be created by Vance Kelly (THE SWORD, GRAVEYARD, HIGH ON FIRE,PENTAGRAM, ALICE IN CHAINS, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, DEATH ANGEL), who previously worked on the group's debut album, last year's"Spell Eater". "Starbound Beast" will include the track "I Want to Fuck You to Death", which was co-written for HUNTRESS singer Jill Janus by legendary MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister.
03 min read