Enemy Of The Sun: Caedium – new album

Germany's progressive/thrash metal band ENEMY OF THE SUN has released new album, ‘Caedium’, today, May 28th, 2010, (28. 5. 2010) through Massacre Records (Europe). The album will be released in North America on June 22nd, 2010 via The End Records.

‘Caedium’ (Latin for self-inflicted death; not necessarily a suicide) is ENEMY OF THE SUN's second studio album, their first being 2007's ‘Shadows’. The band has recently uploaded three new songs, ‘Paradigm’, ‘Ticket’ and ‘Chasing The Dragon’, on their MySpace page: therefore click here and take a listen. “The main theme of the album is about man killing mankind without knowing it, to self-destruct without pushing the button,” vocalist and lyricist Näveri explained. “The songs are about ways to deal with it, thoughts inside the burning world. The lyrics are inspired by “The Watchmen” novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. I tried to alter that world into present.”

ENEMY OF THE SUN is the brainchild of Waldemar Sorychta, master guitarist, producer extraordinaire and prolific songwriter. Sorychta previously played in DESPAIR, GRIP INC. and VOODOCULT and is a current member of gothic metal band EYES OF EDEN. Sorychta gathered some impressive musicians to form ENEMY OF THE SUN: excellent diverse vocals by Finnish singer Jules Näveri (PROFANE OMEN), pedigreed bassist Alla Fedynitch (EYES OF EDEN/LEAVES EYES and touring member of DISSOLUTION and PAIN) and tour the force drummer Daniel Zeman.

Nevermore: The Obsidian Conspiracy – new album

‘The Obsidian Conspiracy’, seventh studio album by American progressive metal group NEVERMORE, will be released on May 31st, 2010 in Europe and on June 8th, 2010 in the U.S. via Century Media Records. The album was produced by Peter Wichers, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap, while the album cover is the work of Travis Smith.

NEVERMORE was founded by vocalist Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard in 1990 in Seattle, USA. By 1994 the band assumed a stable lineup with the additions of drummer Van Williams and guitarist Jeff Loomis. In 1995, NEVERMORE released its self-titled debut which got them to perform at Dynamo Open Air Festival, followed by their second album, ‘Politics Of Ecstasy’, released in 1996, after the addition of second guitarist Pat O’Brien to the lineup. O’Brien left NEVERMORE to play in CANNIBAL CORPSE and Curran Murphy was enlisted as a touring guitarist until Tim Calvert (FORBIDDEN) was able to join the band. Third full-length, a “concept album of sorts - telling the tale of a man's slow plunge into insanity following the death of his girlfriend”, entitled ‘Dreaming Neon Black’ (1999) was the album that brought about the attention of heavy music fans and earned NEVERMORE deserved respect in the heavy metal press. The album was voted “best album of the year” by many publications. After a long tour that ensued, the newcomer, Tim Calveret, decided to leave the group which in turn, decided to continue on as a quartet. Album ‘Dead Heart In A Dead World’ followed in 2000 and 2003's ‘Enemies Of Reality’ got lovingly labeled as “a nasty little thrash record with plenty of depth” by John Serba of Allmusic Guide. Sixth studio album, ‘This Godless Endeavor’, produced by Andy Sneap, came out in 2005.

NEVERMORE features: Warrel Dane – vocals, Jeff Loomis – guitar, Jim Sheppard – bass and Van Williams - drums

NEVERMORE: The Termination Proclamation – courtesy of Century Media Records

Korzus: Discipline Of Hate – new album / Truth – new video

Brazilian thrash metal veterans KORZUS have just released new album entitled ‘Discipline Of Hate’ in their home country – the rest of the world will have to wait for it until June 11th, 2010. The label responsible is AFM Records.

KORZUS formed in 1983 and is considered to be one of the most important bands of the Brazilian thrash metal scene (along with SEPULTURA and SARCOFAGO). In 1986 the band released their first album - a live effort, followed by debut studio album entitled ‘Sonho Maniaco’ in 1987. In 1989, KORZUS released their first English-language effort, ‘Pay For Your Lies’, arguably its finest and most professional album. First international tour followed the release of next - critically acclaimed - full-length, ‘Mass Illusion’, (1991). Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic giude described it thusly: “An incredibly enjoyable old-school thrash record, and also an ideal starting point for new KORZUS fans.” The same critic trashed KORZUS' next album, ‘KZS’, released in 1996: “One has to suffer through seven, mostly tuneless excuses for songs lasting one to two minutes.” Staying with the critic, 2004's ‘Ties Of Blood’ received a generous nod from the man: “A fine return to action for the long-suffering Brazilian metal veterans; this album should put KORZUS back in place they like being the most: back on stage.”

KORZUS features: Marcello Pompeu on vocals, Heros Trench on guitar, Antônio Araújo on guitar, Dick Siebert on bass and Rodrigo Oliveira on drums.

Stone Temple Pilots: Stone Temple Pilots – new album

Sixth studio album by American rock band  STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will be released on May 25th, 2010 (25. 5. 2010) via Atlantic Records. Self-titled album is band's first since their 2001-release entitled ‘Shangri-La Dee Da’.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS features Scott Weiland (lead vocals), brothers Robert DeLeo (bass, vocals) and Dean DeLeo (guitar) and Eric Kretz (drums, percussions). The band formed in 1986 and in 1992 released its debut album ‘Core’. (‘Core’ was certified platinum eight times, single ‘Plush’ won a Grammy.) In 1994, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS released their second album, ‘Purple’, which debuted at number one on American music charts. It had sold three million copies and was certified platinum six times. ‘Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop’ was released in 1996, featuring music strongly influenced by 60's rock and bands such as THE BEATLES. This album was less successful than its predecessors and went on to become certified platinum only twice, heh. With ‘No. 4’ (1999) STP returned to their hard rock roots, while also blending elements of heavy metal, psychedelic and alternative rock. (Certified platinum once, with the single ‘Down’ nominated for Grammy Award.) ‘Shangri-La Dee Da’, was a commercial disappointment for the band and yet, as of 2008 the album had sold 364,000 copies and was certified gold.)

STP were one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the 1990s, selling nearly 40 million records worldwide. They had 16 top ten singles on the Billboard charts, seven of which peaked at number one position. STONE  TEMPLE PILOTS were ranked at number 40 on VH1's ‘The 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock’.

Follow-up: STP's latest effort peaked at number 2 on American Billboard 200; with first week sales of nearly 62,000 copies. It reached the same position on Canadian Albums Chart and made it to number 6 on New Zealand Albums Chart. Critics seem to use the words “perfectly respectable” a lot when describing this album; some sense the influence of THE BEATLES in every song, others compare their music to that of David Bowie.

Exodus: Exhibit B: The Human Condition – new album

The ninth studio album by thrash metal band EXODUS, ‘Exhibit B: The Human Condition’, will be released on May 7th, 2010 in Europe and May 18th, 2010 in USA, on Nuclear Blast Records. Album's artwork was created by Colin Larks (Rainsong Design) and is meant to represent the EXODUS' take on Leonardo da Vinci's “Vitruvian Man”. 

EXODUS was formed in 1980 in California by guitarist Gary Holt, current METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammet and drummer Tom Hunting. With Paul Baloff on lead vocals and Jeff Andrews on bass, the band self-recorded and self-produced the ‘1982 Demo’. With Hammet gone off to METALLICA, he was replaced by Rick Hunolt, with Rob McKillop joining in on bass; this lineup recorded and released EXODUS' debut album, 1985's ‘Bonded By Blood’. Though the album was somewhat overlooked at the time, (I personally remember it with tears of nostalgia in my eyes, heh) it is these daysconsidered to be one of the genre's most influential albums. ‘Bonded By Blood’ was re-mastered and re-issued by Century Media in 1999. Shortly after, Paul Baloff was replaced by Steve Souza (LEGACY, TESTAMENT) and with him in the vocal department, the group issued ‘Pleasures Of The Flesh’ in 1987 and ‘Fabulous Disaster’ in 1989. 1990's ‘Impact Is Imminent’ was the last EXODUS' album to feature Rob McKillop on bass, the first with John Tempesta on drums and the band's first to be released through Capitol Records. Live effort, ‘Good Friendly Violent Fun’, followed in 1991. Their fifth album, ‘Force Of Habit’, (1992) EXODUS slowed down a notch, went all experimental and even recorded an 11-minute magnum opus tribute to Marquis de Sade through ‘Architect Of Pain’. Another live album featuring the original vocalist Paul Baloff, ‘Another Lesson In Violence’ was issued 1997, The band took some time off and reunited in 2001. In 2002 the singer suffered a stroke of which he eventually and sadly died. EXODUS re-recruited singer Steve Souza and released ‘Tempo Of The Damned’ in 2004. In 2005, Lee Altus (HEATHEN) replaced guitarist Rick Hunholt and Paul Bostaph (SLAYER/TESTAMENT/FORBIDDEN) took over the drum kit as Rob Dukes stepped in for Steve Souza on vocals and as such, EXODUS recorded their seventh album,‘Shovel Headed Kill Machine’. With drummer Hunting returned to the band in 2007, ‘The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A’ was released that same year. A re-recording of the classic 1985's ‘Bonded By Blood’, featuring their modern lineup and entitled ‘Let There Be Blood’, was issued in 2008.

Follow-up: ‘Exhibit B: The Human Condition’ debuted at number 114 on American albums chart Billboard 200: with 4,600 copies sold in the USA in its first week of release, the album peaked at number 32 on German Albums Chart as well. The video for ‘Downfall’ was directed and produced by Jon Schnepp.

EXODUS: The Ballad Of Leonard And Charles – courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

Karma To Burn: Appalachian Incantation – new album / Waiting On The Western World – new video

KARMA TO BURN has just released new album entitled ‘Appalachian Incantation’ via Napalm Records; the album's North American release date is set for May 11th, 2010. ‘Appalachian Incantation’ is the band's fourth studio album and the first since 2001's ‘Almost Heathen’. ‘Waiting On The Western World’, the only properly named track off their latest album, features vocalist Daniel Davies (YEAR LONG DISASTER).

KARMA TO BURN  is desert rock/stoner metal band from West Virginia, USA. In 1997 the band released their self-titled debut album through Roadrunner Records which earned the group a widespread critical praise for their dark, trance-like metal riffs, but, unfortunately, sold poorly. After some lineup shifting, ‘Wild, Wonderful Purgatory’ was released in 1999; KARMA TO BURN's first fully instrumental album (on which they didn’t even name the songs, simply assigning them numbers as they were written, a practice KARMA TO BURN have kept). Third full-length, ‘Almost Heathen’, was released in 2001 via Spitfire Records.

KARMA TO BURN features: William Mecum - guitar, Rich Mullins - bass and Rob Oswald – drums

 

Jackyl: When Moonshine and Dynamite Collide – new album

Sixth full-length by veteran southern rockers JACKYL will be released on May 4th, 2010 (4. 5. 2010) through Mighty Loud Entertainment Records. ‘When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide’ is the band's first original-material album since the release of ‘Relentless’ in 2002.

JACKYL started in 1990, forming in Georgia, USA. Vocalist Jesse James Dupree, guitarist Jeff Worley, drummer Chris Worley, bassist Tom Bettini and guitarist Jimmy Stiff shared an enthusiasm for likes of AC/DC and LYNARD SKYNYRD and started crafting their own blend of hard rock and southern boogie. A self-titled debut (1992), released under Geffen Records, eventually went platinum. The most attention probably got the song ‘The Lumberjack’, an ode to burly chainsaw wielders, that witnessed a power tool solo by the group's frontman. His chainsaw abilities became their recognized gimmick. In 1994 ‘Push Comes To Shove’ was released in which group's sense of humor has become more obvious but their blatant vulgar jokes that got the band a certain (white-trash) reputation, caused Geffen Records to let the new album sink to the bottom of the charts. The third album ‘Cut The Crap’ was released in 1994 via Sony. Steve Huey of Allmusic wrote: “most of the album comes off as a whinefest from a band that is no longer having fun.” ‘Stayin’ Alive’ was released in 1998 via Shimmering Tone and was received poorly by critics. Bettini and Stiff left the band and guitarist Roman Glick (BROTHER CANE), was drafted into the line-up. The band returned in 2002 with the album ‘Relentless’, writing the tracks with AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson.