The Groundbreaking Ceremony Premiere New Music Video

Central Pennsylvania pop punks The Groundbreaking Ceremony are premiering their new music video today on Altpress.com. To view, “Eleventh and Bleecker” visit: http://www.altpress.com/aptv/video/video_premiere_the_groundbreaking_ceremony_eleventh_and_bleecker.

Front man Jonnie Baker says, “We had originally planned on releasing a “making of…” video a month or so back, but our focus shifted towards the music video itself, in the end. We shot for over 12 hours a day for three days straight right before we left for Warped Tour, and the video’s been in post for the last three months really going through the grinder. Maybe we’ll release one in the future using all of the extra footage we have. We really wanted to put out the absolute best music video that we could, and working with Don Hampton (our director) was an absolute treat. He’s such a big name in the action sports world and has such great artistic vision and attention to detail and connections, we just absolutely couldn’t have had a better film team behind us for this music video.

Camp Woodward really opened their arms to us, and played a huge part in making this video as great as it could be, and we can’t thank them, or Don enough. We look forward to working with them again in the future, and wanted to give a shout out and BIG thanks to everyone involved: Gary Ream, Dave Metty, Jeff Brockmeyer and Steve “Maverick” Haus from Camp Woodward, our film crew Michael Craven, Mark Stetzer, Jason Cline, Carley Greiner, Abbie Moyer, and Ken Grau. We also want to thank Gardy Raymond, our special effects editor/colorist — and of course Redbull — for going out of their way to give us wings when we were shooting for 12 hour days and needed it!”

Season of Mist to issue limited WATAIN LP box set

To celebrate the band that critics have called “the most important Black Metal act of the decade”, Season of Mist is re-releasing WATAIN’s complete full-length back catalog on vinyl in a strictly limited collector’s box.

This collector’s box is made of solid beech wood with real leather, containing a WATAIN logo imprint on the lid. The box includes all four albums (Rabid Death’s Curse, Casus Luciferi, Sworn to the Dark, and Lawless Darkness) in deluxe, gate-fold, double-LP editions with download cards.  Each album has been painstakingly remastered to keep the original spirit of intent, and comes in a different vinyl color exclusive to this box set: Rabid Death’s Curse – solid grey with black and white splatters, Casus Luciferi – solid grey, Sworn to the Dark – transparent red, Lawless Darkness – transparent clear. The box set includes 4 hand-crafted silkscreen prints that assemble together as a poster. This exclusive box is limited to 1,000 units worldwide and available for pre-order now.

Additionally, the remastered albums will be released separately in limited black vinyl editions.

WATAIN have stormed from the hellish pits of the underground onto the covers of the biggest Metal magazines and stages at the largest festivals worldwide. Their latest album, Lawless Darkness (2010), was praised by critics and fans alike and went on to collect many “album of the year” titles and top list entries.

West End Motel Hits Road In Support Of New Album

Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds has just announced a 3-week tour with his side project West End Motel in support of their sophomore release Only Time Can Tell (out October 30 on Warner Bros). Kicking off November 28 in Washington, D.C., the tour will make stops in New York, Boston, Chicago, and more, wrapping up December 15 in Hinds’ hometown of Atlanta.

Only Time Can Tell is the highly-anticipated follow-up to Hinds’ acclaimed 2011 debut Don’t Shiver, You’re A Winner which SPIN proclaimed “a welcome departure from Mastodon’s thrashy, progged-out fare…sounds like Tom Waits and Tim Burton co-hosting the creepiest vaudeville show ever,” and Pitchfork praised for its “playfulness and off-the-cuff amiability.”

 The 8-song set is now available to preoder on iTunes. Rolling Stone is streaming the album’s first single “Burn It Down," praising its "brightly shout-out-loud vocals, warm and soulful textures, swooning funk melodies and a breezy beat that’s downright feel-good music.”

 Please feel free to post & share “Burn It Down”

http://soundcloud.com/westendmotel/burn-it-down

 West End Motel began in 1993 under a bridge in Atlanta, where Hinds first met longtime friend Tom Cheshire. Describing themselves as a “conglomerate of losers, poets and hobo-sexuals,” the pair write acoustic-guitar driven songs enriched with horns and keys, with the end result sounding like Nick Cave fronting Gogol Bordello. The project pre-dates Mastodon and offers an important glimpse into Hinds’ musical influences.

 ”I grew up listening to Chet Atkins play guitar, and I grew up listening to Brian Setzer play guitar,” explains Hinds. “Jimmy Bryant, Speedy West, all these country-chicken-pickin’-flying-‘round-the-guitar-neck guitar players. I got really inspired by it. I’m from way down in the country. It was pretty common to have the interests I had when I was that age. MTV had some hair metal on there, but I was more interested in this rockabilly vibe. Stray Cats were really big at the time, in the ’80s. It was epic.”

Only Time Can Tell Track Listing:

1. Burn It Down

2. El Myr

3. Witch Is Dead

4. If I Only Had Tomorrow (Second Chances)

5. Forgiveness

6. Only Time Can Tell

7. Valentine

8. Bite

WEST END MOTEL TOUR DATES

Nov 28 - Vienna, VA @ Jammin’ Java

Nov 29 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge

Nov 30 - West Chester, PA @ The Note

Dec 01 - Winooski, VT @ The Monkey House

Dec 02 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott

Dec 04 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool

Dec 05 - Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop

Dec 06 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop

Dec 07 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club

Dec 08 - Chicago, IL @ Double Door

Dec 09 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7^th Street Entry

Dec 11 - Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room

Dec 13 - Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light

Dec 14 - Birmingham, AL @ The Nick

Dec 15 - Atlanta, GA @ 529

Twin Atlantic Soundtracks Historic Supersonic Freefall

Twin Atlantic’s Stratos Spaced Out Remix of their single, “Free,” served as the official theme song for history over the weekend as Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner completed a record breaking freefall jump from 128,100 feet. Baumgartner reached an estimated speed of 1,137 km jumping from the stratosphere, which when certified will make him the first man to break the speed of sound in freefall and set several other records

The Stratos Spaced Out Remix of “Free” (from the band’s sophomore album of the same name) is available now on iTunes. For more on Twin Atlantic, visit their official site, Facebook, and Twitter.

Glass Nail Records Announces "Stay Glassy" Tour Dates

Glass Nail Records is pleased to announce the dates for the “Stay Glassy” label showcase tour starting October 26th in Kent, OH and ending November 4th in Pittsburgh. Cloud Gavin and Lakota De Kai are playing all dates, with Gatherer joining them for the remainder of the tour October 31st.

All three bands will be touring in support of new and upcoming releases: Cloud Gavin’s sophomore full-length, Posture, which will be available on 12” later this year; Gatherer’s debut, Postcards, out now on 7” and a full-length early next year; and Lakota De Kai’s upcoming 10” mini-album, Heavy Teeth, also available early next year.

In related news, the is also throwing a proper showcase at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ on Halloween with performances by Gatherer, Arrows In Her, Cloud Gavin, Lakota De Kai, and two special guests as well as an exclusive announcement involving their roster. Stay tuned on the links below for more details on the upcoming releases, tours, and other news surrounding the Glass Nail Records family.

Stay tuned on the links below for more details on the upcoming releases, tours, and other news surrounding the Glass Nail Records family.

http://www.glassnailrecords.com

http://www.facebook.com/glassnailrecords

@GlassNailRecs

Tour Dates:

Oct 26 - Kent, OH @ The Euro Gyro w/ Lakota De Kai, Cloud Gavin

Oct 27 - Erie, PA @ Basement Transmissions w/ Cloud Gavin, Lakota De Kai

Oct 28 - Jeannette, PA @ Keynote Café w/ Cloud Gavin, Lakota De Kai

Oct 29–30 - Niagara Falls, NY @ Halloweener (Cruisers Hockey and Bar) w/ Cloud Gavin, Lakota De Kai

Oct 31 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwells w/ Gatherer, Arrows In Her, Cloud Gavin, Lakota De Kai

Nov 1 - Petersburg, VA @ House Show w/ Cloud Gavin, Gatherer, Lakota De Kai

Nov 2 - Norfolk, VA @ Wesley House ODU w/ Cloud Gavin, Gatherer, Lakota De Kai

Nov 3 - Richmond, VA @ U of R w/ Cloud Gavin, Gatherer, Lakota De Kai

Nov 4 - Pittsburgh, PA @ The Vatican’t w/ Cloud Gavin, Gatherer, Lakota De Kai

Miss May I premieres new music video for Day By Day

Troy, OH’s MISS MAY I will hit the road tomorrow on THE AP TOUR FALL 2012, sponsored by PETERSAYSDENIM! In celebration of the tour kick-off, Alternative Press Magazine has unveiled the band’s new music video for the track ‘Day By Day’ produced by Picture Machine Productions and directed by Andre Durand and Daniel Cummings! Fans can view the video at this location: Alternative Press Magazine - new music video at this location

THE AP TOUR FALL 2012, featuring a line-up handpicked by the AP staff, will run until the end of November. MISS MAY I will receive direct support from California heavy hitters THE GHOST INSIDE, melodic metal act LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES, Australia’s modern metal quintet THE AMITY AFFLICTION, and technical metal up-and-comers GLASS CLOUD. Tickets for the AP TOUR FALL 2012 are on sale now! Buy them at: www.altpress.com/theaptourtickets.com.

Also, VIP passes are available at: www.theaptour.frontgatetickets.com and include a one-year subscription to Alternative Press Magazine, all 3 covers of the AP Tour issue, access to a Meet & Greet with MISS MAY I, the ability to sit-in on a MISS MAY I soundcheck, an autographed copy of the MISS MAY I CD At Heart, early entry into the venue, an AP Tour VIP commemorative laminate, and an exclusive AP Tour Flash Drive wristband that includes a personal message and exclusive music/videos from all the bands.

MISS MAY I AP TOUR FALL 2012 Dates:

10-16 New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place

10-17 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

10-18 Boston, MA @ Royale Night Club

10-19 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts

10-20 Sayerville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

10-21 Baltimore, MD @ The Recher Theatre

10-23 Norfolk, VA @ The Norva

10-24 Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend Music Hall

10-25 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

10-26 St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre

10-27 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution

10-28 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues

10-30 Houston, TX @ House of Blues

10-31 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues

11-01 San Antonio, TX @ Backstage Live

11-03 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile

11-04 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

11-06 Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues

11-07 Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

11-08 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades

11-09 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater

11-10 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon

11-12 Salt Lake City @ In The Venue

11-13 Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall

11-15 Minneapolis, MN @ Station 4

11-16 Sauget, IL @ Pops

11-17 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

11-18 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection

11-20 Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar

11-21 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s

11-23 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall

11-24 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

DISPERSE sign with Season of Mist!

Progressive metal quintet DISPERSE have inked a deal with Season of Mist. The band’s Season of Mist debut is slated for a 2013 release.

“I’m so happy that this album is finally finished”, guitarist Jakub Żytecki comments. “I started to write some of the very first songs almost three years ago. As a band, we had a lot of ups and downs during that time, but thanks to help of our families and friends, we could push the things forward and finish what we’d started…Signing with Season of Mist is a really promising step in DISPERSE’s career. We can’t wait to see where our common journey will take us! Thanks Michael and Co for your appreciation and support!”

Motorhead to Release New Live Album on October 22nd

On Monday, October 22nd, the loudest, most real and raucous rock ’n’ roll Grammy-winning band in the world, Motörhead, will release The Wörld Is Ours Vol. 2 - Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else, the follow-up to 2011’s The Wörld Is Ours Vol. 1 - Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else.

Like it’s sibling, Anyplace Crazy… will come packed with more magnificent Motörmaterial from ‘The Wörld Is Yours Tour,’ including the triumphant 2011 Wacken headline appearance as well as highlights from the Sonisphere and Rio shows. The band will commence with their 2012 European Tour on November 5th in Wolverhampton, UK, ending on December 11th in Kempten, supported by Anthrax. Learn more about the new release in the official EPK video, and head to Motörhead’s official site at imotorhead.com for tour dates, ticket information, and more.

Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else Formats:
• 2 CD + DVD + BR Combobox
CD, DVD and Blu-ray all in one digipack
• 2 CD (Jewel Case) - Wacken full show plus
Sonisphere 6 songs and Rio 5 songs
• 2 Vinyl LP 12“ (Gatefold) - Wacken show only

Classic Bands and Why We Love Them: As I Lay Dying

This week’s “Classic Bands and Why We Love Them” contribution is from Chris Davis of Texas In July.

2003, my freshman year of high school, was a pretty awesome year for me as far discovering new bands and music. But one band in particular has stuck with me and made a huge impact on my life every day since. This band is As I Lay Dying.
   
I had bought the Headbangers Ball compilation CD, which featured many great bands but it was the second-to-last track on this disc that really knocked my socks off and caught my attention. The song was “Forever” by As I Lay Dying, and it was heavy yet melodic and had what I thought that time to be the craziest guitar riffs. I was hooked! I played that song on repeat for a few days, and then bought the album Frail Words Collapse a few day later. My mind was blown, the album was phenomenal front to back. Something fresh that I could connect to and be inspired by. I was hooked on As I Lay Dying.

Fast forward two years to 2005 and AILD released the album Shadows Are Security. This album was not only groundbreaking for the “Metalcore” genre as we know, and established their sound, but completely turned my world upside down. It changed how I thought about music, how I approached writing music and was therapeutic for me in many ways. I also saw them live for the first time, around this time period, and left the show stoked on life! I had never seen a band put on a show with such high energy, and yet play all of their instruments so well and so effortlessly. I knew from that night on, that being in a touring band was what I wanted to do with my life. They gave me the inspiration I needed to fully pursue my dream.

Fast forward once more to today, two albums and a ten year anniversary EP later, AILD released their 5th full length album in September and show no signs of slowing down. AILD has been making and releasing albums for more than twice as long as most bands careers last in this genre it seems. It takes a groundbreaking and inspirational band to have that kind of longevity. Longevity that I think can now classify AILD as a classic band.

TIJ and many of the bands we share the stage with these days owe much thanks to AILD for the music they’ve made, boundaries they’ve broken and inspiration to further expand on the musical styling they helped mold in to what we now know as “Metalcore.” They only continue to inspire me and so many other people around the world with every album they release, and I hope to one day share the stage with them. Thank you Tim, Jordan, Phil, Nick and Josh for the incredible music you have given us over the past 10+ years. You will forever be a classic an legendary band in my heart!

Review: The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza - Danza IIII: The Alpha - The Omega

Normally as a reviewer I like to set myself a standard. I like to try to review things as unbiasedly as I can. Because when it comes to reviews, you have to be objective, not subjective. You cannot let your personal emotions and feelings dictate what it is you’re reviewing. For this review I’m going to toss that all aside, because The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza have released their final album Danza IIII: The Alpha - The Omega. I’ve been hyped for this album ever since the band dropped their first single You Won’t. But let’s get on with the review.

First let me say that the album is chaotic. Not chaotic in the sense of random sounds happening all over that don’t fit or match with each other. Chaotic meaning angry, heavy, intense, fast music. And the album spares no time and effort in showing you that chaotic sound, opening up with the song Behind Those Eyes, you already get a taste of Josh Travis’ irregular yet satisfying guitar work and Jessie Freeland’s “brutal” deep vocals, quite fitting as usual. The first five tracks on the album, Behind Those Eyes, You Won’t, Rudy X3, The Crossfire, and Hold The Line succeed each other perfectly. The transition between them all are amazing, musically and structurally they fit naturally together, but that’s not to say that the rest of the record doesn’t have equally amazing transitions to keep the flow going. Other songs like Death Eater and Canadian show off the album’s heaviness, while other songs still such as Paul Bunyan and the Blue Ox give off a progressive metal sound to them, of course still combined with their well known experimental/math metal guitar work and sound.

I’d like to also mention that Jessie Freeland and Josh Travis were the only two on this album, Jessie on vocals and Josh Travis on all instrumentals. Their talent really shines through on this record. I’ve seen other people describe the album as more “listenable” or accessible this time around, and I would have to disagree with that belief. The album isn’t any more accessible than their previous ones. It still has that raw, unfiltered brutality that the previous ones had. The only difference this time is that the production level has increased, sound quality wise. Guitars have, not a better tone, but a different one. As compared to Danza III, they’re a bit less muddy and of a more modern quality this time around. The production on drums has clearly gotten better also. The kick drums compliment guitar work and sound tight, the snare sounds sharp, and the cymbals sound full, clearly working well with the other instruments. Now the presence of bass, I know is there, but it’s hard to hear. Something I’m sure I would hear better if I had a much more expensive set up, but for the average connoisseur of music, it’s not something that will stand out to you.

Ever since You Won’t was released in August, I’ve been anticipating this album immensely. That’s not to say it’s not without a few faults. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid for example is just an unnecessary filler. It doesn’t do anything for me, it doesn’t provide anything to the album other than taking up an unnecessary five minutes of time with random sound effects and what sounds like a guitar being “killswitched”. In a previous paragraph I mentioned that the transitions in the album were amazing. While this still being true, there were the occasional one that threw off my flow of the album. The previously mentioned Some Things are Better Left Unsaid, and also Hold The Line. It wasn’t a major offset either, just something that unexpectedly was thrown onto me before being remedied by the rest of the song. Though the filler at the end was something else I felt was somewhat unnecessary.

Overall, this album provides an amazing experience. A chaotic, heavy, beast of an album. I found myself wanting to gather a group of a friends who love metal, but this on a pair of 1000 watt speakers and just mosh along to it. Considering that The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza will not be making any more records after this one, this is one hell of a swan song to go out on. For fans of modern metal, intense vocals, and unorthodox guitar work, I fully recommend picking up this album when it drops later on this month. The band have proven once again that they definitely deserve their work being supported.

- Christian