James Hetfield Comments on 25th Anniversary of AJFA

Metallica frontman James Hetfield talks about the 25th anniversary of …And Justice For All. You know, the one where you can hardly hear Jason Newsted’s bass playing. This interview comes courtesy of ARTISTdirect. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

…And Justice for All is a very special record in the Metallica catalog. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the album now?

I agree. It wasn’t the first time with Jason Newsted, but it was the first real studio record he showed up and kind of was heard on the album [Laughs]. That’s another whole therapy session right there! Touring that thing, I think of it as our fancy, showing-off album, “We’re crazy progressive musicians. We really know how to play here!” [Laughs] Making that work into this is a challenge, and I love that part of it.

You mentioned the more progressive element of …And Justice For All. It’s definitely prevalent, but if you listen to “Dyers Eve”, it’s the most metal song ever…

I would have to agree that it’s pretty intense lyrically, sonically, and ability-wise with the playing, especially on the drums. It’s remarkable. We’ve played that song live before. It’s not on this live album though.

Billy Talent - 10th Anniversary Edition!

Billy Talent are going to be releasing a 10th Anniversary Edition of BT1 on Tuesday, November 26!  It includes the original disc plus a 2nd disc of demos, live recordings and special, in-studio performances.  A special red & yellow vinyl edition will be available exclusively in indie record stores across Canada for Record Store Day Black Friday on November 29.

Here’s a note from Ian about the 10th Anniversary Edition:

It’s been quite the journey for us since recording this album over a decade ago in Vancouver with producer Gavin Brown.  While listening through many old recordings looking for material to compile this bonus disc, I couldn’t help but be transported back to that time when we were just four twenty-something kids trying to make an impact on the local music scene.  A time when we had already spent a better part of a decade as a band together, and were now feverishly writing and rehearsing every day at our cramped rehearsal space in Toronto.

Those days would lead to the record that would not only put us on the map internationally, but define our sound as a band and our vision as artists. Searching through all our old collections, we were ecstatic to not only find a handful of previously unreleased demos recorded years before the album was released, but also some great live and live-studio versions from the years to follow. We enjoyed these so much that we’ve included these recordings as a bonus disc in this album reissue. I hope you will enjoy them too.

Billy Talent 10^th Anniversary Edition track listing:

Disc 1:

This Is How It Goes

Living In The Shadows

Try Honesty

Line & Sinker

Lies

The Ex

River Below

Standing In The Rain

Cut The Curtains

Prisoners Of Today

Nothing To Lose

Voices Of Violence

Disc 2:

This Is How It Goes (Demo – Toronto, Canada 2002)

Living In The Shadows (Demo – Toronto, Canada 2002)

Try Honesty (Demo – Toronto, Canada 2002)

Line & Sinker (Live at Nova Rock Festival – Burgenland, Austria 2007)

Lies (Acoustic – 2004)

The Ex (Demo – Toronto, Canada 2002)

River Below (Live at the Orange Lounge – Toronto, Canada 2007)

Standing In The Rain (Live at Metalworks – Mississauga, Canada 2010)

Cut The Curtains (Demo – Toronto, Canada 2002)

Job For A Cowboy announce Danny Walker as studio drummer for new album

Last week JFAC announced that they had parted ways with drummer Jon Rice. Now they have enlisted Intronaut drummer Danny Walker to play on their upcoming new album. Here is what JFAC had to say:

“Well my friends the time has come and The Charn has officially decided to step off the JFAC train. Absolutely no hahd feelins or nothin! We love the dude, cherish the memories we made with him, and in all likelihood will be seeing him again very soon…which brings up the next awesome piece of news… Our phenomenally talented friend Danny Walker is going to grace our next full length with his decidedly delicious drum tracks! We are seriously excited to hear what it’s going to turn out like- let the anticipation build!”

Jon Rice personally explained the circumstances surrounding his departure:

“As of this past August, I have decided to part ways with Job for a Cowboy. There are a few reasons for this, none of which I’m going to get into. That being said, I have no intentions of stopping touring or playing. I honestly love to tour and play live with new people, so I look forward to playing in new musical arenas in the future. The dudes and I are on very good terms with this and they understand the decision. They have a new record in the making and I’m extremely excited to hear it.

Black Sabbath Announce "Gathered In Their Masses" DVD

Black Sabbath are proud to announce the release of ‘Gathered In Their Masses ‘, showcasing the 2 nights the band played in Melbourne, Australia in April 2013 as part of the ‘13 ’ World Tour. 

It was the first time the band had been back Down Under since 1974, and this live recording saw the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductees back to their very best, playing tracks from the million selling ‘13 ’ album, plus classic hits from their incredible back catalogue. View the trailer and tracklist below

Track listing:

1. War Pigs

2. Into The Void

3. Loner

4. Snowblind

5. Black Sabbath

6. Behind The Wall Of Sleep

7. N.I.B.

8. Methademic

9. Fairies Wear Boots

10. Symptom Of The Universe

11. Iron Man

12. End Of The Beginning

13. Children Of The Grave

14. God Is Dead?

15. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Intro)/Paranoid

LOUNA Releases Live Video for 'Let's Get Louder',

LOUNA just landed back in Russia after their successful first tour of the U.S. with The Pretty Reckless and Heaven’s Basement. The band has released a brand new video for their track ‘Let’s Get Louder’, which was filmed during the tour’s stop in Portland, OR at Hawthorne Theater. The video features backstage footage, live cuts, fan interactions and more. Take a look at the video here: http://youtu.be/7_fy3rhkUNE

DISFIGURING THE GODDESS Releases New Track

DISFIGURING THE GODDESS is dropping another track from the upcoming full-length brutal death metal release Deprive, hitting music outlets December 10^th via Decomp Records. The track, ‘Home Of The Dollmaker’, is streaming via the DTG SoundCloud. Take a listen here and look forward to more new tracks coming each week.

You can pre-order Deprive now via DTG’s merch store at www.shopbenchmark.com/disfiguringthegoddess. Each pre-order package includes an item featuring the killer new Deprive album art released today (above), illustrated by none other than brutal death metal illustrator Toshihiro Egawa. In addition, select pre-order packages include merch items featuring the art of Mark Riddick, another legendary death metal artist. See below for all pre-order packages:

PRE-ORDER PACK #1

1 Deprive t-shirt

1 Deprive CD

1 Limited Edition Lithograph

1 Album Download (Available 12/10)

(Optional add-on) 1 Snapback hat (+$15)

 PRE-ORDER PACK #2

1 Riddick Long-sleeved Shirt

1 Deprive CD

1 Limited Edition Lithograph

1 Album Download (Available 12/10)

(Optional add-on) 1 Snapback hat (+$15)

 PRE-ORDER PACK #3

1 Deprive hooded sweatshirt

1 Deprive CD

1 Limited Edition Lithograph

1 Album Download (Available 12/10)

(Optional add-on) 1 Snapback hat (+$15)

 PRE-ORDER PACK #4

1 Riddick crewneck sweatshirt

1 Deprive CD

1 Limited Edition Lithograph

1 Album Download (Available 12/10)

(Optional add-on) 1 Snapback hat (+$15)

 PRE-ORDER PACK #5

1 Deprive t-shirt

1 Riddick Long-sleeved Shirt OR crewneck sweatshirt

1 Deprive hooded sweatshirt

1 Deprive CD

1 Limited Edition Lithograph

1 Hand-Numbered Riddick Lithograph

1 Album Download (Available 12/10)

(Optional add-on) 1 Snapback hat (+$15)

You can also pre-order the Deprive CD alone, which ships December 6^th.

LIVING SACRIFICE premieres ‘Ghost Thief’

On the heels of last week’s unveiling of the track “Screwtape,” legendary metal act LIVING SACRIFICE are ready to give fans - longtime and new - another taste of what to expect from their anticipated new album Ghost Thief by streaming the album’s title track via heavy music tastemaker Revolver.

Air Dubai Premiere New Music Video

Hopeless Records and Air Dubai are excited to announce the music video premiere of "Soul & Body"! Directed by Frank Door and filmed in Los Angeles, CA, the video can be seen now exclusively on mtvU here: http://bit.ly/1cAzk1K  Purchase "Soul & Body" on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/17DnguR 

You Blew It! Touring with The Front Bottoms in Early 2014

Coming right on the heels of a standout performance at The Fest 12 in Gainesville, FL, the past weekend, Florida indie rockers You Blew It! have announced plans to tour as direct support for The Front Bottoms starting in January. The Hot Chocolate Tour kicks off January 9 in Grand Rapids and runs through Feb 1^st. You Blew It! will release a new LP, their follow up to 2013’s “Grow Up, Dude”, in early 2014 via Topshelf Records.

1/9/2014 GRAND RAPIDS MI @ THE PYRAMID SCHEME
1/11/2014 PALATINE IL @ DURTY NELLIES
1/12/2014 OMAHA NE @ THE WAITING ROOM
1/13/2014 FORT COLLINS CO @ AGGIE THEATRE
1/14/2014 SALT LAKE City UT @ CLUB SOUND
1/16/2014 OAKLAND CA @ OAKLAND METRO
1/17/2014 SANTA CRUZ CA @ THE CREPE PLACE
1/18/2014 WEST HOLLYWOOD CA @ TROUBADOUR
1/19/2014 VENTURA CA @ VENTURA THEATRE UPPER DECK
1/21/2014 ALBUQUERQUE AZ @ THE GASWORKS
1/22/2014 OKLAHOMA CITY OK @ THE CONSERVATORY
1/23/2014 DALLAS TX @ CLUB DADA
1/24/2014 SAN ANTONIO TX @ THE LIMELIGHT
1/25/2014 NEW ORLEANS LA @ ONE EYED JACKS
1/26/2014 GAINESVILLE FL @ HIGH DIVE
1/28/2014 CHARLOTTE NC @ TREMONT MUSIC HALL - CASBAH
1/29/2014 ALEXANDRIA VA @ THE LAB
1/30/2014 PATCHOGUE NY @ 89 NORTH
1/31/2014 BETHLEHEM PA @ BLAST FURNACE @ ARTSQUEST CENTER
2/1/2014 PAWTUCKET RI @ THE MET

Bombay Bicycle Club Announce New Album

Bombay Bicycle Club, North London’s most prolific and underrated band, this morning unveiled details of their fourth album in five years due out on February 4th through Vagrant Records.

The first single from the new album, ‘Carry Me’, is available to purchase/download today (http://smarturl.it/carryme) and is a monumental fists in the air dance anthem that is probably the band’s most daring, explosive and exciting departure yet from their previous work. The band collaborated with award-winning creative company Powster to deliver a world first interactive music video premiere on www.carryme.tv. You can also stream the audio in it’s entirety here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHv74-9tfYE