BE A PART OF THE SHADOWS FALL MERCH DESIGN CONTEST BROUGHT TO YOU BY ULTIMATE-GUITAR

Boston metallers SHADOWS FALL are pleased to announce their annual hometown holiday concert for December 26^th, 2009.  It will take place in Northampton, MA at Pearl Street.  Tickets are on sale now and you can purchase yours at :

http://www.nbotickets.com/default.asp?mode=artist&name=4922

SHADOWS FALL and Ultimate-Guitar.com are giving you a chance to design your own SHADOWS FALL merchandise item.  The guys have set up a few guidelines, read below:

“We’re giving our fans the opportunity to design a new Shadows Fall shirt. Check out the instructions for submitting your design below.

CONTEST STARTS NOW!
We’ve recently launched a merch design contest with Ultimate Guitar and want you to submit your designs for the next Shadows Fall shirt. We wanted to give everyone a chance to submit designs and we have extended the original deadlines.

Here are all the dates and details:

STEP 1: Create a new Shadows Fall design. Final files must be in 300 DPI or higher. Layered photo shop, illustrator, or corel files are best.

STEP 2: Place your design on one of our merch templates. The design needs to have the Shadows Fall logo. You can download the logo and shirt templates here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/c6dm6m. Please, do not send us the artwork file. Only use sendspace.com. All artwork files will be deleted and not entered into the contest!

STEP 3: Upload your file to www.sendspace.com

STEP 4: Email us the link to download your design at shadowsfallbandcontests@gmail.com BEFORE NOVEMBER 29, 2009.

Voting begins at Noon EST on December 2nd, 2009 and ends at Noon EST on December 9th, 2009. Winner will be announced on www.ultimate-guitar.com on 11 AM EST December. 10th, 2009.

We will go through all the submissions and pick our 5 favorite designs. Those designs will be posted on http://www.facebook.com/shadowsfall. Vote for your favorite design and the winner will actually become a real Shadows Fall merch design.

Grand Prize Winner:

2 pieces of the merch created, their myspace and facebook links on band’s page, and a Shadows Fall box set!

2 Runners Up:

Choice of 1 Shadows Fall t-shirt from merch store!

We can’t wait to see all the awesome ideas you guys have. Good luck!”

In more SHADOWS FALL news, the band has partnered up with Machinma.com and has created a video with the SHADOWS FALL song “Still I Rise” for the new video game Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.  Check out the video at: http://modernwarfare2.infinityward.com

DELUXE BOX SETS, LIMITED EDITION CD/DVD VERSION AND T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE HERE

[image: Adrenaline PR]

Post from: Metal Martyr

Fans of Skillet can now win the ultimate concert experience, but you’ve got to work for it! By helping promote Skillet’s “Awake and Alive Tour”, one winner plus a guest will receive free tickets to the show, a meet and greet with the band and the chance to make an appearance in Skillet’s video footage, which will be posted online along with a personal shout-out. Visit the contest website to enter the sweepstakes and to get suggestions on how to get started promoting the band with helpful images, banners and links.

Skillet’s new album, Awake, is out now! Grab it, along with the single, “Monster,” in stores or on iTunes. Skillet is currently on tour with Hawk Nelson and Decyfer Down. Additional tour information can be found at www.skillet.com.

Alive and Awake Tour Dates
Oct 27 Redding Convention Center Auditorium – Redding, California
Oct 29 Medford Armory – Medford, Oregon
Oct 30 OSF Pavillion – Portland, Oregon
Oct 31 ShoWare Center – Seattle, Washington
Nov 1 INB Performing Arts Center – Spokane, Washington
Nov 3 Toyota Center – Kennewick, Washington
Nov 5 Qwest Arena – Boise, Idaho
Nov 6 The Great Salt Air – Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov 7 Paramount Theater – Denver, Colorado
Nov 10 Casper Events Center – Casper, Wyoming
Nov 12 The Midland By AMC – Kansas City, Missouri
Nov 13 Stephens Auditorium-Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa
Nov 14 Minneapolis Convention Center Auditorium – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 15 House of Blues – Chicago, Illinois
Nov 17 The Pageant – St. Louis, Missouri
Nov 19 Maude Cobb Center – Longview, Texas
Nov 20 Palladium Ballroom – Dallas, Texas
Nov 21 The Berry Center – Houston, Texas
Nov 22 Abilene Civic Center – Abilene, Texas
Nov 27 Remingtons – Springfield, Missouri
Nov 28 Adler Theater – Davenport, Iowa
Nov 29 Duluth Entertainment Convention Center – Duluth, Minnesota
Dec 1 Royal Oak Music Theatre – Detroit, Michigan
Dec 3 Memorial Auditorium – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Dec 4 Hobart Arena – Dayton, Ohio
Dec 5 Agora Theater – Cleveland, Ohio
Dec 6 Deltaplex – Grand Rapids, Michigan

[image: Total Assault]

Post from: Metal Martyr

Panthers are territorial animals, fiercely patrolling their stalking lands. The Sunset Strip, circa 1988, was ruled by one: a legendary band called Steel Panther. The Strip was the plangent heart of the nascent heavy metal scene, one that would soon conquer the music world, and rockers came from as far as New Jersey and the San Fernando Valley to see this band with a killer sound and habits to match.

Now, these once and future kings of heavy metal have emerged out of the mists of history and a cloud of hairspray to reclaim their rightful throne. Look out, because Steel Panther is again marking its territory.

Here is your chance to win an autographed poster on the left, plus a copy of Feel the Steel! Entering is simple, just a leave a comment below (you can enter once per day), and a winner will be chosen via random.org when the contest ends on October 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter, and live in the continental US.

You can also buy the album through iTunes and check out the hilarious video for their song “Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)” here!

[image: Total Assault]

Post from: Metal Martyr

Don’t forget to enter to win an autographed poster and copy of Skillet’s Awake!

Skillet is currently in the midst of their Awake and Alive Tour, with Decyfer Down and Hawk Nelson. See their Myspace page for the full list of dates and ticket information.

Alive and Awake Tour Dates
Oct 20  Mcgee Park – Memorial Coliseum                                             Farmington, New Mexico
Oct 22  Celebrity Theater                                                                             Phoenix, Arizona
Oct 23  Club Nokia La Live                                                                            Los Angeles, California
Oct 24  Fox Theater                                                                                        Bakersfield, California
Oct 25  Warnors Theater                                                                              Fresno, California
Oct 27  Redding Convention Center Auditorium                               Redding, California
Oct 29  Medford Armory                                                                              Medford, Oregon
Oct 30  OSF Pavillion                                                                                      Portland, Oregon
Oct 31  ShoWare Center                                                                               Seattle, Washington
Nov 1  INB Performing Arts Center                                                          Spokane, Washington
Nov 3  Toyota Center                                                                                    Kennewick, Washington
Nov 5  Qwest Arena                                                                                       Boise, Idaho
Nov 6  The Great Salt Air                                                                              Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov 7  Paramount Theater                                                                          Denver, Colorado
Nov 10  Casper Events Center                                                                   Casper, Wyoming
Nov 12  The Midland By AMC                                                                     Kansas City, Missouri
Nov 13  Stephens Auditorium-Iowa State University                      Ames, Iowa
Nov 14  Minneapolis Convention Center Auditorium                     Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 15  House of Blues                                                                                Chicago, Illinois
Nov 17  The Pageant                                                                                      St. Louis, Missouri
Nov 19  Maude Cobb Center                                                                      Longview, Texas
Nov 20  Palladium Ballroom                                                                        Dallas, Texas
Nov 21  The Berry Center                                                                            Houston, Texas
Nov 22  Abilene Civic Center                                                                      Abilene, Texas
Nov 27  Remingtons                                                                                       Springfield, Missouri
Nov 28  Adler Theater                                                                                   Davenport, Iowa
Nov 29  Duluth Entertainment Convention Center                           Duluth, Minnesota
Dec 3  Memorial Auditorium                                                                      Chattanooga, Tennessee
Dec 4  Hobart Arena                                                                                       Dayton, Ohio
Dec 5  Agora Theater                                                                                     Cleveland, Ohio
Dec 6  Deltaplex                                                                                              GrandRapids, Michigan

Post from: Metal Martyr

Comatose,

In 2008, longtime drummer Lori Peters announced her retirement after training her replacement, current drummer and backup vocalist Jen Ledger. With Jen’s influence, Awake came alive. Skillet’s eighth album may very well be their best. Vocalist/bassist John Cooper had the following to say about Awake:

“It’s a turning of the page for us because this album is even more immediate than Comatose, but there’s also a noticeable maturity, some of the songs are complex, others are just really intense rockers and overall there’s a real sense that we’re opening a new chapter. There are definitely some classic rock elements on the record, traces of glam rock and a lot of today’s heavy rock influences as well. Depending on the song, you can hear traces of AC/DC, Metallica or Breaking Benjamin, with lots of big guitars and streamlined drum beats.”

Alive charted at #2 on the Billboard top 200 selling around 68,000 units in its first week, it also tied the record for highest-charting Christian album on The Billboard 200 with Underoath’s 2006 release Define the Great Line as both albums debuted at #2.

Contest:

I am going to give one lucky reader a signed poster of the group and an autographed copy of Skillet’s Awake! Entering has never been easier, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post or retweet this post using the button at the top right (or you can comment and retweet for two entries) and when the contest ends on October 23rd, I will pick one winner via random.org.

Rules:

You may leave one comment per day, and retweet this post once per day. The more comments and retweets you provide, the better your chances of winning. Doing both gives you two entries per day! This contest is only available to people in the continental U.S., age 13 and over. When leaving your comment, please provide a valid email address, as that will be how I am going to contact the winner. Good luck!

Post from: Metal Martyr

Metal Martyr and Total Assault have teamed up with Steel Panther to give one lucky fan the chance of a lifetime!

Want to get on stage and rock with Steel Panther? Now’s your chance! Steel Panther has removed the kick ass guitar solo from their hit song “Death to All But Metal”, and wants you to perform your version of the solo for a chance to do it again on stage!

Satchel will tell you about it right here:

How to Enter:
1. Download the “solo-less” version of “Death to All But Metal” here.
2.Upload a video of you performing your solo over “Death To All But Metal” as a video response on our YouTube Page here.
3. Enter your name, contact info, and YouTube link on the form here.
4. Check out your competition at youtube.com/SteelPantherRocks
5. Pray to the rock gods that you win!! Contest closes on November 30, 2009

Prizing:

(1) One Grand Prize winner will win the following ULTIMATE SHREDDER GRAND PRIZE: Roundtrip airfare for you and a guest to Las Vegas (within the US), 1 night hotel (Las Vegas Strip), VIP access to Steel Panther’s Las Vegas performance, and performance of winning guitar solo on stage with Steel Panther!

Buy Feel the Steel from iTunes or in stores near you and check out the listening party here!

Post from: Metal Martyr

Don’t forget to enter the Alice in Chains guitar giveaway when you finish watching the video. One lucky fan will receive a G&L Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature model guitar signed by the band! Just click the banner below to enter!

Post from: Metal Martyr

“I wanted to let everyone know that for the rest of the tour I will be using my Twitter and Facebook account for daily giveaways for each show of this tour.  Each show day at 3PM local time I will be posting instructions or a code word.  By following the instructions or using the code word some lucky fans that are attending that night’s show get FREE STUFF.  The quantities will be extremely limited so make sure you check out the posts, then get to the show early and get yourself some free stuff!!  Can’t wait to see you at the show.”

[image: Adrenaline PR]

Post from: Metal Martyr

To celebrate today’s release of Black Gives Way To Blue, Metal Martyr has teamed up with Alice in Chains and Total Assault to give one fan a chance to win a brand new guitar. Not just any guitar, of course, but a G&L Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature model signed by the band!

Entering is simple, just click on the banner at the top of this post, enter your birthday in the form near the bottom of the page then enter your name and email address, and you’re in!

From Total Assault:

In late summer of 2008, at the suggestion of longtime friend/Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, Alice In Chains met with producer Nick Raskulinecz to talk about the possibility of collaborating on a new album.

“I went to the studio where they’d been working on demos,” recalls the producer, whose credits include Foo Fighters, Rush, Deftones. “We stayed outside and just talked for a couple of hours. After the ice was broken, they brought me inside to hear some music. The first track started playing and I was immediately hooked—the riff was so killer, so catchy and so heavy, and when the vocals kicked in, I looked at Jerry (Cantrell, Alice In Chains’ guitarist/vocalist) and said, ‘I don’t need to hear anything else—I’m in.’ I was just blown away.”

By early fall, the band and producer had hunkered down at Grohl’s Studio 606 in Northridge, CA, and were hard at work on Alice In Chains’ first new studio release in more than 10 years.

Production eventually moved to the famed Henson Studios in Hollywood, and by spring of 2009 the band emerged with 11 electrifying songs about faith and perseverance. They titled the album Black Gives Way To Blue after the song of the same name, a heart-stirring tribute to Layne Staley, their brother and vocalist who passed away in 2002.

“I’m really proud of that song,” says Cantrell, who sings on the track (and shares lead vocal duties throughout the record). “It’s about facing up to the bad stuff and continuing to walk forward and live a life.”

The song features a special guest appearance by Elton John on piano.

“We were thinking about adding piano to the track and a friend suggested we call Elton,” recalls Cantrell. “I remember laughing and saying, ‘Yeah, I’ll get right on that.’ But I decided it was worth trying and wrote him an email explaining what that song means to us—that it’s a real, raw openhearted song for Layne. We sent him the track and got a call shortly after saying he thought it was beautiful and that he wanted to play on it. He was finishing his ‘Red Piano’ run in Vegas, so we flew there and hung out for a few hours. Walking into a studio and seeing the sheet music for that song on Elton’s piano made it meaningful on so many different levels. The whole experience was pretty magical.”

The album’s genesis can be traced back to January of 2005, when drummer Sean Kinney called Cantrell and bassist Mike Inez about getting together for a benefit show to raise money for tsunami relief. It was the first time in nine years that the three had performed together and following the loss of Staley, was the first in a series of little steps toward hope and healing.

“After that we started talking about how we could maybe do another show,” recalls Kinney. “Everyone was comfortable with the idea, so we decided to take another step.”

Enter William DuVall, a gifted singer and guitarist from Atlanta who had previously worked with Comes with the Fall and as part of Jerry Cantrell’s touring band for his solo work. As live audiences discovered, DuVall brings a sound and stage presence all his own, and when DuVall and Cantrell blend their voices—as Cantrell and Staley did so often—singing together over the rhythms of Kinney and Inez, there could be little doubt that the spirit of Alice In Chains was once again alive and well.

“To his credit, Will never tried to do a karaoke version of the past,” says Kinney. “It’s not easy to find your place in a pre-existing dynamic, but he did. He puts his all into it and it fits.”

“I’ve joined a group that has a strong identity and a strong legacy,” says DuVall. “Nobody wants to, in any way, disrespect or sully that legacy. You want to add to it.”

And it was while on the road that the quartet opened itself up to the idea of writing new material.

“On tour we jammed pretty much every day,” recalls Cantrell. “Cool riffs would come up and we’d record them backstage and in dressing rooms. By the time we got home from the tour, we had a disc full of ideas. Eventually we wound up with a body of work and started thinking about taking yet another step.”

“There was no master plan,” adds Inez. “Everything felt right, so we kept moving forward. The whole process was very organic.”

“If we had gone through all of it and felt that it didn’t live up musically to the legacy of the work we’d done before, then we would’ve shelved it,” says Cantrell. “We would’ve known for ourselves that this is the end, and that would’ve been cool. But that didn’t happen. You ask yourself questions like, is this record something positive to add to the catalog? Is it worthy? And the answer is yes, it is. But you don’t know that until you go through the process. We all busted our asses and have been rewarded with a record that exceeds our own expectations.

In the end, Cantrell explains, Black Gives Way To Blue is an album that reflects survival for Alice In Chains. “And,” he says, “I think survival is something to celebrate.”

Enter the contest!

[image: Total Assault]

Post from: Metal Martyr

Here’s the catch: On Thursday 9/24 (that’s today, people!), a pair of tickets can be found in Hollywood where the stars are immortalized. The man in black will be holding a package at the commemoration of a certain star who lent a hand on the title track from AIC’s new album. He will be there at 8pm sharp, and the first person to arrive and ask will be given the package. BE CAREFUL: if you are seen within eyeshot of that spot before exactly 8pm, you will not be able to take the tickets! See you there!

This is the 2nd scavenger hunt out of 3. Won, the winner of the first hunt, received a prize of tickets and VIP passes to AIC’s performance at the KROQ lunch with Kat Corbett on 9/29! Check out a video of Won here:

Black Gives Way To Blue drops 9/29.

[image: Total Assault]

Post from: Metal Martyr