• Byzantine breaks up…3 days after they release Oblivion Beckons.
• Light This City break up before releasing the last record.
• Arsis changes members more than their underwear.
• The Black Dahlia Murder lose a guitarist…steals one from Arsis.
• Phil Demmel of Machine Head passes out twice on stage.
• DJ Sid from Slipknot breaks both of his feet…keeps on trucking.
• Joey Jordison breaks an ankle, cancels UK shows.
• Nachmystium gets booted from the Opeth tour for undisclosed shenanigans.
• Kristen Randal shows her boobs…and they’re only slightly better than Amy Winehouse’s.
• Winds Of Plague drummer Jeff Tenney abruptly leaves the band mid-tour. Says he’s tired of seeing Kristen Randall’s boobs.
• Gwen Stacey singer Bobby Oakley leaves the band…cites that he’s going to sing for Mary Jane Watson.

• All That Remains Cancels remaining US tour dates Thanksgiving week due to vocal issues with Phil Labonte.
• Gorgorath’s Gaahl almost, slightly, kind of admits that he is a homosexual.
• Axl Rose released Chinese Democracy.
• Scar Symmetry loses a singer…hires two more.
• Metallica released an album that wasn’t really all that bad.
• Divine Heresy fires Tommy Cummings and an alleged assault takes place later on.
• Tommy Cummings is hired by funk-metal band Snot to fill the shoes of the late, great Lynn Strait. (That was a totally unintentional rhyme)
• Limp Bizkit reunion rumors float around…for a day.
• Celtic Frost break up again.
• Gas prices rise to over $5.00 a gallon and bands start to drop off tours left and right.

The list goes on but these are just the ones I could think of right now. If you can think of some more, please feel free to fill it in the comments section. Other than that, it’s been a great year in metal. 2009 can only get better!

Post from: Metal Martyr

However, I was very happy to hear yesterday that the singer from Byzantine, Chris Ojeda will be doing a cover album of Thrash songs under the band name Black Cap Miner.

“This is gonna be a blast!” Chris says. “These are songs that I have dug for over 15 years and to have some of my good touring friends ripping it up on these songs with me will be a hoot! There will be some shredders on here for sure!”

The track list is below and I must say is quite impressive, taking on some rather classic thrash songs.

MEGADETH – “The Conjuring”
NUCLEAR ASSAULT – “Brainwashed”
ANNIHILATOR – “Allison Hell”
M.O.D. – “True Colors”
TESTAMENT – “Greenhouse Effect”
WRATHCHILD AMERICA – “Climbing the Walls”
EXHORDER – “Legions of Death”
KREATOR – “People of the Lie”

Check out Black Cap Miner on Myspace

Image Source: Prosthetic Records

Post from: Metal Martyr

THE ACACIA STRAIN
No current shows.

ALL THAT REMAINS
(with Chimaira, Divine Heresy)
2/15 Denver, CO – Gothic
2/16 Salt Lake City, UT – The Avalon
2/17 Boise, ID – Big Easy Concert House
2/18 Spokane, WA – Big Easy Concert House
2/19 Vancouver, BC – Croatian Cultural Centre

(with Chimaira, Light This City)
2/21 San Francisco, CA – Slims
2/22 San Diego, CA – SOMA
2/23 Las Vegas, NV – Jillian’s
2/25 Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
2/26 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
2/28 Dallas, TX – The Door
2/29 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
3/01 Houston, TX – Meridian
3/03 Orlando, FL – House of Blues
3/04 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
3/05 Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend
3/06 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
3/07 Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom

ANTAGONIST
2/29 Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction (with Death Before Dishonor)

BENEATH THE MASSACRE
(with Misery Index, Despised Icon)
15/02 Tillburg, Holland – 0.13
16/02 Trier, Germany – Exhaus

(with See You Next Tuesday, Born Of Osiris, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza)
2/29 Rochester, NY – The Penny Arcade
3/01 Wilmington, DE – Harmony Garage Hall
3/02 Holyoke, MA – Waterfont Tavern
3/03 Pompton Lakes, NJ – Mainstage
3/04 Doylestown, PA – Siren Records
3/05 New York, NY – The Knitting Factory
3/06 Virginia Beach, VA – Steppin Out
3/07 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
3/08 Jacksonville, FL – The Pit
3/09 Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
3/10 West Palm Beach, FL – Murphy’s Downtown
3/11 Pensacola, FL – The Legion
3/12 New Orleans, LA – The High Ground
3/13 Lewisville, TX – Fat Daddy’s Sound Shack
3/14 San Antonio, TX – The White Rabbit
3/15 Houston, TX – Java Jazz
3/16 Mission, TX – Smoking Aces
3/18 El Paso, TX – Chic’s
3/19 Albuquerque, NM – The Compound
3/20 Phoenix, AZ – Cell Block
3/21 San Marcos, CA – The Jumping Turtle
3/22 San Bernardino, CA – The Hudson Theater
3/24 Bakersfield, CA – The Dome
3/25 Los Angeles, CA – The Whisky
3/26 Fresno, CA – The Exit
3/27 San Jose, CA – San Jose Skate
3/28 Boise, ID – The Venue
3/29 Logan, UT – Club NVO
3/30 Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre
3/31 Wichita, KS – Eagles Lodge
4/01 Des Moines, IA – Vaudeville Mews
4/02 Milwaukee, WI – Miramar Theatre
4/03 Louisville, KY – Uncle Pleasants
4/04 Detroit, MI – The Hayloft
4/05 Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s

BURN IN SILENCE
No current dates.

BYZANTINE
No current dates.

CANNAE
No current dates.

CREMATORIUM
No current dates.

THE ESOTERIC
No current dates.

THE FUNERAL PYRE
3/07 Yuma, AZ – TBA
3/08 El Jardin Del Silence – Mexicali, MEX (with Exhausted Prayer, Dreaming Dead)
3/20 Hollywood, CA – The Relax Bar (with Withered)

GOJIRA
No current North American dates.

GRIEF OF WAR
No current dates.

INFERNAEON
No current dates.

KYLESA
(with Baroness)
15/02 Groningen, Holland – Vera
16/02 Koln, Germany – Palladium (Visions Festival)

LIGHT THIS CITY
(with All That Remains, Chimaira, Five Finger Death Punch)
2/21 San Francisco, CA – Slims
2/22 San Diego, CA – SOMA
2/23 Las Vegas, NV – Jillian’s
2/25 Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
2/26 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
2/28 Dallas, TX – The Door
2/29 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
3/01 Houston, TX – Meridian
3/03 Orlando, FL – House of Blues
3/04 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
3/05 Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend
3/06 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
3/07 Sayreville, NJ – The Starland Ballroom

THE MINOR TIMES
No current dates.

NEURAXIS
3/07 Repentigny, QC – Centre La Croisee (Repentigny Metalfest)
4/11 Trois-Rivieres, QC – Le Stage
4/12 St-Hyacinthe, QBC – Bar Le Trash
4/26 Sudbury, ONT – The Serbian Centre (Sundbury Metalfest)

REFLUX
No current dates.

SCALE THE SUMMIT
2/16 Odessa, TX – Dos Amigos (with Pack of Wolves, Epitome, Standstill, Opal)
2/28 Austin, TX – Emo’s (with Pack of Wolves)
3/01 Little Rock, AR – Downtown Music
3/02 Memphis, TN – Ralley Point
3/03 Nashville, TN – The End
3/04 Cleveland, OH – Jigsaw Saloon
3/05 Akron, OH – Barfly
3/06 Lansing, MI – Mac’s Bar
3/07 Riverview, MI – Rack N Roll Bar
3/08 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick (with God Is An Astronaut, Chronicles)
3/09 Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen (with God Is An Astronaut, 1908)
3/10 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
3/11 Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge (with Bible of the Devil)
3/12 Houston, TX – TBA
3/13 San Antonio, TX – Rock Bottom Bar (with God Is An Astronaut)
3/14 Austin, TX – Blind Pig Pub (SXSW Tone Deaf Touring Showcase)
3/15 Monroe, LA – Olive Street Bar
3/16 Atlanta, GA – TBA
3/17 TBA – TBA
3/18 Baltimore, MA – the Ottobar
3/19 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Upstairs (with God Is An Astronaut)
3/20 Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s (with God Is An Astronaut)
3/21 New York, NY – Knitting Factory (with God Is An Astronaut)
3/22 TBA – TBA
3/23 Washington, DC – Velvet Lounge
3/24 Johnson City, TN – Hideaway
3/25 TBA – TBA
3/26 Birmingham, AL – The Nick

SKELETONWITCH
2/17 South Bend, IN – Elva’s
2/18 Des Moines, IA – Vaudeville Mews
2/21 Salt Lake City, UT – Club Vegas (with Saviours, Intronaut)

(with A Life Once Lost, Arsis, Veil of Maya)
2/24 West Hollywood, CA – The Whisky (no Arsis)
2/25 Victorville, CA – KARMA
2/26 Bakersfield, CA – Jerry’s
2/27 Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction

(with Arsis, Veil of Maya)
2/28 San Marcos, CA – Jumping Turtle
2/29 Tucson, AZ – The Rock
3/01 El Paso, TX – Chic’s Bar & Billiards
3/02 Lewisville, TX – Fat Daddy’s Sound Shack
3/03 Tulsa, OK – Crush Lounge
3/04 Salina, KS – The Blue Goat (with Suicide Silence, The Faceless, Warbringer)
3/05 Cedar Falls, IA – The Reverb
3/06 Rogers, MN – Showcase Skatepark
3/07 La Crosse, WI – Warehouse Nightclub
3/08 Milwaukee, WI – Shorewood Legion Hall
3/09 Tinley Park, IL – Mojoe’s
3/10 Covington, KY – The Madhatter
3/11 Huntington, WV – Paradox
3/12 Johnson City, TN – The Hideaway
3/13 Virginia Beach, VA – Steppin’ out
3/15 West Springfield, VA – Jaxx

(with Hate Eternal, Soilent Green, Braindrill)
4/10 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
4/11 Dallas, TX – The Door
4/13 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jack
4/16 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
4/26 Worcester, MA – The Palladium
4/28 New York, NY – B.B. Kings
4/29 West Springfield, VA – Jaxx
4/30 Charlotte, NC – Tremont Music Hall
*more dates TBA*

(Fury and Flames Tour with Hate Eternal, Cephalic Carnage, Deadborn)
09/05 Würzburg, Germany – AKW
10/05 Leipzig, Germany – Conne Island
11/05 Hamburg, Germany – Markthalle, MarX
13/05 Prague, Czech Republic – Exit Chmelnice
14/05 Wien, Austria – Arena
15/05 Ljubljana, Slovenia – Gala Hala
16/05 München, Germany – Feierwerk
17/05 Verona, Italy – Lucille Club
18/05 Rome, Italy – Alpheus Club
20/05 Martigny, Switzerland – Les Caves du Manoir

(Fury and Flames Tour with Hate Eternal, Cephalic Carnage)
21/05 Nantes, France – Le Ferrailleur
22/05 Irun, Spain – Tunk
23/05 Braga Junta, Portugal – Freguesia de Panoias
24/05 Madrid, Spain – Ritmo & Compas
25/05 Barcelona, Spain – Apolo 2
26/05 Luynes/Marseille, France – Le Korigan
28/05 Karlsruhe, Germany – Substage (with Deadborn)
29/05 Bochum, Germany – Matrix (with Deadborn)
30/05 Trier, Germany – Exhaus (with Deadborn)
31/05 Tilburg, Holland 013 (Neurotic Death Fest)
01/06 Cardiff, UK – Barfly (with Man Must Die)
02/06 Glasgow, UK – Barfly (with Man Must Die)
04/06 Dublin, Ireland – Whelans
05/06 Sheffield, UK – Corporation (with Man Must Die)
06/06 London, UK – Underworld (with Man Must Die)
07/06 Aarschot, Belgium – JC de Klinker

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD
2/22 St. Louis, MO – 2 Cents Plain (with War of Ages)
2/23 Joplin, MO – The Foundry (with War of Ages)
2/24 Wichita, KS – Eagles Lodge (with War of Ages)
2/26 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad

(Scum Of The Earth Tour with Throwdown, Soilwork, War of Ages)
2/29 Pomona, CA – Glasshouse
3/01 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
3/03 Dallas, TX – The Door
3/04 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
3/05 Houston, TX – Meridian
3/06 Mobile, AL – Tillman’s Corner Community (TTEOTD, War of Ages only)
3/07 Tampa, FL – State Theatre
3/08 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
3/09 Orlando, FL – Firestone
3/10 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
3/11 Charlotte, NC – Tremont Music Hall
3/12 Norfolk, VA – Norva
3/13 Springfield, VA – Jaxx
3/14 Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock
3/15 Worcester, MA – The Palladium
3/16 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
3/18 New York City, NY – Blender Theatre at Gramercy
3/19 Montreal, QUE – Club Soda
3/20 Toronto, ONT – Opera House
3/21 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
3/22 Chicago, IL – Logan Square Auditorium
3/23 St. Paul, MN – Station 4
3/25 Denver, CO – Cervantes
3/26 Salt Lake City, UT – Avalon
3/27 Boise, ID – The Big Easy
3/28 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
3/29 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
3/31 Orangevale, CA – The Boardwalk
4/01 Fresno, CA – The Belmont
4/02 West Hollywood, CA – House of Blues
4/03 Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues

WITHERED
3/14 Nashville, TN – The End
3/15 Fayetteville, AR – The Dart Room
3/17 Denver, CO – The Kingdom of Doom
3/18 Salt Lake City, UT – Kamikaze’s (Metal Night)
3/19 San Fracisco, CA – Annie’s Social Club
3/20 Los Angeles, CA – The Relax Bar (with The Funeral Pyre)
3/21 San Marcos, CA – The Jumping Turtle
3/22 Tempe, AZ – The Stray Cat
3/23 Juarez, Mexico – The Cave Club
3/24 Lubbock, TX – Whiskey Dix
3/25 Austin, TX – Red 7
3/26 Houston, TX – Java Jazz
3/28 Baton Rouge, LA – The Darkroom

WOLF
No current North American dates.

YAKUZA
2/23 Blue Island, IL – Kelley’s Irish Pub
2/29 Chicago, IL – Metro
3/09 St. Louis, MO – APOP Records (in store performance)
3/09 St. Louis, MO – Creepy Crawl
3/10 Memphis, TN – Black Lodge Video
3/11 Fayetteville, AR – Old Post Office (with Deadbird)
3/13 Austin, TX – sxsw
3/14 Austin, TX – sxsw
3/15 Austin, TX – sxsw
3/16 San Antonio, TX – The Crossing (post-SXSW BBQ and bands)
3/17 El Paso, TX – Mulligans Shot Bar (with The Sixth)
3/19 Glendale, CA – The Scene Bar
3/20 Los Angeles, CA – The Key Club
3/21 San Diego, CA – Chasers
3/22 Long Beach, CA – Skate Bar
3/24 San Francisco, CA – Elbo Room
3/26 Portland, OR – Rotture
3/27 Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
3/29 Calgary, Alberta – The Underground
3/30 Edmonton, AB – TBA
3/31 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – TBA
4/01 Regina, SK – TBA
4/02 Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Royal Albert

YEAR OF DESOLATION
3/01 Covington, KY – Mad Hatter

Thanks for the on-going support and we’ll see you out on the road!
PROSTHETIC RECORDS
http://www.prostheticrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/prostheticrecords
http://stores.ebay.com/Prosthetic-Records

Post from: Metal Martyr

“In regards to the current state of Byzantine:

As of today Byzantine is no longer a functioning band. Due to various circumstances the band will not be touring or performing together. We would like to first thank everyone that has supported this band throughout the years. You are the people that really made everything worthwhile and we are amazed at the wonderful response we have had from all of you. Because of you, we were part of something special and without you none of this would have been possible. Next, we would like to thank all the kickass bands that we have played shows with and hung out with. These were good times that we won’t soon forget. It’s with heavy hearts that we move on from this. Sincerely, from all of us in Byzantine, thank you so very much for the great experience that this was. Stay metal everyone. Montani Semper Liberi.

Till then…
OJ, Tony, Wolfe and Skip”

I guess all good things must come to an end…just didn’t think it would happen so soon. Pick up Oblivion Beckons and check out My review on Oblivion Beckons

Post from: Metal Martyr

We are waiting on our stock of the SKELETONWITCH “Beyond The Permafrost” LIMITED EDITION BLUE VINYL! We’re only getting a handful of these, it’s first come first serve and will sell out quickly! So preorder your copy NOW!

SKELETONWITCH VINYL – PREORDER

Also, let’s not forget that we have the preorder for Japan’s GRIEF OF WAR going on right now. If you like death thrash, in the vein of Slayer, Sodom and Kreator, you MUST own this record!

GRIEF OF WAR – PREORDER

We also have TONS of stuff for sale at our EBAY STORE. Go check out all the stuff we have, shirts, cds, lps, distro items, posters, etc.

If you know a record store near you that is NOT carrying our stuff, send us their info and we’ll contact them!

Thanks!
Prosthetic Records

Post from: Metal Martyr

Dynamics of a metal band these days needs to be diverse. You need technicality, form and function. Byzantine has all that and so much more. From a Thrash, Death and Power metal feel, it’s all there. Absolution Horizon is the beginning of the brutal truth that Byzantine aren’t newcomers to the show. Busy, yet simple enough rhythms keep things interesting on tracks like Nadir and Receiving End Of Murder, while the acoustic ensemble of Renovatio leads you into the onslaught of Centurion. The Last song A Residual Haunting is a fist pounding, face bashing exit. There ARE solos and they DO kick ass!
Vocal range is wide open. From your typical metal scream to really good singing, “OJ” Ojeda reminds us that this is the new way of metal. Mixing singing with the screaming. I know some metal fans don;t like that but a lot of them do. It’s the way things work these days and I for one love it! Skip Cromer, the new bass player also is backing vocals and he does a great job as well.

Oblivion Beckons Gets Four Horns.

If you haven’t witnessed Byzantine, check them out at their myspace or go to Byzantinemusic.net

Post from: Metal Martyr

West Virginia’s Byzantine will be releasing their 3rd full length album entitled Oblivion Beckons on January 22 on Prosthetic Records. They have been kind enough to send me an advance copy of the CD (Thanks Bob) and I’ve been giving it a good listen for the past two days. Kind of switching between that and All That Remains‘ This Darkened Heart, which I will also review as an OSR in a few days or so. Keep an eye out for both reviews.

Image Source

Post from: Metal Martyr