New York City’s Suicide City have released their second album on August 4th. Following their self released 2005 EP Not My Year, the new album, titled Frenzy, is a dark and powerful mix of “punk rock, dirty rock ‘n roll with some big balls of metal and a touch of manic depression thrown in.”

From their MySpace page:

With only being together for a year and a half, Suicide City has toured with MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE, OTEP and most recently, TAKING BACK SUNDAY. The band has been voted best new band in numerous magazines and has garnered incredible reviews from KERRANG! (UK), METAL EDGE (USA), not to mention 2 cover features in The EAST COAST ROCKER and PULSE WEEKLY!

Vocalist Karl Bernholtz’s lyrics are consistently dark, dealing with attempted suicides, necrophilia, the loss of family and the revenge of an abused daughter. The songs themselves are incredibly well put together, including influences of classical music and catchy group choruses. The parallel of the lyrics and the almost hauntingly beautiful ups and downs of the song “She Waits” simply amazes me.

Frenzy has, for the foreseeable future, become one of my favorite albums. Suicide City is a band that has put together songs that in equal parts inspire, uplift, depress, and terrorize you. It’s obvious to me that a lot of feeling and personal experience went into the writing of every song on the album.

Suicide City is:

Karl Bernholtz (vocals) (ex Groovenics)
Danny Lamagna (drums)
Billy Graziadei (guitar, vocals) (ex Biohazard)
AJ Marchetta (guitar) (ex Groovenics)
Jennifer Arroyo (bass, vocals) (ex Kittie)

Contest Rules

To win an autographed copy of Frenzy, all you have to do is leave a comment below. One runner up will receive an unsigned copy of the CD. Both winners will be picked randomly when the contest ends on Friday, August 14th at 5pm CST. You must be 18 years of age and live in North America to enter. One comment per person per day, please. Good luck!

[image: Red Music]

Post from: Metal Martyr

Mr. Lordi goes on to add, “For anyone who knows Lordi, it will be clear that it is us when you see the cover. It is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It took about two weeks to finish it, as I am really way too detailed with my paintings. Then I took a photo of it and continued the work with photoshop, leveling and balancing the colors and saturation as well as adding the logos.”
Deadache will be released in over 30 countries, including all of Europe, the US, and Japan.  The band is kicking off a US tour following the release of the album, in early November 2008. A series of special events in New York City will kick off this run – look out for further info on these developments to be announced on or around 10/20!

Links:
www.lordi.fi
www.myspace.com/lordi

Image courtesy of The End Records

Post from: Metal Martyr

Australia’s finest symphonic death-doom ensemble, VIRGIN BLACK, will be hitting the road this weekend for a 20 date North American tour with AMORPHIS and SAMAEL. Bandleader Rowan London offers the following update:
“After a barrage of attention and gift giving from a fine conglomerate of people in Mexico, we’re now in New York with our friends at The End Records readying ourselves for what will no doubt be an exhausting but enthralling tour. I assure those coming out to the shows that we’ll leave it all on the stage, with every ounce of our being going into our twisted little piece of art.”
Dates are as follows:

VIRGIN BLACK with AMORPHIS and SAMAEL:
09/27/08 Sat @ Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
09/28/08 Sun @ Jaxx – West Springfield, VA
09/29/08 Mon @ BB Kings – New York City, NY
09/30/08 Tue @ Trocadero Theater – Philadelphia, PA
10/01/08 Wed @ The Chance Theater – Poughkeepsie, NY
10/02/08 Thu @ Palladium – Worcester, MA
10/03/08 Fri @ Foufounes Electriques – Montreal, QC
10/04/08 Sat @ Opera House – Toronto, ON
10/05/08 Sun @ Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
10/06/08 Mon @ The Pearl Room – Mokena, IL
10/07/08 Tue @ Station 4 – St Paul, MN
10/09/08 Thu @ Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA
10/10/08 Fri @ El Corazon  – Seattle, WA
10/11/08 Sat @ Berbati’s Pen – Portland, OR
10/12/08 Sun @ Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
10/13/08 Mon @ House of Blues – West Hollywood, Ca
10/14/08 Tue @ Jumping Turtle – San Marcos, CA
10/16/08 Thu @ Lola’s Saloon – Ft Worth, TX
10/17/08 Fri @ Scout Bar – San Antonio, TX
10/18/08 Sat @ Scout Bar – Houston, TX

VIRGIN BLACK released Requiem – Fortissimo, the third installment in the band’s ‘Requiem’ trilogy, in February of this year via THE END RECORDS.

Image Source: The End Records PR Assets

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EARLY MAN

The EP’s title track was inspired by Paul Watson and his organization, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Sea Shepherd activists endorse a deliberate policy of sinking or sabotaging vessels they believe have violated international whaling laws. Sea Shepherd members are known to call themselves ‘eco-pirates’. EARLY MAN frontman Mike Conte explains his fascination with Watson and Sea Shepherd:

“It was brought to my attention [that] Paul Watson was regularly engaged in campaigns, often in the deep sea, where he was taking direct action against illegal whaling/shark finning/seal clubbing, etc. What stood out to me was that he was sometimes going as far as ramming illegal whaling/fishing vessels, occasionally even sinking them.

“This isn’t some passive hippy fuck with a ’save the whales’ bumper sticker on his Volkswagen or some naïve college kid with a clipboard trying to sign people up for a pointless march or walkathon or some bullshit. This guy was like ‘I’m going to raise money to buy a boat and then go out into the ocean and try to stop this insanity WHILE it’s happening’. That is some ballsy shit! And something that no one else is doing. I immediately respected that and wanted to support it in any way I could.”

The EP’s title track, “Beware The Circling Fin,” was inspired by the act of ’shark finning’. Conte explains:

“I am particularly disturbed by shark finning. If you’ve never seen the process, it’s absolutely horrifying. Sharks are amazing, extremely unique creatures that command a certain amount of respect. Most people are scared of them because we are well aware of their awesome power. But when you see a deep sea fishing boat engaged in something called “longlining” or to put it more bluntly, reeling in hundreds of sharks, slicing their fins off on deck while they are completely conscious of the what is happening to them and then tossing their mutilated torsos back into the ocean where they sink to the bottom, you can easily lose all faith in humanity.

“‘Beware the Circling Fin’ is about a shark finning boat that is rammed and begins to sink in waters heavily infested by sharks. The crew finds themselves in the precarious position of being surrounded by thousands of the same beasts that they were just moments ago murdering by the hundreds. As they rapidly sink into the ocean the crew is eaten alive. Payback is a bitch, isn’t it?”

Beware The Circling Fin is available now for pre-order from THE OMEGA ORDER.

Listen to the EP’s first cut, “Sinking The Blade,” on EARLY MAN’s MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/earlyman

1. Sinking the Blade
2. Coiled Like a Snake
3. Beware the Circling Fin
4. Suck Me Dry

EARLY MAN Bio:
When it comes the music of EARLY MAN, the formula is simple: riffs that detonate on impact, a rhythm section on fire and vocals that soar to Mt. Olympus. It’s all about the delivery!
Since releasing a jolting self-titled EP and their debut full-length, ‘Closing In’, in 2005, the Brooklyn-based group has made a name for itself in the music scene, winning music critics and fans over with their straight-to-the-jugular rock attitude that champions the sounds of everything from Black Sabbath and NWOBHM to early Metallica and even punk rock.
Now the band returns finally with a brand new EP and a second full-length on the horizon, both to be released by their new home label, THE END RECORDS. The new material kicks more ass than ever– faster, thrashier, and more to the point. EARLY MAN want metalheads everywhere to know that they aren’t f*cking around.

Links:
http://earlymanarmy.com
http://www.myspace.com/earlyman

Image Source: The End Records

Post from: Metal Martyr

As-yet-untitled book– written by Jeff Wagner, former editor of Metal Maniacs and current member of THE END RECORDS staff– to see release in fall of 2009

Bazillion Points Publishing has announced the first definitive book on the elusive world of progressive metal, written by esteemed metal crusader and prog manic and THE END RECORDS staff member Jeff Wagner. Scheduled for release in autumn 2009, the book will detail the common movements of pioneers like OPETH, WATCHTOWER, VOIVOD, ATHEIST, DREAM THEATER, PSYCHOTIC WALTZ, CELTIC FROST, SIGH, and FATES WARNING — metal bands who have gone against the tide of tradition and conservatism. Linked by a desire to push heavy metal forward, these varied bands with a couple hundred other black sheep form the hard-to-pin-down category of “progressive metal.”

Beginning with the hugely influential mid-1970s efforts of Canadian band RUSH, Wagner’s book explores the shared lineage of prog rock and metal. He unfurls the huge tapestry and examines the sounds and styles created during the genre’s 40-year history, including: the “Big Three” — QUEENSRŸCHE, FATES WARNING, and DREAM THEATER; extreme prog pioneers VOIVOD and CELTIC FROST; Norway’s post-black metal avant garde (ULVER, ARCTURUS, VED BUENS ENDE, BEYOND DAWN, etc.); and of course the huge global movement of Big Three-worshippers in the 1990s and the leaders that emerged (AYREON, SYMPHONY X, etc.). The vastness of what can be considered “progressive metal” has proven to be one of the most viable, malleable forms in all of modern music.

Jeff Wagner has explored progressive metal for nearly 20 years in a variety of fanzines and magazines and is probably most notorious for his stint at Metal Maniacs magazine from 1997 to 2001. Says Wagner of his unhealthy obsession with VOIVOD, FATES WARNING, and other oddballs: “This undertaking, a book on progressive metal, is long overdue. The story will be told through my own warped views, with insights from the musicians that make progressive metal happen, plus input from the specialty labels and crazed fans that keep it alive.”

Bazillion Points is “America’s smallest but heaviest publishing house,” started by author Ian Christe (”Sound of the Beast“, “Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga“, host of “Bloody Roots” on Sirius Hard Attack). Current titles include the mammoth “Swedish Death Metal” by Daniel Ekeroth (currently on sale at The End’s Omega Mailorder), and upcoming releases by Andy McCoy (HANOI ROCKS) and Albert Mudrian (Spanish-language edition of “Choosing Death“).

Says publisher Ian Christe: “It’s simple — this is the book Jeff Wagner was born to write.”

Links:
www.bazillionpoints.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

Post from: Metal Martyr

EARLY MAN recently dropped by Fuel TV’s The Daily Habit, where they performed a couple songs which are set to air tonight! The band played a new jam called “Sinking The Blade,” which is on the upcoming EP, and the old fave “Death Is The Answer.” The Daily Habit is a half-hour daily show highlighting today’s most-popular action sports celebrities, musicians, comedy, and cutting-edge new products. It’s hosted by Pat Parnell, NBC television commentator for the Olympic Games and the Dew Action Sports Tour. The Daily Habit airs each night at 9:00pm ET/PT and is re-telecast the next day at 12:00am ET, 8:30am ET, and 3:00pm ET.

EARLY MAN’s forthcoming EP, and first release for THE END RECORDS, is currently being mixed with the help of legendary producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Mudhoney, Dwarves, High On Fire). The as yet untitled EP will be released this fall, details to follow shortly

EARLY MAN on tour:
07/18/08 Fri @ Triple Rock – Minneapolis, Minnesota
07/19/08 Sat @ Reggie’s Live – Chicago, Illinois
07/20/08 Sun @ The Bluebird – St. Louis, Missouri
07/22/08 Tue @ Magic Stick – Detroit, Michigan
07/23/08 Wed @ Grog Shop – Cleveland, Ohio
07/24/08 Thu @ Diesel – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
07/25/08 Fri @ Bowery Ballroom – New York, New York
07/26/08 Sat @ Mojo 13 – Wilmington, Delaware
07/27/08 Sun @ The Black Cat – Washington, Washington DC
07/29/08 Tue @ Volume 11 – Raleigh, North Carolina
07/30/08 Wed @ Soapbox Laundro-Lounge – Wilmington, North Carolina
07/31/08 Thu @ Milestone Barcade – Charlotte, North Carolina
08/01/08 Fri @ Landshark Cafe – Jacksonville, Florida
08/02/08 Sat @ The Backbooth – Orlando, Florida
08/03/08 Sun @ Common Grounds – Gainesville, Florida
08/04/08 Mon @ The Earl – Atlanta, Georgia
08/05/08 Tue @ One Eyed Jack’s – New Orleans, Louisiana
08/06/08 Wed @ Rudyard’s Beer Bar – Houston, Texas
08/07/08 Thu @ House of Rock – Corpus Christi, Texas
08/08/08 Fri @ Club Dada – Dallas, Texas
08/09/08 Sat @ Red 7 – Austin, Texas
08/11/08 Mon @ Launchpad – Albuquerque, New Mexico
08/13/08 Wed @ The Clubhouse – Tempe, Arizona
08/14/08 Thu @ Karma – Victorville, California
08/15/08 Fri @ Troubadour – West Hollywood, California

BIO:
When it comes the music of EARLY MAN, the formula is simple: riffs that detonate on impact, a rhythm section on fire and vocals that soar to Mt. Olympus. It’s all about the delivery!

Since 2005’s jolting self-titled EP, the Brooklyn-based three-piece have made a name for themselves in the music scene, winning music critics and fans over with their straight-to-the-jugular rock attitude that champions the sounds of Black Sabbath, thrash, NWOBHM and punk rock. It was a surging creative sound much-needed in the then-stagnant music scene.

But it wasn’t always exciting times for EARLY MAN…
When EARLY MAN’s singer/guitarist Mike Conte first moved to New York City from Columbus, Ohio in 1988, he was broke. While the plan was to focus on making music, it was a struggle. Eventually he would gather enough recording equipment to write and record songs that would eventually become the first emanations by EARLY MAN. The stuff was recorded using a drum machine, but these were still formative days. In 2003, after several stalled attempts to get the band off the ground, Conte hooked up with Columbus, Ohio-native and friend, drummer Adam Bennati.

The pairing of the two was exactly what Conte needed to take the band to the next level.  Soon the band was playing the NYC club circuit and making a name for themselves. EARLY MAN would release their three-song EP on small, independent NYC-based label Monitor Records in the spring of 2005 before Matador Records snatched them up to release their debut album, ‘Closing In’, later that year.

‘Closing In’ was a hulking monster of an album:  heavy and tight, with a towering array of rocking numbers that the duo of EARLY MAN shaped with their passion and drive to live it to the fullest. The album’s first single, “Death is the Answer”, revealed the band’s Black Sabbath influences while also serving up a unique speed metal intensity. It was the perfect song to showcase EARLY MAN’s sound and style, and it eventually found its way to MTV’s HEADBANGER’S BALL for several weeks of rotation.

The band took to the road with new addition/guitarist Pete Macy, who Conte says “added a whole new dimension to what we were doing.”
Currently the band are gearing up for a five-week tour across North America–nothing new to these road warriors. The band has toured extensively for the past three years with such acts as Mastodon, Turbonegro, The Sword, Priestess, Venom and 3 Inches Of Blood.

For now, we wait for EARLY MAN to deliver the rock, and when it comes, no doubt it will be HEAVY.
EARLY MAN is:
Mike Conte (singer, guitar, bass)
Adam Bennati (drums)
Pete Macy (guitar)

Links:
www.myspace.com/earlyman
www.earlymanarmy.com
www.fuel.tv

Post from: Metal Martyr

Winning the show’s online poll after their performance last weekend, MADE OUT OF BABIES will be on Fearless Music TV for the second time in as many weeks this Saturday night, July 26, with a live performance of “Grimace” off their latest LP, The Ruiner. Fearless Music TV airs Saturday nights at 12:30am on Fox 5 in NYC. For those not living in NYC, check out the time and channel listing at the Fearless Music Myspace blog to find out when and where else we air.

Early next month, MADE OUT OF BABIES will hit the road for a brief US tour, followed by a dozen dates across Europe.

MADE OUT OF BABIES – 2008 Fall Tour Dates:

08/07/08 Thu @ Ravari Room – Columbus, OH
08/08/08 Fri @ Mac’s Bar – Lansing, MI
08/10/08 Sun @ Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL
08/11/08 Mon @ Grog Shop – Cleveland Heights, OH
08/12/08 Tue @ Southpaw – Brooklyn, NY

08/15/08 Fri @ MTC – Koln, DE
08/16/08 Sat @ Elfer Music Club – Frankfurt, DE
08/17/08 Sun @ Le Klub – Paris, FR
08/18/08 Mon @ TBA
08/19/08 Tue @ DNA Cafe – Brussels, BE
08/20/08 Wed @ Scheldapen – Antwerp, BE
08/21/08 Thu @ 013 Popcentrum – Tilburg, NL (w/Taint)
08/22/08 Fri @ Az Conni – Dresden, DE
08/23/08 Sat @ Silver Rocket Festival – Prague, CZ
08/24/08 Sun @ A38 – Budapest – HU
08/25/08 Mon @ Mladinski Center – Velenje, SL
08/26/08 Tue @ Feierwerk – Munich, DE (w/The Locust)

The band’s latest, The Ruiner, released on June 24th via THE END RECORDS, has been immediately met with critical acclaim. The Ruiner is a big step forward for the band, and this progression is clear in the album’s scathing opener, “Cooker,” which can be heard on The End Records’ MySpace page.

Image Source: the End Records

Post from: Metal Martyr

The wait is finally over.

Go to the following link to pre-order any configuration of Opeth’s Watershed:

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/getopeth/

The first 750 pre-orders get an autographed booklet for any configuration and the first 300 orders of the Vinyl/Collectors edition bundle get the exclusive track “Mellotron Heart” on CD.

Reserve your copy of Opeth’s haunting epic masterpiece before it hits stores.

Image Source:

Post from: Metal Martyr