More nightmares from the road, R.I.P. Kevin Dubrow Quite Riot

More nightmares from touring bands, but first an update on COVEN of DECAPITATED's condition after the tragic tour bus accident in RUSSIA, he's doing better after an operation. FROM DECAPITATED: “Covan had an operation earlier this week, and his current condition is described by doctors as ‘very serious, but stable.’ He will remain in the hospital in Kraków, and visits from anyone other than family is still strictly prohibited at this time. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and support on this matter and will continue to update any changes when they happen.”
Bad news in the Cephalic Carnage camp, the band were repairing thier touring van on the road in Tusla, Oklahoma (in a car repair shop), and some douche ran off with some of CEPHALIC CARNAGE'S valuables and $4,000 in cash from merch sales ect. Of course when thieves act out upon negative impulse, this could stop a tour in it's tracks, and bands have been known to break up, as it's impossible to finance a tour under the circumstances. BTW, Cephalic Carnage are good guys, so buy some merch from them on the road, and help a brotha out.
FROM CEPHALIC CARNAGE's MYSPACE: While CEPHALIC CARNAGE were getting their van repaired in Tulsa, OK on Tuesday, 11-20-07 we were robbed. A backpack containing the recent earnings from the tour (close to $4000.00), a laptop computer with over $2000.00 in music software programs loaded, an ipod and various personal items were among the items stolen. We immediately called the police and suspected that an employee grabbed the backpack in the process of getting the work done.
The police came and took a written statement. The authorities suspected that it was an inside job as well but could not prove anything at that point. It is still under investigation but as of yet they still have not recovered the property or money.
This could not have come as at a worst time as we were looking to use earnings from this tour to help cover the upcoming holiday expenses for our kids and families. As you might expect we are extremely upset as this tour was doing very well for us (both financially and morale wise).
Despite this major setback the band is still continuing on with the DYING FETUS tour until the end. Our hopes are that we will be able to break even on this tour and not have to reach into our pockets to cover travel expenses, merch costs etc. We are looking for any type of assistance from our fans to help us through this difficult scenario.
Any donation of any amount will be absolutely appreciated. If you cannot do anything at this time then please try to make it out to our remaining shows on this tour and support us that way.
In spite of everything we are having a great time with DYING FETUS and the crowd support and response that we have been getting on each and every show has been astounding. Have a great Holiday Season…talk to you soon!
Please click here to donate.”

Thanks-More later all the best to Cephalic Carnage-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal, Stay Safe \m/ -l-

Decapitated benefits (part uno)

All of this after VITEK's (of DECAPITATED) death is pretty hard to write about. It's all very ironic, specifically to me, because I never learned to drive, and whenever I'm in a motor vehicle, I'm at the will of someone else. Here is an edited journal entry with info on how to send funds and benefit the survivors of the deadly tour van collision (In RUSSIA) this past week..BTW, DECAPITATED inked a deal with NUCLEAR BLAST (I'm guessing before VITEK's death) although no one is sure of Decapitated's status after the tragic accident.
FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Polish death metallers DECAPITATED have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented the label: "This exceptional band has so far recorded four albums, and we're looking forward to the upcoming mix of technical superiority, brutal riffs and blastbeats on album number five.

"The joy over these awesome news are of course overshadowed by the tragic death of DECAPITATED drummer Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka.

FROM DECAPITATED:

"Covan is currently at a hospital in Kraków, Poland. Doctors describe his condition as stable and he is showing signs of improvement every day. At this time, visiting is prohibited except to family members due to his fragile state. In the coming days, the decision on his follow-up treatment will be made."

FROM DECAPITATED, HOW TO SEND FUNDS TO BENEFIT SURVIVORS OF TOUR VAN ACCIDENT:

Nuclear Blast Records will collect donations from people around the world to help the families of DECAPITATED drummer "Vitek" Kieltyka and singer Adrian "" Kowanek. As previously reported, Kieltyka died at the age of 23 in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision.

To send PayPal donations, please:

* Go to www.paypal.com
* Log into your account (…or sign yourself up)
* Click on the "Personal" tab
* Click on "Send Money"

* To: decapitatedfund@hotmail.com
* From: Your PayPa e-mai address
* Amount: your choice!
* For: service/other (donation)

To send donations via bank mney transfers, here is info:

* Recipient's name: Anna Kieltyka
* Account Number: 70 1050 1458 10 0000 2293 2551 01
* Bank Swift Code: INGBPLPW
* Bank Name: ING Bank Slaski
* Bank Address: Rynek 8, 38-400 Krosno, Poland

European donations can be mailed to:

Nuclear Blast Europe GmBH
Attention: Vitek/Covan Assistance
Oeschstr. 40
73072 Donsdorf
Germany

All checks/money orders need to be made out to Anna Kieltyka.

North American donations can be mailed to:

Nuclear Blast USA
Attention: Vitek/Covan Assistance
2323 W. E Segundo Blvd.
Hawthorne, CA 90250
United States Of America

All checks/money orders need to be made out to Anna Kieltyka.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-Get well soon COVEN, and R.I.P. VITEK..\m/ -l-

Between the OPETH and 3? PROGRESSIVE NATION TOUR: DREAM THEATRE, OPETH, 3, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME

 Next year is here already, Opeth just went into the studio as a new CD from those Swedish lads will drop in the spring of 2008. To pacify OPETH's rabid fans, the Roadhouse Tapes ( live 2 CD set) is due out this month.
So it has been announced ( I knew this last month)  OPETH will embark on a spring U.S. tour (2008) with DREAM THEATRE and 3.
Prog geeks, start your orgasms now.
So who's this band 3 you say? The band 3 are local to the Hudson Valley Area, from Woodstock, NY 30 miles north of where I live in the same county. 3 are signed to Metal Blade records, of course Metal Blade is legendary if not for the signing a few non metal bands: Namely 3, Adema and the Goo Goo Dolls. Of course METAL BLADE dropped the very brutal and iinfluential (extreme death metal legends) MORBID ANGEL for non metal, pop and trendy nu metal/ hard rock the cash cows that some of them are (For the love of extreme metal Gods and Godesses MORBID ANGEL need to get signed again and put out a new release).  I've seen 3 once, a looooong time ago open for my friend John the Bakers band Slimy Penis Breath (shaup, that WAS the name of his band, and he sued the town of Woodstock, NY for giving him lip about his lyrics.)
:Shakes Head: I'm mean come on, the Goo Goo Dolls (pop band from Buffalo, NY) were an awful punk band on Metal Blade, soon after got a major label deal, and good producers, and became pop super stars. Sometimes METAL BLADE signs non metal bands.
Woodstock, NY's 3 have new CD coming out ("The End is Begun") and have some (non metal cred) with emo acts such as Coheed and Cambria, and have recently toured with  prog rock legends PORCUPINE TREE. In the two degrees of separation, Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree has produced three of  OPETH's CD's (Blackwater Park, Deliverance, Damnation)..From there, 3 will be on tour with OPETH and New York's very own Progressive metal legends DREAM THEATRE..
Woodstock, NY's 3 have recorded in legendary drummer Jerry Marotta's  (Marrotta has done session work for Paul Simon, Kate Bush) home studio in Woodstock, NY.
Now the issue is, while 3 have some prog/rock tendencies, 3 are NOT extreme metal, but leaning more towards prog ROCK with punk/emo/funk  influences. Hmmmm, I can't imagine 3 "fitting an extreme metal bill" but 3 are also due to tour with Judas Preist next year. :Shrugs:
Why non metal bands on extreme metal bills? I mean PORCUPINE TREE with OPETH, and DREAM THEATRE, YES, thanks that would be awesome. DREAM THEATRE wanted to put together a tour (to stay relevant in metal) that would show case all sorts of prog, tech, hard rock, metalcore, classic and extreme metal, PROGRESSIVE being the operative word.
My honest opinion of this tour, while it might sell some tics (3 being the odd rock band out) I'm just indifferent because I've seen all these bands before, or they are past their  prime, or never cared to begin with...
While I'm local to the NY Hudson valley area,  I'm not the biggest fan of  3, but congratulations to 3 for scoring a good tour.
Suggestion to Opeth and or Dream Theatre: How about Unexpect, or Esoteric (UK), My Dying Bride,  Arsis, ENSLAVED on future tours. Or for progressive tendencies, or popular bands in the extreme METAL underground, although I'm not fans of these bands either: Dragon Force,  Never more (but they're not touring anytime soon) or Sonata Artica.
BTW, while I HATE the sub genre of metal core, The Progressive Nation tour features North Carolina's  Between The Buried and Me. BTBAM are very technical, brutal and damn good for what they do. Sans BTBAM's "breakdowns"  if they added more riffs per second, ala Necrophagist, Cryptopsy, Spawn of Possession, BTBAM could be as good as the aforementioned bands and are the premier band in their (sub) genre. 
However, "Progressive Nation" sounds like an eclectic mix of progressive hard rock, metal core, classic and extreme metal, and might be an expensive and hard ticket to get.
 However, I AM interested in hearing the new OPETH CD.
Uh, not a fan.
DREAM THEATER:
DREAM THEATER's 'Progressive Nation' Tour To Feature OPETH, 3 And BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME - Nov. 5, 2007

New York progressive metal pioneers DREAM THEATER are set to unveil their maiden voyage of "Progressive Nation", a package tour they will headline that will also feature the talents of OPETH, 3 and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.

The tour is the brainchild of DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy, who explains, "I've been wanting to assemble a package tour like this for many years now. With all of the festivals and package tours that go through America, I've been talking with our manager and agent for over 10 years now about doing something that focuses on the more progressive, musician-oriented side of hard rock and metal. I decided it was time to stop talking the talk, lace up and finally walk the walk."

While DREAM THEATER co-headlined 2005's Gigantour alongside MEGADETH, as well as embarking on previous co-headlining runs with both QUEENSRŸCHE and JOE SATRIANI, they have primarily built their 22-year career on the road playing solely to their own audience. Portnoy comments: "I've always prided myself on personally hand picking new and exciting opening acts for DREAM THEATER in the past. Bands such as PORCUPINE TREE, SYMPHONY X, SPOCK'S BEARD, FATES WARNING, PAIN OF SALVATION and KING'S X. In all of these cases, it was important for me to pick bands that I admire and respect but also ones that I know our fans will enjoy. And I think playing with DT has helped expand all of those band's fanbases as a direct result. I am hoping Progressive Nation will continue to do the same thing in offering an audience for more daring and experimental acts that otherwise may not get the mainstream exposure they so rightly deserve."

Joining the bill for this inaugural run is Sweden's legendary OPETH who have been enjoying an ever-growing and expanding audience of their own for many years now. DT's Roadrunner Records labelmates will be ready to unleash their new album come next spring and Progressive Nation should bea great launching pad for their next world tour cycle. Guitarist/Vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt comments: "We're very excited about this upcoming tour with DREAM THEATER. It will be the first tour that we're doing in support of our upcoming record, and also somewhat of a dream come true personally as I've been a fan of theirs for a long time. It's quite intimidating to beon the bill with such amazing musicians but obviously we'll try andgive them a run for their money and pull out a few nice licks of our own. I guess we'll need to practice a little bit for this....how boring! Yet, I can't wait for this tour to start and I'm sure we'll have a blast with the DT guys as well as together with the other bands on the bill!"

Also on the bill with their unique blend of pop, funk and hard rock is upstate New York's 3 who issued the following statement: "3 is very pleased to announce its participation in the Progressive Nation tour. For well over a decade DREAM THEATER has been the vanguard of progressive rock and we are completely psyched to flex with these heavyweights, playing much of our new record 'The End is Begun'. This package will rock and awe fans everywhere as one of the most important tours of the year. It's a progressive way of music, a progressive way of life....welcome to the Progressive Nation tour."

North Carolina's BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME are enjoying rave reviews and critical acclaim for their latest CD "Colors" and are looking forward to sharing the stage each night with both DREAM THEATER and OPETH. Vocalist/keyboardist Tommy Rogers comments: "We are very excited to be touring with two bands that have been such an integral part of our musical upbringing. It is a wonderful opportunity to have our music heard by new ears."

DREAM THEATER are currently in the middle of their "Chaos In Motion" world tour which has already traveled extensively throughout Europe and North America in support of their latest Roadrunner Records CD "Systematic Chaos". The world tour will continue throughout 2008 hitting Asia, Australia and South America before concluding with Progressive Nation returning to North America in April/May 2008.

Portnoy hopes that this first venture of Progressive Nation will prove to be a success that can enable himself and DREAM THEATER to continue the package into future years and begin a tradition that musicians and fans alike can count on for quality musicianship and artistic integrity on future tours.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-BBL with"Notes from the Extreme Metal Underground"- -l- \m/

UPDATE ON WEST MEMPHIS THREE CASE: Mark Byers says he wants WM3 FREE

 The battle for a new, fair, trial for the three young men convicted in the "Robin Hill Murders" (West Memphis Arkansas) or  the West Memphis Three Case continues. Mark Byers, the father of one of the victims in the notorious West Memphis Three case has gone on record (after years of vilifying the WM3) saying that he thinks the West Memphis Three are innocent. :Stands up and applauds the obvious:
Further more, DNA testing points towards Terrence Hobbs ( the father of one the murdered children-HIS hair in one of the kids shoelaces) and NOT towards the currently imprisoned West Memphis Three as Damien Echols stands on death row.
Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelly were convicted in the 1993 slayings of three children in West Memphis Arkansas.
There was ZERO EVIDENCE against the WM3 as religious intolerance (Wiccan-Satanic panic), and being metal fans were used as "evidence" against the three convicted teens.
With DNA testing,, The West Memphis Three are looking to appeal their convictions for a new and FAIR trial. We believe the West Memphis Three to be innocent. About the part in one of these articles where the mutilatation of the young boys was allegedly performed by "predatory animals". What? NO, some scumbag did those awful things to those kids. Ugh, this case grosses me out and annoys me. This Mark Byers character comes across as if he play acting...It's just scary and freaky.
WM3 UPDATE: FROM WM3.org:

VICTIM'S FATHER WANTS WEST MEMPHIS 3 SET FREE



Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-Free the West Memphis Three-\m/ -l-

ITP V.07 ONLY ONE PER COFFIN: R.I.P VITEK (drummer of) DECAPITATED

You all might have heard of the awful bus accident that DECAPITATED (Polish death metal band) were involved in this week on tour in RUSSIA with Polish countrymen CRIONICS (whomDECAPITATED shared a tour bus with). Two members of DECAPITATED had sustained serious head trauma in the tour bus accident (VITEK and COVEN) and had been hospitalized in Russia this week..Sadly, VITEK (DECAPITATED's drummer) has succumbed to injuries from the tour bus accident and has passed away at only 23. BTW,  DECAPITATED'S guitarist VOGG is VITEKS brother. DECAPITATED were due to tour with AMON AMARTH here in the states in November. DECAPITATED's last U.S. tour was on the (AWESOME) SUMMER SLAUGHTER tour this past summer. NOW remember, since the iron curtain came down it has revealed how amazing the POLISH death/black metal scene really is: BEHEMOTH, VADER, DECAPITATED, GRAVELAND and so many other bands come from Poland. DECAPITATED, with a few lineup changes, started their career as TEENAGERS, and have world wide KVLT following as they achieved so much, so young as their countrymen, friends and family should be very proud. Finally,the hardworking  DECAPITATED break the difficult and trendy U.S. market and then tragedy strikes. It's always cool when DECAPITATED, or VADER play in the USA, the fans of Polish ancestry unfurl the Polish flag in their honor. I'm proud to say that those guys in DECAPITATED are the coolest guys you can meet, always friendly, open minded, always outside the venue chatting with fans, and great, energetic brutal performers. Take some time to offer condolences to the DECAPITATED camp, light a candle and make it a METAL day for these guys. Needless to say, be careful out there on the road, take touring bands in that are driving their own van without roadies for a shower, and place to sleep. R.I.P VITEK FROM DIMMU BORGIR: Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIRhave commented on the passing of DECAPITATED drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, who died in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. He was 23 years old. "Let it be known that we are shocked and saddened to hear about Vitek's passing," DIMMU BORGIR said in a statement. "Our condolences to his family and the other DECAPITATED members. We will be playing for him tonight [at Teatria in Oulu, Finland]. We wish Adrian 'Covan' Kowanek a quick recovery!" FROM VIKING METAL BAND AMON AMARTH: Swedish metallers AMON AMARTH have released the following statement: "It's with deep shock and sadness we have received the tragic news of the death of Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka, drummer in DECAPITATED, and we want to express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We were really looking forward to touring North America with DECAPITATED, and the news of the accident came as a real shock. We also want to send our best well wishes to Adrian 'Covan' Kowanek, who also was injured in the accident, and we sincerely hope that he will recover soon." FROM CANADIAN DEATH/THRASH BAND KATAKLSYM: KATAKLYSM producer/guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais has issued the following statement: "It's with sad regret I learned this morning of the tragic passing of [DECAPITATED drummer Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka]. I met him on the NILE tour. I was doing sound for HYPOCRISY, and DECAPITATED was sharing a bus with us. He was a real cool dude and very down to earth. We had some good times on that tour. "I'm just out of words with what happened. "On behalf of all in KATAKLYSM, our deepest thoughts are with Vitek's family and friends. We would also like to send positive messages to Adam 'Covan'[DECAPITATED singer] to keep fighting to get better and come back to the stage soon." FROM SOILWORK: "I'm truly devastated about this untimely passing," Dirk said in a statement. "Vitek was without a doubt one of the most talented and hard-working extreme metal drummers around. He was a great inspiration to me, a mind-blowing force behind the kit. To die at such a young age and in such dramatic circumstances is just horrible. My deepest condolences to his wife and child, his family and friends, and to the band. Vitek will be sorely missed. R.I.P. Vitek."  FROM CANNIBAL CORPSE:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Cannibal Corpse were shocked to learn about the tragic accident involving the bands Decapitated and Crionics. We would like to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Vitek from Decapitated.We also would like to express our sincere hope that Covan makes a full recovery from his injuries. Our thoughts are with the bands and crew, friends, and family that were affected by this terrible tragedy.. FROM BEHEMOTH: "It's still so abstract to me…I don't know what to say, don't know what to do. This morning's news brought a lot of pain in our lives and some reflections at the same time. "We're not only missing a dear friend but also a great talent. It was so awesome to watch DECAPITATED growing bigger and bigger with every step they made. "We just went off the stage in Denver, Colorado. Tonight we didn't play for ourselves; we didn't play for these people either. All we could do was to put up the best METAL show we could afford in honor of our friend. "See you in the afterlife, Vitek!" FROM METAL HAMMER (GERMANY) and BWBK: When deceased DECAPITATED drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka was announced dead, he was in truth still alive. Due to information Metal-hammer.de gathered via a phone call to the band’s label Earache, even two hours after being announced dead in the internet, Vitek was only in a coma. Although he did die at last, the information given out prior to that was actually rash. Additionally, Vitek was not operated in Moscow, but in Novozybkov, as ex-bass player Martin states. Furthermore, the following article at Metal-hammer.de says that the band were having had troubles with their bus: on March 13th they were force to cancel their Organic Hallucinosis European tour because of serious troubles and mechanical problems with their bus – although this might only be a weird coincidence. You find the whole article here. FROM DECAPITATED: (Go to Decapitated's MYSPACE page for a special tribute to VITEK):The following message was posted on DECAPITATED's official web site: "Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka — our brother and dearest friend — succumbed to head injuries sustained after a bad van accident while on tour in Russia. He was 23. "One of the youngest and most promising drummers in the genre, together with DECAPITATED he has consistently released albums both crushing and invigorating in their musicianship. Extremely talented — he has been involved in other side projects: DIES IRAE, PANZER X. He will be missed and cannot be replaced. "The metal scene will be much sorrier with his passing…"  As we mourn the passing of our dear friend Vitek, we are working together to create something special in his memory. More pictures and videos from our personal collections will be added, and a fully functional profile with updates all about Decapitated and Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka are under way, so please check back often. To all the people and bands out there that have shown their support through these difficult times, thank you so much. It really means a lot to us. Sincerely, -the friends and family of Vitek Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal, Stay SAFE- From the BROOTALMETAL HEADS worldwide, our thoughts are with COVEN and the DECAPITATED camp at this difficult time, as we wish COVEN a full, speedy recovery. R.I.P. VITEK, tears and sadness for a great drummer, metal flags are at half mast tonight. Thanks-Stay Metal and Brutal-\m/ -l-