THE BLASPHEMER FESTIVAL, JOILET ILLINOIS CONFIRMS LINEUP

If metal heads of the most extreme variety happen to be in the Joilet, Illinois region JUNE 20th, 2009, check out the BLASPHEMER FEST @ THE RIVER CLUB. Confirmed bands to date are:LORD BLASPHEMER,CYANOSIS,EZURATE,EVIL INCARNATE,HORDES OF NEBULAH,DEAD FOR DAYS,MAAX,CREATED TO KILL,HAMMERED,ACT OF DESTRUCTION,LIGHTNING THRASH ATTACK,ATROPHY OF EXISTENCE,PURGE,EUVEL
Thanks to-Cemetery Productions-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

EMPTY WORDS (Chuck Schuldiner, Control Denied, Death) CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY

EMPTY WORDS, the memorial website dedicated to Chuck Schuldiner and his various groundbreaking extreme metal projects: DEATH, CONTROL DENIED are celebrating their 10th anniversary this week, so stop on by, leave them a line, as they keep the metal flowing for all of us Chuck Schuldiner fans. FROM EMPTY WORDS.COM:
"The editorial comment for 2008 took some time, but is now done. Today, March 31, 2009, marks EW’s 10th birthday, but it seems like it was only yesterday. It’s an anniversary year to be celebrated but with mixed feelings, after all 1999 was the year that Chuck (on his birthday May 13) heard about his illness… Well: first we go back to the (Death wise) most significant moments of 2008 and take an advanced look at 2009."
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

ARSIS ARE REJOINED BY ORIGINAL DRUMMER, DALLAS COYLE LEAVES GOD FORBID,ISIS CONFIRM U.S. 2009 SPRING SUMMER TOUR

BTW, this post is ITP's 666 post and an unofficial five year anniversary of writing about extreme metal and various drivel, metal horns and HAILS \m/. ARSIS have soo many lineup changes these days. It is also confirmed that DALLAS COYLE has left GOD FORBID. FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET. and GOD FORBID: Guitarist Doc Coyle of New New Jersey metal titans GOD FORBID has released the following statement:

"There have been a barrage of rumors and questions on whether or not Dallas [Coyle, guitar] has left GOD FORBID. It's true that Dallas has left the band [as BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on Sunday, March 29 — Ed.]. It's taken us a few days to confirm this definitely, and figure out what we were going to do considering the fact that we are starting a very important tour with LAMB OF GOD this week.

"I don't want to go into the hairy details, but all I can say is that there was a mutual disagreement between Dallas and I, and the disagreement became angry on both sides, and he decided to sit out the tour the day we were supposed to leave. We later learned he did not want to tour anymore at all. Everyone in the band, including myself, was upset and shocked. For me, it's a lot tougher because he's my brother and I have a very close bond with him. We've done everything together our whole lives, so it's difficult to deal with emotionally but I understand he has bigger responsibilities at home to care for. I wish he would've handled it in a different way, but I am not angry at him for leaving if he is unhappy with our situation. I really hope he finds success and happiness in his future pursuits.

"In the meantime, we've recruited ex-DARKEST HOUR shredder Kris Norris to fill in for the tour. We are currently doing a few warm-up shows as a four-piece to meet the LAMB OF GOD tour in Phoenix, Arizona on April 2. Kris will be there for the start of the LOG tour though. I've been friends with Kris for years, and have an immense amount of respect for his playing. I look forward to playing with him, and I'm sure he will knock it out the park! Byron and I will pick up the slack with the vocals as much as we can.

"Thanks for everyone's continued support, and we'll see you on the road!" In the wake of many lineup changes and James Malones illness, ARSIS are rejoined by original drummer Michael VanDyne.
FROM ARSIS: Original drummer and founding member of ARSIS, Michael VanDyne - who played on the band’s 2004 highly praised debut album, A Celebration Of Guilt, 2005’s A Diamond For Disease EP, and 2006’s United In Regret - has officially returned to the band’s line-up.

VanDyne has this to say about his homecoming:

“I’m looking forward to working with my friend Jim again, as well as the great people at Nuclear Blast. Judging by the new material that [guitarist/singer] Jim [Malone] and [guitarist] Nick [Cordle] have been working on, I think we may be sitting on some of the most memorable and thrashy Arsis material written to date. Due to obligations with my full-time career, session drummers will most likely be utilized for big tours that Jim wishes to do in the future… However, regional shows and occasional mini-tours or festival gigs either here in North America or overseas are a definite possibility (and something I’d be totally psyched to do) if our collective schedules allow it. Good times.”

Jim Malone offers the following statement:

“I can’t say how excited I am to be working Mike Van Dyne again; Arsis would have never existed in the first place had it not been for him and his motivation. It’s very hard to find people to work with that you can connect both as musicians and as friends. Mike has always been both of these. I can’t wait to start demoing some new material with Mike and Nick. While David Kinkead did a great good job for Arsis and he may still play live with us from time to time, I can’t pass up the opportunity to work with Mike Van Dyne again. I have the a feeling the vibe will be amazing and feel confident that we’ll make Arsis stronger and better than ever. We have the best fans in the world behind us and they deserve the best we have to offer!” ISIS will embark on a six week US tour in support of Wavering Radiant (out May 5) on May 15, kicking off in San Diego. The band’s latest release finds the LA-by-way-of-Boston quintet teaming up with producer Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Melvins).
Former ARSIS drummer DAVE KINCAID is open for session work. FROM DAVE KINCAID: Session drummer David Kinkade is hunting for work. His appeal is below:

“Best of luck to Arsis with their new/ old drummer…..again. I am heading to Norway in a week for the final stages of the new Borknagar album. Borknagar doesn’t tour very often so my schedule is pretty much open until Wacken open air (early August). I am looking to work with a band in which we can rely on each other. Communication and positive attitudes towards business are extremely important to me. As I have previously mentioned in past press releases, I am always available for drum work. Any location in the world does not matter but dedicated/ established inquires ONLY are appreciated. Contact me at: anti_cosmic_drummer@yahoo.com”

“Thanks to all who have shown me support in these past few months. Between the passing of family and my constant traveling, I still have many emails and phone calls that I still have yet to reply. I really appreciate all the friends who have proven their truth. Hail the true.”

Experimental metal ensemble ISIS will hit the road in support of their latest release "Wavering Radiant" for a spring/summer 2009 U.S. tour.
FROM SMNNEWS.COM:

Isis tour dates:

May 15 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
May 16 - Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
May 17 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
May 19 - Austin, TX @ Emo’s
May 20 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre
May 21 - Houston, TX @ Meridian - Red Room
May 22 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
May 23 - Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree
May 25 - Orlando, FL @ The Social
May 26 - Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds
May 27 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbit’s
May 28 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
May 29 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
May 30 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
May 31 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
June 2 - New York, NY @ The Filmore at Irving Plaza
June 3 - Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
June 4 - Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
June 5 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
June 6 - Montreal, QC @ The National
June 7 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Theatre
June 9 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
June 10 - Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century Theatre
June 11 - Detroit, MI @ Small’s
June 12 - Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
June 15 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
June 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Sound
June 18 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
June 19 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
June 20 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
June 22 - San Jose, CA @ The Blank Club
June 23 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
June 24 - Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theatre
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY AND DOPE ADDED TO CHICAGO POWERFEST 2009

More bands have been added to the Chicago Powerfest set to take place May 7-9 at the Pearl Room in Mokena, Illinois. FROM CHICAGO POWERFEST PROMOTERS: CRJ Productions would like to welcome BLACK LABEL SOCIETY as Headliner and DOPE as their direct support for the Friday, May 8th, night of the next CHICAGO POWERFEST, set to take place on May 7-9 at The Pearl Room in Mokena, Illinois. Tickets for this May 8th, date of the fest will go on sale this Saturday, April 4th, at 11am CT via all Ticketmaster locations.


Festival organizers also commented, "In keeping with the Powerfest tradition of spanning a wide variety of hard rock and metal genres, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and DOPE are two more bands who will contribute perfectly. This is what we feel a metal fest should be & plan to continue in this multi-dimensional direction with the goal of being bigger and better each year.
"

Final Powerfest Main Stage Lineup...

Thursday, May 7 (PAGANFEST)

KORPIKLAANI
PRIMORDIAL
MOONSORROW
BLACKGUARD
SWASHBUCKLE

Friday, May 8:

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
DOPE
KIUAS
ASSAILANT
MINDWARP CHAMBER
BuzzNews.com Metal Wars Winner

Saturday, May 9:

DEVILDRIVER
SOIL
NOVEMBERS DOOM
PERZONAL WAR
SHEEPHEAD
LUNA MORTIS
DIAMOND PLATE


Current Acoustic Sets...

Friday, May 8:

SACRED DAWN
WILL BOZARTH

Saturday, May 9:

NOVEMBERS DOOM
GWYNBLEIDD


Tickets for the other two nights of the event (May 7th featuring Paganfest USA 2 & May 9th featuring DEVILDRIVER) are currently available via all Ticketmaster locations. Also, specially priced 2-day & 3-day ticket combos will also be made available starting April 4th via www.ChicagoPowerfest.com

As previously reported, CRJ Productions will continue with its official fan sponsorship/VIP program this year…intended to give fans a higher level of participation in the fest and a chance to take advantage of some cool perks.


For more information regarding Powerfest or the VIP program, please also visit www.ChicagoPowerfest.com
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

SUMMER SLAUGHTER USA 2009 DATES LEAKED

UPDATED 3/31/09:
We at ITP have taken it upon our selves (out of boredom?) to leak a couple of dates for the up and coming SUMMER SLAUGHTER USA TOUR 2009. Shh, don't tell anyone, specifically at SMNNEWS or Blabbermouth.net. Official source is TICKETMASTER. However, ITP does NOT endorse TICKETBASTARD (TICKETMASTER) or these secondary scalping agencies so if you do business with these ticket agencies, you do so at your OWN RISK. The confirmed SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR LINEUP USA IS: NECROPHAGIST
SUFFOCATION
ENSIFERUM (second half)
DARKEST HOUR
WINDS OF PLAGUE
DYING FETUS
BORN OF OSIRIS
ORIGIN
BENEATH THE MASSACRE (first half)
AFTER THE BURIAL
DECREPIT BIRTH (first half)
BLACKGUARD (second half)
FROM ITP AND TICKETMASTER.COM: SUMMER SLAUGHTER 2009 DATES (a few thus far): Affliction Presents: Summer Slaughter Tour 2009

The National Richmond, VA

Sat, 06/06/09
02:00 PM

Find Tickets
Summer Slaughter 2009 featuring Necrophagist / Suffocation / Darkest H

Headliners Music Hall Louisville, KY

Fri, 06/12/09
03:00 PM

More Info
on sale: Sat, 04/04/09
10:00 AM
Summer Slaughter 2009
The Summer Slaughter Tour 2009 with Special Guests

Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO

Tue, 06/23/09
02:00 PM

More Info
on sale:Sat, 04/04/09
10:00 AM

House of Blues Sunset Strip Hollywood, CA
Tue, 06/30/09
04:30 PM
Summer Slaughter

The Grand Ballroom At the Regency Center San Francisco, CA

Wed, 07/01/09
02:30 PM

More Info
on sale:Sun, 04/05/09
10:00 AM
SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR 2009: Portland, Oregon's Roseland Theatre on Thursday, July 2, 2009
More dates for the SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR 2009 TBA-
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

SKINLESS AND COMMUNION ADDED TO AUDITORY ASSAULT FEST, COFFINS (JAPAN) ANNOUNCE WEST COAST USA TOUR

Saratoga, New Yorkers SKINLESS and COMMUNION have been added to the Auditory Assault Festival..More from SMNNEWS.COM: New York’s SKINLESS and THE COMMUNION have been added to the lineup of the first annual Auditory Assault Festival in New York City. The festival, which is organized by the promoters of the Maryland Deathfest, will take place on May 16th and 17th at Europa in Brooklyn, NY. Two day passes are currently on sale here, while single day tickets will go on sale on March 30th.

The currently confirmed lineup is as follows:

Saturday, May 16th:
DEAD INFECTION (Poland)
SKINLESS (New York)
LETHAL AGGRESSION (New Jersey)
GADGET (Sweden)
SAYYADINA (Sweden)
SPLITTER (Sweden)
DEFEATIST (New York)
MAN WILL DESTROY HIMSELF (North Carolina)
CHAINSAW TO THE FACE (New Jersey)
THE COMMUNION (New York)

Sunday, May 17th:
BRUTAL TRUTH (New York)
ROTTEN SOUND (Finland)
MISERY INDEX (Maryland)
TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION (Pennsylvania)
CROWPATH (Sweden)
SULACO (New York)
PIGSTY (Czech Republic)
KILL THE CLIENT (Texas)
JIG-AI (Czech Republic)
MARUTA (Florida)
COPREMESIS (New York)
Also, do catch Japanese death/doom band COFFINS as they shall return to the USA for a west coast swing in early MAY. FROM SMNNEWS.COM: Japan’s COFFINS is finally making it back to the US after last year’s successful East Coast tour. This time they will bring the doom/death to the American West Coast. Going along for the ride are their Oakland label mates Stormcrow. The tour will start in Seattle on April 30th and culminate with both bands appearing at the infamous Los Angeles Murderfest alongside such bands as Samothrace, Eyehategod, Despise You, General Surgery, 16, Abscess, Ghoul and many others.

COFFINS West Coast tour:

4/30- El Corazon - Seattle, WA w/Skarp, Grey
5/01- Northern - Olympia, WA w/Thrones, Sixes
5/02- Satyricon - Portland, OR w/Thrones, Aldebaran
5/03- Oak St Speakeasy - Eugene, OR w/HC Minds
5/04- Auntie Moe’s - Eureka, CA
5/06- KFJC radio live recording - San Jose, CA
5/07- Annie’s - San Francisco, CA w/Laudanum, Samothrace
5/08- Gilman St. - Berkeley, CA w/Aldebaran
5/09- The Knitting Factory (part of LA Murderfest) - Los Angeles, CA
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal, Doom ooonnn- \m/ -l-

MAYHEM (NORWAY) ANNOUNCE MEXICAN DATES/NORTHWESTERN BLACK CIRCLE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED

Norwegian black metal legends MAYHEM will play three shows south of the border in MEXICO in MAY. Venues TBA. FROM MAYHEM:
May 01 - Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
May 02 - Mexico City, Mexico
May 03 - Tuxtla G., Chiapas, Mexico
Also, one of the USA's first black metal festivals has been announced: NORTHWESTERN BLACK CIRCLE FESTIVAL will take place MAY 23rd in Portland, Oregon at Club Satyricon. The NORTHWESTERN BLACK CIRCLE FESTIVAL billing is shaping up as follows:

CEREMONIAL CASTINGS
IN MEMORIUM
INFERNUS
INQUINOK
INQUISITION
MYSTICISM BLACK
PANZERGOD
TORMENTIUM
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

GOROD (FRANCE) POSTS NEW MP3, NEW ENGLAND HARDCORE AND METAL FEST ADD THIRD STAGE

French shred masters GOROD have posted a new MP3 on MYSPACE, get ready for some shred as GOROD's new CD entitled "Process of A New Decline" will be released on Willowtip records in the summer of 2009. FROM GOROD MYSPACE:
GOROD NEW SONG AVAILABLE
GOROD have posted a new song - Disavow Your God - from their upcoming album
"Process Of A New Decline" on the band myspace page.

The band welcomes new drummer Sam Santiago on this new recording.

"Process Of A New Decline" is due to be released before the summer on
Willowtip Records.

A European release will be announced shortly.
The New England Hardcore and Metal Fest have added a third stage. FROM THE NEMHCF PROMOTERS: The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will introduce an additional stage this year dedicated to up and coming bands.

The third stage, sponsored by Deathcote Records, will be located at Chasers Nightclub, located behind the Palladium on the corner of Martin Luther King and Commercial streets. The main festival will be taking place at the Palladium.

“There are so many great bands and not enough time to get all of them on during the course of two days,” said festival co-organizer Sott Lee. “Adding a third stage is a great way for us to showcase some of the developing bands and it’s a terrific opportunity for these bands to play alongside some of today’s top metal and hardcore bands.”

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will take place on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, with the Atticus pre-party on Thursday, April 16.

Main Stage

All That Remains, Between The Buried and Me, The Haunted, The Acacia Strain, Suffocation, August Burns Red, Napalm Death, Whitechapel, Kataklysm, Toxic Holocaust, After The Burial, Burning Human, Sylosis, Merauder, ABACABB, Woe Of Tyrants, Rose Funeral

2nd Stage

Cattle Decapitation, Veil Of Maya, Psyopus, Coliseum, Aggressive Dogs, The Miles Between, Decrepit Birth, Trap Them, Psycroptic, XTheWarX, Withered, Bison B.C., Left To Vanish

3rd Stage

Within The Ruins, The Destro, Shroud Of Bereavement, Brother Von Doom, We Were Gentlemen, Conqueror, Surrounded By Teeth, Pictures Of Winter, Half Hearted Comeback, Underlying Truth, Mordisk
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

ATHERA OF SUSPERIA RECOVERS FROM OPEN HEART SURGERY

Just a follow up from this months story of SUSPERIA's vocalist ATHERA whom suffered a heart attack. ATHERA successfully underwent open heart surgery and is recovering nicely as we speak. All the best to ATHERA and SUSPERIA: From SMNNEWS.COM: and SUSPERIA: Despite further complications SUSPERIA singer Athera (Pal Mathiesen) successfully underwent open heart surgery on Monday, March 16 at Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Originally scheduled to have a triple by pass operation, surgeons discovered further problems which resulted in the vocalist also having a main artery - which previously ran to his lungs - connected directly to his heart. Athera will remain in hospital to recuperate and has been advised by doctors that full recovery will take between three and five months.

Still in some agony from his ordeal and in reflective mood, Athera said:

“Wow - Well what happened there!! It looks like this time my name wasn’t on the guest list at the pearly gates or the other place down below. I got through the surgery and I’m now back in the regional hospital after five days at the specialist heart clinic. Here in my hospital bed I’m contemplating the enormity of what happened - the what if’s and the what might have been. I’m in agony but the strong medication helps. It was a heavy operation having my body parts re-arranged - If a musician ever needed a “TUNE UP” I hope this was it. There are some tough times ahead but I will get there in the end.”

Commenting further on the messages of support and with an eye on the future he added:

“I’m truly amazed at peoples humanity at times like this, with all the good will messages I’ve been getting from friends and strangers. Once again the metal community comes through with flying colours, putting their prejudices aside to come together as one. Respect to those who took the time to send messages of support. It’s heart-warming to get messages from metal heads who don’t have the time of day for my band yet still find the time to send a message.You all helped me get through this, and strengthened my metal heart! . I will be out of the game for a while till my chest bones completely heal and I can sing fully again. I wish my boys a good trip round the UK in May on the tour, and am confident they will bring along a singer that will make the show worth while for you. I wish I could be there, “

As previously reported, SUSPERIA have confirmed the postponement of Norwegian dates, which were set for April 9. Their UK tour in May with BREED 77 will go ahead at the insistence of Athera himself, with a replacement vocalist.

The release of SUSPERIA’s next studio album is set for early summer as planned, through Candlelight Records. Full details will be announced shortly.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

PROGRESSIVE NATION EUROPE announced featuring DREAM THEATRE, OPETH, UNEXPECT, BIGELF

Looks like DREAM THEATRE (New York) have expanded the PROGRESSIVE NATION FEST into Europe for the fall of 2009. PROGRESSIVE NATION EUROPE features DREAM THEATRE, OPETH, Canada's UNEXPECT, and BIGELF.














FROM DREAM THEATER: : New York progressive metal veterans DREAM THEATER will take their Progressive Nation tour overseas for the first time with a run through Europe throughout September, October and November 2009.

Progressive Nation founder and mastermind, DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy, once again hand-picked the bands based on musicianship, originality and diversity… not necessarily by popularity and marquee value. He comments: "After the excitement of putting together two very cool Progressive Nation packages for North America, I knew it was time to bring the concept overseas and share some of these other great bands with our amazing fans throughout Europe."

Joining the tour will be DREAM THEATER's tourmates from Progressive Nation 2008 (and Roadrunner Records labelmates), the legendary OPETH from Stockholm, Sweden. Vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt is excited to partake in another Progressive Nation experience: "Once my man, 'The Port,' suggested they're going to bring Progressive Nation over to Europe, I more or less begged him to get us on it, haha! We had such a great time doing it in North America and it did many great things for us as a band. It's fair to say that I can't wait to get going with this one. It will be a blast, believe me!!"

Los Angeles band BIGELF will bring their unique brand of psychedelic, progressive hard rock to Progressive Nation 2009. Vocalist/keyboardist Damon Fox says: "When I first met Mike Portnoy, I felt like we were cut from the same cloth, a brother from another mother. We could talk rock and roll for eons (we probably will on tour, hell yeah!). Being added to the Progressive Nation tour feels like the planets have aligned for us and the elves have finally come home to Rivendell. The mentality of DREAM THEATER and Progressive Nation reminds me of a quote from the great Willy Wonka, 'There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be...' We eagerly await our return to Northern Europe and on a special note, we have never performed in England. This has driven us completely mad over the years. We are just brimming with passion and excitement to be able to bring our music back to the homeland which has inspired us so deeply."

Opening the show each night will be Canada's UNEXPECT who will surely blow people's minds with their insane musicianship and avant garde style of extreme progressive metal. Guitarist Syriak had this to say: "How can we rationally express that crazy excitement we feel about this awesome turn of events…Upon getting offered by Mike to be on board this amazing prog vessel, we accepted at once to participate and add our own mad musical touch to the crew! Being part of the European leg of Progressive Nation 2009 is an extreme honor for us and playing in company of such talented musicians shall be a true and heartfelt enjoyment! See you all on stage guys!! "

The European leg of Progressive Nation will follow on the heals of the North American version of Progressive Nation 2009 which will run throughout July and August 2009 in the U.S. and Canada featuring DREAM THEATER, ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA, PAIN OF SALVATION and BEARDFISH.

Progressive Nation's successful inaugural run throughout North America in 2008 featured OPETH, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and THREE.

A festival and headlining run of Europe in June, followed by the two Progressive Nation tours will be the first treks across the globe for DREAM THEATER in support of their newest Roadrunner Records release, "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", which is slated for a late June 2009 release.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

GAHHL AND KING (EX GORGOROTH) NAME NEW PROJECT

FROM GODSEED'S MYSPACE: Gaahl and King have chosen the new banner of God Seed to represent their art in the future.

God Seed was chosen for many reasons; it represents the will to grow, the god within man and nature and the will to reach one's highest potential. God Seed is also the title of a track from the last album released under the "Gorgoroth" banner and in that respect it symbolizes what is brought from the past into a new beginning and a new future.

The album which has been in the works as a "Gorgoroth" album will now be released as the first God Seed album and should be in-stores in late 2009.
Gaahl and King (ex Gorgoroth) have named their new project GODSEED after LOSING their court battle vs. INFERNUS. Longtime GORGOROTH member and band founder INFERNUS owns the bands name via trademark and copy write. IMHOTEP have published and interview with KING GODSEED member (ex GORGOROTH) KING about the new projects name and the lawsuit vs. Infernus: FROM IMHOTEP: So, the obvious thing is of course, why the name God Seed? The way I see it, it is a name that has some irony to it…
“I am fully aware that this name will be made fun out of because of Gaahls sexual preferences. I couldn’t care less about that part. People with a mind set of 13 year old kids would do that to him anyway.
God Seed represent a more spiritual side to us than what Gorgoroth would. God Seed is also the title of a track from our last album released under the "Gorgoroth" banner and in that respect it symbolizes what is brought from the past. God Seed represents the will to grow; the will to be the super man so to speak. I think it’s a suitable name for what we will represent in the future.
I am also aware of the fact that we use the word God in the name. It will challenge the weak minded in the respect that we in the past used the word Satan a lot, but it’s all about the same thing. The God within man and the God within nature. I never believed in a Christian force named Satan. I believe in the God within man.”

You have signed to Indie Recordings, a label that is the biggest Norwegian metal label and which is very professional. How did you choose to go for Indie now? What advantages do you see belonging to a native label?
“I know the people who work for Indie for several years. I know they are good people and easy to work with. I have high hopes in working with them in the future. The communication will of course be better with a native label than with a label from abroad. They seem very eager on giving their best for me and Gaahl, whether we called us Gorgoroth, God Seed or another name.”

Concerning the upcoming album, have Gaahl recorded the vocals? And, do you have to do any adjustments musically speaking? I mean, don’t you think people will just thinking Gorgoroth no matter, since the music was created under the Gorgoroth banner from the start?
“Gaahl has not recorded the vocals yet. He is in Spain as we speak working on lyrics and vocal arrangements. I’ve always made the music I want to make, and I haven’t made any adjustments just because of a name change. If people think of what we made under the Gorgoroth banner in context of what we are doing now as God Seed, there’s nothing I can do about it. We will of course bring with us what we created in Gorgoroth during the 10 years we worked together as well. So it makes sense..., but now all energy will be put into God Seed. Gorgoroth is dead from my side and Gaahl’s too.”

Another obvious theme has to be how all the fuzz that were started back in those days (autumn 2007 if I remember correctly) have influenced your will to power, your will to create music that surpasses what you’ve done with Gorgoroth previously?
“To be honest nothing has changed for me besides changing a name of the band. I have the same people I work with on all levels concerning my art and where this art is channeled. God Seed is just the next chapter of what we presented in Gorgoroth. That’s all!!”

What can you tell us about the album? The music has been recorded some half year ago…
“The music for the record was recorded last year. It contains the best music I’ve written according to my own likings. It will be released sometimes later this year and I guess we’ll get both negative and positive reactions to it..., as usual. I decided early on to NOT make a retro black metal album which should have been released in the early 90’s. I leave that to others. I want to make unique music with a strong voice…, not relying on any trends.”

I know most people, for some wicked reason, are most interested in Gaahl’s sexuality and also what you think now in retrospect concerning what happened back in autumn 2007. Personally I think more or less everything has been said and done and said over again. And it seems now that Infernus wish the best for you and that you wish the best for him, despite that there are some economic matters still to be sorted out. Looking forward to seeing both bands on tour together, hehe… Seriously, what’s next for God Seed, besides the finishing voices on the album?
“I couldn’t care less about Gaahl’s sexual orientation. It has nothing to do with me or the art we are doing together. I never had any problems with Infernus on a personal level and of course I’m hoping he is actually able to bring forward what we created in Gorgoroth. I’m sure he will. God Seed will be the banner we’ll use for spreading our ideas through interviews, music and live performances. Nothing has changed but a name. I guess Gorgoroth will look more different than us in the future.”

I think we’ll have another chat when the new album is set and done and all. Any final words, anything you’d like to say about the happenings the last two years that you haven’t really revealed? Any unseen cards up thy sleeve?
“I m tired of the controversy surrounding the last two years. I am ready to use my energy on what wants to live rather than what wants to die. I am prepared to put in lots of work to make God Seed what it can be, on the highest level possible.”
UPDATE 3/30/09: Also, GODSEED are due to play at a few festivals. FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET: GOD SEED, the new Norwegian band featuring former GORGOROTH members King (bass; real name: Tom Cato Visnes) and Gaahl (vocals; real name: Kristian Espedal), has been confirmed for Hellfest, set to take place June 19-21, 2009 in Clisson, France. They will headline the Rock Hard stage on June 19.

GOD SEED's lineup for the performance will consist of the following musicians:

Gaahl Vocals
King - Bass
Teloch - Guitar
Ice Dale - Guitar (ENSLAVED)
Dani "Garghuf" Robnik - Drums

Gaahl and King recently lost a court battle against guitarist Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) over the rights to the GORGOROTH band name.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

CENTRAL ILLINOIS METAL FEST LINEUP and MONSTROSITY TOUR ANNOUNCED

The annual Central Illinois Metal Fest (CIM) will take place at the Canopy Club in Urbana, Illinois July 31st and August 1st, 2009. Looks like the CIM have produced yet another brutal kickass lineup for the true metal heads this year. Check it out: FROM CIM ORGANIZERS: CENTRAL ILLINOIS METALFEST 2009

July 31st and August 1st at
The Canopy Club
708 S.
Goodwin Ave
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 344-BAND

2 DAY PASSES ON SALE NOW
$60 (ADVANCED)
$70 (AT THE DOOR)

18 and over.. 21+ drink with ID


CIM 2009 LINEUP

GOATWHORE (LA)
MASTER (CZECH REPUBLIC/US)
IMMOLATION (NY)
ANAL CUNT (MD)
VITAL REMAINS (NE)
DAATH (GA)
MALIGNANCY (NY)
ABIGAIL WILLIAMS (NY)
WACO JESUS (IL)
LIVIDITY (IL)
GOREAPHOBIA (PA)
RUMPLESTILTSKIN GRINDER (PA)
ABYSMAL DAWN (CA)
HUMAN FILLETED (IN)
FUCK THE FACTS (CANADA)
EZRA (NE)
BLASPHEMER (ITALY)
DISFIGURED (TX)
PATHOLOGY (CA)
DREAMING DEAD (CA)
PUTRID PILE (WI)
STRONG INTENTION (MD)
SECRET OF THE SEVEN THUNDERS (IL)
SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY (FL)
SIKFUK (MN)
DEAD FOR DAYS (IL)
NECROTIC DISGORGEMENT (OH)
DYSENTERY (MA)
ROTTENNESS (MEXICO)
Also, the Central Illinois Booking Agency has released July tour dates for the summer 2009 U.S. tour featuring MONSTROSITY, THORNAFIRE and TORN THE FUCK APART: FROM CIM BOOKING AGENCY AND TOURS: Jul 1 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ Deja Vu Nightclub Stuart, Florida
Jul 2 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ Volume 11 Raleigh, North Carolina
Jul 3 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The Half Shell Virginia Beach, Virginia
Jul 4 2009 2:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The Alhambra Arena Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jul 6 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The Lost Horizon Syracuse, New York
Jul 8 2009 8:00P
MASTER ONLY @ Broadway Joes Buffalo, New York
Jul 9 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ Zanies too Indianapolis, Indiana
Jul 10 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ the Canopy Club Urbana, Illinois
Jul 10 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Rock Maplewood, Minnesota
Jul 11 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The Riot Room Kansas City, Missouri
Jul 11 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Elbo Room Chicago, Illinois
Jul 12 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ Mac’s Bar Lansing, Michigan
Jul 12 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ the Hideout Omaha, Nebraska
Jul 13 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Bulldog Cafe Louisville, Kentucky
Jul 14 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Muse Nashville, Tennessee
Jul 15 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Room 710 Austin, Texas
Jul 16 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ Schotzi’s College Station, Texas
Jul 17 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ WALTER’S Houston, Texas
Jul 17 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The Jumping Turtle San Marcos, California
Jul 18 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ TBA San Antonio Or San Marcos, Texas
Jul 19 2009 8:00P
MASTER/DREAMING DEAD/HOD @ Histeria Club Juarez,Mexico
Jul 20 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Compound Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 20 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The War Legion Underground Amarillo, Texas
Jul 21 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The Gypsy Fayetteville, Arkansas
Jul 21 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ UB’s BAR Mesa, Arizona
Jul 22 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Jumping Turtle San Marcos, California
Jul 22 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The Muse Nashville, Tennessee
Jul 23 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ the Drunken Unicorn Atlanta, Georgia
Jul 23 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Knitting Factory Hollywood, California
Jul 24 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ Annie’s San Fransico, California
Jul 24 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ The Oasis Charleston, South Carolina
Jul 25 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Cheyenne Saloon Las Vegas, Nevada
Jul 25 2009 8:00P
MONSTROSITY/THORNAFIRE/TORN THE FUCK APART @ Burbon Street North Port Richey, Florida
Jul 27 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ Union Station Colorado Springs, Colorado
Jul 28 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ Box Awesome Lincoln, Nebraska
Jul 29 2009 8:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD@ The Riot Room Kansas City, Missouri
Jul 31 2009 2:00P
MASTER/PATHOLOGY/DREAMING DEAD @ The Canopy Club/CIM 2009 Urbana, Illinois
Jul 31 2009 2:00P
CIM 2009 @ THE CANOPY CLUB Urbana,, Illinois
Aug 1 2009 12:00P
CIM 2009 @ THE CANOPY CLUB Urbana,, Illinois
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

MARYLAND DEATH FEST, LA MURDER FEST,AUDITORY ASSAULT FEST 2009 and BRUTAL TRUTH NORTH AMERICAN TOUR UPDATES

The promoters of the MARYLAND DEATH FEST have announced the following lineup changes and vendors: FROM THE MARYLAND DEATH FEST PROMOTERS: - Car Bomb have canceled their appearance at MDF VII. Krallice will replace them on the bill.


- Tickets for all three days are selling fast. Advance purchase is highly recommended if you want to be sure that you're a part of this event.

- Set times and other information regarding the set up of the festival this year will be coming soon.



List of bands for each day of MDF VII:

Friday, May 22nd:
Asphyx, Mayhem, Marduk, Venomous Concept, Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation, Victims, Sayyadina, Pigsty, Jig-Ai, Gnostic, Hero Destroyed, Triac

Saturday, May 23rd:
Bolt Thrower, Atheist, Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, Immolation, Hail of Bullets, General Surgery, Pig Destroyer, Birdflesh, Wolves in the Throne Room, Misery Index, Phobia, Rotten Sound, Flesh Parade, Unearthly Trance, Pretty Little Flower, Crowpath, Man Must Die, Weekend Nachos, Maruta, Drugs of Faith

Sunday, May 24th:
Pestilence, Abscess, Destroyer 666, Aura Noir, Absu, Sigh, Devourment, The Red Chord, Trap Them, Despise You, Antigama, Krallice, Splitter, Kill the Client, Catheter, Lair of the Minotaur, Magrudergrind, Agenda of Swine, Entrails Massacre, The Endless Blockade, Complete Failure

Vendors confirmed to appear at MDF VII:
Centralfuge, Dave's Metal, Deathgasm Records, Deepsend Records, Emetic Records, The End Records, Forever Plagued Records, Ibex Moon Records, Old Cemetery Records, Paragon Records, Pathos Productions, Relapse Records, Sevared Records, Thrash Corner Records, Warlord Clothing, Willowtip Records
MORE MDF NEWS: 3/23/09: Due to an injury, Germany’s ENTRAILS MASSACRE have cancelled their upcoming plans, including their U.S. tour. Chicago’s YAKUZA have replaced them at this year’s Maryland Deathfest, which will take place from May 22nd to 24th at the Sonar in Baltimore, MD.
Also, the AUDITORY ASSAULT FESTIVAL (Brooklyn, NYC) have added DEAD INFECTION to the festival. FROM THE AUDITORY FEST ORGANIZERS: Polish goregrind legends DEAD INFECTION have been added to the lineup of the first annual Auditory Assault Festival in New York City. The festival, which is organized by the promoters of the Maryland Deathfest, will take place on May 16th and 17th at Europa in Brooklyn, NY. Two day passes are currently on sale here, while single day tickets will go on sale on March 30th.

The currently confirmed lineup is as follows:

Saturday, May 16th:
Dead Infection
Lethal Aggression
Gadget
Sayyadina
Splitter
Entrails Massacre
Defeatist
Man Will Destroy Himself
Chainsaw to the Face

Sunday, May 17th:
Brutal Truth
Rotten Sound
Misery Index
Total Fucking Destruction
Crowpath
Sulaco
Pigsty
Kill the Client
Jig-Ai
Maruta
Copremesis
I hear "Sounds From Animal Kingdom" as the reunited legendary grind band BRUTAL TRUTH are heading out on a North American tour. Catch grind heroes BRUTAL TRUTH on these dates: BRUTAL TRUTH Announce North American Tour Dates
FROM BWBK.COM:

BRUTAL TRUTH has announced a number of North American tour dates in support of their forthcoming full-length, Evolution Through Revolution.

Brutal Truth will start with a record launch show this weekend in Chicago, IL followed by a run of dates in the south-west including a free L.A. show with LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR. The band has also announced that they will join the 2009 Relapse Records Contamination Tour on select dates in the north-east. A complete listing of confirmed Brutal Truth tour dates can be found below with more to be announced soon.

Brutal Truth has recently posted a second preview track, 'Sugar Daddy', taken from Evolution Through Revolution. 'Sugar Daddy' can be heard online now via the band's MySpace page along with the album's title track, 'Evolution Through Revolution'.

Brutal Truth's first album in 10 years will see an April 14th North American release date (April 20th internationally) and is available for pre-order here.

Tour dates:

March
21 - Chicago, IL - Double Door

April
4 - Tempe, AZ - The Sets (with CREMATORIUM)
5 - San Marcos, CA - The Jumping Turtle (with Crematorium)
7 - Los Angeles, CA - The Knitting Factory (Free show with Lair Of The Minotaur, RSVP here)
8 - San Francisco, CA - The DNA Lounge (with IMPALED)
23 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place
24 - Toronto, ON - Wreck Room
25 - Pittsburg, PA - 31st St Pub
26 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's

May
1 - Montreal, QC - Underworld
2 - Quebec City, QC - L'Anti
3 - Ottawa, ON - Maverick's
7 - Syracuse, NY - The Lost Horizon (as part of the Relapse Records Contamination Tour)
9 - Allentown, PA - The Sterling Hotel (as part of the Relapse Records Contamination Tour)
11 - Danbury, CT - Bill Baloney's (as part of the Relapse Records Contamination Tour)
17 - Brooklyn, NY - Europa (as part of the Auditory Assault Festival)
23 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar (as part of the Maryland Deathfest)
30 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013 (as part of Neurotic Deathfest)

June
21 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
3/23/09: The Los Angeles Murder Fest will take place May 9th and 10th at The Knitting Factory as lineup is confirmed as tickets are currently onsale now. FROM THE LA MURDER FEST: Tickets are on sale now for this year’s Los Angeles Murderfest, which will take place on May 9th and 10th at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA. The following bands are currently confirmed for the festival:

Saturday, May 9th:
DYING FETUS
GENERAL SURGERY
ABSCESS
ROTTEN SOUND
COFFINS
MALIGNANCY
MEAT SHITS
STORMCROW
GHOUL
PHOBIA
OUTLAW ORDER
SEPSISM
CREMATORIUM
MASS GRAVE
INSANITY
INHERIT DISEASE
RECIPROCAL
BRAINDRILL
CALL THE PARAMEDICS

Sunday, May 10th:
EYEHATEGOD
CRIPPLE BASTARDS
DESPISE YOU
- 16 –
SOURVEIN
LACK OF INTEREST
SKARP
BEOWULF
ALDEBARAN
AGENDA OF SWINE
VOETSEK
RESISTANT CULTURE
SAMOTHRACE
SCARECROW
THE ABOMINABLE IRON SLOTH
GRAF ORLOCK
IT’S CASUAL
WARTORN
BLOWUPNIHILIST
EARLY GRAVES
LANDMINE MARATHON
THE SECRET
NAILS
CHOOSE YOUR POISON
DESTROYED IN SECONDS

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

GOJIRA ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN MAY 2009 TOUR /ARSIS and NACHTMYSTIUM EXPLAIN TOUR CANCELATIONS

French progressive metal band GOJIRA have announced a spring 2009 North American tour with CARBOMB and the CHARIOT (!!????). Somebody hook GOJIRA up with a quality North American tour and what's this emo (like) band (the CHARIOT) doing on the bill? Like I've said, the French have an excellent extreme metal scene, both death, black and grind extreme metal: GOJIRA, GOROD, VORKREIST, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, HELL MILITIA, ANTAEUS, MERRIMACK and so many other bands. Check out GOJIRA's latest release "The Way of All Flesh" for some quality progressive death metal.
MESHUGGAH Guitarist Mårten Hagström complains about being misquoted in Metal Sucks: "And last, since I'm correcting errors, it says that I was praising a band called 'ADAGIO.' I don't know who they are. I was talking about the French band GOJIRA. That's that."

FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
May 01 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
May 02 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
May 03 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore at The TLA
May 04 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
May 06 - New York, NY - Blender Theatre @ Gramercy
May 07 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
May 08 - Toronto, ON - The Mod Club
May 09 - Detroit, MI - Harpo's
May 10 - Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
May 11 - St. Paul, MN - Station 4
May 14 - Murray, UT - Murray Theater
May 17 - Vancouver, BC - Richards On Richards
May 18 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
May 19 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
May 21 - San Francisco, CA - Slims
May 22 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House
May 24 - Hollywood, CA - The Key Club French
In a pejorative pun of the old show business term "break a leg", Chicago black metal band NACHTMYSTIUM did just that this past weekend, therefore they are forced to cancel out of their aforementioned tour with the HAUNTED: FROM NACHTMYSTIUM:
"NACHTMYSTIUM, unfortunately, had to cancel our slot co-headlining THE HAUNTED's U.S./Canadian tour this coming April. Frontman Blake Judd had an accident and broke his leg last weekend and will be in a cast for the next 12 weeks and may need surgery. More news in the coming weeks…

"We've already rescheduled a U.S./Canadian tour for June and are awaiting the 'OK' from our booking representatives the announce the tour and dates.

"Sorry to anyone hoping to see us in April! After this whole bullshit fiasco with the Scion Rock Fest a few weeks back, and now this, it's been one thing after the other around here. Fear not, we will be back soon enough…"

Also, Virginia's ARSIS (James Malone vocalist/guitarist) explains why (health reasons, weight loss) the band canceled out of the CARCASS "Exhumed to Consume 2 tour: BTW, we hope James Malone feels better, Malone shreds: FROM ARSIS MYSPACE:
"I owe more than a few people an apology at this time.
"Over the past few months, ARSIS has had to drop off two tours and the fault lies on my shoulders. Those who know me know that moderation is a concept that I am not familiar with. Ever since my late teens, I have moved from one self-destructive behavior to another and it has finally taken its toll on my body and mind. I seem to take everything I do to an unhealthy extreme. This leads us to the reason for dropping off tours with both THE FACELESS and CARCASS.

"Without going into too many details, let's just say that there is no healthy way lose 100 pounds in four months, as I did late last year. To say that I have been dealing with some issues would be an understatement. These issues have not only affected the basic functions of my body, but also my mood and ability to make rational decisions. Fortunately, I have many supportive people in my life and I have been taking strides to get things back under control. I have been making my best effort as of late and I feel stronger everyday. I think I will come out this a wiser person and be able to run my life better than ever.

"Look for ARSIS to be back on the road soon with a possible headliner to make up for lost time. My apologies to our booking agent, our record label, our fans, and anyone who has been effected by my poor decisions."

Fans are encouraged to post messages of support at www.myspace.com/arsis.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

MAYHEM ANNOUNCE NEW TOURING GUITARIST

Soo, looks like the legendary Norwegian black metal band MAYHEM are preparing to hit the road for a spring North American tour as this year indeed is MAYHEM's 25th anniversary. Ex VORKREIST (France) guitarist Silmaeth will tour with MAYHEM as BLASPHEMER left the band last year. BTW, the French extreme metal scene is A-Maaaazing and VORKREIST are an excellent black metal band, check them out. BTW, MAYHEM have re vamped the bands MYSPACE so add them there.
FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET: Legendary Norwegian black metallers MAYHEM have announced the addition of French guitarist Silmaeth (ex-VORKREIST; pictured below) to the group's touring lineup.

MAYHEM's current live formation is as follows:

Attila Csihar: Vocals
Necrobutcher (a.k.a. Jørn Stubberud): Bass
Hellhammer (a.k.a. Jan Axel Blomberg): Drums
Morfeus (a.k.a. Krister Dreyer): Guitar
Silmaeth: Guitar
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

JUDAS PRIEST ANNOUNCE SUMMER 2009 TOUR DATES

Sounds like JUDAS PRIEST, Rob Halford and his Harley are coming back to the USA in support of their latest release "Nostradamus". JUDAS PRIEST are indeed the "painkillers" in this economic recession. If you haven't already seen JUDAS PRIEST live you're in a for a real treat. BTW, Heavy Metal Parking Lot (movie/DVD) was filmed in the parking lot of a Judas Priest gig. British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST have announced the following U.S. dates as WHITESNAKE have been tapped for support.
FROM JUDAS PRIEST MYSPACE:

Jul. 01 - The Family Arena - St. Charles, MO
Jul. 02 - Summerfest, Harley Davidson Stage - Milwaukee, WI
Jul. 03 - Taste Of Minnesota at Harriet Island - St. Paul, MN
Jul. 09 - Molson Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
Jul. 11 - PNC Banks Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
Jul. 12 - Nikon At Jones Beach Theater - Wantagh, NY
Jul. 17 - Moondance Jam 18 - Walker, MN
Jul. 18 - Rockfest/Chippewa Valley Music - Cadott, WI
Aug. 02 - Gibson Amphitheatre - Universal City, CA

More shows will be announced soon.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

SUSPERIA UPDATE ON ATHERA:

UPDATE on SUSPERIA's vocalist ATHERA whom suffered a heart attack last week. ATHERA will undergo triple bypass open heart surgery for a childhood genetic disorder. I have/had a slight heart murmur as a kid, I've been fine, so I can't complain, but I feel ATHERA's pain, as SUSPERIA are due for a new CD release and tour. SUSPERIA will at least temporarily tour with a different vocalist. Metal horns and all the best in health to SUSPERIA's Athera, our thoughts are with him as we wish him a speedy recovery. FROM BWBK.COM: SUSPERIA vocalist Athera (Pal Mathieson) remains under close observation at Akershus Universitetssykehus Hospital in Lørenskog, Norway following his heart attack last week. The singer has been diagnosed with a previously undetected genetic disorder that will require the replacement of three narrowed arteries and three heart valves. He will undergo a triple heart by-pass operation through open heart surgery on Monday 16th March 2009. Meanwhile the singer is being kept on heavy doses of medication to keep his blood thin and his heart rate down.

Though in a serious, but stable condition, a highly spirited and medicated Athera speaking from his hospital bed sent the following message: "Hey everyone out there in the metal universe - friends and strangers. Thanks for all your messages of support. I'm lying here in the hospital reading them all and it's really nice to see that so many of you have taken the time to send them - Its overwhelming. I've had a big shock and it's not something I would want anyone to experience. You know, I always wanted to hit the headlines - but not in this way!!! Looks like the Susperia curse has hit again, a new album and tour on the way and one of us complicates it all. But damn it we will never let anything stop us - ever!! Even if death itself comes knocking and believe me it did. I am undergoing open heart surgery this Monday to replace some broken valves and veins, and then this metal heart will beat once again. The Doc(tor) says I'll be back stronger than ever. I will have to spend a long time in the hospital, but it's not that bad. You should see the nurses taking care of me ;-) Could be worse. Looking forward to getting back up and on the road again. Sorry for the shows that I'm not going to be able to do. I will make it up to you guys. You all make me stronger, I am truly grateful."

Future plans for Susperia remain mixed. However the band have confirmed the postponement of Norwegian dates, which were set for April 09. Their UK tour in May with Breed 77 will go ahead at the insistence of Athera himself. He has urged the band not to let their UK fans down and to look at finding a replacement vocalist.

The release of Susperia's next studio album is still set for early summer as planned, through the bands new label Candlelight Records. Full details will be announced shortly.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

TESTAMENT ANNOUNCE MAY 2009 U.S. TOUR DATES WITH UNEARTH AND LAZARUS A.D.

Bay area thrash legends TESTAMENT have announced a MAY U.S. tour. Please support TESTAMENT and check out the movie "Get thrashed" out on DVD right now.FROM BWBK.COM: Bay Area thrash legends TESTAMENT are taking the stage once again for their first US headlining tour in support of The Formation Of Damnation. The tour will feature the classic lineup of vocalist Chuck Billy, guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Greg Christian, and drummer Paul Bostaph. Testament will be bringing along metalcore heroes UNEARTH and neo-thrashers LAZARUS A.D. The tour kicks off May 2nd.

Singer Chuck Billy commented on the upcoming US headlining tour: “It was really exciting last summer touring with JUDAS PRIEST, HEAVEN AND HELL, and MOTÖRHEAD, playing in front of all the old-school as well as new-school metalheads. Now we look forward to crushing on our first headline tour on the Damnation Vacation US run. Heavy metal forever!!!”

For over 20 years, Testament has remained committed to the thrash metal sound that brought them to prominence in the late 1980s. The band has never compromised its unmatched intensity or musicianship and has only continued to up the ante with each release.

Testament US headlining tour (with Unearth and Lazarus AD): FROM TESTAMENT: TOUR DATES:
UPCOMING DATES

NOTE: All dates subject to change. Always check with the venue first.

[Updated: 03/16/09]

IN-STORE SIGNING DATES: n/a

***PLEASE NOTE***

TESTAMENT TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS @ SELECT SHOWS ON THE UPCOMING PRIEST FEAST AND HEADLINING SHOWS!

TESTAMENT will be signing autographs at select shows on the upcoming Priest Feast and Headline shows!

Just check in at the merch booth at each gig for posted schedules of which venue will host signings with TESTAMENT

With each purchase of band merch at the gig you will receive a wristband (limited to the first 50 fans)

Schedule will be posted at the when you should come back to the merch booth to meet the band and get an autograph.

2009:

TESTAMENT U.S. HEADLINING TOUR:

(with Unearth and Lazarus A.D.)

MAY:

05/02 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Pre-sale link

05/03 - Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Pre-sale link

05/04 - Vancouver, BC – Commodore
Pre-sale link

05/06 - Calgary, AB – MacEwan Ballroom
Pre-sale link

05/07 - Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Events Centre
Pre-sale link

05/09 - Winnipeg, MB – The Garrick Centre
Pre-sale link

05/10 - Maplewood, MN – The Rock
Pre-sale link

05/12 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Theater
Pre-sale link

05/13 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s
Pre-sale link

05/15 - Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Pre-sale link

05/16 - Detroit, MI – Harpos
Pre-sale link

05/17 - Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Pre-sale link

05/18 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
Pre-sale link

05/20 - Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
Pre-sale link

05/21 - Montreal, QC – Metropolis
Pre-sale link

05/22 - Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
Pre-sale link

05/23 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theater
Pre-sale link

05/24 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Pre-sale link

05/26 – Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head Live
Pre-sale link

05/27 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
Pre-sale link

05/28 – Norfolk, VA – Norva
Pre-sale link

05/29 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theater
Pre-sale link

05/30 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
Pre-sale link

05/31 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
Pre-sale link

JUNE:

06/02 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
On sale link

06/03 – San Antonio – Scout Bar
On sale link

06/04 – Ft. Worth, TX – Ridglea Theater
On sale link

06/06 – Kansas City, MO – The Beaumont
Pre-sale link

06/07 – Denver, CO – Cervantes
Pre-sale link

06/09 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
Pre-sale link

06/10 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
Pre-sale link

06/11 – Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
Pre-sale link

06/12 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
Pre-sale link
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/

SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR 2009 LINEUP

Get ready for some shred metal heads, and this pit will be nuts for sure with SUFFOCATION and DYING FETUS bringing the slam death grooves to your city. The SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR 2009 lineup has been officially announced, tour dates TBA soon. FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET: MikeThrasherPresents.com, the following bands will play Portland, Oregon's Roseland Theatre on Thursday, July 2, 2009 as part of this year's Summer Slaughter Tour:

NECROPHAGIST
SUFFOCATION
ENSIFERUM
DARKEST HOUR
WINDS OF PLAGUE
DYING FETUS
BORN OF OSIRIS
ORIGIN
AFTER THE BURIAL
BLACKGUARD

FROM SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR PROMOTERS:

NECROPHAGIST (co-headliner)
SUFFOCATION (co-headliner)
ENSIFERUM **
DARKEST HOUR
WINDS OF PLAGUE
DYING FETUS
BORN OF OSIRIS
ORIGIN
BENEATH THE MASSACRE *
AFTER THE BURIAL
DECREPIT BIRTH *
BLACKGUARD **

* First half of tour only (June 5 - June 26)
** Second half of tour only (June 28 - July 21)

Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

Last year's "The Summer Slaughter Tour" featured KATAKLYSM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, VADER, CRYPTOPSY, THE FACELESS, DESPISED ICON, ABORTED, BORN OF OSIRIS, PSYCROPTIC and WHITECHAPEL.

Last year's Summer Slaughter Tour featured KATAKLYSM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, VADER, CRYPTOPSY, THE FACELESS, DESPISED ICON, ABORTED, BORN OF OSIRIS, PSYCROPTIC and WHITECHAPEL.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

And Now A Word From Our Freinds: METAL INQUISITION: scene-archetypes

While you anxiously await my best of 2008, instead of me stating a word from out sponsors , it will be a word from our friends at METAL INQUISTION (Hails and Metal horns to them) as they scan the globe making fun of metal, extreme metal, hardcore and scenester stereotypes. You know how much I hate those scenesters, trying too hard to fit into the conformity of scene culture cliches. So with no further adooo, METAL INQUISITION'S "Scene Archetypes": http://metalinquisition.blogspot.com/2009/03/scene-archetypes-people-who-annoy-me.html
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l- BBL

FROM THE FREEZING MOON OF NORWAY WITH LOVE AND GRIMNESS: VARG VIKERNES PAROLED, INFERNUS WINS GORGOROTH NAME, SUSPERIA MEMBER SUFFERS HEART ATTACK:

"Suddenly,life has new meaning"-REVEREND BIZARRE's cover of BURZUM's "Dunkelheit"

I've seen kids wearing their BURZUM t-shirts here in the Hudson Valley Area of New York.
Ya know, the three extreme metal news articles, oh wait, FOUR that I'm going to report on, all involve bands from the beautiful country of Norway (Scandinavia) where the weather is cold and extreme metal is of supreme quality. Norway is a very beautiful country aesthetically with a wondrous history of the Heathen Norseman in an identity crisis of sorts. Hey, Norway has socialized health care, and the countries longest criminal sentences are only 21 years. Ask Varg Vikernes,(BURZUM mastermind) as he will be released from prison (after serving 16 years) for the murder of Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous MAYHEM guitarist)and burning three churches.
I have no comment, other that yeh, I liked VARG VIKERNES music, but personally he was quite excessive in his treatment of others and flat out misguided in his actions, and I could do without his political point of view. FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh) — the former BURZUM mastermind who is currently serving a Norwegian prison term for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous) and setting fire to three churches — will soon be a free man.

In September 2008, Vikernes's fourth application for parole was denied, but a couple of weeks ago he finally received the message he has been waiting for: after almost 16 years in prison, he will be released.

"I will have to report [to the parole officer] for one year — initially every two weeks, and then once a month," Vikernes told the Dagbladet newspaper.

Varg's mother, who last year wrote a letter to Dagbladet in which she argued that her son was being unfairly treated by the justice officials who repeatedly denied his parole application, is very relieved that her son will be able to join his family in Bø (a municipality in the county of Telemark, Norway), where he recently purchased a small farm.

"I am very happy that he has been so strong and that he held out," she said. "It will be good for the family that they can be together every day."

For the past couple of years, Varg has been allowed to leave the prison regularly to walk around Tromsø, Norway (where the prison is located) and visit his family: his mother, his wife, eighteen-month-old son and sixteen-year-old daughter.

"I'm ready for society — and I have been for many years," Vikernes told Dagbladet last July . "I have learned from my mistakes and become older. Now I just want to be together with my family. My mind has never been in prison; I think all the time about what I should do on the day that I am released." He added, "I have barely seen my son since he came into the world. Even though I hear his voice on the phone almost every day, it is very tough to not be present while he is growing up. I miss my family. And I look forward the day that I could work on my farm, create music, write books and be with the wife and kids around the clock — and live a normal life. I have received tremendous support from my family. It means a lot."

Last year it was reported that case workers at the Justice Ministry feared that Vikernes would be unable to adjust to life on the outside after his years in jail.

In denying his parole for the second time, the Justice Ministry emphasized that Vikernes escaped from prison in 2003 and that he has ties to neo-Nazi groups.

"I haven't been in contact with them for a long time. Police security services know this," Vikernes previously told the VG newspaper.
(EDITORS NOTE): Longtime GORGOROTH guitarist INFERNUS has claimed victory in the lawsuit vs. KING OV HELL and GAAHL for copy write over the bands name. INFERNUS was released from GORGOROTH in 2007, and claimed KING OV HELL went behind his back and filed for copywrite over said bands name. INFERNUS is an original member of GORGOROTH as GAAHL is GORGOROTH's third vocalist. (What happened to "Pest" the Lord Worm of Gorgoroth?) GAAHL and KING OV HELL will have to change the name of said project without INFERNUS into whatever they please but not GORGOROTH. This whole fight (INFERNUS vs. GAAHL and KING OV HELL) was acted out on MYSPACE as INFERNUS was locked out of said bands MYSPACE account. Best of luck to all sides in any future projects.
FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
The verdict has been reached in the dispute over the rights to the GORGOROTH band name involving vocalist Gaahl, bassist King ov Hell and the group's estranged guitarist Infernus.

Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) filed a lawsuit against King ov Hell (real name: Tom Cato Visnes) in September 2008 claiming that King (the sixth bass player in GORGOROTH's history) went behind his back in September 2007 and secretly applied for trademark protection of the GORGOROTH bandname and logo, which Infernus had been using since 1992.

A posting on Infernus' MySpace page reads as follows: "Oslo City District Court has today [Tuesday, March 10] delivered a verdict on the main question in the GORGOROTH trademark case, which took place at the end of January 2009. The court has decided that King ov Hell's trademark registration #243365 of the band name GORGOROTH is NOT valid and shall therefore be deleted. The court states that King ov Hell and Gaahl excluded themselves from the band GORGOROTH when they tried to fire Infernus in October 2007. The court further states that Infernus cannot be excluded from GORGOROTH, unless he himself decides to quit. Infernus is very pleased, but not surprised, by this verdict. The remaining issues concerning financial matters and such are yet to be decided upon."

The witnesses that testified in court — besides Infernus, Gaahl and King Ov Hell themselves — during the January 28-30 trial in Oslo, Norway were as follows:

* Torgrim Øyre (former GORGOROTH member, booking manager at Hole In The Sky Festival)
* Anders Odden (ex-CELTIC FROST, CADAVER INC.)
* Tormentor (former GORGOROTH member, now member of the Infernus lineup)
* Espen Solheim Røhne (Norwegian distributor Indie Distribution, who has sided with Gaahl and King Ov Hell)
* Per Gyllenbäck (Regain Records, who has sided with Infernus)
* Asbjørn Slettemark (from Norwegian music industry magazine Faro Journalen)
* Gro Narvestad (Inferno Festival)

In a recent interview with Hungary's Fémforgács webzine (conducted in January), Infernus stated about the legal battle between him and his former bandmates, "I do not consider it as a war. It was basically King ov Hell who went behind my back and, in September 2007, secretly applied for a trademark ownership of the band name and logo at the Norwegian Industrial Property Office. Thereafter they have been commercially exploiting the name for whatever it was worth. Now I am suing him, and the vocalist as well. Whatever reasons they might have had to do what they did is to me of complete irrelevance. If they were not happy working together with me, they could have gone and started their own band, easy as that. . . I don't care what they have to say. They for sure have had their time in the media lately. And they will be having a chance to repeat that in court."
FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
BLABBERMOUTH.NET has received the folowing statement from bassist King ov Hell (real name: Tom Cato Visnes) and vocalist Gaahl (real name: Kristian Espedal) regarding the latest developments in their legal dispute with guitarist Infernus over the rights to the GORGOROTH band name:

"Regarding the recent court case over the use of the name GORGOROTH, Gaahl and King confirm that parts of the verdict have been decided and went in favor of Infernus. This is only a partial verdict on the case. Because of the complexity of this case, there will be further court hearings and the final verdict will be announced within a few weeks.

"The judge came to the conclusion that it is impossible to kick out an original member even if he doesn't contribute musically or lyrically. The judge also states that one can't kick an original member out of a band even if that member performs actions which are viewed as disrespectful towards promoters, session members and other working partners.

"Gaahl and King wish Infernus the best of luck using the banner of GORGOROTH on his art.

"Gaahl and King will still present the art they are known for creating in GORGOROTH albeit under another banner. The new name will be announced shortly."

Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) filed a lawsuit against King ov Hell in September 2008 claiming that King (the sixth bass player in GORGOROTH's history) went behind his back in September 2007 and secretly applied for trademark protection of the GORGOROTH bandname and logo, which Infernus had been using since 1992.

The witnesses that testified in court — besides Infernus, Gaahl and King Ov Hell themselves — during the January 28-30 trial in Oslo, Norway were as follows:

* Torgrim Øyre (former GORGOROTH member, booking manager at Hole In The Sky Festival)
* Anders Odden (ex-CELTIC FROST, CADAVER INC.)
* Tormentor (former GORGOROTH member, now member of the Infernus lineup)
* Espen Solheim Røhne (Norwegian distributor Indie Distribution, who has sided with Gaahl and King Ov Hell)
* Per Gyllenbäck (Regain Records, who has sided with Infernus)
* Asbjørn Slettemark (from Norwegian music industry magazine Faro Journalen)
* Gro Narvestad (Inferno Festival)

Gaahl and King entered the studio on August 25, 2008 in the their hometown of Bergen, Norway to begin recording eight new tracks composed by the bassist for an as-yet-untitled new album. Along with Gaahl, King and Frost (SATYRICON) on drums, the full recording lineup includes Teloch (guitar) and Ice Dale (guitar). ENSLAVED's Herbrand Larsen once again produced the band in the studio.

Fan-filmed video footage of the Gaahl-fronted version of GORGOROTH performing on December 19, 2008 in Munich, Germany can be viewed below (clip uploaded by "eblinternational").
(ITP EDITORS NOTE): SUSPERIA vocalist ATHERA has unfortunately suffered from a heart attack as he is currently under observation in an intensive care unit in Norway. SUSPERIA recently signed to CANDLELIGHT and are currently working on a new release. All the best in health to ATHERA as SUSPERIA are a quality extreme metal band. FROM BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
Athera (real name: Pal Mathieson), vocalist with Norwegian metal band SUSPERIA, was rushed into Akershus Universitetssykehus Hospital in Lørenskog, Norway on the morning of March 9 suffering from acute stomach pains and heavy bleeding. Initial tests revealed that the singer had suffered a heart attack caused by a damaged blood vessel. Athera is currently in the intensive care unit under close observation, while further tests are carried out. He is expected to remain hospitalized for the foreseeable future. At this moment, future plans, including touring commitments, remain unchanged until a full diagnosis of his condition has been confirmed.

Athera (pictured below) recently completed vocals on SUSPERIA's fifth studio album, which is due for an early summer release through the band's new label, Candlelight Records. The group worked continuously throughout 2008 on the LP, which Athera described as "going back to the early days with the melancholic riffing and dark emotional vocals and coming all the way through to today, with a perfect blend of everything SUSPERIA has been and become."
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

METAL FEST EDITION OF NOTES FROM THE EXTREME METAL UNDERGROUND V.09 PART 2 1/2

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