KRODA CONFRONTED BY AFA (ANTIFA)

Ukrainian viking Black metal band KRODA have issued this update from MYSPACE on why KRODA were confronted by AFA (http://www.antifa.net/) for the bands alleged Aryan political leanings:







FROM KRODA:
As everyone should already know, in the beginning of European mini-tour, KRODA band was attacked by a bunch of jackals before the gig in Warsaw, Poland. We were changing our clothes dressing in concert uniform and just took away our stuff from mini-bus in the street near club. At this time, rain of glass bottles fell upon us... Right then, attackers used pepper-sprays and tried to beat us by telescopic cudgels. They were in red and black masks and shouted «AFA!», so we’ve made a conclusion about what subculture they belong to.
Before this event, we were not too interested in this movement, but after things that happened, we studied their websites deeper. We have found there a lot of mentions about our band defined as NSBM. It would be good to make a brief digression to the history of music (not for antifa, but for listeners of Pagan Metal, and Metal music in general).
It seems antifa don’t know what is NSBM, if they use this stereotype towards our band. NSBM are bands like DER STURMER or THOR'S HAMMER, for example; i.e. formations where basic themes are political and social aspects, aesthetics of Third Reich etc. But KRODA (even purely stylistics-wise) is Pagan Metal. In difference from NSBM, in Pagan Metal (just look at the name, it’s obvious) there’s no political component. Lyrical side of Pagan Metal is Antiquity, Traditionalism, Ancestral Roots Pride (those able to read – just look at KRODA texts published on our official site). And still we want to say that our group is OUT of modern politics.
During the last time, Metal scene is infiltrated by left-side punks with their poor, perverted understanding of metal and its aesthetics. Their knowledge about facts and concepts of metal genres are narrow, but despite their profanity, those people (practically aliens to metal subculture) are trying to dictate their ultimatum conditions to Metal bands; trying to sort the bands (according to their "punk" concepts) and separate them into "correct" and "incorrect". And the bands, defined by those conceptually/politically/musically incompetent marginals as “non-correct”, are exposed to physical and psychological attacks of "anti-fascists". In general, those antifa “people” don’t listen to Metal music at all, but they already wish to dictate what music we have to play, what we must sing, what gigs we can go to, and which concerts are not to be visited. They command to zines, distributors and labels – who must be boycotted, and who are to be promoted. They know nothing about the concept of our creativity, but their sick ideas make them desperately try to prevent our gigs, try to beat fans of Pagan Metal at random; aspire to harm musicians in every possible way, to trouble us, damage our stuff, cars, instruments, our Metal clubs and concert equipment. They act like a riot rampage gang, while their official propaganda is anti-violence. They struggle for something like equality, but in fact, someone is «more equal» for them. Everywhere, they declare their aspiration to preserve another cultures, but at the same time they promote destruction of own European culture in every possible way. Those people stepped too far and lost the feeling of reality. They are just lazy fuckers who want nothing to do, so they seek the enemies everywhere, suspicious to any runic inscription on T-shirts, disks etc. They are going to continue their insolent dictate and force us all to accept their idiotic "conditions" and "demands". The only thing they understand is brutal force. Until Pagan Metal fans, bands and gigs promoters/organizers are tolerate this leftist riot, it will just grow, though even here and now this is almost a red terror.
Everyone who obediently agrees with cancels and impossibility of fave bands gigs, everyone who estimate the "conditions" dictated by aggressive bunch of shameless red hooligans, everyone who directly or indirectly submits to the "regime” those strangers try to impose to the whole Pagan Metal scene – they all just unwillingly support the further escalation of this brutal tyranny and oppression of our interests.
Today, some punk scum dictate you what music you have to listen, what concerts to visit, what clothes is “allowed to wear” and what is “prohibited”, what bands we can act with and who are “wrong” - tomorrow they will ask you for report what you eat, what books do you read, what do you think about, what words did you say, with whom do you make love, where do you live and how much money you earn. We are the only ones to take back our right to listen the music we want, to go to the gigs we wish to visit.
If you want to be yourself and act following your heart – so it’s time to say "stop" to antifa riot in Pagan Metal.
It’s time to be self-organized and strike back in reply to any act of insolent leftists. Let it be tradition and a rule among your friends to come at gigs together, in well-organized SOBER groups. Watch the concert hall. By yourself, kick antifa spies away from halls and clubs, kick away every boor trying to confuse you when you listening to music. If those people don’t respect our rights, our fave bands and our Ancestral Faith – so it’s their own guilt, and we don’t wanna tolerate their intervention anymore. In the street you must always have all the self-defense stuff allowed in your country. If someone try to attack - you have a right to self-defense, to use all the possible means to protect yourself and your relatives. Having some times received a strong straight repulse from numerous Pagan Metal fans, red ass bastards will think thrice – is it good idea to make us trouble next time. Let them protect gay-parades and rastafarian marches. If that brainless goblins consider scientific terms "Aryan" and "Race" associated with "fascism", if traditional European Runes and Sunwheels are "nazism" – so let them not even try to discuss the themes of Black and Pagan Metal at all.

Summing up: We call all the listeners, musicians, labels, zines connected with Pagan and Black Metal to answer every antifa boycott of our music and bands with counter boycott. Don’t let them manipulate you! Don’t let them to destroy Pagan Metal subculture and our European traditional culture. Strike them back on psychological and bureaucratic level, as well as by physical action. Gangs of that scum must be recognized as criminal and determined as «outlaw» as they already done it with you for a long time. Guilty will be punished.

Glory to Our Gods!
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

MICHAEL JACKSON PARODY

"Take my strong advice, and remember to always think twice"-MJ "Billy Jean" I'll be back with DAMNED IN BLACK later. You know, I felt a weird vibe the day Micheal Jackson died. First I woke up thinking about GRACELAND a place I've never visited. Then I got TWO text messages, very cryptic about some dude named "MJ" whom died which I never answered and I didn't even read until three hours later. I was thinking, who's MJ? Honestly, before I started listening to metal in the early 80's, I grew up on a healthy diet of MOTOWN. I can think of many R and B artists that lay waste to Micheal Jackson including MARVIN GAYE, MINNIE RIPERTON, AL GREENE, and the GODLY JAMES BROWNE. Shit, even PRINCE has waaaay more talent than Micheal Jackson as both PRINCE and JAMES BROWN were/are also great dancers.
1979 and 2009, such parallels to music/politics and culture. 1979: The U.S. Energy crisis and Iranian upheaval, 1979 ELVIS croaked as punk rock peaked. 2009: Iranian revolution and NEDA's gory video, Metal this decade has a resurgence, Micheal Jackson dies right before his comeback bid knocking NEDA and IRAN off the headlines, proving punk rock and metals longevity and substance over disco. Micheal Jacksons death mimics ELVIS's, as I was told by parents to sit the fuck down and be quite as it poured rain in New York the day ELVIS died. As much as times change, NOTHING REALLY CHANGES.
Ahh, Micheal Jackson, from boy band/prodigy, the objectified abused to the abuser.
I actually edited the first draft of the Micheal Jackson journal entry,(to be more "sensitive" to the situation ) as the first paragraph was "I don't care, should I care". I liked Eddie Van Halens shred in "BEAT IT",it brought a little rock and shred to the pop.
As much as I didn't like grunge, it was an awesome day, when NIRVANA topped Micheal Jackson on the billboard charts.
All those pedophiles in our community shouldn't pick up the soap either.


Well, one less PEDO:
FIRST VIDEO: MICHEAL JACKSON IS DEAD (PARODY)FROM jonlajoie YOU TUBE:



Thanks-STAY METAL, Stay Brutal BBL-\m/ -l-

NOTES FROM THE EXTREME METAL UNDERGROUND V.09 PART 6

Here we are with yet another edition of NOTES FROM THE EXTREME METAL UNDERGROUND PART 6. YES, we will have our second edition of DAMNED IN BLACK (black metal news) coming up, more reviews, hopefully more often, ect. BTW, I have a secondary MYSPACE ACCOUNT:
http://www.myspace.com/itpv09 so if you're an extreme metal band, promoter, venue, booking agency ONLY, ADD ITP on our new MYSPACE and send me your news, I promise I'll post it on ITP. I'm packed with too many adds on SWORDS and GRAVES, so if you're waiting on an add on that MYSPACE add me at ITP OFFICIAL MYSPACE, or I'll add YOU. This ones dedicated to all you DEAD FUCKS out there, so many deaths this week. I PROMISE I won't let the oh so "real world" infringe upon this journal. A little hard rock humor here: "Cows go moo when they pooo, TRACT-TOOOOOOR". Everyone poos the same, sometimes with incorrect grind core vocals, and a bad emo tune. VIDEO ABOVE DAVEYBOYZ "HEAVY METAL FARMER" :Edited/performed by Daveyboyz Thanks to Myles Dyer for the vocals: http://www.youtube.com/blad .SECOND VIDEO: SLAYER AT TUSKA OPEN AIR 2008-(RAINING BLOOD-WALL OF DEATH/CIRCLE PIT) THIRD VIDEO; TRAILOR FROR MICHIGAN EXTREME METAL FEST
YES, I'm still in the long and arduous process of editing this journal for public consumption, I'm exited. BTW, vote for ITP on BLOG TOP LIST, as we at ITP are working on many other syndicates.
..An American summer WITHOUT OZZFEST..Weeird..

SOURCE OF NEWS: MYSPACE BAND ACCOUNTS, BLABBERMOUTH.NET, VARIOUS FORUMS:
*ABSU HAS ISSUED THIS UPDATE VIA BLABBERMOUTH.NET: ABSU's scheduled Ft. Worth, TX performance tonight (Monday, June 29) has been canceled due to the band's tour bus breaking down earlier today outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The final show on the Texas-based mythological occult metal outfit's current tour was also set to feature RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER and a "special guest." The concert will be rescheduled for later this summer. All tickets for tonight's show will be honored for the new date or refunded at the point of purchase.

ABSU will perform at this weekend's Hostile City Festival in Philadelphia. Tickets are available at www.etix.com
*Thrash legends MEGADETH have entitled their forth coming new release "END GAME". BLABBERMOUTH.NET: have released the track listing for MEGADETH ENDGAME: BLABBERMOUTH.NET can reveal the track listing for MEGADETH's twelfth studio album, "Endgame", which is due on September 15 through Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at the band's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California — Vic's Garage — which was named after the legendary and iconic Vic Rattlehead character.

"Endgame" track listing:

01. Dialectic Chaos
02. This Day We Fight!
03. 44 Minutes
04. 1,320
05. Bite The Hand That Feeds
06. Bodies Left Behind
07. Endgame
08. The Hardest Part Of Letting Go... Sealed With A Kiss
09. Headcrusher
10. How the Story Ends
11. Nothing Left To Lose

*NYDM (New York Death Metal) legends IMMOLATION have signed with NUCLEAR BLAST.
*MOONSPELL have announced the bands cancellation of their appearance at the July 23-25 UNHOLY FEST in Ostrava, Czech Republic. FROM MOONSPELL: We are sorry to inform but due to this information and having no response from the promoter Moonspell is also forced to cancel this show.

More info as we get it.


AMON AMARTH , OBITUARY and ENSLAVED have cancelled their appearances at the 2009 edition of the Unholy Fest , set to take place July 23-25 in Ostrava, Czech Republic, due to a "breach of agreement." No further details are currently available.

DARK FUNERAL: "Ave everyone! Just like countless of other bands, we have, unfortunately, also been forced cancel our show at the Unholy Fest. It actually seems like this festival was never going happen in the first place, and just a big scam already from the beginning. The promotor seems to have disappeared from the surface of the earth, whereof we, and as it seems, also many other bands, simply have no other option but to cancel. This sure sucks for us, who were really looking forward to this show, as much as we know it does for all of you who already have purchased tickets and made arrangement for the fest. We do hope that all of you who have bought tickets will be fully refunded by the organizer though!"

ROOT also cancelled appearance on UNHOLY Fest

1349 didn't plan to make a performance there, too

CRADLE OF FILTH: "July 23, Unholy Festival, Ostrava, Czech Republic is cancelled. The promoter has broken the terms of his contract so we have had no choice but to withdraw and that we have asked him to stop using the COF name on his website etc. We apologise for any disappointment and COF fans who have bought festival tickets to see COF should approach the promoter to request a refund of their ticket price, if they do not wish to attend the festival."

HATE: "01 June 2009 HATE cancels Unholy Fest! Due to the organizer has not followed up the terms of the contract we regret to announce the cancellation of HATE's appearance at the Unholy Festival, Czech Rep, July 2009. We would like to stress that we have done our best to avoid this cancellation, but there was no good will from the organizers side. Please, accept our sincere apologies and be welcome to the following festivals we have already confirmed: June 05 2009 - Czech Rep- Hardline Therapy Open Air Festival June 12 2009 - Germany - Death Feast Open Air June 13 2009 - Czech Rep - Czech Death Fest July 16-18 2009 - Austria - Kaltenbach Open Air August 13-15 2009 - Germany - Summer Breeze Open Air October 02-03 2009 - Germany - Way Of Darkness Festival more to be announced soon!"

SATYRICON and BLOODRED THRONE cancelled as well.
*California thrash legends SLAYER have released the track listing for the bands forth coming release "World Painted Blood" FROM BILLBOARD AND BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "Beauty Through Order", "Unit 731", "Playing with Dolls", "Public Display of Dismemberment", "Americon", "Psychopathy Red, "World Painted Blood".
*Swedish tech death metal band SPAWN OF POSSESSION have announced a lineup change as the bands vocalist Mordechai Von Renvaktar (a.k.a. Jonas Renvaktar) quit the band. FROM SOP: "Two very talented and competent musicians has recently joined SPAWN OF POSSESSION. Matthew Chalk (ex-PSYCROPTIC) is going to handle the vocal and lyric writing. Christian Münzner (OBSCURA, ex-NECROPHAGIST) is going to do the lead guitar part and unleash his madness into the multicolored and distorted universe of SPAWN OF POSSESSION.

"The songwriting process has been going quite well these last few months
and five new songs are now complete. Seven other songs are in the works."

SPAWN OF POSSESSION's current lineup:

Vocals - Matthew Chalk (PSYCROPTIC)
Bass - Erlend Caspersen (VILE, BLOOD RED THRONE, DECREPIT BIRTH)
Drums - Richard Schill
Guitar - Christian Münzner (OBSCURA, NECROPHAGIST)
Guitar - Jonas Bryssling
*Finish doom metal band SWALLOW THE SUN have entitled the bands forth coming release "NEW MOON" as the band has the released track listing: FROM SWALLOW THE SUN: "We are entering Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden on June 15 to record our fifth album, which will be called 'New Moon'. The album will be produced and mixed by Jens Bogren, who has worked with such names as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH, just to name a few. And as we announced earlier, Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN, ex-ROTTEN SOUND) will be playing drums on the album. We are thrilled and looking forward to working with such professionals.

"Here is the initial track listing for the album (although we reserve the right to change it if we feel like it)

01. These Woods Breathe Evil
02. Falling World
03. Sleepless Swans
04. And Heavens Cried Blood
05. New Moon
06. Lights on the Lake (Horror Pt. III)
07. Servant of Sorrow
08. Weight of the Dead
*Polish death metal band BEHEMOTH have announced the live streaming of a new track "Ov Fire And The Void" from the bands forth coming release "Evangelion" scheduled to drop August 7th in EUROPE, August 11th in North America. "Evangelion" track listing:

01. Daimonos
02. Shemaforash
03. Ov Fire And The Void
04. Transmigrating Beyond Realms Ov Amenti
05. He Who Breeds Pestilence
06. The Seed Ov I
07. Alas, Lord Is Upon Me
08. Defiling Morality Ov Black God
09. Lucifer
*Florida death metal legends DEICIDE have canceled the bands previously planned tour of Australia and New Zealand.
*IBEX MOON RECORDS have announced a September 1st USA release (6/22/09 EUROPE via CENTURY MEDIA) of reformed Dutch metal band ASPHYX new CD "Death...The Brutal Way".
The limited-edition version of "Death...The Brutal Way" contains additional slipcase packaging as well as a bonus DVD featuring the band's entire reunion show from 2007's Party.San festival in Bad Berka, Germany.

"Live at Party.San Open Air Festival 2007" bonus DVD track listing:

01. Vermin
02. M.S. Bismarck
03. Serenade In Lead
04. The Sickening Dwell
05. Food For The Ignorant
06. The Krusher
07. Wasteland Of Terror
08. Asphyx (Forgotten War)
09. Pages In Blood
10. The Rack
11. Last One On Earth
*German funeral doom legends WORSHIP have announced the re issue of "Last Vinyl Before Doomsday". FROM WORSHIP:
Worship Last Vinyl Before Doomsday Re-Release: Preorder starting now, also for new Shirt
Worship Last Vinyl Before Doomsday Re-Release

PREORDER starts now! For 10th anniversary of the 1st Worship recording session, Noiseville / Doommantra is rereleasing the classic 1st Worship LP, in marbled vinyl, with slightly different layout. Limited to 666, preordering is recommended! We will ship as soon as we have the LPs in our hands!
http://www.endzeitelegies.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21

AND ALSO for the very 1st time, and the moment couldn't be more fitting,

Last Shirt Before Doomsday, preorder also starting, also in our shop, we will ship together with the LP,
http://www.endzeitelegies.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21
*U.S. Thrash-core band BLACK DAHLIA MURDER have entitled and set a release date for their forth coming release. FROM HARDCORE SOUNDS: THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has set "Deflorate" as the title of its new album, due on September 15 via Metal Blade Records.
*Tech extreme metal legends ATHEIST are set to release a double live CD chronicling the bands performance at the bands 2006 re union show at WACKEN OPEN AIR. FROM ATHEIST: Technical metal pioneers ATHEIST will see the release of a special Unquestionable Presence: Live At Wacken 2xCD set this summer. The package is the complete live set from the band’s 2006 reunion gig at Wacken Open Air Festival recorded in front of 60,000 fans. The band is currently streaming the set’s opening track, “Unquestionable Presence”, online now via their MySpace page.

ONE FOOT ON THE MONITOR: INTERNATIONAL/ EUROPEAN EXTREME METAL TOURS: SEPULTURA EUROPEAN SUMMER TOUR


01.07.2009 Krakow - Poland : Lochness
>>> tickets here

02.07.2009 Košice - Slovakia : Jumbo Centrum
>>> tickets here

03.07.2009 Sopron - Hungary : Volt Festival
>>> tickets here

04.07.2009 Leipzig - Germany : With Full Force
>>> tickets here

05.07.2009 Šal'a - Slovakia : Metroclub
>>> tickets here

07.07.2009 Vienna - Austria : Arena
>>> tickets here

08.07.2009 Klagenfurt - Austria : Club Stereo
>>> SOLD OUT

09.07.2009 Winterthur - Switzerland : Salzhaus
>>> tickets here

11.07.2009 Merzig - Germany : Rock Am Bach
>>> tickets here

12.07.2009 Stuttgart - Germany : Die Röhre
>>> tickets here

14.07.2009 Luxembourg - Luxembourg : Rockhal
>>> tickets here

15.07.2009 Aschaffenburg - Germany : Colos-Saal
>>> tickets here

16.07.2009 Paris - France : Nouveau Casino
>>> tickets here

17.07.2009 Dour - Belgium : Dour Festival
>>> tickets here

18.07.2009 Anykšciai - Lithuania : Devilstone Festival
>>> tickets here

19.07.2009 Tallin - Estonia : Rock Café Club NEW
>>> tickets here

21.07.2009 Biarritz - France : L'atabal
>>> tickets here

23.07.2009 Bilbao - Spain : Sala Rockstar
>>> tickets here

24.07.2009 Barco de Valdeorras - Spain : Festival Son de Meiga
>>> tickets here

25.07.2009 Murcia - Spain : Lorca Rock Festival
>>> tickets here

26.07.2009 Barcelona - Catalonia : Sala Apolo
>>> tickets here

29.08.2009 Ilha do Ermal - Portugal : Festival Rock Ilha do Ermal
>>> tickets here
WOODS OF YPRES CANADIAN TOUR: Jul 25 2009 8:00P
The Brunswick Tavern Saint Thomas, Ontario
Aug 14 2009 8:00P
PHOG Lounge (Canada’s 1 Live Music Venue 2009!) Windsor, Ontario
Aug 15 2009 7:00P
Annex Wreckroom Toronto, Ontario
Aug 16 2009 8:00P
The Speak Easy @ Algoma University Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Aug 17 2009 8:00P
WE NEED A SHOW IN THUNDER BAY! Thunder Bay, Ontario
Aug 18 2009 8:00P
The Zoo Winnipeg, Manitoba
Aug 19 2009 8:00P
The Exchange Regina, Saskatchewan
Aug 20 2009 6:00P
The Space Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Aug 21 2009 8:00P
The Mead Hall Edmonton, Alberta
Aug 22 2009 8:00P
The Stetson Calgary, Alberta
Aug 23 2009 8:00P
Somewhere Quiet Hangover, Alberta
Aug 24 2009 8:00P
The Cobalt Vancouver, British Columbia
Aug 25 2009 8:00P
Lucky Bar Victoria, British Columbia
Aug 27 2009 8:00P
The Vent Coaldale, Alberta
ONE FOOT ON THE MONITOR: NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER/FALL EXTREME METAL TOUR DATES:
BEHEMOTH ON SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR: Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH have been confirmed as "special guest headliners" for three shows on the 2009 edition of the Summer Slaughter Tour:
(CANADA/USA):

July 05 - Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
July 06 - Calgary, AB @ The Whiskey
July 07 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
SLIPKNOT, ANTHRAX, BLACK DAHLIA MURDER U.S. TOUR:
Aug. 22 - Seattle, WA - White River Amphitheater+
Aug. 23 - Kennewick, WA - Toyota Center+
Aug. 25 - Great Falls, MT - Four Seasons Arena^
Aug. 26 - Billings, MT - Metra Park Arena^
Aug. 28 - Boise, ID - Quest Arena+
Aug. 29 - Salt Lake City, UT - The E Center^
Aug. 31 - Colorado Springs, CO - Colorado Springs World Arena^
Sep. 01 - Casper, WY - Casper Events Center^
Sep. 03 - Fargo, ND - Fargodome+
Sep. 04 - Rochester, MN - Mayo Civic Center+
Sep. 05 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom^

+ on sale June 26
^ on sale June 27

HOSTILE CITY DEATH FEST 7/4 AND 5TH, 2009-PHILADELPHIA, PA-THE ARENA- DEICIDE
MONSTROSITY
VITAL REMAINS
PESSIMIST
ORDER OF ENNEAD
ANAL CUNT
TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION
KULT OV AZAZEL
ABSU
JUNGLE ROT
BLOODSOAKED
DENIAL FIEND
GOREAPHOBIA
RUMPLESTILTSKIN GRINDER
THORNAFIRE
TORN THE FUCK APART
INSATANITY
POLTERCHRIST
INHUMANITY
CARBOMB
STRONG INTENTION
CURSED FROM BIRTH
MACHINA INFERNUS

Single-day: Advance Ticket $35 / Day of Show $40
Two-day: Advance Ticket $70 / Day of Show $75
ROCK STAR ENERGY MAYHEM FEST: (WITH SLAYER, MARILYN MANSON, CANNIBAL CORPSE, KILL SWITCH ENGAGE, BEHEMOTH, JOB FOR A COWBOY, TRIVIUM, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, GOD FORBID, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITE CHAPEL, MUSHROOMHEAD, ALL THAT REMAINS) (**EDITORS NOTE-ALL THAT REMAINS drummer Jason Costa broke his hand last week and will be unable to accompany the band on the upcoming Rockstar Mayhem Festival Tour, which kicks off on July 10. Temporarily replacing Costa on the trek will be Tony Laureano, who is best known for his work with such bands as DIMMU BORGIR and NILE.) DATE CITY/STATE VENUE TICKETS
7/10/09 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre

ON SALE NOW
7/11/09 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre ON SALE NOW
7/12/09 San Bernardino, CA San Manuel Amphitheater ON SALE NOW
7/13/09 OFF
7/14/09 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheater ON SALE NOW
7/15/09 OFF
7/16/09 OFF
7/17/09 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion ON SALE NOW
7/18/09 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion ON SALE NOW
7/19/09 Denver, CO Fiddler's Green Amphitheater ON SALE NOW
7/20/09 OFF
7/21/09 Kansas City, KS Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone ON SALE NOW
7/22/09 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater ON SALE NOW
7/23/09 OFF
7/24/09 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheater ON SALE NOW
7/25/09 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Centre ON SALE NOW
7/26/09 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre ON SALE NOW
7/27/09 OFF
7/28/09 OFF
7/29/09 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain ON SALE NOW
7/30/09 OFF
7/31/09 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center ON SALE NOW
Mushroomhead is playing instead of BFMV
8/1/09 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Pavilion ON SALE NOW
Mushroomhead is playing instead of BFMV
8/2/09 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre ON SALE NOW
Mushroomhead is playing instead of BFMV
8/3/09 OFF
8/4/09 Boston, MA Comcast Center ON SALE NOW
8/5/09 OFF
8/6/09 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater ON SALE NOW
8/7/09 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center ON SALE NOW
8/8/09 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre ON SALE NOW
8/9/09 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion ON SALE NOW
8/10/09 OFF
8/11/09 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre ON SALE NOW
8/12/09 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheater ON SALE NOW
8/13/09 OFF
8/14/09 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center ON SALE NOW
8/15/09 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center ON SALE NOW
SONATA ARTICA ( U.S. HEADLINING OFF DATES):
Sep. 17 - San Marcos, CA - Jumping Turtle
Oct. 12 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theater
Oct. 13 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
Oct. 15 - London, ONT (Canada) - Music Hall
Oct. 16 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's Down Under
Oct. 17 - Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasants
Oct. 18 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
GATES OF SLUMBER, ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT USA/EUROPE TOUR DATES: Aug 1 2009 9:00P
Empty Bottle W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Chicago, Illinois
Aug 2 2009 9:00P
Mac’s Bar W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Lansing, Michigan
Aug 3 2009 8:00P
Wreck Room W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Toronto, Ontario
Aug 4 2009 8:00P
Rainbow Bistro W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Ottawa, Ontario
Aug 5 2009 8:00P
Katacombes W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Montreal, Quebec
Aug 6 2009 7:00P
Club Jerky’s W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Providence,, Rhode Island
Aug 7 2009 8:00P
O’Briens Pub W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Aug 8 2009 8:00P
Taking Head Club W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Baltimore, Maryland
Aug 9 2009 8:00P
The Studio at Webster Hall W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT New York City, New York
Aug 10 2009 8:00P
The M Room W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 11 2009 8:00P
Howler’s Cafe W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Aug 12 2009 8:00P
Peabody’s w/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Cleveland, Ohio
Aug 13 2009 8:00P
Ravari Room W/ ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT Columbus, Ohio
Aug 14 2009 8:00P
The Emerson Theater W/ DEMIRICOUS, ZOROASTER, SERPENTCULT, APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE, COFFIN WORM Indianapolis, Indiana
Oct 17 2009 12:00P
HAMMER OF DOOM II Würzburg Posthalle Würzburg

NACHTMYSTIUM U.S. TOUR with PENTAGRAM:

06/27 - The Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
06/30 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
07/01 - Satyricon - Portland, OR
07/02 - DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA
07/03 - House of Blues - Hollywood, CA
07/06 - Emo's - Austin, TX
ATHEIST, THE FACELESS, PSYOPUS, THE AGONIST, GNOSTIC U.S./EUROPE TOUR DATES: (ATHEIST IN EUROPE): Jul 8 2009 8:00P
Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Jul 9 2009 8:00P
Volume 11 Raleigh, North Carolina
Jul 10 2009 6:30P
Jaxx Springfield, Virginia
Jul 11 2009 6:30P
The Sterling Hotel Allentown, Pennsylvania
Jul 12 2009 6:00P
BB Kings NY, New York
Jul 13 2009 6:00P
Peabodys Cleveland, Ohio
Jul 14 2009 6:00P
The Pearl Room Mokena, Illinois
Jul 15 2009 7:30P
The Muse Nashville, Tennessee
Aug 7 2009 8:00P
Brutal Assault Festival Jaromer
Aug 8 2009 8:00P
Stenegade Copenhagen
Aug 9 2009 8:00P
Zaandem De Kade Zaandem, Zuid-Holland
Aug 10 2009 8:00P
Turock Essen
Aug 11 2009 8:00P
Dynamo Werk 21 Zürich
Aug 12 2009 8:00P
Escape Wein
Aug 13 2009 8:00P
Paranoid Fest Kamnik
Aug 15 2009 8:00P
Jalometalli Metal Music Festival Oulu
Sep 5 2009 8:00P
Benalto Fairgrounds Benalto, AB
Sep 7 2009 8:00P
Minneapolis Metal fest Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sep 16 2009 8:00P
Monterrey Metal Fest Monterrey
THRASH AND BURN: U.S. TOUR DATES (WITH: DEVILDRIVER, EMMURE, DESPISED ICON, VEIL OF MAYA, THY WILL BE DONE, PERIPHERY, MY CHILDREN MY BRIDE, FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS, OCEANO):
Jul 24 2009 5:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Soma San Diego, California
Jul 25 2009 4:30P
Thrash and Burn @ House Of Blues West Hollywood, California
Jul 26 2009 3:30P
Thrash and Burn @ House Of Blues Las, Vegas, Nevada
Jul 27 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Rialto Theatre Tucson, Arizona
Jul 29 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Dos Amigos Odessa, Texas
Jul 30 2009 8:00P
Thrash and Burn @ White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
Jul 31 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ House Of Rock Corpus Christi, Texas
Aug 1 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ House of Blues Dallas Dallas, Texas
Aug 2 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Java Jazz Houston, Texas
Aug 4 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Plush Jacksonville, Florida
Aug 5 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ The State Theatre St. Petersburg, Florida
Aug 6 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Aug 7 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Lincoln Theatre Raliegh, North Carolina
Aug 8 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Crocodile Rock Allentown, Pennsylvania
Aug 9 2009 2:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Sonar Baltimore, Maryland
Aug 11 2009 6:00P
Thrash and Burn @ The Fillmore at Irving Plaza New York, New York
Aug 12 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ The Chance Poughkeepsie, New York
Aug 13 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Water Street Music Hall Rochester, New York
Aug 14 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ The Opera House Toronto, Ontario
Aug 15 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ The Palladium Worcester, Massachusetts
Aug 16 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Club Soda Montreal, Quebec
Aug 18 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Peabody’s Cleveland, Ohio
Aug 19 2009 4:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Headliners Toledo, Ohio
Aug 21 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ The Pearl Room Mokena, Illinois
Aug 22 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ Harpo’s Concert Theatre Detroit, Michigan
Aug 23 2009 3:00P
Thrash and Burn @ The Rave Milwaukee, Wisconsin
MICHIGAN EXTREME METAL FEST: 8/8/2009 @ PLANET ROCK, BATTLE CREEK MICHIGAN: TICKETS $20.00 in ADVANCE $25.00 DOS (WITH: VESPERIAN SORROW, AGGRESSOR, EVIL INCARNATE, MAXX, PATH, CYANOSIS, LEPROSY, AYASOLTEC, BEAUTIFUL, DEMISE, HI8US, VENIFICUM, THEOCRACIDE, AS THEY SLEEP, INTROVERT, SERPENT CROWN, FORSAKEN, DEAD RINGER, RITUAL SUICIDE)
JUDAS PRIEST/WHITESNAKE U.S. TOUR: Jul 1 2009 8:00P
THE FAMILY ARENA/ST. CHARLES, MO ST. CHARLES
Jul 2 2009 8:00P
SUMMERFEST MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin
Jul 3 2009 8:00P
TASTE OF MINNESOTA AT HARRIET ISLAND/ST. PAUL, MN ST. PAUL
Jul 5 2009 8:00P
CHEVROLET THEATRE WALLINGFORD, Connecticut
Jul 7 2009 8:00P
COMCAST CENTER MANSFIELD, Massachusetts
Jul 8 2009 8:00P
CMAC CANANDAIGUA, New York
Jul 9 2009 8:00P
MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE/TORONTO, ON TORONTO
Jul 11 2009 8:00P
PNC BANKS ARTS CENTER/HOLMDEL, NJ HOLMDEL
Jul 12 2009 8:00P
NIKON AT JONES BEACH THEATER/WANTAGH, NY WANTAGH
Jul 14 2009 8:00P
TIME WARNER CABLE AMPHITHEATRE CLEVELAND, Ohio
Jul 15 2009 8:00P
DTE ENERGY MUSIC THEATER CLARKSTON, Michigan
Jul 17 2009 8:00P
MOONDANCE JAM 18/WALKER, MN WALKER
Jul 18 2009 8:00P
ROCK FEST/CHIPPEWA VALLEY MUSIC/CADOTT, WI CADOTT
Jul 19 2009 8:00P
CHARTER ONE PAVILION CHICAGO, Illinois
Jul 21 2009 8:00P
PNC PAVILION@RIVERBEND MUSIC CEN CINICINATTI, Ohio
Jul 22 2009 8:00P
NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM NASHVILLE, Tennessee
Jul 24 2009 8:00P
VERIZON WIRELESS THEATRE HOUSTON, Texas
Jul 25 2009 8:00P
AT&T SAN ANTONIO, Texas
Jul 26 2009 8:00P
CONCRETE STREET AMPHITHEATRE CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas
Jul 29 2009 8:00P
CALIFORNIA MID-STATE FAIR PASO ROBLES, California
Jul 31 2009 8:00P
SLEEP TRAIN PAVILION CONCORD, California
Aug 1 2009 8:00P
98 ROCK JAMBOREE @ SLEEP TRAIN AMP MARYSVILLE, California
Aug 2 2009 8:00P
GIBSON AMPHITHEATRE/UNIVERSAL CITY, CA UNIVERSAL CITY
Aug 4 2009 8:00P
SDSU OPEN AIR THEATRE SAN DIEGO, California
Aug 5 2009 8:00P
PACIFIC AMPHITHEATRE/OC FAIR/COSTA MESA, CA COSTA MESA
Aug 7 2009 8:00P
DODGE THEATRE PHOENIX, Arizona
Aug 8 2009 8:00P
THOMAS & MACK CENTER LAS VEGAS, Nevada
Aug 10 2009 8:00P
SANDIA CASINO ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico
Aug 11 2009 8:00P
RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE MORRISON, Colorado
Aug 13 2009 8:00P
NOKIA LIVE THEATER GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas
Aug 15 2009 8:00P
ST AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida
Aug 16 2009 8:00P
ST. PETE TIMES FORUM TAMPA, Florida
Aug 17 2009 8:00P
SEMINOLE HARD ROCK ARENA HOLLYWOOD, Florida
Aug 19 2009 8:00P
GERMAIN ARENA ESTERO, Florida
Aug 20 2009 8:00P
VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE AT ENCORE PARK ALPHARETTA, Georgia
Aug 22 2009 8:00P
MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION COLUMBIA, Maryland
Aug 23 2009 8:00P
MEADOWBROOK US CELLULAR PAVILION
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, MINSK (WEST COAST) USA TOUR:
July 05 | MEMPHIS, TN @ Hi Tone *
July 06 | AUSTIN, TX @ Emo's w/ Pentagram, Nachtmystium
July 10 | PHOENIX, AZ @ Phix
July 11 | SAN DIEGO, CA @ Che Cafe
July 12 | LOS ANGELES, CA @ Knitting Factory
July 13 | SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Slim's
July 14 | ASHLAND, OR @ Stillwater
July 15 | PORTLAND, OR @ Berbati's Pan
July 16 | SEATTLE, WA @ Neumo's
July 17 | OLYMPIA, WA @ TBA
July 19 | SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge *
July 20 | DENVER, CO @ One Eye'd Jack's *
July 21 | LAWRENCE, KS @ Jackpot Saloon *
VIRGINIA DEATH FEST-8/8/2009-DANVILLE, VA @ PLAN B- The Virginia Death Fest / Saturday August 8, 2009!

The first annual Virginia Death Fest will take place on Saturday August 8, 2009 at Plan B in Danville, VA. Featuring 14 Death Metal bands!!!


----------------------------------------------

Times/Bands for the Virginia Death Fest 2009 (Subject to Change):

11:45PM-12:15AM -- Blasphemer (Italy)
11:00PM-11:30PM -- Sikfuk (Minnesota)
10:15PM-10:45PM -- Disfigured (Texas)
9:30PM-10:00PM -- Bloodsoaked (NC)
8:45PM-9:15PM -- Atrocious Abnormality (NC)
8:00PM-8:30PM -- Malebolgia (NC)
7:15PM-7:45PM -- Mess In The Morgue (NC)
6:30PM-7:00PM -- Nefarious (NC)
5:45PM-6:15PM -- Acrid Death (NC)
5:00PM-5:30PM -- Bonditron (NY)
4:15PM-4:45PM -- The Unburied (MS)
3:30PM-4:00PM -- Decryptic (VA)
2:45PM-3:15PM -- Shuma Gorath (NC)
2:00PM-2:30PM -- Cadence Has Cometh (OK)
CENTRAL ILLINOIS METAL FEST 7/31 and 8/1/2009 @ THE CANOPY CLUB, URBANA ILLINOIS, 708 South Goodwin, Ave 61801: BLOODSOAKED has been added to the Central Illinois Metal Fest (CIM) line-up for Saturday August 1st. This is the second year in a row BLOODSOAKED will be performing at CIM.


CENTRAL ILLINOIS METALFEST (FRIDAY JULY 31, 2009) (doors open at 12:30pm)

1:15pm to 1:45pm- SECRET OF THE SEVEN THUNDERS
2:00pm to 2:30pm- EZRA
2:45pm to 3:15pm- HUMAN FILLETED
3:30pm to 4:00pm- INCINERATE
4:15pm to 4:45pm- DREAMING DEAD
5:00pm to 5:30pm- Success Will Write Apocalypse Across The Sky
5:45pm to 6:15pm- RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER
6:30pm to 7:00pm- ABYSMAL DAWN
7:15pm to 7:45pm- DAATH
8:00pm to 8:30pm- MALIGNANCY
8:45pm to 9:15pm- ABIGAIL WILLIAMS
9:30pm to 10:00pm- WACO JESUS
10:15pm to 11:00pm- GOATWHORE
11:30pm to END- MASTER

CENTRAL ILLINOIS METALFEST (SATURDAY AUGUST 1, 2009) (doors open at Noon)


12:30pm to 1:00pm-DYSENTERY
1:15pm to 1:45pm-DISFIGURED
2:00pm to 2:30pm- NECROTIC DISGORGMENT
2:45pm to 3:15pm- STRONG INTENTIONS
3:30pm to 4:00pm- SIKFUK
4:15pm to 4:45pm- DEAD FOR DAYS
5:00pm to 5:30pm- BLOODSOAKED
5:45pm to 6:15pm- BLASPHEMER
6:30pm to 7:00pm- FUCK THE FACTS
7:15pm to 7:45pm- GOREAPHOBIA
8:00pm to 8:30pm- LIVIDITY
8:45pm to 9:15pm- PUTRID PILE
9:30pm to 10:00pm- ANAL CUNT
10:15pm to 11:00pm- VITAL REMAINS
11:30pm to END- IMMOLATION
NEW ENGLAND DEATH FEST-8/29 and 30/2009, PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND-@CLUB HELL AND JERKY's: -New England Deathfest is set to happen this year on Saturday August 29th & Sunday August 30th, 2009. The fest once again will be held at Club Hell & Jerky's (71-73 Richmond Street) in Providence, Rhode Island 02903. It promises to be bigger, badder and more devastating than the last.

This is an all ages event with bar available to those 21 and over.

Tickets are now on sale! $50 for a 2 day pass and $25 for a 1 day! Tickets will be $30 per day @ the door.



Bands

Viral Load (TX)
Putrid Pile (WI)
Insidious Decrepancy (TX)
Retch (CA)
Inherit Disease (CA)
Embalmer (OH)
Malignancy (NY)
Sexcrement
Uncleansed (TX)
Digested Flesh (NJ)​
Atrocious Abnormality (NC)
Bloodsoaked (NC)
Fit For An Autopsy (NJ)
Dysentery​
Composted​
Goreality​
Covenance (MD)
Orgone (PA)
Abdicate (NY)
Gutted Out (MI)
Embryonic Cryptopathia​
Parasitic Extirpation​
Hivesmasher
Boarcorpse​
Pathogenic​
Living Void​
CLUTCH U.S. SUMMER/FALL TOUR: US tour w/ Baroness and Lionize

July 3 – Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues w/ Shadows Fall and Wino (* no Baroness or Lionize)
July 9 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
July 10 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
July 11 – Chicago, IL @ Kuma’s
July 12 – Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
July 14 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
July 15 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
July 17 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
July 18 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
July 19 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues Las Vegas
July 20 – San Diego, CA @ Cane’s Bar & Grill
July 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ House Of Blues
July 22 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Center
July 23 – Seattle, WA @ King Cat Theater
July 25 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
July 26 – Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater
July 27 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
July 28 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
July 29 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
July 31 -Calgary, AB @ Flames Center
August 1 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Events Center
August 2 – Saskatoon, SK @ Odeon Event Center
August 3 – Winnipeg, MB @ Garrick Center
August 5 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave
August 6 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
August 7 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
August 8 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar

US tour w/ Wino and Revolution Mother

September 9 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Smalls
September 10 – Buffalo, NY @ The Town Ballroom
September 11 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Electric Factory
September 12 – Hartford, CT @ The Webster Theater
September 13 – Montreal, QC @ Lee Saints
September 15 – London, ON @ London Music Hall
September 16 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
September 18 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
September 19 – Jackson, MS @ Club Fire
September 20 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
September 22 – Mobile, AL @ Soul Kitchen
September 23 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
September 24 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
September 25 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Orbit Room
September 26 – Chicago, IL @ The Metro
September 27 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium
September 29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
September 30 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore
October 1 – Kansas City, MO @ The Beaumont Club
October 2 – Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theatre
October 3 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
October 4 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival
October 6 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
October 7 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
October 8 – Richmond, VA @ The National
October 9 – New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza
October 10 – New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza
SUNN 0))) (TWO SHOWS IN SEATTLE, WA USA IN AUGUST):

Wed.Aug.05.09 Sunn O))) @ NUMOS
Infinite Presents: Sunn O))), THE ACCUSED, TRAP THEM, Black Breath :: Doors at 8 pm :: $15 adv :: Advance tickets on sale now at: www.ticketswest.com, Singles Going Steady, select QFCs, Cellophane Square, Moe Bar, Sonic Boom Records :: 21+ :: Tickets on Sale this Saturday at 10AM


Thu.Aug.06.09 Sunn O))) @ NUMOS
Infinite Presents: Sunn O))), Pelican, Eagle Twin :: Doors at 8 pm :: Advance tickets on sale now at: www.ticketswest.com, Singles Going Steady, select QFCs, Sonic Boom, Rudy's Barbershops, Cellophane Square :: 21+ :: Tickets on Sale this Saturday at 10AM



Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l- (A special summer festival EUROPE/USA journal entry coming up soon)

HATE ETERNAL CANCEL SOUTH AMERICAN DATES

Florida death metal legends HATE ETERNAL have announced that the bands prevously plenned South American tour has been canceled, visa issues..FROM HATE ETERNAL: "Due to not being provided the proper paperwork to process the working visas we were cleared for, we're not able to perform for our fans in Chile and Argentina this weekend. We're sorry about this inconvenience; as all the paperwork was done on our side. We were looking forward to playing for all the great fans in Chile and Argentina for some time now and we are very disappointed with this. We hope to play in the near future."Affected shows:Jun. 27 - Victor Jara Stadium - Santiago, ChileJul. 01 - Teatro Flores - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHER LYNN SHOOK PASSES (RIP)

Metal industry insiders and Virginia metal band GWAR have announced that well known concert photographer LYNN SHOOK has died. FROM GWAR: We are very saddened by the news that our friend and outstanding concert photographer, Lynn Shook, passed away this morning unexpectedly. Lynn took some of the best shots of GWAR we've ever seen and she will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. Rest in peace, Lynn.

Check out her work at:
http://www.myspace.com/sixxluvr
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-RIP LYNN- \m/ -l-

VADER "MONSTERS OF DEATH" NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ANNOUNCED

Polish death metal heroes VADER have announced the MONSTERS OF DEATH North American tour with DECREPIT BIRTH, WARBRINGER, THE AMENTA, AUGURY, SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY.
FROM VADER MYSPACE: Nov. 04 - Sonar - Baltimore, MD
Nov. 05 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Nov. 06 - Webster Underground - Hartford, CT
Nov. 07 - The Blender Theater @ Gramercy - New York, NY
Nov. 08 - Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, QC
Nov. 09 - Imperial de Quebec - Quebec City, QC
Nov. 10 - Mod Club - Toronto, ON
Nov. 11 - Penny Arcade - Rochester, NY
Nov. 12 - Peabody's - Cleveland, OH
Nov. 13 - The Pearl Room - Mokena, IL
Nov. 14 - Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 15 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
Nov. 16 - Royal Albert Arms - Winnipeg, MB
Nov. 17 - The Exchange - Regina, SK
Nov. 18 - The Underground - Calgary, AB
Nov. 19 - Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB
Nov. 20 - Roll-A-Dome - Prince George, BC
Nov. 21 - Bourbon - Vancouver, BC
Nov. 22 - Sugar - Victoria, BC
Nov. 23 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
Nov. 24 - Satyricon - Portland, OR
Nov. 25 - Regency Grand Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
Nov. 27 - Jumping Turtle - San Marcos, CA
Nov. 28 - Chain Reaction - Anaheim, CA
Nov. 29 - The Key Club - Hollywood, CA
Nov. 30 - U.B's - Mesa, AZ
Dec. 01 - The Rock - Tucson, AZ
Dec. 02 - Gator's - Farmington, NM
Dec. 03 - Club Vegas - Salt Lake City, UT
Dec. 04 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
Dec. 05 - Marquee - Tulsa, OK
Dec. 06 - Scout Bar - San Antonio, TX
Dec. 07 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
Dec. 09 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Dec. 10 - Peppermint Beach Club - Virginia Beach, VA
Dec. 11 - Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC
Dec. 12 - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA
Dec. 13 - The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

ITP UPDATE/ EDITORIAL

(ABOVE PICTURE NOT NEDA, I REPEAT THAT's NOT NEDA)
It's time for an ITP EDITORIAL, yes it is..
"The bubble headed bleach blonde comes on at 9, she tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye, it's interesting when people die, gives us dirty laundry"-DON HENLEY (song about the media, "if it bleeds it leads")
"Ive been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that youve seen it before
Where a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to war

And theres a shadow on the faces
Of the men who send the guns
To the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interest runs

On the radio talk shows and the t.v.
You hear one thing again and again
How the u.s.a. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends--
These governments killing their own?
Or the people who finally cant take any more
And they pick up a gun or a brick or a stone
There are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire"-Jackson Browne-"Lives in The Balance"
*ITP UPDATE: "Notes From the Extreme Metal Underground" and "Damned in Black" (Black Metal News) coming up reeal soon. ITP will have a new feature entitled "Humanity is Doomed" (and it really is)! Doomed Metal News..PLUS, some reviews of new SUFFOCATION, XASTHUR, and many more.
*BTW, the above picture is NOT NEDA. We at ITP, BY MY OWN CHOICE took DOWN the video (on this blog) of "Neda's" murder, MY choice, too gruesome and either way too suspect. I got depressed, emotional and distraught viewing that video of NEDA's death. We at ITP can not confirm or deny the authenticy (still on YOU TUBE) of the NEDA video death. I don't have access to to the technology to deny nor confirm if the video of NEDA's death is authentic. However, the video of NEDA's death is very graphic. I'm confused, and very freaked out. Whatever, is going on in that video depicting NEDA's murder, in whatever context, I'm horrified and annoyed.
*The American news media went apeshit this week, and printed alot of fallacies about "NEDA", so I waited, and between, anonymity for victims of the violence: the Iranian protests, we may never know what the truth is vs. various agendas. The above PIC, NOT NEDA..
*Wow, look back a bit, to the 80's. I guess I'm old enough to remember in my late 30's now. IRAN/CONTRA, OLIVER NORTH-HEARINGS, PAPER SHREDDERS via FAWN HALL. American has a dicey relationship with IRAN. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_North
*OK, IRAN's last upheaval was 1979, I was just 9. WTF with the gas/energy crisis back then, and the long lines at gas stations. I specifically remember being with my sis and family in my dads car (that motor company is bankrupt now) waiting in two hour long lines (NOT kidding) for GAS. Kinda wondering why my dad didn't get the gas FIRST, and pick up his brats later, because we were bored, the car isn't moving in the line, I had to go to the bathroom, and some vendor was selling soda. Weeeird. Jimmy Carter looked awful in the hostage crisis, and he later won a noble peace prize. I'm just sayin.FROM WIKEPEDIA: At the same time, Detroit's then-Big Three automakers (Ford, Chrysler, GM) were marketing downsized automobiles which met the CAFE fuel economy mandates passed in 1978; by the mid-1980s, a majority of rear wheel drive (RWD) family sedans and station wagons sold poorly despite government mandates from CAFE; vehicles like the Ford Fairmont and Dodge St. Regis were short-lived in response to second energy crisis. EDITORS NOTE: Chrysler is now on the verge of bankruptcy, yeh, I was sitting in a Chrysler station wagon back in 1979. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_energy_crisis
*However, if NEDA (in that video) was murdered, everyone is pissed, and it re- enforces our worse fears about theocracy rule, and how Iranian woman are treated. Just because an Iranian woman is dressed in Western clothing,(vs. traditional Islamic garb,dress code blatant double standard compared to men) doesn't mean she should be flogged or murdered. The protesters should be allowed free assembly.
*Iran needs REFORM in the worst way, and voting booths too. Voting via paper ballot in plastic box is vulnerable to rigging.
*Perhaps separating the people from the government is a good idea, the Iranian government needs to end the death penalty towards gays, and stop suppressing woman, with a separation between church and state.
*Theocracy VS. Democracy..Neither candidate in the 2009 Iranian election are real reformists. The Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has more power than any Iranian "figurehead" president, and that suuuuucks.
*Again separating our government from our people, not sure what or if the USA has a role in all that happened in Iran, or what the U.S.A.'s agenda is, but the U.S.A.'s dependency on Middle Eastern oil supply has far worse casualties, as alternative energy should be explored.
*Iranian woman were (and may still not be) NOT allowed to perform music publicly and have to cross borders. NEDA's story sounds interesting as she was taking music lessons.
*70% of all Iranians are under 30 (baby BOOM, and internet kids)..For those whom were hurt or killed in last weeks protests this is Irans KENT STATE. I would be protesting too. One can not ignore one million people protesting in IRAN in a week, it's not just the rigged elections, it's so many issues of suppression.
*I would assume that IRAN is on the shit list of human rights abuses, and more people want and would ask for asylum and refugee status OUT of Iran, then immigrate into Iran depending on the political climate of neighboring countries in Middle East.
*Should have know something was going down when Irans religious police started criminalizing the metal heads just before the election.. (IE CRACKDOWN ON HEAVY METAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL ENTRY)
*There should be a ban on all weapons of mas destruction regarding all countries including Korea and the USA. Mutually Assured Destruction isn't fun.
All of this reminds me of why I'm an atheist, wow, I made the right choice.
*Religion and politics don't mix.It's been a long month between gay marriages being banned in California (freaking Mormons) and the revolution in Iran.
*All the best to protesters in IRAN we are with you in spirit..
*Oh, yeh, in that video of ARSHAMM PARSHI, Irans president is also being booed seconds after people were laughing, in that video, the booing was edited out.
GOOD ARTICLE ON IRANIAN FEMINISM: http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-feminism-in-iran/?obref=obnetwork

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST-\m/ -l-

DREAM THEATER ANNOUNCE PROGRESSIVE NATION LINEUP CHANGE

New York progressive metal legends DREAM THEATRE have issued this update on a lineup change regarding the PROGRESSIVE NATION TOUR. FROM DREAM THEATER MYSPACE:

It is with the utmost disappointment that I am forced to share the unfortunate news of both Pain Of Salvation and Beardfish having to pull out of this summer's Progressive Nation tour....

Their label Inside Out just recently lost the financial funding for the tour as a result of their distributor SPV recently claiming bankruptcy...which effectively meant that both Pain Of Salvation and Beardfish lost the tour support that was essential to their ability to come to North America for Progressive Nation.

All parties involved (myself, both bands, Inside Out, etc) are beyond devastated at this turn of events and are truly sorry to all of the fans that were looking forward to this lineup. We tried everything we could do to salvage the situation, but in the end it was not possible...

Well as the album title says, every Black Cloud does indeed have a Silver Lining....so with this unfortunate news, I bring to you the good news of 2 incredible bands that will jumping on board Progressive Nation to join Dream Theater and Zappa Plays Zappa this summer: Bigelf and Scale The Summit.

Los Angeles' Bigelf are my personal favorite new band to come along in many years...their latest CD "Cheat The Gallows" is my favorite album of the year and I already had positioned them onto the European run of Progressive Nation in the Fall....with them now joining us on PN09 in North America as well, it looks like world domination is now not that far out of reach for them!
Pretty soon, everyone will hopefully be falling for their retro, psychedelic, progressive, hard rock, doom metal as hard as I have!

Houston instrumental band Scale The Summit are a recent discovery for me and their top notch musicianship will be a perfect fit to this Progressive Nation lineup stylistically falling very nicely between the musicality of Dream Theater and Zappa Plays Zappa. They bring the instrumental elements of prog rock and fusion into today's contemporary hard rock/metal sounds and are one of the most talented group of young musicians I've seen assembled in many years.

Once again, apologies to anybody disappointed in this unexpected and unavoidable lineup change...but the circumstances were beyond our control...
In any event, PN09 will carry on and still deliver the most musical bang for its buck this summer throughout North America and we look forward to sharing the evening with you!

Sincerely,
Your Progressive Rock Ambassador,
Mike Portnoy
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

METALLICA SELLS FIRST CLIFF BURTON BIOGRAPHY

CLIFF BURTON MYSPACE and METALLICA has announced the very first CLIFF BURTON biography "To Live is To Die". Cliff Burton was METALLICA's bassist until his untimely death in 1986 via a tour bus accident. FROM CLIFF BURTON MYSPACE: METALLICA Now Selling First-Ever CLIFF BURTON Biography
METALLICA is currently selling "To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton", the first-ever Burton biography, via the band's official web site. Written by U.K.-based author Joel McIver and published by Jawbone Press, the book includes a foreword by Cliff's close friend in METALLICA, Kirk Hammett.

"I'm deeply honored that Kirk spoke to me for the Cliff Burton biography," McIver (pictured below with Hammett) told BLABBERMOUTH.NET earlier this year. "We talked about the rollercoaster ride of METALLICA's early career which he and Cliff experienced, from the time that both men joined the band in early 1983 until Cliff's death three and a half years later. The impact that Burton had on the rest of METALLICA, both musically and as an example of how to stick to your principles in the music industry, was profound — and Kirk provided a perspective on that impact which couldn't have come from anywhere else."

Other interviewees who spoke to McIver for this book, many for the first time on the public record, include Cliff's bass teacher Steve Doherty; legendary reporter and photographer Brian Lew; Bay Area headbanger Harald Oimoen, the subject of "The Ballad Of Harald O" by the infamous SPASTIK CHILDREN, in which Cliff played; that band's frontman Fred Cotton; EXODUS founder Gary Holt; Metal Blade label founder Brian Slagel; photographer Ross Halfin; Cliff's first guitar tech Chuck Martin; METALLICA's first fanclub manager K.J. Doughton; "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets" producer Flemming Rasmussen; the last reporter to interview Cliff, Jörgen Holmstedt; roadie and ex-METAL CHURCH guitarist John Marshall, who was also in the bus crash which killed Burton; Lennart Wennberg, the photographer at the scene of the crash; and Cliff's girlfriend for the last year of his life, Corinne Lynn.

After Kirk Hammett's foreword, separate introductions are provided by a range of musicians influenced by Burton, including Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH), Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE), Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT), Dave Ellefson (F5, ex-MEGADETH) and a host of other musicians and writers.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-More bell bottons \m/ -l-

FEAR FACTORY CANCEL EUROPEAN TOUR

METAL CIRCUS and BLABBERMOUTH.NET report that LA, California metal band FEAR FACTORY have canceled all of their European tour due a lawsuit presented by the other half of FEAR FACTORY over said bands name. FROM METAL CIRCUS AND BLABBERMOUTH.NET: According to Sergi Ramos of The Metal Circus, the much-anticipated debut performance by the new band calling itself FEAR FACTORY — featuring original FF members Dino Cazares (guitar) and Burton C. Bell (vocals) alongside bassist Byron Stroud (who played on the last two FEAR FACTORY albums in addition to touring and recording with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and ZIMMERS HOLE) and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, TESTAMENT) — which was scheduled to take place earlier tonight (Sunday, June 21) at the Metalway Festival in Zaragoza, Spain was cancelled at the last minute, reportedly due to legal issues surrounding the use of the FEAR FACTORY name.

UPDATE: According to concert promoter Marek Lieberberg Konzertagentur GmbH & Co.KG, FEAR FACTORY's entire German tour — which was supposed to take place between August 3 and August 12 — has been called off. The other European dates appear to be in jeopardy as well.

In a June 14, 2009 appearance on the nationally syndicated radio program "Speed Freaks", FEAR FACTORY drummer Raymond Herrera stated about the band's current status, "[Guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers and I] actually still in FEAR FACTORY. There's a big legal battle going on right now. Essentially, what's happened is Dino and Burt have become friends again and they decided to start a new band, and furthermore, they decided to call it FEAR FACTORY. They never communicated with us about it, and they're acting like there was never any contract, but there's four members that are Fear Factory Incorporated — which is the four of us — so it's almost like them two against us two, so it's kind of a stalemate. Moving forward, I don't know what's gonna happen with the trademark, so to speak. It's kind of a weird situation, but it's not a situation that we created that was weird."

Regarding why Christian and Raymond aren't involved with the new FEAR FACTORY lineup, Bell told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, "It's like a business and I'm just reorganizing. After time, you realize what's important and what's not important, and after talking to Dino again, it just felt good and it felt right."

When asked if he knew straight away that he wouldn't include Christian and Raymond in the new FEAR FACTORY lineup, Burton said, "It's part of the organization. We learned some things and we have a really good rapport with Byron, and Gene is an amazing drummer. Dino and I, as the founders of FEAR FACTORY, we thought, 'Hey, let's try this, a different flavor.' Because wherever me and Dino go, it'll still be FEAR FACTORY, I believe."

Dino added, "I've had many projects in the past and I've played with some of the best drummers in this form of music, from Roy Mayorga to Nick Barker, Tim Yeung, Joey Jordison, and now I'm playing with the king of this genre. How could I pass that up? How could anyone pass up a chance to play with Gene Hoglan?"

Dino's tenure with FEAR FACTORY ended in March 2002 after Bell announced his departure from the group, allegedly telling his bandmates at the time, "Look, guys, I'm not into it anymore, I don't wanna play in the band anymore, I don't wanna play with you guys, and I especially don't wanna play with you, Dino."

FEAR FACTORY eventually reformed without Dino and released two more studio albums, 2004's "Archetype" and 2005's "Transgression".

In a September 2007 interview with MTV.com, Cazares — who currently heads up a new band called DIVINE HERESY — stated about his former group, "In the long run, I believe I came out the winner, and I feel that they have bastardized the name, and it's a completely different band, different style. I definitely carried the passion in that band, and my riffs, my style, they were very distinctive. I don't regret anything I created in FEAR FACTORY whatsoever. It will be part of my memory for the rest of my life. I believe I am continuing the legacy and keeping this metal torch alive and bringing it back with DIVINE HERESY. You can feel the hunger and passion in DIVINE HERESY, which I believe FEAR FACTORY has been missing, and is still missing to this day."

ARKAEA — the new band featuring Wolbers and Herrera alongside vocalist Jon Howard (THREAT SIGNAL) and bassist Pat Kavanaugh (THREAT SIGNAL) — will release its debut album, "Years In The Darkness", on July 13 via E1 Music (formerly Koch Records).
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

NEW ENGLAND DEATH FEST 8/29 and 30/09

Start practicing your pig squeals. NEW ENGLAND DEATH FEST organizers have issued this update. The New England Death fest is set to take place August 29 and and 30th, 2009 in Providence Rhode Island at Club Hell/ Jerkey's.
FROM NEDF ORGNAZIZERS:
New England Deathfest is set to happen this year on Saturday August 29th & Sunday August 30th, 2009. The fest once again will be held at Club Hell & Jerky's (71-73 Richmond Street) in Providence, Rhode Island 02903. It promises to be bigger, badder and more devastating than the last.

This is an all ages event with bar available to those 21 and over.

Tickets are now on sale! $50 for a 2 day pass and $25 for a 1 day! Tickets will be $30 per day @ the door.



Bands

Viral Load (TX)
Putrid Pile (WI)
Insidious Decrepancy (TX)
Retch (CA)
Inherit Disease (CA)
Embalmer (OH)
Malignancy (NY)
Sexcrement
Uncleansed (TX)
Digested Flesh (NJ)​
Atrocious Abnormality (NC)
Bloodsoaked (NC)
Fit For An Autopsy (NJ)
Dysentery​
Composted​
Goreality​
Covenance (MD)
Orgone (PA)
Abdicate (NY)
Gutted Out (MI)
Embryonic Cryptopathia​
Parasitic Extirpation​
Hivesmasher
Boarcorpse​
Pathogenic​
Living Void​

Stay tuned for the final batch of bands to be announced extremely soon!



Vendors

Sevared Records


Sponsors

Return to the Pit


If you are interested in being a Distro/Vendor/Sponsor for NEDF 2009,
or have any general questions , please feel free to message us here
or at newenglanddeathfest@yahoo.com.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

SUFFOCATION POST NEW TRACK ON TWITTER

Speaking of TWITTER, NYDM (New York Death Metal ) legends SUFFOCATION have issued an update as the band have posted a new track on TWITTER. FROM SUFFOCATION: SUFFOCATION - BRAND NEW TRACK POSTED ON TWITTER!

New York based extreme metal legends SUFFOCATION have made the title track to their new album, Blood Oath, available for listening exclusively on the bands Twitter page.

All tweeters/twitterers can tune in worldwide by clicking on the link provided from the bands latest tweet.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

EDITORS NOTE: FREE IRAN, RIP NEDA SOLTAN

Obviously, I'm having some technical problems with this blog, (arrg) so I'll be back later, as we ITP WILL be back with some reviews and stuff. I'm going to edit alot of this, I'll be back, later, very tearful night, and looong week after finding out about IRAN. Again, whatever you read in the American media about the protests in IRAN, is really watered down and biased, as there was media black out in Iran this week. go to Facebook, You Tube and Twitter, (I'm only on YOU TUBE) and that is the REAL story. BTW, the video below is NOT accurate, riot police stormed students dorms at Isfahan college, shooting and killing students. "They consider it anti moralistic"- IRANIAN METAL FAN-GLOBAL METAL (on IRANS conservative view of Metal)




There is NOTHING more anti moralistic than the killing of the protesters in IRAN this past week, after rigged elections.
Remember, there are metal fans and bands in IRAN and the middle east as well.
A day of mourning, silence, and SOLIDARITY for the Iranian metal fans, students and protesters
Later..

(PLEASE REPOST)
FROM METAL SANAZ MYSPACE:
Iran is under going a huge Revolution! I am from Iran!
People have been waiting for this for over 30 years.
This Regime took away our lives, killed our family and friends for things such as listening to music. They murdered people for stupid reasons that are not right!!! Animals have more rights in the world then Humans do in Iran!

Music is a powerful tool! Not to mention METAL MUSIC ... We are the most powerful and most influential style of music there is... We are NOT evil, we fight evil! We fight against organized religion, politics and injustice...

Metal is our Life! Lets use this and help at least give the young people in Iran a little hope, tell them we are watching, we care, we understand... This will help empower them... this will help them go on strong and kick ass and get rid of the Islamic republic of death!

Please send me a short clip of yourselves just saying a few words...
Please help me do something for them...
I beg you!
This is very important to me and to every single one of them who are being brutally killed in the streets and at home as we speak. 70% of people in Iran are in their 20's!

I also have had a few emails from them asking if I could do this for them and talk to Metal Bands and I told them I am already on it.

Please send your videos to sanaz_videos@yahoo.com

Make them short and only words. Please no music videos.

We will put all the videos together and will air them on all my social networks.


Thank you for understanding and taking a few minutes to help them
FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:
Ayatollah Khamenei's Speech Gives Legitimacy to Police Brutality, Charges Amnesty International
--
Human Rights Organization Urges Iranian Authorities to Protect Right to Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Speech

Contact: AIUSA media office, 202-544-0200 x302, lspann@aiusa.org

(Washington) -- This morning’s speech by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, indicates the authorities’ readiness to launch violent crackdowns if people continue to protest which may cause a widespread loss of life, Amnesty International said today.

"We are extremely disturbed at statements made by Ayatollah Khamenei which seem to give the green light to security forces to violently handle protesters exercising their right to demonstrate and express their views," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program.

"If large numbers of people take to the street in protests in the next couple of days, we fear that they will face arbitrary arrest and excessive use of force, as has happened in recent days, particularly as permission for a demonstration to be held in Tehran on Saturday, June 20, has been denied."

In a televised address to the nation during Friday prayers in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei called for an end to street protests against the outcome of the election. Instead of warning security forces, including the volunteer Basij militia, to act with restraint and in accordance with the law, he said that if people continued to take to the streets, the consequences would lie with them.

"For a Head of State to put the onus of security on peaceful demonstrators and not on the security forces is a gross dereliction of duty and a license for abuse," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

Peaceful assembly is expressly permitted under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Iran is a state party. Law enforcement officials must use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty. They must not use firearms unless strictly unavoidable and in order to protect life. Law enforcement personnel must exercise restraint, minimize damage or injury and respect and preserve human life.

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.


Peace in the middle east \m/

ITP WORLD APOCALYPSE: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGE ACTION AGAINST IRANIAN POLICE BRUTALITY

Amnesty International has urged direct action to petition IRAN against the police brutality during the protests against the election this week. Check out AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL a link to my journal on the RIGHT hand side. I must have spent mucho time on AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL letter writing campaigns during the 80's . PLEASE do sign this petition to STOP the police brutality and to assure the right to freely assemble, protest, to free all political prisoners, and journalists whom are detained in IRAN.
FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:

Online Action Center

Iranian authorities must refrain from using excessive violence against those protesting against the recent election results
Take Action On This Issue

Since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner in the June 12 elections in Iran, there have been widespread protests against the contested election results. The Iranian authorities have responded with violence and repression. Reports indicate that large numbers of people were severely beaten by riot police and that several people have been fatally shot Furthermore, over 100 people are reported to have been arrested, including the brother of former President Mohammad Khatami. Amnesty International is concerned that those detained may be subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The Iranian authorities have attempted to stop the flow of information both among Iranians and from Iranians to those outside by blocking cell phone communication, text messaging and email. Amnesty International is also concerned that the protests, which have already drawn massive crowds in Tehran and other cities in Iran, may be met with increased levels of violence by Iranian authorities. AI calls for the authorities to exercise restraint in response to further demonstrations and to release all those who have been detained for peacefully expressing their opinions about the results of the election. It also calls for an end to restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and association, including the freedom to receive and impart information and ides.
(EDITORS NOTE-They are some very courageous Iranians out there, as the revolution may NOT be televised, but the revolution is on TWITTER. Aha, the power of the blogger.)




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

ITP WORLD APOCALYPSE: BASIJ SHOOTS WOMAN

DISCLAIMER: The video that the World saw of Neda Agha-Soltan, 26, was GRAPHIC, but unfortunately this is sick world we live in. In a nutshell, things are getting WORSE in Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was re-elected via accusations of election fraud, and all HELL has broken loose. We have our OWN problems in the U.S.A.. However, I believe in the freedom of assembly, and the right to peacefully protest, as hundreds of thousands of Iranian have taken to the streets in protest in frustration of a religious dictatorship. Unfortunately, protesters are getting hurt and killed. Violence is erupting as the BASIJ are killing the citizens of IRAN..WHY?
Please brace your self for this, or just wait to be entertained by metal.
The previous journal entry (ASHMEDI's journal on DECIBEL, routine procedure wearing gasmasks) is harrowing autobiographical account of life in Israel and various conflicts in the middle east.
All of us in the extreme metal scene have acknowledged the burgeoning metal scene in the middle east, and we encourage the artistic expression. For the metal bands and fans that have gotten OUT of these war torn countries, through asylum, refugee status, all the best. This SUCKS..RIP to the ones whom have lost their lives.
This news article below made little or no mention of protesters being SHOT..In fact there was a media black out in Iran.
A peaceful protester was shot and killed yesterday in IRAN. Our thoughts go out to everyone effected by this senseless murder and a government run by thugs whom would allow this to happen. Voting via paper ballot in a plastic box, duh, know wonder Iran is perceived by many as a dictatorship.
BTW, the power of the blogger, as the Iranian revolution is NOT televised, but tweeted. Twitter was the western worlds news source on the Iranian protests this week.
FROM UPSTATE METAL: This is very graphic and hard to watch. It almost brought me to tears. seriously.

But the Iranian regime is trying everything they can to keep the world from finding out WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING TO THEIR PEOPLE!
FROM METAL SANAZ MYSPACE: SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ... PLEEEEEASE!!!
IF YOU LIKE, PLEASE ADD ME ON MY FACEBOOK WHERE MY IRANIAN FRIENDS CAN READ AND SEE YOUR COMMENTS.... THEY NEED YOUR LOVE AND VOICE TO GET THIS REGIME OUT! THEY CAN'T DO IT WITH OUT US CHEERING FOR THEM AND SHOWING OUR SUPPORT ....

THE FACEBOOK PAGE IS "METALSANAZ MAINPAGE"


PLEASE BE AWARE THAT SOME VIDEOS ON FACEBOOK ARE VERY VERY GRAPHIC. SO PLEASE DON'T WATCH IF YOU CAN'T...


What is going on in Iran is Unbelievable !

I am sad and proud at the same time... too many people have died already!

This fuckin regime HAS GOT TO FUCKIN GO!!!! Enough is fuckin Enough! This time the world is watching these madmen and their lies... there is no hiding now! your soulless unhuman Truth have been seen by the world ... and there is NO way out this time! Animals have more respect for eachother!!!


METAL SANAZ


FROM (SOMEWHERE) ON YOU TUBE and THANKS to UPSTATE METAL: (R.I.P. to NEDA and the Isfahan students whom were senselessly murdered in their dorms)
I know this video is graphic, but the world has to see what's really happening in Iran. Re-uploaded from Facebook, original description below:

At 19:05 June 20th
Place: Karekar Ave., at the corner crossing Khosravi St. and Salehi st.

A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim's chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes.
The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St.
The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me.
Please let the world know.





Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Metal, Stay SAFE-\m/

ASHMEDI OF MELECHESH POSTS COLUMN ON DECIBEL

DECIBEL MAGAZINE has posted a column from Ashmedi of Israeli extreme metal band Melechesh. FROM DECIBEL MAGAZINE: Festung Open Air was a great event. Good bands and we caught up with good friends. I haven’t seen Proscriptor (Absu drummer and former Melechesh drummer) for five years, though we are in touch almost daily. Last time we met was for the first Melechesh gig in Toronto back in June 2004. That was one hell of a show. My preamp electrocuted me while I was on stage and I just tried to downplay it, acting as if nothing had happened. The crowd was watching. I saw a white light and a tunnel and all that all within a fraction of a second.

Aside from that it was a memorable evening and the first of several visits to Canada. That show was organized by Adrian Bromley of Unrestrained magazine. Adrian unexpectedly passed away last December. We are still not over it as he was a good friend. On a brighter note, the show went well at Festung Open Air. While Absu were playing their set I was invited on stage and sang with them the classic “Swords and Leather”. The crowd went berserk. My bandmates had no clue this was going to happen. Proscriptor and I planned this quietly.

A childhood friend of mine, Marc, was also at the show. He is originally from Switzerland, but he grew up in Jerusalem right next door to my place. I recall back then I’d be blasting Slayer, he and his sister would be blasting Metallica or whatever while my other friend would be blasting something else. It was a metal neighborhood where we grew up. At the gig, Marc reminded me that the last time he saw Melechesh live was during our farewell gig to Jerusalem prior to relocating to Europe in ‘98; he was helping out and working as a staff member/bouncer. He is a pilot now. Other than that these few weeks Moloch and I have been spending a lot of time in synergistic music writing sessions in Amsterdam. They are proving to be valuable. A lot of new Melechesh material is being born. It is an Epigenesis. These writing sessions are very important because Moloch spends most of the year in Virginia, where he is busy with his Ph.D., so we set up several writing sessions in Amsterdam or Jerusalem.

In my previous article, I mentioned LA and moving back to Jerusalem. The fact is, at first I did not want to leave California. I was quite happy there, but my friends in Jerusalem were irreplaceable and the decision was not mine to take. By then, I was fully obsessed with music. I recall how desperate I was to get a guitar, but I could not afford one. I was willing to compromise, however! I found an oddly cut wooden plank, almost like an explorer shape guitar body and I basically built a pretend guitar with a wood whammy bar and sewing threads instead of strings... Hey, it was a start! And as I said before, beats air guitars. Not that there is anything wrong with air guitars.

I asked my mother for a real guitar, but she said, “I put you in school and feed you. The extras you have to manage yourself.” And she was right. We could not afford more, especially due to the political situation. And business was really suffering in Jerusalem. I took a few odd jobs in construction (as a minor) and such. They sucked. I quit but I still saved every penny. Well, the currency was Shekels just like in Biblical/Roman times. [Laughs] Every birthday or whatever I saved all the money, including my small allowance, so as to buy a real electric guitar. I kept at it for two years but then guess what? The Gulf War was about to start!

The atmosphere in Jerusalem drastically changed. It was really haunting. All our friends who were from abroad basically left. From a whole bunch of friends two of us remained. The municipally did their thing and distributed gasmask kits since everyone believed chemical weapons would be used. The gasmask kit was a carton box with a carrying strap because people had to walk around with it in the streets. And inside the box was a dodgy pen-like syringe. Once you twist a knob this needle appears and you inject yourself in case the gasmask failed. The box also contained a packet of chemical powder, the gasmask itself and a filter. The fancy gasmasks had a drinking straw valve so one can drink without having to remove the gasmask. Mine did not have that! We were instructed to duct tape all the windows with x-shaped lines in order to avoid glass flying in the house due to missiles.

We were also instructed to designate a room which we could use as a shelter and as soon as the chemical weapons alarm went off we must close ourselves in, cover the doors with nylon curtains and duct tape them. If there are any gaps, we were to use a wet a towel—water and some of that powder provided in the gasmask kit—to cover those gaps. I have a clear memory of once walking to buy more duct tape and a couple of idiot sheep in the street were shouting, “Goodbye everyone! The end is near! We will all die…” Well, it finally happened, the war started and all you’d hear were F-16 jet fighters flying. No one was in the streets the first day. Here is the twist. The company my uncle worked for had many connections. They were able to get airline tickets for my mother and I for one of the last planes leaving the country. So we could head to Miami. My brother was studying there and one of my aunts lived there. The same aunt who used to live in Africa. So, basically the war started at night. By the next day, we got a call. We had those plane tickets and had find transportation to the airport. That day was a really difficult day in my life. Why? Because, as I said, every one of our friends had already left the country, with the exception of one of my friends and myself. Now I had to tell him I was leaving as well and that really sucked!

We had a lot of food stored. And many cases of cola and some beer. We sat on the roof of my house drank a lot of that, burping and throwing all empty cans onto Marc’s balcony while F-16s patrolled the skies. Other than that it was dead quiet. And, yes, no sirens yet, meaning no missiles were launched towards Jerusalem. I was humming parts of Megadeth’s Rust in Peace. He felt it was appropriate and he was very cool about things. The thing is, in the beginning, everyone was absolutely convinced that missiles containing chemicals would be launched. That many would burn, suffer and die. Or so that’s what people and media believed. I said goodbye to my friend and within a few hours we went to the airport. It was indeed the last airplane leaving the Holy Land.

Times were absolutely strange. While the buses where taking passengers to the plane, the sirens howled. Scud rockets were heading towards the country. We made it onto plane and it took off. While we were airborne the pilot explained that the last bus load did not make it. They had to go to the bunker, so as not to delay the take off. But the pilot explained that two Scud missiles were launched. We were glad we were on the plane. The worst things came to my mind. I imagined my friend and other acquaintances and family being mutilated. I was just numb. Many long hours later we were told that the missiles had no chemical warheads. This was a major relief!

We eventually made it to Miami and my time there was very... metal!

Read Part III of Ashmedi's column here.

Read Part II of Ashmedi's column here.

Read Part I of Ashmedi's column here.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-