Hello my fellow metalheads. Iann Robinson here, and I hope all is well with
you. This week I'm pretty stoked for the opening of "28 Days Later," the
English zombie movie. That should rule. Is it just me or has it been too
long since the last really great zombie movie? I'm also gearing up to head
to Canada to check out the set of the "Day of the Dead" remake, but I'll
fill you in on that once I get back. This week I'll be checking out Ozzfest
to bring you guys a full report on who's tearing it up on that bill. The
second stage of Ozzfest seems really strong this year: Cradle of Filth,
Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and the mightiest of mighty, Voivod. I don't
see many other tours with that kind of strong lineup.
I'm still blasting the Himsa and Black Dahlia Murder CDs. I'm telling you,
outside of Lamb of God's new one, these are the two best heavy records this
year. Off the metal tip for a second, I found out that Canadian rock gods
Danko Jones have finished their new album, so hopefully we'll hear more
about that later on. Well guys and gals, enjoy Metal File this week:
The debut album by To My Surprise, a side project of Shawn "Clown" Crahan of Slipknot is scheduled to drop in September. The LP, which Clown said is a mix of '70s groove and psychedelia, was produced by Rick Rubin.... Lamb of God and E. Town
Concrete will support Anthrax on the first leg of their upcoming
North American tour, according to a recent post by Anthrax guitarist
Scott Ian on the band's Web site. The trek begins July 29. ... An
appeal filed by Jello Biafra against his former Dead Kennedys
bandmates in the ongoing lawsuit over ownership of the band's name has been
denied. A judge upheld a partnership that places ownership of Dead Kennedys
in the hands of all four members, with each sharing equally sharing
ownership and creative control. ...
Sevendust are done tracking their fourth album with producer Butch
Walker, who was in the power-pop band Marvelous 3 and has worked
on recent albums by Bowling for Soup and Injected. The band
plans to road test some of the songs in late July or early August. The
still-untitled disc is tentatively slated for release in late September.
Tracks include "Disgrace," "Seasons," "Skeleton Song," "enemy (Pez)" and
"Honesty." ... Kittens for Christian, the second band signed to
Serj Tankian's Serjical Strike label, will release Privilege of
Your Company on September 9. The album is heavy but reflects a range of
influences including the Birthday Party, Wire and the Cure. ... Doom metal
legends Cathedral will launch a U.S. tour on September 4 in
Farmingdale, New York. The tour rolls through the end of the month, wrapping
up in Philadelphia. ...
The Exploited will kick off their first U.S. tour in more than a
decade on September 10 in Colorado. The tour is in support of their album
F--- the System. ... My Dying Bride guitarists Andrew
Craighan and Hamish Glencross have joined forces to form the
record label Blackdoom Records. ... Integrity are currently finishing
up To Die For, their first album for Converge vocalist
Jacob Bannon's Deathwish label. The newly reunited Cleveland band's
lineup includes founding members Dwid (vocals) and Chubby
Fresh (drums). ... In related news, Converge will re-release two of
their albums, Petitioning the Empty Sky and When Forever Comes
Crashing, with digitally remastered sound, expanded liner notes and
bonus tracks later this year. The Bostonian noisecore merchants' "The Long
Road Home" DVD is in stores now. ...
Eighteen Visions, whose "You Broke Like Glass" video has become
something of a "Headbangers Ball" staple, are currently demoing new material
in their rehearsal space in Orange County, California. The band will join
Strung Out on the road later this year. ... Demon Hunter, a
Seattle metal band that consists of former members of Training for
Utopia and a revolving cast of musicians, have embarked on their first
tour in support of their self-titled debut. The trek runs through early July
and includes support from Norway's Extol and the Agony Scene.
... Extol will release their third disc, Synergy, on August 12. The
album title refers to the musical and spiritual unity between bandmembers.
...
Florida death metal heroes Morbid Angel have named their new album
H2K3. ... Grimfist, a new Scandinavian black metal band
featuring members of Immortal and Deride, will release their
debut, Ghouls of Grandeur, on September 13. The disc was produced by
Hypocrisy frontman Peter Tägtgren. ... The third album by
Birmingham, Alabama, metalcore band Haste, The Mercury Lift,
will be released July 2. The disc features guest appearances by Lamb of God
frontman Randy Blythe and Codeseven singer Jeff
Jenkins. ...
Italian melodic metal band Labyrinth get thrashy on their fourth
record, Labyrinth, which comes out Monday. ... Finnish death metal
band Kalmah will release Swampsong, the follow-up to last
year's They Will Return, on July 29. The disc was produced by Ahti
Kortelainen (Sentenced, Impaled Nazarene). ... Orange
County, California, metalcore group Avenged Sevenfold will release
their second disc, Waking the Fallen, on August 26. The album will
feature "Eternal Rest" and "Chapter Four" and was produced by
Mudrock, who has worked with Godsmack and Chimaira. ...
—compiled by Iann Robinson, Ryan J. Downey, Jon Wiederhorn, Robert Mancini and Joe D'Angelo