Friday September 26th 2003

Today there's news from the Sacrificium camp. After bassist Manuel Kerkow was thrown out of the band, Sacrificium has been looking for replacement for quite some time. However, they've finally found a new bassist. His name is Samuel Herbig. He's 21 years old and plays bass for just one year but is picking it up quick.

Facedown Records announced the birth of a new sub-label: Strike First Records. This sub-label was created as a way to help develop new and upcoming bands. The first release is the debut four song EP from Sinai Beach called Wolves In Sheep's Clothing. Other bands that are working with Strike First for releases in the near future are: Bloody Sunday, In Due Time, xHit The Deckx and Alove For Enemies.

Balance Of Power released their fifth album through Massacre Records. Title for this disc is Heathen Machine and it's album of the month in Rock Hard Magazine (Germany).

Circadian Rhythms is the title of Ted Kirkpatrick's new drumming DVD. Actually this project contains so much footage that it appear on two DVD's. You may want to order them through the Tourniquet mail-order.

Friday September 19th 2003

Antestor recorded a new EP and a full length that Endtime Productions will release. The line-up also changed lately. The drummer is replaced by a session drummer. His name is Jan Axel Blomberg, also known as Hellhammer. You can find a recent interview with singer Ronny here.

MxPx released a new album. The record is called Before Everything And After.

Crushead is back in the studio to record a follow up to Explicit Content. The first six songs are tracked. The second part of the album will be recorded in January.

Evanescence didn't win any of the MTV Video Music Awards they were nominated for. However, they are now nominated for Favorite Album in Pop or Rock 'n Roll Music for the 2003 American Music Awards. You can check the show out on ABC on November 16th 2003.

Three bands were added to the line-up of the Nordic Fest. On November 21st & 22nd you can see Seventh Avenue, Benea Reach and Crimson Moonlight along with the previously booked bands Extol, Grand Lux, Bloodwork, Bleedience and Frosthardr. The Nordic Fest takes place in the Sub Scene, Oslo, Norway.

The line-up of the Winter Wonder Rock Festival in The Netherlands includes band like The OC Supertones, Spoken, Blissed, Skillet, Delirious, Bleach, FM Static, Thousand Foot Krutch and more. This festival is on November 28th & 29th. Location: Zwolle, Holland.

Friday September 12th 2003

It's been quiet around Jacobs Dream for a long time. Perhaps you wonder if they are still together since they didn't succeed in finding a new singer. Well, the band is still working on new material for their next album. They recorded a few demo songs with guitarist John Berry handling vocals. There are enough songs ready for a full album.

An upcoming band is Monsterus from Ohio. They present their debut album Zealots In The Land Of Nod that B2 Entertainment is releasing.

Still Breathing is looking for a new vocalist. Serious inquiries can send a demo CD or cassette along with a recent photograph to Arthur Sunday, 111 N Moore Ave, Claremore, OK 74017 USA.

Anberlin added a new MP3 to their MP3.com page. The song is called Glass To The Arson and it was taken from their debut album Blueprints For The Black Market.

A new festival in Germany is Jumprock. Location for this fest is the Schönbeinhalle in Metzingen. Jumprock takes place on October 3rd. Artists: Bride, Capewalk, Deep Insight, Crushead, Daytrip, DeeBeeGees. The entrance is 11 euro. Doors open 17:30. Starts 18:30.

Friday September 5th 2003

A new band is System Breakdown featuring Andreas Johansson and Carl Johan Grimmark from Narnia. Rivel Records released their debut. In the meanwhile Narnia fans may look forward to the upcoming live DVD that was recorded at the Owener Rock Nacht earlier this year.

Another Swedish band is Veni Domine. It's still unclear when their new album will see the light of day.

This Beautiful Mess will release their new album on October 6th. Title for the record is Temper The Wind To The Shorn Lamb.

The guys from Noiz have decided to call it quits. Reason for this is that two of them live to far from the rest of the band to be able to do rehearsals frequently. Noiz played their last shows at the Death Bowl festival and the Freakstock Festival. However, they also released a CD called Unreleased Tracks through Whirlwind Records.

On September 16th the new POD single will come out. The song is called Will You and it is one of the tracks on the new album Payable On Death (out on November 4th).

Fire Fly is still working hard on new songs. Before they went to the US for a concert at the Cornerstone Festival they tracked four songs. Speaking of their first appearance in the US, their show was recorded for an official bootleg live album. Interestingly, their might be some shows on the mainland of Europe early next year.

Friday August 29th 2003

...And We Drive is the new album from Side Walk Slam. Their third album on Tooth & Nail Records will be out on September 16th. One of the songs can be downloaded from MP3.com. The track is called Time Will Pass You By.

The debut album from the Fighting Jacks will be out on October 21st. The record is called The Dying Art Of Life and it was produced by Sylvia Massy (Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers). The Fighting Jacks recently shot a video for the song Commons And Robbers. You can download the song on the band's MP3.com page. The Dying Art Of Life contains eleven songs.

Emo band Emery is a new band on Tooth & Nail Records. Anxious to hear some material? Check out their song Walls on MP3.com.

Metal band Silent Shadows released a new song on their MP3.com page. The track is called Faded Cries. The band plans on recording a CD this fall. Expect this release in spring 2004.

On November 21st and 22nd the Nordic Fest will be held in Oslo, Norway. Location for this fest is the Sub Scene. Bands booked so far are: Extol, Grand Lux, Bloodwork, Bleedience and Frosthardr.

If you want to help Dogwood, vote for them as the greatest San Diego band ever. Give your vote here.

Last week your votes were asked for the Dutch rockband Swirl. Unfortunately they didn't pass the second round. The band Clueless won, and Swirl ended as second. However, the band wants to express their gratitude to everyone who helped them in the vote.

Friday August 22nd 2003

A new album from Alice Cooper will appear next month. Title for this record is The Eyes of Alice Cooper and it was produced by Mudrock. The Eyes Of Alice Cooper contains thirteen songs. Some of the tracks are: Novocaine, Bye Bye Baby, I'm So Angry and This House Is Haunted.

Last week you were asked to vote for the Dutch rock band Swirl who were participating in a talent search. Well, they got through the first round! Now they're in the month finale with F.R.E.U.D. and Clueless. The band that wins this finale will be enabled to record two songs in the 3FM Studios. 3FM is the national pop station in The Netherlands. Your votes are appreciated here.

Dead Poetic are going to release a new record in 2004. They will be entering the Compound Studios in Seattle with producer Aaron Sprinkle in October.

Oil found a new bass player in Jonathan Thiemens. The band will soon release their Choice Cuts Off The Chopping Block live album. Roxx Records will bring this one out.

Friday August 15th 2003

Later this year a new album from Joshua Perahia will see the light. The new record label Planet Enigma Records will release it.

Minus SF from Finland has finally called it quits. Reasons are lack of time and energy as the members are busy with other things in their lives now.

Another Finnish band is Jumpin China. Unfortunately this band has decided to split up as well.

Better news from Finland is that Deep Insight will be touring Europe again. Expect this tour to take place in October.

The Deal, one of the bands on the Facedown Records roster, is preparing for a new album. CutThroat is the title of this record. They will be in the studio in the first two weeks of October.

Tooth & Nail Records signed the emo band Emery. To get a taste of what to expect from Emery, check out their song Walls on MP3.com. The debut album will be in stores in early 2004.

The Dutch rock band Swirl is participating in a talent search on Radio 3FM, the national pop music station. In the radio show Buzz you can vote this week (from August 10th through August 17th 2003) for their song Once Again. Help them out by voting.

Kekal placed a new re-recorded version of Source Of Existence on their MP3.com page. This new version will appear on their best-of CD Introduce Us To Immortality.

Jeff from Kekal is currently writing music together with former Paramaecium guitarist Jason De Ron. This will be for a new project. More news will come forth soon.

The Christmas Rock Night announced the artists that will play the fest this year. The Christmas Rock Night will be held in Haus Ennepetal, Gasstrasse 10. Ennepetal (near Wuppertal), Germany. Artists on main stage: The O.C. Supertones, Pillar, Disciple, Skillet, Extol, The Violet Burning, Spoken, Thousand Foot Krutch, FM Static and more. Small stage: Morphia, Jacks Of All Trades, Arson and more!

Friday August 8th 2003

Project 86 has started the pre-production of their next EP with producer Matt Hyde (Slayer, Monster Magnet). They're doing this in their home studio The Square in Orange County. However, since they have so much material available, they've decided to record a full length rather than an EP. Title for this upcoming album is Songs To Burn Bridges By. Interestingly, the guys from Project 86 launched their own record company called Team Black Recordings. Through this label they hope to release the record through the internet in late September.

Crash Rickshaw will be the next band on Team Black Recordings. They're currently writing new songs for a late fall release. The new material is more energy, more rock 'n roll and more crash!

After selling over four million copies of Satellite POD are now mixing fourteen songs for the next album. Payable On Death is the title and this disc should be out on November 4th.

Bride finished recording their new album called This Is It! According to the band this album is going to sound like the Snakes In The Playground album but will be much bigger. Some of the song titles are: Universe, White Elephant, Looking For A Bullet and Barren River Blues.

Deep South Entertainment has announced the 2003 Stryper Reunion Tour, Stryper's first US tour in more than 12 years. The first date is on October 3rd in Springfield, Virgina and the final date in Raleigh, North Carolina on November 15th. Stryper will be playing approximately 30 shows in total.

The guys from Dead Poetic are working on their next album, the follow up to Four Wall Blackmail. They will be recording the whole month of October.

The Death Campaign lost their singer. Corey, a former bass player of the band is now doing the vocal duties. The band's looking for a new bass player. Plans for the release of their Solid State Records debut have been placed on a hold until a decision is made regarding the vocals on the record.

Also Underoath lost their singer. Currently they have a stand-in vocalist for their ongoing tour with Atreya and God Forbid. When they've returned from the tour they will be looking for replacement.

Dutch dark industrial ambient act Verbum Mentis has released a new four track  demo called ...Neither Any That Go Down Into The Silence. All four tracks can be downloaded free at Music Builder.

The Juliana Theory released their live album through Tooth & Nail Records. If you like, you can download another song from MP3.com. It's the live version of Understand The Dream Is Over.

Tooth & Nail Records will release the new Thousand Foot Krutch album on September 30th. This record is entitled Phenomenon. The title-track can be downloaded from MP3.com.

A few weeks ago you were asked to vote for the British band Stairway on Aor Dreamzones. Well, they got the first place with 38% of all votes. Thanks for voting!

Friday August 1st 2003

Evanescence has scored two nomination for the American MTV Video Music Awards. The categories they're nominated for are Best New Artist and Best Rock Video for Bring Me To Life. The Video Music Awards air on August 28th.

In October Evanescence will tour Europe again. This tour also has a re-scheduled date in the 013, Tilburg, Holland. You can see the band there on October 18th. Check the concerts page for details.

On October 14th the new album from One 21 will hit stores. Their album is called Grenade and a new MP3 can be downloaded from the MP3.com section of Facedown Records later this weekend.

Symphony In Peril, another band from Facedown Records, finished recording their album Lost Memoirs And Faded Pictures. This album is yet to be mixed and mastered but it should come out on November 4th. Symphony In Peril is currently looking for a new drummer. If you are interested, e-mail them at: info@symphonyinperil.com.

What Are You Waiting For is the title for the FM Static debut album. This pop punk album came out through Tooth & Nail Records.

Out now as well, is Transparent from Hangnail. You can download an MP3 from their MP3.com page.

Also new is 99 And Waiting, the new Headnoise which came out through Grrr Records. This EP features old school punk.