Several new photos of STORM CORROSION, the much-anticipated collaboration project between OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt and PORCUPINE TREE's Steven Wilson, can be seen below.
STORM CORROSION last year completed work on its self-titled debut album for an April 2012 release through Roadrunner Records. Apart from Mikael and Steven, the CD includes guest appearances by Gavin Harrison (PORCUPINE TREE) on drums/percussion, Ben Castle on woodwinds and Dave Stewart on string arrangements.
In a interview with Metal Injection conducted on November 11 at the Best Buy Theater in New York City, Wilson was asked how STORM CORROSION is different from his previous collaborations with Åkerfeldt. "Well, the only stuff I've collaborated with Mikael on in the past has been working on his records," Wilson replied. "This is obviously a collaboration, so it's a different approach. We sat in a room together and we wrote music together, rather than taking his music that he'd already written and working it into a record. We actually started from the very basics — composition and arranging."
He continued, "If you'd asked me three months ago about the music, I would have said, 'Expect the last thing you would expect.' But actually, now that [OPETH's new record] 'Heritage' has come out and [Steven Wilson's solo album] 'Grace Of Drowning' has come out, I don't think it's going to be that much of a shock to people, because it's almost like a third part of the trilogy, in a way. If anything, it's even more orchestral, even more stripped down, even more dark, twisted and melancholic… but it certainly feels like it comes from the same place as 'Heritage' and 'Grace For Drowning', which indeed it does because it was written during the same period — it was written during a period that he was playing the tracks that he'd written for 'Heritage' and I was playing the tracks that I had written for 'Grace Of Drowning'. So we were kind of, in a way, egging each other on, encouraging each other to do those particular records, but also at the same time coming up with this music that is now gonna be on STORM CORROSION. So it's a very orchestral record, it's very — as you'd expect — epic, the songs are quite long and they develop in quite unusual ways."
He concluded, "I'm realistic that half the people are gonna hate it and half the people probably will fall in love with it. I'd be happy with that anyway."
Although former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy was initially supposed to be part of the STORM CORROSION project, he did not take part in the recording sessions for the CD. "To be honest, there's just no room for drums on what we've done," Åkerfeldt told Classic Rock magazine last year. "I called Mike up, and he was cool about it. He's got so much going on anyway, and I'm sure we will work together in the future."
"The Crow, The Owl And The Dove", the second single from "Imaginaerum", the new album from Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH, will be released in Europe on March 2 via Nuclear Blast Records. Along with the title track, the single will include a previously unreleased song called "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" (theme from the movie "The Piano"). The cut will be available in two different versions, including an instrumental one.
"The Crow, The Owl And The Dove" is featured in three versions: the radio edit, album version and an instrumental.
You can order the single on CD, or as a vinyl in clear or blue color, at this location.
As previously reported, NIGHTWISH will take part in a CD-signing session at SoundCheck Hollywood on Friday, January 20 at 6 p.m. Stop by the store starting Tuesday, January 10 to pick up the band's new album, "Imaginaerum", and get a wristband which guarantees your access to meet the band.
SoundCheck Hollywood 8872 Sunset Blvd. W. Hollywood, CA 90069 310.358.0280
"Imaginaerum" has been certified gold in Germany for sales in excess of 100,000 copies. The CD also entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 1 and has already been certifield triple platinum in the country after shifting more than 60,000 units.
[Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in Finland has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach platinum status in the country from the pre-2010 level of 30,000 to the current 20,000.]
The band's first CD since 2007's "Dark Passion Play" — which was then-new singer Anette Olzon's debut — "Imaginaerum" was released in North America on January 10 via Roadrunner Records.
NIGHTWISH will play a "secret" gig under the name RUBBER BAND OF WOLVES at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California on January 19 — two days before the Finnish/Swedish symphonic metal act's world-tour kick-off performance at the Gibson Ampitheater in Universal City. The Universal City concert will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Mascot Label Group has announced the release of the eponymous debut album from FLYING COLORS — the spectacular new virtuoso prog/pop/metal rock band formed by drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-DREAM THEATER) and guitarist Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE). The CD will be made available via Music Theories Recordings in the U.K. on Monday, March 26, followed by a U.S. release on Tuesday, March 27.
FLYING COLORS is Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Dave LaRue (bass), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals), Casey McPherson (lead vocals, guitar), and Steve Morse (lead guitar).
"This album has bits and pieces of what you'd expect from each of us," says Portnoy. ""The sum of all its parts led to brand new, unchartered territory for everyone involved."
The formation of FLYING COLORS began with a simple idea: virtuoso musicians and a pop singer joining together to make new-fashioned music the old-fashioned way. Refreshing, classic, old and new, the recordings are saturated with the many styles, tones and hues of the players who in becoming a band have delivered a unique fusion of vintage craftsmanship and contemporary music.
In 2008, executive producer Bill Evans brought the idea to the world-renowned musicians and producer Peter Collins. Intrigued by the idea and the prospect of working together, the four musicians signed on to form a band and record a first album.
Steve Morse and Dave LaRue have developed magical music chemistry over the years that began early in their careers as partners in DIXIE DREGS. In 1995, Morse subsequently became a member of DEEP PURPLE, while LaRue's ongoing musical adventures include Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Steve Vai, and the aforementioned Portnoy.
Multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer Neal Morse is one of the leading figures in progressive rock, whose notoriety follows his co-founding of the seminal band, SPOCK'S BEARD in 1995, recordings as a solo artist, and contributions to the super-group TRANSATLANTIC.
Mike Portnoy is one of the most popular and respected drummers in both metal and rock, and an accomplished writer and producer. He is the recipient of numerous industry accolades, including 26 Modern Drummer awards, Revolver magazine's Golden God award for "Best Drummer" and Drum magazine's "Drummer Of The Year". He rose to prominence as the leader, drummer, producer, and co-writer for metal/prog juggernaut DREAM THEATER, before moving on in 2010. That same year, he worked on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's #1 album "Nightmare" and their subsequent tour.
It was Portnoy who recommended ALPHA REV's emotive singer Casey McPherson as a contender to join FLYING COLORS. McPherson, whose 2010 Hollywood/Disney album "New Morning" debuted in the Top 5 on two Billboard charts, enjoyed major success at radio with multiple hits. The track "New Morning" spent 17 weeks in the Top 10 on Triple A Radio, and enjoyed a run on VH1's Top 20 Countdown for months. Steve Morse offers, "Casey was a glorious find, because he could make anything sound fantastic, and is a multitalented like the others."
FLYING COLORS convened for just nine days in early 2011, and composed and recorded this album during a short and intense session.
"It was quite an experience," recalls Dave LaRue. "The band moved at a fast pace, ideas flying around the room at all times. Sections of tunes were arranged, and then re-arranged. Ideas were tried every which way until we made them work, or, in some cases, discarded them altogether. Just keeping track of everything was a challenge!" The album is filled with trial and triumph. It's been an inspiring challenge melding folk, prog, pop, and metal all into one big recording."
Touring plans for FLYING COLORS will be announced in the coming months.
PORTAL, the early 1990s project featuring CYNIC masterminds Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert alongside guitarist Jason Gobel, bassist Chris Kringel and female vocalist Aruna Abrams, will have its demo recordings officially released as "The Portal Tapes" on March 27 in North America (four days earlier in Europe) in strictly limited editions of 5,000 digipak CDs and 1,000 vinyl LPs via Season Of Mist.
"I never thought this day would come", Masvidal comments. "A couple demos we'd record after [CYNIC's 1993 debut album] 'Focus', under the name PORTAL, would develop a life of their own, and somehow become part of CYNIC's larger discography. As an artist, it's an amazingly unpredictable journey, to see these quiet labors of love, find their way, in their own time."
CYNIC recently released the "Carbon-Based Anatomy" EP, which has been described as "equal parts KING CRIMSON, TOOL, MUSE and ALLAN HOLDSWORTH." It's a 23-minute transcendent musical journey through the fertile musical minds of Masvidal and Reinert.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
HALFORD guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak has tapped Mike LePond of progressive metallers SYMPHONY X to play bass on Chlasciak's solo album, "The Metalworker".
"I am really excited to have once again being able to work with Mike," said Chlasciak.
"Mike's ability as a musician and bassist are hard to match. He came in unbelievably well prepared and just tore it up as we all expect of him to. It was amazing to see how quickly he works in the studio.
"I would like to thank Mike for his fantastic work!"
He added, "If you are in need for no-apologies screaming heavy metal we all love, then we have the record for you. I'm really looking forward to sharing this with everyone."
Drummer Kevin Talley (DAATH, SIX FEET UNDER, CHIMAIRA, HATE ETERNAL, DYING FETUS) stated about his involvement with "The Metalworker", "As a full-time studio drummer, it is sometimes overwhelming to constantly track ultra-technical brutal death metal songs. But, while tracking 'The Metalworker' album for Metal Mike, it reminds me why I got into metal in the first place … straight-forward brutal catchy riffs without any of the B.S. associated with most metal bands today. This is the 'meat and potatoes' of metal, if you will. It's not one of those 'Can I have a side salad, please?' type of bands. The album plows with killer riffage, ragin' leads, and ultra-sick double bass for days."
"The Metalworker" is currently being mixed at Dead Room Recording Studio in San Antonio, Texas with engineer Orlando Villasenor.
"The Metalworker" additionally features vocal siren Carlos Zema (OUTWORLD).
Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "On Leather Wings", "Don't Shoot The Crown" and "Hell No".
"Imaginaerum", the first album in four years from Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH, has been certified gold in Germany for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.
Commented NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen: "Germany never fails us! Only five weeks since the release and 'Imaginaerum' goes gold! Magical, wondrous, imaginative and grateful times we're living. Huge thanks to all the fans and the fellowship of Nuclear Blast!"
"Imaginaerum" entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 1 and has already been certifield triple platinum in the country after shifting more than 60,000 units.
Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in Finland has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach platinum status in the country from the pre-2010 level of 30,000 to the current 20,000.
The band's first CD since 2007's "Dark Passion Play" — which was then-new singer Anette Olzon's debut — "Imaginaerum" is due in North America on January 10 via Roadrunner Records.
"Imaginaerum" track listing (note that track 12 is broken down into four parts):
01. Taikatalvi 02. Storytime 03. Ghost River 04. Slow, Love, Slow 05. I Want My Tears Back 06. Scaretale 07. Arabesque 08. Turn Loose the Mermaids 09. Rest Calm 10. The Crow, the Owl and the Dove 11. Last Ride of the Day 12. Song Of Myself Song 1: From A Dusty Bookshelf Song 2: All That Great Heart Lying Still Song 3: Piano Black Song 4: Love 13. Imaginaerum
NIGHTWISH will play a "secret" gig under the name RUBBER BAND OF WOLVES at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California on January 19 — two days before the Finnish/Swedish symphonic metal act's world-tour kick-off performance at the Gibson Ampitheater in Universal City. The Universal City concert will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.
The self-titled debut EP from ADRENALINE MOB, which was released last summer, will soon be going out of print. Self-produced by the band, the effort features four original tracks as well as a cover of the Ronnie James Dio-era BLACK SABBATH classic "The Mob Rules". The group states, "We put it out so you all could have a little taste of what this band was going to be about, but with the release of [the ADRENALINE MOB full-length debut] 'Omertà' coming quickly, it's time to take it down. 'Omertà' will have new versions of the four original tracks [that were featured on the EP]. Parts have been re-recorded and the songs have been completely remixed and remastered. Once our current inventory of physical CDs are gone, they will not be re-ordered. The digital version of the EP will be removed from iTunes and other digital outlets here in the U.S. by Friday of this week. We thank all of you who loved the EP and we appreciate all your support!"
The EP is now available for streaming in its entirety using the player below.
ADRENALINE MOB is the new band featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), SYMPHONY X frontman Russell Allen and guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP).
"Omertá" will be released on March 13 via the newly formed Elm City Music in conjunction with EMI Label Services. The 11-song CD — which was produced by ADRENALINE MOB and mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked on ANTHRAX's "Worship Music" and STEEL PANTHER's "Balls Out" — includes a blistering reinterpretation of DURAN DURAN's classic "Come Undone" featuring guest vocals by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.
"Omertá" track listing:
01. Undaunted 02. Psychosane 03. Indifferent 04. All on the Line 05. Hit the Wall 06. Feelin' Me 07. Come Undone (feat. Lzzy Hale) 08. Believe Me 09. Down to the Floor 10. Angel Sky 11. Freight Train
ADRENALINE MOB's first-ever headline tour made stops in various markets, including Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. ADRENALINE MOB also opened for GODSMACK on select dates of the Massachusetts act's headlining tour.
ADRENALINE MOB formed in early 2011 when Orlando approached Allen with some material the guitarist had written. Allen and Orlando refined those ideas, at which time Allen reached out to longtime friend Portnoy to see if he had any interest in playing with them. Portnoy jumped on board and soon thereafter DiLeo and Ward were recruited to join the family. From the very first note, the chemistry was apparent and the beast that is known as ADRENALINE MOB was born.
Guitarist Rich Ward (STUCK MOJO, FOZZY) and bassist Paul DiLeo (FOZZY) announced their departures from ADRENALINE MOB last week due to scheduling conflicts with their other projects.
Queens, New York progressive instrumental trio DYSRHYTHMIA has inked a deal with Profound Lore Records. The band will enter the studio this spring with DYSRHYTHMIA bassist Colin Marston handling production duties to begin recording its next album for a late summer/early fall release. The group states, "We're gonna do our most to make this the best DYSRHYTHMIA [effort] yet."
DYSRHYTHMIA's latest album, "Psychic Maps", was released on CD and LP in July 2009 in via Relapse Records.
DYSRHYTHMIA is:
Jeff Eber - Drums Kevin Hufnagel - Guitar Colin Marston - Bass
