VOIVOD And PORCUPINE TREE Members Contribute To New Metal Book

Bazillion Points Books has announced the late 2010 release of Mean Deviation: Four Decades Of Progressive Heavy Metal, by Jeff Wagner - a former editor of Metal Maniacs magazine and veteran supporter of metal's most risk-taking bands.

Wagner analyzes the heady side of metal in this exhaustive history of a relentlessly ambitious musical subculture. The book features extensive original artwork throughout by VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin, including the lavish front cover which can be viewed at left (click image to enlarge).

The book's foreword was penned by PORCUPINE TREE founder Steven Wilson. Revered in progressive rock circles, the multi-talented Wilson is also highly respected by metalheads as producer of three landmark OPETH albums.

As he writes: "In Jeff Wagner's Mean Deviation, we now have a definitive book on the relationship between metal and progressive music, and the myriad variation of styles that it has given rise to... In the meantime, metal continues to mutate and evolve, sometimes in the most unexpected ways, demonstrating that it is far from spent and is, in fact, the most flexible of musical forms."

Beginning with 1970s progressive rock acts RUSH and KING CRIMSON, Mean Deviation unfurls a colorful tapestry of sounds and styles, from the "Big Three" of 1980s prog metal - QUEENSRŸCHE, FATES WARNING, and DREAM THEATER - to extreme pioneers Voivod, WATCHTOWER, and ARCTURUS. As sparks of inspiration spread to obscure outposts in Scandinavia, Florida, and Japan, progressive metal burst into full creative flame with the successes of prog metal overlords Opeth, MESHUGGAH, TOOL, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and many others.

"One thing prog metal certainly is, is metal," Wagner continues. "Hard and bold and brash, but refined, adulterated, and mutated. Progressive metal is heavy metal taken somewhere illuminating and sometimes bizarre."

Weighing in at 400 pages, the heavily-illustrated book includes a 16-page color photo insert, a constellation of appendixes, and a full index. For more information, and to pre-order, visit this location.

OPETH Keyboardist Discusses Band's 20th Anniversary

Altsounds.com recently conducted an interview with keyboardist Per Wiberg of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Altsounds.com: You guys have been around for 20 years yourselves now, How do you feel about being considered a legendary act in your own right?

Per: Legendary is maybe a bit too much. Call us a band that's been around for 20 years. (laughs) I don't know... I think there's a few bands from our generation who have been around for a long time and I guess people enjoy continuity because it means everyone is enjoying what they are doing if they do it for a long time. Music is everything to everyone in this band so I hope that has something to do with it. You can only write and play the music you do; you can never count on people coming to the shows and buying the albums.

Altsounds.com: How was playing the Royal Albert Hall?

Per: It was different but very cool, also a classic venue as well. We've seen loads of live DVDs filmed there and the venue showcased on Swedish TV so its kind of mindblowing to walk into that venue during the day when none of the audience were there, but then it's a busy day so you forget it and get into the groove.

Altsounds.com: The show is being released on DVD as OPETH live at the Royal Albert Hall. When you put that package together did you at all discuss releasing all the other shows from the mini tour on DVD?

Per: It's a cost thing, especially if you are going to film every show, depending on what type of filming you want. This was filmed like all our other DVDs so that's pretty costly. I don't think it was ever considered but we have recordings of every show, but since it's a "Live At The Albert Hall" DVD that's what's being released now. I don't know if, or how, any of the other stuff is ever going to be released.

Altsounds.com: The "Evolution XX" shows you did worldwide to celebrate the anniversary of the band and release of "Blackwater Park" were a special treat for the fans. How did the idea for those shows come about?

Per: Firstly, Mikael [Åkerfeldt, guitar/vocals] said last year, "We turn 20 years next year. What should we do?" Maybe we could go to a pub in Stockholm somewhere and bring some gear and if any of our friends wanna play a song or two they can and we'll drink beer. (Laughs) And it escalated from there to "Let's do a show at Royal Albert Hall." And then it was, "Well, let's do more shows in L.A. and New York if we can fit them in as well. When we had the Royal Albert Hall date confirmed. we booked the rest."

WOLVERINE Taps JACOB HANSEN For New Album Mix

Swedish progressive metallers WOLVERINE have tapped Danish producer Jacob Hansen to mix their long-awaited new album, "Communication Lost", for a tentative early 2011 release. The mixing sessions are taking place at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark and "the first snippet we've heard of the opening track sounds amazing," according to WOLVERINE vocalist Stefan Zell.

WOLVERINE's last album, "Still", was released in the U.S. in July 2006 via Candlelight Records. The CD was recorded in part at Spacelab studio in Tönisvorst, Germany. The follow-up to 2003's "Cold Light of Monday" was produced by Oliver Philipps, Christian "Moschus" Moos and WOLVERINE and was mixed at the end of August 2005.

'An Introduction To Syd Barrett' Coming From EMI/Harvest In October

On October 4th, 2010, 'An Introduction to Syd Barrett' is released in the UK and Europe by EMI/Harvest Records. It is a brand new collection that will bring together for the first time the tracks of Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett on one compilation.

UPDATE: It's been revealed that this release will include the previously-unreleased 20-minute instrumental 'Rhamadan'. Produced by former Pink Floyd and Syd co-manager Peter Jenner, the list of musicians is lost in the mists of time, though it's rumoured to include congas by Steve Peregrine Took of Tyrannosaurus Rex. It is to be offered as an extra downloadable track with the CD (via an auxiliary Website), and also the iTunes version of the album.

David Gilmour, who originally worked with Syd Barrett on the solo albums by co-producing 'The Madcap Laughs' and as producer of 'Barrett' has taken the role of executive producer for the album and has, along with Damon Iddins and Andy Jackson at Astoria Studios, remixed five tracks including Octopus, She Took A Long Cold Look, Dominoes and Here I Go on which David Gilmour has added and played bass guitar. Pink Floyd's Matilda Mother also receives a fresh 2010 mix. Brand new artwork has been provided by Storm Thorgerson and his estimable studio.

Here's the track listing of this album:

1. Arnold Layne (2010 Digital Remaster)
2. See Emily Play (2010 Digital Remaster)
3. Apples And Oranges (2010 Digital Remaster)
4. Matilda Mother (Alternative Version) (2010 Mix)
5. Chapter 24 (2010 Digital Remaster)
6. Bike (2010 Digital Remaster)
7. Terrapin (2010 Digital Remaster)
8. Love You (2010 Digital Remaster)
9. Dark Globe (2010 Digital Remaster)
10. Here I Go (2010 Remix)
11. Octopus (2010 Mix)
12. She Took A Long Cold Look (2010 Mix)
13. If It's In You (2010 Digital Remaster)
14. Baby Lemonade (2010 Digital Remaster)
15. Dominoes (2010 Mix)
16. Gigolo Aunt (2010 Digital Remaster)
17. Effervescing Elephant (2010 Digital Remaster)
18. Bob Dylan Blues (2010 Digital Remaster)
Extra download. Rhamadam (available on purchase of CD or iTunes download)

We're intrigued as to how the new mixes and remasters sound; in terms of tracks selected, it is a nice mix of band stuff and solo material, and will indeed prove an interesting introduction to Barrett and his music for the newcomer. Many fans will be buying this, of course, for the additional download available of the 20-minute Rhamadam...

KATATONIA TO RELEASE SPECIAL US TOUR EDITION OF 'NIGHT IS THE NEW DAY'

On September 8th Sweden's ultimate progressive metal band, Katatonia, will kick off their North American tour - the "Night Over North America" tour - in Baltimore. To coincide with the 26-date US and Canadian tour, Peaceville Records will release a special edition of the acclaimed 2009 studio album, Night Is The New Day, in a hardback mediabook, with 20 page booklet, and bonus track, "Ashen". The special edition Night Is The New Day will be available on August 24th.

Now the band is set to unleash their brand of melancholy metal on North America, headlining the MetalSucks.net sponsored, "Night Over North America" tour, alongside Swallow The Sun and Orphaned Land. A teaser trailer for the forthcoming headlining US tour can be seen at: http://www.vimeo.com/12823455
TOUR DATES
Sept. 8 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
Sept. 9 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
Sept. 10 - New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre
Sept .11 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Sept. 12 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada @ Petit Campus
Sept. 13 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada @ Opera House
Sept. 14 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
Sept. 15 - Detroit, MI @ Blondie´s
Sept. 16 - Milwaukee, WI @ Rave
Sept. 17 - Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club
Sept. 18 - St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
Sept. 21 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Sept. 22 - Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater
Sept. 23 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Sept. 24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Parkside
Sept. 25 - Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre
Sept. 26 - West Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky
Sept. 28 - Mesa, AZ @ U.B.´s Bar
Sept. 29 - Tucson, AZ @ Club DV8
Sept. 30 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
Oct. 1 - Austin, TX @ Emo's Alternative Lounging
Oct. 2 - Houston, TX @ The Warsaw
Oct. 4 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Oct. 5 - Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasants
Oct. 6 - Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11
Oct. 7 - West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx

Shadow Circus To Play Progday 2010

For 15 years guitarist JOHN FONTANA played in numerous bands on the NYC music scene. Then he set out to create music on his own that recalled his progressive rock roots. During the process he met four other musicians who enthusiastically embraced the developing music, and SHADOW CIRCUS was born.
Often inspired by literary works from the likes of Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, the music of SHADOW CIRCUS pulls from the progressive past, yet is firmly anchored in today. The symphonic label with which their recordings are usually categorized only serves to indicate a small portion of SHADOW CIRCUS's diversity of musical exploration. Epic tracks, ballads, theatrical presentations, in-your-face rockers and everything in between are all delivered with impeccable musicianship and style. While bands like SPOCK'S BEARD, STYX, THE TANGENT and CRACK THE SKY are sometimes used to reference their sound, SHADOW CIRCUS's personal mix of adventurousness, accessibility, drama and fun carves out its own place in the world of modern prog.

SHADOW CIRCUS is joined by Flash, Mars Hollow, The Muffins, Half Past Four and Mahogany Frog at ProgDay 2010. ProgDay is the longest running progressive rock festival in the world. The 16th edition will take place on Saturday, September 4, and Sunday, September 5, at Storybook Farm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For more information, and to hear music from this year's bands, please visit us at www.progday.net. Two more bands to be announced!

Cambridge Rock Festival Adds More Bands This Week

CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL
***
5-6-7-8 August
On the outskirts of Cambridge, UK
M11, Junction 12

Progrock UK are co-sponsoring the second stage at the festival on Friday 6th August 2010 with our friends at the Classic Rock Society. The concert starts at 11am, and we have some great bands for you, including:

Parallel or Ninety Degrees
Destroy All Monsters (previously the Declan Burke Band)
The Dreaming Tree
Crimson Sky
Final Conflict
Dawn Trader
Winter In Eden
Flaming June

Other Prog bands playing at the festival include Mostly Autumn, The Enid, Breathing Space, Kyrbgrinder, Panic Room, IOEarth, and The Pure Floyd Show, as well as some great rock bands including Moody Murray's Whitesnake (Monsters of British Rock), Tygers Of Pan Tang, Deborah Bonham, Oliver Dawson Saxon, Freeway, and many more.

Visit www.cambridgerockfestival.co.uk for more information and to book tickets.