Legendary Metal Band SAINT VITUS Announces U.S. Tour

     World famous doom metal band SAINT VITUS has announced a U.S. headlining tour; it's first since 1993. The award winning group -- featuring guitarist Dave Chandler, vocalist Scott "Wino"Weinrich, bassist Mark Adams and drummer Henry Vasquez -- will kick off the five week long jaunt on September 14 in Little Rock, AR. Presented by ScionAV and Brooklyn Vegan, the tour will run through October 19 and will include support from both Weedeater and Sourvein. SAINT VITUS will be touring in support of its recently released eighth studio album, titled Lillie: F-65.        

     "We're stoked to destroy America again; the last SAINT VITUS U.S. headlining tour was in 1993," commented Dave Chandler. "This time we'll be playing "Lillie" as well as fan favorites and some old surprises.  Leave your ear plugs at home and come bleed with us."

 SAINT VITUS: U.S. Headlining Tour 2012
w/ guests Weedeater & Sourvein

September 14      Little Rock, AR       Rev Room
September 15      Memphis, TN          Hi-Tone Cafe
September 16      Nashville, TN           Exit / In
September 18      Atlanta, GA            The Masquerade (upstairs)
September 19      Raleigh, NC            Lincoln Theatre
September 20      Richmond, VA         Kingdom
September 21      Huntington, WV       Club V
September 22      Lexington, KY          Boomslang Festival

GRAVEYARD – announce next albums title + release date, discuss cover art!

Swedish up and coming blues rockers, GRAVEYARD, have set "Lights Out“ as the title for the bands next album.

"Lights Out“ is set to be released October 26, 2012 via Nuclear Blast.

The band has released the following statements regarding the albums title and cover art.

Commented drummer Axel Sjöberg about the album title. "The title "Lights Out“ sums up the feeling of the new album, and a feeling that we have. That these times that we live in are strange times, where no one really sees anything straight/the way they are".

About the cover of the upcoming album, Sjöberg adds, "We all know that both we and pretty much everyone was really excited about the cover of "Hisingen Blues“, so we had to come up with a really strong idea to match the strength of that cover. It's just about finished now, but even without having seen the final version, we are convinced that no one will be disappointed by the cover to "Lights Out“. We've worked with several people that all added their part, and as the saying goes in Sweden: the sum of the parts is bigger than the parts alone. So sharpen your raven's hatches and get ready for "Lights Out“.

FIGHT AMP premier 'Birth Control' cover art for their upcoming record “Birth Control” (out 9/25)

Philly transplants by way of New Jersy's FIGHT AMP premier the cover art for their new upcoming full length “Birth Control”, out September 25th. Newly anointed drummer Dan Smith, who plays drums on “Birth Control” designed and illustrated the album art and layout for the band’s new record.

New York Psych Rock Band NAAM Premieres EPIC New Music Video "THE STARCHILD"

Brooklyn psychedelic rock band NAAM has released its new music video "The Starchild" from its recently released EP The Ballad of the Starchild. As the song unfolds, the video weaves into epic Egyptian lore, touching on the myth of Osiris, Isis and Horus "as told in three acts" and laden with symbology that aludes to the pagan "Killing of the King" ritual, the worship of higher beings from the constellation Orion and NASA's Apollo mission (!!). Directed by Zev Deans for Panorama Programming (Liturgy, Chelsea Wolfe), the video is an insane journey and surely unlike anything you've ever seen.

     Released this past May, The Ballad of the Starchild was recorded in BKLYN's Galuminum Foil Studios and mastered at NYC's world famous Masterdisk (Miles Davis, Nirvana, etc.), showcasing NAAM's most forward-thinking material to date. The new music on the EP has been called "far-out space jams" and "epic, blissful nuggetoids" that are "just beggin' to play through your headphones. On your beanbag chair. Under flourescent lights illuminating glowing velvet posters of big-titty Frank Frazetta chicks with pet panthers and a Loc-Nar pendant (Blurt)." NAAM will perform live alongside Andrew WK at the 2012 Bushwick Block Party (FREE!) tomorrow in Brooklyn before launching a European tour in support of The Ballad of the Starchild on August 1.

      There are very few bands in the known universe that can draw upon such varied influences as The Stooges, Hawkwind and Can, but NAAM certainly fits the bill. With The Ballad of the Starchild, NAAM creates spacey, spacious, garage-bluesy kraut-psych with an epic scope and altered state intergalactic musings about time, space and the future.  A vintage-sounding offering that manages to include elements of trance rock, acid-blues and psychedelic star-gazing, The Ballad of the Starchild is the perfect accompaniment for "exploring inner space and imagining outer space." 

NORSKA: Debut To See Release, Announce Tour with YOB

Portland, OR doom / sludge titans NORSKA (featuring members of YOB) are set to unleash their debut release on September 18th via Brutal Panda Records.  The 5 song, 40 minute eponymous debut was recorded by Adam Bradley Pike (BLACK ELK, RED FANG) at Toadhouse Studios in the band’s hometown.  Mixing heavy, meditative riffs and a thundering rhythm section with psychedelic flourishes, NORSKA prove they are true masters of their craft.  

In addition, the band has lined up a September tour with the mighty YOB, who also share bassist Aaron Rieseberg.  A complete listing of dates is listed below including select shows with SAINT VITUS, WEEDEATER, RWAKE, ACID KING & CORMORANT.

US Tour Dates with YOB:

09/07 Boise, ID – Shredder
09/08 Salt Lake City, UT – Burt’s Tiki Lounge
09/09 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
09/10 Lincoln, NB – Burbon Theater
09/11 Dubuque, IA – Off Minor
09/12 Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
09/13 St. Louis, MI – Fubar
09/14 Little Rock, AR – Rev Room (feat. Saint Vitus, Weedeater, Rwake)
09/15 Dallas, TX – La Grange
09/16 Austin, TX – Beauty Ballroom (feat. Cormorant)
09/18 Phoenix/Tempe, AZ – Rogue (feat. Cormorant)
09/19 San Diego, CA – Casbah (feat. Cormorant)
09/20 Los Angeles, CA – Down & Out (feat. Cormorant)
09/21 San Francisco, CA – Brick & Mortar (feat. Acid King)
09/22 Arcata, CA – Alibi
09/23 Eugene, OR – Oak St Speakeasy

WITCHCRAFT: 'It's Not Because Of You' Single Details

via Blabbermouth

 "It's Not Because Of You", a brand new song from Swedish doom metal kings WITCHCRAFT, will be made available via the band's Facebook profile on Monday, July 30. The track will released digitally via iTunes as well as on limited seven-inch vinyl on Friday, August 17. The single will also include a special non-album cut called "Take Me With You When You Die". The vinyl version will be issued in at least three different-color versions — black, copper and green — and made available via Nuclear Blast mailorder only.

"It's Not Because Of You" comes off WITCHCRAFT's fourth album, "Legend", which will be released on September 21 via the band's new label home, Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2007's "The Alchemist" was recorded with renowned producer Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (KREATOR, OPETH, AMON AMARTH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA) in Örebro, Sweden. The CD marks the recording debut of the band's new members Simon Solomon (guitar), Tom Jondelius (guitar) and Oscar Johansson (drums). Going forward, WITCHCRAFT leader Magnus Pelander will focus on his unique vocals without playing guitar anymore.

"Legend" track listing:

01. Deconstruction
02. Flag Of Fate
03. It's Not Because Of You
04. An Alternative To Freedom
05. Ghosts House
06. White Light Suicide
07. Democracy
08. Dystopia
09. Dead End

Limited digipack + LP bonus track:

10. By Your Definition

Commented Pelander: "A friend of mine had an idea about a cover for 'Legend'. I developed the idea and gave it back to my friend who then passed it on to another friend who happened to be a designer. The designer then pushed it in a new direction. The result is already legendary."

Added bass player Ola Henriksson: "The album cover is meant to reflect the music and I think it does that with its heavy, dark and clean design."

WITCHCRAFT, who formed in 2000 in tribute to band heroes Roky Erickson and Bobby Liebling (PENTAGRAM), create heavy, blues-based rock augmented with touches of psychedelica and late '60s pop flourishes. The quartet's first-class songs reference the darker side of hard rock while remaining surprisingly accessible. Flying largely under the radar of the popular music landscape previously, WITCHCRAFT is a hallowed name in underground circles and has found itself championed by a diverse cross-section of distinguished music adherents including American actor Elijah Wood, who publicly called the band "amazing," and DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo, who in 2009 proudly proclaimed WITCHCRAFT as his "new favorite band."

Recorded 100% pro-tools and digital free at Stockholm's UpandRunning studios with producer Tom Hakava and using only vintage amplification, WITCHCRAFT's latest album, "The Alchemist", showcases a group of musicians at ease with their playing and songwriting. Addictive melodies flow simultaneously with catchy, heavy riffs, while maintaining a relaxed and laid back feel throughout. Among its many highlights, the album features the standout songs "Walk Between the Lines" and "Hey Doctor" as well as the record's plat du jour, the three-part progressive rock odyssey of the title track "The Alchemist".

Founding Deep Purple Keyboardist Jon Lord Dead At 71

 

VIA VH1.com - Heavy music fans the world over are mourning the death today of Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord. He died from a pulmonary embolism this morning after battling pancreatic cancer for several years and passed away surrounded by family at the London Clinic.

Lord was a founding member of the seminal hard rock band who are known as one of “The Big Three” of early heavy metal, alongside fellow countrymen Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Formed in London in 1968, the band’s galloping rhythms and neo-classical flourishes expanded and forever influenced metal’s musical language. Their landmark 1972 release Machine Head is one of rock’s essential albums, containing such standards as “Smoke On The Water,” “Highway Star” and “Space Truckin.’” Throughout their discography, Lord’s virtuosic keyboard playing might be the bands most innovative aspect. In a genre primarily known for loud and distorted guitar riffs, his thick and aggressive keyboards gave many of Deep Purple’s heaviest songs their actual heft.

After the band’s dissolution in 1976, Jon Lord played in later-day Purple singer David Coverdale’s band Whitesnake before re-joining the reconstituted Deep Purple in 1984. He retired from Deep Purple in 2002 but continued making music, most recently with the supergroup WhoCares, featuring Deep Purple “Mach II” singer Ian Gillan and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi among others.

VENOMOUS MAXIMUS Unleashes New Video "The Mission"

Celebrated Houston metal band VENOMOUS MAXIMUS has announced summer U.S. tour dates set to kick off tonight in Dallas, TX.  The much talked about group -- described as "metal demons" by the Houston Press -- will hit twelve cities over the course of the two week "Hell Heroes Tour", bringing its "eye opening" and "electric" live show to new states and towns along the way.  In celebration of the tour kick off, AOL's Noisecreep presents the premiere of the new VENOMOUS MAXIMUS music video "The Mission", calling the twisted clip "trippy". Check out the AOL premiere of VENOMOUS MAXIMUS' "The Mission" now at this location! 

 Since its formation in 2010, VENOMOUS MAXIMUS has shared the stage with like-minded bands such as Mastodon, The Sword, Graveyard, Red Fang, Torche and Priestess and was named Houston's "Best Metal Band" at the 2011 Houston Press Music Awards.  VENOMOUS MAXIMUS gurgles with the sounds of proto-metal gods Pentagram and Blue Cheer as well as new-school leaders like High on Fire while the head space of the band falls "somewhere between a Alejandro Jodorowsky film and a New Orleans voodoo den."  The buzz in Texas for VENOMOUS MAXIMUS exists for a reason - this band is not to be missed live!! 
                            
VENOMOUS MAXIMUS: U.S. tour dates: 
    
     July 13   Dallas, TX           406 ARTS (Formerly the Phoenix Project, w/ Maleveller)
     July 14   Little Rock, AR     Downtown Music (w/ Iron Tongue)
     July 15   Nashville, TN        Springwater w/ Stallion
     July 17   Indianapolis, IN    Indy Jukebox
     July 18   Chicago, IL           Reggies (w/ The Gates of Slumber and Hammers of Misfortune) 
     July 19   Cleveland, OH      Tower 2012
     July 20   New York, NY        Santos Party House
     July 21   Philadelphia, PA  Barbary - (Early show)
     July 22   Richmond, VA       Wonderland (w/ Fire Faithful)  
     July 25   Atlanta, GA           The Drunken Unicorn
     July 26   Birmingham, AL   The Nick (w/ Stoned Cobra) 
     July 27   New Orleans, LA   Siberia (w/ Earthen Grave)

Saint Vitus - Let Them Fall [Music Video]

Don't miss the interview with Wino in Occult Rock Magazine coming soon!

Kavadar; "Goddess of Dawn" Video, Debut album July 17

Fast rising hard rock band KADAVAR will release its self titled debut Kadavar in North America on July 17 via Tee Pee Records. Boasting an absolutely killer sound that will find immediate appeal with fans of Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Sir Lord Baltimore, Witchcraft and Graveyard, KADAVAR's thunderous gloom sounds as if it was "dug out and dusted off" and is the absolute apotheosis of the "Sabbath sound". You might want to rock a monk's robe or a space suit for this one!

      MTV IGGY just premiered the new KADAVAR song "Goddess of Dawn", and says the band "has an evident intimate familiarity with the deeply planted, leaden roots of psych, prog, doom and stoner rock" and "proves that there's still much to be discovered within the possibilities of sludgy, bluesy metal".  Check out KADAVAR's "Goddess of Dawn" now!