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UPCOMING RELEASES

Orange Goblin - A Eulogy For The Damned 2/13/12 (World, 2/14 U.S.)

Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II 2/14/12

Pelican - Ataraxia/Taraxis EP 4/10/12

Ufomammut - Oro: Opus Primum (April 2012), Oro: Opus Alter (Sept 2012)

Local Shows and one-off dates will be posted on the message boards.

2/8/12 From http://www.facebook.com/billwardsabbath
Dear Sabbath Fans, Fellow Musicians and Interested Parties,
At this time, I would love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour. However, I am unable to continue unless a "signable" contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band. Last year, I worked diligently in good faith with Tony, Ozzy and Geezer. And on 11/11/11, again in good faith, I participated in the L.A. press conference. Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another "unsignable" contract was handed to me.
Let me say that although this has put me in some kind of holding pattern, I am packed and ready to leave the U.S. for England. More importantly, I definitely want to play on the album, and I definitely want to tour with Black Sabbath.
Since the news of Tony's illness, and the understanding that the band would move production to the U.K., I've spent every day getting to or living in a place of readiness to leave. That involves something of a task, and as I've tried to find out what's going on with the U.K. sessions, I've realized that I've been getting "the cold shoulder" (and, I might add, not for the first time). Feeling somewhat ostracized, my guess is as of today, I will know nothing of what's happening unless I sign "the unsignable contract."
The place I'm in feels lousy and lonely because as much as I want to play and participate, I also have to stand for something and not sign on. If I sign as-is, I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician. I believe in freedom and freedom of speech. I grew up in a hard rock/metal band. We stood for something then, and we played from the heart with honesty and sincerity. I am in the spirit of integrity, far from the corporate malady, I am real and honest, fair and compassionate.
If I'm replaced, I have to face you, the beloved Sabbath fans. I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath lineup as promoted. Without fault finding, I want to assure everyone that my loyalty to Sabbath is intact.
So here I am. I lay my truth down before you. I'm good to go IF I get a "signable" contract. I don't want to let anyone down, especially Black Sabbath and all the Sabbath fans. You know I love you. It would be a sad day in Rock if this current situation fell to the desires of a few.
My position is not greed-driven. I'm not holding out for a "big piece" of the action (money) like some kind of blackmail deal. I’d like something that recognizes and is reflective of my contributions to the band, including the reunions that started fourteen years ago. After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract. I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I've brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning.
That's the story so far.
Stay safe and stay strong.
I love every single one of you.
Bill Ward

1/20/12 Electric Wizard have begun brewing their next album. Material has been demoed 'at a secret location' and 2 tracks are set to appear as a 7" to be released at the forthcoming London Forum show on March 31st. Other live appearances include:
Sat. May 27th: Maryland Deathfest
Fri. June 10th: Sweden Rock
Fri. June 17th: Rabarock, Estonia
Sun. June 19th: Hellfest, France
Sat. June 25th: Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Fri. July 22nd: Tuska, Helsinki, Finland
Sat. July 23rd: High Voltage, London

Pelican will be releasing a new 4 song EP entitled Ataraxia/Taraxis in April via Southern Lord...and touring as well:
4/6/12 Dunk! Festival - Zottegem, BE
4/7/12 The Garage - London, UK w/ Chelsea Wolfe
4/8/12 Vudu Club - Birmingham, UK w/ Chelsea Wolfe
4/9/12 Brudenell Social Club - Leeds, UK
4/10/12 Stereo - Glasgow, UK
4/11/12 The Ruby Lounge - Manchester, UK
4/12/12 The Haunt - Brighton, UK
4/13/12 The Cooler - Bristol, UK
4/14/12 Roadburn Festival - Tilburg, Netherlands
4/15/12 La Maronquinerie - Paris, France
4/16/12 Jubez - Karlsruhe, Germany w/ Tombs
4/17/12 Bad Bonn - Dudingen, Switzerland
4/18/12 Magnolia - Milan, Italy
4/19/12 Feierwerk - Munich, Germany w/ Tombs
4/20/12 Cassiopeia - Berlin, Germany w/ Tombs
4/21/12 Nosturi - Helsinki, Finland

12/21/11 High on Fire are holed up in salem, MA recording a new album with producer and Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou. Expect a release sometime this spring/summer.

Get this...YOB will be heading out on tour with Tool next year. I shit you not:
1/28/12 The new Garden - Boston, MA
1/29/12 Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJ
1/31/12 Mohegan Sun Arena - Uncasville, CT
2/1/12 Izod Center - East Rutherford, NJ
2/3/12 TBA
2/4/12 Bojangles' Coliseum - Charlotte, NC
2/6/12 Bank Atlantic Center - Sunrise, FL
2/7/12 UCF Arena - Orlando, FL
2/8/12 Gwinnett Center Arena - Duluth, GA

Ministry have signed a worldwide deal with AFM Records. Expect a comeback album 'Relapse' in March.

12/14/11 Ufomammut have completed their next album, (and first for Neurot) a 2 part opus with the first due in April. Vinyl will be handled by Supernatural Cat Records.

Black Cobra are currently on the road:
12/14/11 AS220 - Providence, RI w/Zoroaster, The Body
12/15/11 Black Cat - Washington, DC w/Zoroaster, The Body
12/16/11 Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA w/Zoroaster, The Body
12/17/11 Siberia - New Orleans, LA w/Zoroaster, The Body
12/19/11 Emo’s - Austin, TX w/Zoroaster, The Body
12/20/11 The Conservatory - Oklahoma City, OK w/Zoroaster, The Body
12/21/11 Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM
12/22/11 Rogue - Scottsdale, AZ
12/23/11 The Z - San Luis Obispo, CA
12/27/11 Star Theater - Portland, OR
12/28/11 Highline - Seattle, WA
12/31/11 Elbo Room - San Francisco, CA

Philly favorites Stinking Lizaveta have signed with Exile On Mainstream Records for their 7th upcoming album, due in fall of 2012.

10/27/11 Orange Goblin have a new album (A Eulogy For The Damned) on the way in Feb, and a tour lined up:
11/13/11 Candlefest - Moho Live, Manchester
12/3/11 Hard Rock Hell V - Prestatyn, North Wales
12/17/11 The Underworld - Camden, London
1/14/12 Club Zeljeznicar - Zagreb, Croatia
4/7/12 Desertfest @ The Underworld - London
4/8/12 The Fleece - Bristol
4/9/12 The Old Bell - Derby
4/10/12 Classic Grand - Glasgow
4/11/12 Sound Control - Manchester
4/12/12 The Garage - Swansea
4/13/12 The White Rabbit - Plymouth
4/14/12 o2 Academy - Oxford
4/20/12 The Pint - Dublin
4/21/12 Spring & Airbrake - Belfast
6/15–17/12 Hellfest - Clisson, France (Exact date TBA)
8/11/12 Bloodstock Open Air Fest - Derbyshire

9/8/11 Italy's fantastic Ufomammut have signed with Neurot Recordings, they'll be on the road in Europe:
Sept. 14th Groovestation - Dresden Germany
Sept. 15th Festaal Kreuzberg - Berlin Germany
Sept. 16th Stengade - Copenaghen - Denmark
Sept. 17th Inkonst - Malmo - Sweden
Sept. 18th Blitz - Oslo - Norway
Sept. 19th Truck Stop Alaska - Goteborg - Sweden
Sept. 21st Nuclear Night Club - Oulu - Finland
Sept. 22nd Lutakko - Jyväskylä - Finland
Sept. 23rd Yo-talo - Tampere - Finland
Sept. 24th Korjaamo - Helsinki - Finland
Sept. 26th Molotow - Hamburg - Germany
Sept. 27th Underground - Cologne - Germany
Sept. 28th 013 - Tilburg - Netherlands
Sept. 29th Bastard Club - Osnabrück - Germany
Sept. 30th Baroeg - Rotterdam - Netherlands
Oct. 1st Het Depot - Leuven - B
Oct. 3rd The Croft - Bristol - UK
Oct. 4th - The Well - Leeds - UK
Oct. 5th - The Continental - Preston - UK
Oct. 6th Purple Turtle - London - UK
Oct. 7th - Nouveau Casino - Paris - France
Oct. 8th - Gaswerk - Winterthur - CH
Oct. 9th - Les Caves Du Manoir - Martigny - CH

Sleep have been confirmed to headline Roadburn 2012...Om will also do a set. www.roadburn.com

Western MA groovy viking doom wonders Black Pyramid have broken up...guitarist/vocalist Andy Beresky has apparently left music altogether. Their 2nd album, Black Pyramid II will still come out on Meteor City at some point. Didn't see that coming, this sucks...I really dug that band.

Old News Archives

On May 5, 1993, the mutilated bodies of three second-graders were found in a wooded area near West Memphis, Ark. With no leads and not much left at the crime dump site, the police in this part of the bible belt were desperate and under pressure to place blame. One month later the police found their scapegoats...After being pressured for hours by police, Jessie Miskelley, an easily impressionable boy with an I.Q. of only 72 (aged 17), voluntarily confessed to participating in the brutal slayings. His confession (which was withdrawn almost immediately) implicated local outcasts and "weirdos" Jason Baldwin, 16, and Damien Echols, 18 -- deemed "Devil worshipers" for wearing black, listening to heavy metal music, and generally not being bible thumpers. Public opinion condemned the teens long before their trials began. Even though Miskelley's confession conflicted with many facts and details of the crime, and no real evidence proving the boys were at fault was found, they were convicted because the prosecution painted them as devil worshippers, using the way they dress and the music they listen to against them. They were different. Now 3 fellow metalheads sit behind bars (one on death row) for a crime they no doubt DIDN'T commit. THIS COULD BE YOU... MORE