Music News & Notes

Necronoclast ASHES due February 22, 2011

Necronoclast has issued the following update about the release date for the band's new album:

"The new Necronoclast album 'Ashes' will be released on February 22, 2011 through Moribund Record.! The wicked cover art by US artist Gabriel Byrne has been added to the Necronoclast website, along with the new album track listing. You can expect to be crushed into dust..."







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Judas Priest Announces Retirement And Farewell Tour

British heavy metal band vets Judas Priest, certainly one of the most influential and most popular heavy metal bands of all time, have announced that they are to perform one more world tour and then retire as a band. The band will be performing at several European festivals next year, including Graspop, Wacken and High Voltage. More dates and statements from band members are to be released soon.

Let's hope they go on forever!!





The tour dates are as follows:

June 9 - Sweden Rock - Solvesborg, Sweden
June 11 - Sauna Festival - Finland
June 17 - Copenhell Festival - Copenhagen, Denmark
June 19 - Hellfest - Nantes, France
June 22 - Gods of Metal Festival - Milan, Italy
June 25 - Graspop Festival - Belgium
July 23 - High Voltage Festival - London, UK
August 5 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany

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Elvis Costello To Release Vinyl-Only Outtakes EP

Elvis Costello has recently announced the release of 'National Ransack,' a vinyl-only EP of outtakes from his latest album 'National Ransom' that will be in independent music stores on Tuesday, December 21st.

Costello offered a short statement about the physical Extended Play format on his website:

"The first record for which I ever slapped down my own pocket money was a vinyl E.P. It was ‘Twist And Shout’ by The Beatles. For more than 45 years, record shops have been my reference library, my college and occasionally something like a church. I've happily left a small fortune in the collection plate. We should defend and celebrate those still open for business with our last breath. Music takes time. My first record label released three 45rpm singles to very little fanfare before it ever became clear that this music lark might become my livelihood and it has been quite lively, now and then. So, if this Extended Play release should be my last as we presently know them, it's a fine way to go out. At least until someone comes up with pill that allows us to hear new music. I believe scientists are working on this as I write"

National Ransack Tracklisting:

1. Poor Borrowed Dress
2. Big Boys Cry
3. I Don’t Want To Go Home
4. Condemned Man

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Double-LP Vinyl Version Of 'Dio At Donington UK: Live 1983 And 1987' Being Issued

'Dio At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987,' the double-disc set which is the first official release from Niji Entertainment Group, the label formed by the late Ronnie James Dio and his wife/manager Wendy Dio, is about to get a glorious vinyl release. On February 15, 2011, the album will be issued as a double-vinyl set with deluxe gatefold packaging, and on 180-gram vinyl — the first-ever DIO album to be released in this high-quality vinyl format.