THE SWORD: 'Warp Riders' Artwork Unveiled
Austin, Texas metal luminaries THE SWORD have released of their highly anticipated third full-length, "Warp Riders" (August 24; Kemado Records). The band has finally revealed the album's artwork and will be releasing additional visual companions in the form of an upcoming picture disc and an epic video trilogy.
Paying homage to authors that inspired the album's lyrics, artist Dan McPharlin created an image in the tradition of classic science fiction book covers. THE SWORD will also release a
limited edition hexagon-shaped picture-disc 12-inch single for "(The Night Sky Cried) Tears of Fire".
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BAD COMPANY Announces North American Tour
The original, founding members of BAD COMPANY — Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke — have recently announced that they will reunite for a series of North American concerts this summer. Tentatively set to begin July 16, the odessy will include coast-to-coast dates in the U.S. and Canada throughout the summer, with more possible shows to be added.
Having recently completed their first U.K. tour in more than three decades — a sold-out run culminating with a sold-out show at Wembley — BAD COMPANY's concerts in the U.K. often were star-studded affairs, attracting the likes of Sting, Robert Plant, Tony Iommi and former bandmate from THE FIRM, Jimmy Page, who proclaimed, "Paul Rodgers has been, and still is by far, one of the finest talents of our musical genre…absolutely brilliant."
In March, Warner Music released "The Very Best Of Free And Bad Company Featuring Paul Rodgers". The set debuted on the chart at No. 10 and became BAD COMPANY's first Top 10 U.K. chart appearance in over 30 years, and FREE's first since a "best-of" set released in 1991, remaining on the charts for several weeks.
BAD COMPANY confirmed tour dates:
Jul. 16 - Fantasy Springs Casino - Indio, CA
Jul. 17 - Orange County Fair - Costa Mesa, CA
Jul. 22 - The Lakeland Center Jenkins Arena - Lakeland, FL
Jul. 23 - St. Augustine Amphitheatre - St. Augustine, FL
Jul. 25 - Chastain Park Amphitheatre - Atlanta, GA
Jul. 27 - Bank of America Pavilion - Boston, MA
Jul. 30 - Choctaw Resort Casino Event Center - Durant, OK
Aug. 01 - Outlaw Jam/Frederick Co. Fairgrounds - Frederick, MD
Aug. 04 - Casino Rama Entertainment Center - Rama, Ontario
Aug. 14 - Bike Rally - Port Dover, Ontario
Oct. 04 - Potawatomi Casino - Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 05 - Potawatomi Casino - Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 07 - The Joint/Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Catoosa, OK (Tulsa)
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The White Stripes' Jack White to release Laura Marling single
The White Stripes' Jack White is set to release a single by Laura Marling. White revealed that Marling had recorded in his Nashville studio earlier this year, after "somebody turned me onto her a few months back".
"It was perfect – one take," he told BBC Newsbeat. "She's gorgeous. Gorgeous voice and an incredible person. A wonderful girl."
He added: "If people are coming through town [Nashville] I try to catch up with them and ask them if they want to come by before their show and record something."
A title and release date for the song have yet to be confirmed, but it will be part of White's Third Man Records 'Blue Series' and will be released on
seven-inch vinyl.
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Prince bypasses record stores again with German magazine dealPrince's new album, 20Ten
Prince's new album may not be available in UK music shops or as a digital download. Although details for only two territories have been released so far, 20Ten, the singer's 27th studio album, will be issued in Germany and Belgium as a magazine cover mount. In Germany at least, 20Ten will not be available in record stores or as a download.
The German edition of Rolling Stone announced details of the album this week, offering the 10-song track-listing and promising a free copy with their August issue. Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad announced the same free album deal to take place 10 July, the date of Prince's gig at the Rock Werchter festival. No details of UK or US distribution have yet been revealed, leaving open the possibility of conventional releases, or similar magazine offers.
Prince's music has been distributed with printed publications before. In 2007, the album Planet Earth was only available in the UK with copies of the Mail on Sunday. Although HMV stocked copies of the newspaper, music retailers were furious. Columbia Records opted not to distribute the physical CD in Britain, and even three years later it is not available on shelves or at iTunes.
In the midst of declining physical album sales, deals with newspapers guarantee major acts a pot of cash for their albums. Since Prince's 2007 experiment, artists such as Paul McCartney and McFly have tried the model out.
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CEPHALIC CARNAGE reveal sick cover art for new album
Cephalic Carnage's upcoming release, Misled By Certainty is officially my most anticipated metal release of the summer. I am very very anxious to hear it. The record will be out on August 31st.
