Music News & Notes

THE FEW AGAINST MANY: Entire Debut Album Available For Streaming -

"Sot", the debut album from former SCAR SYMMETRY vocalist Christian Älvestam's THE FEW AGAINST MANY project (in which he plays rhythm guitar and sings), is available for streaming in its entirety at Terrorizer.com. (Note: The stream will be available until September 13.)

"Sot" will be released on September 15 via Pulverised Records. The effort will be made available in a super jewel box format and limited digipack format edition. "Sot" will also receive an exclusive vinyl version edition release, also via Pulverised. It will be available in two different formats: gatefold sleeve with black vinyl and gatefold sleeve with picture-disc vinyl (both formats will be strictly limited to 250 copies each).

"Sot" ("Soot" in English) was recorded at Panic Room studios with producer Tomas "Plec" Johansson and features lyrical contributions from Mikael Stanne (DARK TRANQUILITY) and Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA, BLOODBATH). The cover artwork (see below) was created by acclaimed artist Dan Seagrave (MORBID ANGEL, ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, SUFFOCATION).

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X Classic Gets 180 Gram Vinyl Reissue

(PR) It's no secret that vinyl is back and the demand for this format is soaring. So, we at Porterhouse Records have created a new imprint, Prime Vinyl specifically focusing on releasing fan favorites and out-of-print gems in the 12" vinyl format.

The first scheduled Prime Vinyl release will be "Wild Gift," the second studio album from Los Angeles' greatest punk rock act ever X, which will arrive in stores October 6, 2009.

Hailed by Rolling Stone Magazine as "the finest American punk album ever" "Wild Gift" has long been considered one of the most relevant recordings of it's time and stands as a landmark to the originality and creativity of the Los Angeles quartet. Out of print in vinyl format for well over 15 years, long time fans will appreciate the time and care that has gone into creating this re-issue product. Including re-mastered audio at today's highest standards, 180 Gram premium vinyl and dead accurate artwork and lyric sheet reproductions as per the original Slash and Electra releases.

Prime Vinyl, will be releasing 3 of the bands first 4 albums in their original format. "Under The Big Black Sun", and "More Fun In Then New World", will also be getting the treatment, and are scheduled for release in the spring of 2010. The members of X themselves are overseeing and will approve all of these re-issues to ensure that they are true to the originals in every way. We look forward to bringing these titles to X fans everywhere.

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Switchfoot Set New Album Release

On November 10, Atlantic Records will release Hello Hurricane, the seventh full-length album from the multi-Platinum, San Diego-based rock band Switchfoot.
Hello Hurricane is the group's first album on Atlantic Records and its first studio album since 2006's Oh! Gravity, which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200. Switchfoot has been hard at work on Hello Hurricane, tracking more than 80 songs at the band's self-built home studio and selecting the very best of them for the record. The band recorded the album with noted producer/bassist Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Rilo Kiley, Eminem, and Pink). The edgy, driving lead single "Mess of Me" goes for adds at Modern and Active Rock radio this month.

The back-to-basics approach employed has yielded a career-defining album that lead singer Jon Foreman views as "a new beginning." Elizondo's unique background facilitated a departure for the band, allowing it to build on SWITCHFOOT's foundation, punctuated by hard-hitting instrumentation and soaring choruses, and elevating the music to a new level.

"Hello Hurricane acknowledges the storms that tear through our lives," states Foreman. "This album is an attempt to respond to those storms with an element of hope, trying to understand what it means to be hopeful in a world that keeps on spinning."

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Lost John Lennon Interviews Published

Nightwatcher reports: A series of interviews with late Beatles legend John Lennon have been published - revealing the star's thoughts on his bandmate Paul McCartney and the Fab Four's split. The interviews also include previously unpublished chats with McCartney and Ringo Starr by British journalist Ray Connolly.

In one of the tapes, recorded in 1969, Lennon is heard praising McCartney's musical ability at a time when the legendary band was on the verge of splitting up and after he was rumored to have dismissed his pal's work as pop ditties. Lennon tells Connolly, "(For No One from the Revolver album) that was one of the good ones. All his semi-classical ones are best, actually. I suppose it was a bit hard on him... I only ever asked two people to work with me as a partner. One was Paul McCartney and the other Yoko Ono."

Lennon also opens up about the reasons behind the band's split, insisting he wanted to initiate the break up months before they parted ways in 1970 - but they stayed together in case it damaged sales of their album Let It Be.

In another taped interview two years after the split, Lennon adds,"The whole thing died in my mind long before the rumpus started. We used to believe the Beatles myth just as much as the public and we were in love with them just the same way. But we were four individuals who eventually recovered our individualities (sic) after being submerged in a myth."

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Big Star Boxed Set

Rhino is releasing Big Star's 4-disc boxed set which includes 98 tracks spanning from 1968-1975. This power pop band created music that turned artists as diverse as Cheap Trick, R.E.M., and The Replacements into Big Star fans. The 4-disc boxed set, Keep an Eye on the Sky, includes extensive liner notes, rare and never-before-seen photos, and insightful essays about the cult of Big Star and the band's history. These influential tracks will be released September 15, 2009.

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Lennon would have liked computer game

JOHN LENNON would have been very "amused" if he'd seen himself immortalised on a computer game.

Sir Paul McCartney said if Lennon and his other former Beatles bandmate George Harrison, were still alive today, they would have "seen the point" of The Beatles: Rock Band, released on September 9 for Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3.

Speaking to Observer Music Magazine, McCartney said: "For us, lets remember that the central thing is our music is getting played. That's the bottom line. I'm sure John and George would have thought, 'Hey, what a clever idea'."

But he admitted that his first impression of Rock Band was quite negative.

He said when he first saw it, he described it as "a couple of grown-ups standing looking very foolish with these little plastic guitars playing to a screen".

But he added that he has since been impressed with the work of the Harmonix team, which has been respectful and stayed true to the band's legacy and image.

Sir Paul said this approach was important "not just because you should respect The Beatles, but mainly because there are a lot of people out there who are going to notice if you don't".

Lennon's wife Yoko Ono agreed that her husband would have been "excited" by the game's concept and "very happy with how the music and the visuals of The Beatles were represented".

She said: "It will inspire and encourage the young generation to be intimately involved in music making.

"You can't ask for more. It will be another musical revolution created by The Beatles to make our planet a planet of music."

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McCartney was blessed to know Lennon

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY has said he rarely remembers his disagreements with John Lennon because he is blessed just to have known him.

The Beatles stars had a tumultuous relationship during the group's later years and their constant arguing has often been blamed for the band's split in 1970.

They reconciled later that decade but then Lennon was shot dead in New York in 1980 - and McCartney said he never thinks about the bad times between them.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, he said: "What I do is I look for the positive side... I'm the only guy who sat down with John and wrote all those songs. It's me. (I've) got to pinch myself, I can't believe it. I just feel blessed to have known him and to have experienced his presence so intimately."

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ANVIL: Entire 'This Is Thirteen' Re-Release Available For Streaming


ANVIL's re-release of the group's latest album, "This is Thirteen", is available for streaming its entirety at VH1.com. The CD will finally be given proper national distribution on CD and vinyl on September 15 via VH1 Classic Records. The collectible double vinyl LP boasts newly re-recorded versions of ANVIL classics "Metal on Metal" and "666". The album, originally recorded in 2007 and produced by Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST, THIN LIZZY), was primarily available directly from the band via their web site and at their concerts.

ANVIL will take part in an in-store performance and signing session at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey on September 27, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. A free screening of the band's acclaimed documentary, "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil", will take place at Vintage Vinyl on September 25, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

ANVIL, considered a major influence for a generation of hard rockers including METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, and GUNS N' ROSES, was the subject of a critically acclaimed, must-see rock-doc, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", directed by Sacha Gervasi. And in the process, the film has made the group (led by Kudlow and Reiner — both founding members) a household name. But the group's story will certainly not end with the film.

According to RollingStone.com, ANVIL is currently re-recording several other classics with producer Chris Tsangarides, which will be included on a forthcoming "Anvil!" soundtrack. "What happened was the label that owns the old material wanted so much money to license the songs, that it became ridiculous," explained Lips. "In fact, it was far cheaper to go in and re-record in the same studio [Phase One], with the same producer, and re-do the songs. The new version of 'Forged in Fire' is amazing — I think the original version was played too fast. Remarkably, we're getting a second chance to record the songs."

Other freshly re-recorded tunes are "Winged Assassins", "March Of The Crabs", and "School Love". "It's going to be a true 'Best of Anvil', in a way," added Reiner.

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Ryan Adams Relaunches Record Label, Preps Digital Single

Musical savant Ryan Adams may be nearing the end of his break from the music industry as it appears he has relaunched his record label and is planning to release a digital single on Sept. 11.

Having finished out his contract with Lost Highway, Adams is following in the footsteps of Jack White and is launching a digital and vinyl label to distribute new material. Adams originally launched Pax Americana as a way to release 4-tracked home recordings of songs while he was still signed to Lost Highway; but other than T-shirts, the label seemingly closed shop after a handful of releases.

Today it was revealed the first release from the rebranded PAX.AM will be a digital single featuring the tracks “Lost and Found” and “Go Ahead and Rain.” The album is available for preorder for $1.49 and is set to be released Sept. 11.

There’s no word yet on a physical release, but a video on Adams’ homepage hints that vinyl manufacturing has ensued, so don’t be surprised to see Digital Single: No. 1 find its way to the new old medium

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The Red Chord Reveals New Album, "Fed Through the Teeth Machine"


Boston Massachusetts metal band THE RED CHORD is gearing up for the release of their fourth full length album, entitled "Fed Through the Teeth Machine," due out on October 27th in the US through Metal Blade Records.

Guitarist Mike “Gunface” McKenzie comments on the band’s new album "Fed Through the Teeth Machine," "We spent the last year working hard on this one and we're excited for everyone to finally hear it. It's a lot faster and, in my opinion, more straight forward in a structural sense. We're really happy with the great work Jonny Fay and Zeuss did too. It's not a concept record, but there are some loose conceptual elements to it: hygienic obsession, delusional compound-dwellers and Maniac Mansion. Get ready to make fun of us on the internet!"

THE RED CHORD has also uploaded the brand new track, "Demoralizer," to their MySpace page that showcases the album’s artwork.

"Demoralizer kind of sums up what the record is about. It's aggressive and fast with some darker melodic parts. Probably one of the angriest-sounding songs we've recorded, which fits the records vibe" comments Mike “Gunface” McKenzie.

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Krallice Reveals New Album, "Dimensional Bleedthrough


Brooklyn NY’s KRALLICE have completed work on their new album “Dimensional Bleedthrough.” The tracklisting for “Dimensional Bleedthrough” [cover] is as follows:

1. Dimensional Bleedthrough
2. Autocthon
3. Aridity
4. The Mountain
5. Intraum
6. untitled
7. Monolith Of Possession







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Hollenthon Announces New EP

Hollenthon has issued the following announcement about releasing a new EP:

"New EP coming! It's called 'Tyrants and Wraiths' and features 4 new tracks and 2 live videos from last years Graspop Metal Meeting. The official release dates are: 28.10.09 Finland & Spain, 30.10.09 Benelux, France, Italy and Sweden, 02.11.09 Rest of Europe, 03.11.09 in Canada, and 17.11.09 in the USA.

"But if you come see us on tour, you'll be able to purchase the album already on October 23rd."

The cover art for the EP can be viewed below