So earlier today we learned that Chris Clancy has left Mutiny Within because the band wasn’t making enough money, and now a former employee of the label to which that band used to be signed, Roadrunner Records, has been accused of embezzling more than four-hundred thousand dollars from the company.
So, at least somebody was making money at Roadrunner.
Well, you may not be able to do so for much longer. From Metal Injection:
“Several sources are reporting that Apple has filed a patent application to stop you from shooting live events! The application reveals potential plans to build a system that detects iPhone video filming at venues using infra-red sensors which will in turn bounce back and contact the iPhone in your hand to automatically disable it.”
Three cheers for whomever this guy is, because his (or her, but c’mon, his) surprisingly-good quality bootleg footage of Russian Circles performing a new song during a recent concert a) reminded me I need to listen to more Russian Circles, and b) alerted me to the fact that we will be getting a new Russian Circles album this year.
These are both good things.
So that sounds pretty awesome. Hopefully we’ll get to hear some actual studio material soon.
-AR
[via The PRP]
I’ve been to plenty of shows in my time where I was convinced that one of the band member’s on-stage antics was going to end in injury or worse; hell, I’m scared for Greg Puciato’s life pretty much every time I go see The Dillinger Escape Plan live. But somehow these dudes always manage to avoid getting hurt; it’s like there’s some special, secret rock musician training camp, where dudes go to learn to hang from things that should be able to support their weight and jump from heights that should clearly require a latter to descend.
What I’m saying is this: I’m surprised that accidents like the one in the below video, of Black Veil Brides vocalist Andy “Andy Six” Biersack missing a jump during a recent California concert and consequently shattering three ribs, don’t happen more often.
It’s no secret that we’re not fans of Black Veil Brides here at MetalSucks, but we never wish any artist we dislike physical harm. (Well, I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to seeing Ted Nugent get taken out by an angry deer, but he’d have to give the deer a fighting chance first, so that will probably never happen.) So let me say that I appreciate Biersack’s efforts to put on a good show for his audience, and even if I hate his music as much as Maria Brink hates tops that fit properly, I wish him a speedy recovery.
-AR
[via Metal Underground]
What Amazon tells me is called Monopoly — The Classic Edition looks just like what we knew as plain old Monopoly when I was a kid, which makes me feel fucking old. Meanwhile, the current version of plain old Monopoly advertises the inclusion of “speed die” so you can “play faster!” Because that’s why Monopoly games always take so long to finish — the die just aren’t aerodynamic enough.
For fuck’s sake.
ANYWAY, the previously-announced edition of Monopoly centering around Metallica, the band of the proletariat, has been released. And I know it’s immodest of me to pat myself on the back, but I totally called it: Metalopy costs forty-three bucks before tax or shipping, which is more than twice as much as the nineteen bucks you’d pay for “classic” (FUCK YOU, PARKER BROS.) Monopoly. And what does one get for the privilege of shelling out that extra cash? Again, it didn’t take a psychic to see this shit coming:
If you’ve completed high school history, chances are you’ve heard some talk about “progressive politics” (Bull-Moose, if you know what I mean). Most of us have probably heard of so-called “progressive politicians,” but when it comes to the pivotal issues, the things that really matter, like which bands they listened to in high school, many of them seem just as uninspired as their more conservative competition.
Isn’t it about time America had a truly progressive presidential candidate? Recent Utah governor Jon Huntsman seems to think so. After resigning in February from his Obama-appointed post of foreign ambassador to China, rumors of his presidential candidacy began to surge like a black mage’s whirlwind spell. Even more than that, bits about Huntsman’s “epic” past began to surface, and that soft-spoken politician began to appear all the more mystical.
Tomorrow brings the release of a number of highly anticipated new releases, four of which are now streaming online if you wanna check ‘em out before you purchase ‘em:
Slipknot performed as part of this past weekend’s Athens edition of the Sonisphere festival. It was their their first show since the untimely passing of Paul Gray last year, and, therefore, their first show with former guitarist/current bassist Donnie Steele. And I think a lot of people were wondering how they would handle the transition; obviously, the band needed to pay tribute to Gray, but how would Steele appear on-stage? Would he Gray’s costume, the way Tommy Thayer basically pretends to be Ace Frehley when he plays with Kiss, or otherwise be given his own mask, the way Vinnie Vincent was given his own character when he was in Kiss?
Well, the answer is, “Neither.” The ‘Knot opted instead to have Steele stand off-stage, while Gray’s empty outfit stood by the drumer riser, scarecrow-like, for the duration of the show. And that might seem like kind of an odd decision, but, really, there’s no good or “right” way to handle a situation like this; there was going to be a certain amount of tension in the air no matter what, y’know?
You can check out more footage from the show, and the band’s complete set list, at Metal Insider. Meanwhile, there’s still no official word on whether or not there’s gonna be another Slipknot album, but I would bet a lot of money in favor of it happening.
-AR
In 2005, Craft released Fuck the Universe, which is still one of the most romantic records I’ve ever heard — it’s perfectly crafted (rimshot) for activities like couples’ massages, long horseback rides on the beach at sundown, and, of course, love making. But since then, the band hasn’t put out diddly-squat, and, consequently, there has been no romance in our lives, and we left the horses in the stable for so long that we forgot about them and they died from malnourishment. Oopsy.
But that hole is about to filled! Reader Bryce Evans alerted us to the existence of “Succumb to Sin,” the band’s first new song in more than half a decade. We somehow missed it when it was released last week (I guess Craft are too tr00 for a publicist?), but we know about it now, and, boy oh boy, are we glad we do. It’s good to know that these dudes haven’t lost their amour de l’amour, y’know?
“Succumb to Sin” will be on Craft’s latest excuse to take a long walk while holding hands with that special someone, Void, which comes out August 5 on Southern Lord (U.S. release), Carnal Records (non-U.S. CD release), and Trust No One Recordings (vinyl release).
-AR
This is what Tom Cruise looks like in the now-filming Rock of Ages movie:
So, nobody would really blame you for looking at that picture and then pouring fucking Drano into your eyes.
And, oh yeah, by the way –
Every Time I Die’s last album, New Junk Aesthetic, came out less than two years ago, and yet, for some reason, it feels like it’s been so much longer. I guess I’m really cravin’ some new ETID, huh?
Well, hoo-ray for me, ’cause not only is the band apparently hard at work on their latest offering, but they’ve now posted one-minute and sixteen seconds of new music in the form of an upside down video of drummer Ryan Leger rockin’ out. Why is the video upside down? I have no frickin’ clue. But if you do a handstand while watching the clip, it all seems perfectly normal, so, y’know, that’s reasonable, right?
The video isn’t currently embeddable, but you can check it out by clicking on the screencap below. And hopefully we’ll get more info on the ETID soon.
-AR
Thanks: Cole Lewis
It’s no secret that playing in a real metal band is a one-way, express ticket to poverty, obscurity and involuntary abstinence. I mean, if a legend like poor Lemmy is relegated to a shitty apartment in Hollywood, surrounded by a lifetime’s worth of dinosaur-metal detritus, I shudder to think how depressing the lives of lesser metal losers must be.
On the other hand, bands like Asking Alexandria, Suiside Silence, and Bring Me The Horizon are getting laid, paid and laughing all the way to the bank, much to the chagrin of metal purists. The handwriting is on the wall, and it couldn’t be any more clear: playing anything other than metalcore/deathcore is career suicide.
If you don’t believe me, check out this guided tour of BORN OF OSIRIS’ posh pad in Wheaton, Illinois (AKA The Temple Of Osiris AKA The House That Sumeriancore Built [or leases, at least]).
My notes:
Chris Clancy: Kissing us no longer.
Okay so here’s a story which is kinda crazy pretty much from start to finish.
Over the weekend, reader Hetal Bhatt sent us a link to a posting on Chris Clancy’s Facebook page, entitled “I am no longer the vocalist for Mutiny Within.” I e-mailed MW bassist Andrew Jacobs for a confirmation because Clancy is still listed as a member on the band’s official Facebook page, and in the wee hours of this morning, Jacobs e-mailed me back to say that the band is “putting together a statement” and that “there is a lot going on right now.”
And now Clancy’s Facebook post has been removed, which, y’know, I don’t think is a coincidence.
So while you can’t see Clancy’s statement on FB, you can read it below — the full text of that post follows, and whether or not you consider yourself a Mutiny Within fan, it’s worth reading, because it’s a fucking harsh look at the state of the modern metal business:
Photo by Todd Bell
NOTE: We were all set to premiere this song this morning, but someone blew their load early and released it over the weekend. Luckily for whomever decided that person was, we have some awesome new Chimaira music to serve as an outlet for our rage, so his or her life is most likely still safe… for now. In any case, assuming you didn’t get to hear the tune yet, well, here it is!
The Age of Hell is almost upon us.
It’s no secret that these have been (ahem) hellish times for Chimaira. But if their new single, “Born in Blood” (below), is any indication, than they haven’t missed a beat creatively. A rager in the vein of the band’s anthems “Power Trip” and “Resurrection,” ”Born in Blood” is Chimaira music at its best: more vicious than a slaughter house, and just as full of hooks. To put it simply, Chimaira have, once again, stuck the fucking landing — and they seem to know it, too. ”There is no more doubt,” vocalist Mark Hunter bellows in simultaneous acknowledgment and dismissal of the sextet’s recent travails. “We won the war inside our minds… nothing can stop us now.” Yeah, no shit, dude!
So turn you speakers way, way, WAY up — if your walls are shaking and the neighbors are complaining, you’ve got it almost loud enough! — and then check out “Born in Blood” below. Then go here to download the track, which features a guest appearance by Whitechapel’s Phil Bozeman. You can download another new single from the band, “Trigger Finger,” here. Both songs will appear on The Age of Hell, out August 16 via eOne. We can’t wait.
[this streaming promotion has ended]
A couple days ago I mentioned tonight’s No Remission show at The Studio at Webster Hall, and unsurprisingly it reminded me of Mastoboogie’s early mastopiece Remission.
We’re all waiting with (masto) bated breath to hear how the new album will unfurl in our earholes, but until that day arriveth, we can continue to look back and revisit why we grew to love said mastodudes in the first place.
-KW
Best commercial ever?
ANYWAY, here’s how we filled our time this week:
Next week is a big one — we’re debuting new tracks from two of our most favoritest bands, a video from one of our childhood heroes, reviewing a very, very, VERY highly anticipated new record (Hint: We definitely discussed it this week!), and we’ll have some other surprises in store for you, too. See ya then!
-AR
Hello wrestling fans! I am sitting in JFK Airport getting ready to board a flight to Nantes. France to play Hellfest. The line-up looks retardedly awesome, and I have a couple hours to kill, so I am hammering down alcohol in preparation for the Flight. I figure since I have nothing to do but look at my computer screen for awhile, I would write the second installment of my blog for MetalSucks!
There has been alot happening in the world of wrestling in the past couple of weeks, most notably the passing of Randy “Macho Man”
Savage, a true wrestling legend and my peronal favorite wrestler of all time. Savage suffered a heart attack behind the wheel of his Jeep Wrangler. Anyone that has lived on this planet for more than fifteen years has to know exactly who he is — he was the most entertaining and memorable character to ever step into the squared circle.
Am I high or is it weird that in 2011 nobody touts the first two Skid Row records as mega-masterpieces? What has undermined lasting renown? Is it that those jams are too heavy for radio listeners and not aggro enough for metal fans? Did major line-up changes doom them to be written off (except for the three enduring singles)? Is it Sebastian Bach’s fault? Is the rest of the band too stubborn and unambitious? Really, has there been a more compelling, awesome, and fearless heavy rock record since? Help me figure this out?
To me, it’s not a problem per se that one-time Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach is a huge jackass. One, his all-time top ten singing chops justify extreme arrogance and render decency unnecessary; two, reality TV and morning radio has immunized us all to dunderheads of Bach’s type. So fans are over it, right? Yet it’s still possible that Bach’s exhausting bimbo-ism has quieted the global and unanimous mega-acclaim that Skid Row deserves. How?
Think about it: Is it not Bach-related acrimony among the members of Skid Row that hamstrings their legacy-building? No reunion tours, no massive retrospectives, no anniversary celebrations. No documentaries, no tribute albums, no peer buzz. It’s probably Bach’s spaztardation that makes these things impossible. Click to read more…
A reader whose name I won’t publish in order to spare him some embarrassment e-mailed me this morning with the subject line “Jazara,” a link to this stream on The Gauntlet, and a demand that I “Tell people this exists.” Kinda rude, but whatever. The band is called Janaza, not “Jazara,” so I have to assume the reader is either a small child or a mental midget, because how could anyone be so forcefully passionate about a band whose name they don’t even know? (And don’t say “It could be a typo,” either. The letter “n” and the letter “r” are nowhere near one another on the keyboard.) Either way, no reason to take his blunt tone personally.
ANYWAY, Janaza is, according to the aforementioned Gauntlet, an “anti-Islamic black metal band fronted by a female in Iraq,” known only as “Anahita.” Anahita has to keep her identity a secret, of course, because if found out, her life would be in serious danger. That’s certainly unique to metal (as The Gauntlet points out, even the dudes in Acrassicauda, who certainly overcame their own very intense struggle, at least had the support of one another, whereas Anahita seems to be flying solo), and it makes me wish I could understand the lyrics. It also makes me wish I liked the music, but, hey, you can’t win ‘em all.
But you should check out the stream here and see what you think… actually, I’ll be curious to see what kind of reaction this gets. I’ll also be keeping my fingers crossed that Anahita doesn’t turn out to be a forty-year old American man from Georgia, but that’s another issue altogether.
-AR
Of course you do! You love Decapitated, right? And besides, earlier this week, I told you I think it’s one of the best albums of 2011 thus far.
Which is why you should check out the preview below. It’s a very, very small taste of what you’re in for, but in case you doubt that this band is about to pull off a major (and hard earned, to put it mildly) comeback, well, it should be enough to assuage your fears.
Carnival is Forever comes out July 12 on Nuclear Blast.
-AR
Thanks: Jon Litz
