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OPETH & MASTODON Announce Co-Headlining “HERITAGE HUNTER TOUR”

Ivan Chopik — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:32:11 +0000

New York, NY: This is one tour that rock fans will be talking about for years to come and if you miss it, you’ll be terribly sorry. Opeth and Mastodon will be embarking on a co-headline tour this spring, which kicks off April 4 in Portland, Maine and runs through May 12 in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s the first time these two titans of progressive and forward-thinking hard rock have hit the road together and it’s going to be one for the ages. Ghost will serve as the opener of the tour, which has been christened the “Heritage Hunter.” About the tour, Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt, in... (Continue)

PAUL WARDINGHAM Announces Forthcoming Release THE HUMAN AFFLICTION

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:21:40 +0000

Australian guitar shredder and producer, Paul Wardingham, has announced The Human Affliction as the title of his new instrumental cyber metal album. Wardingham, who released his acclaimed debut Assimilate Regenerate in 2011 through Enigmatic Records, says this second full-length will be a concept album. “I wasn’t planning on making an album like this for a few years, but the music began to take on a life of its own and a story materialized from the themes of each track” says Wardingham. “Assimilate Regenerate was conceptual in that it was inspired by science fiction, future technology and the effect it has on society, and... (Continue)

Gary Moore – Live At Montreux Jazz Festival 2010

Luke Dennis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:10:18 +0000

Though his passing earlier this year registered as little more than a blip in Rolling Stone, the loss of Gary Moore proved all too heavy to the rock world. Moore wielded his guitar mastery for more than four decades, lending searing solos and riffs to a dizzying line-up of projects. While he never enjoyed a tenure for more than a few albums with any one outfit, he’s rubbed shoulders with Thin Lizzy, the Traveling Wilburys, Albert King, and even Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rest assured you’ve heard his playing, if not from his own hands, then through the many guitar heroes... (Continue)

MESHUGGAH Announce New Album Title

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:58:36 +0000

Sweden’s extreme, technical metal band MESHUGGAH have chosen KOLOSS as the title to their eighth studio album, set for North American release on March 27th and European release on March 23rd. Drummer Tomas Haake has issued the following warning: “As always, we try to take our music in a slightly different direction with each album and with KOLOSS we feel that we really nailed what we were going for. Organic brutality, viscera and groove all crammed into a 54-minute metalicious treat, best avoided by the faint of heart!!” Sign up here to receive the latest information on MESHUGGAH’s KOLOSS. 2008’s obZen has sold over 82,000 copies in the... (Continue)

T.R.A.M. To Release Debut Album on February 28th (Mars Volta, Animals As Leaders, Suicidal Tendencies)

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:56:23 +0000

It’s extremely rare to come across a new band that just flips the script of conventionality throwing caution to the wind, but the debut effort from T.R.A.M. does just that while blazing a trail of creativity that will quickly turn heads across the world. This unit will be referred to by many as a “supergroup,” however the members of this dynamic unit aren’t in this for any reason but to use it as a platform to further express their art without limitations or any preconceived notions. Their much anticipated debut album, Lingua Franca, is now officially set for a Feb. 28th... (Continue)

Stepping Out: A Guide To Playing Outside (Part 1)

Thomas Williams — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:12:01 +0000

INTRODUCTION Playing ‘outside’ is a term synonymous with jazz rock/fusion guitar players. Within traditional forms of jazz this term is replaced by ‘using chromaticism.’ In blues, country, and folk forms it’s called ‘blue notes.’ In everything else it’s considered ‘the wrong notes.’ In all forms, however, the common goal is to play a note that clashes against the background harmony in order to create tension and thus reinforce resolution when it arrives. By definition, this could mean anything that is not heard in the chord – even notes that we consider as extensions, derived from chord scales. We must therefore... (Continue)

EVER FORTHRIGHT Release Self-Titled Debut

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:57:38 +0000

Ever Forthright have released their self-titled debut this week. The NYC-based collective is pushing the boundaries progressive metal with their with infusions of hip hop, DnB and pop into a djenty brew of jarring, syncopated riffs and eerily pleasing vocal harmonies. The physical record can be bought at everforthright.bigcartel.com, while digital copies can be obtained at everforthright.bandcamp.com. In the meantime, be sure to check out THIS featured lesson with Ever Forthright’s Nick Llerandi and Kevin Theodore! Related ArticlesEVER FORTHRIGHT Releases ‘Dispose Of Your Optimism’ & Prepares To Unveil Debut EP (UPDATED)Friend For A Foe Release Debut Song!Putting Jazz In Metal With Ever ForthrightMESHUGGAH Announce... (Continue)

NEW ENGLAND METAL & HARDCORE FESTIVAL 14 Announces Lineup

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:37:54 +0000

WORCESTER, Mass. – Killswitch Engage has been confirmed as the headliner of the 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival. The festival helped to launch the career of the Westfield, Mass., band and the festival vets went on to sign with Roadrunner Records. With over 1.5 million records sold in the United States alone and a Grammy nomination under its belt, the band will return to the NEMF stage in 2012. About this homecoming of sorts, vocalist Howard Jones said, ” Yup, trouble’s brewing. It’s been great to have time off, but now it’s back to business. All the... (Continue)

Tony MacAlpine Masterclass

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:22:31 +0000

[Tony's 7-string Ibanez guitar is tuned to Standard Tuning for all examples in this Masterclass: B E A D G B E]. Tony likes to incorporate arpeggios into his playing in sequential patterns, whereby a given arpeggio shape can be repeated in different octaves across the fretboard. In this example, he uses hammer-ons, pull-offs, and tapping to outline a Dmaj7 arpeggio shape.

PERIPHERY Part Ways With Bassist TOM MURPHY

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:18:22 +0000

On November 15th, 2011 Periphery made the following announcement on their Facebook page: “We have some sad news to announce, unfortunately Tom Murphy has decided to leave the band: ‘I’m sorry to announce that as of today I will no longer be playing bass for Periphery. I have had so many unforgettable experiences and have met so many wonderful people while playing with the band and just want to say thank you to all the fans for making that possible. I am leaving to pursue something new. If you are interested following up with me, feel free to add my... (Continue)

Roadrunner Records Announces The Signing Of GOJIRA

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:54:12 +0000

Roadrunner Records announced today the addition of French metal behemoths Gojira to the label. The band is universally recognized as one of the most talented and extreme art-metal acts on the scene today. Gojira is one of those rare bands that comes along every couple of years and takes everything you know about metal, twists it, reimagines it and comes up with something wholly unique. It’s doubtful you’ve heard anything like Gojira before. The band makes that much of an impact with its music and approach. Gojira are comprised of vocalist/guitarist Joe Duplantier, who has a previous relationship with Roadrunner,... (Continue)

Mastodon – The Hunter

Luke Dennis — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:34:51 +0000

Mastodon set the bar dizzyingly high with 2009’s Crack the Skye. Following a trio of element-themed records, their ‘air’ album married brutal riffs and brain-melting production with themes of astral projection, Rasputin’s possession of a crippled boy’s soul, and the fall of Tsarist Russia. But the announcement of their follow-up album The Hunter came with a trio of concerns. 1: How could they possibly top the iron-knuckled, vision quest that was Crack the Skye? 2: Why the hell is Dr. Dre’s bass player and Maroon 5’s producer Mike Elizondo manning the mixing board? And 3: What would the theme be... (Continue)

Acoustic Guitar Virtuoso JON GOMM Releases PASSIONFLOWER

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:08:46 +0000

With a once-seen-never-forgotten two-handed style, both physical and complex, Jon Gomm is an incredible guitar virtuoso, using one acoustic instrument to create drum sounds, bass lines and sparkling melodies all at the same time. The son of a music critic, musicians would often stay at the Gomm household in Blackpool on the understanding Jon would get a guitar lesson, meaning he had one-to-one tuition from blues legends like Walter Trout and Bob Brozman. International tours have generated a huge cult following and Jon is regarded by those ‘in the know’ as one of the world’s most talented and innovative guitarists.... (Continue)

EVILE Unleash New Album “FIVE SERPENT’S TEETH”

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:10:29 +0000

British thrash metal band EVILE will release their third studio album, Five Serpent’s Teeth, in North America on October 18 via Earache Records. A 15-minute preview of the album, featuring one-and-a-half blistering minutes of each song, is available to listen to now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np5HFxA3U4s. Five Serpent’s Teeth was recorded at Parlour Studios in Kettering, UK, with producer Russ Russell (Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir), who also helmed the band’s highly regarded 2009 release Infected Nations. Conceptually derived from the dreams of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Matt Drake and heavily influenced by the passing of the band’s beloved bassist Mike Alexander, Five Serpent’s Teeth... (Continue)

ANDY TIMMONS BAND Plays SGT. PEPPER To Be Released October 24

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:04:25 +0000

One of the most beloved cultural milestones of the ‘60s generation and every generation since, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles gets creatively interpreted and re-imagined in this all-instrumental rendition by a guitarist whose lifelong love of this material has resulted in an album that transcends all musical boundaries and genres. Two years in the making, guitar fans, Beatle fans and everyone in-between will come together when Favored Nations Entertainment releases Andy Timmons Band Plays Sgt. Pepper on October 24. “I must hip you to new music I just heard that floored me! It is, without a... (Continue)

PERIPHERY Announces New Guitarist and Dream Theater Off Day Shows

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:59:27 +0000

PERIPHERY have redefined the boundaries of progressive music and previously announced they will be touring as direct support to the legendary Dream Theater throughout Europe from Jan. 23rd through Feb. 26th. Yesterday the band announced that they will play two headlining shows amidst those dates. Brussels, Belgium, and Prague, Czech Republic, have been added to the band’s schedule. All of their tour dates can be found below or by visiting www.facebook.com/peripheryband Following PERIPHERY’s extremely successful “Frak The Gods” North American tour, the group are excited to now officially announce its newest member Mark Holcomb (he had a project with Misha Mansoor... (Continue)

Progressive Death Metallers ORDINANCE Release Debut Album INTERNAL MONOLOGUES

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:17:51 +0000

Ordinance is a four piece Progressive Death Metal act based out of Frederick, Maryland. The band is comprised of Alex Rudinger (of Threat Signal), Greg Macklin (of System Divide), Mike Semesky (of Vestascension, Haunted Shores, Rest Among Ruins), and Gunter Ostendorp (of Knossis). Originated by Macklin and Rudinger in 2009 as a two piece, Ordinance joined forces with guitarist Ostendorp shortly thereafter, and began writing for the debut album Internal Monologues. Throughout the writing process, each new song found its way to YouTube via Rudinger’s drum video releases, bringing about an ever-growing online audience awaiting a record from the trio.... (Continue)

Metal Foundations Lesson 3: Intermediate Riff Concepts

Zach Pino — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:24:53 +0000

Welcome back, metal Guitar Messengers! The last lesson introduced you to some basic riff construction concepts based off of common chord diads and the palm muting technique. In this lesson, we’re going to dive right into some more advanced riff concepts. These include the use of tritones, bending techniques, and the use of palm-muted rests to create syncopated grooves. The riffs in this lesson are all in Drop D tuning, with the exception of Figure 3, which is in standard tuning. And as always, we’ll conclude the lesson with some essential metal albums that illustrate these concepts. Sound good? Let’s... (Continue)

Electro-Harmonix Unveils The Ravish Sitar Pedal

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:24:22 +0000

Electro-Harmonix introduces the Ravish Sitar pedal, which transforms a guitar into a sitar. A traditional sitar achieves its instantly recognizable sound through a combination of melody, drone and sympathetic strings, as well as its unique construction. Mike Matthews and the pedal wizards at Electro-Harmonix have distilled the essence of that exotic instrument into a compact, polyphonic pedal. The Ravish Sitar features three independent level controls, one each for the Dry sound, Lead voice and Sympathetic strings. There are also individual Timbre controls for the Lead voice and the Sympathetic strings. The Timbre controls act like filter controls and introduce more... (Continue)

Opeth – Heritage

Luke Dennis — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:24:12 +0000

Mikael Åkerfeldt doesn’t growl at all on Opeth’s new album Heritage. One could assume he left that duty to his diehard fans who still bemoan the titular sea change of 2008’s Watershed; while several songs sparked a familiar din, they were largely drowned out to faithful ears by the dabbling of female duets and piano-led balladry. But in brash assertion of that album’s bold explorations, Heritage further distances the band from their death metal roots. The album is less a recitation of their extreme Pixies-prescribed ‘loud-quiet-loud’ and more ‘piano-overdrive-flute.’ If Watershed was the sound of a revered metal band edging into... (Continue)

Arbitrary Chromatics: The Bonehead Easy Way To Get A Jazzy Sound

Morten Faerestrand — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:12:46 +0000

So, what are arbitrary chromatics? To say it simply, whenever you’re playing a minor (or major, or whatever mode) scale, in any position, you’ll have three tones on most of the strings, and two tones on one of the strings. This concept puts a chromatic passing tone on the string with two tones, so that each of the strings has three tones. This is great, especially for playing patterns or runs...

GUTHRIE GOVAN’s Group THE ARISTOCRATS Release Album & Announce Tour Dates

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:22:58 +0000

Featuring three of the most accomplished virtuosos in the world in the genre of rock-fusion instrumental music, The Aristocrats was formed shortly after January, 2011 after rock guitar sensation Guthrie Govan (Asia, Erotic Cakes, Dizzee Rascal), drum phenom Marco Minnemann (Adrian Belew, Necrophagist, UKZ), and bassist extraordinaire Bryan Beller (Steve Vai, Dethklok, Mike Keanelly) got together to do an impromptu Bass Bash event during NAMM. The three musicians hit it off so well in terms of musical interplay and chemistry that they immediately said after the show that they need to do this again. That talk evolved into making a... (Continue)

The Human Abstract – Digital Veil

Zach Pino — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:53:50 +0000

Technical and progressive metal quintet The Human Abstract may have fallen off the metal community’s radar over the past few years, but their third album, Digital Veil, eliminates any doubt regarding their musical ability and staying-power in the progressive metal genre. With a revamped lineup and a new label, the dense, concise, melodic, heavy, and melancholic Digital Veil is a strong comeback record for The Human Abstract; it’s the album longtime fans have been waiting for. Crank up your speakers or listen closely with headphones, and expect to enjoy 42 minutes of impressive shredding and classically influenced metal, complete with... (Continue)

DREAM THEATER Announce Tour Dates, Special Editions of ‘A Dramatic Turn of Events’

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:39:08 +0000

New York, NY: Dream Theater, who were recently voted one of the top 10 Prog Rock bands of all time by RollingStone.com readers, will return with A Dramatic Turn of Events, on September 13th. The band is armed with one of the most powerful efforts of their storied, iconic career. The album marks the recorded debut of new drummer Mike Mangini, which fans are clamoring to hear. Roadrunner Records will issue the release in multiple versions that will be sure to delight the band’s disciple-like fanbase. In addition to the standard version, a special edition CD/DVD set will include The... (Continue)

ALL SHALL PERISH Release New Album THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:59:51 +0000

This Is Where It Ends was mixed and mastered once again by long time collaborator Zach Ohren (DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION). The bands fourth album marks the recording debut of new drummer Adam Pierce and guitar virtuoso Francesco Artusato. Fully renewed and invigorated, never has the band sounded so determined! This Is Where It Ends mixes the technical groove-laden extreme metal that garnered them so much attention on The Price of Existence, along with the more progressive and melodic moments on Awaken the Dreamers. ALL SHALL PERISH were also recenlty added to this years installment of the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYEM... (Continue)

OPETH Premiere First Track From New Album HERITAGE: “The Devil’s Orchard”

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:47:01 +0000

Swedish progressive metal stalwarts Opeth’s 10th album Heritage — which follows 2008′s Watershed and 2005′s Ghost Reveries — is their strangest, most genre-melding to date. For starters it includes guest spots from Swedish flautist/composer Björn J:son Lindh and Weather Report percussionist Alex Acuña. As you may have guessed, it also includes 100% clean singing. Main man Mikael Åkerfeldt refers to Opeth records as “observations.” Of this one he notes, “It feels like I’ve been building up to write for and participate on an album like this since I was 19.” Fittingly, he says he listened to a bunch of Alice... (Continue)

Devin Townsend Interview

Evan Berry — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 03:24:02 +0000

Following Devin Townsend’s career has been a diverse musical journey through the many facets of his compelling personality. First introduced to the world as Steve Vai’s lead vocalist on 1993′s Sex & Religion, Townsend quickly flexed his talents as a guitarist, songwriter, and producer with Strapping Young Lad where his darker emotions could run amok. Not content to hide his lighter side he released a slew of solo albums on his own HevyDevy records. While still toeing the blacker waters of metal, Townsend’s solo career found him submerged in more progressive tides as his complex and honest personality shined through.... (Continue)

Unexpect – Fables Of The Sleepless Empire

Evan Berry — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:05:19 +0000

Up until now, purchasing an Unexpect record has felt like buying a shiny golden ticket to a nameless theater your friends and family have never heard of. Entering this decaying and dimly lit auditorium, you are greeted by a mechanical usher, who guides you to the center seat. Once the lights go down and the curtain rises, you realize you are alone, and a gruesome spectacle of chaos begins before your eyes. At times, the play becomes so disorienting and disturbing that part of you wants to leave, but something about this absurdity keeps you glued to your seat. You... (Continue)

ALL SHALL PERISH’S FRANCESCO ARTUSATO Releases New Album CHAOS AND THE PRIMORDIAL

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:10:02 +0000

Renowned guitar shredder Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish) has released his new solo album, Chaos and The Primordial, under THE FRANCESCO ARTUSATO PROJECT moniker on June 28th on Sumerian Records. The album is available across all digital platforms and full-artwork physical copies are available exclusively via www.merchconnection.com or at his merch booth at the Rockstar Mayhem Festival all summer long. Head over now to www.facebook.com/thefrancescoartusatoproject in order to view the disc’s striking artwork, track listing and to stream the blistering new title track. Artusato states: “The song ‘Chaos and the Primordial’ is a very technical and intense track that has... (Continue)

Periphery Part Ways With Alex Bois

Ivan Chopik — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:05:19 +0000

Earlier today Periphery have issued the following announcement on their Facebook and MySpace pages: Hey Guys! We have some sad news to share. Alex Bois and Periphery have decided to part ways. This is truly a sad day for Periphery, because Alex has been with us since the beginning, and he is like a brother to us. We’re going to do everything we can to make the most out of this unfortunate situation, and soldier on like we always have in the past when faced with setbacks. In regards to all of our upcoming shows and tours, worry not! We... (Continue)