Glenn Danzig recently confirmed that Black Laden Crown will be hitting stores on May 26th via Evilive/Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Along with that announcement came the ‘Devil on Hwy 9’ track, and now the second single from Danzig‘s highly anticipated album of all new material has made its way online. Continue reading
Glenn Danzig recently confirmed that he will be releasing his new album, Black Laden Crown, on May 26th via Evilive/Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The record will be the first Danzig album of all new material in seven years, and the first single has made its way online. Continue reading
2017 is going to be a busy year for Danzig. The legendary front man has already confirmed that his new album, ‘Black Laden Crown’, will be coming in May (details), plus he announced the return of his “Blackest of the Black Festival” as well. Last night Danzig appeared on Full Metal Jackie’s KLOS radio program to talk about the upcoming festival, and he revealed a ton of bands who are already booked for the huge event. Continue reading
Glenn Danzig revealed last week that he will be releasing a new album in mid-May, and now we know when we can expect the new material. Continue reading
Zakk Sabbath, the Black Sabbath cover band featuring Zakk Wylde, Blasko and Joey Castillo, have just announced their first U.S. headlining tour ever. Continue reading
Eerie Von, best known as the bassist for Danzig and Samhain, will see the rerelease of his 2009 photography book Misery Obscura The Photography of Eerie Von (1981-2009), this fall via Bazillion Points Publishing. Von who was The Misfits photographer during their heyday before later playing in his own band Rosemary’s Baby, and on seminal Danzig releases, continued to mine his keen eye for photography throughout his performing career and beyond. Now a 160 page hardcover book, the deluxe edition of Misery Obscura features hundreds of color and black and white photos of the Misfits and Eerie’s bands Samhain and Danzig across the 1980s and 1990s.
Tommy Victor has been a busy boy recently. Since Prong returned from their self-prescribed hiatus in 2012 with Carved Into Stone (Long Branch/SPV), Victor has recorded two more albums with the band, played on Danzig‘s covers album Skeletons (Evilive/Nuclear Blast) and toured with both acts. Now, less than a year after the release of their own covers record Songs From the Black Hole (Steamhammer/SPV), Prong are back with X – No Absolutes (Steamhammer/SPV), their third full length in four years. Or fourth if you include the covers album. (Editor’s note: They also have a self-released live album on Bandcamp they are not counting either!)
Although previous record Ruining Lives (Steamhammer/SPV) was generally well received, it felt a little like the band were trying too hard to make sure they pleased everybody by writing songs which sat nicely inside their own safe little pigeon holes. Hardcore song – check. Thrash song – check. Industrial song – check. This time out, there’s a slightly more organic feel to the record in the respect that although there are songs which clearly fit into each of those little boxes, there are some which cross over into others or have a different sound entirely. It appears that recording a covers album has had a positive creative effect on the band.
The opening trio of songs are all about hitting you hard and fast though. ‘Ultimate Authority’ is a mid-paced stomper with a hardcore chorus and a Pantera vibe to its opening riff. ‘Sense of Ease’ is full-on shouty and aggressive hardcore thrashing with a nice breakdown towards the end, and “Without Words” simply punches its way unceremoniously into your ears.
Things fall into standard territory (in a good way) with the next few songs. The title track stands out with its more laid back, but still purposeful approach, and ‘Do Nothing’ is possibly the closest the band have ever come to writing a ballad. There’s a hint of Ministry during ‘Belief System’, the pacy ‘In Spite of Hindrances’ features an all too brief guitar solo which sounds distinctly similar to old school Metallica, and one of the album’s highlights ‘Ice Runs Through My Veins’ begins with a pulsing bassline and a tickly little riff followed by a chorus not a million miles away from The Sisters of Mercy. Victor’s love of pinch harmonics has been noticeably restrained until we get to ‘Worth Pursuing’ when he suddenly throws caution to the wind and hurls a load of them into the mix just for the hell of it. Closer ‘With Dignity’ although actually pretty catchy, is probably the weakest track on the album, sounding more like Linkin Park than it probably should, the bonus track ‘Universal Law’ saving the album from ending on its lowest point.
7.5/10
GARY ALCOCK
The 2016 Monster Energy Ride For Dime Dimebash benefit show will be held at Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood, CA on January 22nd. The event, based on the annual Ride for Dime charity events, will feature a tribute to Dimebag Darrell Abbott and the music of Pantera. Members of Pantera, in town for The NAMM Show are expected to perform Pantera classics along side members of Slayer, Alice In Chains, Black Label Society, Machine Head, Hatebreed, Stone Sour, Type O Negative, Danzig, King’s X, Devildriver, Prong, Kyng, Armored Saint and more. Proceeds from the event will go towards Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.
Rita Haney, Dimebag‘s longtime girlfriend commented:
“I think the thing that embodies this event and entity is unity; bringing everyone together to celebrate the music played and loved by Darrell and to benefit the foundation of a very beloved man, Mr. Ronnie James Dio. Dimebag Darrell was notorious for giving us all so much, in some way, even to this day. So to be able to give back in his name is such an honor. With all of this amazing talent in one place it makes for a damn good celebration! C’mon out and getcha pull!”
Frequent events and tributes pop up at The NAMM show. Over the years since Dimebag’s murder in 2004 there has been much interest by fans in the music of Pantera, including the recent Change.Org petition calling to reunite the band, dubbed The Pantera Project, which has gained over 7,500 signatures in just a few months.
Reactivated hardcore metallers Superjoint, formerly known as Superjoint Ritual, have entered the recording studio based on a series of photos posted to band photographer and friend Jody Dorignac’s Instagram account. The photos depict the band recording at Philip H. Anselmo’s home studio and Housecore Records headquarters, Nodferatu’s Lair. The new Superjoint album, the first in over twelve years, is due out some time next year.
In a series of interviews, Anselmo has discussed the return of Superjoint and making a new album:
Phil with Full Metal Jackie:
“It won’t sound any different, because myself, Jimmy and Kevin have always been the main writers in Superjoint anyway, so, really — for the most part, really, me and Jimmy. So it shouldn’t sound much different at all.”
Discussing the return of the band with the Phoenix New Times ahead of their tour opening date for Danzig’s “Blackest of the Black Tour” this past fall, Phil was asked why the bands shows were better than ever: In a recent interview with “So-briety! [Laughs] Simply put. Sobriety.”
“You know, originally we were plugging along with Superjoint, truth is, and I’m not a bit embarrassed or ashamed to admit it at all, I really don’t remember much about Superjoint from back then except for little pieces. I was fucked up out of my fucking mind on heavy drugs … and the overindulgence of booze. These days, don’t get me wrong, I like my suds and I like a bit of the white grape…. But I think every damn one of us has a much clearer mind. A much more stable support system within that realm. And we’re all veterans now, man. We’ve been through the lowest of times together, and this group of people — specifically, [guitarist] Jimmy Bower and [bassist] Kevin Bond — when it was time to say ‘fuck this road to destruction,’ we all kind of did that together. We all came off of heavy drugs at the same time. So I think there’s this strength with knowledge there about what not to do. So really it just happened from our clear minds and fresh blood there. It’s a positive thing. It feels like it’s fun again, and isn’t that the point? If you’re going to make music and you’re having fun while you’re doing it, nothing in this world cane deter from that.”
“I would just say, as far as energy goes, we know from being in the scene for 20, 30 years that we don’t have to get up there and jump around and dance around for the kids anymore. All we need to do is throw our amps and drums up on stage… And play the music as tight as possible with no bullshit, man. Just lay it on them. And during this [fall], we’re also going to be doing a multitude of shows with the mighty Glenn Danzig, who I’ve been friends with, for, geez, 25 years. He’s always been a complete gentleman and supporter of myself and what I do. You look at a set like that … our game plan is to rip it song after song after song, with nary a break. And we will always have interaction with the audience because I love that part as well. But it comes down to leading people with a positive impression and playing as many songs as possible.”
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