Artist

Due to visa problems, German thrash legends SODOM have been forced to cancel their upcoming U.S. dates. The dates affected include May 26th in Hollywood, CA, May 28th in New York, NY and their appearance at Maryland Deathfest scheduled for May 29th.

SODOM have issued a statement on the tour cancellation:

"Due to solid problems with our local tour promoter and getting our Visa in time, we are forced to cancel the upcoming shows. We already had our suitcases packed and were ready to go. We are awfully sorry to take these steps, but everybody acquainted with the entering provisions of the USA knows what we're talking about. We are deeply disappointed by this situation, but in the end there's the awareness, that not everything is done to our entire satisfaction. We are "only" the musicians, who would have loved to rock the USA again. We owe this to our fans, even more because we made ourselves scarce in the US since the foundation of this band, of course through no fault of our own. The one who botched this up will have to be confronted with the local organizers and club owners and account for his faults. We surely will catch up on these shows as soon as possible, which we especially owe to our fans. In the end, this set of problems redounds upon us, because we're in the front line and have to be answerable to our fans. I hope we didn't lose too many fans due to this mess, but all people who know us are aware of the fact, that we would do anything for our fans. The risk of being forbidden to enter the USA for 10 years or even getting arrested is too high. We hope for your understanding and keep you informed about the latest facts."

For more information, visit the band's official website.

We've just received word that L.A. indie doom band ISIS has called it quits. Here's the official statement from the band:

"ISIS has reached an end. It's hard to try to say it in any delicate way, and it is a truth that is best spoken plainly. This end isn't something that occurred over night and it hasn't been brought about by a single cataclysmic fracture in the band. Simply put, ISIS has done everything we wanted to do, said everything we wanted to say. In the interest of preserving the love we have of this band, for each other, for the music made and for all the people who have continually supported us, it is time to bring it to a close. We've seen too many bands push past the point of a dignified death and we all promised one another early on in the life of the band that we would do our best to ensure ISIS would never fall victim to that syndrome. We've had a much longer run than we ever expected we would and accomplished a great deal more than we ever imagined possible. We never set any specific goals when the band was founded other than to make the music we wanted to hear and to play (and to stay true to that ideal), so everything else that has come along the long and winding path has been an absolute gift. As with any momentous life-changing decision (which this certainly is for the five of us), we feel a very dynamic range of emotions about this and cannot express all of it within the space of a few sentences, and perhaps it's best to do what we've always done and let our music speak for us. It is and has been the truest expression of who we are as a collective and in some ways who we are as individuals for the 13 years in which we've been together. The last and perhaps most important thing we might say in relation to all this is how grateful we are for the people that have supported us over the years. It is a lengthy list that would include those who put out our records, those that played on them and put them to tape, the many bands with whom we shared the stage, all of our family, friends and companions who supported us in our individual lives and thus made it possible for us to continue on in the band, and most importantly those who truly listened to our music whether in recorded form or by coming to out to our shows (or both). It is quite true that we would never have done what we have without those people, that is many of you who are reading this. Our words can never fully express what we feel, but we hope that our music and the efforts made to bring it into being can serve as a more proper expression of gratitude for this life and for everyone in it. Thank you.

In more immediate and practical terms the tour we are about to embark upon is indeed our last. We are hoping that these final live rituals can help us bring a close to the life of this band in a celebratory and reverent way, and also provide us with a chance to say goodbye to many of those that have supported us over the years. While there is a measure of sadness that comes with the passing of this band, we hope that the final days can be joyous ones during which any and all that wish to come and join us will do so. It seems fitting that the last show of the tour and of our active existence will take place in Montreal, the site of the very first ISIS show in 1997 (though that was an unintentional move when booking the show initially). After the tour we also plan to follow through with other projects set in motion some time ago - pursuing the completion of a final EP, compiling live audio and visual material for future releases, and generally doing whatever we can to make our music available for as long as there are people who wish to hear it.

Thanks again to any and all,

ISIS, May 18 2010"

Ipecac founders Mike Patton & Greg Werckman further comments:

"It has been a complete honor to be a part of the ISIS team. ISIS is a major part of our label's foundation. Those five talented guys are our friends and we look forward to see and hear what they each do in the future."

+++When MetalKult got the news that SoCal's WARBRINGER were scheduled to embark on their first ever tour of Asia, we asked guitarist John Laux to document what we knew would be a good time. Laux accepted our challenge, and delivered the goods.

In this first installment, Laux and his crew of thrashers connect with Municipal Waste and Toxic Holocaust as part of the 24th Extreme the Dojo tour series. Read on to discover why Japan parties as hard as southern California and how the guitarist ended up drinking beer from syringe-filled cups. (Gross!)+++

May 10/11 Travel Day; First Day in Tokyo, Japan

We left Los Angeles at 1:30 to fly to Tokyo. We almost missed the flight as we got to the airport late but the people at Japan Airlines were so great and personally escorted us through security and to the gate. Everyone could pick and choose what movie they wanted to see - a nice comfort for an 11 hour flight. I watched some old classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Goodfellas. We arrived in the evening

the next day and our promoter was already waiting at the airport to take us to our hotel in the Shibuya district.

We were surprised everyone got their own small personal room, which was very comfortable and very modern. Shortly after, a meeting was called and all the bands, managers and promoters met down at the bar for some beer and a production and promotion meeting to discuss how the Extreme the Dojo tour would run.

The 'Bringer and the Waste at the infamous Lockdown bar in Tokyo

After, all three bands ended up walking to a club called Lockdown. It was like a cave/jail-themed bar with all kinds of crazy drinks with syringes and eyeballs in beaker glasses, etc. One of the waiters wore a mask and came in screaming at us every 25 minutes. Great first impressions of Japan. Got tanked and headed back to the hotel. Really surprised how modern, clean and civilized the whole country is.

May 12 Extreme the Dojo, Day 1: Tokyo, Japan

I woke up and walked outside the hotel to smoke and a fan was already waiting for autographs. The club Quattro was in a building with a record, manga, book and used clothing store. We walked upstairs early and caught Municipal Waste's sound check. It was the first time I had ever seen them. I was amazed by the work ethic and quality of the local crew. They changed over the entire backline so fast.

We ran over a handful of songs - it was nice to get a warm up after so much travel. We hung around backstage and did quite a few interviews and autographs for our label there. Adam [Carroll, guitarist] and I did an interview through a translator for a Japanese magazine called Young Guitar. It was fun watching the guy asking the questions light up any time we mentioned Jeff Beck or some other old guitar hero.

Around six o'clock the doors opened and people were pouring in. Toxic Holocaust kicked off the night and people were already raging. I was started to get really anxious. We had not played a show this important or unique in a long time. We opened with the T2 soundtrack and had a killer reaction and response. It was great to have such a devoted crowd upon your first visit.

Waste were bad ass - first time I ever saw them live. After the gig we all hung out with the fans, signed stuff, took photos and started drinking a lot again. We went to a really nice restaurant and sampled a lot of the different items on the menu. Things got a little out of hand when the karaoke machine started.

The Laux brothers, John (top) and Andy, sampling some Japanese cuisine

May 13 Extreme the Dojo, Day 2: Nagoya, Japan

Waiting for the bullet train to Nagoya

We hung around the city for one more morning and soon took a van with Toxic Holocaust to a train station. The ride on the bullet train was great. We got a glimpse of Mt. Fuji, the countryside and some of the smaller cities.

This time the venue was part of a 12-story shopping building with two smaller buildings connected to it! They really make every square foot count. The clothes in the stores were a little too posh and expensive so I spent most of the day in the record and guitar stores. Man! They have everything here. Pedals, guitars, amps...they put my local haunts to shame.

I think this was my favorite show of the tour. The crowd was smaller, but all the bands were hanging out and watching each other play. Every dude on this tour is a rock solid dude. Municipal Waste called everyone up on stage to juggalo dance. Great prank as it went over everyone in the crowd's head. Then we all started sharing our whiskey and complaining that this tour was too short lived.

After the show the promoter took us to a Chinese restaurant. Tonight the fans were way more devoted. Quite a few of them were trailing us. The food was great and the shrimp was a personal favorite. I drank even more - seems drinking a lot is a kind of a standard for this tour.

May 14 Extreme the Dojo, Day 3: Osaka, Japan

Strange, I woke up really early with almost nothing for a hangover. It was also a bummer that the day felt routine. This tour was too much fun and it was already almost over. I couldn't believe that three people from the show and from the restaurant were still waiting in the lobby in the morning! They were so polite. They followed us in their own cars to the train station to say goodbye. I just didn't know what to make of it.

We had to do a much longer soundcheck today. Apparently some of these other promoters we're gonna play for in Southeast Asia want two hour sets. Back-to-back, our records barely hit 90 minutes. We worked on getting more old songs back in the set which was pretty successful. "Dread Command" and "Shoot to Kill" needed work, but I forgot how fun they were.

I was also lucky enough to find another killer music store one story away from the venue. The Japanese really have it down. Again, every pedal, pick and random accessory I could ask for. Too bad I'm broke.

The show was solid and we had a great response. Personally, I had more trouble than usual with my tuner, but that's how it goes sometimes. Joel [Grind, vocals/guitar] from Toxic Holocaust ran up and let me borrow one of his pedals when mine went down and I doubt anyone even noticed.

I think everyone agreed we should try to tour in the States with a bill like this. I don't know if it ever will happen but everyone involved definitely had a blast on the Extreme the Dojo run.

Wasted in Japan

We all packed our gear in the hotel and went out and had some of the best food I've ever had. The Japanese promoter really treated us well and the whole tour was so organized. Our translator told us we had to go to Rock Rock. Apparently it's a famous metal bar in Osaka.

Adam Carroll, Andy and John Laux

First impressions were great since the DJ was blasting [Kreator's] "Pleasure to Kill" when we entered. I stayed up really fucking late, drank with everyone and got back to our hotel around 5 am.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the tour diary from our very first Asian tour.

Cheers,

John Laux

Former Emperor guitarist/vocalist Ihsahn and his label, Mnemosyne Productions, are pleased to introduce their new studio's website, ivoryshoulder.no. The site is designed by Ritxi Ostáriz.

Ivory Shoulder Studio is an extension of Mnemosyne Productions, which is located at the heart of Telemark, Norway. Previously named Symphonique Studio, this was used for Mnemosyne related projects exclusively. With Ivory Shoulder Studio, the studio now opens its doors to projects other than their own, with the name change symbolic to this transition. The studio offers recording, mixing and production. Please get in touch with them for additional information.

Progressive metal outfit NEVERMORE is now streaming a new track entitled "Without Morals" at this location. The song comes off the group's upcoming release, The Obsidian Conspiracy, which is due out on June 8 via Century Media. A number of specially priced album and exclusive t-shirt pre-order bundles can be ordered from the CM Distro.

NEVERMORE will also film a video for the song "Emptiness Unobstructed" at their May 18 show at the O2 Academy Islington in London, England. The clip will be directed by Nigel Crane (Paradise Lost). For more information, visit the band's official MySpace.

Chicago's black metal horde NACHTMYSTIUM have teamed up with MetalSucks.net to stream an exclusive track from their upcoming full-length, Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II, which will be released by Century Media on June 8. Head over here to listen to "Addicts".

NACHTMYSTIUM's Blake Judd recently spoke with The Examiner and speaks in-depth about the band's mature progressive journey. Click on the following link to read the full article.

For more information on NACHTMYSTIUM and to view their complete tour itinerary, check out their official MySpace.

Progressive death metal supergroup BARREN EARTH have completed their first music video for the track "The Leer", taken from the debut full-length record, Curse of the Red River, which was released in the US last month via Peaceville Records. The brand new video for "The Leer" was directed by Owe Lingvall and can be viewed exclusively at the following location.

BARREN EARTH features former members of Finnish metallers Amorphis to current members of Swallow the Sun, Moonsorrow and Kreator. For more information and to hear cuts from Curse of the Red River, head over to the band's MySpace.

Richmond, VA's kings of crossover MUNICIPAL WASTE will be headlining a free show on Saturday, May 22nd at Fontana's in NYC as part of Revolver magazine's Golden Gods screening party. Of course the award show itself will be airing on VH1 Classic on that very night, but nowhere else in the world but NYC will there be a place to celebrate its airing with members of the Revolver staff, local Brooklyn metal-punks Atakke, Boston's party thrashers Ramming Speed and MUNICIPAL WASTE.

For more information on Revolver's Golden Gods Award Show, check out their official website.

Our buds over at Guitar World have just released a sweet DEATH tablature book. Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection can be purchased at their online store now.

Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection is the first song transcription book based on the DEATH catalog. Created with the endorsement of Chuck Schuldiner's family, it features full transcriptions—including guitar, bass and lyrics—of eight classic DEATH songs, such as "Pull the Plug," "Zombie Ritual," "Flesh and the Power It Holds" and many others!

Plus, Death: The Deluxe Guitar and Bass Tablature Collection includes a life- and career-spanning biography on Chuck Schuldiner, death metal's pioneer and spiritual guide. This TAB collection is available for the first time for only $19.95!

Transcriptions include:
"Pull the Plug," as heard on Leprosy
"The Philosopher," as heard on Individual Thought Patterns
"Crystal Mountain," as heard on Symbolic
"Flesh and the Power It Holds," as heard on The Sound of Perseverance
"Scavenger of Human Sorrow," as heard on The Sound of Perseverance
"Zombie Ritual," as heard on Scream Bloody Gore
"Spiritual Healing," as heard on Spiritual Healing
"Together as One," as heard on Human

For more information on DEATH and Chuck Schuldiner, visit the official DEATH/Control Denied/Chuck Schuldiner website.

Swedish melodic metal pioneers DARK TRANQUILLITY will make their much anticipated return to North America on May 11th as they kick off a massive headlining tour (sponsored by MetalSucks) with Threat Signal and Mutiny Within supporting. This promises to be the longest, career-spanning DARK TRANQUILLITY set list yet so diehard fans will not want to miss out. Be sure to visit www.myspace.com/dtofficial now to stream new tracks from the band's latest album, We Are The Void, and to view their complete tour itinerary. The band will also do a meet and greet with all fans who bring or buy a copy of the new album before the show, so be sure to get there early.

An in-depth, introspective chat with vocalist Mikael Stanne can be viewed at this location. He describes the meaning behind the band's critically acclaimed new album, the difficulties of getting into songwriting mode, the meaning behind some of his favorite tracks off the new disc, winning over news fans and his touring essentials. Newcomer on bass, Daniel Antonsson, also speaks candidly about how he joined the band and what he likes most about being on tour. A quick tour message from Stanne can be viewed here.

Stanne further describes his excitement over the headlining tour: "We rehearsed like crazy to put together a set that will blow you away. It's been hard, but we feel we have a good collection of songs that represent every aspect of the band and will please fans of both new and old material. Also, the mad genius Niklas (guitars) created some amazing artwork and animation that will look incredible and add a new dimension to the show.

This is without a doubt the biggest production we´ve done in the States. We cannot wait to bring you the full DARK TRANQUILLITY experience. We are also really happy to bring some really awesome bands with us this time around. Threat Signal and Mutiny Within are bands we've had our eyes on for quite a while and they will make sure you all will have one hell of a metal night. Cheers and see you all very soon."