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14/05/2013 SLAYER’s DAVE LOMBARDO: Drum Clinic Impressions 0 Drummer Dave Lombardo took part in a special drum clinic on May 1 at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club. Video footage of his appearance can be seen below. The clinic was mostly comprised of Lombardo’s stories of his life and lengthy career, starting with his childhood, going through his years as a member of iconic Thrash Metal band SLAYER and to his current avant-garde / progressive Metal act, PHILM. One story addressed Jazz musicians, which Lombardo appreciates for being mostly self-taught, as he is. Regarding his status in SLAYER, Lombardo added that he doesn’t have a clear picture and would be glad to discuss things with guitarist Kerry King.14/05/2013 HAMMERCULT To Release Its Debut On Vinyl 0 Israel’s Thrash Metal export HAMMERCULT has announced a limited-edition release of its debut album, “Anthems Of The Damned” (July 2012) on red vinyl. The release will be available on May 24, with the conclusion of the band’s second European tour with Brazilian legends SEPULTURA. In addition, the vinyl includes a brand new cover artwork and three new songs – “Ironbound”, “Damnation Arise” and “Liar”. This marks the first output to be presented by the collaboration between the band’s label, Sonic Attack Records, and the acclaimed SPV Records (HOLY MOSES, ICED EARTH, RUNNING WILD), which is based on an extensive back catalogue as well as new products. Sonic Attack was founded two years ago by Rock and Metal veteran Karl Walterbach (who also manages HAMMERCULT), who set the course in the 80s and 90s with Modern Music and his Noise labels for numerous Thrash Metal acts, such as KREATOR, VOIVOD, TANKARD, CORONER and SABBAT.
13/05/2013 ORPHANED LAND Premieres “All Is One” First Single 3 ORPHANED LAND have released the official lyric video for the song “Our Own Messiah”, taken from their 5th studio album, “All Is One”, which is scheduled to be released on June 24 via Century Media Records. As previously reported, the album was recorded in Sweden’s Fascination Street studios with producer Jens Bogren, with additional recordings held both in Israel and in Turkey. The album marks the first recording with drummer Matan Shmuely and guitarist Chen Balbus (replacing founding member Matti Svatizky). OV METAL attended a pre-listening session of the new album, and can confirm the song is a good example of what people can expect from the new album: a different mix of the familiar elements that makes ORPHANED LAND. Hard riffs and complex solos are easy to find, while the singing is mostly clean and melodic.
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23/04/2013 ORPHANED LAND: “All Is One” Artwork & Details Unveiled 0 ORPHANED LAND has reviled more details about its upcoming new album, “All Is One”. The album cover was designed by French artist Valnoir “Metastazis” Mortasonge (NACHTMYSTIUM, PARADISE LOST, MORBID ANGEL and Israel’s SONNE ADAM). It will be released in two limited editions with 3 bonus tracks each: a gold-embedded digi-book with a DVD, and a double gatefold LP. As previously reported, most of the album was recorded in Sweden’s Fascination Street studios with producer Jens Bogren, with additional sessions held both in Israel and in Turkey. This is also the band’s first album with drummer Matan Shmuely and guitarist Chen Balbus (who replaced founding member Matti Svatizky). The band recently added new dates to its 2013 world tour: after visiting South America in late May / early June, the band will play selected summer festivals in August and return for a 50-day-long headlining tour across Europe.
22/04/2013 DIM AURA: “Scarred Flesh Supremacy” Video Released 2 Israeli Black Metal act DIM AURA has unveiled its first music video for “Scarred Flesh Supremacy”, taken off the band’s debut album, “The Negation Of Existence”. The video was shot, produced and edited by Boris Marinin. The album was recorded in late 2012 in Israel’s Black Horizons studios with producer Meir Gur (SEPARATION ANXIETY, SPITEFUL), and is expected to be released later this year. Mixing and mastering were both handled by Swedish musician and producer Tore Gunnar Stjerna of Necromobus Studios. As a musician, Stjerna served as a live bassist for WATAIN and as a drummer for CORPUS CHRISTII, FUNERAL MIST and AETERNUM, among others. Stjerna has also produced numerous bands, some of which are UNANIMATED, DESTRÖYER 666, MÖRK GRYNING and REPUGNANT. After forming in August 2010, DIM AURA released its first EP, entitled “R.U.S.T.” (Initials for “Ritualistic Unholy Self Torment”) in June 2011.
22/04/2013 ICED EARTH To Perform In Israel In 2014 0 Israel’s ProgStage Productions have officially announced that legendary Heavy Metal icons ICED EARTH will be playing their first concert in Israel on February 22, 2014. The concert is scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv’s Reading 3 club, and wrap up the first leg of the band’s 2014/2015 18-month world tour. Unlike most bands that have suffered hardships and frequent line-up changes, ICED EARTH has always managed to pull through and reach new levels of success, despite the fact that guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer is the only original member remaining since 1985. After launching a successful career for vocalist Matt Barlow and having Tim “Ripper” Owens fill that role for two albums, ICED EARTH enlisted Stu Block, of Canada’s INTO ETERNITY, and released its critically acclaimed tenth studio album “Dystopia”. Tickets can be purchased online starting this Thursday (April 25), over at ProgStage Productions’ official Facebook page.
26/03/2013 OF MARBLE’S BLACK Returns With A Debut Album 0 Israeli Metal band OMB (formerly OF MARBLE’S BLACK) has resumed its activity and announced about its upcoming debut album, “SwineSong”. OMB was founded in 2009, in Haifa, by drummer Yuval Tamir (DARK SERPENT), vocalist Vidi Dolev and bassist Or Rozenfeld. The album was recorded with the help of Yuval Kramer (AMASEFFER, and also in REIGN OF THE ARCHITECT with Tamir and Dolev) in his studio, while the production was handled by the band. Mixing and mastering were both handled by producer Jens Bogren and sound engineer Andre Alvinzi of Sweden’s Fascination Street Studios. Scott A. Shellhamer was responsible for the artwork. Commented OMB: “After our last stage performance came to an end, we silently crept into hiding with no indication of time, chalked lines on the wall to mark days passing by and waited for the stars to align. When all was in order, we recorded our first album! Now, rising from oblivion, like Venus leaving her safe seashell, the first song ['An Ordinary Caveman Sings An Ode To Obsession'] is unleashed in all its glory!”.
22/03/2013 ORPHANED LAND To Release “All Is One” 1 ORPHANED LAND is putting the finishing touches on the follow-up to 2010′s “The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR”. The band’s sixth full-length CD, “All Is One”, will be released on June 24 via Century Media Records. The album was recorded with more than 40 participants (choirs, violins, and other traditional instruments) in Turkey, Israel, and in Sweden’s Fascination Street studios with producer Jens Bogren (PARADISE LOST, DRACONIAN, OPETH). The album marks the band’s first recording with drummer Matan Shmuely and guitarist Chen Balbus (replacing founding guitarist Matti Svatizky). Commented singer Kobi Farhi: “This is our best album so far. I feel that we took all aspects to a new level — the way we write, arrange, play and produce. Our secret recipe was always the fact that unlike many other bands, ORPHANED LAND doesn’t follow ONE master mind that writes everything; we work in a way that ‘all is one.’ We create our music in a perfect blend of synergy and harmony and all the band members are a part of this process. We translate the album’s title and message exactly in the way we work, and we always hope we could give a bit of an inspiration to the people in the tragic Middle Eastern lands.”
13/03/2013 Thrash Legend ANTHRAX To Perform In Israel 2 Thrash Metal titans ANTHRAX have scheduled their first-ever concert in Israel, to take place on August 13 at Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena. Ticket prices range between 220-290 NIS, depending on the seat choice. ANTHRAX will be the third from the “Big Four” of Thrash Metal to play Israel, following three concerts by METALLICA and four by MEGADETH. The band was founded in 1981 at the East Coast, in New York City, as opposed to the other three members of the “Big Four”, who were formed at the west coast. This environment saw ANTHRAX shaping its style differently than its peers, using hardcore-punk and lots of humor. The band’s line-up changed frequently over the years, while guitarist Scott Ian, remaining as the only original member. The band’s current line-up includes long-time vocalist Joey Belladonna (1984-1992, 2005-2007,2010-) and bassist Frank Bello, as well as guitarist Jonathan Donais (SHADOWS FALL) and drummer Jon Dette (temporarily filling in for Charlie Benante). As previously reported, ANTHRAX released its latest album, “Worship Music”, in September 2011.
03/03/2013 HAMMERCULT To Tour Again With SEPULTURA 0 Israeli Thrash Metal band HAMMERCULT has announced a three-week tour in support of the legendary SEPULTURA. HAMMERCULT will serve as the main opening act on this tour, as opposed to the previous tour with SEPULTURA in June 2012. According to the band’s statement, “We are thrilled to announce our next European tour: In a few weeks HAMMERCULT will hit the road with the mighty SEPULTURA once again! During this tour we will Thrash the hell out of Germany, Hungary, Austria, France, The Netherlands and Switzerland. This tour will also include a stop in Neurotic Deathfest in Tilburg in early May. More tour dates will be announced soon. We will see you crazy Metalheads in the pit!!!”. Both bands will also play an on-land concert as a part of the Full Metal Cruise, organized by the masterminds behind Germany’s “Wacken Open Air” festival. The band has also recently announced that guitarist Guy Goldenberg (FERIUM) will replace Yotam Nagor (SHREDHEAD) from now on, after the latter’s departure in December 2012.
