Friday, September 03, 2010

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The one thing we do at Pitriff that we feel separates us from everyone else is the fact that we try to give you only legitimate heavy metal and hard rock stories, without all the fluff. Where almost every other site fills up with interviews that say nothing, Pitriff sticks to actual news stories. Our interview stories are limited, and random footage of performances is eliminated. You can come here, find out what’s really happening, and get on with your day! It’s that simple!

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News

New Spiritual Beggars Song Available For Streaming

"The Chaos Of Rebirth", a brand new song from SPIRITUAL BEGGARS — the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, along with new vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) — is available for streaming on the group's MySpace page. The track comes off SPIRITUAL BEGGARS's seventh studio album, "Return To Zero", which was released in Japan on August 25 via Trooper Entertainment Inc. — a label founded by legendary Japanese heavy metal music industry guru Tetsu Miyamoto. The Japanese special edition comes in a glossy paper box with a poster and a sticker of the CD front cover. The Japanese edition also features a bonus track, a thunderous cover of URIAH HEEP's "Time To Live" off the legendary U.K. band's 1971 "Salisbury" record.

"Return To Zero" will be released in North America on October 12 via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Demons" was recorded at Sweetspot Studio with producer Rickard Bengtsson.

"Return To Zero" track listing:

01. Return To Zero (intro)
02. Lost In Yesterday
03. Star Born
04. The Chaos Of Rebirth
05. We Are Free
06. Spirit Of The Wind
07. Coming Home
08. Concrete Horizon
09. A New Dawn Rising
10. Believe In Me
11. Dead Weight
12. The Road Less Travelled

A specially priced pre-order bundle package is now available exclusively at CMDistro.com.

The CD artwork was created by the well-known Brazilian artist Gustavo Sazes.

In a recent interview with Japan's Burrn! magazine, Amott stated about the CD, "The new album has a lot of the typical SPIRITUAL BEGGARS trademarks — it's heavy rock with a '70s atmosphere — but I also hear a definite progression and a deeper sense of melody in the songwriting and performances. It's exactly the kind of record I wanted to make with SPIRITUAL BEGGARS in 2010!"

Regarding the band's latest addition, vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND), Amott said, "Apollo's influences are very much rooted in the classic rock and metal of the '70s and '80s. He is the same age as the rest of us in SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, so we instantly shared a lot of common ground musically, and he really connected with the songs and delivered emotional vocals that really impressed us all."

He added, "Apollo does share some similarities with our previous singers — a rough and raw style based in blues and hard rock. He also has influences from the classic metal of the Eighties.

"I was always aware of the fact that he is great singer. However, even I was surprised how well his voice fit SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, in the new and the old songs. Apollo is showing a range and depth on this album that I believe will both surprise and please the SPIRITUAL BEGGARS fans!"

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2010 is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar
Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - Drums
Per Wiberg (OPETH) - Keyboards
Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS has been confirmed for the Loud Park 10 festival, set to take place October 16-17 at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS' last album, "Demons", was released in Europe in June 2005 via InsideOut Music.

"Return To Zero" will be released in North America on October 12 via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Demons" was recorded at Sweetspot Studio with producer Rickard Bengtsson.

"Return To Zero" track listing:

01. Return To Zero (intro)
02. Lost In Yesterday
03. Star Born
04. The Chaos Of Rebirth
05. We Are Free
06. Spirit Of The Wind
07. Coming Home
08. Concrete Horizon
09. A New Dawn Rising
10. Believe In Me
11. Dead Weight
12. The Road Less Travelled

A specially priced pre-order bundle package is now available exclusively at CMDistro.com.

The CD artwork was created by the well-known Brazilian artist Gustavo Sazes.

In a recent interview with Japan's Burrn! magazine, Amott stated about the CD, "The new album has a lot of the typical SPIRITUAL BEGGARS trademarks — it's heavy rock with a '70s atmosphere — but I also hear a definite progression and a deeper sense of melody in the songwriting and performances. It's exactly the kind of record I wanted to make with SPIRITUAL BEGGARS in 2010!"

Regarding the band's latest addition, vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND), Amott said, "Apollo's influences are very much rooted in the classic rock and metal of the '70s and '80s. He is the same age as the rest of us in SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, so we instantly shared a lot of common ground musically, and he really connected with the songs and delivered emotional vocals that really impressed us all."

He added, "Apollo does share some similarities with our previous singers — a rough and raw style based in blues and hard rock. He also has influences from the classic metal of the Eighties.

"I was always aware of the fact that he is great singer. However, even I was surprised how well his voice fit SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, in the new and the old songs. Apollo is showing a range and depth on this album that I believe will both surprise and please the SPIRITUAL BEGGARS fans!"

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2010 is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar
Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - Drums
Per Wiberg (OPETH) - Keyboards
Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS has been confirmed for the Loud Park 10 festival, set to take place October 16-17 at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS' last album, "Demons", was released in Europe in June 2005 via InsideOut Music.

Heathen Forced To Cancel Mexican Dates

San Francisco Bay Area thrashers HEATHEN have been forced to cancel their previously announced Mexican shows (October 15 in Monterrey and October 16 in Mexico City) because "agreed financial obligations" were not met by "the local promoter," according to a statement released by the band. The group adds, "We hate to disappoint all the HEATHEN fans in Mexico that may have already purchased tickets and we hope to make it up to you all soon."

As previously reported, HEATHEN will team up with OVERKILL and DESTRUCTION for the 2011 European "Killfest Tour" in March.

HEATHEN's "Dying Season" video can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in early April in Sacramento, California with Darin Wood, Christy Savage and Amy Slockbower of Trash Film Orgy Productions, a company that specializes in B-horror films. This is Trash Film Orgy's first foray into the metal video world. Also on the set was airbrush artist Alvin Petty, creator of HEATHEN's "Victims Of Deception" (1991) and "Recovered" (2004) album covers, as well as METALLICA's "Creeping Death" EP cover.

"Dying Season" comes off HEATHEN's latest album, "The Evolution Of Chaos", which was released in the U.S. on February 16. The CD was issued in Japan on December 23, 2009 via King Records and was made available on January 25 in Europe via Holland's Mascot Records.

The band's current lineup includes Lee Altus (guitar), Kragen Lum (guitar; PROTOTYPE), Dave White (vocals), Jon Torres (bass; ANGELWITCH) and returning drummer Darren Minter.

"The Evolution Of Chaos" track listing:

01. Dying Season
02. Control By Chaos
03. No Stone Unturned
04. Arrows Of Agony
05. Fade Away
06. A Heroe's Welcome
07. Undone
08. Bloodkult
09. Red Tears Of Disgrace
10. Silent Nothingness

Loaded Complete Work On New CD

DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, the band led by VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan, has finished recording its new album at a Seattle-area studio with veteran rock producer Terry Date (SOUNDGARDEN, PANTERA, DEFTONES).

In the latest installment of his column, which appears on Reverb at SeattleWeekly.com, McKagan writes about working with Date, "For those of you who follow the band, you will also know that having Terry produce this new record is a departure from Martin Feveyear, the producer of the first two LOADED records. Martin is not only our producer, but one of my dearest friends, and I can probably speak for the other fellas in the band when I state that this was a very tough decision for us. Martin totally understood and told us to make a great record."

DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED recently parted ways with Century Media Records after releasing one EP (2008's "Wasted Heart") and one full-length album (2009's "Sick") through the label.

Commented McKagan: "We hope to find LOADED a label home that will do our record a bit more justice this time around. There is not a group of guys anywhere who deserve more reciprocation from a like-minded, hard-working record company. But THAT is another story!"

Drummer Isaac Carpenter (LOUDERMILK, GOSLING, OURS, THE EXIES) joined DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED as the replacement for Geoff Reading, who left the band last year.

"Sick" sold around 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 43 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Sick" was released in North America on April 7, 2009 via Century Media Records. An e-card for the CD, which was produced by Martin Feveyear (PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, KINGS OF LEON), is available at this location.

In addition to McKagan and Carpenter, LOADED features bassist Jeff Rouse (VENDETTA RED, ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE) and guitarist Mike Squires (ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE).

LOADED released "Live Episode" (1999) and "Dark Days" (2001), before other commitments meant LOADED were put on the back burner to some extent, although they never split up.

Welcome To THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW

The Classic Metal Show was started by host Wendell Neeley in January of 1996. The show originally aired on 88.9, WSTB, before moving exclusively to the internet in March of 2004 due to a change of career which forced Neeley to move from Ohio to the Chicago area. While on WSTB, The Classic Metal Show was known for it's hard hitting music, it's all request format, and it's interesting cast of characters which included Rockin' Randy, Big Mike, Little Mike, Long Haired Mike and Papa Chuck!

Once on the internet, the show was joined by cohost Chris Akin in late 2005. The show morphed from being primarily a music show to being a "shock jock" type mixture of topical discussion, the best in heavy metal, and more. The internet version of THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW remained a 6-hour free for all, featuring new music listening parties from your favorite Classic Metal artists, as well as interviews from the biggest starts in the world. It grew to have an identity all it's own.

In 2010, Chris Akin left the broadcast portion of the show. This forced the show to once again reinvent itself. Currently, the show has become a combination of the best elements of the past versions of the show, as well as adding a whole new dimension by adding in the fans as the show's core cohosts. The Classic Metal Show continues to grow and change, and will probably do so as long as it remains on the air! Neeley promises that the show, and the entire "world" that is The Classic Metal Show, will continue to morph and grow as time goes by.

Lord Belial Signs With Dozer Records

The resurrected original lineup of Swedish black metallers LORD BELIAL has inked a deal with Dozer Records. The band is currently writing and recording material for a new album, tentatively due next year.

LORD BELIAL announced it was calling it quits in January 2009, citing "the hearing problem (tinnitus): suffered by the band's drummer, Micke Backelin, as the main reason for its decision.

LORD BELIAL released its latest album, "The Black Curse", in September 2008 via Regain Records. The CD was recorded at Deadline Studios with producer Valle Adzic.

LORD BELIAL's seventh full-length album, "Revelation", was recorded at Los Angered studio (owned by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque) outside Gothenburg.

LORD BELIAL is:

Thomas Backelin - Vocals, Guitar
Niclas Andersson - Guitar
Anders Backelin - Bass
Micke Backelin - Drums