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CD/DVD Releases: News Update #2 - RoSFest, Jerry Gaskill, Nektar, Threshold, Fates Warning...

Posted on Sunday, April 01 @ 22:51:27 UTC by nightowl

As Jerry Gaskill continues his recovery from a heart attack suffered late last month, King's X are offering a download of a previously unreleased 1991 concert to fans who donate money to help offset the drummer's medical and personal bills.

Available for download via the Molten Music website (click here for full details), Burning Down Boston: Live At The Channel is a 90-minute, 13-song concert recorded at the height of the band's 1990 tour in support of Faith Hope Love. In addition to purchasing Burning Down Boston, donations can also be sent to Jerry Gaskill c/o World Entertainment Inc., P.O. Box 3095, Sea Bright, NJ 07760.

As of this report posted March 16, Jerry's medical condition is improving - he is no longer in ICU, but is still hospitalized battling pneumonia. He can sit up, and is showing signs of recovery that have his family and the band encouraged.

[Source: InsideOut Music]

Trespass Announced for RoSfest Friday after hours party: The Rites of Spring Festival (RoSfest to our loyal attendees), is pleased to announce that the local Philadelphia Genesis tribute band, Trespass, has graciously agreed to entertain our guests at the Friday night after party event. Focusing on the classic Peter Gabriel era of Genesis, band members Brian Filone (vocals/flute), Michael LaBuono (keyboards), Mark Britton (guitars), Flip Britton (bass, guitars) and Brian Powers (drums) are dedicated in their endeavors to recreate the Genesis shows of old on a musical as well as a stage performance level. Trespass is a band that will set and maintain a feel good, party mood for all at the Friday night after party, and they easily deserve the $5.00 per person donation they kindly ask for to cover their own travel and performance cost. Please be kind and support the artists that work so hard to entertain you.

Most prog fans in general and long time Genesis followers in particular can look forward to a good, old-fashioned party with the band supplying the very best of the original spirit of progressive rock. We are confident that Trespass will set the mood quite nicely for the later, unofficial gatherings for those with seasoned, RoSfest party stamina.

Ticket sales: With just under about a month to go, the staff and volunteers of RoSfest would like to wish everyone a happy early spring as the weather has been making it feel like festival season right now. We sincerely hope we will be seeing you in Gettysburg, PA at the Rites of Spring Festival on May 4th, 5th and 6th 2012. [I'll be there -ed.]

Tickets are still available for the entire weekend of performances and single day tickets have just recently gone on sale. Saturday only tickets are $80.00.

Those who are willing to gamble at only attending single performances will have to bite their nails until just prior to the concerts in May. If tickets remain, Headliner tickets will then be available from the box office for $40.00, while all other, earlier day concerts can be seen for $25.00 each.

[Source: Rosfest]

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New honorees, presenters, performers and special guests have been announced for the fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods, presented by Epiphone, America's only hard-rock and heavy-metal award show. The event will take place Wednesday, April 11, at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles and is almost sold out. Fans without tickets can still watch the show though, as it will be broadcast live in its entirety on XBOX LIVE, as well as on the XBOX and Revolver Facebook pages. The award show live broadcast is the first ever of its kind and kicks off globally at 6 p.m. PDT/9 p.m. EDT.

The Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by XBOX LIVE, will go to prog-rock pioneers Rush, who will release their highly anticipated 19th studio album, Clockwork Angels, this year on Roadrunner Records (previous honorees include hard-rock and metal legends Mötley Crüe, Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead and Ozzy Osbourne). The award will be presented by Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D, whose new record, Rize Of The Fenix, hits stores on May 15. Rush's Neil Peart commented, "We are honored and delighted to receive this honor -- especially because it will be presented by Jack and Kyle. Our 'lifetimes' are not over yet, and we dearly hope our 'achievements' are not either, so I suppose you could say that to us this is the 'So Far, So Good' award." Of presenting the award, Black commented, "Rush was the most impressive band, musically, when I was just learning about rock. Weirdly, they got your body moving in interpretive-dancing ways, but it was still aggressive. Their stuff was just so complex and so tasty!"

Right before the official start of the show, Pantera will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their landmark album, Vulgar Display Of Power, with the worldwide debut of their first music video in 12 years, for the previously unreleased song, "Piss," from the Vulgar recording sessions. Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul commented, "'Piss' is the only unheard complete Pantera track in existence. It was recorded at the same time as Vulgar Display Of Power and it's 100 percent Pantera with attitude and our signature groove! After mixing it, I can't believe it didn't make the record! So it's 2012 and 20 years later and new Pantera music has been delivered. Cheers!"

Adding to the festivities, The 2012 Revolver Golden Gods Awards show will feature one-of-a-kind special performances and collaborations. Newly announced performers include Korn, who are nominated for multiple Golden Gods awards. "Revolver rocks! We are psyched to be nominated for Album of the Year -- looking forward to rocking the house, too!" said Korn frontman Jonathan Davis. Heavy-metal heavyweights Trivium have also been added to this jam-packed bill, as well as legendary guitar shredder Yngwie Malmsteen, who will open the show, playing "The Star Spangled Banner", alongside a full military color guard. Finally, Twisted Sister's Dee Snider is set to appear with previously announced performers Black Veil Brides for a performance of his band's '80s anthem "I Wanna Rock."

The live concert will also include Marilyn Manson, who appears on the cover of the latest issue of Revolver; iconic Grammy-winning guitarist -- featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators; Evanescence; and Sixx: A.M., featuring Nikki Sixx of Mötley Cr¨e, acclaimed rock producer and songwriter James Michael, and DJ Ashba of Guns N' Roses, in their first performance in almost four years.

Also on April 11, the Grammy Museum, next door to Club Nokia, will open its new exhibit Golden Gods: The History of Heavy Metal. Mounted in coordination with Revolver, the exhibit will feature never-before-displayed artifacts including instruments, stage props, handwritten lyrics, clothing and costumes, alongside original album artwork, posters and live-performance and interview footage. The exhibit will also feature a variety of interactive displays.

[Source: Blabbermouth.net]

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RPWL have a new album out - it came out on March 9 in Europe and on March 12 in the US. They will be touring Europe this month starting on April 14 at the Boerderij in Zoetermeer, NL; the itinerary, as shown below, includes a festival date in June.

14.04.2012 NL - Zoetermeer (Culturpodium Boerderij)
15.04.2012 B - Verviers (Spirit Of 66)
17.04.2012 D - Stuttgart (Kellerklub)
18.04.2012 CH - Pratteln (Galery)
19.04.2012 D - Rüsselsheim (Das Rind)
20.04.2012 D - Hannover (Blues Garage)
21.04.2012 D - Oberhausen (Zentrum Altenberg)
22.04.2012 NL - Uden (De Pul)
24.04.2012 D - Hamburg (Logo)
25.04.2012 D - Reichenbach (Bergkeller)
26.04.2012 D - Berlin (Maschinenhaus)
27.04.2012 PL - Poznan (Blue Note)
28.04.2012 PL - Szczecin (Free Blues Club)
29.04.2012 PL - Warsaw (Progresja)
30.04.2012 PL - Bielsko-Biala (Klimat)
01.05.2012 PL - Piekary Slaskie (Andaluzja)
02.05.2012 A - Wien (Reigen) // with Subsignal
03.05.2012 D - Freising (Lindenkeller)
29.05.2012 F - Bordeaux (Le Complexe)
30.05.2012 E - Alcazar de San Juan (Sala Arco)
31.05.2012 E - València (Loco Club)
01.06.2012 E - Madrid (Sala Copernico)
02.06.2012 E - Peralta (Minnuendö Festival)

[Source: RPWL website]

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Cleopatra Records Releases Special Nektar 2-CD Package On March 13, the headline from March 14 read. Cleopatra Records is releasing a special 2-CD package from ground-breaking progressive rock band Nektar. Spanning nearly 25 years of the band, Man In The Moon marked the return of vocalist/guitarist Roye Albrighton, while Evolution shows a return to experimental songwriting.

Though comprised of four Englishmen, Nektar formed in Germany in 1969, and earned a cult following for its psychedelic, spacey approach. In the mid-1970s, Nektar attracted attention and a growing fanbase in America with several concept albums and a uniquely visual live show. The band continues to perform today to a fervent and developing audience, and remains an influence for "space rock" artists around the world.

Man In The Moon/Evolution is available on iTunes, amazon.com, and at your favorite record store. The 2-disk digipak is $18.98. Both albums are accompanied by rare bonus material and full liner notes.

DISC 1:

Man In The Moon (1980)
     1. Too Young To Die
     2. Angel
     3. Telephone
     4. Far Away
     5. Torraine
     6. Can't Stop You Now
     7. We
     8. You're Alone
     9. Man In The Moon
     10. BONUS: Straight Jacket

DISC 2:

Evolution (2004)
     1. Camouflage To White
     2. Old Mother Earth
     3. Child Of Mine
     4. Phazed By The Storm
     5. Always
     6. Dancin' Into The Void
     7. The Debate
     8. After The Fall

Always EP (2005)
     9. Always (Single Edit)
     10. Child Of Mine (Single Edit)
     11. Telephone (Live In Studio)
     12. Angel (Live In Studio)

MP3 for "Man In The Moon"

Cleopatra:

[Source: Spinner PR]

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British progressive metallers Threshold are in the final stages of recording their ninth studio album, March Of Progress, for a late 2012 release via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is being produced by Karl Groom and Richard West at Thin Ice Studios (Dragonforce, Pendragon), with additional production at Eightspace Studio (League Of Lights, The Morning After).

Vocal duties on March Of Progress were performed by Threshold's original frontman Damian Wilson (Star One, Headspace), who's been back touring with the band since the release of their previous studio album, Dead Reckoning, in 2007.

Commented Wilson: "I've really enjoyed being back in the studio with Rich and Karl. It feels like the good old days, wailing away at Thin Ice Studios again! My voice has been strong and powerful; it feels like my best work."

Provisional songtitles set to appear on the CD include:

* Ashes
* Return Of The Thought Police
* Colophon
* Staring At The Sun * Liberty Complacency Dependency
* Divinity
* The Hours
* Don't Look Down
* That's Why We Came
* The Rubicon
* Coda

Dead Reckoning was released in 2007 and featured vocals by Andrew McDermott, who sadly passed away last year. The album entered the charts at position No. 64 in Germany, No. 95 in The Netherlands and No. 37 in the U.K. rock chart.

Threshold's most recent output was the 2009 limited-edition box set Paradox: The Singles Collection, a 24-song collection including a number of unreleased songs and recordings with vocals by Wilson, Glynn Morgan and McDermott.

Threshold is:

Damian Wilson - Vocals
Karl Groom - Guitar
Richard West - Keyboards
Johanne James - Drums
Steve Anderson - Bass
Pete Morten - Guitar

[Source: Blabbermouth.net]

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Freia Music Announces New Progressive Rock Compilation Album Dutch Exposure: 23 years after the last release of a compilation album in the Exposure-series, a new album is planned for release later this year. Freia Music is looking for the 6 Dutch bands that represent the best of the new generation of progressive rock in the Netherlands.

The search for progressive talent in the Netherlands will be carried out in close collaboration with three organisations active in the Dutch progressive rock scene: Background Magazine, iO Pages magazine and ProgWereld. Each of them will select two bands that will be nominated to participate in the Dutch Exposure project. Each of the 6 selected bands will get the opportunity to record one track for the album.

However, Dutch Exposure is more than just a compilation album. Each of the selected bands will get the opportunity to compete in a battle. The winner will get the opportunity to record a full album on the Freia Music label. The details of the battle are at this moment not definite. We're looking into the possibilities of organising a festival with the competing bands. This next to online competitions via social media.

The album will be released on 180 grams wide grooved vinyl together with CD and/or downloads with additional material. The release date is planned around October/November 2012. Bands interested in participating in the Dutch Exposure project can register through each of the participating organisations. You can request more information through DutchExposure (at) freia-music.com

About...: Freia Music is a small label specialised in releasing progressive rock music and music in related styles. It aims to release high quality products. Freia Music focuses both on rereleasing music that is no longer available and unique old material as on releasing music by new bands in the progressive scene. During the 80's of the last century Freia Music released over 10 albums. These include albums by Achet-Aton and The Last Detail. The last Exposure album, Exposure 88 was also released on Freia Music. After being dormant for 20 years Freia Music is relaunched.

For many years, Background Magazine (www.backgroundmagazine.nl) used to be an international magazine specialised in progressive rock music and related musical styles. A few years ago they revamped into an international webzine.

iO Pages magazine (www.iopages.nl) is the oldest existing magazine in the Netherlands dedicated to progressive symphonic rock and related genres. The magazine is published 7 times a year in 2.300 copies.

ProgWereld (www.progwereld.nl) is Holland's largest website dedicated to progressive rock and related styles. For over 11 years Progwereld is well known for its thorough reviews and interesting interviews and specials.

The Exposure series is an initiative of Ronnie Larkins (Exposure magazine) and Steven Wilson (No Man's Land, Porcupine Tree). It gave new progressive talent a platform to present itself to the public. The first two compilation albums were released in 1984 and 1985 on Steven Wilson's No Man's land label. Exposure 88, the third album in the series, was released by Freia Music in 1988. A fourth all American release never materialised.

CWAC (Children With A Challenge) Foundation support children who are in need of extra care to succeed in life. CWAC Foundation receives 25% of the net profits of all Freia Music releases.

[Source: Freia Music]

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U.S. progressive metal icons Fates Warning are working on material for their next album, which they hope to release before the end of 2012.

In a brand new interview with Bulgaria's Tangra Mega Rock, Fates Warning singer Ray Alder stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new CD, "We're trying as hard as we can. We have these shows [in Europe] and then we go to Brazil in April. And in the meantime we are working as hard as we can to finish the album. Hopefully we'll have it out by the end of this year, If not, the beginning of next year. We're trying our best."

He added, "We need to finish writing right now. We finished the first song. The demo version is already done. We'll continue writing as we have a lot of ideas that we need to put together. But the first song is done and I can tell you it's seven minutes long. The recording process itself usually takes about two months and then after that it's another three more months before the album is released. So, we are talking five months out there after the album has been written."

[Source: Blabbermouth.net]

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ProgSphere's Progstravaganza Compilation of Awesomeness - Part X (Teaser I)

A lot of effort has been invested in the 10th part of Progstravaganza series of compilations, as it's pretty clear that this is a jubilee edition of what we started almost two years ago. The thing with this part is that every of the bands off the compilation will be featured on our "special" mini-site where they will be presented with reviews, interviews and other features, plus via Prog Sphere Promotions we will run the promo campaigns for them, making sure that their music reach out new fans.

Shown below is the first teaser of the upcoming compilation, showcasing some of the bands that will be a part of this. Bands included, in order of appearance, are: We Could Build An Empire, On The Verge Of Sanity, Sam Locke, The Skys, The Minstrel's Ghost,Special Providence, Mighty Zazuum, Pyramidal.

ProgSphere's Progstravaganza Compilation of Awesomeness - Part X will be available for free download and is set to be "released" on April 8th. It has to be mentioned that this is just one little sneak preview of the bands that will be featured on the compilation, there is certainly much more than this.

Click HERE to watch/get embed code of the Progstravaganza X teaser.

[Source: ProgSphere Promotions]

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After the success of the four albums of the Seasonscycle Suite, Fabio Zuffanti and Höstsonaten returns with a new great project! The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner; a new saga in 2 chapters, one for now, the other in 2013.

Fabio Zuffanti conceives the idea to work on a musical version of the Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" in 1995. The first two parts are in fact in the first two Hostsonaten albums (Hostsonaten, 1996 and Mirrorgames, 1998) but the realization of these never fully satisfied the composer who decides to suspend the project.

In 2011, at the end of the successful tetralogy "Seasoncycle Suite," Fabio decided to take up work on "The Rime ..." and bring it to a conclusion. The project is divided into two CDs: The first, to be released on April 8, 2012 on AMS records, will feature the first four parts of the poem, the second in 2013 with the remaining three parts. The two parts that have already published has been completely re-recorded. The vocals have been assigned to four different singers who explore, interpret and return to the listeners the emotions of the dark and dreamy Coleridge's poem.

The musicians who joined Fabio in this new adventure are Maurizio Di Tollo (drums), Luca Scherani (mellotron, minimoog, hammond, etc...), Matteo Nahum (guitars), Edmondo Romano (Sax, Bagpipe), Syvia Trabucco (violin), Joanne Roan (flute).

The singers that interpret the four parts of The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner - Chapter One are:

Part I: Alessandro Corvaglia (La Maschera Di Cera) with a cameo by Carlo Cralo Carnevali (R.u.g.h.e.); Part II: Davide Merletto (Daedalus); Part III: Marco Dogliotti; Part IV: Simona Angioloni (Aries), with a cameo of Alessandro Corvaglia

The music is, if possible, more prog and symphonic than ever. This is a great prog album with touches of Celtic music, hard-prog, new-prog and many other different prog-styles!

Listen to a long medley of the album

GO TO: www.zuffantiprojects.com/preorderhost&merlin.htm and pre-order your autographed copy paying euros 17 including shipping costs!

Together with the new Höstsonaten album will be available the reissue of Merlin - The Rock Opera (Music by Fabio Zuffanti, Libretto by Victoria Heward). Double CD on AMS Records with a great cast of nearly 40 musicians and singers (including Alessandro Corvaglia of Maschera Di Cera that plays the role of Merlin) for a great PROG-OPERA!

The double CD, originally published in 2000 by Iridea Records and out of print for many years, has been totally restyled, remixed, remastered and repackaged with new a gatefold papersleeve cover, photos and sleeve notes. Plus Zuffanti added new mellotron parts with a real instrument (in the old version there was samples).

GO TO: www.zuffantiprojects.com/preorderhost&merlin.htm and pre-order your autographed copy paying euros 17 including shipping costs!

Very special offer: if you'll buy the Höstsonaten CD + merlin 2CD together you'll pay euro 37 instead of 42.

[Source: Zuffanti Projects newsletter]



One more "omnibus" news post planned for tomorrow, Apr 2 (really). And then we'll be back to our regular single item news posting...

Posted in Album Release News

Associated Topics

Band News (tours, comings/goings, etc)