Oh noes!! THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has announced that long-time guitarist, John Kempainen has left the band. Here is the official statement from frontman, Trevor Stand:

"On the eve of our December tour with friends Misery Index and Soilent Green, we in The Black Dahlia Murder are faced with a heartbreaking dilemma: John K. has abruptly left the fold and refuses to accompany us on the tour. We are left with no choice but to carry on with the dates as a four piece. The remaining members of the band apologize for these unprofessional circumstances, but we feel that it is best to go through with the tour and not disappoint the other bands as well as the fans who are looking forward to these shows. Please come out and show some Black Dahlia love in our hour of need."

This is clearly a bummer, but I'm interested seeing how these guys do as a four piece for now.

No, the two bands are not touring together (but what a weird combo that would be!). There must be something in the air, as two bands had to pull out of their tours because of infections to the singer.

First up, ALL THAT REMAINS dropped off the IN FLAMES, 36 CRAZYFISTS, GOJIRA tour, and issued this statement:

Sorry, but we aren't gonna be at any more of the shows on the IN FLAMES tour. We'll have a press release probably [later today, Monday, December 1]. The holiday weekend has prevented an official release 'cause everyone at the label had gone home when the decision was made to drop. Sorry and we'll figure some way out to make it up to you guys. Thanks and we hope you have a happy holidays and a happy New Year.

On top of that, HATE ETERNAL frontman Erik Rutan has not been feeling too well either, resulting in the band dropping off their tour with JOB FOR A COWBOY, ALL SHALL PERISH and ANIMOSITY. The band issued this statement:

"Erik was admitted to an Iowa City hospital on the early morning of Nov. 23rd and has remained under doctor's supervision since. The infection has caused concern for the doctors, but the major concern of the doctor's is, Erik's kidney. Erik has had a couple of procedures done on his kidney. Erik will not be able to continue the tour, but he is expected to make a full recovery. He is expected to be released sometime next week and then will seek further treatment at home in Florida. Hate Eternal would like thank to everyone on the tour for their understanding of the situation. Hate Eternal would also like to thank all the fans who have expressed concern for Erik's health."

Bummers all around, as both of these tours were hitting up the NYC area this week and are going to be short now. On the plus side, maybe we get to leave early! (I'm feeling really old right now saying that).

Can any of us really believe that it has already been 5 years since our friends in BURNT BY THE SUN presented us with a full album of new music? If you’re not aware of the last several years of breakup rumors and lengthy member searches, forget about it; there’s no need to worry, because as far as you’ll ever know, all is well in the realm of the grind-influenced metallic hardcore masters in BBTS (at least for one last album). Just last week, the recently revitalized band posted a new demo called “F-UNIT” online from their forthcoming album(!!!) Heart Of Darkness, and judging by the sounds of this song and the songs on their split with CAR BOMB that came out last year, they are even more pissed off than ever.

Although they have been pretty quiet for the half a decade, as this raw cut shows, the band hasn’t lost any steam. In fact, it would be hard to say that the rest of the metal scene has caught up with BURNT BY THE SUN at all during the last few years. I’m still listening to Soundtrack to the Personal Revolution and The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good quite often, and in all honestly, they sound much heavier and more vicious than 90% of the music that's been released by their peers since BBTS dropped their last album. Personally, I can’t wait for the new release any sooner, although it does make me a little sad to know that this has been revealed to most likely be their finale album. For now, I'm excited for spring 2009; this new track continues the tradition of the BBTS that I love exactly as I remembered - music that leaves me a bit more fearful for my life.

Head over to their official myspace to have listen to "F-UNIT" or play the video below to get a sneak peak at the new album!

Heart of Darkness "F-Unit" Album Preview

Last night, a pack of mainly dudes (aged around 20s-40s) crowded outside of Webster Hall, a Manhattan dance club/hipster magnet best known for ejecting the Butthole Surfers last summer. No matter–the evening show was a free listening party for Guns N' Roses' light years-in-the-making new album, and Axl fanatics had been reportedly waiting for over five hours for a spot near the front of the line. Oh yeah, there were also free t-shirts, posters an appearance from guitarist Bumblefoot and coupons for free Dr. Pepper inside…but you were there to hear Chinese Democracy.

So…how was it? (more…)

ANTAGONIST frontman Carlos Garcia, come on down! I never thought I would ever be blogging about the Price Is Right, but here goes. Fresh off a tour with DECREPIT BIRTH, ANTAGONIST and tour mates ANIMOSITY decided to attend a taping of the never-ending show and Carlos actually got called up to participate. How did he do? Check out the clip below…

Pssh. Obviously a dude in a band will know how much a trailer costs! The band just released their Prosthetic Records debut, ‘Exist, in September. For more on ANTAGONIST, check out their MySpace page.

Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman, Jr. revealed to a Web 2.0 Summit audience that Warner (one of the big four major record labels in the world) now requires all new artists to sign "360" deals. This imposes artists (and reportedly a third of Warner's signed acts) to give labels a pre-arranged cut of merch sales, concert ticket profits, endorsements and anything else that pays the band. This is in addition to the standard "labels profit from CD sales" bag that's been going on since the stone age and the more recent "labels profit from digital downloads" business.

Bronfman reportedly told the crowd that the label can't continue to profit from CD sales, which have reached increasingly dismal numbers over the past several years, and that 360 deals can ensure the labels' survival and the continued promotion of their artists. He also argued that the arrangements will allow the labels to give away more music to promote concert ticket and merch sales.

Are concert ticket and merch prices going to skyrocket? Are the labels finally finding a way to co-exist with illegal downloading, in-store exclusives and artists giving away their music for free online? Is this fair to the artists? Are 360 deals the future of the music biz? Am I out of questions?

Stay tuned.

Prince of Darkness, Reality Show Star and, uhh phone salesman? Yep, that's right, everybody's favorite bumbling dad is now a spokesperson for Samsung phones. See, Ozzy is so drugged up he can barely speak anymore, so he just texts everybody. Oh, the joy in making fun of a metal legend. One thing is puzzling though, when did he get that taxi driver's phone number to text him? We will never know!

[via CrunchGear]

November 4 is a relatively slow day for new music, but that's probably because you (and every sensible American) should be at the polls tomorrow before you even think of hitting the record stores. In any case, here's a taste of what's coming up:

Filter - Remixes for the Damned (The Firm)
The T-1000's kid brother and co. return with an album of remixes from Filter's album from earlier this year, Anthems for the Damned.

Seeing as though it's Halloween, Headbangers Blog tracked down SAW II, III and IV director Darren Lynn Bousman about why he chose not to direct SAW V (probably easy to figure out) and instead went in an entirely new direction with a new movie coming out next week, Repo! The Genetic Opera, described as "a mindwarped flick that combines graphic violence with a campy storyline, resulting in a rock n’ roll musical that’s part “Ichi the Killer”, part “Rocky Horror Picture Show." Also, the interview brings up topics such as: Paris Hilton in the same room with Ogre; what caused the actors to burst out in tears on set; how a script he wrote earned him the “Saw II” gig, the value of plot over splatter, how far is too far when it comes to graphic violence, and more. Check it out here

You may have never heard of JUD JUD but ten bucks says you have already thought of doing the same thing with your friends. The only difference is they actually did it. What is JUD JUD, its a band made of two vocalists performers who simply mouth out their entire songs. As their bio on Last.fm reads:

JUD JUD managed to strip everything away and find the purist of centers. Using only thier mouths JUD JUD leave you standing drop jawed, with the speed and insensity of a train.

"Our lyrics have always been the most important part of JUD JUD. We write them seperately and feel that is it necessary to print what each of us has to say. These words represent values, ideals, friendships and movivation. They define who we are."

And their lyrics are serious business. Take a look at a sample:

JUD JUD JAH, JUD JUD JUD, JUD JUD JAH,
TSSS TSSS TSSSSS, JUD JUD
EEEEEEE, JUD JUD EEEEEE, JUD JAAAAAAAAA, JUD JUD, JUD JUD
JAAAAAAAA,
JUD JUD JUD, WAH NAH NAH NAH,
JUD JUD JUD, WAH NAH NAH NAH,
JUD JUD JUD,
NING NING NING,
JUD-JUD, DIGGA DIGGA, JUD JUD, EEEEEEEE,
DUJ DUJ, DIGGA DIGGA DIGGA,
JUD JUD JUD, JUD JUD, BBBDDDTLUM PPPPP, BBBDDDTLUM PPPP,
JUD JUD JUD, DUJ DUJ,
EEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU,
JUD JUD.

It's crazy to think these guys put out this goof 11 years ago. A friend of me linked me to their Myspace page the other day, and it brought back some memories. Really, the only way to properly do JUD JUD justice is to show you some songs. So, here you go. Don't go too crazy moshing. And, if you're really into it, there are plenty more mp3s over here.

JUD JUD - Wah Wah Song

 

Play Now
JUD JUD - Gallop Song [1:02m]

 

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JUD JUD - Grindcore Song [0:04m]

 

Play Now

Above you can hear in its entirety, a fresh new track from DAATH called "Sharpen the Blades" and it really shows the progression in the band's sound, and its quite awesome. The band is adding a lot of groove, and the new vocalist kicks ass. Oh, and in case you were under a rock, they have one of the best drummers in metal, Kevin Talley previously of CHIMAIRA and DYING FETUS fame. So, check out the song and give us your opinion in the comments.

Progressive metal's best Italian trio, the bizarre, jazz heavy, avant-garde experimentalists in EPHEL DUATH , have revealed a release date for their forthcoming followup to Pain Necessary To Know . The band have confirmed a January 26, 2009 release for their long-anticipated fourth studio album, Through My Dog's Eyes , through Earache Records. Over the past couple albums, EPHEL DUATH has progressed through a number of (..pardon the pun..) palettes and have never failed to bring something new to the world of music. From the forward thinking progressive-influenced black metal of their early albums, to the off-time chaos of The Painter's Palette , to the spacecy avant-garde jams of their most recent album, EPHEL DUATH always keeps everyone - including themselves, it often seems - guessing about where they'll take their sound next. Thanks to a profoundly unique vision, it appears that the band's next album will not be an out of line with this trend… (more…)

Grinding black metal psychopaths Anaal Nathrakh have apparently completed phase one of their next planned assault upon our sorry souls - their next album and follow-up to 2007's disturbingly good Hell Is Empty And All The Devils Are Here is completely written.

According to the band,

"Mick has finished writing the next Anaal Nathrakh album and is currently deep in the belly of Necrodeath studios hammering it into shape. Vocals will be recorded in February by Mr. V.I.T.R.I.O.L. and we hope for the album to be released in June."

If you haven't heard of this band yet, you're only cheating yourself. As the band themselves say,

"Anaal Nathrakh was created for one purpose - to be the soundtrack for armageddon, the audial essence of evil, hatred and violence, the true spirit of necro taken to its musical extremes."

A cataclysmic blend of grindcore fury, death metal brutality, and icy cold black fucking metal, Anaal Nathrakh first hit US shores this past year at the last Maryland Death Fest, and gave a performance that caused the crowd to more or less collectively shit its pants. They're that good.

Black metal, grind, misanthropic hatred, and, of course, Satan: What's not to love?
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