Crowgrrrl's Perch 11-29-09

CROWGRRL’S PERCH 11-29-09

By Athena Schaffer aka The Crowgrrl

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Spotlight: DEVILDRIVER, CARBON 9, & FIREWIND!!

CROWGRRL’S SPOTLIGHT - DEVILDRIVER!

*Since its inception in 2003, DevilDriver has proven itself a mighty force to be reckoned with indeed! Their 3-pronged mission statement, “Work hard, rock harder, and kick as many asses as possible in the process” has been one they’ve definitely adhered to, while bringing inspiring messages of Hope and Positivity through their music as well.

An excellent example of this is their newest release, Pray For Villains (Roadrunner Records), which instantaneously grabs you by the jugular, shakes you in its jaws like a mad dog, yet still delivering profound messages and leaving you begging for more. The title track, for instance, is about the Anti-Hero who comes in and gets the job done when the heroes fail. Inspired by Dez’ love for Westerns, its about how people put all their eggs in one basket and bet on the hero, but it’s actually the villain who comes in to save the day. Great stuff! Check out the Pray For Villains video!

Hailing from Santa Barbara, California, DevilDriver are: frontman Dez Farfara, guitarists Mike Spreitzer and Jeff Kendrick, bassist Jon Miller, and drummer (and occasionally extra guitarist) John Boecklin. Named after bells that Italian Witches use to ward off evil, DevilDriver are currently touring the world to bring this message to the masses.

The Crowgrrl caught up with Dez at Sonar in Baltimore during their Thrash & Burn Tour.

I love the video for the Pray For Villains title track! Tell us a little bit about filming it.

We did it with Nathan Karma Cox. He’s an amazing guy, not only at his art but as a person!

We wanted something that was different rather than just us jamming. I wanted something that went along with the “Hero/Villain” concept. In the end, we all get killed by the villain, and it works out great! We were going to use a gunfight, but MTV won’t let you use guns or blood or bullets or anything like that. So we ended up using cards, because in our first video we were playing cards with the Devil. So we just carried on in that vein.

Right! But you’re big into Westerns anyway, aren’t you?!

Big!

OK, some favorites?

The usual: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. I like a lot of the old silent movies, too; a lot of the old Samurai movies. That’s where that genre comes from anyway. I watched The Unforgiven again last night; another great movie!

The red-eyed theme carries over from the owl on the cover?

In the video, that wasn’t my idea. Nathan said “I want to do something that’s almost animated.” I said, “Great! Let’s go for it!” He’s the kind of guy that you just let it go, and he delivers something unexpected.

OK. So tell us a little bit about the owl – what does it symbolize on your cover?

Well, it’s feared and revered in many cultures. It’s something that goes along with the anti-hero – the villain/hero – it’s something that symbolized it. I collect owls as well. My grandfather collected owls, so I have a lot of his. So when I was looking around the house while I was writing; I was in Santa Barbara at the time. There’s a big eucalyptus grove around my house that had this huge owl that hooted all day and all night as I was writing. So it felt very appropriate.

Very cool! So did you design the cover yourself?

I worked with a guy that really, really knew what he was doing! He works with Visual Creatures; his name is Ryan. I gave him my ideas and some sketches and some things, and he came up with some ideas. We worked hand in hand. The original concept was mine but he helped bring it to fruition.

The card theme carries on with In The Cards, doesn’t it?

Yeah, but that’s about Tarot cards, which I’ve been reading for many years – the Tarot – and what it’s brought me in life, which is just what’s happening and what’s going to happen. But this year I very much didn’t want to go there.

So It’s In The Cards is like, “OK. It’s in the cards, it’s destiny, but I’m not going to read it. I’m going to see what happens.”

You haven’t given them up completely, have you?!

Well, I had a really incredible experience surrounding those cards, so I’ve put them behind glass and I’m not using those.

Is it just that particular deck?

I use a custom deck. It was custom made for me. But that deck is no longer going to be used.

Are you shopping around for another deck?

We’ll see.

OK. The whole album has a permeating message of Hope against Adversity, doesn’t it?

Well, it’s definitely …I tend to write lyrics that give you a little more strength and positivity instead of focusing on how bleak everything is. Of course it is, but I’m more of a “Glass half-full” kind-of guy.

Is I’ve Been Sober based on personal experience?

Yeah! It’s a very personal song about trying to be home and living a normal life when I’m not accustomed to any kind of normalcy at all. There’s a huge difference in getting up at 7 in the morning. I’m just not accustomed to it.

So that’s what it’s about: trying to be home, trying to be sober, trying to be a good father figure, but at the same time missing the road and craving the road.

Do you have any personal favorite songs on the new album?

Forgiveness Is A Six Gun for now. And Resurrection Boulevard. I think everybody lives on Resurrection Boulevard at least once or twice in their life. It’s where you get humbled and really have to start over.

I think Forgiveness Is A Six Gun is something people need to learn. You live with this grudge against somebody who’s trespassed against you so many times and you won’t let go of it. But you’ve GOT to let go of it or it will just eat you up.

That song also had an Old West feel to it!

Nothing’s really written from my standpoint on this record. That’s the first time I’ve ever done that – from another standpoint, from an anti-hero standpoint. All of the material is seen from somebody else’s eyes besides myself. Somebody else was going through trials and tribulations instead of me.

Me writing from an outside perspective gave me a whole new view of things.

Roadrunner only gave us 13 songs to review from the album, but aren’t there actually 17?

Those other songs are for the special edition. The special edition comes with extra tracks, totally different artwork, totally different cover, a “Making Of” DVD about all of us going out to LA to make the record. It gives you more of an insight into the band. It’s not just a “special edition” with just 2 extra songs. We actually made it something definitely special. It has a lot more content!

With an Iron Maiden cover song?!

Yeah! We did that for Kerrang Magazine. A bunch of bands got together for Kerrang. We did that in an afternoon. It was fun! It’s good to step outside of yourself and do other things.

What’s happening after the Thrash & Burn Tour?

We go to Europe with Behemoth, then we go to Australia with Lamb of God, then perhaps to Japan by ourselves, then start right back out in January again in the ‘States. So we’re booking right now up until the middle of 2012. I don’t see any time off until then.

Another Night In London brought back memories of the Punk movement: the Sex Pistols and The Clash and stuff!

Right on! I grew up on all that! I grew up on Black Flag, GBH, The Partisans… Good Punk Rock! London especially in the UK has always been a great place for DevilDriver, and a great place for music. So that was my ode to that town.

We’re going back over there. With Behemoth, we’re doing something extremely special! We’re doing the BBC Sessions which is an incredibly legendary show. We’re doing 4 songs plus an interview. So, we’re doing London for sure!

Are you going to be able to release the BBC Sessions for the rest of us to hear?

Don’t know! It’s up to the BBC people and what they want to do with it.

OK, let’s get back to the album. Are you going to be doing another video from it?

Definitely! We’re not sure which song, who’s doing it, or what the concept is going to be. But it’s probably going to be 2 or 3 months from now. We’d like to see it out before Xmas, but I’m not sure. We’ll see. Maybe it might have to come out after January.

Yeah, but you’re touring the rest of the year!

Yeah! So having time off to be able to do a video right now is almost non-existent! But I’d like to see it out by January or February of next year.

Do you do any writing on the road?

Yeah! I was just writing this morning! I’m always constantly writing. We’re hoping to get a record out every 15 or16 months. I don’t like making people wait two years. So in the middle of touring, we’re going to come off, make a record, then get right back out again. We’re all kind-of – in our own way – coming up with what we’ve gotta to come up with.

Are you filming any of the shows for a possible Live DVD?

We’ve been filming for 7 years straight! From the very first record – pre-production on the first record! We’re going to do a special 9 or 10 camera shoot, but not on this tour. We’ve got to set that up for a DVD. I believe this DVD is going to be extremely long, so we’re going to have at least 3 or 4 chances so we can get a lot of content on it.

We haven’t figured out who’s going to be putting it out, when it’s going to be put out, the whole deal right now.

So how is this tour going so far?

Great! It’s like an “Oil & Water “ Tour. People never put Metal and Hardcore together! It Does Not Go together! Which is why we signed up!

I thought it was a very diverse package, great bands, cool heavy music. Everybody on this bill is extremely heavy. We get along with all of the bands really well. It’s been really cool! It’s turning some of the Death Core/Mallcore fans into Metalheads, and some of the Metalheads into their deal and checking out all their music. So I think it’s a really cool, really diverse tour. It’s probably one of the most diverse tours I’ve ever been part of, which is cool to see happening.

As soon as they called us, I was interested right away.

Very cool! What do you do during your “down time”? Do you bring any videogames with you?

I’m not a videogame kind of guy. I’ll do movies occasionally. Usually I do art. I’m in the back drawing. I’ve got ink all over my hands. But that’s what I do. I do art, I write, I play Native American flute. But I do art most of the time.

Awesome! How did you get into the Native American flute?

Well, I broke my finger a couple years ago. In my development – I had a really serious operation, and they told me I had to work on my grip. So going through New Mexico, I picked up a flute and started playing. I not only totally rehabbed my finger, I rehabbed my soul completely! That’s how that happened. Just like anything. Accidental.

Do you do any research into that traditional music?

Absolutely! I just did a record called High Desert Moon. It’s with a guy called Greg Weiss. His father did Rhinestone Cowboy. He wrote Rhinestone Cowboy, Bend Me Shake Me, tons of stuff!

I do a LOT of looking into that culture! I know a lot about the aspects of many, many different tribes, many of those Nations.

As far as your art – did you design any of your tattoos?

Some of them. Some of them were just off the top of my head. Others are cover-ups or works in progress.

[K]: You tend to have an Occult theme that permeates throughout your music.

Most definitely! I think the Occult theme has followed me my whole life.

Any particular paths that you follow?

Raven Grimassi. But Darker is good as well. It just has to be used at the right times. It’s all about balance.

I’ve read everything from LaVey to Crowley. There are a lot of people who are charlatans. They’re not working with true Earth Magick and using the mathematics of Magick.

[K] They’re all hung up on the Quantum Extreme Theory.

Correct! They should at least think about the cycles of the moon.

[K] And the spiritual aspects of it.

Absolutely! The grounding aspects of it, the Earth aspects of it.

Your logo is very Saturnian, but it kind-of reminds me of Blue Oyster Cult’s.

It’s the symbol of Chaos and Confusion. It’s centuries, centuries old! It’s our take on it. Blue Oyster Cult’s is their take on it. Actually, theirs is a little different. This one’s more Babylonian-based; Sumerian-based. It means “Question Religion. Question Everything.”

My kids are raised with a big sticker that says “Question Authority.” Basically, it’s better to be that way. It’s better to question everything around you, get yourself more analytical.

I’ll bet that makes it hard to discipline your kids, though!

They don’t need discipline. They’re too intelligent to be disciplined.

[K] The path to Enlightenment!

[A]Are your kids following in your footsteps musically?

We’ll have to see. I keep them away from this lifestyle. We’ll see which way they’ll go. As long as they’re happy, healthy, and having a good life, that’s good to me! I think spiritually they’re following in my path for sure! I know my young one and my middle one are, most definitely! My 18-year-old goes to church; perhaps he’ll find his way through that. Perhaps he’ll come back to what’s real.

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you’d like to tell our readers?

Anybody who’s stuck with DevilDriver from the very beginning, Thank You Very Much! Anybody who’s ever been with DevilDriver from the very first tour, that means the world to us! Thank you very much!!!

SECOND SPOTLIGHT - CARBON 9!

* SECOND SPOTLIGHT – CARBON 9!

*Los Angeles-based Carbon 9 has unleashed a new album – The Bull that’s as intense and dangerous as the annual Running of the Bulls in Pamplona! Well known for blending theatrics with their signature sound, The Bull is the third installment of a story that “guides the listener on a passage through real life” with an underlying theme of technology taking over humanity.

Carbon 9 – Stacey Quinealty (vocals & sequencing), Darwin DeVitis (guitars and vocals), Matty Milani (drums), Omar D Brancato (bass & vocals), and Danny Cistone (vocalist & art director) – have a trademark signature sound that blends pure power, anthemic choruses, and electronica. In fact, many readers may already be familiar with their music. They’ve been part of the soundtrack for 6 movies including the live action Scooby Doo and countless commercials including ones for McDonalds, Radio Shack, and Honda.

But back to The Bull. This raging entity also includes the band’s first ever cover song (and first video), a cover of Danzig’s classic Mother! They’ve also got one for their song My Friend. The Crowgrrl recently caught up with frontman Stacey to find out more!

I’m loving this new album! But it’s supposed to be Part 3 of a series of information?

Yeah, kind-of, sort-of. We always do a live theatrical show, and our show always follows a storyline. So our show is kind-of a Part 3 walk-through of the different phases of this storyline. It’s set in the future: it’s basically technology overtaking humanity. It about this one character who goes through these certain challenges through each of these albums.

This particular album is him finding the strength for overcoming what manages to befall, that type of thing.

OK?!Then how is Mary Mannequin overcoming these challenges?

Every song is different….it’s more of a different value of him. Mary Mannequin is basically about a guy who falls in love with a mannequin. He thinks she just loves him and adores him. But he’s kind-of upset because she’s not responding to him.

It’s really a metaphor for people thinking about things in their life that really don’t exist, or it’s not nearly what it is that they think it should be. Or they think it should be what it’s really not, which many people do on a daily basis, actually. They turn it into this huge ordeal, and come to find out it’s really nothing.

It’s about this guy coming to grips with that part of himself, finding these elements of his life that he put all this weight onto that has no value whatsoever.

Right. I thought it was very Pygmalion myself.

Yeah. It’s interesting. This guy is walking down the street and falls in love with this model that he sees in a store through the window all the time, and he slowly works his way into the store – to me it was over like a course of a year or so; he’s kind-of weird – and he just falls in love with this girl. He thinks she’s just playing hard to get. He just doesn’t know that she’s not really real.

But really it’s just a big metaphor for people trying to obtain the unlikely as opposed to just working hard at getting to know people or letting them know who you are, if that all makes sense.

It does! This Life replaces reality with a dream world fantasy, right?

Exactly!

OK, and there was a child singing in there?

There was a child singing in there! My little niece! This Life is really a song of someone just understanding that Life is wonderful. But when it’s not wonderful, it can be really, really bad!

The song is kind-of negative in a way. A guy is understanding that Life is wonderful when Life is wonderful. Life is beautiful when Life is beautiful. But that’s not the way it is all the time, and that’s OK. It’s kind-of saying that if you go back into your childhood – Life is wonderful all the time when you’re a kid. It’s only people who make Life worse for you.

If you let a child run loose in the woods for a whole day, he’s happy as a lark. It could be raining, pouring, a thunderstorm, sunshine, it doesn’t matter. It’s society or individuals who come in and ruin that child’s day. At least it was my case growing up.

Life is wonderful when it’s wonderful. Don’t forget it CAN be wonderful! You just have to let go and ignore all these things around you that are destroying your perception of it.

I love the message behind I’m Not Broken!

That’s good!

Do you have a personal favorite song on the album?

That’s tough because I change from day to day. I think when we first finished the album, I was really, really into I’m On My Own. I don’t know why, it’s just one of those songs that really hit me.

While we were writing the album, Life Is Crawling Over Me was the one that was really hitting me. Now I really like The Bull. They just kind-of change.

And I think all the songs were written from so many different emotional points of view. It really depends on how I feel this week on which song. I’ll listen to the album, and I’ll hear a song in a completely different way; and I wrote and produced the thing! But it just takes me in a whole different place this week. That’s what I really love about our music! You have songs as dark as What Is It We’re Made Of, then you can go into other styles in songs on it – whatever fits you for the week or fits you for the day.

Right! Tongues was very tribal! I love that one, too!

Nice!

You have a lot of butterfly references in your lyrics. What do they signify to you?

I do! The ultimate being of change. There’s nothing else that can transform so drastically right before our eyes. There are other animals that change, but seeing that little cocoon, then the butterfly popping out – from a caterpillar to a butterfly – it’s just fascinating! To me it’s just that one thing that can always let you know that it is possible to do direct hard changes in life. A lot of people say you can’t change. “You are who you are.” I don’t know that I agree with that. I think you are who you are by the messages and lessons that you learn growing up and the inspirations you’ve had. I know I’ve had several times in my life where I’ve had to do massive transformations, and I was able to do it. It was relatively easy, actually, once I got my focus in there.

Butterflies have always been fascinating to me

OK! Your first video was your rendition of Danzig’s “Mother”?!Any fun stories behind the filming of that one?

I think it kind-of all just came together rather quickly. Matty just said, “Hey, we’re shooting a video. Come to rehearsal all ready to go.” I was like, “OK.” We just wanted to do something different.

It’s always fun shooting videos because everyone always has their own opinions. We’re kind-of a self-contained band. I do all the audio stuff – I have a Pro Tools Studio. We have 2, actually. Darwin does all the graphic arts. Danny does all the visual creative stuff. Matty does all the editing of our video stuff. With our live shows we probably have 20 little mini-movies that play during the show. They’re all completely created from scratch. Everybody’s really strong in the band with strengths to bring this creative process together.

It’s always interesting when we get together: all these creative minds who think what should happen when and where.

OK. How did you choose to cover Mother?

Cover songs have been thrown at us for years, but we never did a cover song. Finally someone said Mother.

I was always adamant about taking a song and being able to make it into Carbon 9’s style, but I didn’t want to be one of these bands that butchers somebody else’s song. Or there’s no use in doing it exactly As Is, either. We really wanted a song that we could make our own but kind-of stay true to the original, but just have a different twist on it.

That was just the one song that I heard that I was like, “I can totally do that!” It really fit our style.

Very cool! Are you going to be doing another video for any of the other songs?

We are! We’re actually talking to two different companies right now. We will be shooting several videos really soon. I don’t know which songs, but I would guess Somebody Like Me or Crawling Over Me. Unless you have a suggestion.

No. I like them all! How does the songwriting process work for you? Do the lyrics come first? Does the music come first? How does it work?

The music always comes first. Always! We try to get the music – Half the time we’ll write and record and produce all the tracks before a single lyric is ever written. It’s kind-of backwards from most people, but we’ve got our sound and it’s important to us. So we try to get the music to its best before we try to put lyrics to it.

Any stories behind the cover art?

It’s just something strange, something different to us. All the cover art was done by Darwin, our guitar player, actually. He’s pretty dark and out there. My favorite was the lone crow sitting on the pole.

But I don’t know. I would have to get inside his head and see where it all came from. We really wanted something that would make somebody… Obviously the name of the album is The Bull, so we love the bull’s head on the human body! It’s just something that you look at and it’s kind-of Pink Floyd-ish. It’s kind of like, “What is this?!”

There’s so much more to the band than just the music, actually. People who really know the band will understand it while there’s always new depth of stuff to it. It’s something that will make you want to pick it up. If you listen to all the songs and catch our live show with all the theatrics that we do, it all makes sense.

So tell us a little more about that live show of yours.

Our live show takes you on a journey. We use a lot of synchronized videos with the band. Between songs there’s all these segues that happen that kind-of guide you along the path.

Basically this is Part 3 in our story. It’s about mainly corporate conglomerates who really get into advanced technology and nanophysics and start to take over the world. Obviously we exaggerate that in our live show. But it really is about advanced technology bringing on the decline of humanity.

People are texting so much, and e-mailing so much. There are so many computerized ways of communicating, and people seem to be losing the human touch. You see these young kids today and you put them in front of people and they don’t even know how to interact. Put them on a computer and they can say anything! Which is kind-of half and half. When you do get them to open up to people, there’s no respect because they’ve been able to say anything without no one knowing. But half the time people are just closed down. It’s obvious to me to see such a breakdown of humanity.

Our show really walks you through this thing with this guy who’s tied into the computer world. He has all these crazy props with all these video heads on them and this weird stuff. It brings you through his journey.

This particular show we call “Humanology”. It’s his lessons. There’s this computer that throughout the show gives you all these lessons in life. Primarily, one would pertain to each song. It tells at the beginning what lesson this song is explaining. It walks you through all these lessons in life and how to notice that technology is taking control over our society.

OK. You also do an unplugged acoustic show?

We do, yes.

Outside of the obvious, how is it different? Do you still utilize the visual elements?

No. Our acoustic show is 180 degrees! Because our live show, even though we preach about technology, we still use it as a tool. In our live show we use a lot of technology! There’s a lot of computers onstage and all this crazy stuff, which is the whole point.

For our acoustic show, the songs are even different. It’s all a bunch of acoustic guitars with a bunch of tribal drums. We usually invite a bunch of our friends to come in and play all kinds of Djembes and timpanis and what-not. We all sit around with these tribal drums and a couple acoustic guitars and pop out and sing songs. The sound is just amazing! You hear them in a big electronic rock arena then turn around and hear them in an acoustic form. It’s really great for the band because we are really great musicians. It’s fun to sit down without all the click tracks and all the crazy stuff and be able to just let it loose. It’s awesome!

Did any of those percussion friends make a guest appearance in Tongues?

No. Me and Matty did the whole thing.

I think you captured that vibe you were just talking about in that song!

Yeah, for sure! I wrote a new tribal song for the outro of our live show – it’s all hard-core Tribal! You should check it out – you might really dig it if you like tribal stuff.

You guys only play on the West Coast or have you toured more extensively than that?

We’ve been out to the Midwest. We’ve made a course all the way out to Minneapolis and back before. That was awesome! I thought Minneapolis was a great city! We’ve gone down through Arizona and places like that. But we pretty much stay in the West.

But we’re working right now on doing a US tour – getting out to the whole US. That’s something we’re emphatic about. We really want to do that.

Very cool! Have you filmed any of your shows?

Yeah, but not in awhile. The show we’re doing right now - we actually haven’t played in a few months because we’ve been building this new show. This is going to be way more spectacular than anything we’ve done in years, so we’re really excited about it. We’re planning on shooting this show.

Are you going to release it as a DVD?

That’s something that we’re just thinking about just now, so it’s possibly in the works.

Very cool! I’d like to see what you guys look like live.

Cool! You’d probably dig it!

You’ve had some of your songs in feature films? Which ones?

We’ve probably had Carbon 9 songs in six different movies. The Calling was one, The King of the Ants – there’s a couple King of the Ants movies out. It’s the one about football players – we wrote a couple songs for Warner Brothers for Scooby Doo, the Monsters Unleashed movie (but we weren’t listed as Carbon 9; it was just our individual names).

I write music for all kinds of things – everybody from McDonald’s to Mitsubishi. I got the guys to play and record all the parts and write lots of stuff, so it’s fine. We got to branch out in different ways.

Very cool! What kinds of merch do you have?

We have t-shirts in several different styles. We have hats, buttons…we have these icons on the new album and in the live show. The 4 icons. So we have the 5 buttons: the icons and the full band. I also think we have stickers – the basic stuff.

How hands-on are you with your Myspace page and website?

I’m not very hands-on with it at all, but actually Darwin, our guitar player does maintain both of those. So the band itself is hands-on with it. If I get information or messages sent to me directly, Darwin still maintains all of them.

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you want to tell my readers?

No. I just think that as great as the album is, the band really is a live band. So we’re ecstatic to be going on the road. We hope people come out to see us!

THIRD SPOTLIGHT - FIREWIND!

*The Greek metal phenomenon Firewind, led by the young guitar sensation Gus G. (ex-Dream Evil, Nightrage, Mystic Prophecy, Arch Enemy), has returned with The Premonition, (Century Media) which is easily their defining moment. The much anticipated offering is now available and a captivating new video for the stunning track, “Mercenary Man,” was recently shot by acclaimed director Patric Ullaeus (Dimmu Borgir, In Flames).

This is the second album featuring the distinct, soaring vocals of Apollo Papathasio, who joined guitarist Gus G., bassist Petros Christo, keyboardist Bob Katsionis, and drummer Mark Cross on the “Allegiance” album.

Firewind made their much anticipated return to North America on the Tyranny and Bloodshred Tour '08, which has been hailed as one of the best guitar-shredder packages of the year. This tour also featured labelmates Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquillity and Divine Heresy. Without even stopping to catch their breath, they continued a North American trek after that with 10 more dates along with Dark Tranquillity before venturing back to Europe for the busy Summer Festival season.

The Crowgrrl not only caught one of the early shows on the tour – in Baltimore at the Recher Theatre. What a phenomenal night of music! And a couple weeks after that was able to catch up with Gus G. by phone to delve more in depth about this excellent album.

Your show in Baltimore was absolutely fantastic!

You were there? Cool! Thanks!

So how is the tour going so far?

Really good, actually. We’ve done 9 shows so far and all the shows have been really killer! I’ve been making lots of new fans.

Being as you’re opening, are fans there in time for your portion of the show?

Yeah, I think so. We haven’t been playing to empty venues or anything. Everybody’s been there.

OK. I love this new album! It’s fantastic! Tell me a little about the songwriting process this time around.

It was like the last time around. Usually we will make the demos first in our home studios. I make most of the songs, and then I write some stuff with Bob. The other guys also contribute whatever songs they have. Apollo had a song.

We basically make demos then we all send them to each other. We send them actually to Apollo. He makes the lyrics and the vocal melodies. Once that is done, we just meet in the rehearsal place. Then we rehearse the Hell out of those songs and actually put the finishing touches on them – like the final arrangements and all that stuff.

Then from there on, we’re more or less ready to go to the studio and nail it down.

Mercenary Man is a brilliant song! What were some of your inspirations behind that?

The inspiration behind that actually came from a Thin Lizzy song. It’s actually inspired by Phil Lynott and Gary Moore. It’s like their song Military Man. It’s actually a tribute to those guys – that ‘80’s Thin Lizzy sound or ‘80’s Gary Moore sound.

That’s why we made the first line, “Mama take a look at your boy” – that’s a line from that song Military Man. So we did that on purpose.

We actually wrote it while we were touring the U.K. on the bus. Me and Apollo wrote it. So maybe that had a little bit to do with that song sounding a little bit Celtic or have that British Rock vibe.

That song absolutely soars! It really does! Any fun stories about the making of the video?

No, not particularly. We went to Sweden for a couple of days and we shot the video with Patric. It’s always a lot of fun to work with him. It’s very inspiring! This guy really brings the best out of us. So it was a really fun experience.

OK. All of your original songs on here I think really stand out, but I understand your cover of Maniac is the one people are requesting on the radio?!

Yeah, I think so! Maybe it’s because it was a big hit in the ‘80’s. It was actually Bob’s idea. We were actually planning on recording a cover anyway for the B Side for the single. Bob said, “Why don’t we do that song instead of a Classic Rock song?” We said, “OK”.

We just jammed a little bit in the studio and we recorded it really fast. Then in the end we were like really amazed ourselves about how good it came out. So we said, “We can’t let this go. We have to put it on the album!”

OK, but shouldn’t fans be calling in for Head Up High or Into The Fire or something?!

The fans like those! But I think Maniac is a song that has had airplay and was a smash hit, so it’s easier for a major Rock station to play that song instead of Into The Fire, you know what I mean? But the fans really love the other songs as well.

Circle of Life and Life Foreclosed both had a dark, dangerous edge to them. What were some of your inspirations?

Actually in Life Foreclosed the lyrics were done by David Chastain, our previous label boss. He helped me out with the lyrics.

But yeah, that song has a much darker vibe. It’s about the end of days for the whole world – how society’s going and how things are these days in the world and all that.

As for the Circle of Life, the title says it all. It’s a song that lyric-wise Mark and Apollo came up with. I made the music for it and put a more accented touch to it.

The guitar work was absolutely brilliant in Into The Fire! Any stories or inspirations behind that one?

No, I just wanted to make really a very extreme song, a 6-and-a-half to 7 minute song which would include a lot of speed metal riffs, solos, melodies.....Just a very extreme song. That was the whole thought behind it.

Remember is another anthemic, stand-out song.

Yeah! That song also starts with a very almost Thrash Metal riff, then it goes into the chorus which is a bit more “Pop-ish”, you know? But that was a chorus that Apollo had on the shelf for years and had never used it, and it was a really great chorus! It fit perfectly with the rest of the song.

I think it’s a cool song because it has different vibes to it. It’s very heavy and yet very melodic.

Do you have any personal favorite songs on the album?

I like them all, to be honest. I like to play live Head Up High because it’s a very cool song, it has a really good groove. I like to play Into The Fire. I also like Life Foreclosed which is like I said has a bit darker feeling to it. I like that song.

Any stories behind the cover art?

Actually it was done by a Brazilian artist whose name is Gustavo Sazes. He’s a newcomer but a very talented guy! He also does most of our websites and all of our visuals. We asked him to just create a symbol for the band, something that we could use on a lot of things like merchandise, backdrops, anything, you know?! That’s how he came up with the whole triangle thing in the flames.

I like the cover. It has one or two strong colors, and it hits the eye.

And those triangles – aren’t those alchemical symbols for Fire and Wind or Fire and Air?

I actually wouldn’t know. Maybe it is, I don’t know.

I’m pretty sure they are, and that’s perfect for the band’s name!

Exactly!

After this tour, you’re going to be doing more U.S. dates with Dark Tranquility?

Yes. We’re going to do another 10 shows with them. The last show is June 11. From there we’re going to fly directly to Donnington Park to play the Download Festival. Then back home for a few days, then some more Summer Festivals are coming.

Tell me about the Download Festival. You’re pretty excited about that one, aren’t you?

Oh, yeah! That’s a big dream coming true! It’s the legendary Donnington! We’re honored to be part of that.

What are some of the other festivals you’re doing?

We’re doing Bang Your Head in Germany, Graspop in Holland, Rock Weekend in Sweden, and another one in Portugal. We’re doing like 6 different festivals.

OK. After that, you’re doing a headlining tour of the U.K. in September?

Yes. Then the U.K. headlining tour will be followed by a Continental European headlining tour. We’re very excited about that.

Very cool! So tell us about these video lessons you’re posting online?

I’ve really only had the chance to post one so far. The intention is to post a bunch of them that I did. I filmed about 10 lessons. So far we have only uploaded one. I hope we can upload some more soon.

Are you possibly going to be releasing those as a DVD?

No. These are not really high quality videos. These are more like for teaching. But I’m looking to do something like that – instructional DVD’s when I find the time.

Are you filming any of your shows for a live Firewind DVD?

We’ve already filmed it, actually. It was a big hometown show we did this past January. It was a 2-hour show; a really killer night! We got it on tape from a professional film crew. We’re putting together the DVD this summer and hopefully we’ll be able to release it by the end of this year.

Very cool! What time of merch do you have on the road with you this time around?

We’ve got a couple of new t-shirts – one with the album design with the tour dates on the back, and then there are a couple variations. They’re really cool! We have some with images from some of the other albums for sale, and we also have special limited edition Firewind drumsticks made by Vic Firth! A really cool limited edition!

We don’t have a whole bunch of stuff with us because there’s a lot of band stuff on the tour. But the stuff we have is really unique and cool!

What do you guys do on your “down time” on tour? Do you bring movies or videogames or anything with you?

Yeah. I guess a lot of us watch a lot of movies. We try to log onto the internet as much as possible to keep in touch back home. Stuff like that.

Speaking of the internet, how hands-on are you with your website and Myspace page?

We look after it very closely – we are on there as often as possible. We have a webmaster – we pass him the news whenever we need it updated. We keep working on it always.

Are you going to be doing any videos for any of the other songs on The Premonition?

Yeah! We’re working on the second video - for the song Head Up High - right now. That should be released sometime this summer.

MUSIC

*Architects (UK) have taken the Metal world by storm, appealing to a wide variety of subgenres in their carefully crafted blend, taking the best from several styles and melding them into a Metal mold all their own. This is fully apparent on their newest release, Hollow Crown (Century Media).

Hailing from the resort town of Brighton, England, Architects (UK) are: vocalist Sam Carter, guitarists Tim Hillier and Tom Searle, bassist Ali Dino, and drummer Dan Searle.

Fierce music and agonized vocals bemoan bad choices in Early Grave (also the first video from the album). A rebellious hostile takeover is the theme of Dethroned. Pure fear marks the political commentary in Numbers Count For Nothing. Follow The Water desperately tries to break the mold of repetitive daily routines.

The remorseful In Elegance shatters the last chance for happiness. Despite the fact that We’re All Alone lives in a void of broken dreams, I love the riffs, foundations, and vocal harmonies! Pain and betrayal permeate Borrowed Time. Every Last Breath is riddled with guilt and remorse.

One Of These Days is Hell-bent on revenge on the woman that broke his heart. Dead March plunges us into the mind of a stalker, with razor-sharp musicianship and a gorgeous tranquil break. Pure paranoia with the feeling of constantly being watched best describes the maniacal Left With A Last Minute. Beautiful melodies and vocals abound in the atmospheric Hollow Crown title track.

* Satyricon have posted an official statement on their website:

"Let's try and bring some clarity to the rumours that have been circulating lately. Although The Age Of Nero is now a year old, the project is still very much alive to us as we’ve been working it more or less non-stop for almost three years. The last 12 months since release has been spent relentlessly touring and the fortunate success of the album has taken us to India, Australia, Japan, twice to America, across Europe and around Scandinavia and now we head out on the "Finale In Black" tour, which will mark the end of the colossal "The Age Of Nero" project.

“Once we have done that, we feel the time is right to take a break. A break where we can rest, get some perspective, work on other musical projects and non-musical projects and allow ourselves to figure out Satyricon’s next move. We have some ideas on what we want to do next and one of them is to open a new musical chapter. It has never been in this bands nature to rest on our laurels and we won't be doing that either. When the time is right, we will start working on exploring new musical territory and only the future can tell what that will turn into.

“Taking on challenges like that is something Satyricon never has been afraid of. On the contrary, it is what has made the band grow. We tried to perfect everything Satyricon has learnt and experienced musically for the last decade on "The Age Of Nero" and we feel that we reached the goal we set out to achieve. It is time to pave way for something new.

“No, we won't return to something old. Forget it! All we know is that regardless of what we end up doing, it will still sound unmistakably like Satyricon. We won't tour in the foreseeable future unless it is something so unique that it could be considered an historical event, but we will do one or two select festivals here and there whenever we feel like it. When we return, some of the people surrounding us today might be gone and some might still be with us. We don't know when, we don't know how, but we do know that Satyricon is still very much alive and this break is something we know we need to do to keep it that way. Until then, see you at "Finale In Black"!"

*The aforementioned Architects (UK)’s previous release deserves a shout-out, too; it’s a blueprint for Metal success is combining precision technical Metal with melodic yet thundering foundations. While awaiting the release of their highly anticipated Hollow Crown, Century Media released the band’s previous limited Ruin. More like a wrecking ball demolishing mortar and stone structures, this album holds no punches.

Buried At Sea lays down a violent, murderous foundation for the album, followed by the berserker Hunt Them Down (with militaristic drums in the outro). It’s not a good bet that You’ll Find Safety in the deceptively titled song. The fretwork is awesome in the melodic yet threatening Always.

Desolate atmosphere permeates Sail This Ship Alone – a simple instrumental interlude. The guitar melodies are also impressive in the sadistic Heartless. Some short but sweet clean vocal harmonies steal the show in the ominous North Lane, and more nice vocals make an appearance in I Can’t See the Light, which is musically a violent mauling.

Low features ominous tolling gong-like FX, deep foundations, and soaring riffs. Flesh-searing rays of dawn’s agony torture Vampires in Running From The Sun. The urgent Save Me is filled to the brim with fear. The rampaging Broken Clocks destroys everything in sight.

*The sickest minds in comic books and Heavy Metal are dishing up a slice of pure evil

this January, as Terminal Press and EXODUS frontman Rob Dukes combine forces on a

raw and brutal new comic - I AM BECOME GOD.

Adapted from an unpublished novel by Dukes, the comic takes its title from Hindu

scripture - and its content from the underside of Hell. The infamous quote from

which the book is named ("I am become death, destroyer of worlds") is often

associated with the testing of the United States' first atomic bomb. In actuality,

it originally comes from the Bhagavad Gita , a Hindu

text on the ethics of war. With I AM BECOME GOD, these themes of violence, death and

morality have been twisted and distilled into the life of a lone man; a nameless

serial killer who leads us through his own dark journey from youth to adulthood.

Told in excruciating detail and without regret, I AM BECOME GOD is an

autobiographical coming-of-age story for the damned. Structured around the cliché

rites of passage for modern youth - first love, school rivalries, higher education -

here each event is wrapped in blood and gristle, darkness and rage. Dukes and the

creative team behind him have tapped into something primal, exploring a man who

lives for nothing but his own thirst for death; a thirst that has no origin, no

respite, and no boundaries.

Fans of extreme horror should prepare themselves for one of the most unrelenting

visions of a serial killer yet seen in modern fiction, from the mind of one of

metal's most savage frontmen.

I AM BECOME GOD is written by Rob Dukes with scripting by Keith McCleary (Killing

Tree Quarterly, Deep Throat, Exodus: Death Begets Death), art by Garrett Adderley (Candy Stripers) and colors by Adam Street (Candy Stripers, Spider-Man, Hulk).

I AM BECOME GOD will be available early 2010 from Terminal Press and on Exodus'

upcoming Tyrants Of Evil tour with Arch Enemy. Visit Terminal Press for updates and the Terminal

Press Facebook Fan Page

for a look at some "I Am Become God" concept art.

*A Clockwork Orange – both the original book by author Anthony Burgess and the 1971 Stanley Kubrick movie that starred Malcolm McDowell – is a timeless classic. The storyline encompasses a government-designed “aversion therapy” to be used to reform even the worst of criminals.

Brazil ’s Sepultura add a new chapter and dimension to the world of “A Clockwork Orange” with their brilliant concept album, “A-Lex”. (SPV Records). The title is a clever play-on-words: Alex is the story’s main character – a repulsive and violent gang leader in the London suburbs with a penchant for classical music, especially Beethoven. Alex is subjected to the “aversion therapy”, re-released onto the streets, and the karmic wheel turns as his prior violence comes back at him. But the spelling “A-Lex” is also Russian slang meaning “Lawless”. Very fitting!

Their first album since the departure of the Cavalera dynasty, the current line up musically stays true to the “Roots (Bloody Roots)” sound that fans know and love while growing towards a new direction fueled by the new blood. The current line-up is: guitarist Andreas Kisser, frontman Derrick Green, bassist Paulo Jr., and new drummer Jean Dollabella.

Over an hour’s worth of excellent music – 18 songs – totally immerse you back into the A Clockwork Orange story, conjuring images from the book and the movie in crystal clarity. The album is divided into 4 distinct chapters, each heralded by the instrumentals “A-Lex I”, “Alex II”, “A-Lex III” and “A-Lex IV” respectively: each with their own flavor. “A-Lex I” sets a creepy atmosphere (with some razor-sharp fretwork thrown in for good measure). “A-Lex II” is calculated cruelty with a futuristic flavor. “A-Lex III” has a haunted, demented feel. “A-Lex IV” is lush, dark, and beautiful.

“Moloko Mesto” is pure rage at its most brutal level. I LOVE the tribal percussion and occasional militaristic chanting in the ruthless “Filthy Rot”. “We’ve Lost You” (also chosen as the first video from the album) attempts to subdue the danger bubbling just under the surface. A cold blooded killer revels in violence in “What I Do!”

“The Treatment” is countered with futile resistance. Surrender is inevitable in the psychotic “Metamorphosis”. I love the melodies and clean vocals into the dark descent of “Sadistic Values” that bemoans “the future is so black. The thrill is gone.” “Forceful Behavior” is bleak and grinding. I love the riffs in the domineering “Conform”.

“The Experiment” definitely evokes images from the movie, when Alex is strapped to the chair with his eyes forced open. The bass and percussion are excellent in “Strike”. “Enough Said” is raw and rebellious. “Ludwig Van” is a classical instrumental with a Metal edge. The guitar solo shines in the tormented “Paradox”.

* In Flames have yet again, been nominated at the Bandit Rock Awards. This time in the “Best Swedish Live Act” category. Last year In Flames took home ALL three prizes they were nominated for and the year before that, the band also snatched a couple of awards. Please help to make sure In Flames get to walk home for the third year in a row with prize under their arm!

Vote here. (scroll down and click VOTE NOW)

For you who don’t understand Swedish do this:

Fill in your first name (förnamn), last name (efternamn), date of birth (födelsedatum), E-Post (mail address), Telephone number (telefonnummer) and the City you live in (ort).

Once that is done, look for bästa live-akt (best live act) – Scroll down to In Flames and then to finish it off press RÖSTA (VOTE)! – Done

In Flames is currently on tour throughout Europe on the Rockstar Energy Drink TASTE OF CHAOS TOUR Featuring Killswitch Engage.

*Have you noticed how shiny and new a reptile’s scales are after shedding the old? Well, that describes Second Skin’s music – shining and fresh! A prime example is their fourth full-length album, Illa Exuro In Silentium. (Palace of Worms Records).

Second Skin is: frontman Arron, joined by Mark Cody. Their fresh vision of Darkwave/Industrial/Gothic music is an aural delight indeed. The album’s title translates to “She Burns In Silence”, and indeed this album is as fiery as the brightest of Samhain bonfires.

The atmospheric She Burns ushers in disembodied spirits, who guide us on this dark journey. The West conjures dusty images of the Old West, but with an ominous, Vampiric feel. I love the deep vox in Kick And Scream, which has a hint of an Adam Ant feel; and the title is just what you’d be doing if someone tried to stop you from dancing to this song.

The luxurious, decadent The Narcissist takes us through the looking glass darkly. The seedy, decadent London Bridges conjures images of Jack the Ripper. Blood & Glass (The Impact) seems to depict a car crash, an underlying intensity. A Methunderstanding has a psychedelic edge, coming at you in a haze.

I love the guitars and vocal harmonies in Black Picket Fence, which delivers the classic American Dream- Gothic style. Unwritten is ominous and desolate. There is a bit of an Eastern flavor to Prince Harming – one where you hope the dragon slays the prince! Birthday Girl is the opposite of a celebration..it’s morose and depressing.

*Obituary to unleash Live Xecution - Party.San 2008 DVD!

Beginning their career as Xecutioner in 1984, Obituary remains one of the most influential and groundbreaking bands in the Death Metal genre they inadvertently helped forge. Hailing from the sunny state of Florida, the band's decidedly un-sunny take on Metal integrated devastatingly slow, lead-footed riffing with obliterating overtures and guttural screams; the adrenaline of a speedball with the slow, degrading measures of a sewer at dusk. It was a sound unlike anything anyone had heard prior. Engineered by the legendary Scott Burns at Morrisound Studio (which would consequently become one of the most sought after production facilities during the death metal surge of the '90s), Obituary's Slowly We Rot debut remains a pinnacle release among all walks of Metal; a carnal pleasure for Doom, Death and Thrash fans alike. After eight full-length albums and several smaller releases the band remains one of the most important Death Metal bands in the world.

Obituary's Live Xecution - Live Party.San 2008 DVD finds the band -- vocalist John Tardy, drummer brother Donald Tardy, guitarists Trevor Peres and Ralph Santolla and bassist Frank Watkins -- at their performing best. Recorded live last year at the renown German open air fest, the DVD includes their full 15-song set + bonus footage. Said Frank Watkins of the show, “We did over 30 festivals last summer and the Party San Festival in Bad Barka, Germany was the very last and best one for Obituary. Fortunately the show was filmed....it was like a Live Xecution!"

Tracklist
01. "Find the Arise"
02. "On the Floor"
03. "Chooped in Half"
04. "Turned Inside Out"
05. "Forces Realign"
06. "Insane"
07. "Face Your God"
08. "Dethroned Emperor"
09. "Evil Ways"
10. "Drop Dead"
11. "Contrast the Dead"
12. "Second Chance"
13. "Stand Alone"
14. "Slow Death"
15. "Slowly We Rot"
+ bonus features

Live Xecution - Party.San 2008 DVD will be released in the US January 2010 via Regain Records.

*Walhalla Wacht (Napalm Records), the fourth album from Dutch band Heidevolk, is a Pagan Folk Metal treat indeed! You don’t have to speak their native language (which the lyrics are written in, and explore themes of Nature, mythology, and the history of their native Gelderland province) to feel the very spirit the music conveys.

The band – dual vocalists Joris Boghtdrincker and Mark Splintervuyscht, guitarists Reamon Bomenbreker and Sebas Bloeddorst, bassist Rowan Roodbaert and drummer Joost den Vellenknotscher – create a medieval atmosphere complete with donning medieval attire and weaponry, especially in the live setting. Not only do they bring the warrior spirit to their music, they also add timeless instruments such as a blowing horn, mouth harp, and violin.

Storm FX usher in the preparations for battle of Saksenland. There is a very Viking vibe in the ferocious Koning Radboud. The song itself is a journey in the rousing Woden Heerst – with great fretwork and awesome vox.

Hulde aan de Kastelein sounds like a militaristic marching song. I love the fretwork in the dangerously beautiful Walhalla Wacht title track. I love the bass in Opstand Der Bataven, which conjures images of galloping horses.

The epic Het Wilde Heer stirs the very soul. Naar de Hal Der Gevallenen is a simple sing-along around a camp fire. Zwaarden Geheven pulls out all the stops and is as dangerous as a Jotun. The timeless, tranquil flute ballad Dageraad starts with a lovely birdsong.

*Lynch Mob Record Available On Myspace, Tour Dates Announced! All fans interested in hearing the whole new Lynch Mob record, "Smoke & Mirrors" (Frontiers Records) were able to stop by and have a listen by participating in the listening party that went on for the entire week of November 9-16 on the band's MySpace site . All of the album's tracks were in the player.

Don't forget to leave a message, and pick up a copy of "Smoke and Mirrors" in the stores!

Lynch Mob have also announced the following tour dates:

November 27 - Hollywood, House of Blues (WITH DOKKEN)
November 28 - San Diego, The 4th and B (WITH DOKKEN)
November 29 - Anaheim, House of Blues (WITH DOKKEN)
December 12 - Las Vegas, Feelgoods
January 23 - Sao Paulo, Brazil, Manifesto
January 24 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, The Hardrock Cafe

*ATTENTION ALL METALHEADS: JUDAS PRIEST’S UPCOMING SOUTHERN FLORIDA SHOW WILL BE FILMED FOR A LIVE DVD - NOT TO BE MISSED! TICKETS ON SALE NOW - SO BE THERE!!!!

It is hard to pinpoint when heavy metal history is going to be made. However, an upcoming event will surely be one of the few times you know for sure that it will. Judas Priest will be filming their upcoming August 17th performance at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood, FL, for a DVD that will be included in a forthcoming expanded 30th Anniversary edition of their 1980 classic, ‘British Steel.’ As with all of their U.S. summer dates this year, Priest has been performing the album in its entirety from front to back. With the band playing the entire ‘British Steel’ repertoire, the August 17th show at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida (which will be one of the last of this US Summer ’09 tour) will surely capture Priest at their peak!! Not to be missed!!

‘British Steel’ has long been considered one of metal’s all-time classics. It was with this release that Priest truly broke through to the masses, with a pair of tracks that have become fixtures on rock radio - the enduring anthems “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight.” But like all classic albums, there is not a single weak track detected on ‘British Steel,’ as evidenced by such standouts as the perennial concert highlight, “Metal Gods,” as well as “Rapid Fire,” “Grinder,” “United,” and “The Rage,” among others.

Produced by Tom Allom, ‘British Steel’ was recorded at Tittenhurst Park in England - which is a mansion owned at the time by former Beatle Ringo Starr, and previously owned by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. In 2001, the album was remastered and reissued with extra bonus tracks, and also, was the subject of an in-depth study as part of the popular ‘Classic Albums’ DVD series.

So come on out on August 17th and cheer the mighty Priest on as they document on stage an album that has served as the perfect metal summer soundtrack year after year and constantly picks up new converts.........don't miss your chance to be included in this rare DVD footage!!

* Filii Nigrantium Infernalium who have left a bloody eviscerated offering on a Satanic altar with their new album “Fellatrix Discordia Pantokrator”. Hailing from Portugal, this band describes their music as "SatanicAnarco Black Metal" - their phenomenal sound is really a fresh, invigorating mix of Black, Thrash, and Old School Metal creating a sound distinctly their own. The musicianship is awesome throughout, with agonized vox and stellar fretwork over rock-solid foundations.

The critically acclaimed Metal masterpiece had been next to impossible to find in the U.S. previously, but now “Fellatrix Discordia Pantokrator” IS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. EXCLUSIVELY in the Gothic Occult Emporium! (www.gothic-occult-emporium.com)

The import of “Fellatrix Discordia Pantokrator” was the # 1 cd in the Best Of 2006, the video for the song Calypso was the # 1 Best Video for 2006, and the raw and real Fellatrix Discordia Pantokrator: Live At Barroselas Live grabbed the # 2 Long Form DVD slot in The Crowgrrl’s Perch and also received glowing reviews in such publications as Terrorizer, The Metal Observer, Rockezine, Metal Review, Metal Coven, Ultimatemetal, Feindesland, and Gothic Beauty Magazine. Now Metal fans across the U.S. can enjoy this relentless Metal assault as well.

The band also deliver a killer live show, appearing at such festivals as Steel Warriors Rebellion and Barroselas Metalfest, and sharing the stage with the likes of Bolt Thrower, Rotting Christ, Ancient Rites, Hate Eternal, and others.

The line up for this album was: Belathauzer (vocals/guitar), Andremon (guitar/backing vocals), Helregni (bass), and Gorg (drums). Since then, there has been a line-up change – Andremon is now pursuing a solo career, and the current line-up for FNI is: Belathauzer (vocals/guitar), Helregni (bass), Mantuus (Guitar) and Maalm (drums).

Check out their Myspace page at www.myspace.com/fninfernalium.

* Lucan Wolf has taken a brief break from his distinct Vampire Rawk sound – which can be heard on his cd’s Night World, Vampire Nights, and Nocturnal. – and has embraced a more Country-Rock style on his new cd Outlaw. Check out some songs from it on his Myspace page.

SCREENS (Large & Small):

*The infamous Raimi Brothers – Sam and Ivan - have delivered up one of their most fun gore-fests since Army of Darkness. Drag Me To Hell may have had a fairly predictable storyline, but these artistic geniuses more than made up for it with surprising and unexpected visual effects.

Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is a loan officer in a bank, with her eye on a promotion to a management position. Of course, Stu Rubin (Reggie Lee) also wants that position, and the rivalry gets bitter. In her effort to “make tough choices” that her boss, Mr. Jacks, (David Paymer) is demanding (one of the criteria he’s looking for in the candidate.

An old gypsy woman, Sylvia Ganush, (Lorna Raver) comes in, asking for an extension on her overdue mortgage. Mr. Jacks leaves the decision solely to Christine, and in her attempt to move up, denied the woman’s request. The old woman went totally psycho, and was escorted out of the bank by security. However, she waited in the back of Christine’s car, and attacked her as soon as she got inside. I’ve got to say, that’s one of the most surprising and insane fight scenes I’ve ever seen! Totally crazy! In the end, Sylvia rips a button from Christine’s coat, and uses it to curse Christine, giving her soul to a Lamia to collect in 3-days.

When strange things start to happen, and she starts seeing a very Baphomet -looking shadow, she coerces her skeptical yet very indulgent boyfriend, Clay Dalton, (Justin Long) to take her to see a psychic, Rham Jas, (Dileep Rao) who tries to help her find a way to break the curse.

The séance/ritual scene during one curse-breaking attempt was pretty intense – one of the movie’s highlights! As is the scene where Christine attempts to dig up the body of the now deceased gypsy woman in another desperate attempt to break the curse.

The Crowgrrl opted to watch the Unrated Directors Cut from my dvd package. I may double back to see the actual theatrical release at some point, though. As if we need any other bonus than the unrated director’s cut, the DVD also includes production video diaries (and trust me –it’s always fun to see the way the Raimi clan creates their magic).

Totally fun movie! My one question, though. Where’s Bruce Campbell? Isn’t he supposed to be in every Raimi Brothers movie?

* New releases in theaters that look interesting: The Twilight Saga: New Moon, 2012, Ninja Assassin, Planet 51, Pirate Radio, Zombieland, Astro Boy.

* A while back Robert Long II reviewed the holiday cult classic TWO FRONT TEETH for his website Smash or Trash Independent Filmmaking. Well, Saturday the 12th horror host Count Gore De Vol began showing it on his program CREATURE FEATURE. You won't want to miss this Christmas gorefest shot here in Maryland. Go to www.countgore.com for more gruesome details!

*Have the execs at ABC TV lost their collective minds? They’ve chosen to cancel one of the freshest and most enjoyable shows of the season: Eastwick! Based on the John Updike novel The Witches of Eastwick and with plenty of shout-outs to the hit movie of the same name, this version updates the story as a Part 2 – the return of Darryl Van Horne (Paul Gross), who moves back to the sleepy small New England town (actually, this is the same set that was used for The WB series, The Gilmore Girls) to stir up a cauldron of trouble.

The lives of three residents are intertwined when they simultaneously make a wish, each throwing a coin in a fountain. We have widow Roxie Torcoletti, (Rebecca Romijn) an and mother of a teenager. Roxie has a much younger lover, Chad. (Matt Dallas) We have timid yet ambitious reporter Joanna Frankel (Lindsay Price) who has a major crush on her co-worker at the Eastwick Gazette, Will. (Johann Urb) And there’s Kat Gardener (Jamie Ray Newman), a mother of five with a lazy alcoholic husband. (Jon Bernthal).

Enter Darryl – a mysterious yet filthy rich enigma - who not only starts buying up the town’s businesses, but befriends the trio. (The Crowgrrl has been a Paul Gross fan ever since his starring role in the Due South TV series.) And strange things begin to happen. The women – all with newfound sensations of empowerment – find that they have talents of the metaphysical variety that were awakened about the time Darryl came to town.

Roxie has the power of premonition, which she wants to learn to control to change the future, and has the ability to make disasters happen just by vocalizing what she wants to happen. Joanna has the power of hypnotism (which only works on men, not other women) and telekinesis. Kat has healing abilities and powers to manipulate Nature itself, both at its best and worst.

The continuing storyline is full of intrigue, drama, and even a chuckle or two. All three women are overly curious about Darryl’s past, Joanna even thinking he stole the identity of a deceased infant. A mysterious Brit moves into town – Jamie (Jack Huston) – who has ulterior motives, almost stalking Darryl; and Roxie has recurring visions that Jamie will kill her. Joanna was almost murdered in a Harvest Festival bonfire by Reverend Dunn, who she exposed in the paper after he’s spotted at a whorehouse. Kat is finding her own identity instead of just catering to her family, and wants Raymond out of her life. There are so many subplots, twists, and surprises that it keeps viewers on the edge of their seats every Wednesday evening!

Hopefully, another network will pick up and continue this series! Crowgrrl’s fingers are crossed! It would be a shame to lose another treasure like we did with Night Stalker, Moonlight, and Surface! (Albeit those were on different networks, but still……)

* New on DVD – Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian, Terminator: Salvation, Death Warrior, Harry Potter DVD Game: Wizarding World, Saturday Night Live: Complete Fifth Season, Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince, Public Enemies, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion 2, My-Otome: Anime Legends, Naruto Shippuden: Vol. 4, Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Season One - Part 3, All Stars of Rock Guitar, Halford: Resurrection World Tour, Clannad After Story: Collection 2, Pagan Metal: Documentary, Deader County, Mystery Science Theater 3000: XVI, Silent Night Deadly Night, Lost Boys Collection.

* The Movie Mogul Fund recently launched - an exciting initiative sponsored by Panavision, Technicolor and many other industry greats to fund one feature film and one short film every 3 months. The public gets to decide which of the films will be made by backing their favorite and have the chance to get involved as "Movie Moguls" with Producer credits on the finished film!

Robber Baron Productions is pleased to announce that PRæY, a new horror project by writer/director Frazer Lee and renowned author Max Kinnings is one of the 8 feature films selected.

This is a fun way to get involved in the movie industry! The Crowgrrl highly recommends you check this out, get involved, and show support for PRæY!

*Disney’s classic Witch Mountain storyline has been rejuvenated – not only bringing it to a whole new generation, but also injecting it with a shot of adrenaline and adding some visually stunning FX – with their Race To Witch Mountain. And you’ve got to admit, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson makes for a much more fun reluctant driver than Eddie Albert ever was!

A Las Vegas cab driver, Jack Bruno (Johnson) with a shady background unwittingly finds the strangely-acting two children in the back of his ride. But they’re not his only strange customers that day – Planet Hollywood is hosting quite a large Sci Fi Convention and he had a few close encounters with some of its attendees.

Shortly after starting to drive the kids – Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) – a high speed chase ensues with bullets flying. Jack thinks it’s his former mob associates coming after him (which they actually do several times in the movie), and doesn’t fathom that the kids are the targets. The kids guide Jack to a cabin in the wilderness that serves as a haven or base for them. Feeling guilty about just dropping off “innocent children in the middle of nowhere” he follows them inside, only to find them going into a fridge that is in reality some sort of portal. Not listening to his own advice of “don’t get in the pimped out fridge, Jack!” he follows them inside, sees them retrieving an object from a gooey glob, and then hits the point of no return as he tries to save them from a robotic Centurian assassin.

Somewhere in between running from these robotic alien assassins, shady government agents also trying to capture or kill them, and of course, the mob, Jack actually finds out Seth and Sara are from a dying planet. The military on their home planet wants to invade and populate Earth, but the kids are children of a couple scientists who are studying the Earth’s biosphere to find ways to save their own home world.

Remembering a fare from the Sci Fi convention, Jack goes back to Planet Hollywood to enlist the help of Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino). And as all forces converge on the quartet at the convention, Alex in turn enlists the aid of conspiracy theorist Dr. Donald Harlan (Garry Marshall) , who not only knows how to outwit the Feds, but also lends the group his own beat-up Winnebago for the remainder of their journey. (A shout-out to the original film!)

The kids are on their way to Witch Mountain, an extremely high security government facility to reclaim their crashed starcraft – a next to impossible task, even if they do find a way around security.

Some fun nuances: there’s a “Nationwide: Life Comes At You Fast” sign on his cab. Cheech Mirin plays Jack’s mechanic friend. And the dog they pick up outside a restaurant that instantly bonds with the kids is just too cute for words!

Bonus features include: Bloopers, Deleted Scenes, the featurette “Which Mountain?”

*Upcoming movies that look like they may be good: Hotel Transylvania, The Wolfman (Benicio Del Toro), Magneto, Saw VI, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Dracula Year Zero, Iron Man 2, THOR, Star Trek 12, Medieval, The Guardians, The Illuminati: Out Of Chaos Comes Order.

* New Game Releases that might be fun: Scene It: Twilight, Tekken 6, Treasure Island, Avatar, Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Escape the Museum, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Resident Evil Archives, Rogue Warrior, Tomb Raider: Underworld, Yoga.

IN PRINT:

*The Rabbit Ronin Turns 25, Celebrated By The First-Ever Usagi Yojimbo!

Hailed across the world for his unparalleled storytelling, comics auteur Stan Sakai sets the bar even higher with Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai—writing, hand-painting, and lettering a thrilling original story.

Yokai are the monsters, demons, and spirits of Japanese folklore, such as the shape-changing kitsune, the obakeneko demon cats, and the evil oni ogres. Usagi faces all these and more when a desperate woman begs for his help in finding her kidnapped daughter. In his quest to find the girl, he encounters these creatures of Japanese legend, who need a living soul as the captor for their army to enter the world of the living. Fortunately, Usagi is joined by Sasuke the Demon Queller, who fights for the same cause. However, things aren’t always as they seem, especially when dealing with the supernatural!

“Yokai is my most ambitious project to date--writing, drawing, and painting a standalone story that is a good introduction for new readers and expands on the Usagi storyline to appeal to longtime fans. I also had a great time researching the folklore and legends of Japan from its malevolent spirits to its goofier creatures,” says creator Stan Sakai.

“Longtime Usagi Yojimbo designer Cary Grazzini and I were tossing around ideas for Usagi’s 25th anniversary,” says editor Diana Schutz, “and Cary commented that he would love to see Stan hand-paint an original story. Fans don’t often get to see Usagi in color, much less painted by Stan himself, so the stand-alone graphic novel seemed a perfect way to celebrate this special anniversary. And painted color will bring the fantastical creatures of Yokai to outstanding life!”

With beautiful watercolor art and story by the masterful Stan Sakai, this new mass-market hardcover graphic novel is a perfect introduction to the beloved samurai rabbit for first time reader and a must-own for any Usagi fan!

Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai arrived on shelves in November!

*Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang was The Crowgrrl’s introduction to Katie MacAlister’s world of Dark Ones. You’ve gotta admit, the title is tantalizingly irresistible. Luckily, the meat of the story itself satisfied the voracious appetite for tales well-told as well.

We get the feeling we’re coming into a movie that’s halfway through, as there are a lot of references to an incident in Iceland which we can assume was from another book in the series (and make a mental note to track that down), but regardless, we can jump right into the story where it picks up without missing a beat.

Pia Thomason is a Zorya – a light-wielder of a brotherhood bent on destruction of Vampires – and wants out. She wants nothing to do with the brotherhood, her title, or the powers that come with it. But she won’t be free of this yoke until she frees two of this brotherhood’s members from Vampire clutches and get them back into the fold.

It doesn’t help matters that she’s also the pivotal point of a love triangle in between two vampires. She was crazy about a Vampire named Alec, but found herself the “beloved” – a soul mate a Vampire male can’t live without – of Alec’s best friend Kristoff. But despite the irrevocable ties between her and Kristoff, he is still pining for a lost lover despite the fact she was not his Beloved. But both disappear, leaving her to return to her Seattle home.

Until a messenger of the Tall, Dark, and Undead type appears at her door summoning her to a meeting of a Vampire council where she is reunited with Kristoff, and both are accused of crimes they didn’t commit. They escape and are in a race to not only clear their names, but stay one step ahead of both the Vampires hunting them to bring them to justice AND the vampire hunters out to destroy them.

The action – whether of the adventurous or the lusty variety – never lets up for a second. Fun joyride!

*Marvel is pleased to announce Fall Of The Hulks Alpha has sold out at Diamond (though copies may still be available at retail level) and will

return with a red (and green) hot NYEE variant cover made available on

December 30th, Marvel's New Year's Eve Eve Party! Fan-favorite creators

http://www.parkerspace.com/" ">"> and Paul Pelletier orchestrate the downfall of Marvel's

strongest group of heroes and villains, The Hulks! Fall Of The Hulks

Alpha kicks off the biggest Hulk Event yet in the Marvel U and reveals

the origins of some of Marvel's most maniacal villains!

What role do M.O.D.O.K., The Leader, The Mad Thinker, Egghead, Red Ghost, and Doctor Doom play in the downfall of the Red and Green

Goliaths? Will intelligence best brute strength? Fall Of The Hulks Alpha

has the answers! The Fall Of The Hulks Alpha NYEE Variant, available on

December 30th, is your last chance to get in on the beginning of the

most earth-shattering Hulk story ever!

You should also keep an eye out for Hulk #19 and Incredible Hulk

#606 in January for the next exciting chapters of FALL OF THE HULKS!

FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA NYEE MCGUINNESS VARIANT (OCT090517)

Written by JEFF PARKER

Pencils by PAUL PELLETIER

Cover by ED MCGUINNESS

Rated T+ ...$3.99

On-Sale - 12/30/2009

HULK #19 (NOV090469)

HULK #19 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT (NOV090470)

Written by JEPH LOEB

Pencils & Cover by ED MCGUINNESS

Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC

Rated T+ ...$3.99

FOC-12/24/09, On-Sale-1/20/10

INCREDIBLE HULK #606 (NOV090471)

Written by GREG PAK

Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER

Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.

Rated A ...$3.99

FOC-12/24/09, On-Sale-1/20/10

FALL OF THE HULKS: RED HULK #1 (of 4) (NOV090472)

Written by JEFF PARKER

Penciled by CARLOS RODRIGUES

Cover by ED MCGUINNESS & CHRIS SOTOMAYOR

Rated T+ ...$3.99

FOC-1/7/10, On-Sale-1/27/10

*The December issue of author Darren Shan’s Shanville Monthly is now online, with all the latest news and updates. It's a slimmer entry than in recent months -- a nice, relaxed issue, not too taxing on your brain, which is always a bonus at this time of year!!!! Along with the usual volley of news items, there's also a link to the page where the infamous Shanta Claus will be putting in his yearly appearance -- it wouldn't really be Christmas in the Darren Shan world without him!!

*In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve noticed a huge increase in interest/intrigue about the Knights Templar in recent years – from books to films such as The DaVinci Code, Kingdom of Heaven and National Secret. Specials abound on cable channels that try to delve deeper into the mystery surrounding this Order.

One book – The Templar Papers (New Page Books) - makes quite an ambitious move indeed, gathering scholars and researchers together to shed light on some of the conjectures and speculations around the Templars. Author and historian Oddvar Olsen – the man behind The Temple periodical on the subject – brought together some of his fellow illuminaries to explore the many rumors that surround the order.

The contributors touch on a myriad of rumors surrounding the historical order including: What did the Templars find in Solomon’s Temple? Did they worship the head of John The Baptist/Mary Magdalene/The Devil? Did they acquire and hide the Holy Grail and/or the Ark of the Covenant? Were they the basis for other secret societies?

Written from the perspective of outsiders trying to peek in writing for the curious novice, there are as many theories as there are authors – most of whom have a style that is dry as a bone. It’s a very disorganized compilation, with scattered thoughts and inklings. There are no coherent threads, and no real facts, just plenty of conjecture. There was only one gem of knowledge in the entire book that I found useful: the current dispute between chapters in Portugal and Scotland over who owns the original Charter.