Rise to Remain's début album news!

Rise To Remain are set to release "City of Vultures" on September 5th through Roadrunner records. This is the bands first album and was produced by Carl Brown and Colin Richardson. To support the release of "City of Vultures" the band will embark on their first ever headline tour around the UK, dates are as follows:

September
07 Exeter Cavern
08 Yeovil Orange Box
09 Southampton Joiners
10 Brighton Hydrant
12 Oxford Academy 2
13 Bristol Fleece
14 Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
15 Northampton Roadmenders
17 High Wycombe WAMA
18 Birmingham O2 Academy 3
19 Sheffield O2 Academy 2
20 Newcastle O2 Academy 2
21 Glasgow King Tuts
23 London Underworld
24 Cambridge Haymakers
25 Manchester Roadhouse
26 Leeds Cockpit
28 Norwich Arts Centre
29 Nottingham Basement

Sounds of a Playground Fading - In Flames

Having only just gotten into In Flames this was a first for me. I was drawn in by their single "Deliver Us" which is a moody dark song with a very catchy chorus, however it is apparent that this one song is definitely not a song to base the whole album on! Overall the album is vary varied, some parts of the album are brilliant with melodic harmonies and more clean approach from vocalist Anders Friden such as "A New Dawn" and "Fear is Weakness" whereas other songs such as "The Attic" are very obscure. The final track "Liberation" is a dark horse, it has a very strange intro but has a heavy but almost poppy chorus (which is highly catchy and moving at the same time). You can tell that this album has a much more mainstream feel to it and is perhaps a move in a new direction for the band, but this has upset some of the bands more heavy fans who have downplayed the album on the basis of one song ("Deliver Us"). My advice is to listen to it again, there is a whole aspect to grasp with this album, the point is not to be stupendously heavy, the album rides on emotion which is portrayed well through guitar harmonies and Anders' unique vocal style. For fans of more heavier styles maybe stay clear of this one. The production on the album is very good, everything is audible. My only slight grumble on the production side is perhaps they could have record Anders a bit better as he sounds rather raspy in places where I feel there should have been a bit more emotion.

Sounds Of A Playground Fading - In Flames 7/10

In Waves - Trivium details released!

Trivium's new album "In Waves" track listing and details have just been released. "In Waves" will be released on Roadrunner Records on 9th August. The CD will be released as a standard and special edition which will include a documentary on the making of the album, the title track's video and a special concert of the album filmed at the band's rehearsal warehouse. The track listing is as follows

01. Capsizing The Sea
02. In Waves
03. Inception Of The End
04. Watch The World Burn
05. Dusk Dismantled
06. Black
07. Built To Fall
08. Caustic Are the Ties That Bind
09. A Skyline's Severance
10. Forsake Not the Dream
11. Chaos Reigns
12. Of All These Yesterdays
13. Leaving This World Behind

for the special edition the track listing is different:

01. Capsizing the Sea
02. In Waves
03. Inception of the End
04. Dusk Dismantled
05. Watch the World Burn
06. Black
07. A Skyline's Severance
08. Ensnare the Sun*
09. Built To Fall
10. Caustic Are the Ties That Bind
11. Forsake Not the Dream
12. Drowning In Slow Motion*
13. A Grey So Dark*
14. Chaos Reigns
15. Of All These Yesterdays
16. Leaving This World Behind
17. Shattering The Skies Above*
18. Slave New World*

The album does have a concept but according to Matt Heafy it is something that shouldn't be taken too seriously as he wants the fans to make of the record what they want it to mean.

MACHINE HEAD TO RELEASE NEW TRACK LOCUST!

We have just heard from Roadrunner records that Machine Head are to release a new track "Locust" on June 19th. The song is being released as part of the Mayhem festival's free sample album BUT it will be released in the UK on June 19th. According to Roadrunner the track is just under 8 minutes so those Machine Head fans out there ... you know what's coming :). The as yet untitled album is set for release on 27th September!

Dream Theater's new album details!

It has just been announced that prog-metallers Dream Theater's new album is to be called: A Dramatic Turn of Events. The track listing for the album has also been released and is as follows:

1. On the Backs of Angels
2. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
3. Lost Not Forgotten
4. This is the Life
5. The Shaman's Trance
6. Outcry
7. Far From Heaven
8. Breaking All Illusions
9. Beneath The Surface

This will be the bands first album since the dramatic departure of Mike Portnoy from the band. Mike Mangini has been chosen to fill the vacancy. The album is expected to be released some time in September 2011. More info coming soon!

Check out Dream Theater at www.dreamtheater.net

UPDATE: A Dramatic Turn of Events will be released on 13th September 2011