A&M / Octone After releasing the Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan -directed video for ‘ We Are ‘ a couple weeks back, Hollywood Undead have now unveiled a behind-the-scenes clip chronicling the making of the video. The five-minute clip includes a behind the scenes look at some of the stunts performed in the video, plus plenty of commentary from Crahan. From drugs to crime to violence to fire, there’s never a shortage of something interesting in the video’s concept. Band member Johnny 3 Tears talks about the single as follows: “The song [‘We Are’] is about collective resistance. It’s the silent majority, but we’re using Los Angeles as the backdrop. Every time we work with Danny (Lohner, producer), he takes our music to the next level. Think of it as an ode to our misled youth.” ‘We Are’ is from Hollywood Undead’s forthcoming third album ‘Notes from the Underground,’ due for release on Jan. 8, 2013. Watch the Making of Hollywood Undead – ‘We Are’
Paul Hawthorne, Getty Images Right after Anthrax ‘s ‘I’m Alive’ was nominated for the 2013 Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance Grammy Award , we hopped on the phone with Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante for a congratulatory conversation. Having been placed against Halestorm , Iron Maiden , Lamb of God , Marilyn Manson and Megadeth , Benante shared an excited and interesting perspective on the Grammys, both past and present. This is Anthrax’s fourth Grammy nod, the band’s first since their collaboration with Public Enemy, ‘Bring the Noise,’ was nominated in 1994. We asked Benante about past winners and if they deserved the golden gramophone, along with a b-sides and covers album that Benante says may be released in early 2013. Your Grammy opponents are pretty tough this year. You’re against Halestorm, Iron Maiden, Lamb of God, Marilyn Manson and Megadeth. What are your thoughts on those artists? Well, this is a difficult question because some of the artists I don’t really listen to. Some of the artists I do know and listen to. With Megadeth and Maiden … we look up to Iron Maiden so much. If you took Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax, the common denominator there would probably be Iron Maiden. In some way, shape, or form, we all kind of modeled our band with Iron Maiden in mind. Not just that band; there’s other bands but I’m saying they played a pretty big role in the shaping of those four bands. So to be nominated with Iron Maiden, it’s just f—ing awesome. Looking up your past nominations for the Grammys, the one thing that’s easy to spot is that all those nominations came when Joey Belladonna was on vocals. So to you, how essential is the performance of Joey when it comes to these nominations? Well, it’s the classic Anthrax sound when we were nominated prior. I couldn’t be happier with the way that this record [‘Worship Music’] came out and you know, it’s something that I touched on in the statement that we made was this record, more so than a lot of other records, there was so much blood, sweat and tears that went into this record and I don’t know if those other records that are nominated could say the same thing. I mean, I’m not taking anything away from those other recordings, but all I can say is that I know how much went into making our other record. When I saw that we were nominated it just kind of made everything, “Wow, all that hard work and we get noticed.” It made sense to me. It wasn’t just making another record, you know? It was a different thing, it was different experience and it was a life changing experience. The first Grammy you were nominated for was for ‘Persistence of Time’ and you were against Judas Priest’s ‘Painkiller,’ which is incredible, Megadeth’s ‘Rust in Piece,’ which is amazing and Suicidal Tendencies, ‘Lights… Camera… Revolution!” But then the Grammy went to Metallica’s ‘Stone Cold Crazy.’ [Laughs] Yeah, I remember that! I think that was soon after the Metallica /Jethro Tull thing. It’s kind of funny where the Grammys have gone. I remember the first rap category, it wasn’t televised and there was a big uproar about that and then nowadays, there’s like three rap categories or more are on there and that are televised. It’s funny to see how it’s turned. It’s unfortunate that the metal one isn’t going to be televised though. Well, yeah. Take out one of those other categories and you know give (a category to metal) because I always said this: heavy metal and hard rock — the fans are the most loyal fans that really attach themselves to a genre of music. It’s not a fickle form of music. You can tell a metalhead walking in the street, you can tell what they are all about and it’s a lifestyle, it’s a way of life. It’s funny how people go that route and it’s how other people don’t go that route. I always found it kind of fascinating how I grew up listening to the Beatles and yet when I was in my teens, I latched onto that style of music, but I always kept the Beatles as my main sort of influence. So looking back on it your first Grammy nomination in 1991, who do you think should have won? I think Metallica should have won it for their ‘Black Album’ in 1992. I don’t agree with ‘Stone Cold Crazy,’ but you know, it’s hard to say who should have won. Of course I’ve got to pick myself, but it did include Megadeth and Judas Priest in there as well, those are all albums that went on to have legendary status. But, you know, look at the Grammys back in the day. Did the Beatles ever win or did Led Zeppelin win a Grammy at that time? Fun facts: Led Zeppelin have never won a Grammy and were only nominated once for Best New Artist in 1970. However, Zeppelin were given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2005. The Beatles won only five Grammys from 21 nominations during their active career. In 1995, Anthrax’s collaboration with Public Enemy, ‘Bring the Noise,’ went up against Megadeth’s ’99 Ways to Die,’ Pantera’s ‘I’m Broken,’ the Rollins Band’s ‘Liar,’ and the band who won that year was Soundgarden for ‘Spoonman.’ Do you think you guys should have won that year? I think Anthrax and Public Enemy should have won that year, but the people would have said, “No, because that’s not heavy metal.” But isn’t that what the Grammys are all about? You know, kind of branching out, different forms of music combining, different art forms? Anthrax and Public Enemy should have won the Grammy that year. That was definitely a strong piece of metal history. So when it comes to 2013, I’ve read that you guys would “like to” release an album sometime next year. Are there any solid plans right now for a 2013 album? The only thing that we’re working on right now, as far as a record, are some B-sides and some cover songs that we’ve been really, really enjoying making. It’s been a while, but it’s just because the band has been busy doing shows and stuff like that. [We’re covering] a lot of classic rock songs that we’ve just ingested throughout the years and shaped a lot of us and the musicians that we came to be. There’s a song by Boston, there’s a Rush tune, there’s a Cheap Trick tune, there’s a Thin Lizzy tune, there’s an AC/DC tune … We just said ‘F— it.’ These f—ing songs may be very popular, some of them may not be very popular, but we’re going to do it. That’s what we set out to do. So, this record will probably be out the beginning of the year. 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Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Ever since a gruesome bus crash caused the career of Georgian eclectic collective Baroness to come to a screeching halt, the band has been healing in a multitude of ways. Frontman John Baizley severely broke his left arm and leg, drummer Allen Blickle and bassist Matt Maggioni suffered fractured vertebrae, while guitarist Pete Adams was treated for more minor injuries. Despite the horrific pause in the timeline of Baroness, Baizley has written yet another uplifting entry on his health, along with video footage of ‘Stretchmarker’ from their 2012 double album, ‘Yellow & Green,’ played acoustically. Two months after the August bus crash in England, we had the honor to facilitate the very first interview with John Baizley since the accident. Within the hour-long discussion, Baizley opened up about his injuries, the slow recovery process and even how the wreck affected his life as a father. Now, Baizley has released another update, which can be simply described as remarkably inspirational: Simply put: it’s time to get back to it. Since my belated and thankful return to the USA (after our painful test in motor coach-aeronautics) I can definitively say I’ve exhausted my reserve of potential leisure activities (there’s not that many of them, after all). I’ve come dreadfully close to boredom, and in those moments I can’t help but focus on my glaring physical infirmities. Television offers little respite from this relative stasis; I’m sure by now I have sampled every biker-meth-dealer-zombie-low-talking-cop-crime-scene-serial-killer-real-housewife soap opera that is currently being broadcast (and there’s no small number of them). I’ve tried to fill my weekly routine with as much physical therapy as possible but the truth is, PT is not fun, and its benefits come with a great deal of mental/physical/spiritual pain and struggle. Furthermore, I believe I am getting a touch of Stockholm Syndrome when it comes to my doctors and therapists (the highlight of my week should NOT involve a clinic). Music might be the best therapy I have right now. Perhaps it’s both the cause and the cure (the thought has crossed my mind); but I feel lost without it. Pete and I have just spent a long week surveying our musical wreckage and, surprisingly, we are quite well and intact. Sure, there are some substantial obstacles to overcome before we write, record or perform any time soon; but we still have everything we need to get ‘back in’ that particular ’saddle again.’ Most of my peers are familiar with such high-school-gym-teacher poeticisms as ‘risk equals reward’ and ‘no pain, no gain;’ but did any of us every really believe there was any real wisdom in those adolescent platitudes? I didn’t. I am, however, starting to understand the essence of these and many of our other favorite clichés. As odd as it might be for me to write these ‘updates’ after 10 years of personal silence on the internet, I feel that I owe everyone who’s voiced or given their support to Baroness a brief synopsis of our situation and more importantly a heartfelt thanks. Honestly, it has made this ordeal much easier on me. What little publicity that surrounds our crash has given voice to so many people who have shared their own stories of injury, trauma and struggle with us, and has furthered my own faith in the communicative and universal strength of music. As every singer on every stage has nightly said, ‘we wouldn’t be where we are without you.’ Thanks everyone. We look forward to seeing you soon. Here’s a short clip of a song we wrote.” Check out John Baizley and Pete Adams performing an acoustic cover of ‘Stretchmarker.’ Baroness, ‘Stretchmarker’ (Acoustic Jam) [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-rock-albums-of-2012/” title=”Baroness – Best Rock Albums of 2012″ align=”center”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Japanese metallers Dir En Grey released their latest album ‘Dum Spiro Spero’ in 2011, but vocalist Kyo had throat problems that caused them to cancel a U.S. tour supporting that album earlier this year. However, he has recovered and the band has issued a new single called ‘Rinkaku’ (listen below). The single will be officially released on Wednesday (Dec. 19). It will include ‘Rinkaku,’ a new version of ‘Kiri to Mayu’ (originally released on their 1997 debut EP ‘Missa’) and a remix of ‘Rinkaku’ by Akira Yamaoka, known for his sound design work on the horror game series ‘Silent Hill.’ A couple of other versions will also be available. The limited edition will feature a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the recording of ‘Rinkaku’. There’s also a limited order-only deluxe version that includes the single along with a DVD that has an entire concert that was recorded in November of 2011 in Tokyo along with the behind the scenes footage from the ‘Rinkaku’ recording. In a description on the band’s website, the song is described as a departure for the band in terms of its sound. It reads as follows: “The track is unlike anything you have heard before, almost overturning the band’s musical concept on a new scale, coming in with a range full of depth with Kyo’s vocals that evoke classical elements in this beautiful and intricate melodic track which builds up dramatically with the intertwining guitars and bass.” Dir En Grey are known for their loyal fan base, and have been nominated in the Most Devoted Fans category in the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards . Listen to Dir En Grey – ‘Rinkaku’
Robert John Kley, Century Media It’s been a breakout year for In This Moment , thanks in large part to the single ‘Blood,’ the Top 10 hit from their 2012 album of the same name. As the year winds down, In This Moment are giving fans an extra treat as they’re offering a double-disc version of the album ‘Blood’ with several remixes exclusively via Hot Topic outlets. Loudwire is happy to team up with the band to premiere the Sluggo remix of their ‘Blood’ single (listen below). Sluggo’s knob-twiddling skills give the song an extra boost without diverting too far away from singer Maria Brink’s original vocal tracks. Rather, the remixed version adds some extra attitude to the track by delivering some jarring, industrial dubstep beats to the song. The Hot Topic two-disc release features the original studio version of the ‘Blood’ album on the first disc, and a selection of remixes on the bonus disc. In addition to the Sluggo remix of ‘Blood,’ the bonus disc also boasts a Mr. Kane remix of ‘Adrenalize,’ Nikka Bling’s remix of ‘Whore’ and a Mitch Marlow remix of ‘The Blood Legion.’ Plus, for good measure, In This Moment provide an intriguing cover of Nine Inch Nails ‘ classic ‘Closer’ on the extra disc. In This Moment recently wrapped their 2012 touring, sharing the stage with Halestorm and Eve to Adam on a late fall trek. Meanwhile, frontwoman Maria Brink has been nominated for Rock Goddess of the Year in our very own 2012 Loudwire Music Awards. The special two-disc set of In This Moment’s ‘Blood’ album will be available at Hot Topic outlets beginning tomorrow, Dec. 18. Listen to In This Moment’s ‘Blood’ (Sluggo Remix) [button href=”http://loudwire.com/in-this-moment-blood-exclusive-video-premiere/” title=”Next: Watch In This Moment’s ‘Blood’ Music Video” align=”center”]
JSR Direct Cannibal Corpse have been delivering death metal to the masses since 1988, which means that 2013 will mark the band’s 25th anniversary. The group just wrapped up their 2012 activity by completing the ‘Torture Tour’ last week and now will focus on celebrating a quarter century as a band next year. In addition to the year-ending ‘Torture Tour,’ the band spent 2012 on the road as part of the Summer Slaughter trek while promoting their ‘Torture’ album. The band’s 12th studio album arrived back in March and they’ll continue promoting the disc into 2013. With the 25th anniversary upon them, the band just issued a Facebook update discussing the newly created merchandise items that will feature logos marking the occasion. The posting reads as follows: Next year marks our 25th year as a band and we are going to celebrate it all year long! Keep an eye out for special releases, new merch designs and announcements! For now you can check out our 25th anniversary logo which will appear as a sleeve print on all our merch printed in 2013, you can pre order shirts with this print NOW along with our 2013 CALENDAR that features the uncensored Vince Locke art from our 12 releases and marks all of our release dates, birthdays, our favorite horror film release dates and more! Everything can be found here . We never would have made it 25 years without all you die hard fans, get your horns up and blast your Corpse records all year! Expect to hear more about Cannibal Corpse’s 2013 25th anniversary plans in the coming weeks. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/cannibal-corpse-paul-mazurkiewicz-discusses-torture-the-evolution-of-the-band-more/” title=”Next: Paul Mazurkiewicz Discuses Cannibal Corpse’s Evolution” align=”center”]
HolyTerrorSpeedMetal.com Former Holy Terror vocalist Keith Deen has passed away at the age of 56. The metal musician was recently diagnosed with cancer and, unfortunately, Deen lost his battle with the disease. Deen lent his talents to the thrash/speed metal band Holy Terror’s 1987 debut full-length, ‘Terror and Submission’ and ‘Mind Wars’ the year after. Shortly after Holy Terror released ‘Mind Wars,’ Deen left the band, leading to the act’s eventual breakup. Guitarist Kurt Cofelt (aka Kurt Kilfelt), who founded Holy Terror after leaving Agent Steel, re-formed Holy Terror in 2005, even releasing the album ‘El Revengo’ in 2006. However, Deen declined Cofelt’s invite to rejoin the group at that time. After learning of Deen’s passing, Cofelt stated, ”With the loss of Keith Deen, a part of me is gone as well.” The webmaster of a Holy Terror fan site posted a memoriam that serves as a touching tribute to Deen: At approximately 7:30 PM on December 15th, 2012 I was informed by my dear friend Chris Carlson from Chicago that Keith Deen of Holy Terror passed away. He had been battling cancer since September of 2012. Like any normal person, it blew through me like a heat wave. My plan was to go for a walk when I got home which was where I was heading when I got Chris’ message about Keith. So, I got home and went for my walk. A permanent piece of real estate on my iTouch is dedicated to Holy Terror as one would expect. So, I queued up the “El Revengo” recordings and hit the pavement. The house I bought last year is in the neighborhood I grew up in and as I walked I started to remember a younger, plump, mullet headed version of myself riding my GT Performer up and down these same streets tossing papers on porches to the same soundtrack I was listening to right now. Sometimes it is good to relive the past, at least to a small degree. On that thought though, I am not a very big fan of nostalgia anymore. But, some things I just can’t deny. Keith Deen fucking ruled. Keith Deen Roared. Keith Deen Screeched. Keith Deen Yelled. Keith Deen Sang. If you listen to Both Terror and Submission & Mind Wars , you will agree that Keith Deen covered pretty much every style of vocal delivery imaginable in just those 2 albums. I often wonder what Holy Terror as a band would have done and created if they had stayed together. The past is the past though, and I know that the guys in the band would say the same thing. So with that I would like to speak directly to Keith….. Keith, Thank You for Roaring at me. Thank You for Screeching at me. Thank You for Yelling at me. Thank You for Singing to me. Thank you for joining Holy Terror all those years ago and giving speed metal a fresh new voice. Thank you for being the co-writer of “The Immoral Wasteland”, my all time favorite song. Thank you Keith, for being who you were. We will meet again my friend, and when that time comes, I am going to buy you a drink and ask if you would be interested in singing in my band…… We’d like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Keith Deen. To celebrate the life and musical contributions of Deen, check out ‘The Immortal Wasteland’ from the ‘Mind Wars’ album in the player below. Holy Terror, ‘The Immortal Wasteland’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/mitch-lucker-death-2012/?promo” title=”See the Rockers We’ve Lost in 2012″ align=”center”]