12.27.05 (MusicPortal.com) The soundtrack album to the movie "Underworld Evolution" is slated for release on January 10th. The "Underworld" saga and it's accompanying musical scores are perhaps some of the most thoughtful, valued and respected genre film soundtracks continuing in the proud tradition of "The Matrix," "The Crow" and "Spawn." As "Underworld Evolution" continues the story, the new soundtrack album continue to set the tone musically. Contained here are an exclusive debut solo recording from Chester Bennington, as well as a new exclusive recording by PUSCIFER. Chester Bennington is best known as the lead singer for LINKIN PARK, while PUSCIFER -- who also contributed to the first "Underworld" album -- is a new outlet for highly respected and commercially successful musical figure Maynard James Keenan, best known as the frontman for both TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE. Another notable contributing member of PUSCIFER is Danny Lohner, the former NINE INCH NAILS guitarist - also a much sought-out songwriter, producer and remixer. It's also important to note that every song on the "Underworld Evolution" soundtrack album is exclusive to the set at the time of release. In addition to those mentioned previously are exclusive contributions from such varied and respected artists as MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, SLIPKNOT, MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO, CRADLE OF FILTH, as well as some of today's new and emerging bands like ATREYU, HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, SENSES FAIL, ALKALINE TRIO, AIDEN, LACUNA COIL, TRIVIUM and more. Many of the 16 tracks also feature exclusive remixes by some of the most respected and sought after talents such as Danny Lohner, Chris Vrenna, cEvin Key and THE LEGION OF DOOM. Like Lohner, Vrenna also brings unique musical experience and sensibilities as a former member of NINE INCH NAILS. cEvin Key is the co-founder of SKINNY PUPPY as well as an established artist in his own right, remixing various artists of stature and releasing many solo albums under different monikers. Jack Dangers' exclusive MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO song also features the artist's first use of vocal performance in over six years, which is a rare treat for fans of the group. The "Underworld Evolution" movie is scheduled to open in theaters nationwide on January 20th. "Underworld Evolution" Track Listing: 1. Puscifer - The Undertaker (Renholder Mix) • 2. Chester Bennington Vs. Julien-K - Morning After • 3. Hawthorne Heights - Where Do I Stab Myself In The Ears (The Legion of Doom Remix) • 4. My Chemical Romance - To The End (RnR Cheryl Mix) • 5. Slipknot - Vermillion Pt. 2 (Bloodstone Mix) • 6. Alkaline Trio - Burn (Alleged Remix) • 7. Aiden - The Last Sunrise (Dusk Mix) • 8. Senses Fail - Bite To Break Skin (The Legion Of Doom Remix) • 9. Atreyu - Her Portrait In Black • 10. Trivium - Washing Away Me In The Tides • 11. Mendozza - Eternal Battle • 12. Lacuna Coil - Our Truth • 13. Gosling - Cat People (Putting Out The Fire) • 14. Bobby Gold - Why Are You Up • 15. Meat Beat Manifesto - Suicide • 16. Cradle Of Filth - HW2
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12.21.05 (MusicPortal.com) Anticulture Records recording artists INTERLOCK have sent out the following update to their fans: "With our badass credentials at stake, a somewhat celebratory mood has befallen the band of late, loathe as we are to admit it. Close to donning elven hats and tinsel earrings, we've settled into our festive feasts and prepared to watch the year end walk by, slapping its behind as it passes for good measure. Yes, we're proud to announce that the 'Crisis//Reinvention' Winter 2005 UK tour was a resounding success. We can safely say that we've visited almost every corner of our island in the glum, and as any routemaster multimap will tell you, that's a lot of corners. Now our beds have never felt so welcoming, nor our washing machines so used - little sluts that they are. We'd like to take a brief moment to offer our gifts of gold, nonsense and girth to the following people who have made this headline tour go that little bit more smoothly: James, for allowing us access to some of the best equipment available; Xtaster, for providing people like Dan Lister and their hardcore efforts to mobilize hordes; Zoe, our driver, mosh mistress and merch magician; James, our roadie, go-for, go-between and go-fucking-get 'em; Alice, our accounts guru, info queen and merch/sanity interfacer; Rob, for solving last minute panics and letting us disrupt his pints; The Anticulture Massiv - do we really have to explain why?; Support bands, or giving some of the best, and most diverse crowd warmers this side of an H-bomb; Friends/family, for momentarily lapsing their reasons wide enough to allow us some stopovers here and there, and most importantly... You - for buying and downloading our music, turning up when we're near, dusting off your air guitars and screaming our songs back at us. Thanks for showing us how you spend your weekends and for the practice in making our autographs look more 'metal.' It's been an amazing year for us - signing to Anticulture Records, the release of our debut album, making our first video, taking on Christina, the interviews and appearances, the parties and the award shows... But don't mistake this retrospection for hibernation, oh no. While you're blinking in awe at the contents of your stockings or busy contemplating stuffing holes in turkeys, we'll be hard at work sorting your treats for the new year such as the 'Skinless Remixes' EP, new merchandise, a European invasion, and some tasty UK dates, to mention but a few. You'd do well to watch this space - we've become rather good at providing solutions to them lately." INTERLOCK are slated to perform in the UK at Underworld in London on January 13th, Edwards No. 8 in Birmingham on January 26th, and The Barfly in London on February 5th.
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12.16.05 (MusicPortal.com) Grammy Award-winning writer/producer and contemporary music visionary WILLIAM ORBIT makes a return February 7th with a new album entitled "Hello Waveforms" on Sanctuary Records. His first solo release since 2000's "Pieces In A Modern Style," the new offering is performed and produced by Orbit. "Hello Waveforms" is ethereal, ambient, subtle and distinctive in style, fusing strong melodies with electronic synths to produce his definitive signature sound. Recorded in London and America, the new album features a collection of collaborations and influences - the track 'Humming Chorus' is taken from "Madame Butterfly," 'Spiral' features the SUGABABES and Kenna on vocals, while Finley Quaye plays acoustic guitar on the dreamlike 'Who Owns The Octopus.' WILLIAM ORBIT has also reunited with former "Strange Cargo" band member Laurie Mayer, who plays piano and synthesizer on 'Surfin' and provides vocals on the tracks 'Bubble Universe' and 'Who Owns the Octopus?' An artist who individually determined the new age of modern mixer/producer credibility, WILLIAM ORBIT's most high profile projects to date include his contribution to Madonna's "Ray Of Light" album - on which he produced, co-wrote and performed, U2's 'Electrical Storm', Blur's "13," and his smash-hit single, 'Barber's Adagio For Strings.' In 2001, WILLIAM ORBIT performed as part of Barbican's celebrated Elektronik Festival. Well-known for his contributions to modern music, Orbit is undoubtedly one of the world's most accomplished talents, and continues to be internationally recognized as a premier artist, writer, producer and composer. Influenced by an eclectic range of musicians including Jimi Hendrix, KRAFTWERK and Miles Davis, WILLIAM ORBIT's involvement in the music industry has not only created an impressive list of critically acclaimed work that spans genres and styles, but also ceaselessly defines the Dance/Electronica genre. While music is clearly his forte, it was never an obvious career choice. "My parents are both teachers, but I left school at 16 with no university education and worked a variety of jobs such as a fruit picker and in a shoe factory, before spending time in the seventies doing my own thing, which included living on a boat in Holland," he says. It was only when squatting in an old school house in Paddington during the 1980's that he formed TORCH SONG with Laurie Mayer and began to explore his innate creativity - thanks to the free electricity and lack of overheads. "We'd make cassettes and send them to everybody in the industry, which is basically how my music career began." Four critically acclaimed albums followed under the name "Strange Cargo," one of which produced the classic hit 'Water From A Vine Leaf,' featuring Beth Orton. During the 1990s, WILLIAM ORBIT also released under the names THE ELECTRIC CHAMBER and BASSOMATIC, whose material included the hit 'Fascinating Rhythm.' "Pieces In A Modern Style" was a pioneering collection of ambient Classical pieces interpreted with his distinctive vision. Featuring 'Barber's Adagio For Strings,' Erik Satie's 'Ogive Number 1,' Antonio Vivaldi's 'L'Inverno' and a Henryk Gorecki piece for the track 'Piece In The Old Style 1,' that album earned WILLIAM ORBIT instant worldwide commercial and critical success.
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12.07.05 (MusicPortal.com) When SPARKS' last album "Lil' Beethoven" hit the streets, critics lauded and applauded, fans smiled smugly with overdue vindication and fellow musicians wept when faced with the reality that, once again, the band had raised the bar by which all other albums should be judged. Now SPARKS are poised to present "Hello Young Lovers," their 20th album on February 6th, with the first single from the album, 'Dick Around,' slated for release on January 30th. To achieve such enormity and expansiveness, Angeleno brothers Ron and Russell Mael worked in a limitless vacuum for the best part of 18 months. The only inspiration taken from any current music for the new offering was the provocation to go as far as possible in the opposite direction. Once again, the Mael brothers are joined by Tammy Glover (drums) and Dean Menta (guitar), with guest musicians Jim Wilson (guitar) and Steve McDonald (bass). The artists who would come to be known for posterity as Sparks commenced inventing their often-copied, seldom-equaled brand of music back around 1970, when Pop was young and brash and the Southern California airwaves were awash with a contingent of post-British Invasion inspirations like THE KINKS, Syd Barrett's PINK FLOYD, and THE SEEDS. The purchase of countless shiny-sleeved import LPs, and dogged pilgrimages to gigs by now-deified (or defiled) artists, convinced young Ron and Russell Mael that this enticingly provocative presentation would be the ideal means by which to impress upon the public their idiosyncratic take on life, art, and everything. And so the brothers commenced banging around, first in separate groups, then together in MOONBAKER ABBEY and URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT (one of their first recordings being the presciently named 'Computer Girl.') Their efforts crystallized in 1971, with the addition of another pair of brothers, Earle and Jim Mankey, and drummer Harley Feinstein, incorporated under the uncommon name of HALFNELSON. Produced by wonderboy and kindred spirit Todd Rundgren, the group's startlingly original, eponymously titled debut yielded a local hit ("local" being Montgomery, Alabama), then vanished from view - notwithstanding an American Bandstand appearance and a write-up in regional Texas newspapers (earned the hard way by the connection of Russell Mael's head with the business end of a prop sledgehammer). Their label, with the mysterious logic that only record companies possess, decided that their sportcentric moniker was responsible for the album's less-than-stellar performance, and suggested a Marx Bros.-inspired name change: thus SPARKS was born. Rereleased upon an unsuspecting nation, the appropriately altered (but no better-selling) LP was to prove that marketing strategy decidedly spurious. Nevertheless, an excellent second album, the equally unprecedented "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing," was released as a follow-up, with high Psychedelia cred coming from helmer James Lowe of THE ELECTRIC PRUNES. Once again, clever nomenclature didn't translate to runaway revenues; and the group found itself at an impasse. The icebreaker came from across the... [full story]

[Electronic News: November 2005]
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