CELTIC FROST BASSIST SAYS 'MONOTHEIST' COULD HAVE BEEN 'HEAVIER AND DARKER'

Metal-Rules.com recently conducted an interview with CELTIC FROST bassist Martin Eric Ain. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Metal-Rules.com: We featured an interview with Tom [Fischer] back in the spring and he said, 'We cannot possibly continue if everyone thinks CELTIC FROST is superfluous in today's world.' Now with the album being out for several months how has the reaction from fans and press been?

Martin: Generally speaking, it has been really amazing. It's been more than what we would've expected. We got some really strong and really intense responses from people that got really touched by the music that we created, by this new album. For us, this is very much a compliment. Something that we very much cherish. As I said before, it's more than we expected.

Metal-Rules.com: [Does] this mean that there will be another CELTIC FROST album?

Martin: Yes. I mean, definitely. Already before we had this album finished, we had to decide at one point to let this go. This entity is what it is and we're not going to let it rest, we could continue for another 10 years, but I still think it could have been heavier and darker. We already realized that ourselves when we were finished with the recording. A song like 'Totengott' was added basically at the last minute. We were still bristling with ideas and we still do so right now. It won't take four years for the next follow-up. My guess, an educated guess but it's still a guess, because being 39 if there's one thing I learnt, that I am not Nostradamus and I can't predict the future. So I think the next record will come quite fast and will be heavier but we'll have to see.

Metal-Rules.com: Have you been happy with the way Century Media has been getting behind the group and new album?

Martin: Absolutely. Century Media has been doing a great job, an excellent job. I think we really got lucky that we have them as a licensing partner. So far no complaints, of course there has been minor things, but you have to realize that you are working with this large corporation. They are still independent, but they are a worldwide corporation, so you will have minor communication problems, and all around the world you can never get everything into place. It's been the best experience I've ever had in this business so far, and there are a lot of great people working at Century Media. A lot of great people that have put a lot of effort into getting this album promoted and getting CELTIC FROST to where we are right now. I'm really happy and thankful. I'm really sorry only to have to give you positives now (laughs). Maybe you would like to have some nitty gritty?

Metal-Rules.com: Were you nervous about taking the stage again with CELTIC FROST after so many years?

Martin: Not after. Beforehand I was nervous. Now I think we're getting better and better, and tighter and tighter, and more to the point, and realizing more what this is about. Just like we did when we started working on the album. Of course, I was what you might say focused and nervous about playing those monster festivals that we've never played before. I didn't know what to expect. Having done that, I have to say it was a great experience. Definitely worthwhile, something that made everything we've been doing over the last couple of years worthwhile and I'm really thankful that we were able to do so. That we were graced with so much interest after such a long time. I think this is not something one can take for granted. Neither is doing a 47-date tour of North America. Definitely something we are looking forward to and we are focused on.

Read the entire interview at Metal-Rules.com.

KITTIE: GENESSEE COLLEGE ROCKFEST APPEARANCE CANCELLED

Canadian all-girl metal band KITTIE has issued the following update:

'We regret to inform all of our fans in the upstate [New York] area that our show at the Genessee College Rockfest this Friday, November 10th has been cancelled.

'The band was asked to play a few weeks ago by representatives of the college, but attempts to contact them after the invitation was extended were met by silence. We finally were informed that they had no idea KITTIE was to be playing their show and there was some sort of communication breakdown that lead to much confusion on their part. Someone obviously overstepped their boundries by inviting us to play and then back pedaled at the expense of our fans and our band.

'We apologize profusely for this cancellation, but unfortunetly that is what we get for dealing with unprofessional people. Apparently the same thing happened to DISTURBED a few years ago at the same college, which resulted in the same sort of miscommunications and ultimate cancellation.'

As previously reported, KITTIE has set 'Funeral for Yesterday' as the title of its new album, due on February 20, 2007 via the group's own Kiss of Infamy record label. Check out the cover artwork at this location.

KITTIE's new CD was recorded at Retromedia Studio in Red Bank, New Jersey with producer Jack Ponti, who has previously worked with BON JOVI, SKID ROW, and ALICE COOPER. Songtitles set to appear on the new album include 'Never Again', 'Funeral for Yesterday', 'The Change', 'Breathe', 'Last Goodbye', 'Slow Motion' and 'Flowers of Flesh and Blood'. The band recently finished mixing the effort with producer Kevin Shirley (IRON MAIDEN, DREAM THEATER).

KITTIE's downloadable EP, entitled 'Never Again', was released in February through Rock Ridge Music. iTunes is offering an exclusive four-track version of the EP, which includes the bonus track 'Everything That Could Have Been'.

KITTIE has sold more than a million records since the release of its debut, 'Spit', in 2000. That album was followed by 2001's 'Oracle' and 2004's 'Until the End', with several EPs in between.

THE HAUNTED LAUNCHES YOUTUBE VIDEO CHANNEL

Swedish thrashers THE HAUNTED have launched their own YouTube video channel at this location.

THE HAUNTED's video for the song 'The Flood' has been posted online at this location. The clip was directed by Roger Johansson (ARCH ENEMY, HAMMERFALL, SOILWORK) in Sweden. The track comes off the new THE HAUNTED album, 'The Dead Eye', which came out on Oct. 31 via Century Media Records. A 'making of' feature for the 'The Flood' video can be viewed here. An e-card featuring two tracks from the CD â€" 'The Medication' and 'The Drowning' â€" can be accessed at this location.

THE HAUNTED will embark on a U.S. tour alongside DANZIG and labelmates LACUNA COIL later in the month.

SEBASTIAN BACH: LIVE VIDEO OF NEW SONG AVAILABLE

A video clip of former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach performing a new song during his band's October 29, 2006 performance in San Juan, Puerto Rico as the opening act for GUNS N' ROSES has been posted online at YouTube.com. Additional video clips from Bach's San Juan performance can be found at this location.

Contrary to published reports, Sebastian Bach â€" who recently completed work on a new studio album, entitled 'Angel Down' â€" is not actively seeking a new label home.

'I am not 'shopping' my new record to anyone,' Bach told BLABBERMOUTH.NET on Oct. 13. 'I have not played a note of my new record to anyone but my new manager [Rick Sales of Sanctuary Artist Management).

'What happened with Artemis is that they bought the Spitfire catalog [Spitfire issued Sebastian's last solo release, 'Bring 'Em Bach Alive', in 1999], and at the same time we received serious interest from one of the biggest labels in the world. All of this happened without either label hearing a note of the new record. We are deciding which label is the best to sign with at this very moment.'

'Angel Down' was produced by Roy Z. (HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON, JUDAS PRIEST) and features such cuts as 'Stuck Inside', 'American Metalhead', 'By Your Side' and 'Take You Down With Me'.

Sebastian's current touring/recording lineup consists of the following:

Sebastian Bach - Vocals
Metal' Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD, PAINMUSEUM) - Guitar
Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, ex-DEATH, TESTAMENT) - Bass
Bobby Jarzombek (ICED EARTH, HALFORD) - Drums
Johnny Chromatic â€" Guitar

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: 'MY CURSE' VIDEO POSTED ONLINE

An early leak of the KILLSWITCH ENGAGE video for the track 'My Curse' is now available for viewing at YouTube.com. The clip was shot last month with director Lex Halaby, who has previously worked with MUDVAYNE and IN FLAMES, among others.

As previously reported, a brand new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE track, entitled 'For You', is available for free download at this location. Both songs come off the New England metallers' upcoming album, 'As Daylight Dies', due on November 21 via Roadrunner Records. An e-card for the CD can be accessed at this location. The e-card includes graphics designed by bassist Mike D'Antonio, special offers for pre-ordering the album, a complete list of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's upcoming tour with ALL THAT REMAINS, HATEBREED, BURY YOUR DEAD and 2 CENTS, three different AIM icons, and two of the album's songs.

ALICE COOPER IS THE TOP CLASSIC ROCK GOLFER IN NEW SURVEY

Launch Radio Networks reports: Alice Cooper has been named the top classic rock golfer in a new survey in Golf Digest. The magazine ranked the musicians who are the best players, and Cooper came in at No. 11 on the list, in a tie with British singer-songwriter Lloyd Cole. YES drummer Alan White scored a No. 14 placement, while the Top 40 also included DOORS guitarist Robby Krieger, MOODY BLUES bassist John Lodge, and former EAGLES guitarist Don Felder. Jazz saxophonist Kenny G is No. 1 on the 'Top 100 In Music' list.

Cooper told Launch that golf is so popular among his peers because it helps musicians get going while on the road. 'It gets you out of the hotel rooms when you're on long tours,' he said. 'It's something to look forward to. You do the show. The next morning, what are you gonna do? Sit in the hotel room all day? No, you get to go out and hit the golf ball around. But it's certainly nothing that I would... I would never give up rock-and-roll for golf.'

Also on the Golf Digest 'Top 100 In Music' list, which hits newsstands on Tuesday (November 7), are these folks, who apparently need to improve their game â€" ex-PINK FLOYD singer-bassist Roger Waters, EAGLES singer-guitarist Glenn Frey, Stephen Stills, Bob Dylan, Steve Miller, Eddie Van Halen, Neil Young, TUBES leader Fee Waybill, Meat Loaf, Eddie Money, and singer-guitarist Robin Zander from CHEAP TRICK, among others. AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler had a very low placement, but he's listed as being new to the game.

BLACK SABBATH GUITARIST ATTENDS 'GUITAR HERO II' LAUNCH IN LONDON

According to a posting on BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi's official web site, Tony was at the Gibson Guitar Studios in London Wednesday night (Nov. 1) for the launch of the new Sony Playstation 2 game 'Guitar Hero II'. The game features the BLACK SABBATH track 'War Pigs' and two fearless members of the event's organizing team even got up on stage to perform the track along to the game in front of the song's creator. Tony was there to see his daughter, Toni-Marie, and her band LUNARMILE, who were performing at the event.

As previously reported, Iommi and fellow original SABBATH members Geezer Butler and Bill Ward are reuniting with vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in the band in 1979, under the moniker HEAVEN AND HELL. The new group, named after the first post-Osbourne SABBATH album, will hit the road in early 2007. In addition, according to Ozzy, a BLACK SABBATH tour with Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward will kick off late 2007 to coincide with the group's first new studio album featuring that lineup since 1978's 'Never Say Die!'

RARE DIMEBAG 1982 GUITAR PICK SOLD FOR $340 ON EBAY

A rare 1982 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN) guitar pick from a Junior High School talent show was sold on eBay for $342.51. The seller apparently bought the pick awhile back from someone who went to school with Darrell. The auction also included the talent show flyer and clipping, as pictured at the eBay auction page.

Abbott was shot to death just moments into a DAMAGEPLAN concert on December 8, 2004 at a Columbus, Ohio club. His killer, a disturbed 25-year-old ex-Marine, was slain by a police officer at the scene.

Launch Radio Networks reports: Paul Stanley's in the midst of a solo tour in support of his new album 'Live To Win', and things are going really well. Stanley and the house band from the 'Rock Star' reality TV show have been playing songs from throughout his career, with fans responding enthusiastically for all of them. Stanley told Launch that it's gratifying to know people are enjoying it as much as they seem to be. 'The great thing about doing a solo tour is that people are there, clearly, to see you, and to hear your contribution to their lives, and also to the band that you're affiliated with,' he said. 'So when we're playing things from 'Live To Win' and people know them, or when we're playing stuff from my first solo album, or even the obscure KISS songs we do, it's just very, very gratifying, you know, 'cause they're all my songs, and it's great to know that they connect with people so well.'

'Live To Win' came out on October 24, and it sold just under 17,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release to land at position No. 53 of The Billboard 200 chart.

Stanley hits the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, Pennsylvania tonight.

Stanley is also promoting the release on DVD this week of 'Kissology: Volume One 1974-1977', which has rare and unreleased live footage from the band's early days.

CIRCUS OF POWER FEATURED IN 'PASSION & BROTHERHOOD' PREVIEW

A preview of director Drew Stone's new film 'Passion & Brotherhood', featuring a couple of shots of CIRCUS OF POWER, has been posted online at YouTube.com. The band appears in the film from Austin, Texas performing 'Heart Attack' as the soundtrack to the 'Urban Street - Bike Warriors All-Star' segment. Live footage of the band is intercut with the world's top street motorcycle stunt riders, including Kyle Woods and Chris 'Teach' McNeil.

CIRCUS OF POWER's first New York City show in over 12 years on Sept. 27, 2006 was filmed for the upcoming CIRCUS OF POWER long-form DVD, 'Got Motor? Swamp Boogie In The Big City', due out in 2007 through Renegade Distribution. The DVD will include classic performances throughout the band's career as well as new footage documenting the band's '20th anniversary' shows. An early 2007 release through Renegade Distribution is expected.