ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT & DEATH ANGEL Finalize Their Tour On A High Note - Amazing Pictures Available!

New York City Thrashers Anthrax, had a very bittersweet run on their recent co-headlining tour with Testament. The very successful tour, which also featured Death Angel, came to an end this past Wednesday (February 8) in New York City.

After a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the Anthrax boys performed an emotional set in front of over 2,000 headbangers. The highlight of Anthrax's set was the return of drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frankie Bello to the stage. The two men were forced to leave the tour to come home after Charlie's mother (who is Frankie's grandmother) passed away.

Once again, Anthrax presented a handful of NEW songs from their critically acclaimed album 'Worship Music', as well as classic Anthrax songs like "Caught In A Mosh", "Indians", "Madhouse", "I Am The Law, "Antisocial", and even "Medusa". The hometown crowd received the band with arms wide open, and jammed to every note that came out of this legendary band!

But lets not dare forgetting the mighty Testament and the bad asses in Death Angel! To say that these two bands fueled the crowd up for Anthrax is an understatement.

Testament brought their furious flavorful Thrash Metal to New York City, which they hadn't visited in years. While the band wasn't planning on touring until after the release of their upcoming NEW album 'The Dark Roots Of Earth' (set to be released in late April/early May), they couldn't pass on the opportunity of being part of one of the best tour package in years.

Chuck Billy and company stepped on stage with a lot of might, and didn't stop making the pit shake out of control until the very end of their set. They definitely had the crowd on their feet! The highlight during Testament's set was once again the performance of drummer Gene Hoglan. At the end of the bands set, the crowd was left wanting more Testament music.

Opening the show were Bay Area Trashers Death Angel, a band who has way too much awesome music for such a short set! Yes, they were the opening band but they could have gotten a longer set. Regardless of the shortness of their set, the band got most of the room moshing uncontrollably. If you didn't get to see them this time around, they will be on tour with Sepultura, Krisiun and Havok! Click here to see those tour dates.

Photo credit: Derek Soto from Sinestra Studios (Like them on Facebook)!

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Gene Hoglan Split Between FEAR FACTORY & TESTAMENT; What Does His Future Hold?

Today, Gene Hoglan is one of the most wanted drummers in Heavy Metal! In recent years, he has been busy at work with Industrial Metallers FEAR FACTORY. When guitarist Dino Cazares rejoined the band that he founded in 1982, Hoglan was called in to replace drummer Raymond Herrera. Together with Burton C. Bell (vocalist), Dino Cazares and Byron Stroud (bassist), who Hoglan's bandmate in Strapping Young Lad, they created 'Mechanized' (one of the best albums of 2010).

While Hoglan is still listed as the drummer for FEAR FACTORY, yesterday we asked him if he recorded drums on the NEW Fear Factory album 'The Industrialist' (slated to be released in late April via Candlelight Records). We also asked him if he plans on joining legendary Thrash Metallers TESTAMENT full time, whom with he recorded their upcoming album entitled 'The Dark Roots Of Earth' (set to be released in late April/early May via Nuclear Blast Records) and played drums on most of their recent series of tours with ANTHRAX and DEATH ANGEL. Here is what he had to say about his future.

"Right now I am taking things day by day. Sometimes you really have to be careful with what you wish for."

When we recently spoke with TESTAMENT's frontman Chuck Billy, we asked him what the bands drummer situation is. Here is what he had to say about this:

"We'd like him (Gene Hoglan) to be, but I think right now we're just taking it tour by tour. We don't know yet. We just kind of unexpectedly had to do this tour before the record came out, so we haven't really thought about it yet."

Whither Gene Hoglan stays with FEAR FACTORY or rejoins TESTAMENT remains to be seen. In our opinion it would make sense for him to rejoin TESTAMENT since he recorded their NEW album 'The Dark Roots Of Earth', but we all know that any drummer would love to play with FEAR FACTORY. Needless to say, this will be a hard decision for Hoglan to make. Stay tuned for more information!





Related links:
Official Site of Gene Hoglan
Gene Hoglan on MySpace
Fear Factory
Testament

Chuck Billy Discusses Touring With Anthrax & Death Angel + Upcoming Plans For Testament!

In case you have been living under a rock, Charles Billy (A.K.A. Chuck Billy) is the vocalist of Thrash Metallers Testament! Chuck joined Testament when band was still called Legacy. Coincidentally, Testament's first album was entitled "The Legacy" and was released in 1987. Ever since then, Chuck has remained a permanent member of the band (along with guitarist Eric Peterson). His vocal style is always evolving: Chuck combines a clear, high pitch Thrash style of singing with a deeper low register Death Metal style grunt. Ever since the 'Low' album, he has mixed both styles both on and off stage.

Yesterday, Chuck called us to discuss their current North American tour with Anthrax and Death Angel and to talk about all things Testament! According to Chuck, he has yet again pushed his vocals to the limit on the NEW Testament album entitled 'The Hard Roots Of Earth'. This time around he allowed producer Andy Sneap to produce his vocals, which is something that Chuck has never done before. During this extensive interview we also discussed the future plans of Testament, including their drummer situation and the production of their NEW music video. Check it out now!



Testament with Anthrax and Death Angel (Remaining tourdates):

Feb. 01 - Green Iguana Stadium - Tampa, FL
Feb. 02 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
Feb. 03 – The LC Pavillion – Columbus, OH
Feb. 04 - Bogarts - Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 06 – Crockodile Rock – Allentown, PA
Feb. 07 – Ram’s Head Live – Baltimore, MD
Feb. 08 – Best Buy Theatre – New York, NY

Stay tuned for more information about Testament's NEW Album 'The Dark Roots Of Earth'!

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Testament's Chuck Billy To Chat Live On "Native In The Spotlight" Radio Show This Afternoon!

Testament frontman, Chuck Billy, will chat live with Native America Calling’s radio program, "Native in the Spotlight,” today at 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific. Billy, who is of the California-based Pomo Native Americans, will discuss his Native American heritage and Heavy Metal career while fielding questions from listeners around the country.

A listing of local stations airing the program can be found at Native American Calling.com. Fans can also tune in online at: NVL.org. The toll-free number to call in is 1-800-99-NATIV (1-800-996-2848).

Testament is currently on the road co-headlining a US tour with Thrash Metal legend, Anthrax. The band will release its tenth studio album, 'The Dark Roots Of Earth', this spring on Nuclear Blast Records. Stay tuned for more information.

Testament With Anthrax and Death Angel Tourdates:

Jan. 27 – Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN
Jan. 28 – Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN
Jan. 29 – Expo Five – Louisville, KY
Jan. 30 – Orange Peel – Ashville, NC
Feb. 01 - Green Iguana Stadium - Tampa, FL
Feb. 02 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
Feb. 03 – The LC Pavillion – Columbus, OH
Feb. 04 - Bogarts - Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 06 – Crockodile Rock – Allentown, PA
Feb. 07 – Ram’s Head Live – Baltimore, MD
Feb. 08 – Best Buy Theatre – New York, NY

Related links:
Testament
Antrax
Death Angel

Paul Bostaph's BLACKGATES Release Studio Update - Video Available!

As previously reported Paul Bostaph's NEW project is called BLACKGATES, and it features Anthrax's previous singer Dan Nelson, guitarist Jeremy Epp (The Venting Machine) and bassist Uriah Duffy (Whitesnake). The group is currently in the studio working on the pre-production part of their debut album. This is what Bostaph had to say about this NEW project:

"Our sound is drawn from all of our influences. Mostly, we don't want to be a Thrash Metal band, although we draw from that genre as well. There is something in our music for everyone. Heavy grooves, good hooks and Dan's killer pipes. I think we have an independent sound that will stand on its own."

Today, the band released a video update regarding the current progress of their debut album:



BLACKGATES is:

- Dan Nelson (ANTHRAX): Vocals/guitar
- Paul Bostaph (TESTAMENT, SLAYER, FORBIDDEN, EXODUS): Drums
- Uriah Duffy (WHITESNAKE): Bass
- Jeremy Von Epp (THE VENTING MACHINE): Guitar/Vocals






Related links:
Black Gates on Facebook

Gene Hoglan Confirmed As Testament's Drummer For Upcoming North American Tour with Anthrax & Death Angel!

Testament is pleased to announce that current "Dark Roots Of Earth" studio drummer and world-famous percussionist Gene Hoglan will once again join them on the road for on their upcoming co-headlining run with Anthrax.

Testament have recently been spending time in the studio recording "Dark Roots Of Earth" (set to be released in the Spring via Nuclear Blast Records), the follow up to their 2008 Golden God 'Album of the Year' award winning album, "The Formation of Damnation", released on Nuclear Blast Records to critical acclaim. The album was named SiriusXM Liquid Metal's 'Album of the Year' in 2008, and debuted at #59 on the Billboard Top 200. "The Formation of Damnation" is Testament's highest charting release in their 24-year history.

Testament With Anthrax and Death Angel Tourdates:

Jan. 22 – Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
Jan. 23 – Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
Jan. 24 – Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
Jan. 27 – Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN
Jan. 28 – Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN
Jan. 29 – Expo Five – Louisville, KY
Jan. 30 – Orange Peel – Ashville, NC
Feb. 01 - Green Iguana Stadium - Tampa, FL
Feb. 02 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
Feb. 03 – The LC Pavillion – Columbus, OH
Feb. 04 - Bogarts - Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 06 – Crockodile Rock – Allentown, PA
Feb. 07 – Ram’s Head Live – Baltimore, MD
Feb. 08 – Best Buy Theatre – New York, NY

The band has spent the last three years touring the world in support of "The Formation of Damnation", and now brings its original, classic lineup back home to the United States with Anthrax and Death Angel for round II.



Photo credit: Mitchell Damien Maurer

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Anthrax Are Ready To Kickoff Leg II Of North American Tour With Testament & Death Angel!

When Anthrax kicks off Leg Two of its U.S. tour with Testament and Death Angel this Sunday in Las Vegas, they will do so with their new single, "I'm Alive," already catching fire at radio. Early adds at active and mainstream Rock stations in cities from Madison to Nashville to Abilene are playing the track and getting great feedback on the song from listeners.

In addition, the online rock site, Loudwire, put the song into its "Cage Match" competition this week, pitting "I'm Alive" against the Ministry track "99%," followed the next day with "Locust" by Machine Head, then Rise Against's "Satellite," and Staind's "Eyes Wide Open". When "I'm Alive" was victorious over Linkin Park's "Blackout" yesterday - the song's fifth consecutive win -the song was retired from competition and entered the Loudwire Cage Match Hall of Fame.

With the first leg of the Anthrax/Testament/Death Angel lineup included on a number of "Best Shows of 2011," the upcoming tour dates will feature performances from Anthrax's 30-year career as well as songs from the band's new album, Worship Music, singled out as the #1 Metal Album of 2011 by "That Metal Show's" Eddie Trunk, SiriusXM's Jose Mangin, Horns Up Rocks, and many other media outlets.

For this tour, Anthrax has put together two special VIP packages for its fans. The "Basic" package includes a special meet-and-greet with the band, a special VIP laminate with an Anthrax Army lanyard, a vinyl Fan-Banner, and a very limited edition Anthrax Army Tee with distressed print. The uber "Zoom Q3HD VIP" package gets you an Anthrax-branded Zoom Q3HD video camera, a special meet-and-greet with the band, a VIP cinematographer fan-laminate and the invitation to capture the M&G and also to record one of the band's songs performed live onstage (where available) and then placed into consideration for a viral video, seven-foot tall fan banner, limited edition Anthrax Army tee-shirt, and more. Log on to Anthrax.com for VIP Meet & Greet information.

Anthrax With Testament and Death Angel Tourdates:

Jan. 22 – Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
Jan. 23 – Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
Jan. 24 – Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
Jan. 27 – Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN
Jan. 28 – Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN
Jan. 29 – Expo Five – Louisville, KY
Jan. 30 – Orange Peel – Ashville, NC
Feb. 01 - Green Iguana Stadium - Tampa, FL
Feb. 02 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
Feb. 03 – The LC Pavillion – Columbus, OH
Feb. 04 - Bogarts - Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 06 – Crockodile Rock – Allentown, PA
Feb. 07 – Ram’s Head Live – Baltimore, MD
Feb. 08 – Best Buy Theatre – New York, NY



Related links:
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Testament
Death Angel

Anthrax Puts the Pedal to the Metal In Order to Dominate 2012!

Having made one of 2011's most impressive Rock N' Roll comebacks that included the 9/13/11 release of the band's long-awaited NEW album 'Worship Music' that landed on boatloads of "Best of 2011..." lists, Metal masters Anthrax will keep the pedal to the Metal in 2012. The band launches the New Year with the delivery to radio of a second single from Worship Music, "I'm Alive," and plans to tour extensively beginning January 22 with round two of a U.S. co-headline tour with fellow Thrash titans, Testament and the mighty Death Angel (dates are below).

Worship Music debuted on Billboard's Top 200 Albums charts at #12; the album and the track "Fight'em 'Til You Can't" both went to #1 on Mediaguide's Metal charts. 'Worship Music' was named one of the year's best albums in media outlets including Revolver, Guitar World, SPIN, Metal Assault, Metal Sucks, Blistering.com, the UK's Classic Rock and Metal Hammer, Canada's Lithium, the Copenhagen Post, JAM Magazine, Powerline, Lou Brutus' HardDrive, Eddie Trunk/VH1's That Metal Show, and SiriusXM's Jose Mangin. In addition to naming Worship Music the #1 Metal Album of the Year, Loudwire singled out the track "The Devil You Know" as the site's #1 Metal Song of the Year, SiriusXM's Mangin named "Earth on Hell" as the #1 track on his Liquid Metal/Octane Countdown, About.com named Joey Belladonna as its "Man of the Year," and Revolver celebrated Anthrax as one of the Top 10 Stories of the Year.

Twenty-eleven also saw Anthrax play two Big Four shows in the U.S. with fellow Thrash/Speed Metal architects Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, the second taking place at New York's Yankee Stadium, making it an emotional hometown show for the New York born-and-bred members of Anthrax.

Last fall, immediately following The Big Four show at Yankee Stadium and in support of 'Worship Music', Anthrax played to SRO crowds from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, entertaining fans with brand-new songs and favorites from throughout the band's 30 year history. Anthrax will head back out on the road in late January for Leg Two of its U.S. tour with Testament and Death Angel - Leg One was included on a number of "Best Live Shows of 2011" lists. Worship Music, the band's first new album in eight years, and first with "classic era" vocalist Joey Belladonna in two decades, has received stellar reviews.

As Anthrax's Scott Ian summed it up, "2011 was the best year of my life."

Testament with Anthrax and Death Angel Tourdates):

Jan. 22 – Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
Jan. 23 – Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
Jan. 24 – Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
Jan. 27 – Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN
Jan. 28 – Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN
Jan. 29 – Expo Five – Louisville, KY
Jan. 30 – Orange Peel – Ashville, NC
Feb. 01 - Green Iguana Stadium - Tampa, FL
Feb. 02 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
Feb. 03 – The LC Pavillion – Columbus, OH
Feb. 04 - Bogarts - Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 06 – Crockodile Rock – Allentown, PA
Feb. 07 – Ram’s Head Live – Baltimore, MD
Feb. 08 – Best Buy Theatre – New York, NY

Stay tuned for more information!



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Antrax