Heaven & Hell Defines Heavy. Period.

Highly Anticipated New Album From Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice To Be Released April 28 From Rhino

LOS ANGELES --Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice returned to the stage after 15 years in 2007, launching a triumphant world tour as Heaven and Hell. Revitalized and inspired by their time on the road, the quartet recently returned to the studio, recording the band's first album since 1992's Dehumanizer. The highly anticipated album, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, will be available from Rhino on April 28.

"Everyone had so much fun playing together that we didn't want it to end," says the group. "We started writing together and the songs started flowing like we never stopped. We wound up writing and recording an album that stands up to anything we've ever done. We're really proud of the music and excited for people to hear it."

The dark tone heard on THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is clear from several of the album's song titles, such as "Bible Black," "Rock and Roll Angel," "Breaking Into Heaven," "Atom and Evil" and "Eating The Cannibals."

The seeds of the new album were planted in 2006, when Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice returned to the studio to record a trio of new songs for Black Sabbath: The Dio Years, a recent compilation of essential tracks taken from the quartet's four albums together. Soon after, the band launched a run of sold-out shows around the world, electrifying audiences with its malevolent metal fury.

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
01. Atom & Evil
02. Fear
03. Bible Black
04. Double the Pain
05. Rock and Roll Angel
06. The Turn of the Screw
07. Eating the Cannibals
08. Follow the Tears
09. Neverwhere
10. Breaking into Heaven

Eating the Cannibals is gargantuan while Follow the Tears matches its uncompromising heaviness with more slabs of ungodly heaviness.

Check out more songs from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW with an exclusive Rhino Records listening party:

TRACK LIST
Atom and Evil
Bible Black
Double the Pain
Rock and Roll Angel
Turn of the Screw

QT
WMA
REAL

More info @ RHINO RECORDS

American Soldier Tour Round 3: Operation Los Angeles

Hit the House of Blues on the infamous Sunset Strip last night to catch round three of the three-suite Queensrÿche World tour.

Met up with the Rhino Records crew and headed up to the Foundations Room atop the venue for some pre-show refreshments. 9PM rolled up quickly and we headed into a packed sold-out venue that was primed, lubed and ready to Rage For Order!

Hit the Lights, Hit the Swtich and commence launch of another grand episode of 'Neue Regel' and its tactical siblings from 1986. Next up was a powerful journey through the band's new opus American Soldier before it was time to build yet another towering EMPIRE! Amping things up with 'Best I Can,' the energy in the room escalated and never let up until the final bow was taken.



We spoke briefly to Geoff Tate, Scott Rockenfield & Michael Wilton after the show. The guys were in great spirits knowing they had just collectively unleashed a massive Surgical Strike on the City of Angels.

Neue Regel
The Whisper
Screaming in Digital
I Dream in Infrared
Walk in the Shadows
Surgical Strike
I Will Remember
Sliver
Major Len Anderson (Blue Angel Pilot) Introduction
At 30,000 Feet
If I Were King
Man Down!
A Dead Man's Words
Home Again
The Voice
Best I Can
The Thin Line
One and Only
Hand on Heart
Silent Lucidity
Jet City Woman
Anybody Listening?

Empire
Take Hold of the Flame

By the way, we proudly saluted new 22-year old guitarist Parker Lundgren who climbed up on Scott's right kick drum at the end of 'Take Hold' and leaped off. It was no Eddie Van Halen scissor kick leap but still a Pure Rock move! Welcome to the bigs!

Dollhouse Debut on Bullz-eye's Top 20 TV Power Rankings

The semi-annual Bullz-eye TV Power Rankings have been released and the brilliant sci-fi drama DOLLHOUSE debuts at #18. Although there are many dismissive detractors, this show is the real deal; blossoming like a complex red blend from Bordeaux...it just needs some time to breathe before full immersion and eventual intoxication is complete.

FOX is on the fence about canceling this one. Support is gaining ground every week. Perhaps the fans can rescue the imprinted Actives much like the creatures of the night saved TRUE BLOOD on HBO (second season starts in June). Here's the Bullz-eye take on the house of subversive bliss and banana-nut pancakes under the city of Angels:

The latest entry from the cultyist of cult TV maestros, Joss Whedon ("Buffy, the Vampire Slayer," "Firefly," etc.), has been a rocky ride, but some creators' failures are more intriguing than others' greatest successes. About an immoral and illegal firm that programs the brains of beautiful young people, e.g. Eliza Dushku's Echo, to be anything from a love slave to the head of Union Carbide, the show's initial episodes were entertaining enough. Still, the topic (human trafficking) meant that Whedon's trademark humor would be mostly off the table, and his famed feminist sensibility would be under the microscope. For numerous reasons, then, those first few episodes didn't completely wow anyone. Still, "Dollhouse" has improved, even as it has evolved into more of an ensemble show. In particular, the widely praised sixth episode, "Man on the Street," found a way to integrate more humor and a sense of direction, though the ratings have continued to slip after a so-so follow-up episode, and a much better one after that. Things are looking tough, but with crack supporting players Harry Lennix and Olivia Williams ("Rushmore") providing ballast, some remarkable visuals, and numerous creepy/thought-provoking ideas, we think "Dollhouse" has earned our support. — BW

Check out the rest of the Bullz-eye TV Top 20

Only 3 (hopefully 4...FOX axed episode 13 from their schedule) more episodes left beginning with HAUNTED tonight. More about DOLLHOUSE

Elsewhere, Dollhouse star Eliza Dushku graces April's Saturday Night Magazine

Eddie Van Halen Launches EVH Brand Signature Striped Sneakers

Legendary rock guitar icon Eddie Van Halen and partner FEA Merchandising are proud to announce the release of EVH Brand Signature Striped Sneakers.

For nearly 2 decades, EVH fans have been attending Van Halen shows wearing homemade versions of the striped sneakers that Eddie wears onstage, modeled after his infamous red white and black striped Frankenstein guitar.

“So many people would ask me, where can I get a pair of those? After hearing that for about 15 years, I figured they were something that people obviously wanted, so making them available and official seemed like a natural progression,” Eddie said.

In addition to the red Frankenstein theme, the shoes are also available in White with Black stripe theme, which pays tribute to the guitar Eddie rewrote the rules with in 1978 and Black with Yellow stripes, which pays homage to the guitar that Eddie displays on the back cover of Van Halen II. All 3 color themes are available in high and low top versions, with the familiar “5150” tag adorning the spine.

Available now online at EVHGear.com and at department and specialty stores worldwide, EVH signature striped sneakers follow in the footsteps of other EVH signature items like Wolfgang guitars, 5150 amplifiers, and EVH accessories. These classic canvas style sneakers have been “road tested” by Eddie over the course of several tours and were most recently seen on the sold out 2007 / 2008 North American arena tour with his band Van Halen.

Jane Says A Cabinet of Curiosities Is Coming Down The Mountain

The years-long wait is FINALLY over...the JANE'S ADDICTION Box Set is available today. Here are some fast facts about the 3CD/1DVD Box set + Best Buy Exclusive CD info + iTunes link.

A CABINET OF CURIOSITIES:

• First-ever Jane’s Addiction boxed set: 43 tracks on 3 CDs—spotlighting demos, live tracks and other rarities—and a bonus DVD with videos and live performance footage.

• 30 tracks are previously unreleased!

• Deluxe: Housed in a collectible, limited edition wooden box designed after an old-fashioned “CABINET OF CURIOSITIES”. Only 7500 produced.

• Standard slipcase version available May 5th

• Over 3 hours of music from the band’s legendary original incarnation: Perry Farrell (vocals), Dave Navarro (guitar), Eric Avery (bass) and Stephen Perkins (drums).

• Disc 1 opens with five songs recorded during a 1986 session in Venice, CA including an unreleased version of the signature track “Jane Says.”

• Also features 11 unreleased demos from ’87, among them seminal versions of future Jane’s classics including “Three Days,” “Ocean Size,” “Summertime Rolls,” “Stop!” and more.

• Disc 2 highlights include previously unissued demos for “Ted, Just Admit It…” and “Maceo,” a 12” remix of “Been Caught Stealing,” the Grateful Dead cover “Ripple,” a rehearsal of “My Time” and rare and unreleased 1987 live cuts including the band’s concert staple “Bobhaus” and a roaring version of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”

• The band was legendary for their live shows, and Disc 3 presents a complete concert recorded on December 19, 1990 at the Hollywood Palladium including peak-form unreleased performances of “Mountain Song,” “Whores,” “Ocean Size” and “Been Caught Stealing.”

• DVD Disc 4 opens with Fan’s Video: Soul Kiss, previously unavailable only on VHS—selections include the MTV-banned video for “Mountain Song,” a clip for “City” and candid footage of the band.

• Also features all eight music videos from Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual plus a trio of unreleased 1990 performances taped in Milan for MTV Italy.

Best Buy's version of the Box set has an Exclusive Bonus Live Disc (all selections were recorded at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater, July 23/24, 1991):

1. Standing In The Shower… Thinking (Live, 1991)
2. Of Course (Live, 1991)
3. Ted, Just Admit It (Live, 1991)
4. Mountain Song (Live, 1991)
5. Stop! (Live, 1991)

iTunes has bonus tracks too (Chip Away + Trip Away)

Queensrÿche Launches American Soldier Tour At Snoqualmie Casino

The dust has settled, the alcohol has worn off and our ear drums have ceased ringing.

We flew up to Seattle last week to catch the two opening nights of the Queensrÿche American Soldier tour; one which would be performed in three suites covering their albums Rage For Order, American Soldier and Empire. Parked 3rd row center over the course of both nights, we saw the band kickstart the sold-out ballroom crowd with 'Neue Regel,' as a preamble to working their way through all three albums (save 'Chemical Youth' off of R.F.O. and 'Hundred Mile Stare' off of A.S.) before ending with a blistering fist-pumping encore of 'Take Hold of the Flame'.

Among the many highlights both nights was a duet between Geoff Tate and his eleven year-old daughter Emily on the emotional 'Home Again,' a track off of American Soldier. Emily exhibited requisite nervousness, these being her first two official public performances, but this Tate tandem elicited loud roars of approval. In fact, this duet and the other new songs translated incredibly well to a live setting with many of the hometown fans singing along to 'Unafraid'. Pound for pound, the opportunity to see the band unearth rare deep cuts such as 'I Dream in Infra Red,' 'Anybody Listening?' and 'Resistance' makes this a two-hour evening with Queensrÿche that's not to be missed.


We were also on hand to film some pre and post show activity surrounding opening night at this new fangled Snoqualmie Casino just East of Seattle and just West of North Bend (home of David Lynch's Twin Peaks...yes, of course we had a piece of Cherry Pie a la mode at Twede's). Before the show, our friend Bob from Ouch My Eye Studios and his two-person crew headed backstage to capture comments from Geoff, Ed and Scott. Later we convened at the after-show party @ Sno Lounge to film boisterous fan reaction. Navy soldier A.J. Fratto (who guests on 'Sliver,' both on the American Soldier album and on tour) gave our camera a brilliant shout out. We'll share some clips soon.

In the meantime, we're set to Ryche 'N Roll one more time this Friday night on the world-famous Sunset Strip because We Are Rebellion!

(Whip photo by Bob Brunner)

The Golden Gods Are Born. Grab Your Revolver And Look Out Below.

Went to the Golden Gods Awards last night at Club Nokia in downtown L.A. Beforehand, we stopped in the sister branch of Magnolia just around the corner (only been open 3 weeks). Superb menu, friendly staff, cool decor; mediocre presentation of the food. Only the sesame-encrusted tofu stood out as the flat fried chicken was a little overdone and the grilled brussel spouts were very overdone. Not quite a meal I would have had 20 years ago before a Megadeth show but a) couldn't afford it then and b) didn't have refined taste buds as an angry yout'.

So off we went, arriving just before 8PM, just in time for the show to begin. It was standing room only which I suppose is how it should be. This was my first time in Club Nokia (I had previously been to the Nokia Theater to see the last L.A. tOOl show) and it looked like a souped-up more modern version of a House of Blues venue. Decent sight lines and layout.

The quick 411 about this inaugural event. It's about damn time! Massive props to Revolver for laying the seeds of what will become a hallmark annual event. The Gods of the genre were in force; from all four members of SLAYER to Chuck Billy from Testament to Maynard James Keenan to the bona fide prince of darkness; his high Holy Ozzy Osborne. As Jonathan from Korn surmised...now artists don't have to fly to Europe to attend a Heavy Metal Awards show. Amen.

The show itself was plagued by a constant stream of technical problems and production delays though the free-wheeling nature of the apparent 'no rules' attitude and mini sets by Killswitch Engage, Suicide Silence, Hatebreed (the highlight), All That Remains & Megadeth were a welcome change to the usual award show framework. I hope future GGA's don't curtail booze from backstage in tow during introductions and acceptance speeches and as much profanity as necessary. It will be interesting to see how MTV2 edits Steel Panther's intro of Kat Von D as an Honorary Headbanger.

For Megadeth, it was cool that the three songs they played (Peace Sells, Sweating Bullets & Holy Wars) were chosen by Revolver readers but even though the stacks of shiny Marshalls and massive drum jungle gym cage were impressive; the sound was atrocious. Maybe it sounded good to the band in the monitors but stage sound for an arena in a club setting produced a shrilling symphony of eardrum destruction. By all means, please turn it up to 11 just make it sound good.

On a random sidenote; X-Gamer Shaun White is looking more and more like Dave Mustaine. Those two should do a subversive TV commercial.

Here's the winner list:

* Most Awesomely Good Drummer: Vinnie Paul Abbott (HELLYEAH, PANTERA)
* Best Underground Metal Band: ISIS
* Metal Industry Award: Rainbow Bar & Grill
* Best Album: METALLICA 'Death Magnetic'
* Honorary Headbanger: Kat Von D
* Golden God: Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH)
* Best Riff: SLIPKNOT 'Psychosocial'
* Most Viral Video: Protest The Hero
* Most Metal Athlete: Shaun White
* Best Live Band: SLIPKNOT
* Best New Talent: Suicide Silence
* Lifetime Achievement: Ozzy Osbourne
* Best International Band: DETHKLOK
* MySpace Readers' Choice Award: THE Acacia Strain
* Most Mind-Blowing Guitarist: Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King (SLAYER)
* Hottest Chick In Metal: Marta Peterson (BLEEDING THROUGH)

Queensrÿche - Xbox Game With Fame on April 13

Queensrÿche has been selected as "Xbox Artist Of The Month" for April to coincide with the release of their new album American Soldier. Starting today, the Xbox LIVE Marketplace will be the exclusive retailer for the band's new video "If I Were King." Xbox LIVE users can now purchase the video for a cost of 160 Microsoft points. Xbox LIVE users can also watch an exclusive free video clip of the recording session of "Sliver" featuring lead singer Geoff Tate and guest vocalist and soldier A.J. Fratto.

On April 13, just days before the kickoff of the American Soldier Tour, Tate and guitarist Michael Wilton will take part in a Xbox "Game With Fame," where Xbox LIVE users can play against the band members. Tate will be taking on competitors in "NASCAR 09" and Wilton will be squaring off against users on "Halo 3." The Queensrÿche "Game With Fame" will take place on April 13 between 1:00-3:00 PM PT. Visit xbox.com/gwfqueensryche for more details.

AMERICAN SOLDIER features a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Tate, who was intent on telling their story using their words. After speaking with soldiers who served in various conflicts from World War II to Iraq, Tate turned their firsthand experiences from the frontlines into an unflinching musical examination of war from the soldier's perspective.

Queensrÿche will launch an extensive tour of the U.S. on April 16 at the Snoqualmie Casino outside of the band's hometown of Seattle. The shows will be presented in three suites, with the band performing sets from American Soldier, Rage For Order, and Empire.