Mark Osegueda & Jordan Rudess on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 414 - Mark Osegueda

Two great guests this week. First up is Death Angel’s vocalist Mark Osegueda who sat down for a chat about all things Death Angel and Metal Allegiance. 

Here's the title track off the upcoming DA release Humanicide.

Next up Jordan Rudess returns to the show to talk about his new solo effort “Wired For Madness” and the new Dream Theater release “Distance Over Time”.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Alex Skolnick & Mark Tremonti Guest on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 388 - A Dying Majesty

Once again not one, but two returning guests this week. Alex Skolnick returns to give us the run down on the latest from Metal Allegiance “Volume II, Power Drunk Majesty” as well as some commentary on the 30th anniversary of Testament’s “The New Order”. 

Also this week Mark Tremonti is with us once again, this time to talk about the release of the limited edition book that was written to accompany “A Dying Machine”, the latest from Tremonti. He also gives us some insight on the new Alterbridge release “Live at Royal Albert Hall”.

Point your browser to MetalAllegiance.com/ for links to order your own copy of “Volume II, Power Drunk Majesty” or any of their other music.

Be sure to hit up MarkTremonti.com/  to order one of the limited first edition copies of “A Dying Machine” while they are still available.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Michael Sweet Returns Once Again to Focus on Metal This Week

Episode 297 - Michael Sweet

Our annual summer break is upon us but before we take a few weeks off Michael Sweet returns to the show once again this week to talk about the imminent release of his latest solo album “One Sided War” due from Rat Pak on August 26th. He also talks about the upcoming Stryper 30th anniversary “To Hell With The Devil” tour and we even manage to fit in some gear talk too. Enjoy our talk with Michael and we’ll be back the week of Sept 12th with more metal goodness.

Michael can be found on the net at michaelsweet.com/ and the latest Stryper news and tour dates are at stryper.com/

And be sure to pick up your copy of "One Sided War" This Week.

Track of the week is from the new Metal Allegiance EP Fallen Heroes. Here's Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy talking about making the track

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us On Demand everyday on Platinum Rock Radio by going to this link

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

CHAINS OVER RAZORS CONFIRM THREE AUGUST PERFORMANCES WITH METAL ALLEGIANCE AND THE APPICE BROTHERS

Few bands have come out straight out of the gate as heavy and hard-hitting as Chains Over Razors has on their debut album, 'Crown the Villain.' And it's even more impressive to learn that the group creates such a mammoth sound as a three-piece, who will be hitting the stage three times in August - on the 10^th in Elmhurst, NY (at Blackthorn 51), the 11^th in Brooklyn, NY (at Saint Vitus), and the 12^th in Liverpool, NY (at Sharkey’s Summer Stage). “Destructive and intense,” is how the band describes their live show. “No mercy, no forgiveness.”

Comprised of singer Franco "V" Roc, guitarist Mikey Vujasin, and drummer Andy Vujasin (the Vapor Brothers), the twelve track album was produced by rock legend Carmine Appice, released via Sweden Music Group. And the band has honed their live show by opening up for such renowned acts as Metal Allegiance, of which Franco said, “With a lineup of iconic musicians and being a huge fan of these guys growing up, it has been an honor.”

Listen to "Devil's Eyes" by Chains Over Razors off of their new album "Crown the Villain" out now on iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/jgcqhl6 and on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/h8v85c4 

And despite two of its members being based in Chicago and one in Montreal, all are fully committed to the band, and will not let a little distance get in their way of success. And they certainly have the tunes to accomplish this, as heard by such ragers as "The Center Line of a Lie," "Devil's Eyes," and "Damnation." 

"An assault of pure madness," is how Franco describes COR's sound. "This record is a heavy hitting face smasher," adds Mikey. "I can't wait to get this record into the world's hands and perform these songs live." And lastly, Andy describes 'Crown the Villain' as "An adrenaline, frenzied, melodic hard rock album. The unexpected twists within the compositions progressively moves the songs forward to tell the story."

“We love playing New York,” adds Mikey about the upcoming shows. “We feed off of the energy the crowds give and we give back, they get rowdy! New York is very supportive to the rock/metal community. We look forward to our next run of shows on the east coast.”

Ever since the album’s recent release, metalheads worldwide have fallen under the spell of the brutal yet melodic sounds of Chains Over Razors. 

Upcoming Chains Over Razors Tour Dates:  

August 10th: 

Chains Over Razors headline engagement.

Blackthorn 51 

Elmhurst, NY

August 11th:  

Metal Allegiance direct support engagement.

Saint Vitus 

Brooklyn, NY 

August 12th:  

Opening for The Appice Brothers.

Sharkey’s Summer Stage

Liverpool, NY  

Chains Over Razors "Crown The Villain" Track Listing:

1. Center Line of A Lie

2. 2020 (Silence of the Moonlight)

3. Damnation

4. Devil’s Eyes

5. Subtle Words

6. Live it Loud

7. Letters of Twelve

8. Promises of War

9. The Run

10. Monster

11. 7 Years

12. Only God Can Judge Me

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/chainsoverrazors/?fref=ts

Website:  http://chainsoverrazors.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/chainsrazors 

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNm2TBapJ4QNpnJD7N1aD_A

METAL ALLEGIANCE - announce new EP scheduled for August 12th!

METAL ALLEGIANCE have announced they will release a special EP, entitled »Fallen Heroes«, on August 12, 2016. The band united to pay homage to the 3 legends -Lemmy Kilmister, David Bowie, and Glenn Frey - who impacted not just their lives but the world as well. 

"The end of 2015 and most of 2016 has been a brutal year with many of our heroes passing," comments Mark Menghi. "When Portnoy called me in January to alert me that Glenn Frey had passed, I literally broke down. That night after having a few Tequila Sunrises in Glenn's honor, a lightbulb went off... We're going to record a few tunes to honor our fallen heroes. I called back Mike that evening and asked him what he thought and the next day we were in the studio recording. By weeks end, all guitars, drums and bass were complete. I can't begin to explain the influence that Glenn Frey, Lemmy, and David Bowie had on me. Each of their music has helped me immensely during some real dark periods of my life and not to mention their influence on me as a musician and songwriter. Lemmy is God, Glenn is King and David is the Architect."

Alex Skolnick comments: "These brilliant artists have an extensive catalogue that is sometimes on the softer side (with the exception of MOTÖRHEAD, of course). So when it came to THE EAGLES & BOWIE, we specifically chose tunes of theirs that are riff-based and translatable to high energy arrangements. For Lemmy, we immediately crossed out 'Ace Of Spades' (great tune but the last thing the world needs is yet another cover version) and chose 'Iron Fist,' which we already had a good handle on from playing live and to us is every bit as much a signature MOTÖRHEAD tune."

"I'm really excited to be a part of the »Fallen Heroes« EP," comments Alissa White-Gluz. "I think we have all felt the weight of losing so many great musicians this year. I think these songs are a cool way to pay tribute to a few people who contributed so much to the world of music and showcase a different side of ourselves."

Recorded at Conclave Studios in New York City, »Fallen Heroes« was produced by Mark Menghi and Alex Skolnick. The album was mixed by Jay Ruston in Los Angeles, CA and mastered at Sterling Sound New York City by Ted Jensen. The initial sketch of the artwork was created by Mark Menghi and Stephen Thompson (ANTHRAX) and was later finalized by Marcelo Vasco (SLAYER).

Track list for »Fallen Heroes«:

01. Iron Fist (feat. Troy Sanders)
02. Suffragette City (feat. Mark Osegueda)
03. Life In The Fast Lane (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)

Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: Mark Menghi
Drums: Mike Portnoy

METAL ALLEGIANCE took the news of Lemmy's passing very hard as the bands very first gig was on MOTÖRHEAD's first Motörboat Cruise. It was on that boat where the idea to write a record together and carry the MA flag as a brand/band rather than a sporadic, special event show... all of us in MA are humbly grateful for the opportunity that team MOTÖRHEAD gave us.

In late 2015, the band scheduled a West Coast string of intimate club dates with a stop as the world-famousWhisky A Go-Go. The year concluded with the band heartbroken saying goodbye to their beloved friend. They later found out that his funeral and memorial services would be held the day of their performance. The band was asked by their tour agent who is also MOTÖRHEAD's agent, Lemmy's management, close friends of his, and the owner of the Rainbow and Whisky to incorporate a tribute which of course, they obliged. The day of their performance, Sunset Blvd. was shut down and their bus was parked on a street filled with tears, madness, partiers and a sea of mourning metal heads. They said goodbye to their friend that evening with help from MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee amongst a ton of other special guests.

The next day they played their final show at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. Mid-set they were informed that David Bowie had passed. Mark Menghi comments: "I remember coming off stage to trade bass duties with David Ellefson (we would rotate songs) and he stopped me, looked me and Osegueda in the eyes and said "Dude, Bowie just passed away." Literally in mid-set we got that news. I looked at Mark and he was in tears. Not even a minute later, he was on stage telling the Bay Area crowd of the news he just learned. I turned to the side and looked over at Mike Portnoy and he just had his head down with his hands over his head trying to comprehend what Mark was saying. The next few songs was our Lemmy tribute and tears rolled off all of our eyes while paying tribute to one while learning of the passing of another."

METAL ALLEGIANCE live:
11.08. USA Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
14.08. UK Derby - Bloodstock Open Air

Order METAL ALLEGIANCE's self-titled debut here: http://nblast.de/MetalAllegiance

DOLL SKIN To Support METAL ALLEGIANCE on West Coast Shows In January 2016

Arizona-based all-female rock quartet DOLL SKIN to support METAL ALLEGIANCE, the all-star metal band consisting of a rotating cast of musicians, including members of MEGADETH, TESTAMENT on FOUR intimate West Coast shows w/ CAGE, to start off 2016. The West Coast run starts in San Diego on January 7, hits Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and wraps up in San Francisco on January 10.

DOLL SKIN recently confirmed for the ShipRocked Cruise 2016. DOLL SKIN will be performing onboard the ShipRocked Cruise, sailing January 18-22, 2016, from Miami to Costa Maya, Mexico. Alongside bands like Five Finger Death Punch, Seether, Halestorm, Hellyeah,Helmet, to name a few: www.ShipRocked.com

Their new EP "In Your Face" was released in North America on October 30 and will be out in Europe due on December 18, physical & digital via EMP Label Group/Cargo Records. “In Your Face” was produced by David Ellefson (MEGADETH) and mixed by Ryan Greene (NOFX, CHEAP TRICK, LITA FORD).

DOLL SKIN just released a music video for "Family Of Strangers", which can be seen here: http://vevo.ly/mckyQz

Due on December 18 in Europe, "In Your Face" features the following tracks:

01. Family Of Strangers
02. Wring Me Out
03. Let's Be Honest
04. Blind
05. So Much Nothing
06. Weatherman (live)

DOLL SKIN Tour Dates:

December 11, 2015 | Doll Skin @ Last Exit Live (Phoenix, AZ, USA)
January 07 | Ramona Main Stage - San Diego, CA | w/ METAL ALLEGIANCE, CAGE
January 08 | Count's Vamp'd - Las Vegas, NV | w/ METAL ALLEGIANCE, CAGE
January 09 | Whisky A Go Go - West Hollywood, CA | w/ METAL ALLEGIANCE, CAGE
January 10 | The Regency - San Francisco, CA | w/ METAL ALLEGIANCE, CAGE
January 18-22, 2016 | Doll Skin @ ShipRocked Cruise, Miami to Costa Maya, Mexico

www.facebook.com/dollskinband
www.dollskinband.com

Just posted: Alex Skolnick and Shawn Drover on this weeks Focus on Metal.

Episode 249 - Metal Defiance

A packed episode this week. First up we have Alex Skolnick giving us the latest on Metal Allegiance ( http://www.metalallegiance.com/ ) then we have Shawn Drover talking about the debut release from Act Of Defiance "The Birth And The Burial" ( https://www.facebook.com/actofdefiancemusic ).

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us Tuesdays on Platinum Rock Radio and be sure to check their schedule because we usually get a repeat run during the week.

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio, Metal World Radio,  and now on The Indie Authority

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.