Let's not forget those great musicians that the music world has lost over the last year, sometimes way too soon. Cheers to you great musicians and rest assured your tunes will never go unappreciated:
Now I know most people have seen me post about this before, but I personally found this performance to go above and beyond other shows I have seen over the past year.
In order to be a part of this performance, musicians were required to record themselves performing the piece on their own instruments. However, since the piece features sections of improvisation, players are also invited to send in clips of themselves improvising.
"Join 101 musicians from over 30 countries who make up the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011 playing a spectacular Grand Finale concert at Sydney Opera House.The musicians met for a weeklong celebration of music in Sydney culminating in the Grand Finale featuring animated visuals on the interior and exterior projections by Obscura Digital on the iconic sails, all synchronised to the music of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011's performance and conducted by YouTube Symphony Orchestra Artistic Advisor Michael Tilson Thomas."
Here is what is entailed in this 2+ hour performance:
0:02:05 Introduction by MTT
0:03:20 Hector Berlioz - Roman Carnival - Overture, Op. 9 (featuring Android Jones - digital artist)
0:13:00 Meet Maria Chiossi - Harp
0:18:00 Percy Grainger - Arrival on a Platform Humlet from in a Nutshell - Suite
0:22:20 Johan Sebastian Bach - Toccata in F major for organ (featuring Cameron Carpenter)
0:30:00 Meet Paulo Calligopoulos - Electric Guitar and violin
0:32:55 Alberto Ginastera - Danza del trigo (Wheat Dance) and Danza final (Malambo) from the ballet Estancia (conducted by Ilyich Rivas)
0:42:22 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - 'Caro' bell'idol mio' - Canon in three voices, K562 (featuring the Sydney Children's Choir and soprano Renee Fleming via video)
0:45:14 Meet Xiomara Mass - Oboe
0:48:42 Benjamin Britten - The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34
1:08:00 William Barton - Kalkadunga (featuring William Barton - Didgeridoo)
1:13:15 Timothy Constable - Suna
1:16:36 Meet Roman Riedel - Trombone
1:18:38 Richard Strauss - Fanfare for the Vienna Philharmonic (featuring Sarah Willis, Horn, Berlin Philharmoniker and conducted by Edwin Outwater)
1:23:08 *PREMIERE* Mason Bates - Mothership (specially composed for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011)
1:34:34 Meet Su Chang - Guzheng
1:36:55 Felix Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (Finale) (featuring Stefan Jackiw and conducted by Ilyich Rivas)
1:44:44 Meet Ozgur Baskin - Violin
1:46:22 Colin Jacobsen and Siamak Aghaei - Ascending Bird - Suite for string orchestra (featuring Colin Jacobsen, violin, and Richard Tognetti, violin, and Kseniya Simonova - sand artist)
1:55:35 Meet Stepan Grytsay - Violin
1:58:00 Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird (Infernal Dance - Berceuse - Finale)
2:12:50 *ENCORE* Franz Schubert - Rosamunde (featuring Eugene Izotov - oboe, and Andrew Mariner - clarinet)
For those, like myself, who love putting these concerts on in the background to enjoy, I managed to find two more pieces from their performances at Carnegie Hall:
Act 1:
07:15 Johannes Brahms - Allegro giocoso from Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98
17:15 Lou Harrison - Music from Canticle No. 3
27:45 Antonín Dvořák - Music from Serenade in D minor, Op. 44
32:45 Giovanni Gabrieli - Canzon Septimi toni No. 2
38:15 Johann Sebastian Bach - Sarabande from Suite No. 1 in G major, for Cello Solo, VWV 1007 (performed by Joshua Roman)
So 2011 has came and went so fast and too many good albums in between. Nonetheless, I found 2011 to be a great year for the progression of musical fine arts and for bands to really develop their original sound. Some bands showcased some of their best work in years, some showcased their worst. Either way, here is what made [AFGM] the top 10 albums of the year:
Now I know a lot of you will not agree with everything and yes, this is subject to opinion. These are basically what I have found the be the most intriguing albums of 2011. Now if you felt the need to ask "what the hell were you choosing from?!", here are [AFGM's] other notable albums of 2011:
Alestorm - Back Through Time
Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising
Architects - The Here and Now
Asking Alexandria - Reckless and Relentless
August Burns Red - Leveler
Becoming the Archetype - Celestial Completion
Believer - Transhuman
BTBAM - The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
Black Label Society - The Song Remains Not The Same
Black Veil Brides - Set the World on Fire
Blackguard - Firefight
Born of Osiris - The Discovery
Caliban - Coverfield (EP)
Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever
Chimaira - The Age of Hell
ChthoniC - Takasago Army
Darkest Hour - The Human Romance
DevilDriver - Beast
Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events
Emmure - Speaker of the Dead
Fair to Midland - Arrows and Anchors
Five Finger Death Punch - American Capitalist
Iced Earth - Dystopia
In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading
Jag Panzer - The Scourge of the Light
Korn - The Path of Totality
Korpiklaani - Ukon Wacka
Lazarus A.D. - Black Rivers Flow
Megadeth - TH1RT3EN
Nightwish - Imaginaerum
Oh, Sleeper - Children of Fire
Of Mice & Men - The Flood
Opeth - Heritage
Pain - You Only Live Twice
Primus - Green Naugahyde
Redemption - This Mortal Coil
Rise to Remain - City of Vultures
Symphony X - Iconoclast
Texas in July - One Reality
The Devil Wears Prada - Dead Throne
The Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction/Ghost
The Empire Shall Fall - Volume 1: Solar Plexus (EP)
The Human Abstract - Digital Veil
This Is Hell - Black Mass
Times of Grace - The Hymn of a Broken Man
Trivium - In Waves
Turisas - Stand Up and Fight
Unearth - Darkness in the Light
Vildhjarta - Måsstaden
We Came as Romans - Understanding What We've Grown to Be
Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
If you feel anything was a miss and I should add an album that isn't up here, post a comment and explain why you felt it was a top album for your 2011. Always love the collaboration of music knowledge and influence.
Firs off, lets start with the new emerging tour rumbling in the underground. Iowa's For Today (in partnership with HK Army and Substream Music Press) have announced the "Fight The Silence Tour".
03/09 Nashville, TN – Rocketown
03/10 Douglasville, GA – The 7 Venue
03/11 Jacksonville, FL – Murray Hill Theatre
03/12 Pensacola, FL – American Legion Hall
03/14 Mission, TX – Never Say Never Festival (select bands only)
03/17 Dallas, TX – South By So What Festival (select bands only)
03/20 Tucson, AZ – The Rock
03/21 Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues
03/23 Simi Valley, CA – 118 West
03/24 San Diego, CA – Soma
03/25 Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
03/28 Iowa City, IA – Blue Moose
03/29 St. Paul, MN – Station 4
03/31 Joliet, IL – Mojoes
04/01 Louisville, KY – Expo Five
04/03 Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theatre
04/04 Tulsa, OK – Marquee Theatre
04/05 St. Louis, IL – Pop’s
04/06 Dayton, OH – The Attic
04/08 Buffalo, NY – Xtreme Wheels
04/11 Toronto, ON – Annex
04/12 Montreal, QC – La Tulipe
04/13 New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
04/14 Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock
04/15 Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
04/17 Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theater
04/18 Charlotte, NC – Amos
04/19 Richmond, VA – Kingdom
04/20 Poughkeepsie, NY – The Change
Ticket prices to be announced shortly. Keep checking back!
***
As a Christmas bonus (and because a new tour has emerged), Silent Civilian have released their rendition of Slayer's War Ensemble. Check out what the guys have to offer and comment if you feel this song doesn Slayer justice:
You can also check out Silent Civilian on the "In The Dead of Wintour", across the US in 2012:
***
Tim Lambesis and Austrian Death Machine are notorious for kicking out some good tunes around the holiday time, and 2011 was no exception. Check out below (while its still on YouTube) the Christmas classic... "It's Turbo Time!"
Austrian Death Machine - It's Turbo Time
***
Crosses (aka "†††") have released a trailer for their upcoming EP titled "EP ††". The release date is yet to be unveiled but rumors suggest an early 2012 release. For some background info, the LA based group consists of Chino Moreno, Shaun Lopez, Chuck Doom.
††† - EP †† (Trailer)
You can pick up a copy of their first EP (EP †) at their Facebook location:
(EP †)
***
Straight out of Stavanger, Norway! Sirenia have released another music video in support of their latest album The Enigma of Life, via Nuclear Blast Records.
Sirenia - The End of It All
***
And as always folks, head over to AFGM Facebook for more articles, news, photos, videos, etc. Cheers!
Happy Holidays fellow AFGM readers! Today will be my last entry until after the Christmas holidays. So in light of this, I have compiled a montage of epic Christmas heavy metal! Enjoy and comment if there was anything I've missed:
What can be better than a night of Pagan music?! Finland's Turisas have been chosen as 2012's headliner for "Paganfest: America Pt. III"
This tour (shown above) will feature support from Alestorm, Ex Deo, Arkona and Huntress. The dates for the tour are as follows:
3/29 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
3/30 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
3/31 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
4/1 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
4/2 - Toronto, ON @ The Opera House (*Inertia Entertainment sponsored)
4/3 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
4/4 - Detroit, MI @ Blondie's
4/5 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie's Rock Club
4/6 - Saint Paul, MN @ Station 4
4/7 - Louisville, KY @ Vernon Club
4/8 - Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
4/9 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
4/11 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
4/12 - Lubbock, TX @ Jake's
4/13 - Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
4/15 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
4/16 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
4/17 - San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
4/18 - West Hollywood, CA @ Key Club
Tickets are available as early as now, so head over the Ticketmaster to grab a pair for you and a friend!
Lots of bands, musicians and actors/actresses have shown their support behind the occupy movements that swept the globe by storm in the past couple of months. Al Jourgensen and Ministry are no expection to this. Ministry is set to release their new song “99 Percenters” on Dec. 23rd and the release of "Relapse" on March 23rd, 2012.
"99 Percenters" is the first single off Ministry's new album "Relapse" (which is due March 23rd), is a rally cry for all of the protesters that have gathered across the country to demonstrate against corporate greed, cutthoat capitalism, and the one percent of Americans who earn millions of dollars a year, but receive substantial tax cuts on their income. Frontman Al Jourgensen said the chorus for the track, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 99 percent” was inspired by Country Joe and the Fish’s Vietnam protest song “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag.”
(99%)
Check out the brand new music video for "99%" as well:
On top of that, the new album will feature the song “Get Up, Get Out and Vote.” Jourgensen mentioned he plans to actively campaign for Democrats in Texas in 2012. He is encouraging his fans to vote more Democrats into Congress, the Senate and keep President Obama in office.
“This is going to be a brutal political season. The Republicans are gearing up for a fight because they got nothing. What do they got? Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney? It’s like a fuckin’ circus of clowns, but they have money behind them and money talks. So Obama’s gotta settle down the one percenters and get his money. I don’t fault him for that. I really feel strongly in my heart that the guy is for the people. But it’s gonna be like a war, dude. Football doesn’t even compare to the violence that’s gonna be coming up this next election.” -Al Jourgensen
Track listing for "Relapse" is as follows:
1. Ghouldiggers
2. Double Tap
3. FreeFall
4. Kleptocracy
5. United Forces
6. 99%
7. Relapse
8. Weekend Warrior
9. Git Up Get Out 'n Vote
10. Bloodlust
11. Relapse (Defibrillator Mix) [limited edition bonus track]
What about the new material though? How does it compare?
"I think this is actually gonna wind up being the fastest and heaviest record I've ever done. Just because we did it as anti-therapy therapy against the country music we would just take days off and thrash faster than I've done in a long time, faster than Mikey's done in a long time. He did a RIGOR MORTIS tour and said it was easy compared to this MINISTRY stuff so it's gonna be brutal and it's gonna freak a lot of people out." -Al Jourgensen
The long time industrial veterans recently inked a worldwide deal with AFM Records for the release of "Relapse", and will be released on March 23rd, 2012. On June 14th, 2012, AFM Records dropped another music video from Ministry for the opening track "Ghouldiggers", which you can check out below:
Now even though these videos and songs are quite old in the eyes of Ministry fans (last album was 2007's "The Last Sucker"), but these tunes always reminded me of what Ministry has been about:
"Here’s another ’10 Days of Christmas’ present for you, the Mediaskare Records 2011 Sampler! The download contains 26 tracks from some of our most recent releases, and is a way of saying thank you to all of our supporters." -Mediaskare
Track listing:
1. As Blood Runs Black – “Resist”
2. Betrayal – “The Good Die Young”
3. Bury Your Dead – “The Sirens Of Titan”
4. Confession – “Asthma Attack”
5. Deez Nuts – “This One’s For You”
6. Endwell – “Depression Party”
7. The Ghost Inside – “Between The Lines”
8. Heights – “The Lost And Alone”
9. Hero In Error – “High Point Of New Lows”
10. Hundredth – “Live Today”
11. It Prevails – “Artisan”
12. Knuckle Up! – “Motivation From Misery”
13. King Conquer – “Tyranny”
14. Lionheart – “The Hand That Feeds”
15. Murder Death Kill – “Abomination”
16. Mureau – “California”
17. Silent Civilian – “Atonement”
18. Suffokate – “My Darkened Eyes”
19. The Red Shore – “The Seed Of Annihilation”
20. Volumes – “Edge Of The Earth”
Rite Of Passage Records:
21. Creations – “The Wolf, The Clothes”
22. Darasuum – “A Place Called Home”
23. Deserters – “Wolf In Shepherds Clothing”
24. Redeemer – “Fury And Chains”
25. The Sheds – “Heart”
26. Stand Your Ground – “Nautilus”
Click here to submit your email and get your copy of the sampler.
***
AND don't forget folks, Century Media Records also threw out their 2011 winter sampler last week as well. Both are great compilations, and FREE!
Happy Tuesday AFGM readers! Tuesday was a great day for some video material. Some new music videos emerged, as well as some great live footage from Firewind playing in Cleveland back in October. Yes, that is a NEW music video from the Rolling Stones.
And we ended the video session off with some holiday love. Scott Weiland covers the standard "I'll Be Home For Christmas", not sure if he is doing a MCR remake though with the uniform :-S (coughtheghostofyoucough). Anyways, cheers!
Firewind - SKG (Live from Peabody's: Cleveland, Ohio on October 16th, 2011)
Get ready metal heads because Epica is going to be making a glorious return with the release of their 5th studio album, "Requiem For The Indifferent", due in stores on March 9th, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. For those unaware of the group, here is a little info into band members:
Mark Jansen – rhythm guitars, grunts, screams (2002–present)
Isaac Delahaye – lead guitars, backing vocals (2009–present)
Yves Huts – bass guitar (2002–present)
Coen Janssen – synthesizer, piano (2002–present)
Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums, grunts, spoken words (2007–present)
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by (guitarist and vocalist) Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write the music, but Mark Jansen and Simone Simons write most of the lyrics. -Wiki
The band had the following statement to offer in regards to the new album and what it stands for:
"This title refers to the end of an era. Mankind can no longer stick their head in the sand for the things that are happening around us. We are facing many challenges. There is an enormous tension between different religions and cultures, wars, natural disasters and a huge financial crisis, which is getting out of control. More than ever we will need each other to overcome these problems. As we are all connected; the universe, earth, nature, animals and human beings, this period in time will be the prelude to the end for those who still don't want to, or simply won't see it. 'A Requiem For The Indifferent', but also a possibility for a new beginning with great new chances!"
Track listing for "Requiem For The Indifferent":
01. Karma
02. Monopoly On Truth
03. Storm The Sorrow
04. Delirium
05. Internal Warfare
06. Requiem For The Indifferent
07. Anima
08. Guilty Demeanor
09. Deep Water Horizon
10. Stay The Course
11. Deter The Tyrant
12. Avalanche
13. Serenade Of Self-Destruction
The CD was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany under the watchful eye of Sascha Paeth.
"This Is The Time", the latest single from Epica, was released (digitally) on October 15th, 2010. A video for the song (see below), was written for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), was filmed in March 2010 was in Hilversum, The Netherlands.
UK's Bring Me The Horizon have some pro-shot footage of their performance for the BBC's Radio 1 Festival:
***
"Listen the fuck up! We released a THIRD new music video yesterday so check it out! It's from our European tour back in August with For The Fallen Dreams & Betrayal! Help us out and post this video everywhere!"
Bury Your Dead have released a live cut of their song "Slaughterhouse Five", off the latest album "Mosh N Roll", which is out now via Mediaskare Records:
***
The Used have announced their partnership with Hopeless Records for the release of their new album “Vulnerable”, rather than through their own Dental Records label. The album is scheduled to arrive in stores on March 27th, 2012.
Alt Press had the chance to fire off a few questions to Bert McCracken (vocalist) to gain some insight about this transition and their new album release:
What is the relationship between your own label and Hopeless? How is that going to work?
"[The name] Dental Records was taken, so instead of starting a label, we’re starting more of a group that involves everything from managing to production to art design. It’s going to be called Anger Music Group. We negotiated a distribution deal through Hopeless. They’re going to distribute the record worldwide, and it all comes out on Anger Music Group."
Why did you decide to go this route?
"We just don’t want to have to answer to anyone. We really wanted to do it all ourselves, put it out all ourselves, pay for it ourselves—but with the distribution. We looked into a few different distribution companies, but we cared for Hopeless the most. They had the most charitable minds and we’re really into giving money back at this point in our careers. They’re hugely passionate, and they have a great distribution team worldwide, which is amazing. It’s all we could’ve asked for. I think it’s going to work out great for everyone."
What else do you want people to know about Vulnerable?
"I wrote this record for all the outcasts in life. Growing up in school, I was always picked on and kids made fun of me—they called me gay because I painted my nails. There are so many kids out there who are special in their own way, and I want people to understand that this record is for the misfits and for the outcasts and for anyone who’s never really fit in. There’s a place for all of us in this world. We can all find it if we just keep looking."
***
Korn have been consistently releasing live material from their "Path of Totality" Tour, as well from their CD release party. Below, you can view their new song "Tension" video live from NYC:
***
British Columbia's We The Martyr have given fans a lil hint at their upcoming EP release. Below is a sample/teaser from that upcoming EP:
***
Toronto's unsigned Liferuiner have released their new music video for their track "Kids Wanna Rock".
The song is taken from their latest EP "Sons Of Straight Edge", which you can download via Mediafire.
***
The Swiss have done it again! Eluveitie have dropped their teaser trailer in support of their upcoming LP release "Helvetios", which will be released on February 12, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.
"Helvetios" track listing:
01. Prologue
02. Helvetios
03. Luxtos
04. Home
05. Santonian Shores
06. Scorched Earth
07. Meet The Enemy
08. Neverland
09. A Rose For Epona
10. Havoc
11. The Uprising
12. Hope
13. The Siege
14. Alesia
15. Tullianum
16. Uxellodunon
17. Epilogue
Currently, Eluveitie will be joining Children of Bodom on their North American headlining 15th anniversary tour. The trek kicks off January 30th, 2012 and will run till March 4th, stopping at 26 cities. Boston's Revocation and Canada's Threat Signal are also on the bill.
***
LA's Molotov Solution has dropped a new music video for the track "The Blood Of Tyrants", which is taken off the album "Insurrection." Check out the video below:
"Insurrection" track listing:
1. Sin & Sacrifice
2. Injustice for All
3. The Final Hour
4. The Blood of Tyrants
5. Divide & Conquer
6. Insurrection
7. Cruor Viaticus
8. Prophetic Illusions
9. Collapse
10. Signals
11. Rise
***
Lacuna Coil have released another track from their highly anticipated album "Dark Adrenaline", which is scheduled for released January 24, 2012 via Century Media Records. Below is a YouTube cut of the new track "Kill The Light":
03/15 Austin, TX – SXSW / Scoot Inn
03/16 New Orleans, LA – The Hangar
03/17 St Petersburg, FL – State Theater
03/18 Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
03/20 Baltimore, MD – Sonar
03/21 New York, NY – Gramercy Theater
03/22 Danvers, MA – Palace Ballroom
03/23 Montreal, QC – Club Soda
03/24 Toronto, ON – Opera House
03/25 Columbus, OH – Alrosa Villa
03/26 Joliet, IL – Mojoe’s
03/27 St Paul, MN – Station-4
03/28 Winnipeg, MB – Garrick Centre
03/29 Regina, SK – Riddell Centre
03/30 Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Events Centre
03/31 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
04/01 Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
04/03 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
04/05 Oakland, CA – The Pound
04/06 Pomona, CA – Fox Theater
04/07 Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theater
04/09 Denver, CO – The Summit Music Hall
04/10 Omaha, NE – Sokol Auditorium
04/11 Des Moines, IA – 7 Flags Event Center
04/13 Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theater
04/15 Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
04/16 Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
04/19 Dallas, TX – House Of Blues
04/20 Austin, TX – Emo’s East
04/21 Houston, TX – House Of Blues
Be sure to head to Ticketmaster to grab ticket, or preferably your local record store for independent sales.
Here is what to expect from this upcoming hellish tour:
Since the holidays are right around the corner, album releases have started to slow down. Nonetheless, here is a few CD's that hit music stores yesterday and online:
So I must be behind in the classical industry because I had no idea Sir Anthony Hopkins will be debuting his music compositions next year.
In July of 2011, Hopkins joined the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at Birmingham Symphony Hall to introduce a performance of his original compositions and scores from some of his best-known films. His album is the recording of nine original works from that evening including pieces composed for two films (that he not only scored for but in addition directed and starred in; 'Slipstream' and 'August')
'Anthony Hopkins: Composer' will be available from 16th January 2012 through Amazon, HMV, Play.com and iTunes via Classic FM.
