Device Releases New Songs

You might remember my article about a new "Super-Band" being formed by Disturbed's David Draiman. He has an allstar lineup for recording and for touring. A few songs have been released and played on our local station 94.1 WJJO. The songs are good (as was expected), but some sound a lot like Disturbed, which I suppose is to be expected with frontman Draiman leading the pack. You can pre-order the CD on iTunes or in a CD bundle for $16.99 on this site.

Check out this video of "Close My Eyes Forever," which actually isn't all that reminiscent of Disturbed. It has a unique sound and features Lzzy Hale from Halestorm. I think the best part about this whole band is being able to hear some big names collaborate together to create a new, yet familiar, sound. It is not as heavy as Disturbed, but has some of the trademark growls and grunts from Draiman. 

What do you think of the new band and the new songs? Check out Device's official website where you can hear more songs, pre-order the CD, and learn more about the band. 

Upcoming Show: Lamb of God at The Orpheum

In case people haven't noticed, the concert scene in Madison has been a little sad the last few months. Sure, it's not festival season, but usually there are some decent shows throughout the winter. This winter has been a disappointment. Hopefully spring and summer will be better and this is an excellent start. I've got my tickets already - did you get yours? Come throw down with Randy Blythe and the boys in Lamb of God as well as Decapitated and Terror. Get your tickets now!

When: Friday June 7th
Time: Doors at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:45pm
Where: Orpheum Theater in Madison, WI
Cost: $25 in advance
What:

Robert Zildjian Dies at 89

The following was posted on Sabian's website sometime Thursday afternoon (3-28-2013). The battle between Sabian and Zildjian cymbals is a typical sibling rivalry story, but today everyone is mourning over the death of the founder of Sabian.

"It is with deep, deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Robert "RZ" Zildjian, our beloved founder and leader. A tireless and dynamic force within the drum industry, he inspired each one of us in the Sabian family to work harder, to reach farther, to make a difference - and he led us by example.

His professional story is well known. Having been dealt a major career setback at an age where most men would have opted for retirement, RZ instead chose to re-invent the cymbal business with his own hand-crafted brand, a brand that would forever change the face and sound of popular music. With his bare hands he shaped the Sabian cymbal brand into his life's story - and by extension we became his family.

We mourn his passing, and he will be forever in our hearts. But we are better people for having known RZ, and we are richer for having worked alongside him. We draw comfort from the knowledge that his spirit will live on in the music made by drummers the world over.

Rest in peace, RZ."

Sabian

New Band Coming Soon to Madison

A new band will be hitting the Madison area soon. With former members of Seven Signs and Livid, there is no way this band can be bad. Keep an eye on the blog and on Facebook for when this new project hits. We always need new bands on the scene, especially with artists so dedicated to the music and making it accessible. 

Robb Flynn Discusses Split with Bassist Adam Duce

You may or may not have heard that after 21 years in Machine Head, bassist Adam Duce has left the band. They call it an amicable split, but after reading Robb Flynn's journal entry about it, I'm not so sure. There seems to be a lot of hurt there and he calls it "civil," which in my mind is different than amicable. Flynn is now the only remaining original member of the band. It's the nature of the beast. Bands grow and then grow apart. Sometimes they split up, sometimes members leave, sometimes members are asked to leave. It seems like a glamorous job (and I'm sure sometimes it is) but it is a constant give and take, a lot of pressure, and has the need for everyone to be on the same page.

Here is the text from Flynn's journal on the Machine Head website: