Our buddies over at Ferret Music have launched a US summer tour, which features the rather good Scarlet… whose new album ‘Cult Classic’ hits stores on March 8th! Also on the bill is Evergreen Terrace, Remembering Never, & On Broken Wings. For those of you who happen to live in the US, or are planning a visit, here are the dates confirmed so far. Tuesday, June 24th@The Sterling Ruritan (Sterling, VA) Wednesday, June 24thAmerican Legion Hall (Buena Vista, VA) Thursday, June 26th@Redzone (Queens, NY) Friday, June 27th@Club Outcry (Erie, PA) w/XdiscipleX. Saturday, June 28th@The Chameleon Club (Lancaster, PA) Sunday, June 29th@Club Krome (South Amboy, NJ) Monday, June 20th@Hungarian Hole (Long Island, NY) Tuesday, July 1st@El N Gee (New London, CT) Wednesday, July 2nd@York Elk Lodge (York, ME) Thursday, July 3rd@Fall River Pal (Fall River, MA) Friday, July 4th@HELLFEST (Syracuse, NY) Saturday, July 5th@HELLFEST (Syracuse, NY) Sunday, July 6th@HELLFEST (Syracuse, NY) Monday, July 7th@The Shelter (Cleveland, OH) Tuesday, July 8th@TBA (Chicago, IL) Wednesday, July 9th@El Torrean (Kansas City, MO) Thursday, July 10th@The Ranchbowl (omaha, NE) Friday, July 11th@Tulagi (Boulder, CO) Saturday, July 12th@Albee Space (Salt Lake City, UT) Sunday, July 13th@TBA (Las Vegas, NV) Monday, July 14th@Jim Dandys (Salinas, CA) Tuesday, July 15th@Showcase Theatre (Corona, CA) Wednesday, July 16th@The Scene (San Diego, CA) Thursday, July 17th@TBA (Mesa, AZ) Friday, July 18th@Fat Cats (Houston, TX) Saturday, July 19th@TBA (Dallas, TX) Sunday, July 20th@TBA (Tulsa, OK) As for what the guys are up to between now and then, why more touring of course. Scarlet hit the road in March for a month ripping up clubs with Every Time I Die, As I Lay Dying, and The Black Dahlia Murder.

the following update was taken verbatim from www.blabbermouth.net MACHINE HEAD have been confirmed as the first headliners of this year’s Rock Hard Festival, a two-day event set to take place May 29-30, 2004 at Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Other bands currently scheduled to appear are STRATOVARIUS, LACUNA COIL, RAGE, IN EXTREMO, DOOMSWORD, DESASTER and DEAD SOUL TRIBE. Tickets to the festival cost 50 euros (including one parking space) plus a five-euro advance booking fee, and can be ordered from the following address: Rock Hard Festival 2004 Postfach 11 02 12 44058 Dortmund Germany

No more than two weeks ago, new Chimaira drummer Richard Evensand flew from his home in Sweden (hence the reason for some of the questions below) to Cleveland, Ohio, in the USA. He was treated to a night at the Outback Steakhouse, then shoved immediately into Chimaira’s rehearsal space – to practice with his new band and get all good things down in time for their upcoming European headline tour, which starts next week. To those of you going to see Chimaira at the Zodiac in Oxford on Monday (2.2), you will be witnessing history – Chimaira’s first live show with Evensand. Make note. And make note of below, Evensand’s first interview with Roadrunner Records (we thank Richard to his time, and patience with the questions from our US office below): Roadrunner Records: How long you been in Cleveland? Richard Evensand: Almost two weeks now. I’ve been living at the rehearsal space. But we’re going on tour come Saturday, so no reason to get an apartment now. RR: How was the first practice? Evensand: It was cool…kind of hard, though. I wasn’t able to practice the songs back home in Sweden – sold my drums…so when I got here, the first practice was the 1st time I played drums in 2 1/2 weeks. We played for 5-6 hours, I got really tired. RR: Do you drive a Volvo? Evensand: A VOLVO? No, I don’t even have a drivers license. RR: What was the first song you guys played together? Evensand: Ahhhh…I that would be “Cleansation.” RR: What’s your favorite song to play? Evensand: My favorite song to play is probably “Dead Inside”… and “Pure Hatred.” I guess they’re all fun…but the song I like to listen to the most is “Pictures In The Gold Room”…but it keeps changing. I don’t know all the songs yet. “Severed” I like to play too…there is gonna be a drum solo in that song during our European tour. RR: Do Norwegians think that they are better than the Swedes? Evensand: Yeah, they usually do…but they’re not (laughs). RR: “The Impossibility Of Reason,” will that be in the live set? Evensand: Yes, we have that song down… RR: Tough to play? Evensand: Actually, all the songs were harder to play than I originally thought. But, all is coming tight right now. It’s a lot of double bass drums, which I haven’t been playing much in years…but it’s really cool to be back doing it. RR: Did you have a reindeer as a pet growing up? Evensand: Have I? Kinda wish…what??? RR: What are you looking forward to on this tour? Evensand: I’m looking to have a good time on this tour and have a great time playing. Can’t wait to get on stage with the band – I love their energy live. It’s gonna be really cool. I just want to go on tour right NOW. RR: Do you find it hard to sleep during the summer months in Sweden? Evensand: ummmm…no. But in the summertime, it doesn’t get dark until 11:00 at night, and daylight is at 5am…but in the wintertime, it’s dark until 9am, then dark again at 3pm. Dark in the winter, light in the summer. And cold…Actually, same weather here in Cleveland. RR: Why is the porno supposed to be so good in Sweden? Evensand: because the women are really beautiful. But of course you have cheap pornos and better ones…the production isn’t as good in the US…but the chicks are blond, tall, and have nice legs…they’re good. RR: Do you think yur porno is better than our porno? Evensand: NOPE. No, I don’t think so. RR: is it true that Cleveland is sometimes referred to as the Stockholm of Ohio?…scratch that question…How many practices left till hitting the road for the first time as the new drummer of Chimaira? Evensand: 4. Tonight we’re probably gonna work on “Lumps,” “Let Go,” “Dead Inside,” and then work on the live set. RR: How many songs will be played live each night on this upcoming run? Evensand: It’s 14…can be changed, but not yet sure. RR: What made you want to join Chimaira? Evensand: good people, good music, and a hell of a live show. Richard, Godspeed.

Did you remember on Monday? Yes, Monday. Monday (Jan 26) marked the release of 2 more releases from the 2 From The Vault series – King Diamond (Them / Conspiracy) and Obituary (The End Complete / World Demise). If you think you know, but don’t have these classics in your repertoire…then you don’t know. Check ’em out at a store near you. Come Feb 23, you’ll also be able to pick up: Vision Of Disorder – ‘Vision Of Disorder + Imprint’ Biohazard – ‘Urban Discipline + No Holds Barred’

The tracklisting for the forthcoming new Nickelback single ‘Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good’ will be as follows: 1. ‘Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good (Gold Mix)’* 2.’ Where Do I Hide ? (Live)’* 3. ‘Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good (Album Version)’ 4. ‘Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good (Video)’* *Previously unreleased. ‘Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good’ will be released March 15th.

“Greetings euro-pals… We’ve been rehearsing our asses off to bring you our best headling tour yet. Shine your shield and sharpen your sword. The full blown, dragon slaying, metal assault is coming to Europe.” Chris, Chimaira

The brand new Soulfly album ‘Prophecy’ will be released as a limited edition digipak CD on March 29th. A standard CD will also be released simultaniously. The tracklisting is as follows: 1. Prophecy 2. Living Sacrifice 3. Execution Style 4. Defeat U 5. Mars 6. I Believe 7. Moses 8. Born Again Anarchist 9. Porrada 10. In The Meantime 11. Soulfly IV 12. Wings *Bonus tracks on limited edition digipack CD 13. Back To The Primitive (live)* 14. No Hope = No Fear (live)* 15. Spit (live)* 16. Jumpdafuckup/Bring It (live)* 17. The Song Remains Insane (live)* 18 Roots Bloody Roots (live)*

Just to confirm the final support band lineup for the upcoming Chimaira tour! Stampin Ground and Every Time I Die will support until Colchester, then after that it will be Every Time I Die and Opportunity In Chicago on the other UK shows. Several shows are about to sell out, so we hope you have your tickets!

As Jonny Santos has left the band, Spineshank are looking for a new singer, and it could be you! If you think you have what it takes, send whatever you have (ideally a demo, some info on you, & your photo) to: Scott Koenig King Artist Management N Kings Rd # 102 West Hollywood, CA 90069 USA Or you can email: Spineshanksinger@aol.com

Be sure to tune your radio into XFM’s rock show this weekend (23 & 24 Jan) for Ian Camfield will be running comps to win: 5 x Chimaira Albums 3 x Machine Hoodies & T- Shirts He will also be playing exclusive brand new Soulfly tracks from the forthcoming ‘Prophecy’ album! If you don’t get XFM on the radio, listen via their website!! PLUS… on Saturday 31st Jan: Machine Head’s Rob Flynn presents the XFM Rock Show – and it’s a 2 hour special!