NEWSTED - "Soldierhead"

Metal is the debut EP by heavy metal band Newsted; the band was formed by Jason Newsted in 2012. The EP was released on January 8, 2013, under Newsted's own record label Chophouse Records.  The EP was recorded at Newsted's own home studio, Chophouse Studio in Walnut Creek, California.

On November 15, 2012, Jason Newsted announced the launch of his official website for information on his projects. On November 16, 2012, Jason Newsted was interview on Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio show, he revealed that he would be releasing music under his own self-named band.

On December 7, 2012, Newsted announced that his band was just finishing off their first record.  

On December 11, 2012, Newsted announced that the band had finished their first batch of songs, and that they were working on a second batch.  On December 14, 2012, Newsted revealed the track listing and release date for a four song debut EP, titled Metal, available on January 8, 2013, via iTunes.

On December 15, 2012, a music video was filmed for the first song "Soldierhead". On December 17, 2012, "Soldierhead" premiered on the "Eddie Trunk Live" show on Sirius Satellite Radio.

On January 10, 2013, Newsted announced that physical CD's of the EP would be available to order from January 15, 2013.

Track listing

"Soldierhead” , "Godsnake",  "King of the Underdogs"  & "Skyscraper"  

Newsted

Jason Newsted − lead vocals, bass

Jesus Mendez Jr. − drums

Jessie Farnsworth − guitar, backing vocals

Bombs go off around me
Bullets chase my head
Demonscene hellscape
Try to not get dead
From the cradle I was in
Straight for the firing line
By the teeth of my skin
Dragon and the serpent versus swine
Never quite ready
It just becomes your turn
Evertight steady
No more light to burn
A lie has no feet
Cannot stand alone
A cry in the street
Who cast the first stone
With dirt between my teeth
I made the devil sell his soul
I know that he can bleed
Moon goes dark sun grows cold
Where my mind would take me
Never coming near
Scared my heart would break me
Why am I here

~networld

Aria Pro II "Cliff Burton Signature Bass Guitar"

Over the years, many people have asked about the classic Aria Pro Black 'n Gold I bass that was Cliff's iconic instrument of choice and now Aria Guitars of Japan is proud to introduce the Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature Bass this month.

Working with Cliff's family and our guitar techs, attention was paid to every detail... see the description and specs in the official press release below. The bass will be officially launched at Winter NAMM in Anaheim, CA January 24-27. Cliff's father, Ray Burton, will be on hand at the Aria Guitars booth to do the introduction and sign autographs on Friday, January 25 at 12:00 noon.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

ARIA GUITARS ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF

THE ARIA PRO II CLIFF BURTON

SIGNATURE BASS GUITAR

Aria Guitars of Japan is proud to introduce the Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature Bass. This guitar has been a year in the making and is being made with the authorization of the Cliff Burton family and Metallica. Cliff Burton was the bassist for Metallica for their first three albums, Kill 'Em All, Ride The Lightning and Master of Puppets.

The Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature Bass is a replica of the Black 'n Gold I bass that Cliff played. Painstaking attention to detail was taken to build a tribute bass. It has a 7-ply maple/walnut neck with a neck-through, heel-less neck design. It has the same headstock with the patent statement on the front and Cliff Burton's authorized signature on the back of the headstock. Each of the tuners are handcrafted out of brass and gold-plated and the 40mm nut is made of brass. The neck has a 34 inch scale with 24 frets. The fretboard is made of rosewood with cat eye and mother of pearl inlays.

The body is the original SB shape and made of alder. The Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature Bass is loaded with an Aria MB-V passive pickup. It has a single tone and volume control with a dual sound mini-toggle switch. The bridge is solid brass with gold plated saddles. The bass will ship inside of a deluxe ostrich hardshell case and a certificate of authenticity signed by Ray Burton. Both players and collectors alike will desire this unique bass guitar.

When the new Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature Bass was presented to Cliff's father, Ray Burton, he stated "What a beautiful instrument and a wonderful tribute to Cliff. The first year Cliff was with Metallica he played a Rickenbacker guitar that he purchased in 1982. He loved his guitar, but he did not feel it was a strong enough instrument to withstand the rugged treatment of the daily rigors of heavy metal touring. Early in 1984 Cliff was treated to an Aria Pro II bass guitar. He really liked it and therefore did not seek any other bass to play. He told me it was strong and ideal to play. I never heard a discouraging word about his Aria bass guitars. To give testament to his preference, he had several of them at the time of his death."

The Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature Bass will be officially launched at Winter NAMM in Anaheim, California on January 24-27, 2013 in the Aria Guitars booth, Hall E, Booth #1548. Cliff Burton's father, Ray Burton, will officially introduce the guitar on Friday, January 25, 2013 at 12 o'clock noon and be available to sign autographs for dealers and Metallica fans. The Aria Pro II Cliff Burton Signature Bass will be available through authorized Aria dealers in the United States and throughout the world. North America dealers can contact Jim Chen of Audio Images in San Francisco, California at 415-957-9131 for more details.

Specifications:

Headstock: Original SB Design
Neck Shape: Standard, Medium
Neck: 7 Ply Maple/Walnut
Neck Joint: Neck-through, Heel-less Cutaway
Tuners: Handmade Solid Brass Tuner Buttons, 24 K Gold Plated
Nut: 40mm Width Solid Brass
Truss rod Cover: Solid Brass
Headstock Front Inlays: Patent Statement
Headstock Back Inlay: Cliff Burton Authorized Signature

Fretboard Scale: 34" or 864mm
Frets: 24 Frets
Fretboard: Rosewood
Fretboard Inlays: Cat Eye, Mother of Pearl Inlays

Body Shape: Original SB Shape, Super Balanced Body
Body Material: Alder
Pickup: Aria MB-V Passive Pickup
Controls: 1xVolume, 1xTone, 1-Dual Sound Mini-Toggle Switch
Knobs: Black SB Knobs
Tailpiece: Solid Brass With 24K Gold Plated Saddles and Black Plated Body
Strap Pins: 18K Gold Plated Solid Brass
Strings: Rotosound RS66LB (35, 55, 70, 90)
Certificate: Certificate of Authenticity Signed by Ray Burton and Toshi Matsumura
Case: Deluxe Ostrich Hardshell Case With Gold Hardware

~networld & metallica.com

Chicosci - "Raspberry: Girl"

ChicoSci (often typeset as Chicosci) is a 5-piece Filipino rock band based in Manila. The band is composed of Miggy Chavez, Mong Alcaraz, Calde Calderon, Macoy Estacio and Ariel Lumanlan.

Three years since the release of their last studio album and after endless gigging and touring, Chicosci is finally releasing their much-anticipated sixth album, This Is Not A Chicosci Record. The ever-so-dynamic rock group has been in the lab the past year, writing and recording new material with producer Eric Perlas of Tower of Doom Studios, and is set to make waves again with this new album under MCA Music Inc.

Always evolving with each album, the band has once again pushed themselves creatively with this new outing. Chicosci wants their listeners to be devoid of any preconceived notions of who the band is or how they should sound like. “It’s shouldn’t be important who the artist is,” says singer Miggy Chavez.  “We hope people like the album because it’s good music and not because it’s Chicosci. And if people don’t like the record, we hope it’s because they actually listened to it and hated the music or (not like it) because it’s OPM.” The album features 14 tracks including the first single “Stealing Kisses”, the feel-good “Raspberry:  Girl” and the rock ballad “Sleep Station”.

This Is Not A Chicosci Record contains 14 tracks including the first single “Stealing Kisses”, the feel-good “Raspberry: Girl” and the rock ballad “Sleep Station”. The album will be available digitally via iTunes and My Music Store.

Late to the party

But I'm crushing anyway

She's right in front of you

Come out and play

Forget the shakes

And just put your knives up

Just put your knives up

Show me what you are made of

Slowly, slowly

A little rain is everything you wanted

Slowly, slowly

You're drowning in her

I look into her eyes

And I can't help the way I feel

I listen to her lies

And tell me can all this be healed

(Oh, oh, oh, oh..)

This isn't what I'm dying for

(Oh, oh, oh, oh..)

Grab your weapon, close the door

Slowly, slowly

A little rain is everything you wanted

Slowly, slowly

You're drowning in her

I look into her eyes

And I can't help the way I feel

I listen to her lies

And tell me can all this be healed

She'll make you fight

She'll make you crawl

Wonder if everything is worth the fall

I look into her eyes

And I just can't help the way I feel

I look into her eyes

And I can't help the way I feel

I listen to her lies

And You're drowning in her

I look into her eyes

And I can't help the way I feel

I listen to her lies

And tell me can all this be healed

I look into her eyes

I look into her eyes

I just can't help the way I feel

~networld 

Skrillex - "Summit"

Sonny John Moore (born January 15, 1988), better known by his stage name Skrillex, is an American electronic musician and singer-songwriter. Raised in Northeast Los Angeles and in Northern California, Moore joined the American post-hardcore band From First to Last as the lead singer in 2004, and recorded two studio albums with the band (Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count, 2004, and Heroine, 2006) before leaving to pursue a solo career in 2007. He began his first tour as a solo artist in late 2007. After recruiting a new band lineup, Moore joined the Alternative Press Tour to support bands such as All Time Low and The Rocket Summer, and appeared on the cover of Alternative Press' annual "100 Bands You Need to Know" issue.

After releasing the Gypsyhook EP in 2009, Moore was scheduled to record his debut studio album, Bells, with producer Noah Shain. However, he ceased production of the album and began performing under the name Skrillex. After releasing the My Name is Skrillex EP for free download on his official MySpace page, he released the Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites EP in late–2010 and More Monsters and Sprites EP in mid–2011. Both have since become moderate commercial successes. On November 30, 2011, he was nominated for a total of five Grammy Awards at the 54th Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and won three: "Best Dance/Electronica Album," "Best Dance Recording," and "Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical". On December 5, 2011, the BBC announced that he had been nominated for their Sound of 2012 poll.  On December 12, 2011, he was also named MTV's Electronic Dance Music Artist of the Year. 

Leaving is the sixth extended play (EP) by American electronic dance music producer Skrillex. It was released on January 2nd, 2013 exclusively to members of The Nest (OWSLA's subscription service). The three tracks were also uploaded to Moore's official YouTube channel the following day. The song "Scary Bolly Dub" had previously been played live and circulated through the Internet for approximately a year before being officially released. A mixed version also features on Caspa Presents Dubstep Sessions 2012. The song samples the 2010 tracks Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites and Fucking Die 1. In a personal message to members of The Nest, Moore said that he uses the track "more as a dj tool, but I wanted you guys to have it". The title track was created in Moore's hotel room in Mexico. "The Reason" was finished an hour before release in Moore's hotel room in Miami.

~networld