If you like Slipknot then you’re gonna love Kerrang! TV next week!! All week there will be an hour long Slipknot section of K10, which will be broadcast daily after 6pm. See Corey and Joey picking out their fave vids!! Each day you will be able to select from Duality, Wait and Bleed, Left behind and My Plague and there will be live clips of the guys throughout the day too! And if all that wasn’t enough, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday (10-11pm) and Friday (12-1pm) you can also see edited highlights of the Disasterpieces DVD!! And what’s all this in honour of? The release of Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses), which is in stores MONDAY (24th May)

So, Killswitch Engage’s latest release – The End Of Heartache – is officially one week old. And though their first release on Roadrunner (2002’s Alive Or Just Breathing) has already made its mark, The End Of Heartache makes Roadrunner history after 7 days. How so? The End Of Heartache is Roadrunner’s 4th highest US chart debut (#21, behind only Slipknot’s Iowa and Nickelback’s Silver Side Up and The Long Road). The End Of Heartache is Roadrunner’s 8th highest sales debut (behind only the above three mentioned albums, along with Coal Chamber’s Chamber Music, the Resident Evil soundtrack, Type O Negative’s World Coming Down, and Soulfly’s Primitive….rounding out the top 10 – for those of you curious – is Fear Factory Digimortal and Sepultura Roots. But you know what? This has nothing to do with Roadrunner, and everything to do with Killswitch Engage, and another great piece of work from them. If you have yet to check out this release, you can do soHERE and also check them out on tour with Chimaira, God Forbid and Shadows Fall from June 8th. See the TOUR section for more details. Killswitch Engage ‘The End Of Heartache’ is in stores now!

Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses) has recieved 5K’s in this weeks Kerrang! DOM LAWSON writes: “The masks are back on and the gloves are off… THE LOWDOWN: A year ago it seemed doubtful that there would ever be another Slipknot album. The removal of those sacred masks and the largely conservative nature of those high profile side퉌_projects seemed to have sucked the wind out of the nontet’s bloodstained sails, but, in typical Slipknot fashion, ‘Vol.3: (The Subliminal Verses)’ has arrived, borne aloft on a wave of bug-퉌_eyed expectations, adorned with bold claims that this is the finest album of the band’s turbulent career. Well, they weren’t fucking kidding. Far and away the most musically intense, creatively inspired and downright astonishing thing that the 18퉌_legged chaos machine have produced to date, ‘Vol.3’ is, quite simply, a masterpiece and a massive raised middle digit to all the stumbling nu퉌_metal non퉌_entities that rode in on the band’s coat퉌_tails. It all begins with ‘Prelude 3.0’ four minutes of haunting arpeggios, muttered vocals from Corey Taylor and a characteristically contrary refrain of “Now it’s over…” Restrained and sombre, it sounds unlike anything the band have done before and makes the more familiar percussive detonations of ‘The Blister Exists’ and the blastbeats and yob choruses of ‘Three Nil’ that follow sound even more shocking. From there on in the album comprises a litany of curveballs and hair퉌_raising detours. ‘Opium Of The People’ recalls a tougher, less convivial System Of A Down filtered through the ears of Satan himself. ‘Vermilion’ combines a threat퉌_swollen snail’s pace riff with horror soundtrack effects, a delirious, spiralling guitar solo and a huge, surging chorus, replete with exquisite vocal harmonies. ‘The Nameless’ veers from spastic speed metal riff riots to sumptuous acoustic guitar퉌_led choruses, and is, without doubt, the finest moment of the band’s career. Elsewhere there are super퉌_strength updates of the band’s trademark stomp (‘Duality’, ‘Before I Forget’), an emotive acoustic anthem with a strong whiff of the Middle East (‘Circle’), savage sloganeering and thrash metal braggadocio (‘Pulse Of The Maggots’), a rambling but deftly executed ‘Scissors’퉌_style dirge (‘The Virus Of Life’) and a final farewell (‘Danger * Keep Away’) that sounds like a heavily sedated redneck Radiohead. Much else has changed since ‘Iowa’. With the crisp and precise tones of a Rick Rubin production replacing Ross Robinson’s messier, more cerebral approach, Slipknot at last sound like the brutally direct metal band they have often hinted at. And with that more disciplined sound comes a refreshed compositional sharpness. At almost exactly 60 minutes in length, ‘Vol.3’ is a wonderfully complete album a perfectly paced collection of skilfully constructed songs, all heavily laden with tantalising hooks, infectious riffs and numerous jaw퉌_dropping surprises. Slipknot have always been a great and important band, but only now have they made a truly great and important album. For once you can believe the hype. KKKKK” Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses) is out MONDAY 24TH MAY. You can catch Slipknot at the Virgin Megastore on London’s Oxford Street this Sunday night (23rd) from Midnight where they will be signing copies of the new album. The band will be signing for 4 hours so we would ask that in order to get through as many people as possible, please only bring one item per person to be signed. The following night, the 24th, Slipknot will celebrate the release of Vol 3 with an intimate show at the Astoria. Tickets are on sale NOW via the Download Festival website dog, and direct from the Astoria box office from 9am Saturday morning (22nd May).

In addition to their appearance at Virgin Megastore Oxford Street at midnight on Sunday 23rd (where the band will be signing copies of their new album) Slipknot have announced they will be playing a one off show at London’s Astoria on Monday 24th May to celebrate the release of Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses) which is released the same day. Holy SHIT! Tickets will be available from TOMORROW (19th May) via the Download Dog (which can be downloaded HERE and there will also be tickets available on Saturday (22nd May) direct from the Astoria Box Office, which is located at the Astoria itself on Charring Cross Road- just around the corner from Tottenham Court Road Tube Station. Our advice? Get downloading that dog or get your ass to the Astoria on Saturday SUPER early!! See ya there!

Recent Roadrunner signing Trivium have commenced pre-production on their RR debut. The Trivium site reads, í¢ä‰åñWe’ll be hitting Audiohammer Studios this weekend to begin pre-production for our Roadrunner Records debut album. We have 12í¢ä‰åäóì13 new songs to work on and we’ve been working really hard and hope to have an album out by early 2005. We will have more details regarding the full recording schedule later this summer. The band have also announced they will be touring this June across the ole U.S. of A. with the mighty Iced Earth. To find out more about Trivium, you can visit their offical site HERE

Killswitch Engage’s new offering ‘The End Of Heartache’, which hit stores last Monday, went into the UK album charts yesterday at number 40! Congrats go out the the guys- a truly well deserved result! Another triumph was their recent review in Kerrang! where they recieved a whopping 5K’s: “The kings of modern US metal fiercely guard their throne… THE LOWDOWN: The last Killswitch Engage album, 2002’s ‘í¢ä‰åŒ_Alive Or Just Breathing?’, was a an astonishing collection of flawless contemporary metal anthems that skilfully bridged the gap between the old school values of Scandinavian death metal and the more trend퉌_conscious capriciousness of the 90s hardcore scene. The response, in the UK at least, was deservedly ecstatic and the band found themselves flying up the greasy pole of popular acceptance, unexpectedly selling out shows at the Astoria in London in the process. Anyone still claiming that metal had had its day was beginning to look very stupid indeed. Okay, it would be good if a few of the Europeans (In Flames, Arch Enemy, Soilwork <>) whose clothes the new breed of American metal bands have deftly borrowed and modified could enjoy the same amount of media attention, but even if the so퉌_-called New Wave Of American Heavy Metal is a rather questionable concept, you won’t find any genuine metal fans complaining. All this supposed movement needs now is a band to take it to the next level and, perhaps predictably, Killswitch Engage have raised their game and delivered a second stone퉌_cold classic in a row. The differences between ‘The End Of Heartache’ and its predecessor are subtle. The same blend of melodic death metal riffs, crushing metalcore breakdowns and soaring vocal hooks remain, but whereas the previous album often kept those elements separate, this time the fusion is seamless and the songs that have emerged are <> as simultaneously brutal and beautiful as ‘My Last Serenade’, the undoubted high point last time around. Vocalist Howard Jones (who stepped in just as the last album took off) makes a big difference, his formidable range and versatility adding a level of almost Mike Patton퉌_esque charisma to proceedings. Whether it’s the ominous, lumbering ‘A Bid Farewell’ or the perfectly paced pathos of the title track, Jones has stamped his authority on the Killswitch sound and transformed the band from world class contenders to undisputed champions. Lyrically, too, Jones brings a refreshing touch of cautious optimism to a style of music that often revels in exclusive negativity. With lines like <<í¢ä‰åŒSleep brings release, and the hope of a new dayí¢ä‰åŒ_í¢ä‰åŒ>> (‘The End Of Heartache’) and <<í¢ä‰åŒWhen darkness falls, we are reborní¢ä‰åŒ_í¢ä‰åŒ>> (‘When Darkness Falls’) and uplifting melodies to match, these songs are custom built for joyful mass sing퉌_alongs. The consistency here is remarkable. Every single song has a chorus to die for, and always amid a flurry of riffs and razor퉌_sharp rhythmic ideas. It’s like an inspired hybrid of Faith No More’s ‘Angel Dust’, Carcass’ ‘Heartwork’ and In Flames ‘Colony’, and if you’re familiar with <> albums you’ll already be drooling at the prospect of introducing your ears to this immaculate piece of work. KKKKK DOM LAWSON” The End Of Heartache is in stores NOW and you can catch the guys on tour this June. Check out the TOUR

In a recent interview with Planet Loud, Christian talks about their new album ‘Archetype’ and the passion behind it. It would seem Burton’s letting off some steam… “…the lyrics are basically about what he thinks – how many times can you carry on the concept he was writing about ? I grew up listening to old-school hardcore and the thing about that was that the lyrics were related to real things – racism, personal things, stuff like that. That was something I missed on the last couple of Fear Factory records – like on the first album you had songs like Crash Test which were about animal testing and you can picture that in your head. That’s something I missed especially on the last couple of records. It was good for what it was and it made us stand out but it’s all fictional and we needed to come back hardcore…you listen to Digimortal and this record and there is no passion on Digimortal whereas, on this record, you listen to it and he’s spitting fire. The passion is back. I like the hardcore feel of it. So the record might not be polished but I prefer the hardcore feel, I’ll go for that over a better production any day!” Visit PLANET LOUD for the full interview.

With Slipknot, Fear Factory and Chimaira ALL hitting the UK in June, it’s nice to hear that the boys are all on form. It would seem a ticket to see any of these guys is gonna be money well spent… “LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Death, destruction and mayhem — just another night on the Jagermeister Music Tour 2004. The latest edition of this rolling thunder circus of metal mayhem featured this night SiX, Chimaira, Fear Factory and headliners Slipknot. It was a raucous house of metal maniacs that greeted each band, particularly Slipknot, which was touring for the first time in more than two years. Judging by the reaction of the band’s fans, who thrashed and crashed throughout Slipknot’s 90-minute set, the wait was worth it. Whether one is a fan of the band, it is to be admired for putting together one of the most ferocious and eye-popping live performances in recent metal times. Slipknot takes the stage with the attitude that its audience — or “maggots,” as the band affectionately calls its fans — is an army to be conquered. It confronts them not only with body-smashing music that a deaf person could hear but an amazing light show and a leering lyrical content that asks the listener to confront and deal with one’s inner demons, in whichever manner one chooses. The Iowa band has a new album coming out at month’s end on the venerable Roadrunner Records, called “Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses.” Call it what they may, there is nothing subliminal about Slipknot’s in-your-face attack. The nine-piece human threshing machine played new songs and older songs, with all of them generating a massive response. Still sporting a variety of grotesque masks and wearing new matching black uniforms whose combined effect was somewhat cartoonish but also creepy, Slipknot used its three drummers and tightly constructed, from-hell metallic riffing to create a sonic assault that is unequaled in the nu-metal world. Everyone in the band is a great entertainer as well as a solid musician. While certainly at the top of the nu-metal heap, its furious sound owes a debt to classic speed metal and, surprisingly, a bit of classic rock. This was a set to wake the dead. While Slipknot dusted whatever came before, veteran industrial rockers Fear Factory delivered a crushing 45-minute set that won favor with the packed house. Sporting a recently released and well-received album, “Archetype,” …the L.A. quartet is closer to death metal than industrial these days, a move that bodes well for them. Combining punishing riffs and rhythms with harmonious hard rock, the band’s set was loud and proud. Hardcore-meets-metal with a dash of electronics is the calling card of Chimaira, whose half-hour set was a blistering assault on the senses. To be admired for not following any current metal trends, the Roadrunner Records act’s music is on the dark, bleak side, a vision that suits them well. Jagermeister Music Tour 2004 By John Lappen Reuters/Hollywood Reporter” Check out the TOUR page for full listings.

The Slipknot Street Team have been busy the past few weeks! The maggots are planning to descend on major cities on the 15th and 22nd of May to spread the (sic)ness armed with new Slipknot tracks, stickers, money off vouchers for ‘Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses)’ and a strong desire to cause some mayhem!!! Fancy getting in on the action and causing some serious chaos or getting your hands on some goodies? Then here’s where it’s all kicking off! BIRMINGHAM: Front of Carling Academy 12.30pm BRISTOL: The Rock Shop 11.30am CARDIFF: Cardiff Central train station 1pm. GLASGOW: Forbidden Planet/Buchannon Street Underground 1.30pm. LEEDS:15th ONLY Corn Exchange 2pm. LONDON: The Astoria 12pm. (Will be heading Camden Market way from 3.00pm) MANCHESTER: Statue of Queen Victoria in Picadilly Gardens 2pm. NEWCASTLE: Gadget Shop- Monument Shopping Mall 11.30am. NOTTINGHAM: Front of Rock City 1pm. PORTSMOUTH: 15th ONLY. Front of Wedgwood Rooms, 2pm SOUTHAMPTON: 22nd ONLY. Front of Bargate Rooms 2pm. There are also some Club Nights planned too, with album playbacks and give-aways! You can catch these on the following dates: Monday 24th May 2004 Newcastle – Stage Door Wednesday 26th May 2004 Ipswitch – Conviction Thursday 27th May 2004 Oxford – Zodiac Bournemouth – The Villa Friday 28th May 2004 Leeds – The Basement Manchester – Satans Hollow Cardiff – Metros London – Mean Fiddler Saturday 29th May 2004 Liverpool – Krazyhouse Nottingham – Rock City Glasgow – Cathouse Bristol – Bierkeller Edinburgh – Mission Birmingham – Academy Southampton – Nexus Sheffield – Corporation Hull – Spiders Wolverhampton – Wulfrun Hall Norwich – Fat Paulies Sunday 30th London – Underworld

í¢ä‰åñSO ARE you metallers or a bunch of fucking Funeral For A Friend fans?í¢ä‰åŒ An excellent question from Johnny Truant singer Olly Mitchell considering the muted reaction he’s getting. But if the metallic hoards tonight seem relatively quiet, it’s probably more to do with bewilderment than a lack of appreciation for the hardcore inflected boogie-metal post-rock mutation they see before them. Thirty minutes later, with the Brighton quartet’s set but a memory and the space in front of the stage swirling with anticipation, a better question is, ‘Are you fucking ready?’. The lights go down and the horns go up, but the traditional round of guttural roars are interrupted by Alison Krauss’ choral ‘Down In The River To Pray’ blaring through the PA. It gives the death grunters a momentary, contemplative breather. They’re going to need it. DevilDriver í¢ä‰åäóì fresh from storming the Astoria with In Flames just 10 days ago í¢ä‰åäóì stride onstage, and the venue explodes into a full-on metal frenzy. Dez Fafara is a dancing shaman, his throat-ripping vocals reminiscent of some demonic possession or tribal incantation of yore. It spearheads the blitzkried death metal assault behind him and bludgeons the space with an unending deluge of head-banging anthems. í¢ä‰åñHel-fucking-lo London. You see that behind us?í¢ä‰åŒ roars Fafara, gesturing to the skull and crossbones banner behind him. í¢ä‰åñThat’s how we live our lives.í¢ä‰åŒ And as the righteously indignant refrains of ‘Meet The Wretched’ summon howls of exaltation from the crowd, the significance of that statement becomes clear. Dez Fafara is flying the flag for proper fucking metal at last. This time nobody had better stand in his way. KKKK Alexander Milas KERRANG!