Rather than go out with a bang, the Queensryche “saga” ended with a whimper, with both sides choosing to avoid going to court. Exiled singer Geoff Tate will transition into a solo career, along with exclusive rights to both Operation: Mindcrime albums, while his ex-bandmates will soldier on with the Queensryche name, and vocalist Todd LaTorre. It’s a win-win situation, although there is really no mistaking who won in the court of public opinion: The LaTorre-fronted version of the band. Now, the real question: What will happen to all the unsold copy of Tate’s Queensryche’s Frequency Unknown album? – David E. Gehlke
General housekeeping
A pair of giveaways were launched this week, one for totally-rad noise mongers Nux Vomica, the other for emerging French extreme label Kaotoxin Records.
Our April Album of the Month? Insomnium Shadows of the Dying Sun, by a hair.
Features
Guitarist Francesco Artusato and drummer John Sankey of Devil You Know were corralled for a brief, but productive email Q&A.
Our April Demo Tribunal featured ten bands of the unsigned variety, with no true dud in the bunch. Well done.
Like we do every month, our Rapid Fires column takes 15 releases and gives them the short review treatment. Here’s the April version.
Get to know Massachusetts power/thrash up-and-comers Verscythe.
Eddie Veliz of Southern California heavy rockers Kyng took some time out of his busy tour schedule to chat with DR about the band’s new Burn the Serum album, touring, and “loose” women.
Reviews
More Scandinavian vintage death metal of quality, this time with Miasmal’s Cursed Redeemer.
The Norwegian guard stands firm via Den Saakaldte’s excellent Kapittel II: Faen I: Helvete.
The above-mentioned Kyng rock hard and ride free with Burn the Serum.
Tasteful female-fronted symphonic metal? Look no further than Xandria’s Sacrificium.
Swedish doom in the vein of Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus, Below’s Across the Dark River doesn’t disappoint.
New York hardcore metal vets Sworn Enemy return with their first album in five years, the strong and sturdy Living on Borrowed Time.
With Alcest’s Neige out of the picture, Lantlos has become less black, and more radiant on their fantastic Melting Sun album.
Matthew Bowling ponders why Whitechapel still has three guitarists in light of Our Endless War’s overall blandness.
The Cavalera/Puciato/Sanders supergroup Killer be Killed hits a home run on their self-titled debut album.
Spanish black metal has a face with Empty’s Etica Profana Negativa.
The news in ten
1. Judas Priest reveals track listing for Redeemer of Souls.
2. Anthrax concert DVD to arrive in the summer.
3. Former Testament bassist Greg Christian claims it “sucks to be poor and famous.”
4. Details for the GWAR B-Q and Dave Brockie memorial revealed.
5. German beer thrashers Tankard stream new song, “Fooled by Your Guts.”
6. Suicide Silence reveals the cover art and track listing for You Can’t Stop Me.
7. The Oath call it a day, barely a month after the release of their debut album.
8. Former Anthrax lead guitarist Dan Spitz “reinvents himself.”
9. Mastodon: Once More ‘Round the Sun details available.
10. The Queensryche saga comes to an end.