RAGINPIT MAGAZINE

The Most Underground News in the Pit

In this report:
- Warpath
- And All Was Lost
- Falling to Pieces
- Evergreen Terrace

Progressive rock outfit Porcupine Tree have signed a new deal with Roadrunner Records for all territories outside of Japan. This extends the band's relationship with the label from their previous European-only deal. Hell, why not? The label has done well promoting their other progressive acts - namely Dream Theater and Opeth - so this looks like a good fit. Fans who may worry that Roadrunner will make the band compromise their integrity can rest easy: their new album, scheduled for release on September 22nd, will contain a 50+ minute long continuous song cycle, along with three additional, shorter (relatively speaking) songs. The release will coincide with a brief two-week North American tour of major markets followed by an extensive two months in Europe.

http://www.porcupinetree.com/
http://www.myspace.com/porcupinetree

Falling to Pieces has posted a brand new track, "This Broken Vow," to their MySpace page. The track is taken from their forthcoming EP Awaken the Weak, which will be released on June 13th. This marks the recording debut of members Nicci D. (vocals) and Scott Danough (guitar, ex-Bleeding Through), both of whom have contributed to creating a whole new band dynamic. Ooooh, big words from the hot-shot journalist - of course new members will change the dynamic! My Captain Obvious tendencies aside, you are invited to celebrate the album and get drunk with them, Dissipate, The Venting Machine, and From the Fog at Pine St. Bar and Grill in their hometown of Livermore, CA on release day.

http://www.myspace.com/fallingtopieces

Howard Stern sidekick Richard Christy, who has been known to dabble in metal every now and then (via drumming stints in Death and Iced Earth) has assembled a stellar group of musicians in his new project Charred Walls of the Damned and inked a deal with Metal Blade Records. Rounding out the band is guitarist, old friend, and acclaimed producer Jasen Suecof, vocal powerhouse and former Iced Earth bandmate Tim "Ripper" Owens, and former Control Denied/Iced Earth bandmate, bassist-to-the-stars Steve DiGiorgio. Look for their debut album to drop this fall. Holy shit.

http://www.RichardChristy.com
http://www.myspace.com/richardchristy69

Rising NorCal metal extremists Geryon will embark on their first ever tour this August. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/geryonband. If you are in one of these markets and would like to help these guys out, or if you don't see your market listed but would like to, please contact them directly.

http://www.geryonband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/geryonband

Metal Blade Records has announced a monolithic Cannibal Corpse contest in celebration of the band's upcoming headlining stint on the Hot Topic Stage of this year's Rockstar Mayhem Festival. One grand prize winner will receive the following:

Five Runners-Up will receive:

For terms and conditions and to enter the contest go to http://www.metalblade.comcannibalcorpseindex.html.

Fresno, CA's HateFX is currently working on the video for "WDF", the first single from their new album The Holy Frail. Watch for it in July. As previously reported, the album is available now through various digital outlets with two tracks streaming on the band's MySpace page.

http://www.hatefx.com/
http://www.myspace.com/hatefx

UK thrashers Warpath, who for some reason remain unsigned despite critical acclaim (including Terrorizer Magazine's "Best Unsigned Band" for 2008) for their debut full-length Damnation, have confirmed two live dates in Germany as part of Wacken Rocks Festivals. They will be appearing at Wacken Rocks South Festival (August 29th) and Wacken Rocks Seaside Festival (August 30th). Kudos to the band for the achievement and continued recognition in their quest to bring the true sounds of thrash to the masses.

http://www.myspace.com/warpathuk

Northern California-based Nevuary Promotions will be presenting a night of female-fronted metal at San Francisco's G3 Lounge on June 13th. The show will feature four of the region's rising acts:

Although some still see female-fronted metal bands as a novelty, for these four it's all about the music and not just a clever marketing ploy.

http://www.myspace.com/dreamsofthefall
http://www.myspace.com/threadmetal
http://www.myspace.com/arcanedimension
http://www.myspace.com/solinocence

In June, new Jersey-based Manicidic Records will release their summer compilation. And All Was Lost is featured in the following track listing:

The pressing will be limited to 500 copies, so you'd better act fast if you want to get your hands on this. It could be a great way to discover some previously undiscovered talent. I know I for one haven't heard of any of these bands, since it isn't the same Lustmord.

http://www.myspace.com/manicidicrecords

In addition to completing work on a new three-song, Jagermeister-sponsored demo with their revamped lineup (detailed in our April edition) that should be available by August, Mystic Rage has a few more things they'd like you to know. First, they'll be opening for Powerman 5000 on June 5th at The Modesto Virtual (Modesto, CA). Next, they have added Sapporo Beer to an already impressive list of band sponsorships. Speaking of which, you can get a free Jagermeister shirt and other swag when you order a Mystic Rage t-shirt from their MySpace page - then wear that shirt and submit a picture to the band to be posted to their fan site and receive even more goodies. Hot damn. Not enough? Fine, then you can enhance your contact with the band via their official forum (http://hardnheavycommonwealth.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=27) and Twitter page (http://www.twitter.com/mysticrage)

http://www.myspace.com/mysticrage

Evergreen Terrace is "hard(ly)" at work on the new album Almost Home, their follow up to 2007's Wolfbiker, an album which I thought I would hate, but ended up digging quite a bit. I could wax on about my hopes and expectations for Almost Home, but prefer to let guitarist/vocalist Josh James talk about it:

http://www.myspace.com/evergreenterrace

NorCal instrumetalists PDR want YOU - to check them out. They're a shredding trio with two releases under their belt (The Keeper and PDR) with a third on the way. They're not quite like any instrumental group I've heard before, which either means they're really good or I'm really deprived. I'm leaning towards the former. In either case, though, their music is better heard than read about, so head over to their MySpace page for a sampling. "Dark Helmet" in particular comes highly recommended. If you like what you hear, you can support the band by picking up the aforementioned releases at CDBaby.com - just search for Patryk deRosa.

http://www.patrykderosa.com
http://www.myspace.com/patrykderosa