Fear Factory

 Today in 2004 Fear Factory released the single Bite The Hand That Bleeds

Los Angeles, California Industrial/Death Metal (early), Groove/Industrial Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1989-1990 (as Ulceration), 1990 (as Fear the Factory), 1990-present

Bursting onto the metal scene in the early 90's, Fear Factory's fusion of death metal and industrial influences has since proven to be enormously influential in the metal world since the band's inception, with Soul Of A New Machine still a landmark release. They peaked popularity-wise with '98's Obsolete, and also garnered acclaim for their interesting take on Gary Numan's "Cars", which they covered a year later. But the band's followup album, 2001's Digimortal, received only mixed reviews, and following some personal differences between band members, vocalist Burton Bell announced his leaving in March of 2002, and the band immediately disbanded. Later interviews with the various members indicated that a rift had developed between guitarist Dino Cazares and the rest of the band. Sure enough, the other three members (including Bell) announced their decision to reunite (with bassist Chistian Wolbers taking over on guitar) and continue as Fear Factory, while Cazares continued with his earlier side projects such as Asesino and Brujeria, as well as a new band, Divine Heresy. Arguably, the two post-Dino albums (Archetype and Transgression) haven't had the impact of their earlier works, preferring to play it a tad safe and stick to their earlier style. Also released after the split were Concrete (the band's first recording, originally done in 1991 and produced by Ross Robinson) and Hatefiles, a collection of leftovers and remixes.

After several years of relative quiet came the rather surprising news in 2009 that not only had Cazares and Bell put their differences behind them, but that Cazares was back in a new-look Fear Factory that excluded core members Christian Wolbers and Raymond Herrera, with well-travelled veteran Gene Hoglan and former Strapping Young Lad bassist Byron Stroud rounding out the group. Wolbers and Herrera stated that they never really left the band, which seemed to imply that there would be a legal issue surrounding the band name. The new Fear Factory recorded albums in 2010 and 2012 and have since replaced both Hoglan and Stroud, while Wolbers and Herrera went on to form their own band Arkaea.

Liquid B Records

Burton C. Bell Vocals

Christian Olde Wolbers Guitars

Byron Stroud Bass

Raymond Herrera Drums

Disc 1 (CD)

1. Bite The Hand That Bleeds 04:08

04:08

Disc 2 (DVD)

1. Cyberwaste 03:34

2. Archetype (Narritive) 03:52

3. Archetype Remix (Anime) 04:27

4. Archetype (Performance) 03:53

5. Bite The Hand That Bleeds 04:03

19:49

E-Town Concrete

 Today in 2004 E.Town Concrete released the album Made for War

Elizabeth, New Jersey Hardcore punk, rap metal, alternative metal

Status: Active

Years active 1995 - 2006, 2008 - present

Formed in 1995 in Elizabeth, NJ, E-Town Concrete released their debut album, Time 2 Shine, on Back to Basics in 1997. In 2000, the metal heavy hitters Triple Crown Records released their follow-up The Second Coming. Fusing metal, hip-hop, and hardcore, the foursome developed a cult of fans on the East Coast, selling 4,000 copies of their album in one record store alone, Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ, largely due to their New Jersey based shows and constant touring.

Ironbound

Anthony "Ant-Money" & "'Ignant Ass Ant" Martini - vocals

David "DeLux" Mondragon - guitar

Eric DeNault - bass

Ted P. (Theodore Panagopoulos) - drums

1

Pariah 4:47

2

Ploughshares and Swords 2:50

3

Wide Awake 2:18

4

The Distance 3:27

5

Do You Know What It's Like? 5:02

6

Blood 4:17

7

A Setup 2:54

8

What Can I Do? 3:29

9

Made for War 3:54

10

All That You Have Is Still Not Enough 3:52

11

There Goes the Neighboorhood 3:41

Total length: 40:31

A Perfect Circle

 Today in 2004 A Perfect Circle released the album Amotion

Los Angeles, California, Alternative rock alternative metal progressive metal progressive rock hard rock art rock

Status:Active

Years active 1999–2004, 2010–present

Formed by Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan and former Tool guitar tech Billy Howerdel, A Perfect Circle is an extension of the alt-metal-fused-with-art rock style popularized by Tool in the early to mid-'90s. While similar to Tool in intensity and melancholy, A Perfect Circle is less dark and more melodic, with a theatrical, ambient quality that incorporates occasional strings and unusual instrumentation.

Virgin

Compilation

All lyrics are written by A Perfect Circle.

No. Title Music Length

1. "Judith" (Renholdër Mix) Danny Lohner, Joshua Eustis 4:24

2. "3 Libras" (Feel My Ice Dub Mix) Danny Lohner 4:28

3. "The Outsider" (Apocalypse Mix) Danny Lohner 5:28

4. "Weak and Powerless" (Tilling My Grave Mix) Danny Lohner, Wes Borland, Joshua Eustis 3:05

5. "The Outsider" (Frosted Yogurt Mix) James Iha 4:07

6. "Blue" (Bird Shake Mix) James Iha, Geoff Sanoff 3:56

7. "3 Libras" (All Main Courses Mix) Robert "3D" Del Naja & Grant "Daddy G" Marshall (credited as Massive Attack) 7:16

8. "The Hollow" (Constantly Consuming Mix) Paz Lenchantin 3:39

9. "The Hollow" (The Bunk Mix) Troy Van Leeuwen, Josh Abraham 3:12

DVD track listing

No. Title Length

1. "Judith" (Unedited music video) 4:07

2. "3 Libras" (Music video) 3:39

3. "Weak and Powerless" (Unedited video) 3:26

4. "The Outsider" (Edited music video) 4:17

5. "Thinking of You" (Music video) 4:38

6. "Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums" (Music video) 5:59

7. "Blue" (Music video) 4:03

8. "The Noose" (Live video) 5:49

9. "Imagine" (Music video) 4:57

10. "The Outsider" (Director's cut music video) 4:26

11. "Blue" (Runner-up A music video)  

12. "Blue" (Runner-up B music video)  

13. "Blue" (Runner-up C music video)  

14. "Bikini Bandits Experience" (Trailer)  

15. "Bikini Bandits Save Christmas" (Trailer)  

16. "Bikini Bandits Sauvent Le Monde" (Trailer)

Amotion (stylized as aMOTION) is a DVD–CD set released by American rock band A Perfect Circle on November 16, 2004, only two weeks after the debut of the band's third album, eMOTIVe. The DVD consists of music videos for singles such as "Judith", "3 Libras" and "Weak and Powerless" as well as previously unreleased videos for singles such as "Blue" and "Thinking of You". The CD is composed entirely of remixes of the singles from Mer de Noms and Thirteenth Step. The songs were retooled by Danny Lohner, Joshua Eustis, Massive Attack, and James Iha among others. The video album debuted at number four on the SoundScan Top Music Video chart and number ten on the Australian music DVD chart. aMOTION was certified Platinum by the RIAA on 17 December 2004

220 Volt

 Today in 2002 220 Volt released the album Volume 1

Östersund,Sweden Heavy Metal (up to 1985), Hard Rock (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1979-1990, 1990-1992 (as Voltergeist), 2002-present

220 Volt was one of the earlier Swedish metal bands that formed during the NWOBHM movement, following in the footsteps of Heavy Load (for whom these guys opened at least once). The band formed in the late 70's and after several years of gigging had built enough of a following to win a major label contract, quite rare for metal bands anywhere at that time. They put out a several albums in the early to mid 80's before initially disbanding around 1992, reuniting many years for some anniversary gigs and, eventually, the Made In Jamtland live album in 2005. As evidenced on their early material, their style mixed a bit of NWOBHM rawness with hard rock accessibility. Finally, in early 2013 came the news that the band was back in business.

Power Play records

Compilation

1. Intro - Sauron 01:16 instrumental

2. Sauron 04:29

3. On Top of the World 04:20

4. Don't Come My Way 04:23

5. You 04:18

6. Prisoner of War 03:16

7. Sauron (Live) 06:58

8. Woman in White (Live) 03:53

9. Gypsy Queen (Live) 04:02

10. The End of the World (Live) 06:01

11. Child of the Night/Medley (Live) 09:31

52:27

The live tracks were recorded at Sweden Rock Festival 2002.

Samsas Traum

 Today in 2001 Samsas Traum released the album Utopia

Marburg, Hesse, Germany Gothic/Avant-garde Black Metal (early), Neoclassical/Darkwave/Gothic Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active:1996-present

Formed in 1996 by Alexander Kaschte, Samsas Traum was a German (eventually calling Austria home) experimental metal act, encompassing elements of dark wave, black metal, and symphonic metal. The project came together out of Kaschte's frustration with the group dynamic, and he released his first solo work, Nostalgische Atavismen, in 1996. That was followed by a second demo release, Home Recordings, that same year. Following these demo releases on his own, Samsas Traum, ironically, took on members, and became a group. Now a trio, Samsas Traum scored a record deal with Trisol Music Group in 1999. The group's ‘official debut,' Die Liebe Gottes -- Eine märchenhafte black metal --Operette (The Love of God -- A Black Metal Fairy Tale Opera) saw the dark of night in 1999, and was met with mixed reception. Their next album, O Luna Mein, came out in 2000, and was a more avant garde affair. The band released a handful of albums and EPs over the next few years (2001's Utopia, 2002's Ipsissima Verba EP, 2003's Tineoidea oder: Die Folgen einer Nacht -- Eine Gothicoper in Blut-Moll, a best-of in 2004, 2005's DVD and CD release, Einer gegen Alle, and a smattering of re-releases and remixes). In 2007 the band released two markedly different albums, one very black, Heiliges Herz -- Das Schwert deiner Sonne, and one very acoustic and personal, Wenn schwarzer Regen.

Armageddon Shadow

Alexander Kaschte Guitars, Programming, Vocals

Daniel Schröder Bass clarinet, Saxophone

Sebastian Franke Bass

Lydia Budnick Vocals (female)

1. Terra... 02:28  

2. ...an Solaris 07:53   

3. Scherenschnitt 04:22   

4. Phantasai, lieb' Phantasai! 07:11   

5. Alles oder alles! 03:52  

6. Ach Schwesterlein im Eispalast 05:03    

7. Mein großer Scharlatan 04:15   

8. Der Triumph des Herzens 03:51   

9. Stromausfall im Herzspital 04:28   

10. Ein Duell mit Gott 06:45  

11. Die Kinderarmee 04:44  

12. Stirb endlich... 07:16    

13. Terra Titanic (Peter Schilling cover) 04:50  

14. Phantasai, lieb' Phantasai! (Kellerkind Version) 07:11    

  01:14:09  

Re-released in 2005 by Trisol in a DVD-digipack, with different artwork and a bonus CD:

01. Scherenschnitt

02. Schwesterlein im Eispalast

03. Mein großer Scharlatan

04. Ahab

05. Gitter

06. Intro / Ein Name im Kristall

07. K.haos-Prinz und Wind-Prinzessin

08. Für immer

09. Mater Lagrimarum

10. Mater Tenebrarum (Opus Tenebrarum)

11. Tineoidea (Hagbard Celine RMX)

12. Kamikaze!

13. 20 Schritte Freiheit (Teil III)

01-03: Remixes

04-05: Unreleased studio material

06-08: Live tracks (Kulturbrauerei Görlitz / 05.02.2005)

09-10: Rarities from the "Kazanian / Nostalgische Atavismen"-Demotape

11-12: Rarities from the "Ipsissima Verba"-EP

13: Continuation radio play

Re-released in 2006 by Trisol with original artwork and the bonus CD of the 2005 re-release.

Re-released in 2006 by Over the Rainbow Records without bonus material.

Am I Blood

 Today in 2001 Am I Blood released the album The Truth Inside the Dying Sun

Helsinki, Finland Thrash Metal
Status:Active
Years active: 1992-1997 (as St. Mucus), 1997-present
This Finnish band started life under the curious monicker St. Mucus, releasing a debut album (Natural Mutation) in 1995 under that name before switching to Am I Blood a year or two later. During those early days current Amorphis vocalist Pasi Koskinen was the vocalist, leaving one month before the recording of Mutation. Stylewise, Metallica is the primary soundalike here, with Janne Kerminen's vocals being a dead ringer for James Hetfield and the musical style (crunchy, upbeat hard metal, bordering on thrash without really being a thrash band) very reminiscient of mid-period Metallica circa their black self-titled album. They've had their share of record label problems (indeed, The Truth Inside The Dying Sun was finished in 2001 but languished unreleased for four years due to the record label folding), resulting in their last couple of albums being self-released.

Independent

Janne Kerminen Vocals
Pekka Kulmala Guitars
Hans Lanblade Guitars
Toni Grönroos Bass
Sale Drums

1. Gone with You 03:52
2. War of My Misery 04:59
3. The Truth Inside the Dying Sun 04:20
4. Lies Wrote Mysteries 04:10
5. Struggle in Disarray 05:13
6. The One Who Forgives 05:01
7. The Saddest Grief 06:17
8. Painful Ignorance 04:35
9. Nothing Realistic 04:08
10. Collapse of Ritual Belief 05:26
11. Supremacy of Failure 06:47
54:48

Originally intended to be released through Screaming Banshee CAT# 001, but the company folded and the album was poorly distributed.

Virgin Steele

 Today in 1999 Virgin Steele released the album The House of Atreus: Act I

Long Island, New York Heavy Metal/Hard Rock (early), Heavy/Power Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1981-present

Virgin Steele have been around since the early 80's, at which time they briefly achieved some acclaim for their early albums before seemingly disappearing from view. But they've always been around, garnering a considerable European following in recent years. On the more recent albums (since, say, Invictus), their experience shines brightly, a classic 80's power metal style (with more than a passing nod to mid-period Manowar), but at a higher level of maturity than a lot of bands jumping on the eighties bandwagon. With the recent The Book Of Burning, Virgin Steele shows no signs of slowing down.

T&T Records

David DeFeis - all vocals, keyboards, orchestration, effects, producer

Edward Pursino - acoustic and electric guitars, bass

Frank Gilchriest - drums

1. Kingdom Of The Fearless (The Destruction Of Troy) (7:39)

2. Blaze Of Victory (The Watchman's Song) (3:59)

3. Through The Ring Of Fire (5:24)

4. Prelude In A Minor (The Voyage Home) (1:13)

5. Death Darkly Closed Their Eyes (The Messenger's Song) (1:25)

6. In Triumph Or Tragedy (1:43)

7. Return Of The King (4:24)

8. Flames Of The Black Star (The Arrows Of Herakles) (6:30)

9. Narcissus (1:13)

10. And Hecate Smiled (2:57)

11. A Song Of Prophecy (2:16)

12. Child Of Desolation (4:48)

13. G Minor Invention (Descent Into Death's Twilight Kingdom) (2:58)

14. Day Of Wrath (1:51)

15. Great Sword Of Flame (4:29)

16. The Gift Of Tantalos (1:56)

17. Iphigenia In Hades (2:01)

18. The Fire God (4:42)

19. Garden Of Lamentation (1:47)

20. Agony And Shame (5:16)

21. Gate Of Kings (3:45)

22. Via Sacra (1:34)

Total Time: 74:00

"The Fire God" first appears on the 1986 Piledriver LP "Stay Ugly".

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Media Recording, Bellmore, NY.

Additional engineering by Ed Warrin (Last Chance Studios), Bellmore, NY.

Mastered at Frankford Wayne Mastering Labs, NY.

The House of Atreus Act I, released in 1999, is the ninth studio album by the American heavy metal band Virgin Steele. It has the subtitle A Barbaric-Romantic Opera. This album is the first part of a metal opera inspired by the Oresteia, a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus which concerns the end of the curse on the House of Atreus. The music was intended to be the soundtrack for theatrical shows, with actors impersonating the characters of the tragedy. The metal opera was actually performed under the name "Klytaimnestra - The House Of Atreus" in European theatres from 1999 to 2001, with the production of the Memmingen Opera House company and Landestheater Production.

The song "The Fire God" first appears on the 1986 Piledriver LP Stay Ugly