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ROADBURN FESTIVAL

TILBURG HOLLAND

013 and Mid Theatre

The 12th – 15th of April

Article and pics by Arto Lehtinen

Once again it is April and time to return to the Roadburn festival in Tillburg, Holland. The line-up for  2011 looked absolutely awesome in every aspect.  A few of the bands who were forced to cancel their appearance last year had been re-booked (i.e. Candlemass and Evoken). Roadburn offered a nice deal of Finnish bands as well such as Hooded Menace. It was the sonic masters Sunn O))) who had been chosen to guide and be a curator of the Roadburn 2011. The members of Sunn O))) which have plenty of other bands picked up bands fitting to their taste and the concept of the Roadburn festival. Roadburn could be bigger and larger, but due to the cult status and the will of the organization of the fest, it will remain as intimate as it has been since the beginning. Metal-Rules.com got an excellent privilege of visiting the Roadburn festival for the second time in a row to see plenty of killer bands, smell the taste of weed with awesome people, and be a part of an awesome festival atmosphere.

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Kuudes Linja

The 31st of March 2011

Helsinki, Finland

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Volcom Entertainment is proud to join forces with legendary doom guitarist/vocalist Victor Griffin (Pentagram, Death Row, Cathedral) and PLACE OF SKULLS. Titled As A Dog Returns, the nine-track follow-up to 2006′s The Black Is Never Far was released in the U.S. last fall via Giddy Up Records. Recorded at Lakeside Studios in Knoxville by Travis Wyrick and Griffin with drums recorded and engineered by Mike Dearing, As A Dog Returns will finally see a proper European release on April 4, 2011 via Volcom with distribution by ADA Warner.

Said Griffin of the cooperation: “We’re extremely happy with this arrangement. I’ve had my eye on Volcom for some time now. They’re a wide-reaching company and have their hand in other markets besides music… a clothing line, skateboard/surfing apparel, and more. It’s cool that a company like this loves heavy music and only puts out the stuff they really dig. It’s just a whole different angle than the way labels typically work.”

Already commended by critics and fans alike, Cosmic Lava called As A Dog Returns, “intense and evocative…,” with Doommantia adding, “…classy, solid and creative, the musicianship is second to none as Griffin is in top form, Tomaselli delivers a stellar performance on the drums and the bass playing of Abney is spot on.” Metal Register boasted, “…As A Dog Returns proves, convincingly, that PLACE OF SKULLS are much more than just a Trouble tribute band…a solid and creative heavy metal/hard rock album that will leave an imprint on many a listener.” Dangerdog also gave the record kudos claiming, “‘The Maker,’ ‘Breath Of Life,’ ‘Psalm,’ and ‘Desperation’ are some of the best, somber, foreboding, and often dark, heavy/doom metal you’ll find on this side of the Atlantic.”

Coinciding with the European release of As A Dog Returns, PLACE OF SKULLS will embark on a European tour with The Gates Of Slumber. Presented by Vibra-Agency, Volcom and Rock Hard Magazine, the dates are as follows:

3/31/2011 FIN – Helsinki, Kuudes Linja

4/01/2011 FIN – Oulu, Nuclear Nightclub

4/02/2011 FIN – Turku, Klubi

4/05/2011 GER – Nürnberg, KV

4/06/2011 CH – Lenzburg, Met Bar

4/07/2011 A – Wien, Arena

4/08/2011 I – Vicenza, Sabotage

4/09/2011 I – Parma, Onirica Club

4/10/2011 CH – Martigny, Les Caves du Manoir

4/12/2011 F – Paris, Le Labo – Théatre de Ménilmontant

4/13/2011 ESP – Barcelona, Rocksound

4/15/2011 NL – Tilburg, O13, Roadburn, Midi Theater for POS

http://www.placeofskulls.com

http://www.myspace.com/placeofskullsdoom

http://www.volcomeurope.com

Giddy Up! Records is pleased to announce the addition of Tennessee doomers PLACE OF SKULLS to their expanding artist roster, which currently includes Moth Eater, Black Water Rising and Demonica. The New York City-based indie imprint will release PLACE OF SKULLS’ fourth full-length, As A Dog Returns, in North American on November 9, 2010.

Said Giddy Up! label head Steve Seabury: “To me, Victor Griffin is a legend in the doom scene. I am like a little kid at the doom store. It’s an absolute honor and privilege to have PLACE OF SKULLS join the Giddy Up! Records family. This record is just amazing. I love it.”

The follow-up to 2006′s The Black Is Never Far was recorded at Lakeside Studios in Knoxville by Travis Wyrick and founding guitarist/vocalist Victor Griffin (Pentagram, Death Row etc.) with drums recorded and engineered by Mike Dearing. Audio streams of “The Maker” and the title track are currently available on the band official MySpace page. Check them out HERE.

In related news, the band will kick off a two-week European tour with Eternal Elysium this Saturday. As a special bonus, PLACE OF SKULLS fans in or around Berlin are eligible for a free pass to Hammer Of Doom 4 in Wurzburg and a FREE copy of As A Dog Returns. Contact placeofskulls@msn.com for more info!  

PLACE OF SKULLS European Tour 2010
w/ Eternal Elysium
View Tour Poster HERE:

10/23/2010 Posthalle, Hammer Of Doom 4 Festival – Würzburg, GER
10/24/2010 Gebäude 9 – Köln, GER
10/25/2010 Le Klub – Paris, FR
10/26/2010 Little Devil – Tilburg, NL
10/28/2010 Loppen – Kopenhagen, DK
10/29/2010 Rockefeller/ John Dee – Oslo, NOR w/ Orange Goblin
10/30/2010 Tribute Sandnes, Stavanger, NOR w/ Orange Goblin
10/31/2010 TBA
11/02/2010 Hafenklang – Hamburg, GER
11/03/2010 Mau – Rostock, GER
11/04/2010 White Trash – Berlin, GER
11/05/2010 Falkendom – Bielefeld, GER
11/06/2010 JH De Lochtink – Eeklo, BEL
11/07/2010 Baroeg, Dutch Doom Days 9  - Rotterdam, NL
11/08/2010 Rosenkeller – Jena, GER
Formed in early 2000 by  Griffin, bassist Lee Abney and drummer Tim Tomaselli, PLACE OF SKULLS — a biblical reference to Golgotha — carries the torch of prior Griffin and Abney bands such as Death Row and Pentagram in the ever-burgeoning underground scene of doom metal. But as their sound continues to expand beyond those boundaries, they incorporate intricate dynamics in their songs that few bands of the same genre explore and lyrically reflect upon their spiritual beliefs, faith, God, politics, and the search for peace. Having stepped outside the proverbial box of “doom metal,” PLACE OF SKULLS opens the door of accessibility to a whole other cross section of heavy rock enthusiast. But by no means should this be taken lightly. Their sound is as crushing and molten live as ever and no less threatening than any of their musical counterparts in volume.
http://www.placeofskulls.com http://www.myspace.com/placeofskullsdoom http://www.giddyuprecords.com/

Knoxville, Tennessee doom metallers PLACE OF SKULLS are pleased to announce the upcoming release of their long-awaited fourth full-length entitled As A Dog Returns. The follow-up to 2006′s The Black Is Never Far was recorded at Lakeside Studios in Knoxville by Travis Wyrick and founding guitarist/vocalist Victor Griffin (Pentagram, Death Row, Cathedral, Joe Hasselvander) with drums recorded and engineered by Mike Dearing.   Said Griffin of the band’s latest output: “The new album As A Dog Returns picks up dynamically where The Black Is Never Far left off. Where The Black… album had a bit more of a depressive theme lyrically, the new album tends to look to a brighter outcome. Musically we’ve gone further than ever before with dynamics and production. Though all the PLACE OF SKULLS’ brand of heaviness you would expect is certainly there, there’s a nice ebb and flow with quieter parts which tend to set a very dramatic and melancholy mood at times to the overall album.
“With every album we’ve done,” he continues, ”our growth and progression has been evident, and this new release is no different. I’m really enjoying the growth of my songwriting as time goes by. I don’t feel as if I have anything to prove so I think the writing gets more open, honest, and genuine with every release.
We’re very excited to finally get a new album out and hit the road again! Look for As A Dog Returns to be available in late September!”  

As A Dog Returns Track Listing

1. Timeless Hearts
2. Breath Of Life
3. Though He Slay Me
4. Psalm
5. Dayspring
6. The Maker
7. He’s God
8. Desperation
9. As A Dog Returns
Check out a brief clip from the PLACE OF SKULLS studio sessions here: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=451309518&blogId=537021674

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