“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” trailer unveiled

Say hello once again to ‘little people’, elves, bearded wizards and other creatures from the Middle-earth because Warner Bros via their social networks and the film’s official blog has uncovered the trailer for Peter Jackson’s “Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” one year ahead of its release.

The movie based on another J.R.R. Tolkien classic fantasy novel travels back in time to immerse the spectator in an epic journey to the Lonely Mountain where hobbit Bilbo Baggins accompanied by a group of dwarves is in the search for a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.

The new episode reunites part of “The Lord of the Rings” fellowship with Sir Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis reprising their roles, and some new faces like comedian Stephen Fry, Martin Freeman as a young Bilbo, and lostie Evangeline Lilly.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is set to hit the silver screen on December 14. The adventure will conclude with the arrival of “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” on 2013.

What follows is the film trailer.

 

“[REC]” video game on its way

Film company Filmax has signed a deal with Tonika Games to develop a video game based on the horror blockbuster “[REC]”, which will be released during the first quarter of 2012. 

Developed on Unity3D, designed to focus on creating tools for different platforms, it will recreate scenes from the movie and will have four worlds (levels), any representing a opposite section of a “[REC]” franchise. Players will feel the fear playing the two first episodes and in the future they will have the chance to do so when the next couple of films come out.

The game, based on first-person shooter mode where players will have an array of different weapons at their disposal, exploits a possibilities of a 3D engine to yield a actor with an immersive knowledge in initial chairman whose idea is to accommodate modeled scenarios unbroken missions from a strange locations of a films.

“[REC]” the video game will be accessible for download for iOS, Android, Blackberry and PC.

“Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol” London premiere

Film hero Tom Cruise joined stars on London red carpet last night to present “Ghost Protocol” (Paramount Pictures), the fourth instalment of the action-packed spy franchise “Mission Impossible”.

Cruise, who once again plays IMF agent Ethan Hunt, accompanied by co-stars, Paula Patton, Lea Seydoux, A list British actor/comedian Simon Pegg, director Brad Bird and producer Bryan Burk, attended the media, posed for photographers and chatted with fans, who gathered at the BFI IMAX entrance.

Other guest attending the premiere included X-files actress Gillian Anderson, Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, top model and reality TV celebrity Caprice and former pop star Sinitta.

On this occasion, blamed for a terrorist attack on the Kremlin, Ethan Hunt and the entire IMF agency are disavowed by the U.S. government when the president initiates the “Ghost Protocol.” Forced to go off the grid and left without resources or backup, Hunt must somehow clear the agency’s name and prevent another attack. Complicating matters even more, Ethan must undertake this impossible mission with a group of fellow IMF fugitives whose true motives are suspect.

The new “MI” flick, which was the 8th Dubai International Film Festival opener, is first showing on Wednesday December 21.

If you want to watch the official trailer, have a look at set photos and other curiosities about the film click here to visit the website at your own risk.

The Pink Elephants give first taste of debut album “We Hate You”

Fasten your seatbelts because punk rockers The Pink Elephants’ first album entitled “We Hate You” will hit stores this Friday.

The band has posted a video teaser of the new track called Say Goodbye on their website and we have to confess the song has left us breathless and with the fuck yeah expression on our faces, so we thought we had to share this precious moment with you lot so you can start your week with energy and headbanging all the way through.

The album, which will include 13 tracks and a kicking-ass artwork (just have a look at the design of the new website and you will know what we are talking about), will be available on CD and for digital download.

If the snippet of “We Hate You” has aroused your curiosity, you may consider visit the band’s official site here.

Give the sample (Say Goodbye) a listen for yourself by clicking the video below.

Interview with Liquid Fuse

Not everyday one finds oneself face to face with one of these bands capable to make you feel, just by listening a single minute of their music, they are going to reinvent rock and roll. Without any doubt, Liquid Fuse is one of those bands.  With a frontman as talented and charismatic like a young Freddie Mercury and a bunch of inspirational musicians playing at the same level as Guns N’ Roses when they were writing the songs for “Appetite for Destruction” (Geffen Records, 1987) at the Hell House, it is sure these boys would set people talking about LF in the future.

The Band

Joe Wareham - Vocals

Jamie North – Guitar

Lee Bentley – Guitar

Dwight Brady – Drums

Will Carroll – Bass

Dan Kelly – ex-Bass player (played with them at Surface)

HB - When did you realised you wanted to be part of this crazy world of rock‘n‘roll? What was it that attracted you in the first place and how did you start as a band?

Individually, we’ve enjoyed rock music since we were young, and people don’t need much persuading to want to be rock stars! There’s a timeless awe around it: the stadia, the thousands of people, the crazy performances. While other fashions come and go, rock ‘n’ roll is always is cool.

The band started with Jamie and Lee meeting at college around 5-6 years ago – they’ve played and written together ever since. They got through a metric tonne of other band members until Joe came along and started putting some lyrics to their music; everything just gelled. After that, it was just a case of finding a rhythm section, which came in the form of Dwight and Dan (and now Will, replacing Dan).

HB - I guess this is a usual question for you guys, but ¿where does the name of Liquid Fuse come from?  What’s behind it? 

Funnily enough, Jamie was messing around with a random name generator online…he got one random name with “Liquid” in it, and another with “Fuse” in it, and he put them both together and liked them. That simple! It is a unique name though, and if you search us on Google you’ll find we’re most of the top results – tip for new bands: make sure your name doesn’t have any competition!

HB - After listening to tracks like Loaded Gun or  Sands and finding out that you include extracts from AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child” in your live shows, it’s clear your influences are based on old school rock’n’roll, but ¿How would you describe your music? ¿Do you think it was a good idea to come back to the basics?

We wouldn’t say we’d gone “back to basics” as such. Our music is clearly influenced in a lot of old rock ‘n’ roll, particularly 80s hard rock, but we feel (and critics seem to agree with us) that though our influences are clear, we do something new and different to that sound. When people hear us play, people tend to say less that we “take them back to those days” and more that we are refreshing, which confirms our belief that what we are doing isn’t just re-hashing the same old stuff people have heard before – in the words of Bruce Lee, we are absorbing what is useful, discarding what is useless, and adding what is uniquely our own.

HB - Talking about the mainstream musical scene and shows like XFactor and Britain‘s Got Talent, what’s your opinion about these kind of “artists” aired on prime time radio who come from this kind of “musical” background? Do you think LF could change the perspective on emerging British bands?

We don’t have any beef with individual artists – they’re doing what they can, and good luck to them. The problem is the music industry and the media machine, which combined have put increasingly lower emphasis on talent and more on churning out talentless stars to be built up, consumed, and thrown away. Liquid Fuse would be a refreshing breath of rock ‘n’ roll air, focusing on what is important: real music from real musicians, and great performances. Emerging as a real rock band is a much harder, longer route, but like we said before, rock ‘n’ roll has an amazing longevity about it, from the music to the fans, and it is not as disposable as mainstream pop.

HB - Just give our readers an inside look about “Loaded Gun” Ep. ¿Where do the lyrics come from? ¿Where do you find the inspiration to write your lyrics?¿Is there any special/hidden meaning in them?

Joe writes most of the lyrics (though the song Loaded Gun was a joint effort between Joe, Jamie and Lee), and a lot of the songs have the classic components – girls, rock and having a good time. It’s no secret that there’s a fair bit of innuendo around the chorus and verses of Loaded Gun; Now It’s Time is a more straightforward song about a “Carpe Diem” or grab-life-by-the-balls approach; Sands is about finally finding a particular girl after a long struggle.

HB - You were crowned winners of Cravin' Tunez Worthing Battle Of The Bands 2011, winners of Surface Festival Regional Final (London & South East),  and finalists on Surface International Showcase, which took place last October 1, ¿What it is your opinion about these kind of competitions? ¿How was your experience in them?

These competitions aren’t the be-all and end-all, but they certainly have their place for any emerging bands – they give you exposure, recognition and the possibility of some prizes. On of the key things is that it gives your fans and friends the opportunity to rally behind you…as long as you don’t do too many and wear your fanbase out by begging them to help you all the time, you’re giving everyone a sense of joint purpose…winning is a nice boost. The other main thing is that competitions (and later, judge feeback) force you to look at your band critically, build on what you do well and work weaknesses. We’ve enjoyed our experiences with these competitions, and we’ve met some great people and bands along the way.

HB - ¿What is the coolest thing about being a member of/ in LF?Writing songs, playing live, the groupies, performing with other bands…?

There are a million great things about being in Liquid Fuse, like the fact that we’re a second family, having a lot of fun, writing songs…but really, nothing comes close to playing a great gig. Being on stage in front of loads of people who are going crazy, screaming and singing your lyrics back to you is the coolest thing in the world. So we’d like to thank everyone out there that’s done that for us, and for all their support – love you!

Second best thing would be writing a new lick or line and getting those butterflies in your stomach because you KNOW that’s a new song right there.

“We'd love to play with AC/DC. We think we would suit each others’ style.”

HB - Why should someone who's never heard of your band check you guys out?

Because listening to our music will put a smile on your face. We challenge you to listen to our EP (or, even better, listen to us live) and not enjoy yourself. If not, find us and comment on our page and tell us why!

HB -  You played at Indig02 and other festivals on the search for new musical talents but ¿What would be the perfect/dream venue/festival for you to play?

We all have different answers, from Download Festival to Wembley to Madison Square Garden to Rock in Rio….ultimately, we just want to get up in the biggest place possible and look upon a sea of faces in front of us, ready to rock. That’s the dream – proper stadium rock.

HB - ¿Which band/artists would you love to share the stage with? ¿And what band/artist would you love to hang out after a gig? ¿Why?

There are a load of bands we’d love to play with but none with a bigger, more timeless appeal than AC/DC. Have you ever heard anyone say they don’t like them? We think we would suit each others’ style.

In terms of post-show, we’d love to hang out with some of the crazier guys – the old GNR line-up, Mötley Crüe, Steel Panther. Chickenfoot would be great to hang out with too! Really, we’d love to play with any of these bands.

HB - How do you see yourself as a band, say, in 10 years time?

Playing at Wembley and changing people’s ideas on how good a live show can be. Seriously!

HB - We give you carte blanche to say whatever you want to let our readers know about what’s going on in the LF universe. 

Why thank you! Well, it’s an exciting time – we’ve just got a new bass player, Will, and we’ve just taken on some great management so the rest of the year is going to be spent getting ourselves together and getting a website done. We’re also in the process of recording a charity single, Fiona, which we plan to tour across the UK to raise some cash. Oh, and did I mention a show with Black Spiders in April?

By early next year, we’ll be looking to have everything ready to go (website, image, new material) and play a showcase in London to get noticed by the industry. We’re serious about taking this to the next step.

For more information about Liquid Fuse you can visit the following websites:

http://www.facebook.com/officialliquidfuse

http://www.myspace.com/officialliquidfuse

http://www.youtube.com/liquidfuseband

http://www.liveandloud.com/band/liquid-fuse

http://www.twitter.com/LiquidFuseBand

http://liquidfuseofficial.wordpress.com

“Twilight” stars hit London for “Breaking Dawn: Part I” premiere

Film sensations Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner landed in London’s Westfield Stratford City on Wednesday to present “Breaking Dawn: Part I” as thousands of teens gathered to catch a glimpse of the “Twilight” trio.

Accompanied by the film’s director, Bill Condon, and some celebrities- Pixie Lott, Sugababe Heidi Range, Holly Valance, X Factor judge Tulisa- the “Twilight” army posed for pictures and  walked up and down on the red carpet greeting the legion of fans, many of them camped for over 30 hours. 

Two days later the stars flew to Barcelona to present the film at El Palacio de Congresos del Fòrum (Hot BuZz (mag) photographer was there to capture the moment), this time without Stewart, who stayed in London.

“Breaking Dawn: Part I”,  the fourth installment of the franchise, sees the wedding between Edward and Bella and she getting pregnant with a half-vampire baby. 

“Twilight” saga will conclude next year with the release of “Breaking Dawn: Part II” on November 16.

“Breaking Dawn: Part I” opened in theaters last Friday.

If you want to have a look at more pictures from Barcelona’s premiere click here.

 

“Toy Story” gang strike back with new 7-Minute Short, “Small Fry”

Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their toy troops return with a new adventure in the new Disney-Pixar short entitled “Small Fry”, which will be played before “The Muppets”.

On this occasion, Buzz is left behind at a fast-food restaurant when a kid’s meal toy version of the space hero takes his place. While his mates are stuck with the annoying three-inch-tall Buzz impersonator, the real Buzz is trapped in the restaurant at a support group for discarded toys. As Woody and the gang devise a way to rescue their friend, Buzz tries to escape the toy psychotherapy meeting.

“Small Fry”, written and directed by Angus MacLane, sees Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn y Timothy Dalton, among others, return to voice their characters.

The short film will hit cinemas on February 10.

Nickelback to release new album in November

Multi-platinum rock band Nickelback have announced its new record will hit worldwide stores on 21 November.

The Canadian rockers’ seventh studio album entitled “Here And Now” (Roadrunner Records) has been recorded in Mountain View Studios, Vancouver, and includes 11 self-produced tracks.

Speaking about the album, frontman Chad Kroeger said: “We're four people who love making music, they way we like to make it. We entered the studio this year with a vision, and it all came together.

“We're extremely happy with the results, and can't wait to share them with our fans.”

The first single, the pro-social When We Stand Together, is huge success on American radio stations.

Below, it is the new video.

Korn’s new album due in December

Nu metal lords Korn come back to the music scene with the release of its tenth studio album,  “The Path of Totality”, which will be out on December 6 under Roadrunner Records. 

The new record will see the Californians exploring new territory as they have collaborated with some of the leading dubstep and electronic producers in the world, including Skrillex, Excision, Datsik, Noisia, Kill the Noise, and 12th Planet.

The first chapter of this new project came out last summer when Korn released the single Get Up! with Skrillex, which was a massive hit on American radio stations.

Frontman, Jonathan Davies, said about the album: “The title refers to the fact that in order to see the sun in a full solar eclipse, you must be in the exact right place in the exact right time.” 

“That's how this album came together. I think all the producers feel the same way. I'm not sure it could ever happen again.”

“The Path Of Totality” will be in both standard and deluxe edition, the latter one including two bonus tracks and a two-hour live DVD of The Encounter Crop Circle concert.

The Narcissistic Cannibal video can be seen below. 

First look at Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie”

Here it comes the time to meet Tim Burton’s new creatures. We are exited to reveal the first set of images of “Frankenweenie” (Walt Disney Pictures), the director’s upcoming 3D black and white stop-motion animated flick.

The movie, an expansion of his original 1984 live-action short film, takes the audience to Victor’s universe, a little boy who decides to bring his dog back to life through the magic of science… with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

“Frankenweenie” will hit theatres on October 5, 2012.

“We need to talk about Kevin” named best picture at BFI Awards

The 55th BFI London Film Festival announced its award winners yesterday night revealing Lynne Ramsay’s harsh adaptation of Lionel Shriver's bestseller “We Need to talk about Kevin” as this year’s best film.

The award, in partnership with American Express, was chaired by John Madden who presented it with fellow judge Gillian Anderson.

On behalf of the jury Chair, John Madden, said: “This year’s shortlist for Best Film comprises work that is outstanding in terms of its originality and its stylistic reach. It is an international group, one united by a common sense of unflinching human enquiry and we were struck by the sheer panache displayed by these great storytellers. In the end, we were simply bowled over by one film, a sublime, uncompromising tale of the torment that can stand in the place of love. “We Need to Talk About Kevin” is made with the kind of singular vision that links great directors across all the traditions of cinema.”

The ceremony, hosted by Marcus Brigstocke, saw actress Candese Reid achieving the Best British Newcomer prize for “Junkhearts”, a sophisticated, social drama about hope and the search for redemption. The award, in partnership with Swarovski honouring new and emerging film talent, was presented by Edgar Wright and Minnie Driver.

Starting acting at the age of nine, Reid joined Nottingham’s prestigious Television Workshop, and her role in “Junkhearts”, at the age of 18, was her first professional acting role. She also received a bursary of £5,000 courtesy of Swarovski.

Chair of the Best British Newcomer jury, Andy Harries, said, “Candese is a fresh, brilliant and exciting new talent. Every moment she was on screen was compelling.”

Pablo Giorgelli, director of “Las Acacias”- a slow-burning, uplifting and enchanting story of a truck driver and his passengers.-, won the long-standing Sutherland Award for the most original and imaginative feature debut in the Festival. The Argentinian  received his Star of London from film director Terry Gilliam.

The jury commented: “In a lively and thoughtful jury room debate, Las Acacias emerged as a worthy winner, largely because of the originality of its conception. Finely judged performances and a palpable sympathy for his characters makes this a hugely impressive debut for director Pablo Giorgelli.”

As previously announced Ralph Fiennes and David Cronenberg were awarded with BFI Fellowship prize. Aimed to an individual whose body of work has made an outstanding contribution to film culture, the Fellowship is the highest accolade that the British Film Institute bestows. The Canadian auteur received the award for his film “A Dangerous Method” premiered at the Festival on Monday. The Fellowship was presented by Jeremy Thomas and Michael Fassbender.

Ralph Fiennes, one of Britain’s pre-eminent actors, who has just made a bold and critically well received transition to film directing with his festival film “Coriolanus”, was also presented with a Fellowship, this time from fellow actor and personal friend Liam Neeson.

The panel of jurors attending the ceremony included: Best Film jurors John Madden, Andrew O’Hagan. Gillian Anderson, Asif Kapadia, Tracey Seaward and Sam Taylor-Wood OBE; Sutherland jurors Tim Robey, Joanna Hogg, Saskia Reeves, Peter Kosminsky, Hugo Grumbar, and the artist Phil Collins. Best British Newcomer jurors Anne-Marie Duff, Tom Hollander, Edith Bowman, Stephen Woolley and Nik Powell; and Grierson Award jurors Mandy Chang of the Grierson Trust, Charlotte Moore, Head of Documentary Commissioning at BBC, Kim Longinotto and Adam Curtis.

Other guests included respected figures in the film world like Alfonso Cuarón , Sheharazade Goldsmith, Duncan Kenworthy, Aaron Johnson, Paul Gambaccini, Chair of the BFI Greg Dyke, Chief Executive Amanda Nevill and Festival Director Sandra Hebron.

SOS Festival confirms first acts

Rocksector Records revealed yesterday the name of the first seven bands aimed to take the stage on the fifth edition of the indoor rock and metal SOS Festival.

This year the event will feature a mix of the Rocksector artists showcased alongside well-known bands, plus emerging bands from around the UK and abroad, plus a local Manchester area contingent too.

In 2011, the festival was headlined by Scottish rockers Gun and band Fury UK. Previous headliners have included Blaze Bayley, Black Spiders and Heaven’s Basement, and now it is turn for Tygers Of Pan Tang, Exit State, Max Pie, Gone Til Winter, Triaxis, and Wizzard & Broken to perform for the Manchurian crowds.

Tygers Of Pan Tang will be leading the first night. The band is currently writing and recording towards a new album to be out in 2012. The record with a working title of “Ambush” will be the follow-up to the critically-acclaimed “Animal Instinct” from 2008.  

Exit State will take the chance to promote in the same evening the new album “Black Veins”, which was released this month. The four-piece ensemble, which reached the Number One spot on the Kerrang TV Chart Request Show with Lost Beyond Belief from debut album “Death Of A Rockstar”, are currently on tour in the UK and will be heading off to play Hard Rock Hell V in North Wales alongside bill-toppers such as Ace Frehley, Therapy?, Magnum, Black Stone Cherry and more.

Another band to appear the first day is Triaxis. The South Wales group should be well-known to fans from both Bloodstock and Hammerfest festivals, where the band have played headline-grabbing performances during the past couple of years. The audience will have the opportunity to listen to their self-released album “Key To The Kingdom” which won plaudits from high places such as Metal Hammer, Terrorizer and Zero Tolerance. They are currently touring with Fury UK, Kobra and The Lotus.

Wizzard will be the first Belgian band playing in this edition. The traditional hard rock/metallers played at SOS in 2011 winning many fans in the process. Headed by vocalist Wizz, they will bring a heavily NWOBHM-inspired sound which has been helping their growing reputation during the past two-three years.

Broken will complete the line-up. They are relative newcomers on the UK scene, but the Yorkshire-based are quickly earning a reputation for their infectious, kick ass hard rock grooves delivered with a rock n roll swagger, all helping the band develop a loyal following.

The following day we will see the Manchester-based gothic female-fronted melodic metallers Gone Til Winter conquering the audience with the songs from their self-titled mini-album on Headroom Records, including the hit Hear Me. They are currently planning for a follow-up album in 2012.  

Max Pie which hail from Belgium will bring their own brand of power metal to the festival. Their sound, characterised by their aggressive, power, melodic and progressive elements, resulted in debut album “Initial Process” appealing to fans of bands such as Rhapsody, Kamelot and Symphony X.

The festival will take place at Radcliffe Civic, in Radcliffe, North Manchester in July 21 and 22, and will run a main stage and an acoustic one.

Tickets are £10 for single day and £15 for two days and can be bought from Ticketline or the Rocksector Records webstore.

More bands will be announced soon.

For more information about the festival check the website by clicking here. 

“Marvel’s The Avengers” in the hunt of public enemy number one

It is true, we could not resist getting involved into “Marvel’s The Avengers” universe. First, we got hooked by the A-list cast including Robert Downey Jr (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow) and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Furry), and now we are excited about the material we have received about the film in this year’s edition of New York’s Comic Con and the arrival of the latest on-set promo images on our news desk.

As part of the Marvel panel at Comic Con, last Saturday some of the avengers- Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk), Cobie Smulders (Agent Hill) and Clark Clegg (Agent Coulson) joined by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, -assembled to present the latest news, featuring an exclusive first look at scenes from the film like (¡spoiler!) the first encounter between Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner, Captain America fighting on a NY bus roof o Iron Man flying to Stark Tower.

 

During the Q&A session the team revealed other curiosities such as Ruffalo being the first ever actor to portray both Bruce Banner and Hulk in a sensor-covered body suit, leaving behind the usual CGI technique; the inclusion on the ending credits of a Marvel films’ traditional secret scene and the latest news about “Iron Man 3”, which is being on pre-production phase right now with director Shane Black taking the reins, and it would act as a link to phase two which will probably result in “The Avengers” sequel.

And, ¿what is the film about? When the world is threaten by an unexpected  enemy, Nick Furry, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.

The star studded cast of superheroes also includes Chris Hemsworth reprising his role as Thor and Jeremy Renner playing Hawkeye.

Production commenced in Alburquerque (New Mexico) under Joss Whedon’s direction. The film’s principal photography continued in Cleveland, Ohio and New York City.

The epic adventure, which is based on the ever-popular comic book series, first published in 1963, is set for release on May 4, 2012.

“Transformers: Fall of Cybertron” videogame officially announced for 2012

Gamers will experience the epic battles that shaped the history of the Autobots and Decepticons with the fall 2012 release of “Transformers: Fall of Cybertron”, as Activision confirmed yesterday.

The videogame which is currently in development by High Moon Studios will embark players on the final darkest hours of the civil was between the two species as they fight for control of their dying planet, ultimately leading to their storied exodus from home.

David Oxford, executive vice president at Activision Publishing, said: “High Moon Studios is an extremely talented development team having raised the bar of gameplay and Transformers authenticity in their games.” 

  “‘Transformers: Fall of Cybertron’ is an extraordinary project both for the studio and the Transformers gaming legacy — the stakes are higher and the scale much larger than ever before, and we absolutely cannot wait for fans to see all the new characters and epic action that awaits them.”

Hasbo’s SVP of Digital Media and Marketing Mark Blecher added: “Hasbro has worked hand in hand with Activision to create a fully original storyline that details the climactic battles leading to the famed exodus of the Transformers characters from Cybertron,.”

“Our team at Hasbro is looking forward to exploring and expanding the Transformers story again with an incredible blockbuster video game that will blow fans away next year.”

Fans eager to discover never before seen artwork and dual, limited editions covers of the game will find it in the November issue of Game Informer magazine and some features, interviews and videos will be posted in the website throughout the next few weeks.

Blink 182 return with “Neighborhoods”

The announcement of the reunion of the punk-rock band Blink 182 in 2009 was a huge surprise both for their fans but also for anyone involved in the music industry in one way or another. After a long hiatus- where they gave free rein to side projects like Tom DeLonge’s Angels & Airwaves, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker’s +44 or Barker debut solo album “Give The Drummer Some” (Interscope)- the boys released yesterday “Neighborhoods”, their first album in over eight years.

The new record offers a 10-track list which brings a more mature Blink 182 that reminisces on lost, isolation and death and the title came after each member discovered they bring a very different essence to the band, each like different neighborhoods in a city. 

Hoppus revealed to MTV: “Everybody in the world thinks of something unique unto themselves when they hear the word “Neighborhoods”.

“To some it is a big city, others a small town, others suburbia, everything. The world is wide, exciting and very different. That's what “Neighborhoods” means to me.”

The first single Up All Night came out in July and weeks ago Hearts All Gone and After Midnight were aired on prime time radio.

“Neighborhoods” (Interscope Records) which is the first self-produced album due to the death of long-time producer Jerry Finn in 2008 is now available to purchase as deluxe version which includes four bonus tracks and vinyl edition. 

Here goes “Neighbourhoods”’s definitive tracklist:

1. Ghost on the Dance Floor (4:18)
2. Natives (3:55)
3. Up All Night (3:20)
4. After Midnight (3:27)
5. Snake Charmer (4:27)
6. Heart's All Gone - Interlude (2:02)
7. Heart's All Gone (3:15)
8. Wishing Well (3:21)
9. Kaleidoscope (3:53)
10. This is Home (2:47)
11. MH 8-1.22.2011 (3:27)
12. Love is Dangerous (4:26)
13. Fighting the Gravity (3:42)
14. Even if She Falls (3:00)

R.E.M. say goodbye after 31 years together

The alternative rock band R.E.M. announced yesterday on a statement in their website they are splitting up after more than three decades on the road.

With 15 albums under their belt and a bunch of hits like Man on the Moon, Losing my Religion or Everybody Hurts, the band, initially a quartet transforming to a trio after drummer Bill Berry’s departure in 1997, insisted it was an amicable parting and the only reason to that decision is that each member want to build the groundwork for solo careers.

Each of them have posted individual statements explaining the sudden breaking up and thanking fans for their unconditional support through all these years.

Frontman Michal Stipe said: “A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it. 

“I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way” 

He added: “We have to thank all the people who helped us be R.E.M. for these 31 years; our deepest gratitude to those who allowed us to do this. It's been amazing.”

Mike Mills, bassist, said: “During our last tour, and while making “Collapse Into Now” and putting together this greatest hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'what next'? Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together. 

“We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love, and respect, each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this--there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each other's best interests at heart. The time just feels right.”

Guitarist Peter Buck added: “One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M. was the fact that the records and the songs we wrote meant as much to our fans as they did to us. It was, and still is, important to us to do right by you. Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you. 

“Mike, Michael, Bill, Bertis, and I walk away as great friends. I know I will be seeing them in the future, just as I know I will be seeing everyone who has followed us and supported us through the years. Even if it's only in the vinyl aisle of your local record store, or standing at the back of the club: watching a group of 19 year olds trying to change the world.”

R.E.M. released “Collapse Into Now” (Warner Bros.) earlier this year to complete in that way the prefect music legacy.

We leave you with out Top 5 favourite songs from Stipe and Co.

1. Shiny Happy People

2. Losing my Religion

3. Man on the Moon

4. Imitation of Life

5. The Great Beyond

Closed beta test starts for “Diablo III” videogame

The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling “Diablo” action role-playing game series, “Diablo III”, has begun its closed public beta testing, as Blizzard Entertainment announced yesterday.

The company has started issuing the first wave of invitations to participate in the testing process and is planning to add more participants over the course of the beta test. While enjoying an early look at the game, beta testers will provide valuable feedback as they help Blizzard Entertainment test server stability and hardware.

Participants will be able to fight their way through part of Act I as any of the five hero classes -- barbarian, witch doctor, wizard, monk, and demon hunter -- and go head-to-skull against the Skeleton King, taking him on alone or playing cooperatively with other adventurers. They'll also get to meet up with some of the artisans, followers, and other key characters from Sanctuary, and try out the game's skill and crafting systems.

Mike Morhaime, Blizzard Entertainment CEO and cofunder, said: “This closed beta test is an important milestone for us as we enter the final stages of development on Diablo III.

“Our goal is to create the best action role-playing game experience to date, building on everything we've learned since the release of “Diablo II” and incorporating the powerful features of the new Battle.net® platform. We hope players enjoy participating in the beta test and we look forward to hearing their feedback.”

The videogame will continue the epic “Diablo” storyline with players playing their role in the ongoing struggle against hordes of monsters and challenging bosses to save the world of Sanctuary from the corrupting forces of the Burning Hells.

The game will be localized and released in multiple languages, but the beta will be English only.

Beta testers will have to set up an account and sign up for a chance to participate at the official Battle.net website.

Release timing and region-specific details such as pricing and supported languages will be announced at a later date in the videogame’s online site.

Metallica & Lou Reed: Everything you wanted to know about their upcoming album “Lulu” and you were afraid to ask

One of the most popular projects of the moment and that everyone is talking about is the musical collaboration between New York composer Lou Reed and the most selling hard rock band of all times, Metallica. The king of avant-rock and the four thrash metal horsemen have joined forces to raised a few eyebrows with their musical creature “Lulu”, a set of extended songs inspired by some of German expressionist Frank Wedekind's early 20th century plays.

After coming together for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts and performing Velvet Underground classic hits Sweet Jane y White Light/White Heat in New York in 2009, all guilty parties knew they wanted to make more music together. The Long Island singer was inspired enough by that performance that he pronounced: “We knew from then that we were made for each other.”

The original plan was to revisit what Lars Ulrich describes as “some of Lou's lost jewels - songs that he felt he'd like to give a second spin, and we could do whatever it is we do to some of those songs.” That idea “hung in the air” for a couple of months, until director-choreographer Robert Wilson came to scene with his production of the “Lulu Plays“, based on Wedekind's plays Earth Spirit and Pandora's Box. Reed was responsible of sketching out the lyrics and musical landscape for a theatrical production in Berlin, but soon was joined by the band to start recording at HQ studios in North California early May of this year.

“We were very interested in working with Lou”, confesses James Hetfield. “I had these giant question marks: what's it going to be like? What's going to happen? So it was great when he sent us the lyrics for the Lulu body of work. It was something we could sink our teeth into. I could take off my singer and lyricist hat and concentrate on the music part. These were very potent lyrics, with a soundscape behind them for atmosphere. Lars and I sat there with an acoustic and let this blank canvas take us where it needed to go. It was a great gift, to be asked to stamp 'TALLICA on it. And that's what we did.”

Reed picks up the tale of Lulu's birth. “I'd worked on this thing for a while. Frank Wedekind didn't get it right first time either, so he tried again. In Berlin they told me there were fourteen versions of this play floating around with differing emphases, but the main thrust of is like Pandora's Box and then I got my paws on it, tried to make sense out of it with my significant other, Laurie Anderson. It was almost impossible at first. We had to figure who Lulu was, her psychology. We had to bring her to life in a sophisticated way, using rock. And the hardest power rock you could come up with would have to be Metallica. They live on that planet. We played together, and I knew it: dream come true.”

“It's definitely not a Metallica album, or a Lou Reed album”, concludes Kirk Hammett. “It's something else. It's a new animal, a hybrid. Nobody in our world, the heavy metal world, has ever done anything like this.”

“Lulu” has been produced by Lou Reed, Metallica, Hal Willner and Greg Fidelman will be available worldwide on October 31 on Universal Music.

For more information about the project Loutallica visit the official site: http://www.loureedmetallica.com/index.php

Following it is “Lulu”’s complete track list: 

1.  Brandenburg Gate (4:19)
2. The View (5:17)
3. Pumping Blood (7:24)
4. Mistress Dread (6:52)
5. Iced Honey (4:36)
6. Cheat On Me (11:26)
7. Frustration (8:33)
8. Little Dog (8:01)
9. Dragon (11:08)
10. Junior Dad (19:28)

Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard and Steel Panther to kick ass with a UK tour

Glam rockers Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard will join forces for the first time ever to tour the UK this December with very special guests, Steel Panther, as Live Nation announced today.

After headlining last June Download festival for the second time in three years and selling more than 65 million albums worldwide, Def Leppard return to the British Isles with 6 gigs, opening with their epic live show at Birmingham Arena on Tuesday December 6 and concluding at Wembley eight days later.

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott said: “I can't tell you enough how thrilled I am to announce this tour!! We always strive to make our shows an event and to have Mötley Crue and Steel Panther along for the ride makes this an event that just can't be missed for rock fans across the UK!! Come join us on what will be the event of the year!!”

Mötley Crüe will hit the road with Elliott and co., following the band’s success in the States with their performances at Crüe Fest 2 in 2009, during which they played the whole of the “Dr Feelgood” (Elektra Records, 1989) album every night in celebration of their 20th anniversary.

Nikki Sixx and his troop will be also releasing a brand new expanded Greatest Hits package which will include the Crüe Fest DVD in November.

Sixx said: “Motley Crüe is excited to do some destruction with long time peers Def Leppard on tour this holiday season. We have never toured together so hopefully there will be some devirginizing of each-others fans and in the end one fucking wild party together.” 

Supporting Crüe and Leppard, the British audience will enjoy for the first time the songs from Steel Panther’s new album “Balls Out” which will be out on October 17 via Universal Records. The first single If You Really Really Love Me will impact on November 7.

Frontman Michael Starr said: “To rock with Lep and Crüe is a dream come true!! This will be the best tour package all year hands down. Now we got to learn our songs from the new CD.”

Guitarist Satchel added: “Getting the tour with Def Leppard and Motley Crüe is the best thing that’s happened to Steel Panther since we got the Viagra endorsement – we’re hard already!”

Tickets go on sale 9am on Friday September 2 priced at £47.50 LONDON / £45.00 and are available from Live Nation.

Tour dates are below:

December 2011
Tuesday 6 - Birmingham LG Arena
Thursday 8 - Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Friday 9 - Glasgow Secc Hall 4
Sunday 11 - Manchester Men Arena
Tuesday 13 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
Wednesday 14 - Wembley Arena

Kasabian announce "Monster" arena tour

Leicester based band Kasabian will take their “Velociraptor” LP on the road this winter for a  10-date tour, building up their colossal ‘empire’ in some of the country’s best arenas.  

The tour kicks off at Brighton Centre on November 28, before moving onto the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff two days later. 

The quartet are also due to perform shows at Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena, Birmingham’s NIA and at other venues during December.

The tour ends at O2 Arena London on December 14.

The LP is due to be released in September 19 through Columbia Records and includes the songs Switchblade Smiles and Days Are Forgotten, which has been chosen as the soundbed for the new Sky Sport football season TV ad.

Tickets go on sale Friday 2 September at 9am and are priced at £30.00 (£32.50 for London). Buy online at Live Nation’s website or call 0844 576 5483.

Kasabian Monster UK Tour 2011:

November

Monday 28 - Brighton, Centre

Wednesday 30 - Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena

December

Friday 2 - Nottingham, Capital FM Arena

Sunday 4 - Liverpool, Echo Arena

Tuesday 6 - Birmingham, NIA

Wednesday 7 - Manchester, Evening News Arena

Thursday 8 - Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena

Saturday 10 - Sheffield, Motorpoint Arena

Sunday 11 - Glasgow, SECC Arena (08444 999 990/www.gigsinscotland.com)

Wednesday 14 - London, O2 Arena

Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform… in a cinema near you!!

Red Hot Chili Peppers forthcoming album “I’m With You” (Warner Bros.) will be out on August 30, but to celebrate their first album in five years, the Chilis will be captured live the same night in high-definition from Cologne, Germany, and the gig will be broadcast via satellite to select cinemas around the globe.

This is the first and only time Kiedis and co. will perform the entire album in sequence, followed by some of their greatest hits.

You can also take part in the global listening party for the new RHCP album as the official website will stream exclusively today the new album in full.

If you click here you will find a list of UK theatres were the film is going to be shown.

To watch the trailer just click here.

Noel Gallagher doesn’t look back in anger

It looks like Noel Gallagher has the ability to turn everything he touches into gold since he left Oasis and started his solo career.

Last month Mojo asked him to guest edit the mag’s September issue. The debut single The Death of You and Me from his new solo album reached a million plays after being posted in his official Youtube channel three days after its release on July 25 and the latest news we received in our press room is that the first gig with his new band Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds sold out within minutes of going on sale.

If anyone doubted about his implication with the audience, the rockstar’s record company Sour Mash Records posted the making of Death which was shot in LA while he was finishing the album, and its b-side The Good Rebel, available to stream. Noel also announced yesterday that next Monday he will be doing a live webchat with his friend Matt Morgan and through his Facebook page giving fans the opportunity to question him everything they always wanted to know about him and his role in the music industry and were afraid to ask.

Q&A will start broadcasting from 7pm and questions can be submitted live during the broadcast through Twitter as well using the hashtag #AskNoel.

The webchat will also be recorded and broadcast live on his FB page from 9pm EST (Eastern Standard Time USA) and will be posted on Noel’s Youtube channel shortly afterwards.

The confirmed gigs are:

Sunday 23 October - Dublin, Olympia Theatre 

Thursday 27 October -  Edinburgh, Usher Hall

Saturday 29 October - London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo