Similar to the classic Japanese gangster flick Branded to Kill (released by Arrow Video UK last year), Massacre Gun finds the story more explicitly grounded within the world of warring yakuza factions, as opposed to the world of fugitive hitmen, yet it is still very much stylistically of a piece with Branded to Kill. The most obvious connection being the presence of the iconic Shishido in the lead, an actor often characterized as “the face of Suzuki”.
The two films also both feature art direction from Suzuki’s regular collaborator Takeo Kimura, the startling compositions of cameraman Kazue Nagatsuka and a sultry lounge jazz soundtrack from Naozumi Yamamoto with songs by Ken Sanders (also seen in the Stray Cat Rock series). More crucially, however, is the fact that Massacre Gun-director Yasuharu Hasebe had begun his career as an assistant to Suzuki.
This new release will feature a restored high definition transfer and newly translated English subtitles, alongside a brand new interview with star Jô Shishido and an extensive interview with renowned critic and historian Tony Rayns on the Nikkatsu studio’s history.
Rounding off the Blu-ray is the original Theatrical Trailer, a gallery featuring rare promotional images, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan and a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.
Synopsis
Genre icon Jô Shishido stars in this tense and violent yakuza yarn from genre stalwart and Seijun Suzuki’s former assistant, Yasuharu Hasebe (Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701’s Grudge Song).
Shishido stars as Kuroda, a mob hitman who turns on his employers after being forced to execute his lover. Joining forces with his similarly wronged brothers, hot-headed Eiji (Tatsuya Fuji, In the Realm of the Senses) and aspiring boxer Saburô (Jirô Okazaki, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter), the trio escalate their mob retaliation to all-out turf war where no one will stop until one faction emerges victorious.
Strikingly violent for the period and gorgeously photographed in monochrome like genre siblings Branded to Kill and A Colt is My Passport (Shishido’s other films from 1967), Massacre Gun is a bold iteration on the genre featuring some stunning compositions and the assured direction of Hasebe.
Special Features
· Limited Edition Blu-ray (3000 copies only)
· Restored High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation, on Blu-ray for the first time in the world!
· Original uncompressed mono PCM audio
· Newly translated English subtitles
· Brand new interview with star Jô Shishido
· Interview with renowned critic and historian Tony Rayns
· Original theatrical trailer
· Gallery featuring rare promotional images
· Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan
· booklet featuring new writing on the film by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp, newly illustrated by Ian MacEwan and featuring original archive stills
Schneewittchen will release their new album "Fur die Liebe sterben" on the 7th of May.
This art duo Marianne Iser and Thomas Duda offer their own fresh style of “New German Chansons” ranging from love songs to murderous sensations.
Highly likely/Hopefully some new songs will be presented at the Black easter festival.
The Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2015 is already the 24th edition of this brilliant festival & will take place from 22nd May 2015 until 25th May 2015 in Leipzig/Germany. More than 20,000 Gothics from all over the world are expected to come together again in Leipzig to celebrate the Wave-Gotik-Treffen as THE international gathering of the dark family.
All sub-genres of dark music will be covered: Gothic; EBM; Industrial; Ambient; Neofolk; Synthpop, Goth-Metal, Post Punk etc.
All over the city there will be about 200 bands performing, projects and single artists covering the whole wide range of Gothic music: from Electro-Pop to Goth-Metal, from EBM to Neofolk, from medieval music to Post Punk. Apart from famous bands of the scene, you are invited for new discoveries with several less-known real underground bands or artists from the edge of the Gothic music universe. The concerts and events take place at more than 50 venues spread throughout Leipzig, for instance in the vaults of the Moritzbastei, in the splendid neo-antique cupola hall of the Volkspalast, and in the green round of the open-air Parkbühne, as well as in large concert halls. The WGT program will also include beautiful classical music again, such as operas or choral and chamber music.
The inhabitants of Leipzig have become familiar with the Treffen over the last two decades – there are no longer any prejudices and the Gothic guests are very welcome here. The most fascinating aspect of the Wave-Gotik-Treffen is surely its unique magic atmosphere that covers the whole city. Gothics from all over the world celebrate their gathering in a peacefully relaxed manner, turning Leipzig into a diverse wave of black. Once a year about twenty thousand Gothics come home to the Wave-Gotik-Treffen.
Here are the names so far:(check on http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/bands.php or https://www.facebook.com/WaveGotikTreffen for regular updates)
.com/kill (D) - Accessory (D) - Agent Side Grinder (S) - Antimatter (GB) acoustic and electric performance - Ari Mason (USA) - Ash Code (I) - Ashes You Leave (HR) - Ashram (I) - Astari Nite (USA) - Asynje (DK) - Automelodi (CDN) - Bella Donna (D) - Birdmachine (D) - Black Lung (AUS) - Blood And Sun (USA) - Captain Reckless & The Lost Souls (AUS) - Centhron (D) - Clan Of Xymox (NL) - Cromdale (D) - Deine Lakaien (D) - Die Kammer (D) - Dupont (S) - Eisbrecher (D) - Eisregen (D) - Empathy Test (GB) - Esa (GB) - Escape With Romeo (D) - Evi Vine (GB) - Faey (D) - Fields Of The Nephilim (GB) 30th anniversary show - Fixmer/McCarthy (F/GB) - Ghosts Of Dawn (D) - Grendel (NL) - Harmjoy (D/USA) - Heldmaschine (D) - Hezzel (LV) - Jo Quail (GB) - Keluar (D/GB) - King Dude (USA) - Klutae (DK) - Koffin Kats (USA) - L'ame Immortelle (A) - Last Dominion Lost (AUS) - Lights Of Euphoria (D) - Lisa Cuthbert (IRL) - Majdanek Waltz (RUS) - Minuit Machine (F) - Mono Inc. (D) - Mono No Aware (D) - Morthound (S) - Mushroom's Patience (I) - Nachtmahr (A) - Nosferatu (GB) - NZ (A) - Orphx (CDN) - Otto Dix (RUS) - Polaroid Kiss (GB) - Qntal (D) - Rabbit At War (D) - Rezurex (USA) - Roma Amor (I) - Samsas Traum (D) - Sólstafir (IS) - Seasurfer (D) - Skyforger (LV) - Snog (AUS) - Soko Friedhof (D) - Sol Invictus (GB) perform the album "In The Rain" - Soror Dolorosa (F) - Spencer (CH) - Stoneman (CH) - Substaat (N) - Sweet Ermengarde (D) - Terrorfrequenz (D) - The Exploding Boy (S) - The Other (D) - The Present Moment (USA) - The Saint Paul (D) - Twisted Nerve (GB) - Two Witches (FIN) - Unterschicht (D) - Unto Ashes (USA) - While Angels Watch (GB) - Wrangler (GB) -
Some practical information :- Camping:
For camping you need a special ticket called Obsorgekarte available for 25,- € (including advance sale charge). It provides the following service-package:- Camping at the Treffen-Campground (agra-fairground)
- “Pfingstbote” (“Whitsun-herald”) – the extensive Treffen program book
- Parking:
- For car parking at the Treffen-area you have to purchase a parking vignette for 15,- € (including advance sale charges).
- Parking at the Treffen-area (agra-Messepark) is definitely not possible without a parking vignette.
- All tickets can be ordered via www.wave-gotik-treffen.com
- Expected number of visitors: approximately 20,000
- Contact: Phone: 0049-341-2120862 / Email: info@wave-gotik-treffen.de
- Photos of the last years: www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/photogallery.php
Take a look at the following movie & get an impression of the variety on this marvelous festival.
SKINNY PUPPY founder Cevin Key to reissue first solo album on Toronto's Artoffact Records
Canadian-born founder of Skinny Puppy, Kevin Crompton (aka Cevin Key), began to release solo material in the late 90s after the dissolution of his main project Skinny Puppy and in between albums by his more experimental work with Download.
The first solo album was Music For Cats, a co-release between Key's own Sub-Conscious Communications and US-label Metropolis Records. Released in 1998, the album featured an assortment of guests, including Dwayne Goettel (Skinny Puppy), Genesis P.Orridge (Psychic TV, Throbbing Gristle), Philth (Download), and Mark Spybey (Dead Voices on Air). The album's title was thought by some to be a direct reference to the end of Skinny Puppy; it is music for cats, not puppies.
Out of print for many years, Music For Cats now sees new life as a double-LP vinyl release through Artoffact Records. A limited edition on blue and pink vinyl sold out within 48 hours of announcement. A new see-thru green edition is now available alongside the standard black version. The double-LP is limited to 550 copies and the gatefold sleeve contains new photos by Cevin Key. The vinyl is set to be released on May 12th.
Almost six years have passed since the world saw a new studio album from Metal Icons W.A.S.P. That is about to change as W.A.S.P. has signed a new worldwide record deal with Austria’s Napalm Records. W.A.S.P. will release their 15th studio album titled Golgotha this August.
"W.A.S.P. are excited to announce they have signed an exclusive recording contract with Napalm Records. We chose Napalm for their personal belief and professional commitment to our career. We're looking forward to years of great success together starting with the release of our upcoming album Golgotha", states W.A.S.P. front man Blackie Lawless.
Vice President of Napalm Records Thomas Caser on W.A.S.P. joining Napalm Records:
“It is a true honor to announce this signing today, a dream has come true. With their impressive career and ability to create musical masterpieces W.A.S.P have always been one of the most influential Metal bands out there since the beginning of their career. We are thrilled about the upcoming album Golgotha which will be released this summer!”
W.A.S.P. came out of the Los Angeles Metal scene in 1982 gaining notoriety for their shock rock antics. With a career spanning over 3 decades, 17 world tours, and now their 15th studio album, they are a metal band that has evolved in maturity without having lost their signature sound, unlike many of their peers from their origins. Golgotha will continue down the path that 2007's Dominator and 2009's Babylon started on, both in production style and theme. Six years in the making, Golgotha will undoubtedly lead the listeners on the emotionally epic undertaking that W.A.S.P. has become acclaimed for!
