Independent label powerhouses Ferret MUSIC, Prosthetic RECORDS, Trustkill RECORDS and Metal Blade RECORDS, along with sponsors MUSIC CHOICE, Revolver, Pure Volume.com and Hot Topic join together with 18 of the hottest bands in the metal and hardcore scenes to Present the SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND TOUR 2005. The tour is scheduled to run June 25 through the end of July. The SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND will be an all day event with music starting each day at noon and will be held in both indoor and outdoor venues in the US and Canada.

Confirmed bands:

CLUTCH
POISON THE WELL
OPETH
UNEARTH
FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES
CHIMAIRA
NORMA JEAN
EVERY TIME I DIE
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD
THROWDOWN
HIGH ON FIRE
DEVIL DRIVER
ALL THAT REMAINS
A LIFE ONCE LOST

A special half-time performance will be made by GWAR mid way thru the show. MADBALL and TERROR will be splitting the East and West portions of the tour Regional appearances will be made by: THE RED CHORD (East coast markets), FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES (Midwest and Southeast markets), and HIMSA (Western markets) on the tour.

STAY TUNED, the tour still has a SPECIAL headliner that will be announced in the next few weeks to come!!!

Metal and hardcore have become two of the fastest organically-grown genres in music. When combined, they make up one of the most active ticket buying audiences of any musical style. THE SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND TOUR will undoubtedly become an annual event dedicated to spotlighting the newest up and coming bands.

The SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND TOUR is produced by Face the Music Touring booking agent Tim Borror, Ferret label executive/artist manager Paul Conroy, Ferret label owner Carl Severson and artist manager Larry Mazer. One of the concert organizers Paul Conroy concedes, "It was nearly two years ago to date when we were watching A Life Once Lost, Every Time I Die, Unearth and Lamb of God play a VFW Hall in Suburban Philadelphia; there was something about the energy in that single show that made me a believer that these bands would grow to levels that would far exceed the VFW halls they were accustomed to playing. This tour will serve as an important vehicle in the continued development of "organic" heavy music. Myself, Carl Severson, Tim Borror and fellow partner Larry Mazer are sincerely honored to have this opportunity to launch such a tour with its incredible group of bands."

The SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND TOUR establishes its unique brand by combining up-and-coming metal bands such as Opeth, Unearth and Chimaira with up and coming hardcore bands like Poison The Well, From Autumn to Ashes, Every Time I Die and Norma Jean. Clutch and GWAR have proven that successful careers can be developed by playing to fans of both hardcore and metal. The diversity of style found on the SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND Tour in bands like Clutch, Poison The Well, Unearth and Opeth bring great depth and represent a range of diversity unprecedented.

Frontman Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die, "I can't imagine a tour that is so efficient in finding the pulse of American music. This has it all, and we are proud to be a part of it. Come and get your fix kids, this is great music for all of us bad people."

Trevor Phipps of Unearth lays it on the line, "This tour will show the masses that real music is alive and well. "The Sounds of the Underground" will prove that you don't need "pop-culture" to embrace your sound and way of life. We are all excited as all hell to get this tour underway."

SOUNDS OF THE UNDERGROUND will be the first festival tour for Clutch. Lead singer Neil Fallon anticipates, "I look forward to the catering tents and excited youth groups. Leave your styling gel at home. Marshall stacks and mag lights all the way around! Sign me up and give me all your drink tickets."

Ticket prices for Sounds of the Underground will be kept as cheap as possible; nearly all advance tickets will be under $30. Organizers of the tour are ticket price sensitive and will be sure to pass along info on how and where to beat overdone surcharges as well as offer advance tickets online before tickets go on sale to the public.