Witch Mountain return from their three-plus-year hiatus with a refreshed lineup (new singer Kayla Dixon and bass player Justin Brown join band stalwarts Rob Wong and Nate Carson) and a new album, Witch Mountain, out on May 25th via Svart Records.

“We’ve always been a patient band,” said founding member/drummer Nathan Carson. “Thanks to all of the touring Rob and I have done with Justin and Kayla over the last three years, we were able to make this album as a full-fledged, road-tested, family unit. Over twenty years, Witch Mountain has never peaked; each record and tour are better than the last. It was a tiny scene when we started, and even though it’s incredibly saturated now, own unique twist on Northwestern doom has continued to set us apart. I can’t wait to share the latest and greatest album with our fans.”

The five-song release features the aforementioned new singer, Kayla Dixon, who had large shoes to fill when Uta Plotkin announced she was moving on following the release of Mobile Of Angels.

Witch Mountain pre-orders and the band's North American tour dates will be announced soon.

Witch Mountain tracklisting:

"Midnight"
"Mechanical World"
"Burn You Down"
"Hellfire"
"Nighthawk"

"Burn You Down":

Burn You Down by Witch Mountain

(Photo - Whitey McConnaughy)

Infectus 13 has been on a temporary forced hiatus since August 2016, due to founder Sid Falck’s health problems. However, the band is now in the process of exploring locations to set up a new recording studio, where the writing and recording of fresh material can resume.

Due to the different songwriters involved between 2014 and now, the current lineup of Sid Falck, Bob Barnak (vocals) and Steve Pogue (guitars), have decided that all new material will best serve the purpose of documenting where the project is at in 2018. However, some of the material written prior, was deemed too good to simply forget about. So, three of the old songs were chosen to be reworked for release as a series of singles over the coming months.

The option has been, or will be, extended to some of the former collaborators, to have their contribution included on the songs, either “as is” or in re-recorded form.

The first release, "Break Your Bones", was originally reordered in 2014/15. While Steve Pogue re-recorded all his guitar tracks, the song will also feature the original rhythm tracks of Janna Jordan-Squires, as well as the original bass tracks of Andrew Guthrie.

The song is in the mastering stage, and will be released accompanied by an original video, currently being created by J. Plaster of GraveTerror Designs. The song will be available as a download only, and we will update closer to March 28th, as to the how and where to acquire the song.

Sarajevo in 1994 was a city under siege. Mortars and grenades rained down on the city, killing indiscriminately every day. Amongst the madness, would it be possible to persuade a global rock star to come and play a show for local fans?

Scream for Me Sarajevo is the amazing and astonishing story of the most unlikely of rock concerts, performed by Bruce Dickinson and his band Skunkworks in 1994, in the midst of the Siege of Sarajevo. This is a film about extraordinary people defying the horrors of war, and the musicians who risked their lives to play a show for them.

Featuring footage from the historic gig, the film also meets those that made it to the show and made the show happen; determined to keep living their lives despite the atrocities going on around them. Interviews with the band, crew and security bring home the reality of the situation that was not only dangerous, it was barbaric.

“We weren’t protected, there was no plan and the bullets were real, but fuck it, we went anyway” said Bruce in his recent best-selling autobiography What Does This Button Do?, “The gig was immense, intense and probably the biggest show in the world at that moment for the audience and for us. That the world didn’t really know didn’t matter. It changed the way I viewed life, death and other human beings.”

As well as the striking documentary, screening in select UK cinemas from April 17th, there will be an exclusive Q&A with Bruce Dickinson from London that will accompany the film in cinemas globally. A special London screening will take place at Vue Cinema Wes End on April 11th.

To book tickets, head here.

Trailer:

Dorian Sorriaux, acclaimed guitarist for blues rock superstars Blues Pills, has announced the release of his first solo EP this summer. Sorriaux recently signed a deal with Soulseller Records.

The EP will be entitled Hungry Ghost, and was produced by fellow Blues Pills bass player Zach Anderson at the band's own studio in Örebro, Sweden. Hungry Ghost will feature four psychedelic acoustic folk tracks with Sorriaux on guitar as well as vocals.

Sorriaux explains: "The title Hungry Ghost comes from a book I read called In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts by Dr. Gabor Maté. I really liked how those two words fit together when I first saw the title. But there is a deeper meaning to it, the hungry ghost inside of us makes us feel as we're not good enough the way we are. It drives people to seek for more money, more booze... and leads to self destructive patterns. It's also a theme throughout the lyrics of the EP, 'Need To Love' was inspired from a time I walked by a really shady neighborhood filled with junkies, living in that dark realm at all time."

The French guitarist will play select live shows in his home country in April/May.

April
26 - Brest, France - Le P’tit Minou (with The Red Goes Black)

May
4 - Quimper, France - La Maison Jaune
5 - Brest, France - La Maison Bleu
11 - Lorient, France - Le Galion (with The Red Goes Black)

(Photos - Niño Obenza)

Ignitor have released a video for "Hatchet (The Ballad Of Victor Crowley)", a song inspired by the Hatchet franchise and featured on the movie's soundtrack. The track is also featured on the band's fifth full length album, Haunted By Rock & Roll (EMP Label Group). Watch below.

Hatchet director Adam Green comments "The first concert I ever went to was Dangerous Toys when they performed at Boston's Orpheum Theater back in 1989. From that moment on, Jason McMaster played a pivotal role in my life musically and I've followed everything he's ever done since. Almost thirty years later to be putting out Ignitor's Haunted By Rock N Roll through my own sublabel ArieScope Records, with EMP Label Group, and for the band to have written the song 'Hatchet (The Ballad of Victor Crowley)' specifically for the latest entry in my Hatchet slasher film franchise... it is truly a dream come true. Ignitor represents everything that made me fall in love with metal to begin with."

Ignitor vocalist Jason McMaster adds: "A killer old school heavy metal video in the style of late 80's bloody horror slasher films! This was a labor of love for blood and metal. I am proud of this moment, and very happy with the song we built for Adam's creation of the bloodiest freak of them all, the king of the swamp... Victor Crowley!"

"To Brave The War"
"Haunted By Rock And Roll"
"Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown"
"Hatchet (The Ballad Of Victor Crowley)"
"Leather Forever"
"Nomad"
"No Sanctuary"
"Throw Them From The Cliff"
"Hung Drawn And Quartered"

"Hatchet (The Ballad Of Victor Crowley)" video:

"To Brave The War" video:

"No Sanctuary" video:

US power metal band Reverence have released a lyric video for "New Order", which can be found below. The track is featured on the band's Foreverence EP, recently released in tribute to their guitarist Pete Rossi, who passed away unexpectedly in March 2017.

Reverence just have singed a multi-album deal for Europe, CIS and UK with ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. Reverence is working on a live CD and writing on a new full length studio album for an release later this year. Reverence will add some summer US shows, and a European tour is being planned for this fall.

Reverence is:

Scott Oliva - Vocals (ex-Wind Wraith, Innerstrength)
Bryan Holland - Guitars (ex-Tokyo Blade)
Paul Kleff - Guitars (ex-Firewölfe, Metal Church live)
Steve ‘Doc Killdrums’ Wacholz - Drums (ex-Savatage/Crimson Glory)
Russ Pzutto - Bass (Twisted Sister live)

On March 16th, Brooklyn's Eyes Of The Sun will release their debut album, Chapter I, via Blacklight Media Records. Watch a video for the track "Slavery Of Another Name" below.

Originally self-released in 2013, Chapter I blends ambient and moody guitars with bouts of double bass driven aggression. This is sludgy doom with an angry edge, and as vocalist/bassist Jeff Blanchard describes: "'Chapter I' is all about the demise and destruction we do to our planet and to ourselves."

Pre-order the album and hear the song "My War" here.

Chapter I tracklisting:

"My War"
"When It Dies"
"Walks Of Life"
"Choke"
"End Of Origin"
"Nineteen"
"Sound The Horns"
"Slavery Of Another Name"

"Slavery Of Another Name" video:

"Walks Of Life":

Eyes Of The Sun was conceived in early 2007 by bassist/vocalist Jeff Blanchard. Long-time friend Miguel De Jesus Jr. joined the ranks with Jeff a few months later on guitar. Within a few years, and after a couple of past members on second guitar and drums, Chris O'Neil joined as the permanent drummer. As a trio, they performed countless shows over the past 10 years, delivering their unique brand of doom metal - which leaves listeners with a range of emotions, that the band themselves then experience and extract from. The band explains: "It is known throughout the laws of science and nature that the sun creates and sustains life...Now it stands witness to the atrocities, depletion and vile consumption manifested by mankind, which it originally sustained life for. In our way, we portray what is seen through the Eyes Of The Sun."

Eyes Of The Sun lineup:

Jeff Blanchard - Vocals & Bass
Miguel De Jesus Jr. - Guitar
Chris O'Neil - Drums

(Photo - Sophy Holland)

Munich, Germany's Tenside peformed inside Bullhead City Circus at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival in the summer of 2014. Professionally filmed video of the band's full set can be seen below.

Setlist:

"Here And Now"
"At The Top Of The Tide"
"Reborn"
"Nothing Will Remain"
"This Is Reality"

Long-running death doom collective On Thorns I Lay unveiled their new full-length, Aegean Sorrow, today via Alone Records. The complete album is available for streaming via the audio player below:

Aegean Sorrow by On Thorns I Lay

Tracklisting:

“Intro”
“Aegean Sorrow”
“Erevos”
“In Emerald Eyes”
“Olethros Part I”
“Olethros Part II”
“The Final Truth”
“A Sign Of Sadness”
“Skotos”

Aegean Sorrow was captured at Devasoundz Studios by Fotis Benardo (Rotting Christ, Septic Flesh) and mixed and mastered at Unisound AB Studio by Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity, Bloodbath, Incision). Easily among the most intense records of their more than 20-year career, Aegean Sorrow fuses seemingly clashing concepts of catchy melodies and an incessantly mournful ambiance throughout. "We never stopped listening to our favorite albums - simple atmospheric doom death metal music since our formative years - so this is how Aegean Sorrow was created," the band notes. "It is a mix taken from our first demos and our first four albums back in the '90s, but with a modern sound. It is exactly what we love to hear, first of all, as fans. No trends, just pure feelings and music. Aegean Sorrow is the music we have dreamed of since we were teenagers. Waves of emotions flow over and over; it is a magical journey into the depth of our soul."

"Erevos" video:

"Olethros Part II":

“Aegean Sorrow” lyric video:

Orlando based Gothic folk metal band Urn has released an official music video for their single "Silently, I'm Still Screaming", off of their 2015 released Epiphany LP. The band's newly announced members, keyboardist Cleve Hall (SyFy’s Monster Man) and drummer Eric James Peterson (ex-Electric Hellfire Club) are featured in “Silently, I’m Still Screaming”.

"Many fans had given feedback that this song was one of their more favorites off of the album, so we wished to honor them by doing this video. We also wished to showcase our guitarist, Christopher Migdalski's lead work on this song, as he has been a role model for those afflicted with Parkinson's Disease and how to overcome disabilities to still pursue his life dream. Our hope is that this will inspire those to continue on in their battle and achieve whatever dreams/goals that they have." - Urn

Cleve Hall had become friends with the band a couple years ago when attending a Hollywood tour date of theirs back in 2015 and expressed interest in producing a video. Over time during their collaboration, it was discovered that Hall was an accomplished musician and worked with several bands in the Los Angeles are in the 1980s such as Exquisite Corpse and Mad Love. Cleve filled in on keyboards for Urns's 2016 West Coast tour and appeared and helped produce the new promotional video.

Eric James Peterson was the original drummer of the Electric Hellfire Club whom Urn frontman/guitarist Dominic St. Charles was also an alumni member. The two had an opportunity to connect during the EHC’s 25th anniversary/farewell concert last year at The Orpheum Theater in Tampa and wanted to continue to work with each other afterwards. Eric Petersen also was recently the touring drummer for former American Idol alum James Durbin.

The video was filmed in Los Angeles, CA by Jackie Bones for Steal Your Ghost Productions and additional footage was filmed by Noel McD of Global Rapture Productions (Melbourne, FL) who also edited the video.

Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators) recently performed an acoustic version of the title track of his debut solo album, Year Of The Tiger, at HardDrive Radio studios. Video of the performance can be seen below:

Kennedy released Year Of The Tiger on March 9th via Napalm Records. The album can be ordered in various bundle configurations here. Get the album digitally this location.

On Year Of The Tiger, Myles embarks on his first venture as a solo artist by embracing musical elements and influences he hasn’t explored until this point in his career. Kennedy himself plays banjo, lap steel, bass, and mandolin, in addition to guitar throughout the album. His emotional journey and personal story is captured in a bluesy-Americana album with a twist of country and rock, highlighting his unmistakable and soulful voice.

To read BraveWords scribe Aaron Small's in-depth interview with Myles, click here.

Tracklisting:

"Year Of The Tiger"
"The Great Beyond"
"Blind Faith"
"Devil On The Wall"
"Ghost Of Shangri La"
"Turning Stones"
"Haunted By Design"
"Mother"
"Nothing But A Name"
"Love Can Only Heal"
"Songbird"
"One Fine Day"

"Devil On The Wall" lyric video:

"Haunted By Design" lyric video:

"Year Of The Tiger" video:

Best Buy stores in The United States are offering an exclusive version of Year Of The Tiger, featuring three acoustic demos: "Nothing But A Name"​, "The Great Beyond"​, and "Haunted By Design".

Recently announced is the first leg of Kennedy's US solo tour; tickets and meet & greet packages on sale now. The routing is as listed:

May
2 - Spokane, WA - Bing Crosby Theater - SOLD OUT
3 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile - SOLD OUT
5 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
6 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour - SOLD OUT
9 - Dallas, TX - Cambridge Room (HOB)
10 - Houston, TX - Bronze Peacock (HOB) - SOLD OUT
12 - Nashville, TN - Topgolf
14 - Atlanta, GA - City Winery - SOLD OUT
16 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
17 - Asbury Park, NJ - House Of Independents - SOLD OUT
19 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
21 - Boston, MA - City Winery - SOLD OUT
22 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom
24 - Detroit, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom
25 - Dundee, IL - Rochaus - SOLD OUT

On February 2nd, W.A.S.P. released their 25th anniversary edition ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol) of their iconic hit album The Crimson Idol. The re-recordings of one of the best concept albums of all times tell the legendary story of Jonathan Aaron Steele, an abused child looking for love. Discovering music years later, he rises to international superstardom. Later followed by a catastrophic fall.

W.A.S.P. now release a lyric video adaption for the song “Docter Rockter” from the original motion picture, that comes as part of ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol) on BluRay and DVD. The song displays Jonathan Aaron Steele’s path to self-destruction through drug abuse and meaningless encounters to numb the pain he feels inside.

Blackie Lawless states about the video: "Few times in life or art does reality mirror or equal imagination. The casting of the characters in this portion of the story, specifically 'Doctor Rockter' was precisely what I had envisioned when I conceived those lyrics. Rarely does it marry together as well as it did in this video. The characters were suitably revolting... and REAL!"

Check out the lyric video below.

ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol) is available in the following formats via Napalm Records.

- 2CD & Bluray & DVD in Slipcase
- 2LP Gatefold + DVD
- Deluxe Box
- 2CD Digipack (Re-Press)
- 2CD Jewelcase (Re-Press)
- Digital Album

Order at this location.

Tracklisting:

CD1:
"The Titanic Overture"
"The Invisible Boy"
"Arena Of Pleasure"
"Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)"
"The Gypsy Meets The Boy"
"Michael's Song"
"Miss You"
"Doctor Rockter"

CD2:
"I Am One"
"The Idol"
"Hold On To My Heart"
"Hey Mama"
"The Lost Boy"
"The Peace"
"Show Time"
"The Great Misconceptions Of Me"

"Doctor Rockter" lyric video:

"Chainsaw Charlie" video:

Ahead of his very first appearance on Australian shores, Ihsahn - the founding frontman of Norwegian black metal legends Emperor - spoke with Metal Wani‘s Jake Patton about the tour and his upcoming album, Ámr.

Asked how he feels about the landscape of extreme metal now, compared to when Emperor was formed, he states: “I miss something that’s pushing it, something that’s cutting edge. Extreme metal doesn’t feel dangerous anymore.”

Listen to the interview below:

Ihsahn will release his new solo album, Ámr, on May 4th via Candlelight/Spinefarm. A deluxe version of the album will come with digi book packaging and the bonus track "Alone".

True living legends are few and far between, but Ihsahn has long since earned the right to be regarded as one of metal’s all-time greats. As frontman and chief songwriter with legendary Norwegian black metal pioneers Emperor, he swiftly cemented a formidable reputation as one of the underground’s most idiosyncratic creative forces. Classic albums like 1995’s In The Nightside Eclipse and 1997’s epoch-shattering Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk ensured that the young band were among the most respected the most popular of Norway’s many black-hearted exports. Their imperious rise to prominence came to an unexpected end after the release of 2001’s wildly intricate and grandiose Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire & Demise, but it was an album that suggested that Ihsahn’s compositional journey was far from over.

Reincarnated as a solo artist for 2006’s The Adversary, Ihsahn has spent the last 12 years forging a second path through artistry’s darkest shadows; one that is making more and deeper connections than any of his past endeavours. With a sound that still retains strong links to his black metal roots while embracing everything from skewed art rock and avant-garde jazz to experimental electronica and dark ambient, each successive album has presented a brand new manifestation of the Norwegian’s unique craft: from the muscular and haughty riff sculptures of Angl and After’s haunting, saxophone-driven mirage to the tech-metal explorations of Eremita and on to the wild, avant-metal splurge of Das Seelenbrechen, Ihsahn’s catalogue speaks of a restless creative spirit with ideas to burn.

In keeping with that spirit, 2018 brings the arrival of Ihsahn’s seventh solo album, Ámr. Another immersive and frequently disorientating eruption of refined and absorbing progressive extreme metal, it echoes the meticulous precision and structural simplicity of 2016’s widely acclaimed Arktis. Album while taking Ihsahn’s music somewhere entirely new, where the hiss and throb of old school analogue synths dominate and the atmosphere is airless and oppressive. Once again percussively propelled by long-time drummer Tobias Ørnes Andersen and with a blistering guest solo from Opeth’s Fredrik Akesson on Arcana Imperii, Ámr is another evolutionary leap from one of metal’s most remorselessly forward-thinking protagonists.

“It’s just lovely to work with Tobias. I know that he can technically handle anything I throw at him.  But more importantly, when I say like; ‘I want this to feel like the vacuum between words in a conversation with Hannibal Lecter`, he will say ‘Yeah, I get that!’ (laughs) So for him it’s not about showing off, it’s always about relating to the vibe.  With Fredrik, we met first time in Oslo, when I did my debut solo show as support to Opeth and later we've hung out on different festivals when we happen to play the same day.  Last time in Japan when we played there with Emperor and Opeth. We were talking about guitars and I said ‘Not to kiss up to you or anything, but you’re absolutely one of my favourite players, so some day I might call you for a guest solo…’ and he says ‘I’m in!’ He did a fabulous job.”

As with all of his solo albums to date, Ámr possesses its own unique atmosphere; a palpable sense of tension and unease that infuses even the album’s most melodic moments with heightened drama and otherworldly menace. But despite its often claustrophobic feel, this is very much an album of beautifully crafted and shrewdly arranged songs. Although as dark and intense as anything he has conjured before, both the depth of sonic texture and the clarity of his overarching vision are more impressive than ever.

“Knowing that the form would be somewhat similar to what I did on the previous album, and given that I write stuff in a certain way, I wanted to change the wrapping this time,” Ihsahn notes. “So instead of going with my go-tos of strings and orchestration, I focused on analog synths and more in-your-face sounds. It goes back to the beginning of Emperor, when we brought in strings and horns inspired by orchestral movie scores by John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith, but at the same time we loved all those eerie synth soundtracks of f.ex John Carpenter's Halloween. I’ve also been listening to some contemporary r’n’b and hip-hop stuff with those deep, deep 808s. It’s just somehow darker than a lot of metal or black metal. It has a depth and an energy to it that I find captivating, so I wanted to explore those arrangement styles as well.”

Another bold stride into uncharted territory, Ihsahn’s seventh solo album is the legendary Norwegian’s most eclectic and challenging to date. Morphing fluidly from mellifluous art rock ambience to vicious extreme metal, covering all points in between, the likes of grandiloquent opener "Lend Me The Eyes Of The Millennia" and the wild, melodic melancholy of "Sámr" blend seamlessly with ornate, progressive metal monoliths like "In Rites Of Passage" and the immaculate, climactic "Wake". Drenched in evocative synthesizers and brimming with skewed but irresistible riffs, Ámr is both Ihsahn’s most accessible record to date and his most extreme departure from his black metal roots.

“Every album I intend to make the darkest album ever. I never set out to make anything more melodic or accessible. However, growing up on 80s metal, plus having a rather wide range of musical influences, I often end up with quite contrasting elements. This is my seventh solo album, so in the end it really comes down to methods and perspectives that keep me exited and fired up about what I'm working on. If I’m not excited about it, I can’t expect anybody else to be!”

Pre-order the deluxe edition of Ámr here.

Tracklisting:

"Lend Me The Eyes Of Millennia"
"Arcana Imperii"
"Sámr"
"One Less Enemy"
"Where You Are Lost And I Belong"
"In Rites Of Passage"
"Marble Soul"
"Twin Black Angels"
"Wake"
"Alone" (Deluxe Edition Bonus Track)

Deluxe edition pictured below:

(Photo Bjørn Tore Moen)

Stryper's new album, God Damn Evil, will be released on April 20th. The band's follow-up to 2015's Fallen album was recorded at SpiritHouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts. A video for the track "Sorry" can be found below. The song is available at digital music stores and on streaming services.

Michael Sweet recently stated: "The new Stryper album is our best to date. If this was 1987 (when rock and metal ruled the charts) we might have a Grammy waiting with our name on it. But since this is 2018, we're just happy knowing that our fans will love it. We are blessed. Can't wait to get this one into your ears!"

God Damn Evil tracklislting:

"Take It To The Cross"
"Sorry"
"Lost"
"God Damn Evil"
"You Don’t Even Know Me"
"The Valley"
"Sea Of Thieves"
"Beautiful"
"Can’t Live Without Your Love"
"Own Up"
"The Devil Doesn’t Live Here"

"Sorry" video:

"Take It To The Cross" visualizer:

Alice In Chains have announced dates for the second leg of their North American headline tour, which kicks off August 22nd at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, BC. The new dates are part of a worldwide trek that will see Alice In Chains performing across North America and Europe. Dates are listed below and ticket info can be found here.

Alice In Chains (vocalist/guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and vocalist/guitarist William DuVall) are currently putting the finishing touches on the much-anticipated follow-up to 2013’s critically-acclaimed album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. Due out later this year, the new album was recorded at Henson Studios in Los Angeles with Nick Raskulinecz, who produced both The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here and its predecessor, 2009’s Black Gives Way To Blue.

Tour dates:

April
28 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
30 - Syracuse, NY - Landmark Theatre

May
1 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
3 - Washington DC - Anthem
4 - Charlotte, NC - Carolina Rebellion
5 - Virginia Beach - WNOR Lunatic Luau
7 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
8 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
10 - Atlanta, GA - Coca-Cola Roxy
12 - St. Louis, MO - Pointfest
13 - Somerset, WI - Northern Invasion
15 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
16 - South Bend, IN - Morris Performing Arts Center
18 - Columbus, OH - Rock on the Range
19 - Philadelphia, PA - WMMR BBQ / BB&T Pavilion

June
16 - Leeds, UK - O2 Academy
17 - London, UK - O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
20 - Stockholm, Sweden - Grona Lund
21 - Halden, Norway - Tons of Rock Festival
22 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Copenhell
24 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
25 - Zagreb, Croatia - INmusic Festival
28 - Padua, Italy - Sherwood
30 - Bezirk-Landstrasse, Austria - Arena Open Air Wien

July
1 - Budapest, Hungary - Budapest Park
3 - Berlin, Germany - Huxley’s Neue Welt
4 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
8 - Belford, France - Les Eurockeennes 30
10 - Milan, Italy - Ippodromo Snai San Siro
13 - Madrid, Spain - Mad Cool Festival
14 - Lisboa, Portugal - NOS Alive
17 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Caesarea
18 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Caesarea

August
22 - Vancouver, BC - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
28 - Paso Robles, CA - Vino Robles Amp
29 - Los Angeles, CA - Palladium
31 - Riverside, CA - Riverside Municipal Auditorium

September
1 - Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl
3 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Music Hall
4 - El Paso, TX - Abraham Chavez Theatre
6 - Austin, TX - ACL Live
7 - Houston, TX - Revention Music Center
8 - Dallas, TX - Pavilion @ Toyota Music Factory
10 - Tulsa, OK - Brady Theatre
11 - Kansas City, MO - Midland Theatre
13 - Denver, CO - Fillmore
15 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre

(Photo - Johnny Buzzerio)

The German extreme metallers Eisregen are going to release a new mini-album this summer.

The new release is entitled Satan Liebt Dich (Satan loves you), will contain seven new and previously unreleased songs and should shorten the waiting time until the band's 13th studio album will be released this fall.

Satan Liebt Dich will once again be mixed and mastered by Markus Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E, whereas drummer Yantit will take care of the cover artwork.

Vocalist M. Roth exclusively talked to the German Legacy magazine and revealed a few other details about the upcoming record in the magazine's latest issue (#113).

The mini-album's record release show - which is also presented by the Legacy magazine - will take place on the actual release date - on June 8th - at the Heudepot in Tambach-Dietharz, Germany. The gig's motto is "Metal im Thüringer Wald 2018". Eisregen will be joined by their label mates Grabak and Hardholz on this evening.

“What I end up doing is, I take all the Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber records and put them on backwards and listen to all the satanic messages and the riffs,” Black Label Society leader Zakk Wylde tells Hysteria's Anna Rose most seriously in regards to how he came up with material for the band's new album. “Then I convert back to Catholicism and play the riffs normal - then there you go, we have a whole bunch of Black Label Society songs. I do it all for the art.”

Black Label Society recently soared into the charts with the new album, Grimmest Hits (Entertainment One). The LP landed at #4 on the Billboard Current Charts, the highest charting LP since Order Of The Back released back in 2009. Grimmest Hits reached #1 on the Billboard Hard Music, #1 Independent, and #2 Rock Charts.

"A Love Unreal" video:

"All That Once Shined" lyric video:

“Room Of Nightmares” video:

Order Grimmest Hits via the links below:

- Physical

- Digital

Blackened death juggernaut Blood Of The Wolf are streaming "Scorched Earth Ceremony", a track from the follow-up to the band's 2015 debut I: The Law Of Retaliation. The new album, II: Campaign Of Extermination, will be released on April 7th. Listen to the new song below.

II: Campaign of Extermination was mixed and mastered by Joe Tiberi, February through August of 2017. All songs written and arranged by Blood of the Wolf. Cover art created by Agus Wibowo.

Tracklisting:

"Thunder The Drums of War"
"Campaign Of Extermination"
"Beneditio Ultionis: Their Blood For My Glory"
"Erupting Volcanic Wrath"
"The Sword Is My Light And My Salvation"
"Scorched Earth Ceremony"
"With Fire And A Thousand Flashing Blades"
"A Sermon Of Slaughtered Foes"

"Scorched Earth Ceremony":

"Campaign Of Extermination":

Campaign of Extermination by Blood of the Wolf

(Live photo - Tammy Guillen)

As a taster for their new album Viva La Paradise, Swedish melodic rockers Grand Design have released the single “Face It” on all digital platforms. A video for the song, filmed and edited by David Söhr, is available for streaming below.

Get the single via Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify.

The new album will be released in Japan on April 11 through Rubicon Music, and CD and LP in the rest of the world on April 20th via GMR Music. The digital version of the album can be legally downloaded through iTunes, Spotify, etc. next week. More details to follow.

On March 9th, Nightwish kicked off their Decades world tour - featuring a setlist loaded with older Nightwish material - at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA. Fan-filmed video is available below. The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Swanheart"
"End Of All Hope" (first time live since 2004)
"Wish I Had An Angel" (first time live since 2013)
"10th Man Down" (first time live since 2003)
"Come Cover Me" (first time live since 2012)
"Gethsemane" (first time live since 2003)"
"Élan"
"Sacrament Of Wilderness" (first time live since 2008)
"Dead Boy's Poem" (first time live since 2009)
"Elvenpath" (first time live since 2004)
"I Want My Tears Back"
"The Carpenter" (first time live since 1998)
"The Kinslayer" (first time live since 2005)
"Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean" (first time live since 2002)
"Nemo"
"Slaying The Dreamer" (first time live since 2008)
"The Greatest Show On Earth"
"Ghost Love Score"

Tuomas Holopainen's 3-track demo earned him his first record deal with his freshly founded band Nightwish back in 1996. 20 years later - with over 2,000 shows played and more than 8 million records sold - Nightwish are the biggest European symphonic metal band. Reason enough for Nuclear Blast to celebrate this huge anniversary by releasing a 2CD compilation titled Decades, out now.

Get your copy here, or at the Nightwish shop here. Or get the digital version, here. Check out a fourth video trailer below.

Decades is available as:

- 2CD-Jewelcase
- 2CD-DIGI
- 3LP BOX (different colors)
- 2CD-Earbook

CD1
"The Greatest Show On Earth"
"Élan"
"My Walden"
"Storytime"
"I Want My Tears Back"
"Amaranth"
"The Poet And The Pendulum"
"Nemo"
"Wish I Had An Angel"

CD2
"Ghost Love Score"
"Slaying The Dreamer"
"End Of All Hope"
"10th Man Down"
"The Kinslayer"
"Dead Boy’s Poem"
"Gethsemane"
"Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean"
"Sacrament Of Wilderness"
"Sleeping Sun"
"Elvenpath"
"The Carpenter"
"Nightwish" (demo)

3LP Box (33 RPM)

Side A
"The Greatest Show On Earth"

Side B
"Élan"
"My Walden"
"Storytime"
"I Want My Tears Back"
"Amaranth"

Side C
"The Poet And The Pendulum"
"Nemo"
"Wish I Had An Angel"

Side D
"Ghost Love Score"
"Slaying The Dreamer"
"End Of All Hope"
"10th Man Down"

Side E
"The Kinslayer"
"Dead Boy’s Poem"
"Gethsemane"
"Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean"

Side F
"Sacrament Of Wilderness"
"Sleeping Sun"
"Elvenpath"
"The Carpenter"
"Nightwish" (demo)

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

Trailer #4:

The release will be accompanied by a 9-month tour across the globe. After kicking off with 34 concerts in North America in March-April, the journey will continue with dozens of European festival and headline shows. On this tour, Nightwish will also be presenting a special set list, featuring rare material from the early years of their career. That's why these evenings will not only be special events for the fans, but also for the band themselves. Be prepared to hear a lot of old school material. All dates can be found below.

March
9 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
10 - Charlotte, NC - The Filmore
12 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
13 - Baltimore, MD - Lyric Theater
14 - New York, NY - Playstation Theater
16 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
17 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
18 - Albany, NY - The Egg
20 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
21 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
23 - Niagara Falls, NY - Rapids Theatre
24 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater
25 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
26 - Covington, KY - Madison Theater
28 - Kalamazoo, MI - State Theatre
29 - St. Louis, MO - Touhill Performing Arts Center
30 - Minneapolis, MN - The Myth
31 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom

April
2 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
3 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
5 - Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
6 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
7 - Vancouver, BC - Queen Elizabeth Theater
8 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
10 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl
12 - Ventura, CA - The Majestic Ventura Theatre
13 - San Jose, CA - City National Civic
14 - Anaheim, CA - City National Grove
15 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
17 - Dallas, TX - The Bomb Factory
18 - Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall
19 - Mobile, AL - Saenger Theater
21 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing
22 - Miami, FL - Olympia Theater

(Photo - Tim Tronckoe)

Stygian Crypt productions has set March 15th as the international release date for Therion’s Blood Of The Dragon limited collector’s edition.

The release will contain 2CDs: 1st CD - rare cover-versions of different bands which were recorded by Therion, but featured on different compilations, the second CD contains new cover versions of Therion songs by different bands.

Tracklisting:

CD1
“Fight Fire With Fire”
“The King”
“Southbound”
“Witching Hour”
“Green Manalishi”
“Revelations”
“Black Funeral” (feat. Messiah Marcolin)
“Iron Fist”
“Ivanubis Hollanda – Perennial Sophia”
“Ivanubis Hollanda – Raven Of Dispersion”

CD2
Ghost Warfare – “An Arrow From The Sun”
Antyra – “Asgard”
Revolted Masses – “Baal Reginon”
Remains – “Genocidal Raids”
Day 40 – “Invocation Of Naamah”
Dark Letter – “Kali Yuga. Part I”
Whirlwind Storm – “Liusalvheim”
Theosophy – “Pandemic Outbreak”
Theudho – “Schwarzabenheim”
The Experiment No.Q – “Seven Secrets Of The Sphynx”
Imperial Age – “To Mega Therion”
Elimi – “The Blood Of Kingu”
Numenor – “The Riders Of Theli”
Mare Infinitum – “The Wand Of Arabis”
Frozen Ocean – “The Wings Of The Hydra”
Majesty Of Revival – “Widsom And The Cage”

Hollywood Vampires bandmates, guitarist Joe Perry (Aerosmith) and actor Johnny Depp, joined Stone Temple Pilots on stage during their March 8th show at The Rose in Pasadena, CA. Check out some footage from the show, filmed by Mikolaj Jaroszyk and Ted Weitzman, below.

Stone Temple Pilots' setlist:

"Wicked Garden"
"Vasoline"
"Lounge Fly"
"Coma"
"Big Band Baby"
"Regeneration"
"Glide"
"Big Empty"
"Atlanta"
"Plush"
"Meadow"
"Interstate Love Song"
"Army Ants"
"Piece Of Pie"
"Roll Me Under"
"Dead And Bloated"
"Tripping On A Hole In A Paper Heart"
"Down" (with Johnny Depp)
"Toys In The Attic" (with Johnny Depp & Joe Perry
"Sex Type Thing" (with Johnny Depp & Joe Perry)

Stone Temple Pilots have released the song "Never Enough", featured on the band's new self-titled album, out March 16th. The track is available for streaming below.

Stone Temple Pilots marks the band’s first album with the new lead singer, Jeff Gutt. Despite being one of the best-selling bands of the 1990s with platinum records and a Grammy to its credit, guitarist Dean DeLeo says, “We are thrilled about what lies ahead. The best way for us to honor our past is to keep making new music.”

The band does just that on Stone Temple Pilots. The first single “Meadow” (lyric video below) and “Never Enough” channels the gritty guitars and swaggering rhythms that STP perfected on Core (1992), Purple (1994), and No. 4 (1999). “Roll Me Under” (available for streaming below) glides along a nimble bass line before slamming into the chorus, where Gutt’s baritone digs in.

Pre-order the album today at stonetemplepilots.com and receive instant downloads of “Meadow” and “Roll Me Under” Exclusive bundles are also available on the site, including vinyl, t-shirt, and a limited edition, hand signed lithographs by the band. The album will also be released on vinyl on May 25th.

When asked what to expect on the upcoming tour, Robert DeLeo says,” With so much time and experience gone by in life we feel compelled to dig back into a 30-year catalog and really try to reflect and choose what songs haven’t been performed live. We want to give people who have come to see us in the past a chance to hear something they haven’t heard before at previous STP shows. We want to celebrate this time in our lives with our performances.”

Find STP's complete tour schedule here.

Stone Temple Pilots tracklisting:

“Middle Of Nowhere”
“Guilty”
“Meadow”
“Just A Little Lie”
“Six Eight”
“Thought She’d Be Mine”
“Roll Me Under”
“Never Enough”
“The Art Of Letting Go”
“Finest Hour”
“Good Shoes”
“Reds & Blues”

“Never Enough”:

“The Art Of Letting Go”:

“Roll Me Under”:

“Meadow” lyric video:

Former SANCTUARY members Jeff Loomis (guitar) and Jim Sheppard (bass) rejoined the veteran power metal band on stage on March 5 at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington to perform the songs "Taste Revenge" and "Future Tense", respectively. Video footage of their appearance can be seen below (courtesy of "Iron" Mike Savoia).

Featured songs:

0:22 "Battle Angels"
4:46 "Soldiers Of Steel"
11:30 "Future Tense" (featuring bassist Jim Sheppard)
16:55 "Taste Revenge" (featuring guitarist Jeff Loomis)

SANCTUARY's ongoing North American tour with ICED EARTH is acting as a tribute to the musical legacy of SANCTUARY singer Warrel Dane, who passed away last December. Guest vocals for SANCTUARY on the trek are being provided by Joseph Michael (WITHERFALL). Also joining the band on the road is second guitarist Joey Concepcion (ARMAGEDDON, THE ABSENCE).

Prior to the start of the ICED EARTH tour, SANCTUARY guitarist Lenny Rutledge said that the band "decided to continue on" with the shows "to pay tribute to our brother Warrel Dane." He added that the set would "consist of many old and some newer songs performed with the utmost respect and quality to honor our friend" and invited fans to "join us in this farewell as we celebrate Warrel's musical legacy with SANCTUARY."

A year ago, SANCTUARY released the official prequel to 1988's classic debut "Refuge Denied", "Inception", which showcased several previously lost recordings from their 1986 studio session that have now been restored, remixed and remastered by Chris "Zeus" Harris (QUEENSRŸCHE).

Formed in 1985, the band was signed to Epic Records with the help of MEGADETH guitarist Dave Mustaine and released two records, "Refuge Denied" (1988) and "Into The Mirror Black" (1989), which saw them perform with the likes of MEGADETH, FATES WARNING, WARLOCK and DEATH ANGEL. The band disbanded in 1992 as members Dane and Sheppard went on to form the highly successful metal act NEVERMORE with acclaimed guitarist Jeff Loomis. SANCTUARY reunited nearly 25 years later in 2010 and appeared at several festivals worldwide before returning to the studio to record their acclaimed full-length comeback album, "The Year The Sun Died", for Century Media Records in 2014.

Dane tragically passed away on December 13, 2017 due to a heart attack while recording his second solo album in São Paulo, Brazil.

In a recent interview with Loud TV, Loomis — who played with SANCTUARY in the early 1990s and again in 2010-2011 — said about Dane's passing: "It's a sad situation with one of my best friends that I grew up being in a band with. [He was] one of the best lyricists in metal, I believe, that was ever out there — a fabulous person. He was a troubled person too at the same time; he had some issues. We had many great times together in the past, and we had many bad times, but I would say that the good times outweighed the bad. And in the end, we were talking still as friends, and we talked in the end before he passed away. We were on good terms. It's a very sad loss to the music community and he'll be well remembered as one of the great vocalists of a metal era."

Loomis added that Warrel had been "struggling with drinking and things like this" for years before he died. "I'm not getting into too much detail there," he said. "He had some troubles. I'm gonna miss him a lot. He was a great friend of mine and he was a wonderful human being."

San Francisco doom rock band The Watchers will release its new album, Black Abyss, on March 9th via Ripple Music. Pre-order the album here. In celebration of the album's impending release, the band is streaming the whole album.

Recorded in California's Sonic Room Studios (Forbidden, Zed) and mixed by Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Y&T), the record features eight tracks of heavy street-riff rock and is the follow-up to The Watchers' 2016 debut, Sabbath Highway.

Formed in 2016, The Watchers features members of popular California underground bands SpiralArms, Orchid and BlackGates. Longtime vets of the San Francisco heavy music scene, the band plays razor-edged rock 'n' roll, fast and heavy. Black Abyss is a hard-charging riff-fest, jam-packed with rich solos, driving, blues-based harmonies and the unmistakable vocals of Tim Narducci (ex-Systematic). The Watchers' high-energy hard rock cooks like the Mojave Desert heat and distills the singular attitude and attributes of traditional heavy metal into the sound of now.

Tracklisting:

"Alien Lust"
"Black Abyss"
"Buzzard"
"Oklahoma"
"People Of The Gun"
"Seven Tenets"
"Starfire"
"Suffer Fool"

"Black Abyss":

Album teaser:

Twitching Tongues have release their new album, Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred, via Metal Blade Records. A full album stream can be found below.

The title for Twitching Tongues' fourth full-length, Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred, was drawn from a quote by famed social philosopher Eric Hoffer - "Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life" - and it reflects the band's mentality in approaching the record: paying homage to those who supported them while belligerently responding to their detractors. With "failure" as a core theme driving Colin Young's lyrics, it also features his first foray into the political arena, motivated by the contemporary political climate to speak his mind. Directly inspired by film scores, the record has a strong epic feel, the band realizing their vision of having the music flow like a story being told. With interconnected parts, musical references and callbacks in each song, everything is tied together in a manner unlike any of their previous releases. At the same time, while maintaining the same levels of hardness and aggression that has characterized their later work, it features much more immediate and memorable melodies, which evoke the sound of In Love There Is No Law yet at the same time feel fresh and new.

The record is available to order here in the following formats:

- CD
- Ultra clear vinyl + download card (limited to 500 copies - USA exclusive)
- Metallic gold/black split vinyl + download card (limited to 250 copies - USA exclusive)
- Metallica gold w/ black smoke vinyl + download card (limited to 250 copies - USA exclusive)
- Ultra clear w/ black smoke and metallic gold splatter vinyl + download card (limited to 500 copies via Closed Casket)
- Black w/ bronze splatter vinyl + download card (limited to 300 copies - EU exclusive)
- Beer inside grey split vinyl + download card (limited to 200 copies - EU exclusive)

* exclusive bundles with a shirt, plus digital options are also available

Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred tracklisting:

"AWOL (State Of The Union)"
"Harakiri"
"Kill For You"
"T.F.R."
"Forgive & Remember"
"Gaining Purpose"
"Long Gone"
"The Sound Of Pain"
"Defection (Union Of The State)"

Album stream:

"Gaining Purpose" video:

"Harakiri" video:

In support of this release, the band will hit the road with Hatebreed, Crowbar, and Acacia Strain, before heading out on a headlining tour in the USA.

With Hatebreed, Crowbar, Acacia Strain

March
16 - Syracuse, NY - Westcott Theater
17 - Flint, MI - The Machine Shop
18 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
19 - Millvale, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre
20 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
21 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
22 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
23 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly’s
24 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
25 - Indianapolis, IN - Deluxe at Old National Centre
26 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
27 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
28 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
29 - Reading, PA - Reverb

With True Love, Vamachara

March
30 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
31 - Waterford, NY - Chrome

April
1 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
3 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Club
4 - Hamden, CT - Ballroom at The Outer Space
5 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fire
6 - Richmond, VA - The Canal Club
8 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Purgatory)

Italian deathsters Grind Zero have unveiled the album cover for Concealed In The Shadow, the new full-length album that will be released later this spring via Punishment 18 Records.

The effort was mastered by Dan Swanö (Opeth, Bloodbath, Katatonia, Edge Of Sanity) that, about the band, also said: "...awesome death/grind that brings me back to the '80s/'90s!"

Tracklisting:

"Soul Collected"
"Corrosion"
"See You In Hell"
"Master's Pleasure"
"Sodomizing The Sun"
"A Shadow"
"Lost Shrine"
"Buried Deception"
"The Horde"
"Cursed Be My Path"

 

Forget everything you thought you knew, because Follow The Cipher are ready to herald in a new musical era and crash through the many dimensions of our universe to steal your breath. Despite their stylistic diversity, the Swedish metal act from Falun creates a very cohesive ambience, mixing a first class sound with magical charisma, an innovative concept, live presence and an incredibly talented singer.

Follow The Cipher recently announced the release of their self-titled debut album which will be available on May 11th through Nuclear Blast. Its cover artwork was created by no less than Sabaton's Chris Rörland. After unveiling the first single "The Rising" plus an album trailer during the last few weeks, the time is ripe for another foretaste of the Swede's forthcoming record. Their brand new music video for "Valkyria" has been launched today and can be viewed below.

Guitarist/vocalist Viktor Carlsson stated: "For me, 'Valkyria' is a song directly taken from the action of the battlefield. The pulse in the music is what inspired the lyrics to be formed as a very aggressive and straight forward way of saying 'This is our final resolution.' I personally connect with 'Valkyria' as I visually can see the battlefield in front of me as I'm listening to the song."

Follow The Cipher can be pre-ordered here. Pre-order the album digitally to receive "Valkyria" and "The Rising" instantly.

Follow The Cipher tracklisting:

"Enter The Cipher"
"Valkyria"
"My Soldier"
"Winterfall"
"Titan's Call"
"The Rising"
"A Mind's Escape"
"Play With Fire"
"I Revive"              
"Starlight"
"Carolus Rex"

Bonus DVD
"Valkyria" - Music Video
"Carolus Rex" - Music Video
"A Mind's Escape" - Lyric Video
"The Rising" - Lyric Video
"Enter The Cipher" - Live from Masters of Rock
"My Soldier" - Live from Masters of Rock
"A Mind's Escape" - Live from Masters of Rock
"Winterfall" - Live from Masters of Rock
"I Revive" - Live from Masters of Rock
"My Soldier" - Live from Falkenberg w/ studio sound
"Carolus Rex" - Live from SOA w/ camera sound
Presentation - Ken Kängström
Band Interview
Masters Of Rock - Vlog
Sabaton Open Air - Vlog
Behind The Music Videos - Vlog

"Valkyria" video:

"The Rising" lyric video:

Trailer:

Follow The Cipher live dates:

June
1-3 - Pilsen, Czech Republic - Metalfest Open Air
21 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting

(Photo - Georgios Grigoriadis)

From Ashes To New have released a lyric video for "Broken", a track their upcoming LP, The Future, out on April 20th via Better Noise Records / Eleven Seven Music. The album is available for pre-order now at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Wake Up"
"Crazy"
"My Name"
"Gone Forever"
"Broken"
"Forgotten"
"Enemy"
"Nowhere To Run"
"Let Go"
"On My Own"
"The Future"

"Broken" lyric video:

"Crazy" video:

Catch From Ashes To New live in concert:

May
5 - Carolina Rebellion - Concord, NC
18 - Rock On The Range - Columbus, OH