Mike Bax of Lithium Magazine conducted an interview with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Jesse Leach on August 7 at the Heavy Montreal festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked about the status of TIMES OF GRACE, his collaboration with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, Jesse said: "I have four instrumental demos on my phone right for a new EP or album; we don't know yet. And [Adam] just told me yesterday he's got two more. So Adam's on a writing binge right now. He's sort of the grandmaster of all that, so he gives me stuff and I work on it, I write lyrics. And then he comes in and helps me with the lyrics and vocals. So it's a very collaborative process after he's written all the music. So, as far as I can tell, it's coming along."

Jesse added: "The cool thing about TIMES OF GRACE is that it's another outlet for us, and moving forward with that project, it's gonna be even more different from KILLSWITCH. There's gonna be no quote-unquote metalcore sound going on. As a matter of fact, I'm planning on not doing much aggressive vocals at all."

TIMES OF GRACE's debut album, "The Hymn Of A Broken Man", was released in January 2011 via Roadrunner Records. The CD sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 44 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Dutkiewicz and Leach originally worked together on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's benchmark album, 2002's "Alive Or Just Breathing". That record has become definitive for an entire generation of American metal, with Leach's voice and uplifting lyrics serving as one of the key elements that propelled the album to "modern classic" status. Leach left KILLSWITCH ENGAGE shortly after "Alive Or Just Breathing"'s release but rejoined the group in early 2012 following the departure of his replacement, Howard Jones.

Joey Belladonna has revealed to The National Student that he is preparing to return to the studio to complete a mystery recording that may or may not be ANTHRAX-related.

"I'm going to record something when I get back [from ANTHRAX's current run of European shows] — a couple of songs — but that's right in the middle of it," he said. "If something needs to be done, I've got to get in to do it. I hate to be rushed; I wish I could have done it two months ago but now there's a window."

He continued: "I don't like being, 'Oh, if it isn't done today, that's it!' It's got to be right. People write in the back of the bus on their way to their next city. I could do that, but we don't."

Joey also talked about the five-year gap between ANTHRAX's latest album, this year's "For All Kings", and its predecessor, 2011's "Worship Music".

"I don't think anybody's in a hurry to make a record if it's not going to be good," he said. "The ideas have to be fresh and have to be thought out, and even then, you never know. I go in pretty quick; once I finally get everything sent to me, I just wing it. It's laid out, but I still need to make something happen. It just takes time. It wasn't a rush; I'd love to be able to put something out every year, but once you finish it, you need to absorb it. It's hard to keep putting stuff out fast. Then it isn't genuine too. We're on the road too. We don't even get the chance to write anything when we're on the road. It's not, 'Do you have any good ideas?', it's, 'When are you available?' When we started tracking drums, we only did eight songs, then stopped. We took a minute, then went back and did some more."

"For All Kings" sold 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart.

ANTHRAX will join forces with SLAYER and DEATH ANGEL this fall for a seven-week North American tour. The dates start in Cleveland on September 9 and will hit both major and secondary markets across the continent.

Billy Corgan has taken to social media to comment on rumors of a reunion of SMASHING PUMPKINS' lineup. Addressing reports that he has been in talks with guitarist James Iha, bassist D'Arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin about playing together again, Corgan said in a video message: “There are some things going on, but they're the type of things I didn't even think were worth talking about, because they're more private than public. But at the same point, I don't want people speculating about something that's got nothing to do with what's going on."

He continued: "First off, we're back in contact again, the band. I've been in communication with D'Arcy for the first time in 16 or 17 years. It's awesome to have my friend back. So we're all in communication, which as I said not too long ago, my primary interest in the old band was us having good relationships again.

"So, of course, when you get to the point where you're in communication, and the relationships are good again, and it's a good vibe, you yourself, and people around you who know what's going on, start saying: 'Is the band going to get back together?'

"We're not at that point, and I think that's a good thing. We're not rushing to something. We have to repair some things between us, and see what's out there for us, if those opportunities are even there.

"We're not interested, nor have we ever been interested, in just going out to play because there's a big stack of money there. Of course, the business is part of what goes on, but the band was never about that, and if the band should ever be again in that form, in some iteration, obviously because there's other people involved, because it would be about the music. So speculate away, because that's from me, not an anonymous source.

"There's excitement there that surrounds the idea that maybe there's the possibility that we will get back together, but until you hear it coming from my mouth that the band is getting back together and we will play dates, my primary concern is the family relationships of the band that are ultimately so much more important.

He concluded: "I can tell you without a doubt that if that band ever gets back onstage, it will be about music, it will be about playing music that fans love, and that we love."

Iha first rejoined his former SMASHING PUMPKINS bandmates on stage in March at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Iha surprised the audience by walking out on stage with guitar in hand and sitting in with the group alongside Corgan and Chamberlin, who was touring with the band for the second time in less than a year. Chamberlin also played on a summer co-headlining run with MARILYN MANSON in 2015.

Iha joined Corgan, Chamberlin, guitarist Jeff Schroeder and touring members Katie Cole and Sierra Swan in performing songs off SMASHING PUMPKINS' landmark 1993 LP "Siamese Dream", including "Mayonaise", "Soma", "Rocket", "Today", "Disarm" and "Spaceboy".

Prior to the Ace Hotel concert, Iha last played with SMASHING PUMPKINS on December 2, 2000 in Chicago.

Back in 2008, Corgan posted a lengthy message online at his blog in which he wrote that the original lineup of the SMASHING PUMPKINS would never play together again. When Corgan reformed the PUMPKINS in 2007, it was without Iha and Wretzky. Although fans had speculated about whether the pair would ever return, Corgan wrote: "I can now say definitively that they aren't ever coming back. Period. There is no maybe. If the door was once open to at least have the conversation and consider the possibility, it is now closed. For good. We have moved on. We love them, and we wish them well. The SMASHING PUMPKINS are now whoever is standing on that stage, on any given day, with a willingness to play those songs."




***STATE OF THE NATION///SP AND IMPACT***

Posted by The Smashing Pumpkins on Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Extreme metallers BRUJERIA will release their fourth full-length album, titled "Pocho Aztlan", on September 16 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The release will be followed by a U.S. tour this October alongside CATTLE DECAPITATION and PIÑATA PROTEST.

The song "Bruja-", taken from "Pocho Aztlan", can now be streamed below.

"Pocho Aztlan" is the band's first release since "Brujerizmo" was released in 2000 via Roadrunner. It was recorded over the course of many years and at several studios around the globe. The end result was mixed by Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, THE EXPLOITED).

"Pocho Aztlan" is now available for pre-order in various formats and bundles from the Nuclear Blast webshop. Fans can also pre-order the album digitally via iTunes, Amazon and Google Play and receive the songs "No Aceptan Imitaciones" and "Bruja-" (starting tomorrow) instantly.

"Pocho Aztlan" track listing:

01. Pocho Aztlan02. No Aceptan Imitaciones03. Profecia Del Anticristo04. Angel De La Frontera05. Plato O Plomo06. Satongo07. Isla De La Fantasia08. Bruja-09. Mexico Campeon10. Codigos11. Debilador12. California Über Aztlan (DEAD KENNEDYS cover)

BRUJERIA's legend has proliferated for nearly three decades. When the band first emerged from the sunbaked hellscape of Los Angeles in 1989, the city was on the brink of chaos. Daryl Gates ruled the LAPD with an iron fist, overseeing a legion of blue-suited stormtroopers who cracked brown and black skulls at every opportunity. Rodney King, the '92 riots, and California governor Pete "Pito" Wilson's anti-immigrant Prop 187 were all on the bleak horizon. The Mexican-American agitators of BRUJERIA captured the mood of the city's minorities with the band's infamous and widely banned 1993 debut, "Matando Güeros" ("Killing White People"), quickly becoming the Spanish-language counterparts to early grindcore masters TERRORIZER and NAPALM DEATH. Led by lyricist and mastermind Juan Brujo, BRUJERIA were alternately rumored to be satanic drug lords and members of well-established metal bands. The truth, as always, lay somewhere in between. Fast forward to right about now: "Pocho Aztlan" is BRUJERIA's first new album in 16 years. The title translates to "Wasted Promised Land", a combination of Aztlán, the fabled ancestral home of the Aztecs, and the term pocho, which native Mexicans use to refer — not always kindly — to their counterparts born in the States. Brujo himself is pocho, a man caught between two worlds. Many pochos are not exactly accepted with open arms in Mexico. Meanwhile, they're too often regarded as second-class citizens in their adopted U.S. home. Brujo has transcended both scenarios through the power of BRUJERIA's uncompromising grindcore and death metal. His all-Spanish lyrics are as vivid as they are effective: Bona fide tales from the frontlines of the drug war, the racial divide, and the battle for the border. "A lot of BRUJERIA songs are true stories," Brujo says. "And if they haven't happened yet, they will happen."

BRUJERIA's current touring lineup includes CARCASS frontman Jeff Walker (a.k.a. El Cynico) on bass, NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury (a.k.a. Hongo) on guitar and drummer Nicholas Barker (BENEDICTION, CRADLE OF FILTH, DIMMU BORGIR, TESTAMENT).

BRUJERIA is:

Juan Brujo - VocalsFantasma - Vocals, BassHongo - Guitar, Drum ProgrammingEl Cynico - Bass, Guitar, VocalsHongo Jr. - DrumsPinche Peach - Vocals, SamplesPititis - Female VocalsA Kuerno - GuitarSangron - Backup VocalsGuero III - Backup Vocals

James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich take a look back at METALLICA's formative period in a four-part Spotify series titled "Landmark – Metallica: The Early Years". The documentary, a first for Spotify, debuts August 18, with all four parts receiving their premiere simultaneously.

"Landmark – Metallica: The Early Years" is divided into chapters titled "Metal Militia", "Metal Up Your Ass", "Sophistication And Brutality" and "Armageddon's Here". Each features exclusive interviews with Hetfield, Hammett and Ulrich along with rare archival footage, reminiscences from their peers, new animation by Anthony Schepperd and a companion playlist.

Chapter one is devoted to Hetfield and Ulrich's first encounter. In it, Hetfield recalls: "When I met Lars, he was pretty much a stinky European kid," while Ulrich says of Hetfield: "He was really awkward." Chapter two brings Hammett into the band and covers the making of their debut album. Chapter three is devoted to late bassist Cliff Burton, and chapter four follows the group's early ascent.

"Landmark" is an original video series about monumental moments in music history, created for a new generation of listeners. Whether delving into the origins of thrash metal or the release of a classic album, each installment of "Landmark" enlists credible, eclectic voices to explain not just what happened, but why it still matters.

Each multi-part installment is comprised of short videos that can be watched as individual, self-contained chapters or binged all at once in a half-hour viewing experience. Themed companion playlists offer newly-converted fans a chance to dig deeper after they watch.

"Metallica: The Early Years" celebrates penpals, the birth of thrash metal, heavy-riffing cellists, and the origins of one of rock's most influential bands.

On September 26th, Invictus Productions, in conspiracy with Iron Bonehead Productions, presents the debut album from Switzerland's Deathcult, entitled Beasts Of Faith. Hot on the heels of Invictus' reissue of the band's now-acclaimed Demo '12, Deathcult strike with an iron-fisted statement of their fullest potential. Early on, the quartet's sound betrayed a wealth of classic influences - namely early Morbid Angel, Death, Possessed, Sepultura, and Necrovore - but the filth 'n' fury was certainly in place, and the band have now maximized that malevolent spirit with hook-laden songwriting and gut-churning crunch.

Indeed, Beasts Of Faith is timeless, eternal death metal art, within and without, and Deathcult bend its essence to their will but never break it, because true metal of death is never broken. Across its nine tracks, Beasts Of Faith ravages and roars, surging with a bestial violence but never spilling into aimless chaos; its violence is tangible and terrible, but is always patiently and proudly parlayed. Here, those aforementioned influences are more deeply integrated to such an extent, they're subtle at best - although Death's "Evil Dead" is given a faithful reading here - and a concurrent strain of early Scandinavian death metal (both Swedish and Finnish) is equally discernible. Nevertheless, Deathcult's songwriting reigns supreme and Beasts Of Faith roams restlessly, resulting in a swift 'n' satisfying listen despite often aiming for the epic.

Fitting for such a momentous event, Invictus will be unleashing Beasts Of Faith on CD while Iron Bonehead will be handling the vinyl version, which will be released later this year.

Beasts Of Faith tracklisting:

“Barren Land”
“Beasts Of Faith”
“Hammer Of Golgotha”
“Death In July”
“A Foul Glint”
“Discreate Homunkulus”
“The Sick Within”
“Evil Dead”
“An Accurst Procession”

Negură Bunget's new album, ZI (English for 'Day' or 'Say') is the second part of the group's ambitious Transilvanian Trilogy, released on the heels of 2015's celebrated album, TAU (English for 'Your' or 'Thy'), a record accurately hailed as "earthshaking" as it focused on unique native, natural landscapes and the mystique, legends, lore and meanings behind them. The new album will be out September 30th via Prophecy Productions.

A video for the new song “Tul-ni-ca-rind” (Horn-ing) can be seen below. The video was created by Daniel Dorobantu.

Negru comments of the first track to be unveiled from the album: ““Tul-ni-ca-rind” is a song about sending a message, a message between places, between worlds, between different states of conscience. It all starts from a traditional Romanian instrument called tulnic, which is still being used in the traditional communities a signalling tool, but also quite a lot on the funeral ceremonies. Based on this tradition, and on the overall local funeral ceremonies, where there's a complex connection between the world of the living and the one of the dead, with actions reflecting between worlds, we developed the song as a kind of language between natural and spiritual dimension, between ceremonies, rituals and silence. Most of our songs can hardly be explained, and this one makes no exception. Although it starts from some concrete elements, it goes a lot further into unknown and mystery, where death is not the end, but merely a transition into another dimension.”

In creating its most luminescent recording to date, Negură Bunget has further immersed itself in the traditions and practices of local Transilvanian inhabitants, exploring their connection with nature, and the way this relationship has shaped spiritual horizons. Within this framework, ZI closely examines the core of the most important traditions and rituals connected with the well-being of this community. Life events such as funeral ceremonies, soil tillage, and human growth and evolution (i.e. youth to teen to man to warrior, through to outcast) are spotlighted, in what is undoubtedly some of the most heady, thinking-man's metal produced in recent memory.

Musically, ZI builds upon the hallmarks of Negură Bunget's impressive catalog; the juxtaposition and interweaving of grim black metal elements, ambient soundscapes and acoustic counterparts based on native Romanian folk music, giving life to panoramic atmospheres, intensity and power unequaled in the band's rich discography.

An impressive musical statement and crucial bridge between root-bearing beginning and impending finale of the trilogy (scheduled to be released in early 2018), ZI is a mystical, tension-building recording that mirrors the size and scope of the deep forest fog for which the band is named.

The album was recorded at Negura MUSIC studio January-June 2016. Produced and mixed by Negură Bunget and Mihai ‘Mtz' Neagoe. Mastering by Alin Luculescu. Cover design by Daniel Dorobanțu. Outfit design by Anita Ramona.

Tracklisting:

“Tul-ni-că-rînd” (Horn-ing)
“Grădina stelelor” (Garden of Stars)
“Brazdă dă foc” (Furrow of Fire)
“Baciul Moșneag” (The Old Shepherd)
“Stanciu Gruiul” (Stanciu Gruiul)
“Marea Cea Mare” (The Vast Sea)

Bonus CD (only artbook)

“Tul-ni-că-rînd” (remixed version by Daniel Dorobanțu)
“Brazdă dă foc” (remixed version by Silent Strike)
“Schimnicește” (remixed version by Tibor Kati & Ionuț Cârja)
“Baciu moșneag” (remixed version by Adrian “Oq” Neagoe & Tragacanth)

Bonus DVD (only artbook)

ZI - album short film
“Tul-ni-că-rînd” - visual
“Stanciu Gruiul” - visual

The album will be available in the following editions:

- CD digipak with extra hard cover
- Gatefold LP (180g vinyl, white) incl. special vinyl mastering, poster, printed inner sleeves and PVD protection sleeve (500 copies)
- 2CD+DVD Artbook, hardcover, 28x28 cm, 72 pages with additional artwork, texts and English translations of the lyrics plus bonus CD with two songs and bonus DVD with three videos (1.000 copies)
- the band are also offering some custom handmade editions through their fundraising campaing, where they build a box on your suggestions

Pre-orders:

- custom editions, signed versions, here
- regular editions, here

The band will present the new album live, along with a special anniversary set in a complex tour plan that will spread over the second part of 2016 and all over 2017, with some support for the crowdfunding campaign they have set-up in order to help accomplish their goals. They will start in September with a European tour.

Find the band’s live itinerary at this location.

Rochester, NY-based rockers, Unwill, recently signed a deal with Entertainment One Music / Lifeblood Inc., with plans to release Past Life, their very first LP on October 14th. The album track ”Soul" is available now as an instant grat track with pre-order purchase of the album. Additionally, fans can pre-order bundle purchases at the band's merch store here. “Soul” is streaming below.

The Past Life album will be the follow up to the band’s 2015 debut single and video for “Calm”, directed by Josiah Moore (Ice Nine Kills, Sirens and Sailors, It Lives, It Breathes). That year the band expanded its touring across the Northeast, exposing its unforgiving live performance alongside such acts as Letlive, He Is Legend and Norma Jean. Musically, Unwill has been compared to the likes of Linkin Park, Deftones, Chevelle and Underoath. But the band doesn’t shy from putting its own spin on alternative rock.

Past Life features eleven songs that are unrelenting in their grim honesty. The album deals with themes of identity, faith, self-doubt, solipsism, regret, and the truest parts of our natures. Beneath the dark exterior of these songs, however, are shreds of light.

Within the eleven-song journey of Past Life, listeners will come across the many sides of Rocco Sylvio’s voice, smooth on one end and coarse on the other. They will also hear cleaner guitars mixed in with the dirtier tones, and soaring melodies alongside unapologetic heavy riffs.

Wherever listeners come to face Unwill, whether it be through live performance or studio recording, they can be sure to always be met with relentless force.

Past Life tracklisting:

“Doubt”
“Bitter Truth”
“The Way”
“Tomb”
“Back Again”
“You Wanted Out”
“Drifting”
“On My Own”
“Soul”
“Past Life”
“Go”

“Soul”:

(Photo - Josiah Moore)

Metal Blade Records has announced the worldwide signing of Brooklyn-based experimental metal outfit, Tombs.

Blending bleak, post-punk minimalism with the ferocious attack of sludge and traditional black metal, Tombs has established themselves as an act that's as committed to consistency as it is to growth, developing smoothly (but never predictably) over the course of their career, and earning a multitude of accolades along the way.

In addition to their acclaimed releases, Tombs has also become revered for their captivating live shows, touring extensively with an array of artists such as Eyehategod, Pelican, Isis, Wolves In The Throne Room, The Secret, Ulcerate, and 1349, plus appearing at renowned festivals: Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Roadburn in The Netherlands, and Psycho California and Maryland Deathfest in the US. Now, having joined Metal Blade's roster, the quintet is poised to continue the momentum that's been building since their formation in 2007.

Mike Hill (guitar/vocals) comments: "Metal Blade is a legendary label that has put out legendary records by legendary bands. It's an honor to be part of the organization."

Tombs will begin writing their fourth full-length and Metal Blade Records debut after their US headlining tour this fall. Kicking off November 7th, the trek also features Wolvhammer as support. See below for all upcoming dates.

November
7 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
8 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
9 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia
10 - Houston, TX - Rudyards
11 - Austin, TX - Barracuda
12 - Dallas, TX - Three Links
13 - San Antonio, TX - Korova - downstairs
15 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
16 - Scottsdale, AZ - Pub Rock
17 - Los Angeles, CA - Complex
18 - San Diego, CA - The Merrow
20 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Bar - SLC
25 - Indianapolis, IN - Kumas Corner
26 - Dayton, OH - Rockstar Pro Arena

Tombs will be touring in support of their recently released All Empires Fall EP - a crushingly heavy record that confirms the band as one of the leaders of American - and international - black metal. A director's cut and behind-the-scenes videos for the album track, "V", can be viewed below:

Tombs lineup:
Mike Hill - Guitar/Vocals
Charlie Schmid - Drums
Ben Brand - Bass
Evan Void - Guitar
Fade Kainer - Synth / Vocals

(Photo - JJ Koczan)

Athens, Georgia-based melodic metal band Theocracy will release their new album, Ghost Ship, on October 28th in Europe and North America through Ulterium Records.

With Ghost Ship, Theocracy perfects the lively and fully-realized sound of As the World Bleeds, delivering 10 muscular and streamlined tracks that never lose focus and combine for one memorable journey. You like midtempo singalong anthems? Try the “Ghost Ship” title track. Thrashy rhythms and intensity?  “The Wonder Of It All” should be to your liking. Emotional ballads with huge melodic hooks? Go “Around The World And Back.” Or if you prefer epic, progressive tracks that do all these things and more, 10-minute album closer “Easter” is sure to be a favorite. Each song on Ghost Ship stands alone and has a unique signature, but every moment sounds unmistakably like Theocracy.

“So many kids were coming up to us after shows and telling us their stories,” says Theocracy vocalist Matt Smith. “A lot of them were searching for purpose and a place to fit in, and having grown up as an awkward and unpopular kid myself, their words really stuck with me. I started thinking about what a band of misfits Jesus’ disciples were: fishermen, tax collectors, and people of little consequence in the eyes of the world. Sometimes the ones most people don’t see, or choose to look straight through—the ghosts of society, as it were, dead to the world—end up having the biggest impact. That’s where the title and idea for Ghost Ship came from: all the misfits, the uncool, the outcasts, there is a place where you do fit in. Although Ghost Ship is not a concept album, this is a recurring theme, particularly in the title track and
“Castaway”.”

Ghost Ship tracklisting:

“Paper Tiger”
“Ghost Ship”
“The Wonder Of It All”
“Wishing Well”
“Around The World And Back”
“Stir The Embers”
“A Call To Arms”
“Currency In A Bankrupt World”
“Castaway”
“Easter”

 Information on different editions and formats will be announced soon.

There are great guitarists, great vocalists and great songwriters, but Monte Pittman is one of the elite few who can truly lay claim to all three titles. With his fourth full-length, Inverted Grasp Of Balance, he has once again raised the stakes, delivering a riveting collection of full force metal that showcases his continuing evolution, undoubtedly expanding his devout - and ravenous - fan base. For a first preview of Inverted Grasp Of Balance (due out September 23rd worldwide), the new track, "Pride Comes Before The Fall", can be heard below. Head here, where the album can be pre-ordered in various formats.

To assert that Pittman has had a storied career is something of an understatement. His resume includes an ongoing and fruitful collaboration with multi-platinum selling artist Madonna, having recorded and toured with her extensively over a period of more than fifteen years. Then there's his first band, Myra Mains, his stint in the metallic behemoth that is Prong, and collaborations with a broad spectrum of international artists. If his time with Prong did not fully communicate just how much metal flowed through his veins, with 2014's Flemming Rasmussen-produced The Power Of Three - his first release with Metal Blade Records - he compellingly blended killer riffs, blistering leads and gigantic hooks to deliver an album that was equal parts anthemic grandeur and in-your-face attitude, making metalheads around the world sit up and take note.

Now, for his latest offering, Inverted Grasp Of Balance, Pittman teamed up with powerhouse drummer Richard Christy of Charred Walls Of The Damned/Iced Earth/Death fame and virtuoso bassist Billy Sheehan, famous for his work with a plethora of talented artists - including David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and, more recently, Winery Dogs - the skill of all concerned explodes from the speakers. With such passionate professionals and Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Steel Panther) handling production duties, the record came together quickly and smoothly. This really is the proverbial "whole package": an album that has been lovingly crafted in all aspects, that Pittman hopes reaches as many ears as possible.

"I had a true vision for this record from the start, and I couldn't imagine a better team to help me realize it," Pittman comments. "We're going to make some real noise with 'Inverted Grasp Of Balance' - so get ready!"

Inverted Grasp Of Balance tracklisting:

“Panic Attack”
“Arisen In Broad Daylight”
“Guilty Pleasure”
“The Times Are Changing”
“Double Edged Sword”
“Cadabra”
“Pride Comes Before The Fall”
“California”
“Be Very Afraid”
“Obliterated”
“Skeleton Key”
“New Blood Keeps Us Alive”

(Photo - Kevin Wilson)

ALICE IN CHAINS singer and guitarist William DuVall says that he finally got a chance to meet Axl Rose after opening for GUNS N' ROSES several times on the latter band's reunion tour. DuVall told Seattle's KISW 99.9 radio station (see video below): "[Axl] definitely has a certain vibe and a certain magic about him. And it's cool, 'cause for the first bunch of shows we did with them on the stadium run, everyone was asking me in every town. I'd talk to the [local] radio station [and they would be like], 'Have you met Axl? Have you met Axl? We haven't.' And I was, like, 'No, I haven't, actually, I'd like to.' And then finally, last show in Chicago, he had a little gathering and had some people over. I went. He was totally chill, and it was really great."

ALICE IN CHAINS opened the first five shows on GUNS' North American summer stadium run, which began on June 23 at Ford Field in Detroit. ALICE IN CHAINS also opened for GUNS N' ROSES twice when they kicked off their reunion tour in Las Vegas in April. The two bands also played together in Kansas City on June 29 and finished their time together with a two-night stand in Chicago on July 1 and July 3. ALICE IN CHAINS then began its own headlining jaunt on July 6 in Portland, Oregon, with dates booked into the fall.

DuVall said in a different interview in June that it was "too early" for the band to talk about new music, adding that he expecting those discussions to begin in the fall.

ALICE IN CHAINS' last studio effort, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", came out in 2013 and featured the rock hits "Hollow", "Stone" and "Voices".




William DuVall from Alice in Chains with The Men's Room. See you tonight at CenturyLink Field

Posted by KISW 99.9 "The Rock" on Friday, August 12, 2016

Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who joined MEGADETH in March 2015, interviewed his bandmates Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson for the Brazilian TV show "Metrópolis", which airs on TV Cultura. You can now watch the segment below.

MEGADETH recently announced the addition of Dirk Verbeuren as the band's new drummer. Verbeuren, formerly of Swedish metal band SOILWORK, has been performing with the band for months; his first show was Rock On The Range festival in May, to a crowd of 40,000 concertgoers. Most recently, LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler had performed all the drums on the band's latest album, "Dystopia", and had toured with MEGADETH when not otherwise busy with his band.

The fall 2016 North American leg of MEGADETH's "Dystopia" world tour kicks off in Casper, Wyoming on September 20 and will take them across the U.S., visiting 16 states with special guests AMON AMARTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and METAL CHURCH.

Rebirth is the first solo-album ever by Raff Sangiorgio. Guitarist of the long-running death metal band Gory Blister, with whom he wrote and published five full-length albums, Raff Sangiorgio debuts with a new one, for the first time as a soloist. The album is out now Sliptrick Records.

Sangiorgio performs the album track “Magic River” in the new video streaming below:

In this previously posted clip, Sangiorgio performs the album track “Quick Trigger”:

It is a one-man studio project, focusing on instrumental metal-rock songs with blues influences, in which Raff Sangiorgio wrote, produced, arranged and performed every single instrument, with particular focus, on the guitar work. This new album consists of nine original songs.

Tracklisting:

“Quick Trigger”
“Lil Chuck Blues”
“Back To Glory”
“Glaring Soul”
“Rebirth”
“Cosmic Seed”
“Magic River”
“Fragile Existence”
“Voices From The Sea”

“Back To Glory”:

“Quick Trigger”:

"Caught Up In The Gears Of Application", the new album from former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo's SUPERJOINT RITUAL project — now known simply as SUPERJOINT for legal reasons — will be released on November 11 via Anselmo's Housecore record label. The disc was recorded at Philip's New Orleans-area studio, Nodferatu's Lair.

Philip revealed the "Caught Up In The Gears Of Application" expected arrival date this past Sunday, August 14 during an interview with Elliott of Little Punk People at the Monster Mania convention in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.

SUPERJOINT's current lineup includes guitarists Kevin Bond (CHRIST INVERSION, ARTIMUS PYLEDRIVER) and Jimmy Bower (DOWN, EYEHATEGOD), drummer José Manuel Gonzalez (WARBEAST, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS) and bassist Stephen Taylor (PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, WOVEN HAND, 16 HORSE POWER).

According to Anselmo, the direction of SUPERJOINT's new material is very similar to that one the band's first two albums, 2002's "Use Once And Destroy" and 2003's "A Lethal Dose Of American Hatred". "It won't sound any different, because myself, Jimmy and Kevin have always been the main writers in SUPERJOINT anyway, so, really — for the most part, really, me and Jimmy. So it shouldn't sound much different at all," he told Full Metal Jackie back in July 2015.

In a separate interview with the Phoenix New Times, Anselmo was asked why he feels that SUPERJOINT's current live shows are so much better than those that he played with the band more than a decade ago when the group was known as SUPERJOINT RITUAL. He responded: "So-briety! [Laughs] Simply put. Sobriety."

He continued: "You know, originally we were plugging along with SUPERJOINT, truth is, and I'm not a bit embarrassed or ashamed to admit it at all, I really don't remember much about SUPERJOINT from back then except for little pieces. I was fucked up out of my fucking mind on heavy drugs … and the overindulgence of booze. These days, don't get me wrong, I like my suds and I like a bit of the white grape…. But I think every damn one of us has a much clearer mind. A much more stable support system within that realm. And we're all veterans now, man. We've been through the lowest of times together, and this group of people — specifically, Jimmy Bower and Kevin Bond — when it was time to say 'fuck this road to destruction,' we all kind of did that together. We all came off of heavy drugs at the same time. So I think there's this strength with knowledge there about what not to do. So really it just happened from our clear minds and fresh blood there. It's a positive thing. It feels like it's fun again, and isn't that the point? If you're going to make music and you're having fun while you're doing it, nothing in this world cane deter from that."

Anselmo also talked about how SUPERJOINT approaches its live performances. He said: "I would just say, as far as energy goes, we know from being in the scene for 20, 30 years that we don't have to get up there and jump around and dance around for the kids anymore. All we need to do is throw our amps and drums up on stage… And play the music as tight as possible with no bullshit, man. Just lay it on them."

A televised performance of the MILES DAVIS ELECTRIC BAND in the late '90s led guitarist Alex Skolnick to New York City, where he immersed himself in the jazz world. For the past decade, Skonick has led a double life as a member of TESTAMENT, the seminal thrash metal band he joined at the age of 16. In the summer of 2016, he's both toured Europe with TESTAMENT and performed with Miles's keyboardist, Alan Holzman. Due on September 16 via Skol Productions, "Live Unbound" marks the first live album from the ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO (AST), featuring Skolnick alongside his longtime bandmates, Nathan Peck on bass and drummer Matt Zebroski. Recorded live in December 2014 for a gathering of friends at Spin Studios in New York City, "Live Unbound" pairs five of Alex's compositions with reimagined versions of "Dream On" (AEROSMITH) and "Still Loving You" (SCORPIONS). The latter two are from Musiktheater Piano in Dortmund, Germany, during AST's European tour in 2016. "This recording says that we don't have much use for limitations," says Skolnick. "Our live performances can take us anywhere, from the spirit of quintessential jazz guitar trios to distortion and chaos. It's all possible." "Live Unbound" track listing: 01. Unbound (Skolnick / Zebroski)02. Culture Shock (Skolnick / Zebroski)03. Shades Of Grey (Skolnick)04. 99/09 (Skolnick / Zebroski / Peck)05. Veritas (Skolnick)06. Dream On (Tyler)07. Still Loving You (Schenker /Meine) North American tour dates:

Sept. 08 - Montreal, QC @ Piranha BarSept. 10 - Detroit, MI @ Token LoungeSept. 11 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie'sSept. 12 - Cleveland, OH @ NighttownSept. 13 - Pittsburgh, PA @ PGH WinerySept. 14 - Asbury Park, NJ @ The SaintSept. 15 - New York, NY @ IridiumSept. 16 - Schenectady, NY @ The Van DyckSept. 17 - New Hope, PA @ HavanaSept. 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ World CaféSept. 19 - Charleston, WV @ The Empty Glass

Original AC/DC singer Dave Evans has entered a recording studio in Trondheim, Norway with the Norwegian rock band BARBED WIRE to record material for a possible four-song EP. As part of the sessions, Evans resurrected a song that he wrote and performed with AC/DC called "Sunset Strip", keeping most of the original lyrics but giving it a new arrangement. This 12-bar rock and roll track was never recorded, but was popular with the AC/DC fans, and Evans is said to be excited about bringing this new version of the song back to life.

Evans and BARBED WIRE previously toured together in Norway and Sweden. Video footage of a couple of their performances can be seen below.

Evans recently said that he would have returned to the band if he had been asked to step in for Brian Johnson on the Australian group's European tour.

AC/DC postponed the last ten dates of its North American trek after doctors told Johnson he faced a total loss of hearing if he did not stop touring immediately. AC/DC has since resumed its tour with GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose as a "guest vocalist," with Johnson apparently not returning to the group.

Asked by Finland's Kaaos TV if he would have done the recent European shows with AC/DC if he had been asked to rejoin the group, Evans said: "Well, it depends how much they wanna pay me? [Laughs] You know, I'm busy. But, yeah, it depends on money, mate. If they wanted to pay me enough money, of course I'd do it. You'd do it too, if they asked you. But, yeah, of course."

Earlier in the year, Evans had kind words for Johnson, who admitted in a 2014 interview that his hearing loss wasn't due to playing loud rock music every night for a living but was the result of Johnson's other obsession: auto racing.

"A lot of people make jokes about going deaf from listening to loud music," Evans told The Sydney Morning Herald back in March. "It's never been a problem for me.

"I just thought it was sad news. It's your lifeblood as a singer, live performances are so personal, without the crowd and the adrenaline, it's going to be hard for him. Performances are the big highs in our lives."

Evans added that his return to AC/DC would probably never happen. But, he said, "it would be nice to do one guest performance. [Former members] were all part of the band no matters what era they were from."

Britain's favorite heavy metal warriors SAXON will have four of their most explosive live recordings pressed on vinyl for the first time and released by Demon Records in a must-have deluxe box set. "The Vinyl Hoard" will be officially unleashed on the rock landscape on October 28.

The albums come as four double LP sets on 180-gram gold vinyl, each in a specially designed gatefold sleeve and presented in a slipcase box showcasing a beautiful brand new cover painting by SAXON artist-in-residence Paul Gregory. An exclusive limited edition of 500 copies will be available via Amazon, with a framable print of the cover painting signed by frontman Biff Byford.

Byford says: "This is not going to be around again and with exclusive art work too… Bring it on — I think we'll play some of these tracks on tour in the autumn."

Each renamed after the tour during which the featured shows took place, the recordings were previously released as "The Eagle Has Landed" II and III CDs and "To Hell and Back Again".

The eight-vinyl album boxset will contain:

* "The Dogs Of War Tour, 1995": Recorded on tour in Germany* "The Lionheart Tour, 2004": Recorded on tour in France, England and Germany* "A Night Out With The Boys, 2005: The 25th Anniversary of the NWOBHM": Recorded on tour in Germany and Sweden* "Rocksound Festival, 2006" [2 LP]: Recorded in Switzerland

SAXON embark on the U.K. leg of its "Battering Ram" world tour with nine dates featuring special guests FASTWAY and GIRLSCHOOL from October 28.

Kai Hansen, earMUSIC and Wacken Foundation announce the release of XXX, the first solo album by Kai Hansen, one of the most influential guitarists and singers to emerge from Germany during the first part of the 80s. First with ground-breaking band Helloween (of which Hansen is one of the founding members) and later with Gamma Ray, one of the bands that contributed to define the genre power metal, bringing it to generation of devoted fans worldwide since its first album.

XXX is, in pure Hansen tongue-in-cheek style, a reference to over 30 years of involvement in the world of heavy rock, as explained with the album's sub-title, Three Decades In Metal. The album will be released in September2016 on earMUSIC with further news to be shared soon.

The tracklist is as follows:

"Born Free"    
"Enemies Of Fun" (featuring Ralf Scheepers & Piet Sielck)    
"Contract Sun" (featuring Dee Snider & Steve McT as The Manger)    
"Making Headlines" (featuring Tobias Sammet)    
"Stranger In Time" (featuring Michael Kiske, Frank Beck, Tobias Sammet & Roland Grapow - guitar solo)    
"Fire And Ice" (featuring Clementine Delauney, Marcus Bischoff, Richard Sjunnesson & Michael Weikath - guitar solo)    
"Left Behind" (featuring Alexander Dietz & Clementine Delauney)    
"All Or Nothing" (featuring Clémentine Delauney)    
"Burning Bridges" (featuring Eike Freese)    
"Follow The Sun" (featuring Hansi Kirsch & Tim Hansen - guitar solo)

XXX is a magical journey. It is the story of how powerful dreams can be. Dreams and passions big enough to bring a teenager from Hamburg who is in love with rock music, glam rock and the first heavy metal sounds from the practicing space in his bedroom and rehearsal rooms to the biggest stages in the world practicing, and ending up influencing and sharing the stage with the very same bands he admired in the first place. Not strictly autobiographical, XXX is without doubt the story of Kai Hansen but it could very well represent the story of anybody who is not afraid to believe in dreams, with passion and dedication. It is the story of the ups and downs that everybody faces at some point during the journey of life: the lost and found-again friends, the glory, the tragedies and the joys.

After the achievements enjoyed by Hansen lately with Unisonic and especially Gamma Ray's recent work Empire Of The Undead, Kai Hansen has started working on the album with no precise commercial masterplan. Just playing music with the same spirit as in the very beginning. This certainly was the reason for Hansen to communicate to his label the intention of donating the first advance payment he will receive for XXX - which in the meantime was shaping into a proper album - to the Wacken Foundation. A foundation which helps and supports young hard rock and heavy metal bands for over seven years now: Musicians full of hopes and dreams, exactly as Hansen had in the beginning of the 30 years story told on this album... in the hope that one day, somebody could tell another 30 years long magic story, also thanks to this album.

Together with Hansen, a stellar band of musicians gravitating around the Chameleon Studio in Hamburg has formed spontaneously: Alex Dietz (guitar player of Heaven Shall Burn) on bass, Eike Freese (who already worked as engineer and co-producer with Hansen on the last Gamma Ray album) on guitar and phenomenal drummer Daniel Wilding (Carcass). The four will be joined by various guests, ranging from friends to followers to heroes – some having played a significant part in Kai's career, some who have expressed the wish to join the project with the same spirit that is leading Kai, Alex, Eike and Daniel to create loud music with joy, freedom and determination. Kai & friends will do an exclusive one-time performance at this year’s Wacken Open Air Festival, introducing the songs from the album to the audience for the first and only time.

Watch the video of Kai Hansen and Eike Freese discussing XXX below:

Talking about XXX (while in the studio, recording guitars) Kai Hansen declared: “30 years in metal, that’s a damn long time. Over the course of all these years, I never recorded a solo album. It is quite nice and a hell lot of fun to create something without any boundaries and to get a fresh view on music. I am celebrating 30 years of being able to do what I like best... On XXX I am reflecting on my roots, where I come from, how it all started for me. I believe you need a certain drive, passion and of course a bit of luck and coincidence to make it in the music world – and of course some financial support. This is where the Wacken Foundation came to my mind. They are helping people, musicians just like me, who want to make it. And I remember having had help myself, from my family, the families from the other band members – and by doing a paper round. So hopefully, with my donation, young musicians are given the same chance that I was given a long time ago, too. And who knows, maybe we all will be playing together at Wacken in 20 years...”

Wacken Foundation's Thomas Jensen adds: “This is really generous donation to the Wacken Foundation. Heavy metal is a way of life – and with this this amazing gesture Kai showed what it stands for: selflessness, thoughtfulness and most of all the passion and love for music. The goal of the foundation is to keep this kind of spirit going. With Kais doing we are one step closer to this goal.”

The Wacken Foundation was founded in 2009 and is a non-profit foundation which dedicates itself to the support of hard rock and heavy metal music. Basically every artist and every band from the heavy metal scene can be supported by the Wacken Foundation. More information about which requirements have to be fulfilled can be found here. If the name Wacken Foundation is a bit misleading, the promoters of the Wacken Open Air do not receive a single cent of the donations. The entire assets of the foundation are solely used to support artists from the metal scene.

Coinciding with the exclusive one-time performance at this year’s Wacken Open Air Festival, Kai Hansen premiered the official music video for his single “Born Free”. It is the first time fans are able to listen to a song from Hansen’s solo debut, XXX - Three Decades In Metal.

The album will be released as 1CD, 2CD Special Edition including all 11 songs with Hansen on vocals, 2LP and digital on September 16th via earMUSIC.

Shot at Chameleon Studio in Hamburg where the album also was recorded, the video for “Born Free” perfectly captures the essence of the song. Starting with the line “Born in the city of Hamburg, in 1963…,” Kai sets the direction for his solo debut - a reference, a bow to his home town which is also represented in the images. Hansen roars into the mic like his life depends on it – like a wild, unleashed beast – and breaks free with liberating screams. Add explosive guitar solos, heavy riffs and the stellar line up that is Alex Dietz (guitar player of Heaven Shall Burn) on bass, Eike Freese on guitar and phenomenal drummer Daniel Wilding (Carcass) to the mix, and you get everything you ever searched for in metal/hard rock.

Or as Hansen puts it in “Born Free”: “It made me feel so groovy – it gave me instant heat.”

And thus a new metal hymn is born. A hymn that will get fans all over the globe to stand up proud and shout “I am BORN FREE – NO LIMITS IN THE SKY”.

Watch the official music video for “Born Free” below and stay tuned for updates.

In the new video below, guitarist Gus G. (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind) walks you through the guitar parts of his solo track "Brand New Revolution" and explains various tapping techniques he uses. The clip was filmed and edited by Panagiotis Kountouras, with intro graphic by Patric Ullaeus.

Gus G. will embark on the Operation Domination co-headlining US tour with renowned shredder, Angel Vivaldi, kicking off on August 31st in New York, NY. Tour dates are listed below. Check out a new tour trailer:

Gus G. states: "I'm very excited to return to the US this fall to finally hit more markets and play for the fans that were left out on my recent spring mini-tour. Teaming up with a talented player like Angel Vivaldi seemed like a great opportunity. We're both stoked to bring the Operation Domination tour to the American audiences and we will be performing our own individual sets, but also collaborating on stage together as well. We will have a great band with us that features James Paul Luna (Holy Grail) on vocals, Alex Bent (ex-Battlecross, Testament) on drums and Jake Skylyr on bass. The setlist will once again be a mixed bag including songs from my solo works, Firewind, Ozzy material but some surprises as well. These shows are not to be missed. See you soon."

Vivaldi further adds: "For me this tour perfectly summarizes the evolution of modern guitar playing. To be able to share a stage with a force such as Gus is both inspiring and refreshing. I cannot wait to see the looks on people's faces when they see what we have planned! I'm also really excited to dip into music from all my releases including the upcoming re-recordings from The Speed Of Dark: Revisited, coming out this year. After the recent tragic events in Orlando, I'm going above and beyond to make this tour a much needed celebration of love, inspiration and positive energy. I have some exciting tricks up my sleeve that I'm anxious to unleash on this run. It’s going to be a party!"

Tour dates:

August
31 - New York, NY - The Studio At Webster Hall

September
1 - Philadelphia, PA - The Voltage Lounge
2 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East
3 - Leonardtown, MD - Park Rock @ St. Mary’S Fairgrounds
6 - Winter Park, FL - The Haven
7 - Tampa, FL - Orpheum
9 - Stafford, TX - The Pub Fountains
10 - Ft. Worth, TX - The Rail Club
12 - Hollywood, CA - The Whisky
15 - Las Vegas, NV - Vamp’D Rock Bar
16 - Costa Mesa, CA - Tiki Bar
17 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
20 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Bar
21 - Denver, CO - Herman’S Hideaway
22 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mewes
23 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe’S
24 - Berwin, IL - Wire

Firewind recently announced a return to European stages, which sees the group play some summer festival events as well as a European/UK tour in November, featuring a best-of set from the band’s rich catalogue.

Tour dates:

November
9 - Wolverhampton, UK - Slade Rooms
10 - Glasgow, UK -Audio
11 - Manchester, UK - Club Academy
12 - Sheffield, UK - Corporation
13 - London, UK - Underworld
15 - Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob
16 - Paris, France - Petit Bain
18 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos-Saal
20 - Budapest , Hungary - A38
21 - München, Germany - Feierwerk
22 - Vienna, Austria - Szene
24 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix/Rockpalast
25 - Breda, The Netherlands - Mezz

Firewind are currently working on new material for an upcoming studio album release, expected later in the year.

Helsinki, Finland-based melodic hard rock band, King Company, will released their debut album, One For The Road, on August 26th. A lyric video for the album track “No Man's Land” can be found below.

Formed in the spring of 2014 under the name No Man’s Land, King Company is a band featuring cream of the crop Finnish hard rock scene members. Drummer Mirka "Leka" Rantanen (Raskasta Joulua, Warmen, Thunderstone, Kotipelto) had been thinking about forming a new hard rock/melodic metal band for a long time. He wanted to play with people with whom he had worked before and who he knew both as good musicians and as friends. First, he contacted guitarist Antti Wirman (Warmen) who immediately joined the band. Singer Pasi Rantanen was in Mirka's mind from the beginning, as they had played together in a couple of bands before (Thunderstone, Warmen). After keyboardist Jari Pailamo (Kiuas, Ponies To Kill) and bassist Time Schleifer (Enfarce) joined the band, this super group of sorts was finally ready to start working.

King Company’s debut album, One For The Road, is a trip back in time to the melodic hard rock world of the golden 80’s and 90’s. The band’s biggest influences come from legendary bands such as Deep Purple, Rainbow and Whitesnake, but also from other great acts like Europe, Mr Big, Lynch Mob, and Dokken. All this, but with a contemporary twist! Singer Pasi Rantanen has taken his biggest influences from the great David Coverdale and you can definitely hear it. King Company salutes all these great bands and fans of this genre with their debut album and they are hoping to reach people who are new to this kind of music too.

The album’s title track, ”One For The Road” says it all. “Some of us got in this ride back in the 80’s and we are still on that same road,” tells Mirka Rantanen. “It was 1985 we were young and wild and free, We dreamed of playing rock'n roll, and sitting in a black limousine...we still believe!”

Mirka continues: “Our debut album One For The Road should have been done years ago, but there was’t simply time to form King Company. We all had our own projects and we were too busy in our personal lives. Many of us have played in power metal and extreme metal bands, but something has always been missing. We wanted to write an album full of songs that we have always wanted to play. And we did. Most of the songs have been written together around Antti Wirman’s guitar riffs, but there are some older song from Pasi Rantanen that we re-arranged to a more modern form. The greatest ballad on the album is called “Cast Away” and it’s written by the keyboardist Jari Pailamo. Most of the lyrics are written by Mirka and Pasi.”

One For The Road tracklisting:

“One For The Road”
“Shining”
“In Wheels Of No Return”
“Coming Back To Life”
“No Man's Land”
“Farewell”
“Wings Of Love”
“Cast Away”
“Desire”
“Holding On”
“One Heart”

“No Man's Land” lyric video:

“Cast Away”:

“Shining” video:

EPK:

“In Wheels Of No Return” video:

King Company lineup:

Pasi Rantanen - vocals
Antti Wirman - guitars
Jari Pailamo - keyboards
Time Schleifer - bass
Mirka Rantanen - drums

Science Of Sleep are announcing their comeback after three years of touring and writing with their single "Purge", from their upcoming album Hellmouth.

The new album combines death metal, and deathcore, along with some black and dark influences. The music is still brutal, fast, dark and full of blast-beats and heavy breakdowns. The lyrics also adress a variation of topics reaching from the hell mythology over fascism and the darkest parts of the human nature.

The album was once again recorded with Simon Hawemann (Sludge Studios, War From A Harlots Mouth) in Berlin and mixed by Christian Schwarz (Schwarzmusik). The mastering was done by Andy Marsh (Thy Art Is Murder).

The artwork, pictured below, is a collaboration of Robert Borbas (Grindesign) and Sin Eater.

Tracklisting:

"Hellmouth"
"Purge"
"Columns Of Greed"
"Fed To Pigs"
"Tremendeous Strain"
"Wanderers"
"Plainfield"
"Condemned To Burn"
"Swamps"
"Death's Realm"
"Todestreiben"

Metal veterans Leatherwolf performed at the Keep It True Festival 2016 in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany back on April. Pro-shot video from the start of their show is available below.

Back in 2015, it was announced that an incarnation of Leatherwolf featuring former guitarists Geoff Gayer and Carey Howe were "well into the songwriting process of a long awaited LW studio album, " with Wade Black on vocals, Pat Guyton on bass and Dan Bruette  on drums. BraveWords received a statement from the "real" Leatherwolf members Dean Roberts and Michael Olivieri:

"We just wanted to set the record straight regarding a statement/press release that's been put out there announcing a new Leatherwolf studio album featuring former LW members Carey Howe, Geoff Gayer and Wade Black. Whatever Carey, Geoff and Wade are working on - it will NOT be released under the name Leatherwolf!  The legal rights to the name Leatherwolf lie with the line-up featuring original band members Dean Roberts and Michael Olivieri that recently performed on the Monsters of Rock cruise and Keep It True festival in Germany.

It is unfortunate that Carey Howe, the main instigator in all this, is trying to wreak havoc and create the false impression that he, Geoff and Wade are back in Leatherwolf, which is not the case.  He may have succeeded in hijacking the original Leatherwolf Facebook page and YouTube channel but he will not succeed in hijacking the name Leatherwolf as well.

We ask you to please only consult the official Leatherwolf website and Facebook page for any and all news regarding band activities."

Obsession guitarist John Bruno has checked in with the following announcement:

"The new project has been announced and I am very proud to be a part of it! Yes! Heavy Metal Disney songs on Walt Disney Records! Coming October 5th in Japan."

Yes indeed, in a spin of the Animetal USA project, Walt Disney presents the D-Metal Stars debut, Metal Disney, featuring Michael Vescera (vocals), Rudy Sarzo (bass), BJ Zampa (drums) and John Bruno (guitars). The tracklist is as follows:

"Introduction: When You Wish Upon a Star" (Pinocchio)
"Mickey Mouse March" (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse)
"I See the Light" (Tangled - featuring Demon Kakka & Jeff Watson) 
"A Whole New World" (Aladdin)
"It's a Small World" (New York World's Fair)
"Beauty and the Beast" (Beauty and the Beast)
"Under the Sea" (The Little Mermaid)
"Go the Distance" (Hercules)
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (The Lion King)
Disney Medley - "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo"~ "Heigh-Ho" ~ "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" ~ "Winnie the Pooh" ~ "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" 
"When You Wish Upon a Star" (Pinocchio)

The album is available for pre-order via Amazon Japan here.

 

FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares has confirmed that the band will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its 1998 album "Obsolete" by performing the LP in its entirety. The plans follow on from the band's recent "Demanufacture" shows, which saw FEAR FACTORY playing its landmark 1995 release from front to back.

Speaking to EonMusic at this past weekend's Bloodstock Open Air festival, Cazares said about the prospect of marking "Obsolete"'s anniversary with a full tour: "For sure, one hundred percent, it will happen." Before then, however, FEAR FACTORY will focus on making a new album, to be released sometime "next year, and then it will be coming up on the 20-year anniversary of 'Obsolete'," he said. "2018 is the anniversary, but we might start a little earlier [with the 'Obsolete' shows] than that. We'll see."

Dino added that he was looking forward to the "Obsolete" performances, stating: "That was out biggest record by far, and I think it's going to draw a lot of people."

"Obsolete" remains the only FEAR FACTORY album to have achieved gold status in the U.S., driven largely by the success of its fourth single, "Cars", a Gary Numan cover that featured Numan himself on vocals.

In a recent interview with Metal Assault, Cazares talked about the challenges of playing entire records as part of a live show. He said: "Albums are not necessarily made with keeping in mind that they could be played live in their entirety, but you're hoping that you can get a record that flows really well. For instance, SLAYER has 'Reign In Blood'. The album is 28 minutes long. Sometimes when you hear 'Angel Of Death', you want to hear the next song, and the one after that. But, basically, you're hoping that the record is that good from front to back that people want to hear the whole thing. We got lucky with 'Demanufacture', as we felt that this was the case.

"Playing 'Demanufacture' is really cool because it brings us back to the memory we have of when we made that record. It brings back everything we had to go through, whether it was difficult times or happy times.

"Sometimes when we're playing that album from front to back, all these emotions come out, and it's a good feeling. You're happy that people are feeling the same way and they get into it, and they love it."

Japan's Yukiko Inui and Risako Mitsui used a medley of KAMELOT songs ("Karma", "The Spell" and "Ghost Opera") for their synchronized swimming duet routine at the Rio Olympics.

Inui and Mitsui previously presented the same routine during their appearance at the FINA World Aquatics Championships 2015 in Kazan, Russia.

Inui and Matsui are hoping for Japan's first Olympic medal in the event since Emiko Suzuki and Saho Harada won bronze in Beijing in 2008

A perennial bronze medalist in synchronized swimming since the sport's Olympic introduction in 1984, Japan's proud record came to an end in London four years ago.

KAMELOT is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Haven", which sold around 7,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD was made available in May 2015 via Napalm Records as part of an exclusive licensing deal through the band's Kamelot Music LLC.



Posted by Jo Maia on Monday, August 15, 2016

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor has had another fan thrown out of one of the band's concerts, and the whole incident was once again caught on tape.

During SLIPKNOT's August 13 show at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, California, Taylor apparently took issue with one particular member of the audience, having him personally ejected from the venue for reasons that are not clear.

In the clip below, Taylor can be seen pointing out the rowdy fan in sea of flailing limbs and shoes and ordering security to "get him the fuck out!"

One Redditor said that security had to wrestle the fan in question out of the crowd, while another wrote: "I was there! All I heard was, 'That motherfucker with the glasses. Get him the fuck out of here.' This is my fourth show and I've never seen that."

Taylor made headlines last month for having a concertgoer removed from the band's gig in Toronto. Fan-filmed video footage showed Taylor pointing at someone in the crowd and saying into the mic, "You don't show me shit, you little pussy." Within 15 seconds, security escorted the person out, with Taylor waving and saying, "Bye bye, bitch."

He later called the person a "cunt" on Twitter and explained that he has been "doing this too long to deal with that disrespect."

One user on SLIPKNOT's Reddit page claimed the fan was hurling insults at Corey and flipping him off, while another wrote that the man was attacking people in the crowd for no reason.

In a separate incident earlier last month, Corey smacked the phone out of the hand of a texting fan during a SLIPKNOT concert. The singer later explained his action by tweeting, "If you're gonna text, stay home."

Taylor has discussed his dislike for people using their phones at concerts in an interview with Detroit radio station WRIF, saying, "So many people have their faces glued to their phones... get off your phones and pay attention to what the hell you're doing."

Fan-filmed video footage of DEVILDRIVER's August 10 performance at the Brutal Assault festival in Josefov, Czech Republic can be seen below.

DEVILDRIVER's seventh studio album, "Trust No One", was released on May 13 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2013's "Winter Kills" was once again produced by Mark Lewis (ARSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, DEICIDE, SIX FEET UNDER) with assistance from Jason Suecof (AUGUST BURNS RED, DEICIDE, DEATH ANGEL). The new CD marks the group's first release since the departures of guitarist Jeff Kendrick and drummer John Boecklin and addition of axeman Neal Tiemann and former CHIMAIRA sticksman Austin D'Amond.

"Trust No One" entered The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 43 with first-week sales of just over 12,000 units — nearly all from pure album sales. The set follows the No. 32-peaking "Winter Kills", which was released in August 2013 and opened with 11,000 copies.

DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara recently told Full Metal Jackie about the "Trust No One" album title: "I raised my children with a huge sticker on the refrigerator for a long time saying 'Question Authority.' And 'Trust No One' is basically along [those] lines. I don't think that 'Question Authority' would have worked for a title. But you've gotta really watch people, and you've gotta watch 'em before you bring 'em into your circle, and after you do bring them into your circle, then you've gotta watch 'em even closer. And as they exit, you'll realize that a lot of the times you bring in people, and as they exit, they are not, or were not, what they said they were the whole time they were in your life."

He continued: "I'm a very private person and my circle is very small. I have had some monumental fallouts over the years with some people, both personal and in business. And, basically, because you come to a realization where positivity is more important than anything in your life. And if someone is bringing you negativity, bringing you down, not having a good time with you or around whatever you are doing, you know, it's time to vacate the situation. 'Cause I am a glass-half-full guy; I'm always pretty positive, and I'm always willing to have a really good time. So, in the last couple years, that's been what's going on with me. I've been, 'Look, are you positive in my life? Okay, cool. Come around more. If you are not, I may lose your phone number.'"

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider joined MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell's PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS (formerly PHIL CAMPBELL'S ALL STARR BAND) on stage on August 11 at the Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Hall in Walton-on-Trent, England to play MOTÖRHEAD's classic song "Born To Raise Hell". Also appearing with them on backing vocals was CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's Pepper Keenan. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

While introducing the song, Snider paid an emotional tribute to late MOTÖRHEAD leader Lemmy Kilmister, saying: "This year we lost a friend, we lost a legend. This festival season, without Lemmy Fuckin' Kilmister, there's a hole in my heart. Without Lemmy out here, it don't seem right. So right now, Bloodstock — the only true motherfucking heavy metal festival in the fuckin' U.K. Fuck Download! This is the fuckin' show right here!"

He continued: "So it's time for us all to have some closure. I need some closure, Phil needs some closure, you need some closure, and we're gonna get it right fuckin' now. We're gonna sing Lemmy's words, and we're gonna sing them loud and fuckin' proud!"

Snider recalled in a 2015 interview how Lemmy played a crucial role in helping TWISTED SISTER break through in the U.K.

Snider said that TWISTED SISTER was offered the "special guest" slot on a bill at a July 1982 heavy metal festival headlined by MOTÖRHEAD at a soccer stadium in Wrexham, North Wales.

Making the situation even more daunting, "makeup-wearing bands were not only nonexistent but completely unacceptable to English metal fans," according to Dee.

Kilmister saved the day by offering to introduce TWISTED SISTER to the MOTÖRHEAD audience.

"Lemmy made it cool to like TWISTED," Dee later said. "At Wrexham, MOTÖRHEAD's crowd had their bottles ready for us. We were shitting our pants, so for the headliner to bring on the opening act was just the coolest thing possible. I'll love him forever for that."

In his autobiography, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic", Snider wrote about the incident: "I am still not sure why Lemmy showed us this kindness. It's probably just the way he is wired and one of the reasons he is so beloved. He may be a pirate, but he's a benevolent pirate."