German Wolf metallers, Varg, will release their Rotkäppchen EP on October 9th via Napalm Records. The release comes as limited edition deluxe DIN A5 mediabook with 24-pages.

The EP includes special bonus gems, as well as two brand new songs; “Ein Tag Wie Heute” (featuring Dom R. Crey of Equilibrium) and “Abendrot”, which won’t be found on the upcoming Das Ende aller Lügen album. Check out the new “Rotkäppchen” video below.

EP tracklisting:

“Rotkäppchen 2015”
“Ein Tag wie Heute”
“Abendrot”
“Red Riding Hood”
“Rødhette”
“Rotkäppchen 2011”
“Rotkäppchen 2015 Karaoke”

“Rotkäppchen” video:

Varg will release their new album, Das Ende Aller Lügen, on January 15th via Napalm Records. This album is already being called a new milestone in Varg’s history!

Although Varg are more monstrous than ever, Das Ende Aller Lügen is perhaps one of the best examples that the calm always comes before the storm. These calming moments prepare the listener for the coming thunder. Today the wolves have released their album artwork and tracklisting, which can be found below.

Tracklisting:

“Der große Diktator”
“Das Ende aller Lügen”
“Revolution”
“Streyfzug”
“Achtung”
“Dunkelheit”
“Totentanz”
“Einherjer”
“Wintersturm”
“Ascheregen”

Varg on tour:

October
2 - Geiselwind, Germany - Monster Festival
16 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
17 - München, Germany - Backstage *Extended Show
18.10.2015 CH - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7 *Extended Show
19 - Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof
20 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
21 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
22 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
23 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle *Extended Show
24 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser *Extended Show
25 - Wien, Austria - Gasometer *Extended Show

Fan-filmed video footage of W.A.S.P.'s October 3 performance at Väggahallen in Karlshamn, Sweden can be seen below.

W.A.S.P.'s new album, "Golgotha", was released on October 2 via Austria's Napalm Records.

W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless told Ultimate Classic Rock about the six-year gap between the release of 2009's "Babylon" and the arrival of "Golgotha": "That gap, we originally started in spring of 2011 and we went and did the 30th-anniversary tour in 2012 and then, the following May, I broke my leg pretty badly and we lost the rest of that year, so if you put it all together, it's about two years of work spread out. Those gaps in time, be them planned or unplanned, ended up being a good thing because it gave us the luxury of time I've never had before. We were talking about it a couple of months ago when we mixed the record. Had those gaps not happened, this record wouldn't have turned out the way it did. It gave us the ability to sit back and really question it and said, 'Is this what we want to do? Is this what we want to sound like?'"

Regarding the new song "Last Runaway", Lawless said: "Forty years ago I came to Hollywood as a teenager. Terrified and scared out of my mind, I had no idea what waited there for me. The song 'Last Runaway' is an intensely personal account of what happened to me, not only then but over the years and the success that followed after. Be it a kid looking for success in the music business or any life-challenging endeavor that someone would 'run away' from in life, I'm certain that everyone can relate to this story one way or another. It's another kid 'chasing the dream' and trying to survive it in the process. We've all been there."

Drummer Mike Dupke recently left W.A.S.P. after a nine-year stint with the band. He has since been replaced on the road by YNGWIE MALMSTEEN drummer Patrick Johansson and, more recently, by Randy Black (PRIMAL FEAR).

Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER have been working on the follow-up to 2013's self-titled album since January at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York. The band's guitarist, John Petrucci, tells Revolver magazine: "The new album will be a further progression of the band's creative identity.

"Every time that we go into the studio, we always try to make something that's better than the last."

He continues: "Everybody in the band has this kind of attitude where we love doing what we do, we're very lucky to be able to do what we do, and we feel that the best is still to come. That's partially why we self-titled our last album, because it signified a new beginning, and the strength of the belief that we have in the future of the band."

Regarding the songwriting process for the new CD, Petrucci says: "A new album project is like a fresh and inspiring blank canvas, and I love that every couple of years you have the opportunity of reinventing, trying something new and starting from scratch. But given the history of the band, you do have to take all of that into account and consider what we've done already, what we haven't explored yet, and what will not only keep us interested and fired up, but will also keep people who listen to the band excited, as well. You really have to deliver the goods — you can't rest on your laurels, you can't get lazy."

DREAM THEATER's new album is tentatively due in early 2016 via Roadrunner.

"Dream Theater" sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD, which arrived in stores on September 24, 2013 via Roadrunner, earned DREAM THEATER its second Grammy nomination, for "Best Metal Performance" for the single "The Enemy Inside".

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist Woody Weatherman has told West Michigan's Revue that the four-piece version of the band — featuring Pepper Keenan on guitar and vocals — hopes to hit the studio soon to record another album with John Custer, C.O.C.'s perennial producer.

"With our last record [with Pepper Keenan], [2005's] 'In The Arms Of God' — we want to pick up where that left off," he said. "We were on to something there, and then [Hurricane] Katrina happened [in New Orleans, where Keenan is based]. Then the band went on hiatus and we never picked it back up until 2010 when we started doing the three-piece stuff."

Weatherman believes "In The Arms Of God", which featured GALACTIC's Stanton Moore on drums, wasn't promoted properly. "We put a lot of effort into that and it took some doing to get it done," Weatherman said. "But I think it didn't get a fair shake. We got cut off from supporting it."

Keenan played his first full show with CORROSION OF CONFORMITY since 2006 on March 7 at Manchester Academy 2 in Manchester, England.

Speaking about the differences between writing music for CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and DOWN, Keenan told "Maximum Threshold": "The biggest difference with the C.O.C. stuff is that I'm singing, so my brain acts differently towards that writing songs for Phil [Anselmo, DOWN frontman] to sing. It's two different entities. I don't know how I split it in half, but I do it. I just go off the catalyst of what the last C.O.C. record was, which I thought was an extremely strong record. So we're just gonna shoot for that angle. And those guys have got a bunch of great riffs, and it's a different machine."

Keenan joined CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 1990, but he did not become the band's lead singer until the recording of "Deliverance", which came out in 1994.

Banger TV recently conducted an interview with vocalist Chuck Billy of San Francisco Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked what still excites him about playing music, Billy said: "It's the enjoyment that I had when I started it. My mom said, 'Don't be a singer. Don't be a musician. Go to school.' But this is what I love. And she's proud of what I've done and accomplished, sticking with what I do, 'cause I put my all into it."

He continued: "Anything you do in life, the more you do it, you get better at it. Especially a band like us, we started and went through this whole scene back to where we are today, from the early '80s to the '90s, where metal wasn't happening, reviving back in 2000 and coming back strong again. And I think we are at our peak right now. Speaking for myself, I feel I'm singing better than ever."

TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson recently told Lithium Magazine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2012's "Dark Roots Of Earth" album: "We're still working on it. I would say, probably, realistically, we're about halfway done. It depends on how it could just come to us and be done when I get home, or if you hit certain obstacles and different shows come up and tours. But I think the juices are starting to flow now… 'cause it's been so long, and we've been busting our balls and trying to get this record done, and I think we're getting it back into the whole vibe of what we really wanna do. 'Cause, I mean, we're on our eleventh record, and we're into this, like, 25, 30 years now. It's kind of, like, there's so many bands doing what we do, our style of music, and, I think, a band like us, when you've been around this long, you don't wanna just put out the same thing; you don't wanna do the cookie-cutter kind of thing, where you're just, like, 'Let's just copy what we did before.' For me, it's gotta come from the heart. So that's why it's taking so long. I think everybody will be stoked when it comes out."

Regarding the musical direction of the new TESTAMENT material, Eric said: "When you're beginning [as a band], you're just evolving — you're not thinking about it — but once you get to a certain plateau, you start going, 'Okay, do we wanna sound like our older stuff, or are we gonna do something like the new bands are doing now?' Like, 'You guys have gotta sound like this,' or, 'You're gonna do this. You're gonna do that.' So, I think where we're at, we're kind of choosing what record we wanna sound like, and then when I go to write songs, they don't sound like that. 'Cause it's just, like, you can't do that. Who knows what I was doing or what I was thinking when I wrote that? So, I mean, it's gonna come out. You do your best of what you're into at the time, and I really like what I'm creating right now. The stuff that I've written so far is a lot more thrashy. And Chuck is on the edge of whether he wants to do 'death' vocals or clean vocals. I prefer when he's more of a singing style and using the 'death' stuff to throw it over the fence."

TESTAMENT bassist Steve DiGiorgio and drummer Gene Hoglan were forced to miss the band's appearance at the Heavy Montreal festival in early August due to their touring commitments in Europe with DEATH TO ALL (DTA). Replacing them at the show were Tilen Hudrap from VICIOUS RUMOURS on bass and Alex Bent from BATTLECROSS on drums.

KITTIE's cover version of the DAVID BOWIE classic "Space Oddity" can be streamed using the widget below. The song is featured on "A Salute To The Thin White Duke - The Songs Of David Bowie", which was released yesterday (Friday, October 2) via Cleopatra Records.

KITTIE drummer Mercedes Lander stated about the band's inclusion on the album: "Cleopatra actually approached our label, eOne, for us to do the tribute. Morgan [Lander, guitar/vocals], Tara [McLeod, guitar], and I chatted about what song we wanted to do, we had a list of songs to pick from and narrowed it down to one or two. We thought that 'Space Oddity' would be the song that would translate the best, and it would be easy to 'KITTIE' the song up. We went into Beachroad Studios with [producer] Siegfried [Meier] in December and got it done in one day."

"A Salute To The Thin White Duke - The Songs Of David Bowie" track listing:

01. Modern Love - ROGUE WAVE02. John, I m Only Dancing - JESCA HOOP03. Letter To Hermione - DUM DUM GIRLS04. Heroes - THE TULIPS05. Ashes To Ashes - ICKY BLOSSOMS06. Starman - THE DEER TRACKS07. Rebel Rebel - THE KVB08. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) - MAGIC WANDS09. Blue Jean - ELECTRIC SIX10. Jean Genie - HEARTLESS BASTARDS11. Suffragette City - UME12. Fame - THE VACANT LOTS13. Space Oddity - KITTIE14. Moonage Daydream - BOY HITS CAR15. Absolute Beginners - COVES16. Changes - THE MUFFS

KITTIE will release a career-spanning documentary next year. The trailer for the film premiered on September 25 in London, Ontario, Canada's historic Hyland Cinema in conjunction with the Canadian premiere of "Nintendo Quest: The Most Unofficial And Unauthorized Nintendo Documentary Ever!" as part of the London Comic Con convention.

The film aims to deliver a certain perspective to the band's unique audience. It contains footage from all eras of the band and features a number of band members both past and present. It's rare that a band takes the time to catalog their entire career on video, but that's exactly what KITTIE did and it's another reason this film will be special. You will see the evolution of the band, and their music on screen.

KITTIE last year raised $40,000 via a crowd funding campaign for the documentary.


The Songs Of David Bowie by Kittie

Poland's Top Guitar conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson at the fourth annual Warwick Bass Camp, which took place from August 31 to September 4 in Markneukirchen, Germany. You can now watch all three parts of the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)

On the most important thing when you want to play heavy metal on bass:

"Well, there's two sides of it. Probably the most difficult part is to get a sound in a band, because guitars are really big, they're really loud; drums now have gotten very big and powerful, starting probably with some of the early IRON MAIDEN records and then certainly once we got into Vinnie Paul and a lot of that PANTERA production. Man, the drums just got huge, you know. And so getting a sound that works is a big part of it; it's as much a part of it as it is the notes you play, because metal, you're really creating a big sound. It isn't just, 'Here's the notes,' or, 'Here's the melody,' it's really a unique thing. And it's funny, because a lot of these jazz guys that are here at the camp… I'll be sitting down riffing through something. I ended up using a pick for most of my career, just because it helps me get that sound, and it's really a part of it. People come by and go, 'Man, dude, no one does that.' And I realized that that's kind of what I've grown up doing and I've developed my own thing. That's why I always like it when I see Kyle Sanders, for instance, from HELLYEAH playing with great finger playing and great tone. And he knows all the old KISS songs that we all know, yet he does his thing, which is very new, and he's got a fresh outlook on it. And the guys in MESHUGGAH, all these guys really get these really big, cool bass sounds. They have a real presence in the band. To me, I think that's a part of it — to really have a presence in the mix."

On what he still wants to accomplish in music:

"It's funny, I just kind of live day by day. An e-mail shows up, the phone rings, a things happens, and I just kind of really try to live in the moment. It's funny, I wrote that autobiography, 'My Life With Deth', and one of my tentative titles was gonna be 'All The Best Things That Happened To Me Were None Of My Ideas'. Because that's kind of how it works, especially in the creative domain like we live. A guy says, 'Hey, dude, come over here and play a part.' And, 'Hey, can you come over here?' and next thing you're on a tour, next thing you're in a studio. And I think that's… To stay out of your head and stay out of your ego and stay out of… you know, 'Is this gonna further my career?' Or, 'How am I gonna look?' I see a lot of people get caught up in that, and I've done it myself over the years; it's kind of human nature to do that. But I think staying out of here [points to head] and staying down here [points to chest] is the real answer."

On who the greatest bassist in heavy metal is:

"It's hard to say there's a greatest, the best… those kinds of things. I would say… Look, Steve Harris [IRON MAIDEN], to me, really changed the presence of bass in metal music. He was the guy that came… And, again, a lot of this is just, at my age, when I very impressionable, this group IRON MAIDEN came out, and next thing you know, the songwriter and the guy upfront with his foot on the monitors, who was almost like the lead singer of the band, was the bass player. [And I thought], 'Wow! This is awesome.' And I'd been listening to RUSH, and Geddy [Lee], of course, had a huge impact on me. Of course, Gene Simmons [KISS] before that. And Gene's a great bass player, man. He writes cool stuff, his bass lines are awesome and he breathes fire and spits blood while he does it. [Laughs] And, of course, Geezer Butler [BLACK SABBATH] and Bob Daisley, who played on those Ozzy [Osbourne] records and wrote a lot of that stuff. I like songwriter bass players; it's kind of a trend I've noticed. You know, Phil Lynott, Sting, Paul McCartney… on the more mainstream side of it. You know, there's something about guys that write that are… There's something different about how they weave themselves into the songs."

MEGADETH's 15th studio album, "Dystopia", will be released on January 22, 2016 via Universal Music Enterprises / Tradecraft / T-Boy Records.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, the company which creates "beautiful lullaby versions of your favorite artists," has just released "Lullaby Versions Of Evanescence" via Roma Music Group.

"Lullaby Versions Of Evanescence" track listing:

01. Bring Me To Life02. My Immortal03. Going Under04. Call Me When You Are Sober05. Everybody's Fool06. Lithium

The song "Bring Me To Life" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Check out audio samples at Amazon.com.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star was born for the parent that wants to pass along their biggest passion to their child, music. Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star transforms popular music into instrumental lullabies perfect for babies, yoga or just relaxation. Now, parents can enjoy the music from LADY GAGA to METALLICA in soothing lullaby style. With over 135 titles to choose from, Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star is the largest line of pop, rock, metal and jamband music lullabies in the world. These aren't novelty recordings. They are cute, they are soft but these are serious recordings. Roma Music Group, which releases Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, is run by two music industry veterans who put the fidelity of these recording at the top of the priority list. Let's face it, much like the brand name clothes you buy for your infant, this music is really for you. Whether you are raising a metal baby, rocker or hippie baby, Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star has your music transformed from arena anthems into nursery classics.

Original KORN drummer David Silveria says that the band's current lineup "just [doesn't] have it in them to [write] songs that can stand up" to the group's first three records and has predicted that KORN's next album "will be the same crap they have been putting out for years."

Silveria, who left KORN in late 2006, made the disparaging comments on the band's official Facebook page below a post about a Billboard.com interview in which KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer said that the band is now at work on the follow-up to its 2013 album, "The Paradigm Shift". Munky said: "I think it's time to solidify our legacy."

Silveria, who retired to Huntington Beach, California and opened a restaurant after his exit from KORN, wrote in the September 30 post: "I think KORN was solidified in our first few albums. They just don't have it in them to [write] songs that can stand up to our first three records. It's just Munky trying to give bullshit hype on another record that I believe will be the same crap they have been putting out for years. As soon as Jon [singer Jonathan Davis] stopped writing with the entire band, the music [went] to shit. And I'm sure their new record will be more shit. I can't blame him for trying to hype a new record when he knows fans have been disappointed by their last four records. You can call a turd a diamond but it doesn't make it so!"

Silveria sued his former bandmates late in February, claiming that his 2006 exit from the group was merely a hiatus and that he was rebuffed when he tried to return to the band in 2013. Silveria said he still had ownership interest in KORN and was asking a judge to force the band to reveal how much money they've made since he left so that he can get his rightful share. Silveria is said to be especially upset over the fact that KORN welcomed back guitarist Brian "Head" Welch two years ago but wouldn't do the same for him. Welch left the group in 2005 and continued as a solo artist before rejoining in 2013.

KORN kicked off a fall North American tour on Thursday (October 1) in Chicago. The band is performing its self-titled 1994 debut in its entirety at every stop, finishing up on October 30 inOakland.

Silveria told Rolling Stone magazine in December that he felt it was "wrong" for KORN to play its self-titled debut album without him on its current tour, saying that he had "just as much of a creative input as any of (the other) guys while writing and making (the) record."

KORN singer Jonathan Davis told The Pulse Of Radio that he believed Silveria had lost his passion for playing music, saying, "The first two albums, I think, he really enjoyed playing drums and then after that he just lost his love for playing drums. It happens."

Silveria told fans in 2013 that KORN was not the same since he left, saying, "Until they have the real 'funky drummer' it's just not gonna groove the way it could. I've made it clear that I would come back and restore the groove."

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE bassist Tim Commerford doesn't believe that Islamic State Of Iraq And Syria (ISIS) is real, explaining that "we created' the militant group "so we can go drop bombs."

Commerford, a self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist, made the comments during a wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone magazine in which he opened up about his new project WAKRAT, the status of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame chances and Zack De La Rocha's latest musical endeavor.

"I don't believe ISIS is real," he said. "ISIS has been an inspiration for a lot of the songs that I wrote with WAKRAT. I don't believe that all the different factions in the Middle East have gotten together and said, 'Okay, we all hate each other and we all hate America, so let's all put on the ISIS uniform and join forces and just become ISIS.' That's a bunch of shit. I don't believe the Jihadi John beheading video. Go look at those videos and study them, and see if you don't think they're fake."

He continued: "They're not real. They're high-def. They have a soundtrack. The parts of those videos that you couldn't fake are edited out. At first, I thought it was edited out by our government so our kids wouldn't be seeing it on the Internet, but no. That's the way those videos came. The knife starts to cut the neck, and then it fades out. There's too much stuff that doesn't look real. They've edited out the parts that would be too hard to fake. We created Jihadi John and ISIS so we can go drop bombs."

Asked what he thinks happened to the people who ISIS claimed to have killed in the videos," Commerford responded: "They were already dead." Pressed about whether he thinks the U.S. government made it up, the bassist said: "Oh, I think it goes so much deeper than just the U.S. government. It's the same people that put presidents in office all over the world. It's a global conspiracy of people whose names we'll never know, but they're the ones who really run the show because they're the ones with the deepest pockets."

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's new DVD, "Live At Finsbury Park", is set to be released October 16. The concert was filmed in 2010 in London.

PRONG will release a new studio album, "X (No Absolutes)", on January 29, 2016 via Steamhammer/SPV. The first digital single from the upcoming CD, "Ultimate Authority", has just been made available to coincide with the kick-off of PRONG's North American tour as one of the support acts for DANZIG.

Says PRONG mainman Tommy Victor: "There's no stopping. More songs were written and we recorded a powerful follow-up to 'Carved Into Stone' and 'Ruining Lives'. We are real excited about this new one and it's nice that we have 'Ultimate Authority' out just in time for this tour."

In addition to Victor, the current lineup of PRONG includes Art Cruz (drums) and Jason Christopher (bass).

PRONG's album of covers, "Songs From The Black Hole", was released in March via SPV/Steamhammer.

PRONG's latest all-original release, "Ruining Lives", came out in 2014.

PRONG last year completed filming a video for the song "Remove, Separate Self", taken from "Ruining Lives". Brian Cox and Marcelo Palomino directed the clip.

Photo credit: Neil Zlozower

ABBATH, the band led by ex-IMMORTAL frontman Olve Eikemo (a.k.a. Abbath), has released a video for its version of the I song "Warriors", which was originally featured on the album "Between Two Worlds", issued by Nuclear Blast in 2006. Check it out below.

ABBATH will release a seven-inch single, "Count The Dead", on December 11 via Season Of Mist. The A-side features the title track while the B-side consists of a cover version of the JUDAS PRIEST classic "Riding On The Wind".

"Count The Dead" will be released in two versions, which are both limited to 500 copies worldwide and exclusively available for pre-order through the Season Of Mist shop.

ABBATH's video for the song "Fenrir Hunts" can be seen below. The clip is a live recording of a new ABBATH track, the studio version of which will appear on the group's forthcoming debut album, due in early 2016 via Season Of Mist.

The band states: "We have performed 'Fenrir Hunts' live since our debut concert at Tuska festival in Finland. This led to the decision to record a few live songs properly. With the aid of a camera team, we have recorded three tracks in a live setting at the beginning of September. Along with 'Fenrir Hunts', which you can see today, there will be two cover versions coming up soon. Now, here is 'Fenrir Hunts', the first glimpse from our upcoming debut album!"

The "Fenrir Hunts" video was directed by Fraser West. The song was recorded and mixed by Jamie Ward.

Bass duties for ABBATH are being handled by a man familiar to metal fans across the world — Tom Cato Visnes, more widely known as King Ov Hell and main composer for several GORGOROTH albums as well as his own bands OV HELL, with singer Shagrath from DIMMU BORGIR, and GOD SEED, with exceptional black metal vocalist Gaahl. His fellow GOD SEED member and BORKNAGAR percussionist, Baard Kolstad, has also joined ABBATH on drums.

Abbath announced earlier this year that he was moving forward under his own name.

"I didn't want to go solo in the first place," Abbath told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. "I wanted the best for IMMORTAL. I didn't want it to end this way. First of all, I just wanted my music out. I wanted to record the [next] album [because] it's been so many years since 'All Shall Fall'. And both Demonaz and Horgh, they have kids and families now, and it just hit that point where I couldn't work the way they wanted to work any more. I wanted things on my terms and they wanted things on their terms, and it was very difficult."

He continued: "I wanted to rehearse at least three times a week, but often it was only once a week and things went so slow. I sat there with all this material, I kept the rehearsal space and recorded the stuff on click track, but it was a very strained atmosphere and the Last time we worked together was in early June last year."

Asked if the decision to part ways and seek out new band members was inevitable, Abbath said: "I was forced to do it this way. I wanted IMMORTAL to continue, but not the way it was. The dialogue has not been there and it's also my mistake. I should have brought up this shit a long time ago, but IMMORTAL, after Demonaz's problems with his arms, it never became a band after that."

He continued: "IMMORTAL is a very special situation. [Demonaz] hasn't been in the band, but then I always wanted to do the best for everybody, to have the band spirit, and that's why when we decided to start IMMORTAL again, we tried to get the spirit back, and bring him on tour, and just share our thing and be a band and have a kick-ass time. But it never worked out. The chemistry wasn't there with the IMMORTAL guys and hadn't been for a while."

Abbath added: "I believe in my music and I believe in my expression, but time flies and we grow apart. Maybe in the future we can go back again, I don't know, but right now I just want to do my thing and just be ABBATH and have people around me who support that."

KILLING JOKE are on a mission to take their music of resistance to a whole new level with their sixteenth studio album, "Pylon", due on October 23 via Spinefarm Records.

The song "Euphoria" from "Pylon" can be streamed below.

With the original lineup of Jaz Coleman, Geordie, Youth, and Big Paul continuing to hold firm, KILLING JOKE will headline shows around the world, starting with a U.K. run in October.

"Pylon" was produced in the U.K. and Prague by the band and Tom Dalgety, whose credits include the hugely successful "Royal Blood" album.

The album isn't designed to accompany a quiet night at home in front of the fire; "Pylon" is very much music-as-ritual. It's raw, uncompromising and precisely targeted lyrically, with the artwork put together by regular band associate Mike Coles, the designer behind the very first KILLING JOKE album.

About the album title, Youth said, "It's simple… Stark brutal industrial suicide… This is the third in a triptych of albums, 'Absolute Dissent', 'MMXII' and now 'Pylon'… heavy and uncompromising, bleak dystopian lyrics, as well as some visionary celebration… lots of black pain emotion. To be honest, we remain genre blind so our music will always cover a vast spectrum of influences, from disco right through to heavy metal and beyond."

While other bands of a certain vintage may struggle to hold their edge, KILLING JOKE are delivering the best and most relevant material of their career, with no mellowing or softening of the edges getting in the way. It's a line in the sand against mainstream music and corporate existence.

"I believe we delivered 15 tracks for the new album," ponders Youth, who actually raised that number to 16 with a last minute dub remix. "And it could have been a lot more."

"This record really showcases the power of KILLING JOKE," continues Jaz. "I remember we once jammed with German outfit CAN, and I don't remember hearing CAN…"

Difficult, perverse and willfully unpredictable, KILLING JOKE continue to be a group that actually stands for something; Youth will tell you it's "honesty, commitment and illumination," and the others will doubtless have ideas of their own, but one thing's for certain: what once seemed paranoid now seems downright prophetic, and for all of their adherence to darker hues, the future for KILLING JOKE seems bright… whether they like it our not.

All audio purchases of "Pylon" from PledgeMusic will receive the lead track "I Am the Virus" as an instant download.

The new album will be released in variety of formats, including deluxe double CD and a strictly limited double colored vinyl, with both versions featuring additional tracks.

The U.K. tour will be the start of an extensive period of touring that will see this most legendary and infamous band taking their own particular message to audiences around the world.

California metallers DEVILDRIVER have entered Seahorse Sound Studios in downtown Los Angeles to begin recording their new album for an early 2016 release via Napalm Records. The CD, which is once again being helmed by Mark Lewis (ARSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, DEICIDE, SIX FEET UNDER), will mark 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.

DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara told Australia's The Rockpit earlier in the year about the band's plans for a new studio album: "Over twelve years, we put out six records and we really never really took time off. Where most bands take a year and a half off between cycles, I'm kind of a road warrior and I never did that. And it became [clear] to me and everybody else around me, I was, like, 'Look, man, I need a little bit of time off. I need at least 9-10 months off music just to hang out with my family'. When that happened, [Dez's reactivated 1990s band] COAL CHAMBER ironically just came to the table and said, 'Hey why don't we do the record in between that time?' So DEVILDRIVER, by the time we come back, I'm recording a new DEVILDRIVER record at the end of this year. I'm sitting on twelve blistering songs that I'm in love with and I'm recording those [in] October-November this year and sometime next year, [in] spring/summer/fall, I'm going to release another DEVILDRIVER record and get right back in a DEVILDRIVER cycle. I don't want DEVILDRIVER sitting around too long but we definitely needed to take a break out of the markets and a break from touring for a little bit."

He continued: "I'll tell you now, it's definitely going to be something blistering! The music is on a different level right now, with what's going on with DEVILDRIVER."

Asked what makes Austin the right drummer for DEVILDRIVER, Dez told Full Metal Jackie: "What made him the right guy is he's more than capable.

"You can understand when members leave a band, and Jeff, the guitar player, left 'cause he just didn't wanna tour anymore, and I totally understood that after the schedule we kept for almost 13 years. And John wanted to try and do some stuff on his own, and it was more than okay with me after that length of time. So, when you do replace members, what you wanna do is you wanna get people who are more than capable — or more capable than even who you had [before]."

He continued: "I definitely am looking forward to playing with Austin. He's a great guy, he's a great drummer, [and] he's got an incredible stage presence. And when he came in for the audition, he absolutely just smoked it. He's just an incredible guy. And you get a real good vibe from him, which is another thing. We're gonna tour a lot, so you're gonna have to have that."

Boecklin and Kendrick played their last show with DEVILDRIVER as part of the 2014 Knotfest in Devore, California.

DEVILDRIVER's latest album, "Winter Kills", sold around 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 32 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Devil's Advocate On Call", the new video from Leeds, U.K.-based rockers GENTLEMANS PISTOLS, who feature in their ranks CARCASS guitarist Bill Steer, can be seen below.

Fans of the Shane Meadows British drama "This Is England" should recognize the knife-wielding moustachioed Banjo playing a lead in the video too! Actor George Newton appears as the hard man who is hunting down the band.

GENTLEMANS PISTOLS commented on the new track: "It's a harmony laden boogie about being disillusioned.

"The performance was shot at Staincross Working Man's Club just outside of Barnsley and then the other scenes were done in the surrounding area.

"David Pickering directed the video and did a fantastic job. It's basically an updated take on the Sweeney and programs of that ilk in which we are wanted, much like the A-Team, for a crime that we didn't commit."

GENTLEMANS PISTOLS will release its third album, "Hustler's Row", on October 16 via Nuclear Blast.

"Hustler's Row" formats and track listings:

CD

01. The Searcher02. Devil’s Advocate On Call03. Time Wasters04. Private Rendezvous05. Stress And Confusion06. Personal Fantasy Wonderland07. Lady Teaser08. Dazzle Drizzler09. Coz Of You10. Hustler’s Row

Vinyl

Side A

01. The Searcher02. Devil’s Advocate On Call03. Time Wasters04. Private Rendezvous05. Stress And Confusion

Side B

01. Personal Fantasy Wonderland02. Lady Teaser03. Dazzle Drizzler04. Coz Of You05. Hustler’s Row

Speaking about the new release, guitarist/vocalist James Atkinson says: "'Hustler's Row' is a cathartic journey through the last five years of my life. The album begins with questions of where my life is going and ends with me heading straight down 'Hustler's Row'; on a turbulent voyage of the sweetest sufferings and the most inexpensive of thrills. The artwork is by John Pearson and it encapsulates everything I put across in the title track, that 'Hustler's Row' is a place for freaks, losers, lovers and those searching for something more from life. So we invite you to join us on the 'Row'…"

The artwork shows a grisly dystopian vision of a British street, overflowing with violence, gloom and insanity. Rabid dogs and Hitchcock-esque ominous birds loom over the flailing limbs and blood red lettering spelling out "Hustler's Row".

"Our old guitarist, Chris Rogers, lived on a street called Hustler's Row in Leeds," adds Atkinson. "It's actually a really nice place, but, to me, the name evoked an image of a place of desolation and despair, so the lyrics I wrote have no connection to that street at all. It was Bill that thought it would make a good album title and it seemed to make sense as it is the final song on the album too."

GENTLEMANS PISTOLS have been causing a stir on the underground for a while now with their debauched lyrics, melodic groove and general Yorkshire rock 'n' roll swagger. Formed as a three-piece back in 2003, the band has gone through a variety of lineup changes throughout its career and has now stabilized as a four-piece. GENTLEMANS PISTOLS' last album, "At Her Majesty's Pleasure", was released to great acclaim in 2011.

The band has performed at U.K. and international festivals such as Desertfest, Hammerfest, Long Division and Fuji Rock festival in Japan, and has previously toured with the likes of WITCHCRAFT, LEAF HOUND and PENTAGRAM.

Says the group: "The album was recorded by singer/guitarist James Atkinson at Mutiny Studios in Bradford and reflects nearly five years of experience for the band: good times, bad times, boredom, exhilaration, heartache, frustration and wonder.

"With this album, we tried to make a record that we would want to listen to; one that was heavy but melodic, intense but catchy, thoughtful but unruly. A record for reprobates and romantics, for gentlemen and hustlers.ˮ

In a 2013 interview, Steer stated about GENTLEMANS PISTOLS: "It's a very fun thing to do and very different from CARCASS in a lot of ways." GENTLEMANS PISTOLS are:

James Atkinson - vocals/guitarsBill Steer - guitarStuart Dobbins - drumsRobert Threapleton - bass

The official lyric video for the new DEF LEPPARD song "Let's Go" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new self-titled album, which will arrive on October 30 via earMUSIC. The CD was written and recorded in three separate sessions over the course of the past year and a half.

"Def Leppard" track listing:

01. Let's Go (5:01)02. Dangerous (3:26)03. Man Enough (3:54)04. We Belong (5:06)05. Invincible (3:46)06. Sea Of Love (4:04)07. Energized (3:23)08. All Time High (4:19)09. Battle Of My Own (2:42)10. Broke 'N' Brokenhearted (3:17)11. Forever Young (2:21)12. Last Dance (3:09)13. Wings Of An Angel (4:23)14. Blind Faith (5:33)

Total running time: 54:24

Regarding "Let's Go", DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott told RollingStone.com: "It's a call to arms, you know? Rick Savage [bass] wrote 80 percent of the song. I wrote the verses, he wrote all the music and the choruses. He came in with it, and we knew it was a classic DEF LEPPARD song. It's that three-minute pop-rock stuff with big chunky guitars and a big chorus. And it has that swaggering, mid-tempo rhythm, like 'Sugar', and 'Rock Of Ages'. The idea was, we wanted something familiar. I mean, when AC/DC comes back after years away, you're not going to get 'Bohemian Rhapsody' from 'em, you know? And you don't want it, either — you want 'Back In Black', or something like it. For us, this is what we do. And it's something we enjoy doing."

The cover artwork can be seen below.

Elliott told North Dakota's Grand Forks Herald that the band's new album is a self-titled affair "because that's what it sounds like. It doesn't sound like any one specific era of DEF LEPPARD. It's got everything. You'll listen and you go, 'Oh, that sounds like DEF LEPPARD,' or you'll go, 'That is LEPPARD, but it sounds a bit like LED ZEPPELIN or QUEEN but you can hear the AC/DC or the CROSBY, STILLS & NASH coming through.' We have not shied away from anything that's influenced us in our growing up periods of our life. Just because we've made the kind of music we've made doesn't mean to say we don't like all of this other stuff."

The album is the band's first studio effort since "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge" in 2008.

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen recently told Mike Hsu of the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF about the band's upcoming CD: "It's probably the most diverse thing we've done. And I think it's the best thing we've done since 'Hysteria'; I really do. I've said that, and I've heard that come back as a quote, and I sincerely believe it. It's the loudest rock guitars we've ever had on some tracks. Some of the stuff we've done as a band in the studio — we all played along live and then added to it — and then other tracks were pure studio stuff.'

Asked about the word "experimental" being used in connection with the new DEF LEPPARD album, Collen said: "I don't think that's the right word. I think 'Hysteria' was experimental, because we were using all this new technology. This is more just expressive, is the right word. Instead of pandering to anyone — whether it be fans, a record company or whatever — we actually have just done our own thing. There was a purity to it that we haven't had before. There wasn't one time when someone said, 'Oh, I don't think it's gonna work.' Everyone tried it. And I don't know whether that's experience or what. It's certainly not age, 'cause most people, they get a little more uptight as they get older, but this is… It's the opposite; there's a more relaxed feel, and, because of that, it kind of flows. So I don't think 'experimental' is the right word. I think it's more liberating and expressive, is the way I would go with it."

Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY will release their debut live DVD+CD, Blu+ray+CD, Digital Video and Digital Audio, "Thank You: Livin' Live" via Eagle Vision on October 30. The performance was shot on BLACK STONE CHERRY's "Magic Mountain" tour, exactly one year prior to the disc's scheduled release date, at the band's sold-out Birmingham LG Arena show on October 30, 2014.

A clip of the song "Me And Mary Jane" from "Thank You: Livin' Live" can be seen below. In just seven years, BLACK STONE CHERRY progressed from playing 200-capacity club gigs in the U.K. to headlining their first arena tour. This DVD documents one of those triumphant shows, filmed at Birmingham's LG Arena and showcases the band's long-standing love affair with their British audience. Filmed in high definition and available on DVD, Blu-ray and twin DVD+CD pack, the incendiary live set features crowd favorites from all four of the band's studio albums, plus bonus interview material and additional live tracks shot at this year's Download Festival. The band is thrilled to bring this release to their fanbase, as guitarist Ben Wells attests: "We are beyond excited to bring you all this live DVD. Growing up watching my Elvis and AEROSMITH DVDs and VHS tapes, I never thought I would be in a band that would one day be releasing one — and in an arena at that! We are so honored, humbled, and thankful to have the fans and friends we have in this business and we couldn't do it without the grace of God and all of your support! Sit back and enjoy this live BSC experience. We had a blast filming it!"

Frontman Chris Robertson continues: "I remember our first gig headlining in Birmingham at the Barfly and I thought about that night many times as we were filming this DVD. It was truly an amazing experience that we will cherish forever and we have to give all the credit to the amazing fans for showing up and making it all possible!" With a running time of over 2 hours, the DVD's track listing runs as follows:

01. Rain Wizard02. Blind Man03. Me And Mary Jane04. In My Blood05. Holding On...To Letting Go06. Maybe Someday07. Such A Shame08. Things My Father Said09. Fiesta Del Fuego10. Sunshine Of Your Love11. Like I Roll12. Bad Luck And Hard Love13. Drum Solo14. Hollywood In Kentucky15. Hell And High Water16. Soul Creek17. White Trash Millionaire18. Blame It On The Boom Boom19. Layla20. Peace Is Free21. Lonely Train (Can't Judge A Book) Bassist Jon Lawhon says: "We've worked very hard on putting all of this together for everyone and it was the crowd that made this a night we will not soon forget. Thank you all so much for your dedication and support. We love you all and hope you enjoy it!" The band's inimitable sticksman, John Fred Young, underlines their appreciation of BSC fans' loyalty and echoes the DVD's title when he says; "THANK YOU to everyone who stuck with us over the years and who came out and made this night such a special memory for us! This is for you!" BLACK STONE CHERRY is currently hard at work on album number five which is set to see the light of day in spring 2016. The band returns to the U.K. in late January to headline the U.K.'s inaugural "Carnival of Madness" tour with SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM and newcomers HIGHLY SUSPECT.

Decibel Geek has uploaded video footage of RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER, the new project featuring Juan Croucier (RATT), Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE), Mike Moore and Toni Aleman, performing the RATT classic "Lack Of Communication" on September 26 at Rockpile in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Check it out below.

RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER, which exclusively plays songs from the RATT catalog, made its live debut on September 24 at the Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan.

RATT drummer Bobby Blotzer, who last month elected himself the CEO of WBS, Inc. — RATT's touring entity and the sole and exclusive owner of the RATT trademarks — has filed a trademark infringement action against Croucier claiming that Croucier "formed a band which tours around the world under the name Juan Croucier's RATT's [sic] and plays the songs of RATT." Blotzer also objected to Croucier referring to himself "for marketing, promotions, advertising and for general purposes as 'The Other Voice of RATT," explaining that "Croucier was never the lead singer of RATT" and that "all members of [RATT] sang and sing harmony vocals during live shows and on records."

According to Blotzer's complaint, "Croucier has been using trademarks which are identical, closely similar, or substantially indistinguishable" to the official RATT band logos "to promote Juan Croucier, his music, his services, Juan Croucier's RATT's [sic], his merchandise without [Blotzer's] permission or authorization." In addition, Blotzer alleges that Croucier has used the RATT logo "intentionally, knowledge and deliberate disregard, in order to draw RATT fans away from [Blotzer's] band's shows, to secure performances and venues so that [Blotzer's] band's could not secure those same performances and venues, to confuse consumers, promoters, and venues to believe that Juan Croucier is still a member of RATT or is some way affiliated, associated, endorsed or sponsored by [Blotzer]."

Croucier rejoined RATT in 2012 for their show at the M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, Maryland. This marked his first appearance with the band since 1991.

RATT guitarist Warren DeMartini earlier this week filed a lawsuit against Blotzer, claiming that the drummer is falsely advertising his "tribute band" as the real thing.

Blotzer announced on September 23 that he was taking control of the RATT name and was planning to hit the road with a new version of the group, which played shows earlier in the year under the name BOBBY BLOTZER'S RATT EXPERIENCE.

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian was interviewed on the latest installment of HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta's official podcast, "The Jasta Show". You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On the controversy surrounding this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival:

"We offered to be on [this year's] Mayhem. We turned them down, 'cause the money was too low. We were, like, 'No. That's ridiculous.' 'Well, there's no money.' 'Well, then, that's not our problem.' Why are we gonna go out and get paid less than we're worth. That's insane."

On the difficulty festival promoters face in booking headline-worthy metal and hard rock acts:

"To get a proper headliner, it also comes down to… Every band knows they can make more money on their own than if they're on a bill with a bunch of other bands or a festival, 'cause anyone who's in that position that you'd want to headline, they could just go do it themselves. That's the problem all festivals are having now. Especially even in Europe, the cash that headliners are getting paid now to headline these festivals has doubled in the last couple of years — crazy, crazy money the A-list metal and hard rock bands are getting now. It's insane money. Because otherwise there's no festival without them. I know. John Jackson is our agent. [He's] one of the partners in Sonisphere. A couple of years ago, they had to cancel that Sonisphere that was on sale because they felt it just wasn't doing well. So they canceled it, and then they decided, 'We would rather not put it on.' It doesn't mean it's never coming back — 'cause it came back a year later — but their attitude is, 'If we can't get the headliner, we just won't do it that year in the U.K., or whatever. We have to have a product, and it has to be great.' And they tried; they tried to get AC/DC, and it didn't happen. So it's just hard. If you don't have that A-list. And I get it. Like, if you're talking about trying to do, let's say, five to seven thousand kids in parking lots and things like a Warped Tour thing, of course, something like that is way more doable. Once you're talking about sheds, that's a different story. If you're only doing six thousand in a shed, no one's making money."

"There's so much competition for that real estate. That's another reason we skipped festivals besides we need to finish our record. There really were no… SLIPKNOT was out headlining shows, festivals… but it wasn't like that festival season where you had [IRON] MAIDEN and METALLICA and whole bunch of real, real big, big things. It just seemed like there's too many festivals and not enough bands to go around in 2015. That's what it looked like to us over there. And we had been there seven years straight, or something like that. Our agent was, like, 'Stay home and finish you record, because when you come back in '16, you've been away and you're on a cycle and it just makes sense.' So that was the plan, and I think it was definitely the right thing to do."

On whether ANTHRAX's early material is available on streaming music services like Spotify and Pandora:

"I don't have Spotify. I don't stream. I don't do any of that. So I'm ignorant to that. That's a good question that I'll ask my manager. Like, all our old Island catalog, is 'Among The Living' on Spotify? I have no idea. If it is, I'm sure we're not making any off it. Even if we had the best deal in the world, we still wouldn't be seeing any money from Spotify. That's why when I hear musicians use Spotify, I'm, like, 'Really? You're supporting a company that's ripping you off.' That's amazing. 'Yeah, but it's so easy to just have your music.' I'm, like, 'It's really easy to have my music without Spotify.' I just never got that. You know this company is fucking you, yet you are still okay with using it. That's weird to me."

"The thing is, I get it, I get it. It's how a lot of people on the planet get their music now, and I'm not against that. I wouldn't say, 'Don't put our records on there,' because I understand it now. It's, like, great, that's how you're getting our music, and then maybe you're gonna go buy a ticket next time we come through. So I get that; I totally get it. On the other side of that, I'm still the guy who… I came from the era where you could actually have a platinum album. How many records went platinum in America last year? That's a fucking joke. So take your streaming and shove it up your ass, is really how I truly feel about it. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna be a caveman and say, 'We're not streaming.' I want our music to get out there. I want as many people to get exposed to it as possible."

ANTHRAX recently completed work on the follow-up to 2011's "Worship Music" for an early 2016 release.

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford has commented on Kim Davis, the woman who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Kentucky, saying that we all should "give each other the respect and equality that everybody deserves on this planet."

Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Davis is an Apostolic Christian who has said her faith prevents her from issuing the licenses. She spent six days in jail earlier in the month for refusing to comply with a federal judge's order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Davis has become a lightning rod for the same-sex marriage debate, her case prompting supporters to tie her defiance to follow the law to the passive resistance at the center of the Civil Rights Movement.

Halford, who came out as a gay man during a 1998 interview with MTV, says that the Davis case isn't actually about gay marriage or religious freedom but is rather is about the county clerk's refusal to uphold the law, as she was sworn to do.

Speaking to the C103 radio station, Halford said: "First of all, you know, it's been very interesting to watch all of that going on, 'cause I've been here in America while all that came about. And firstly, I just love freedom and democracy and freedom of speech and everybody being able to say what they feel. Having said that, when you are employed in a situation that comes with basic, accepted ground rules and you try to kind of manipulate them to your perception so that it interferes with your job and interferes with other people's lives, then I take [exception to that]."

He continued: "But, look, again, from my perspective 64 years later, living this long, it is just… It's simple, man: just give each other the respect and equality that everybody deserves on this planet, no matter where you're from. So all this business about gay, straight, bi, black, white, Jew, Catholic… it's all these ridiculous labels. We're all people. We all need to just try and find a way to love each other and accept each other and try and make the world a better place. Amen."

Halford told The Press Of Atlantic City that he expected metal fans to alienate him when he first spoke about his homosexuality. "I probably deluded myself into thinking I would get rejection," he said. "Nothing could have been further from the truth."

He continued: "When you make that choice of stepping out and facing the issue of disclosure, you do create this kind of self-imposed negative fear. It's unfortunate it still happens today. 'Do I step out and say I'm a gay guy?' But you have got to do it and live your life on your terms and no one else's terms. Don't say you can't do this and you are worried about people being offended. If they push you away, then they push you away. Grab life by the horns and tell them, 'Take me for what I am and who I am and if you don't like it, that's your thing. Not my thing.'"

He added: "If I had been in the band at the time … I think when it happened was a good moment. The fans were amazing."

MEGADETH's new song "Fatal Illusion" can be streamed below. Due as a digital single on October 16 via Universal Music Enterprises, the track is set to appear on the band's forthcoming fifteenth studio album, "Dystopia", which will be released on January 22, 2016. The follow-up to 2013's "Super Collider" was recorded earlier in the year in Nashville, Tennessee and was produced by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and Toby Wright (ALICE IN CHAINS, KORN). The CD was mixed by Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with LAMB OF GOD, ALL THAT REMAINS and GOJIRA.

"Dystopia" will mark the recording debut of MEGADETH's new lineup, featuring founding members Mustaine (guitar, vocals) and David Ellefson (bass) alongside LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler and Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA.

"Dystopia" final track listing:

01. The Threat Is Real02. Dystopia03. Fatal Illusion04. Death From Within05. Bullet To The Brain06. Post American World07. Poisonous Shadows08. Look Who's Talking09. Conquer Or Die10. Lying In State11. The Emperor12. Last Dying Wish13. Foreign Policy (FEAR cover)

The band also recorded a cover version of "Melt The Ice Away" (BUDGIE).

The "Dystopia" cover artwork can be seen below.

The song "Poisonous Shadows" features piano playing from Kiko as well as orchestration from famed Nashville arranger Ronn Huff, the father of former MEGADETH producer Dann Huff. Mustaine described the track to Rolling Stone as "a really haunting piece" and added that "the part that [Kiko] played is very Chopin-meets-MEGADETH, if that makes sense."

Mustaine told Revolver magazine about MEGADETH's forthcoming CD: "There's a lot of riffing going on in there, that's for damn sure," he said. "There's a lot of solos, a lot of pounding drums and bass. I knew from the start that I wanted to go back to my roots, and I wanted to make a thrash record."

Mustaine spoke to Rolling Stone about his mindset during the making of MEGADETH's new album. He said: "Over the years we've always said, 'We're going back to our roots.' But the naysayers, they just want 'Rust In Peace' 20 times, which is never gonna happen. Because I've never written the same song twice. Unlike a lot of other rock and metal bands that, you know, they rely on a set formula, I try and make the songs all different. The funny thing, though, was that when [MEGADETH bassist David] Ellefson was doing the bass tracks, I was telling him, 'This is the 'Tornado' ['Tornado Of Souls'] part,' 'This is the 'Bad Omen' part,' 'This is the 'Black Friday' part,' 'This is the 'Holy Wars' part.' Because a lot of the things were in that kind of vein. Now, is it going back in time? Hell, I don't know. But I like what I'm hearing."

He also talked about MEGADETH's new lineup, which made its live debut in July at the Festival D'été De Québec (also known as by its acronym FEQ, or Quebec City Summer Festival in English), in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. He told Revolver: "When Chris and Shawn left, it saddened me a little because they didn't say goodbye," Mustaine said. "They were pissed, because they'd gotten word that people wanted the 'Rust In Peace' [lineup] reunion [with guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza]. And frankly, I didn't; I was happy with those two guys. So when they left, it was like, 'It isn't going to be easy to replace them!'"

He continued: "We haven't found a permanent drummer yet, but finding Kiko was really a mind-blower. It was the first time since Marty Friedman joined the band that I was really intimidated as a player. He's such an amazing talent, and he's been coming in with all of these fresh ideas."

Adler, who has previously said that MEGADETH was the band that made him want to start drumming to begin with, was involved during the songwriting process for the group's new album. "MEGADETH is MEGADETH," Mustaine told Revolver, "and the songs will kind of tell you where they go. But there were several times while we were tracking where Chris would say, 'I think these parts should go like this, because that's how my MEGADETH is.' I was like, 'Yeah, I like that 'my MEGADETH' stuff!'"

"Dystopia" album cover:

In a brand new interview with VH1.com, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King was asked for his thoughts on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He responded: "I went there [Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum in Cleveland] last year, and I was surprisingly amazed. It was awesome… I thought I'd be there for, like, 40 minutes. I spent three and a half hours. The stuff in there is amazing. It's way cooler than I ever imagined it would have been. It is really cool."

He continued: "I'm not making a ploy to get in, but it makes me think, 'Man, I hope they call my name one of these days.' I think it took them a long time to get METALLICA in there. But METALLICA basically opens door for us, because when you think of metal who do you think of next from that generation? Of course there's [BLACK] SABBATH, [JUDAS] PRIEST and [IRON] MAIDEN, without question. But for the 'Big Four,' you think METALLICA… We've always been number two on the 'Big Four' shows. So come on, Rock Hall, give us that call! We're ready! I'll donate some change or something. [Laughs]"

Despite the fact that artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like DEEP PURPLE, IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

DEEP PURPLE, which has been eligible for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for two decades now , was denied entry to the Rock Hall in 2013 — losing out to such artists as American pop singer-songwriter Randy Newman and R&B singer Donna Summer.

KISS was passed over by the Hall since 1998 before finally getting the nod in April 2014.

Swedish metal legends CANDLEMASS are back to celebrate 30 years of doom with a brand new EP. Four studio tracks featuring Mats Levén on vocals are being recorded during September/October for a special anniversary release early next year on Napalm Records.

CANDLEMASS has also announced that Levén, who's a longtime friend of the band, is now the permanent singer for the Swedish doom metal squad. Also, Per Wiberg is today an essential part of CANDLEMASS's touring lineup on keyboards and filling in for bassist Leif Edling until he's back in shape again.

"The live shows we’ve done after 'Psalms For The Dead' (2012) have been fantastic," says CANDLEMASS guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman. "Mats has done a great job fronting CANDLEMASS and I don’t think we’ve ever been this good on stage before! Wacken, Bang Your Head!!!, Sweden Rock, Hellfest, Metal Days, Metallsvenskan, Maryland Death Fest... We have conquered them all."

Three decades of doom later, CANDLEMASS would also like to celebrate their classic albums on the official web site, www.candlemass.se.

"Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" is the first record out October 1. Expect some cool photos, old articles, a very special audio surprise, merchandise etc. Next one out is "Nightfall", then "Ancient Dreams", followed by "Tales Of Creation".

CANDLEMASS is currently working on an anniversary box set together with Peaceville Records. The set will include the band's legendary breakthrough show at the Dynamo festival in 1988 on DVD and some rare rehearsal stuff from the "Epicus" days. In the box, there will also be a 72-page book about the doom maestros.

Leif Edling is slowly getting better from his chronic fatigue syndrome, and will participate in the EP recordings. Next year you can expect some very cool anniversary shows with Leif back on stage.

Photo credit: Beatrice Edling

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal recently recounted to Louder Noise his worst show ever — the band's appearance at the 2011 edition of the Rock In Rio festival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Check out the clip below.

Just days after guitarist DJ Ashba quit GUNS N' ROSES, a source confirmed to Detroit music writer Gary Graff that Thal is also no longer a member of the group — and has been out for some time. The source said, "Bumblefoot quit last year. I don't understand why he continues to be evasive on his status with the band — he quit in South America. He told [singer] Axl [Rose] he was done and [the second GN'R Las] Vegas [residency] would be his last run with the band."

Thal recently revealed that he was focusing on his solo career after spending eight years playing in the current version of GUNS. Thal, however, stopped short of saying that he was no longer a member of GUNS, which has caused some fans to criticize him for not coming clean about where he stands with the group.

Asked to clarify his status with the band, Thal said: "That is the thing I am not to elaborate on. I think there's enough clues out there for you to figure out what I'm up to now."

Thal joined GUNS N' ROSES in early 2006 as the replacement for Buckethead.

Thal expressed frustration in 2013 with the lack of new music from GUNS, saying, "If something came out at this point, it would be very old material that is just being released now… We need to make an album of this band right now." The last new GUNS N' ROSES album, "Chinese Democracy", came out in 2008.

Norway’s Vreid venture back to their roots on their seventh album, titled Sólverv, which will be released through Indie Recordings on October 9th. Today the band debuts the first video from the album for the song called 

Inspired by the blood heritage of Hváll who, alongside his fellow band members, hails from the deep valleys of Sogndal in Norway; a place where his ancestors fought and died to preserve their precious land. Sólverv is an epic milestone for this tyrannical brigade.

Tracklisting:

“Haust”    
“Sólverv”    
“Geitaskadl”    
“Ætti sitt Fjedl”    
“Når Byane Brenn”    
“Storm frå Vest”    
“Fridom med daudens klang”

“Haust”:

Hváll: “Sólverv is not just another album, this is the definition of our lives and heritage. We share a bond since our childhood days, and the fire burns stronger than ever. We strive for the timeless, and through our music we lose track of time.”

Vreid will hit the road in October on the Indie Recordings 10 Year Anniversary Tour alongside none other than extreme metallers Keep Of Kalessin and the vicious northerners in Vredehammer.
 

 

German heavy rockers The New Black are currently working hard on their fourth album with Danish producer Jacob Hansen of Volbeat fame. The album will be released on February 26th, 2016 via AFM Records and is being recorded in the band‘s hometown of Würzburg, Germany at Jam Productions Studio.

Jacob Hansen had previously mixed and mastered the band‘s last self-produced effort, III: Cut Loose (2013). He comments: "Watching the guys live, I saw some extra excitement that I‘d love to capture on an album. There‘s a lot of cool music cooking in this band, and I‘m looking forward to making it as good as we can."

Says the band: "We loved what Jacob did for the sound of last album. He‘s a cool guy, too, so we wanted him on board as the producer from start to finish to really dig into the songs together. We had reached a limit with doing everything ourselves, we need to make the next step to avoid repeating ourselves. And it all sounds so far like we achieved that next step. We have never worked on new material that intensively, mercilessly and enjoyably." 

The New Black ask any friends, sympathizers and well-wishers to have a look at their crowdfunding campaign at PledgeMusic. Here the fans can pre-order new music and get their hands on cool exclusives goodies like checking out the band at their rehearsal dungeon, get their portrait drawn by singer Fludid and becoming the official Beer Tech at one of their shows, not to mention a lot of behind-the-scenes-stuff.

The band‘s campaign can be found here.

The five musicians are also grateful for being supported by the Wacken Foundation with a temporary loan to help cover the cost.

The New Black entered the studio freshly energized from a stint on the road with Zakk Wylde‘s Black Label Society where they premiered new tracks "Send In The Clowns" and the title track "Godzilla With A Grin". Pics from the studio can be found on the bands homepage, Facebook presence and other social media outlets.

For information and updates on The New Black go to this location.

Amaranthe vocalist Jake E. has recorded a cover of the hit song "Let It Go", taken from 2013 the smash hit Disney movie, Frozen. 

Jake: "After hearing this song 2,000 times everyday I decided to do my own version..."

The animated movie was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, The Snow Queen, and earned over 400 million dollars in North America alone. The original version of the song was recorded by vocalist Idina Menzel and sold 10.9 million copies in 2014. It is considered oneof the best selling singles of all time.

Amaranthe will make their return to North America this fall for a headline tour. This marks the second time the band has toured through the US and Canada in 2015, when they headlined alongside their labelmates in Santa Cruz. On this run, fans will enjoy the full Amaranthe experience, as it is their headline run.

The tour starts October 29th in Atlanta and runs through November 29th in San Jose. Butcher Babies will provide direct support. Lullwater will open the show. Tickets go on sale tomorrow Friday, September 4th.

Tour dates:

October
29 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
30 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans

November
1 - Charlotte, NC - Amos Southend
4 - New York, - Webster Hall (Marlin Room)
5 - Stafford Springs, CT - Palace Theater
6 - Manchester, NH - Jewel Nightclub
7 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount
8 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar
11 - Cleveland, OH - The Odeon
13 - Flint, MI - Machine Shop
14 - Green Bay, WI - The Sandlot Entertainment Complex
15 - Arlington Heights, IL - HOME Bar
17 - Sauget, IL - Pop's
18 - Little Rock, AR - Juanita's
19 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
20 - McAllen, TX - Cine El Rey
21 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill
24 - Santa Ana, CA - The Yost Theater
27 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
28 - Reno, NV - Knitting Factory
29 - San Jose, CA - Rockbar Theater

KrashKarma from Los Angeles, California have released their brand new music video for the song “Sacrifice” off their upcoming studio album Paint The Devil, available worldwide October 16th via Eternal Sound Records.

The band shot the video in Berlin in February when it was freezing cold. “...the heavy cross on my shoulders was the least of my problems walking around Berlin on a freezing winter morning in little more than high heels - talk about "Sacrificing" for art!” says Nicole, the drummer and singer,  about the shooting of the video.

KrashKarma - Paint The Devil Tracklisting:
"Paint The Devil" (Intro)
"She Spreads The Darkness"
"Still Bleed"
"Sacrifice"
"Save Me"
"Come Closer"
"Killing Time"
"Homesick"
"Bridges Going Nowhere"
"Ghost In A Machine"
"Voodoo Dolls"
"Map Of A Human Soul"

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto rockers Danko Jones have released a new lyric video for the track “I Will Break Your Heart”, taken from the album Fire Music, out now on Bad Taste Records and New Damage. The video was animated and edited by Nick Sewell.

Dead Lord and ‘77 have been confirmed to support Danko Jones on dates in November.
 

Danko Jones, Dead Lord, ’77 dates include:

November
13 - Dresden, Germany - Alter Schlachthof
15 - Groningen, Netherlands - Oosterpoort
17 - Zurich, Switzerland - Dynamo
18 - Solothurn, Switzerland - Kofmehl
19 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage
20 - Den Haag, Netherlands - Paard van Troje
22 - Deventer, Netherlands - Burgerweeshuis
24 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
25 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix