Last night, at the Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) music festival in northern Germany, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA (TSO) and SAVATAGE wowed 80,000-plus attendees with a never-before-attempted music festival performance. Following a 40-minute SAVATAGE set and a 40-minute TSO set, TSO and SAVATAGE band members, across two of the festival's main stages, performed a perfectly coordinated set of fan-favorites. This ambitious feat, both musically and logistically, was helmed by Paul O'Neill. Al Pitrelli led TSO on the "True Metal Stage" and Jon Oliva headed SAVATAGE on the "Black Stage." Beyond the unprecedented act of two bands hitting the stage at the same time, this show was also memorable as it marked progressive metal originators SAVATAGE's first show in over a decade, TSO's first European festival show, as well as the only live appearances of both bands in Europe in 2015.

The closeness of these two bands is well-known to those versed in rock/metal lore. TSO was founded in 1993 by producer/composer/lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together SAVATAGE's Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli to fulfill a vision for a group that could meld the sound of classical and fury of rock music with Broadway's storytelling to create a unique amalgamation O'Neillcalls "rock theater." Since gaining massive popularity after beginning touring in 1999, TSO has grown to include additional members of SAVATAGE within its ranks.

Prior to the festival, the bands issued this joint statement: "All of us in TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and SAVATAGE cannot believe the luck that has given us the opportunity to take a break from recording the new (TSO) album 'Letters From The Labyrinth', so that we can meet up in Wacken, Germany and together, look back at how we got here, as well as forward to possibly catch a glimpse of what might be. This is a once in a lifetime show for SAVATAGE and TSO that we hope you will never forget."

At 9:45 p.m., SAVATAGE, including members Oliva, Pitrelli, Johnny Lee Middleton, Chris Caffery, Jeff Plate, Zak Stevens, Bill Hudson, plus several backing musicians (including TSO's Vitalij Kuprij), ripped through such SAVATAGE songs as "Gutter Ballet", "Hall of the Mountain King", "Edge of Thorns", "Jesus Saves" and more.

As the SAVATAGE set came to a close, guitarist Pitrelli raced to the other stage to join TSO for a fierce performance including songs from their upcoming release "Letters From The Labyrinth" — "Prometheus", "Toccata/Carpimus Noctem" from the platinum-certified "Night Castle" and more. For TSO's first set, the band consisted of John O.Reilly and Jeff Plate (drums), David Z and Middleton (bass), Angus Clark and Caffery (guitars), Mee Eun Kim and Derek Wieland (keyboards), Asha Melvana and Roddy Chong (strings). Vocal duties were handled by Jeff Scott Soto, Kayla Reeves and Andrew Ross, with the group bolstered at times with dancers, background vocalists and more.

At 11 p.m. came the portion of the performance that left the crowd astonished: all band members took to their respective stages and began an hour-long simultaneous performance playing the same songs concurrently. They stormed through the set containing such songs as SAVATAGE's "Turns To Me", a rousing version of "Believe" with a duet featuring Oliva and Robin Borneman along with TSO favorites including "A Last Illusion", "Requiem", "Beethoven" and "King Rurick" from TSO's forthcoming release. A united TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA featured four guitarists, four keyboard players, two drummers, two bassists, a string section, and multiple vocalists (including the addition of TSO's Russell Allen and SAVATAGE's Stevens to the above). It was a sight to behold, with several generations on stage: from teenagers taking their first steps on an international rock stage to seasoned veterans who have toured the world.

Throughout the two-plus hours, along with an unprecedented sonic storm, fans were treated to an incredible pyrotechnic display estimated to have cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. As anyone on site could attest, it was an unparalleled auditory and visual experience.

Florida metallers TRIVIUM will release their new album, "Silence In The Snow", on October 2 via Roadrunner. The follow-up to 2013's "Vengeance Falls" was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (SLASH, ALTER BRIDGE, THE AMITY AFFLICTION) and was mixed by Josh Wilbur (GOJIRA, LAMB OF GOD). The album is further heralded by its first official music video; the sweeping "Silence In The Snow", which can be seen below.

Long known as one of modern metal’s most potent live acts, TRIVIUM will celebrate "Silence In The Snow" with an epic worldwide schedule highlighted by the upcoming 2015 HardDrive Live Tour. The dates — which see TRIVIUM co-headlining alongside TREMONTI — get underway September 9 at Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Culture Room and then continue through mid-October. The band will then head straight to San Bernardino, California for an October 24 main-stage performance at the upcoming Knotfest, headlined and curated by TRIVIUM's labelmates SLIPKNOT. In the meantime, the Orlando, Florida-based band will spend the remaining summer lighting up Europe, including headline appearances at such hard rock and metal festivals as the U.K.'s Bloodstock, Belgium's Alcatraz, Germany's Summer Breeze, and France's Motocultor. TRIVIUM's seventh studio album, "Silence In The Snow" stands as a long gestating creative milestone for the acclaimed band. The collection had its genesis moment back in 2007 and was directly influenced by the time TRIVIUM spent touring alongside the legendary HEAVEN & HELL that year. Ultimately, it would take eight years before they felt equipped to tackle the challenging work of weaving their classic influences into a modern record. Fueled by the inspiration of true classic metal — spanning BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW, IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST, PANTERA and SLAYER, MEGADETH and METALLICA — TRIVIUM challenged themselves to attain similar levels of greatness, taking on vocal coaches and guitar lessons to further their creative evolution. The result is extraordinary, bridging the history of hard rock and metal while simultaneously powering it forward into the future on tracks like the epic "Blind Leading The Blind" and the upcoming first single "Until The World Goes Cold". "Silence In The Snow" track listing:

01. Snøfall02. Silence In The Snow03. Blind Leading The Blind04. Dead And Gone05. The Ghost That's Haunting You06. Pull Me From The Void07. Until The World Goes Cold08. Rise Above The Tides09. The Thing That's Killing Me10. Beneath The Sun11. Breathe In The Flames

TRIVIUM in May 2014 parted ways with drummer Nick Augusto due to personal differences. Stepping in for him on TRIVIUM's most recent dates was the band's drum tech, Mat Madiro.

TRIVIUM's last album, "Vengeance Falls", made Top 10 chart debuts in Japan, Australia, Germany and Austria as well as a Top 15 debut in Canada and a Top 25 debut in the United Kingdom. This marked the acclaimed metallers' second consecutive Top 15 debut in the U.S. and highest-career debuts around the globe — including a No. 2 debut in Japan.

"Vengeance Falls" sold 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The record — which was produced by David Draiman (DISTURBED, DEVICE) — arrived in stores on October 15, 2013 via Roadrunner.

"Better Place", the first video from SAINT ASONIA, the new act featuring ex-THREE DAYS GRACE frontman Adam Gontier and STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Los Angeles with director Paul Brown, who has previously worked with MARILYN MANSON, THREE DAYS GRACE, EVANESCENCE, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and MÖTLEY CRÜE, among others.

Speaking about the video shoot, Gontier told Styles and Kaytie of the 92.7 QLZ radio station: "It was a great experience. I'm pretty proud of it myself. I co-directed the video with the director Paul Brown. And Paul is someone that I've worked with in the past, and he does great, great stuff. I wrote the treatment and got a chance to co-direct the video, which is something I have always wanted to do. I'm really, really proud of it."

Gontier also spoke about his decision to take on directorial duties for the video himself. He explained: "When you put a single out, you get treatments from a lot of different directors, and we had a few treatments come in, but at the same time, I felt like, just being so close to the song and what it means to me, I felt like maybe I could write something that works best for the song, and it turned out that we gave that a shot and it worked. So it was a really, really cool experience. I learned a lot and hopefully I'll get a chance to do it again in the future."

Regarding the "Better Place" video concept, Gontier said: "It's basically looking out at a few different people in different situations in their lives where they just finally, sort of, stop getting stepped on and end up in a better place. There's a few different ways that people will interpret the video, but it's a really, really cool idea and it's something that I don't think has really ever been done. So, yeah, I'm excited for people to see it and [to see] their reaction, for sure."

"Better Place" is taken from SAINT ASONIA's self-titled debut album, which is being released today (Friday, July 31) via RCA.

Produced by Johnny K. (SEVENDUST, DISTURBED, MEGADETH), the majority of "Saint Asonia" was co-written by Gontier and Mushok.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SAINT ASONIA started out as just Gontier and Mushok writing music together with no plans beyond that. But Gontier told The Pulse Of Radio that the moment arrived when they knew SAINT ASONIA could be a band. "When we got into the studio to record a couple of songs, we recorded three songs, and when they were done, I think that was probably the moment where we were like, 'Okay, so we've just recorded three songs, they turned out really good, we have another 10, let's do this,'" he said. "Obviously, Mike being basically on hiatus from STAIND for who knows how long, it just seemed to make sense."

SAINT ASONIA also includes STUCK MOJO and DARK NEW DAY bassist Corey Lowery and FINGER ELEVEN drummer Rich Beddoe.

The group played its first live show at Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio in May.

Gontier has kept a low profile since leaving THREE DAYS GRACE in December 2012. The band replaced him with Matt Walst and recently released a new album called "Human".

Mushok's band, STAIND, has not released new music since 2011 and has no plans to return to the studio. Mushok played briefly in 2013 with ex-METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted in his self-named band.

Beddoe exited FINGER ELEVEN in late 2013.

Lowery's resume includes stints with STUCK MOJO, SWITCHED, STEREOMUD, DARK NEW DAY and most recently EYE EMPIRE.

Band photo credit: Travis Shinn

California metallers HUNTRESS will release their third studio album, titled "Static", on September 25 release via Napalm Records. The highly anticipated record was produced by Paul Fig (Grammy-nominated engineer who has previously worked with ALICE IN CHAINS, DEFTONES, TRIVIUM, GHOST) and Jim Rota (FIREBALL MINISTRY, executive producer for "Sonic Highways" series and producer of "Sound City" movie), and was engineered and mixed by Fig.

The official lyric video for the "Static" song "Flesh" can be seen below.

Said HUNTRESS vocalist Jill Janus: "'Flesh' is catchy and hard rock, it's lusty and bloody, a blackened-party metal make out song.

"When my bandmates brought me the killer composition, I wrote the lyrics as my storyline unfolded like bizarre film noir. A female serial killer who would transform into a demonic seamstress, preying upon women. She desires their flesh for fashion.

"Once again, I've collaborated with the immensely talented Vance Kelly to bring my story to life. Our telepathic artistic connection has created a twisted romantic lyric video for a summer of lust. Enjoy!"

HUNTRESS has teamed up with Pledge Music to offer pre-sales of the new album. When you order "Static", the band's Pledge Music page is "unlocked," giving fans an exclusive pass to HUNTRESS content. Unique pre-sale packages have been created just for their fans.

In true HUNTRESS fashion, the band filmed a hilarious promotional video. You can watch it now on the Pledge Music page and get the new album today.

Vance Kelly (SLAYER, ALICE IN CHAINS, EVANESCENCE, GHOST) has once again delivered stunning album artwork for HUNTRESS. The band's creative unity with Kelly remains strong, with Vance having also created album covers for HUNTRESS's previous CDs "Spell Eater" and "Starbound Beast".

Janus comments: "The evolution of HUNTRESS bleeds into 'Static', our third and most prolific album. It is the heaviest and catchiest record we've written.

"The process of writing and recording was new and exciting, at times very difficult for all involved, having to record in between relentless touring.

"Never have I been so honest in my approach to songwriting; I reveal lifelong personal obstacles that I previously feared weaving into my lyrics.

"I'm so pleased to reveal the cover art for 'Static' by my treasured art warlock Vance Kelly."

HUNTRESS will hitting the high seas this September as part of the Mötorboat cruise. The band will appear alongside heavyweights MÖTORHEAD, SLAYER, and ANTHRAX, just to name a few. Expect high-energy sets from HUNTRESS featuring favorites off the first two albums and new headbangers from "Static". The cruise takes place September 28 – October 2. Additional tour dates in support of "Static" will be announced soon!

"Static" track listing:

01. Sorrow02. Flesh03. Brian04. I Want To Wanna Wake Up05. Mania06. Four Blood Moons07. Static08. Harsh Times On Planet Stoked09. Noble Savage10. Fire In My Heart

Bonus tracks:

11. Black Tongue12. Vultures Can Wait (7" vinyl exclusive)

HUNTRESS is: Jill Janus - VocalsBlake Meahl - GuitarsEli Santana - GuitarsTyler Meahl - Drums

Century Media Records recently started a collaboration with Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES) and his label Razzia Notes.

BLACK TEMPLE, from Helsingborg, Sweden, will be the first release Razzia Notes licensed to Century Media for all territories outside of Scandinavia and North America.

BLACK TEMPLE's debut album, "It All Ends", will be released on August 28 via Century Media (world excluding North America, Scandinavia) and Razzia Notes (Scandinavia). The album will be available as limited-edition digipak, LP+CD (including bonus track "Skullfucker") and as digital album.

A new lyric video for the track "Oncoming Fire" can be seen below.

"It All Ends" is an intense story with impressive dynamics. With Magnus Lindberg (CULT OF LUNA) in the producer's seat, the band — which has been called the country's most violent live act — explores new territory in their musical landscapes: a primitive primordial drive fights it out with immediate melodies, performed with an ever present sense that each note can be the last. The end may be near, but "It All Ends" is just the beginning.

Anders Fridén comments: "First time I heard BLACK TEMPLE, I freaked and I said to myself, 'I gotta work with these guys somehow.' The whole expression of their music is a perfect introduction to Razzia Notes and our new collaboration with Century Media.

"Do yourself a favor and get a copy of 'It All Ends'. It's a monster of an album."

Jonas, BLACK TEMPLE singer and bass player, comments: "To become labelmates with three of my favorite bands at the same time is a bit like a wet dream... I mean, c'mon — DARK FUNERAL, MARDUK and WATAIN... And this is just the top layer, in my opinion, of what this behemoth of a label has released through the years. Simply — such a great honor!"

BLACK TEMPLE will support IN FLAMES on their European tour this fall and will soon kick off a Scandinavian tour with THE SWORD.

The official lyric video for the song "Fire It Up" from Grammy Award-nominated, multiplatinum hard rock titans DISTURBED can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's sixth studio album, "Immortalized", which will be released August 21 through Reprise Records. Lead single "The Vengeful One" is out now, along with the accompanying animated video from award-winning filmmaker Phil Mucci, and "Immortalized" is available for pre-order everywhere. The upcoming release follows 2010's gold-certified "Asylum", DISTURBED's fourth consecutive #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and the group's subsequent break, which gave members David Draiman (vocals), Dan Donegan (guitar), Mike Wengren (drums) and John Moyer (bass) the necessary reprieve to make this imminent and deliberate return.

Draiman says that as much as 95 percent of the music he's written for the band has been created while he was high. Speaking with Revolver, Draiman revealed that "Fire It Up", which opens with the sound of a bong hit, was inspired by the singer's routine. He explained: "There was a big fat bowl before that one. 95 percent of the songs I've written in my life, I've written them while high. That's the god's honest truth."

Draiman continued: "I'll have a very skeletal musical idea in my head, and then I'll light one up, go in the shower and let the steam kind of build up. It helps me relax, and I can see the gaps. I can see the holes in the rhythm and the melody and I'll know where I can go, and what the possibilities are. It helps me be able to perceive everything a little bit more clearly."

Draiman told The Pulse Of Radio that "Fire It Up" was inspired by a recording session where he sang DISTURBED's new cover of SIMON AND GARFUNKEL's "The Sound Of Silence" while high. "I was done with the day and I wanted to relax, so I went ahead and I smoked a bowl," he laughed. "[I] came back and was high out of my mind and no, no, by no means ready to track vocals by any stretch of the imagination. And they all encouraged me to go into the vocal booth, and I was pretty blown away. I hadn't heard my voice that vulnerable in a very, very long time."

Draiman added that "Fire It Up" is more lighthearted than usual for DISTURBED, remarking: "Yeah, that's me saying it: There' s a song on this DISTURBED record that's fun… And God knows there's certainly enough people out there that appreciate the enlightening aspects of smoking marijuana."

"Immortalized" ends a four-year hiatus for the band and features the current Top 10 rock single, "The Vengeful One".

DISTURBED will play its first show in four years on August 21 at the House of Blues in the band's hometown of Chicago.

Fan-filmed video footage of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's solo/side project BRITISH LION performing two brand new songs, "Spitfire" and "Bible Black", on July 29 at The Square in Harlow, United Kingdom can be seen below.

BRITISH LION's debut album sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 3 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"British Lion" was released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 via Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). Mixed by Kevin Shirley — whose credits include IRON MAIDEN as well as Led ZEPPELIN, JOURNEY and RUSH, among many others — the CD, which features Harris alongside vocalist Richard Taylor, guitarists Graham Leslie and David Hawkins and drummer Simon Dawson, presents a different side of the bassist's musical visions.

"British Lion" comprises ten songs that Steve and his collaborators have been working on between IRON MAIDEN tours and releases and is described by Harris as "'70s-influenced, British-sounding hard rock." "I'd say it's more mainstream rock than metal... and quite commercial… but good commercial," he said. "There's all kinds of stuff going on, with nods to THE WHO and UFO and some classic British rock bands, but it's not the progressive rock album some might be expecting."

BRITISH LION has just embarked on a 22-date U.K. tour. Support on the trek is coming from THE RAVEN AGE, the band led by Steve's son George Harris.

Said Steve: "As MAIDEN fans know, the band is unable to tour this year so I thought I'd do some BRITISH LION live dates and make it a full U.K. tour this time round so we could get to places we didn't get a chance to play during the previous tours.

"We have a lot of fun doing the BRITISH LION shows and we're playing clubs again to keep that same vibe and intimacy which the fans seem to love as much as we do.

"We have some new songs in the setlist, so are really looking forward to getting out there and seeing everyone!"

After 17 years with German gothic metallers CREMATORY, guitarist Matze decided to leave the band in early 2015 to concentrate on his private life and to explore new musical horizons. He has since been replaced by two musicians: Tosse Basler, who has been in the music business for over 30 years and has played in bands like POISON ASP, FORTY SHADES, SCAPEGOAT, AVALANCHE and EVOLUTION, on rhythm guitar and clean vocals; and Rolf Munkes, who also has over 30 years of experience in the business, on lead guitar. Rolf is also a producer at his Empire Studios, were he has worked with such acts as MAJESTY, Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH), Neil Murray (ex-WHITESNAKE, Gary Moore), Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE) and Doogie White (MICHAEL SCHENKER'S TEMPLE OF ROCK).

CREMATORY will hit Kohlekeller Studio in September to record its new album with producer Kristian Bonifer. A spring 2016 release is expected.

CREMATORY's latest album, "Antiserum", came out in March 2014 in North America and February 2014 in Europe via Steamhammer/SPV. The effort was released as a deluxe box set (including a flag, patch, poster, sticker, postcard), digipak (including two bonus tracks), 2LP gatefold colored vinyl version (including two bonus tracks), standard version and download.

Photo from left to right: Rolf Munkes (guitar), Tosse Basler (guitar)

A video surfaced on Thursday (July 30) of a thousand musicians, dubbed "The Rockin'1000," playing the FOO FIGHTERS hit "Learn to Fly" as a way to ask the band to come and play in Cesena, Italy. FOO FIGHTERS responded via their Twitter account, writing, "Che bello, Cesena," which translates to "How lovely, Cesena" or "How nice, Cesena." The band, however, did not commit to performing in the town.

A previous fan attempt to get the band to play in Richmond, Virginia, by raising money through the sale of tickets, was met with success as the band performed there last September.

Meanwhile, frontman Dave Grohl denied rumors that the FOO FIGHTERS were already signed up to headline next year's Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. after missing last month's event due to Grohl's broken leg.

Grohl told Q magazine, "I read all of those articles saying we confirmed for next year and just laughed. Total fucking bullshit. Of course, I'd love to come back and play Glastonbury! But don't believe everything that you read, kids…"

The FOO FIGHTERS will begin the next leg of their North American tour on August 12 in Edmonton, Canada. After breaking his leg in a stage fall in Sweden last month, Grohl has played the first part of the trek while seated on a light-up throne with his leg in a cast.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a previously unheard demo recording by late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain will turn up on the soundtrack of the documentary "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck" when it is released in theaters next Friday (August 7). Director Brett Morgen told Billboard that he added the song, which features Cobain singing in a falsetto, to the movie without having to make any changes to the film. "Montage Of Heck" had a brief theatrical run last spring before premiering on HBO in May.

Morgen did not want to say where in the film the song appears, explaining, "I don't want to get people out there bootlegging it on their cell phones."

The track, like many of the songs used for the movie from the cassettes in Cobain's personal archive, does not have a title, although it might have been recorded in 1991.

Although "Montage Of Heck" played on HBO and has been nominated for seven Emmy Awards, Morgen said it was "built as a theatrical experience, so we decided we would bring the film back into theaters."

Morgen built the movie around recordings taken from 107 cassettes that Cobain recorded over a period of many years, equaling around 200 hours of audio, as well as previously unseen artwork by the singer/guitarist.

Morgen told The Pulse Of Radio that he could not believe how much material Cobain created in his relatively short life. "I'd never met anyone who was as prolific as he was," he said. "I mean, given his short life span and that a lot of that time, he didn't have a secure home, the amount of materials that we have present a guy who just never stopped creating, and that is beyond inspirational."

Morgen was given complete access to Cobain's personal archives by his widow Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain.

Fresh off the heels of their first main stage festival performance at the UK’s annual Ramblin’ Man Fair and sharing stage with stalwart acts such as Scorpions and Dream Theater, the members of hard rock act Toseland - featuring James Toseland (vocals), Zurab Melua (guitar), Ed Bramford (guitar), Roger Davis (bass) and Joe Yoshida (drums) - are elated for the release of their debut album, Renegade, set to hit shelves in North America this fall.

Scheduled for release on September 18th via Metalville Records, Toseland’s first full-length effort titled Renegade, which has sold over 10,000 copies in the UK alone, is an album packed with powerful rock songs – from the balls out album opener “Life Is Beautiful” to “Crash Landing” and title track “Renegade”, showing this is a band who know how to rock a melody.

If the name seems familiar, it is because Toseland are a band fronted by two-time World Superbike Champion James Toseland. Throughout his career as a motorbike racer, music has been central to James’ life – so much so that he performed live at BBC’s Sports Personality Of the Year. When James was forced to retire through injury a journey into music started…

After a friend had recommended they might work well together, James met up with Toby Jepson (Little Angels) in March 2012. Jepson had no idea of Toseland’s past but they clicked - personally and musically.

Having an idea of the sound they wanted along with the foundation of several songs, the writing process was quick and the pair soon laid down instrumentation at Vale Studios with Jepson producing (credits include The Answer, Saxon and The Virginmarys) and Steve Harris (Foo Fighters, U2) as engineer. James plays all piano on the album and vocals were recorded in five days at Jepson’s studio in Scarborough.

“I'm so excited that my debut album, Renegade, is going to be released through Metalville Records in America!,” says James. “We are hopeful that America will connect with our music as the band and myself would love to perform there. We can't wait to hear their feedback on the album.”

Having already forged themselves a name as a powerful live act; 2013 -2014 saw the group cross the UK with a series of headline shows and supports (to Reef, The Darkness, and Little Angels) and festival dates (Download, Planet Rockstock and the Moto GP at Silverstone).

Tracklisting:

“Life Is Beautiful”
“Gotta Be A Better Way”
“Singer In A Band”
“Crash Landing”
“Just No Way”
“Comin To Get Ya”
“Good Eye Blind”
“Kingdoms”
“Burning The System”
“Emergency”
“Renegade”
“Hearts And Bones” *
“The Closer I Get” *

* Bonus tracks from the Hearts And Bones EP

“Renegade” video:

“Crash Landing” video:

A brand new cover of Attitude Adjustment’s “Working Class Pride" has been made available by Italy’s Resurrecturis. The band dared a very intense take on an old 80's American hardcore classic that in the hands of the Italian monsters turns into a savage ride with tinges of grindcore and black metal fury.

The song was recorded live at Lullaby Studio during one band rehearsal and was completed with the addition of vocal lines by former Resu-vocalist Ivan Di Marco (now with HC legends Straight Opposition) and bass tracks by Marco Morosini (ex-Eversor, ex-The Miles Apart, now with old school death metallers, Mannaia).

"Since our forthcoming album, Nazienda, deals with work and office life, I thought "Working Class Pride" by Attitude Adjustment fitted perfectly with what we were working on. It's a pretty old song that not many younger kids are familiar with. But it's a fantastic tune and the lyrics are also great and pretty unusual when it comes to 80's US HC. We sped up the song a bit and added some contemporary undertones, to make it sound more interesting. Besides we were very glad to spend some time with two friends from the old days who also happen to be respected personalities of the Italian HC scene." - Carlo Strappa / Resurrecturis

"Working Class Pride" can be heard below. For the moment there are no plans for an official physical release. Resurrecturis also took the time to create a customized Attitude Adjustment-inspired logo which, in true punk fashion, is ironic and meaningful at one time.

Resurrecturis will release their new album, Nazienda, on September 25th via Mighty Music.

The album-title, “Nazienda”, a neologism that merges the words “nazism” and “azienda” (Italian for company, corporation), sets a tone that is tragic and ironic at the same time. Just listen to the song “10:30 Animals In The Meeting Room”: solid and fierce metallic extremism with crazy animal verses going cuckoo.

The songs run through the routine of a typical working day, each number even bearing an indication of the hour in the title: from the irritating buzz of the alarm early in the morning until the character slips into unconsciousness on the couch in front of the TV. In-between a flood of annoying phone calls, company meetings, work on the PC, solidarity among colleagues and introspective reflections.

The album was produced and engineered by Alessandro Vagnoni (Dark Lunacy, Bologna Violenta, Infernal Poetry, Darkside). Nazienda - Graphic Novel written by Carlo Strappa and drawn by Albano Scevola also available.

Front cover by Italian artist Daniele Cudini:

Nazienda tracklisting:

“6:29 Sleeping With Your Hair Spread Over My Chest”
“6:30 The Alarm”
“07:12 On The Way To Work”
“08:01 The Number You Have Dialed”
“10:30 Animals In The Meeting Room”
“13:00 Lunch Break Alienation”
“14:16 Col-League-S”
“16:00 The Thought That Something Went Wrong With My Life”
“16:59 Never Happy”
“19:12 Two Half Lives Don’t Make One”
“23:31 Falling Asleep On The Couch”

“19:12 Two Half Lives Don’t Make One” lyric video:

 

 

Hailing from the capital of Germany, five-piece wrecking crew Toxpack have announced a worldwide signing with Napalm Records. Featuring some of the heaviest streetpunk/streetcore in the world and already with plenty of miles on their backs, Toxpack is now ready to take the next step together with Napalm Records.

Founded in 2001 the band quickly found its own path and stayed strongly focused with shows all over Europe, chart entries and intensive work on their music, releasing seven studio albums so far. Their latest album Friss (2014) entered the German Media Control album charts at #16.
Now, it’s time for something bigger, for something even more powerful and intense.

Toxpack on the singing with Napalm Records: "2016 marks the 15th anniversary of Toxpack! There’s definitely some heavy streetcore on the way on this highly promising journey! We’re totally stoked to have finally found a strong partner with Napalm Records, which absolutely marks a new milestone in the Toxpack history!”

DEFTONES are completing the mixing process for their as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2012's "Koi No Yokan" album for a tentative September 25 release. The band's keyboardist/DJ Frank Delgado told Diffuser last week about the songwriting process for the new CD: "This one was different. This one was a lot of starting and stopping, which I think is something we would've been scared of before."

He continued: "For the last couple of records, we went in and we started writing and we didn't stop until we finished the record. This one we took our time and it was a good pace. Everyone needed that break to breathe, to go home to family. Now we're ready to be able to work like this. It allowed us to think about things longer as opposed to get something done by a deadline."

Delgado added: "We're actually really good when we get together and find something that's cool. It's just a matter of hanging out long enough and waiting for it to happen. You can't really force it, know what I mean? You can make your environment as comfortable as possible. Sometimes a lot of things come fast and sometimes it doesn't."

DEFTONES drummer Abe Cunningham concurred, telling Diffuser: "As long as the goal is there with everyone to complete something. Before, it's kind of typical with any band where you have your allotted time — here's a month or a month and a half — to be creative even if you're not. This was a nice way to just have breathers with family and just be normal."

Asked how the new DEFTONES album represents an evolution for the band, or if it calls back to previous CDs, Cunningham said: "I don't think you can help sounding like yourself, and there's nothing wrong with sounding like yourself. We love sonics and we love the whole spectrum of it. From the very get-go, our first album had little bits and these things became more prevalent later on in our records, you know? It's a heavy guitar-based band but with so much more."

Added Delgado: "If the songs come out heavy or if they come out softer, there's never been any set precedence of what we need to do or what we think is lacking, or what we think people want. It's literally just trying to make stuff that we like. It's selfish but that's kind of what's been happening."

As previously reported, DEFTONES has tapped Jerry Cantrell (ALICE IN CHAINS) to lay down a guest guitar solo on the band's new album. Cantrell told Metal Hammer about how his contribution came together: "DEFTONES and I have known each other for years, and we're also under the same management. Chino [Moreno, DEFTONES singer] sent over the song file and I thought it was really great, cool and moody, so I worked on it that night and threw something down. He sent me a file of them jamming the song live, I sent it back with the idea I laid down, and Chino thought it was perfect. I waited until they got back in the studio and then came in and laid it down. So, it was pretty easy, and I think it's going to be a great song."

He added: "Chino's a really talented guy and an amazing frontman, and they're a band that has a sound that's uniquely their own."

According to Moreno, sixteen songs were written for DEFTONES' new CD, which was once again produced by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, CHILDREN OF BODOM, MONSTER MAGNET, WINDS OF PLAGUE).

On July 26, Planet Mosh TV conducted an interview with German metal queen Doro Pesch at this year's edition of the Steelhouse Festival at Hafod-y-Dafal Farm, near Ebbw Vale in South Wales. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked when fans can expect to hear the follow-up to her 2012 album "Raise Your Fist", Doro said: "We will finish a new DVD. That's the 30th-anniversary DVD. The whole year we filmed. And it's called 'Strong & Proud'. That will be released in March next year, I think the 4th of March. And we're working on a new album, but [it will be] maybe one more years until it's all done."

She continued: "We were on tour and on the road non-stop. When you're doing a festival or when you're playing a gig, I always concentrate on making the people feel good that day and you are in a totally different mindframe to do a record. I have to take a little time off touring. But touring is, to me, the best — I love it the most. But we have some great songs in the making. So maybe this year we wanna put out a single. I think there's a killer song. I wanna do a video of that song, maybe like a little mini-movie or something. Since I'm from the '80s, I want all these big videos, and maybe we have to do some crowdfunding or something, because nobody wants to have a video anymore. I think the record company doesn't want [to pay for it]. But I wanna do it. I think the song calls for [a video like that]. So maybe [we'll release] an EP or a single this year. But next year [we'll put out] the [full-length] record, and a DVD. And there'll be a live CD as well and three DVDs, or two Blu-rays. So it's a big thing, [with], any guests. Of course, Biff [Byford] of SAXON is on it. And so many friends."

Dubbed "50 minutes of expertly crafted Teutonic metal" by Outburn, which crowned Doro "...the classiest lady in metal," "Raise Your Fist" boasted guest appearances by MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy Kilmister and OZZY OSBOURNE/FIREWIND guitarist Gus G., and artwork by British artist and longtime Doro collaborator Geoffrey Gillespie. An import version of Doro's "Raise Your Fist - 30 Years Anniversary Edition" is available via the Nuclear Blast webshop and includes new and rare tracks plus a bonus CD titled "Powerful Passionate Favorites" comprised of cover versions of DIO, LED ZEPPELIN, METALLICA and KISS songs.

Bob Suehs of Rock N Roll Experience conducted an interview with new RED DRAGON CARTEL singer Shawn Crosby (ex-JONES STREET) on July 23 at Fish Head Cantina in Halethorpe, Maryland. You can now watch the chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On how he got the singer gig in RED DRAGON CARTEL:

"Well, it's a long story. I thought I was retiring. I was in L.A. for thirty years, and I moved back to my hometown in Virginia. Anthony Esposito, the bass player for LYNCH MOB [and RED DRAGON CARTEL], called me up and said [RED DRAGON CARTEL] got rid of their singer and they needed somebody quick. So, I opened a skateboard shop in Alexandria, Virginia and closed it up and came out on tour, and I've been on tour since. So… I've known him since way before he was in LYNCH MOB back in the day."

On whether he is RED DRAGON CARTEL's permanent singer now:

"I don't know. We'll see. They say, 'Fifth time's the charm,' you know. I was really good friends with Ray Gillen [late BADLANDS and BLACK SABBATH singer]. I helped him… We used to write lyrics together a lot and stuff, and it's really just good to be able to walk in his footsteps now. It's very spiritual for me, and I'm having a great time doing it. My favorite stuff to sing is all the BADLANDS stuff. It's my gig. I love that stuff. Yeah, if it goes all well… you know."

On how he got to know Ray Gillen:

"I was one of the first guys he met when he moved out to L.A. from New York, and we just became hardcore friends. I used to work on Melrose, and I used to make guitar straps for John Sykes and all the heavy hitters back then. And Ray came in one day, and we just hit it off as singers together. We'd just write every day. He'd bring a notebook to work, and we'd sit and park and write stuff on my break and stuff, and that's how we became friends. Nd I would go to the rehearsals. And my band JONES STREET back then opened for them a bunch of times — BADLANDS — so we just always stayed tight."

On whether he has a handwritten letter from Ray Gillen that carries with him on the road:

"I do. It's… One day he came in and I wasn't there — I was on a lunch break — and he [wrote], 'Hey, Shawn. I don't know if you've checked out the new CD. If not, I'll bring one by for ya. I hope your singing's going great.' And it said, 'Ray Gillen.' And I found it in my storage literally a week — exactly a week — before these guys [RED DRAGON CARTEL] called me. And I just said, 'Ah, this is cool. I forgot I had this. I'm gonna bring it to the house.' And then Anthony called me [about the RED DRAGON CARTEL gig]. And I keep it with me on the road. So…. it's very cool."

On whether RED DRAGON CARTEL mainman Jake E. Lee (ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, BADLANDS) is easy to work with:

"Jake is amazing. He's a quiet guy; he keeps to himself. [He's] an amazing person. The whole band's almost like a family. I just feel like… I've known Anthony forever. I didn't know the other guys, but it just all has meshed really well together. You know, 'cause you do have to spend 23 more hours off stage with these people. And that's the hardest thing to do — to be able to not get in anybody's face and everything. On a tour bus, it can get that way, but… we're having a great time.'

On whether he intentionally tries to look like Ray Gillen on stage:

"It's funny, 'cause I've been a blond almost my whole life, even though my hair is dark. And when I got divorced, I said, 'I'm gonna [make] a change.' That was, like, five years ago. I've always worn heavy shirts, like Ray did, and the jeans. That's just [my look]. I did not fathom at all — 'cause I'm five-seven; Ray was, like six-two — so… I did not fathom at all that I would be getting the 'He's channeling Ray.' 'Cause that's not it at all. Ray and I were great friends. I had blond hair the whole time. I just went black when I got divorced and said, 'I wanna do a new look.' And it's funny, because the new look… The black hair… I've got quarter Navajo in me, so I've got very dark hair. And once I got older, I just said, 'I don't wanna keep doing the blond thing. It's, like, a midlife crisis.' So I went black, and I've been getting great stuff ever since. So I should have done that a long time ago. But, yeah… [I'm] nowhere near trying to channel Ray whatsoever. I've been channeling him, but not on purpose. It just happened to fall that way. And the way that photographs have caught me is kind of cool that they caught me that way, but it wasn't intentional… I love Ray. He was one of my… He's still my favorite singer of all time. So to be able to… like I said, to be able to sing his music, as well as being with Jake, it's just great. I personally wish we could do all BADLANDS material, 'cause I can sing that all day long."

RED DRAGON CARTEL most recently played several shows with Canadian singer Paul D'Eath (CITIZENS UNITE, MUSHROOM TRAIL). Prior to that, the band was fronted by Chas West (Jason Bonham, LYNCH MOB, 3 LEGGED DOGG), Michael Beck and Darren James Smith, the latter of whom handled lead vocals on RED DRAGON CARTEL's self-titled debut album.

Beck made headlines in April when he sang the lyrics to Osbourne's "Now You See It (Now You Don't)" while the rest of RED DRAGON CARTEL played "The Ultimate Sin" at their first show together in Miami, Florida. Beck later blamed the mixup on the fact that he "had no monitors at all" and he "couldn't hear anything."

RED DRAGON CARTEL in March announced the departure of bassist Greg Chaisson, who exited the group because he could "no longer take any more time away from [his] regular job."

RED DRAGON CARTEL's debut CD sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 69 on The Billboard 200 chart.

RED DRAGON CARTEL's setlist includes new material like the singles "Feeder" and "Deceived", as well as major hits from Jake E. Lee's glorious past: "Bark At The Moon", "The Ultimate Sin" and "Rock 'N' Roll Rebel" (all originally recorded by OZZY OSBOURNE), as well as "Shine On" and "High Wire" (BADLANDS).

Interview:


Performance footage:

As soon as AEROSMITH wraps up its tour in early August, the band's guitarist, Brad Whitford, will finish work on his second album with Derek St. Holmes, the voice of such early TED NUGENT songs as "Stranglehold" and "Dog Eat Dog".

The first WHITFORD-ST. HOLMES album came out in 1981.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Whitford and St. Holmes reconnected after Whitford moved to Nashville, where St. Holmes lives.

In a video below posted on AEROSMITH's web site, Whitford says he and St. Holmes cut nine tracks in two days with bass player Charlie Anderson and TESLA drummer Troy Luccketta.

Whitford and St. Holmes plan to play shows in November.

AEROSMITH is expected to tour again in 2016.

GUNS N' ROSES drummer Frank Ferrer was interviewed on this week's (July 29) episode of "The Geoff Lenox Show" on Stone Chrome Radio. During the chat, Ferrer discussed his career, the recent resignation of GUNS N' ROSES guitarist D.J. Ashba, and gave an inside look at life as a current member of GUNS N' ROSES.

Asked about some fans' speculation that Ashba exited GUNS N' ROSES after getting news from GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose about the future of the band, Ferrer said: "No, [we did] not [get any] new news, other than we're still forging ahead. But not any, like, you know… It's not really news. It's, like, there's a plan in place, and it's happening, so that's all I can say."

He continued: "I haven't spoken to D.J., but apparently D.J. would just, like… he'd rather do other stuff right now, which is cool. I mean, everything he said in that letter [announcing his departure] is true. I mean, he has a great relationship with the bandmembers and with Axl. Everything's good."

"The Geoff Lenox Show" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST, with on-demand replay of past episodes, only at www.stonechromeradio.com.

Ashba issued a statement on Monday (July 27) saying that he was leaving GUNS N' ROSES. His statement read in part, "It is with a very heavy heart and yet great pride that I announce that I've decided to close this chapter of my life and encapsulate the wonderful times that I've shared with GUNS N' ROSES into fond memories. I have reached a point in my life where I feel its time to dedicate myself to my band SIXX: A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me."

Ashba added: "I want to take a moment to thank Axl from the bottom of my heart for not only the most incredible experience of my life, but for truly believing in me. You are a true friend and a champion of mine and I am forever grateful. And even as I move on to pursue other endeavors, I will always remain one of your biggest fans. I also would like to thank each and every one of you fans for your love and support throughout the years."

Ashba said earlier in his statement that working with GUNS N' ROSES was "the most incredible journey I could have possibly imagined."

Ashba joined GUNS N' ROSES in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck.

Ashba was accused by fans of the original lineup of "trying to be Slash," to which he replied in a May 2014 interview with Unskinny Pop, "Well, that's not true in any way… I have a lot of respect for what he's done for the band as far as his guitar work and stuff. I grew up loving the band and that whole thing is kind of weird to me."

Ashba hinted last year that GUNS N' ROSES had recording and touring plans on tap for 2015, none of which have materialized.

Another GUNS guitarist, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, recently revealed that he was focusing on his solo career after spending eight years playing in the band. His status with the group remains unclear.

Rose is the only original member of GUNS N' ROSES still in the current lineup, which has toured intermittently since 2006 and played its second Las Vegas residency last year.

Interview (audio):

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal recently revealed that he was focusing on his solo career after spending eight years playing in the Axl Rose-fronted band. Thal, however, stopped short of saying that he was no longer a member of GUNS N' ROSES, which has caused some fans to criticize him for not coming clean about where he stands with the group.

Asked by journalist Gary Graff to clarify his status with GUNS N' ROSES, 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."

He continued: "I'm a real busy guy and really enjoying everything I'm doing, and I think that everything I'm doing has a future and a bigger plan — the solo stuff, the other bands, the producing, the charity and educational things I'm doing. These are all the things I love that I've really missed, and I'm very happy to be putting my time back into that. It's really what I should be doing."

Bumblefoot joined GUNS N' ROSES in early 2006 as the replacement for Buckethead. He made his live debut with the band at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on May 12, 2006.

Back in 2013, Bumblefoot expressed his frustration over the fact that GUNS N' ROSES had not made any new music since the release of 2008's "Chinese Democracy". He said: "If something came out at this point, it would be very old material that is just being released now. So it would be unheard material, but to me, I don't consider that a new record, I consider that just releasing old material from a band that doesn't exist anymore. And we need to make an album of this band right now." He added: "I'm all about making music; that's why I make music — to make music. So I'd like to really do that. I would be very happy if GUNS N' ROSES could do that…. I wanna make some music with these motherfuckers. It's a damn good band and we should really have the opportunity to give what we can to all [the fans], and make some music for [the fans]."

Bumblefoot released a new solo album, "Little Brother Is Watching", in February. The disc was composed, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Bumblefoot at his studio in New Jersey, and also features drummer Dennis Leeflang.

Another GUNS N' ROSES guitarist, D.J. Ashba, issued a statement on Monday (July 27) saying that he was leaving GUNS N' ROSES. His statement read in part, "It is with a very heavy heart and yet great pride that I announce that I've decided to close this chapter of my life and encapsulate the wonderful times that I've shared with GUNS N' ROSES into fond memories. I have reached a point in my life where I feel its time to dedicate myself to my band SIXX: A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me."

Ashba added: "I want to take a moment to thank Axl from the bottom of my heart for not only the most incredible experience of my life, but for truly believing in me. You are a true friend and a champion of mine and I am forever grateful. And even as I move on to pursue other endeavors, I will always remain one of your biggest fans. I also would like to thank each and every one of you fans for your love and support throughout the years."

Ashba said earlier in his statement that working with GUNS N' ROSES was "the most incredible journey I could have possibly imagined."

FOR TODAY, the American Christian metalcore band from Sioux City, Iowa, has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast. The label will release the incendiary group's next album internationally.

Said Markus Staiger, owner of Nuclear Blast: "I am very happy to work with one of my absolute favorite American bands, FOR TODAY. This band is unique in their mission, style and message. They have delivered a killer album and it is such an amazing opportunity to sign FOR TODAY to Nuclear Blast during this time."

The story of FOR TODAY remains one of triumph. Breaking out of Iowa is hard enough. When you're playing heavy music with a Christian message, it's even harder. Still, the quintet — Mattie Montgomery (lead vocals), Ryan Leitru (lead guitar, vocals), Brandon Leitru (bass), Sam Penner (rhythm guitar), and David Puckett (drums, percussion) — consistently perseveres.

FOR TODAY's last album, "Fight The Silence", came out in 2014 via Razor & Tie. The Will Putney-produced effort was the band's fifth full-length overall and follow-up to 2012's "Immortal" and 2013's "Prevailer" EP.

Chuck D of PUBLIC ENEMY joined ANTHRAX on stage last night (Wednesday, July 29) at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California to perform "Bring The Noise", the song ANTHRAX and PUBLIC ENEMY recorded together in 1991. Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Asked in a 2013 interview with The National Student if he thinks the backlash in the collaboration ANTHRAX did with PUBLIC ENEMY helped to form any of the nu-metal music today, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian said: "You know, people ask us, do we think we created certain genres of music that the press named after we did what we did with PUBLIC ENEMY. I never thought we invented it. It certainly opened a door, even just a window for people to jump out of. I truly believe that RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE were the band that drove a train through that door; they took the influences in their individuals and came together to make a band out of it. Whereas with us and PUBLIC ENEMY, it's not like ANTHRAX became a rap group and it's not like PUBLIC ENEMY became a metal group, we just collaborated together and did something great. We didn't then become one unit and continue to make music like that. Whereas, RAGE AGAINST were that unit and this is the music that they were creating from their souls which blew up massively on a worldwide level. So I think if anything, whether or not they'd want the credit for it, it's definitely RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE for me that created rap metal, nu-metal, whatever you want to call it. Everything that came after them showed that a direct line had to go back to RAGE. The only thing I can personally take credit for is, there have been guys in bands that have come up to me and personally told me the influence that we bring to them specifically some of the dudes from LINKIN PARK told me years and years ago that the first concert they ever saw was ANTHRAX and PUBLIC ENEMY in Los Angeles. And they left that show saying that's the kind of band we want me to make. I know the guys in RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and I know Tom [Morello, guitar] and he was a fan of ours and PUBLIC ENEMY's and what we did. I'm not saying 'Bring The Noise' was a direct responsibility for RAGE, but I know that it's something they are certainly fans of."

In a separate interview with the Cleveland Music Examiner, Ian stated about ANTHRAX's original decision to record a cover of "Bring The Noise": "By that point, there was a new audience, and we certainly reached a lot of new people with that PUBLIC ENEMY track. People who maybe weren't into what we'd done before, or who weren't metalheads. So that track crossed over for us and took us into a new zone. But it's funny, because we haven't done anything rap or crossed over since 'Bring The Noise', yet people once again still talk about it, which shows me how special it was. People still want to hear it and people still reference it all the time, and it's almost 25 years old. And sometimes we're categorized as a 'rap metal' band, when we only ever did the two songs — other then maybe screwing around with 'Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun' with the BEASTIE BOYS as a B-side — but yeah. People still talk about it as if that's what we do."

ANTHRAX's version of "Bring the Noise" was featured on "Attack of the Killer B's", a compilation album of B-sides, covers and rarities, which was released in June 1991.

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman Metalholic.com that he is a huge supporter of BABYMETAL, the offshoot of the Japanese pop idol group SAKURA GAKUIN that performs a distinctly Japanese mix of schoolgirl J-pop and heavy metal.

Takayoshi Ohmura, the guitarist in Friedman's own solo band, is also the guitarist in BABYMETAL, whose members wear gothy schoolgirl costumes, do choreographed dance routines and bang their heads violently.

"I think the best thing about BABYMETAL is the fact that it's very polarizing: you have to either absolutely love 'em or you totally hate 'em," Marty said (hear audio below). "And I think that's the mark of great things. Of course, I love them and have supported them since the beginning. The guitarist in my solo band over [in Japan] is also the guitarist in BABYMETAL. So I definitely… I'm a huge supporter of them, and I think they are a fantastic, fantastic unit. But I could totally see a metal purist go, 'Hey, this is not right. This is not what metal is supposed to be. I can't stand it. It's just not… No. No way. No fucking way.' I totally get it. But that's what I also love about them. I mean, it breaks a lot of rules, and I'm all about breaking rules."

He continued: "If you've seen some of the stuff I've done in Japan, I have injected my own metal into very, very pop situations, where metal shouldn't go, but because it's me, and because it's the way I did it, it worked, and it happened, and it existed. So I kind of forced it. And I think that spirit is very metal. But there are a lot of purists out there, especially in America, who look at that and just go, 'No fucking way!' And I totally get it; I don't have a single thing against these people. But that's what I love about BABYMETAL: it's very polarizing. And I think that my whole musical concept is also very polarizing. But I can tell you that it's just the way that I am as an artist, and you really can't go out there trying to please anyone other than yourself. If people wanna join the party, it's great, and you love 'em when they do, but I certainly don't think any less of people who disagree with my opinion."

As previously reported, BABYMETAL has signed with RAL/Sony Music Entertainment for the U.S. release of the band's 2014 critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. The CD features two bonus tracks and was made available digitally on May 12 and physically on June 16.

"Babymetal" was released via earMUSIC in Germany, Sweden, Finland and Spain on May 29, in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Holland, Poland, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark on June 1, and in Italy on June 2

The European release was made available as the standard edition as well as a deluxe edition that includes a bonus DVD compiling six music videos from BABYMETAL.

Since forming in 2010, BABYMETAL — the young trio of 17-year-old Su-Metal (vocal, dance) and 15-year-olds Yuimetal (scream, dance)and Moametal (scream, dance), backed by a four-piece band packing a heavy metal arsenal — has already achieved two major debut singles — "Ijime, Dame, Zetta!" and "Megistune", both of which ranked in the Top 10 Oricon Chart in Japan. Their first studio album, "Babymetal", also earned the #1 spot on Japan's album chart and Billboard's World Album Chart. The official live music video for their debut album's lead single, "Gimme Chocolate!!", has garnered over 24.5 million views on YouTube.

2014 saw BABYMETAL headline numerous sold-out shows from New York to London, including the 20,000-capacity Saitama Super Arena in Japan. They performed at major festivals in multiple countries such as the U.K.'s massive Sonisphere in front of 65,000 festival goers and supported Lady Gaga on her "Artrave: The Artpop Ball" tour.

Friedman has announced his first tour of North America since 2003 — a 21-date headlining run that will kick off September 9. The trek marks the latest leg of Friedman's ongoing world tour in support of "Inferno", his solo album that so far has seen him complete a record-breaking tour across South America; perform extensively in Europe with acts such as Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE), ARCH ENEMY and KREATOR; and play multiple high-profile gigs in his current home country of Japan, including a set at the country's largest heavy metal festival, Loud Park.

The upcoming North American leg of the "Inferno" tour will start in Friedman's former hometown of Baltimore and wrap up on the West Coast on October 3. Support will be provided by the Los Angeles-based extreme shred outfit EXMORTUS.

Sierra Mountains-dwelling blackened death miscreants, Valdur, offer up the visual companion to "Blessings Of The Goat”. The latest war hymn comes by way of the band's Pathetic Scum opus, unleashed via Bloody Mountain Records late last month.

Offers Valdur in a collective statement, "This song and video represent how our 'freedom and will' to make this music conflicts with how these same creative desires tie us down, like an addiction or an obsession...in the darkest and most enlightening of ways......"

 
Featuring past and current members of Weverin, Endless Blizzard and Plutocracy, Valdur was forged at the turn of the century in a small mountain town located in the pulsating heart of the Sierra Mountains where the Death Valley desert lands meet the ascending Mt. Whitney and where the unholy collective dwells without interference of fashionable scenes or rulebooks.

Pathetic Scum was captured entirely at the band's clandestine Bloody Mountain Bunker, mixed by drummer Matthew and mastered by Dan at Morbid Mastering, Pathetic Scum picks up where the repugnant sounds of 2013's critically-adored At War With left off. Featuring the addition of new guitarist, Vuke, the record seethes with a blizzardy onslaught of warring riffs, bestial blasts, wrath-fueled vocal offensives and an overwhelming atmosphere of pandemonium, trepidation and all-encompassing ruthlessness.

Pathetic Scum is out now digitally and in digipak format via the band's own Bloody Mountain Records here, where you'll also find the record streaming in its diseased entirety.

 

Aborted have begun writing new material for their follow-up to The Necrotic Manifesto and are gearing up to enter the studio later this year. With anticipation is at an all time high, the band has released the following guitar playthrough video.

Watch Danny Tunker and Mendel Bij De Leij play through "The Necrotic Manifesto" below:

The band had this to say on the coming of new material: "2014 and 2015 have been insanely busy years for Aborted. The Necrotic Manifesto marked the most intensive touring cycle the band ever had, we played every continent on the globe and met some great people along the way. Things haven't been quiet in our camp since and we will continue to bring you some more gore ridden metal! That's right we have begun writing the follow up to The Necrotic Manifesto, we will begin recording by the end of the year, so expect a release by spring time 2016.

“We have some BIG surprises planned for the record, more about that later... We will continue our onslaught doing headline tours in South Africa, Egypt and Israel before the end of the year and a handful of very exclusive european shows so if you want to see us destroy things, come on say what's up before the year is over! Death metal has never been so alive in our hearts and we would like to thank each and every one of you who came out to a show in the last couple years, bought an album or a shirt and supports the band in any way, we could not be doing this without you! Here's a pretty sweet guitar play through for all you shredders out there!"

Aborted will join Kataklysm on their Of Ghosts And Gods European tour 2016. Also on the bill for the shows is SepticFlesh.

Tour dates:

January
7 - Berlin, Germany - C-Club
8 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
9 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
10 - Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
11 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
12 - Göteburg, Sweden - Sticky Fingers
13 - Oslo, Norway - Blå
14 - Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser Strand
16 - Helsinki, Finland - Nosturi
17 - Tallin, Estonia - Tapper
18 - Riga, Latvia - Melna Piektdiena
19 - Vilnius, Lithuania - New York
20 - Warschau, Poland - Progresja
21 - Cracov, Poland - Fabryka
22 - Prag, Czech Republic - Meet Factory
23 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
24 - Budapest, Hungary - Dürer Kert
25 - Lubljana, Slovenia - Kino Siska
26 - Wörgl, Austria - Komma
27 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Majestic
28 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA
29 - Geiselwind, Germany - Musichall
30 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z 7
31 - München, Germany - Backstage

February
1 - Genf, Switzerland - Lùsine
2 - Montepellier, France - Rockstore
3 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 2
4 - Madrid, Spain - Caracol
5 - Limoges, France - CC John Lennon
6 - Vannes, France - Echonova
7 - Rouen, France - Le 106
9 - Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie
10 - St. Etienne, France - Le Fil
11 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
12 - Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob
13 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
14 - Paris, France - La Machine
15 - Bristol, UK - Fleece
16 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
17 - Dublin, Ireland - Voodoo Lounge
18 - Manchester, UK - Sound Control
19 - Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall
20 - London, UK - Underworld
21 - Tilburg, Netherlands - O13

Japanese melodic death metallers, Gyze, are streaming a full concert, filmed at Tsutaya O-East in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan on June 11th. Watch below:

Gyze released their new album, Black Bride, on June 9th via Coroner Records. The album was mixed and mastered by Ettore Rigotti at The Metal House Studio (Disarmonia Mundi, Blood Stain Child, Destrage, etc.).

 

 

Black Bride tracklisting:

“Black Bride”
“In Grief”
“Honesty”
“Insane Brain”
“Black Shadow”
“Winter Breath”
“Twilight”
“Satanic Loop”
“Nanohana”
“Julius”
“Asuhenohikari”

“Surface Tears” (Exclusive Coroner Records Bonus Track)

The official lyric video for MOTÖRHEAD's new song "Electricity" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's much-anticipated 22nd studio album, "Bad Magic", which will be released on August 28. Bristling with thunderous attitude, pioneering spirit and some of the fiercest rhythms and riffs that'll beat your ears into submission this year, "Bad Magic" is a massive kick in the teeth for anyone who dared believe it might be otherwise. Indeed, if those people still remain, they would do well to grab some big fat earplugs, fall to their knees and pray like buggery, because big-rig head crushers like "Thunder & Lightning" and the especially l-o-u-d "Teach 'Em How To Bleed" show that MOTÖRHEAD are as strong, mean, loud, relentless, uncompromising and goddam heavy as ever. Drawing on their own vast catalogue of road-warrior freewheeling rock'n'roll spirit, "Bad Magic" also strides confidently into some of the earlier attitudes of Motörmusic. Written and recorded in the studio together, for the first time in the Kilmister/Campbell/Dee era, the more "live" approach to creating "Bad Magic" has obviously paid dividends in this regard. There is the driving malevolence of "Choking On Your Screams", with Lemmy in magnificently omnipotent vocal mood, "Electricity" carries a hefty chunk of punk attitude married with some of Phil Campbell's best lead work in years, while "Shoot Out All Of Your Lights" is all devilish, greasy biker-borne-screw-you-and yours, Mikkey Dee's tribal drums pounding out a great path for more Kilmister proclamations. The boys even enjoyed a guest appearance from QUEEN's Brian May on "The Devil", adding a scintillating solo on this thunderous Motörstomper. Produced at NRG Studios with long-time producer Cameron Webb, "Bad Magic" came together after a couple of years which saw MOTÖRHEAD enjoy their most successful international era in over two decades off the back of their last release "Aftershock". Lemmy also finally decided to face the fact he is flesh, blood and mortal like all of us, adjusting his lifestyle to kick the ass of health issues and re-emerging stronger, leaner and meaner than ever. His own personal performances on "Bad Magic" rank as some of the most wide-ranging and unique he has delivered in years, and on the ballad "Until The End", Lemmy opens up with equal levels explanation and intent on the simple but important matters which life conjures for us all. Add to all of this a wonderfully executed, gritty delivery of THE ROLLING STONES classic "Sympathy For The Devil", and it will be clear to anyone with a pair of ears that "Bad Magic" is MOTÖRHEAD's finest work in over two decades.

"Bad Magic" track listing: 01. Victory Or Die02. Thunder & Lightning03. Fire Storm Hotel04. Shoot Out All Of Your Lights05. The Devil06. Electricity07. Evil Eye08. Teach Them How To Bleed09. Till The End10. Tell Me Who To Kill11. Choking On Your Screams12. When The Sky Comes Looking For You13. Sympathy For The Devil (THE ROLLING STONES cover)

You can also expect the road to get its ass-kicked by MOTÖRHEAD once again in the last half of 2015! Starting in mid-August, there will be a North American tour with ANTHRAX which ends with the now-legendary Motörboat cruise between September 28 and October 2 from Miami, Florida to Nassau in the Bahamas, also featuring SLAYER and ANTHRAX among a bumper lineup of bands. And MOTÖRHEAD's 40th-anniversary European winter tour will start on November 15 at Le Zenith in Paris, ending on December 6 at the Hartwell Arena in Helsinki, Finland.