Barcelona, Spain’s Obsidian Kingdom have released a new video for their track “Black Swan”. Guitarist Eaten Roll I and guitarist/vocalist Rider G Omega perform the track from the band’s album, A Year With No Summer, at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona in June 2016.

A Year With No Summer was released back in March via Season of Mist. The band released the dystopian mockumentary (see below) that was produced for “Black Swan”, the second single from the album.

A message states: ““Black Swan” reflects on the idea of a dramatic and unexpected shift in the routines that define our comfort zones. It is at the same time a vintage memento from an idyllic past, and the foreboding of a terrible, hostile and sublime future. By the way, we know there's a typo in the video. It's entirely our fault and now we will have to live with it all our lives. Sometimes we find it hard to sleep at night because of that.”

A Year With No Summer album details…

Tracklisting:

“A Year With No Summer”
“10th April”
“Darkness”
“The Kandinsky Group”
“The Polyarnik”
“Black Swan”
“Away/Absent”

“Darkness”:

Finland's Kaaos TV recently conducted an interview with NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked if she is planning to reactivate her REVAMP project during NIGHTWISH's previously announced year-long break in 2017 following the completion of the touring activities for the group's latest album, 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", Floor said: "I will have the very special luxury of having time at home with my family… family-to-be. So indeed the first months of next year, I'll be working on being very pregnant [laughs], and hopefully getting a healthy baby. And I really see that as priority number one. Musically, I have little ambition. The only real ambition I have is to make music and do music whenever I feel like it, without any real ambition or planning."

She continued: "REVAMP is a band that would deserve the hundred percent devotion a band needs, and at this moment, I don't see any future for another band next to a band such as NIGHTWISH, and with the ambition to become a mother, I will have to let REVAMP go, which is a very sad decision. That doesn't mean I don't wanna do any music, but only in time that I think is right.

"There is a project that I did back in 2008 with a Norwegian guitar player, Jørn Viggo Lofstad, who plays in PAGAN'S MIND. We wrote a rock album and we never released it. So we're gradually picking that up and seeing if we can do anything with this. But again, family first and the rest comes in time that we have."

Jansen revealed in September that she was four months pregnant. The singer's partner is SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl.

NIGHTWISH will play three more shows in Asia this month before completing the world tour in support of "Endless Forms Most Beautiful".

NIGHTWISH will release "Vehicle Of Spirit" on November 4. The DVD will feature the band's performance from the Wembley Arena, along with their show at Tampere, Finland's Ratina Stadion.

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman says that he has mixed feelings about the hologram of Ronnie James Dio, which made its debut at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany on August 6. Created by Eyellusion, the surprise appearance of the heavy metal icon during DIO DISCIPLES' set closed out the massive metal event which was attended by more than 75,000 fans.

Speaking to Argentina's Vorterix radio, Draiman said about the Dio hologram (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It makes me sad. I'm always happy to hear any music from anybody that's left us, that we've lost. But I don't know… The hologram thing, to me, it almost isn't letting the dead be dead. And… I don't know… It just seems weird. It seems no different than… Is there a difference between a hologram and a guy dressing up like Ronnie James and doing it? You know what I mean?"

He continued: "Ronnie was Ronnie, and he was the best in the entire damn world. Whether you're doing it with somebody like Ronnie James Dio or Michael Jackson or whomever, it just seems like, you know what? Respect the legacy. And me personally, I don't know… It kind of bothers me. Maybe it's because I love Ronnie so much and revere him as a god of vocal ability. So… I don't know. It just bugs me."

Draiman was also asked whether he thinks any of the newer hard rock artists have a shot at becoming arena-sized acts once the current crop of dinosaur bands are no longer around. He responded: "Look, one can only hope, pray and try to become a legend. It's not something that's guaranteed, it's not something that's automatic, there's no scientific formula for it. But one thing that people need to reconsider here is that the elements that existed that made the Lemmys, the Ozzys, the AC/DCs and METALLICAs of the world — MTV, big rock radio; things of that nature — don't exist anymore. So it takes longer, and it takes more persistence, and it takes more consistency these days to achieve that level. Maybe it can't be done in twenty years. Maybe it takes a lifetime. And if that's what it takes, given the change in this environment, then that's what it takes."

He added: "I certainly believe — I certainly believe… I'm not saying that any of my colleagues and my friends, whom I admire and respect tremendously — there's so many people in this genre that I find tremendous inspiration from — I'm not saying that we are equating ourselves or that we are even anywhere close to what these guys have achieved, 'cause sometimes it's simply not possible. They're anomalies. How can you try to be something that is a once-in-a-lifetime thing? The Freddie Mercurys of our time. I think that they are there. To me, I still see it. And I'm not gonna start calling out individual names, because either I'll name somebody that people disagree with or I'll leave somebody out and somebody will get pissed off. [Laughs] But I definitely think that there's a future generation, and there's even a current generation of luminary rock stars out there who don't have the kind of visibility that, in the past, used to be able to make [that] happen. And that'll come in time."

Ronnie James Dio's widow/manager Wendy, who manages DIO DISCIPLES and is also a member of the Eyellusion team, recently said that the fans at Wacken Open Air "really got it, and they loved" the Ronnie hologram. She explained: "I think you have to see it, really, to know what it's about. It's amazing. It's like having Ronnie back again, which is wonderful. It was very emotional. I didn't think that I was gonna cry, but I did. I broke down. And a lot of fans were there with me, and it was comforting that they were feeling the same thing I was feeling."

She continued: "Some of his crew members that were there, like Paul Dexter, who did all the designs and was Ronnie's lighting designer and stage designer for years — he was the one who designed the 'Sacred Heart' set — he was the one who was there, and he was crying. I mean, everyone that knew Ronnie, it was so realistic. It was just like having him back on stage again."

Special thanks to Catalina Bonadeo from Vorterix for providing the audio of the Draiman interview.

Video footage of LIGHTNING BORN, the new project featuring CORROSION OF CONFORMITY bassist Mike Dean, performing on September 26 at Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina can be seen below (courtesy of Randy Ada).

LIGHTNING BORN is:

* Mike Dean (CORROSION OF CONFORMITY) - Bass* Erik Sugg (DEMON EYE) - Guitar* Doza Hawes (COLOSSUS, BLOODY HAMMERS) - Drums* Brenna Leath (THE HELL NO) – Vocals

Asked how important of an influence BLACK SABBATH has been to him, Dean told Metal-Rules.com: "I have listened to BLACK SABBATH since I was five years old and I found 'Paranoid' in my brother's record box. At that age, it was pretty much just the song 'Electric Funeral', because of the 'wah wah.' But we kind of grew up on all that and then, basically, what really got us into punk rock was seeing the BAD BRAINS. Because they played around North Carolina a lot, and we were just like everybody else; we were, like, blown away. Because they had the aggressiveness of hardcore, but they had the agility of musicians. So that was kind of the game changer for us. Then, BLACK FLAG played around North Carolina a lot for whatever reason; it was on the way to somewhere else they needed to go. So that's where it kind of led us into like the hardcore thing; just incorporating more of our original influences kind of came more with being able to play better."

In a 2012 interview with The Great Southern Brainfart, Dean had the following advice for up-and-coming bands: "It's better to be an imperfect version of yourself than a perfect copy of some other successful artist. Do your own thing. Stake out your territory and just try to do everything as self-sufficiently as possible until you're in a position to deal with the money changers or whatever labels are still left. You can make it happen on your own. Keep it self-sufficient and sustainable. Don't buy a Porche when you get your first '88 Grand. [Laughs]"

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is currently working on material for its upcoming studio album, tentatively due in 2017 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The effort will mark the band's studio reunion with guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan and the Pepper-fronted version of C.O.C.'s first full-length record since 2005.

According to the Los Angeles Times, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler has sold his gated estate in Beverly Hills, California for $2.604 million.

Geezer and his wife, Gloria bought the house more than a decade ago for $2.4 million, records show.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom contemporary Mediterranean house was one of multiple homes owned by the British musician.

A founding member of SABBATH, Butler is also the lyricist of such SABBATH classics as "War Pigs", "Paranoid", "Iron Man" and many others.

Butler, SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi reunited in 2011 and released their first album together in 35 years, "13", in June 2013.

SABBATH's farewell tour, dubbed "The End", finishes up next Febraury in Birmingham, England.

Butler admitted in an interview with Rolling Stone that the tour is "bittersweet," saying, "I'm glad we're finishing on a high note but sad that it's the end of what I've known for most of my life."

The band has made an EP featuring four songs left over from the "13" sessions available at the shows.

Although SABBATH will not tour again after this run, Butler, Osbourne and Iommi have not ruled out recording together again.

Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler Lists Beverly Hills Estate for $3.2M https://t.co/gvXGWcQ0w8 pic.twitter.com/7c9OACkLmk

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 18, 2016

An intersection in Forest Hills, New York will be officially renamed "The Ramones Way" as a memorial to the legendary punk band. It the intersection of 67th Avenue and 110th Street, right in front of Forest Hills High School, where the band's original lineup met and would later become inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The street will officially be unveiled on October 23, following a proposal passed by the City Council July 14, according to councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills).

Koslowitz sponsored the co-naming after speaking with Mitchell Leigh Hyman, the brother of Joey Ramone, at the opening of the "Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk" exhibit at the Queens Museum in April.

"Our community of Forest Hills has been the home of many famous artists," Koslowitz said. "Many legendary musicians also attended Forest Hills High School including Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Burt Bacharach, as well as the members of the famous punk rock group the RAMONES. The RAMONES played well in the 1990s and received numerous accolades and awards including an induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Working with Joey Ramone's brother and Forest Hills resident Mickey Leigh and fans of the band, I am so very pleased to honor our hometown musical heroes by renaming 67th Avenue and 110th Street in front of Forest Hills High School, right where it all started as 'The Ramones Way'."

Mickey Leigh, brother of Joey Ramone and a longtime Forest Hills resident, added: "I'm just so proud that this is actually going to happen. My efforts have culminated into something great happening for the RAMONES and RAMONES fans everywhere."

This isn't the first time a street has been named for the RAMONES: After Joey Ramone's death in 2001, the corner of East 2nd Street and the Bowery — just up the block from CBGB, where the band regularly performed back in the '70s — was renamed "Joey Ramone Place".

The RAMONES' place in rock and roll history was already assured by 1978, with their first three albums — "Ramones", "Leave Home" and "Rocket To Russia" — all made in the span of 18 months, between February 1976 and the fall of '77. When it was time to make records, Tommy said, "Our art was complete." The art was the combined product of four strangely aligned personalities — all living within shouting distance of each other in the conservative, middleclass enclave of Forest Hills, where their mutual needs as fledgling musicians and bored delinquents far outweighed the mess of differences and civil wars that could never quite bust them apart.




"RAMONES WAY" STREET NAMING Set For October 23rd!! It's been a long time coming,...

Posted by Mickey Leigh on Friday, September 30, 2016

Celebrating the launch of the band's 35th anniversary, more than 17 million albums sold worldwide, over 3000 live shows performed, NIGHT RANGER continues to rock with the release of "35 Years And A Night In Chicago". This amazing performance will be available December 2 via Frontiers Music Srl on 2CD/DVD, Blu-ray, and MP3 (audio only). Frontiers will also release a new studio album from the iconic band in the first half of 2017.

"After 35 years of recording and touring, we thought it was about time to rock out a live album for all the fans that have been coming to see us. And for those who have yet to experience a live NIGHT RANGER show.... enjoy the ride!" says Jack Blades of the new release.

Kelly Keagy adds: "For the past 35-plus years, this band has been knocking out audiences across the globe and continues to do so. All of it building to this one night in Chicago that sums up what NIGHT RANGER has always been about. Great high-energy rock 'n' roll. To the fans, we salute you!"

NIGHT RANGER has both epitomized and transcended the arena rock sound and style of that era and beyond, with songs that have significantly impacted popular culture and continue expanding their ever-growing fan-base. NIGHT RANGER is proof that powerful songs, plus accomplished musicians is the perfect formula for continued success. NIGHT RANGER has earned widespread acclaim multi-platinum and gold album status while leaving their indelible mark on the music charts with a string of best-selling albums ("Dawn Patrol", "Midnight Madness", "7 Wishes", "Big Life" and "Man In Motion"), its popularity fueled by an impressive string of instantly recognizable hit singles and signature album tracks. Producing legendary hits such as "Sister Christian", "Don't Tell Me You Love Me", "When You Close Your Eyes" the anthemic "(You Can Still) Rock In America", along with "Sentimental Street", "Goodbye", "Sing Me Away", "Four In The Morning" and more, the band was also one the first big "video" bands, with over ten number one videos on MTV. Over the years, the band's music has made notable contributions to and has been featured in many different areas of media and popular culture. NIGHT RANGER's songs can be heard in TV shows "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", "American Dad", "Glee", "Grey's Anatomy", "Parks & Recreation"; video games Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Grand Theft Auto; "Rock Of Ages" hit Broadway musical and feature film; the Oscar-nominated film "Boogie Nights", "Friday The 13th", "Teachers", "Sixteen Candles", "The Secret Of My Success"; JBL's "Hear The Truth" brand campaign; and many more!

NIGHT RANGER is Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (lead and rhythm guitars), Eric Levy (keyboards) and Keri Kelli (lead and rhythm guitars). "35 Years And A Night In Chicago" track listing:

01. Intro02. Touch Of Madness03. Sing Me Away04. Four In The Morning05. Growing Up In California06. Rumors In The Air07. Secret Of My Success08. Sentimental Street09. High Road10. Eddie's Comin' Out Tonight11. Goodbye12. Day & Night13. Night Ranger14. When You Close Your Eyes15. Don't Tell Me You Love Me16. Penny17. Sister Christian18. (You Can Still) Rock In America19. 7 Wishes 2 CD + DVD digipak: CD 1:

01. Intro02. Touch Of Madness03. Sing Me Away04. Four In The Morning05. Growing Up In California06. Rumors In The Air07. Secret Of My Success08. Sentimental Street09. High Road10. Eddie's Comin' Out Tonight CD 2:

01. Goodbye02. Day & Night03. Night Ranger04. When You Close Your Eyes05. Don't Tell Me You Love Me06. Penny07. Sister Christian08. (You Can Still) Rock In America09. 7 Wishes DVD

01. Intro02. Touch Of Madness03. Sing Me Away04. Four In The Morning05. Growing Up In California06. Rumors In The Air07. Secret Of My Success08. Sentimental Street09. High Road10. Eddie's Comin' Out Tonight11. Goodbye12. Day & Night13. Night Ranger14. When You Close Your Eyes15. Don't Tell Me You Love Me16. Penny17. Sister Christian18. (You Can Still) Rock In America19. 7 Wishes

Jason Becker, the guitarist/composer who has had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease) for over 27 years, has written a full album of amazing music to be performed and recorded by many of his peers. The effort will comprise of a few compositions that have been waiting for this moment to be recorded, to many new pieces recently written. To accomplish this, he needs your support. Click here to be on #TeamBecker. Becker is giving out some the most kick-ass perks, from t-shirts, signed CDs, a signed guitar from Joe Bonamassa, to your name credited on the album.

Becker was diagnosed with ALS at age 20, shortly after joining David Lee Roth's band for the gold-selling 1991 album "A Little Ain't Enough". Although the disease robbed him of his ability to play guitar — and eventually left him both paralyzed and unable to speak — Becker continues to compose music with the help of computers, collaborators, and a system of communication using eye movements that was devised by his father Gary. Even after his once prodigious axe skills left him, Jason's music continued to earn the respect of his peers. Joe Satriani called 2001's "Perspectives" — Jason's first recorded work after losing his motor functions (originally self-released in 1996) — "a triumphantly powerful and beautiful album." Fellow virtuosos joined the chorus of praise, including Steve Vai, who said, "Jason has discovered a brilliant source of inspiration within himself. His deep soul searching has resulted in a body of music that reveals courage and insight and is deeply moving." Jason's original partner in CACOPHONY, Marty Friedman added, "To call Jason a genius is an understatement. He doesn't cater to trend, target audiences, marketing gimmicks or anything like that. He plays out the emotions from his heart and makes real music that is a salute to the human spirit. Jason is a prodigy and on 'Perspectives' he realizes his miraculous potential." Jason's most recent album, 2008's "Collection", is a mix of old recordings and new compositions, with guest guitar work from Satriani, Vai, Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, and Greg Howe. For more on Jason Becker and his fight with ALS, go to www.jasonbeckerguitar.com.

Queen’s meteoric ascendancy during the 1970s has been well documented. From their gloriously ambitious self-titled debut album of 1973 through to the album that put them in the superstar bracket, 1975’s A Night At The Opera, and beyond, this unique group carved out a singular path as the most visionary, inventive and charismatic band of that epic decade.

But there is another side to Queen’s rise that has been largely overlooked. Between February 1973 and October 1977, the band recorded six radio sessions exclusively for the BBC. The twenty four recordings these landmark sessions produced include alternate versions of the debut single, unique takes of classic album tracks and even a radically reworked reimagining of one of their best known anthems that has never previously appeared on any Queen studio release.

Now, for the very first time, all six Queen BBC sessions - meticulously restored by Queen engineer Kris Fredriksson and mastered by Grammy Award winner Adam Ayan - have been brought together on Queen On Air, released on November 4th by Virgin EMI. North America through Hollywood Records. Available as a 2-CD set and a 3-LP vinyl edition, plus a Deluxe 6-disc edition featuring a CD of live broadcasts and 3 CDs of radio interviews, Queen On Air is an essential addition for connoisseurs of the band.

Queen On Air is more than just a collection of rare recordings - it is a glorious snapshot of the growth of a legend.

Queen’s very first session for the BBC, which opens Queen On Air, dates from February 1973, five months before the release of the band’s debut album and single. Imagine that you are listening to the radio in early 1973; no-one in the world has heard any Queen recordings EVER! John Peel plays “My Fairy King”, the very first Queen song to be broadcast on radio anywhere, and the story begins. He follows with “Keep Yourself Alive” (the song which later became their first single), the laidback “Doing All Right” and the epic rock operetta “Liar” - all of which serve notice of the arrival of a major new musical force.

The band returned to the BBC for their second session in July 1973, the same month their debut album was released. Revisiting “Keep Yourself Alive” and “Liar”, this time they also covered the heavy-as-lead “Son And Daughter” and the bluesy “See What A Fool I’ve Been”. The latter, which has never appeared on any Queen studio album, would later be re-recorded and become the B-side of their breakthrough hit single “Seven Seas Of Rhye” in 1974.

By the time Queen recorded their third BBC session in December 1973, they had already begun work on their second album, Queen II (eventually released in March 1974). The band premiered a new song which would feature on that album, “Ogre Battle”, alongside three classics from its predecessor, the galloping “Great King Rat”, the Roger Taylor-sung “Modern Times Rock’n’Roll” and a new version of “Son And Daughter”. Two more Queen II songs were recorded during a subsequent session in April 1974 - the epic “White Queen (As It Began)” and the delicate ballad “Nevermore”, alongside a re-recorded “Modern Times Rock’n’Roll”.

Queen’s penultimate session for the BBC took place in October 1974, a month before the release of their classic third album, Sheer Heart Attack. The session saw the debut of four songs from that record: the dazzling “Now I’m Here”, the proto-heavy metal attack of “Stone Cold Crazy”, the caustic “Flick Of The Wrist” and “Tenement Funster”, their celebration of the rock’n’roll lifestyle.

It would be another three years before Queen returned to the BBC for their sixth and final session, by which time the success of “Bohemian Rhapsody” had turned them into a global phenomenon.

On October 28th 1977, they recorded some radically different versions of four songs from the brand new News Of The World album, on the same day as it was given its UK release: the epic power ballad “Spread Your Wings”, the steel-plated rocker “It’s Late”, the dusky jazz number “My Melancholy Blues” and two significantly contrasting renditions of the global hit “We Will Rock You” - the ‘regular’ version and the ‘fast’ version, a full-tilt guitar-heavy take on the song. The accelerated version on Queen On Air is the only known studio recording of this live favourite.  “’We Will Rock You’ - profundity or just another teenage anthem!?”, remarks John Peel on playing the track. Peel is the person who famously once said (on air) of the band, “I’ve never seen them live. I must admit I’d like to - a band that sounds like nutters, actually, and I like that because I like rock music to sound a little out of control.”

To complete the full picture, the 6-CD Deluxe Edition includes Queen Live On Air - a single disc featuring highlights of three live concert broadcasts: Queen live at the Golders Green Hippodrome, from September 1973, their first concert to be transmitted on radio anywhere in the world. Also, Queen performing in Brazil at Sao Paulo’s gigantic Morumbi stadium to a record-setting audience of 131,000 originally relayed live on radio and TV in March 1981 on the Badeirantes network during the band’s infamous South America Bites The Dust tour. Finally, Queen’s penultimate live concert radio broadcast. Aired less than four weeks before their last show with Freddie, this was a live emission from the show in Mannheim Germany, in June 1986 during the mighty Magic Tour.

The set further offers a captivating selection of radio interviews with both the whole band and the individual members at various points between 1976 and 1992. Queen On Air: The Interviews (3 CDs) delivers a compelling three and a half hour distillation of revealing encounters recorded for the BBC and Capital Radio in London between 1976-1992.

Spanning 220 minutes, the seventeen interviews represent significant landmarks in the Queen story. Talking with some of Britain’s best known broadcasters and presenters, the band reflect on various moments in their musical history, influences and aspirations, and provide some memorable quotes, such as Roger Taylor’s now famous description of Queen’s 1984 Works tour as having “more lights and spectacle than the Vatican”.

On a more serious note, from June 1982, Brian discusses the Hot Space album and explains why the non-compromising anti-gun song “Put Out The Fire” is immediately followed on the album by “Life Is Real” (Freddie’s song for John Lennon).

Elsewhere, in a 1981 interview recorded during the band’s South American adventure, John Deacon provides some rare insight into some of the more unusual demands of the tour, including why it was necessary to fly in 75 tons of stage equipment and an entire football pitch-worth of Astro turf.

Roger is interviewed by Richard Skinner and Tommy Vance in 1979 and 1980 to promote the new Queen albums of the time, Live Killers and Flash Gordon respectively, and in a BBC Radio 1 interview with Simon Bates in 1985, Freddie (drinking vodka while the host sips tea!) talks candidly about the public perception of him, about playing ‘rock and roll dodgems’, his image, private life, and working with Michael Jackson and David Bowie.

Freddie, as he was generally accustomed to doing, steals the show again during a 1976 encounter with his friend Kenny Everett, on his Capital Radio programme. The host attempts to throw his guest off balance by handing him a weather report to read out on air, without warning, while Freddie does his utmost to maintain his composure.  

Queen On Air also provides us with the very last interview Brian, John, Freddie and Roger would give together. Being interviewed for a ‘Queen For An Hour' special with BBC Radio 1’s Mike Read to promote the new album The Miracle and broadcast during the May Bank Holiday weekend of 1989, Read makes the most of his one hour with Queen by cajoling all kinds of details from his guests and covering significant and often enthralling ground. Rare candor emerges, particularly from Freddie, as well as poignant and amusing moments. Aside from discussing the recently recorded new tracks, there is mention of Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Montserrat Caballé, Smokey Robinson, John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix, before moving on to what could be expected next from Queen.

In an emotional August 1992 BBC Radio 2 interview with Simon Bates three years after that final band interview, Brian recalls the shattering loss of Freddie Mercury nine months earlier and coming to terms with his death.

The Deluxe Edition of Queen On Air also comes with a meticulously assembled booklet containing rare photographs and sleeve notes lovingly compiled by band archivist Greg Brooks, featuring memories from the band and BBC producers Jeff Griffin and Bernie Andrews, plus comments from legendary Radio 1 DJs John Peel and Bob Harris from the time of the original broadcasts. Amongst them, Bernie Andrews, BBC Radio 1 producer of Queen’s first and third sessions recalls his first introduction to Queen:

“I first heard of Queen through a very well respected young promotion guy. He said ‘I want to play you a tape’. We went into a room and he got this reel-to-reel out. ‘Well what do you think,’ he asked. ‘They’re bloody great, I love it,’ I replied. Then he told me, ‘They’re called Queen’, and I just fell about the place laughing. I said: ‘They’re great, but you can’t put a band called Queen in the Radio Times!’ I booked them anyway and they went in the Radio Times as Queen.”

Thanks to their studio albums and their monumental live shows, Queen’s status as bona fide rock legends has long been assured. With Queen On Air, the world finally gets to hear and discover this fascinating side of their legacy.

Queen On Air tracklisting:

2-CD Edition: The Complete BBC Radio Sessions Available formats: Physical + digital & streaming

CD1

Session 1:
“My Fairy King”
“Keep Yourself Alive”
“Doing All Right”
“Liar”

Session 2:
“See What A Fool I’ve Been”
“Keep Yourself Alive”
“Liar”
“Son And Daughter”

Session 3:
“Ogre Battle”
“Modern Times Rock’n’Roll”
“Great King Rat”
“Son And Daughter”

CD2

Session 4:
“Modern Times Rock’n’Roll”  
“Nevermore”
“White Queen (As It Began)”

Session 5:
“Now I’m Here”  
“Stone Cold Crazy”  
“Flick Of The Wrist”  
“Tenement Funster”

Session 6:
“We Will Rock You”  
“We Will Rock You” (Fast)  
“Spread Your Wings”  
“It’s Late”  
“My Melancholy Blues”

3-LP Vinyl Edition: The Complete BBC Radio Sessions

Side 1 - Session 1:
“My Fairy King”  
“Keep Yourself Alive”  
“Doing All Right”  
“Liar”

Side 2 -Session 2:
“See What A Fool I’ve Been”  
“Keep Yourself Alive”  
“Liar”  
“Son And Daughter”

Side 3 - Session 3:
“Ogre Battle”  
“Modern Times Rock’n’Roll”
“Great King Rat”  
“Son And Daughter”

Side 4 - Session 4:
“Modern Times Rock’n’Roll”  
“Nevermore”  
“White Queen (As It Began)”

Side 5 - Session 5:
“Now I’m Here”  
“Stone Cold Crazy”  
“Flick Of The Wrist”  
“Tenement Funster”

Side 6 - Session 6:
“We Will Rock You”  
“We Will Rock You” (Fast)  
“Spread Your Wings”  
“It’s Late”  
“My Melancholy Blues”

Deluxe 6-CD Edition

CD1

Session 1:
“My Fairy King”
“Keep Yourself Alive”
“Doing All Right”
“Liar”

Session 2:
“See What A Fool I’ve Been”
“Keep Yourself Alive”
“Liar”
“Son And Daughter”

Session 3:
“Ogre Battle”
“Modern Times Rock’n’Roll”
“Great King Rat”
“Son And Daughter”

CD2

Session 4:
“Modern Times Rock’n’Roll”  
“Nevermore”
“White Queen (As It Began)”

Session 5:
“Now I’m Here”  
“Stone Cold Crazy”  
“Flick Of The Wrist”  
“Tenement Funster”

Session 6:
“We Will Rock You”  
“We Will Rock You” (Fast)  
“Spread Your Wings”  
“It’s Late”  
“My Melancholy Blues”

CD3: Queen Live On Air

Golders Green Hippodrome, London, 13th September 1973
“Procession” (Intro Tape)  
“Father To Son”  
“Son And Daughter”  
Guitar Solo  
“Son And Daughter” (Reprise)  
“Ogre Battle”
“Liar”  
“Jailhouse Rock”

Estádio Do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil, 20th March 1981
Intro  
“We Will Rock You” (Fast)  
“Let Me Entertain You”
“I’m In Love With My Car”  
“Alright Alright”  
“Dragon Attack”  
“Now I’m Here”
“Love Of My Life”

Maimmarktgelände, Mannheim, Germany, 21st June 1986
“A Kind Of Magic”  
“Vocal Improvisation”  
“Under Pressure”
“Is This The World We Created”  
“(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care”  
“Hello Mary Lou  (Goodbye Heart)”
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”  
“God Save The Queen”

CD4: Queen On Air: The Interviews (1976-1980)

Freddie Mercury With Kenny Everett (November 1976)
Queen with Tom Browne (Christmas 1977)
Roger Taylor with Richard Skinner (June 1979)
Roger Taylor with Tommy Vance (December 1980)
Roy Thomas Baker ‘The Record Producers’

CD5: Queen On Air: The Interviews: (1981-1986)

John Deacon, South American tour (March 1981)
Brian May ‘Rock On’ with John Tobler (June 1982)
Brian May ‘Saturday Live’ with Richard Skinner and Andy Foster (March 1984)
Freddie Mercury ‘Newsbeat’ (August 1984)
Brian May ‘Newsbeat’ (September 1984)
Freddie Mercury ‘Saturday Live’ (September 1984)
Freddie Mercury with Simon Bates (April 1985)
Brian May ‘The Way It Is’ with David ‘Kid’ Jensen (July 1986)

CD 6: Queen On Air: The Interviews (1986-1992)

Roger Taylor ‘My Top Ten’ with Andy Peebles (May 1986)
‘Queen For An Hour’ with Mike Read (May 1989)
Brian May ‘Freddie And Too Much Love Will Kill You’ with Simon Bates (August 1982)
Brian May ‘Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert’ with Johnnie Walker (October 1992)

Pre-orders at this location.

NYC area-based hardcore quartet Full Scale Riot has issued the details for their debut album, empower. Set for release through Eulogy Recordings this November, the album includes an all-star cast of guest musicians, with Ben Harper, Chris Rivers, members of Soulfly, Murphy's Law, and more having taken part in the recordings.

Engineered and co-produced by Eric Rachel with engineering assistance from Eric Kovortec at Trax East Recording Studio (Misfits, Turmoil, Hatebreed), empower delivers nearly a half-hour of Full Scale Riot's punk and thrash-fueled hardcore. The band, with its members carrying direct current or former ties to M.O.D., Rhythm Trip, Shat, and more, shows massive new strengths in their songwriting and delivery since the release of their Depopulation EP. Void of macho posturing and senseless violence, the band perpetuates a very even-keeled and intellectual batch of socio-politically-fueled tracks, the music wrought with angst and the lyrics focusing on a more forward-thinking society. empower was recorded on 2" tape to achieve a warmer tone and help capture the band's live energy as much as possible.

For their debut album, Full Scale Riot coalesced the energy of empower into a widespread network of fellow friends and musicians, several of which took part in the process, each adding their unique and varied styles to the album. Guest vocalists on the album include a raging intro by Jimmy Gestapo (Murphy's Law) for the track "Eighty-Two Hundred”, vocals from fledgling singer Tsarina Romanoff on the track "Hold You To The Fire”, and an explosive session by Bronx rapper Chris Rivers (son of the late great rapper Big Pun) on the track "Freedom Of Self”. Additionally, Marc Rizzo (Soulfly, Misfits) supplies a volatile guitar solo to the song "Hope”, and blues/rock/reggae/soul singer/multi-instrumentalist and activist Ben Harper provides guitars to the inspiring "Game Face”.

Eulogy Recordings will release Full Scale Riot's empower on CD and digital formats on Black Friday, November 25th. The band will self-release a vinyl version shortly afterward. The coverart, tracklisting, and more have been issued, with audio samples, videos, pre-order info, and much more to be issued in the weeks ahead.

empower tracklisting:

“Hold You To The Fire”
“All Day PMA”
“Eighty-Two Hundred Drop”
“Eighty-Two Hundred”
“Game Face”
“Hope”
“Rising Tide”
“The Day I Died”
“Freedom Of Self”

Full Scale Riot is a Northern New Jersey/New York City-area hardcore quintet with politically charged lyrics and a sound influenced by early hardcore and crossover thrash. The band was formed in 2006 by former M.O.D. guitarist Tim McMurtrie and singer BJ Allen. Although, Full Scale Riot was the creation of Allen and McMurtie, Allen did not record on the band's debut EP, Rise. In 2014, the two felt the climate was right to reform the group and stay true to their roots. Joining in the rebirth of FSR are bandmates Jeff Wood of Shat on bass, and Evan Rossiter on drums. This lineup clicked immediately and started working on their second release, Depopulation, the EP then released in early 2015. Since then the band has shared the stage with such acts as Ringworm, Michel Graves, Crown Of Thorns, Murphy's Law, Underdog, The Murder Junkies, and many others while writing the new empower LP.

Progressive metal band Oni have released a lyric video for “Barn Burner”, the lead track from their new album, Ironshore, out on Black Friday, November 25th, via Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records. Pre-orders will become available in early October. Pre-orders here.

Blacklight Media is a new label launched this past February by Chris Santos, executive chef and managing partner of the New York City restaurants Vandal, The Stanton Social and Beauty & Essex, in partnership with Metal Blade Records CEO/founder Brian Slagel. Santos states, "One of the things that I think will make Blacklight Media a label to watch for years to come is the diversity of our roster. Oni is our first crushingly heavy signing that matches their heaviness with incredible progressive precision and classically brutal breakdowns. I'm very excited to have them as part of the Blacklight Media family!"

Vocalist Jake Oni adds, "We are excited to announce our signing with Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records. It is an honor to be on the same roster as so many amazing bands. With the support of this legendary label at our side, the world is ours!"

Featuring the already-buzzing single "Eternal Recurrence", an uncompromising anthem that upon release gave metal fans an early look at Oni's undeniable technical talent, Ironshore takes listeners on an absorbing ride that provides ample opportunity for head-banging, singing along and deep introspection. Watch the official music video for the track below.

Tracklisting:

“Barn Burner”
“Eternal Recurrence”
“The Only Cure”
“The Science”
“Spawn And Feed”
“Chasing Ecstasy”
“Kanvas”
“Thrive”
“Coast To Coast”

“Barn Burner” lyric video:

“Eternal Recurrence” video:

Formed in 2014, the initial vision for Oni was, "to be the band I never got to see", explains Jake Oni. With their influences rooted in progressive metal, Oni's sound can be compared to the genre's heavy hitters - The Human Abstract, Protest The Hero and Between The Buried And Me - yet they remain truly unique. With Jake Oni handling vocal duties, Martin Andres and Brandon White on guitar, Chase Bryant on bass and Joe Greulich on drums, they are also perhaps the first metal band to feature a Xylo-synth player, in the form of Johnny D, which adds an intriguing dynamic to the nine tracks found on Ironshore.

Oni has now set their sights on conquering the music world, one show at a time. After their upcoming performance at this year's Knotfest (which will feature a special guest appearance by Lamb Of God vocalist Randy Blythe during their 11:55am-12:25pm set on the Nuclear Blast stage), the band will join up with Max & Iggor Cavalera's Return To Roots tour and perform on select dates through October 21st. Following that tour, Oni will join the I Worship Chaos Tour lineup, beginning November 23rd and featuring headliners Children of Bodom and fellow special guests Abbath and Exmortus (the latter of which they will perform five off dates with prior).

Oni tour dates can be found here. Stay tuned for much more coming from Oni in anticipation of their upcoming album release this November.

Swedish death metallers Deranged will release their new full-length album, Struck By A Murderous Siege, on October 28th via Agonia Records. A new lyric video for the album track “The Frail Illusion Of Osteology” is streaming below:

This is the band's first studio album in five years, and their ninth altogether, that was recently completed at Berno Studio (Amon Amarth, The Crown, Witchery) in their hometown Malmö. The album's cover artwork is a visiual depiction of its title, and it was created by Mike Hrubovcak (Grave, Six Feet Under, Sinister).

Despite of Deranged's roots, their sound is more associated with American death metal rather than the early 90's Swedish death metal scene they originated from, and can be described as technical and brutal death/grind with several groove influences.

Guitarist/main songwriter Thomas Ahlgren commented on the album: "The new Deranged album, titled Struck By A Murderous Siege is a blend of classical Deranged brutality with a bit of new elements that will fit perfectly both old and new Deranged fans. You can be sure about that! The album, consisting of five fast, grinding and shredding songs and three heavy mid-tempo tunes, will give the listener the most interesting and varied Deranged album so far. Prepare to hear the echoes of serial killers and brutality!"

The successor to Cut Carve Rip Serve from 2011 will feature eight new tracks with a playing time of roughly 40 minutes.

Struck By A Murderous Siege will be available in:

- Digipack CD
- Box CD (inc. Postmortem Rituals compilation album)
- Black LP
- Transparent LP (limited to 150 copies)
- White & black T-shirts
- Digital format

Tracklisting:

“The Frail Illusion Of Osteology”
“Hello From The Gutters”
“Reverent Decomposition”
“Shivers Down Your Broken Spine”
“Cold Icy Hands”
“Struck By A Murderous Siege”
“Toy Box Torture Chamber”
“Undead Instrument By Grim Ascendancy”

“The Frail Illusion Of Osteology” lyric video:

“Reverent Decomposition”:

“Hello From The Gutters” (rough mix track excerpt):

On October 28th, Deranged will also release a special compilation album, "Postmortem Rituals", that will feature a collection of rare demo tapes and 7" singles, that have never been released on CD or on any other format than the original media (or that have never been released at all). The entire compilation has been newly remastered from original DAT tapes.

Pre-orders are available at this location.

Upcoming shows:

March
30 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Silikona
31 - Salamancea, Spain - Nave Bunker

April
1 - Tondela, Portugal - Tondela Rocks II
2 - Vigo, Spain - Transylvanie Club

"How Did You Love", the new video from SHINEDOWN, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's fifth studio album, "Threat To Survival", which debuted at No. 6 on The Billboard 200 album chart, selling 65,000 copies in its first week of release.

SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith recently stated about "How Did You Love": "It's a different song for us, because it was very unique, the statement that's in the song. The song's called 'How Did You Love', but it's a song that asks the question, 'How did you live your life?' Because if you are given the gift of life, and you're born, you will pass away eventually; you know, it's going to happen. But what did you do in the meantime? In the middle of all that, what did you leave behind? What was your legacy? What kind of person were you? Did you love? Did you inspire people? Were you good to people? Were you good to yourself? I think it was more of a question of, were you able to let go of hate?"

He continued: "One of the words I use a lot is negativity, because I'm not into that word; I just think there's enough of it. And it's harder sometimes to be positive than it is to be negative. But that's really the question in that song and why it's such a very honest statement. Because if you're given the gift of life, you're gonna pass away eventually. And this isn't supposed to be depressing by any means. It's really supposed to be an eye opener of, like, 'Wow! If I wasn't living before, I'd better start living now.' And that's really what it's built around."

"Threat To Survival" was the third SHINEDOWN album to enter the chart in the Top 10, following "Amaryllis" and 2008's "The Sound Of Madness", which debuted at No. 8.

Magnus Karlsson (MAGNUS KARLSSON'S FREE FALL, PRIMAL FEAR) and Ronnie Romero (LORDS OF BLACK, RAINBOW) have joined forces in a brand new project, dubbed THE FERRYMEN.

Musically, you can expect an overdose of melodic metal melting the songwriting and epics of the great ALLEN/LANDE records with the Ronnie James Dio-esque vocal approach from Romero.

THE FERRYMEN's debut album will be released in 2017 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Originally from Chile and now settled in Madrid, Spain, Romero spoke to Metal Shock Finland about RAINBOW's three comeback shows in June. He said: "I feel like in a dream. It's hard to assimilate all that has happened in the last few weeks. Not just living this situation with Ritchie and the other bandmates in RAINBOW, [but also the chance to] meet the fans so close to the stage and backstage and all the people going to the show. And then, all these musicians that I love and that [were] at the shows and [they] talked to me and told me that I [did] a great job. But it's a dream come true."

Asked how he felt about his performances with RAINBOW, Romero said: "I feel really good with my job, because I tried to make justice, not just to the songs, but all these singers — Ronnie James Dio, Joe Lynn Turner, Graham Bonnet, Ian Gillan and David Coverdale. I just tried to sing the songs in my own way and my own style, and I think the people appreciate that. I'm not just a copy of the other singers. I prefer to sing like Ronnie Romero singing these songs of Ronnie James Dio and David Coverdale and whatever. And I think the people prefer that, and they really appreciate the situation, because I think the people don't like to see a guy or pay for a ticket to see a guy try to sing like Ronnie James Dio. It's not a good idea. So I feel really good with my job and I know the people and the fans that have sent me messages and told me that they really appreciated [how I interpreted the songs]."

In a recent interview with The Moshille Times, Magnus described his songwriting process. He said: "I start with the music…actually, sometimes I start… I am not that good at piano, but it could be a great tool for me to start on, with an instrument I am not that good at 'cause if I start with the guitar, I have all this fast stuff in my fingers and it's easy just to get stuck in this stuff I've done a lot of times, so it could be a good thing to play an instrument I'm not that, you know, used to. Because when I pick up a guitar, the fingers start to move by themselves. It depends what I do. If I write for PRIMAL FEAR, I often start with the guitar because the riffs are so important in that music and then I work a lot on the production. I really like to have a great song; it's important to me. If I have the best song in the world, but I have a crappy sound, I don't think people would like it… And then I work very fast. I do the basic ideas. I like to work… not that I am stressed or anything, but I like to have a flow and maybe do the album in one or two weeks. But then I can work for another six months to do it better. To record the basic ideas, I like to work very fast."

Escape Music will release former FIREWIND and current SPIRITUAL BEGGARS vocalist Apollo Papathanasio's new solo album, "Waterdevils", on November 18. The CD was recorded and mixed at Global Musix Studio in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Jalle Westergen.

After more than two decades of contributing with his voice and songwriting on studio albums, finally it is time for Apollo to deliver his first solo album. And it's has been a long road leading to "Waterdevils".

Apollo's career started at the age of 14 when the young Apostolos from Swedish town Borås, inspired by bands like KISS and ALICE COOPER, and he started playing with various bands, as an aspiring guitarist.

"Not many wanted to be vocalists back in those old days; everybody wanted to play the guitar, nobody wanted to sing," he explains. "So I just made the decision to become a singer."

Apollo joined his first bands BLAZON and CRAZE at the age of 17. CRAZE released a single, "Living In Sin", but the band disbanded shortly thereafter when Apollo left to do his military service in 1988. It took another eight years before Apollo recorded his first full album with the band FAITH TABOO.

"We started out as a cover band, but I didn't want to waste time just playing other people's songs, so I had everybody get involved in writing songs for our self-financed album, 'Psycopath' [released in 1996]," he says. The band continued playing local gigs, they eventually called it a day and Apollo joined the band MAJESTIC.

His singing career took off and when he sang with bands and projects in quick succession: TIME REQUIEM, MEDUZA, SANDALINAS, and EVIL MASQUERADE, to mention but a few.

TIME REQUIEM was mixing its album in Studio Fredman in Gothenburg in late 2005 when studio owner and producer Fredrik Nordström introduced Apollo to a guitarist Gus G., who was also working in his studio. "Fredrik said he wanted me to meet this Greek guy, he thought we would get along, 'cause we were both Greek," Apollo says. "It clicked right away. Gus asked me to join his band FIREWIND, but I had to turn down the offer because I was studying at the time and didn't have time for another band. He asked again about six months later, and by that time I was done with my studies so we went for it. It was magic. It felt like it was finally the real deal and we were all on the same musical level."

The years with FIREWIND definitely and finally put Apollo on the map. He recorded four albums with the band and toured with the likes of Y&T, SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST and WHITESNAKE, among others, playing big festivals such as Download, Graspop Metal Meeting, Sweden Rock Festival and more.

Apollo parted company with FIREWIND in January 2013 and decided to focus on SPIRITUAL BEGGARS (with ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott), whom he had joined in 2010. The ensuing two years were spent writing, recording and collaborating with friends from bands like KING DIAMOND, HELLOWEEN, GAMMA RAY, ARCH ENEMY, GRAND MAGUS, METALIUM, MASTERPLAN and many more.

"I originally wanted to release the material under a band name or as a project, but people kept saying it was about time that I go solo and step out as a solo artist," he explains. "So I decided to take the plunge."

"Waterdevils" is the result of Apollo's free musical spirit where he has liberated himself from all rules and just done whatever he wanted to do.

"I wanted to do this because it's fun and exciting, and also because I want to contribute to keeping classic rock alive," Apollo says.

"'Waterdevils' is a weather phenomenon. It's a small, weak whirlwind over water that's pretty rare. You never know where you'll see it or if you'll see it again. In a way it's a tribute to all of those who have contributed to this album. They showed up, unexpectedly and they might show up again, or maybe not, you just never know. Like waterdevils."

"Waterdevils" track listing:

01. Revolution For The Brave (3:52)02. Liberate Yourself (3:35)03. Buried In A Flame (3:51)04. Safe And Sound (3:48)05. Fallen Endlessly (5:30)06. Crossing The Lines (5:10)07. Power (3:10)08. Rise Up (4:41)09. I Need Rock 'N' Roll (4:27)10. Chasing Shadows (4:35)11. Through The Fire (4:31)12. Stop (5:18)

EXTREME's "Pornograffitti Live 25: Metal Meltdown" DVD will be released on October 14.

A performance clip of the song "Decadence Dance", taken from "Pornograffitti Live 25: Metal Meltdown", can be seen below.

Last year marked the 25th anniversary of EXTREME's classic multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated "Pornograffitti", the definitive album of the band's career. To mark the anniversary, "Pornograffitti Live 25: Metal Meltdown" will be released by the production company Rock Fuel Media in association with Loud & Proud Records as part of their four-part "Metal Meltdown" DVD series. The concert film captures the Boston band performing the album "Pornograffitti" in its entirety. Directed by Brian Lockwood (BON JOVI, METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE), the "Pornograffitti Live 25: Metal Meltdown" package includes a Blu-ray, DVD, and audio CD of the complete concert that was filmed on May 30, 2015 at The Joint at the world famous Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas. Mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound, it also features "Rockshow", a bonus documentary that takes fans through EXTREME's story, with exclusive interviews, '80s archive footage, and an exclusive photo gallery.

"It was a great thrill to perform 'Pornograffitti' in its entirety," says singer Gary Cherone. "Some of these songs were never played live before so we had to go back and relearn them for the tour. The album was a watershed moment in the bands career…it's when we came in to our own and it will always be special." Guitar virtuoso Nuno Bettencourt adds: "The band always prided itself on its live performance. Over the years, some of these songs have evolved where the band actually plays them better now than when we had recorded them. Hope you enjoy it." Producer Barry Summers of Rock Fuel Media commented: "It was a real privilege to produce 'Pornograffitti Live 25: Metal Meltdown' in celebration of 'Pornograffiti', to have the opportunity to work first-hand with such high-caliber musicians and audio purists. Over 25 years after this iconic album was released, we captured the band at their very best. Watching Nuno Bettencourt's off-the-charts guitar solos is simply mind-blowing, as confirmed by QUEEN's Brian May and AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler, whom we filmed paying homage to the Guitar God himself in the 'Rockshow' documentary. One of the highlights of the documentary is a moment where Gary and Nuno are sitting on the doorstep of Gary's childhood home, and they perform a spontaneous version of 'More Than Words'." "Pornograffitti Live 25: Metal Meltdown" track listing: 01. Decadence Dance02. Li'l Jack Horny 03. When I'm President 04. Get the Funk Out 05. More Than Words06. Money (In God We Trust)07. It's A Monster08. Pornograffitti09. When I First Kissed You10. Suzi (Wants Her All Day What?) 11. Flight Of The Wounded Bumble Bee 12. He-Man Woman Hater 13. Song For Love 14. Hole Hearted 15. Play With Me*16. Cupid's Dead* * Songs do not appear on the audio CD.

"Scream", a brand new song from TYKETTO, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Reach", which will be released on October 14 via Frontiers Music Srl.

After five years of relentless touring that included playing on some of the most prestigious stages on the planet, TYKETTO took their revitalized energy in to the studio in the spring of 2016. The sessions took place at the legendary Rockfield Studios (QUEEN, RUSH, OASIS) in Wales. Musically, the band is truly at the top of their game, with their muscular brand of melodic rock delivered with the finest arrangements and awesome performances.

Lead vocalist Danny Vaughn comments: "Although we only had planned on recording ten songs for 'Reach', we were so pleased with everything, we decided to keep all twelve songs on the record.

"We unanimously decided on 'Reach' as the title of the album as it defines who this band is in 2016.

"We have a new energy, some incredible new members, and a fresh outlook toward the future.

"All of us have pushed each other beyond our limits to make what we feel is a pinnacle record in our catalog."

Adds drummer and founding member Michael Clayton Arbeeny: "Many bands who have been out as long as we have feel they need to fit into a preconceived notion of what their fans expect to hear.

"Following in the footsteps of icons such as QUEEN, LED ZEPPELIN and Prince, we have decided to expand our musical boundaries and introduce our friends around the world to TYKETTO 2016.

"Rest assured that all the songs on 'Reach' still carry the trademark melodies and choruses our fans have grown to love over the decades.

"The band is feeling stronger and performing better than ever and we can’t wait to share this music with the world."

In addition to Vaughn and Arbeeny, the 2016 lineup of TYKETTO includes Chris Green (guitar and vocals), Ged Rylands (keyboards and vocals) and Chris Childs (bass).

"Reach" track listing:

01. Reach02. Big Money03. Kick Like A Mule04. Circle The Wagons05. I Need It Now06. Tearing Down The Sky07. Letting Go08. The Fastest Man Alive09. Remember My Name10. Sparks Will Fly11. Scream12. The Run13. Precious Little Gets Away (digital bonus track)

TYKETTO is:

Danny Vaughn – Lead VocalsMichael Clayton Arbeeny - Drums, Percussion, Vocals Ged Rylands - Keyboards, Vocals Chris Green - Guitar, Vocals Chris Childs - Bass, Vocals

Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON have re-teamed with producer Brendan O'Brien for the recording sessions for their new album, tentatively due in early 2017.

O'Brien, who has previously worked with AC/DC, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and PAPA ROACH, among many others, helmed MASTODON's 2009 effort, "Crack The Skye".

MASTODON's new CD is being recorded at an Atlanta-area studio. The band's co-frontman/bassist Troy Sanders told the Atlanta Business Chronicle about the follow-up to 2014's "Once More 'Round The Sun": "We've been working on it for the bulk of this year. We kind of dedicated 2016 to writing a record.

"We're going to record it in the Atlanta area, so we'll get to go home and sleep in our own beds at night.

"We're excited because we've done lots of touring over the past few years. It's that refreshing cycle of write, record, tour, tour, tour, take a break, write, record, tour, tour, tour. This is one of the many healthy transitions that we do as a band to keep our momentum going. We're excited about recording because we haven't recorded a record in over two years. Positive vibes are in the house."

MASTODON guitarist Bill Kelliher told GuitarMania about the band's upcoming album: "I've already come up with eleven songs, which is probably about an hour's worth of music — like, finished, start to end. It'll change as everybody chimes in and takes the things I wrote and maybe changes them a little bit, or we might take parts out and write a new part."

Regarding what fans can expect to hear on MASTODON's next album, Bill said: "It's a little bit of the same as the last album, but I think it goes even deeper in certain areas — a couple of more psychedelic parts, a little more technical parts. There are a couple of new places we haven't gone before. So it's just kind of a continuation of the last record to me, but even deeper."

"Once More 'Round The Sun" sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 24, 2014 via Reprise Records.

Denmark's Rising has released a new video for "Death Of A Giant, which comes off the band's third album, Oceans Into Their Graves. The video can be seen below.

Following the April release of their third album, Oceans Into Their Graves, Rising performed a string of dates in their homeland. The group's performance at Roskilde Festival, one of Europe's biggest of its kind, marked a natural peak of the band's recent ascendance from their rebirth in a new lineup to the release of the album and their return to the stage after two years of absence.

Rising now releases a brand new video for "Death Of A Giant”, one of the album's heaviest tracks and an ode to an imploding star, the video created from footage from the band's Roskilde set, captured by director Palle Demant who also directed the band's "All Dirt" video.

Rising will play a couple Danish shows later this month, and will play their first German show in over three years with a headlining slot on the North Of Mainstream Festival in Rostock, Germany this November. More festival dates are in the works, along with a full European tour in the Spring that will be announced in the months to come.

Rising has also begun writing new material and developing concepts for their next full-length album which will be recorded and released in 2017.

Rising tour dates:

October
14 - Studenterhuset - Aalborg, Denmark (with Slægt)
15 - Radar - Aarhus, Denmark (with Slægt, Bæst)

November
18 - JAZ - Rostock, Germany @ North of Mainstream Festival

Seattle space shredders Xoth will release their debut full-length album, Invasion Of The Tentacube, on November 10th. Featuring ex-members of Phalgeron, Warbringer, and Lecherous Nocturne, Xoth can be likened to a blend of Bal-Sagoth, Vektor, Absu, and Obscura.

The album’s opening track, “Tentacles Of Terror”, is streaming below.

Invasion Of The Tentacube will treat the listener to a powerful mix of brutal drumming, shredding dual guitars, slap bass, and catchy melodies, all encompassed within a dark cosmic theme. The members' musical backgrounds and personal styles of playing vary extensively, but blend into one eclectic band seamlessly. Xoth appeals not only to the aficionado of complex time signatures, key changes and melodic composition, but also to your good ol' heavy metal enthusiast; someone just looking to headbang along to some tasty licks and groovy drum and bass. Xoth is plummeting through space and into the future, ready to bring the world the Seattle Space Shred it deserves.

Tracklisting:

“Tentacles Of Terror”
“Antediluvian Annihilation”
“Terramorphosis”
“Transcending The Energy Harvest”
“Invasion Of The Tentacube”
“Digital Mausoleum”
“Ancient Sentient Ooze”
“Universal Death”
“Consciousness Void”

“Tentacles Of Terror”:

Xoath is:

Tyler Splurgis - Guitar & Lead Vocals
Woody Adler - Guitar & Vocals
Ben Bennett - Bass & Vocals
Jeremy Salvo - Drums

After four years since the release of the album Mad(e) In Italy, the death metal band No More Fear is coming out with a brand-new recording. The new album, which will be out on December 2nd, is titled Malamente, a further proof of their dedication and well defined extreme style which will celebrate a career long 20 years!

Recorded last June at the ACME Recording studio by Davide Rosati, it will be available in digital and physical CD via Memorial Records. Pre-orders available here.

About the new album the band says: “An attack to the stagecoach behind the wheel of very Italian car (Alfetta). The tarantella continues… MALAMENTE (Badly)!”

Tracklisting:

“Morte e Orazione”
“Mare Mortum”
“The Boss Letter”
“A Sinister Murder Case”
“Lady 'ndrangheta”
“Tre Cavalieri”
“Conferimento della Santa”

On October 7th, No More Fear will release 1996-2004 First Recordings And Rarities, an album collection that contains 18 songs that covers their 20 years of career, which will be given for free in digital download to those who a pre-order the new album Malamente.

Former Genesis guitarist and prog legend Steve Hackett is returning with an exciting new show for a 15-date UK tour next spring after his outstanding performance at this year’s inaugural Stone Free Festival.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the classic Genesis album Wind And Wuthering, Steve and his band will be performing several tracks from the album as well as fan favourites such as “The Musical Box” and other Genesis numbers never performed before by Steve's band such as “Inside & Out” and “Anyway”.

"I'm excited to bring my latest show involving a new set of Genesis and Hackett numbers to the UK in 2017!" - Steve Hackett

With an established solo career spanning over 40 years, Steve will also be performing some of his popular hits such as “The Steppes”, “Serpentine”, “Every Day” and the first ever live performance of “Rise Again” from his 1999 album Darktown. Steve will also be introducing fans to new music from his forthcoming album, which is due out early spring 2017.

Joining Steve on the tour are musicians Roger King (keyboards), Gary O’Toole (drums/percussion), Rob Townsend (saxes/flutes), Nick Beggs (bass, stick & twelve string) and Nad Sylvan on vocals.

Since the 1970’s Steve has had a remarkable musical career, releasing more than 30 solo albums, seven Genesis albums and working alongside Steve Howe of YES with supergroup GTR. Renowned for being one of the most innovative rock musicians of our time, in 2010 he was inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame.

Continuing to impress with his outstanding live shows Genesis Revisited With Classic Hackett is a tour not to missed in 2017. Tickets for UK shows go on sale on Friday, October 7th at 10 AM from myticket.co.uk and venue box offices. Dublin tickets go on sale on the same day at 9 AM.

Tour dates:

April
26 - Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street
28 - Cardiff, Wales - St. David’s Hall
30 - Reading, England - Hexagon

May
1 - Birmingham, England - Symphony Hall
3 - Sheffield, England - City Hall
4 - Bristol, England - Colston Hall
5 - Manchester, England - Bridgewater Hall
7 - Liverpool, England - Philharmonic
8 - Portsmouth, England - Guildhall
10 - Southend, England - Cliffs Pavilion
11 - Nottingham, England - Royal Concert Hall
13 - Oxford, England - New Theatre
14 - Cambridge, England - Corn Exchange
16 - Glasgow, Scotland - Royal Concert Hall
17 - Sage, England - Gateshead
19 - London, England - Palladium

Now based in New York, Swedish technical death metal band Armageddon are re-releasing their classic album, Crossing The Rubicon, on October 14th. The track “Astral Adventure” is streaming below.

Produced by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Göteborg, Sweden, Armageddon’s debut album was originally released in May 1997. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Crossing The Rubicon really generated waves when it came out, probably one of the most accomplished Swedish metal debut albums ever released.

Christopher Amott remembers: “The creation of the whole project was a collaboration between me and Michael (Christopher’ brother now playing in Arch Enemy). We are both sci-fi fans. The album is a concept album about the destruction of the planet, and the escape and subsequent adventures of the earth’s survivors. Apart from the obvious metal influences, we were also looking towards bands like YES and Rush for the conceptual progressive rock feel of the 70s - hence our decision to give each member a solo track. Michael and I were less than thrilled when the movie Armageddon came out a year after Armageddon’s debut. It was also a crap movie."

Tracklisting:

“2022” (Intro)
“Godforsaken”
“The Juggernaut Divine”
“Astral Adventure”
“Funeral In Space”
“Asteroid Dominion”
“Galaxies Away”
“Faithless”
“Children Of The New Sun”
“Into The Sun”
“Nothing Is Nothing”

“Astral Adventure”:

After the release of their latest album, Captivity And Devourment, released in 2015, Armageddon played their first show outside the US at the prestigious Loudpark festival in Tokyo last year: “Having played the Loud Park Festival numerous times with Arch Enemy, it was great to be on stage with Armageddon and to present my new band to the Japanese audience. It was a magical moment for all of us - we’d worked hard, with the Captivity And Devourment album, to come to this point. Playing in Japan is always a great experience. The stage crew is always of the highest quality, and everything is well organized. The fans are very kind and receptive to the music. They’re genuine music fans, as I’m sure you’ve heard. This case was no exception. It was amazing to hear the melodies that I wrote in my bedroom being chanted by thousands of people.”

Christopher adds he was very thrilled to play Japan with his buddies in Arch Enemy’s Black Earth album era with the Black Earth project earlier this year as well: “I hadn’t played with Johan (J. Liiva first Arch Enemy vocalist) since 1999, so that was great - to be back on stage with him. His voice sounded better than ever. It was special to bring back the old sound of Arch Enemy once again. I love the old Arch Enemy style, with its 70s rock influence and rawer, old-school death metal touch. The three first albums with Arch Enemy were extremely successful in Japan, and we were expecting an older audience. But the crowd was very mixed, with a lot of younger Arch Enemy fans. It was definitely a unique experience: different from what Arch Enemy evolved into, and different from Armageddon. Also, it’s been a long, long time since I’ve been in a band where everyone speaks Swedish, so it was a pretty hilarious atmosphere. Between the shared language and the 20-plus years of common references, we were joking around 90% of the time, and nobody else could understand us.”

Armageddon lineup 2016:

Antony Hämäläinen - Lead vocals
Christopher Amott - Guitars and clean vocals
Joey Concepcion - Guitars
Andrew Pevny - Bass
Márton Veress - Drums

Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K Downing makes an appearance in the video for the song "Freedom Act" from the young British heavy metal act HOSTILE.

Downing produced both of HOSTILE's albums so far, 2013's "Eve Of Destruction" and 2016's "New World Disorder", and also co-wrote the song "Addiction" with the band, marking the first time K.K. had ever released anything outside of JUDAS PRIEST.

"New World Disorder" includes HOSTILE's cover version of the PRIEST song "Blood Stained", which originally appeared on the heavy metal legends' 1997 album "Jugulator".

Asked how HOSTILE ended up working with Downing, guitarist A.J. Mills told the Steel Mill web site: "Well, K.K. actually went to school with my uncle Steve, believe it or not. We are all from the same hood, the Black Country, where, as you well know, is the birthplace of heavy metal. So, anyway, Steve convinced K.K. to step out of his metal fortress in Shropshire to come and check out HOSTILE play live at a place called JB's in Dudley. Now the really cool thing about this is that JUDAS PRIEST actually used to play at this venue, when they were just starting out and up and coming. After the show, K.K. told us that he would like to produce our album, so we played it cool whilst he was still there, and after he left to go back home, we all went crazy! Being massive JUDAS PRIEST fans, it was a dream come true!"

Regarding HOSTILE's decision to cover "Blood Stained", Mills said: "Well, when we were all growing up and swapping tapes at school, Ripper Owens was the current singer in JUDAS PRIEST, and 'Jugulator' as well as ''98 Live Meltdown' were the tapes that were doing the rounds in school. Of course, we were well aware of what came before those PRIEST records, as we grew up listening to the likes of 'Painkiller' and 'Stained Class' and all those other great records that came before, but the Ripper era was the era that made us, and most definitely me in particular, want to pick up an instrument and play in a band. I even have a 'Jugulator' tattoo on my arm! Just in case I ever forget why I do what I do! So it only seemed right when we decided to do a PRIEST cover to do one from this era."

HOSTILE's European tour, dubbed "The European Disorder Tour 2016", will kick off on October 6 in Naples, Italy.

Epica played their own Epic Metal Fest at the 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands on Saturday, October 1st to coincide with the release of their new album, The Holographic Principle. Fan-filmed video of the band performing songs from the record live are available below

On Saturday, October 15th the Brazilian edition of Epic Metal Fest will take place in Sao Paulo. Paradise Lost, Finntroll, Xandria and The Ocean will join Epica for this first edition. More info and tickets at this location.

Epica will return this fall for the North American Principle Tour in support of The Holographic Principle. Epica will be joined on this trek by Italian symphonic death metal kings Fleshgod Apocalypse, Russian Pagan warriors Arkona, and their good friends in The Agonist.

The first three dates will see Germany’s Xandria as a replacement for Arkona. Tour kick off will be on November 4th in Quebec City and will conclude December 3rd in Worcester, MA.

Epica’s front woman Simone Simons commented on the tour: “The time has finally come to visit North America again. We are super excited to show you guys our kick-ass new material of which we are extremely proud! We hope to welcome you all to experience The Holographic Principle extravaganza!”

Tour dates:

November (with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Xandria, The Agonist)
4 - Imperial Theater - Quebec City, QC
5 - Corona - Montreal, QC
6 - Phoenix Concert Hall - Toronto, ON

November (with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Arkona, The Agonist)
8 - Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL
9 - Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
11 - Saskatoon Event Center - Saskatoon, SK
12 - Marquee - Calgary, AB
13 - The Ranch - Edmonton, AB
15 - Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC
16 - Studio 7 - Seattle, WA
18 - Social Hall - San Francisco, CA
19 - The Regent - Los Angeles, CA
20 - Vinyl at Hard Rock Hotel - Las Vegas, NV
22 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
23 - Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
25 - Gas Monkey Live - Dallas, TX
26 - Empire Control Room - Austin, TX
28 - State Theater - St Petersburg, FL
29 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

December (with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Arkona, The Agonist)
1 - Soundstage Baltimore, MD
2 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
3 - Palladium - Worcester, MA

(Photo - Epica Facebook)

Hard rockers Darkh, from The Czech Republic, have released the official music video for their track "My Curse", the second single off of their debut album A Story Yet Untold, which was released in September.

"The story of the song is about that special someone in our lives," says Darkh. "And when we filmed the music video we didn't just want to capture a cliche boy and girl thing, we wanted something obscure and unique. And who doesn't love a bit of Grindhouse vibe."

Darkh has upcoming shows in Czech Republic, Germany, and Finland; their complete tour schedule can be found here.

The video for "Bury Our Bones", the first single from A Story Yet Untold, can be seen below.

"It was pretty obvious before 'Bury Our Bones' was even finished that it would be the first single off the album. Individuals whose interests and lifestyles are different from the vast majority will understand, because B.O.B. underlines how powerful and encouraging it is to be among people who get it," says Darkh.

Rome – a town full of history and also the birthplace of melodic death metal act Black Therapy.

Besides their self-released EP Through This Path, their debut album Symptoms Of A Common Sickness, and numerous live shows (alongside Nile, Ex-Deo, Dark Lunacy, Arch Enemy, and Novembre), Black Therapy's 2014 EP The Final Outcome attracted a lot of attention outside of Italy.

Their new album In The Embrace Of Sorrow, I Smile was once again recorded in 16th Cellar Studios (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance, Hideous Divinity) and brings the band’s vision to the next level. Apostasy Records will be releasing the final result in December 2016. "There’s no better way to close a year," says the label.

For further details, visit Black Therapy on Facebook.

Multi-camera video footage of OPETH's October 1 performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City can be seen below.

Regarding how OPETH ended up playing a venue like the Radio City Music Hall, the band's frontman, Mikael Åkerfeldt, told Fuse: "We're doing some of those prestigious places, and we've done some in the past, too. I think it's cool. That's actually a decision from the management — they want to book us into these venues as a promotional tool to a certain extent, but also what happened as we played Royal Albert Hall and stuff like that, it kind of opens the gate for bands like us, if you know what I mean. We have, if I may say so myself, pioneered some of these venues when it comes to more heavy music, and after us there's a shitload of bands coming in. I'm pretty sure we're gonna see that more and more. Not just Radio City Music Hall, but especially Sydney Opera House, which was difficult for us to get. We asked them before and they said no, like, 'Bands of your kind don't play the Opera House.' But now they've somehow said yes."

OPETH's twelfth album, "Sorceress", was released on September 30. For the band's first effort for Nuclear Blast via OPETH's imprint label Moderbolaget Records, the group returned to Rockfield Studios in Wales, also home to pivotal releases from QUEEN, RUSH and JUDAS PRIEST, where the Swedes had tracked "Pale Communion" in 2014 with Tom Dalgety. The band spent twelve days recording at the countryside venue among its serene and inspiring surroundings.

About the new album title, Mikael said: "In the U.S., touring back in the day, I used to pick up '60s [and] '70s horror films from Amoeba Records, especially, in L.A., pick these DVDs up for fairly cheap. So I used to watch those, but it was the whole imagery of that, and that word resonated with me for some reason once I wrote it in a lyric. I figured that's a good title, actually. But I wouldn't say I have a particular sorceress in mind, it's more of a collective word for...I don't want to say evil women, but I'll say evil women anyway."

Fan-filmed video footage of TWISTED SISTER's October 1 performance at the Rock Carnival festival at Lakewood, New Jersey's FirstEnergy Park can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)02. The Kids Are Back03. Burn In Hell04. Destroyer05. I Believe In Rock 'N' Roll06. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll07. The Fire Still Burns08. Under The Blade09. I Am (I'm Me)10. I Wanna Rock11. Come Back12. Shoot 'Em Down13. We're Not Gonna Take It14. The Price15. Tear It Loose16. S.M.F.

Most of TWISTED SISTER shows in 2016 are featuring the core lineup of Dee Snider (vocals), Jay Jay French (guitar), Mark Mendoza (bass) and Eddie Ojeda (guitar), along with drummer Mike Portnoy (THE WINERY DOGS, ex-DREAM THEATER).

TWISTED SISTER's movie, "We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!", was released on February 23 on DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, and digital formats, with an included two hours of bonus material and director commentary.

During a recent interview with Goldmine magazine, Jay Jay French talked about TWISTED SISTER's decision to call it quits after a final round of dates, dubbed "Forty And Fuck It - The Final Tour". He said: "Whether you like it or not, once you reach a status of 'classic,' you really start to understand people — if you really truly want to understand why people like you. You can make new product, it's all well and good, but when someone spends 200-300 bucks for a ticket, they expect certain songs, they expect the songs played correctly, they expect you to be proficient, on time and professional — that's what an entertainer is. And I will tell you that the club scene taught us an enormous amount of discipline."

He continued: "You know, I can't emphasize it enough. Dee [Snider, TWISTED SISTER singer] became one of the greatest frontmen in the world because he learned how to do it on the club scene. We learned how to be great entertainers in the bars and we followed through. And I think the band just wants to say that we reached a point where we can't do it anymore in the manner that we feel we need to do it and we should probably be respected for that. Because I don't want to takes someone's money that I don't earn. And it's hard for some people to understand that. They want to keep you hermetically sealed in a jar with their memories forever. Which I get. I do get it. But I think at some point this year will be our last show, and I'll turn around to the other guys in the band and that'll be it."

New York City’s Tower recently inked a deal with The End Records. The label will release the band’s self-title album on October 28th. The album track “Elegy” is streaming below.

Featuring members Sarabeth Linden (lead vocals), James Danzo (guitar), Zak Penley (guitar), and Philippe Arman (bass, backup vocals), the band delivers riffs like a newly discovered bolt of old cloth hidden away since the days of Scorpions and Priest, topped with Linden’s vocals which soar through the realm of banshees and angels.

Tracklisting:

“Tower”
“I've Never Been More Alive”
“Raceway Rock”
“Party (Ready To Roll)”
“Flames”
“Mountains”
“Hold On To Me”
“Elegy”

“Elegy”:

 

(Photo - Eddie Malluk)