These days Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water” is such a ubiquitous rock anthem that it almost seems as if it has been out there forever. Yet the story of how this most famous of metal tracks came into being is shot-through with chance incidents, any one of which could have seen the recording stifled at birth, leaving music writers to scrabble about for another “best riff of all time” contender (and five hard-working musicians considerably less well-off.)

Incredibly, although the backing to “Smoke On The Water” was the first track laid down for the Machine Head album (while the Swiss Police hammered at the door at 2.00 AM to try and get the noise stopped), in the ensuing chaos of being evicted from their temporary studio and washing up in the corridors of the Grand Hotel (where they built a studio in the corridors using old mattresses and egg cartons for sound-proofing!), the tape was almost forgotten – until an engineer pointed out that they were one track short of an album. The band only roughed it out as something to play to their Montreux host and hero of the fire, Claude Nobs, who told them it was far too good to leave in the can…

Fire In The Sky is a new book which looks in detail at this important period in Deep Purple’s history and the making of their break-through album Machine Head.
While the fact that a fire destroyed their original recording venue is well known to most music fans, the book detours to look at the cause of the blaze, talking to people who were at the show, and gets to the bottom of just what were Frank Zappa’s last words when he dashed off the Casino stage as the roof burst into flames? And in these times of economic hardship, isn’t it inspiring to know that punitive tax rates back home were responsible for Deep Purple being in Montreux in the first place?

This book looks back at the events which led to Deep Purple’s bizarre and Heath Robinson-esque Machine Head hotel recording sessions in the winter of 1971. And as for that “hit to be”, Smoke On The Water was not even tried out on stage, and might never have been played live at all were it not for a request from the BBC for a radio session. It went on to sell 12 million copies and is probably the only gold disc ever made to actually be presented to a city. And yes, there really is a music shop in London which threatens to fine budding guitarists should they dare to try out the riff in-store.

The story takes in the subsequent debilitating American tours where Machine Head quickly became a massive selling album, even as the relentless gigging pulled the band apart. Memorabilia and many rare and unseen photographs illustrate the story, including remarkable images of the Casino fire and aftermath and Ian Gillan with his notepad writing the lyrics in the studio. The music, gigs and lyrics are covered while appendices include tour dates and a discography, as well as a map showing the important sites for any future visitors.
Several myths are also laid to rest, many fans trekking to Montreux visit the wrong Grand Hotel altogether, while down the road the wealthy owners of luxury apartments sit blithely unaware of the music history made in their living rooms.

This book follows Easy On The Eye’s previous Deep Purple book Wait For The Ricochet, which told the story of the band’s formation (and sold out the first print run in weeks). As before it is written in a way which will appeal both to the casual rock reader as well as the more informed fan.

Fire In The Sky - The Story Of The Making Of Deep Purple’s Classic Album Machine Head And The Worldwide Rock Anthem Smoke On The Water is due out next spring via Easy On The Eye Books.

Red Tide Rising have released a new lyric video for the track "The Sound of Voices Screaming", taken from their Voices EP. Produced by Drowning Pool drummer Mike Luce, Voices was released in May 2016 via Vanity Music Group. 

Regarding the track, guitarist, Andrew Whiteman says, "The 'Sound of Voices Screaming' is about making yourself known and showing the world who you are. It's a call to arms to stand up together for each other. It's definitely a highlight in the set for me."

The band spent the month of August on the road in the United States and Canada with Sevendust and Crobot. They are making plans to head back into the studio in early 2017 with the intention of recording a new full length album set to be released in summer.

For information and updates on Red Tide Rising go to this location.

Vocalist Biff Byford of British heavy metal legends SAXON spoke to EonMusic about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's follow-up to 2015's "Battering Ram" album. He said: "Yeah, we got about nine drum tracks laid down. We're running two studios at the same time, so we're writing in one, and recording in the other, and we're tripping backwards and forwards when we're working. We've got a lot of ideas already; me and Nibbs [Carter, bassist] have got shitloads, and we’re just working through ideas with the band, really."

Asked how long they will spend in the studio working on the new SAXON album, Biff said: "We'll be in until the end of this week, and then we're off to Sweden to a festival. Then we come back in about a week before the tour, and we spend a week recording, and then we go straight on tour on the 28th October. So yeah, we'll have a three-week break in the middle, but I'll probably be writing lyrics and doing melodies then. I usually do that on my own."

SAXON's new album will include a song called "They Played Rock And Roll", dedicated to MOTÖRHEAD.

"Yeah, that's on its way," Biff said. "I've finished the lyrics for that, and it will make the album. It's about the eighties, really. It's about the 'Bomber' tour, and 'Ace Of Spades'. That's when we first met them; on the 'Bomber' tour, we supported them, so it's about that, and the album 'No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith', and the subsequent '80s scene."

"Battering Ram" was released last October in North America via UDR Music. The album featured Byford alongside Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt on guitar, Nibbs Carter on bass and Nigel Glockler on drums.

In a brand new interview with Metroactive, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine spoke about the band's former drummer Nick Menza, who passed away unexpectedly in May at the age of 51.

"I know he's in a better place now, so I'm happy for him," Mustaine said. "He had a super successful career, he's got a beautiful child that he left behind, and his legacy speaks for itself. There's not a lot of guys that make that kind of statement in heavy metal."

Mustaine was also full of praise for MEGADETH's latest additions, Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA, and former SOILWORK drummer Dirk Verbeuren.

"Kiko definitely did give us a blood transfusion of sorts," Mustaine said,. "And it's really fun for us to go out and get these new guys out there and let people see what they're all about.

"Dirk is remarkable," he added. "The first time I played with him, I said, 'I love this guy. He's like Nick Menza and Gar Samuelson rolled into one.'"

Menza played with MEGADETH during what many associate as the band's "classic" era. In recent years, he joined progressive rock/fusion group OHM:, which also features ex-MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland.

MEGADETH's tour with AMON AMARTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, METAL CHURCH and BUTCHER BABIES kicked off on September 20 in Casper, Wyoming, with dates booked through October 15 in Camden, New Jersey.

MEGADETH is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Dystopia", which came out in January.

Faroe Islands natives TÝR have reportedly had several shows on their 17-date November European tour supporting the Norwegian metal band SIRENIA canceled over lead singer Heri Joensen's participation in the Faroese practice of whaling.

The owners of the Hamburg, Germany club Logo issued the following statement about their cancelation: "It came to our attention only after the official confirmation of the show that the head of the band plays an active part in Grindwaljad [whale hunting] in the Faroe Islands, a practice that we abhor deeply. Such people will naturally not play on our stage."

At least five of TÝR's concerts in Germany appear to be in jeopardy, including those at Logo in Hamburg, Postbahnhof in Berlin, Alte Zucherfabrik in Rostock, Café Central in Weinheim and Essigfabrik in Cologne, as well as the show at Gebr de Nobel in Leiden, Netherlands.

The controversy began this summer, when Joensen posted a photo on Facebook of him helping in the slaughter of long-finned pilot whale in the Faroe Islands. It was accompanied by the caption "Real men kill their own meat, like this long-finned pilot whale," although Joensen later amended the post to explain that the comment "was a bad and poorly phrased joke."

Joensen has been vocal about the reasons why he and other Faroese practice whaling and has appealed to his fans to reach out to the venues on the tour to reinstate the concerts or to put his band back on the bill.

In a recent guest post for The Spectator, Joensen wrote in part: "I live in the Faroe Islands, where whaling has been part of our way of life for centuries. Last month, I was working on a long-finned pilot whale the day after it had been killed. Since more than four-fifths of the world's population eats meat, I thought it would be fine to share such a picture — it's no secret, surely, how meat is produced? But uproar followed. A campaign was launched to cancel my band's gigs and stop venues booking us.

"We seldom see pictures from inside slaughterhouses. As a result, people have strange ideas about meat — they seem to believe that animals are willingly and painlessly slaughtered behind closed doors. Ethically, I don't see the difference between slaughtering wild whales and farmed cows. All animals suffer: if you can slaughter cows for meat, why not slaughter wildlife?

"Whaling is illegal in the European Union, but the Faroe Islands are not (mercifully) in the EU. The Faroese whale hunt is non-commercial and organized at a community level. Nobody goes out searching for whales, but when a pod of them comes close to land, a hunt — or grindadráp — can be undertaken. It depends on how far away the whales are, if the ocean currents are favorable, and whether we are running low on whale meat.

"In the Faroes, it is not uncommon to kill your own dinner — be it sheep, fish, bird or hare. I have slaughtered many more sheep than I have cut up whales and no one seems to care. I find that strange. Why the double standards? Because whales are endangered? The ones we eat aren't. There are an estimated 780,000 long-finned pilot whales in the Atlantic. In the Faroe Islands, we kill about 800 a year on average — or 0.1 per cent of the population. An annual harvest of 2 per cent is considered sustainable: compare that with the billions of animals bred for slaughter.

"The campaigners who want to cancel our concerts on account of these pictures are of the same mindset as flat-earthers or the conspiracy theorists who argue that the vapor trails left by jet engines are full of mind-controlling chemicals. An outfit called the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has led the charge against Faroese whalers. I've written a song about it all, called 'Rainbow Warrior'.

"I have never actually killed a whale myself, and probably never will. But I take part in the grindadráp for the food — that's the Faroese way and has been for generations.

"The idea that whaling is somehow immoral, in a way that killing cattle in abattoirs is not, does not bear scrutiny. As I sing in 'Rainbow Warrior': 'Our ways, unchanged for centuries, do dismay concrete hearts.' And, for that matter, irrational minds."

On October 14th, Texas metallers Seeker will release their new album, Loss, in conjunction with their upcoming tour, starting October 15th. The gritty new video for the album track “Void” can be found below.

“Everything about this video is exactly the vision we had for it,” admits front-man/guitarist Bryce Lucien. “”Void” is our favorite song from the album and this is definitely the most excited that we've ever been about one of our music videos. Filming was really intense, and we got to try a lot of things and take a lot of chances that we think made this into something very special."

 Loss was recorded by Zach Ohren, known for his work with Chelsea Grin and Fallujah, and the artwork comes in the form of a hand drawn, custom piece by Farron Loathing (Nails, Huntress).

Lucien continues, “We've spent nearly three years working on this album and can't wait for everyone to hear it. Expect the darkest, fastest, and most chaotic music that we've ever written.”

Loss tracklisting:

“Without”     
“Throat”     
“Void”     
“Rot”     
“Swallowed”     
“Welcome Death”     
“Empty Vessel”     
“Submit”     
“Self Harm”     
“Loss”

“Void” video:

Loss pre-order packages are available now at VictoryMerch.com and include an instant download of the first single "Rot”. The track is also available now at Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon Music and everywhere digital music is available.

Tour dates:

October
15 - Ringgold, GA - Cloud Springs Deli
16 - Columbus, GA - The Estate
18 - Jacksonville, FL - Nighthawks
19 - Biloxi, MS - Zeppelins Pizzeria
20 - Houston, TX - BFE Rock Club
21 - Dallas, TX - Reno’s Chop Shop (So What?! Music Festival)
22 - Austin, TX - Empire Control Room (Texas Revolution Festival)

November
5 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Loading Dock
6 - Denver, CO - City Hall
7 - Wichita, KS - Rock Island Live
8 - Minneapolis, MN - The Cabooze
9 - La Crosse, WI - The Warehouse
10 - Cudahy, WI - The Metal Grill
11 - Crest Hill, IL - Bada Brew
12 - Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theater
13 - Lakewood, OH - The Foundry

Prosthetic Records will be releasing legendary progressive metallers Watchtower's recent digital-only tracks on LP and CD. The four tracks will be combined with one brand new song, creating the Concepts Of Math: Book One EP, and will be released on limited edition vinyl and digipack CD on October 7th. A portion of the new track, "Mathematica Calculis”, can be found below.

Comments vocalist Alan Tecchio: "I am so stoked to be a part of this legendary jazz-metal-prog group once again! Right now we are close to finishing the tracking for the additional 10 minute song that we are adding to the other four tunes. This will complete the EP that Prosthetic plans to release later this year. I can tell you that the new song is especially super cool and has that classic Watchtower sound. I think the fans, both new and old, will have a deep appreciation for what is going to be available from us later this year."

Guitarist Ron Jarzombek further remarked on the partnership: "I'm psyched to be on the same label as my old friend Marty Friedman! Prosthetic has also been home to great bands like Gojira, Animals As Leaders, All That Remains, as well as my fellow Texans, Scale the Summit. It's nice to know we are in good company on this label. The music we'll release later this year picks up right where we left off with Control And Resistance."

Watchtower was formed in 1982 in Austin, TX and has been hailed as the first jazz inspired progressive metal band. They have released two full length albums to date: Energetic Disassembly"in 1985 and 1989’s Control And Resistance, which is often hailed as the benchmark for progressive metal and has influenced a countless number of heavy, technical bands.

Over the years the group has gone through line-up changes, break-ups and hiatuses, though the individual members have always kept themselves in the public eye. Jarzombek, through his Spastic Ink and Blotted Science projects, has established himself as one of the most respected guitar players in the scene. Tecchio has fronted Hades and Non Fiction, and sang for Seven Witches throughout the years. His vocal range and style is unrivalled. Drummer Rick Colaluca has been name checked consistently by the likes of Gene Hoglan and Mike Portnoy, among many other drummers. Bass player Doug Keyser has an impressive list of bands who’ve asked him to audition for them (Metallica, being one) while still being cited as a major influence from a younger generation of 4-string players.

Concepts Of Math: Book One features 2010’s digital single, "The Size Of Matter", along with three additional tracks the band surprised fans by releasing across digital platforms late last year. An epic new track, "Mathematica Calculis", rounds out the EP.

Tracklisting:

“M-Theory Overture”
“Arguments Against Design”
“Technology Inaction”
“The Size Of Matter”
“Mathematica Calculis”

"Mathematica Calculis" teaser:

Trailer:

Two years after their last opus, Chaos.Ice.Fire, the mythical Polish horde Arkona return with an brand new offering entitled Lunaris. This grandiose and emphatic sixth full length album, in a 23-year career, is probably the most fully realized expression of their singular vision.

The sepulchral artwork was crafted by renowned Artist Qras from MentalPorn Design Agency (Behemoth, Incantation).

Lunaris tracklisting:

“Droga do ocalenia”
“Ziemia”
“Śmierć i odrodzenie”
“Nie dla mnie litość”
“Lśnienie”
“Lunaris”

Recorded at No Solace Studio with M. (MGŁA), Lunaris will be available on November 4th on CD, LP and Digital via Debemur Morti Productions.

South Wales, UK death metal outfit, Venom Prison, have released a video for the track “Devoid”, featured on their upcoming debut full-length album, Animus, due for release in stores and online on October 14th via Prosthetic Records. The clip can be seen below.

Recorded by Tom Dring at Vagrant Recordings (Dragged Into Sunlight, Electric Wizard), Animus is 10 tracks of aural assaulting brutality. Venom Prison tackle subjects such as social Darwinism, misogyny, rape culture and the rejection of God and religion. As seen below, the artwork for Animus was created by German based legendary artist, Eliran Kantor (Testament, Sigh) who worked closely with Larissa to capture some of the themes of the album.

Vocalist Larissa Stupar elaborates: “The album's lyrics capture and portray various forms of fighting an oppressive force. One of them struck Eliran's eye as the most livid out of them all. In Perpetrator Emasculation a rapist is being force-fed his own genitalia. It's not a secret that death metal art and lyrical content often involve violence against women and we liked the idea of turning the tables. That lyrical segment depicts the title and theme of the record very well and the visual execution makes your flesh crawl with vengeance."

Tracklisting:

“Syllogism”
“Abysmal Agony”
“Celestial Patricide”
“Desecration of Human Privilege”
“Corrode The Black Sun”
“Immanetize Eschaton”
“The Exquisite Taste of Selfishness”
“Devoid”
“Perpetrator Emasculation”
“Womb Forced Animus”

“Devoid” video:

“Celestial Patricide” video:

“Abysmal Agony”:

Trailer:

After winning five top awards on the film festival circuit and receiving a theatrical release in New York City and Los Angeles, "My Way" now comes to DVD and VOD on November 4.

Meet Rebekah Starr, a small-town girl stuck in a mid-western corporate life. Yearning to break free, she ditches her briefcase for a Les Paul guitar and hits the highway. Destination? Los Angeles' famed rock 'n' roll Sunset Strip.

Although Rebekah's marriage is failing, this is not some alternate fantasy life she's escaping to — it's her burning passion for music that can no longer be suppressed. On her journey, she serendipitously meets and befriends rock legends Steven Adler (GUNS N' ROSES) and Rikki Rockett (POISON).

A witness to the power of passion and aspiration, "My Way" chronicles the hugely entertaining path one woman takes to pursue her seemingly impossible dream.

The DVD can be ordered now on Amazon.

Bonus features:

* Exclusive interview with Rikki Rockett (POISON)* Exclusive interview with Steven Adler (GUNS N' ROSES)* Exclusive interview with Chip Z'Nuff (ENUFF Z'NUFF)* Music video - THE REBEKAH STARR BAND's "Irrational Boy" featuring Ron Jeremy* Music video - THE REBEKAH STARR BAND's "My Way"* Theatrical Trailer* Optional subtitles in Spanish and Italian

For more information, visit www.mywaythemovie.com.

BROTHER FIRETRIBE — the melodic rock maestros from Finland featuring NIGHTWISH guitarist Emppu Vuorinen — have released their new single, "Taste Of A Champion", via Spinefarm Records; this is the first new music unveiled by the five-piece since their 2014 album, "Diamond In The Firepit". The BROTHER FIRETRIBE catalog is completed by the "Breakout" album (2006), the "Heart Full Of Fire" album (2008, now gold in Finland) and the "Live At Apollo" DVD (2010). Listen to "Taste Of A Champion" using the SoundCloud widget below.

Produced by the band themselves with mixing handled by Mikko Karmila (who has previously worked with both NIGHTWISH and CHILDREN OF BODOM), "Taste Of A Champion" sees the musicians delivering an epic slice of hook-laden rock glory — an exciting first taste (and view — a video is currently being worked on) of the next/fourth studio album, title to be confirmed, set for release on Spinefarm in March 2017. Says singer Pekka Ansio Heino: "We're absolutely thrilled about what's on the horizon for the band. We're so confident about this new album that we're already calling 2017 'The Year Of The Tribe'! 'Taste Of A Champion' kicks things off, and it says a lot about the direction of the new record. We can't wait to finish it and let the magic start to happen!"

Athens, Georgia-based melodic metal band Theocracy will release their new album, Ghost Ship, on October 28th in Europe and North America through Ulterium Records. Ghost Ship will be available on CD, 2LP and digital. The 2LP edition is strictly limited to 1,001 copies worldwide. 750 copies comes with black vinyl discs and 251 copies comes with white vinyl discs. A lyric video for the album track “Wishing Well” can be found below.

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

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

Ghost Ship tracklisting:

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

“Wishing Well” lyric video:

Album teaser:

Theocracy will return to Europe in November for the Ghost Ship European Tour with special guests Within Silence. Tour dates are listed below:

November
4 - Hall of Fame - Wetzikon, Switzerland
5 - Kreatief - Neckarsulm, Germany
6 - Exit-US - Prague, Czech Republic
8 - Collosseum - Kosice, Slovakia
10 - Melodka - Brno, Czech Republic
11 - DGH Niederaula - Niederjossa/Hessen, Germany
12 - Brainstorm Festival - Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Dutch symphonic metal band Epica is set to unleash their new record, The Holographic Principle, this Friday (September 30th). Check out this unboxing video for the yearbook edition of the new album:

Fans that pre-order The Holographic Principle now on iTunes will receive instant downloads of three brand new songs: "A Phantasmic Parade", "Universal Death Squad" and "Edge Of The Blade". Go to this location to pre-order.

The Holographic Principle was produced with Joost van der Broek at Sandlane Recording Facilities. Mixing was handled by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Destruction). The cover artwork for the new album was created by Stefan Heilemann.

Tracklisting:

“Eidola”
“Edge Of The Blade”
“A Phantasmic Parade”
“Universal Death Squad”
“Divide And Conquer”
“Beyond The Matrix”
“Once Upon A Nightmare”
“The Cosmic Algorithm”
“Ascension - Dream State Armageddon”
“Dancing In A Hurricane”
“Tear Down Your Walls”
“The Holographic Principle - A Profound Understanding Of Reality”

“Edge Of The Blade” video ;

“Universal Death Squad” lyric video:

To celebrate the new album’s release, Epica will be available to answer the fans' questions via Facebook Live.

Schedule as follows:

Coen: 2:30 - 3:30 PM, EST
Simone: 3:30 - 4:30 PM, EST
Mark: 4:30 - 5:30 PM, EST

Epica will be playing on their own Epic Metal Fest at the 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands on Saturday, October 1st. They invited Katatonia, their label mates Fleshgod Apocalypse and (also landsmen) Textures to take part in this special event.

Additionally, Stream Of Passion, The Agonist, Mayan, Myrath, Evil Invaders and last but not least Off The Cross will be attending Epica’s release show. 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)

Faith No More have released a music video for the track “Cone Of Shame”, from the album Sol Invictus (Ipecac Recordings/Reclamation Recordings). The video, directed by Gore Cvetanovski, can be seen below.

“This is one of those tracks that had to be a video, really, because it lends itself so much to visual imagery,” Bill Gould explains. “Given the song’s sense of Americana, it would have been easy to shoot this in Arizona or New Mexico, but having been to Macedonia several times, there’s a vibe there that I felt wouldn’t be out of place as a backdrop to this song.  Goce Cvetanovski, as a director, understood this immediately; he knew exactly what to do with it, and along with an amazing cast, has managed to create something very dark, and beautifully cinematic.”
 
“Cone Of Shame” was the third song previewed from Sol Invictus, initially debuted at a 2015 Japanese concert. A limited edition “Cone Of Shame” 7” will be available on November 25th with pre-orders available soon.

Sol Invictus, Faith No More’s first new album since 1997’s Album Of The Year, debuted at #6 on the Billboard Top Albums chart and landed at similar spots worldwide (including #2 in Australia, #4 in Germany and #6 in the UK).  

“Separation Anxiety” video:

“Sunny Side Up” video:

A teaser for "Echolocation", the forthcoming debut album from GONE IS GONE, the new project featuring MASTODON's Troy Sanders, AT THE DRIVE-IN's Tony Hajjar, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's Troy Van Leeuwen and guitarist-keyboardist Mike Zarin, is available below.

GONE IS GONE's self-titled debut EP was released on July 8 via their imprint label Black Dune Records in partnership with Rise Records/BMG.

Asked where the band's name came from, Sanders told NME: "We were honing in on things that were very human, relatable, real, and as far away from anything pretentious as possible. We were discussing subject matter of frailty and things that every human can relate to — love, loss, life, experience and opportunity and all things frail and fragile. The phrase 'what's done is done' or 'what's gone is gone' — you need to seize these opportunities now and make the most of it, reward yourself and fulfill yourself while the time is now.

"We think it's relatable and we're not trying to be anything that we're not. The level of pretentiousness is below zero — it's minus eleven, it's out of the fuckin' picture. This band was organically created and it's formed and has got to where it is now very naturally. It's all from the heart and it means the world to us."

Sanders also called GONE IS GONE "therapeutic." He explained: "I've learned it's a very healthy thing to do to jam with other people. Whether it's sitting for 30 minutes in someone else's practice room and just jamming with somebody, or learning a cover song together, or writing something together — any kind of collaboration I think is a healthy thing. You pull different positives from different people.

"For the bulk of the past 16 years, I've been very fortunate and proud to be in a band called MASTODON that followed the traditional cycle of write, record, tour-tour-tour, write, record, tour-tour-tour. It's worked out fantastic for us and I love every minute of it. However, when I get these brief periods away, and I'm doing something else that's creative musically, it just brings a refreshing feeling over me that hits a reset button. Every time I go back into the MASTODON world, I'm in such a great place mentally to dive headfirst in and give it all I've got."

GONE IS GONE made its live debut on April 27 at the Dragonfly in Los Angeles and completed a handful of dates in July.

For more information, visit www.GoneIsGoneOfficial.com.

New Orleans sludge masters CROWBAR will release their eleventh album, "The Serpent Only Lies", on October 28. The cover artwork was created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with bands like HATEBREED, SOULFLY and KATAKLYSM.

The second song from "The Serpent Only Lies", titled "Plasmic And Pure", can be streamed below.

"The Serpent Only Lies" track listing:

01. Falling While Rising02. Plasmic And Pure03. I Am The Storm04. Surviving The Abyss05. The Serpent Only Lies06. The Enemy Beside You07. Embrace The Light08. On Holy Ground09. Song Of The Dunes10. As I Heal

CROWBAR frontman Kirk Windstein said about the CD: "I intentionally went back and listened to a lot of old CROWBAR stuff, like the self-titled and 'Broken Glass' albums, to get a feel for what my mindset was 20-plus years ago. I also went back and listened to the bands that influenced CROWBAR in the beginning, like TROUBLE, SAINT VITUS, MELVINS, and the first TYPE O NEGATIVE record. So it was kinda me doing my homework."

The result is an album that stands toe-to-toe with those early CROWBAR classics while maintaining the lumbering hooks of mid-period standouts like 1998's "Odd Fellows Rest" and 2000's "Equilibrium". "Even lyrically, the approach was a little more old-school," Windstein offered. "Some of the songs have less lyrics to let the riffs breathe a little more, which I had kind of gotten away from over the years. It was a conscious thing to go back to that.”"

The tour cycle for "The Serpent Only Lies" marks the return of original CROWBAR bassist Todd "Sexy T" Strange, who left the band back in 1999 but now joins Windstein, drummer Tommy Buckley and guitarist Matt Brunson in forging CROWBAR's future.

"Todd helped start the band, so having him back is important to me and, I think, the fans," Windstein said. "It's a great feeling to be standing onstage next to him. It's a breath of fresh air for the band and makes us stronger.

"Having this be our eleventh record, we're very fortunate because so many bands don't last this long," Windstein added. "My whole outlook on music as a career is the MOTÖRHEAD outlook, which is that slow and steady wins the race. If you continue to put out killer records, continue to kick ass onstage every night and continue to treat your fans with respect, that's the stuff people will remember."

The final trailer for "The Violent Sleep Of Reason", the new album from Swedish extreme tech-metal pioneers MESHUGGAH, is available below. The CD, which will be released on October 7 via Nuclear Blast, was inspired by a Goya painting called "The Sleep Of Reason Produces Monsters".

MEHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake comments: "Looking back at the albums, the music and songs that we grew up with that we really loved in metal were always recorded live and they have that live vibe to it.

"There is certain energy that comes with recording live compared to recording drums first and fixing whatever need to be fixed so it sounds perfect then recording guitars on top of that. There is nothing wrong in doing it like that, but we felt like we wanted to take a step back towards how we were doing things in the early '90s and kind of go a little old school in that sense. We wanted the challenge that comes with that."

Haake told Metal Hammer that MESHUGGAH recorded "The Violent Sleep Of Reason" live in the studio — marking the first time they have done that "in 20-25 years." He said: "It was time limitations that stopped us doing it before. And it's been interesting.

"If you put it all together using computers, then you often have to fix problems after the fact. I've gone back to records where I've not known every drum part. And once you do that, you can start with drums and then just add layers of guitars and then bass and it all sounds perfect.

"'Obzen' and 'Koloss' are great albums, but, to me, they are a little too perfect. It didn't really capture what we sounded like honestly. But where we recorded live, you get to hear the push and pull, one person might be a little ahead and the other might be a little behind. If you kill that, you can kill the energy."

He added: "So for us it was just about going back to those albums that inspired us when we were growing up, that were important to us in our formative years, and all of those bands had that energy. The albums in the '80s and early '90s had the rawness that I'm talking about — that's what we wanted to recapture."

"The Violent Sleep Of Reason" was produced by the band and was engineered by Tue Madsen of Puk Studios in Kaerby, Denmark.

For "The Violent Sleep Of Reason" cover, MESHUGGAH once again enlisted Keerych Luminokaya who created the artwork for "Koloss" and "The Ophidian Trek" as well as the new images for each of the seven albums and three EPs featured in the "25 Years Of Musical Deviance" box set.

"The Violent Sleep Of Reason" track listing:

01. Clockworks02. Born In Dissonance03. MonstroCity04. By The Ton05. Violent Sleep Of Reason06. Ivory Tower07. Stifled08. Nostrum09. Our Rage Won't Die10. Into Decay

"The Impossible", the new video from Swedish metallers EVERGREY, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.

"The Impossible" is taken from EVERGREY's new album, "The Storm Within", which was released on September 9 via AFM.

Says the band: "'The Impossible' is the third of a series of videos we have shot for 'The Storm Within' album. Working very closely with Patric Ullaeus and Revolver Film Company, our aim was to recreate the eerie and desolate sense we had while writing the songs for this — the tenth EVERGREY album. One could say this is our first real attempt at inviting everyone into the cinematic world where we have been in mind and thought throughout this year while writing. We think the imagery speaks for itself. This is just the beginning. The storm is coming."

While this may come off as music industry lip service in honor of the quintet, anyone who has followed EVERGREY will find it impossible not to become completely enthralled by the music on "The Storm Within" within the space of the first listen. The band's trademark progressive, dark and melancholic elements are as strong as ever, the album ranks as one of the most progressive record they've created in terms of performance, but EVERGREY managed to put it in a package that is more accessible and direct compared to any of their nine previous outings. Frontman/founder Tom S. Englund credits EVERGREY's learning-by-doing over the past two decades for the feel of "The Storm Within", in particular their all-important "Hymns For The Broken" record from 2014, which saw a revitalized EVERGREY lineup return with a new energy.

"We went from having no intention of making an album at all to having all the inspiration in the world on 'Hymns For The Broken'," says Englund. "Honestly, we've never felt better. 'The Storm Within' is a massive album. There are no fillers on it and we've never been about that. I think the inspiration speaks for itself."

EVERGREY's lyrics have always matched the depth and intensity of their music, and the concept behind "The Storm Within" is no exception. Englund considers the storyline behind the lyrics to be one of the biggest concepts EVERGREY has ever tackled, based on something that everyone can relate to; having someone, losing them, and having to pick yourself up and move on. He goes so far as to call it the band's first "love" album, but it's not a subject that should be taken lightly in the EVERGREY universe.

"As usual, the lyrics are based on someone or some event in my life," says Englund. "When we were making this album a lot of these relationship issues were going on around me; people losing a partner or a loved one and grieving. 'The Storm Within' is about a search for identity, trying to make yourself full when you feel half empty, and I placed that storyline in an interstellar world."

Musically, "The Storm Within" plays to EVERGREY's trademark prog metal attack but it's loaded with double-take moments. Lead-off track "Distance" is a surprise lead single (and first video), the melodically and lyrically stunning "Passing Through" is destined to become a fan favourite, "My Allied Ocean" is one of EVERGREY's most aggressive songs to date, and the epic title track makes for the perfect album closer in the tradition of Devin Townsend or RUSH. The addition of NIGHTWISH vocalist Floor Jansen on "In Orbit" is the icing on an already filling cake.

"That was actually my wife (Carina Englund) thinking for me," Englund says of Jansen's involvement. "Floor is a personal friend and major EVERGREY fan, so it was over a glass of wine between her and my wife, who asked her if she wanted to do the song. 'In Orbit' is a powerhouse of a song and it would be easy to make it the first single, but it's not the first impression we want to make. That said, it would be stupid not to release it as a single, and if we could get Floor to do the video, that would be a home run."

Speaking of Englund's better half Carina, she reprises her ongoing role as EVERGREY's secret weapon on every album since they began, contributing vocals this time out to the song "The Paradox Of The Flame". In addition, EVERGREY renewed their partnership with critically acclaimed video director Patric Ullaeus for "The Storm Within", fulfilling the band's vision of creating the most cinematic album in their catalogue. Three stellar clips were shot and, in a huge promotional push, are slated to hit the internet leading up to the official album release.

Englund is proud to have "The Storm Within" represent EVERGREY's all-important 20th anniversary, although he freely admits he didn't take note of the landmark occasion until the album was well underway.

"I had a goal when I started EVERGREY; I wanted to make 10 albums and that would fulfill my life plan. That's not something I ever thought I would accomplish. It's quite an amazing thing to be a band for 20 years and release albums that aren't sub-par. When I realized we'd done 10 albums in 20 years, it was mind-boggling. I'm proud to say that out of all the albums we've released over the last 20 years, we've never released one that we didn't feel was the best we could do at that time. That goes for every song, every note, everything. That's why we don't do anything half-assed."

"The Storm Within" track listing:

01. Distance02. Passing Trough03. Someday04. Astray05. The Impossible06. My Allied Ocean07. In Orbit (feat. Floor Jansen)08. The Lonely Monarch09. The Paradox Of The Flame10. Disconnect11. The Storm Within

EVERGREY is:

Tom S. Englund - vocals, guitar Henrik Danhage - guitar, backing vocals Rikard Zander - keyboard, backing vocalsJonas Ekdahl - drums Johan Niemann - bass, backing vocals

Pennsylvania based atmospheric tech-death group Burial In The Sky have premiered "Galaxy of Ghosts". The song is the first single to be released from their forthcoming debut album, Persistence Of Thought, due for release on Friday, November 4th.

As of late, the state of Pennsylvania has been churning out a lot of quality new death metal such as Rivers Of Nihil, Black Crown Initiate, and Alustrium. Now you can add another name to that list, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania natives Burial In The Sky.

The band came to life in 2013 when guitarists (and multi-instrumentalists) William Okronglis and James Tomedi decided to form an ambitious new project after already spending years playing music with each other prior to Burial In The Sky. Joining them on Persistence Of Thought is none other than world class drummer extraordinaire Samus Paulicelli (Decrepit Birth, ex-Abigail Wiliams) whose expert skills perfectly complements the stunning atmospheric technical death metal that James and William write.

Fans of Rivers Of Nihil and Fallujah would be wise to keep an eye on the band, although Burial In The Sky is far from being a derivative copy of either. Burial In The Sky’s album, Persistence Of Thought, is set for release on Friday, November 4th. The first single from the album will be released on Wednesday, September 28th.

Persistence Of Thought tracklisting:

“Entry I”
“Entry II”
“Entry III”
“Anchors”
“Galaxy Of Ghosts”
“Dimensions Divide”

"Galaxy Of Ghosts":

Promo video:

Persistence Of Thought lineup/additional credits:

William Okronglis - vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, keys, and percussion
James Tomedi - lead guitar, bass, keys, mandolin, slide guitar, and percussion
Samus Paulicelli - session drums

* Additional synths performed by Danny Greene

Vocals and all instruments played by William and James recorded at BITStudio
Drums written, performed, and engineered by Samus Paulicelli in Winnipeg, Canada
Re-amping, mixing, and mastering done by Numbskull Audio Production, Cambridgeshire, UK
Album art by Nathan Lee

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

The band recently released stunning, ten minute long "album film", titled simply, ZI. The artistic short, beautifully shot in the Transylvanian forests, blends excerpts from each of the album’s six tracks. View ZI now, below:

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

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

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

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

Tracklisting:

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

Bonus CD (only artbook)

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

Bonus DVD (only artbook)

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

The album will be available in the following editions:

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

Pre-orders:

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

"Stanciu Gruilu" video:

“Tul-ni-ca-rind” video:

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

Find the band’s live itinerary at this location.

International metal project Them, consisting of stellar musicians from around the globe, has unveiled a lyric video for the track “Dead Of Night”, which is taken from the upcoming debut albumSweet Hollow” - to be released on 30th September via Empire Records.

Them was originally formed in 2008 by vocalist Troy as a King Diamond tribute band, performing for three and a half years with over 20 shows including performances with Mike Wead and Hal Patino from King Diamond. After returning from several other projects, Troy started to create a concept idea in 2014 and molded a story, band, album and show around it. The result is the band's debut concept album Sweet Hollow, which offers top-notch heavy metal and chronicles the bizarre journey of a man caught between unfortunate circumstance and unspeakable evil.

Tracklisting:

“Rebirth”
“Forever Burns”
“Down The Road To Misery”
“Ghost In The Graveyard”
“The Quiet Room”
“Dead Of Night”
“FestEvil”
“The Crimson Corpse”
“Blood From Blood”
“The Harrowing Path To Hollow”
“Salve”
“When The Clock Struck Twelve”

“Dead Of Night” lyric video:

Lineup:
Troy Norr "KK Fossor": Vocals (Coldsteel)
Mike LePond: Bass (Symphony X)
Kevin Talley: Drums (Suffocation)
Markus Ulrich: Guitars (Lanfear, Septagon)
Markus Johansson: Guitars (Sylencer)
Richie Seibel: Keyboards (Lanfear)

Swedish pop metallers performed at Namba Hatch in Osaka, Japan on September 21st supporting Helloween. Fan-filmed video from the show is available below.

Amaranthe are gearing up for the release of their new album Maximalism. The record is due out via Spinefarm Records on October 21st. Amaranthe embark on a headline European tour in October/November with Sonic Syndicate and Smash Into Pieces guesting on all shows. US and UK tour dates will be revealed shortly.

September
30 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Zal Ozhidaniya

October
1 - Moscow, Russia - Red
2 - Ekaterinburg, Russia - Teleclub
25 - Hamburg, Germany - Klubsen
26 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornrosje
28 - Vosselar, Belgium - Biebob
29 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
30 - Geiselwind, Germany - Music Hall    

November
1 - Frankfurt, Germany - Nachtleben (acoustic)    
3 - Paris, France - Le Petit Bain
5 - Lyon, France - Le Ninkasi Kao
6 - Marseille, France - Le Moulin Club
8 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27    
9 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 2
10 - Madrid, Spain - Arena

THE PRETTY RECKLESS's music video for the band's scorching single "Take Me Down" can be seen below. The track, which recently landed No. 1 on the Rock Radio chart, marking the band's fourth consecutive No. 1 single, is the first single from THE PRETTY RECKLESS's highly anticipated third studio album, "Who You Selling For", due out October 21 on Razor & Tie. The "Take Me Down" video, shot by Meiert Avis, sees frontwoman Taylor Momsen and the band at Water Music Studios in Hoboken, New Jersey, where the album was recorded. Avis has directed videos for artists such as Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, U2 and Avril Lavigne, among many others throughout his illustrious career, spanning over four decades. The video, shot in black and white with subtle glimpses of red, shows Momsen in top form with her voice as powerful as ever. The '60s-tinged rock guitar and Taylor's soulful, smoky delivery makes "Take Me Down" a complete, blistering track that further cements the band at the forefront of rock.

Asked if "Who You Selling For" is autobiographical, singer Momsen told the Baltimore radio station 98 Rock: "Well, I think all of our records, in one sense, are autobiographical. I mean, I write them, so I'm writing about my experiences and my life and what I have observed and what I know. So I think this coming record is the next evolution of the band, so we're really excited for everyone to hear it. It's very diverse and eclectic, I guess is a good word to describe it. But, of course, it's personal. I mean, I write it."

Regarding whether there are any topics that are "off limits" during the songwriting process, Taylor said: "No. If you limit yourself, you immediately are stunting yourself. You can't limit yourself when it comes to writing. There's nothing that you don't explore."

"Who You Selling For" was produced by THE PRETTY RECKLESS's longtime collaborator Kato Khandwala. The songs were written by Momsen and guitarist Ben Phillips.

Momsen recently told Kerrang! magazine about "Take Me Down": "It's a classic rock 'n' roll tune, which was inspired by the Robert Johnson story of going to the crossroads and selling his soul for rock 'n' roll — which I kind of did in one way. [Laughs] I gave my life to the music; I gave everything else up for it. And it's a simple story about giving your life to something you love so much and you need it so bad that you're willing to sell your soul for it."

THE PRETTY RECKLESS will hit the road this fall in support of the album, beginning October 20, playing major markets in the U.S. before wrapping up on December 6 in Los Angeles.

KORN's new song "A Different World" can be streamed below. The track is slated to be the next single from the band's upcoming album, "The Serenity Of Suffering", following the current Top Five track "Rotting In Vain". "A Different World" also features a guest appearance from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor.

KORN singer Jonathan Davis spoke about getting Taylor to appear on the track. "We were trying to figure out who we wanted to collaborate with, and I'm like, 'You know, that's the one, that's the guy,'" he said. "And I texted him, I'm like, 'Do you want to be on a new KORN track?' He's all, 'Hell yeah! When and where, what do I do?' So he did great on the song. I already did my parts, I'm like, 'Do what you do, man.' And I like the way he did it, the approach: he starts creeping in underneath the song, you can start slowly hearing his voice under mine, and it crescendos up into the middle part where he sings, and then it's just full-on at the end, so the song came out great."

Taylor said that he became involved in "A Different World" after receiving "a phone call, like, 'Hey, do you wanna do this?' And I was on the plane the next day. I flew in, and I hadn't even heard the music. I was, like, 'Yeah.' 'Cause as a fan and as a friend, it was just something that we had been talking about for years. And all the stars aligned and I got to do this track. And it is heavy, dude. It is so righteous. People are gonna lose their minds.

"This whole [new KORN] album, and I'm gonna brag now, because I've heard eleven songs of this, it is such a great throwback to the first three KORN albums and mixed with that maturity that they have now. Like, it's, really, really heavy. People are gonna lose their minds. It's that good."

Due on October 21, "The Serenity Of Suffering" marks the band's return to Roadrunner, which previously released 2010's "Korn III - Remember Who You Are" and 2011's "The Path Of Totality".

The cover art for "The Serenity Of Suffering" was created by acclaimed artist Ron English. It depicts a teenage KORN fan at a dystopian acid-nightmare funfair who is clutching a disembowelled and skeletal version of the doll who adorned 1999's "Issues".

KORN has hit the road this fall with co-headliners BREAKING BENJAMIN for the "Nocturnal Underground Tour". The trek kicked off on September 24 in Fargo, North Dakota and will run through late October.

"Sorceress", the twelfth album from Swedish progressive metallers OPETH, can be streamed in its entirety using the SoundCloud widget below. Due on September 30, the band's first effort for Nuclear Blast via OPETH's imprint label Moderbolaget Records is proof chief architect Mikael Åkerfeldt has a near-endless well of greatness inside. From the album's opener "Persephone" to "The Wilde Flowers" and "Strange Brew" to the album's counterpart title tracks "Sorceress" and "Sorceress 2", OPETH's new full-length is an unparalleled adventure, where visions cleverly and secretly change, colors mute as if weathered by time, and sounds challenge profoundly.

For "Sorceress", OPETH 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. The result is nothing short of a powerful and intriguing record that will add yet another layer to the band's celebrated career.

"The new album 'Sorceress' is our twelfth studio album since our beginnings in 1990," says Åkerfeldt. "I find it difficult to understand that we've been going on for twenty-six years, let alone that we've made twelve records now, all of which I am very proud of. 'Sorceress' is no exception.

"I love this album, as does the whole band. I wrote the music during five-six months and we spent only twelve days recording it at Rockfield studios in Wales.

"I find that once again we've taken a step forward. Or sideways, Or backwards. Somewhere!? It's different! It's extremely diverse. And if I may say so myself, extremely good. I feel the right to say that since I like to think I know this band better than anyone on the planet. Also, I always manage to detach myself from the record and listen as a fan.

"It's a fine little record. My favorite in our discography right now. Of course. That's how it should be, right? It's both fresh and old, both progressive and rehashed. Heavy and calm. Just the way we like it. Hopefully there'll be others around the globe sharing this opinion. It was a joy to make it. A fucking joy to record it, and a sheer joy listening to it. So there you have it!" "Sorceress" track listing:

01. Persephone02. Sorceress03. The Wilde Flowers04. Will O The Wisp05. Chrysalis06. Sorceress 207. The Seventh Sojourn08. Strange Brew09. A Fleeting Glance10. Era11. Persephone (Slight Return)

OPETH's North American headline tour kicked off with a performance at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest on September 24 in San Bernardino, California. The tour, with THE SWORD as support, will continue through October 26 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Band photo credit: Stuart Wood

DEFTONES have announced that they have partnered with San Diego's Belching Beaver Brewery to create a new beer called Phantom Bride IPA — a hoppy West Coast style India Pale Ale loaded up with Mosaic, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Citra hops, all handpicked by DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno. "Really excited to see our Phantom Bride IPA hit the shelves," said Chino. "As a huge beer connoisseur, it was a privilege collaborating with Belching Beaver on the flavor profiles and coming out with a beer that I would put right up with any of my favorites. Good stuff!" The beer ships from the brewery to distribution outlets in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Hawaii, and California today and will be available to retailers and consumers where all great craft beer is sold, including BevMo!, on October 3. Phantom Bride IPA will be available on draft and in 22-oz. bottles. It is brewed and bottled by Belching Beaver Brewery, Vista or Oceanside, California. San Diego County. The beer is named after the multiplatinum, Grammy Award-winning alt-rock band's latest single "Phantom Bride", from their current album "Gore", which is currently Top 10 at Rock Radio.

Lucky fans in the Fullerton, California area will get a chance to taste the Phantom Bride IPA on tap for a limited time at a special kick-off event on October 5 starting at 8 p.m.

When: October 5Where: Slidebar122 E Commonwealth AveFullerton, CA 92832Time: 8 p.m. *band will not be present at this event DEFTONES is vocalist/guitarist Chino Moreno, guitarist Stephen Carpenter, keyboardist/samplist Frank Delgado, drummer Abe Cunningham and bassist Sergio Vega.

Long-running German metallers GRAVE DIGGER have set "Healed By Metal" as the title of their new album, due on January 13, 2017 via Napalm Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Healed By Metal02. When Night Falls03. Lawbreaker04. Forever Free05. Call For War06. Ten Commandments Of Metal07. The Hangman's Eye08. Kill Ritual09. Hallelujah10. Laughing With The Dead

Digipack bonus:

11. Kingdom Of The Night12. Bucket List

Check out the cover artwork below.

The band is currently supporting fellow Germans BLIND GUARDIAN on a North American tour.

GRAVE DIGGER's last CD was "Exhumation - The Early Years", a 35th-anniversary album containing re-recorded versions of the band's "absolute classics with a dynamic and powerful sound of 2015," according to a press release.

In a 2014 interview with Metal Blast, Boltendahl stated about GRAVE DIGGER's longevity: "This is the kind of music that I wanted to do when I was 12. When I was 18, I wanted to be a metal star. I worked hard for that, and I've always believed in the music I make. We've always gone our own way through the metal scene, and that's what has allowed us to be here. We are here, stronger than ever!"

Boltendahl also credited GRAVE DIGGER's strong work ethic for giving the band the inspiration to keep going, even in the hardest of times.

"We are Germans; we are very hard-working guys," he said. "We have a very straight kind of thinking, so if we start with something, we really want to carry on with it until the end. That's the magic of GRAVE DIGGER; we're always working hard. Our career goes up and down, we have good times and bad times, but we never think about stopping. We always want to give people the best we can do."

GRAVE DIGGER's last collection of all-new material, "Return Of The Reaper", was released in July 2014 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Principal Studios (KREATOR, IN EXTREMO, GRAVE DIGGER) in Senden, Germany.

Vocalist Joe Lynn Turner, best known for fronting Ritchie Blackmore's RAINBOW during that band's creative peak in the 1980s and later as the frontman for Yngwie Malmsteen, has been called The Man With The Golden Voice, and it's easy to understand why; nearly everything Turner records sounds blessed by the gods of hard rock. His commanding presence, powerhouse range, and emotional resonance has made him the go-to vocalist for a number of artists. Now some of this session work is collected on a brand new collection of studio recordings called simply "The Sessions" and released on October 7 via Deadline Music. The CD release contains superb, supercharged versions of rock classics from "Lunatic Fringe" to AC/DC's "Back In Black", THE DOORS' "Riders On The Storm" to QUEEN's "Fat Bottomed Girls". The album also features guest appearances by Michael Schenker (UFO), Steve Lukather (TOTO), Steve Morse, Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD), Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER), and more!

"The Sessions" track listing:

01. Stone Cold (with Vivian Campbell)02. Lunatic Fringe03. Let the Music Do the Talking (with Al Pitrelli, Carmine Rojas & Pat Torpey)04. Mirror Mirror (with Icarus Witch)05. Hellraiser (with Steve Lukather, Billy Sherwood, Jay Schellen & Paul Taylor)06. 14 Years07. Dance The Night Away (with Reb Beach)08. Back in Black (with Phil Collen)09. All Shook Up (with Michael Schenker)10. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (with Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Tony Franklin & Doane Perry)11. All Day and All of the Night (with Brad Gillis, Rudy Sarzo & Simon Wright)12. Bloody Well Right (with Dave Kerzner)13. The Seeker (with Leslie West)14. Jungle Love (with Steve Morse)15. Two Minutes To Midnight (with Richie Kotzen)16. Fat Bottomed Girls (with Reb Beach)17. Riders On The Storm (with Tony Kaye & Steve Cropper)

Buy the CD at this location.

Joe Lynn Turner recently slammed Ritchie Blackmore for the guitarist's decision to go out and perform classic DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW material with a new group musicians instead of reforming RAINBOW with a more "authentic" lineup.

Regarding why he thinks Ritchie has chosen to go out with a whole new RAINBOW lineup instead of bringing back some of the musicians who played on the band's classic records, Joe said: "The first thing I think I can say is that he's been misguided by people around him. That's what I really believe. I believe he's been misguided, and I believe he trusts these people and I think that he made a mistake doing this."

He continued: "I wanted an authentic reunion. I wanted guys from Doogie [White] and Graham [Bonnet] and [bassist] Bob Daisley and [drummer Bobby] Rondinelli, and all these guys, and I wanted to have a RAINBOW extravaganza, because there are a lot of fans that love RAINBOW that still haven't even seen RAINBOW, and this would be the ticket for them — you know, maybe a two-hour extravaganza. So I guess the people, his advisers or whoever, could not sell him that particular [idea], or maybe they never even told him that. I actually have a feeling that he was not full of the information at the time, because certain things have come to pass that sort of indicated that he didn't know about it, to me."

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.