On April 15, Higher Purpose Events hosted "Rock For Reason", a benefit concert for The Boys And Girls Club Of Placer County. Higher Purpose Events and Pat Martin's All Stars brought together the musical talents of the following:

* Jeff Keith, Brian Wheat and Frank Hannon of TESLA* Jacoby Shaddix and Dave Buckner of PAPA ROACH* Brad Lang, bassist for Y&T* Joe Fraulob, former guitarist for the band DANZIG and DECONSTRUCT* Jerry Woods, well-known guitarist in Northern California music circles* Vince DiFiore, trumpet and keyboards, founding member of CAKE* Rob Sabino, legendary keyboardist for David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck and many more. Rob was a member of the band CHIC ("Le Freak") and has written songs with Peter Frampton* Matt Pinder, bassist for THE PINDER BROTHERS and THE KEVIN RUSSELL BAND. Matt's dad is Mike Pinder, former and founding member of THE MOODY BLUES* Kelly Smith, drummer for THE FRANK HANNON BAND, and former drummer of SOULMOTOR

Video footage from the event can be seen below.

Higher Purpose Events' mission is to utilize its resource and event skills to put on large events that will raise money to support programs and other nonprofits benefiting men, women, and children and renew hope for a better tomorrow.

Progressive metallers FATES WARNING will release their twelfth studio album, "Theories Of Flight", on July 1 via InsideOut Music. The effort will be made available in the standard version and a two-disc mediabook edition, which will include a trio of unreleased originals, as well as three additional never-before-heard cover tunes. A double-LP version will also be available. The bonus disc is entirely acoustic.

"Theories Of Flight" track listing:

CD 1

01. From The Rooftops (6:52)02. Seven Stars (5:33)03. SOS (4:34)04. The Light And Shade Of Things (10:14)05. White Flag (5:20)06. Like Stars Our Eyes Have Seen (5:13)07. The Ghosts Of Home (10:31)08. Theories of Flight (4:00)

CD 2 (Acoustic Bonus Disc):

01. Firefly (3:15)02. Seven Stars (4:25)03. Another Perfect Day (3:25)04. Pray Your Gods (TOAD THE WET SPROCKET cover) (3:45) 05. Adela (JOAQUIN RODRIGO cover) (2:25) 06. Rain (URIAH HEEP cover) (4:03)

FATES WARNING's previous CD, "Darkness In A Different Light", sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort was issued in North America on October 1, 2013 via InsideOut Music.

FATES WARNING's lineup continues to feature founding guitarist Jim Matheos alongside classic-lineup members Ray Alder (vocals) and Frank Aresti (guitar), longtime bassist Joey Vera and drummer Bobby Jarzombek,

Speaking to Stormbringer webzine, Alder stated about how his vocal approach has changed over the years: "Yeah, [when I first joined FATES WARNING] I was young and everybody was doing the screaming and I thought that was cool. As I got older and progressed as a singer and realized what I wanted to do, I found it really silly. And then, even [singing] live in the old days, I tried not to do it as much. It just seemed silly to me. It doesn't make any sense. But as I grew as a singer, I knew what I wanted to do, and I realized that, I think, soul is more important than range. And it seems as though my voice just said, 'Yeah, I agree with you. Fuck it!' And it just kind of changed on its own. But, I mean, I like my voice where it is now. I have no problem… Again, I like where I am. Some people wanna hear the high screams, but… sorry! [Laughs]"

Asked if FATES WARNING has had to change the instrumental parts of some of the band's older songs in order to better suit his new vocal style, Alder said: "You've gotta work around different things where the high parts are, and a lot of the times I think it sounds much better the way it is, lowering certain things and [hitting] different notes. In hindsight, I wish I'd done what I'm doing now back then. [But] it was a thing at the time. Geoff [Tate] isn't really doing those anymore either… That's what we get for smoking and singing too much."

Regarding how he keeps his voice in shape when he is on tour, Alder said: "My main thing is I try not to smoke as much and definitely try not to drink as… It's not like the old days anymore. Of course when we were younger, we would party every night, and then I would really lose my voice. But now it's casual; [I have] a couple of glasses of wine and relax with everybody."

Mascot Label Group is proud to announce the signing of Ayreon, the highly acclaimed project from singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist / record producer Arjen Lucassen. The Ayreon catalog, comprising seven studio albums, was released on various digital platforms on April 22nd.

Arjen Lucassen and Mascot Label Group CEO Ed van Zijl go back twenty years. Ed was doing business out of his one-man office when Arjen showed up on his doorstep, with Ayreon’s debut album The Final Experiment in hand. They didn’t ink a deal that day, but both parties are extremely pleased to say that as of 2016, Music Theories Recordings (part of Mascot Label Group) is Ayreon’s new home.

Ayreon is in a class of its own. You might call Lucassen’s Ayreon studio albums “rock operas.” Or, to be more precise, you may prefer a description like, “ambitious studio projects combining progressive rock, metal, and folk over intricate storylines, brought to life by countless famous guest singers from all over the world.” But no matter how you categorize it, the Ayreon album collection offers highly creative rock music with a quality in composition and production rarely heard in the last twenty years.

Ten years with hardrock band Vengeance brought Lucassen recognition in not just the Netherlands, but in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the UK and the USA, as well. When he started writing and recording on his own in the early 90s, it was the funding of a Japanese record label that got the ball rolling. The Final Experiment was Ayreon’s first album, released in the Netherlands in 1995 by start-up label Transmission Records. It set the tone for the project, with intricate sci-fi/fantasy storytelling and timeless progressive rock featuring a line-up of world class vocalists and musicians, including Barry Hay (Golden Earring), an-Chris de Koeijer (Gorefest), and Kingdom Come’s Lenny Wolf.

The follow-up, Actual Fantasy (1996), turned out to be a relatively modest production, but the phenomenal reception of these first Ayreon albums exposed Lucassen to world-famous singers and instrumentalists like Fish (Marillion), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Devin Townsend, James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Neal Morse (Flying Colors, Spock’s Beard), Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil), John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, Bloodbath), Ty Tabor (King’s X, The Jelly Jam), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Michael Romeo and Russell Allen (Symphony X), Steve Hackett (Genesis), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper), Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer), and Rick Wakeman (Yes). Besides Lucassen himself, virtuoso drummer Ed Warby (Gorefest, Hail of Bullets, The 11th Hour) is the only other constant member of AYREON.

Into The Electric Castle was released to critical acclaim in 1998, and the album went on to sell over 100.000 copies. The twin albums Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer and Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator (2000) proved that Lucassen was not afraid to take Ayreon to yet another level of larger-than-life creativity. With The Human Equation (2004), Lucassen turned away from his earlier sci-fi themes to explore the realm of human emotions. The Human Equation was adapted for stage and performed in 2015 by a cast that included almost everybody from the original album. In 2007, Arjen returned to the sci-fi concept and linked all of the previous AYREON albums together, musically as well as lyrically, on 01011001. The album features no less than 17 vocalists.

The Theory of Everything (2013) again received rave reviews around the world and, like its predecessors, sold remarkably well in a time when few progressive rock acts manage to rise above the crowd. The album was released after a five-year break in which Lucassen concentrated on other projects, including Guilt Machine’s album On This Perfect Day, which was released on Mascot Records in 2009. The recording – quite a departure from AYREON’s bombastic approach – attracted a very dedicated audience of its own.

Some years later, a few Ayreon albums were released on vinyl and, according to Lucassen, “sold really well. That’s when I realized that fans of Guilt Machine would probably appreciate a vinyl release too.” By 2014, Lucassen met with Mascot’s Ed van Zijl again. “I asked him if he would be interested in releasing Guilt Machine on vinyl, and he immediately said yes,” explained Van Zijl. “It took months to figure out the details of the packaging and the extras, and then manufacture it. The fans were ecstatic! The first pressing was sold out online in just a few hours in June of 2015. Then Mascot decided to press more colours and black vinyl, as well.”

Obviously the two started discussing Lucassen’s other projects as well. When the topic of Ayreon came up, Ed van Zijl offered Lucassen a deal he couldn’t refuse… or could he? It took Lucassen six months to decide: “At first I didn’t feel the urge to change labels. But in the back of my mind was the feeling that I really liked the atmosphere and the people at Mascot. This Dutch company, close by, just felt good.” The idea of trying something new finally tipped the scales: “Ed simply said yes to everything I asked for! Plus, it was time for a fresh new start.”

Ayreon studio albums re-issued via Mascot / Music Theories Recordings include:

The Final Experiment
Actual Fantasy
Into the Electric Castle
Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer
Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator
The Human Equation
01011001

Halestorm recently wrapped up a US tour with Lita Ford; vocalist Dorothy Martin was also on the bill as support. Fan-filmed video of Halestorm performing Foghat's 1972 classic "I Just Want To Make Love To You" with Dorothy can be viewed below.

Halestorm's tour schedule is currently as follows:

April
23 - Orlando, FL - WJRR Earthday Birthday 22
24 - Charleston, SC - WYBB Rock Fest

May
18 - Bloomington, IL - US Cellular Coliseum
19 - Saginaw, MI - FirstMerit Bank Event Park
21 - Schaghticoke, NY - Rock N’ Derby

August
5 - West Allis, WI - Wisconsin State Fair

Additional dates to be announced. Stay tuned.

“Mayhem” video:

Columbus, Ohio's BEARTOOTH will release its new album, "Aggressive", on June 3 via Red Bull Records.

In the two short years since their debut album was cooked up in frontman Caleb Shomo's basement, BEARTOOTH has catapulted into heavy music's stratosphere. They have collected over ten million views on YouTube, trekked around the globe sharing the stage with SLIPKNOT, PIERCE THE VEIL, BRING ME THE HORIZON and SLEEPING WITH SIRENS and playing festivals like Reading and Leeds, Download and the Vans Warped Tour.

For "Aggressive", Shomo again retreated to his home studio to write, perform and produce the album's twelve tracks, re-teaming with John Feldmann (THE USED, BLINK-182) for a bit of songwriting contribution and enlisting David Bendeth (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, PARAMORE) to mix the release. The resulting songs have as much in common with stomping metalcore as old-school punk, vintage screamo and harder-edged pop punk, combining circle pit-inducing bangers with soaring choruses and bridging raw authentic intensity with accessibility.

"Aggressive" track listing:

01. Aggressive02. Hated03. Loser04. Fair Weather Friend05. Burnout06. Sick Of Me07. Censored08. Always Dead09. However You Want It Said10. Find A Way11. Rock Is Dead12. King Of Anything

The video for the "Aggressive" title track can be seen below.

BEARTOOTH will give fans a taste of "Aggressive" on the band's U.S. spring tour, which kicks off tomorrow and includes slots on the Welcome To Rockville and Northern Invasion festivals. A summer tour across Europe that includes main stage slots on Download festival will follow, with more dates to be announced soon. They will also be performing at the 2016 Alternative Press Music Awards on July 18.

"The Slab Was Trapped" is the first single by French heavy metal band Lorraine Cross. It will be released on all digital platforms on the April 22nd and is taken from the upcoming debut album Army Of Shadows to be released worldwide on August 26th.
 
Lorraine Cross was born in 2012 in Toulouse, South of France when two heavy metal enthusiasts - a couple in life, Katia Figuera (manager) and Guillaume (founder and bass player)  - decided to form a band to perpetuate the spirit of hard ‘n’ heavy.
 
Soon after this, four talented musicians joined their quest: Tony (lead singer) D.K and Florent (guitars) and Thomas (drums). After a demo (Lorraine Cross, 2014) the band received the support of French heavy metal specialist Christophe Bailet (ex-manager of Sortilège, ADX, Nightmare).
 
The album Army Of Shadows was recorded and engineered by François Merle (Manigance) and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Gamma Ray, Pretty Maids) and is a mix of influences like US hard rock, British heavy metal and German speed metal. But even if Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest or Helloween are the inspirations, the heart of Lorraine Cross beats in France.
 
France and its tormented past, hence the name...Lorraine Cross, the symbol of Free French Forces during world war II. An iconic symbol, for all those who refuse to surrender and to live on their knees. Like Guillaume’s grandfather, a French resistant who was nearly shot by a German fire squad.
 
He was like his brother in arms, one of the anonymous martyrs fighting oppression. He was one, from the Army of Shadows.

Emperor frontman Ihsahn will release the sixth solo album, entitled Arktis, on April 8th. In a new interview with Metal Paths, Ihsahn discusses the new album. An excerpt follows:

Q: Do you feel, that releasing an album nowadays, is just another excuse to tour? Or every album needs to be released by an artist to “cleanse your ideas” till another set of songs is ready and for the next release?

A: “For many bands, especially bands that have been around so many years, like recently I read in an interview that Slayer’s Kerry King stated he was not into releasing more than three or four new songs, before they head out on a new world tour. So, obviously, the income is mostly coming nowadays from touring rather than record sales. Back in the eighties, I guess bands toured to promote the album, so that they can sell even more albums. Now it’s the opposite. Many bands release albums just to promote yet another tour! It’s a bit strange but, for me personally, the main focus is to be able to write new music! That’s the main excitement for me. To be able to write and produce music in my studio. It’s not that if there’s no more money, I won’t be doing any albums anymore, haha. I don’t think I can stop doing that. So as long as labels want to put them out there, and people still pick them up to listen to them, I think I will continue to do that! Maybe, also, it all is just being a phase. When we got the cassette, everyone started tape trading, and everyone thought that would be the end of the music industry. Of course, now we’ve seen a big change, but I think at the same time, streaming services and everything, it starts getting up. The outcome of streaming services will increase with more and more people paying for streaming services. Of course, you can get pissed off because “it’s not like the old days” blah blah blah, but still in music history the whole idea about selling physical copies of your music, is a rather new phenomenon, if you look it that way. It’s just a different phase. You either have to go with it, and being a musician kind of adapt to how you can perform and express your music or get a day job! You just have to adapt or not. That’s it and I’m willing to adapt. I think you can adapt and still keep your integrity, as a musician.

Read the full interview at MetalPaths.com.

Arktis was recorded at Ihsahn’s studio in Notodden, Norway and was mixed in Sweden by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia). The album features ten songs and is the longest and most spirited of Ihsahn’s solo recordings. It features guest appearances from Einar Solberg (Leprous), Matt Heafy (Trivium), Jorgen Munkeby (Shining), Tobias Ornes Andersen (Shining, ex-Leprous), and renowned Norwegian author Hans Herbjornsrud. Graphic elements for Arktis once again have been provided by award-winning Spanish designer Ritxi Ostariz.

Few artists in modern heavy music have created such an extraordinary and unique body of work as Ihsahn. Having refined and redefined black metal with the now legendary Emperor, Ihsahn is Norway’s foremost musical extremist. He has spent the last decade establishing himself as a fearless and wildly idiosyncratic solo artist and even by his own remarkable standards, Arktis is a bold and mind-blowing step into the unknown.

Ihsahn comments, “My focus for this album was to write within more traditional song structures and still give each song a strong individual identity, be that through a re-occurring melody, a chorus, sound design or the good, old guitar riff. I also wanted to explore this on the production side, blending organic rock sounds with more modern expressions.”

The stark visuals utilized in the video for “Mass Darkness” are inspired by late 1800’s Norwegian explorer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen. It depicts his famed three-year expedition to the North Pole first by ship and then by foot over land.

Ihsahn notes, “The whole atmosphere of facing the cold, immense unknown fits rather good with the general lyrical concept of the entire album. It paints a sense of doubt, hopelessness and frustration yet celebrates curiosity, free will and the choice to avoid conformity. It is, at best, an observance of one’s insignificance in relation to time, nature and space yet each individual’s ability to make things matter even if only to themselves.”

For the 40-year old musician, the global accolades have yet to impact his creativity with each and every album pushing boundaries and preconceived sounds typically assigned to heavy music. With Arktis, he continues his blending of extreme metal and progressive rock that will easily sustain his already massive fanbase while opening even more doors for the humble multi-instrumentalist.

Ihsahn says, “With the contributions from several of my talented friends and the incredible mixing skills of Jens Bogren, I feel the end result is just as varied yet cohesive as I hoped for. Actually, I can’t recall having had such a great time making an album before and hopefully that comes across too.”

Arktis tracklisting:

“Disassembled”
“Mass Darkness”
“My Heart Is Of The North”
“South Winds”
“In The Vaul”
“Until I Too Dissolve”
“Pressure”
“Frail”
“Crooked Red Line”
“Celestial Violence”

“Pressure”:

“Mass Darkness” lyric video:



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U.K. rock writer, author and TV and radio program maker Mick Wall has just released a new book on iconic MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister called "Lemmy: The Definitive Biography".

Based on Mick's original interviews with Lemmy conducted over numerous years, along with the insights of those who knew him best — former bandmates, friends, managers, fellow artists and record business insiders — this is an unputdownable story of one of Britain's greatest characters. As Lemmy once said of Wall, "Mick Wall is one of the few rock writers in the world who can actually write and seems to know anything about rock music. I can and do talk to him for hours — poor bastard."

In "Ace Of Spades", MOTÖRHEAD's most famous song, Lemmy sang, "I don't want to live forever." Yet, as he told his friend of 35 years, former PR and biographer Mick Wall: "Actually, I want to go the day before forever. To avoid the rush." This is his strange but true story.

Brutally frank, painfully funny, wincingly sad, and always beautifully told, "Lemmy: The Definitive Biography" is the story of the only rock'n'roller never to sell his soul for silver and gold, while keeping the devil, as he put it, "very close to my side." From school days growing up in North Wales, to first finding fame in the mid-60s with the ROCKIN' VICARS ("We were very big up north, I had a Zephyr 6"); from being Jimi Hendrix's personal roadie ("I would score acid for him"), to leading HAWKWIND to the top of the charts in 1972 with "Silver Machine" ("I was fired for taking the wrong drugs"); from forming MOTÖRHEAD ("I wanted to call the band BASTARD but my manager wouldn't let me"), whose iconoclastic album "No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith" entered the U.K. chart at No. 1 — and its title into the lexicon of hip-speak.

With the hard part of his journey now over, Lemmy is set to become a legend. "Lemmy: The Definitive Biography" explains exactly how that came to be.

Wall is the author of numerous critically acclaimed books, including titles on LED ZEPPELIN ("When Giants Walked the Earth"), METALLICA ("Enter Night"), AC/DC ("Hell Ain't a Bad Place To Be"), BLACK SABBATH ("Symptom Of The Universe"), Lou Reed, THE DOORS ("Love Becomes A Funeral Pyre") and FOO FIGHTERS. He lives in England.

For more information, visit OrionBooks.co.uk.

Marillion and PledgeMusic are joining forces to take the direct-to-fan business to a new level in the launch of the new Marillion album.

Marillion have long demonstrated their prowess in working with their fans. They started the whole direct-to-fan funding business model in 1997. The pioneering work that they have done with their fans on the internet, has paved the way for bands to operate in the digital age in a truly independent way.

Marillion have spent much of the year holed up in their Racket Club studio, jamming, writing and recording. The band reports that the initial tracks put down are sounding truly outstanding. The band's 18th studio album F.E.A.R will be released on September 9th.

The PledgeMusic Marillion campaign offers on the special PledgeMusic/Marillion storefront and PledgeMusic website include pre-ordering the CD, LP, Deluxe CD, a Special Edition box set and digital formats, with limited edition signed copies also available. A private show at the band's Racket Club studios in Aylesbury is also in the listing. Additional special offers will be introduced throughout the campaign and later in the year once the album is finished, the band will be adding the opportunity to buy tickets to exclusive Listening Parties around the world. To make a pledge please visit this location. Pre-order ends on June 17th.

Throughout and up to the album release, the band will keep the PledgeMusic and Marillion fans updated with the album's progress and news from their world through the PledgeMusic AccessPass.

Marillion promise that the campaign will be bigger and better than ever before; "We consider PledgeMusic to be the best in their field and after much thought feel that they as the new masters of the art, offer the band and the fans the most exciting possibilities. PledgeMusic have the same level of great customer service that we pride ourselves on and totally understand the relationship that we have with our fans".

Benji Rogers, Founder of PledgeMusic cites Marillion as a pivotal influence on the formation of PledgeMusic in 2009; "Partnering with Marillion in 2015 is an incredible honour for me personally and for the team at PledgeMusic. Their pioneering approach to direct-to-fan was both and inspiration and a guiding light for PledgeMusic from business plan to launch and beyond and we could not be more excited to have them as part of our story."

Marillion recently announced dates for a North American tour in October / November, with support from Porcupine Tree’s John Wesley.

Confirmed dates include:

October
21 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom
22 - Beverly Hills, CA - Saban Theater
25 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
27 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
28 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
29 - Northfield, OH - Hard Rock Live
31 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall

November
1 - Montreal, QC - Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre
2 - Québec City, QC - L'Impérial Bell
4 - Boston, MA - Royale Boston
5 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
6 - Philadelphia, PA - Keswick Theatre
8 - New York, NY - PlayStation Theater

The band will also perform at the Prog and Classic Rock's Stone Free festival featuring Alice Cooper and Steve Hackett at London’s O2 Arena in June.

SOUNDGARDEN frontman Chris Cornell has paid tribute to legendary singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer Prince, who died unexpectedly on Thursday, April 21 at the age of 57 in his Minnesota home.

Cornell's stripped-down, stirring rendition of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" can be streamed below. The track is one of several covers Cornell has incorporated into the sets of his extensive acoustic tour, which began last September.

Said Cornell: "Prince's music is the soundtrack to the soulful and beautiful universe he created, and we have all been privileged to be part of that amazing world.

"I performed his song 'Nothing Compares 2 U' for the first time a couple months ago. It has a timeless relevance for me and practically everyone I know.

"Sadly, now his own lyrics in this song could not be more relevant than at this moment, and I sing them now in reverence as I pay tribute to this unequaled artist who has given all of our lives so much inspiration and made the world so much more interesting.

"We will miss you, Prince!!!"

Reports of Prince's death began surfacing Thursday morning and were soon confirmed by his publicist. At press time, the death was being investigated and a cause of death had not yet been announced. The singer was said to be ill with the flu in recent weeks

Prince has won seven Grammy Awards, and he won an Oscar for the original song score to the classic film "Purple Rain", in which he also starred.

He recorded some 39 studio albums, recording and touring prolifically even after a very public battle to get out of his major label contract threatened to derail his career.

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have released an All Blacks-themed t-shirt ahead of the New Zealand leg of their world tour in tribute to the men's national rugby union team's Rugby World Cup victory last year.

The top features the band's mummy-like mascot Eddie wearing black rugby gear complete with sweatbands and a ball under his arm as he charges to the try-line in a packed stadium. There are tackled players strewn behind him in the colors of the teams the All Blacks beat in the World Cup.

According to Wales Online, IRON MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood is a huge rugby fan and was at both World Cup finals in 2011 and 2015 to see New Zealand lift the Webb Ellis Trophy.

Said Smallwood: "We did a tribute to the legend that is Colin Meads on our 2011 New Zealand tour t-shirt which went down so well with the rugby fraternity there that [All Blacks] assistant coach Wayne Smith, a mate for many years and big MAIDEN fan along with some other current ABs, asked to use this art on some special [t-shirts] he was going to use as prizes for the players for outstanding defensive performances in each game of last year's World Cup. He had done similarly in the 2011 Cup with our 'Fear Of The Dark' design T's."

He added: "This new tour shirt commemorates the victory last year at Twickenham and is a tribute to the [All Blacks]."

IRON MAIDEN's world tour, in support of the band's latest album, "The Book Of Souls", kicked off on February 24 in Sunrise, Florida (a suburb of Fort Lauderdale).

Back in November 2014, the helicopter descended upon the infamous Hard Rock Hotel as KISS invaded Las Vegas for an historic nine-show run. Now, for one night only on May 25, fans will be able to experience this spectacular night for themselves as "Kiss Rocks Vegas" hits cinemas across the globe. From this blistering live show, fans can expect sky high flames, ear-bursting volume and a few drops of blood! Includes exclusive interviews with band and footage you will only see in the cinema.

A new extended trailer for "Kiss Rocks Vegas" is available below.

Famed for their iconic face paint and stage attire, KISS was formed in New York City in 1973 by Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar). Their sensational live performances feature fire breathing, blood-spitting, smoking guitars, shooting rockets, levitating drum kits, and pyrotechnics to spare. Tommy Thayer (lead guitar, vocals) and Eric Singer (drums, percussion, vocals) round out the band's powerful lineup. Tommy is also producer of the film "Kiss Rocks Vegas".

Said Stanley: "See us on the big screen with the awesome power of Surround Sound. Feel like you are in Vegas and don't be shy to 'shout it out loud!'"

Added Simmons: "Join us for a 'crazy crazy night' in your cinema!"

Stated Thayer: "We are all tremendously proud of this production; it captures a truly unique performance. You need to see it in a cinema to get the full on experience."

Said Singer: "We rocked The Joint at Hard Rock in Las Vegas. You get up close and personal with KISS. You're going to love it."

A select number of cinemas worldwide will also be screening the concert in Dolby Atmos, providing a powerfully immersive and moving audio experience for the cinema audience.

For more information and to book tickets for the cinema event please visit www.kissmycinema.com.

Speaking to Las Vegas Weekly, Stanley stated about how the idea for the KISS residency came about: "To spend as much time as we do in Vegas and to live as close as we do, the idea of doing a residency and leaving our stage setup, as opposed to breaking it down nightly, was really appealing."

He continued: "We just finished 42 cities and played for 600,000 people, but that meant that every night the show got disassembled and moved. There’s something appealing and challenging about building a set that doesn’t have to be moved. You don't have to take into account the practicality of it, being able to be broken down constantly and reassembled. So this was something that we had wanted to do for quite a while; it was just a matter of making sure we found people who were in agreement on how to do it. The Joint was the natural place to do it."

Multi-national newcomer sensation Blues Pills have announced the title of their second album. Lady In Gold is expected to be released during the summer and will contain ten brand new tracks.
 
Commented singer Elin Larsson on the choice of the album's title: "Lady Gold is a character who symbolizes death. We wanted a twist on the typical stereotype of death being the grim reaper. So instead we made her a lady in gold."

Tracklisting:

“Lady In Gold”
“Little Boy Preacher”
“Burned Out”
“I Felt A Change”
“Gone So Long”
“Bad Talkers”
“You Gotta Try”
“Won’t Go Back”
“Rejection”
“Elements And Things”

Just as its successful predecessor Lady In Gold was once again produced by Don Alsterberg (Graveyard, Division Of Laura Lee, José González, Jerry Williams). More info to be revealed soon.

(Photo by: John McMurtie)

Ted Poley’s new solo album, Beyond The Fade, will be released on May 13th. Best known as lead vocalist for the legendary melodic rock masters Danger Danger, Ted Poley is also an accomplished solo artist, having released two acclaimed releases, Collateral Damage (2006) and Smile (2007). The album track, “Stars”, is streaming below.

The story of Beyond The Fade starts after Danger Danger's performance at Frontiers Rock Festival in Milano in 2014, when he and the label developed the idea to work together on some new music. The next step was to speak to producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Edge Of Forever) and with a band that he put together, Ted performed at the second edition of the Frontiers Rock Festival. A few months later, Ted came back to Italy to finish the vocals on the album.

Ted says: "I am absolutely thrilled with the way the whole album came out. If I have one quote: "ITS AWESOME!" My great friend and co-producer Alessandro Del Vecchio brought my sonic vision to life and no request from me was too great for him toward his goal of making "The Ultimate Ted Poley Solo Album" and he surely delivered on his promise. We had a lot of fun making the album and its obvious when you hear it. You can practically hear my smile while I am singing. We decided to make it sound BIG and there are a ton of backing vocals (in some cases more than 80 tracks of them!), along with great songs, soaring melodic guitar leads, pounding bass and big drums, all layered with cool keyboards... like a delicious Musical Cake! Save some room for dessert, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS ONE!"

With songs penned by the brothers Tom and James Martin (Vega) and "Hands Of Love" written by Tony Bruno (Joe Lynn Turner), the sound of the record is nothing else but Ted Poley at his best, with immediately recognizable hooklines, amazing guitar work, immaculate production and total 80's attitude! Beyond The Fade is sure to please not only Ted Poley's fans, but all fans of melodic hard rock.

Beyond The Fade tracklisting:
 
“Let's Start Something”
“Everything We Are”
“Hands Of Love”
“The Perfect Crime”
“Stars”
“Higher”
“Where I Lost You”
“You Won't See Me Cryin'”
“We Are Young”
“Sirens”
“Beneath The Stars”

“Stars”:

“Hands Of Love”:

“Higher” video:

EPK:

Lineup:
 
Ted Poley - lead vocals
Issa - duet vocal on “The Perfect Crime”
Alessandro Del Vecchio - drums, keyboards, backing vocals
Mario Percudani - guitars
Anna Portalupi - bass

 

NetEnt has officially launched the Jimi Hendrix online slot. This is the second branded game in the Rock Series from the popular developer, with the first one being Guns N' Roses which has already become a huge hit among fans at online casinos. The third installment in the series will go live in September and it will be a Motorhead branded online video slot.

Check out a video preview below:

Slots Magic Casino, Casino Adrenaline and Playamo Casino are the first to feature it.

 

 

Rival Sons will release their fifth album, Hollow Bones, on June 10th via Earache Records. A snippet of the new song “Baby Boy” is streaming below:

The first single, "Hollow Bones Pt. 1", is streaming below. The track is also included as an instant download for everyone who pre-orders Hollow Bones on iTunes. Order now and get your instant download of "Hollow Bones Pt. 1" at this location.

The new album features nine brand new tracks of electrifying rock 'n' soul, including a breathtaking cover of "Black Coffee". With a huge range of Hollow Bones products available, including limited edition gold, silver and transparent vinyl, plus ultra-limited signed CD and vinyl editions, there's something for everyone from the casual fan to the die-hard collector.

Pre-order Hollow Bones now on CD and vinyl at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Hollow Bones, Pt. 1”
“Tied Up”
“Thundering Voices”
“Baby Boy”
“Pretty Face”
“Fade Out”
“Black Coffee”
“Hollow Bones, Pt. 2”
“All That I Want”

“Thundering Voices” snippet:

“Hollow Bones Pt. 1”:

Divebomb Records continues its ongoing partnership with Century Media Records to bring about the worldwide reissue of Despair's third and final album, Beyond All Reason. It will be available on June 10th. Preorders are available at this location.

Formed in Germany in 1986, Despair dealt out thrash of the highest order over the course of their next six years together. Originally lead by vocalist Robert Kampf, Despair issued their debut album, History Of Hate, in 1988, but he exited the band before their next full-length so he could concentrate his energy on Century Media, the future label powerhouse he founded that year. The group then hired former Apostasy vocalist Andreas Henschel as Kampf’s replacement and released their critically acclaimed sophomore full-length, 1990’s Decay Of Humanity.

By the time the band went into Tonstudio Mohrmann in Bochum, Germany to record their next album, guitarist Waldemar Sorychta emerged as a force to reckon with, in front and behind the scenes. The guitarist seized the producer reigns on 1991’s Beyond All Reason, a well-rounded onslaught of thrash and more traditionally minded heavy metal that is the finest moment in their discography. As fierce as Beyond All Reason proved to be, it was sadly their swan song.

This reissue features all new digital mastering with expanded layout featuring lyrics and brand new essay by Carlos Ramirez (of NoEcho.net).

Tracklisting:

“Beyond Comprehension”
“Deaf & Blind”
“Imported Love”
“The Day Of Desperation”
“In The Deep”
“Rage In The Eyes”
“Burnt Out Souls”
“Son Of The Wild”
“Crossed In Sorrow”

“Deaf & Blind”:

Swedish metallers Days Of Anger release their new album, III, today (April 22nd) via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. The album was mixed and mastered by Philip Crusner (Fatal Smile, Diamond Dawn). Song snippets can be found below.

Tracklisting:

“Burning Inferno”
“Devil You Know”
“Life Will End With A Bullet”
“Lamb To The Slaughter”
“Spirits Of Dead”
“The Chosen One”
“Dead”
“My Drug Of Choice”
“Screams Of Agony”
“The Electric Funeral”
“Shadows” (instrumental)

Song snippets:

Days Of Anger are:

Alex Johnson - lead vocals (Fatal Smile)
Alf Johansson - guitar (Scaar)
Kenneth Nielsen - bass (Astral Carneval)
Kristian Huotari - drums (Scaar)

(Photo by Cathrin Johansson Borgström. Cover artwork design by C.A. Beckston)

Mustaine told Rolling Stone India that his family's move to Nashville was prompted largely by his daughter's decision to launch a country music career. He said: "The reason we moved out here was because I've made four records out here and all those times I was recording, I did live here. It really was comfortable to be here. The last time we were here, Electra was only two years old. We didn't know that she had the gift and once she started singing — I heard her sing one time and I was really convinced."

He continued: "I don't profess to be a singer first and foremost — I'm a guitar player that sings more than a singer who plays guitar. But with her, she really is. That's her strong point. For her, this is music city. It's all about country. It's where she's flourishing.

"I could do my job from anywhere — MEGADETH is that successful. I can do stuff on the 'Net from a desert island if I wanted to. But I think for her, to be here right now and work with other songwriters builds her name. She just goes in and meets people and doesn't tell them who her dad is. [Laughs]"

Electra Mustaine revealed to Rolling Stone that she and her family completed a reality-show pilot that they're seeking to turn into a series. It follows the Mustaines as they relocate from Los Angeles to Nashville.

"Everyone knows the story of MEGADETH and who my dad is," Electra said. "That story has already been told. But the one that hasn't been told is what he's like with his family, what it's like for him to move to Nashville. And what it's like to have him walk into a tractor store and try to fit in. He is funny as heck."

ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann will release his second solo album, titled "Headbangers Symphony", on July 1 via Nuclear Blast.

Wolf Hoffmann has a passion. His life-long love and dedication to heavy metal music is documented in dozens of albums spanning four decades with his long time heavy metal band ACCEPT. But beyond heavy metal, Wolf has an incessant craving for the classics, yes, the ones written decades and centuries ago.

Classical music has always been an influence — albeit limited — on ACCEPT's Teutonic approach to rock and heavy metal. However, it wasn't until 1997 during a extended hiatus from ACCEPT, that Wolf Hoffmann finally had the chance to fully explore and fulfill this interest by recording his first astounding solo album "Classical", a record filled with his rock-guitar-driven interpretations of some of classical music's most loved compositions.

"I have always incorporated classical music in my songwriting with ACCEPT, especially with 'Metal Heart', but I constantly felt there was so much more that I could do and I did not want to overload ACCEPT or force it in any way," he said. "I always knew I could make a whole record of it and that's how the first record 'Classical' was born. Even today, fans tell me that they are still listening to it, that's why it is so fantastic now to do another one."

"Headbangers Symphony" track listing:

01. Scherzo (L. v. Beethoven) 02. Night On Bald Mountain (M. Mussorgsky) 03. Je Crois Entendre Encore (G. Bizet)04. Double Cello Concerto In G Minor (A. Vivaldi)05. Adagio (T. Albinoni)06. Symphony No. 40 (W. A. Mozart )07. Swan Lake (P. Tchaikovsky) 08. Madame Butterfly (G. Puccini)09. Pathétique (L. v. Beethoven)10. Meditation (J. Massenet)11. Air On The G String (J. S. Bach)

Continued Hoffmann: "I am just so excited about 'Headbangers Symphony'. It has taken a long, long time but here we are, it's done, finally!" Wolf is just bursting with vigor as he talks about his latest labor of love. But why now? "It's truly coincidental," he said. "After we completed the last ACCEPT tour, I finally had the time to finish it. I started this a few years ago. The early recordings have been sitting in my archives in my home studio for years, almost completed. The reality was that with the continued success of ACCEPT, I was only able to work on it when ACCEPT was not recording or touring."

The prevalent early challenge was to pick the most suitable compositions. This was an exploratory process that only increased Wolf's adoration for the classics. "I always listen to classical music; it's always playing throughout my house," he said. "I have a huge collection of classics and as I listen — often at random, I take notes if something truly strikes me. When I notice that this or that could work in a translation to rock or heavy metal, I remember it and I pursue it! This has been going on for a long time!"

There are several reasons for the necessary experimentations that faced Wolf. Most classical compositions were written to be performed by a full orchestra. The fluid timing, those multiple, complex layers and sections that stretched out for lengthy periods, classical music was simply never designed to be played to the rigid beat so prevalent in rock 'n' roll.

"Headbangers Symphony" showcases an overabundance of highly skilled improvisations. Wolf took the main pieces, and then wrote riffs that fit them. Lastly, in the grand hard rock tradition, he layered a guitar solo over it. He shaped the sound into a quite adventurous elegance, but the key themes of the originals remained.

The first volume had a focus on the better known pieces; the second, "Headbangers Symphony", takes a similar approach. "In general, it does follow the same path," admitted Wolf, "but this time I did try to add a couple lesser known compositions. Mostly though, listeners will say, hey, I know that melody… so it's pretty much the same path as the 'Classical' record. It was my desire to record melodies I like and melodies people recognize."

Now that the album is done, Wolf is proud looking back and is pleased with this true labour of love; something he has wanted to do since the first record, "Classical", came out almost twenty years ago. While ACCEPT's Peter Baltes added several impressive bass lines, and other notable guest musicians made an appearance as well, the bulk of the work was completed by himself and Italian musician and arranger Melo Mafali.

"There are two major categories," Wolf elaborated. "First, the heavier stuff like Beethoven, the bombastic, full force epics on which you can simply shred along. Of course then there are the ballads, slower compositions that bring out the deeper feelings in each listener."

The highlights on "Headbangers Symphony" are plentiful and easy to pinpoint. The album kicks off with "Scherzo" from the well-known "9th Symphony" by Ludwig v. Beethoven. Many listeners might recognize the opening riff from the ACCEPT song "Teutonic Terror". "Back in 2009," Wolf explained, "when we started working on the songs for the 'Blood Of The Nations' album, I played the classical demos to our producer Andy Sneap. He liked that riff a lot and insisted on using it for the album. So we wrote 'Teutonic Terror' using this 'borrowed' riff."

Other highlights follow in rapid succession: "Night On Bald Mountain" by Russian composer Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky is a very dramatic dark song on the theme of a witches' Sabbath, a perfect fit for Wolf's "metal treatment." "Symphony No. 40" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be immediately recognizable. "It's a little more uptempo, pretty happy, typical for Mozart. Not mean and heavy as most of the other stuff," Wolf pointed out. Additional highpoints include Wolf's interpretations of such masterworks as Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake", "Pathétique" also from Ludwig v. Beethoven, "Méditation" from the opera "Thais" by French composer Jules Massenet, and, of course, the aforementioned "Madame Butterfly".

All in all, the eleven compositions on "Headbangers Symphony" paint the perfect portrait of Wolf's lifelong passion for the classics and his adoration for heavy metal. "I worked so much and so long on this until I felt it was ready," he said. "Now it is and I am thrilled and proud. This is my baby, my labor of love, ready for me to set it free."

On March 13, former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno performed at a special NWOBHM symposium in Tokai, Japan. More video footage of his performance — during which he was backed by members of the classic Japanese metal bands OUTRAGE and UNITED — can be seen below.

Di'Anno told Argentina's CM TV last August that "injuries" to his knee have forced him to sit down while performing. He added: "But it's worked in Wacken [at the Wacken Open Air festival], and everywhere in Brazil. I think the fans don't give a shit to see me; they just wanna hear me sing. So maybe six months I have to do this before the [knee] operation. I still wanna play, so I sit down and sing."

A year ago, Di'Anno spoke in more detail about the condition of his knee which is making it impossible for him to stand up and perform. He said: "I don't wanna swear… [Laughs] but it's fucked. It's actually fucked. Because this has been [going on for] seven years. I should have done this seven years ago. And now all the ligament is gone and all it basically is is bone rubbing against bone. And, oh my God, it's so painful some days, it's unbelievable. And through my mother, I caught osteoporosis [a progressive bone disease in which the bone density reduces over years] as well. When you get to a certain age. And [I can't be] buggered with that. [I'm like], sod this; I can't be dealing with it. So [fixing] the knee will make it a lot better."

Di'Anno added: "I can't take it anymore. And it will be so nice to be pain-free [after] seven years."

Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN before being replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ, the new band featuring Di'Anno alongside members of Paul's longtime German touring backing group THE PHANTOMZ, released its debut album, "The League Of Shadows", in North America last July via Metalville Records.

Swedish death metal torchbearers The Crown have launched a brand new video clip for the song “Iblis Bane”, taken from their latest album Death Is Not Dead. What could be better than starting the weekend with a lethal dose of classic and original death metal from one of the originators of the legendary Swedish scene?

The band has also released a full live show in HD. Watch below:

The Crown will play some selected live shows this year. Confirmed dates are listed below, with more to be announced soon.

May
13 - Gaswerk - Winterthur, Switzerland             
14 - Bikini Test - La Chaux De Fonds, Switzerland                                  
15 - Circolo Colony - Brescia, Italy   

Lineup:

Johan Lindstrand – vocals
Marko Tervonen – guitars
Magnus Olsfeld – bass
Robin Sörqvist – guitars
Henrik Axelsson - drums

Metal Church have announced that "guitarist Rick Van Zandt has fully recovered from his recent eyeball surgery and is ready to rock!" The band are set to announce more US tour dates today. Stay tuned for updates.

Metal Church recently hit the US charts at #57 with their Mike Howe reunion album XI. “I can hardly believe the response to this new album,” exclaims guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof on their highest chart position ever selling 10,771.

Howe has been overwhelmed by the response to his return stating: “It has and continues to be an honor for me to be the singer in Metal Church. The out-pouring of support from the fans has truly been amazing!”

Check out BraveWords glowing review of XI at this location. A BraveWords review and gallery of their recent New York City appearance can be found here.

“No Tomorrow” video:

 

 

Evil Masquerade will release their new album, The Outcast Hall Of Fame, on May 19th via Dark Minstrel Music. A video trailer with audio samples can be found below.

The album was produced by Henrik Flyman, and was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, Jorn). Featured vocalists include Mats Levén (Candlemass), Rick Altzi (Masterplan, At Vance), Apollo Papathanasio (Spiritual Beggars), and Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Malrun). Backing vocals by Yenz Leonhardt (Stormwarrior, Lacrimosa).

The album’s front cover was once again painted by David Troest, who also did the artwork for the albums The Digital Crucifix and 10 Years In The Dark.

Tracklisting:

“The Outcast Hall Of Fame”
“Death Of God”
“Darkness (I Need You)”
“One Thousand Roses And A Lot Of Pain”
“Lost Inside A World Of Fear”
“The Spineless”
“Märk Hur Vår Skugga”
“On No Way To Broadway”

Trailer:

Video footage of EVANESCENCE guitarist Jen Majura paying tribute to legendary singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer Prince with a performance of his classic song "Purple Rain" can be seen below. Majura sings the track and is accompanied on guitar by Dennis Hormes.

Prince died unexpectedly at the age of 57 on Thursday (April 21) in his Minnesota home.

Reports of Prince's death began surfacing Thursday morning and were soon confirmed by his publicist. At press time, the death was being investigated and a cause of death had not yet been announced. The singer was said to be ill with the flu in recent weeks

Prince's death comes only days after he said he wasn't feeling well, causing the cancelation at least one concert in Atlanta. He eventually played the city, after which his plane made an emergency landing. At the time, his publicist said that he was "fine and at home."

Prince has won seven Grammy Awards, and he won an Oscar for the original song score to the classic film "Purple Rain", in which he also starred.

He recorded some 39 studio albums, recording and touring prolifically even after a very public battle to get out of his major label contract threatened to derail his career.

Majura made her live debut with EVANESCENCE last November. She has previously played with the German metal bands EQUILIBRIUM and KNORKATOR.

Canadian prog outfit, Heaven’s Cry, have released a lyric video for “The Human Factor”, a track from their forthcoming album, Outcast.

Continuing where their 2012 full-length Wheels Of Impermanence left off, Outcast is a concept album that examines the corruption of governments around the world and incites humankind to rally up and fight as this will be the key to our survival and growth.

Scheduled for release on June 3rd via Prosthetic Records, Outcast was self-produced by the band along with Yannick St-Amand.

 

Tracklisting:

“The Human Factor”
“Outcast”
“The Day The System Failed”
“If I Only Knew”
“A Shift In Scenery”
“Symmetry”
“Alive”

“The Human Factor” lyric video:

Teaser:

 

Outcast will showcased live during three record-release shows in Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec. Additional support will be provided by Borealis and Hillward.

Dates are as follows:

June
3 - Ottawa, ON - Mavericks
4 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar
5 - Quebec City, QC - L'Anti

"Delirium", the title track of the new album from Italian heavy rockers LACUNA COIL, can be streamed below. Due on May 27 through Century Media, the CD was recorded at BRX Studio in Milan between December 2015 and February 2016. The effort was produced by LACUNA COIL bassist and main songwriter Marco "Maki" Coti-Zelati, with engineering by Marco Barusso and additional assistance from Dario Valentini. Coti-Zelati also created the artwork for "Delirium", which is based on an atmospheric session captured by Italian photographer Alessandro Olgiati.

"Delirium" track listing:

01. The House Of Shame02. Broken Things03. Delirium04. Blood, Tears, Dust05. Downfall06. Take Me Home07. You Love Me 'Cause I Hate You08. Ghost In The Mist09. My Demons10. Claustrophobia11. Ultima Ratio

"Delirium" is LACUNA COIL's first album to featuring American drummer Ryan Blake Folden, who has been touring with the band since 2012.

LACUNA COIL will make its much-anticipated return to North America as part of the "Delirium" tour, starting in San Francisco on May 7. The first leg of the tour will feature BUTCHER BABIES as direct support, with 9ELECTRIC and PAINTED WIVES rounding out the stellar package. The second leg will be announced in the coming weeks and will have a different band as direct support, while the rest of the touring package remains intact.

LACUNA COIL's female vocalist Cristina Scabbia states: "Everything feels different this time in the LACUNA COIL camp. It's something I can hear it and something I can breathe. A new wave of confidence, a renewed essence and pure drops of energy sweating out of our pores. I can't wait to show it to all my friends and welcome you all once again in our family. Trust me, this is a 'Delirium' you will feel the NEED to be part of."

Adds male vocalist Andrea Ferro (male vocals): "'Delirium' is not the beginning of a new chapter in LACUNA COIL's life; it is the beginning of a new book! We're really excited about starting this touring cycle with such a fresh vibe, meeting old and new friends around the U.S. and get such great touring companions. We're just writing the first page of this book and it is already a crazy one."

Says bassist Marco Coti-Zelati: "We're all super excited to finally be coming back to the U.S. and we're ready to kick some asses with the greatest album that we've ever made! New lineup, new sound, a new vibe and new emotions. I can't wait to see the reactions from the audiences when they hear the 'Delirium' songs played for the first time. Fresh, dark and powerful emotions all at the same time. The strength and heavy approach of thrash metal from the '90s — in a modern style. To me, this is the album that I think will be exciting to both of our older AND newer fans. I'm excited, and ready to have some fun on stage, while we spread the 'Delirium' to the people."

States drummer Ryan Blake Folden: "For me, I am truly excited to get on the road and play some new material. This is the first record I got to be a part of with the band and I can't wait to finally see people reactions to songs that I have been really excited about for over a year now. Not to mention I'll finally be expressing myself on stage in a way that I haven't been able to do in some time, having up until this point performed music that predated my arrival to the band. With the manifestation of the theme, costumes and artwork, along with the music, the band creatively and passionately poured itself into making this something special."

Speaking to Revolver magazine, Scabbia stated about the lyrical themes covered on "Delirium": "There's a lot to say about it, and there's a lot of things that we still need to decide, and a lot of things that can change during the process. But overall, it's an album that will be centered on insanity — that was the main inspiration for this album. From simple types of insanity, like being in the same bed with your partner and not talking to each other but having your phone in your hand, or something more serious and specific, like Stockholm Syndrome, where a person loves another person in a crazy way, even if it's the wrong one. We even imagined that the entire record takes place in sort of a hospital or asylum, where different patients are telling us their stories."

Asked if "Delirium" will be a similar kind of record to 2014's "Broken Crown Halo", which had a "cinematic vibe" to it, Scabbia said: "Even more! And we're already discussing stage clothes and stage setup for the tour. I've always liked the theatrical side of the show. I've never agreed with the bands that don't even consider their look onstage, just because only music counts. Of course music counts — but if you go to a show, you want to see a band acting like they're doing a show. So I think costumes are important. It's like going to the theater and seeing the actors without their proper clothes — it's not the same! And honestly, it's more fun for the band — putting on the costumes before you go onstage, it's sort of a ritual, and it puts you into the show even more. It's still you, but it's a different side of yourself."

As previously reported, LACUNA COIL recruited Los Angeles-based musician Daniel Sahagún (BLACK LODGE) as a fill-in guitarist for the band following the recent departure of Marco "Maus" Biazzi.

Sahagún previously played bass for LACUNA COIL in 2014 when the band's bassist and main songwriter Marco "Maki" Coti-Zelati was sick and unable to tour with the group.

Daniel made his live debut as LACUNA COIL's guitarist during tis year's 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise.

Biazzi left LACUNA COIL in January, explaining in a statement: "I felt I couldn't add more in this project any longer so I decided to leave my second family, LACUNA COIL, to take a different path for a new challenge in my life.

LACUNA COIL in February 2014 parted ways with guitarist Cris "Pizza" Migliore and drummer Cristiano "Criz" Mozzati.

Photo credit: Alessandro Olgiati