Nuclear Blast Records will release the new Discharge album, End Of Days, on May 13th in North America. The album track “Raped And Pillaged” is available for streaming below.

Formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts, his twin brother Tony "Bones" Roberts and Royston “Rainy” Wainwright, Discharge are cited as a key influence by renowned artists such as Metallica and Anthrax.

End Of Days tracklisting:

“New World Order”
“Raped And Pillaged”
“End Of Days”
“The Broken Law”
“False Flag Entertainment”
“Meet Your Maker”
“Hatebomb”
“It Can't Happen Here”
“Infected”
“Killing Yourself To Live”
“Looking At Pictures Of Genocide”
“Hung Drawn And Quartered”
“Population Control”
“The Terror Alert”
“Accessories By Molotov (Part 2)”

Track-by-track Part 1:

Track-by-track Part 2:

Track-by-track Part 3:

“Hatebomb” lyric video:

In the video below, JJ (vocals) and Bones (guitar) discuss the band's songwriting process and their respective hometowns:

In another video, JJ and Bones discuss signing to Nuclear Blast:

Upcoming tour dates include:

May
28 - Baltimore, OR - Maryland Deathfest

June
18 - Clisson, France - Hellfest

July
23 - Coventry, England - The Arches

August
4-7 - Blackpool, England - Rebellion Punk Festival

October
22 - Cardiff, Wales - The Moon

Discharge are:

Jeff Janiak (JJ) - vocals
To‎ny Roberts (Bones) - lead guitar
Terry Roberts (Tezz) - rhythm guitar
Roy Wainwright (Rainy) - bass
Dave Bridgewood - drums

 

Influential and iconic heavy metal band DIAMOND HEAD will release its first album of new material in eight years on April 22. Titled "Diamond Head", the disc features an exciting new talent in singer Rasmus Bom Andersen.

"Diamond Head" can now be streamed in its entirety using the SoundCloud widget below.

In 2014, DIAMOND HEAD invited London-based, Danish-born Ras to join the band. Together they completed a European tour, which included appearances at Hard Rock Hell and Headbangers Open Air in Germany. The spark of creativity led the band to start working on the new album in January 2015.

Brian Tatler, founder of DIAMOND HEAD, said: "When we began talking with Ras about making a new record, he said we should write the songs as a band just like DIAMOND HEAD did at the beginning of our career. There’s no substitute for writing together in the same room. We spark each other off and create something far bigger than we could have done individually."

Brian continued: "Ras has certainly renewed the energy within the band. I had no interest in doing another record, but after working with Ras on the European tour, that all suddenly changed. I wanted to make a record with him. He's a confident singer and he's not trying to fill anyone's shoes."

Speaking about the new DIAMOND HEAD album's musical direction, Brian said: "This new album has an echo of the early albums, but I always try to push our music forward somewhere new if possible."

Ras added: "All in all, this album was made with the band’s first fans foremost in mind, from start to finish. We wanted to write songs that would have ties to the best parts of the all the previous albums. We feel we have achieved what we set out to do and we hope everyone will hear and feel the DIAMOND HEAD spirit through this new eponymous record."

In general, the album lyrics focus on political and environmental themes, specifically warning that our world is in many ways leaning towards self-destruction. The opening and closing songs encapsulate these themes, while the body of the album explores subtopics in more depth, along with songs dealing with lighter subjects that aren't so heavy on the heart.

"Diamond Head" track listing:

01. Bones02. Shout At The Devil03. Set My Soul On Fire04. See You Rise05. All The Reasons You Live06. Wizards Sleeve07. Our Time Is Now08. Speed09. Blood On My Hands10. Diamonds11. Silence

Tatler joined members of METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX at the U.K.'s Sonisphere festival in 2011, performing DIAMOND HEAD's classic song "Am I Evil?" METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich addressed the crowd, saying: "If it wasn't for Brian Tatler, there's a pretty good fucking chance none of us would be here tonight. Would you give it up for Brian Tatler one more time?"

Speaking about this event, Brian said: "It was great. A nod towards DIAMOND HEAD to say, 'Respect. You're an important band. You might not have sold millions of records, but you're an influential band.' And it's nice to be influential." Brian continued: "But equally, if it wasn't for METALLICA, then DIAMOND HEAD would not have had this second wind."

WackenTV has uploaded Cryptopsy’s full set from Wacken Open Air 2015, which was held from July 30th - August 1st in Wacken, Germany. The video is streaming below.

Cryptopsy’s setlist:

“Defenestration”
“Gravaged”
“Two-Pound Torch”
“Halothane Glow”
“Graves Of The Fathers”
“Slit Your Guts”
“Benedictine Convulsion”
“Phobophile”

Hammerheart Records has reached an agreement to release Cryptopsy’s The Book Of Suffering Tome 1 EP on CD and LP formats. Already digitally released last year, but not yet as physical copies, The Book of Suffering Tome 1 shows Cryptopsy in excellent shape.

The four tracks featured are a whirlwind of brutality and exploding technical skills that will make any fan of Cryptopsy drool, but need to be noted too by fans of Origin, Whitechapel and the likes. Cryptopsy have returned to form on this EP.

Hammerheart Records will release this on CD and LP in July. More details to follow.

Tracklisting:

"Detritus (The One They Kept)"
"The Knife, The Head And What Remains"
"Halothane Glow"
"Framed By Blood"

EP stream:

"Detritus (The One They Kept)” video:

 

Peter Mensch, the manager of bands including Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Muse, said earlier this week that YouTube is killing the record industry, which was reported BBC News.

"YouTube, they're the devil," he told a BBC Radio 4 documentary on the music business. "We don't get paid at all."

He said the site's business model, in which artists make money by placing ads around their music, was unsustainable.

"If someone doesn't do something about YouTube, we're screwed," he said. "It's over. Someone turn off the lights."

Mensch's arguments echo concerns raised in the annual report of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which was released last week. It said there was widening "value gap" between the volume of music consumed on free, "user-upload" services - including YouTube, Daily Motion and Soundcloud - and the amount of revenue they generate for the industry. An estimated 900 million consumers on these sites resulted in revenue of $634m (£447m) in 2015. By contrast the world's 68 million paying music subscribers generated about $2bn (£1.4bn).

Read the full story at BBC News.

Scott Timberg at Salon.com has responded to the report, stating "Don’t blame YouTube for screwing musicians, blame Metallica. Their fight with Napster set the tone for today’s crummy digital deals."

Following is Timberg's take on Mensch's comments in the BBC News report:

"Now, it’s good to have musicians and industry folk pushing back against the digital services as a way of keeping the tech corporations honest. But to liken YouTube to Satan is not especially useful. Plenty of musicians are justifiably mad about the low royalties paid for music that runs there, and getting that money to musicians still doesn’t work as smoothly as it’s supposed to.

But a smaller number of musicians – mostly very vocal ones – have found real success by posting their music there and building audiences. Digital utopians would tell you that everyone can get rich online. It’s not true, but some certainly have.

Mensch’s statement is a bit strange, though, for reasons that go beyond its overstatement: It’s a reminder that one of the reasons musicians have so much trouble getting paid these days comes from a gargantuan mistake made by… Metallica. The first big battle in the digital services vs. musicians war was fought by Metallica, and the band misfired so badly that a lot of people who’d otherwise be sympathetic turned on musicians and haven’t turned back. And younger people inherit an atmosphere in which the artists seem like the greedy ones and the tech companies are – like the fans – rebels fighting for choice and freedom."

Go to this location for more.

On August 20th, Metallica will headline the first rock concert at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the new home of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. They are currently in the studio working on a new album.

According to Excelsior, one person was killed and nearly thirty others were injured after a bus carrying a group of GUNS N' ROSES fans to the band's concert in Mexico City on Wednesday crashed on the highway connecting Mexico state and Querétaro.

35-year-old Mauricio Ballesteros Zamora died after suffering head trauma and internal injuries, and 29 others were injured, three of them seriously.

It is believed that the bus driver lost control of the vehicle while speeding on wet roadway, causing the bus to overturn.

The injured people were transported to the IMSS hospital in Tepeji del Río de Ocampo.

GUNS N' ROSES played two shows in Mexico City this week and will play one more concert at Coachella next weekend. A full North American tour is on tap for this summer.

Croatian Iron Maiden fan community Maiden Croatia have announced that the long-awaited Somewhere In Time book is now available in special edition.

A special Maiden Croatia pre-sale is available where every buyer can order a special Maiden 1986 edition (hardcover, 256 pages and customized book cover). The 30th Anniversary edition sold out in just few hours. Only 86 copies are available for this special edition, and will not be reprinted in same format anytime again.

Every book cover will be fully customized. Space car plate on rear cover will be different on each copy. Buyer can directly advise what will be on car plate (up to 10 digits, numbers or letters).

“Somewhere In Time, published 30 years ago in 1986, is one of the most intriguing music albums ever written. If you think you know everything about Somewhere In Time, Iron Maiden’s sixth studio album, you need to check this book and ask yourself same question again. 256 pages about only one Maiden album? Yes…. but this album deserves even more.”

Author Stjepan Juras is very proud of his book: “This book is my the best Iron Maiden book so far. It is my gift to the all Iron Maiden fans, especially fans of this magical album from 1986.”

Any fan who wants to order this fully customized Somewhere In Time book can do so until Monday, April 25th, or as soon as possible, because only 35 books are left in this special full custom edition. Books can be ordered at this location.

In a new interview with Greece’s RockPages, legendary vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (Sunstorm, ex-Rainbow, Deep Purple) discusses a new project he has coming up.

Says Joe: “I am currently writing for another project of mine that is pretty secret and I can’t divulge too much about it now, with a very famous Swedish producer and it’s going to change my sound completely. Which is really interesting to me, because I think it’s time for me to be born again in a way and I have so much material, so I’ve been busy writing with this producer and recording some things. We are at the beginning stages…”

Check out the video interview below:

Sunstorm’s fourth album, Edge Of Tomorrow, will be released on May 13th. A music video for the album’s title track can be seen below:

Sunstorm is Joe Lynn Turner's succesful AOR / melodic rock project, something that came about for the first time in 2006 when Frontiers President Serafino Perugino wanted to dig up some unreleased gems that JLT wrote during the late 80’s and early 90’s.

The very good reviews and acclaim which surrounded the debut self-titled release was the fuel that ignited three more records, until the project was momentarily shelved when Joe started working on the Rated X supergroup with Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice.

After the release of the Rated X album, Joe wanted to go back to the more melodic material of Sunstorm, but also wanted to retain some of the harder edge which the Rated X album had. So he asked producer and songwriter Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Edge of Forever) to come up with some new songs in that vein. Del Vecchio joined forces with Simone Mularoni, guitar player of Italian prog metallers DGM. Together they developed songs which were exactly what Joe wanted, so it was a natural process to move forward and record another Sunstorm album. As usual, other songwriters, such as Soren Kronqvist and Daniel Palmqvist completed the array of individuals involved.

Joe Lynn Turner says: “This new Sunstorm album is the best of the series! We went harder... stronger... and heavier than ever before without losing the integrity of what the project is about... I call it Melodic Metal! The songs are very well crafted, the messages are profound, the performances amazing… and the sound is incredible! All involved can be very proud of such a great music. I urge anyone who loves great music to check out Edge Of Tomorrow, you won't be disappointed!”

The resulting album shows a slightly new direction for Sunstorm, which still features organic and very strong melodies as a trademark.

Edge Of Tomorrow tracklisting:

“Don’t Walk Away From A Goodbye”
“Edge Of Tomorrow”
“Nothing Left To Say”
“Heart Of The Storm”
“The Sound Of Goodbye”
“The Darkness Of This Dawn”
“You Hold Me Down”
“Angel Eyes”
“Everything You’ve Got”
“Tangled In Blue”
“Burning Fire”

“The Sound Of Goodbye”:

Sunstorm lineup:

Joe Lynn Turner - Lead Vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Hammond organ, keyboards, backing vocals
Simone Mularoni - guitars
Nik Mazzucconi - bass
Francesco Jovino - drums

Metal guru and That Metal Show co-host Eddie Trunk has weighed in on the news that AC/DC have replaced singer Brian Johnson with Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose for their upcoming tour dates. Originally published here, Trunk's complete article is available below:

"Well, now the news is official about Axl’s involvement in AC/DC, at least to fill in for these remaining shows. If you heard my podcast this is what Axl and I discussed at the Vegas show last weekend and he asked me not to speak about until it was officially out. Needless to say for Axl this is a moment for him to play with his heroes. He told me how excited he was to have the chance to do this and said he would do an interview with me about it if I didn’t say anything until official word comes out. So hopefully that is coming! You also no doubt know Angus jammed with GnR last night at Coachella to make it official. The clips on YouTube sounded cool and clearly vocally Axl can handle the gig. But there are way more questions than that. The release from AC/DC made it pretty clear they are done with Brian Johnson. 

What really happened with Brian is anyone’s guess. But nobody is buying the hearing thing that I know. My sources tell me Brian was slowing down and didn’t want to work as hard as Angus (who is younger) did. I also know that on the latest tour Brian only wanted to do 2-3 shows max a week. Something that is expensive for a band when off that much on the road (Aerosmith has to do this with Tyler). It comes with age and guys slowing. I suspect it reached a breaking point and that was that. I cannot believe it was a sudden hearing issue. Maybe it played a small role, but no way is it the real story in full. I can’t believe after 36 years AC/DC would say goodbye to their singer and not find a work around. MANY have hearing issues and find a way to make it work in rock. And until Brian speaks, we will never know. Brian is a total class act. So very possible he takes the high road here. But it still blows me away how so many fans are not demanding a real answer on Brian and are so quick to move on.

But none of this has anything to do with Axl. who will be a kid in a candy store! What a story for him. He has Guns back to mega stadium level, and is joining a band of heroes about to do stadiums in Europe! Hopefully his leg is mended so he can move some. Also note the remaining AC/DC dates all already fall in a window GnR was off. So this doesn’t impact them at all. AC/DC needed a massive name to keep people from returning these already sold tickets for the remaining dates. They certainly got that with Axl. But that doesn’t answer their long term issue of a singer IF they want to go on beyond this. I doubt Axl can do both gigs full time? If this is a victory lap for AC/DC then cool. Finish up and say goodbye. If they want to go for another 10 years, and that may have been they very issue with Brian, then they need a new younger singer they can build with. I also wouldn’t be shocked if Axl/DC leans a bit more on Bon era material since that really fits him slightly more. Will this work? Will they mesh personality wise? Axl will have to go on at a normal time. Does that work? I think Axl will do everything to kick ass in this gig. It is a major dream for him. He knows he’s having a fun fling here and that while Guns is very much his band, AC/DC is just filling in and doing something he never believed as a kid he would do. It will be another very interesting chapter to watch for sure!"

On Saturday, April 16th Guns N' Roses took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival. During their set the band was joined by AC/DC guitarist Angus Young and performed the AC/DC classics "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Riff Raff". Fan-filmed video is available below.

AC/DC will resume their Rock Or Bust World Tour with Axl Rose joining on vocals. The European stadium tour dates begin on May 7th in Lisbon, Portugal and run through June 12th in Aarhus, Denmark as previously announced (see below for full itinerary).  Following this European run of dates with AC/DC, Axl Rose will head out on his Guns N' Roses, 'Not In This Lifetime' Summer Stadium Tour.

"AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures.  As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian's decision to stop touring and save his hearing. We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfill this commitment."

The 10 postponed US shows will be rescheduled and announced imminently, also with Axl Rose.

AC/DC European Tour Dates:

May
7 - Lisbon, Portugal - Passeio Maritimo De Alges
10 - Seville, Spain - Estadio De La Cartuja
13 - Marseille, France - Stade Velodrome
16 - Werchter, Belgium - Werchter Site
19 - Vienna, Austria - Erns-Happel Stadium
22 - Prague, Czech Republic - Letnany Airport
26 - Hamburg, Germany - Volksparkstadion
29 - Berne, Switzerland - Stade De Suisse

June
1 - Leipzig, Germany - Red Bull Arena
4 - London, England - The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
9 - Manchester, England - Etihad Stadium
12 - Aarhus, Denmark - Ceres Park

Complete Tour Schedule for Axl Rose

Guns N’ Roses Not In This Lifetime:

April
19 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol                               
20 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol                             
23 - Indio, CA - Coachella

AC/DC Rock or Bust:

May
7 - Lisbon, Portugal - Passeio Maritimo De Alges
10 - Seville, Spain - Estadio De La Cartuja
13 - Marseille, France - Stade Velodrome
16 - Werchter, Belgium - Werchter Site
19 - Vienna, Austria - Erns-Happel Stadium
22 - Prague, Czech Republic - Letnany Airport
26 - Hamburg, Germany - Volksparkstadion
29 - Berne, Switzerland - Stade De Suisse

June
1 - Leipzig, Germany - Red Bull Arena
4 - London, England - The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
9 - Manchester, England - Etihad Stadium
12 - Aarhus, Denmark - Ceres Park

Guns N’ Roses Not In This Lifetime:

June
23 - Ford Field - Detroit, MI
26 - FedEx Field - Washington, DC
29 - Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, MO

July
1 - Soldier Field - Chicago, IL
6 - Paul Brown Stadium - Cincinnati, OH
9 - Nissan Stadium - Nashville, TN
12 - Heinz Field - Pittsburgh, PA
14 - Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, PA
16 - Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON
19 - Gillette Stadium - Foxboro, MA
23 - Metlife Stadium - East Rutherford, NJ
27 - Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA
29 - Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium - Orlando, FL
31 - Mercedes-Benz Superdome - New Orleans, LA

August
3 - AT&T Stadium - Arlington, TX
5 - NRG Stadium - Houston, TX
9 - AT&T Park - San Francisco, CA
12 - CenturyLink Field - Seattle, WA
15 - University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, AZ
22 - Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA

The following are some of IRON MAIDEN' recent North and South American concert attendances/grosses, as reported by Billboard magazine:

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Estadio Nacional Jorge Magico GonzalezCity/State: San Salvador, El SalvadorDate: March 6, 2016Gross Sales: $1,331,925Attendance/Capacity: 22,041 / 22,041Ticket Prices: $175, $15

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa AymaCity/State: San Jose, Costa Rica Date: March 8, 2016Gross Sales: $996,194Attendance/Capacity: 16,655 / 18,000Ticket Prices: $100.36, $32.84

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Estadio NacionalCity/State: Santiago, ChileDate: March 11, 2016Gross Sales: $2,181,940Attendance/Capacity: 54,911 / 56,674Ticket Prices: $123.01, $28.94

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Estadio Mario Alberto KempesCity/State: Cordoba, Argentina Date: March 13, 2016Gross Sales: $857,309Attendance/Capacity: 17,680 / 18,600Ticket Prices: $80.43, $36.86

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Estadio Velez SarsfieldCity/State: Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDate: March 15, 2016Gross Sales: $1,558,520Attendance/Capacity: 32,629 / 32,629Ticket Prices: $77.08, $37.03

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: HSBC ArenaCity/State: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Date: March 17, 2016Gross Sales: $844,709Attendance/Capacity: 12,219 / 12,219Ticket Prices: $156.12, $29.11

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Esplanada do MineiraoCity/State: Belo Horizonte, Brazil Date: March 19, 2016Gross Sales: $1,165,280Attendance/Capacity: 16,844 / 16,844Ticket Prices: $157.31, $34.50

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Ginasio Nilson NelsonCity/State: Brasilia, Brazil Date: March 22, 2016Gross Sales: $631,263Attendance/Capacity: 10,942 / 11,380Ticket Prices: $132.45, $27.59

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Arena CastelaoCity/State: Fortaleza, Brazil Date: March 24, 2016Gross Sales: $1,449,220Attendance/Capacity: 23,531 / 23,531Ticket Prices: $215.35, $13.84

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, ANTHRAXVenue: Allianz ParqueCity/State: Sao Paulo, Brazil Date: March 26, 2016Gross Sales: $2,844,250Attendance/Capacity: 39,583 / 39,583Ticket Prices: $168.17, $27.12

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, THE RAVEN AGEVenue: Madison Square GardenCity/State: New York City, New YorkDate: March 30, 2016Gross Sales: $1,472,331Attendance/Capacity: 13,289 / 13,289Ticket Prices: $125, $64.50

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, THE RAVEN AGEVenue: Bell CentreCity/State: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Date: April 1, 2016Gross Sales: $866,918Attendance/Capacity: 14,963 / 14,963Ticket Prices: $67.47, $42.02

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, THE RAVEN AGEVenue: Air Canada CentreCity/State: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Date: April 3, 2016Gross Sales: $889,288Attendance/Capacity: 13,734 / 13,734Ticket Prices: $74.91, $38.03

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, THE RAVEN AGEVenue: Palace Of Auburn HillsCity/State: Auburn Hills, Michigan Date: April 5, 2016Gross Sales: $750,508Attendance/Capacity: 10,232 / 10,900Ticket Prices: $89.50, $29.50

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, THE RAVEN AGEVenue: United CenterCity/State: Chicago, IllinoisDate: April 6, 2016Gross Sales: $1,085,976Attendance/Capacity: 13,968 / 13,968Ticket Prices: $89.50, $39.50

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, THE RAVEN AGEVenue: Rexall PlaceCity/State: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Date: April 8, 2016Gross Sales: $842,035Attendance/Capacity: 12,813 / 12,813Ticket Prices: $74.40, $22.51

Artist/Event: IRON MAIDEN, THE RAVEN AGEVenue: Rogers ArenaCity/State: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Date: April 9, 2016Gross Sales: $794,762Attendance/Capacity: 12,478 / 13,405Ticket Prices: $74.59, $22.57

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).

MAIDEN's sixteenth — and first-ever double — studio album, "The Book Of Souls", was released worldwide on September 4, 2015 through Parlophone Records (BMG in the U.S.A). The CD was recorded in Paris, France with producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added last year.

IRON MAIDEN announced in May 2015 that touring plans to support the album wouldn't happen until this year to allow singer Bruce Dickinson time to fully recuperate after his successful cancer treatment.

"What's special about this tour is that a year ago I didn't even know if I could sing," Dickinson told reporters in February. "We've had an amazing turnaround in fortune after, obviously being ill a year ago, getting rid of that, and getting out and looking forward to doing the tour."

Regarding the fan reception to the new CD and the current tour, Dickinson said: "The album was a massive success, and we were about that far [finger and thumb barely separated] off from getting the No. 1 slot [in its debut week on The Billboard 200 chart]. So now, we get to bring it out to the people, and, I mean, there's a few tickets left but not many. Pretty much the whole of the U.S. is sold out. It's amazing."

Wormfood, the avantgarde and decadent metal band from Paris, France, have revealed an extract from their long-awaited new album, L'Envers. The track is called "Gone On The Hoist (G.O.T.H.)" and features guest appearances by Paul Bento (ex-Type O Negative, ex-Carnivore, Wrench) and Axel Wursthorn (ex-Carnival In Coal). Listen  below:

The cover artwork for L'Envers was born from the collaboration of the photographer Andy Julia and the digital artist Hicham Haddaji.

L'Envers will be released on May 20th via Apathia Records, on A5 deluxe digipack CD and digital. A teaser video for the new album, created by Simon Ravet, can be seen below:

This is the first new album with the new lineup:

Emmanuel Lévy (Erdh, ex-Carnival In Coal live) - vocals, guitars, lyrics
Renaud Fauconnier (Abstrusa Unde) - guitars
Pierre Le Pape (Melted Space) - keyboards
Vincent Liard - bass
Thomas Jacquelin (Öxxö Xööx, Régiment) - drums

Mix and master duties for L'Envers were handled by Axel Wursthorn, at the Walnut Groove Studio. More details to follow.

(Photo - Andy Julia)

Legendary Swedish doom metallers CANDLEMASS will release a special 30th-anniversary EP titled "Death Thy Lover" on June 3 via Napalm. The four-track effort — which features Mats Levén on vocals — was recorded during September/October and will be made available as a four-page digipack, one-LP gatefold edition and one-LP gatefold webstore edition and old-school "skull-and-cross" slipmat. The cover artwork for the EP was created by Erik Rovanperä.

The official lyric video for the "Death Thy Lover" title track can be seen below.

Commented CANDLEMASS bassist and main songwriter Leif Edling: "We said we wouldn't record an album, but we had to release something for the 30th anniversary of CANDLEMASS, so it became this EP.

"'Death Thy Lover' is in a way a typical CANDLEMASS song and in a way not typical for us. The chorus is pretty poppy, if I can use that word — I would never have imagined I would use a term like that to describe anything CANDLEMASS — but the main riff is very metal and the opening is us going classic ANVIL."

He continued: "Our old friend and now singer Mats Levén is doing a great job on the song. He's also exactly what we needed live, and the band has became even better with him in the camp."

"Death Thy Lover" track listing:

01. Death Thy Lover02. Sleeping Giant03. Sinister N Sweet04. The Goose "The live shows we've done after 'Psalms For The Dead' (2012) have been fantastic," said CANDLEMASS guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman. "Mats has done a great job fronting CANDLEMASS and I don’t think we've ever been this good on stage before! Wacken, Bang Your Head!!!, Sweden Rock, Hellfest, Metal Days, Metallsvenskan, Maryland Death Fest... We have conquered them all."

Edling is slowly getting better from his chronic fatigue syndrome, and participated in the EP recordings.

German metallers RAGE will release their brand new studio album called "The Devil Strikes Again" on June 10 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was recorded in September/October 2015 at Megafon Studios (Burscheid, Germany) and at Soundchaser Studios (Zandhoven, Belgium). The production was handled by Marcos Rodriguez and Peavy Wagner, while Dan Swanö (MARDUK, OPETH, DISSECTION, KATATONIA) took care of the mixing and mastering at Unisound Studios (Grefrath, Germany). The cover artwork was created by Karim König (photo credit: Ivan K. Maras, director of the "My Way" music video).

The second studio trailer for "The Devil Strikes Again" is available below.

Commented RAGE bassist/vocalist Peavy Wagner: "Here comes RAGE's hardest record in years! The title says it all, and we have captured the band's unique spirit of our classic works. The cover reflects the music — hard and straight!"

"The Devil Strikes Again" will be made available as a 3CD digipack (limited to 1,000 copies; Nuclear Blast mailorder exclusive), 2CD digipack, and 2LP (black, white). All editions contain six bonus tracks (including three cover versions: "Bravado" by RUSH, "Slave To The Grind" by SKID ROW and "Open Fire" by Y&T). The 3CD digipack also features a bonus live CD from the latest European tour with HELLOWEEN.

"The Devil Strikes Again" track listing:

3CD digipack

CD1

01. The Devil Strikes Again02. My Way03. Back On Track04. The Final Curtain05. War06. Ocean Full Of Tears07. Deaf, Dumb And Blind08. Spirits Of The Night09. Times Of Darkness10. The Dark Side Of The Sun

Bonus CD

01. Bring Me Down02. Into The Fire03. Requiem04. Bravado (RUSH cover)05. Slave To The Grind (SKID ROW cover)06. Open Fire (Y&T cover)

Bonus Live CD

2CD digipack

CD1

01. The Devil Strikes Again02. My Way03. Back On Track04. The Final Curtain05. War06. Ocean Full Of Tears07. Deaf, Dumb And Blind08. Spirits Of The Night09. Times Of Darkness10. The Dark Side Of The Sun

Bonus CD

01. Bring Me Down02. Into The Fire03. Requiem04. Bravado (RUSH cover)05. Slave To The Grind (SKID ROW cover)06. Open Fire (Y&T cover)

2LP (Bonus Vinyl 45 RPM!)

Side A

01. The Devil Strikes Again02. My Way03. Back On Track04. The Final Curtain05. War

Side B

01. Ocean Full Of Tears02. Deaf, Dumb And Blind03. Spirits Of The Night04. Times Of Darkness05. The Dark Side Of The Sun

Side C (Bonus)

01. Bring Me Down02. Into The Fire03. Requiem

Side D (Bonus)

01. Bravado (RUSH cover)02. Slave To The Grind (SKID ROW cover)03. Open Fire (Y&T cover)

RAGE released a four-track EP on January 22 to coincide with the band's tour with HELLOWEEN.

"My Way" contained four tracks, including two re-recorded versions of songs from RAGE's 1995 album "Black In Mind" and a brand-new song in both English and Spanish.

"My Way" was the first RAGE release to feature the band's latest additions, Marcos Rodriguez (guitar) and Vassilios Maniatopoulos (drums)

Marcos Rodriguez was born in Venezuela and currently resides in Antwerpen, Belgium. The guitarist is a die-hard fan of RAGE who met Peavy on RAGE's 30th-anniversary tour when his band SOUNDCHASER provided support on parts of the trek. Vassilios "Lucky" Maniatopoulos has so far primarily made an appearance as the vocalist of the band TRI STATE CORNER. However, the former drum student and drum technician of former RAGE and current TRI STATE CORNER/REFUGE drummer Christos Efthimiadis is also longtime friend of Peavy's.

Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham and producer Kevin Shirley have confirmed that BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION will reunite in 2017.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION was the Anglo-American rock supergroup featuring Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE), Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER), keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa. The band split in late 2012 due to tensions between Bonamassa and Hughes.

Earlier today, Shirley took to his Facebook page to write: "We're refurbishing the fuel tanks and refitting the rocket. Getting ready for takeoff in 2017 again, and I'm fired up … Who's ready for another dose of BCC!?"

On his own Facebook page, Bonham posted a photo of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION and simply added the caption "2017!!!"

Hughes hinted at a possible reunion earlier in the day by posting a picture of the four musicians on Facebook and adding: "The lads …to quote Joe this morning… 'maybe it's time to break out the heavy bats again." In the comments, Glenn also added: "Thanks so much for your very kind messages … We hear you … & time is the HEALER …" He then wrote in a separate posting: "Preparing BCC Rocket Ship Re-launch for 2017 all systems go."

The war of words between Hughes and Bonamassa goes back to September 2012, when Hughes began telling journalists that Bonamassa's solo touring schedule was preventing BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION from touring and fulfilling its potential. He stated that if the situation didn't change, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's third album, "Afterglow", could be the group's last recording project.

"I was the only member of the band — in three albums and one live DVD — that spoke to the press, and not just on the phone, in person in Europe," Hughes explained to rock journalist Mitch Lafon in a recent interview. "And the guy that does the talking is the guy that's gonna get comments on. All I was trying to do was just hope that BCC would never break up. And, unfortunately, it did, and we had to move on with it. But as I listen to the music now, I listen to how incredible not just the songs are, but the way we played, the production, Joe's and my voice together, the enthusiasm, the emotion… all that stuff really brings it back home to me — how wonderful that band is. I say 'is.'"

He continued: "BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION will be the only band… will be the last band I play in. After that band, I did CALIFORNIA BREED, which was really a great record; it's just a difficult [band] to tour with.

"BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION… You can't better it for classic rock music; it's so damn good. And you need to know that we're all friends, and long may that remain."

Speaking about the press feud between him and Bonamassa over BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's split in 2012, Hughes said: "Joe and I, man to man, never, ever fell out — never had a bad word for each other. The problem with BLACK COUNTRY was that we wanted to continue, and Joe has an amazing solo career — a truly amazing… He works his fucking ass off. Us three wanted to play more, but Joe told us, kind of going into it, 'BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION is like another thing. I'm a solo artist.' Simply because the albums were so… We thought they were great, and we thought we should play some shows. We all thought, genuinely, that Joe would wanna play more, and it didn't happen. And we had to walk away from [it]. Like I said, the band broke up, and then, three months later, Joe's at my 60th-birthday party."

According to Hughes, replacing Bonamassa and carrying on with BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION was never an option. "I don't think Joe would have minded it, but I minded it," he said. "So Glenn Hughes came up with the name; big deal.

"To be honest, if they [BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION] were to replace me, I would have been hurt, 'cause I created it. And Joe is, I know, really proud of his work in BCC. It's a hard to pill to swallow that he didn't want to tour any more after 'Afterglow', but we had to get over it. And I only remember the great stuff, the great music; we had a lot of fun together."

He added: "There's nothing [that's] gonna stop Joe from doing what he's doing with his solo career, because he's having a great career, and I think it's great that he's doing well."

"Afterglow" sold 8,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart.

2012's "2" CD from BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION opened with 8,000 units to land at No. 71.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's self-titled debut album registered a first-week tally of 7,100 copies to enter the chart at No. 54.





(Thanks: Deep-Purple.it)

After all the rumors, speculation and sightings, it was confirmed last weekend that Axl Rose will be the singer in AC/DC for European dates in May and June.

The band postponed the last ten dates of its recent North American tour after doctors told longtime AC/DC singer Brian Johnson he faced "total hearing loss." Those dates will be rescheduled, also with Rose on vocals.

Asked for his opinion on the Axl Rose-AC/DC pairing, SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker told the SiriusXM satellite radio show "Eddie Trunk Live": "When I heard about this AC/DC thing, I felt very sorry about Brian, because Brian is a fantastic guy. I think he has to go into the comedian land, because, I mean, we spent a few nights until the morning — four, six o'clock at the Rihga Royal Hotel in New York — with Brian. It was fantastic. And when he talks, when he explains you something, he tells stories, it's a journey where you are so completely connected [to] what he is saying. So, in this case, I feel very sorry for him. I think he still even it was a hard time for him to take over from Bon Scott, but he did a fantastic job."

He continued: "I don't know. It feels for me a little bit like… You remember the time when DEEP PURPLE's Ian Gillan became the singer of BLACK SABBATH? I'll tell you one thing: it's somehow strange, but in this situation, I think Axl will go a good job when he is in the right mood, because I think he can sing the stuff. But somehow, after seeing Brian singing so often with AC/DC, he always, even when he had a party night, he did a great job. And I feel very sorry, I feel very unhappy that Brian can't do the job. And, yeah, whether Axl can do it… I don't know."

Rudolf went on to say: "I heard always good things about appearances by Axl and GUNS N' ROSES. I met very often [GUNS N' ROSES guitarist] Slash and I always asked him, 'Hey, guys, you guys have to be together again.' And he said, 'Yeah. Then ask Axl.' So now they are playing together and then you're hearing this news that feels for me a little bit strange. Because, on one hand, it's great that the band is back again, GUNS N' ROSES. On the other hand, the singer already confirms to AC/DC. It's a little bit strange, in one way. For me, as a rock musician, as a guy who knows the history of GUNS N' ROSES and also the history of AC/DC especially… We had a very, very, very good relationship with AC/DC, because AC/DC was very complicated in handling with other bands. But we always were in a fantastic way. So I hope, yeah, that everything works well for both — for GUNS N' ROSES and also for AC/DC."

Johnson released a statement earlier in the week in which he stopped short of saying that his departure from AC/DC was permanent, although he also did not say specifically that he hoped to continue to record and eventually tour again with the band.

Meanwhile, sources close to AC/DC told The Sydney Morning Herald that the choice of Rose for the upcoming tour was "financially motivated."

Fan reaction to Rose replacing Johnson — even temporarily — has been largely negative. The fan site AC/DC Italia announced it was shutting down in protest, while AC/DC biographer Jesse Fink called it "the worst decision AC/DC has ever made. Fans are pretty disgusted... AC/DC is all about the money now."

AC/DC guitarist Angus Young made a guest appearance with GUNS N' ROSES at the Coachella festival in California this past weekend, to tie in with the official confirmation of Rose's involvement.

Hard-rock trio, Sixx:A.M. recently released the first single to their upcoming global release, Vol.1 Prayers For The Damned, “Rise”, which is currently dominating the Rock Charts at #7 and rising. “Rise” is ultimately a song that implores the general public to open their eyes, go against the grain, and stand up.

“Throughout history, some of the most dramatic changes have occurred when people reject the status quo and demand change, a sentiment completely encompassed by the musicianship, lyrics, and passion of ‘Rise’”, Nikki Sixx explores.

James Michael goes on to explain, “‘Rise’ is about how we find ourselves at a global tipping point and how it is our duty as citizens of this world to come together, communicate with one another and rise up to demand more of ourselves and our leaders.”

While not a political band, SIXX:A.M. know it is time for us to all unite for the changes we want to see happen in the world and are ready and willing to spearhead the movement. As “Rise” urges: “Don’t let the status quo define you.”

Watch the #ReasonToRise video below and pass this along.

During a recent interview live on CNN with Brooke Baldwin, Nikki Sixx urged citizens to look at their surroundings, see injustices, and stand up to them, including the current volatile presidential election, the increasingly horrifying heroin epidemic, and more. We all have our “#ReasonToRise” and the men of Sixx:A.M. are asking fans to share what makes them raise their fists and act.

On April 29th, Sixx:A.M. will release the first volume of their upcoming double album, Prayers For The Damned, via Eleven Seven Music. The track “Prayers For The Damned” is now streaming. Find the track below.

Available now are limited edition band curated Prayers For The Damned album pre-order merch packages and experiences. These include limited edition signed copies of the new album on CD and vinyl, plus once in a lifetime personal experiences like dinner with the band, in-studio experiences, and more! Check out the full list at this location.

"We are on a mission to give our fans even more than they could have hoped for, both musically and visually." - Dj Ashba

“Sixx:A.M. is in the most creative place of our careers. For James, Dj and myself, we think it’s the perfect time to release so much quality music to our fans who’ve been supporting us over the last three albums.” - Nikki Sixx

"Between this album and Vol. 2 (coming out later this year) we'll leave no stone unturned in our quest to create important music and push the boundaries of rock." - James Michael

Prayers For The Damned tracklisting:

“Rise”
“You Have Come To The Right Place”
“I’m Sick”
“Prayers For The Damned”
“Better Man”
“Can't Stop”
“When We Were Gods”
“Belly Of The Beast”
“Everything Went To Hell”
“The Last Time (My Heart Will Hit The Ground)”
“Rise Of The Melancholy Empire”

“Prayers For The Damned”:

“You Have Come To The Right Place”:

“Rise” lyric video:

James Michael’s Fly On The Wall video series:

Sixx:A.M. tour dates:

April
30 - Jacksonville, FL - Welcome To Rockville

May
1 - Fort Myers, FL - Fort Rock Festival
3 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
4 - Birmingham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheater (w/ Disturbed and Rob Zombie)
6 - Charlotte, NC - Carolina Rebellion
7 - Richmond, VA - The National
8 - Bethlehem, PA - Sand’s Event Center
10 - Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head Live
11 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
13 - Ft Wayne, IN - Piere’s
14 - Kansas City, MO - KQRC’s Rockfest
15 - Somerset, WI - Northern Invasion
17 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall
18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
20 - Columbus, OH - Rock On The Range
21 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
22 - Albany, NY - Rock ‘n Derby
24 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
27 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma
29 - San Antonio, TX - River City Rockfest

June
2 - Monza, Italy - Gods Of Metal
3 - Nuremberg, Germany - Rock im Park
5 - Mendig, Germany - Rock am Ring
7 - Lodz, Poland - The Power Festival
9 - Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
11 - Castle Donington, UK - Download Festival
12 - Newport, UK - Isle of Wright Festival
16 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Konzertfabrik Z7
17 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Festival
18 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
22 - Stockholm, Sweden - Grona Lund
23 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Copenhell
24 - Halden, Norway - Tons of Rock

July
30 - Alberta, Canada - Sturgis Alberta Motorcycle Rally and Festival

 

 

Leaves' Eyes vocalist Liv Kristine - who launched the band in 2003 - was recently replaced by Finnish singer Elina Siirala, who made her live debut with the band on April 17th at the Hammersonic Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. The band has been raked over the coals since the news broke, and fans have been getting two sides to the story from Leaves' Eyes and Liv Kristine respectively. 

Leaves' Eyes posted the following message on social media on April 20th:

"Since we are fed up with the lies on social media, and as we promised yesterday, here is the proof that we tell you the truth about what is going on. Here you can read the signed protocol documents (English and German) - certified by lawyer Frank Dehn - which proves that the news about the protocol from the mediator of our crucial band meeting is accurate and correct in every way. Furthermore the protocol shows that the decisions were made together! Since January this year Liv’s exit from the band was already pending. We hope, we have finally cleared up the situation for every one now. Like posted before we wish Liv all the best for her future."

Liv has since responded to her former bandmates' actions:

"Dear Liv Kristine Family, 1200 messages . you are amazing! I have read all your heart-warming words and good wishes. This is the essence of our true and honest relationship. So much love to my fans and friends!

Still, I am horrified - how can someone put a protocol not approved on by me online, without asking me for permission? I don't see the necessity in this. Anyway, it puts things straight: I was fired from my own band that day. A sudden action, and well planned.

Let the past be past! Today I talked with Raymond (Theatre of Tragedy) for further cooperation. Are you ready? Who's in?"

The original statement released by Leaves' Eyes regarding Liv's departure is available below, followed by Liv's much different take on the situation.

Leaves' Eyes:

"We are just back from a great weekend in Indonesia. Our first show with Elina went awesome! Despite a heavy tropical storm before the gig, 21,000 people showed up in front of the stage!

We understand that many fans and friends are surprised and shocked about the change in our band. We all know Liv had an important role for the band in the past, and we understand people are sad as it was not an easy decision for every one involved. But since a lot of hateful and disrespectful comments are in the social media, we would like to take the opportunity to make some points very clear: Leaves' Eyes has always been a band, and not a project, nor a Liv Kristine solo project at all. We always worked as a team in Leaves' Eyes. In the last decade Tosso (guitarist Thorsten Bauer) and Alex (Krull, Leaves' Eyes co-vocalist and Liv's husband) wrote the music for Leaves' Eyes and Liv took care of the lyrics.

Liv's solo project is called Liv Kristine. We supported Liv also in her solo career, writing music, recording and producing albums and doing management in the past.

The decision to part ways with Liv was taken by all Leaves' Eyes members, including Liv. A mediator — a friend of Liv and Alex — was at the band meeting who can witness that the decision of parting ways was agreed by all members. Liv was happy to have the opportunity to plan changes in her future life and she does not have to go on tour so much anymore. The idea to go separated ways came up already in January. Elina was not part of this decision or process. It was also agreed to help Liv for her solo project, Liv Kristine, and record her new demo songs and her further projects at the studio just like in the past.

Please respect the privacy of Liv and Alex. Disrespectful postings and bashing is harming their family situation and their son Leon. Liv and Alex don't want to split fans — don't give false rumors, haters and bashers a chance! At the moment, we can't tell you more details as legal actions are in process.

To our worldwide fans who are there for the music and not the gossip: Let the music talk!

We are looking forward to present new material with Elina soon! Stay tuned for news of our upcoming video clip, music and tour updates."

Liv Kristine:

"Dear fans and friends, without you I wouldn't have the strength to continue with music. What you all have done for me with all your endless support and passion keeps me going on in these difficult times. Thank you for warning me concerning new postings by someone in Leaves' Eyes, done to harm me and make my situation even worse.

I have nothing to hide, nothing to fear. I was told a bit longer than a week ago that I am not preferred as the band's singer for further tours and recordings anymore. I asked for the situation concerning Indonesia and the soon-to-happen up-coming shows. The answer was 'no.' I asked if there's a replacement and I got no clear answer.

I can't believe this process happened behind my back, parallel to a huge disappointment in my private life.

A few days later, there certainly was a replacement. I must say — that was 'quick'!

I still see Leaves' Eyes as 'my baby' and I will miss playing these gigs, feeling the good vibes, sensing the real Norwegian Viking power with the audiences. Inside my heart I will always treasure Leaves' Eyes for all the good music, tunes, themes, concept and true Viking power. The melodies I used to sing will always stay alive in my ears.

I can't wait to unveil good news for you soon. There will be good news coming from Norway!"

UK-based black metallers Cradle Of Filth have checked in with a new update for the fans:

"With lots of worthwhile comments about the direction for the new album under our belts, and with the never-before-released original 1995 Dusk... And Her Embrace album being released via Cacophonous Records in July, we'd also like to know your thoughts about a 20th anniversary Dusk tour, where we would play the opus in its entirety plus 'Nocturnal Supremacy' (first track on the original album) and our furious cover of 'Hell Awaits' from the coffin box set.

Would this be something fans would like to witness firsthand?

On another tract, Russian tour sales are going exceedingly well and with only one short month before we fly, all our Federation fans should be scooping the rapidly dwindling tickets up now!"

Fans can respond to COF's question about a Dusk... And Her Embrace 20th Anniversary tour via Facebook here.

Cradle Of Filth will be returning to Belarus and Russia in May with support from Xandria. Dates are listed on the poster below.

The band’s video for the track "Blackest Magick In Practice" (streaming below) was directed by Sam Scott-Hunter. The track is taken from the groups latest tome of horror and romance, Hammer Of The Witches.

Comments the director: "There’s dark madness in this video. “Blackest Magick In Practice” is a deeply tragic tale of lost love. It’s the grief stricken insanity of trying to bring back that loved one from the dead; desperately trying to hold onto that person who’s gone, even if that leads down a dark and gruesome path. I don’t want to give it all away, but I will say that the hardest part of the production was getting hold of a human ear.

"I wanted to convey the power of the band too, in amongst the romance, madness and magick. Behind the imagery of the lyrics is a great and powerful metal band of amazing musicians, and I hope people can feel the intensity of the band when they watch this. It is intense viewing. There should be a bit of madness in the video, because there’s madness in this song."

On April 15, Sandusky Register conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked how the process of making MEGADETH's album, "Dystopia", was different to how some of the band's earlier efforts were made, Ellefson said: "You know, the 'Dystopia' album is probably… People use these clichés: 'return to form,' 'back to its roots'… You know, you never go backwards; you only go forwards. But you do, in some ways, come full circle, I think, maybe to the degree that this record… I mean, I think the production is phenomenal. The songs, I think, have a spirit in them that is reflected probably back to the same spirit we had in the very beginning, which is we really stripped away record-company influence, management influence — any outside influence — and really… Dave Mustaine, of course, is the chief songwriter of MEGADETH, and there were times when he and I were sitting together working on things. So [there we were], back to me and Dave sitting in a room working on songs together. So I could feel it even inside the band, that there were some moments on 'Dystopia' that really felt like it was back in the very beginning when it was really just down to the members of the group creating and recording and putting the music together."

"Dystopia" shifted 49,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending January 28.

In terms of pure album sales, "Dystopia" opened with 48,000 copies, marking MEGADETH's highest-charting album since 1992's "Countdown To Extinction" debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the chart dated August 1 of that year. "Dystopia" also logged the group's best sales week since 2007, when "United Abominations" landed at No. 8 with first-week sales of 54,000. In addition to Mustaine and Ellefson, MEGADETH's current lineup includes LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler and Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA..

On April 8, Universal Music / Tradecraft / T-Boy Records issued "Dystopia" as a limited-edition vinyl picture disc featuring the album's vivid dark and chilling artwork which takes the bands long-time mascot Vic Rattlehead to a whole new level and drops him into a bleak, futuristic dystopian universe.

Prog metal kings Dream Theater, who are a perpetually serious group of musicians, have posted a short video clip inviting fans for an intimate look backstage prior to a show:

Dream Theater's new album, The Astonishing, a character-based two-act double album that tells the story of dystopian future in which only machines can create music, was released on January 29th. An official trailer, as well as a full album stream, can be found below:

Tour dates:

April
23 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
24 - Baltimore, MD - Hippodrome Theatre
26 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theater
27 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre
30 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater

May
1 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
3 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
7 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
10 - Portland, OR - Schnitzer
11 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater

For up-to-the-minute news and ticket information visit this location.

The Winery Dogs - featuring Mike Portnoy (drums), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Richie Kotzen (vocals, guitars) - are currently in Japan wrapping up a short tour. They recently made a Japanese radio appearance and performed three songs during the interview segment. Check out the audio below.

The trio performs three songs: "Captain Love" (6:12), "Fire" (22:59) and "I'm No Angel" (34:58)

Check out The Winery Dogs' updated tour schedule below. According to Sheehan, "we'll be touring until October."  

April
21 - Tokyo, Japan - Hitomi Kinen Kodo

May
14 - Brasilia, Brazil - Clube do Congresso
15 - Belo Horizonte, Brazil - Music Hall
17 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Teatro Rival
18 - São Paulo, Brazil - Carioca Club
20 - Curitiba, Brazil - Music Hall
21 - Londrina, Brazil - Land Of King Festival
24 - Asuncion, Paraguay - Teatro Del Hotel Guarani
27 - Santiago, Chile - Teatro Cariola
28 - Bueno Aires, Argentina - Teatro Vorterix
31 - Mexico City, Mexico - Plaza Condesa

June
2 - Guadalajara, Mexico - C3 Stage
3 - Monterrey, Mexico - Cafe Iguana
25 - Hinckley, MN - Grand Casino Amphitheater (with Bad Company)
29 - Ashwaubenon, WI - Green Bay Distillery 
30 - St Charles, IL - Arcada Theater

July
3 - Sterling Heights, MI - Freedom Hill (Stars & Stripes Festival with Seether and Styx)
8 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live 
9 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live
10 - San Antonio, TX - Alamo

Sixx: AM members Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba, and James Michael sat down with Billboard to talk about their tattoos and the meaning behind some of them. Watch below:

Sixx:A.M. recently released the first single to their upcoming global release, Vol.1 Prayers For The Damned, “Rise”, which is currently dominating the Rock Charts at #7 and rising. “Rise” is ultimately a song that implores the general public to open their eyes, go against the grain, and stand up.

“Throughout history, some of the most dramatic changes have occurred when people reject the status quo and demand change, a sentiment completely encompassed by the musicianship, lyrics, and passion of ‘Rise’”, Nikki Sixx explores.

James Michael goes on to explain, “‘Rise’ is about how we find ourselves at a global tipping point and how it is our duty as citizens of this world to come together, communicate with one another and rise up to demand more of ourselves and our leaders.”

While not a political band, SIXX:A.M. know it is time for us to all unite for the changes we want to see happen in the world and are ready and willing to spearhead the movement. As “Rise” urges: “Don’t let the status quo define you.”

Watch the #ReasonToRise video below and pass this along.

During a recent interview live on CNN with Brooke Baldwin, Nikki Sixx urged citizens to look at their surroundings, see injustices, and stand up to them, including the current volatile presidential election, the increasingly horrifying heroin epidemic, and more. We all have our “#ReasonToRise” and the men of Sixx:A.M. are asking fans to share what makes them raise their fists and act.

On April 29th, Sixx:A.M. will release the first volume of their upcoming double album, Prayers For The Damned, via Eleven Seven Music. The track “Prayers For The Damned” is now streaming. Find the track below.

Available now are limited edition band curated Prayers For The Damned album pre-order merch packages and experiences. These include limited edition signed copies of the new album on CD and vinyl, plus once in a lifetime personal experiences like dinner with the band, in-studio experiences, and more! Check out the full list at this location.

"We are on a mission to give our fans even more than they could have hoped for, both musically and visually." - Dj Ashba

“Sixx:A.M. is in the most creative place of our careers. For James, Dj and myself, we think it’s the perfect time to release so much quality music to our fans who’ve been supporting us over the last three albums.” - Nikki Sixx

"Between this album and Vol. 2 (coming out later this year) we'll leave no stone unturned in our quest to create important music and push the boundaries of rock." - James Michael

Prayers For The Damned tracklisting:

“Rise”
“You Have Come To The Right Place”
“I’m Sick”
“Prayers For The Damned”
“Better Man”
“Can't Stop”
“When We Were Gods”
“Belly Of The Beast”
“Everything Went To Hell”
“The Last Time (My Heart Will Hit The Ground)”
“Rise Of The Melancholy Empire”

“Prayers For The Damned”:

“You Have Come To The Right Place”:

“Rise” lyric video:

James Michael’s Fly On The Wall video series:

Sixx:A.M. tour dates:

April
30 - Jacksonville, FL - Welcome To Rockville

May
1 - Fort Myers, FL - Fort Rock Festival
3 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
4 - Birmingham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheater (w/ Disturbed and Rob Zombie)
6 - Charlotte, NC - Carolina Rebellion
7 - Richmond, VA - The National
8 - Bethlehem, PA - Sand’s Event Center
10 - Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head Live
11 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
13 - Ft Wayne, IN - Piere’s
14 - Kansas City, MO - KQRC’s Rockfest
15 - Somerset, WI - Northern Invasion
17 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall
18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
20 - Columbus, OH - Rock On The Range
21 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
22 - Albany, NY - Rock ‘n Derby
24 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
27 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma
29 - San Antonio, TX - River City Rockfest

June
2 - Monza, Italy - Gods Of Metal
3 - Nuremberg, Germany - Rock im Park
5 - Mendig, Germany - Rock am Ring
7 - Lodz, Poland - The Power Festival
9 - Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
11 - Castle Donington, UK - Download Festival
12 - Newport, UK - Isle of Wright Festival
16 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Konzertfabrik Z7
17 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Festival
18 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
22 - Stockholm, Sweden - Grona Lund
23 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Copenhell
24 - Halden, Norway - Tons of Rock

July
30 - Alberta, Canada - Sturgis Alberta Motorcycle Rally and Festival

 

 

 

The Birmingham Mail has released a list of the Top 40 music millionaires in Britain and Ireland. Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne place at number 17 on the list at £135m, which equates to $193 million while Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant come in at 22 and 24 making £105m and £103m.

Tops on the list is Sir Paul McCartney with a whopping £760m which is over $1 billion in earnings. The top 5 is rounded out by Lord Llyod-Webber (£715m), U2 (£500m), Sir Elton John (£280m) and Sir Mick Jagger (£235m.)

Osbourne is currently touring with Black Sabbath on The End tour. These dates mark the end of the epic journey that Black Sabbath began nearly five decades ago. The massive 2016 The End world tour by the greatest metal band of all time will take the band to Australia and New Zealand in April, then Europe fora mix of summer headlining and festival performances, before returning to North America in August.

Led Zeppelin founders Page and Plant lost their bid to avoid a trial that may rewrite the history of rock n’ roll over song-writing credit for the 1971 classic “Stairway To Heaven”, reports Bloomberg.com.

A federal judge in Los Angeles ruled that a jury must decide whether the British rockers ripped off the opening licks of “Taurus”, which was recorded by a band named Spirit that once played concerts with Zeppelin. The judge dismissed some claims in the lawsuit and also said the plaintiff can get only half of any jury award of damages.

Rock powerhouse ALTER BRIDGE recently commenced recording the follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed 2013 album "Fortress". The as-yet-untitled fifth LP is once again being produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette and is tentatively set for release in the fall.

In a brand new interview with Myglobalmind, ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti stated about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's new CD: "Today I'm tracking my ninth out of fourteenth guitar track; the drums and bass are done. We are hoping to have it out the later part of September, because we have another European tour scheduled for early November and we want people to be familiar with it before we go over there."

He continued: For the first time in our careers, we are free agents. We are signing a new record deal and just trying to get the business stuff aside so we can focus on this music as we have the U.S. tour scheduled in July. We will be going out with BREAKING BENJAMIN and DISTURBED."

Regarding what fans can expect from the next ALTER BRIDGE album, Tremonti told TeamRock Radio: "It could go in any direction. I've got a ton of ideas in all different styles. Last time, it was just one heavy idea after another and hopefully this time we can branch out and bring something new to the table."

"Fortress" was released in 2013 and featured the Active Rock Top 15 single "Addicted To Pain".

When ALTER BRIDGE is on hiatus, Kennedy can be found fronting Slash's band, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS.

Tremonti will release the third effort from his band TREMONTI, titled "Dust", on April 29.

LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe has teamed up with photographer/filmmaker Rob Fenn and Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton to write the upcoming movie "You, Me And A '63".

"You, Me And A '63" is described as a documentary series that follows Fenn around the United States in his 1963 Ford Thunderbird. Fenn also produced and directed the film, which is narrated by Thornton.

Blythe, who has previously described himself as "a decent writer", told Metal Hammer magazine earlier in the year that he is writing a futuristic novel. "It's set 50 to 100 years in the future," Blythe said. "I'm wracking my brain right now, because you have to figure out all sorts of little things we don't think about, because of the incredibly rapid advancement of technology."

Comparing making music to the art of writing, Blythe said: "Writing a book makes writing a record look like going to kindergarten. It's a much more tense, concerted, extended, creative effort — it requires a lot of focus that [the touring] environment does not provide."

Blythe's memoir, titled "Dark Days", focused on his time in a Prague prison while on trial for manslaughter.

To celebrate Record Store Day on April 16th, Metallica invited members of their Fan Club and some old friends from back in the day to Rasputin Music for a little gig. The show is available to download from Live Metallica.

Setlist:

“Helpless”
“Hit The Lights”
“The Four Horsemen”
“Ride The Lightning”
Kirk Solo
“Fade To Black”
“Jump In The Fire”
“For Whom The Bell Tolls”
“Creeping Death”
“Metal Militia”

Show notes:

This was the first time in 17 years that Metallica performed in Berkeley. They last played here on April 21st and 22nd, 1999 while they recorded S&M with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

Metallica first played Berkeley on September 2nd, 1983 at the Keystone Berkeley at the tail end of the Kill 'Em All for One tour.

This was the first time in nearly four years that "Helpless" was played. It was last performed on August 2nd, 2012 in Mexico City.

This was the first time in over a year that "Hit The Lights" was performed. It was last played on February 9th, 2015 at a private party in San Francisco, CA.

Metallica last played "The Four Horsemen" on August 9th, 2014 at the Heavy Montreal festival.

"Jump In The Fire" was last played nearly three years ago on June 8th, 2013 during the secret dehaan set at Orion Music + More in Detroit, MI.

Metallica performed nine songs off of three albums: Kill 'Em All (4), Ride The Lightning (4) and Garage Inc. (1).

Metallica is no stranger to Record Store Day, a special day in support of independent record stores and record store culture worldwide, now in its ninth year. Metallica's support throughout the years has been more than noteworthy with in-store appearances, (remember Mountain View, CA Rasputin Records in 2008, when the band met their fans for hours to kick off the very first Record Store Day) and a healthy handful of special releases. In fact, members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo made big news just last year when the band's cassette-issued demos collection, No Life Til Leather, ended up as Record Store Day 2015's highest seller. As well, Trujillo's lauded biopic, Jaco, about legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, was RSD 2014's Official Film and a special Record Store Day exclusive version was released on DVD for Black Friday 2015, including a bonus CD featuring tracks from Trujillo himself.

On August 20th, Metallica will headline the first rock concert at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the new home of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. They are currently in the studio working on a new album.

It's a phenomenon that we occasionally come across in life: sometimes you have to take one step back to be able to take two steps forward. Combat Cathedral, the latest album release by Düsseldorf speed thrash metal act Assassin, takes two steps forward. It presents a band that is not only highly motivated, bringing to bear all its tried and tested fortes and pushing the pedal to the metal as ever, but that also has the courage to evolve. The band has released the first song from the album with the track “Back From The Dead”.

On the song Jürgen "Scholli" Scholz guitarist commented, "‘Back From The Dead’ is the opener of the new Assassin studio album Combat Cathedral and it hits you right in the face. It shows that Assassin are really back, stronger than ever with our new singer.
 
“The 12 songs were recorded at the Nemesis Studios in Essen with the support of experienced sound engineer Marc Görtz, guitarist and main songwriter with German metal core legend Caliban. Scholz: "Marc made sure that the typically earthy and consciously slightly old-school Assassin sound is ever-present on Combat Cathedral, enhancing it with a contemporary phat production. A perfect symbiosis!" 

 
The album's powerful speed thrash metal blends in perfectly with the new sleeve design. The artwork was created by Brazilian graphic designer Marcelo Vasco, whose work features on albums by Slayer, Machine Head, Soulfly and Borknagar, among others. "Our bassist Joachim Kremer is married to a Brazilian, that's how our contact with Vasco came about," the Assassin guitarist explains this minor sensation. "We're naturally very proud and happy, particularly since the artwork, together with the new material, documents the band's development."

After several months of hard work of song writings and rehearsing at studio At Rock in Grenoble (France) with Pierre Caci behind the desk, Nightmare has entered the studio to start the recordings of their new album, produced and arranged by Patrick Liotard and Joost Van Den Broek (Epica) and recorded at Noise Factory Studio in Belgium with Gerald Jans (Epysode, Channel Zero). Mixing will be done in May at Sandlane studio in The Netherlands by Van Den Broek. Stay tuned for more news & updates from the studio.

Last October, Nightmare introduced vocalist Magali Luyten (Beautiful Sun, Beyond The Bridge, Ayreon) and drummer Olivier Casula (Sangdragon, ex-Thalidomide, The Seven Gates).

Alpha Omega Management has announced the epic power metal legends Omen to its roster.

Omen - formed in Los Angeles, CA in 1983 by guitarist Kenny Powell - released their debut album Battle Cry in 1984, the song "The Axe Man" featured on the soundtrack for the Heavy Metal themed 2009 video game Brütal Legend (in 2009). Their 2nd release Warning Of Danger (1985) established the band as one of the forefathers of power metal. In 1986 was released The Curse which spent several months on the Burn! charts in Japan. Later that year came out Nightmares. With new singer Coburn Pharr (later with Annihilator) the band released Escape To Nowhere in 1988, a milestone for the band that garnered their first US radio single "Thorn In Your Flesh". In 1996 the band was back again with Reopening The Gates (featuring Powell's son Greg on vocals) and toured for the first time in Europe (with Fates Warning), opening the door for what has become one of the bands main stays, playing sold out shows "across the pond". In 2003 original singer J.D. Kimball passed away after a long battle with cancer. Powell vowed to carry on the legacy of the original Omen sound and brought in singer Kevin Goocher for Eternal Black Dawn a definite throwback to the early sound of the band.

2016 will see the release of Hammer Damage a tribute to Kimball, once again featuring Goocher on vocals, veteran of the last three releases Andy Hass on bass and the return of original drummer Steve Wittig. The band plans a heavy tour schedule for this release including Europe, South America (where extensive touring has built them a solid following) and a major focus on re-establishing the band in the US as a major force to be reckoned with.

Omen's statement: 

"Omen is very excited to be signing with Alpha Omega Management and we are looking forward to a long and productive relationship. Coming along at the same time of our new release Hammer Damage we feel like the timing is perfect and consider it a major step forward for the band." 

Alpha Omega Management adds:

"We are excited to welcome these power metal masters in Omen to our family! With the release of the long waited Hammer Damage, the band will confirm that they are ready to reclaim their throne as masters of authentic and unadulterated US metal. Omen is soon back on road, so stay tuned!"

Behexen, the Finnish sovereign of pure devilish black metal, are back 4 years after Nightside Emanations with their new album The Poisonous Path. The band is streaming a new music video for “Chalice Of The Abyssal Water”. The video was created by Håkan Sjödin, aka Mysteriis, from the famous Swedish horde Setherial.

Mixed and mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio, The Poisonous Path, the aptly named, is a raging beast brutally animated by a strong and massive production. The riffing is abrasive, the atmosphere is mephitic and the melodies are bewitching. Behexen has never been so impressive and this new opus is, undoubtedly; their best effort to date.

The sinister artwork was crafted by Kristiina Lehto (Baptism, Horna, Sargeist):

Tracklisting:

“The Poisonous Path”
“The Wand Of Shadows”
“Cave Of The Dark Dreams”
“A Sword Of Protean Fire”
“Umbra Lucifieri”
“Tyrant Of Luminous Darkness”
“Chalice Of The Abyssal Water”
“Pentagram Of The Black Earth”
“Gallows Of Inversion”
“Rakkaudesta Saatanaan”

"Chalice Of The Abyssal Water" video:

The Poisonous Path has been scheduled for release on May 27th through Debemur Morti Productions and will be available on CD, vinyl and digital.