ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill suffered a dislocated shoulder on Thursday (April 14th) at Lone Star Events Center Amphitheater in Lubbock, TX. The injury forced the postponement of that concert until a date in the future, to be announced.

The mishap also caused the postponement of ZZ Top’s concert last night (April 15th) at The Firelake Arena in Shawnee, OK. Due to this circumstance ZZ Top is unable to perform at today’s Chilifest in Snook, TX.

Details regarding rescheduling and future ZZ Top performance dates are expected in the near future. For updates visit ZZTop.com.

Banger Films, in association with Eagle Rock Entertainment, are currently producing the first-ever feature length documentary exploring the fascinating, mysterious tale of Texas band, ZZ Top. The filmmakers, Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, are calling out to fans for help finding rare photos, videos, and audio to tell the story.
 
“We’re big admirers of ZZ Top, so we’re thrilled to be working on this film. ZZ Top is rock’s longest-standing power trio and have influenced legions of rock, pop and country artists, but there’s very little archival material documenting this band’s past. So we need their fans to help us out!,” says Sam Dunn.
 
ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons noted, “We’re excited that Banger Films have undertaken the challenge setting the ZZ Top story into motion. The band is enthusiastic about the effort. Yes, it’s going to be a fact-based documentary yet considering the subject matter, we expect there to be a continuing element of the band's infamous surrealism.”
 
ZZ Top, guitarist Gibbons, Dusty Hill on bass and drummer Frank Beard, ascended the rock ladder through a combination of infectious boogie-blues riffs, restless experimentation, and blistering live shows to become one of the most celebrated and successful bands of all-time. And yet for many music fans they remain a mystery. In the 1980s, when the group was at the top of the MTV heap, with fur-lined guitars, foot-long beards, a bevy of babes, and selling upwards of twenty million records, they remained shrouded in a gumbo of conjecture, folklore, and downright leg pulling. As 2016 dawns, with the band still beloved by fans and musicians alike, ZZ Top’s story remains untold – until now.

Leveraging on Banger Films’ own trailblazing documentaries, Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage and Super Duper Alice Cooper, the yet-to-be-titled ZZ Top documentary will be an unblinkered, uninhibited film featuring the band, their friends and intimates - stuffed with unseen footage and photos and never-before-heard audio tracks, detailing the band’s history. Viewers will witness the extraordinary story of three friends, each musical purists and master bluesmen on a lifelong mission to show music lovers a Texas-style good time.
 
As Banger FIlms digs deep into the vaults, the filmmakers are calling on fans to do the same by giving fans and collectors alike the opportunity to send descriptions of their ZZ Top footage, photos and audio to zzfans@bangerfilms.com with the subject “ZZ Top Fan Submission”.

It's fair to say nobody saw this coming, but Leaves' Eyes vocalist Liv Kristine - who launched the band in 2003 - has stepped down and been replaced. The band has issued the following press release:

Dear Fans and Friends,

With the upcoming shows, tours and releases Leaves' Eyes will introduce their new female singer: Elina Siirala, Finnish vocalist living in London. Leaves’ Eyes and former vocalist Liv Kristine will part ways.

Leaves’ Eyes: "Liv was the female voice of the band since the beginning in 2003. Together we toured through 50 countries and 5 continents, moreover we recorded 6 studio albums with outstanding singer Liv. We are full of pride in what we have reached together! From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank Liv for amazing 13 years of being our front lady, the work we have done together and all the passion for music that we shared all these years! We wish Liv all the best for the future, her solo career and other projects! Liv will always be an important part of the Leaves’ Eyes history but now we are looking forward to a new chapter and the new musical adventures of Leaves’ Eyes!"

Liv Kristine: "I am highly proud of having been founding member and front lady of Leaves' Eyes, which has played a vital role in my life since 2003. Good luck guys, thank you for the amazing music, outstanding moments with our worldwide audiences, moreover, the passion we all share. Love, Liv"

Elina: "I can’t quite express how grateful and honored I am for being asked to join Leaves’ Eyes, one of the most iconic bands in symphonic metal! I have the utmost respect for Liv and the band and what they’ve achieved over the years! I take on this challenge with a huge excitement and look forward to the new chapter in my career. It’s truly thrilling to be working with such talented musicians who also are some of the nicest people I’ve met. My biggest passion is to make music and perform, so right now I can’t wait to see what the future will bring!"

Leaves' Eyes: "We embrace Elina with open arms and hearts! She is a fantastic singer and performer. Please, welcome the new female voice of Leaves’ Eyes: sensational Elina Siirala!"

Leaves’ Eyes will be touring around the globe with the new singer Elina Siirala! Check out the tour dates. The live world premiere will be in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Moreover, there will be an Earbook tour edition of King of Kings released in June, including a new version and video clip of "Edge of Steel" featuribg new singer Elina! On top of that, there will be an US Edition of King of Kings including the new version of "Edge of Steel" as a bonus track. 

Stay tuned for more news, coming soon.

The Leaves' Eyes tour schedule for 2016 is currently as follows:

April
17 - Hammersonic Festival - Jakarta, Indonesia 
28 - Rider's Café - Lübeck, Germany
29 - High Voltage, Copenhagen, Denmark
30 - Effenaar - Eindhoven, Netherlands

On April 13th the Generation Axe tour featuring guitar icons Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi landed in Denver, CO. Fan-filmed video of the quintet performing Boston's "Foreplay", the instrumental lead-up to "Long Time", at the Paramount Theater show can be viewed below.

FOX News program 411 recently caught up Vai and Bettencourt to talk about the current Generation Axe tour, featuring Vai, Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen and Tosin Abasi. A partial transcript from the inteview is available below:

Do the solos get competitive?

Bettencourt: "Maybe a few years ago it’d be a lot more competitive but I think now it’s more inspirational. You know, you’re waiting for your turn and you’re watching these amazing players and they raise the bar. They sort of raise your game and it’s really healthy. It kind of makes the best version of you that you could be on that spot and really it’s influential at the same time.”

Vai: “When you’re standing next to them and they’re doing their thing at the top of their game, you can’t compete on their level with them, you’re forced to kind of compete with yourself so they raise your own game and you just can’t get that kind of education any place either."

Go to this location for more.

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

The term “supergroup” gets thrown around on a regular basis these days, however, a new tour featuring some of the greatest guitarists of all time is about to truly give the term a whole new meaning. Introducing: Generation Axe, featuring Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi.

Beginning on April 5th in Seattle, Generation Axe - A Night Of Guitars hit the road for 26 performances in North America.

"The Generation Axe show is a unique performance of five fiercely talented guitar players coming together to create a 6-string extravaganza that is sure to amaze and delight,” commented Steve Vai.

The Generation Axe fan experience will go way beyond simply gathering five guitar greats on one stage to jam. Each tour stop will include a variety of collaborations by the five players, including everyone performing together as one cohesive band with a rhythm section including Pete Griffin (Dweezil Zappa, Stanley Clarke, Edgar Winter) on bass and Nick Marinovich (Yngwie Malmsteen) on keys. Vai, Wylde, Malmsteen, Bettencourt and Abasi will perform songs from their various catalogs and join forces on some well-known songs (as well as probably a few unexpected, unearthed gems).

Making this rare tour experience even more special, Generation Axe VIP packages will be offered, giving fans access to these guitars masters and exclusive one-of-a-kind memorabilia. A front row package (including a meet & greet), a meet & greet package, and a VIP tour package will be available. For more information, visit generationaxe.com.

Tour dates:

April
16 - Salina, KS - The Stiefel Theatre
17 - Dallas, TX - Bomb Factory
18 - Houston, TX - Revention Music Center
20 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatr
21 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
23 - Wilmington, NC - Cape Fear Community College
24 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
25 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre
26 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre
27 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
29 - Chicago, IL - Copernicus Center

May
1 - Madison, WI - Orpheum Theatre
2 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
4 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
5 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theater
6 - Westbury, NY - Theatre at Westbury
7 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
8 - Providence, RI - Providence Performing Arts Center

Spark TV, which is part of the Czech monthly magazine Spark, recently conducted an interview with former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. vocalist Udo Dirkschneider. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On his current relationship with the members of ACCEPT:

Udo: "There is no relationship at all. We don't talk to each other. It's, in a way, also sad, but what can you do?"

On whether he is interested in what ACCEPT is doing now and their music:

Udo: "Yeah, I mean, believe it or not, I don't know really the whole albums; I know a couple of songs. I mean, I think they did very good albums, they had, in a way, quite a good success, and the singer [Mark Tornillo] is not bad. I mean, I think he's got a little bit of problems when he has to sing the old stuff, but, I mean, come on, this is normal. To copy me really, it's not so easy, but I think he's doing a good job. And, yeah, we will see what they are doing, you know. I mean, I wish them all the best. And that's it."

On whether he ever thought he could be fired from ACCEPT:

Udo: "No. That was my own band. And that's really funny. But, you know, at this time, I was not really… Let's say in this way: I was not really thinking. Everything was easy. Of course, what I know now, of course, I would take a lawyer and all that stuff, but at this time, it was, like, 'Okay, I've got already a good album. [I'm] just looking for new musicians and here we go.' I was directly on tour in America with GUNS N' ROSES and all that stuff, so there was not much thinking about this. Everything for me with U.D.O. was going well. But if this thing happened now, with all the things that I know so far, definitely I would take a lawyer and take my name back. But now, everything is history and over."

Dirkschneider in February embarked on a special tour during which he is performing ACCEPT songs one last time before he closes the chapter for good.

The April 2 DIRKSCHNEIDER concert at Kaminwerk in Memmingen, Germany was professionally filmed and recorded for a DVD and CD release later this year.

U.D.O.'s latest studio album, "Decadent", was released in Europe in January 2015 via AFM.

Madcap Music Review 's John Golden conducted an interview with IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain at this year's NAMM show, which took place in January in Anaheim, California. You can watch the chat below.

Asked why he has steadfastly refused to incorporate a double-bass setup into his playing technique, McBrain said: "People like [Keith Moon]… Well, Mooney had two bass drums, but he very rarely played on that side. I don't think he ever had a pedal on it. [John] Bonham… Ringo [Starr]… When I was growing up, learning and being enticed into the music of that genre, that decade… Yeah, Ed Shaughnessy was a a double-bass [player], Louie Bellson, of course, and then the great Ginger Baker. But at that time, I was a CREAM fan, but I wasn't a fan of Ginger's. It was weird. It's only later in life [that] I realized how really good Ginger Baker is… And then, of course, Cozy Powell came along a little later, and Tommy Aldridge, and in the late '70s, you'd see more of these double-bass-drum players. But I kind of grew up and learned with one, and I found it hard enough… I mean, I've always said the analogy, it's bad enough trying to use one pedal. Why compound it with two? But, in fact, it's the reverse: when you have two pedals, certain patterns are easier."

He continued: "I don't know… It's just… Why change it? You know, in late '75, when I joined Pat Travers, he asked me to use a big drum set; he wanted me to play a double-bass drum kit. I said, 'I will get a big kit, but I'm not playing two bass drums.'

"I see these guys like Dave Lombardo [SLAYER], and then you look at people like Thomas Lang; he's phenomenal. Aquiles Priester [ANGRA, PRIMAL FEAR]… you know, these wonderful double-bass players. I couldn't get into that. I mean, I would if I sat down probably for a year or two and practiced every day for eleven hours."

McBrain added: "Horse for courses. Whatever rocks your boat."

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).

McBrain recently rejoined the Sonor family after many yeas with Premier. He is currently playing his new SQ2 setup.

Sonor told U.K.'s Rhythm magazine: “The designers in MAIDEN's camp came up with a special 'The Book Of Souls' artwork that features the band's icon Eddie in different outfits, going around the shell. Only the bass drum and snare drum feature a slightly different design — the bass drum comes with Mayan symbols, the snare drum has the 'The Book Of Souls' album name written on it. But that's not enough. The entire kit is assembled with 24-karat gold plated hardware, as well as all hardware stands, a one-off and custom made for the band only."

In a letter to the Sonor production staff, Nicko said: "Amazing, wonderful, imaginative and most of all a B-E-A-utiful drum set. I cannot express how proud I am for you all. This drum set sounds as good as it looks and it looks a million dollars. The workmanship and love that has gone into the production of these tubs is without a doubt the Sonor legacy. I'm am proud and honored to be back with the family that I should never have left but am humbled to be back."

Danish / American rock singer Maryann Cotton  is currently on his European Tour for his latest album, Into Eternity, and played in Riga, Latvia on Thursday, April 14th.

He and guitarist Sebastian Sly went to an unofficial after-party after the show in Riga City at a local night club, when two people suddenly attacked Maryann with a beer bottle and stabbed him, braking the bottle on his head.

It ended up in a dramatic fight, and Maryann is now hospitalized in Riga, but will be rushed to Liepaja by the Police today, Friday, April 15th, to do the show at the Fontaine Palace! Maryann was hospitalized and treated at the Riga Maternity hospital in Latvia with five stings in his head, but insisted to continue the shows and tour today.

More details to come.

 

 

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was interviewed by rock journalist Mitch Lafon for a recent edition of the "One On One With Mitch Lafon" podcast (Facebook page). You can now listen to the chat using the Spreaker widget below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On getting KISS frontman Paul Stanley to sing on Ace cover version of FREE's hit "Fire And Water" for the upcoming "Origins Vol. 1" a collection:

Ace: "It was really, actually, rather easy. And I originally had been trying to get Gene [Simmons, KISS bassist/vocalist] on the record, and he never got back to me; I guess he was tied up with one thing or another. But, you know, I said to myself, 'Let me give Paul a call.' And I called Paul, and he picked up the phone right away, and I told him what I was doing, and he was very receptive from the very beginning about getting on the record. He said, 'Oh, that'll be fun.' And it took a while to figure out what song we were gonna track. It came down to two songs: we were either gonna do 'My Generation' by THE WHO or 'Fire And Water', and we both agreed 'Fire And Water' would be a better song. And we just tracked it. It all came together. I didn't actually see Paul, 'cause I was busy mixing and overdubbing, and he was very busy at the time, so we just forwarded him the basic tracks, and him and his engineer threw on the lead vocal, and while he was doing that, I was doing something else. And then we got it back, and I took it home with me and threw down the guitar solos. And it just kind of came together. It's amazing how quickly and painlessly you can work these days with e-mails. You just fly stuff into Pro Tools and it pops up on the screen, and you're good to go, as long as you know what you're doing."

On whether Paul's appearance on "Origins Vol. 1" opens up the possibility of Frehley rejoining KISS in the future:

Ace: "We haven't discussed that at this point, but I'm not ruling it out. I've always said that, you know, I always leave the door open. I know the fans have been… there have been rumors and stuff, but there hasn't been any talk of us getting back together. Right now it's just the excitement of this record, and I'm very excited about 'Fire And Water'. There's a good chance that we're gonna release that as a single, maybe. Paul's really happy with the way it turned out, I'm very happy, the record company's very happy, so we're just moving forward in a positive way. And whatever happens in the future, it happens, or if it doesn't, it doesn't."

On rejoining KISS for the "Kiss Unplugged" album in 1995 and the subsequent reunion tour:

Ace: "It was a little nerve-racking. We weren't sure how the fans were gonna receive it. I know there was a lot of excitement around the whole thing. But, you know, when we actually taped the show, the fans just went crazy when me and Peter [Criss, drums] walked out. It was just one of those moments in time where everything solidified, and Paul and Gene realized that they couldn't even put out the record that they had just recorded with Bruce [Kulick, guitar] and Eric [Singer, drums]; they had to scrap it and move forward with me and Peter, because the fans wouldn't have it any other way."

On the KISS reunion tour, which kicked off in 1996:

Ace: "It was a lot fun in the beginning, but as the years progressed, it got a little weird. Paul and Gene know how to push my buttons and Peter's buttons. Some of the things that we had talked about in the initial outset of the reunion tour… things started changing, the rules started changing, decisions were being made without consulting me, and I started feeling like I was a hired gun instead of part of the creative process, which is what I wanted. So when that started going down, I realized I had to move on with my own career and put KISS on the backburner, which is what happened."

On the making of KISS's 1998 album "Psycho Circus" on which Frehley and Criss were used only sparingly:

Ace: "It was my feeling… I felt it would have been a better album if me and Peter had played more on it… [Why that happened is] really a question you need to ask Paul and Gene, because they were the ones that made the decision. I was living in L.A. at the time — I had gotten an apartment — and they were calling the shots, which kind of rubbed me the wrong way. 'Cause initially I was an equal partner, and here I am kind of like a hired gun and not getting the respect I felt I deserved. And that was kind of the beginning of the end, I think. People make bad decisions, and there's repurcussions that are gonna take place."

Gene Simmons has once again responded to Ice Cube's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame speech. As previously reported, the KISS bassist/vocalist recently made negative comments about the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inducting rap artists, saying he was looking forward to the death of hip-hop.

During his acceptance speech, the N.W.A. rapper said: "Now, the question is, are we rock and roll? And I say, you goddamn right we rock and roll. Rock and roll is not an instrument, rock and roll is not even a style of music. Rock and roll is a spirit. It's a spirit. It's been going since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul, R&B, rock and roll, heavy metal, punk rock and yes, hip-hop. And what connects us all is that spirit. That's what connects us all, that spirit. Rock and roll is not conforming to the people who came before you, but creating your own path in music and in life. That is rock and roll, and that is us."

Simmons later responded via Twitter, saying, "Respectfully-- let me know when @JimiHendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame. Then youll have a point. @icecube."

Cube then replied, also via Twitter, saying: "@genesimmons Who stole the soul? Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Chubby Checkers help invent Rock 'n' Roll. We invent it. Y'all reprint it."

Simmons fired back: "Cube - I stand by my words. Respect NWA, but when Led Zep gets into Rap Hall of Fame, I will agree with your point."

Cube later said during an interview with Howard Stern: "I think [Gene] believes [the Hall Of Fame is] straight for rock and rollers. I got a lot of respect for Gene Simmons. I met him a couple of times, he's actually pretty cool. But I just think he's wrong on this."

The rapper continued: "Everybody's got their own opinions and Gene, he's an OG in the game, but he's just wrong on this. It's a spirit and it's been going on since before they called it rock and roll. I hate it when hip-hoppers, some of them go to the band. I'm a turntable guy, like old-school RUN-DMC dudes. So I be having my feelings sometimes. But, ultimately, we in, baby."

Simmons originally took issue with hip-hop acts — and other non-rock artists — being inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame during a 2014 interview with Radio.com. He stated at the time: "It's really back-room politics, like Boss Tweed. A few people decide what's in and what's not. And the masses just scratch their heads. You've got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? RUN-D.M.C. in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? You're killing me! That doesn't mean those aren't good artists. But they don't play guitar. They sample and they talk. Not even sing!"

He continued: "If you asked Donna [Summer], 'What kind of artist are you?', do you think she would say 'rock?' If you asked Madonna, 'What kind of artist are you?' do you think she would say, 'Oh, rock!' So what they hell are they doing in the Hall Of Fame? They can run their organization any way they'd like, but it ain't rock! It just isn't! If you don't play guitar and you don't write your own songs, you don't belong there."

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Simmons predicted that rap would soon die out, and he'll be the first one to dance on its grave.

"Rap will die. Next year, 10 years from now, at some point, and then something else will come along," he told the magazine. "And all that is good and healthy. I am looking forward to the death of rap. I'm looking forward to music coming back to lyrics and melody, instead of just talking. A song, as far as I'm concerned, is by definition lyric and melody, or just melody."

Cube's N.W.A. bandmate MC Ren responded to Simmons during his Rock Hall acceptance speech. He said: "Mr. Gene Simmons, hip-hop is here forever! Get used to it!"

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has torn a bicep tendon and has undergone surgery to repair it. His condition is not expected to affect the band's "Freedom To Rock Tour", which is scheduled to kick off in early July.

Stanley revealed his injury via Twitter earlier today. He wrote: "Tore my bicep tendon. Surgery reattached it with a screw and stitches to anchor in place. Not much I can do now!"

He added in a separate tweet: "Thanks to my AMAZING doctor I WILL be great & ready to rock WAAAAYYYY before the tour! CAN'T WAIT!#FreedomToRock"

In a 2013 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Stanley talked about how his stage performances have damaged his body. He said: "My boots weigh 30 pounds. I'm running around and kicking with 15 pounds on each leg. We do at least four shows a week, and the days off are recuperation time."

He continued: "What I do has taken its toll. I've had both my rotator cuffs surgically repaired. They're all similar to sport injuries. I've torn my meniscus in both knees and had a hip replacement. This is all from onstage performances. It's like doing a triathlon with a guitar around my neck. You have to jump, sing, swing your arm and play the right chord. With that combination, anything can go wrong. I used to jump up in the air and land on my knees. It didn't hurt then, but it does now."

Stanley reiterated those sentiments in a 2014 interview with The New York Times. He said: "Things that didn't hurt me 40 years ago hurt me today. From 40 years ago. I've had both my rotator cups repaired, my knees. I've had a hip replacement. But I'm doing splits and everything on stage. I'm blessed. Every time I go out on stage, it is exhilarating."

Stanley, who had his first hip replacement at age 52, told U.K.'s Independent that he had no regrets about the nightly strutting in his eight-inch heels. "Every scar on my body was proudly earned," he said. "There's nothing worse than looking back and wishing you had done things, but I did 'em all. That's how life is supposed to be lived."

Stanley, who grew up half-deaf and scarred with a deformed right ear, eventually had reconstructive surgery in 1982 to create an ear using a piece of his rib cage.

Tore my bicep tendon. Surgery reattached it with a screw and stitches to anchor in place. Not much I can do now! pic.twitter.com/qAffGBIYBG

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) April 15, 2016

Thanks to my AMAZING doctor I WILL be great & ready to rock WAAAAYYYY before the tour! CAN'T WAIT!#FreedomToRock pic.twitter.com/PhsQexDPsv

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) April 16, 2016

SOUNDGARDEN frontman Chris Cornell's cover version of of Lorraine Ellison's 1966 soul song "Stay With Me Baby" can be streamed below. The track is taken from the soundtrack for HBO's "Vinyl" series, which combines previously released tracks with a handful of songs that were previously unavailable.

"Vinyl: Music From The HBO Original Series - The Essentials: Best of Season 1" is being released today (Friday, April 15) on Atlantic/Warner Bros.

"Vinyl" is the Martin Scorsese- and Mick Jagger-produced HBO drama that stars Bobby Cannavale as troubled record-label executive Richie Finestra. The series concludes its first season on Sunday, April 17.

"I was very honored to be asked to record a version of 'Stay With Me Baby' for 'Vinyl'," Cornell told Vulture. "I get to pay tribute to Terry Reid, whose version of the song has been a favorite of mine for many years, and be included on a great soundtrack with an amazing group of artists."

The second North American leg of Cornell's critically acclaimed "Higher Truth" world tour will kick off on June 16 in Clearwater, Florida and travel up the East Coast through the Midwest and up to the Pacific Northwest before winding down on July 27 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Along the way, Cornell will make his first appearance at the Ravinia festival on July 3 in Highland Park, Illinois.

"Higher Truth" was released on September 18, 2015. Cornell's first album on his own since 2009's controversial "Scream" is in the singer-songwriter vein and very different from his work with SOUNDGARDEN.

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL performed their song "Silverlake (K.S.O.F.M.)" on last night's (Thursday, April 14) episode of Conan O'Brien's nighttime talk show, "Conan". You can now watch the performance below.

"Silverlake (K.S.O.F.M.)" is taken from EAGLES OF DEATH METAL's most recent album, "Zipper Down", which was released in October and entered at No. 59 on The Billboard 200 album chart.

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL will tour North America from April to July before going back to Europe for a series of dates in August and September.

The band has been in the news extensively since the November terrorist attack that killed 89 concertgoers at EAGLES OF DEATH METAL's show in Paris. They returned to the city in February for another show and will perform there again on August 26 at Rock En Seine.

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL was founded in 1998 by QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE mainman Josh Homme and his longtime friend Jesse Hughes. Homme appears on all the band's albums but only plays live with them occasionally.

Texan classic rockers SCORPION CHILD will unleash their second album, "Acid Roulette", on June 10 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

The official lyric video for the "Acid Roulette" track "My Woman In Black" track can be seen below.

SCORPION CHILD vocalist Aryn Jonathan Black comments: "'My Woman In Black' is a key song on the record that describes that first time you laid eyes on the love of your life. Whatever or whoever it was. The impact, euphoria, and almost Déjà vu-like experience it is. For the subject, he was forever inspired!"

Receive "My Woman in Black" as well as "She Sings, I Kill" instantly when you pre-order "Acid Roulette" digitally via iTunes, Amazon and Google.

"'Acid Roulette' chronicles the life trials of a traveling man who was imprisoned for a murderous crime," comments Aryn. "He was forced into confessing by his wife and her wealthy lover so that they could live out their romance without him in the picture. Once sentenced to a life's term, he goes through extreme emotions dealing with the only woman he'd ever loved taking everything he'd known as 'real' away from him. He has to create and redefine his own reality accompanied by its roller coaster of emotional reflection. He experiences many different psychological changes throughout the years and escapes by means of drugs and his writings. These songs become his diary of a madman. The focus is mainly on the seasons in a year, for each song represents a month. The songs exist to drive home the full power of human emotion as many albums do. However, 'Acid Roulette' wires us into those extremes." SCORPION CHILD once again recorded "Acid Roulette" at The Bubble in Austin, Texas with Chris "Frenchie" Smith (THE ANSWER, AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD... ), who produced and arranged the band's self-titled, first full-length. "Acid Roulette" was mixed by Dave Schiffman (THE MARS VOLTA, DEAD MEADOW, JANE'S ADDICTION, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE). The album's artwork, pictured below, was a collaboration by Aryn Jonathan Black, photographer Max Taylor and graphic designer Rob Kimura.

"Acid Roulette" track listing:

01. She Sings, I Kill02. Reaper’s Danse03. My Woman In Black04. Acid Roulette05. Winter Side Of Deranged06. Séance07. Twilight Coven08. Survives09. Blind Man's Shine10. Moon Tension11. Tower Grove12. I Might Be Your Man13. Addictions SCORPION CHILD is:

Aryn Jonathan Black - VocalsChristopher Jay Cowart - Lead GuitarJon "Charn" Rice - DrumsAlec Caballero Padron - BassAJ Vincent - Keyboards

Photo credit: Rodrigo Fredes

America's preeminent progressive rock band Kansas will be touring select cities this fall celebrating the 40th Anniversary of their breakthrough album Leftoverture. To celebrate, for the first time in history, the band will be performing the album in its entirety. The tour will showcase two hours of classic Kansas music including hit songs, deep cuts, and new songs from their soon to be released album, The Prelude Implicit.

In 1976, Kansas released the album Leftoverture. Containing the smash hit, and million-selling single "Carry On Wayward Son”, along with fan favorites such as "The Wall," "Miracles Out Of Nowhere," and "What's On My Mind”, Leftoverture became the band's breakthrough album. The album peaked at #5 on Billboard's Album charts and reached sextuple-platinum status for more than 6 million copies sold.

"These definitely will not be your typical Kansas concerts of the past few years," commented original Kansas guitarist Richard Williams. "This is incredibly exciting for the entire band, and hopefully our fans. It's something we've never done before, play an album in its entirety, as part of a set. 'Leftoverture' was our breakthrough, and it's special that we are getting to celebrate it 40 years later. We've never even played "Questions of My Childhood" live before. I can't wait!"

The tour will also debut performances of songs from the band's latest studio release The Prelude Implicit. The new album, scheduled for release in September 2016 is the band's 15th studio album and first new album since 2000.

Kansas lead vocalist Ronnie Platt added, "This is going to be really special for both the band and our fans. It has been really wild recording 'The Prelude Implicit.' We are anxious to perform some of the songs for live audiences. To be able to do that while also be performing 'Leftoverture' in its entirety, and more; this is going to be a blast! Who knows, we may even have some more twists added in!"

Tickets & Kansas VIP Packages for most dates go on sale to the general public Friday, April 22nd. More ticket information can be found here.

Tour dates:
 
September
30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Benedum Center

October
1 - Philadelphia, PA - Merriam Theater
7 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall
8 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
15 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theater
21 - St. Louis, MO - Peabody Opera House
22 - Kansas City, MO - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
27 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
28 - Detroit, MI - MotorCity Casino
30 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre

November
3 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
4 - Chicago, IL - Copernicus Center
11 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckard Hall
12 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Broward Center for Performing Arts
18 - New Bedford, MA - Zeiterion Theatre
 
More dates to be added.

In the video below, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry perform “Dream On” with Southern California Children’s Chorus as a tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, the terrorist attack that took place on April 15th, 2013. Four were killed in the attack as well as many injured.

 

Although Tyler recently said that Aerosmith were "probably" going to embark on a farewell tour next year, Joe Perry tells Rolling Stone that the band is only "considering" it as an option.

"A farewell tour is something we've talked about doing for years, let's say roughly in the last five years," Perry says. "It's just something the band's talked about at various times. At this point, the five of us have never sat down and said, 'It's time to do it.' So 'considering' is an appropriate word for that statement. A farewell tour is definitely not confirmed."

Read the full story at RollingStone.com.

Following their wildly successful concerts at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, in front of 100,000 screaming fans at the Rock In Rio festival, and their spectacular worldwide television debut on the 2016 Grammy Awards reaching a global audience of almost 25 million people, fans worldwide demanded more. Hollywood Vampires - Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp – always deliver and arranged their schedules to give their fans what they want.

Hollywood Vampires have announced a full summer tour across the US and Europe kicking off May 24th in Verona, New York and continuing through.

Alice Cooper and Joe Perry spoke with Rolling Stone about the upcoming tour. Read an excerpt below:

Rolling Stone: What can people expect on this tour?

Joe Perry: “It's really about us having fun. Obviously, I love watching the audience get off, but to turn around and look at the people onstage with me, I've just got to shake my head. Never in my wildest dreams. To have Matt Sorum and Johnny Depp and Alice – I mean, I've known Alice for years and years and years, but we've never really had the chance to play together. And Johnny's sat in with us a few times on Aerosmith shows, but we've never really had the chance to do something like this. So it's really exciting. All that excitement is what we're going to bring to the stage and put it out there for the audience.”

RS: Will it be a theatrical show, like an Alice gig?

Alice Cooper: “I don't think it needs to be theatrical. It needs to have its own flavour.”

Perry: “It'll be a good rock show. I don't think we're going to go in with a bunch of bombs, fireworks and all that stuff. I don't think we need that. And it takes away from the music. We'll just let the music do the talking.”

Read the full interview at RollingStone.com.

Joining the Hollywood Vampires on tour will be their rock star musician friends and modern day Vampires Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses/The Cult) on drums, Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) on bass, Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper) on guitar, and Bruce Witkin (The Kids) on piano, percussion and guitar. For tickets, visit this location.

"Here is a gang of friends who came together really by chance and over the last year we were finally able to wrangle our schedules and the energy just fell into place. Playing with this line up is like a dream come true. After seeing the reaction at Rock in Rio in front of 100,000 fans, I know this band is going to tear the house down. Hell, I would want to be in the audience to see us rip it up." – Joe Perry

A super-group comprised of rock royalty and a Hollywood superstar, the Vampires will hit the stage offering fans a non-stop, energetic rock concert like no other, performing their new single "Bad As I Am" from their new deluxe album, as well as renditions of popular classics including "My Generation," "Whole Lotta Love," and a "School's Out"/"Another Brick in the Wall" medley.

Hollywood Vampires released a new digital deluxe version of their self-titled album. This expanded version includes three additional songs, including one original and two rocking covers. The deluxe version includes the scorching new single "Bad As I Am" an original song penned by Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, and Bruce Witkin and features Matt Sorum, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Johnny Depp. Also included is "I'm A Boy," a Who original, that was only available as a Japanese bonus track. "7 and 7 Is" is an unreleased track from the album sessions and is the classic song by the legendary Los Angeles band Love, a Vampires special pick and one that Alice covered on his 1981 solo album, Special Forces.

In 1969 on the Sunset Strip at a club called the Rainbow Bar & Grill, the Hollywood Vampires were born in the upstairs bar. It was a gathering place for the rock stars living in or passing through L.A. "To join the club, one simply had to out drink all of the members," says Alice Cooper, a founding member of the original Vampires.

Cooper and good friend Johnny Depp got together and decided the spirit of the Hollywood Vampires should live again (minus the drinking). Cooper and Depp were joined by Joe Perry, who is an old friend of both, and the recording began: a tribute to the original Hollywood Vampires. An environment was born for great artists to hang, laugh and play together.

Tour dates:

May
24 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone Casino
27 - Lisbon, Portugal - Rock in Rio
29 - Herborn, Germany - Hessentag Festival
30 - Stockholm, Sweden - Grona Lund

June
1 - Horsens, Denmark - The Prison
6 - Bucharest, Romania - Romexpo Parc C

July
1 - Bethlehem, PA - Sands Bethlehem Event Center
2 - Mashantucket, CT - The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Casino
3 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Resort Spas and Casino Event Center
5 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest BMO Harris Pavilion
7 - Aurora, IL - River Edge Park
8 - Orillia, ON - Casino Rama Entertainment Center
9 - Niagara Falls, ON - Stage at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino
10 - Brooklyn, NY - Coney Island Amphitheater
12 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion
13 - Mt. Pleasant, MI - Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
14 - Cadott, WI - Rock Fest
16 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
18 - Fargo, ND - Scheels Arena
22 - Rohnert Park, CA - Weill Hall
23 - Jacksonville, OR - Britt Pavilion
24 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
25 - Paso Robles, CA - Mid State Fair

MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee took part in a "drum camp" during this year's Musikmesse trade show, which was held April 7-10 in Frankfurt, Germany. Video footage of the event — which includes a clip of Dee playing first drum solo since MOTÖRHEAD's final show on December 11, 2015 in Berlin, Germany — can be seen below.

Speaking about how he approaches playing a drum solo during a performance, Dee said: "When I think about a drum solo, it's really not a thing I like to do a million technical things. I want it to work in a song and in a set. And I think it did okay in the [context of a] MOTÖRHEAD [concert in] that I was playing that it was more of a power thing and [it had] little bits and pieces for everyone, really. Even critical drummers [would say], 'Yeah, that thing is pretty cool he's doing there, but the rest is pretty simple.' And it really is. It's just a matter of how you arrange it."

MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy, who celebrated his 70th birthday on Christmas Eve (December 24), learned two days later that he was afflicted with an aggressive form of cancer. He died two days later, on December 28, at his home in Los Angeles.

The band was forced to cancel a number of shows last year, although they did manage to complete one final European tour.

Dee and MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell will join British heavy metal legends SAXON on stage during the Swedish racing series V8 Thunder Cars final, dubbed the "Lemmy 500", on September 24 in Ljungbyhed, to pay musical tribute to Lemmy.

Video footage of Neil Turbin (ANTHRAX), Chuck Wright (QUIET RIOT), Mitch Perry (LITA FORD, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, THE SWEET), Walter Ino (SURVIVOR) and Frankie Banali (QUIET RIOT) performing the HUGHES/THRALL song "Hold Out Your Life" on April 12 during this past Tuesday's (April 12) "Ultimate Jam Night" at the world-famous Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California can be seen below.

"Ultimate Jam Night", which debuted its Whisky A Go Go residency on March 29, features a wide range of music genres, a circus atmosphere, every Tuesday night at the Whisky A Go Go.

Chuck Wright, longtime bassist of QUIET RIOT, started "Ultimate Jam Night" over a year ago at Lucky Strike and has now moved it to the Whisky A Go Go. It remains a no-cover show.

"Ultimate Jam Night" continues to feature its house band of Wright, drummer Matt Starr (MR. BIG), Perry and MC Paulie Z. (Z-Rock and Z02).

Using a format of unrehearsed tunes integrating music’s best performers, performance art, comedy, and charity giving the show has attracted over 28,000 in-person guests, viewership in excess of two million and worldwide attention. In its first year, the weekly event boasted performances by members of KISS, MOTÖRHEAD, BON JOVI and others.

"We're proud that our show has created not only a following, but an extremely loyal family feel," said Wright. "We're excited that the Whisky allows us to continue our mission of rebuilding the rock music community — only this time on the Sunset Strip in an iconic and historical setting."

Faithsedge is returning with Restoration, their third and most melodic release to date. Fronted by mastermind singer/songwriter Giancarlo Floridia, the band returns with a stellar lineup featuring Stryper bass player Tim Gaines, Ace Frehley / Mr. Big drummer Matt Starr and former Dokken guitarist Alex De Rosso. Both keys and production have been handled by Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Revolution Saints).

The approach is very melodic with an old school feel: 80's style hooks, big drums, slamming bass, epic keys and big production. At the same time the album keeps a current up to date feel with lyric content of today’s world mixed with a competitive metal feel. Giancarlo's songwriting approach mixed with each members experience and skills takes the album to new heights.

With different supergroups that come and go, Faithsedge is more than just that, the band members worked together as a tight team and the result and chemistry show in the end result.

The album will be released on Scarlet Records in Europe and North America on June 24th and on Spiritual Beast in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan on June 15th.  

More details to follow.

The Montreal hard rock/progressive metal band AraPacis, led by the gritty vocals of singer Shelle Macpherson and the versatile guitar sounds of leader Jerry Fielden, released their fifth album, System Deceive today (April 15th), 10 years to the day after the release of their first album So Many Leapers. Physical copies will be available first through the band's website and will be released through their label Note Musik, distributed by Outside Music, at Canadian record stores nation-wide, as well as through electronic downloads, on April 29th.

The album features the intriguing bass lines of Raven main man John Gallagher throughout, and other guest appearances by such as Di'Anno/Hollywood Monsters axeman Steph Honde, and Roger Fisher's (ex-Heart) Human Tribe's cellist Rachael Beaver; AraPacis will take you on a journey into a wide range of different styles, from the progressive metal of the title track "System Deceive" to the mix of folk and contemporary classical instrumental of "The Unknown". As is their custom, always expect the unexpected with this band.

Album tracks “System Deceive” and “Streets Of Anger” are available for free download at AraPacis.com.

AraPacis will launch their new album at Bistro de Paris in Montreal on April 30th.

“System Deceive” lyric video:

“Streets Of Anger”:

The official video for the song "Lost And Alone" from Lancaster, Pennsylvania's FROM ASHES TO NEW can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's debut album, "Day One", which was released on February 26 via Better Noise Records.

Regarding how FROM ASHES TO NEW came up with its band mate, co-vocalist and melodic linchpin Chris Musser told Hardrock Haven: "The name FROM ASHES TO NEW came from a song lyric that Matt [Brandyberry, vocals] and I had from a previous band that never really went anywhere. But it kind of symbolizes the fact that all of our other metal bands burnt out over the years, and we all pulled together to make this new combination or cross breed of different genres, this metal rock cocktail. That's where it kind of came from, but what it has come to mean to me now is that this life is full of people place situations that eventually no longer suit you and you have to be conscious of when your being held you back, and be aware of when to move on. I like to try to not burn bridges in the process, but some situations you've got to make sure you don't relive those mistakes so sometimes you got to burn the bridge to start anew."

FROM ASHES TO NEW will take part in the "We're All In This Together" tour alongside HELLYEAH, ESCAPE THE FATE and NEW YEARS DAY beginning May 2 in Baltimore, Maryland. Tickets are on sale now with a special incentive for rock fans: each ticket bought will come with a free eight-track tour sampler featuring unreleased and released tracks from each band on the bill. FROM ASHES TO NEW will be handing over the exclusive song "Who's Laughing Now", not featured on "Day One", and, of course, fan favorite "Through It All".

Canadian progressive power metal band Scythia will unleash their fourth independent full-length album, Lineage, on May 4th. Pre-orders for Lineage are available now via the band's Bandcamp page. A lyric video for the album’s first single, "Soldier's Lament”, can be found below.

"With Lineage,we feel that we've put our best foot forward and succeeded in delivering a follow-up to that progresses upon what we started with ...Of Conquest," states guitarist and vocalist Dave Khan. "This new one is faster, heavier and SLIGHTLY more serious-toned but also more dynamic and original than its predecessor. This story will take the listener on a sonic voyage through peaks and valleys in true power metal style!"

Although the band self-produced the album, Lineage features engineering from Nino Laurenne (Firewind, Finntroll, Wintersun, Ensiferum) and Lasse Lammert (Alestorm, Gloryhammer, Powerwolf), and mastering from Svante Forsback (Rammstein, Volbeat, Firewind, Apocalyptica). Nino Laurenne is also responsible for mixing duties on the album. Lineage was recorded at LSD Studios in Lubeck, Germany and Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

Lineage tracklisting:

“Eternal Oath”
“Laugh Of The Tsar”
“Barbarian”
“Soldier's Lament”
“Loremaster Pt. I”
“Loremaster Pt. II”
“The Sacrifice”
“Lineage”

“Soldier's Lament” lyric video:

2016 sees Scythia getting ready for more touring. So far, the band has six events booked in north-western Canada, including their official album release party on May 4th. See below for all currently confirmed performance dates:
 
April
16 - Red Deer, AB - The Vat

May
4 - Calgary, AB - Dicken's Pub -Official Album Release Party (with Thunderstone and Viathyn)
6 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater (with Thunderstone, Titans Eve, Terrifier and Mournir)
7 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room - Shredmonton Festival (with Dying Fetus, Goatwhore, Acacia Strain, Black Crown Initiate and Thunderstone)

August
19 - Edmonton, AB - DV8
25-28 - Valemount, BC - Metalocalypstick Festival

Dave Khan adds, "Scythia is quite excited to tour with their Finnish friends in Thunderstone and feel that Shredmonton is the perfect festival for a CD release tour, given the heavyweight bands on the bill. We plan to complete a broader US tour in October so that we can truly showcase the new album to new and existing fans across the US."

Scythia is:

Dave Khan - Guitars, Vocals
Terry Savage - Bass Guitar, Growls
AJ Bergin - Guitars, Growls/Vocals
Celine Derval - Drums, Vocals

Gritty southern metal four-piece Texas Hippie Coalition are back with their fourth full-length Carved Records album, Dark Side Of Black, to be released on April 22nd. The new song “Come Get It” can be found below.

Embracing southern roots while exploring a heavier sound than ever before, Dark Side Of Black achieves a murky, groovier feel while not straying too far from THC's tried and true brand of rugged outlaw rock. Pre-orders for Dark Side Of Black are available here.

Dark Side Of Black was recorded at Boot Hill Studio in Corinth, TX and Valve Studios in Dallas, TX with producer Sterling Winfield (Pantera, Hellyeah, Damageplan).

"Dark Side Of Black is our heaviest album to date for sure," states THC vocalist Big Dad Ritch. "We've learned a lot having made four full-length albums prior. We're trying to use that knowledge we learned to make an album that can maintain what Ride On and Peacemaker bring to the table, yet we wanted it to lend itself more to the power that is the RED DIRT METAL of Rollin and Pride of Texas. So it feels like Pride meets Peacemaker. Top shelf THC meets bottom shelf liquor..."

Although Texas Hippie Coalition are experts at their trade, recording Dark Side Of Black wasn't easy at times. THC drummer Timmy Braun comments on his physical struggle while recording the album, having just recovered from a serious infection shortly beforehand. He feels, perhaps, that this struggle influenced his recording style overall.

"About Dark Side Of Black, I have never had such a difficult time completing an album in my life," begins Braun. "I say that because my first session I had just got out of the hospital. It was difficult for me to walk let alone play a drum kit. After being in bed for literally two weeks I felt a bit out of shape. Then for the second session my hand was swollen to almost twice its size because of an injury! I couldn't make a fist let alone play a drum kit. However, I'm hoping the vibe I was able to create will have a special flavor that I wouldn't have been able to offer had my life been in order, per say. In other words, tough times make for better art!"

Guitarist Cord Pool adds, "Between tweaking our writing style and being influenced by personal things, Dark Side Of Black leads the listener a step closer to the darker and heavier side of what we have to offer."

Dark Side Of Black tracklisting:

“Angel Fall”
“Come Get It”
“Dark Side”
“Gods Are Angry”
“Hit It”
“Into The Wall”
“Knee Deep”
“Rise”
“Shakin'”
“Villain”

“Come Get It”:

"Rise”:

In celebration of the album's release, Texas Hippie Coalition will venture out on a US headline tour with support from fellow Texas namesakes and natives Sons Of Texas. The Dark Side Of Black tour will begin its first leg on April 29th in Shreveport, LA and visit a total of 26 cities before ending at River City Rockfest on May 29th. The tour will include five spring festival stops (these will not include Sons Of Texas). Before the tour, the band will perform two headline dates, one of which will act as their official album release party.

Find the band’s complete tour itinerary at this location.

Clutch, the influential heavy rock band from Maryland, is celebrating Record Store Day on Saturday, April 16th, by releasing a special limited edition 12” vinyl. The record contains two previously unreleased tracks from the latest Psychic Warfare album sessions: “Mad Sidewinder” and “Outland Special Clearance”.

These two tracks, specifically mastered for this vinyl configuration by Paul Logus, will be on side A. The reverse side will have a large scale etching taken from the Psychic Warfare CD booklet design created by Dan Winters. The jacket is hand-numbered thick clear plastic showing the full art design, thus making this piece for Record Store Day 2016 a unique collectors item for all Clutch fans.

For more information and to find your local participating store, click here.

 

"Tooth, Beak & Claw", a brand new song from Swedish metallers AVATAR, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's new concept album, "Feathers & Flesh", which will be released on Friday, May 13 via Another Century in Europe and Entertainment One (eOne) in North America and Canada.

"'Tooth, Beak & Claw' is epic, massive death metal designed to make you want to dance," says AVATAR frontman Johannes Eckerström. "It's the BEACH BOYS reporting in from Valhalla. It's a gang of zombie surfers riding the waves of Hades."

The aim is set higher, further and deeper than ever before for AVATAR. Not only is this concept album their most extensive work to date, showing the widest range of any of their albums, it also contains a story too extensive for any booklet, so they made a book. A fully illustrated 60-page, 109-verse poem hardcover book. The physical album pre order, book, and exclusive merchandise is available now. AVATAR's music video for the new song "For The Swarm" can be seen below. Directed by longtime collaborator Johan Carlén, the clip pegs itself firmly into the upper echelon of stunning visual masterpieces the band has grown accustomed to producing. "For The Swarm" is also available as an iTunes instant gratification track, meaning fans who pre order the album will get the track as an instant download. "Feathers & Flesh" was recorded in Germany, Finland and Sweden in December 2015 with producer extraordinaire Sylvia Massy (SYSTEM OF A DOWN, TOOL, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS).

"AVATAR is an amazing band," said Massy, adding, "The singer has the wild energy and charisma I love, and the players are relentless. The album we're making is an epic. Each song powerfully stands on its own, but is only a piece of a larger story. This album is the project I've been dreaming about for years!" The music is as always, rooted in the extreme, with plenty of melodic sensibility and a lust for experimentation. There is a love for intense double bass drumming, riffing and shredding of timeless dimensions alongside rough edges, slow grooves and epic storytelling for the ages. The idea is that as the band digs deeper, the fists will be held up higher. The end result is a modern metal album with all the ruthlessness and power one could ask for handled with a loving songwriter’s hand, inspired by THE BEATLES and QUEEN. "Feathers & Flesh" track listing:

01. Regret02. House Of Eternal Hunt03. The Eagle Has Landed04. New Land05. Tooth, Beak & Claw06. For The Swarm07. Fiddler's Farewell08. One More Hill09. Black Waters10. Night Never Ending11. Pray The Sun Away12. When The Snow Lies Red13. Raven Wine14. Sky Burial

Finnish modern metallers, Volymian, release their debut album, Maze Of Madness, worldwide today (April 15th) via Canadian label Maple Metal Records. The album’s opening track “Breathe”, is streaming below.

Volymian was founded in 2008, and the band went through various member changes before settling down with the sextet that recorded Maze Of Madness. Most recently, vocalist Markku Kuikka (Status Minor, The Ragged Saints, Kenziner) joined the band in 2015 for the new album. Previously the band had recorded three EPs with a different vocalist. Maze Of Madness was recorded at Artlab Studio, Helsinki, and produced by Volymian. The album was mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Primal Fear, Epica, Amaranthe) in Denmark.

Jacob Hansen shares his comments on the album: "Volymian is great! I’m very impressed with the performances and song writing. Excellent stuff they’ve got going."

The album cover artwork was designed by Satu Velasco.

Tracklisting:

“Breathe”
“Line Of Fire”
“Inside Out”
“Under A Million Stars”
“Maze Of Madness”
“Empty Room”
“Damnation Of Love”
“Ring”
“Indifferent”
“Wasted Years”

“Breathe”:

“Line Of Fire” video:

Teaser:

 
Volymian is:

Markku Kuikka - vocals
Timo Mikkonen - guitar
Juha Raisanen - guitar
Ville Velasco - drums
Petri Hampinen - bass
Robert Leksis - keyboards

The sophomore album from First Signal, entitled One Step Over The Line, will be released on June 3rd. A lyric video for the album cut “Love Gets Through” can be found below.

In 2010, a marriage made in melodic rock heaven between Canadian singer Harry Hess and producer Dennis Ward launched the First Signal project. The concept developed when Frontiers' President Serafino Perugino presented Hess some melodic rock songs that harkened back to the magic of the early Harem Scarem sound, who at the time were on an artistic hiatus. The project was met with excellent reviews and interest from the melodic rock crowd and even when Harem Scarem re-launched with their album Thirteen (one of their strongest to date), Harry was still wanting to go back and sing some excellent melodic rock songs that he had from various songwriters under a different moniker.

So, the idea of another First Signal album started to float around and with the help of Swedish producer Daniel Flores (Find Me, The Murder of My Sweet, etc.), the new record started to take shape. Once again, the inspiration behind the songs are the first two Harem Scarem albums, two absolute classic melodic rock releases. But once again, we have some new twists and interpretations, with songs covering everything from AOR to arena hard rock.

Harry says, “I am very excited to be a part of the new First Signal release. I was pleasantly surprised with the positive reaction surrounding the first CD, so it was an easy decision to be a part of the new recording. Between Serafino, Daniel and myself we gathered some great songs that I'm sure the AOR fans will love. Daniel Flores did a fabulous job and put in a ton of effort to make this happen. We met many years ago on a writing trip to Sweden where I immediately noticed his work ethic and dedication to making music. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's reaction to the new album on June 3rd!”

Musicians on the album include the outstanding new talent Michael Palace on guitars and bass, Daniel Flores on drums and keyboards, and background vocals from Hess' Harem Scarem bandmate (and Red Dragon Cartel singer) Darren Smith, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Nigel Bailey, Daniel Flores, Rolf Pilotti and Angelica Rylin.

One Step Over The Line tracklisting:

“Love Run Free”
“Love Gets Through”
“Still Pretending”
“Broken”
“Kharma”
“Minute Of Your Time”
“She Is Getting Away”
“December Rain”
“Weigh Me In”
“Pedestal”
“One Step Over The Line”

“Love Gets Through” lyric video:

Southern California’s Nails will release You Will Never Be One Of Us on June 17th via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Today, on the eve of their Choosing Death Fest appearance, the band  reveal album details and the music video for the title track. The new video, directed by Jimmy Hubbard, can be found below.

Comments vocalist/guitarist Todd Jones: "“You Will Never Be One Of Us” is the title track and also the opening track from our new album. I can't deal with trying to write some clever, witty, or whatever type of descriptive garbage filled with barbs about how our band is awesome and other bands suck (which is absolute peasant bullshit), so I'll cut to the chase. This is to date, our favourite song. It's a song which represents almost every side of Nails. When it comes time to announce a record, it's really difficult for us to pick the first song to let the world hear because any Nails record to date is more about the LP as a whole and not 1 song really represents the full LP,  but I can say with no hesitation, this song represents this LP and we're confident that we should be releasing this song first. “You Will Never Be One Of Us” is about about the pain and the pride that goes into being involved in hardcore/punk/metal unconditionally...being a lifer. It's a knife to the throat of the people who come and liter their bullshit and impose on everyone for their own selfish agenda. It's for everyone who dedicates themselves to their craft...their music...their passion...whatever the fuck it is, and seeing someone come along and attach themselves to what you do/love and abuse it, with no regard or respect for it. This song is not for Nails, but for all of US. 

"As far as the video goes, we needed something that represented us and wasn't fake. The world really doesn't need another 'band playing in a warehouse' music video, but again, without being condescending with some passively aggressive description and putting other videos down, we believe this video not only stands out as far as quality and expression, but represents us in the best possible way that a music video could. It conveys the emotions that you might experience from us if you come to one of our shows. This video shows what we are, doing what we do in this band. No pretense, no overblown image, no bullshit, no gimmicks, no artificial/cheap attention grab. This video IS Nails. Fucking period.

"We hope you guys dig this shit. We worked really hard on everything with the LP. Wrest did the artwork which is undoubtedly the best representation Nails has had so far for an album cover, the video you're seeing/hearing...everything. This record represents Nails more so than any of our other records. You Will Never Be One Of Us is the epitome of Nails to date. It is our apex (up to this point). We know if you're already a fan of the band that you'll love this record. If you've never heard of us before, we appreciate you checking this shit out. 'OUR PAIN IS NOT YOUR PAIN, OUR PRIDE IS NOT YOUR PRIDE - YOU WILL NEVER BE ONE OF US'. Much love and respect."

You Will Never Be One Of Us was recorded, mixed and produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge, High On Fire). Artwork was created by WHTHD. Pre-order the album in CD or vinyl format, with or without several bonus items, from the Nuclear Blast web shop. Pre-order the album digitally right now through iTunes or Amazon and receive the title track instantly.

You Will Never Be One Of Us tracklisting:

“You Will Never Be One Of Us”
“Friend To All”
“Made To Make You Fall”
“Life Is A Death Sentence”
“Violence Is Forever”
“Savage Intolerance”
“In Pain”
“Parasite”
“Into Quietus”
“They Come Crawling Back”

“You Will Never Be One Of Us” video:

Nails will perform at the the Choosing Death Fest tomorrow at Philadelphia, PA’s Union Transfer. Tickets are available for $22 in advance at www.utphilly.com and $25 day of show at the door.

(Photo - Jimmy Hubbard)

"Prayers For The Damned", the title track of the upcoming double album from SIXX:A.M., the band featuring MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx alongside guitarist DJ Ashba and vocalist James Michael, can be streamed below.

Due on April 29 via Eleven Seven Music, the first volume of "Prayers For The Damned" is available to pre-order via iTunes and all digital retailers.

With two U.S. Billboard Top 20 albums and a string of hit singles already under their belt, "Prayers For The Damned" represents the band's most ambitious, complete and adrenaline-soaked effort to date. James Michael once again plays triple duty on "Prayers For The Damned" as vocalist, the album's producer and mixer, thereby solidifying the unique musicianship of this beloved hard-rock outfit. The introspective cover art for "Prayers For The Damned" is an original design created by guitarist DJ Ashba, further proving that all aspects of this album are a collaboration of true passion for the band. "SIXX:A.M. is in the most creative place of our careers," said Sixx. "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.” Michael agreed: "The double albums will leave no stone unturned in our quest to create important music and push the boundaries of rock." Ashba concludes: "We are on a mission to give our fans even more than they could have hoped for, both musically and visually."

"Prayers For The Damned Vol. 1" track listing:

01. Rise02. You Have Come To The Right Place03. I'm Sick04. Prayers For The Damned05. Better Man06. Can't Stop07. When We Were Gods08. Belly Of The Beast09. Everything Went To Hell10. The Last Time (My Heart Will Hit The Ground)11. Rise Of The Melancholy Empire

Asked about the addition of Canadian drummer Dustin Steinke (BLEEKER RIDGE) to SIXX:A.M.'s recording and touring lineup, Sixx said: "He's a fantastic drummer, first of all, and being a bass player, I appreciate that more than just about anybody. We play very well together. He's a great guy, so he brings that really positive energy that's part of our family. And we have two background vocalists that are just phenomenal, and they're also great people."

He continued: "SIXX:A.M. is DJ, James and myself, but our extended family in our touring band, there's six of us. That's a lot of people. And we have to be sure everybody's a good person. There's really no time for any B.S. We have a mission, and we have a standard that we wanna keep the band to, and everybody in the band has the same mission in sight, same mission in mind."

Photo credit: Dustin Jack

German metal band, Rage, will release their new album, The Devil Strikes Again, on June 10th via Nuclear Blast Records. The first in a series of studio trailers can be seen below:

The Devil Strikes Again will be released in various formats: CD / Digibook (2CD)/ Deluxe Digibook (3CD) / 2LP.

Tracklisting:

CD/LP:
“The Devil Strikes Again”
“My Way”
“Back On Track”
“The Final Curtain”
“War”
“Ocean Full Of Tears”
“Deaf, Dumb And Blind”
“Spirits Of The Night”
“Times Of Darkness”
“The Dark Side Of The Sun”

Bonus (Digibook/ Deluxe / LP)
“Bring Me Down”
“Requiem”
“Into The Fire”
“Bravado” (Rush Cover)
“Slave To The Grind” (Skid Row Cover)
“Open Fire” (Y&T Cover)

CD Live 2016 (Deluxe only)
“Black In Mind” (live)
“Sent By The Devil” (live)
“End Of All Days” (live)
“Back In Time” (live)
“Down” (live)
“My Way” (live)
“Until I Die” (live)
“Don't Fear The Winter” (live)
“Higher Than The Sky” (live)

“My Way” video:

Pre-order the new album at this location.