Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of Raintimes for a multi-album deal. Raintimes is a new melodic rock project featuring two young and talented Italian musicans, Pierpaolo “Zorro” Monti (Charming Grace, Shining Line) and Davide Barbieri (Wheels of Fire, Charming Grace), together with singer Michael Shotton (Von Groove) and also featuring Sven Larsson, Andrea Gipponi and Ivan Gonzalez.

“Raintimes is an album that I really wanted to use as a tribute to show my love and admiration for The Storm,” says Pierpaolo Monti. “I have played to death their two albums (especially Eye Of The Storm): their mid-tempos, steeped in pure melodic class, are the perfect crossroad between AOR and melodic rock. The choice of Shotton as frontman however was based not only on my admiration for his talents, but because I wanted to give a strong personality to the album and make the music more personal and original.”

A few demos were sent to the attention of Frontiers President Serafino Perugino, who was really excited with what he heard and decided to give a chance to these talented guys from Northern Italy.

"I'm absolutely thrilled about this partnership with Frontiers," says Zorro. "We are still finding it hard to believe that Raintimes will be part of its great roster, which features some of the most iconic and influential artists of the past and present international rock scene."

"Frontiers represents with no doubts a big step forward in our careers," Dave adds. "We're absolutely honored to release our debut album under this renowned brand, which is well-known for offering premimum quality rock music to all the fans worldwide!"

The duo Monti – Barbieri (together with Dave Zublena) incidentally penned the song “Love Gets Through” on the upcoming First Signal album, One Step Over the Line, to be released in June.

Raintimes debut album is expected to be released in early 2017

With their fourth full-length album, Disconnected, set for release on June 10th via Karisma Records, prog rockers Airbag have released a video teaser to give everyone a taste of what to expect from an album that takes the listener on a sonic journey filled with lush soundscapes underlined by soaring guitars and soulful vocals, starting with the opening track, “Killer”, and ranging right through to the 13 minute long title track, "Disconnected".

Without a doubt Airbag have mastered the art of creating a strong narrative listening experience by closely tying together lyrical themes and music, and Disconnected ventures even deeper into blending musical styles and sounds, which create the unique listening experience that is Airbag.  The album itself is a reflection on the theme of alienation between the individual and society, what society expects from us as individuals, and our resultant failure to live up to those expectations. Each of the six compositions depicts the state of feeling on 'the outside’ and out of touch with oneself and those around us.  Guitarist Bjørn Riis gives us some insight into the thought processes and musical ideas that went into the making of Disconnected: 

"The early demos for Disconnected were written during a couple of months in late 2014. The idea and inspiration for most of the lyrics, and the title track in particular, came from me realizing that I had to make some changes in my life. I was tired of the daily routine, working 9 to 5 in an office doing basically nothing and never having enough time for my family and music. I took a year off and started writing for the album. 

“We discussed the theme for the songs and gave them a single title, reflecting different persons or ways of being disconnected to society and what’s expected of us and how we fail to live up to those expectations. 
 
“As for the music, we have done three albums prior to this and those songs will always be a part of what we do, but you also want to look forward and explore new sounds and musical ground. We talked a lot about wanting to use more electronic elements and giving more room for the drums, allowing them to be more percussive and basically avoid the usual rock formula on all songs. We also wanted to do a more stripped down production and create a more spacious and dynamic sound.”

For the production of Disconnected, Airbag has once again teamed up with longtime collaborator and engineer Vegard Sleipnes. The album is produced by Asle Tostrup and Bjørn Riis, and, as always, the artwork was designed by vocalist Tostrup.

Tracklisting:

“Killer”
“Broken”
“Slave”
“Sleepwalker”
“Disconnected”
“Returned”

Teaser:

Metallic hardcore four-piece Akani, featuring current and former members of Merauder, Soilwork and Dark Tranquillity, have revealed a new track from their forthcoming debut full-length, Through My Darkest Infernal, due out in June via Demons Run Amok. Listen to “Bloodlust” below.

 
Consisting of vocalist Jorge Rosado (Merauder), guitarists Daniel Antonsson (ex-Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity) and Daniel Cederborg (ex-Path Of No Return) and drummer Anders Löwgren (Dead Reprise), Akani formed in 2012 and quickly garnered a lot of attention with their debut EP Santa Muerte from 2014, which is now sold out.

"Bloodlust":

"I Won't Run" video:

 

Austria's Mastic Scum will release their new DVD entitled Rage [Live & Rare] on May 13th. It will also be available as an MP3 album for download.

The band states, “We are proud to share the artwork ‘mechanical eye’ for our upcoming DVD RAGE [Live & Rare]. Lukáš Lancko from Isis Design Studio did an awesome job! We are proud of the final design! The DVD will include a four page booklet and the live shot will also be available as MP3 album for download!”

DVD content:

-Full live show
-Band interview
-Nine official music videos 
-Live footage from five festivals
-Photo gallery 1993-2015
-Complete discography
-Bonus video footage

More than 160 minutes of content. 

Tasmanian death metal has never been in finer form and Infernal Outcry is making all the right moves . Now, after the release of their EP Mass Extinction Requiem I, they present the video clip for single 'Eclipsed".

An epic 5 minute short film, the clip shows a man's struggle with time and humanity's reckless destruction of the Earth via it's nonchalance and ignorance. A man literally out of time. A foreboding message about the over-population of the Earth and the reluctance to care for the Planet which sustains us... but for how long?

The twisting and turning narrative becomes the focus of the clip, with Hobart's hills and valleys serving as an amazingly picturesque backdrop. Jimmy Harmsworth of Harmless Pictures was at the helm of the project and created the bleak, grey world of Future Australian outback, wracked with desolation, over-population and managed also to show the brutality of the band's live persona that punctuates the film clip’s final 2 minutes. 

For the uninitiated, Infernal Outcry is a technical and progressive extreme metal band based in Hobart, Tasmania. Punishing drums, maliciously methodical guitars, and deathly screams all play their part in luring the listener into a diverse musical landscape of weighty, multi-textured, and brooding compositions. Drawing such on influences as Dream Theater and Meshuggah, Infernal Outcry’s unique twist of contemporary progressive death metal is a fusion of complex rhythms and sinister melodies teeming with intensity.

Infernal Outcry’s debut, Mass Extinction Requiem I, produced by legend of the Australian Metal scene, Joe Haley (Psycroptic), was released on March 18th, thanks to a grant from Tasmanian Regional Arts Fund.

Italy’s Terrorway have revealed the details of their new album The Second, out on May 20th on Bakerteam Records.

The Second was recorded at V-Studio in Cagliari and once again mixed and mastered by Jacob Olsen. Terrorway comments, "We think that this record sounds very different from the predecessor Blackwaters. We changed a lot of things for what concerns our musical style and experimented a lot more than in the past... to cut it short… it will come as a real surprise for our fans!"

Tracklisting:

“Under The Light of A Broken Down”
“Eye Of The Sun”
“Torment”
“On The Edge”
“T.F.B.T.M. (The Face Behind The Mask)”
“Enter The Columns”
“Columns”
“Trails Of Ashes”
“The Wanderer”
“Lights Turn Black” (bonus track)
“Threshold Of Pain” (bonus track)

High-energy Miami noise rock quartet, Wrong, have released an official video for the track “Mucilage”, from their self-titled debut full-length, out on April 29th via Relapse Records. Find the video below.

After steamrolling onto the scene in 2014 with their promising debut EP and unrelenting live show (and featuring former members of Torche and Kylesa amongst their ranks), Wrong play Helmet / Unsane inspired heavy noise rock for a new millennium. The band signed with Relapse Records in the summer of 2015, after they made waves on their first North American tour with now-labelmates Torche and Nothing.

After spending the rest of 2015 on tour with Black Tusk and House of Lightning, Wrong put the finishing touches on their debut full-length at PineCrust studios in Gainesville, FL. Pre-order the album at this location.

Tracklisting:

“More Like”
“Turn In”
“Read”
“Entourage”
“Hum Drum”
“Stasis”
“Mucilage”
“Fake Brain”
“Boil”
“Wrong”
“High Chair”

“Mucilage” video:

“Boil”:

“Turn In” video:

Wrong is:

Eric Hernandez - Guitars, Vocals
Brian Hernandez - Drums
Andres Ascanio - Bass
Ryan Haft - Guitars

(Photo - Wrong Facebook)

Debemur Morti Productions will release Codex Obscura Nomina, the split album between avant-garde extreme metal acts Blut Aus Nord and Ævangelist.

This spectacular split album is the dangerous meeting of two strange entities working towards the same horrific ends, this is not just music, this is pure terror.

The artwork was created by Daniel Valencia from Fenomeno Design.

Tracklisting:

“Evanescent Hallucinations” (Blut Aus Nord)
“Resonnance(s)” (Blut Aus Nord)
“The Parallel Echöes” (Blut Aus Nord)
“Infra-Voices Ensemble” (Blut Aus Nord)
“Threshold Of The Miraculous” (Ævangelist)

The split will be available on June 17th on digipak CD and digital. The vinyl release date is yet to be confirmed. 

North Carolina’s doom / stoner metal act Bedowyn has signed a record deal with Via Nocturna to release their full-length debut album Blood Of The Fall.

From Via Nocturna - "Heavy, intense atmosphere, and radical playing with surprising accessibility is Bedowyn's signature. The power of Blood Of The Fall gives the band the opportunity to become well known in the metal communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Move over Baroness and Orange Goblin! Bedowyn is here to kick some serious ass!”

In late 2014, the band set out to create the follow-up to their well-received debut EP. Expanding greatly on the bedrock sound they had established, further exploration has yielded eleven well thought-out tracks that showcase their nomadic and heavy sensibilities. Conceptual in design, the recording has been crafted in the traditional structure of a side A/side B album that harkens back to the groups’ early metal roots.

Blood Of The Fall was recorded in various locations, including Schaefer Sound Productions (Raleigh, NC), Jerk Music Productions (Burlington, NC), as well as the bands’ home studio. Egan O’Rourke of Daylight Dies was enlisted once again for mixing duties.

Tracklisting:

“The Horde”
“Rite To Kill”
“Blood Of The Fall”
“Cotard’s Blade”
“Leave The Living For Dead”
“For A Fleeting Moment”
“Where Wings Will Burn”
“I Am The Flood”
“Halfhand”
“Lord Of The Suffering”
“The Horde (Exodus)”

The album will be out as a jewel case CD limited to 500 copies. Preorders are available at the Via Nocturna Store.

Indiana extreme metal rabble Skeleton Wolf will release their self-titled debut album on June 10th.  A trailer is streaming below.

Skeleton Witch is an extreme metal band that will have you headbanging until you tear your neck meat in two. Catchy guitar work, heavy vocals, and machine gun drums come together to forge a metal assault that is sure to have you raising your horns. Taking the old-school do-it-yourself mentality, the band handles everything from writing the tunes to shipping them to your doorstep. Skeleton Wolf is sure to please listeners of bands such as Goatwhore, Amon Amarth, Immortal, and recent Onslaught.

The album will be available for purchase on June 10th at SkeletonWolf.com.

Tracklisting:

“Bow Down To Death”
“At The Sixth Foot”
“M.P.F.F.”
“Whatever Demons”
“Eternal Lies”
“She’s Insane”
“Forever Awake”

Trailer:

Philadelphia’s Nothing are streaming a new song from their forthcoming album, Tired Of Tomorrow.

In addition to appearing on Tired Of Tomorrow, "A.C.D. (Abscessive Compulsive Disorder)" will also be released this Saturday as a limited-edition 12" for Record Store Day - get more details here, and stream the track below:

Nothing recently launched a documentary video series in support of Tired Of Tomorrow, due for release on May 13th via Relapse Records. Watch Episode 1 below:

Tired Of Tomorrow will be available on CD / LP / Deluxe 2xLP (with two bonus tracks) / Cassette / Digital. Physical pre-orders and bundles are available via Relapse.com here, and digital downloads can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp at this location.

People often wonder why Nothing are so damn loud. In the case of many artists, the volume stems from a preoccupation with negativity, misanthropy and the human condition. But while Nothing's attitude lines up with these ideas, their personality isn't one that the band picked from a list of clichés. It's one moulded by their own experiences, from family troubles and personal tragedy to a string of bad luck that Murphy's Law would balk at. And that volume, rather than a selling point, is the only way the band has been able to translate the difficulty of real-life events into musical form.

Tired Of Tomorrow is a record born out of a chain of events that forced frontman Domenic Palermo to drastically re-think and re-shape his perspective about both life and music. Borrowing from personal memoir and external works alike, Nothing have worked the deepest influences of their youth and maturation into a package that's ultimately at its most relevant in the present day.

Tired Of Tomorrow was originally set for release via Collect Records, until the band discovered that the label had been funded by the now-infamous hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli, whose roster subsequently dissolved under the weight of the unsettling controversy surrounding him. Though the album was written before the Shkreli debacle, Palermo sees those events to only have strengthened the sentiments and ideas behind Tired Of Tomorrow, rather than confuse its message. It's a mess to think about, but as always, the contradictions and paradoxes of the kind Nothing harnesses ultimately lead to the greatest revelations, and the band's personal and tragic path has nonetheless led Nothing to produce deeply heartfelt and inspiring music. Whichever way you want to look at it, you can't deny that Nothing feels good.

The band’s 2014 debut LP Guilty Of Everything, a record inspired largely by the events surrounding Palermo’s incarceration in 2002 following an aggravated assault charge (to which he pleaded self-defense), garnered widespread critical acclaim. After having toured relentlessly across North America and Europe, playing with the likes of DIIV, Merchandise, Torche, Failure, Hum and many more, Nothing will announce tour dates for 2016 imminently.

Tired Of Tomorrow tracklisting:

“Fever Queen”
“The Dead Are Dumb”
“Vertigo Flowers”
“ACD (Abcessive Compulsive Disorder)”
“Nineteen Ninety Heaven”
“Curse Of The Sun”
“Eaten By Worms”
“Everyone Is Happy”
“Our Plague”
“Tired Of Tomorrow”

“Eaten By Worms” video:

“Vertigo Flowers” video:

French progressive metallers GOJIRA have set "Magma" as the title of their brand new studio album, due on June 17 via Roadrunner Records. The as follow-up to 2012's "L'Enfant Sauvage" was recorded at GOJIRA frontman Joseph Duplantier's Silver Cord Studio in Queens, New York.

Joseph told RollingStone.com in a new interview that GOJIRA worked on twelve songs for the album before ultimately deciding on ten. "We want a short album," he said. "Something less epic than what we usually do. People's attentions are shorter now. So a lot of the songs are four minutes."

Joseph and his brother, GOJIRA drummer Mario Duplantier, who make up the band's songwriting core, were forced to put the sessions for the new album on hold when their mother got sick and eventually died last summer.

"I felt physically, mentally exhausted," Joseph told RollingStone.com. "At the same time, though, the way it happened was beautiful. We were all around her. We had to cancel a few shows when she died, but it was very enriching at the same time. We learned a lot about death."

"When you read Joe's lyrics, for me, I cry right away," Mario said. "They're very deep and to the point. No bullshit. We recycle our sadness and depression in the music."

"Mario was recording drums, and I was playing guitar with him, just trying to help him know where he's at in the song, and both of us would start crying at the same time," Joseph added.

"The songs were half-written while she was sick," he said. "After she died, I still had to finish them. So one song was like, 'You're going to make it,' but the second verse is 'You didn't make it.'"

GOJIRA's fifth album, "L'Enfant Sauvage", sold almost 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart.

In March 2015, GOJIRA released "Les Enfants Sauvages", a limited edition 5" x 7", 60-page hardcover photo book chronicling the band's journey around the world over the first two years since the release of "L'Enfant Sauvage". The images were taken around the globe, spanning over 150 shows on three continents, and were hand-selected by Joseph and Mario. The package also included a live CD and DVD capturing the band's performance at the legendary Brixton Academy in London, England.

Norway's THE WRETCHED END will release its new album, "In These Woods, From These Mountains", on April 22 via Indie Recordings.

It has been nearly four years since new sounds have emerged from the fiery studio alliance of former EMPEROR/ZYKLON guitarist Samoth, MINDGRINDER/WINDIR guitarist/vocalist Cosmo, and DARK FUNERAL drummer Nils "Dominator" Fjellstrom.

Boasting a darker foundation than its predecessors, "In These Woods, From These Mountains" was recorded by the band themselves and mixed with producer Marius Strand in Norway. Mastered at Fascination Street in Sweden, it is without doubt the strongest and most varied of the extreme metal band's growing sonic portfolio.

During the creation process of the album, Samoth and Cosmo made a conscious decision to strive for a more organic and spontaneous sound. Samoth notes: "We went into this recording with a do-it-yourself attitude. We recorded everything ourselves in different locations and setups. We really wanted to capture our raw energy. It really was a principle focus for us."

"Dead Icons" opens the album with fervent drumming and the signature buzz of Samoth's celebrated six-strings. Harrowing vocals cater to the songs blasting and calculated cadence. Old friend Attila Csihar (MAYHEM, TORMENTOR) lends hand on "Old Norwegian Soul" while LEPROUS vocalist/keyboardist Einar Solberg and RED HARVEST's LRZ contribute on the band's unexpected adaptation of Bel Canto's "Dewy Fields" for the album's epic closer.

Due to Samoth's extensive involvement with the assemblage of EMPEROR's 20th-aniversary headliner shows for their pivotal album "In The Nightside Eclipse", the recording process of "In These Woods, From These Mountains" has been a longer journey than originally intended.

"It's great to finally have this album ready for release," says Samoth. "It took us some years for various reasons; different things in our every day and professional lives that took a lot of focus on our parts. We never felt any great pressure. Looking back, I think the whole process affected the album in a positive way. I personally feel I've almost come full circle with this new album, bringing more elements rooted in the darkness of black metal."

"In These Woods, From These Mountains" track listing:

01. Dead Icons02. Primordial Freedom03. Old Norwegian Soul04. Misery Harbour05. Atheos06. The Decline And Fall07. Burrowing Deep08. Dewy Fields

The official video for the song "Primordial Freedom" can be seen below.

"In These Woods, From These Mountains" features design work by Norwegian artists Trine Paulsen and Kim Sølve (ULVER, ARCTURUS, ENSLAVED). The album will be available on CD, LP, and digital formats.

According to TMZ, MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil was captured on surveillance footage last week dragging an autograph seeker to the ground by her hair before being cited for battery.

Neil claimed he only "pushed past" a female autograph seeker at the Aria in Las Vegas on April 7, but officers concluded after reviewing the video that the singer did in fact pull the woman by her hair.

The woman says that she was left stunned, and suffered a sore neck as well as pain in her lower back and hip.

Cameras also captured the woman taking pics with Carrot Top before she saw Nicolas Cage. She claims she said, "Nicolas, I love you" and followed Cage before being pulled down by Neil, who was having lunch with the comedian and the actor.

As for the scene outside the hotel, which was captured on video and posted by TMZ (see below), cops say Neil was actually trying to fight another individual, while Cage tried to play peacemaker. The clip was reportedly filmed after Vince was held for an hour by security and police had already ticketed the singer for battery.

Neil was released at the scene, police said, and is scheduled to appear in court on June 17 for the alleged assault on the woman.

The singer's attorney, David Chesnoff, told the Daily News he is still investigating the incident.

"All I've seen is that there was an allegation of a simple misdemeanor battery," he said. "People shouldn't pre-judge things until all the facts are in."

The night before, Vince was was seen checking out the newly opened T-Mobile Arena in Vegas with friends, including former "Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous" host Robin Leach.

Cage and Neil are longtime friends who were previously photographed together at the rocker's strip club back in 2012.

"In The Age Of The Consecrated Vampire We All Get High", the new video from Rob Zombie, can be seen below. The song is taken from his new upcoming album, "The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser", which will be released on April 29 via UMe/T-Boy Records. The CD was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris and features Zombie alongside guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D and drummer Ginger Fish.

Zombie told RollingStone.com about the new clip: "I always loved the way Elvis looked on his comeback special standing in front of a giant 'ELVIS' sign. So I figured, let's do that, but instead of my name, it will say 'GET HIGH.' It's a simple message for everyone."

"The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser" track listing:

01. The Last Of The Demons Defeated02. Satanic Cyanide! The Killer Rocks On!03. The Life And Times Of A Teenage Rock God04. Well, Everybody's Fucking In A U.F.O.05. A Hearse Overturns With The Coffin Bursting Open06. The Hideous Exhibitions Of A Dedicated Gore Whore07. Medication For The Melancholy08. In The Age Of The Consecrated Vampire We All Get High09. Super-Doom-Hex-Gloom Part One10. In The Bone Pile11. Get Your Boots On! That's The End Of Rock And Roll12. Wurdalak

Rob Zombie spoke to Louder Noise about why he has held back the release of his new album even though the record was completed months ago. Zombie said: "What I wanna do is I wanna do a very large visual component to go with the record — shoot thirteen videos, or shoot a movie go with it. And because of [Zombie's upcoming sixth live-action feature film, a horror thriller called] '31', I couldn't get to that yet."

Zombie told Loudwire that the follow-up to 2013's "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" was recorded over the course of a year, with the band working for a few weeks, taking a break for a few months, then coming back. He said, "We were living with it for a long time, and it really — I think it made the record so much better."

He continued: "I love it. I mean, I really like the record. The last record was my favorite record in a long time. 'Cause I had kind of hit a low with making records. It just kind of got boring; I hated being in the studio, and I kind of got reinspired on the last record. And this sort of follows up on it. So I think that, much like '31'… You just have those things in your career where you're, like, they all can't be the best one. With records, sometimes you have those moments where you can tell, 'This one's special.' And that's how it feels."

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of ENUFF Z'NUFF. The band's brand new studio album will arrive in the fall. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Good Luv", "Radio", "Nothing" and "The Devil Of Shakespeare".

Wrongly lumped in with the disposable pop-metal bands of the late '80s, ENUFF Z'NUFF is instead a truly gifted power pop act. Founded in Chicago in 1984 by Chip Znuff, ENUFF Z'NUFF arrived with their self-titled debut in August 1989, scoring a couple of hit singles with "New Thing" and "Fly High Michelle". The follow-up was 1991's "Strength" album, where the band had noticeably toned down their image and turned up their creative ambitions to deliver a masterful '90s take on the crunchy power pop sound of CHEAP TRICK and BADFINGER. As of today, ENUFF Z'NUFF is still going strong and continues touring the globe. Singer-songwriter Johnny Monaco now fronts the power-pop trio along with co-founder Chip Z'Nuff and drummer Erik Donner. Chip Z'Nuff says: "We are very excited with this new deal with Frontiers, thanks to old friend who discovered us, Derek Shulman.

"The new record is pure rock and features a couple rock-star friends, most notably James 'JY' Young (STYX), and the late great Jani Lane (WARRANT) singing on one of his last recording sessions.

"The band will be touring through 2016, worldwide.

"Wishing everyone a prosperous 2016 and may the BEST thing that happened to you last year be the WORST thing that happens to you this year!"

Italian metallers, Ibridoma have renewed their partnership with SG Records. The band’s fourth album, entitled December, will be released on May 6th (in digital download on May 4th). The album has two special guests, Paul Di' Anno and Blaze Bayley. Album cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes (Arch Enemy, Kamelot).

The band comment on the album concept: "After consuming all the resources of the earth, after polluted the soil, the air and the sea, after killed each animal, cut every tree, will remain only desolation and silence...  Before arriving in hell, we'll realize that we should stop and reflect on the meaning of all this violence, and finally try to change our behavior! How would the world be without the man? ...December.”

December is yet another evolution of Ibridoma's sound, and while awaiting for the album release Ibridoma give us a taste of what is to come, with the new video "Chemtrails", watch it below.

Tracklisting:

"Sniper"
"Cover By The Blood"
"December"
"Chemtrails"
“I’m A Bully" (feat. Paul Di' Anno)
"Dead Trees"
"Come With Me"
"Land Of Flame" (feat. Blaze Bayley)
"I Don’t Like"
"Change Me"

"Chemtrails" video:

Ibridoma are:

Chriastian Bartolacci - Voice
Marco Vitali - Guitar
Sebastiano Ciccale' - Guitar
Leonardo Ciccarelli - Bass
Alessandro Morroni - Drums

Norwegian progressive metal band, Withem, will release their new album, The Unforgiving Road, on June 3rd. A new lyric video for the album track “The Pain I Collected” can be found below.

Withem are inspired by the likes of Symphony X, Pagan's Mind, Dream Theater and Circus Maximus, concentrating heavily on melodic, memorable hooks, but still with plenty of stunning and virtuoso instrumental sections. The band debuted with The Point Of You in 2013, gathering excellent reviews from several music websites, blogs and magazines from all over the world. The release was followed by European touring with Pagan’s Mind, Circus Maximus and Seventh Wonder, and performances at both ProgPower USA and ProgPower Oslo, always with an extremely positive reception.

The new album, The Unforgiving Road sees the band perfecting their style. Withem’s gripping, melody-driven songs avoid the clichés and pitfalls of overly dramatic instrumental sections and sheer senseless complexity and instead centre on creative interplay between the musicians, while the unique vocal range of Ole Aleksander Wagenius gives the band a distinctive touch. Just like the debut album, The Unforgiving Road was produced and mixed by guitarist Øyvind Voldmo Larsen at his own Lionheart Studio, boasting powerful and bombastic production values with plenty of moments for the listener to notice the most subtle intricate parts of the songs.

"The Unforgiving Road is a the culmination of almost a year worth of composing, recording and producing. We didn't want to rush things after the first album, to avoid the usual pitfalls of "sophomore albums," says Withem guitar player and producer Oyvind Larsen. "The challenges we encountered while writing and recording can only be matched with how rewarding it feels after everything is set and done!"

"Øyvind once again took the helm for most of the composition and the whole scope of recording, mixing and producing, and we can't wait to hear everyone's reactions after they listen to the end result," adds new bassist Miguel Pereira. "We are looking forward to start promoting The Unforgiving Road with live shows right after the album is out, and meet all our friends and fans throughout the world."

The Unforgiving Road tracklisting:

“…Intro”
“Exit”
“In The Hands Of A God”
“The Pain I Collected”
“Riven”
“C'est La Vie”
“The Eye In The Sky”
“Arrhythmia”
“In My Will”
“Unaffected Love”
“Outro…”

“The Pain I Collected” lyric video:

Withem lineup:

Ole Aleksander Wagenius - Vocals
Frank Nordeng Røe - Drums
Øyvind Voldmo Larsen - Guitar
Miguel Pereira – Bass

Canada’s Cauldron have released an official video for their track “Burning At Both Ends, featured on the group’s new release, In Ruin (The End Records). The live performance footage was shot at The Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, California on February 3rd.

Says frontman Jason Decay, "This song is too relevant in the sense that it's about going too hard for too long and facing the ultimate crash and burn. These were fun times and we hope you enjoy!"

Following the band's horrific Valentine's Day tour van accident outside of Dallas, Texas, the members of Cauldron have received an outpouring of support from fans.

The band, as part of their North American tour with Enforcer, Warbringer and Exmortus, were en route to New Orleans, LA for their next show when their van hit debris from a previous accident on the roadway causing the vehicle to roll over several times before coming to rest on its roof.

While band members Jason Decay, Myles Deck and tour manager Henry Yuan escaped relatively unscathed with only cuts and bruises, guitarist Ian Chains suffered multiple fractured vertebrae in his back and neck, a fractured sternum, and a fractured hip bone. He is currently recovering after spending a week in a Dallas hospital.

Due to the crash and Chains’ injuries, Cauldron were forced to cancel all remaining dates of their North American tour including a headlining show at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY.

Thankfully, due to some quick thinking, the show at Saint Vitus Bar was realigned as a benefit event and featured sets from Natur and Tower. All proceeds from the door and sales of leftover tour merch - as well as exclusive benefit merch going straight to Ian's recovery fund.

The band have now launched an official donation site where by simply purchasing an item off basementmetal.com you are helping the band. For those looking to donate without making a purchase, there is an option on the site to send the band an amount of your choosing.

Says the band, "We would like to thank all of the people that have expressed their thoughts and support. The last couple of weeks have been tough, but it just goes to show how amazing our fans are. THANK YOU so much to everyone who came out and supported our cause, especially Natur, Tower & Saint Vitus Bar - you're all the best and we really appreciate it! Hope to see you all again at Lee's Palace in Toronto on April 8th (we have a very special line-up announcement coming soon)! Cheers and all the best!"

To support Cauldron in getting back on their feet, The End Records has created an exclusive merch bundle on The Omega Order dedicated to Ian Chains, with all proceeds going directly to the band.

 

 

Joe Lynn Turner has said that he was "humbled and touched" by Ritchie Blackmore's recent comments about the singer's work with DEEP PURPLE and has called the guitarist "a true original" who "follows no one."

On Friday night, April 8, Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center hosted the 2016 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, welcoming a star-studded class that included DEEP PURPLE, which had been eligible for induction for two decades.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich inducted DEEP PURPLE into the institution, after which the current lineup of DEEP PURPLE performed a mini-set that included "Hush", "Highway Star" and "Smoke On The Water". Sadly, there was no surprise appearance from Blackmore, who stayed away from the event due to tensions with his former bandmates.

Blackmore later posted a statement on his Facebook page in which he said: "I have my reason for not attending the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, although I appreciate the award. However, I do think that they should've given an award to Joe Lynn Turner for when he was in DEEP PURPLE — for his singing and writing on 'Slaves And Masters' — a great record, one of my favorites."

Shortly after Blackmore made his comments, Turner reacted with a message of his own. He wrote: "Congrats to DEEP PURPLE for their long-overdue induction . And I am proud and blessed to be a part of the DEEP PURPLE legacy. However, Blackmore's absence at the ceremony was truly noticed. His credo always was and is to know your own truth and walk your own path... follow no one. A true 'outlaw' 'till the end.

"So I am humbled and touched by the recent Blackmore post concerning my work with the band. His respectful and supportive comments of my efforts on the 'Slaves And Masters' album were better than any 'award' I could receive especially from an organization that has 'lost the point' many years ago.

"I agree that 'Slaves And Masters' is a great album as our collaborations have always been a mix of magical chemistry and artful integrity that will stand the test of time. "My heartfelt thanks and sincere respect to a true original."

Despite Blackmore being a no-show at this year's Rock Hall, he was given several shoutouts during the induction speeches of the DEEP PURPLE members in attendance. In addition, Ulrich praised "Ritchie fucking Blackmore" for one of the most memorable guitar riffs of all time on "Smoke On The Water".

"It's a big disappointment for me that [Blackmore] wasn't here tonight," said former DEEP PURPLE singer David Coverdale. "I e-mailed his manager a couple of days ago and extended a personal invitation. I never really got a response. Ritchie and I reconnected in 2012 after the loss of [keyboardist] Jon Lord just to express my condolences and we buried the hatchet... which was great."

The DEEP PURPLE members who were inducted are Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

Joe Lynn Turner recently blasted Blackmore for going out and performing DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW's classic material with a new group musicians, explaining that "the fans deserve better than a cover band." The singer also said that the guitarist's revelation during an interview with a French newspaper that Turner wasn't going to be involved with the RAINBOW comeback shows this summer was "a classless and very thoughtless way for him to announce that to the world." He added: "I don't respect that very much; I don't think anyone should respect that. But that's his problem."

Finnish symphonic metallers Nightwish have checked in with the following update:

"The Nightwish fan documentary Fellow Imagineers - A Film From Fans To Nightwish has entered the editing phase and everybody is very excited to see the pieces finally coming together! Big thanks to all fans who participated. Today, you can watch the first trailer!"

The makers of the documentary have issued the following message:

"Making this Nightwish fan documentary has been an adventure, the journey blessed with passionate people. It's not too late to participate in the documentary; check out our website here."

Nightwish have announced four shows for Russia, taking place this May. In addition, the band has just announced a show on May in Kiev, Ukraine at National Palace Ukraina on May 22nd.

Dates for Russia are below, ticket links are available via the band's official website here.

Vocalist Floor Jansen recently checked in with the following update:

"The Dutch TV show De Reünie (The Reunion) broadcasted an edition about my school, Rockacademy, today. It tells the story of me and my classmates 16 years after we started. A special story told in a great way! I am beyond happy with this outcome and was glad I could be part of it and to see some of my old pals again!"

Check out the clip below, which features interview and behind-the-scenes footage. Subtitles in English and Finnish are available.

DEFTONES was the musical guest on last night's (Tuesday, April 12) episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" The band played several songs on the show's outdoor stage in front of a standing-room-only crowd. Video footage of the "Hearts/Wires" and "Prayers/Triangles" performances can be seen below. Both tracks are taken from DEFTONES' eighth studio album, titled "Gore", which was released on April 8 via Warner Bros. Records. The CD was produced by Matt Hyde and DEFTONES. DEFTONES singer Chino Moreno said that "Prayers/Triangles" was very much in the band's classic style, explaining: "It's just one of those songs that's very 'DEFTONES-esque,' where that dynamic is there as far as that ebb and flow...that dichotomy is what makes us who were are in a way. It's sort of our DNA. So I feel like it's a good representation of where we're at right now and where we've been in the past as well."

"Gore" serves as the follow-up to 2012's "Koi No Yokan", which featured the Top 15 rock radio hit "Tempest".

The new disc features a guest appearance from ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell.

Moreno told U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine about the new album title: "If you look at the title and the artwork, it's about a juxtaposition that, for me, is very beautiful.

"I think DEFTONES have always flirted with dynamic and that yin-and-yang of things that are provocative and things that are beautiful. Where our last two album titles were a lot more optimistic, I think this title is intentionally different. This record is very different.

"I feel like 'Diamond Eyes' and 'Koi No Yokan' were brother-sister records in a lot of ways. They were both recording in the same way. And even though it was a tough few years we went through while making those records, I think it was important to have their optimistic outlook."

Moreno also spoke in more detail about the making of "Gore". He said: "We recorded this record in a different way. I'm not saying we went in with any preconceived ideas as such, but I do think we went in knowing that we wanted to make this record a little different from the last two. And I feel, definitely, like we did that. It's still a DEFTONES record — we didn't really have any new influences that changed that — but it's an expansion of what we were comfortable with. And it's important to get out of your comfort zone sometimes witch the music — just to be excited. It's got a different look. A different shade of color. I'd say some shade of purple. I don't know why, but I think it sits somewhere between pink, red and purple. Sometimes when I hear music, I see color, and when it came time to work on the artwork for this batch of songs, I knew exactly what I wanted."

German progressive metallers Long Distance Calling will release their new album, Trips, on April 29th via Inside Out Records. A music video for the album’s lead track “Getaway”, can be found below.

Trips tracklisting:

“Getaway”
“Reconnect”
“Rewind”
“Trauma”
“Lines”
“Presence”
“Momentum”
“Plans”
“Flux”
“Escape”
“Echo”

“Getaway” video:

“Lines” lyric video:

Multi-camera fan-filmed video footage of GUNS N' ROSES' April 8 concert at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada can be seen below.

GUNS N' ROSES played its two shows at T-Mobile Arena on Friday and Saturday, despite singer Axl Rose breaking a bone in his foot. The injury necessitated that Rose undergo a surgical procedure to insert a plate and screws. Rose revealed the injury via Twitter, saying "This is what can happen when you do something you haven't done in nearly over 23 years," apparently referring to the surprise GUNS concert on Friday, April 1 featuring Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan.

Rose also posted a video interview with his orthopedic surgeon in which the foot specialist revealed that Rose is currently in a cast and cannot put any weight on his foot. She pinpointed the break at Rose's fifth metatarsal and noted that he will have to limit the amount of weight he puts on the front part of his foot "for about four weeks."

For the shows, Rose performed on what was apparently the same custom throne Dave Grohl used last year for FOO FIGHTERS shows after breaking a leg. Rose told the audience before GN'R launched into "Rocket Queen" on Friday night, "I wanna thank Dave Grohl for this; it was very nice of him."

Only Rose, Slash and McKagan from GN'R's "Appetite For Destruction"-era lineup took part in the Las Vegas shows. They were joined by keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer. Also appearing with them was second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

GUNS N' ROSES are still scheduled to play two shows in Mexico City and two gigs at the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival starting next weekend. A full North American tour is on tap for this summer.

Several hours after announcing the tour on April 1, GUNS played a gig at the Troubadour, one of the Los Angeles clubs where the band first performed before the release of its debut album, 1987's "Appetite For Destruction".

The set list for the Vegas shows expanded upon the song selection at the Troubadour, adding "Patience" and several favorites from the "Use Your Illusion" albums such as "November Rain", "Civil War", "Estranged" and "Coma", which had not been performed live since 1993.

Saigon Kick guitarist Jason Bieler has released a new Owl Stretching EP, entitled Infatuation. The four track EP can be streamed below and purchased via Bandcamp here.

Bieler: "The first of a few new musical experiments! Hope you enjoy!"

Infatuation EP by Owl Stretching

The tracklist is as follows:

"Infatuation"
"No Real Goodbyes"
"True Love"
"Aqua Lung"

Bieler released another new song via his Owl Stretching side-project back in January He posted the track along with the following update:

"So strange that I wrote and recorded this song on Friday (January 8th) and did this Bowie fame vocal nod that I was going to take out just because it was, well, a rip, but now I will leave it in as a small nod to the genius."

True Love by Owl Stretching

Saigon Kick recorded a cover of the David Bowie classic 'Space Oddity' for their Water album in 1993 featuring Bieler on lead vocals (check it out below). Bieler checked in with a tribute to Bowie, who passed away at 69 on January 10th following an 18 month battle with cancer.  

"Getting a message that David Bowie thought a cover you did 'was really good' was a massive career highlight, even if he was just being kind. Knowing that in some microscopic way we briefly crossed paths is like saying you shared a cup of coffee with Dali or rode the train with John Lennon, irrelevant in their worlds but life changing in yours. I had no idea he was that ill when I posted about him on Friday (January 8th). I spent the entire weekend listening to the Blackstar album over and over, talking with my daughter about how amazing it is to be that current, cutting edge and relevant for so long... as he is on her playlists as much as mine. Music and life done right…well done Mr. Bowie."

Video footage of Dutch classical guitarist Thomas Zwijsen performing Iron Maiden’s “If Eternity Should Fail” can be seen below. Zwijsen is known for his acoustic renditions of some of metal’s greatest songs and arrangements of Iron Maiden tracks

“If Eternity Should Fail” (video below) will be featured on the new album from Thomas Zwijsen’s Nylon Maiden, entitled Preserved In Time, and due for release in June. Thomas has gained almost 10 million views on YouTube with his arrangements of Iron Maiden songs for classical guitar, making this his most anticipated album to date.

Preserved In Time promises to be Zwijsen’s ultimate Iron Maiden tribute album. It makes the classical guitar world a bit more metal by adding 16 Iron Maiden songs (and two Bruce Dickinson songs) to its repertoire.

Zwijsen’s long-time collaborator Blaze Bayley is one of the returning guest musicians on this album, performing two tracks from his Iron Maiden days, as well as a unique version of “Blood Brothers” off the Brave New World album! This is the first time Blaze performs an Iron Maiden song from the post-Blaze era. It gives Iron Maiden fans an idea of what it would have sounded like if Blaze had stayed with the band.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1
“If Eternity Should Fail”
“Stranger In A Strange Land”
“Judgement Of Heaven” (with Blaze Bayley & Anne Bakker)
“Ghost Of The Navigator”
“Powerslave” (Thomas & band)
“Burning Ambition”
“Tears Of The Dragon” (Bruce Dickinson song)
“Blood Brothers” (with Blaze Bayley)
“When The Wild Wind Blows” (Thomas & band)

Disc 2
“Afraid To Shoot Strangers”
“Como Estais Amigos” (with Blaze Bayley & Anne Bakker)
“Wrathchild”
“Tears Of A Clown”
“Jerusalem” (Bruce Dickinson song)
“For The Greater Good Of God”
“Reach Out”
“Fear Of The Dark”
“Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” (Thomas & band)

Zwijsen comments; “in our attempt to choose the best track listing for the most fulfilling, surprising and complete Iron Maiden tribute album, we simply couldn't fit all the songs on a single CD, so we decided to make it a double CD this time. Many of the songs were requests from people on YouTube. If this were to be the setlist at an Iron Maiden concert, I’d be very happy!”

People who pre-order the album get some cool extras:

- Their names printed in the booklet of the album, preserved in time!
- The album signed by Thomas
- A free specially designed stainless steel Nylon Maiden dog tag.

“If Eternity Should Fail”:

"Afraid To Shoot Strangers”:

“Tears Of The Dragon”:

“Ghost Of The Navigator”:

BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler was asked by KillYourStereo.com what is left on his bucket list from a "non-musical point of view." He responded: "I'd like to write a memoir for my grandkids, because by the time they are grown, I'll be long gone, and I'd like them to learn about me from my own hand rather than hearsay."

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

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

SABBATH's farewell tour, dubbed "The End", finished up a North American leg on March 7 in Vancouver and next heads to Australia.

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

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

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