70000 Tons Of Metal, The World's Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, set sail on February 4th aboard the Royal Caribbean Independence Of The Seas from Port Everglades in FortLauderdale near Miami, FL, and returned to the real world on February 8th.

Organizers have uploaded a recap video for the second day of the cruise. Check out recaps for Day 1 and Day 2 below:

Day 1:

Day 2:

Check out BraveWords coverage of the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise via the following links:

Cruise overview
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4



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Detroit-based quartet, Tiles, has unveiled a music video (see below) for “Shelter In Place”, from their upcoming sixth album, Pretending 2 Run, locked for an updated street date of April 15th, worldwide. The band have also announced a string of US tour dates.
 
With more than 96 minutes of relentlessly engaging progressive hard rock with an endless bag of tricks and countless epic surprises, Tiles' Pretending 2 Run was produced by Terry Brown (Rush, Fates Warning) and features artwork by Hugh Syme, known for delivering covers for Iron Maiden, Rush, Dream Theater, and countless others. The album also features a remarkable collection of guest musicians including Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Mike Portnoy (Flying Colors, Winery Dogs, Dream Theater), Adam Holzman (Steven Wilson Band), Mike Stern (Miles Davis), Kim Mitchell (Max Webster), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Kevin Chown (Tarja Turunen, Chad Smith), Matthew Parmenter (Discipline), Mark Mikel (Pillbugs), Joe Deninzon, and Max Portnoy (Next To None).

Additional audio and video samples from the album will be released in the coming weeks.
 
Since 1995, Tiles has issued albums through Dream Circl/Polydor, and four albums on Inside Out. The band's first studio album since 2008's Fly Paper, and their first for Laser's Edge expands into fantastic new realms, the record encompassing two discs. An ambitious and richly crafted concept album, Pretending 2 Run spins the tale of a man blindsided and disillusioned by betrayal. Brooding and expressive, Tiles explores the dark subject matter by weaving stylistically diverse musical elements throughout their progressive hard rock platform. Lyrical string arrangements, haunting choir performances and reflective soundscapes coexist with hard rock heaviness to create a tapestry of emotional drama as the songs chart a path from isolation to redemption.

Tracklisting:

CD1
“Pretending To Run”
“Shelter In Place”
“Stonewall”
“Voir Dire”
“Drops Of Rain”
“Taken By Surprise”
“Refugium”
“Small Fire Burning”

CD2
“Midwinter”
“Weightless”
“Friend Or Foe”
“Battle Weary”
“Mediato”
“Other Arrangements”
“The Disappearing Floor”
“Fait Accompli”
“Pretending To Run (Reprise 1)”
“Uneasy Truce”
“Pretending To Run (Reprise 2)”
“The View From Here”
“Backsliding”

“Shelter In Place” video:

Trailer:

Tour dates:

May
13 - Reggies - Chicago, IL (with District 97)
15 - Token Lounge - Detroit, MI (with District 97)
16 - Orion - Baltimore, MD (with District 97)
17 - Roxy and Duke's - Dunellen, NJ (with District 97)
18 - The Grape Room - Philadelphia, PA (with Stratospheerius)
19 - Drom - New York, NY @ NYC Prog Rock Night (with IZZ, District 97, 3RDegree)
20 - Musica - Akron, OH (with District 97)

(Photo - Paul D’Angelo)



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German hard rockers Bonfire, who are celebrating their 30th Anniversary in 2016, will release a new double album, Pearls, on March 18th. Check out a new video trailer below:

The CDs will be available as single CDs and also as double CD/LP. The Rock Pearls CD features Bonfire rockers that were not played so much in the past. The Classic Pearls CD features all new recorded Bonfire classic ballads together with an Orchestra. A new music video for the track “Strike Back” can be seen below.

Tracklisting:

CD1 - Classic Pearls
“Strike Back”
“Under Blue Skies”
“Diamonds In The Rough”
“Proud Of My Country”
“Sweet Home Alabama”
“Don’t Go Changing Me”
“Sweet Obsession”
“American Nights”
“Good Time Rock ‘N’ Roll”
“Heat In The Glow”
“Can't Stop Rockin’”
“Down To Atlanta”
“Remember”
“Nothing At All”
“Loaded Gun”

CD2 - Rock Pearls
“You Make Me Feel”
“Give It A Try”
“Who’s Foolin’ Who”
“I Need You”
“Good Night Amanda”
“Southern Winds”
“If It Wasn’t For You”
“Why Is It Never Enough”
“Let's Fly Away”

“Strike Back” video:

Find Bonfire’s live itinerary at this location.

Bonfire is:

Hans Ziller- guitars/backing vocals
David Reece (ex-Accept)- lead vocals
Harry Reischmann- drums
Ronnie Parkes- bass/backing vocals
Frank Pane'- guitars/backing vocals

 



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Brazilian power metallers, Hibria, have released a lyric video (see below) for the track “Ashamed”, from their self-titled full-length, released last August.

Hibria tracklisting:

“Pain”
“Abyss”
“Tightrope”
“Life”
“Ghosts”
“Legacy”
“Ashamed”
“Church”
“Fame”
“Words”
“Life” (Orchestral Version, European Edition Bonus Track)

“Ashamed” lyric video:

“Life” video:

"Pain" video:

"Tightrope":

Hibria is:

Iuri Sanson (Vocals)
Abel Camargo (Guitars)
Renato Osorio (Guitars)
Benhur Lima (Bass)
Eduardo Baldo (Drums)

 



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European thrash metallers, Game Over, have revealed the details for their new album, Crimes Against Reality, out on April 1st via Scarlet Records.

Crimes Against Reality is the third album for Game Over, one of the most promising up and coming bands in the European metal scene. It follows the widely successful Burst Into The Quiet, which put Game Over on the map and displayed their massive potential. Inspired by the classic Bay Area thrash metal scene of the ’80s, Game Over mix those influences with modern sounds and a very distinctive personality.

Crimes Against Reality contains ten new tracks that mix sharp riffs, anthemic choruses and powerful rhythms, enriched by the use of unusual instruments such as Moogs and Hammonds. Lyrics vary from B-movie scenarios to social-political themes, science fiction, mythology and dystopian visions. The album was recorded by Simone Mularoni (DGM) at Domination Studio in San Marino.

Cover artwork was created by Mario E. Lopez (Evil Invaders, Impalers, Hyades).

Tracklisting:

“What Lies Within...”
“33 Park Street”
“Neon Maniacs”
“With All That Is Left”
“Astral Matter”
“Fugue In D Minor (allegro ma non troppo)”
“Just A Little Victory”
“Gates Of Ishtar”
“Crimes Against Reality”
“Fix Your Brain”

Soon after the album release the band will embark in an extensive world tour, with dates in America in April, and European and Japan dates later this year.



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Singer Mike Howe played his second show with METAL CHURCH in more than twenty years this past Saturday night (February 20) at Louie G's in Fife, Washington. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Howe, who previously fronted METAL CHURCH from 1988 until 1994, is featured on the band's new album, "XI", which will be released on March 25 via Rat Pak Records. The CD was produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and co-produced by Chris "The Wizard" Collier.

"XI" is available for pre-order in various exclusive bundles at this location. A limited number of the deluxe international version are available on the web site and features a bonus disc of eight extra songs. Other bundles include guitar picks, stickers, a special-edition behind-the-scenes photobook, t-shirts and even a limited number of personal phone calls from Mike Howe himself. The album is also available for pre-order on Amazon, Google Play and via iTunes. Fans that order the digital version will receive an instant download of the song "Killing Your Time" from the new album.

In the summer of 2014, METAL CHURCH suddenly found themselves in need of a new singer. As fate would have it, guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof was already in talks with Mike for another project that he was working on with SAXON drummer Nigel Glockler, so he decided to ask Mike to rejoin METAL CHURCH. Mike agreed, but true to form, didn't want to make it official until he knew for sure that the integrity of the new material was there.

Said Mike: "Kurdt Vanderhoof got ahold of me in August of 2014, and he proposed [me] coming back to the band. He said Ronny [Munroe] left the band and he didn't really wanna carry on with METAL CHURCH unless maybe I would consider coming back. So I said, 'Well, I don't know. I'm open to it. But let's see what kind of music we can come up with.' So Kurdt went back to the studio and started writing songs in the vein of 'Hanging In The Balance', where we left off twenty years ago, and he sent them to me over the Internet. And I was, like, 'Damn! The guy still has it and he's doing great work.' So he sent me another batch, and that batch was just as good [as], if not better than, the other. So, from there, I said, ‘Well, I can’t say no to this. And let's just see how it goes.' And we started writing lyrics and getting together, and it's now morphed into this, being back in Aberdeen in the studio making the new METAL CHURCH record." METAL CHURCH 2016 is:

Mike Howe (vocals)Kurdt Vanderhoof (guitar)Jeff Plate (drums)Steve Unger (bass)Rick Van Zandt (guitar)

Rick Van Zandt had to go in for emergency eye surgery to repair a detached retina and is unable to join METAL CHURCH on the road for several weeks. He has been temporarily replaced by ex-FIREWOLFE guitar player Paul Kleff.

Argentinian hard rockers, 42 Decibel, have unveiled a live video for the track “Can’t Keep Control”, featured on their album Rolling In Town, available via Steamhammer/SPV. The new clip can be seen below.

Tracklisting:

“Cant Keep Control”
“Short Fused”
“Rude And Fast ”
“Drop Of Booze”
“Burning Down The Road”
“Eye Of The Hawk”
“Down The Hatch”
“Midnight Teaser (Evil Woman)”
“Cold Steel Rider”
“Smooth Talker”

“Can’t Keep Control” live video:

“Midnight Teaser (Evil Woman)” video:

Band lineup:

Junior Figueroa (Vocals, Guitar)
Nicko Cambiasso (Drums)
Billy Bob Riley (Rhythm & Slide Guitar)
Matt Fraga (Bass)

 



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Legendary hard rock guitar pioneer Ritchie Blackmore (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE) spoke to Dutch magazine Aardschok about his decision to enlist a new group of musicians to help him perform RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE classics at three European shows this summer. Blackmore will be joined at the gigs by LORDS OF BLACK singer Ronnie Romero, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT).

Asked why he chose not to hire a "more famous" vocalist, Blackmore said: "The whole idea was to find good musicians. Of course, there were many familiar names around, but this idea didn't appeal to me. Unlike many others, I prefer to discover new musicians who can add a fresh approach to my music. It's great to present new musicians to the public."

He continued: "The singer Ronnie Romero is complete unknown. He's 34 and I'm sure that he'll have a great career in this scene. He is orginally from Chile, but lives in Spain. Bassist Bob Nouveau is from Connecticut, and Jens is a known and respected keyboard player. It's very easy to work with him, because he's so experienced.

"With drummers, I always tend to be very selective. For instance, I do not like to work with showmen. On stage, I need a groove and a lot of these so-called 'famous' drummers often rely more on the show element than on feel. I know many guys who can make their sticks fly and use sixteen bass drums, but who are mediocre when it comes to music. David Keith, however, has a great feel for rhythm."

Blackmore also talked about the renewed interest in classic rock and the media hype surrounding his return to rock. He said: "I never think about how good or bad things are going in a group. I'm just trying to create music of a high-quality standard. My music never really got into the charts. I think the most important thing is to believe in yourself. I think that RAINBOW made some memorable albums, which aren't less appreciated than any DEEP PURPLE album. Both groups were advanced for their time.

"The nostalgia aspect certainly has a role in the upcoming shows. Some people will use this project to check if I can still do it, while others will probably see it as an opportunity to see me on a bigger stage once again."

He added: "I don't want to sound morbid, but I do believe that thoughts like these come with the age that I have. I turned 70 and that has its disadvantages. Having a sore back or stiff fingers on stage is no fun. However, all this comes totally from myself.

"There were moments, a few years ago, when I thought of how much fun it would be to play some of the old songs again. However, the longer I thought about it the less appealing it all became. It was not until I found out about Ronnie that the whole idea came back again and when I started realizing the idea. He has a great voice and his fresh input is what gave me the final push. I am quite demanding when it comes to singers, but with Ronnie is absolutely feels good. This guy has a great future in the scene. He sounds like a perfect fit for this job because he has a voice that reminds of [Ronnie James] Dio but is versatile enough to also handle the [Ian] Gillan songs well."

Regarding the song selection for the upcoming shows, Blackmore said: "The setlist will be RAINBOW songs for about 70 percent, including 'Stargazer', because apparently that's a song everybody wants to hear. About 30 percent will be DEEP PURPLE songs. We will focus on the best-known songs. The Dio era will be a central part of the show, but we will also play songs from the Joe Lynn Turner and Graham Bonnet periods. As far as PURPLE is concerned; we will play the Gillan era but will also play something from the David Coverdale period."

Blackmore also addressed the possibility of further shows being announced if the upcoming dates go well. He said: "I deliberately chose to only give three concerts, to see if I'm still able to do this. Of course, there have been a lot of attractive offers, especially from Sweden and Finland. However, we must remember that I have already planned a German tour for BLACKMORE'S NIGHT in July. As you know, after I suspended the activities of RAINBOW, I became very interested in playing renaissance music. To move back to the electrics from the acoustics won't be easy. I've rarely played rock music in the last years, and before these shows I have to cut my nails short. Because when I play this other music, I need long nails. Five days after the last RAINBOW show, there'll already be the first BLACKMORE'S NIGHT show, so it's unclear if I will have enough time to grow my nails back. If it won't work so fast, I have to rely on false plastic nails. I never had this problem before, but I'm glad that I can [do something to] help me out."

He went on to say: "If we enjoy ourselves and the audience gives us a positive vibe back, then I won't rule out the possibility of continuing. However, the second round of dates will probably take place in 2017. But the crucial factor will be the chemistry between the musicians and the audience reaction. These shows will be recorded on video, so that we can release it later on. But my heart will always belong to renaissance music."

Blackmore will perform RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE material at three shows this year in Europe. The U.K. concert will take place on Saturday, June 25 at the Genting Arena in Birmingham. The performance will be Blackmore's first U.K. rock show in over 20 years. The two concerts in Germany will take place at the Monsters Of Rock festival on Friday, June 17 at Freilichtbühne in Loreley and on Saturday, June 18 at Festplatz am Viadukt in Bietigheim-Bissingen.

Former RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE singer Joe Lynn Turner has blasted Ritchie Blackmore for going out and performing the two bands' classic material with a new group musicians, explaining that "the fans deserve better than a cover band."

Blackmore, 70, quit rock and roll in 1997 to form a medieval folk band called BLACKMORE'S NIGHT with then-girlfriend and now-wife Candice Night. Since then, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT has released ten studio albums, with the latest CD, "All Our Yesterdays", arriving last September.

Over the past few years, RAINBOW was the frequent subject of reunion rumors, with Turner — who fronted RAINBOW from 1980 until 1984 and was a member of PURPLE from 1989 until 1992 — claiming that the former RAINBOW and PURPLE guitarist was "itching" to play rock music and insisting that he was in talks with the guitarist about a renewed collaboration.

Ritchie last year surprised everyone by telling a French newspaper that he was contemplating a return to rock music but excluding Turner from the project. "I think that Joe will not be part of the adventure, and he doesn't know it yet," Ritchie said. "He does his thing, I like him, and I made good albums and good songs with him, like 'Street Of Dreams'." The guitarist has since recruited LORDS OF BLACK vocalist Ronnie Romero, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau to accompany him at the upcoming shows.

Now in a brand new interview with Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM satellite radio show, "Eddie Trunk Live", Turner slammed his former bandmate, insisting that Ritchie is "making a mistake" by using replacement musicians at this summer's concerts and arguing that "a man of [Blackmore's] status, an icon, really deserves a lot more."

Asked if Blackmore's announcement that Turner would not be involved with the RAINBOW comeback "stung" him at all, the singer said: "Well, I was shocked, only because for over a year… See, the truth is I wanted an authentic lineup for RAINBOW. I think the way that it should have gone down is an authentic lineup. I was talking to [bassist] Bob Daisley, [drummer Bobby] Rondinelli, [bassist] Roger Glover, [keyboardist] Don Airey… There's a whole bunch of guys out there that were really willing to sort of get involved with this… open up their schedules and get involved. And, apparently, Ritchie didn't wanna do that. So I spent a good year of my time working that out with Carole Stevens, his manager. And I was shocked, because I'll tell you why. She was putting my name out there — and I have all the e-mails to prove this, by the way — she was putting my name out there, and it was… even in German, with a big agency out there in Germany, saying, 'Joe Lynn Turner and Ritchie Blackmore this June, 2016, together again. The perfect pair. Blah blah blah.' And she was getting feedback from it."

He continued: "I'm honestly flabbergasted, because it made so much sense, especially with the deal that was presented to him. It made so much sense… number one, for the fans. You know, I've read a couple of things he said. He said he was doing it for nostalgia. Well, if he was doing it for nostalgia, why wouldn't he do it the right way? So I don't understand that contradiction sometimes. If we were gonna do it for nostalgia, we would have done it with an aggregate of guys that were authentic. And, to me, that's the way to come out. We would have honored Ronnie Dio's era [RAINBOW vocalist from 1975 until 1979], we would have gotten Graham Bonnet [RAINBOW vocalist from 1979 until 1980] up there, Doogie White [RAINBOW vocalist from 1994 until 1997] up there. To me, it was gonna be a RAINBOW extravaganza, and it was all set. A few songs from these guys, a few songs from those guys… It would have been great. We would have [Ritchie's son] Jürgen Blackmore out on guitar… family. It was just gonna be a big party, and he just didn't go for it. So I'm still scratching my head."

Turner added: "I thought it was a classless thing to do that Ritchie by announcing in [the French newspaper] Le Parisien [that he was going out and playing RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE songs with a new singer]. I had to laugh. [Ritchie] said [to Le Parisien], '[Joe Lynn Turner] doesn't know it yet.' And the first thing I said was, 'Well, I think he's making a mistake, but he doesn't know it yet.' What I mean by that is, Ritchie's allowed to do whatever he wants to do, and he always does. I have no sour grapes about this, so let that be told. But I think a man of his status, an icon, really deserves a lot more. And what we were trying to put together, and we had a turnkey operation with Live Nation, the biggest festivals of the summer; we had UMG — that's Universal Music Group, for those out there that don't know — we had Universal [express an interest in releasing] box sets; we also had Rock Fuel Media, a huge video company, going to put out a DVD and the whole thing. I wanted to do a new album — at least four cuts — and maybe redo some other, older cuts in a new way, sort of update them. So this was a huge package and it was gonna be a big deal. And apparently he didn't wanna do that. So it was a shock to me that somebody would turn down not only an incredible way to, sort of, go out in style, but also to make a whole bunch of money for himself, because he was set to make quite a bit of money on this one. So I wish him well. Like I said, I've got no sour grapes. I'm very busy and very fortunate and blessed, and I thank everyone out there for that love and support all these years that keeps me going. But I really wish he had done it a different way for the fans. I think the fans deserve better than a cover band."

Joe went on to say: "I don't know what happened. I don't understand why he would go out and pick up, basically, two guys from BLACKMORE'S NIGHT. Jens is brilliant on keyboards, of course; I played with him in [Yngwie Malmsteen's band]. And [new RAINBOW singer] Ronnie [Romero], I don't know Ronnie. [He] sounds great. I don't know. So I don't know. I wish them well. But I'm still shaking my head."

The singer also revealed that he has had no communication with Blackmore since RAINBOW's return was officially announced. He said: "No, I haven't spoken to him since then. You've gotta understand something: he doesn't talk to people; he talks through people. I talked to Dr. Drew Thompson, I talked to Carole Stevens… I talked to these people instead of him. He always puts them in front of him so he doesn't have to actually converse with me — or converse with anyone, for that matter."

He continued: "The one thing I will say I'd like to defend a bit is the fact that everybody thought I was delusional, and I know I wasn't delusional at all; I was talking to [Ritchie's] camp, and they were telling me this was gonna happen. So all these people that came out and said, 'Oh, he doesn't know what he's talking about.' And, 'It's all wishful thinking.' No. That's not the truth at all. This really was going down, and as people can see, it is going down."

After Blackmore's final departure from DEEP PURPLE in 1993, he resurrected RAINBOW before focusing exclusively on BLACKMORE'S NIGHT.

Blackmore will perform RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE material at three shows this year in Europe. The U.K. concert will take place on Saturday, June 25 at the Genting Arena in Birmingham. The performance will be Blackmore's first U.K. rock show in over 20 years. The two concerts in Germany will take place at the Monsters Of Rock festival on Friday, June 17 at Freilichtbühne in Loreley and on Saturday, June 18 at Festplatz am Viadukt in Bietigheim-Bissingen.

Last month, Blackmore insisted further dates could be added in the future if everything went well live.

Frontiers Music Srl will release SUNSTORM's fourth album, titled "Edge Of Tomorrow", on May 13.

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

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

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

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

"Edge Of Tomorrow" track listing:

01. Don't Walk Away From A Goodbye02. Edge Of Tomorrow03. Nothing Left To Say04. Heart Of The Storm05. The Sound Of Goodbye06. The Darkness Of This Dawn07. You Hold Me Down08. Angel Eyes09. Everything You've Got10. Tangled In Blue11. Burning Fire

SUNSTORM is:

Joe Lynn Turner: Lead VocalsAlessandro Del Vecchio: Hammond Organ, Keyboards, Backing Vocals Simone Mularoni: GuitarNik Mazzucconi: Bass Francesco Jovino: Drums

Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with DEFTONES guitarist Stephen Carpenter. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Are there any songs or guitar parts on the new [DEFTONES] record ["Gore"] that you're really proud of or really excited for the fans to hear?

Stephen: Oh, god. I think my proudest thing about my guitar playing on this record is just playing on the record, because I didn't want to play on the record to begin with. It wasn't until way later once I actually got into it. I look at all the songs on the record and they were all a challenge for me to get into.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: What do you think that barrier was for you?

Stephen: I don't know. I just really like metal, and I love all the metal that's being played now. I wish everybody would stop saying "djent" though. That's just dumb. It's just metal.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: So, you were saying that you were having a hard time getting into playing on this new album. Why do you think that was?

Stephen: When we were coming up with ideas and writing the songs, the stuff that was being written, you know, the other guys' ideas, I wasn't too interested in it. It wasn't the style or the sound I was hoping we would take. It wasn't what I was expecting or wanting.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: That says a lot about you seeing yourself as part of a band and going in the direction of the band. It's unselfish.

Stephen: Yeah, I hear ya. My band is going one direction and I am going another one currently.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: That's not saying that you're going to leave the DEFTONES, is it?

Stephen: I would never leave the band that I started, but the band started leaving me. I can't control that.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: That's a democratic way to look at it, really.

Stephen: I mean, I have a great time for the most part. This record has been a struggle, and we have got issues that I do not want to leave home, but how things will be in the future, I do not know. But I know what I will do, and what I will not do, and there are some things that I will not do in the future because I just don't agree with it.

Read the entire interview at Ultimate-Guitar.com .

"Gore" will be released on April 8 via Warner Bros. Records. The album was produced by Matt Hyde and DEFTONES.

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of former EUROPE guitarist Kee Marcello. A new studio album will be released in the fall. Marcello is best known for his time as the guitar player in the band EUROPE from 1986 to 1992 on such milestone albums as "Out Of This World" and "Prisoners In Paradise". With this new album, Kee intends to go back to the sound that helped him make his mark. Expect some amazing arena rock songs, which he started working on at the end of 2015. Kee says: "I'm really excited about this album. I'm making a new departure from the 'Le Baron Boys' era [EUROPE demo sessions recorded between 1989 and 1990], bringing it into the future.

"I've always felt that there was something magic about the material that Sony mysteriously refused to release on 'Prisoners In Paradise', and now the time has come to put things right. It's time to complete my unfinished symphony.'

"This is the album that EUROPE never managed to record after 'Prisoners In Paradise'. The songs will have a very familiar ring for everyone who loves that era. And as a homage to all the faithful fans I've recorded two previously unreleased 'Le Baron Boys' tracks on the album.

"With one foot in the past and one in the present I think this album will raise a lot of eyebrows — not to mention HORNS!" Kee is making plans for a full European tour in support of the new release.

Marcello released his controversial autobiography, "The Rock Star God Forgot", in Sweden in October 2011. He also made headlines in the biggest Swedish newspaper with a painfully honest interview about the memoir, which was said at the time to be "the first sex, drugs and rock and roll book ever written by a Swede."

Anubis Gate has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the re-release of their first four albums in the form of a limited edition 6-disc box set called Orbits. It will contain the band's first four albums and two additional discs of bonus material.

Originally released on the Spanish label Locomotive, these albums have been long out of print. After having released the first four Anubis Gate albums, Locomotive Music went into hiding, taking with them the rights and funds still owed the band. As a result, these albums became rarities, commanding high prices being sold secondhand online. Now fans can finally own these albums again without paying insane prices. In fact, the price for the complete 6-disc set will be lower than what one copy of Andromeda Unchained has been listed for on eBay.

Included in the Orbits box set will be the albums Purification, A Perfect Forever, Andromeda Unchained, and The Detached, plus a double disc bonus set that will include rare and unreleased studio and live material. In addition, there will be a 24-page booklet with a special track-by-track guide by the original band members who made these recordings. Each box set will be numbered, and a bundle option with an Anubis Gate Orbits logo shirt will also be available.

A personal note from Kim Olesen (guitar/keyboards): “Hi people! This has been so long in the making and we are so glad to finally get this on track. I’ve had many, many inquiries over the years in regards to making these albums available again. The biggest roadblock was Locomotive's refusal to communicate with us and breaching their contract by not paying any royalties after 2008 and still not allowing the rights to revert back to us. Furthermore, they continued to sell them digitally until about a year and half ago while, at the same time, depriving us of money that we could have used for things such as touring and paying the bills that bands typically have.

“Only when the Danish Musicians' Union (DMF) stepped in did we stop these sales and regain the rights to these first four albums. Now that they are finally under our control again, we can release them without too much of a bitter business taste in our mouth. They are important parts of the history of the band and as parents say, “we love all our children,” which goes for these albums, too. We hope you will contribute to making these available again with our Kickstarter campaign; we put much love and hard work into them - both in their creation and the ensuing struggle to win them back.”

 



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In a brand new interview with Ticketmaster, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was asked what it means to have a longtime collaborator like bassist David Ellefson back in the band after so many lineup changes. He responded: "David and I have been friends for a long time, even during the lawsuit. I had made it clear that I loved him, and I loved his family. I said that the truth would come out and that it was very unfortunate. The lawsuit was dismissed, I forgave him, and we got back in business again. It's been fun ever since."

He continued: "There's a couple web sites out there that don't like me and they're trying to twist some of my words around about David Ellefson being in the band or not being in the band, or being a founding member or not being a founding member. And that shit don't matter, because it's a gossip web site. The truth is, me and Dave are partners, we make good music together, he's in MEGADETH, we're going on tour. Hopefully people will know when they see him on stage and not think he's somebody else. [Laughs]"

In a January 2016 interview with the Cape Girardeau, Missouri radio station Real Rock 99.3, Mustaine implied that Ellefson was not a founding member of the band because, he said, "MEGADETH was already in its formative phase long before I even knew David Ellefson." The bassist later said that he was "technically" a founding member of MEGADETH because he was "in the room" the day MEGADETH decided to change its name from the previous working moniker of FALLEN ANGEL at the suggestion of the band's then-guitarist Greg Handevidt.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play. After Mustaine reformed MEGADETH with an all-new lineup in 2004, Ellefson sued his former bandmate for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

In addition to Mustaine and Ellefson, MEGADETH's current lineup includes LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler and Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA.

MEGADETH's latest album, "Dystopia", debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 49,000 equivalent album units in the week ending January 28.

In terms of pure album sales, "Dystopia" opened with 48,000 copies, marking MEGADETH's highest-charting album since 1992's "Countdown To Extinction" debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the chart dated August 1 of that year. "Dystopia" also logged the group's best sales week since 2007, when "United Abominations" landed at No. 8 with first-week sales of 54,000.

After the death of Terry Horbury in December, Vardis have named Martin Connolly as their new bass player.

Martin has been in the business for 40 years, playing bass for Rick Wakeman and Paul Fox, releasing two albums with hard rockers Scarlet, performing on Nicko McBrain’s Rhythms Of the Beast¸, and as The Entire Population of Hackney with Iron Maiden, FM and the rest of Marshall Fury.

Vardis vocalist / guitarist Steve Zodiac and drummer Joe Clancy comment: "We are very lucky to be able to welcome Martin Connolly to the band. Despite knowing Vardis would continue, after losing Terry so suddenly it took some time before we could consider playing with another bassist. By the time we were ready, the job required someone with the musicianship and experience not only to maintain the power of our live shows but to form a tight chemistry quickly. After just one rehearsal we knew we wouldn’t need to see anyone else, Martin is a top bassist and has brought a new dimension and fresh energy to Vardis as we rebuild to get the show back on the road this year. Thank you all for your support and patience, we are proud to rock on with you in tribute to a man whose life was music."

Martin Connoly adds: "It was a privilege to be asked to join Vardis and take over from such a talented player. Terry and I weren’t close friends but our paths crossed many times over the years - I bought my Fender Precision from him in 1984. Our styles are very different, so I’m grateful to Steve and Joe for giving me the freedom to put my own mark on the music. Rehearsals have been a blast, but we’re itching to get out there and make some noise!"

Vardis are signed to SPV/Steamhammer; their new album Red Eye will be released worldwide in 2016. In live news, the band has the following shows booked:

February
26 - Up The Hammers XI - Athens, Greece     

April
9 - LittleDevil - Tilburg, Netherlands - SOLD OUT 
10 - De Verlichte Geest - Roeselave, Belgium    

May
12 - HRH Road Trip 7 - Ibiza, Spain     T 
 
June
3 - Muskelrock - Alvesta, Sweden   
26 - Wildfire Festival - Biggar, United Kingdom      
 
July
30 - Headbangers Open Air - Schierenhöhe, Germany    
 
September
17 - Heavy Metal Night 9 - Villa Rosa, Italy



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Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of TRICK OR TREAT for the release of the band's new album, "Rabbits' Hill Pt. 2". TRICK OR TREAT is an Italian power metal band originally formed in 2002 as a tribute act to HELLOWEEN. They quickly became popular on the live circuit, started writing and performing their own songs, and finally managed to release their debut album, "Evil Needs Candy Too", in 2006. The record received terrific responses and got TRICK OR TREAT on the road for the following two years with over 100 gigs in Europe and U.S. Soon after, TRICK OR TREAT released their second full length, "Tin Soldiers", which featured Michael Kiske (ex-HELLOWEEN) and Michele Luppi (WHITESNAKE) as special guests. The record was met with excellent response from Japan (where the band entered the national charts at #29). Italy also received the album favorably and the band was invited to play at some of the leading Italian metal festivals such as Agglutination, the I-Metal Fest, and the Gods Of Metal. Subsequent years saw the band touring with the likes of STRATOVARIUS, SONATA ARCTICA and HELLOWEEN. In early 2012, Luca Turilli announced that TRICK OR TREAT's singer, Alessandro Conti was chosen to be the new lead singer of the band LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY, but this did not slow down TRICK OR TREAT, who — still in 2012 — released their third album, "Rabbits' Hill Pt. 1", a concept effort inspired by Richard Adams's novel "Watership Down". TRICK OR TREAT says: "This is a really big step for us. We're so grateful to Niki Lou Rosh from Valery Records who, thanks to his hard work and efforts, brought us this great opportunity. We are now ready for this new and amazing experience and stay tuned because 'Rabbits' Hill Pt. 2' is coming soon!"

"Rabbits' Hill Pt. 2" will be released in the summer, with tour dates to follow.

TRICK OR TREAT is:

Alessandro Conti: VocalsGuido Benedetti: GuitarLuca Venturelli: GuitarLeone Villani Conti: BassLuca Setti: Drums

Record Store Day has announced its Ambassador for 2016: Grammy Award-winning Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees METALLICA. METALLICA is no stranger to Record Store Day, this year set for Saturday, April 16, a special day in support of independent record stores and record store culture worldwide, now in its ninth year. "Independent record stores are part of METALLICA's DNA," said METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich. "They have been pivotal in shaping each one of us into the music fanatics we've all become. We could not be any prouder to be Record Store Day Ambassadors for 2016 and are looking forward to screaming from every rooftop the next few months about everything independent record store and beyond." Throughout Record Store Day's near-decade lifespan, METALLICA's support has been more than noteworthy with in-store appearances, (remember Mountain View, California Rasputin Records in 2008, when the band met their fans for hours to kick off the very first Record Store Day) and a healthy handful of special releases. In fact, members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo made big news just last year when the band's cassette-issued demos collection, "No Life Til Leather", ended up as Record Store Day 2015's highest seller. As well, Trujillo's lauded biopic, "Jaco", about legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, was RSD 2014's Official Film and a special Record Store Day exclusive version was released on DVD for Black Friday 2015, including a bonus CD featuring tracks from Trujillo himself. This year the band's official release will fit into a wider theme of Record Store Day 2016, highlighting the relationship between U.S. record stores and their French counterparts, between Record Store Day and "Disquaire Day," between music-loving humans in the U.S. and France, following the tragic events in Paris in November 2015. METALLICA will release "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité, Metallica! - Live at Le Bataclan. Paris, France - June 11th, 2003", a CD featuring a live recording from the club, with the band, Record Store Day and independent record stores donating proceeds to benefit Fondation de France's Give For France charity. The live recording setlist includes "The Four Horsemen", "Leper Messiah", "No Remorse", "Fade To Black", "Frantic", "Ride The Lightning", "Blackened" and encores "Seek & Destroy" and "Damage, Inc."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, ALICE IN CHAINS singer William DuVall is fronting a new act called GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA, which is also comprised of members of MASTODON, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, THE MARS VOLTA and others. While the lineup has changed since the project was launched in 2012 — with actress and singer Juliette Lewis allegedly fronting it at one point — DuVall has apparently settled into the lead vocalist position.

Founder Ben Weinman from THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN said that Juliette Lewis was never the singer but had contributed some material, adding, "She did some cool vocals on some of the GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA stuff. Actually, William from ALICE IN CHAINS is who has been singing with us."

Weinman noted that most of the music for GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA's debut album had been written before DuVall joined the band. The record could come out this year.

ALICE IN CHAINS has been relatively quiet since completing the tour cycle for its last studio album, 2013's "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", but the quartet has reportedly been working on an album for release in 2016, with live shows also on the horizon.

Spinefarm Records has announced album details of the first compilation release of iconic pagan metallers Ensiferum. Closing the Spinefarm chapter of Ensiferum's relentless ascent to pagan metal hall of fame, the collection Two Decades of Greatest Sword Hits, out April 1, is a testimony of things past but definitely worth remembering.

The band, said, "20 years since the first notes were played in Ensiferum's first rehearsals. I doubt that 15-years old Markus Toivonen had any idea what he had just started and what kind of journey the band would begin that day. So much has happened in 20 years, but the cornerstones of our music -folk and metal- are still there and we will keep exploring this unholy combination until we die. We have always composed songs with lots of patience and hard self criticism but still wanted to have some blink in the corner of the eye and push our musical boundaries. This compilation gives the listener great chance to hear how the bandhas evolved during these years. Enjoy and folk on!"

Complete with the band's in-depth song descriptions and reminiscence, Two Decades of Greatest Sword Hits features 14 of the most proudly shield-pounding epic metal hymns of Ensiferum. The songs take you through the formative years of a band that became one of the biggest of its generation in the ever-expanding realm of heathen metal.

Tracklisting:

“By The Dividing Stream”
“From Afar”
“Heathen Horde”
“One More Magic Potion”
“In My Sword I Trust”
“Token Of Time”
“Dragonheads”
“Twilight Tavern”
“Burning Leaves”
“Treacherous Gods”
“Lai Lai Hei”
“Two Of Spades”
“Iron”
“Victory Song”



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Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK SABBATH's February 23 concert at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Black Sabbath02. Fairies Wear Boots03. After Forever04. Into The Void05. Snowblind06. War Pigs07. Behind The Wall Of Sleep08. N.I.B. 09. Hand Of Doom10. Rat Salad11. Iron Man12. Dirty Women13. Children Of The Grave

Encore:

14. Paranoid

A review of the show is available at MontrealGazette.com.

BLACK SABBATH resumed its "The End" tour on February 6 in Tacoma, Washington after canceling three shows because singer Ozzy Osbourne was battling severe sinusitis.

The scrapped concerts in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and Calgary, Alberta, Canada have now been rescheduled for early March.

After completing the first U.S. leg of "The End" tour, SABBATH will play dates in Australia and New Zealand in April, with European festival shows taking place during the summer.

BLACK SABBATH recently revealed that it is selling a new limited-edition CD titled "The End" at the shows on its farewell tour. The disc features four previously unheard studio tracks left off the band's 2013 reunion album, "13", as well as live versions of four songs from the world tour the band did in support of that disc.

The four studio cuts are "Season Of The Dead", "Cry All Night", "Take Me Home" and "Isolated Man". They feature drums by Brad Wilk.

The live tracks, with drumming from Tommy Clufetos, are "God Is Dead?", "Under The Sun", "End Of The Beginning" and "Age Of Reason". The live cuts were recorded in Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand and Hamilton, Ontario.

Wilk and Clufetos had to get involved after founding SABBATH drummer Bill Ward withdrew from the reunion after initially agreeing to participate in it.

"13", the first SABBATH full-length studio album in 35 years to feature original members Geezer Butler (bass), Tony Iommi (guitar) and Osbourne, also became SABBATH's first No. 1 album in the U.S. when it was released in June 2013. The band abandoned plans for a follow-up after deciding that the current trek would be its last.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach was joined by legendary guitarist Steve Vai for a performance of a couple of RUSH classics on February 21 at the Monsters Of Rock cruise pre-party at the Magic City Casino In Miami, Florida. Check out fan-filmed video footage below.

In a 2005 interview, Bach stated about RUSH: "Their time signatures fascinated me! I couldn't understand the tempos of songs such as 'Cygnus-X1' and 'Hemispheres'. It was music like nothing else I had ever heard. But being a young Canadian whippersnapper, I was geographically programmed to worship RUSH like the rest of my fellow Canadians."

He continued: "I was the second ever member of the 'Rush Backstage Club of Toronto', the RUSH fan club put together by their longtime photographer, Andrew MacNaughton. Andrew was the cousin of my school roommate, George Jeffries at Lakefield College School in Canada. He was the first member of Andrew's 'club' which we joined in 1981."

Bach added: "RUSH was a magical sound to me and showed me that music could be challenging and entertaining at the same time... Few musicians on the planet can boast the longevity of RUSH, especially in a band context. Rock bands are a fragile organism and RUSH's career demonstrates that there are exceptions to the 'Behind The Music' scenario of 'band makes it big, band breaks up, band reunites for Japanese tour.' Their work ethic and constant reinvention is an inspiration to each and every musician."

Swedish occult rockers GHOST were honored in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal" category at the Swedish Grammis awards (Swedish Grammy equivalent). The band also performed the song "He Is" at the ceremony, which was held earlier tonight (Wednesday, February 24) at Cirkus in Stockholm.

Video footage of GHOST's acceptance speech and performance can be seen below.

"Best Hard Rock/Metal" nominees were as follows:

* GHOST - "Meliora"* BACKYARD BABIES - "Four By Four"* GRAVEYARD - "Innocence & Decadence"* REFUSED - "Freedom"* TRIBULATION - "Children Of The Night"

The groups were nominated for their most recent releases, all of which came out during 2015.

As previously reported, GHOST won the Grammy for "Best Metal Performance" during the pre-telecast ceremony at the 58th annual Grammy Awards. GHOST was nominated for the song "Cirice" from "Meliora".

The other nominees in the "Best Metal Performance" category were AUGUST BURNS RED, LAMB OF GOD, SEVENDUST and SLIPKNOT."Cirice" recently reached the Top 10 at rock radio, the first song from the band to get significant airplay in the U.S.

GHOST will return to the U.S. this spring for a headlining tour that kicks off in Montclair, New Jersey on April 13, wrapping up on May 22 in Albany, New York.

The new Swedish/Greek supergroup ALLEGIANCE OF ROCK is a collaboration between guitarist Gus G. (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIREWIND), bassist John Levén (EUROPE), drummer Anders Johansson (HAMMERFALL, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and vocalist Mats Levén (CANDLEMASS, TREAT, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). This all-star alliance will be united for the very first time at the Stockholm Rocks festival on May 7 at Debaser Medis in Stockholm, Sweden. The band will perform songs from the past, present and future of their own back catalogue and more.

Says a press release: "Prepare yourself for screaming guitars, thundering bass and drums and voices from another world."

In an interview with Hardrock Haven, Gus stated about his collaboration with Mats: "I met him in 2003 at a festival in Sweden where he was playing with . And I'm bit a fan of him since he saw on Yngwie Malmsteen's 'Facing The Animal'. So we met there and had a great time. And we became buddies through the years and jammed together. We always stayed in touch. And he's the guy whose I always wanted to do something with. And in 2010, I asked him to join FIREWIND because our singer couldn't come on tour with us. Mats has the advantage to be not only a singer but a songwriter and producer too."

MEGADETH performed the song "The Threat Is Real" live for the first time last night (Tuesday, February 23) during the band's concert at The Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado. You can now watch fan-filmed video footage of the performance below.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine recently stated about "The Threat Is Real": "Oddly enough, I'd had a guy tell me that he thought that if anybody could unite Middle Eastern fans of music with Western Music that I probably had as good a chance as anybody, probably, if not more so. And I didn't know how to take that, 'cause I was very confused. But I do know that MEGADETH has a lot of Arabian-style solos, a lot of minor-style solos, and that kind of gives people that classical, Spanish, Arabian kind of flair, which appeals to people. But we've never really addressed anything [lyrically] in the Middle East, other than in 'Holy Wars', when I talked about the holy war that was going on over there; nothing else really addressed the issue over there. 'The Threat Is Real' is talking kind of about how what's going on over there now is slowly infiltrating the West, with all the lone wolves and everything that's going on. You don't know if someone's knocking on the door if it's the Messiah or if a mass murderer; you just don't even know."

"The Threat Is Real" is taken from MEGADETH's latest album, "Dystopia", which debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 49,000 equivalent album units in the week ending January 28.

In terms of pure album sales, "Dystopia" opened with 48,000 copies, marking MEGADETH's highest-charting album since 1992's "Countdown To Extinction" debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the chart dated August 1 of that year. "Dystopia" also logged the group's best sales week since 2007, when "United Abominations" landed at No. 8 with first-week sales of 54,000.

In addition to Mustaine, MEGADETH's current lineup includes longtime bassist David Ellefson, LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler and Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of SOULFLY's February 23 performance at Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany can be seen below.

SOULFLY's tenth studio album, "Archangel", was released on August 14, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The CD was produced and mixed by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, BEHEMOTH, CHILDREN OF BODOM), and features cover artwork by artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, ICED EARTH, SODOM).

SOULFLY has tapped Mike Leon (HAVOK) to play bass on the band's current tour. Leon said: "I've been a fan of Max [Cavalera, SOULFLY mainman] and his music since I was a little kid, and to be playing with him and the guys now is truly unbelievable!"

Handling bass duties for SOULFLY during some of the group's shows last year was Max Cavalera's son Igor, who also sings for the Phoenix, Arizona band LODY KONG.

Former STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos left SOULFLY in May 2015 and is now touring with FEAR FACTORY.

Speaking to United Rock Nations about "Archangel", Max said: "I have not been excited for a SOULFLY record like 'Archangel' for ten years. It sounds really exciting, and I am excited. I worked with a great producer, Matt Hyde, and he understood what I wanted to do: this, kind of, exotic, mystic, biblical kind of record. And he helped me get through, and we did a lot of cool stuff together with the vocals; there's a lot of chanting and things I've never done before with my voice. It still sounds like Max, but there's a different feeling to it. And there's some trademarks on it. Like the first song's called 'We Sold Our Souls To Metal', it's a pure metal anthem. It's a great song — a declaration of proudness of being metal, and live metal, live the metal life. So it's, for me, my most honest way to tell the fans that I'm proud to be metal and I sold my soul to metal, so you should [sell] your soul to metal as well. It's a cool song… I don't know… I like the album artwork. Eliran did it. And I really like the colors. [There's] a bit [of the] Middle East [influence] in the guitar. There's some riffs that are very Middle Eastern riffs and kind of Babylonian riffs. So it's pretty cool. That's from me listening to MELECHESH and BEHEMOTH and stuff like that."

Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA have commenced the songwriting process for the follow-up to their 2013 album, "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart", tentatively due before the end of the year via Nuclear Blast.

A few photos from the latest writing sessions can be seen below.

SEPULTURA released a limited-edition seven-inch single to mark its 30th anniversary. "Under My Skin" features artwork of fan tattoos on its cover, with a live version of "Kairos" on the b-side. The single was issued on black, yellow and green vinyl, with only 200 copies of each version pressed.

"The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" came out on October 29, 2013 via Nuclear Blast.

SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser told Metal Wani about the group's last CD: "I think we have two factors on this last album, which are very important. I mean, [producer] Ross [Robinson] is one of them, for sure. And the other one is our new drummer [Eloy Casagrande], [who's been] four years with us already. And he really brought some new possibilities for our music. He's an amazing musician; he can play basically anything. [His playing style is] very metal, very powerful, very much with that urge to break limits. So the consequence was 'Mediator' — songs that were really… that stretch our possibilities as musicians, which was great for me, Paulo [Xisto Pinto Jr., bass] and Derrick [Green, vocals], to have that kind of push and motivation to do something extra and something new, and really to take SEPULTURA to a different level. And Ross [who previously worked with SEPULTURA on 1996's 'Roots'] really enhanced everything, especially with Derrick's singing and the performance. It was great. I mean, of course, it was different times and different ideas than 'Roots' and stuff, but we have that kind of communication of friends. I mean, we know each other, and we respect each other so much. It was the perfect choice; we're very happy with everything."

On April 1, Finnish pagan metal act MOONSORROW will release its seventh studio album, "Jumalten Aika" — which means "The Age Of Gods" in English — via Century Media.

The first teaser for "Jumalten Aika" is available below. "There are a lot more folk music influences present in 'Jumalten Aika' than earlier", comments MOONSORROW's Henri Sorvali (guitar, keyboards and vocals). "This time around, they are more deeply integrated to the overall sound.

"'Jumalten Aika' is like a circling wolf biting the hardest when you would never expect it. The music is unchained aggression, deep mysteries of the North and thundering witchcraft combined together in a molten forge of the Gods and reminds us all of something that never left our blood and soil." "Jumalten Aika" will be released in the following formats:

* Limited 2CD Mediabook & Patch (European edition)* Limited 2CD Digipak & Patch (U.S. edition)* Gatefold black 2LP+CD* Gatefold white 2LP+CD - CMDistro.de (EU webshop exclusive), limited to 100 copies* Gatefold transparent green 2LP+CD - NuclearBlast.de exclusive, limited to 200 copies* Gatefold clear 2LP+CD - distributed via RED in the US, limited to 400 copies* Gatefold silver 2LP+CD - CMDistro.com (US webshop exclusive), limited to 200 copies* CD / Digital The limited edition 2CD formats come with a strictly limited patch as well as a bonus disc including cover versions of GRAVE's "Soulless" and ROTTING CHRIST's "Non Serviam". These were intentionally added as a second disc to be separated from the main album's intricate musical and lyrical concept. All physical formats will also include English translations of the lyrics to allow you to delve deeper into the darkened folklore of MOONSORROW. "Jumalten Aika" track listing:

01. Jumalten Aika (12:43)02. Ruttolehto incl. Päivättömän Päivän Kansa (15:21)03. Suden Tunti (7:06)04. Mimisbrunn (15:55)05. Ihmisen Aika (Kumarrus Pimeyteen) (16:00) Bonus disc:

01. Soulless (GRAVE cover) (3:18)02. Non Serviam (ROTTING CHRIST cover) (5:10) To present "Jumalten Aika" live, MOONSORROW will embark on a co-headlining tour in April with fellow countrymen KORPIKLAANI. Both bands will perform extended long sets. Prior to that, there will also be an official MOONSORROW album release show at Virgin Oil in Helsinki on April 1 and a China tour in early March.

Canadian death metal veterans GORGUTS will release their new one-track EP, "Pleiades' Dust", on May 13 via Season Of Mist. The first excerpt, "Wandering Times", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The EP artwork was created by renowned Polish artist Zbigniew M. Bielak.

Comments GORGUTS mainman Luc Lemay: "As our 'Pleiades' Dust' EP consists out of a single long narrative composition, it was not written with the intention of being edited in segments. As the storyline proceeds in chapters though, I was able to isolate this part called 'Wandering Times', which will give the listener a good idea of the composition aesthetics which are present throughout the whole piece. The lyrics tell the story of the 'House Of Wisdom', which is referring to a library that was based in Baghdad sometime between the 8th and the 13th century. There much of the intellectual activity of the Middle Age took place while Europe was stuck in the Dark ages after the fall of Rome. Many scientific discoveries were made at the time such as algebra, optics, astronomy, and many more... Without the translation movement that brought this library to life, we would have never had the Renaissance that we know. It is a story about curiosity, beautiful minds and sadly, about how man destroys great discoveries and achievements."

Bielak adds: "As a child, I was fascinated by the Middle East. My uncle used to work on civil engineering contracts in Libya and Iraq, so we kept receiving exotic, mosque-graced postcards throughout the otherwise lackluster eighties behind the Iron Curtain. I have a genuine affection towards the region's architecture, climate and aesthetics, therefore it was a pleasure to illustrate Luc Lemay's new concept album, which is a tribute to the scientific heritage of the Islamic Golden Age.

"Although the pun of the album title was not intended — as much as NASA supercomputer Pleiades today, Baghdad's Bayt al-Hikma — The House of Wisdom, epitomized the Middle East's scientific sophistication. Boasting the largest library of the medieval world, this vibrant multicultural research and educational centre, drew in learned scholars including those of Jewish, Christian or Buddhist origin to translate, preserve and further develop important works of scholarship from across Europe and the Middle East whilst the Occident regressed into Dark Ages. Spanning from the 8th century of our calendar to its symbolic ending with Genghis Khan's grandson's bloody Siege of Baghdad in 1258, resulting in obliteration of the House of Wisdom, The Golden Age of Islam left the world much indebted also to its numerous original contributions in diverse fields. From astronomy and medicine, to humanities and mathematics, Islam's heritage helped pave the way for the rise of the West to its present prominence.

"The mind-bending intricacy of GORGUTS' aural landscapes portrayed in this single, over thirty minutes long piece of almost classically structured music, lends an aptly dramatic narrative to the story of a leading civilization abruptly returned to dust."

GORGUTS has announced European dates with PSYCROPTIC, DYSRHYTHMIA and NERO DI MARTE. The trek will run from March 23 until April 17.

The official live video for the song "Consume The Damned" from DEVIL YOU KNOW — the creative union of Howard Jones (ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) and John Sankey (DEVOLVED) — can be seen below. The song is taken from DEVIL YOU KNOW's sophomore album, "They Bleed Red", which was released on November 6, 2015 via Nuclear Blast.

Produced by Josh Wilbur (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, LAMB OF GOD, KILLER BE KILLED), "They Bleed Red" is a breakneck paced trip through DEVIL YOU KNOW's broken psyche, struggles with anxiety, and ultimate triumph against adversity, all laid upon a foundation of high-level artistic achievement and vitriolic full throttle heavy metal fury.

In a recent interview with Australian Musicians Network, Jones stated about "They Bleed Red": "With the first album… We wrote and recorded that album without ever having played in the same room together, so it's kind of unique. But yeah, we've been spending a lot of time together on the road, planes and just doing our thing… getting to know each other well. And I remember [saying on] the first tour, 'We've gotta make a heavier album this time,' That was definitely the plan. Just also make songs that are fun to play live and that we are really happy with, that are a challenge to write and craft — whether they are heavy or not as heavy, even though, most of the album is pretty heavy. We wanted songs that would be easy to listen to, easy to enjoy, and fun to play."

He added: "Spending time on the road together, sitting on a plane, and sitting inside a smelly van, watching TV on a bus together, hanging out in each other’s houses and things like that, you get to know each other and you get this bond. And it definitely made things easier. One difference is that I was so much more prepared before I went into the studio for this one. And getting to know each other, and knowing exactly what direction we want to take with the album."

"They Bleed Red" track listing:

01. Consume The Damned02. The Way We Die03. Your Last Breath04. Stay of Execution05. Break The Ties06. Shattered Silence07. Let The Pain Take Hold08. Master of None09. Searching For The Sun10. How The End Shall Be11. Broken By The Cold

Bonus tracks

12. Eye of The Tiger (cover)13. I Am Alive14. We Live

DEVIL YOU KNOW's debut album, "The Beauty Of Destruction", was produced by Logan Mader (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA, DEVILDRIVER, SOULFLY) and mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SOULFLY).

DEVIL YOU KNOW's lineup is completed by BLEEDING THROUGH bassist Ryan Wombacher.

U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine has posted video footage of Los Angeles glam-metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER taking part in an impromptu performance just off Oxford Street in London on Tuesday, February 23. Singer Michael Starr, guitarist Satchel, bassist Lexxi Foxx and drummer Stix Zadinia treated passers-by to acoustic renditions of "Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World" and "Community Property", with onlookers equipped with phones to capture the unique moment.

"Live From Lexxi's Mom's Garage", STEEL PANTHER's first full-length film featuring a live ten-song acoustic concert interspersed with comedic vignettes showcasing the band's unmatched shenanigans and debauchery, will be released on CD and CD/DVD by Open E Records via Kobalt Label Services, on February 26 but pre-orders are available now at store.steelpantherrocks.com.

"Live From Lexxi's Mom's Garage" was taped in Los Angeles last October in front of a live audience of scantily clad woman (and one old creepy fat guy who somehow got a ticket) inside the uncharacteristically large and professionally lit garage of Ms. Foxx (Bobbie Brown), who coincidentally also happens to be the mother of Lexxi Foxx. The musical portions of the film feature the band performing acoustic versions of their most popular songs such as "Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World" and "Community Property" as well as one new song titled "Then You Came In". Several female violin players who are "very easy on the eyes," says Stix, are featured and lay through the various hits with the band. Between songs, the film follows the mischievousness of STEEL PANTHER as they figure out who they can and cannot sleep with; and as they navigate the world as the biggest glam rock band that never was from 1985, in 2016. "It was so much fun playing our songs on these new wooden guitars in my mom's garage!" said Lexxi Fox. "Satchel says that he might be my new dad, but I'm not really sure what that means!" he added. STEEL PANTHER recently wrapped its "Well Hungover" North American headlining tour and started a new residency at the famed Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on January 7 and House of Blues Las Vegas. Last year, the band sold out headlining tours in the U.K. and South America.

No big deal .... Just @Steel_Panther performing a song or two in London 👍 pic.twitter.com/CoxkmbX8E2

— Anna Maslowicz (@annamazz) February 23, 2016