Sick Drummer Magazine has uploaded drum-cam footage of former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo performing the LED ZEPPELIN classic "Whole Lotta Love" at this year's Bonzo Bash on January 22 at M3 Live in Anaheim, California. Check it out below.

Asked if Bonham was an early inspiration on his playing, Lombardo told The Nervous Breakdown: "He showed me groove. He showed me dynamic by listening to his playing."

He continued: "When they played, it elevated. Although the tempo didn't build, there was something in the playing that just made it come up, and you're feeling, 'Oh man, that feels great,' and then they bring it down and groovy."

Lombardo added: "I don't know, I think I feel music more than a lot of people do. You know, it's how you hit the drum. It's not the execution of the hit. It's not how many paradiddles you can do or how fast you can do it, it's how you execute the beat."

Back in 2014, Lombardo compared SLAYER without him to LED ZEPPELIN losing John Bonham, saying that a "certain magic" is clearly missing. He told the "Let There Be Talk" podcast: "I appreciate the nucleus of the band. Like [John] Bonham. When Bonham was part of [LED] ZEPPELIN. When his son [Jason] took over, oh my God. C'mon. Really? I have respect for Jason and for what he's done, but when he put a double-bass pedal on a single bass drum, that just blew it for me. It's, like, 'Really, dude? Your dad was about single bass.'"

He continued: "There is a certain magic — just like with SLAYER, just like with AC/DC with Bon Scott — there's a certain magic when you have those musicians and nobody could replace that. Nobody. That's it. You can't. Yeah, SLAYER's new drummer [Paul Bostaph], yeah, a lot of fans like him. But there's that magic. It's chemistry. It's like when you meet a girl and you two get along really well, and it's like a chemistry; it's something special. Same thing with the band: you get these four guys, [and] they may hate each other, but on stage, there's magic. And that's what's missing, I personally believe."

Hammer Fight are a bunch whiskey-drinkin', beer guzzlin' bros who spawned from New Jersey. The band will release their Napalm Records debut, Profound And Profane, on March 25th. Check out the new song “Target Acquired”, streaming below.

The artwork was created by Raf the Might. Pre-orders for the new album are available here.

Vocalist/Bassist Drew Murphy on the album artwork: "We're very happy to unveil the cover art for Profound And Profane. Raf The Might did an incredible job. He really captured the theme of the record. And for the more savvy music consumers who purchase a physical copy, not only will you get a more expanded view of the cover art, you'll also get more amazing artwork from Mark Richards (heavyhandillustration.com) and The Living Corpse Crew (corpse-crew.com). The music is mad sweet too."

Hammer Fight brings a sound that many kids these days may have missed; hard rockin' metal. Versatile enough to share the stage with the most extreme death metal acts to classic hard rock bands and everything in between, Hammer Fight are ready to make an impression on the today's heavy music scene.

Profound And Profane tracklisting:

“Picking Up Change”
“Target Acquired”
“Into The Dark”
“Good Times In Dark Ages”
“Gods Of Rock N’ Roll”
“Low & Broken”
“Private Stock”
“The Ultimate Sacrifice”
“Cell Mates”
“West Side Story”
“The Crate”
“Cult Of Conceit”

“Target Acquired”:

Hammer Fight lineup:

Drew Murphy - Bass, Vocals
Todd Stern - Guitar
Dan Higgins - Guitar
Justin Spaeth - Drums



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Mars Red Sky's brand new album, Apex III – Praise For The Burning Soul, is now available for pre-order. The album will be released on February 26th in Europe (North American date TBA), and will be available in O-card CD and in limited edition vinyl of 1,000 copies spread out in Purple, Orange and Black vinyl versions including a CD version of the album with a bonus track. Exclusive bundles are available at this location.

Tracklisting:

“(Alien Grounds) / Apex III”
“The Whinery”
“Mindreader”
“Under The Hood”
“Friendly Fire”
“Prodigal Sun”
“Shot In Providence” (bonus track on CD edition)

"Shot In Providence” video:

 



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Multi-camera fan-filmed video footage of SLIPKNOT's January 26 performance in Vienna, Austria can be seen below.

SLIPKNOT kicked off its latest European headlining tour on January 18 in Helsinki, Finland.

SLIPKNOT has selected "Goodbye" as the next single from its Grammy-nominated new album, ".5: The Gray Chapter".

SLIPKNOT is nominated in both "Best Rock Album" (".5: The Gray Chapter") and "Best Metal Performance" ("Custer") categories at the 58th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on February 15 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

".5: The Gray Chapter" sold 132,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart.

ANTHRAX played its brand new song "Breathing Lightning" live for the first time on January 27 in Columbus, Ohio. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

"Breathing Lightning" is taken from ANTHRAX's long-awaited new album, "For All Kings", which will be released on February 26 via Nuclear Blast in Europe and Megaforce in the U.S.

"For All Kings" will be available in Europe on the following formats:

* Boxset (including a digipack, picture-2LP, poster, card, slipmat)* 2CD digipack (including a bonus live CD)* 2LP (black vinyl in gatefold)

Nuclear Blast mailorder exclusive:

* Nuclear Blast boxset (including a digipak, poker cards, buttons, dice)* 2LP (clear, blue, yellow vinyl in gatefold)* CD + 2LP Bundle (CD+ black vinyl bundle)

"For All Kings" track listing:

CD1

01. You Gotta Believe02. Monster At The End03. For All Kings04. Breathing Lightning05. Suzerain06. Evil Twin07. Blood Eagle Wings08. Defend/Avenge09. All Of Them Thieves10. This Battle Chose Us11. Zero Tolerance

CD2 (Bonus Live CD)

01. Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't02. A.I.R.03. Caught In A Mosh04. Madhouse

2LP

Side A

01. You Gotta Believe02. Monster At The End03. For All Kings04. Breathing Lightning

Side B

01. Suzerain02. Evil Twin03. Blood Eagle Wings

Side C

01. Defend/Avenge02. All Of Them Thieves03. This Battle Chose Us04. Zero Tolerance

Side D

- Etched -

Pre-order "For All Kings" here.

Says ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante: "The cover art for this record is again done by Alex Ross, who is probably one of the greatest artists living. And he did our previous covers."

He continues: "My idea for this one was to show this hall and these huge statues of these kings — who, of course, are us — and trying to tie in the last album cover with these creatures who are drawn into this room with our ANTHRAX 'A.' This one, you'll see those creatures in this hall kind of trying to reach up at these kings. We tried to tie in the last two album covers with this album cover. And when you see it, it's beautiful. It's grandiose. It just has this beautiful look to it. And, yeah, it's gonna be a great album cover."

Beginning in the fall of 2014, ANTHRAX — Charlie Benante (drums), Scott Ian (rhythm guitar), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and lead guitarist Jon Donais — took their time in the studio recording the follow up to their Grammy-nominated, critically acclaimed 2011 album, "Worship Music". The band recorded some 20 original songs, almost twice as many as they had ever brought into the studio in the past. In terms of how the new music sounds, Bello said, "The thing about ANTHRAX...we have this heavy, thrashy music and Joey's powerful and melodic vocals. I love heavy music, but I also love melody, so the challenge is to blend them together so they sound like ANTHRAX. I think we've done a really good job of that on the new album."

"The Circular Ruins", the new performance video from Swedish melodic death metal pioneers AT THE GATES, can be seen below. The clip features footage filmed by Live Media Group during the band's April 2015 show at Chicago's House Of Blues during the Decibel Magazine Tour.

"The Circular Ruins" is taken from AT THE GATES' latest album, "At War With Reality", which was released on October 28, 2014 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media. The CD, which sold 7,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 53 on The Billboard 200 chart, was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg and was mixed at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, PARADISE LOST, KREATOR).

AT THE GATES recently announced another North American tour for February together with DECAPITATED, THE HAUNTED and HARMS WAY as well as a first bunch of European festival dates for 2016, including appearances at Party.San and Summer Breeze in Germany, Metal Days in Slovenia and Leyendas Del Rock in Spain.

AT THE GATES vocalist Tomas Lindberg told Jägermeister last November about the band's plans for the future: "I think we will be touring this [album] until at least the end of next summer, as it looks now. After that, we will see where we're going. It is a conscious decision as well to do that — to not plan too much ahead, to live in the moment, to not put pressure on ourselves writing while we're enjoying this. 'Cause that's what happened in the '90s with us, and that's why we imploded, so we don't wanna do the same mistake twice. But, I mean, I can say that we're not planning not to do a follow-up [album], if you know what I'm saying. So I have high hopes. We will see where it takes us."

Swedish prog outfit, New Keepers Of The Water Towers, are preparing themselves for the release of their fourth full-length album, entitled Infernal Machine, a concept album based on the classic sci-fi novel The Forever War. They have transcribed this tale of an interstellar Galactic battle into a musical odyssey that supersedes anything you have heard to date. Check out the new video for “The Forever War” below.

From the moment you start to play this latest conquest, you are taken into their world where classic prog meets it’s unlikely counterparts of pure, vintage space rock, perfectly haunting harmonizing vocal lines, and just enough of the far from modest power riffs to keep you gasping for air with anticipation for the next track to begin as you move forward on your journey.

Infernal Machine is to be released via Listenable Records on March 4th.

Tracklisting:

“The Forever War”
“Tracks Over Carcosa”
“Tachyon Deep”
“Misantropin Kallar”
“Escape Aleph Minor”
“Jorden”
“This Infernal Machine”

“The Forever War” video:

 



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"Ode To The Sun", a brand new song from progressive metal masters OBSCURA, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Akróasis" (Greek for "hearing" or "listening"), which will be released February 5 via Relapse Records. The album will be available in CD, 2xLP and as a digital download.

"With 'Akróasis', we produced our grand opus featuring eight songs of fluent arrangements, odd time signatures never heard before in metal, and the most high-end production in the history of the band," says OBSCURA founder and frontman Steffen Kummerer. "Without question, 'Akróasis' is the heaviest, most complex record we have made to date. We cannot wait to perform live again and bring this excellent music to stages around the globe." Produced by the band and V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, PESTILENCE), "Akróasis" is eight songs diverse enough to serve as a near-comprehensive introduction to all of extreme metal. Packed to the gills with virtuosic musicianship, compelling themes, and airtight songwriting, "Akróasis" will undoubtedly breathe new life into death metal, progressive metal and beyond. Founded in 2002 by Kummerer, OBSCURA caused a stir when it toured as support for the legendary SUFFOCATION on the band's European tour in 2006 and independently released its debut album, "Retribution", that same year. From its very beginnings, the band (named after GORGUTS' inimitable 1993 full-length) demonstrated an uncanny ability for blending different forms of technical, cerebral metal into a coherent synthesis of death, thrash and black metal merged with progressive elements. "Akróasis" track listing:

01. Sermon Of The Seven Suns 02. The Monist 03. Akróasis 04. Ten Sepiroth 05. Ode To The Sun 06. Fractal Dimension 07. Perpetual Infinity 08. Weltseele 09. Melos (deluxe vinyl bonus track)10. The Origin Of Primal Expression (CD bonus track)

OBSCURA is:

Steffen Kummerer - Vocals, GuitarRafael Trujillo - GuitarLinus Klausenitzer - BassSebastian Lanser - Drums

Ahead of their February 2016 headline show at London's Alexandra Palace that closes their U.K. tour, ENTER SHIKARI went into the venue in December 2015 to visit the site and to record a short acoustic set for a small audience of friends and competition winners. Rather than use the 10,000-capacity space that will house the full-blown "arena rock show," Ally Pally offered the band the use of the seldom-seen-by-the-general-public Victorian Theatre for the recording. The theatre, largely unused in this century, is a hidden gem behind the main building. A 2500-capacity ornate room that has, over the past 100-plus years, served as not only a place of entertainment but also a haven for Belgian refugees, a BBC props store, and a German internment camp. Footage from the set has been released via the band's YouTube channel today, and three of the tracks will be available for streaming and download as a "Live & Acoustic At Alexandra Palace EP" via all outlets from Monday, February 1. ENTER SHIKARI's U.K. tour — which the band recently announced would utilize quadraphonic surround-sound — starts on Thursday, February 18 in Glasgow, and ends up at Alexandra Palace on Saturday, February 27 before heading out to Europe.

Support for the U.K. dates comes from THE WONDER YEARS and THE KING BLUES. EP track listing:

01. Torn Apart (Live & Acoustic at Alexandra Palace)02. Myopia (Live & Acoustic at Alexandra Palace)03. One True Colour (Live & Acoustic at Alexandra Palace)

Prog metal outfit THIRD ION, featuring former members of THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND and INTO ETERNITY, has parted ways with singer Tyler Gilbert and has replaced him with Dave Padden (ex-ANNIHILATOR).

THIRD ION has released the following statement about the lineup change: "Sadly, after our last gigs, our singer Tyler informed us he was leaving the band. We loved having him, but his heart and passion lie with his own music. We wish him all the best, and good luck with his future! Right away we wasted no time and got right on the search for a new singer. Dave's demo blew us away, and not to mention he has an incredible amount of experience!

"We have been sitting on this news since the summer, and after getting back from Vancouver this week, with a finished album worth of vocal tracks I am absolutely psyched to announce Dave Padden as the singer for THIRD ION!"

THIRD ION is currently recording the follow-up to its 2015 Glasstone Records debut album, "13/8bit". The sophomore effort will also be released on Glasstone.

An audio clip of the band recording with Padden can be heard below. "13/8Bit" is available on CD format through the label and in digital format on iTunes. Album artwork comes courtesy of Harley K at Necrographix.

THIRD ION is the product of a mutual love of prog, video games, and science.

The band's lineup is:

Justin Bender - GuitarAaron Edgar - DrumsMike Young - BassDave Padden - Vocals

ALMANAC, the new project led by former RAGE guitarist Victor Smolski, will release its debut album, "Tsar", on March 18 via Nuclear Blast. The CD's intricate cover artwork was created by Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák (WISDOM, ANNIHILATOR, DESTRUCTION, ELEVENKING).

Smolski himself was responsible for the production of the record, with mixing completed by Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann (ORDEN OGAN).

"Tsar" track listing:

01. Tsar02. Self Blinded Eyes03. Darkness04. Hands Are Tied05. Children Of The Future06. No More Shadows07. Nevermore08. Reign Of Madness09. Flames Of Fate

The video for the song "Self Blinded Eyes" can be seen below.

Smolski commented: "'Tsar' is the absolute best of and the highlight of my musical career. I had never had so much fun while producing a CD; it was incredible teamwork — and we were one hundred percent merciless. Push the pedal to the metal!"

The Belarus-born guitarist Smolski is joined in this new group by former LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA bandmembers Jeanette Marchewka (vocals) and the symphony orchestra Orquestra Barcelona Filharmonia and White Russian Symphony Orchestra. New in the lineup are bass player Armin Alić, drummer Michael Kolar and keyboardist Enric Garcia. Two high-class singers David Readman (PINK CREAM 69) and Andy B. Franck (BRAINSTORM) complete the extremely prominent lineup.

Fans with an interest in deeper subjects including history and culture will also be able to dive into a new world with "Tsar", which combines historic and modern parallels that will surprise many. From the warlike nomadic horsemen in the steppes of Russia, to the tsardom, Ivan the Terrible, warlike Cossacks who dominate the Tatar, the siege of Constantinople and the Mongol invasion are stories about battles, wars, intrigue, conquest, terror, power and love that can be heard vocally using the different styles of the singers' voices.

ALMANAC is:

Andy B. Franck - vocalsDavid Readman - vocalsJeannette Marchewka - vocalsVictor Smolski - guitarsArmin Alić - bass, fretless bassMichael Kolar - drumsEnric Garcia - keyboards, piano

"Hate By Design", the new video from Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's seventh album, "Incarnate", which will be released on March 11 via Roadrunner.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Alone I Stand02. Hate By Design03. Cut Me Loose04. Strength Of The Mind05. Just Let Go06. Embrace The Journey… Upraised07. Quiet Distress08. Until The Day09. It Falls On Me10. The Great Distress11. We Carry On12. Ascension

Bonus tracks:

13. Reignite14. Triumph Through Tragedy15. Loyalty

Pre-orders for "Incarnate" will be available at iTunes and KillswitchEngage.com on January 29.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will embark on a North American headline tour shortly after the new album's release. They will be joined by MEMPHIS MAY FIRE and 36 CRAZYFISTS for the trek, with an opening act to be named shortly. The tour runs from March 16 in San Antonio, Texas to April 24 near Charleston, South Carolina.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist and producer Adam Dutkiewicz recently told Revolver magazine that the band's lead singer, Jesse Leach, "hit a wall with ideas" during the songwriting process for "Incarnate" after completing the first three or four songs in the studio. "He couldn't find lyrics he was really stoked on," Adam explained. "But Jesse's a great lyricist and a great songwriter, so I just told him, 'Keep writing, and when you hit on something that inspires you, bring it to me.'"

Leach, for his part, admitted that he struggled for a bit. "It did take me a little longer," he said. "But we're at this stage now with our band where we can't be phoning it in. If you really care about your music and you care about your career and your fans, you've gotta give 'em everything you've got. And so I came to a point where this album literally drove me crazy. My wife can attest to that. There were a good couple of weeks where I wasn't myself. I just got lost in the process, because I wanted this record to be everything it could be. I was losing sleep, not sleeping at all, and waking up in the middle of the night and sitting down and writing pages and pages and pages of words. By the time all was said and done, I probably had 80 pages of lyrics. I just wanted to give it everything I could, vocally and lyrically."

The "Strength Of Mind" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed with the direction team of Ian McFarland and Mike Pecci (MESHUGGAH, FEAR FACTORY).

Leach told Revolver about the "Incarnate" title: "The definition of incarnate is 'in the flesh.' And this record is who we are right now. Whereas [2013's] 'Disarm The Descent' was sort of my 'comeback' album, and was about us feeling out the new vibe. But now, after spending a few years traveling the world together, I think we're all in a really comfortable place. We definitely have a strong sense of self as to who we are as a band."

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford will release a new album, "Time Capsule", on April 15 via SPV/Steamhammer. The very special and unusual recording turns back the clock to a time when honest, down-to-earth rock music was still handmade and recorded without digital tricks and contraptions.

"Time Capsule" is a "throwback" record that boasts identifiable voices and brilliant players jamming without any planning or pressure. Some of the album's highlights: Billy Sheehan (bass), Rodger Carter (drums), Dave Navarro (mandolin), Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander (backing vocals) and Gene Simmons (bass). "There was a shitload of these 24-track analog tapes in the closet in my house [in the islands]," Ford recalls. "This is some of the best work I've ever done and it was sitting there. I grabbed two suitcases and took them back to the United States."

Imagine Ford dragging a pair of suitcases full of analog tapes through the Caribbean dirt back to Los Angeles, so, as she recalls, "we could bake these fuckers," due to their age. "If you just put them on the reel, they would flake. I was chewing my fingernails, thinking, 'Please work!' And they did!" "Time Capsule" contains ten songs plus an intro and will be available as a digipak as well as an LP version and download. It's Ford's gift to fans who love the '80s, when thrilling vocal performances, raunchy riffs, and loud, growling guitars were as essential as oxygen. "Time Capsule" track listing:

01. Intro02. Where Will I Find My Heart Tonight03. Killing Kind04. War Of The Angels05. Black Leather Heart06. Rotten To The Core07. Little Wing08. On The Fast Track09. King Of The Wild Wind10. Mr. Corruption11. Anything For The Thrill

Dey Street Books (formerly It Books), an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, has set a February 23 release date for "Lita Ford - Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir". In this 272-page hardcover book, which was originally expected in 2014, the former lead guitarist of THE RUNAWAYS opens up about the '70s and '80s music scene, and her extraordinary life and career.

FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares joined ACT OF DEFIANCE on stage last night (Thursday, January 28) at the Slidebar in Fullerton, California to perform a cover version of the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Ace Of Spades" as a tribute to MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

ACT OF DEFIANCE is the band featuring former MEGADETH members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar), alongside ex-SCAR THE MARTYR singer Henry Derek Bonner, and SHADOWS FALL's Matt Bachand (bass).

ACT OF DEFIANCE's debut album, "Birth And The Burial", was released on August 21, 2015 via Metal Blade Records. The CD recording was split between three studios in three different states: Broderick handled vocal and guitar production at his own Ill-Fated Studio in Los Angeles, Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, REVOCATION, MUNICIPAL WASTE) worked with Drover tracking the drums in Dexter's Lab in Milford, Connecticut, while Bachand laid down his bass at ManShark, in Southampton, Massachusetts.

THIS ENDING, the Swedish death metal band featuring former AMON AMARTH drummer Fredrik Andersson, has inked a deal with Apostasy Records. The group's third album, "Garden Of Death", will be released this spring.

THIS ENDING's latest release was a three-song EP titled "Systematic Worship". The effort was recorded during late 2011 at guitarist Linus Nirbrant's studio Audiohammer and was released the following year.

THIS ENDING said about its new label home: "We're proud to announce that we will collaborate with Apostasy Records to release our new album, 'Garden Of Death'. A truly dedicated label that has shown its appreciation for our new material and for genuine music." THIS ENDING 2016 is:

Mårten Hansen - VocalsLinus Nirbrant - GuitarsLinus Pettersson - BassFredrik Andersson - Drums

California rockers BUCKCHERRY have debuted a new song "Gettin' Started", which is featured on the digital deluxe-edition release of the band's album "Rock 'N' Roll" (available now via F-Bomb/Caroline). BUCKCHERRY's seventh full-length record was produced by the band's renowned guitarist Keith Nelson along with Todd, Stevie D (guitar), Xavier Muriel (drums) and Kelly LeMieux (bass). The new deluxe edition features the record’s original track list as well as a new version of "The Feeling Never Dies" (featuring guest vocals from Grammy Award-winning country artist Gretchen Wilson), "Gettin' Started" and a B-side called "Cannonball".

On "Rock 'N' Roll", BUCKCHERRY staunchly upholds the commandments of rock music with an arsenal of new anthems primed to explode on impact and teeming with riotous energy, sexy swagger, and primal chops intact. It's something that the boys have done since day one, but it's more necessary now than ever. "There's been so much talk about how rock 'n' roll is dead and all of this bullshit," says Todd. "The funny thing is, that's been going on since we put out our first record in 1999. We wanted to call the new album 'Rock 'N' Roll', because this is what we've been doing our whole lives. We focused on making a record that encompasses all of what we are. You get every flavor of BUCKCHERRY." BUCKCHERRY has added fuel to the genre's fire for nearly two decades now. The Grammy Award-nominated outfit is responsible for smashes including "Lit Up" off their gold-certified 1999 self-titled debut as well as "Crazy Bitch" and "Sorry" from 2006's platinum "15". Along the way, they've shared stages with everybody from AC/DC and MÖTLEY CRÜE to SLIPKNOT and ROB ZOMBIE, among others.

Fan-filmed video footage of ABBATH, the band led by ex-IMMORTAL frontman Olve Eikemo (a.k.a. Abbath), performing on January 23 at the O2 Forum in London, England can be seen below.

The self-titled debut album from ABBATH was released on January 22 via Season Of Mist.

ABBATH released a seven-inch single, "Count The Dead", on December 11, 2015 via Season Of Mist. The A-side features the title track while the B-side consists of a cover version of the JUDAS PRIEST classic "Riding On The Wind".

Bass duties for ABBATH are being handled by a man familiar to metal fans across the world — Tom Cato Visnes, more widely known as King Ov Hell and main composer for several GORGOROTH albums as well as his own bands OV HELL, with singer Shagrath from DIMMU BORGIR, and GOD SEED, with exceptional black metal vocalist Gaahl.

In a recent interview with Australia's TheMusic.com.au, Abbath spoke about the circumstances surrounding his departure from IMMORTAL and his decision to launch a new group. "I feel like I've been fired," he said. "It was never my intention to go solo but I really feel like I've been forced into it. Apparently they [lyricist/guitarist Demonaz and drummer Horgh] are going to continue on [as IMMORTAL] without me and that's fine — but it was very disappointing that no one, not even [IMMORTAL's record label] Nuclear Blast, wanted to hear my side of the story. The other guys wanted to do things solely on their timetable and also claimed that I need to go to rehab, which was just nonsense, because I've always delivered, live and in the studio — always."

He continued: "I just think they ended up being in it for the wrong reasons. They weren't showing any passion for what we were doing.

"Even though my new band is called ABBATH, it finally feels like I'm in a real band — part of a group of musicians who have a great dialogue and share a passion for the music. It didn't feel like that in IMMORTAL for a long time."

PRONG's new album, "X - No Absolutes", will be released on February 5 through SPV/Steamhammer as a digipak (including bonus track+poster), 2LP gatefold version (colored vinyl, CD in paper sleeve) and as a digital download.

The song "Cut And Dry", taken from "X - No Absolutes", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

Comments PRONG frontman Tommy Victor: "I think you'll find our new single, 'Cut And Dry', one of the most hard-hitting and intense tracks PRONG has ever released. It surely represents the pummeling fashion of our newest full length album, X - No Absolutes', which is released next week. It's also the first track we've ever done that has a dueling solo, where Dane Markanson of GLASS CLOUD and I trade riffs. I believe the lyric is timely, in accordance with 'No Absolutes', addressing a climate of total insecurity. Check out this sharp new PRONG. 'Cut And Dry'. It dices and slices!"

"X - No Absolutes" track listing:

01. Ultimate Authority02. Sense Of Ease03. Without Words04. Cut And Dry05. No Absolutes06. Do Nothing07. Belief System08. Soul Sickness09. In Spite Of Hindrances10. Ice Runs Through My Veins11. Worth Pursuing12. With Dignity 13. Universal Law (digipak bonus track)

Says Victor: "PRONG is excited about the upcoming release of our tenth studio release of new material, 'X - No Absolutes'. It seems as though our recent records keep getting better and this new recording definitely appears to be a testament to this.

"PRONG has maintained aggression while tackling the challenge of creating classic songs and anthems in the past, but we have gone even a step further with this mentality on 'No Absolutes'. Here you will find a collection of riff-intensified crushers, furious barn burners, and fist pumping sing-a-longs. Also, this record exhibits even more technical proficiency, showing progress again on all fronts. We feel the listener needs to be excited about every lyric, performance, sound, etc. for the duration of the record. This record throws a powerful punch, yet we feel it to be memorable and in demand of future listens with its energy, strong production and overall catchiness.

"Our themes on this record will certainly inspire some thought. Whether it be a dose of self discovery, a dialogue of a personal challenge or a viscous finger pointing at what we believe to be a falsehood, those attentive to messages and lyrics in general will be supplied. And we feel they will be compelled to shout aloud with, mimic a riff, sing along or cry out in pain with 'X - No Absolutes'!"

After a self-prescribed hiatus, 2012 saw PRONG blow the hinges off the door with the release of "Carved Into Stone". Seemingly out of nowhere, Tommy Victor and company managed to combine all the previous elements of the band's formula: thrash, hardcore, industrial metal, etc. with a new urgency and angst that struck a deep nerve with the band's loyal fan-base and beyond. The band marched onwards with 2014's highly acclaimed "Ruining Lives", which spawned a number of instant classics. "Turnover", "The Barriers" and the title track became staples in their live set when embarking on a bone-breaking schedule of concerts around the world in support of the record. A video for "Remove, Separate Self" was released creating even more interest in this significant recording. Recorded over the summer of 2014 and released in early 2015, PRONG's covers album "Songs From The Black Hole" was loved by fans and critics alike. Always game to make the unexpected move, the album featured songs from artists as diverse as HÜSKER DÜ, BAD BRAINS, BLACK FLAG, THE SISTERS OF MERCY and Neil Young. After yet another headline tour, it was straight back to the studio for another studio album. Just days after mixing was completed, PRONG went on the road with DANZIG and SUPERJOINT in North America and released the first single "Ultimate Authority" on the day the tour began. "X - No Absolutes" is PRONG at their very best. The sheer intensity and ferocity of the albums opening triumvirate "Ultimate Authority", "Sense Of Ease" and "Without Words" leaves the listener gasping for air. The title track is crunchy and catchy at the same time. "Do Nothing" may be as close as you will ever hear PRONG get to a ballad and shows the enormous progress and confidence Victor has made vocally. It is hard to find a weak spot here, notably Victor mentions that "sequencing the album was a difficult task; every song is so strong in its own way." Again produced by Tommy Victor, this time with trusted collaborator Chris Collier as co-producer and engineer, "X - No Absolutes" also broadens the horizon sonically. With over 55 headline shows already announced for right after the album release, PRONG can seem to do everything but stand still. Photo credit: Neil Zlozower

Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD, who recently toured Europe as part of the "Deathcrusher 2015" run alongside CARCASS, OBITUARY and NAPALM DEATH, will issue the "Post Society" EP. This special release will be available on digipak CD and as a digital download on February 26 via Century Media Records.

The "Post Society" EP, with artwork by VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin, contains five studio tracks, including the previously released vinyl-only new VOIVOD songs from the split seven-inch EPs with labelmates AT THE GATES and NAPALM DEATH, two brand new songs and a HAWKWIND cover ("Silver Machine"), for a total playing time of 30 minutes.

"Post Society" EP track listing:

01. Post Society02. Forever Mountain03. Fall04. We Are Connected05. Silver Machine

The "Post Society" title track can be streamed below.

Comments Langevin: "Another apocalyptic song from the RadicArt sessions. I think 'Post Society' is a good indication of where we are heading for musically. Ingredients from all the VOIVOD eras with a futuristic touch. I can't wait to play it live!"

Regarding the musical direction of the new VOIVOD material, singer Denis "Snake" Bélanger told Metal Wani: "It's a bit different, I would say. But VOIVOD has always been doing different things each time. But it has its own signature with the new bass player, Rocky [Dominique Laroche]. He brought new elements to it, I think. It's different than [2013's] 'Target Earth' [album], but it's still VOIVOD."

Snake also talked about the passing of VOIVOD's original guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour and the eventual addition of Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain prior to the making of "Target Earth". He said: "Of course, the loss of Piggy was a terrible thing. We couldn't do, really, anything for two or three years; we didn't know what would be the future of the band. And we finally found a guy [Chewy] that could play VOIVOD [music]. And it's sort of a mixture of circumstances that happened. It's, like, 'Okay, maybe there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe if we pick up this guy who learned, actually…' The first thing [Chewy] learned [to play] was VOIVOD. The first show he saw was VOIVOD. And the [day after] he saw VOIVOD, he bought a guitar and started playing Piggy's riffs. So, for us, Chewy was the best option."

Snake praised Mongrain's contribution to "Target Earth", saying that he was "quite surprised" with the material that the guitarist penned for the album. He explained: "It's one thing to play VOIVOD's songs, already written songs, but to create new songs…"

He continued: "I think what [Chewy] wanted to do [on 'Target Earth'] was just compose music that VOIVOD fans want to hear. And so he did. And Piggy's spirit is really there. You can tell that it's surrounding the whole picture. The essence is there. But [Chewy] has his own thing as well. He's a different human being."

VOIVOD has announced the first leg of its next U.S. tour, starting in February 2016, with support from VEKTOR and EIGHT BELLS.

"Target Earth" was released in January 2013 via VOIVOD's own company, Iron Gang Factory, and Century Media.

MINISTRY mainman Al Jourgensen's new project, SURGICAL METH MACHINE, has inked a deal with the European branch of Nuclear Blast. The band's debut album, which was recorded primarily at Jourgensen's home studio in Burbank, California with his longtime engineer Sam D'Ambruoso, is due later this year.

In an October 2015 interview with In The Loop magazine, Jourgensen stated about how the idea for SURGICAL METH MACHINE came about: "You know, [guitarist] Mikey [Scaccia] died a couple of years ago, from MINISTRY, and I just figured, like, nah, it's time to quit. I don't want to have John Bonham's kid playing drums for us and having replacement parts forever; that's just not my scene. So I just figured, 'All right, let's stop this. Let's do some other stuff.' And not only that. I found that it was really unburdensome to not have the MINISTRY moniker or expectations and just do something like whatever the fuck we want. I mean, the band's name is SURGICAL METH MACHINE. It's not like we're gonna be on Top 40 radio and on 'The Voice' and 'American Idol'. [Laughs]"

He continued: "I understand it's not a real commercial project for us, it's not gonna put bank in my wallet, but it was a lot of fun to do, in that sense — of just not having the constraints of the expectations of what you've done for twenty years. So this is… It's kind of new stuff. It's pretty cool. It sounds like kind of MINISTRY, but it's a different level. It's like I literally just put my foot on the gas pedal for this record."

According to Jourgensen, the sound of SURGICAL METH MACHINE's debut release leans heavily on the aggressive side, but fans can also expect to hear a few surprises. "There's a couple of real poppy things on there, which brings me full circle, because, literally, I don't give a fuck anymore," he said. "So I'm actually almost acknowledging that first horrible pop record I did in 1983. I'm crooning on some songs, I've got some pop songs on there, and then there's just brutal assault for the rest of it. It's a very dichotomous record, but it's me, and I'm acknowledging everything that's been me through, like, the last 35 years. Let's just throw my balls on the table and hope somebody doesn't have a meat cleaver running."

As far as the future of MINISTRY, Jourgensen has said in recent interviews that there will be no more MINISTRY albums, making 2013's "From Beer To Eternity" the band's swan song following Scaccia's death.

"Mikey died during the recording," Al told the Illinois Entertainer. "He just got finished with his last parts, went back to Dallas to play a show with RIGOR MORTIS and I got the call two days later that he was dead. I had to mix the record with his death still fresh in my mind, so the final playback on that one was extra special, and that album to me is very special."

@nuclearblasteu signs SMM... release dates and details coming soon... #SMM #ministryband pic.twitter.com/veIqvds3YO

— AlFuckingJourgensen (@AlFknJourgensen) January 28, 2016

A spokesperson for the San Bernardino coroner's office has confirmed Tera Wray Static took her own life earlier this month.

Friends of the widow of STATIC-X frontman and founder Wayne Static and former adult film star revealed two weeks ago that Tera was found dead at a friend's house in California.

Randy Emon, the supervising deputy coroner investigator for the San Bernardino County coroner's office, told BLABBERMOUTH.NET in a written statement: "Our coroner records indicate [Tera] died on January 13, 2016 in Joshua Tree, CA. The manner of death was listed as suicide."

Tera's roommate at the time of her death, the Joshua Tree, California-based tattoo artist Jay'e Jones, wrote on Facebook that she came home on January 13 after work and found "one of my dearest friends had ended her life in my guestroom where she was staying."

A statement which was apparently approved by Tera's mother said that "Tera suffered from depression since the death of her husband."

Wray, who was born Tera Lents, met Wayne during the Ozzfest tour in 2007 when she was modeling for Hustler lingerie. They were married in January 2008 and she retired from porn in August of that year.

Adult entertainment attorney Michael Fattorosi, who last spoke to Tera one day before her death, told New York Post's Page Six that Wray left behind a note instructing her roommate to call him and Tera's mother.

"She was one of the sweetest, most gentle women I have worked with in [the adult film industry]," Fattorosi told Page Six. "She had a light to her that was evident when she walked into room. She was always smiling and happy. I know she loved Wayne dearly. When they met and got married, she left the [adult film] industry to go on tour with him and the band. From what I understand, she was constantly by his side. His death must have weighed on her tremendously."

Last July, Tera paid tribute to her late husband with a sleeve tattoo that she showed off on Facebook.

Wayne Static died after mixing Xanax and other powerful prescription drugs with alcohol, according to the coroner's report. The 48-year-old Static, whose real name was Wayne Richard Wells, was found dead in his Landers, California home on November 1, 2014.

The Gentle Storm vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen, formerly of The Gathering, has checked in with the folowing update:

"Dear friends, as some of you may have seen on his Facebook page already, The Gentle Storm’s drummer Ed Warby was hospitalized two days ago and will not be able to play the Monsters of Mariaheide festival in Mariaheide, Netherlands with us tomorrow (January 30th).

Every musician hates to cancel shows, so we set out to do the impossible: find someone who could step in. After a frantic 24-hour search we have to accept the fact that it is impossible to replace Ed on such short notice, because, well, he is one of the best drummers around!

I have asked the guys that were with me on the Drive Tour to fill in last minute and save the day. We will play a special live set consisting of my solo work as well as some The Gathering classics. It will be different, but I still intend to raise the roof!

Get well soon Ed, all of us wish you a speedy recovery!! We love you!"

Van Giersbergen previously issued the following update on The Gentle Storm for later this year:

"Dear friends, I'm very excited to announce a very special show that will take place on December 17th at Melkweg, Amsterdam. This full band performance will be part of the first ever Anneke van Giersbergen Fan Weekend, so if you have tickets for that event, you don’t need a separate ticket for this performance. Since the fan weekend is already sold out, this will be a great opportunity to hang out with fans from all over the globe that are coming to Amsterdam for this special occasion.

Tickets are available here.

But wait, there’s more. After many years of recording and touring constantly, I will be taking a break from performing live after December 17th. Besides hanging with my family and friends, reading and traveling, I also need some quiet months to fully focus on my next album. I have a plan and I think it will knock you off your feet, but I really need to take my time and make this new album the best it can possibly be. I feel like I'm on the verge of something wonderful and I want to give it my full attention when the time comes to start recording and prepare the new touring cycle somewhere in 2017. Expect something heavy and progressive folks!

You all know that I adore playing live and 2016 will be filled with shows, not only with The Gentle Storm and solo acoustic, but also in Dutch theatres with Árstíðir, so stay tuned for some more touring news soon and let’s make December 17th a night to remember!"

The first ever Anneke van Giersbergen Fan Weekend will take place December 16th – ­18th, 2016 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and will be packed with exciting events. The Fan Weekend will provide fans from all over the world with the opportunity to meet, socialize and connect with fellow fans. Anneke herself will be present during the whole weekend.

The program is as follows:

Friday, December 16th, 2016
- ­Welcome drink and goody bag
- Meet Anneke, grab some autographs, and get a professional photo taken together
- Dinner
- Acoustic solo performance at the hotel bar (including limited number of free drinks)
- Karaoke night with Anneke (including limited number of free drinks)
- Overnight accommodation included

Saturday, December 17th, 2016
- Breakfast
­- Canal boat tour in Amsterdam with a mini concert from Anneke and a special guest
­- Lunch
­- VIP sound check, go behind the scenes and watch Anneke and her band set up for their show
- Dinner
­- Anneke van Giersbergen full band performance (including limited number of free drinks)
­- Afterparty at the hotel bar (including limited number of free drinks)
­- Overnight accommodation included

Sunday, December 18th, 2016
- “Farewell for Now” breakfast
- Group photo

Go to this location for more details.



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Swedish hard rockers Saffire present their new video for "Dandelion's Shame", which can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's second album For The Greater Good, which was released on November 27, 2015 via AOR Metal Heaven.

For The Greater Good consists of 11 songs written by Victor Olsson and Tobias Jansson. The album was mixed and partly recorded at Sound Industry Studio by Arnold Lindberg (Ghost, In Flames, Evergrey, Hardcore Superstar) and mastered by Dragan Tanaskovic (In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Mustasch, The Poodles).

The second Saffire record really is an interesting piece of work. On the one hand it's partly conceptual as five or six songs deal with surveillance, control and a totalitarian regime being in power which is perfectly illustrated by the dark cover art with its cartoon-like-style. 

Guitar player and bandleader Victor Olsson and his lot on the other hand manage to create a multi-layered classic rock album which dares to sound quite contemporary at times and pretty old-fashioned where needed. Quite melodic but never too cheesy ("Dandelion's Shame") or in-depth like in "Casters Of The First Stone" dealing with racism. "Wake Up The World" is very much Black Sabbath with Tony Martin-style. Definitely an album you will not stop listening to in a very long time.

Tracklisting:

“The Great Escape”
“Casters Of The First Stone”
“For The Greater Good”
“Heartless”
“Dandelion’s Shame”
“Shadowland”
“Wake Up The World”
“As Promises Burn”
“Blame It On The Rain”
“Ghost Town”
“This Is Not The End”

(Band photo by: Pontus Fagerstedt)

 



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Calgary, AB progressive death metal band Divinity are gearing up for the release of their upcoming EP The Immortalist Part 2 - Momentum set to be unleashed on February 5th  to follow 2013's The Immortalist Part 1 - Awestruck. But before you can purchase it, the band is premiering the EP via the SoundCloud audio player below. 

Vocalist Sean Jenkins comments: "This new release is Part 2 of a trilogy EP concept we've been working on since 2013. These four new songs continue to develop our storyline of The Immortalist and we look forward to finishing our trilogy EP with a release of Part 3 by the end of this year. The song 'DMT' features guest vocals by Björn 'Speed' Strid of Soilwork and we think he did an amazing performance.Thanks to the pro mixing and mastering skills of Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy) at The Grid. We couldn't be more happy with how this entire EP turned out."

'The Immortalist Part 2. Momentum' was produced by Divinity and mixed and mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy) at The Grid studio in Montreal along with artwork created by Justin Totemical. The EP is also part of Divinity's EP trilogy series that will lead up to a full length release later in 2016.

Tracklisting:

“Manhunt”
“PsyWar”
“DMT”
“Momentum”

 

 



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Jefferson Airplane guitarist, vocalist and founding member Paul Kantner has died. He was 74. 

Kantner passed away on Thursday, January 28th of multiple organ failure, following a heart attack earlier in the week, reports Colin Stutz of Billboard.

Jefferson Airplane performed at the three most famous American rock festivals of the 1960s:  Monterey in 1967, and Woodstock and Altamont both in 1969. In 1996, Kantner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the band. 

Kantner is the first of Jefferson Airplane's founding members to have passed away. He was also a founding member of the group's spinoff band, Jefferson Starship, which took off in 1974. 

 

 



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