After a five-year break during which individual members pursued other projects, three founding members of AKERCOCKE — Jason Mendonca, Paul Scanlan and David Gray — have returned to their original purpose; to create new, exciting and innovative music. Complemented by the addition of bass player Nathaniel Underwood, AKERCOCKE is presently producing its sixth studio album, "Renaissance In Extremis", tentatively due in the fall. Jason says of AKERCOCKE's return: "The time is right and the time is now.

"We've been back to the woodshed, writing a host of new songs that have progressed our aesthetic forward again. We are loving the creative process and are humbled by the response from our fans concerning our musical return.

"AKERCOCKE 2016 continues as a positive force, driven by the reasons we began the band in the first place. Expect drama, chaos, new textures and atmospheres enveloped by the hallmarks that have defined our sound.

"There is much excitement at our HQ as we prepare to air new material as well as smashing out some favourites from albums past." AKERCOCKE's first live appearance in five years will be at the Bloodstock Open Air festival on Friday, August 12.

AKERCOCKE's last studio album, "Antichrist", came out in 2007.

"White Flags", a brand new song from the London five-piece AS LIONS, can be streamed below. The track is expected to appear on the band's debut album, due later in the year via Better Noise Records, part of Eleven Seven Music Group. The CD was helmed by David Bendeth, the multi-platinum, award-winning producer who has previously worked with PARAMORE, PAPA ROACH, IN FLAMES, A DAY TO REMEMBER, BRING ME THE HORIZON, OF MICE & MEN and more.

Comprised of vocalist Austin Dickinson (son of IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson), guitarists Conor O'Keefe and Will Homer, bassist Stefan Whiting, and drummer Dave Fee, AS LIONS formed in late 2014. Called the "hot new band of 2015" by Metal Hammer, the band has been keeping busy by touring regionally and building a national following through the U.K.

Cultivating inspiration from bands that encompass a wide range of rock and metal (MUSE, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, BRING ME THE HORIZON), fans can expect an all-encompassing record that will fuel headbanging and encourage crowd sing-a-longs. This was witnessed in full when AS LIONS performed at the legendary Wembley SSE Arena alongside FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on November 28, 2015 to celebrate their new label home and upcoming debut album.

Better Noise Records is Eleven Seven Music Group's new avenue for exciting rock artists such as ESCAPE THE FATE and APOCALYPTICA, and is included in the group's distribution deal with RED/Sony in the U.S., ADA in the EU, Sony in Australia, Southeast Asia and South America, as well as Universal in Canada and Japan.

Label owner and founder Allen Kovac adds: "I've been looking for a project to work on with Craig and the team over at Raw Power Management as I admire the work they accomplished with OF MICE & MEN and BRING ME THE HORIZON. Austin Dickinson and AS LIONS have given us this opportunity, blowing us away with his unique voice and dynamic live performance."

AS LIONS was formed after the breakup of Austin's previous band, RISE TO REMAIN, which released one album, "City Of Vultures", in 2011.

Roots And Roads, the third album from former Orphaned Land co-founder Yossi Sassi’s Yossi Sassi Band will be released on May 25th. The album’s genre can be described as Oriental prog metal, combining Yossi's various musical roots - east and west, acoustic and electric, oriental and metal.

The first single to be released from the upcoming album is “The Religion Of Music” featuring Zaher Zorgatti (Myrath) on vocals. Listen to the track below:

The final sound of the album is the reflection of an intricate combination of rock, classical and worldwide oriental instruments: Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Bozuouki, Oud, Saz, Charango, Chumbush, Ney, Kanun and much more. Alongside well-renowned local (Israeli) guest musicians, the album includes vocals by Zaher Zorgati (Myrath) and guitar parts by Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses).

The album was recorded in the Jaffa Sound Arts studio in the ancient city port of Jaffa, Israel, during April 2016. The video below from the studio offers snippets of what’s to come:

Canada’s Mortillery have released a full preview for their their upcoming third album, Shapeshifter, a ferocious beast drunk on speed, venomous guitar solos and the rabid vocals of Cara McCutchen. Shapeshifter is set to be released on May 27th via Napalm Records.

Mortillery are on a mission to deliver true thrash metal. They stand out with their smashing riffage, raw energy and dynamic female vocals.

Tracklisting:

“Radiation Sickness”
“Age Of Stone”
“Bullet”
“Mantis”
“Black Friday”
“Wendigo”
“At The Gates”
“Torture”
“Shapeshifter”
“Patient Zero” (bonus track)
“Neckbreaker” (bonus track)
“Shine” (Motörhead cover) (bonus track)

Album preview:

“Radiation Sickness” lyric video:

THE END, the new old-school Florida death metal trio featuring ex-DEATH/MASSACRE guitarist Rick Rozz, ex-MASSACRE drummer Mike Mazzonetto and vocalist/bassist Michael Grim, has inked a deal with FDA Rekotz. The band's debut EP, "Age Of Apocalypse", will be released in late summer and will be followed by a full-length album.

Stated Rick about the signing: "I would like to thank Rico (FDA) for having faith in THE END and giving us the chance to get our music out to the masses, and also to Mike and Michael for both your talents, and great friendships. Salud... to making great metal music together. We have a supreme team. Much love and respect. Until THE END..."

Formed in 2015 in Altamonte Springs, THE END "combines the classic Floridian death metal, well known from the early '90s, bloodsoaked heaviness and modern influences with catchy-as-fuck hooklines," according to a press release.

"Age Of Apocalypse" was recorded at CGM Studios in Altamonte Springs, Florida with producer/engineer Tim Vazquez.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Age Of Apocalypse02. Crawling Back To Life03. Silent Screams Of Death04. Inhale The Plague

THE END will perform on May 13 at The Haven in Winter Park, Florida.

Brazil's melodic death metal/metalcore five piece, Reckoning Hour, have just released a brand new music video for their track, "Misguided". The song comes from their recently released LP, Between Death And Courage.

The band comments: “This song in particular, we dedicated to all of the people who did not believe in our work. It's incredibly difficult to compete in the international market from here in Brazil -- it's a country that metal is not a predominant genre in, you know? We wanted to show the world that we're here, and that this record is only the beginning!"

Reckoning Hour is:

JP - Vocals
Philip Leander - guitar and vocals
Lucas Brum - guitar
Fabio Bianna - bass
Johnny Kings - drums

Norwegian progressive metal band, Withem, will release their new album, The Unforgiving Road, on June 3rd. Listen to the album track, “Arrhythmia”, streaming below:

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

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

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

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

The Unforgiving Road tracklisting:

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

“The Pain I Collected” lyric video:

Withem lineup:

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

Ulterium Records will release the reissue of Deliverance Of Soul, from the Greek melodic metal band Black Fate, on April 29th in Europe and North America. The track “Blood Red Sky” is streaming below.

Deliverance Of Soul was originally released in 2009, and it was the first Black Fate album to feature Vasilis Georgiou on vocals. The reissue is remastered by Erik Tordsson (End Of September) and features new artwork by Jan Yrlund (Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani, Leah).

Tracklisting:

“Children Of Aniramas”
“Dying Freedom”
“Blood Red Sky”
“Angry Silent Scream”
“The Conscience Of The Brave”
“Rain Of Paradise”
“If The Silence Was Gray”
“Wicked”
“Thorn In My Hand”
“Inner Warning Of My Soul”
“Fallen”

“Blood Red Sky”:

My Ruin guitarist Mick Murphy has released a new Neanderthal EP entitled Live In The UK It is available for free download via Bandcamp; check it out via the player below.

The EP was recorded live at Fleece & Firkin in Bristol, UK on August 21st, 2014.

Live In The U.K. by NEANDERTHAL

The complete tracklist is as follows:

"Mi Ruina"
"Road Agents"
"Murchdadhl"
"E 350 Super Duty"
"Hilljack"
"Booster"

Check out this new official video for "Murchdadhl" below.

Photo by Tairrie B Photography

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has just released the music video for his cover of the FREE song "Fire And Water", featuring his former bandmate and KISS's co-founding frontman Paul Stanley. Check it out below.

The "Fire And Water" video holds its place in rock and roll history as the first time in 14 years that Frehley and Stanley have shared a stage since KISS's appearance at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. It's also the first time Frehley has released a music video since 1989, which was Frehley's cover of "Do Ya" by ELO and THE MOVE.

Frehley's cover of "Fire And Water" is taken from his solo covers set, "Origins Vol. 1", which debuted at No. 23 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 16,109 equivalent album units in the week ending April 21.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

In terms of pure album sales, "Origins Vol. 1" opened with just under 15,824 copies.

During an appearance on KBAD 94.5's "Morning Crash" radio show, Stanley stated about his collaboration with Frehley: "Ace was doing an album of covers, songs that influenced him and that he loved, and called me. And it's always very funny, because with caller ID, I look, and the phone's ringing, and I see Ace's name come up. So, of course…

"Look, for all the bickering and stuff that we may say about each other, we go back to a very magical time. We started this together. So in spite of whatever we may say from time to time or things that get blown up, we are a family, and a dysfunctional one, but nonetheless a family.

"So Ace said, 'Would you do something on the album?' I said, 'Sure. Of course.'"

He continued: "If [Ace] succeeds, it only makes me happy. I don't wanna see anybody fail, especially somebody who I'm close to. Even if I don't speak to him weekly, even monthly, we are connected in a way that will go to the end.

"There's a great song by FREE called 'Fire And Water', which was on the album with 'All Right Now'. Paul Rodgers, besides being a friend of mine, is one of the consummate vocalists. So to get a chance to sing something that's a little different than what I do in KISS was something I didn't take lightly, because Paul Rodgers is a hell of a vocalist. So it was great, and it was a lot of fun, and it was terrific. And I only wish Ace well with it."

Ace spoke to Rolling Stone about his teamup with Stanley. Frehley said: "I thought Paul did a fabulous vocal on it. He jumped at the chance to do this because it's something that's outside of KISS and his character in KISS, and it gave him a chance to, y'know, sing. With Paul, you usually think of him singing in a slightly higher register and on 'Fire And Water', he's singing deep from his diaphragm, and it's a real cool vocal. Everyone's who heard it was just thinks it's the shit."

Other high-profile artists guesting with Ace on the new album are Slash, Lita Ford, Mike McCready, and John 5. In addition to the FREE track, Ace and his guests tackle key classic rock touchstones by CREAM, STEPPENWOLF, LED ZEPPELIN, THIN LIZZY, THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, THE ROLLING STONES, THE KINKS — and even KISS.

"Origins Vol. 1" track listing:

01. White Room (CREAM)02. Street Fighting Man (ROLLING STONES)03. Spanish Castle Magic (JIMI HENDRIX) (feat. John 5)04. Fire And Water (FREE) (feat. Paul Stanley)05. Emerald (THIN LIZZY) (feat. Slash)06. Bring It On Home (LED ZEPPELIN)07. Wild Thing (THE TROGGS) (feat. Lita Ford)08. Parasite (KISS) (feat. John 5)09. Magic Carpet Ride (STEPPENWOLF) 10. Cold Gin (KISS) (feat. Mike McCready)11. Till The End Of The Day (THE KINKS)12. Rock And Roll Hell (KISS)

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has paid tribute to iconic artist Prince, calling him "a unique guy" who "did it all."

Speaking to CNN, Simmons said (see video below): "Very few people know who Prince really was off stage; [he was] a very private, shy man. I got to see it a little bit off stage, but I can't really say I knew him all that well; I don't know that many people did. All the way to the end, [Prince] was a very private person. He lived in Minneapolis from the beginning until the end."

He continued: "One more thing that I wanna say about [Prince's] humanism. Very few people know that during his concert tours, he asked him fans, 'If you bought tickets to a Prince concert, I want you to bring canned goods and contribute to those less advantaged.' C'mon! That's cooler than any rock star that gets up on stage and says, 'Look at me! Look at me!'"

Simmons added: "This is a unique guy, and it would be a crime if the next generation of 14-year-olds don't look up and say, 'You know what? That's who I've gotta emulate,' instead of the modern, sort of pop artists who have producers… Remember: it's a guy who wrote, produced, arranged, engineered… did it all."

Prince's body was discovered on Thursday, April 21 in the elevator of his Minnesota estate Paisley Park. The sheriff's office later released a statement saying they were "continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death," but had no further details. Foul play and suicide are not suspected.

Third Man Books has announced the release of "Total Chaos: The Story Of The Stooges / As Told By Iggy Pop". The book marks the first time the story of this seminal band has been told entirely in Pop's own words. Author Jeff Gold and contributor Johan Kugelberg, noted music historians and collectors, spent two days with Pop at his Miami home, sharing with him their extensive STOOGES collection and interviewing the legendary singer. Pop's candid, bare-all responses left them with the almost unbelievable tale of the band he founded-the alternately tragic and triumphant story of a group who rose from youth, fell prey to drugs, alcohol, and music biz realities, collapsed and nearly 30 years later reformed, recording and touring to great acclaim. In 2010, THE STOOGES, credited with having invented punk rock, were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Their continuing influence can be felt today in the shape and sound of rock and roll music. Jeff Gold, Johan Kugelberg and editor/contributor Jon Savage are among the most respected music authors and historians working today. Their efforts include numerous acclaimed and best-selling books and a Grammy Award. "Total Chaos" stands as a work for all fans of the band and rock music to draw inspiration. Including an absolute treasure-trove of rare and unseen photographs, "Total Chaos" is a book that shows and tells the story of THE STOOGES. A metallic k.o. of only the best kind. Said Gold: "It was a rare privilege to sit with Iggy as he downloaded the story of THE STOOGES. He's an incredible storyteller with a fantastic memory and a great sense of humor, and he held nothing back.

"THE STOOGES were pioneers in sound, look, and live presentation, and along the way invented a genre-punk rock-and influenced countless others that followed. There was no precedent in rock music for what they did. They're definitely the only group in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame who started out playing an amplified Waring blender, a vacuum cleaner, spring water bottles and a 200 gallon oil drum."

"Total Chaos: The Story Of The Stooges / As Told By Iggy Pop" is due this winter.

IRON MAIDEN guitarist Janick Gers has told China's East Day that he didn't become a musician to make money, to be a mainstream success or be a star. "I didn't really have a goal to win a Grammy," he explained. "That's just a present people give you. It's nice to get them [the awards] but I am not in the business to get a Grammy, or to become somebody in the Rock And Roll Hall [Of Fame]. It doesn't interest me at all. But I do want to play good music and I do believe [in] it. I am pretty sure the rest of the guys [in MAIDEN] want the same thing." [Although IRON MAIDEN has been eligible for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction since 2005, they have never been nominated.]

Gers's bandmate Adrian Smith, who grew up listening to DEEP PURPLE and other '70s rock bands, said that part of MAIDEN's appeal is that they take an old-school approach to writing and recording music, one that is not affected by new technology or the Internet.

"Nowadays music is made by computer," Adrian said. "The vocals are computerized, not very organic anymore. With the drum machine, computers and programed music, they are not actually playing. Then what's the magic in that? When kids come to see us, they think we are different.

"When we make the sound, we try to make a statement, something substantial. Fans buy the album, read the lyrics and they don't just download and skip it soon," he added."

IRON MAIDEN made its Chinese live debut on Sunday, and will play Shanghai on Tuesday.

According to the Polish IRON MAIDEN fan club SanktuariuM, MAIDEN did not alter "The Book Of Souls" setlist for the Beijing show, although several minor changes in the performance were made — presumably at the reqest of China's Ministry of Culture, which had to approve all of the band's lyrics prior to MAIDEN's Chinese dates being confirmed.

IRON MAIDEN's world tour, in support of the band's latest album, "The Book Of Souls", kicked off on February 24 in Sunrise, Florida (a suburb of Fort Lauderdale).

Holly of the South Orange, New Jersey radio station WSOU recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)

On what it was like to join MEGADETH:

Kiko: "I'm a fan of the band, and it's very challenging, of course, my position, because so many great guitarists have been playing with MEGADETH all throughout these thirty years. And [it's] not an easy spot [to be in]. But it's great. [Dave] Mustaine [guitars/vocals], [David] Ellefson [bass], and now Chris Adler [drums]… [They are] great people. Great people to hang [with], to play [with], and to make music [with]."

On the differences between writing and recording with his Brazilian band ANGRA and MEGADETH:

Kiko: "Well, first [of all], to write the [new MEGADETH album] 'Dystopia', I was invited to the band, and then, like, a few weeks later, I was at the studio. So I basically met everyone at the studio. Of course, I didn't start recording right away. I was kind of maybe three weeks there, watching Chris Adler recording the drums with his pre-production, so I kind of got to know the guys better. So that's the big difference. When you've been playing in a band for many years and you know the guys for so long, and compare it to MEGADETH, [where] I knew the guys for a few weeks and I had to give my ideas or play with them. I think there's a good side of that, [because] everything is fresh, the relationship is fresh, and everybody's excited. But from the other side, I'm still learning what is MEGADETH, what is the concept of the band, how the fans react [to] the stuff. I didn't know much about it. I mean, I know from the outside, but not from the inside perspective. So that's different. Because, to give ideas, to understand exactly what the bad was and what the band wants to be, what was the concept before, what the concept [is] for the future…. But all the excitement and all the fresh feeling that you have is great. So I think in the end, with the [reaction from the] fans and the result of the album, you can see that it was a good thing to have this new moment, the freshness and just the excitement of joining the band and just working for those few weeks together and trying to create the best album ever."

On what it has been like working with Dave Mustaine:

Kiko: "Yeah, of course, I came to the studio with this expectation that a lot of people have. And every interview I give, people are always asking, 'How is to work with Mustaine?' because he has this reputation to be this amazing guitarist, because sometimes he says stuff that people don't agree [with] or whatever. But, to be honest, Dave, he's just a super gentleman, first of all. When I met him the first time, when I was kind of auditioning to him, which was not really an audition; we just hung for a day in Nashville. He was showing me Nashville, we had lunch, we had coffee, beer at night. So I hung with him the whole day; I didn't play at all for my, let's say, 'audition.' So I discovered a very sharp guy, very intelligent. He knows a lot about music, and the band, MEGADETH music. He's self-taught, so all the stuff he created he created by himself, so he knows a lot about that. He's very into politics, he's very sharp in the music business in general, and he's a gentleman, I could say. So it was interesting to work with him. And at the studio, to compose with him… For me, I've been in the music business for so many years, I kind of respected his space, because he is the guy who was composing for MEGADETH for thirty years. So when I joined [the other guys] in the studio, I was more observing and analyzing them and trying to understand, and embracing his ideas and trying to make it a little bit better, if possible — you know, respecting his input in general. So I think that was a good way to work. And then slowly I was showing some other ideas and I think I just found a good way to interact with him. And so far it's great the way we work together. And at the end, I could have some co-writing with him, because I needed that time to make him comfortable with my ideas and also for me to understand what is MEGADETH, what Dave wants from his band. And so like this I could really collaborate with him. I think it was not a big problem. It was really easy to work with him in a way, but you just have to first understand. He's just like an interesting person, so you need some time to understand."

On Mustaine calling him the best guitarist MEGADETH has had since Marty Friedman:

Kiko: "That's great. He has been saying a lot of compliments to me, so it's great. Of course, I'm very happy. The guitarists in MEGADETH, they were always great guys and great players, and I'm just hapy to be in the same level of all of the other ones. I'm a fan of all of them — [Chris] Broderick, Friedman and Chris Poland — and I'm having fun playing their stuff as well, because now, live, we're playing all the catalog songs, so I play the solos of all the guys. So it's fun. It's great. I can see all the talent. So, yeah, of course, I'm super happy to be compared and to be in the place [like this] with all [the other] guys. Yeah, I think the thing is more, like, how to work in a band. I think at the end what I'm really experienced… Because I've been playing with the Brazilian band ANGRA, it was more than twenty years. And we've had members going in, going out, changing, all the ups and downs of [being in] a band, all the problems, all the fights… I've been through that a lot. And the band was quite successful… it is quite successful in South America and Japan, so I've been through that, and I have a lot of experience to be a bandmember, which is very different than being a session musician or being a sideman. I'm more like a bandmember guy, so I think I can put this expertise to be in MEGADETH as a bandmember. And then, I know how to interact and to compose and just to hang, or whatever, as a bandmember. And I think Dave liked that, so that's why he has been… Maybe he's not even aware of that — [maybe] he just thinks that I'm a great player — but I think there's a lot of great players out there. But my experience of being a bandmember, with the ups and downs of a band for twenty years, gives me a lot of knowledge how to present myself and how to put myself in a band like MEGADETH."

British ticketing services company See Tickets is offering a chance to AC/DC fans who bought tickets for the band's June 4 concert at London Olympic Stadium to get their money back.

The show is one of twelve European dates AC/DC will perform with GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose on lead vocals after Brian Johnson was ordered to stop touring or risk going deaf.

See Tickets sent out an e-mail earlier today to everyone who bought tickets to the London gig using the service. The message reads: "You have the opportunity to request a refund of your ticket. Refunds will be available from now until 5pm on Friday, May 6."

It is not presently clear if the refund offer will be made available for the other dates on AC/DC's European tour, which kicks off on May 7 in Lisbon, Portugal and runs through June 12 in Aarhus, Denmark. Following that, Rose will head out on his previously announced summer reunion tour with GUNS N' ROSES, dubbed "Not In This Lifetime". AC/DC's ten postponed U.S. dates will take place later in the year, also with Rose as frontman.

According to a Billboard.com source, Rose initially met with AC/DC members in Miami and Atlanta back in March. It was then that the decision was made to have Rose join AC/DC on tour. There was also talk of having other singers alternate with Rose, including ex-SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach and Nic Cester of the Australian band JET.

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

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

In a brand new interview with Glide Magazine, DEF LEPPARD and LAST IN LINE guitarist Vivian Campbell was asked when he is going to write his autobiography. He responded: "I've kind of been dragging my heels on that, and I kind of berate myself about it, because I really feel like I've got a lot to tell. I guess the thing is I'm not sure just exactly what kind of book I want to write, and I know the only way that question is going to answer itself is once I start writing, it'll become apparent. But I don't really want it to just be another book about 'I did this and then I did that and then I met so-and-so.' I don't want it to just be a chronology of my life."

He continued: "I actually really, really enjoy writing and I think that I express myself better in written words than through spoken words, and I've always felt that way. So I don't know. I don't know if I want to write one of those sort of books or what sort of book it would be. Then there's the other added complication of, I'm very, very big on principle and truth and sometimes telling the truth gets you in a lot of trouble. It's gotten me in a lot of trouble in my life, and all I've ever wanted to do is try and be upfront and candid. And I feel if I write, if I'm going to be true to myself and I really write things that are truthful, then I think I might piss some people off. [laughs]

One person that Vivian would likely have a lot to say about is his former bandmate Ronnie James Dio, who has called Campbell "a fucking asshole" and "a piece of shit." Although Vivian has since expressed regret over referring to Dio as "one of the vilest people in the industry," Campbell has consistently maintained that he was wronged by the now-deceased vocalist. "I didn't quit that band," Vivian has said. "They quit me. I'm proud of those [DIO] records and for years and years, Ronnie excluded me from that." Vivian recently reunited the original DIO band with a new singer under the name LAST IN LINE, explaining: "I wrote those riffs. I'm going to take them back."

In a May 2011 interview with Brazil's Roadie Crew magazine, Dio's widow and manager Wendy stated about the controversy surrounding Ronnie's relationship with Campbell: "[Vivian] always said that he hated all the albums that he played on with Ronnie, and that was very hurtful to Ronnie. Very hurtful. Would you like someone who said something like that about your albums? He said a lot of things in the press that I don't wanna get into, because it really wasn't Ronnie's feud at all. Ronnie didn't fire him. I fired [Vivian]. He wanted as much money as Ronnie wanted. He thought he was as important as Ronnie was, and that was just wrong. But I don't wanna get into that. It's water under the bridge. It doesn't matter."

C.F. Kip Winger, the multi-platinum recording artist, composer and producer, may be known best for his success with rock band Winger and his early days as bass player with Alice Cooper. However, the range and scope of his musical journey can be more fully experienced in his solo work, This Conversation Seems Like A Dream, Songs From The Ocean Floor, From The Moon To The Sun.

Now C.F. Kip Winger will release his debut classical album with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.

Recorded at SkyWalker Sound, conducted by Martin West and co-produced by C.F. Kip Winger and 4-time Grammy winner Leslie Ann Jones, the new album features Winger’s acclaimed Ballet Ghosts, choreographed by Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, Conversations With Nijinsky, and the new composition A Parting Grace.

Pre-order the new classical CD (signed by Kip) now at kipwinger.com and receive a download of exclusive new acoustic version of “So Long China” from Winger’s Better Days Comin’ album.

The VBI Classic Recording will be distributed digitally by DartMusic.com and is available for pre-order at iTunes with two instant gratification tracks.

“I've spent my life dedicated to music”, Winger explains, “Since my early days with Alice Cooper I've always known that my ultimate destination was composing classical music for the orchestra. It's been a great honour to work with Martin West, Leslie Ann Jones and this superb orchestra.”  

Former DOKKEN and current LYNCH MOB guitarist George Lynch has composed the soundtrack to a new game called Blackroom in the first-person shooter genre.

Night Work Games, led by John Romero and Adrian Carmack, two of the original creators of Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake, and the first-person shooter genre of games in the 1990s, is launching a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to raise $700,000 to make the game.

Blackroom is described in a press release as "a visceral, varied and violent shooter that harkens back to classic FPS play with a mixture of exploration, speed, and intense, weaponized combat. Use fast, skillful movement to dodge enemy attacks, circle-strafe your foes, and rule the air as you rocket jump in the single and multiplayer modes. Blackroom launches with unique multiplayer maps and robust modding support for the community to make diabolical creations of their own design."

Lynch is one of the most recognizable names in the world of heavy metal guitar. With a career spanning more than thirty years, George has recorded more than twenty albums, toured the entire globe many times, and is the one of the most recognizable endorsees of the world’s finest guitars and equipment.

Tony MacAlpine was diagnosed with colon cancer in August 2015 and has posted an update that’s he working on a new instrumental album and will also perform live again on April 30th.

MacAlpine posts:

“In August and September I will be returning to the studio to work on my newest instrumental release that has long been in the making, but regrettably had to be delayed due to uncontrollable circumstances.

“It has been a year since Concrete Gardens was been released, and in that time I have had much time to reflect on the very long journey that I have been on since my first album Edge Of Insanity. It is with love and respect that I thank you all for traveling with me on this adventure since the beginning!

“I am thrilled to announce that I have been given the green light to return to performing live, and will do that starting on April 30th on tour in Europe with Michel Polnareff.”

Delain will celebrate their 10th anniversary with a special show in Amsterdam on December 10th that will also be recorded and filmed for a release on CD and DVD.

The band states: “Happy Birthday to…US! Dear Delainers, as many of you know, 2016 marks a very important milestone for Delain: our tenth anniversary in music! In September 2006, we released our debut record, Lucidity, and YOUR overwhelming response to our first record made us turn Delain: The Project into Delain: The Band. That was 10 years ago, and today, we find ourselves looking back at a decade of rocking stages all over the world. Four albums, two EPs, and ten years later, we feel that we need to celebrate this milestone properly…with you!

“On December 10, 2016, legendary Amsterdam music venue Paradiso Amsterdam is ours to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We are planning to go all out for this one! Best of all, the entire show will be recorded and made available on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD, vinyl, and digital download! We’ve made it as a band for ten years thanks to you, so we turn to you directly to help us make this happen. Please check out our Pledge campaign and get ready for the biggest birthday bash ever! We are incredibly excited about this project and we hope you will join in with us!”

Delain recently announced a fall European tour.

Since the release of their album The Human Contradiction in 2014 on Napalm Records, Delain have been constantly touring all over the world and shared the stages with arena acts such as Nightwish, Within Temptation and Sabaton. Delain ended 2015 headlining and conquering stages in sold out venues all over the world.

In between heavily touring, Delain found the time to release a new EP titled Lunar Prelude (February 2016, Napalm Records), which includes two brand new tracks, exciting live cuts, mastered by Grammy Award winning Ted Jensen, Lunar Prelude leaves the listener with a hunger for more, but shortens the wait for the next full length album from Delain which is set for release summer 2016.

Delain are going to hit the road this fall in support of the new album for an extensive European tour. Make sure to catch the band and their energetic live shows on the following dates with special guests Evergry and support from Kobra And The Lotus.

October
14 - Köln, Germany - Essigfabrik
15 - Stuttgart, Germany - Im Wizemann
16 - Hamburg, Germany - Gruenspan
17 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset
19 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia-Theater
20 - Cracov, Poland - Kwadrat
21 - Warsaw, Poland - Progresja
22 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Masters of Rock Club
25 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Majestic Music Club
27 - Vienna, Austria - Szene
28 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
29 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos-Saal
30 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
31 - Lyon, France - Ninkasi Kao

November
2 - Madrid, Spain - Arena
3 - Toulouse, France - Metronum
4 - Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre
5 - Lille, France - Le Splendid
6 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix

American melodic speed / true heavy metal band Vanlade are currently writing for their upcoming new third CD, recording a covers EP and a special Southern California festival appearance.

Vanlade vocalist Brett Blackout has checked in with the following comment:

"We have a lot of exciting things brewing in the Vanlade camp! While writing for album three is well underway, we first plan on releasing a six song cover EP later this year that will feature a few very special guests from the US heavy metal scene. We have decided to keep the details under wrap until further notice, but we will have the EP available this October for the incredible Frost and Fire festival that we are honored to be apart of. Keep up with us on Facebook for soon-to-come fall tour information, as well as recording updates! Until then: stay heavy or die!"

Vanlade released their second CD Rage Of The Gods via Metalizer Records (Germany), which features ten tracks of epic melodic speed / true heavy metal from Kansas City's own "Defenders of the Faith.”

SkullsNBones has posted a new interview with Behemoth bassist Orion before their show in New York City on April 23rd. 

An excerpt below:

SkullsNBones: Speaking of the “process,” Nergal said last year he didn’t know if a new Behemoth album would happen, but then we saw a few months ago that the “process” had begun again. What’s the latest?

Orion: “People freaked out over that statement, but it’s not as serious as people took it. If you read the whole article, he was just saying nothing is promised. We may not have a tomorrow, you may not have a tomorrow, so that’s all he was saying. We were talking about the next record when he made that statement, so that was blown way out of proportion. Do we want to make another Behemoth record? Of course we do. This is our life, but we will need some time before we begin that whole process over again. This is why we decided to finish The Satanist tour by the end of this year, and then we’ll probably take four or five months off from anything revolving around Behemoth. That’s just our mindset now, but the reality is, it could change tomorrow. There will be new music. It’s actually happening right now on the road. When we have time, we put our ideas together, but we are not just going to make a record because we ‘have’ to. The timing for all of us has to be right, but there will be new music.”

Polish extreme metal legends Behemoth have premiered their new video for “Ben Sahar”, a track from their latest album, The Satanist, released in 2014. Watch the new clip below:

Behemoth recently announced a fall tour for their homeland, dubbed The Republic Of The Unfaithful Tour. Frontman Nergal has issued the following update:

"We are closing The Satanist tour cycle with this Polish leg of the tour. We will be playing on that tour the whole The Satanist album for a first time in our history in Poland! Behemoth is in its highest condition and you will see it yourselves this autumn. See you there!"

Dates are as follows:

September
30 - Katowice, Poland - Mega Club

October
1 - Katowice, Poland - Mega Club
2 - Wrocław, Poland - Eter
6 - Bydgoszcz, Poland - Hala Artego
7 - Kraków, Poland - Hala Wisły
8 - Warszawa, Poland - Progresja Music Zone
9 - Gdańsk, Poland - B90

Behemoth returned to North America this spring with a special tour, featuring support from Myrkur. With plans to play their latest album, The Satanist, in its entirety, the journey - which runs from April 21st through May 7th - is one not to be missed.

A limited number of premium ticketing packages which include a commemorative laminate, meet & greet session with the band, an 18" x 24" poster set (three posters), 42" x 42" wall flag, and general admission ticket are available now at this location. Only fifty fans per show can purchase the package, so reserve yours now.

In addition to the concert, fans will also have the chance to view The Congregation exhibition at each venue.

Tour dates:

April
26 - The Phoenix Concert Theater - Toronto, ON
27 - St. Andrews Hall - Detroit, MI
29 - Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL
30 - Mill City Nights - Minneapolis, MN

May
1 - The Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
3 - The Gothic Theatre - Denver, CO
4 - The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT
6 - The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
7 - The Observatory - Santa Ana, CA

He is, together with Trevor Morris, the composer of the music to the acclaimed HBO series Vikings, and has through his project Wardruna made the Norwegian cultural inheritance visible for the entire world.

Music Norway in collaboration with Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy) therefore saw it fit to nominate Einar Selvik for the Music Export Prize of 2015.

With the use of the oldest of Nordic instruments and poetic metres as well as lyrics written in Norwegian, Old Norse and Proto-Norse tongue, Wardruna has established themselves as the leading Norse/Heathen acts on the scene today.

Wardruna primarily use old and historical instruments such as primitive deer-hide frame drums, Kraviklyra, tagelharpe, mouth harp, goat horn, lur and more. Non-traditional instruments and other sources of sound like trees, rocks, water and torches are also used.

All of these elements are carefully woven into a rich musical landscape and complemented with whispering voices, melodic song and mighty choirs. Although Wardruna’s music share characteristics with music typically labeled as folk, world and/or ambient, none of these genres can really describe their unique style. It truly must be experienced.

Alpha Omega Management/Century Media Records artists, Malevolent Creation – one of most legendary and longest running death metal horde on this globe - released their debut album The Ten Commandments on April 24th, 1991 (via Roadrunner Records). A 25th Anniversary photo tribute video of the album has been posted online (courtesy of Jim Malevolent), check it out below.

The Ten Commandments was produced and engineered by Scott Burns and it was highly considered as a milestone of death metal genre, being also characterized by a very aggressive songwriting - sharp and granitic guitar riffs of Phil Fasciana, as well as by a frantic drumming by Mark Simpson.

Tracklisting:

"Memorial Arrangements"
"Premature Burial"
"Remnants of Withered Decay"
"Multiple Stab Wounds"
"Impaled Existence"
"Thou Shall Kill!"
“Sacrificial Annihilation"
"Decadence Within"
"Injected Sufferage [sic]"
"Malevolent Creation"

25th Anniversary Photo Tribute:

Malevolent Creation lineup on the The Ten Commandments album:

Brett Hoffmann - vocals
Phil Fasciana - rhythm guitar
Jeff Juszkiewicz - lead guitar
Jason Blachowicz - bass
Mark Simpson - drums

Malevolent Creation was formed in Buffalo, New York in 1987, but only a year later they moved to Florida. Their debut album The Ten Commandments (1991) became a landmark in the death metal underground, expanding on the early work of bands like Slayer, Kreator, Possessed, Onslaught, Obituary and Death. After 11 studio albums and unleashing three of them (Warkult, Doomsday X and Invidious Dominion) under Nuclear Blast Records, in 2014 the band signed the global records deal with Century Media Records, releasing their 12th and latest effort Dead Man’s Path in 2015, heading right away to the extended co-headliner Death Raid Over Europe tour.

Atmospheric blackened metal outfit Wayfarer have finally unveiled the first listen of new music from their forthcoming sophomore effort Old Souls with the video stream of album closer "All Lost In Aimless Chaos". Wayfarer will release their sophomore album on June 17th via Prosthetic Records. Recorded at Flatline Audio with Shane Howard (Martriden, Khemmis) while being mixed and mastered by Dave Otero (Cattle Decapitation, Cobalt), the album features seven tracks clocking in at almost 50 minutes long.  The album's cover artwork was created by Colorado artist and knifesmith Adam Gersh.

Wayfarer’s debut album, Children Of An Iron Age was met with worldwide critical acclaim. Asked how Old Souls differs, guitarist and vocalist Shane McCarthy commented: "This record is a darker and much more focused effort from us. Writing the album was a very cohesive and involved process as a whole band this time around. It has moved further and further away from any particular genre trappings and stepped closer into what we feel our sound is; which is always shifting, always evolving. Life is too short to write music that already exists. We can't wait to get this out there."

Following the release of Old Souls, the band will head out on the road with Maine’s Falls of Rauros, joining them in Canada is Numenorean.

Tracklisting:

“Ever Climbing”
“Frontiers”
“Old Souls’ New Dawn”
“Catcher”
“Deathless Tundra”
“The Dust Lakes”
“All Lost In Aimless Chaos”

"All Lost In Aimless Chaos":

Portugal's volume merchants, Miss Lava, will drop the deliciously riff raging sounds of their Sonic Debris full-length via Small Stone Recordings next month. The band has released a new video for “The Silent Ghost Of Doom”.

The clip was directed by Bruno Simões with direction of photography by Mr. Ivo Cordeiro (the team behind Miss Lava's "Black Rainbow" video). "To shoot this video, we went to Lisbon's old athenaeum -- the Ateneu Comercial de Lisboa," elaborates drummer, J. Garcia. "The historic scenery set the right vibe for the song." 
 
"This is a loud one that shouts about freeing yourself from tedium, apathy and past time glories," adds vocalist Johnny Lee. "The broken mirror sights the silent ghost of doom."

Sonic Debris will be released May 20th and come available on CD and 180-gram light blue vinyl limited to 500 units. For preorders go to this location.

Sonic Debris was captured at Pentagon Audio Manufacturers, JDB Showroom and Estúdio Crossover in Lisbon at various times throughout 2014 and 2015, produced by Fernando Matias and Miss Lava, engineered by Matias, José Pedro Ataíde and Ricardo Bravo, mixed by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios in Boston, Massachusetts, and mastered by Chris Goosman at Baseline Audio Labs in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sonic Debris follows 2013's Red Supergiant and 2009's Blues For The Dangerous Miles, which was listed among Loud Magazine's Top Five Portuguese albums of that year, and 2008's limited edition, self-titled EP.

"With this album we left the door of our spacecraft wide open... this is a trippy ride with lots of headbanging going on," comments guitarist K. Raffah. "We feel this is our best journey so far," adds Lee. "It explores a sonic galaxy somewhere between Monster Magnet's Dopes To Infinity and Corrosion Of Conformity's Deliverance."

Tracklisting:

“Another Beast Is Born”
“The Silent Ghost Of Doom”
“I’m The Asteroid”
“In A Sonic We Shall Burn”
“At The End Of The Light”
“In The Arms Of The Freaks”
“Symptomatic”
“Fangs Of Venom”
“Pilgrims Of Decay”
“Planet Darkness”

"The Silent Ghost Of Doom":

“In The Arms Of The Freaks” video:

“Another Beast Is Born”:

Sonic Debris by Miss Lava

Pacific Northwest black metal clan Wolves In The Throne Room will re-release their 2006 debut album Diadem Of 12 Stars through their own Artemisia Records in mid-June. The album will precede the band's first East Coast North American dates in 5 years.
 
Written almost exclusively in a windowless, black room over the long dark nights of Winter 2005, Diadem Of 12 Stars was the first official Wolves In The Throne Room release. Re-imagining black metal as an ode to rain storms, wood smoke and the wild energies of the Pacific Northwest, WITTR created a unique melancholic atmosphere. Diadem Of 12 Stars is about lunar sorcery on Cascadian mountaintops and encounters with wild spirits. In contrast to the icy, razor sharp soundscapes of their 90s Norwegian forebears, the sound of Diadem... is lush and ethereal, dripping with rain soaked moss and lichen.

 
 
Wolves In The Throne Room honed the material for Diadem Of 12 Stars by touring across the country's basements and squats. Its raw analog sound in many ways pays homage to the band's varied influences: the harsh black metal of Norwegians Ulver and Emperor or their American counterparts Weakling and Ludicra, the monolithic heaviness of Neurosis and Swans, the sorrowful Funeral Doom of My Dying Bride and in places, the mournful goth of Dead Can Dance. Yet, WITTR distills these inspirations to create a sound that is entirely their own.
 
Described by guitarist Nathan Weaver as the rawest and most "punk" of their five full-length releases Diadem Of 12 Stars was recorded live to tape in Oakland by Tim Green. Joined in the studio by Jamie Myers (Hammers Of Misfortune, Sabbath Assembly) and Dino Sommese (Asunder. Dystopia), every song was rendered in one or two takes and the album was mixed without the aid of a computer. Originally released on a small DIY label and unavailable physically for many years, this reissued version has been carefully remastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering Service. The band redeveloped every photograph from the original negatives, creating richer, high quality prints in order to present the artwork as originally envisioned.
 
The Diadem Of 12 Stars reissue will be released June 17th on CD, 2LP, Cassette, and all Digital formats. Preorders are live at this location.

The band will follow the reissue with their first live performances since mid-2014 this September, with two weeks of shows currently confirmed and more to be added in the coming weeks.

Dates:

September
13 – Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus Bar
14 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
15 – Washington, DC – DC9
17 – Richmond, VA – Strange Matter
18 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
19 – New Orleans, LA – Sisters In Christ
20 – Austin, TX – Barracuda
21 – Dallas, TX – Dada
22 – Lawrence, KS – Riot Room
23 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
24 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Place
26 – Portland, ME – Space Gallery
27 – Somerville, MA – Cuisine En Locale

South Carolina progressive black metal unit Enthean have released the new song "Before You, I Am". Enthean will release their debut album Priest Of Annihilation on May 20th. Preorder the album on Bandcamp.

Priests Of Annihilation will unquestionably appeal to fans of Dissection, Emperor, Origin, and Immortal. Yet the album more broadly represents the band's musical take on experiences past and present. Indeed, it is an ode to their many influences, musical or otherwise.  Put simply, Enthean has created a fierce and dynamic album that will excite a wide range of metal fans.

Tracklisting:

“1054”
“Tones Of Desecration”
“Before You, I Am”
“Dysthanasia”
“Ekpyrosis”
“Behold The Primordial”
“Bring Forth The Raven”
“Invalesc De Profundis”

"Before You, I Am":

“Dysthanasia”:

Priests of Annihilation by Enthean

Italian legendary deaththrashers Node have released today their sixth studio effort Cowards Empire via Punishment 18 Records (available also on iTunes and all other platforms). The album contains a DVD with excerpts of the 20th Anniversary concert of the band, which took place on March 15th, 2014. Cowards Empire release party will be held on May 13th at Legend Club – Milan (free entrance).

Furthermore Node have unleashed a new lyric video "Lambs" from the new album. The band states: "This song is our tough stance and denounce against all forms of child exploitation. A nightmare for all of us, which in everyday life involves many children around the world. Future is in our hands, make it better!"

Guest musicians appearing on the effort include names such as Daniele Orlandi (Blackstarr & The new Black), Gianluca Ferro (Time Machine), Tommy Massara (Extrema), Lisy Stefanoni (Evenoire), Luca Di Fato (Wake Arkane), Oinos (Will o wisp Australwave), Andrea Caniato, Steve Minelli.

Cover art created by Seldon Hunt (Neurosis):

Tracklisting:

“StagNation”
“Death Redeems”
“Lambs”
“Average Voter”
“Locked In”
“No Reason”
“Money Machine”
“The Truck”
“Still The Same”
“Liar.com”
“The Plot Survives” (instrumental)

Bonus tracks (Revisited and Re-Recorded)
“Jerry Mander” (from Sweatshops 2002)
“Children” (from Technical Crime 1998)

*with solos from Node founder and former guitarist Steve Minelli, available only in digital platform.

"Lambs" lyric video:

“Jerry Mander” lyric video:

Node will support Kataklysm on their Russian shows in June.

June
11 – Moscow – Volta Club
12 – St. Petersburg – Club Zal

Node lineup:

Gary D’Eramo - guitar, vocals
CN Sid - vocals
Pietro Battanta - drums
Rudy Gonella Diaza - guitar
Davide (Dero) De Robertis - bass

(Photo - Giulia Thinkgreen Carbonero)

Richmond doom quartet, Cough, has shared a second new song from their forthcoming offering, Still The Pray, their first new full-length in 5 years. The crushing 11 minute-long "Dead Among The Roses" is streaming below.

With this release, Cough summon psychedelic feedback-driven melodies just to deconstruct them to their core. Still They Pray is easily Cough at their most focused: pessimistic riffs and tortured grooves collide in melodic agony alongside a hallucinogenic blend of harsh and clean incantations, crushing and cathartic yet utterly mesmerizing. Step through the gates of madness and stare into the void.

Still They Pray is set for release via Relapse Records on CD/2LP/Digital on June 3rd. Physical preorders and bundle deals are available via Relapse.com here, and digital copies can be pre-ordered through Cough's Bandcamp page at this location.

Still They Pray Tracklisting:

“Haunter Of The Dark”
“Possession”
“Dead Among The Roses”
“Masters Of Torture”
“Let It Bleed”
“Shadow Of The Torturer”
“The Wounding Hours”
“Still They Pray”

"Dead Among The Roses":

“The Wounding Hours”:

(Photo by: Jordan Vance)