Exes For Eyes out of Toronto have checked in with the following update announcing an experiment based on their new album Tongues Like Figure Eights:

Purchase the new album at this location.

Exes For Eyes recently posted the new song "Remember Savannah", taken from their forthcoming album Tongues Like Figure Eights. The track can be downloaded here.

Exes For Eyes released a video for the new song "Tongues Like Figure Eights" earlier this year. The song is the debut single and title track off Exes for Eyes upcoming album. Tongues Like Figure Eights is the follow up to 2011's The Amsler Grid. Like the band's previous music videos this was filmed and edited by the band.

"We wanted to keep it simple for this video. Raw and energetic but also clean looking", comments band vocalist James Arsenian. "Like all of our videos to date, we filmed and edited this ourselves. We're proud to be 100% diy because the results look pretty badass."

Exes For Eyes is a project that is quite simply based on the desire to make music with friends. Originally a studio project founded by Dave Sheldon and Big James Arsenian, it has grown into a full on national touring act with the help of drummer Aaron Spink and bass player Graham Porter. While the band itself is young, the combined musical experience between the four member is vast. The debut album The Amsler Grid having been well received, it made sense to get back in the studio with a wealth of material having been built up. The result is Tongues Like Figure Eights. The album features guests Bjorn Strid of Soilwork, Lisa Sinner of Out of The Ruins and Dominic Cifarelli of Chronicles of Israfel\Scars on Broadway. Slated for release late summer 2014.

Exes For Eyes are: 
Big James Arsenian - vocals
Dave Sheldon Guitars - guitars, vocals
Graham Porter- bass 
Aaron Spink - drums

For more information go to this location.

Deen Castronovo, Jack Blades and Doug Aldrich. Put these three rock titans together in a band and you have the exciting new hard rock/melodic rock supergroup, Revolution Saints.

The band has just released the video for the song “Turn Back Time” from their self-titled debut that is being released in North America on February 24th via Frontiers Music SRL. The video was directed by Devin DeHaven known for his work with Rick Ross, Whitesnake, KISS and R. Kelly.

Superbly handling drums and lead vocals is Deen Castronovo. Already renowned for his drum talents and backing vocals in Journey, Bad English and more, Deen's excellent vocal talents are in the spotlight on this release. On bass, and co-lead vocals on a few tracks, Jack Blades is well known for his melodic, yet hard rocking approach to songwriting and playing via multiple classic albums by his main band Night Ranger, as well as with the Damn Yankees and the Shaw/Blades releases. On guitar, Doug Aldrich was excited to lend his fiery blues guitar attack to such a unique and melodic band. Doug, who just left Whitesnake after a fruitful 12 year run (including co-writing 2010s critically acclaimed Forevermore release) and also of Burning Rain and formerly of Dio, has a deep pedigree and is one of today’s most respected guitarists.

 

 

You can tell by the name - and the names involved - that Revolution Saints isn’t your average rock 'n roll band. The new album brings back the classic melodic rock style to where it should be: inspiring, uplifting vocals, soaring melodies and musicianship to die for. It’s completely badass.

The project is the vision of Frontiers' President Serafino Perugino, who for years had hoped to work on a project where Deen would be the lead vocalist. Having previously worked with all three artists on different projects on Frontiers, having Deen, Jack and Doug on board together was a dream come true for Perugino.

With production overseen by in-house Frontiers man, Alessandro Del Vecchio (who also contributed to the songwriting and played keyboards on the album), the recording process took place in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2014.

Revolution Saints' music is played with a heart and soul and that highlights the passion and the enthusiasm of three of the best rock and all-around musicians in the game today. Truly, this will be a release that you cannot afford to miss. Lovers of melodic rock will fall in love all over again with Revolution Saints.

 

 

Tracklisting:

"Back On My Trail"
"Turn Back Time"
"You're Not Alone" (Feat. Arnel Pineda)
"Locked Out Of Paradise"
"Way To The Sun" (Feat. Neal Schon)
"Dream On"
"Don't Walk Away"
"Here Forever"
"Strangers To This Life"
"Better World"
"How To Mend A Broken Heart"
"In The Name Of The Father (Fernando's Song)"

Bonus Tracks (Deluxe Edition only)
"You Are Not Alone" (Arnel Pineda version)
"Way To The Sun" (Doug Aldrich version)
"You Are Not Alone" (Deen Castronovo Version)
DVD Content (Deluxe Edition only)
Making of the Album documentary
"Turn Back Time" (promo video)
"Back On My Trail" (promo video)
"Here Forever" (promo video)
"Way to the Sun" (lyric video)

Revolution Saints have released an EPK discussing the new project that can be seen below:

Italian symphonic death metal horde, Fleshgod Apocalypse, recently announced that they filmed a new promotional video, for "Epilogue". The track is taken from the band's latest album, Labyrinth.

The video was directed by Francesco Paoli and Salvatore Perrone and features special guests soprano vocalist Veronica Bordacchini, guitarist Marco Sensi and cellist Shamatiyenko Kostyantyn. A special thanks from the band goes out to the crew involved in the making of the video: Marco "Napo" Ghirga, Daniele Sensi, Matteo Flori and to the Brainstorm Agency Video Crew: Francesco Rufini, Andrea Proietti and Giacomo Paracciani.

The band commented: "We are really proud of the results obtained with this new video, both technically and artistically talking. Together with our good friend and director Salvatore Perrone, we decided to experience a completely different way of shooting from the previous videos, using almost only sliders and craigs that give a very cinematographic style to the whole thing. We chose the song "Epilogue" since we consider it a very important song for the band. In fact, on a musical level, it contains some of the more particular elements of the whole album, for which regards the riffing and the arrangements. On the other hand, the song summarises the whole concept contained in Labyrinth, bringing up the deepest meanings of fear, and the way they reflect on our relationships; to represent this, we used Tommaso and Veronica as two main characters that interact with each other, exactly like it happens in the live shows. As usual, we want to thank everybody who contributed to the making of this video, and all the people supporting Fleshgod Apocalypse.”

 

 

Labyrinth was released on August 16th, 2013 via Nuclear Blast. The album was produced, mixed and mastered by Stefano Morabito at 16th Cellar Studio and hones in on the band's unique traits, giving fans everything they could hope for and more. Colin Marks (Origin, Kataklysm) created the cover artwork, as well as several pieces for a massive inlay.

"Minotaur (The Wrath Of Poseidon)" lyric video:

"Elegy":

"Pathfinder" video:

Album trailer:

Hollywood shock metallers, Salems Lott, are gearing up to release their debut self-titled EP on January 21st through Rēd Moon Rēcords (the band's own independent label). The band has released their debut music video, for the single "No Choice To Love". Watch below:

The band has aspects reminiscent of acts such as King Diamond, W.A.S.P., Alice Cooper and others of the sort.  They are known for their intense live shows, fast explosive playing and larger than life theatrics.

The album cover was designed/illustrated by Max Grecke.

 

 

Salems Lott tracklisting:

“Wings Of Duress”
“No Choice To Love”
“Smoke And Mirrors”
“Atlas”
“Black Magic”
“S.S.”
“Twilight Traverse”

 

 

 

Reading, UK-based metallers, Malefice, have released their new video, "Heroes", and announce a UK headline run in February with Chapters in support.

 

 

"Heroes" is taken from the band's new EP, Gravitas. Check out the video below:

Tour dates:

February
6 - The Bowery - Reading, UK
7 - Bleach - Brighton, UK
8 - Crauford Arms - Milton Keynes, UK
13 - Boston Music Rooms - London, UK
14 - The Exchange - Bristol, UK
15 - Firehouse - Southampton, UK (Free entry show)

 

 

 

Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza has released exclusive never-before-seen video footage from the Menza Mega Video Vault of the late Pantera guitarist Dimebag" Darrell Abbot. Personally filmed by Nick Menza in 1992 when Pantera opened for Megadeth on the Countdown To Extinction Tour.

Menza: “My tribute to legendary guitarist and ultimately one of the raddest metal guitar players to walk the earth. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. RIP "Dimebag" Darrell Abbot.”

Footage features backstage Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, David Ellefson, Dime Bag Darrel, Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul, Rex Brown, Layne Staley and Mike Starr from the 1991 Clash of the Titans tour and 1992 Countdown To Extinction Tour.
 
Plus rare live concert footage of Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains that Nick personally filmed. These tapes also included exclusives, working at the studio's, casual time and party time with other band members as well as bands Nick toured with.

Forever Plagued Records announces February 9th as the international release date for Mourning Mist's self-titled debut album.

Stepping a bit outside the boundaries of black metal, Forever Plagued has opened up a bit and was compelled by the dark nature of this otherwise-unknown band from Italy. Fronted by a violin player named Ecnerual, Mourning Mist has a very avant-garde nature about it while still being nicely arranged with darker atmospheres. Lyrically dripping with misanthropic topics on mankind and its existence, those of us who enjoy black metal but are also into the darker side of music in general will find Mourning Mist to their liking.
 
To point out the best qualities of Mourning Mist's self-titled album, let's start with the production: it has a nice old feeling to it, and everything is very comprehensible in the mix. Second, there are no problems maintaining your interest, with plenty of quality musicianship and writing of a dark nature. Thirdly, the musical output is not limited to any one style: there are remnants of plenty going on, from doom to fast, mid-paced to atmospheric, so on and so forth. In other words, there is plenty to keep your interest within this realm of sorrow and decay.

 

 

Tracklisting:

"The Flowing"
"Freefall"
"Rage"
"Torment"
"Rise And Decay"
"Lament"

"Freefall":

 

Canada's "The Metal Voice" (Facebook page) recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On the relationship between the bandmembers in ANTHRAX:

Charlie: "It's definitely a greater unit than it's ever been. With Joey, of course, back in, it just feels right.

"We're just moving on; that's exactly what we're doing. We're not even looking behind our shoulders.

"I think it's gotten a lot better now [than it was when ANTHRAX first reunited with singer Joey Belladonna in 2005]. I really think that now we're so much more of a band than we were back on [the 2005] tour [with JUDAS PRIEST]. I think we were still trying to figure out each other again and getting to know one another again.

"One thing that is really important, especially as you get up there in age or whatever, you start to realize that repairing old relationships should be a factor in this whole thing. Because there's so many bands that I loved when I was growing up who are not together anymore, and I always say to myself, 'Wow, I wish they could just get it together.' Because if anything is going to bring you together, it should be the love of music."

On the progress of the songwriting sessions for ANTHRAX's next studio album:

Charlie: "Some of the new music that's been coming out for us has been so inspiring. It's, like, I remember telling [guitarist] Scott [Ian], we had about 12 songs [in various stages of completion], and I told him, I said, 'Dude, now the good stuff's coming out of me.' And he's, like, 'Really? But these 12 are awesome.' I said, 'Nah, dude. Wait until you hear the next batch.'"

"I write most of the music in the band; the ideas pretty much come from me, musically speaking. But I don't like to… For me, I like everybody to have their input and their say-so. I'll bring in a song and usually me, Scott and Frank [Bello, bass] will play the song and make a change here or there. Or sometimes when Scott gets a riff, he'll kind of modify it a little bit to his own ability, and it just takes shape from there. But for the most part, I just have all these ideas.

"For this new album, I've been lucky enough to draw from the 'Worship Music' experience and really build on that. So these newer tunes are just… Man, if that record was, like… How can I put this? If that was like 'Led Zeppelin IV', then this one is definitely gonna be like 'Physical Graffiti'. The reason why I said that is because have such an abundance of songs. 'Physical Graffiti' was a double record. We have enough material to have a double record at this point too."

ANTHRAX issued a live-in-concert DVD "Chile On Hell", on September 16. The effort was filmed at the Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile on May 10, 2013 and features ANTHRAX performing an extended set that featured songs from the band's entire catalog.

HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale was interviewed by Terrie Carr for the latest edition of "Box Of Rock" on WDHA-FM 105.5 FM, the rock music station licensed to Dover and Morristown, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked about HALESTORM's upcoming third album, Lzzy said: "We've had such a great time making this record. We totally threw everything that we thought was normal on the last two records away. We didn't do it in L.A.; we ended up doing it in Nashville."

She continued: "Everybody thinks we're doing a country record. We're not. I don't have a twang in my voice; I don't think that would be possible. But, man, I'll tell you what, Nashville is such a cool town and it's actually so much more rock and roll-oriented than a lot of cities around the country anymore, and they've kind of welcomed us with open arms; there's such a crazy community."

Hale added: "The other thing that we did differently, besides doing it in a different, [we] also [used] a diferent producer. We worked with Jay Joyce [who previously worked with CAGE THE ELEPHANT and country star Eric Church], and we also recorded it differently. We haven't recorded like this since we were teenagers. We were, all four of us, in the same room, [and we] recorded all the basic tracks live to tape. And then all the vocal performances are live too — beginning to end; nothing was cut up. And it was really cool. It also was very hard to do, because you think that'd be, like, just a real simple, 'Oh, yeah, just go in and play.' But it's, like, to get everything to ride on that same wave, we made some magic happen, so I'm so stoked."

According to Lzzy, making the new HALESTORM album sound as close to the band's live performance as possible "was a goal that we set out to do, and Jay Joyce was ballsy enough to actually take it on. It's just amazing to hear all the excitement in these new songs. I remember turning to the other guys and I said, 'I don't think I've ever heard us this way' — you know what I mean?! — short of doing a live record. And we experimented a lot."

She continued: "People always ask, 'Okay, so it's your third record. Did you stray from who you are?' And I've been telling them, no, it's actually now a lot more of who we are. So be prepared. I'm warning you right now. It's very unapologetic and just warts and all us."

Hale also spoke about the new track "I Like I Heavy", which HALESTORM has been performing live during some of its recent shows.

"That song kind of came in at the 11th hour and it was a very song to write," she said. "And we kind of went back to a lot of our classic roots with that one."

As previously reported, HALESTORM is set for a second run supporting Eric Church on his blockbuster "Outsiders World Tour". The new dates begin January 8 at New Orleans' Smoothie King Center and then continue through early February. The "Outsiders World Tour" carries on the phenomenal pairing of HALESTORM and Eric Church, a collaboration begun when the country superstar teamed with HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale for a show-stopping duet performance of his hit single "That's Damn Rock & Roll" on this summer's 2014 "CMT Music Awards". HALESTORM released a vinyl edition of both of their previously released covers EPs. "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs Collection (2011-2014)" is available via the band's webstore.

Los Angeles drummer Matt Starr will kick off 2015 touring South America and the US with Mr. Big, continuing his position filling in for drummer for Pat Torpey. This comes on the heels of a two-month tour of Europe and Asia including a sold out show at the Budokan in Japan in October and November of this year. The band's complete tour schedule can be found here.

Starr's participation in the 2014 Mr. Big tour meant that he was not available to tour with KISS guitarist Ace Frehley in support of the 2014 release, Space Invader, to which Starr contributed all drum tracks. The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 20,000 copies in its first week.  

"I had a great time working with Ace on Space Invader," says Starr.  "I'm very proud of that record and the fans have responded so favorably, comparing it to his 1978 record, that was quite an honor."

Before the year's end Starr will join former Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich, Keith St John (Montrose) and Sean McNabb (Quiet Riot/Dokken), collectively known as Burning Rain, for a short Northwest tour. Tour dates are available at this location.

For information on Starr go to his official website.

Prague-based eight man tribe Cruadalach has announced their album, Rebel Against Me.

Rebel Against Me is the second full-length album in band’s discography, containing 11 tracks, including a bonus orchestral composition, and featuring a myriad of guest musicians, such as the three singing Valkyries from the acclaimed Polish act Percival Schuttenbach, or the professionals from the Czech national symphonic orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic.

Rebel Against Me is an album proudly dedicated to all who stood for what they believed in, even though in doing so, they often risked their livelihoods and often even their lives themselves. This second Cruadalach album will furthermore be supported by a music video of the song “Life-Worshipping Bastards” which will premier, along with the album itself, during the release party in January in Prague-based Jamm Club, where Cruadalach will also play their special unplugged set, as well as by a unique “fan” music video of the song “Zlatovláska” that is a gift to all fans who supported the band during its crowdfunding campaign that made this album a reality.

Rebel Against Me tracklisting:

“Revolt Without A Name”
“Shiva World Dance Party”
“Stuff That Matters”
“Earth Café”
“Rebel Against Me”
“Wolves At The Gates”
“Life-Worshipping Bastards”
“Satyros”
“Karma To Burn”
“The Astralnaut”
“Ziemie Niczyje”
 
The Rebel Against Me album will be released by MetalGate Records in January 2015 in a jewel slipcase format, as well as digitally.

“Shiva World Dance Party”:

During a December 6 interview with AndrewHaug.com, Australia's first-ever dedicated 24/7 rock and metal online radio station launched by Andrew Haug, the former host of Triple J Australia's "The Racket" radio show (originally "Full Metal Racket"; 2001-2011), former SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera was asked for his opinion on his brother Igor's recent statement that the ex-SEPULTURA drummer "really hopes" that the group's classic lineup can one day reunite.

"I was actually kind of surprised, 'cause I thought the topic kind of died out," Max said (hear audio below). "I actually lost all kinds of hope for it. Honestly, today, I don't see it happening, just because of how our lives are and how those guys' [the other members of SEPULTURA's classic lineup] lives are; it's a pretty different world. We live in completely different worlds from those guys. And I think it's not the same. It won't be the same. The magic is gone. And I don't think a reunion would be the best thing for SEPULTURA. I honestly don't think it would. I kind of prefer [for] it to stay like this and leave the memory how it was."

He continued: "It was a great band [that] did great stuff. I'm proud of the records [I made with SEPULTURA]. And you can go to YouTube and check out all the old videos and how great it was, and kind of leave it like that. And then [we can] do other stuff — like KILLER BE KILLED and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and SOULFLY — that we are plenty busy with."

Max added: "[But] I was actually surprised [by] that comment [from] Igor, because I don't really see it happening myself, unfortunately."

Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their new son (who was born in January 2006).

In 1996, Max exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band fired Max's wife Gloria as their manager.

SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser said in a September 2014 interview that all the talk of a reunion of the band's classic lineup was "a pain in the ass," and added that the band was angered by "all the pressure of this reunion bullshit, especially coming from that side, especially Max and Gloria always touching that subject."

He continued: "You know, since [Max] left the band, we are used to deal with that, but there's a time that it's enough. I mean, in the end, it was his choice to leave the band; we never fired anybody, we just fired our manager — we fired Gloria — but we never fired Max or Igor or [ex-SEPULTURA drummer] Jean [Dolabella]. Everybody left the band because they didn't feel it was the right place to be. And that's fine. You cannot [force] anybody to be there just to be there as a puppet."

In a brand new interview with JoeDaly.net, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH drummer Jeremy Spencer was asked where he saw the band's sound going next following the release of last year's double album, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell".

"I'm not sure," he responded. "We always try to do things a little differently than the time before, but without being drastically different. We are who we are and I don't see us doing something so left turn that people are going, What is that? I just don't see that. We sound like what we sound like and I'm excited to see where it goes, honestly."

He continued: "I love making new records, and feeling the energy, seeing how everyone has grown and all that. We do try to push ourselves and experiment a little here and there. We have to keep it fresh for ourselves.

"We started recording [some new material] already and we did a couple tracks so far. After the holiday break we're going back in the studio for the long haul and hopefully have something out by summer. Obviously we'll be touring in the spring, so if we can finish by spring, it would be great but we'd like to get something finished by summer and get something out by the end of the summer if we can."

Regarding what the new FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH songs sound like, Spencer said: "I'm digging it, man. It's actually more brutal, with more extreme dynamics. There are some really mellow parts and then some really brutal parts. So we're running the whole gamut of sounds."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH released "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell" in two parts last year, with the first arriving in July 2013 and the second following in November 2013. The first half alone has sold more than 443,000 copies in the U.S.

After a nearly sold-out headline tour in Europe this past spring, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will make its return to the continent as special guests on the European leg of JUDAS PRIEST's "Redeemer Of Souls" 2015 tour next June. The run kicks off in Helsinki, Finland on June 4 and takes the band all across Europe, winding up in Lodz, Poland on June 27, 2015.

Former NIGHT RANGER guitarist Joel Hoekstra, who recently joined WHITESNAKE as the replacement for Doug Aldrich, spoke to the Myglobalmind webzine about the status of the recording sessions for WHITESNAKE's new studio album, tentatively due early next year.

"There is a litte bit of work to do, recording-wise, in terms of overdubs," he said. "We are very close to sticking a fork into it and entering into mix mode. I am heading out to [singer] David's [Coverdale] here shortly and we are shifting into promo gear for a bit. Pictures and videos and things of that nature."

Speaking about the direction of the new WHITESNAKE material, Joel said: "The only thing that I can tell you is that it is really cool. It's great, straight-ahead rock and roll. Blues-inspired rock that you have known and grown to love coming from WHITESNAKE."

He continued: "We are not going to hit anybody with a formula change and move to smooth jazz.

"Working with David so far has been great; he is just an unbelievably great guy. We get along great, and he is so funny. He puts me at ease and I feel like he just wants me to be myself as a player.

"I am certainly interested in paying homage to all the players that have been through the camp and do my very best to represent historically what made WHITESNAKE so great as well.

"Honestly, a lot of that is still ahead of me. It was really jump immediately into doing this album, so a whole lot of that is just me doing what I do.

"Before the tour next year, when it comes to covering other people's material, is when I will do a lot of shedding on people's styles, if you will."

Asked why he chose to leave NIGHT RANGER to join WHITESNAKE, Joel said: "It doesn't have as much to do with me wanting to leave NIGHT RANGER as much as it was me wanting to take the WHITESNAKE gig.

"I was texting with Doug Aldrich, who is a friend of mine, the night before the news was leaked. He didn't say anything specific to me, but he just said that there was news coming. The next day I woke up, I checked my Twitter and people were suggesting me for a potential replacement for something. I went, 'For what?' I clicked on it and it was for Doug in WHITESNAKE. I thought, "Oh, man, that would be actually a really good fit and be kind of cool.' So just to see what the deal was, I sent off an e-mail to put feelers out and see if there was going to be auditions and anything like that. I did hear back — eventually. [Laughs] Not at first. Then, I think, a couple of well-respected people had put my name forward to David Coverdale. We ended up getting together in late May, just meeting and a little bit of auditioning, so to speak. A little bit of playing on some pre-production. That went fantastic and we got along great, which is always important. Really, at that point he just said, 'Why don't you come back and play on the album in August?' At that point, I just thought, 'Well, we have got this penciled in, more or less, and we will see how it goes.' I just kept things quiet and when I went back out in August, I really started to get enthused playing on the album. I got along great with David and Reb [Beach, guitar] working on that. Reb and I got some great guitar work done together."

Hoekstra appeared on two NIGHT RANGER studio efforts, 2011's "Somewhere In California" and the recently released "High Road", as well as on 2012's 30th-anniversary acoustic concert set "24 Strings & A Drummer".

Aldrich left WHITESNAKE on May 7, explaining in a statement that he "had several recording and live commitments, so [he] needed a more flexible schedule to conclude these before going full force as normal." He added: "Unfortunately, my schedule was not workable."

Aldrich played on the last two WHITESNAKE studio albums, 2008's "Good To Be Bad" and 2011's "Forevermore", and appeared on several live releases, including last year's "Made In Japan" and "Made In Britain/The World Records".

ASKING ALEXANDRIA has partnered with BitTorrent Bundle to release "Live From Brixton And Beyond" on Monday, December 15, the same day, the 2-disc live concert DVD will be available through all major retailers and at the ASKING ALEXANDRIA webstore. Following in the footsteps of Thom Yorke and Diplo, the group will make the digital version available in the BitTorrent Bundle.

"Sumerian Records is excited to team up with BitTorrent Bundle to allow all the content available on the ASKING ALEXANDRIA physical DVD to be packaged digitally online, where other outlets were unavailable to offer the same service," explains Ash Avildsen, president, Sumerian Records. "More importantly, BitTorrent taking positive steps to help both musicians and labels monetize their art in such a turbulent time in the music biz is both admirable and exciting. They take a small fee for their services and are very favorable to those on the creative side. I'm excited to see what the future holds for Sumerian and BitTorrent Bundle."

The "Live From Brixton And Beyond" 2-disc DVD features: the full live set from ASKING ALEXANDRIA's sold-out Brixton 02 Academy show in London, England; behind-the-scenes and backstage footage from the Brixton 02 Academy show; the unseen "Reckless Halloween" performance filmed at The Wiltern in Los Angeles; and all of the group's music videos and the "Through Sin And Self-Destruction" short film. Watch the "Live From Brixton And Beyond" trailer below.

The riotous, genre-bending U.K.-based rock group, ASKING ALEXANDRIA has released three albums, including their current album "From Death To Destiny" and has toured the world-over. Produced by Joey Sturgis and mixed by veteran rock radio kingmaker David Bendeth (BREAKING BENJAMIN, PARAMORE, OF MICE & MEN), "From Death To Destiny" fully embraces the high-flying sonic excess of MÖTLEY CRÜE, the dark electro of the pre-EDM era and the audio growl of the harder-edged bands they discovered as teenagers. The album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, #1 on the Independent Albums Chart in the U.S. and has launched three consecutive Top 20 Active Rock singles to date: "The Death of Me", "Break Down the Walls" and current single "Moving On". Just this week, "Moving On" has hit No. 13 making it the band's highest charting single to date. The "Moving On" video has received over 2.8 million views.

"Live From Brixton And Beyond" 2-disc DVD:

Disc 1 - Live From Brixton track listing:

* Welcome* Closure* A Lesson Never Learned* Breathless* Not the American Average* A Prophecy* If You Can't Ride Two Horses at Once...You Should Get Out of the Circus* Dedication* Someone, Somewhere* Another Bottle Down* Reckless & Relentless* To the Stage* Dear Insanity* Run Free* Morte et Dabo* Alerion * The Final Episode (Let's Change the Channel)

+ Backstage and behind-the-scenes of the sold-out Brixton O2 Academy concert



Disc 2 - The Wiltern "Reckless Halloween" show track listing is as follows:

* Welcome* Closure* A Lesson Never Learned* Not the American Average* I Was Once, Possibly, Maybe, Perhaps A Cowboy King* Morte et Dabo* Alerion* The Final Episode (Let's Change the Channel)

+Music Videos

+"Through Sin And Self-Destruction" short film tracklisting:

* Not The American Average* Breathless* The Death of Me* Killing You* Moving On* If You Can't Ride Two Horses At Once...Then You Should Get Out Of The Circus * Run Free* Closure* A Prophecy* The Final Episode (Let's Change The Channel)

Ex-QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate says that he is approaching the songwriting sessions for the forthcoming debut album from his OPERATION: MINDCRIME project in a very different way to how he used to compose music for his former band.

"I'm doing a trilogy album," Tate told the "10songs" podcast. "And it's three records, and I'm recording all of it at once and then releasing it over a three-year period, one album per year."

He continued: "It's a story. It's a complete story in three parts. It's kind of a really unique story, and I'm sorry I can't really talk about it right now, but it's kind of set in an international location — different places around the world.

"What I'm trying to do is create music that kind of puts you in that place using instruments or melodies or sounds that are indigenous to the place where the story is taking place."

Named after QUEENSRŸCHE's epic concept album from 1988, "Operation: Mindcrime", Tate's new band includes Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE), Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO), Randy Gane (MYTH), Kelly Gray (QUEENSRYCHE 1998 - 2001, 2012 - 2014) and Robert Sarzo (QUEENSRYCHE 2012 - 2014).

Asked if the OPERATION: MINDCRIME album will be a band situation or more of a solo release, Tate said: "I'm in kind of a unique position now where I can work with who I want to work with. And I'm not in that band situation where it all has to be democratic and that kind of thing anymore. I respect that and I was part of that for many years. But I'm really enjoying the freedom of having different players play with me and sit in. It's really inspiring."

According to Tate, the diminishing music sales in the streaming age have enabled him to throw out the rules book when it comes to songwriting and use his creativity to the fullest extent possible.

"This new album I'm working on, I'm approaching it very differently than I've ever approached any album before," Tate said.

"It's always been in my head to create music based on a commercial attangement — intro, verse, chorus, solo… that kind of thing. Just because my band always wrote music for radio, and [with] radio you had to conform to a format and a standard in order to get [the songs] on the radio. And I suddenly realized one day that, well, this album, it's not gonna be played on the radio. It won't be, because there's no money to promote it on the radio. So why am I following that same format? And all of a sudden, I just went, 'Oh my God. I don't have to follow the street signs anymore. I can do whatever I want.' And it was like this revelation. And I feel kind of ridiculous admitting it out loud, but it's true. It's like I saw God all of a sudden. So I've just been writing."

He added: "It's so refreshing to not have to follow this to-minute, three-minute commercial format, arrangement, you know?! So I've been having a great time with it and just exploring melody. Which, I've always loved melody and figuring out variations on melody and I've tried to do that within the song structure since I started out. But in not having to follow this rigid format, it gives me a lot more of a chance… more space to create more melody. So when I get stated on a phrase, I can now take that phrase for two minutes and expand in harmony, or expand it and change it up in a rhythm structure way. So I'm just having a great time."

Swedish death metal act, Demonical, has inked a worldwide record deal with Agonia Records. Spawned in March 2006 by members of Centinex, the band preserves the flame of sheer, traditional death metal with a suitable dose of melodiousness and a damaging portion of unbound darnkess and utter brutality.

Paving the way for a new release, founder and bassist Martin Schulman commented: "We are genuinely thrilled to announce that Demonical have signed a new worldwide record deal with Agonia Records. I have already experienced the pleasure working with Agonia as they released the latest album from Centinex, so when the label approached me about signing Demonical as well it didn’t take me long to make my decision. I’m confident that Agonia’s potential, dedication and strong business knowledge will push Demonical into new heights and be a solid step forward for us on the path to utter death metal darkness".

He further added: "I would hereby also like to thank the entire Cyclone Empire crew for all the past years and for bringing us where we are today. Your support will not be forgotten."

 

 

With four full-length albums having climbed high at reader-polls in several magazines, international tours and festival exclusives, Demonical will strike again in 2015.

The band's latest album, Darkness Unbound, was released in 2013 on Cyclon Empire in Europe and Metal Blade Records in North America.

 

METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo spoke to LA Weekly about his involvement in the making of the documentary film on the life and music of bass legend Jaco Pastorius.

"Jaco - A Documentary Film" made its debut as a "work in progress" on October 6 at the Mill Valley Film Festival. The film features interviews with several high-profile musicians, including Joni Mitchell, and tells the story of Pastorius, a self-taught, larger-than-life musician who made almost mythical impact on music and reinvented the electric bass. Jaco brought a level of playing that gave the instrument a powerful and dynamic voice with both edge and beauty.

"Jaco - A Documentary Film" is currently in its final stages of post-production and is in the midst of a fan-funded partnership with Pledge Music.

Speaking about his investment in the project>, Trujillo said: "When you are trying to do it right, it's costly. I've been a part of this film for five years. I've spent a huge chunk of money. It's great because I feel it needs to be done, but I have [other] responsibilities, too."

Of his financial commitment to the film, Trujillo added: "People don’t understand. I didn't write [METALLICA's smash song] 'Enter Sandman'. It's a little different for me."

Directed by Paul Marchand and Stephen Kijak, "Jaco - A Documentary Film" includes interviews with a wide array of legendary musicians, from Herbie Hancock to Wayne Shorter to Joni Mitchell to Bootsy Collins, and was made with the full involvement and cooperation of the Pastorius family. It contains incredible unseen footage and photography procured by Gregory and Johnny Pastorius, providing exclusive archival support to further augment this engaging story.

The filmmakers have chosen PledgeMusic's direct-to-fan platform so as fans can not only be a part of the project but also unlock exclusive updates and content upon pledging. Pledgers can access a variety of unique experiences and cool items.

Like so many other musical greats, Jaco Pastorius died young, only 35, but his legacy has lasted the test of time. With his pioneering techniques, charismatic and outrageous stage performances and his unmistakable singular style, Jaco left behind a musical legacy that has continued to inspire and influence ongoing generations worldwide. Through his critically acclaimed self-titled solo debut album, his work with break-through fusion/jazz group WEATHER REPORT, whose "Heavy Weather" album is one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time, and his collaborations with singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell, Jaco's reputation and influence grew to permeate many musical styles and genres.

Mistress Carrie of the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor before the band's December 7 concert at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked whether SLIPKNOT's current stage show is the band's biggest production to date, Taylor said: "It's definitely one of 'em. I call it our IRON MAIDEN stage, because there's so much stuff going on; it's insane. I don't know if it's the biggest. I mean, it's definitely… it's very elaborate. And it's really cool; we've been having fun with it. Hats off to Clown [SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn Crahan]; he's the one that really designed it and walked it through every step and got it built and everything, and it looks really great. We brought in a whole new lighting company, and it looks incredible on stage."

Regarding whether SLIPKNOT has had any obligatory "Spinal Tap" moments with the new stage during the band's just-completed "Prepare For Hell Tour" with KORN, Taylor said: "No. I haven't, because I don't have anything that moves. They won't give me anything like that because they know I'll jump off it and break myself in half. But I believe Clown and Chris [Fehn, SLIPKNOT percussionist] have moving risers that go up and down and they spin, and the first couple of days, they were breaking down all the way up, and they go ten feet in the air. So they're just kind of, like, 'Cool. I'm not really sure how to get down from here now.' The stairs only go so far and then you kind of have to plummet to get off it. But after that, we kind of worked out the kinks, and it's been good ever since."

The "Prepare For Hell Tour" kicked off on October 29 in El Paso, Texas, just a few days after SLIPKNOT's two-day Knotfest event was held in San Bernardino, California.

Interview:


Peformance:

ANTHRAX members Scott Ian, Charlie Benante and Frankie Bello, who just officially started recording the band's new album, have posted a video message in which they remember late PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott on the 10th anniversary of his death. Check it out below.

Back in 2012, Ian stated about Abbott: "[Dimebag's] one of the few people on the planet I've ever seen that was able to drink the way he drank starting at 5 in the afternoon and then get onstage at 9, 9:30 and still rip it up. It just made him loose," King agreed. "It got him in the vibe to play."

Ian also explained why his time with Dimebag was more booze-soaked than any regular old alcohol-fueled metal tour. "My normal rules went out the window when I played with those guys," he said. "I would try to keep it to a minimum and say, 'I'm not doing more than three shots with you before I play.' But then they're walking onstage and handing me drinks in the middle of a set or pouring 'em down your throat. Any time I toured with those guys was the drunkest I've been in my life."

Ian also recalled hitting a strip club with several other metal musicians, including members of KISS and MÖTLEY CRÜE. "I do remember a night in New York where randomly, somehow Frankie [Bello of ANTHRAX], Vinnie Paul [of PANTERA], Darrell, Tommy Lee and Gene Simmons all ended up together at [the strip club] Scores. We ended up in a private room and for three or four hours I'm sitting next to Dime with a stripper on my lap constantly. There never wasn't a girl on my lap and there was always someone refilling my drinks. I remember saying to somebody afterward, 'Who paid for that? What did we do?' And the next day in the New York Post I saw a story, 'Tommy Lee dropped 28 grand at Scores last night.' So I guess I owe Tommy a thank you."

"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was shot to death along with three others during a DAMAGEPLAN performance at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio in December 2004.

Dimebag was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood RockWalk in May 2007 in a ceremony attended by Vinnie Paul, their father Jerry Abbott and Dimebag's longtime girlfriend, Rita Haney, along with members of ALICE IN CHAINS, ANTHRAX, KISS, SLAYER and Ozzy Osbourne's band.



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