Following a single and a sold-out UK headline tour in December 2015, Tax The Heat announce the release of their full length Nuclear Blast Entertainment debut, Fed To The Lions.

The album shows why there is so much excitement at the release of this record. Previous singles “Some Sympathy”, “Highway Home” and “Fed To The Lions” sit alongside future classics such as “Caroline”, “Animals” and “Stood On The Platform To Leave”. The driving rhythms of Jack Taylor (drums) and Antonio Angotti (bass) overlaid with the powerful riffs of JP Jacyshyn (guitars) and distinctive melodies of Alex Veale (vocals, guitars). The album is available on CD and vinyl. Pre-order Fed To The Lions here.

Tracklisting:

CD
“Highway Home”
“Animals”
“Under Watchful Eye”
“Fed To The Lions”
“Hit Me Hard”
“Stood On The Platform To Leave”
“Some Sympathy”
“Devil's Daughter”
“Learn To Drown (You're Wrong)”
“Caroline”
“Your Fool”
“Lost Our Way”

LP
Side A
“Highway Home”
“Animals”
“Under Watchful Eye”
“Fed To The Lions”
“Hit Me Hard”
“Stood On The Platform To Leave”

Side B
“Some Sympathy”
“Devil's Daughter”
“Learn To Drown (You're Wrong)”
“Caroline”
“Your Fool”
“Lost Our Way”

“Some Sympathy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7uuXZwFcLg

“Fed To The Lions” video:

“Highway Home” video:



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Wisconsin-based newcomers Product Of Hate chose their band name for a good reason. The five-piece honed their brutal and groovy thrash sound / NWOAHM by sharing the stage with Lamb Of God, Meshuggah, Gwar and Testament to name a few. The band is pumped and ready to introduce the world to their debut album, Buried In Violence. Check out their new video for the track “Monster”:

Product Of Hate has confirmed a February 5th release date for their debut album, Buried In Violence, via Napalm Records. The brutal artwork was designed Colin Marks of Rain Song Design. The album was mixed and mastered by the legendary James Murphy, known for his work with Death, Testament and Obituary.

"When you see the album art, right away you know what to expect. Dark, brutal, and unforgiving... The artwork was designed around the lyrics from our song, "Buried in Violence." It became the title track." says vocalist Adam Gilley.

Napalm Records A&R Representative Demetri Benoist added: "We are really looking forward to the release of Product Of Hate's debut album Buried In Violence! These guys are going to take the metal world by storm in 2016!"

Tracklisting:

“Kill. You. Now.”
“Annihilation”
“...As Your Kingdom Falls”
“Blood Coated Concrete”
“Monster”
“Buried In Violence”
“Vindicare”
“Nemesis”
“Revolution Of Destruction”
“Unholy Manipulator”
“Perry Mason”

"Blood Coated Concrete" video:

“Unholy Manipulator” video:



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According to NJ Advance Media, former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has sold the Lincroft, New Jersey home that was condemned after massive flooding from Hurricane Irene in 2011. The house that was once featured on MTV's "Cribs" went for $272,500 — about $85,000 less than what he paid more than twenty five years ago.

Bach, who has been living in Los Angeles for the past few years, tells NJ Advance Media, "To me, New Jersey is SKID ROW. That's why I moved there. That's the reason I bought a house there. New Jersey means so much to me about rock and roll. The Stone Pony, you know, Asbury Park. The beach. The boardwalk. The Count Basie Theatre, downtown Red Bank. Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash. Vintage Vinyl. I lived in those places for 20 years. For me, walking around Jersey is, like, haunted."

He continued: "I played Giants Stadium when I was 20 years old for 75,000 people. New Jersey is SKID ROW. We came from there. We are New Jersey. So without SKID ROW, I can't be in New Jersey."

Back in 2011, Bach's house was knocked off its foundation after a nearby reservoir overflowed, breaking the bridge next to his home and sending it into his garage. Among the items that he lost in his flooded basement were irreplaceable items such as SKID ROW master tapes, a KISS pinball machine and other band memorabilia.

"How I wish there was a reason to do a [SKID ROW] box set or something before Hurricane Irene hit," he wrote in a Facebook post at the time. "Nobody cared. Now it's too late. Don't know what you got 'till it's gone, indeed."

Bach put the house on the market in 2012, and at once point was asking as much as $669,000 for it.

Sebastian recently said that he "would love the chance" to bury the hatchet with his former bandmates in SKID ROW and reunite the group's classic lineup.

Sweden’s Adept have released a full preview (below) for their upcoming album, Sleepless, set to be released on February 19th via Napalm Records.

The band on the brand new signing with Napalm Records: "We are happy to announce that we have signed with Austria's finest Napalm Records. We can also reveal that our new album Sleepless will be released on February 19th 2016. Originally planned to be released summer 2015, this album has been an absolute roller coaster to make.

Recorded in January and then re-recorded in September we can finally shine a light on this album. Through the ups and downs we created something truly beautiful with Sleepless. A melodic hard-hitting album with its roots to our early days. Thanks to Napalm Records we have a new found strength and confidence to push us forward. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on. Bring on February."

Billie Klein - Napalm Records A&R: "We are more than happy to finally have Adept on board. Here is a young band that combines furious metal, uplifting and catchy melodies and post-rock atmospheres and is always ready to step on stage and rock, no matter the situation. Welcome to the Napalm Family!"

Sleepless tracklisting:

"Black Veins"
"Wounds"
"Dark Clouds"
"Carry The Weight"
"Rewind The Tape"
"Down And Out"
"The Choirs Of Absolution"
"Lights"
"The Sickness"
"Sleepless"

Preview:

“Dark Clouds” video:

Adept lineup:

Robert Ljung - vocals
Jerry Repo - guitar
Gustav Lithammer - guitar
Filip Brandelius - bass
Gabriel Hellmark - drums

 



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Taking flashlights and a simple HD cam, Calgary, AB-based progressive death metal band, Divinity, have created one of the cheapest but very much fulfilling music videos of their career. The band is premiering their video “Manhunt” in support of their upcoming EP The Immortalist Part 2 - Momentum, set to be unleashed on February 5th to follow 2013's The Immortalist - Part 1 - Awestruck.

Vocalist Sean Jenkins comments on the video: "We're very excited to release a new music video for our upcoming EP release! This video is raw, in your face, and will leave no doubt in your mind that we are back, stronger than ever. We're also very proud of the fact that we self produced and directed this video all in our band room using flashlights and an HD Cam. Who says you need a 10K budget to make a music video? We surely don't think so. Crank this new video up and rock on!"

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

Tracklisting:

“Manhunt”
“PsyWar”
“DMT”
“Momentum”

“Manhunt” video:



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Hammer Fight are a bunch whiskey-drinkin', beer guzzlin' bros who spawned from New Jersey. The band will release their Napalm Records debut, Profound And Profane, on March 25th. Today they have unveiled the artwork and track listing for the new album. The artwork was created by Raf the Might. Pre-orders for the new album are available here.

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

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

Profound And Profane tracklisting:

1. Picking Up Change
2. Target Acquired
3. Into the Dark
4. Good Times in Dark Ages
5. Gods of Rock n' Roll
6. Low & Broken
7. Private Stock
8. The Ultimate Sacrifice
9. Cell Mates
10. West Side Story
11. The Crate
12. Cult of Conceit

Hammer Fight lineup:

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

 



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Iconic Norwegian black metallers, Ragnarok, have revealed the artwork and details of their eighth studio album. Titled Psychopathology, the 11-track album is set for release via Agonia Records on March 25th and is now available for pre-order via the label's webshop

Psychopathology was recorded at the Endarker Studio in Sweden with Marduk bassist Devo at the helm. Following last year's surprise announcement that Ragnarok founder and drummer Jontho would be stepping out from behind the drum kit to take on the role of frontman and Dauden’s Malignant would take his place on drums, the lineup on the album comprises Jontho on vocals, Bolverk on guitars, Malignant on drums, and, making his swansong appearance with the band, DezeptiCunt on bass.

Psychopathology tracklisting:

“Dominance And Submission”
“I Hate”
“Psychopathology”
“My Creator”
“Infernal Majesty”
“Heretic”
“Into The Abyss”
“The Eighth Of The Seven Plagues”
“Lies”
“Blood”
“Where Dreams Come To Die”

With artwork by the Brazilian graphic artist Marcelo Vasco (Slayer, Machine Head, Dimmu Borgir), Psychopathology will be available in Jewel Case CD and Limited Edition black vinyl formats, as well as in transparent brown vinyl with red, yellow, white and blue splatter, strictly limited to 133 hand-numbered copies. Additionally, Agonia will release a CD Box which will be limited to 666 copies and which will include Psychopathology in CD format, a logo pin, poster, booklet with rare photos and old interviews, and the bonus compilation CD Chaos And Insanity Between 1994-2004 (details of which can be found below ).

As mentioned above, in addition to Psychopathology, Ragnarok will also release a special compilation album titled Chaos And Insanity Between 1994-2004, which features a rare collection of the band's early demos and EPs. The compilation will be released on Agonia Records at the same time as Psychopathology and will also be available in Limited Edition black vinyl, as well as in a red vinyl version which will be limited to 133 hand-numbered copies.

Chaos and Insanity Between 1994-2004 tracklisting:

I.Pagan Land demo 1994
“Intro”
“Pagan Land”
“From The Darkest Deep”
“Et Vinterland I Nord”
“Hammerens Slag”
“Ragnarok”

II.Various Unreleased tracks:
“Et Vinterland I Nord” (Ørevox version)
“Under The Wings Of Satan” (pre-production)
“Fainted Eyes” (Celtic Frost cover)
“Live 2004”

Jontho recently had this to say about fans can expect from Psychopathology: "I can say with absolute certainty that this album will be the best in Ragnarok's career to date. It is the result of dedication, hard work, and the musical skills of our lineup, and is the next stage in the band's development, both musically and lyrically. Psychopathology is about to unleash total chaos upon you as it invites you to dive deeper into the dark recesses of the human mind.”

 



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British rock n’ rollers, The Temperance Movement, have teamed up with Deezer for the release of an exclusive live EP. The band visited Deezer's headquarters in Paris earlier this month during a stop on their European headlining tour to perform acoustic renditions of songs from both the band's self-titled debut album and their brand new album, White Bear.

Live And Acoustic At Deezer tracklisting:

“Three Bulleits”
“Get Yourself Free”
“Midnight Black”
“White Bear”
“I Hope I'm Not Losing My Mind”
“Take It Back”
“Battle Lines”

Listen to the live/acoustic EP now exclusively on Deezer at this location. Watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video below:

The Temperance Movement will release their new studio album, White Bear, in North America on January 29th via Fantasy/Concord. The band have released the third behind-the-scenes video. See all three clips below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

The band have teamed up with Amazon to celebrate the upcoming release of White Bear. Theey are the latest artists to be featured on Amazon Front Row, with a selection of exclusive videos of the group performing stripped-down versions of three songs from White Bear: "Battle Lines", "Get Yourself Free" and the album's first single, "Three Bulleits".

Watch the videos now exclusively on Amazon at this location.

The Temperance Movement have spoken about the music and artists who have influenced them over the years. Band members Phil Campbell (vocals), Paul Sayer (guitar), Nick Fyffe (bass) and Damon Wilson (drums) sat down ahead of the release of their new album, White Bear, to talk about each of the members' influences and how the group brings it all together to capture and create something truly special and unique.

The follow-up to their 2013 self-titled debut was recorded with producer Sam Miller in London, Northamptonshire and Monmouth and features 10 stomping new rock anthems.  Have a listen to “Three Bulleits” below for a sneak peek, and pre-order the album here.

Guitarist, Paul Sayer comments, "White Bear is a real step up for us sonically and artistically. Playing so many shows together over the last 3 years allowed us to develop a really clear idea of where we wanted to go with our next record. When it came to making this album we had a bit more time and space to let our creativity go, and I'm incredibly proud of what we achieved”

On the album title, White Bear, singer Phil Campbell notes, "Nick called me with the title which inspired the lyric to the song. It refers to a study by Daniel Wenger on mindfulness and the controlling of unwanted thoughts, testing a quote from Dostoevsky's Winter Notes on Summer Impressions: ‘Try to pose for yourself this task: not to think of a polar bear, and you will see that the cursed thing will come to mind every minute.’"

White Bear tracklisting:

“Three Bulleits”
“Get Yourself Free”
“A Pleasant Peace I Feel”
“Modern Massacre”
“Battle Lines”
“White Bear”
“Oh Lorraine”
“Magnify”
“The Sun and Moon Roll Around Too Soon”
“I Hope I'm Not Losing My Mind”

Album preview:

“Three Bulleits”:

The band will tour across Canada in February and March with Monster Truck. Tour dates below:

February
23 - Victoria, BC - Sugar Nightclub
25 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
27 - Calgary, AB - MacEwan Ballroom

March
1 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall
2 - Regina, SK - The Pump
4 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick
5 - Thunder Bay, ON - Outpost
8 - Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle
9 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
11  - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
12 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre

Don't miss The Temperance Movement on tour in the UK in support of White Bear:

January
21 - Newcastle, UK - University
22 - Leeds, UK - Becket University
24 - Manchester, UK - Academy 2
25 - Birmingham, UK - Institute
26 - Cardiff, UK - Y Plas
27 - London, UK - Shepherd's Bush Empire

 



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Polish death metal masters, Decapitated, have released an official video for their new track, “Veins”. The unique animated video was created by Polish based animator / concept artist Łukasz Rusinek and depicts an apocalyptic universe featuring droids and feuding superpowers. Watch the video below.

Łukasz commented on the video: "Animation is an area extremely time-consuming and the fact that I work alone only adds to the sad fact that, especially during complex productions such as the video for the song 'Veins' by Decapitated, my little ones await their father to come back home in the evenings in vain and my newlywed wife withers at the window longing to see me. Despite these minor inconveniences, I do not complain because I love to combine sound with vision.  On most occasions I prepare scripts myself.  And so it was this time. I came up with a short story with the apocalypse in the background, set in a slightly imaginary universe in which droids fight on battlefields instead of humans, intelligence cells of feuding superpowers plot their rise to power, and the relics of the Cold War keep waiting for someone to finally press that 'damn button'. Enjoy."

The video is being released in support of the Decapitated's forthcoming tour dates across the US, EU and UK. Speaking about their international dates, the band commented: "We can't wait to start the touring ahead - we're in America, Canada, UK and Europe with some great bands and look forward to playing in front of our loyal Decapitated fans across the world!”

March (with Sylosis, Black Tongue)
2 - Bristol, UK - Marble Factory
3 - Birmingham, UK - Rainbow Warehouse
4 - Glasgow, UK - Garage
5 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3
6 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom
8 - Colchester, UK - Arts Centre
9 - Plymouth, UK - The Hub
10 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
11 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
12 - Norwich, UK - The Waterfront
 

March (with Heart Of A Coward)
29 - Berlin, Germany - Musik und Frieden
30 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
31 - Cologne, Germany - Luxor

April (with Heart Of A Coward)
2 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Amsterdam Metal Fest @ Melkweg
3 - Aardschot, Belgium - De Klinker
4 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Rockhal
5 - Paris, France - O’Sullivans
6 - Lyon, France - Le Ninkasi Kao
7 - Zurich, Switzerland - Werk 21
8 - Milano, Italy - Lo Fi Club



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Norwegian progressive rock pioneers, Aunt Mary, have announced the band's return with the release of the New Dawn studio album on February 12th. The heavy rock icons approach this come back with a new lineup, and plans to stage select appearances across the globe.

Pioneers on the Norwegian heavy-rock scene in the early 70s, Aunt Mary was considered among the absolute elite of European rock bands. Alongside Deep Purple, Ten Years After, King Crimson, Jethro Tull and others, the band shared the scene, at times overshadowing these cornerstone acts. They officially broke up in 1973 following the release of their heavily progressive oriented album Janus, and the successful tour staged to support the title. Over the next several decades, they sporadically staged appearances, and issued an album of Blues covers in 1992 titled Bluesprints. After a period characterized by both musical joy and personal profound grief over the last several years, Aunt Mary looks towards 2016 with optimism and a keen commitment to cement the band's legacy as a cornerstone act in the Scandinavian and worldwide history of rock.

In 2013, initiated by Norwegian guitar legend and producer – and devoted Aunt Mary-fan – Ronni Le Tekrö, the original line-up prepared to enter the studio when band mate and bass player Svein Gundersen announced his resignation. Rather than capitulate and not see his vision through, Le Tekrö approached Bernt Bodal to join. Back in the 70s, Bodal was the bass player in the band Host, Prog contemporaries of Aunt Mary. He had moved to the US and worked his way up from ordinary fisherman to be the founder and part owner of American Seafoods - one of the world’s largest seafood companies. Simultaneously he kept his bass playing skills on a master level, playing with rock stars like Steven Tyler, Sammy Hagar, Alan White, Spike Edney, Roger Taylor, Brian May, Roger Daltrey, Jeff Beck and Eddie Vedder. He also contributed his musical talents on one of Ronni Le Tekrö’s solo albums.

With Bodal now committed, the band prepared for the studio sessions. More shocking news blindsided the Aunt Mary members as singer Jan Groth announced he had to resign due to illness from cancer. He urged the others to continue without him, and again Ronni Le Tekrö exhibited his producer genius. He introduced the band to Glenn Lyse, 2007 Norwegian Idol winner, which turned out to be another match made in heaven. With Lyse formally taking over as Aunt Mary's front man, the band entered the studio and began recording. Jan Groth died in August, 2014.

Having barely finished the recording sessions, the band mates received yet devastating news: Drummer Ketil Stensvik had also been diagnosed with cancer. And in April, 2015 Stensvik passed away. Less than three years after the first plans for a new album with the founding members of Aunt Mary, guitar player and the band's main songwriter Björn Kristiansen found himself the only remaining part of the original line-up. After thorough consideration, and discussions with the new members of the group, he decided to carry on.

Early next year, Aunt Mary will begin touring accompanied by Ronni Le Tekrö’s band, TNT. Music history will be written as Norway’s first and leading heavy-rock band will share the scene with Norway’s first and leading heavy-metal band. As their new drummer, Aunt Mary has recruited Ole Tom Torjussen. New Dawn is produced by Kjartan Hesthagen and Henning Ramseth (the latter also plays keyboards on the album).

Despite the adversity that has repeatedly challenged Aunt Mary, Kristiansen, Bodal, Lyse, and Torjussen celebrate plans to return to the stage, bring new music to their decades of fans, and to find new ones in North America, Scandinavia and across the globe.

Aunt Mary guitarist, and principle songwriter Björn Kristiansen shares, "..after many years without any new album from Aunt Mary it`s with great pride and joy I`m now looking forward to releasing our new studio album New Dawn. The majority of the songs on this record are written based on my ideas, with great help from my band mates. Being the sole remaining original member of the group, I`m from the bottom of my heart grateful for this opportunity to again be able to share our music with old and new friends around the world!”



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Leprous' Tor Oddmund Suhrke and Baard Kolstad are featured on the third episode of FreqsTV’s original series, Into the Machine. They discusshow the band’s writing process has changed over the years and the attentiveness of prog fans.. Future episodes will include Steven Wilson, Haken, Periphery and more.

The series, presented by Germany’s Metal Hammer, will feature a different band every Thursday on the official FreqsTV YouTube channel.

Into The Machine - Ep. 3, Leprous:



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"In a world of pop music we are freaks. We do everything completely opposite of what the current formula of doing things is. We recorded and produced everything ourselves with no outside influences. We play a style of music that is underground. We are all freaks of nature." So proclaims Beastmaker singer, guitarist and mastermind Trevor William Church.

Hence the title of Beastmaker's debut: Lusus Naturae, or Freak Of Nature. "When you think differently and do things unconventionally, you are an outsider," he ventures. "We wanted to bring a natural essence back into music the best way we could in a digital world."

Lusus Naturae is set for a March 26th release via Rise Above Records.
 
Beastmaker hail from the unlikely locale of Fresno, California. Sweating profusely in a parched no man's land about three and a half hours northeast of Los Angeles, the city isn't exactly a cultural mecca-and yet it's the birthplace of Hollywood outsiders and weirdos like Sid Haig, Slim Pickens and director Sam Peckinpah. Still, it suffers from an unsurprising dearth of musicians interested in heavy rock. Though Church had the concept for Beastmaker as far back as 2006, it wasn't until he and drummer Andres Alejandro Saldate, aka Juan Bonham, hooked up with bassist John Tucker in 2014 that the band was fully realized.

"I was really inspired by old bands and metal," Church explains. "From the Zombies to Slayer, from Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons to Black Sabbath. I was really into NWOBHM and what bands like Witchcraft are doing now. After many failed attempts and at least five bands in between, we found John and finally had a solid lineup."
 
Bleak and burly overtones of Sabbath, Pentagram and Witchfinder General ring through Lusus Naturae like echoes from a haunted past. Slow-rolling bruisers "Eyes Are Watching”, "Arachne" and "It" set the tone of doom and despair with nods to heavy '70s classics, cult horror flicks and the inimitable work of one Mr. Glenn Anzalone.

"When it comes to genre, I think of us as a much slower version of the Misfits or Danzig, but I've come to love the word 'Doom' whether or not it really relates to us," Church offers. "It just feels like home."
 
Beastmaker's lyrical landscape is awash in imagery from midnight movies and the dark arts, but that's only part of the picture. "I like to make up stories," Church says simply. "I use horror movies and the occult as influences but rarely directly. For instance, 'Mask of Satan' is me paying homage to the great horror film Black Sunday very directly. On the other hand, 'You Must Sin' is about a woman longing for love and finding it in the most bizarre place, but John will tell you it's a political song. I like to think that people come up with their own interpretations of what the songs mean and let their minds run free."

Lusus Naturae tracklisting:

“Clouds In The Sky”
“Eyes Are Watching”
“Arachne”
“Skin Crawler”
“Find The Stranger”
“You Must Sin”
“Burnt Offering”
“Mask Of Satan”
“It”
“Astral Corpse”
“Lusus Naturae”
“The Strain”

“You Must Sin”:

You Must Sin by Beastmaker

 



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Greece’s Rotting Christ have released a teaser for their upcoming album, Rituals, due out on February 12th via Season Of Mist.

Rituals tracklisting:

“In Nomine Dei Nostri”
“Ze Nigmar”
“Elthe Kyrie”
“Les Litanies De Satan (Les Fleurs Du Mal)”
“Apage Satana”
“Tou Thanatou”
“For A Voice Like Thunder”
“Konx Om Pax”
“Devadevam”
“The Four Horsemen”
“Lok'tar Ogar” (bonus track)

“Ze Nigmar”:

“Elthe Kyrie”:

Rotting Christ lineup:

Sakis - vocals, guitars
Themis - drums
Van Ace - bass
George - guitars



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In a brand new interview with USA Today, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine spoke about what transpired to cause the band's drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick to abruptly announce their exits within hours of each other in November 2014. "I was surprised but not surprised," Mustaine said. It didn't help that MEGADETH fans kept asking the band to re-team with"Rust In Peace"-era guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. Although that reunion never panned out, "everybody was talking about it and they quit," Mustaine said. "I would have, too."

As for whether there are any hard feelings, Mustaine said: "I got to this point in my life where I realized that you don't have to put somebody down to make somebody else look great. I've got nothing bad to say about Shawn and Chris. I miss the friendship. I wish we had gotten the chance to say goodbye."

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

Mustaine told Australian Associated Press about MEGADETH's latest additions: "In no way is this meant to be offensive to Shawn or Chris, but we've definitely upgraded talent-wise, personality-wise, friendship-wise."

Mustaine also shot down the widely held belief that MEGADETH is a dictatorship, explaining that his goal at the end of the day is just to be a good leader.

"A lot of people think that the way we do things is always my way but it's not," he said. "Sometimes I've chosen the right way, sometimes the way that I've chosen was not the right way. Basically, treat people the way you want to be treated ... If you're a good leader and you love your people, they'll do it."

MEGADETH's fifteenth studio album, "Dystopia", will be released on January 22. The follow-up to 2013's "Super Collider" was recorded last year year in Nashville, Tennessee and was mixed by Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with LAMB OF GOD, ALL THAT REMAINS and GOJIRA.

Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend will enter the studio on March 27 to begin recording the next album to be released under the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT banner. Tentatively titled "Transcendence", the follow-up to DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT's 2014 double album "Z2" will be released in September.

Speaking to Metal Wani's editor in chief Owais "Vitek" Nabi, Townsend said about the writing process for his next CD (hear audio below): "Because 'Z2' happened amidst the crowdfunding, amidst touring and just lots of shit, it was really a challenging and tiring experience. So I've tried to spend this year really putting the pieces together. So now that we are working on a new DTP record, the process will be more streamlined, more efficient and more fulfilling."

He continued: "The way that I write is I just write a ton of music in the background of my life and then I just bring it into rehearsal. It's, like, 'Okay, guys. It goes like this. Let's smooth it out.'"

Townsend also talked about the new album's musical and lyrical direction. He said: "In terms of what the music is, it's always hard to tell. But in terms of what the theme is, I can tell you — it's about getting over it: getting over yourself, getting over… all that stuff. And I'm not saying that I am. But the point of it is, that seems to be the next step."

He went on to say: "You know, I'll get into situations with people that I'll be really irritated by them. And recently there's been this sort of thing that's been going on in my process where I'm, like, 'This is your problem. This is not [the other] person that needs to change; it's you and how you're reacting to them.' And that's kind of new, right?"

Townsend added: "Because I have been so pigheaded and so selfish about so many things for so many years, I've spent a lot of time being, like, 'That person needs to change. This person needs to change.' So, in a sense, this record is based around the sense of, like, what needs to change is your reaction to these things and not them."

"Z2" was a double album where the first CD was a DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT album called "Sky Blue", and the second disc was a ZILTOID album called "Dark Matters".

According to The New York Times, Josh Homme of QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and legendary rocker Iggy Pop have joined forces to record a new album, "Post Pop Depression", due in March via Loma Vista. The nine-song CD was recorded with the help of QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE guitarist/keyboardist Dean Fertita and ARCTIC MONKEYS drummer Matt Helders. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen and Matt Sweeney of CHAVEZ will round out the new band's touring lineup.

Homme told The New York Times that the project began with a text message from Pop. "It basically said, 'Hey, it would be great if we got together and maybe write something sometime,'" said Homme.

"We paid for whatever ourselves," Pop told The New York Times. "But it was made to be heard — not to be some quirky thing that we did with our own money…"

"He is the last one of the one-of-a-kinds," Homme said of Pop. "This is a much-deserved victory lap for a man who's not sure if he won. But he did. He may have tunneled underground for lots of that, but he still got to the destination."

Pop and Homme's new project will make its debut on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" Thursday night.

MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil spoke to the South Bend Tribune about the completion of the band's 18-month "The Final Tour" on December 31 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He said: "I was emotional. There is video out there. I broke down. It was emotional and surreal and exhilarating. You think about it, it was a huge part of my life."

Asked if he could foresee MÖTLEY CRÜE ever reuniting, Neil said: "Never. That was it."

Neil also talked about his solo live backing band, which continues to consist of bassist Dana Strum and Jeff Blando (both of SLAUGHTER) and drummer Zoltan Chaney. He said: "I have been with these guys for almost nine years now. They are all great. It's a great combination. It's cool and it's a good vibe. We are definitely bringing a good time to town."

He added: "We do all of the MÖTLEY stuff and a lot of the stuff that MÖTLEY didn't normally do. These guys are great. I can call out anything. It is a lot of fun and has a great energy. Everybody that has seen it really enjoyed it."

According to Billboard.com, MÖTLEY CRÜE's three final shows at the Staples Center (on December 28, December 30 and December 31) were seen by 37,000 fans, generating $2.7 million in box office revenue.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Final Tour" saw the band perform across five continents (North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia) for a total of more than 164 shows in 72 markets, grossing $100 million.

MÖTLEY CRÜE announced that a full-length concert film will be released this year. The movie will include exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the last week of the band's five-continent tour, which began in July 2014.

In a brand new interview with Gigs And Festivals, legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker spoke about what it was like playing in the earliest days of the SCORPIONS alongside his brother Rudolf. He said: "There are things that I know today, and I must say I'm actually very disappointed in my brother and the SCORPIONS these days, because I just found out that a lot of things have been incorrect in the past. Me, being seven years younger than the other guys, I think I was taken advantage of right from the beginning."

He continued: "I wrote most of the SCORPIONS songs on the 'Lonesome Crow' album, and it was credited to all members. The very first song I ever wrote was 'In Search Of The Peace Of Mind', and it too was credited to all members. I was focusing on music, and they were maybe focusing on business. I have no idea, but they didn't know how to write songs in those days."

Asked if he has any plans to get up on stage with the SCORPIONS before they call it a day, Michael said: "I don't pay attention to any of that. I focus on what I'm doing. I'm fed up with that, and I'm disappointed in them; they have completely distorted the 'Lovedrive' phase. Just a few weeks ago, I was confronted with the SCORPIONS [albums reissue] box, and what I saw there, it really, really shocked me. I can't trust them anymore. The whole 'Lovedrive' story is wrong. They are putting it down as if I begged them to take me into the SCORPIONS. They begged me to join — I was already doing arena tours with UFO in the States. It's unbelievable. They asked me to help them, and now I see that the whole 'Lovedrive' story is written to their favor; they are the big guys."

He continued: "I can't believe it, honestly. They're just fooling people with their finishing playing, and then they don't, and then [they continue playing] forever and ever. I guess when you get older, you get bolder or something, but I have absolutely no interest because I can't trust them. If I look back now, it's unbelievable, little bits and pieces I'm discovering. So putting together the whole picture, it looks like they're absolutely desperate."

According to Michael, the difference between him and his brother is that "one can play and the other one can't! [Laughs] That's how you can find out who is who. Or you look at the eyes; his eyes are brown, but he can fake that too by getting blue lenses. Rudolf is the entertainer on a visual level; I'm the artist."

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider has signed a record deal to release a new solo album titled "Now". Most, if not all, of the material on the disc will be a collaboration with Damon Ranger, a Grammy, Oscar and Emmy Award winner whose credits include Katy Perry's "Roar", working with Kanye West, and the score for "Life Of Pi". Snider has already recorded five songs with Ranger and his team, including members of pop singer Pink's band, in Chicago, and is preparing to return to the studio at the end of February to complete the effort.

During an appearance on a recent edition of the "One On One With Mitch Lafon" podcast (Facebook page), Snider stated about his new musical path (hear audio below): "I've been approached by some top songwriters who said, 'Dee, you're iconic, and we think we can bring you to the masses with contemporary rock music.' And I was, like, 'Let's do it.' They came to me. These are people who write for Kanye, they write for Katy Perry, they write for Pink, they write for Taylor Swift… They're top pop songwriters. And they said, 'Listen…' This guy's name is Damon Ranger. And he says, 'You're iconic. You're the voice of rebellion. And I think with the right songs, you could reach a whole new audience — a mainstream rock audience.' And I said, 'You've got songs?' He goes, 'Yeah.' I said, 'Let's give it a try.' So we demoed one song, called 'We Are The Ones', which is a real Active Rock… it's hard, but it's not metal. And it came out great. So we went into the studio and recorded four more songs. And I just signed two [record] deals, and we're going back into the studio to finish the album at the end of February. And I'm not sure when we're gonna release it."

Describing the sound of "Now", Snider said: "To me, I like the word 'new.' I like something contemporary. And that argues with the point… Someone is screaming at their iPhone [right now while listening to this interview and going], 'You said [you wouldn't make any] new music.' Yeah, [no new music] from me. Actually, Damon said, 'So do you wanna write with me on this?' I said, 'Oh, no!' I said, 'I don't know what's new.' I said, 'I know how to write old.' I said, 'I don't know how to write new music.' So I said, 'I don't want anything to do with the writing process. Create some songs, and if I could feel inspired by them, I will sing them.' And the stuff is really great. It's not thrashy; it's not metal. But it's got attitude; it's got my attitude. It's anthemic."

He continued: "I've been challenged to transform myself at the ripe old age of 61, and I like being challenged. It was almost a dare. I don't wanna say it's out of my wheelhouse, 'cause it's my voice. But this stuff is very different. It's edgy. Think FOO FIGHTERS, think QUEEN stadium anthem [type of sound], think that kind of mainstream rock. So it's still crunchy, and it's still got attitude, but it's not '80s rock. It's contemporary-sounding stuff."

Dee added that he is open to the idea of playing shows in support of "Now", but cautioned that "if I play out, [the setlist is] gonna [consist of] just new music. And yeah, I'll probably do [classic TWISTED SISTER songs] 'We're Not Gonna Take It' and 'I Wanna Rock' as an encore. But it's just gonna be the new sound. No more headbanging [laughs], no more throwing my body on the ground. It'll still be an intense, rocking performance, but it's gonna be more mainstream."

Snider admitted that it will be a tall order convincing rock music fans to embrace his new sound. "Will they be able to say, 'Oh, Dee Snider — new contemporary rock music. Can we accept Dee Snider?'" he said. "So far… Like I said, we demoed [several songs] and we got record deals, so we've got people who see it and hear it and believe it. So we'll continue down this path and we will see."

A new Dee Snider rock song called "To Hell And Back", which the singer recorded with his solo band, including former SILVERTIDE guitarist Nick Perri, made its online debut last July. It was announced at the time that the track would be included on a new album that Dee was working on that was also supposed to feature material from Snider's past, including his worldwide hits with TWISTED SISTER.

Los Angeles death metal unit, The Zenith Passage - which features within its ranks current and former members of The Faceless, Fallujah and All Shall Perish - will unleash its debut full-length on April 15 via Unique Leader Records. Titled Solipsist, the ten track offering was engineered, mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren (Animosity, Suffocation, All Shall Perish) at Castle Ultimate Productions with additional engineering by TZP guitarist Justin McKinney and Michael Keene (The Faceless) at Keene Machine Studios. A new lyric video for "Holographic Principle II: Convergence" is streaming below.

Elaborates lead guitarist/ backing vocalist Justin McKinney of the tune, "Recent studies suggest that our universe may only appear to be three dimensional and is, in fact, a two dimensional projection of a parallel universe - like a hologram in the unseen 'real' universe. 'Holographic Principle II: Convergence' mirrors the chaotic state of a destabilized mind awakening to realities much stranger than we could have imagined. The composition has a multifaceted, sporadic essence. While remaining true to our death metal roots, we pushed this piece's edges into other territory, entwining the aggressive technical foundation with spatters of jazz fusion and classical symphony. We hope you'll lose yourself as you take your first look into Solipsist."
 
Across forty minutes of music, The Zenith Passage examines the idea of solipsism, a philosophical theory that the self is all that can be known to exist, anything else outside of one's own mind is uncertain. The Zenith Passage builds upon this foundation, expanding into themes of nonexistence and a computer-generated fictional reality experienced by all of humanity. Solipsist demands that listeners join the band on their voyage to explore the unsettlingly complex and improbable world they've uncovered in this bold experiment, this gut-wrenching visceral transmission of disturbing intellectual revelation.

Solipsist includes a guest vocal appearance by Fallujah's Alex Hofmann, a guitar solo by Wes Hauch (ex-The Faceless) who also co-wrote a portion of seventh cut, "Hypnagogia," a synth solo by Vikram Shankar and cover art by Ken Sarafin (Skinless, The Kennedy Veil, Archspire).

Tracklisting:

“Holographic Principle I: Emergence”
“Holographic Principle II: Convergence”
“Simulated Reality”
“Deus Deceptor”
“The Dissension Consensus”
“Dreamsphere”
“Hypnagogia”
“Metaphysical Solipsism”
“The Tenebrous Veil”
“Luminary Singularity”

"Holographic Principle II: Convergence" lyric video:

The Zenith Passage is:
Greg Hampton - lead vocals
Rob Maramonte - guitars
Luis Martinez - drums
Justin McKinney - guitars, backing vocals (bass on album)



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In a tradition that dates back to Late Antiquity, the Lord Of Misrule or "Abbot Of Unreason" was the doomed figure elected to preside over the Feast Of Fools, an annual Saturnalian bacchanalia in which masters became servants and servants masters, while drunken revelry and strange entertainments pervaded Britain and parts of mainland Europe for 30 days. At the end of the month's festivities, the Lord of Misrule's throat was cut in sacrifice to Saturn.
 
Taking its title from this fascinating slice of religious history, Blood Ceremony's fourth album evokes pagan rites and the bizarre mystical underbelly of rural Britain. Embracing the psychedelic and progressive in their indelible songcraft, guitarist Sean Kennedy, bassist Lucas Gadke, drummer Michael Carrillo and triple threat vocalist/flautist/organist Alia O'Brien have created what Kennedy calls "a very English album," despite the band's very Canadian heritage. Recorded to analogue tape with producer Liam Watson at Toe Rag Studios in London, Lord Of Misrule possesses a timeless quality within the rock epoch: It could stand alongside a Shocking Blue or Deep Purple record as easily as it will take its place among 2016's finest albums.
 
Lord Of Misrule conjures a lush atmosphere in which the pastoral horror of The Wicker Man and the Scottish ballad of Tam Lin-as viewed through the lens flare of Ava Gardner's witchy turn in 1970's The Devil's Widow-are alchemized into songs of seduction and mortality. "There's no defining concept running through the album, unless one can imagine a lord of misrule offering each song as a different entertainment," Kennedy says. "The lyrics tend to deal, in different measure, with obsession, love and death."  
 
Lord Of Misrule will be released March 26 via Rise Above Records.  

Tracklisting:

“The Devil’s Widow”
“Loreley”
“The Rogue’s Lot”
“Lord Of Misrule”
“Half Moon Street”
“The Weird Of Finistere”
“Flower Phantoms”
“Old Fires”
“Things Present, Things Past”

To coincide with the album’s release, they will be out on the road in Europe this April.

Dates:

April
15 – Paris, France – Backstage by The Mill
16 – Tilburg, Netherlands – Roadburn Festival
17 – Hamburg, Germany – Rock Café St. Pauli
18 – Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
19 – Vienna, Austria – The Chelsea
20 – Munich, Germany – Backstage Club
21 – Madonna Dell’alberto, Italy – Bronson
22 – Milan, Italy – Legend
23 – Olton, Switzerland – Coq D’or
24 – Nurnberg, Germany – Hirsch
25 – Frankfurt, Germany – Nachtleben
26 – Cologne, Germany – MTC
28 – Manchester, UK – The Deaf Institute
29 – Glasgow, UK – Audio
30 – Birmingham, UK – The Rainbow

(Photo: Ester Segarra)



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Finnish rockers RECKLESS LOVE will release their fourth studio album, "InVader", on March 4 via Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to the colorful quartet's previous CD, 2013's "Spirit", was produced by Ilkka Wirtanen and sees the musicians exploring fresh sounds as well as delivering their audience-pleasing signature party anthems.

"Our latest album, 'InVader', sends a fresh breeze from Finland to all over the world in March 2016," explains drummer Hessu Maxx. "We took our time with this album and it was worth it. 'InVader' is our boldest and most versatile album so far. We recorded these killer songs, we found the sound and it's all there. There is nothing to add. We really nailed it this time."

He continued: "We are really looking forward to getting back on the road because that is where we belong. You're going to see and hear this merry metal four-piece even stronger than before."

"InVader" track listing:

01. We Are The Weekend02. Hands03. Monster04. Child Of The Sun05. Bullettime06. Scandinavian Girls07. Pretty Boy Swagger08. Rock It09. Destiny10. Let's Get Cracking11. Keep It Up All Night (U.K. bonus track)

On the live front, RECKLESS LOVE will be returning to the U.K. in March, with Spinefarm labelmates SANTA CRUZ guesting on all dates. After the first seven shows, the tour heads off into Europe before culminating at the end of the month at the Scala theatre in London.

RECKLESS LOVE singer Olli Herman (a.k.a. H. Olliver Twisted) joined Swedish rockers CRASHDIET in 2006 as the replacement for David Hellman (a.k.a. Dave Lepard), who committed suicide in January 2006.

Olli left CRASHDIET shortly after the release of the band's second album, "The Unattractive Revolution", in order to focus all his attention on RECKLESS LOVE.

AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler says that he has been working on the return of GUNS N' ROSES for years and has predicted that the reunion of Slash, Axl Rose and Duff McKagan will be "huge."

GUNS N' ROSES will play two shows before its mid-April appearance at the Coachella Music And Arts Festival in California, with the band now scheduled to perform at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 8 and April 9, just days after the venue opens for business on April 6.

GUNS N' ROSES' headlining slots on April 16 and April 23 at the Coachella event in Indio, California were confirmed earlier this month after widespread speculation that the band would appear at the festival.

The band's lineup will feature Rose, Slash and McKagan performing together for the first time since 1994, although the rest of the group roster has yet to be confirmed.

Speaking to Getty Images while preparing to board a flight at the Los Angeles International Airport, Tyler said about GUNS N' ROSES' comeback: "I've been working on it for years." He explained that he "just told [Slash] that the world needs more rock and roll and [there is] enough of people arguing, especially when they're as talented and as great. Everybody loves their songs. That's what rock and roll is about."

Asked how big be thinks the GUNS N' ROSES reunion will be, Tyler responded: "Huge. There are no words." But he cautioned: "Just don't forget this: it don't happen 'till it happens."

Pressed on why he thinks Slash and Rose finally decided to reunite after more than twenty years, Tyler said: "'Cause obviously there was a row, and they finally made up. What do you think?"

GN'R is reportedly negotiating with promoters to play as many as 25 stadiums in North America this summer. The band is said to be asking as much as $3 million per show, with tickets topping out in the $250 to $275 range.

In an interview with Guitar World, AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry said about the classic lineup of GUNS N' ROSES: "[They] were great and really made a mark in rock and roll history. It's a shame that whatever energy they saw in each other on that first record they couldn't sustain. They made a great record and could have been huge all around the world for as long as they wanted."

He added in a separate chat with USA Today: "It would be great for the original [GUNS N' ROSES] to get back together, but it takes more than great songs to keep a band going. Slash has done an amazing job on his own."

"Moment Of Betrayal", a brand new song from progressive metallers DREAM THEATER, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's thirteenth album, "The Astonishing", which will be released on January 29 via Roadrunner. The CD will be made available in a wide range of distinctive versions, including standard 2-CD set, 4-LP vinyl box set and a limited edition deluxe box set, all of which are currently available for pre-order at this location.

Recorded at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York, with John Petrucci producing, studio luminary Richard Chycki (AEROSMITH, RUSH) engineering/mixing and legendary arranger, composer and conductor David Campbell orchestrating, "The Astonishing" paints a tale of a retro-futurist post-apocalyptic dystopia ruled by medieval style feudalism. It's a place aching for a Chosen One to rise above the noise and defeat an Empire defined by the endless drone of noise machines and the illusion of safety in bland conformity.

The band comments on "The Astonishing" artwork: "This album cover extends an ominous invitation into the retro-futurist dystopian setting of 'The Astonishing'. The deceptively beautiful yet chillingly totalitarian image is a bold harbinger of the visual components and ideas presented by the sonic story that is our most ambitious creative work to date. We are very proud to soon bring you… 'The Astonishing'."

Asked what prompted the idea to make "The Astonishing" a rock-opera concept album so elaborate, with a full, detailed storyline, DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci told RollingStone.com: "The idea to do a concept album as a band felt right. The last one we did [1999's 'Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory'] was about 15 years ago, and it really felt like we were in a good place to do this. I knew that what needed to happen, first and foremost, is that we had to have a story to base this on, because the idea of basing an album off of a loose concept or something that was sort of arbitrary, that didn't interest me at all. I wanted this not only to be a concept album, but really to write a full show. And to have all the elements in place, the story needs to drive that. We needed to have the storyline, a plot, places, characters, maps — you name it. So that started about two and a half years ago; it took about a year for me to get that story done and ready to present to the guys. And I wanted to write from a place that was familiar to me, so I knew that music had to play a role in the story somehow. I'm a huge fan of the sci-fi and fantasy genres, so I had a pretty good idea of where I wanted to go. But it was a matter of really diving into it and working on it, revising and revising again, and working on it every day until I had something solid."

Petrucci also talked in more detail about the songwriting process for "The Atonishing". He said: "Because of the sheer volume of music — you're talking, when all's said and done, probably two hours, 10 minutes' worth of music — every step of this has been a huge process. I don't think I've had time to do anything else over the last year or so [laughs]! In order to do this right, I had to be really, really organized about it. Jordan [Rudess, keyboards] and I wrote the music as really a prog-metal score to the story. We didn't sit down and say, 'Let's write a song, here's the first chorus, whatever.' We would go through the story and say, "What's happening here, where is it taking place?" We had to make sure the mythology was right, the timeline was right. And that carried through on every level. When it came to presenting the orchestration to [veteran conductor and orchestrator] David Campbell and getting him involved; when it came to writing the lyrics, and then me having to go through it song by song, character by character; even things like the artwork, creating the map and all those different towns and cities and roads — every sort of level and layer took a lot of organization and focus."

"The Astonishing" track listing:

Act I

01. Descent Of The NOMACS02. Dystopian Overture03. The Gift Of Music04. The Answer05. A Better Life06. Lord Nafaryus07. A Savior In The Square08. When Your Time Has Come09. Act Of Faythe10. Three Days11. The Hovering Sojourn12. Brother, Can You Hear Me?13. A Life Left Behind14. Ravenskill15. Chosen16. A Tempting Offer17. Digital Discord18. The X Aspect19. A New Beginning20. The Road To Revolution

Act II

01. 2285 Entr'acte02. Moment Of Betrayal03. Heaven’s Cove04. Begin Again05. The Path That Divides06. Machine Chatter07. The Walking Shadow08. My Last Farewell09. Losing Faythe10. Whispers In The Wind11. Hymn Of A Thousand Voices12. Our New World13. Power Down 14. Astonishing

DREAM THEATER has announced its first North American tour of 2016, which will see the pioneering group performing a historic set in immersive and interactive settings for a unique and unparalleled live experience.

Set to kick off April 14 at Quebec City’s Theatre Du Capitole, the spring trek will see the prog virtuosos delivering a one-of-a-kind show in which they will perform their forthcoming double concept album, "The Astonishing", live in its entirety. The momentous tour will continue through May with the band making stops at prestigious theaters throughout North America including New York's Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles's The Wiltern, and Boston's Orpheum Theatre.

The National Guitar Museum announced that its annual Lifetime Achievement Award is being awarded to Tony Iommi, legendary guitarist and founder of BLACK SABBATH. Iommi is the sixth recipient of the award, joining previous recipients Honeyboy Edwards, Roger McGuinn, B.B. King, Vic Flick and Buddy Guy. Recipients are recognized for a lifetime of contributing to the legacy of the guitar and having a singular importance to the development and historical appreciation of the instrument.

Said Iommi, who has just kicked off BLACK SABBATH's final tour: "I'm very honored by this award from the National Guitar Museum. The guitar has been an important part of my life for most of my life, and I'm happy to have contributed to its legacy. Not only that, but I have just the place for this award in my new studio!"

According to HP Newquist, National Guitar Museum executive director, "This year, the choice for us was obvious. With Tony embarking on a final tour, his recorded work now marking nearly 50 years, and the charitable work he's been involved in, this was the time to ensure that his work was recognized. Tony's guitar playing has inspired countless numbers of guitarists to follow in his wake, and few guitarists can match his lifetime of achievements."

Accompanying the award, Epiphone Guitars contributed a left-handed model of Iommi's signature SG line, which was launched this past year, to the museum. It will become part of the National Guitar Museum's permanent collection.

The National Guitar Museum is the first museum in the United States dedicated to the history, evolution, and cultural impact of the guitar. Its touring exhibition, "Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World" debuted in 2011 and is currently booked at museums across the U.S. into 2018 — having been seen to date by over a million visitors.

The touring exhibition consists of more than 80 guitars and entertaining displays that include historical artifacts, video screens, and computer interactives designed to appeal to visitors of all ages. The exhibit will become the basis of the National Guitar Museum in its permanent home; the selection process to determine which city will host the museum is currently underway.

For more information, visit www.nationalguitarmuseum.org.

Two-camera video footage of JUDAS PRIEST performing the song "Halls Of Valhalla" on December 5, 2015 at Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden can be seen below (edited by metalist908). Also available are the previously released "Metal Gods" and "Desert Plains" clips.

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford told the Q104 radio station in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada about the band's plans to record the follow-up album to 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls": "Well, you know, in rock and roll, you've gotta kind of strike while the iron is hot, and that iron has been burning hot for decades for PRIEST now. It doesn't show any sign of cooling off, I can tell you that. The cool thing about where we're at right now is, of course, having Richie [Faulkner, new PRIEST guitarist] with us and having gone through that first writing experience together [on 'Redeemer Of Souls']. We were so motivated to keep writing as we were going along, but our label had a time schedule for us to keep, so we had to put the brakes on and start recording the songs that we'd written. And with that in mind, we're raring to go again, and I'm sure there'll be another PRIEST record in the not-too-distant metal future."

Asked whether he feels that "the clock is ticking" on JUDAS PRIEST's recording and touring career, Rob said: "Yeah, the clock is ticking, [but] we’re trying to hold it back. [Laughs] But it's great, man. I've gotta tell you, this band is having the time of its life, and we're very excited to be back out on the road after a short break from our last show, in Wacken in Germany at the big heavy metal festival there in front of eighty thousand heavy metal maniacs. So we're still bringing the fire and the metal with us wherever we go."

"Redeemer Of Souls" was released in July 2014. The follow-up to 2008's double-disc concept album "Nostradamus" was billed as a return to JUDAS PRIEST's heavy-metal roots.

"Redeemer Of Souls" sold around 32,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"The Weight", a brand new song from Norwegian progressive metallers CIRCUS MAXIMUS, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Havoc", which will be released on March 18 via Frontiers Music Srl. "Havoc" is CIRCUS MAXIMUS's highly anticipated fourth studio album and one that will certainly make a huge impact on the progressive metal scene. The band's musical formula is not easy to pull off. Take jaw-dropping musicianship, singer Michael Eriksen with a voice from the heavens and put it together with hooks, anthemic melodies, and enough groove and heavy riffing to satisfy any prog metal fan, and you've got the CIRCUS MAXIMUS sound. "The theme on this new album is about moments and experiences in life that lead to love and hate," says guitarist and producer Mats Haugen. "Metaphorically, it's about succumbing to fire and striving to cope with the aftermath of decisions when overshadowed by the love we have for others and ourselves." Musically, the band offers the usual mixture of very heavy moments intertwined with extremely accessible melodies. Songs like "Pages", the opener "The Weight", "After The Fire" and "Remember" show the full range of the CIRCUS MAXIMUS sound. Still, the album has very heavy songs ("Havoc") and slow and melodic moments ("Loved Ones") too. The band is set to tour heavily in support of this new release with shows in Europe, U.S. (they are already confirmed for the ProgPower USA festival) and more territories to come. The redefining sound, the songwriting and the clever production, highlights the band as one of the leading, original progressive metal bands around.

"Havoc" track listing:

01. The Weight02. Highest Bitter03. Havoc04. Pages05. Flames06. Loved Ones07. After The Fire08. Remember09. Chivalry CIRCUS MAXIMUS is:

Michael Eriksen - VocalsMats Haugen - Guitar, backing vocals and programmingTruls Haugen - Drums, backing vocals and percussionLasse Finbråten - Keyboards, samples, programmingGlen Møllen - Bass

On March 11, German thrashers Accuser will release their new album The Forlorn Divide via Metal Blade Records; it's the first album for their new label Metal Blade Records.

Forlorn Divide will be released on CD and LP along with a bundle including an exclusive t-shirt. Preorders are available on Metal Blade.

From 1986 to 1996, Accuser were a mainstay within the national and international metal scenes. Especially albums such as Who Dominates Who (1989) and Repent (1992) are an impressive display of the Siegen, Germany-based group's technical and compositional abilities.

Musically Accuser finds their own niche somewhere between Bay Area thrash metal and the German sound of bands such as Kreator or Destruction. Collaborations with Alex Perialas (producer of Testament, Anthrax) or German industrial pioneers Die Krupps speak for themselves.

After several line-up changes, the band eventually splits up in 1996. That is, until 2008: Accuser returned. Although they have never truly been gone, to be exact. Under the name of Scartribe, they have been writing songs all the time and played countless concerts.

By the end of 2008, the band returned to their familiar name and has been firing on all cylinders ever since. In May 2010, Agitation was released, an album featuring all their trademarks. Classical thrash tiffs, melodic leads and nifty soli fall together with Frank Thoms' inimitable voice and soulful lyrics about social issues.

The band has already been working on new material since 2013. The addition of new guitarist Dennis Rybakowski, the re-recorded version of their classic Who Dominates Who to celebrate their 25th birthday in 2013 and several very successful festival shows were whiffs of fresh air for the group. Quickly, it became apparent that the new stuff was going to be more progressive and complex, so the band took their time in order to work meticulously with a focus on detail. Slowly but steadily, The Forlorn Divide took shape in their tried-and-tested Gernhart Studio. It contains everything you know and love about Accuser: involved, powerful thrash metal with virtuoso guitar work, thought-out drum patterns and last but not least aggressive, at times desperate vocals, perfectly highlighting the dark recesses of human psyche that are described in the lyrics.

Tracklisting:

“Predawn”
“Lust For Vengeance”
“Unreal Perception”
“Arbitrary Law”
“Impending Doom”
“Tribulation”
“Perish By Oblivion”
“Fifth Column”
“Sulfur Rain”
“Flow Of Dying”

“Tribulation”:

Accuser live:

March
12 – Siegen, Germany – Vortex (CD release show)

April
16 – Dettelbach, Germany – Metal Franconia Festival

May
13-15 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Rock Hard Festival

September
30 – Dresden, Germany – Skullcrusher (Metal Gegen Krebs Festival) 



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Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani has revealed that CHICKENFOOT in "about ninety-nine percent finished" recording a brand new song and is planning to play a one-off concert in May.

The group, which also includes former VAN HALEN singer Sammy Hagar, ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony andRED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, has not made a CD in five years but recently returned to the studio to record a new track, "Before I Die", to be released later in the year.

Speaking to the Northwest Music Scene about CHICKENFOOT's future plans, Satriani said: "It looks like we're going to do a show in the middle of May. I don't think it's public yet, but I don't really care if you mention it. We're getting together, just one show, the original band. I think it's a Lake Tahoe show. We're kind of working around the schedule of Chad, who's got a rehearsal schedule at that point with the CHILI PEPPERS. I'm in between my U.S. and European tours, and I know there's a Benioff Children's Hospital benefit that I do with Sammy and James Hetfield [METALLICA], which comes up about a week before that, so it comes up like right in the middle or early May; maybe the 7th or something like that. And then we've got a track that's pretty much done; it's about ninety-nine percent finished. We actually recorded a song."

He added: "We're the slowest-working band in history; we take forever. But there is stuff happening, and we're still laughing and communicating."

Hagar recently described "Before I Die" as "the coolest song that we've maybe ever had. It's really bluesy and edgy and modern and it's fucking cool."

Hagar also once again clarified comments he made to Rolling Stone magazine where he was quoted as saying that he thinks CHICKENFOOT is finished making albums.

"To go in the studio and spend a half a million dollars to make a great record that's going to sell forty or fifty thousand…. maybe a hundred thousand records, [you] basically pay to play and you're going to lose money on that," he said. "And then you go out and tour with a band that could sell two or three thousand tickets in any city in the world, but, you know, flying around in a private jet and staying in Four Seasons hotels and all of that and with these four guys, we're all rich, so it's like, we don't need the money, but at the same time, to go out and do 60 or 70 shows and come back and make as much as I make in one night after a year of that, is pretty hard."

He continued: "I don't do things for money, but it's pretty difficult to put everything else aside. Because I'm saying, 'Okay, if I'm putting a year of my life aside, I'm not going to make any money, number one. Which I don't need money, it's okay, I can get away with that. But the energy that it takes to do all of that and my fans sit there and hound me, as much as they love CHICKENFOOT, they hound me to go out and do [the songs from my history]. 'We want to hear this song, we want to hear that song,' and I'm going, 'Fuck, now I've gotta go back out and work again, I'm fuckin' beat,' you know?"

Hagar's new band THE CIRCLE, which also features Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson, plays hits from Sammy's four decades of rock (MONTROSE, solo, VAN HALEN, THE WABORITAS, CHICKENFOOT) as well as classic tracks from the LED ZEPPELIN catalog.

CHICKENFOOT reissued its gold-selling 2009 self-titled debut as a double-disc set. The new version features bonus live tracks recorded on the group's tour behind its sophomore studio effort, "III"

CHICKENFOOT's most recent touring lineup included legendary drummer/musician Kenny Aronoff, who was filling in for Smith while Chad was on the road with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.

"III" sold 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's self-titled debut opened with 49,000 units back in June 2009 to debut at No. 6.