To celebrate MOTÖRHEAD's 40 years of eardrum crushing, Motörhead Whisky is now released in collaboration with beverage partner Brands For Fans and award-winning Swedish distillery Mackmyra.

The uncompromising attitude that characterizes MOTÖRHEAD's music is also obvious in Motörhead Whisky: bourbon influences up front, it's an alert and vital - almost cocky — perfectly balanced whisky with nice caramel and typical vanilla notes from American oak. October 1 sees the release of Motörhead Whisky at Systembolaget in Sweden to start with, and the band has played an active role in both choosing casks and blends to put its name on the label.

With Motörhead Whisky, the band have made two top releases in one blow since the new album "Bad Magic" was just released earlier this summer and topped the charts in several countries.

Lemmy Kilminster, MOTÖRHEAD's legendary frontman, founder, gravel-voiced vocalist and bass player, says: "Life is less painful with Motörhead Whisky. I may consider having a sip now and then."

MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee states: "We think it's great fun to launch a whisky in collaboration with a Swedish, world-famous distillery, Mackmyra.

"The whisky is incredibly good, with full character and fully flavored with a superb bourbon touch, as it's been aged in new American oak casks.

"All of us in the band have been active in the production process and are very proud over the result, and are happy to now launch such a great, characteristic whisky, MOTÖRHEAD style."

Sari Wilholm at Brands For Fans adds: "MOTÖRHEAD are legends, and it has been a tough job to find the right style and type of whisky for them to stand for.

"Mackmyra produces world-class whisky, and the rich bourbon flavour in Motörhead Whisky showcases the amazing blending talents of Angela D'Orazio.

"The band has been trying casks and blends and have found a smooth whisky with a tough attitude to release.

"We are incredibly proud to be a part of this release."

Batch one of Motörhead Whisky is a limited-edition Swedish Single Malt Whisky with an oaky and slightly fruity character, characterized by aging five years in new American oak barrels, where parts of the whiskey has got a final touch from oloroso oak barrels the last six months. Alcohol strength is 40% and the whisky is cool filtered, so no cloudiness should occur in the bottle or the glass, if the whisky is served at a lower temperature. In summary this becomes an enjoyable, easy to drink and easy oaky and spicy Swedish Single Malt Whisky.

Motörhead Whisky suits any occasion where you'd otherwise have chosen a bourbon, as well as times where a classic scotch malt whisky would have been your first option.

AUDIOTOPSY, the new band featuring guitarist Greg Tribbett (MUDVAYNE, HELLYEAH), drummer Matt McDonough (MUDVAYNE), vocalist Billy Keeton (SKRAPE) and bassist Perry Stern, will release its debut album, "Natural Causes", on October 2 via Napalm. The CD was produced by the AUDIOTOPSY bandmembers at The Porch Studio in Orlando, Florida with engineer Tim Laud.

Audio samples of all the songs that are set to appear on "Audiotopsy" can be streamed below.

Said Greg: "The focus was to write solid, hooky, big riff songs. We didn't want to sound or look like every other band. It's not supposed to be regular. We're all building this vision together." Merging intricate instrumentation with a seamless knack for melody, they conjured up a style as heavy as it is hypnotic. "We got a vibe going", added Greg. You could call it 'progressive hard rock.'"

"Natural Causes" track listing:

01. Headshot02. All We Know03. LYLAB04. The Calling05. H2O (Interlude)06. Swim07. Disguise Your Devils08. Burn the Sky09. Distorted10. Darken the Rainbow11. Frozen Scars12. Natural Causes (Outro)

Regarding the CD's opening track, "Headshot", Billy said: "It's from the point of view or the eyes of, not necessarily a soldier, but anybody who's in battle and in the trenches. Metaphorically speaking, it's life through the eyes of somebody fighting a battle."

Tribbett, who was also a member of HELLYEAH until early 2014, said about his project: "I'm extremely excited about AUDIOTOPSY. The music has everything you want in a record… heavy, melodic, atmospheric, big, hooky riffs/singalongs as well. The guys in the band are great and we all feel as if this was meant to happen."

Tribbett and bassist Bob "Zilla" Kakaha were dismissed from HELLYEAH in 2013. HELLYEAH guitarist Tom Maxwell explained: "They just pretty much had a lot of other stuff going on in their life that just took the focus of the band away, and for us to continue, we had to part ways with them."

HELLYEAH and MUDVAYNE singer Chad Gray told The Pulse Of Radio that the split with his longtime bandmate and friend Tribbett was painful. "It was really, really tough, I mean, kind of watching Greg go through the things he was going through, you know, as his brother, as somebody that's worked with him for 18 years," he said. "I was watching this decline in him, you know, and it was really, really difficult."

Meanwhile, it's been six years since MUDVAYNE released its self-titled fifth album, which was barely promoted and sold weakly upon release.

The band has been silent since then, although a message was posted at its Facebook page last year saying that the group had not broken up.

"Morrigan", the new video from Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.

Patric states: "The last time I worked with CHILDREN OF BODOM, we did great stuff together. 'Trashed, Lost And Strungout' was gold-awarded and the 'Chaos Ridden Years: Stockholm Knockout Live' DVD was also gold-awarded. So after all these years it was a great pleasure to get to work with them again.

"The band decided not to be in the video as they wanted to tell the story about The Warrior Goddess Morrigan, and together with the band, we made this tale about a man fighting his inner demons."

"Morrigan" is taken from CHILDREN OF BODOM's ninth studio album, "I Worship Chaos", which will be released on October 2 via Nuclear Blast. The artwork for the CD was created by Finnish artist Tuomas Korpi and can be seen below.

"I Worship Chaos" was once again recorded at Helsinki, Finland's Danger Johnny Studios and was produced by CHILDREN OF BODOM and Mikko Karmila, who worked with the band on their earlier albums "Halo Of Blood", "Hatebreeder", "Follow The Reaper" and "Hate Crew Deathroll". The CD was mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

"I Worship Chaos" will be available in following formats:

* CD + DVD digibook (incl. bonus DVD and three bonustracks!)* CD* 2LP (black, clear, silver, yellow, picture)* digibook + canvas (Nuclear Blast mailorder edition)

The album can be pre-ordered at this location. Comments CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho: "To me, it seems like 'I Worship Chaos' has a lot darker vibe in it than the previous albums and so far everyone has told me that the songs are a lot catchier this time, which I'm definitely glad about. To sum it up, it's angry, dark and catchy as fuck. I think it's safe to say 'I Worship Chaos' is CHILDREN OF BODOM reborn even more pissed off." "I Worship Chaos" track listing:

01. I Hurt02. My Bodom (I Am The Only One)03. Morrigan04. Horns05. Prayer For The Afflicted06. I Worship Chaos07. Hold Your Tongue08. Suicide Bomber09. All for Nothing10. Widdershins

Bonus tracks (digibook only):

11. Mistress Of Taboo (PLASMATICS cover)12. Danger Zone (KENNY LOGGINS cover)13. Black Winter Day (AMORPHIS cover)

CHILDREN OF BODOM has recruited Antti Wirman, the younger brother of the band's keyboardist Janne Wirman, to handle second-guitar duties for their upcoming shows.

Antti, who has been a member of Janne's band WARMEN since 2001, made his live debut with CHILDREN OF BODOM on May 30 when the group played a surprise six-song set at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland.

"We wanted to go with someone close to the band we can count on and who can nail these songs. Antti was the obvious choice," said Janne.

Antti will play with CHILDREN OF BODOM through the end of the year. The group will then decide what to do about the second-guitarist position on a more permanent basis.

CHILDREN OF BODOM's first official concert with Antti took place on June 4 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

CHILDREN OF BODOM in May announced the departure of the band's guitarist of the past decade, Roope Latvala.

"I Won't Give In", the new video from the British metalcore band ASKING ALEXANDRIA, can be seen below. The song features Denis Shaforostov, formerly of Ukrainian metalcore act MAKE ME FAMOUS, who was confirmed as the new singer of ASKING ALEXANDRIA back in May.

Commented ASKING ALEXANDRIA guitarist Ben Bruce: "We spent the summer collecting footage for our new music video for our current single, 'I Won't Give In'.

"This video showcases just how strong our family is. The love and support everyone has shown us over the years is incredible and this video truly captures the bond we share with our fans and with each other. I know you guys will enjoy watching this video as much as I have enjoyed watching it.

"I'm also extremely excited to announce that we will be releasing a new song for you guys to annoy your neighbors with in the next few days. We will be playing this song live on our upcoming U.K./Europe tour so I'm expecting you guys to learn all the words ASAP! Can't wait to see you guys."

In interview with U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine, Bruce stated about ASKING ALEXANDRIA's new addition: "Everyone guessed it was Denis, and I think they did so because they know Denis was the right choice to make. He's an incredibly talented vocalist, from the multiple wide range of screams that ASKING ALEXANDRIA obviously needs and will continue to have, and his singing and range is out of this world. He's been a fan of the band for a long time, so he's familiar with all our old songs, and he really cares about the band. He's a passionate, cool guy; it's the perfect scenario."

Added Denis: "I had this gut feeling, man; I totally felt something big was going to happen right before the guys reached out to me. It's crazy. Honestly, I've never been waiting for such an opportunity to ever knock at my door but, as the same time, I was always ready for it. Without a doubt, I was extremely stoked and I poured all of my emotions into the writing for the new ASKING ALEXANDRIA record."

Joining ASKING ALEXANDRIA on the band's upcoming European tour will be MEMPHIS MAY FIRE (October 14-28 only), AUGUST BURNS RED and IN HEARTS WAKE.

Danish / American rock singer Maryann Cotton has signed a worldwide deal with 7hard Records for the release of his second album, Into Eternity. The album will be available on Friday, November 13th. The official album artwork can be seen below along with the confirmed tracklist.

Tracklist:

"What She Wants"
"Had Enough"
"My Gun"
"Hard Lost' N Fried"
"Gangland"
"When Tomorrow Comes"
"Keepers Of The Holy Grail"
"No Wish Upon No Star"
"Into Eternity"
"Death Is Beauty"

Maryann Cotton previously stated: “As many of you know, I lost my mentor, producer, co-writer, and my friend Dick Wagner last year, which led to a lot of personal and emotional distractions for me. I was most honoured to perform at the Dick Wagner Remember The Child Memorial Concert at the Fillmore in Detroit this year, where we celebrated his beautiful friendship and majestic legacy. I was enveloped in the warm welcome of so many great musicians and Dick Wagner fans. This has helped me to move forward, as my Maestro would so encourage.

“Dick and I managed to finish all the songs and pre-production for our announced album Chester Rose – The Legend Begins – but we never reached the studio process. When he died, we were in negotiations with one of the world’s biggest record companies, and future plans were falling into place.

“My manager Susan Michelson, Dick Wagner’s business partner and personal manager, has continued moving ahead with the project and is currently working on contracts and related details. The record company remains very enthusiastic about the Chester Rose concept. They are dedicated to recording Dick Wagner's final album, but the many details of this substantial project and its offshoots take some time to fall into place. I cannot wait till our album is ready to share with you!

“With all that said… I’m proud to let you know that I secretly over four months has been in a writing, studio recording, and mixing / mastering process, and completed a full new album – to please my fans. I have together with my manager decided to release the album in autumn, which also means new upcoming shows and tour this year.”

More details to follow.

Lineup:

Maryann Cotton - Vocals
Hal Patino - Bass
Shawn Kernon - Drums
Sebastian Sly - Guitar

Pavement Music will release Deep Breath, the debut album from Greek hard rockers One Year Delay on October 2.

On Deep Breath, O.Y.D. combines elements of metal, punk, grunge and rock 'n’ roll to create an enthralling hard rock experience. The album was co-produced with the legendary Toby Wright at Sound Emporium Studios; Nashville TN. Wright also mixed and engineered it. The album was mastered by Andrew Mendelson.

Tracklisting:

“Gunpoint”
“Headhunters”
“Truth, Dare, Despair”
“Water Under The Bridge”
“Miss You”
“Try To Stay Alive”
“5m, 9k”

“Truth, Dare, Despair”:

Digital Tour Bus has uploaded a new episode of Bus Invaders and it takes you inside the touring vehicle of one of today's top touring acts. In this episode, the death metal band, Jungle Rot, shows you around their tour van, while on Mayhem Festival 2015 with Slayer, King Diamond, Hellyeah, The Devil Wears Prada, Whitechapel, Thy Art Is Murder and more.

 

Jungle Rot makes its Decibel Magazine Flexi Series debut in the November issue (Iron Maiden cover) with "Speed Freak”, their take on the 1988 Hallows Eve classic.

"We figured if anyone was gonna cover Hallows Eve, it would be a song from their first two albums," says bassist James Genenz. "But we chose to go with something from their third album, Monument, as it's usually overlooked."

Hear “Speed Freak” below:

David Matrise (vocals/guitar) on the track, ““Speed Freak” was the song that I would play over and over again and again in my first car going to school. It’s the song we always played hanging with my buddies years ago driving to party's and fucking shit up!”

Pick up the November issue of Decibel now.

Prosthetic Records presents Laurestine, the second full-length album by So Hideous. Out October 16th via Prosthetic, Laurestine is a masterpiece of sound and feeling that delivers on past promises and confirms the New York City band to be a true leader in its field. A new song, "Relinquish", is streaming below.

Before Laurestine there was the debut album Last Poem/First Light, a 2013 self-release which wowed the underground with its balance of blackened angst and rich musicality, and with its use of an actual orchestra an choir in the recording process. Comparisons to Envy, Celeste, and composers like Arvo Part and Ennio Morricone abounded, the term "post-metal" appeared to be the only phrase broad enough to encompass the band's unique mix of black metal, post-hardcore, and orchestral elements.

Laurestine now shows the quartet - guitarist and main composer Brandon Cruz, bassist and vocalist Chris Cruz, guitarist Etienne Vazquez, and drummer Danny Moncada - building upon what it began and outshining expectations yet again.

Like it's predecessor, Laurestine was recorded at The Wild Artic Recording Studio in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with producer Dean Baltulonis (Lucero, Sick Of It All, Modern Life is War) and, like its predecessor, it features actual orchestral and choral tracks recorded by The First Light Orchestra, consisting now of thirty members - brass, strings, and vocalists, recorded at Little Field Performance and Art Space in Brooklyn, New York, by Chris Montgomery (Mumford And Sons, Lily Allen).

Tracklisting:

“Yesteryear”
“Here After”
“Relinquish”
“The Keepsake”
“Falling Cedars”
“The True Pierce”
“A Faint Whisper”

"Relinquish":

An absolute feast for the ears, "cinematic" is the word for Laurestine. The album plays like a score to an unseen film - one continuous ebb and flow of intensity,  swelling and receding, from fragile interludes to raging storms. Sonically dense yet crystalline, each musical layer contributes to the emotionally scorching whole.

Brandon Cruz - by day a music teacher at a New York City school - names Max Richter, Hans Zimmer and Mono as three of the inspirations fueling Laurestine. Cruz reveals that the album is based on a story of one man's post-mortem experience, an  interior journey in the seven minutes after dying during which the brain is said to be still active. Ascending toward an afterlife, the man is guided through this limbo state by a woman named Laurestine, made to reflect on the past and prepare for the unknown to come.

On various levels, Laurestine's lyrics and music connect to tell this story. In reference to the seven-minute space between life and death, the number seven dominates - the seven tracks are riddled with 7/4 and 7/8 time signatures. The songs' lyrics are written in the voices of both the protagonist and his guide - these two narrators lead the listener on an unforgettable tour through anguish, melancholy, and ultimate triumph.

Short excerpt of album closer "A Faint Whisper”, along with views of the artwork by Italian illustrator Daniele Serra (Shining SW).

(Photo: Dean Chooch Landry)

Stryper frontman Michael Sweet has issued a video message for the fans featuring the song "King Of Kings", taken from the band's new album, Fallen:
Records has announced the release of a limited 2LP gatefold vinyl edition of the upcoming Stryper album, Fallen. A deal was inked with Frontiers and the release dates are set for November 13th in Europe and December 4th in North America. The edition is strictly limited to 1,554 copies worldwide. 389 copies come on white discs and 1,165 copies on standard black discs. Pre-order at this location.

Fallen will be available on CD in North America on October 16th.

“Fallen is about Lucifer before he became Satan. It’s the story of how he got kicked out of Heaven. He tried to overthrow God and take over,” describes Michael Sweet. “The song talks about how beautiful he was. When he walked, there was music. He was the angel of worship and this incredibly powerful and beautiful being.”

"There are songs on this album that coincide with sitting down and reading the bible. The music is heavy and the lyrics are bold and powerful, some taken right from scriptures. Sonically I think this is our best sounding album to date! Everything is crystal clear. The highs are crisp and the lows are tight and punchy. The more I listen, the more excited I am for all of you to hear it!!!”

Fallen tracklisting:

"Yahweh"
"Fallen"
"Pride"
"Big Screen Lies"
"Heaven"
"Love You Like I Do"
"All Over Again"
"After Forever" (Black Sabbath cover)
"Till I Get What I Need"
"Let There Be Light"
"The Calling"
"King Of Kings"

"Big Screen Lies”:

“Fallen”:

"Let There Be Light"

According to The Shout, AC/DC has teamed up with ALDI supermarkets to release its own line of beer in Australia.

AC/DC Rock Or Bust beer will be available in ALDIThe beer will be available in all licensed ALDI stores in NSW and Victoria from September 30th. The release means the beer will be available in time for the Australian leg of the band's Rock Or Bust world tour, which starts in Sydney on November 4th.

An ALDI Australia spokesperson said: "We’re very excited to celebrate AC/DC's legendary rock status with the launch of AC/DC Beer in Australia. The combination of great German Beer and Aussie Hard Rock just seems like a match made in heaven."

Read more at The Shout.

French black metal trinity, VI, made of current and ex-members of Aosoth and Antaeus, are streaming their long-awaited debut album in it’s entirety (listen below). The opus is entitled De Praestgiis Angelorum and will see its release on September 25th via Agonia Records.

The lineup of VI is shaped by INVRI (Aosoth, ex-Antaeus) on guitars and vocals, BST (Aosoth, ex-Antaeus, ex-Aborted) on bass and Blastum (ex-Aosoth, ex-Antaeus, Merrimack) on drums. Their forthcoming full-length material bestirs within the characteristic black metal niche developed by the said bands, with the addition of expanded guitar work, choirs and subtle sample parts. VI describes their music as "extreme, devoted black metal with illuminated chaos".

The band have completed the entire recording process of their debut album in BST Studio (Antaeus, Hell Militia, Aosoth, Vorkreist) after five long years of comprehensive work. The cover artwork has been created by Alexander L. Brown (Leviathan, Stargazer, Bölzer, Darkthrone).

De Praestgiis Angelorum will be available in:

- 6 panel digipack CD
- regular coloured vinyl
- limited to 100 handnumbered copies black vinyl
- t-shirt

Tracklisting:

“Et in pulverem mortis deduxisti me”
“Par le jugement causé par ses poisons”
“La terre ne cessera de se consumer”
“Regarde tes cadavres car il ne te permettra pas qu'on les enterre”
“Une place parmi les morts”
“Voilà l'homme qui ne te prenait pas comme Seigneur”
“Il est trop tard pour rendre gloire. Ainsi la lumière sera changée en ombre de la mort”
“Plus aucun membre ne sera rendu”

Album stream:

Pre-orders at this location.

VI was formed in Paris (France) in 2007 as a main project of Aosoth's bass player INRVI (who took on guitar and vocal duites in VI). With the help of his long time comrade BST (also involved in Aosoth and The Order Of Appolyon), they released a four-track EP called De Praestigiis Daemonum under Debemur Mortii banner. Shortly after, VI found its drummer, Blastum, who worked and still works with bands such as: Antaeus, Merrimack, Aosoth and Ritualization. Together they recorded a split EP with Aosoth, Angels Falling Down, in 2010. More news on their debut album De Praestgiis Angelorum will follow soon.

Phoenix, Arizona-based death metal quintet, Vehemence, is preparing to return to full-time deployment this year, with new tour dates coming together around their anxiously awaited first new album in over a decade, Forward Without Motion, confirmed for release through Battleground Records in October. Listen to the new track, “It’s All My Fault”, streaming below:

The outfit's first new album since Metal Blade Records' 2004-released Helping The World To See, Vehemence comes storming back to the death metal circuit with a crushing new album which will surely see the band regaining their traction within the scene after their time off the grid. Forward Without Motion is the culmination of years of hard work and the collective desire to write the best songs and capture the best performances.

Working on the songs off and on for several years between 2007 and 2011, Vehemence began a methodical, painstaking tracking process for the new record between 2012 and 2014, the album's guitars, bass, and vocals being recorded at the home studios of guitarists Bjorn Dannov and Kyle Moeller, with the drums being recorded at Villain Studios in Phoenix. When listening to Forward Without Motion, one will discover the refreshing sounds of a band creatively reborn and seasoned by experience. The album flows with a relentless, throat grabbing energy that never flags and begs for repeated spins. This cohesive power is nowhere more apparent than in the strength of the instrumental and vocal performances, which slash and hammer their way out of the speakers with a passion rarely found in the cold, mostly lifeless corpses that are most modern death metal recordings.

With the underground death metal scene now extremely primed for the re-arrival of Vehemence, Forward Without Motion will be released through Battleground records on October 23rd. The record will be issued on 180-gram black vinyl 2xLP in a gatefold package with a free download, limited to 300 copies, as well as a digipak CD version and all digital platforms. The band and label have proudly issued Forward Without Motion's tracklisting and cover art by Hal Rotter/Rotting Graphics (Atriarch, Inherit Disease, Barghest).

An official video for the LP's opening track, "I Don't Want To Look Inside”, can be seen below. CD, LP and digital pre-orders can be placed now.

Forward Without Motion tracklisting:

“I Don't Want To Look Inside”
“Imagining The Loss”
“Murdered By The Earth”
“Jim The Prophet”
“In The Shadows We Dwell”
“A Dark Figure In The Distance”
“It's All My Fault”
“She Fucks Like She's Alive”
“There Are So Many Reasons To Give Up On Religion”

“I Don't Want To Look Inside” video:

Vehemence has announced a home-area record release show for Forward Without Motion, set to take place Saturday, October 24th, one day after the record's official release. The free gig will see the band headlining Yucca Tap Room in Tempe, Arizona, with support from labelmates Lago, as well as Sorrower and Through The Earth. Additional regional and widespread tour actions from the band will continue to be announced through the coming months.

Anti-Flag have just dropped a brand new video from their latest album, American Spring. The video is for "All Of The Poison, All Of The Pain" and you can watch it below.

Of the song, the band stated: "Anti-poverty, anti-capitalism, anti-war, Anti-Flag... Anti-Flag shows are a celebration of a collective that care about more than just themselves. A safe space where all can be free to be who they are. Free from racism, sexism, homo-and-transphobia, bigotry of any kind. We can only hope that some of that spirit is captured in this video."

 
Additionally, Anti-Flag will participate in a Reddit AMA ("Ask Me Anything") session on Sunday, September 27th, at 12 PM, ET. Fans can logon and ask the band whatever burning questions they may have! It's sure to be a fun and informative AMA.

Lexington, KY death metal band, Tombstalker, will release its new LP, Black Crusades, on November 13th via Shadow Kingdom Records. Boasting a sound that has been described as “hammer crushing death crust", the group's music represents "the warrior spirit and evolution through conflict".

Black Crusades was mixed and mastered by Damian Herring (of Horrendous) at Subterranean Watchtower Studios and features retro-futuristic cover art by artist Brandon Moore. The record is the follow up to Tombstalker's 2011 self-titled EP, which was hailed as "an aura of darkness" and "the perfect soundtrack for being dragged to the abyss".

"Warriors! We are proud to announce that we are now in conspiracy with Shadow Kingdom Records," says guitarist / vocalist Conqueror Horus. "This marks an important milestone for us as a band and we are pleased to say that our debut album, Black Crusades will see a CD release this fall with vinyl and cassette formats to follow. This is merely the beginning of a long journey into the chaotic dark realms of Tombstalker. Prepare your souls!"

Tracklisting:

“Forlorn Recollections”
“Chaos Undivided”
“Blood Thirster”
“Fate Weaver”
“Black Crusades”
“Soul Eater”
“Plague Father”
“Chaos Enthroned”
 
Black Crusades is available to pre-order now at this location.

 

LA underground metal/hardcore band Twitching Tongues has announced they’ve added lead guitarist Sean Martin (ex-Hatebreed) as an official member of the band, which also includes brothers Colin Young (vocals) and Taylor Young (guitar/vocals).
 
Martin amicably split with Hatebreed in 2009 and joins Twitching Tongues as they prepare for the release of their upcoming, third studio album, Disharmony.
 
"The addition of Sean to Twitching Tongues is absolutely fucking insane to us,” says Colin. “He is someone Taylor and I have looked up to and respected musically for over a decade. For two kids from Connecticut, this is as good as it gets."
 
"I'm excited to say that I'll be playing guitar for Twitching Tongues in support of their new album, Disharmony,” adds Martin. “I'm looking forward to getting back on the road to do what I was born to do... summon the riff. See you all soon."

Disharmony will be released on October 30th via Metal Blade Records.

Disharmony tracklisting:

“Disharmony”
“Insincerely Yours”
“Asylum Avenue”
“Love Conquers None”
“Insatiable Sin”
“Cannibal”
“Sacrifice Me”
“Arrival”
“The End Of Love”
“Cruci-Fiction”

"Disharmony" video:

Twitching Tongues has announced a fall headlining tour with Harm's Way in support of their upcoming record, Disharmony. Additional support will be provided by Homewrecker and Malice At The Palace.

Tour dates:

November
11 - Meza, AZ - The Underground*
13 - Dallas, TX - Sons Of Herman Hall
15 - Houston, TX - Walters Downtown
17 - Orlando, FL - Backbooth
18 - Tampa, FL - Epic Problem
19 - Jacksonville, FL - Underbelly
20 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
21 - Charlotte, NC - Tremont Music Hall
22 - Richmond, VA - Canal Club
23 - Amityville, NY - Amityville Music Hall
25 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison*
26 - Montreal, QC - La Vitrola*
27 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East Downstairs
28 - New York, NY - The Studio at Webster Hall
29 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage Lounge

December
1 - Pittsburgh, PA - Cattivo
2 - Cleveland, OH -  Now That’s Class
3 - Detroit, MI - The Café*
4 - Chicago, IL - Double Door

*no Harm’s Way

 

Guitar legend Steve Vai recently checked in with the following announcement:

"Hey Folks, Steve here. We are thrilled to be posting The Space Between The Notes one leg at a time (nine in total) once a week over the next nine weeks, in full resolution! This bonus footage was culled from multiple sources including pics and vids from fans, band, crew, family, and myself. It’s a chronological video diary that has bits from each of the 253 engagements and 52 countries we visited on the last tour, The Story Of Light tour. It was a glorious life experience for us and we are stoked that we can present it here for you. Enjoy!"

Story of Light Tour: The Space Between the Notes (Tour Mischief) runs down as follows:

Leg 1 (Rehearsals/USA)
Leg 2 (Europe/Eastern Europe)
Leg 3 (Vegas/Netherlands/Russia/Ukraine/Europe)
Leg 4 (Australia/NZ/Indonesia/China/S. Korea/Japan/Taiwan/Thailand)
Leg 5 (Europe...again)
Leg 6 (USA...again)
Leg 7 (Mexico/South America/China)
Leg 8 (Vegas/Singapore/Malaysia/Israel/Europe/Russia/Ukraine)
Leg 9 (USA/St. Barths/Japan/France/Poland)

Leg 1:

Leg 2:

Leg 3:

Leg 4:

 

Leg 5:

 

Leg 6:

Leg 7:

Leg 8:

Leg 9:

Back in April, Vai released  a video for the song “The Story Of Light” from the Stillness In Motion DVD. This selection opens The Space Between The Notes – a fascinating tour diary and video montage of life on the road with Vai and the band.

Vai states: “This is the piece that took the most time and the one I’m most happy with.”

An exclusive full performance of guitar legend Steve Vai's "Weeping China Doll" from the 2DVD release, Stillness In Motion: Vai Live In L.A. can be viewed below:

The double album and DVD, was released April 7 through Sony Music Entertainment and Legacy Recordings, were recorded October 12, 2012, at L.A.’s Club Nokia. It was the 49th show from Vai’s Story of Light World Tour.

 



 

 

Oklahoma City-native quintet, Broken Flesh, recently released their new self-titled full-length album via Luxor Records. The new album features ten brand new tracks and two rerecorded tracks from the band’s 2009 debut, Forever In Flames. Check out the new video for the album track, “Consumed By Death” streaming below.

While Christianity is far from common in the brutal death metal genre, it’s a breath of fresh air to learn that Broken Flesh are just that - unabashed Christians - and they have much to say about it. While as a ministry the band’s first priority is to spread God’s word, as a band, their main goal is to create the most crushing and aggressive forms of brutal death metal that they have the ability to conceive.

Broken Flesh tracklisting:

“Valley Of Mass Crucifixion”
“Blood Harvest”
“Consumed By Death”
“Buried Alive”
“Hell”
“Cries Of The Dead”
“Forever In Flames”
“Unworthy”
“Exalt”
“Ignominy”
“By His Blood”
“Hate”

“Consumed By Death” video:

Confirmed tour dates:

November
7 - Lawton, OK - The Railhead Saloon
21 - Fort Worth, TX - Tomcats West

Broken Flesh is:

Jacob Mathes - Vocals
Kevin Tubby - Guitar/ Vocals
Dakota Whiteside - Guitar
Joshua Mathes - Bass/ Vocals
Brandon Lopez - Drums

Denver, Colorado thrash maniacs Havok have announced the addition of bassist Nick Schendzielos (Job For A Cowboy, Cephalic Carnage) after parting ways with Mike Leon. Leon, who spent two years with Havok and appeared on the band's 2013 release Unnatural Selection, will be joining metal icons Soulfly on their upcoming North American tour.

Havok vocalist/guitarist David Sanchez comments on Mike's departure, "Mike is an amazing musician and rock-solid performer! I would like to thank him for lending his talent to the band for two years. I will always love the music he writes and appreciate his abilities."

The newly indoctrinated Schendzielos will record bass on Havok's upcoming fourth studio album and take part in the band's upcoming North American headlining tour.

The bassist said this about joining the band, "I'm incredibly excited to be working with Havok. Been friends with the dudes forever, always have a blast with 'em, and now I get to thrash with 'em! I have big shoes to fill... Mike is a really, really solid player, but I think my playing style will mix in really well and fans will dig it. The new music is by far the coolest Havok I've ever heard. Can't wait to release it!"

"Nick's skills are documented, go check it out yourselves. He's a guy that's well respected amongst our peers and loved by his friends and band mates. It was an obvious choice to get him for the record and upcoming tour," said lead guitarist Reece Scruggs of his new bandmate.

With work on the new album, their first on Century Media Records, nearing completion, Havok is gearing up for a massive North American headlining tour. The month long trek will see Havok performing material off the as-of-yet-untitled album so fans will get an early preview of what promises to be the band's most intense effort to date. Havok will be joined by a rotating lineup of support acts, which include BLack Breath, Witchaven, Psychosomatic, Black Fast and Extinction A.D.

David Sanchez comments, "This tour is full of neck-wreckers and we're proud to have such heavy bands sharing the road with us.  Every band on this tour absolutely kills live.  For fans of real metal, this tour is not to be missed."

Havok's Century Media debut is scheduled for an early 2016 release.

The UK’s spiritually irreverent death metal export, Abhorrent Decimation, are streaming their upcoming album, Miasmic Mutation, in it’s entirety. Mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström (Aeon, Apostasy, Bodyfarm, Krow), Miasmic Mutation is the band’s debut album and will be released in various formats worldwide on September 25th.

Miasmic Mutation tracklisting:

“Glaciate The Servants”
“The Icon Of Loss”
“Eternal Repusion”
“Souls Of Sedation”
“…For The Desperately Lost”
“Miasmic Mutation”
“Echoes Of The Vortex”
“Terminal Reality”
“Odious”

Album stream:

“Glaciate The Servants” lyric video:

Vocalist Ashley Scott comments, “We actually finished the music for this one quite early into the process and I knew from way back then that it had to be the opening track to the album. It comes out at you in such a way, with that ripping drum fill… we felt it set a great tone for the album. No nonsense and heavy. We tried a few different things on this track riff wise and I think the main success in structure is the juxtapose of the complex verse riff and the simplicity of the chorus riff.
 
“Lyrically, because I had it marked as the opener, it needed to be a scene setter. So from a concept point of view, this song is the soundtrack to a holy cull. The message is simple, ‘eradicate faith’ and ‘obliterate belief’. Bring forward the death of the billions who are still worshipping the ancient prophecies. Of all the things we could channel our energy, focus and love towards people still revere doctrine? It also explores the widely quoted statement that ‘God is dead’. You cannot kill that which has not lived, however you can terminate an ideology by opposing it.”

Abhorrent Decimation will tour through the UK in October in support of Miasmic Mutation, dates to follow.

 

London metallers, The Heretic Order, will release their debut album, All Hail The Order, on September 25th via Massacre Records. A new lyric video for the album cut, “El Baile De Los Muertos”, can be found below.

All Hail The Order was recorded and produced by Daniel Felice and Guillermo "Will" Maya. Maya also took care of the mix and the mastering. 5 Miligrams is responsible for the album's artwork.

Tracklisting:
 
“Burn Witch Burn”
“El Baile De Los Muertos”
“Rot In Hell”
“Death Ride Blues”
“The Snake”
“Don't Believe The Lies”
“Dark Light”
“Serpent's Breath”
“Ghost Tale”
“Trail Of Sadness”
“Entombed”

“El Baile De Los Muertos” lyric video:

 
"Burn Witch Burn" video:

 
Teaser:

German melodic metallers, Arven, officially announced the end of the band in a lengthy post on Facebook earlier this month. They were searching for a new guitarist for quite some time, but without success. This was also the reason why they didn't play any gigs in the past, among others.
 
They also admitted that there were personal and creative differences within the band, which ultimately led to the decision to disband. They also expressed their gratitude towards both fans, friends, fellow bands and partners.
 
All band members will continue making music in the future. The complete posting is available here.

 

Slovakia-based melodic metal band, Signum Regis, will release their new album, Chapter IV: The Reckoning, on November 20th in Europe and North America through Ulterium Records.

Band founder Ronnie König comments on the new album: “It was the plan since get go, to make our best album so far. After releasing the EP earlier this year, it was clear that the bar was set pretty high. We worked very hard and we believe that we managed to lift the bar even higher in every aspect. Some of the songs on the album will become the classics of Signum Regis, that's for sure. There will be 10 new songs on the album, none of them appeared on the EP, which makes both the album and the Through The Storm EP a good buy for the fans.”

Chapter IV: The Reckoning was mastered by Jens Bogren (Symphony X, Opeth, Arch Enemy) and the artwork was created by Jan Yrlund (Delain, Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani). Check out an album teaser below.

Tracklisting:

“Lost And Found”
“The Secret Of The Sea”
“The Voice In The Wilderness”
“Prophet Of Doom”
“The Magi”
“Quitters Never Win”
“Tempter Of Evil”
“When Freedom Fails”
“The Kingdom Of Heaven”
“Bells Are Tolling”

Teaser:

Swedish heavy metal quartet Enforcer recently announced the release of their very first live DVD/CD package, called Live By Fire. It is set to be released on November 20th via Nuclear Blast. Pre-order it directly here.

Today, the band gives you a first insight with the “Take Me Out Of This Nightmare” live video, which will be featured on the DVD as well as eight other songs. Watch below:

Guitarist/vocalist Olof Wikstrand comments on the new output: "I'm extremely satisfied with putting out an official concert video and audio that really captures the band in a way we like instead of seeing tons of crap videos online. Here's the real deal and I hope you enjoy it! Plus that we also took the opportunity to record a three new songs that will be released in a really exclusive way together with this stuff. Watch out!"

Live By Fire tracklistings are as follows:

DVD (recorded at Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo on October 20th, 2013):

“Bells Of Hades”
“Death Rides This Night”
“Mesmerized By Fire”
“Katana”
“On The Loose”
“Scream Of The Savage”
“Take Me Out Of This Nightmare”
“Silent Hour” / “The Conjugation”
“Midnight Vice”

CD (recorded at Kyttaro Club in Athens on January 24th, 2013):

“Bells Of Hades”
“Death Rides This Night”
“Mistress From Hell”
“Mesmerized By Fire”
“Katana”
“Crystal Suite”
“Scream Of The Savage”
“Midnight Vice”
“Take Me Out Of This Nightmare”
“Take Me To Hell
“Silent Hour” / “The Conjugation”
“Satan”
“Black Angel”
“Roll The Dice”
“Into The Night”
“Evil Attacker”
“Speak The Tongue Of Heathen Gods”
“Stellar Plains”
“Tyrants Of Our Generation”

LP:

Side A
“Bells Of Hades”
“Death Rides This Night”
“Mistress From Hell”
“Mesmerized By Fire”
“Katana”
“Crystal Suite”
“Scream Of The Savage”

Side B
“Midnight Vice”
“Take Me Out Of This Nightmare”
“Take Me To Hell”
“Roll The Dice”
“Evil Attacker”

Live By Fire will be available in the following formats:

- DVD/CD edition
- vinyl
- limited boxset (Nuclear Blast mailorder only): CD/DVD, blue vinyl, bonus vinyl EP, poster, photobook

Enforcer’s forthcoming European Tour will serve as further evidence of these Swedes' incredible live energy, beyond the energy that oozes from their current CD/DVD release of course. They will bring Wolf and Dynamite as support acts.

Tour dates:

September (with Wolf, Dynamite)
29 - Luyness-Aix, France - Le Korgian
30 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Boveda

October (with Wolf, Dynamite)
1 - Zaragoza, Spain - Centro Civico Universidad
2 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Lemon
3 - Lisabon, Portugal - Side B Club
4 - Porto, Portugal - Cave 24
5 - Erandio (Bilbao), Spain - Sonora
6 - Paris, France - TBA
7 0 Hasselt, Belgium - Muziekdroom
8 - Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall
9 - Dublin, Ireland - Voodoo Lounge
10 - Belfast, Ireland - Limelight 2
11 - Glasgow, Scotland - Audio
12 - Chester, UK - Live Rooms
13 - London, UK - Underworld
14 - Leiden, Netherlands - Gebr De Nobel
15 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Dynamo
16 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
17 - Oberentfelden, Switzerland - Börom Pöm Pöm
18 - München, Germany - Backstage Club
20 - Ludwigsburg, Germany - Rockfabrik
21 - Osnabrück, Germany - Bastard Club
22 - Nuernberg, Germany - Z-Bau
23 - Lindau, Germany - Vaudeville
24 - Wuppertal, Germany - Börsencrash Festival
25 - Koeln, Germany - MTC
26 - Kassel, Germany - Kulturzentrum K19
27 - Berlin, Germany - K17
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Rock Cafe St. Pauli

Enforcer previously announced their 2016 North American co-headlining tour with Warbringer. The 43-date Enforcer/Warbringer co-headlining trek launches at The Gramercy Theatre in New York, New York on January 5th,hits nine Canadian cities, West Hollywood, New Orleans, and then wraps up at the Canal Club in Richmond, Virginia on February 20th. Joining the bands as support are Canadian heavy metallers Cauldron and Southern California quartet Exmortus.

Confirmed dates:

January
5 - The Gramercy Theatre - New York, NY
6 - Championship Bar and Grill - Trenton, MJ
7 - Trickshots - Clifton Park, NY
8 - Webster Theater - Hartford, CT
9 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
10 - FouFounes - Montreal, QC
11 - Salle Multi - Quebec City, QC
12 - Ritual - Ottawa, ON
13 - Hard Luck - Toronto, ON
14 - The APK - London, ON
15 - Montage Music Hall - Rochester, NY
16 - Agora Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
17 - Altar Bar - Pittsburgh, PA
18 - Ace OF Cups - Columbus, OH
20 - Token Lounge - Westland, MI
21 - Fubar - St. Louis, MO
22 - Mojoes - Joliet, IL
23 - The Metal Grill - Cudahy, WI
24 - Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
25 - Zoo Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB
27 - Nite Owl - Calgary, AB
28 - Pawn Shop - Edmonton,  AB
30 - Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, BC
31 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA

February
1 - Hawthorne Theatre -Portland, OR
2 - Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA
3 - Whiskey a Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
4 - Brick by Brick - San Diego, CA
5 - Club Red - Tempe, AZ
6 - LVCS - Las Vegas, NV
8 - In the Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
9 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
10 - Aftershock - Merriam, KS
11 - Red 7 - Austin , TX
12 - 210 Kapones - San Antonio, TX
13 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
14 - Trees -Dallas, TX
15 - Siberia - New Orleans, LA
16 - Orpheum - Tampa, FL
17 - The Haven - Orlando, FL
18 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
19 - Expo Five - Louisville, KY
20 - Canal Club - Richmond, VA

 

Official fly-on-the-wall footage shot of METALLICA's August 30 performance at United Kingdom's Leeds Festival can be seen below. The 15-minute clip, which was shot by a MetOnTour reporter, includes footage of Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo in the meet-and-greet, pre-show tuning-room footage, and "Whiskey In The Jar" from the show.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Fuel02. For Whom The Bell Tolls03. Blackened04. King Nothing05. Ride The Lightning06. The Day That Never Comes07. The Memory Remains08. The Unforgiven09. Sad But True10. Turn The Page11. The Frayed Ends Of Sanity12. One13. Master Of Puppets14. Fade To Black15. Seek And Destroy

Encore:

16. Whiskey In The Jar17. Nothing Else Matters18. Enter Sandman

METALLICA has reportedly been working on its tenth studio album, which will follow up 2008's "Death Magnetic".

Drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone magazine that the band doesn't want to record in a way that feels "labored over and overthought."

METALLICA has spent a lot of time outside the studio in the last year, with activities that included a string of European all-request shows last summer, a week-long residency on "The Late Show With Craig Ferguson", and a Rock In Rio USA stint.

METALLICA has not revealed when it plans to begin recording or tentatively release the new album.

Italian symphonic metal kings RHAPSODY OF FIRE will release their new studio album, "Into The Legend", in January 2016 via AFM Records.

Comments RHAPSODY OF FIRE keybaordist Alex Staropoli: "After two years of intense work, including composing and arranging, after seven months spent in four different studios, this huge and ambitious production is coming to an end. We are right now mixing the songs, going through hundreds and hundreds hours of recordings to make an album that will feature over 65 minutes of breathtaking music, an album that will gather and exploit the best elements this band ever had in a modern way, and to build a musical landscape that will have no equals in the world's heavy metal scene."

RHAPSODY OF FIRE in June 2013 "respectfully" parted ways with their American guitarist Tom Hess due to "philosophical differences."

RHAPSODY OF FIRE released a live album, "Live - From Chaos To Eternity", on May 3, 2013 in Europe and May 7, 2013 in the USA via AFM Records. It was made available as two-CD digipak and as limited three-vinyl set. The material (a mixture of old classics and newer tracks) was recorded on the band’s European tour in spring 2012.

Staropoli and RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli in 2011 announced their decision to go their separate ways.

Due to legal reasons, Staropoli is continuing under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, is making his efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE's original name), in which he is joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).

SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell stopped by SiriusXM to perform a stripped-down cover of Prince's classic ballad "Nothing Compares 2 U". Watch the clip below.

Cornell's fourth solo studio set, "Higher Truth", was released on Friday (September 18). His first album on his own since 2009's controversial "Scream" is in the singer-songwriter vein and very different from his work with SOUNDGARDEN. Cornell told The Pulse Of Radio that that was the point of doing it. "Writing an album like 'Higher Truth', the same as it was writing any of my solo records, there's always this effort to try to make it different than the band that I'm known for," he said. "Mainly just 'cause I've never — as a music fan — never really liked when those two lines get kind of smeared."

The "Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart" video — envisioned by Cornell and directed by Jessie Hill — features a cameo by acclaimed Hollywood actors Eric Roberts ("Runaway Train", "Heroes", "The Expendables"), W. Earl Brown ("Deadwood"), as well as Chris Cornell making his acting debut. It tells a love story in a quintessential Wild West setting with an unexpected ending. The video demonstrates Cornell's instinctive ability to incorporate fascinating stories into his music.

Cornell kicked off the "Higher Truth" acoustic tour on September 18 in San Diego, California at the Balboa Theatre, stopping at famed North American venues like the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Massey Hall in Toronto and more before winding down on November 4 in Phoenix, Arizona at the Orpheum Theatre.