Rock It Up Records have announced the signing of San Francisco-based sleaze rock band Jetboy. 

Jetboy 2015 features:

Mickey Finn - vocals
Billy Rowe - guitars
Fernie Rod- guitars
Charles Norman - bass
Ron Tostenson - drums

Jetboy are taking part in Cathouse Live At Irvine Meadows, Saturday, August 15th at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater (recently known as Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre) in Irvine, CA. Riki Rachtman created the original rock dance club that dominated the Hollywood scene from 1986-1993. Now, along with Live Nation and Synergy Global Entertainment (SGE), he’s bringing Cathouse Live to a much larger audience with this decadent music and lifestyle festival.

The initial music lineup for Cathouse Live will also feature an All-Star Jam, Extreme, Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, Sebastian Bach, Dokken, Faster Pussycat, Stephen Pearcy (the voice of Ratt), Saigon Kick, Gilby Clarke, Dangerous Toys, L.A. Guns, Junkyard, Trixter, Autograph, Black ‘N Blue, Tracii Guns, Enuff Z' Nuff, BulletBoys, Bang Tango, Pretty Boy Floyd, Tuff and Little Caesar.

May 16 completed five years since the death of one of the greatest heavy metal vocalists of all time: Ronnie James Dio. Musicians from around found a way to honor the master last Saturday.
 
The Brazilian progressive rock/metal band Maestrick recorded a tribute to honor the legacy left by Dio. It is a new recording for Rainbow's classic "Rainbow Eyes", with the special participation of the Brazilian orchestra Belas Artes (OBA!) under the baton of conductor Andrea Porzio Vernino.

"In his entire carrer, Ronnie James Dio was a living proof of the true function of the artist", says Fabio Caldeira, Maestrick's vocalist and pianist. "With his voice and music, he transcended the act of entertain people. Dio went beyond! He inspired all of us, and this tribute is our sincere way to honor and thanking him."

Mick of the North Carolina radio station 99.5 The X conducted an interview with HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale at the fifth annual Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion, which took place May 2-3 at Rock City Campgrounds at Charlotte Motor Speedway just outside Charlotte, North Carolina. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about using her sex appeal to sell the band and the focus on image in the music industry, Lzzy said: "You know what's funny?! It can go either way, regardless of the gender. I think that's a generational thing, where it's, like… I remember in the '70s… Well, I don't remember, but I'm a big fan of the '70s and '80s, and I remember back then, even the guys were sex symbols, and now guys are kind of scared to be that. And I'm kind of… Let's bring that back around, can we?"

Asked why she thinks that is, Lzzy responded: "I don't know. I think through the '90s, and everything, the whole grunge era, everyone kind of started taking themselves too seriously. [Laughs] No offense to the '90s — I'm a child of the '90s — I'm just saying, the guys started getting a little shy, and then the girls kind of took over with the sex appeal, and now we're the only ones doing it. So, guys, I challenge you: take some shirts off, will ya? We wanna see some man nipple."

In a 2013 interview with Playboy.com, Lzzy admitted: "I don't mind dressing up and doing the short-skirt-and-high-heels thing… The only stipulation that I have about this is that you have to make sure you have something to back it up. You can't totally ride on the fact that I'm going to show my legs and people are going to show attention. If they can get past the legs, make sure you can actually sing and be good at your instruments." Hale added: "Sex and rock 'n' roll have been going together hand in hand since the beginning of time. You can't get away from it."

The vocalist told The Pulse Of Radio that she believes it can be too easy sometimes for female musicians to rely solely on their looks. "Actually, I've been encouraging a lot of people to challenge us, and make sure that when you're reading these articles or you're seeing us in magazines or something, that you go and you check us out live, or you go and you sample a CD, something like that," she said. "If people start doing that and don't just look at us because we're a quote-unquote pretty face, or scantily clad — I think if more people were looking beyond that, it would make us step up a little bit."

Hale also said that she was pleased to see the percentage of females in HALESTORM's audience growing, explaining, "I see all of these girls who are not there because their boyfriends dragged them along, you know? They're very empowered, a little crazy like me, and it's wonderful to be in a room like that because when we first started out there weren't a whole lot of girls at the rock shows unless you count the girlfriends of somebody in the band."

HALESTORM's third album, "Into The Wild Life", was released on April 14. The CD follows up HALESTORM's Grammy-winning 2012 sophomore effort, "The Strange Case Of…"

HALESTORM recently released a music video for "Amen". The album's first single, "Apocalyptic", became the group's third straight chart-topper at rock radio.

In a brand new interview with Radio.com, FAITH NO MORE drummer Mike Bordin spoke about his involvement in the controversial 2002 re-recordings of the drum and bass parts on OZZY OSBOURNE's classic first two solo albums, 1980's "Blizzard Of Ozz" and 1981's "Diary Of A Madman".

The tracks originally played by Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake on both albums were replaced on the reissue by Bordin and Robert Trujillo (now in METALLICA) after Daisley and Kerslake sued Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne over royalties. They were restored for the 30th-anniversary editions.

Asked if it was weird to play drums on the re-recordings of "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman", Bordin — who was part of Osbourne's solo band from 1996 to 2010 — told Radio.com: "That was really kind of a fucked up thing… That wasn't what I was going in expecting to do [when I went into the studio to record those tracks]. So, that's all I'll say about it. I'm not ever going to throw anyone under the bus, ever. But when it turned out that that's what the reason was [for re-recording those tracks]… I never knew that. That doesn't lessen the fact that it happened. But that wasn't the way that it was presented to me at all. It was weird."

He continued: "I will say this: to hear the original guitar, bass and drum tracks in my headphones while I was recording, was one of the most insane things that I will probably ever experience. I also think I heard some guitar solos that I'd never heard before."

Bordin went on to say: "There's a reason why those albums are so good, and why people love them so much. They're magical. That's down to all the guys who made those albums. Far be it from me to ever want to fuck with that. It's something to be treasured."

After Bordin was reminded that the original albums were eventually restored for the 30th-anniversary editions, he said: "They had to [do that]. It was just weird."

Ozzy told The Pulse of Radio he was against the idea of replacing the original tracks when he found out about it. "Believe me, it wasn't my doing," he said. "I mean, I didn't know that was being done, 'cause Sharon was fighting all the legal things that were going down at the time. I said, 'What did you do that for?' And she said, 'The only way I could stop everything was if it went to that level.' And I said, 'You know what, whatever the circumstances were, I want the original thing back.' I mean, I wouldn't have done that."

Daisley told Rock Cellar in a 2012 interview that the 30th-anniversary reissues of both albums could have featured the material as bonus content. He explained, "I offered to supply tapes of our rehearsals and writing sessions, to go as proper bonus material. And I just said that I wanted a royalty out of it, because it's my stuff. But they wouldn't do it because they didn't want to give me a royalty — they just wanted to buy it."

Daisley said that he and Kerslake were fired because of disagreements with Sharon over a number of things, including refusing to do two shows in one day out of worry that Ozzy would blow out his voice.

In a brand new interview with ARTISTdirect, bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders of Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON was asked what his first meeting with METALLICA was like. He said: "It was a European festival. All I can remember is we were so excited our guitar player Bill [Kelliher, guitar] walked over to [METALLICA drummer] Lars Ulrich, whipped his dick out and put it in Lars's pocket. [Laughs]"

He continued: "I can't believe we've done so many tours with them since. In the following years, we played Wembley Stadium in London in front of a hundred thousand people with them. I just remember being so happy."

Sanders added: "METALLICA is a giant reason why I picked up the bass and why I'm where I'm at today. Now, we're supporting them in front of a hundred thousand people at Wembley Stadium. That was magnificent. This summer we get to play another string of dates with them. It's just MASTODON and METALLICA across Russia for a couple of shows. If you flashback and told 13-year-old Troy this information, my head would've exploded."

As previously reported, MASTODON is working on a video for the song "Asleep In The Deep", taken from the band's current album, "Once More 'Round The Sun". The group is collaborating with Atlanta-based special effects guru Shane Morton and renowned American artist Skinner (cover artist for "Once More 'Round The Sun") on what is being described as "a short film that will feature bizarre imagery and psychedelically hued, possibly disturbing and disorienting concepts, starring cats."

MASTODON will re-release all of its Reprise titles on vinyl in the coming months. The first album in the series is 2006's "Blood Mountain", which was issued on March 3 on a mix of solid yellow and transparent green vinyl.

Lieutenant, the debut solo project of 20 year Foo Fighters vet and Sunny Day Real Estate co-founder Nate Mendel, premiered the new music video for his melodic and heartfelt song, “Believe The Squalor" today. Explosions, a demonic monk, a sexy woman performing sacrilegious acts upon an alter and metal rock heroes playing amidst the pews of a chapel are all some of the humorous, discordant images in the campy horror movie style video.

The song is off his debut solo record If I Kill This Thing We're All Going To Eat For A Week, which was released on Dine Alone Records in March of this year and available on vinyl starting this week.

 

 

The album track itself features the guitar work of Page Hamilton (Helmet) and vocals from Josiah Johnson (The Head And The Heart) but is played out in the video by Pete Majors and Sandor G.F. of Harassor, Erik Kluiber of Ironaut on bass and bandmate Eli Santana, also of Holy Grail. Mendel came up with the concept of the video when he was in the process of putting a touring band together for Lieutenant.

"I was in the brackish zone between a solo project and a band and wasn't sure of what the identity of the band would ultimately be," explained Mendel. "I thought, 'Why not play that our by creating a performance video using the 100% incorrect musicians, in this case a black metal band?' I texted the idea to a friend of mine, Jim Rota, who was a producer on the Sonic Highways project, and also fronts the metal band Fireball Ministry. He responded with a photo of Pete Majors covered in stage blood, on stage with his band Harassor.”
 

Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn took Europe’s 1986 classic rock staple, “The Final Countdown”, and reimagined it for banjos and wig for A.V. Club.

“Yes, when Fleck - who’s been widely recognized as one of the instrument’s greats for decades - showed up at AVHQ, he asked whether we might have a “hair metal” wig for him to wear. Since this is also Onion HQ, we’ve got a whole wardrobe room, and a new look was born. For her part, Abigail Washburn teased her hair and added a headband. Fleck took the wig with him, and the duo - whose latest collaboration is called simply Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn - has been playing “The Final Countdown” on the road.”

Check out the footage at this location.

 

Death/slam/core metallers The Juliet Massacre will release their new album Human Abuse on May 26. In anticipation, the band is streaming the entire album a week ahead of its release.

Vocalist Antomega shares the following about the new album: “Its long gestation period has meant that the successor to Pray For An Afterlife appears to be faster, more brutal, more intense, but also more deep. We have written about how much the mankind likes to abuse and destroy everything, even itself, and how all this is leading us to an inevitable collapse. These are all tangible things that each of us savor every day and against which ordinary people can do little or nothing. Human Abuse can be considered as an anthem to what actually the mankind should never be. We are totally convinced that this new work will satisfy all fans of the genre and, in some way, will satisfy even the most discerning ears.”

Recorded and mixed at Underroom Studios, three international guests (Julien Truchan from Benighted, Radim from Spasm and Alessandro Falà from Sawthis) and the precious collaboration of Gozer Vision on the artwork, Human Abuse is one of the most interesting extreme albums of the year.

Human Abuse tracklisting:

“Human Abuse”
“Earth Annihilation”
“Chocking The Last Breath”
“Drown In The Dust”
“Suffering In A Lake Of Solitude”
“The Tragedy Of The Guns”
“Beaten & Killed”
“Her Violated Body”
“Freedom Of Speech”
“Slam Against The Injustice”
“Gli Anni Di Piombo”

Album stream:

 

Relentless is an American female fronted heavy metal act formed in 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Their debut album titled Souls Of Charon came out in 2013 on Do Or Die Records, and included six songs. While in their early days Relentless were inspired by such doom metal cult heroes as Pentagram, Trouble or Candlemass, on their brand new release titled Night Terrors, which will come out on June 9 listeners will find eight traditional heavy metal oriented songs. Their rough, obscure and totally old school style takes us back to the golden, trend free era of early '80s heavy metal.

In July, Relentless will promote the Night Terrors album on their first ever European Tour, during which the band will play live in Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Poland, France and United Kingdom.

Tour dates:

July
9 – Fredericia, Denmark – Metal Magic Festival
12 – Germany – TBA
13 – Belgium – TBA
14 – Paris, France – Le Givus Café
15 – UK – TBA
17 – London, UK – The Hobgoblin
18 – Birmingham, UK – Scruffy Murphy’s
19 – Holland – TBA
22 – Itzehoe, Germany – Headbangers Open Air
23 – Berlin, Germany – TBA
24 – Gdansk, Poland – Protokultura
25 – Warsaw, Poland – Metal Cave
26 – Katowice, Poland – Korba
27 – Leipzig, Germany - TBA

Swedish metallers AMARANTHE recently took part in an acoustic performance at the studios of the 95.1 WIIL Rock radio station in Kenosha, Wisconsin. You can now watch video footage of their appearance below.

AMARANTHE's third album, "Massive Addictive", was released on October 21, 2014 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was tracked at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, EPICA) at the helm.

In a recent interview with The Grim Tower, AMARANTHE drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen stated about "Massive Addictive": "While other songs are more metal than anything else we have done, it's not as fast paced as our previous two albums, and a bit more groovy. Every song is distinctively different from the others, but it's not a concept album this time like on previous albums. Somehow I almost see the two first albums as part of a whole, while 'Massive Addictive' is a step in a little bit of a different direction maybe… You can easily hear that this is AMARANTHE, but it does contain new elements and a different approach than our earlier material."

Regarding the songwriting and recording process for "Massive Addictive", Morten said: "We recorded with producer Jacob Hansen, as we have on our previous albums, but we wanted a bit of a different production this time. The songs this time leave more room for everything to be heard, since it's not quite as hectic as before. So we could go for a bigger and more open sound. Everything went pretty smooth, actually, even though we had been touring all the time and actually had to write a big part of the album either on the road or in the studio while recording. We had a pretty clear vision of how we wanted the album to turn out, but also left room for a lot of creativity in the moment. All in all, it has been a pretty rewarding experience this time."

IN THIS MOMENT singer Maria Brink joined PAPA ROACH on stage last night (Tuesday, May 19) in Moline, Illinois to perform the PAPA ROACH song "Gravity". Fan-filmed video footage of her appearance can be seen below.

PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix recently told Songfacts about the song: "On 'Gravity', I really put it all out there: my failures as a husband, as a lover, and as the head of my household. I talk about my brokenness, and me and my wife's relationship in some real, true story factual-type stuff. I think it's a bit of a testimony for me and my wife, like, 'Hey man, if you're another couple that's going through this struggle, you can make it through if you really want to, if you really love each other.'"

"Gravity" is taken from PAPA ROACH's latest album, "F.E.A.R.", which came out at the end of January. The new disc was recorded in Las Vegas, taking the band out of their Sacramento, California home base for the first time since 2006. PAPA ROACH worked with the father-and-son producing team of Kevin and Kane Churko on the new CD.

Shaddix told The Pulse Of Radio that he wasn't very happy at first about going to Sin City to record. "I ended up in this city where I've had some of my greatest failures and worst decision making, and some of my biggest debacles of my life happened in Vegas, you know," he said. "And I believe I was sent back to that city to go do right this time, and we went there and I just faced that fear of living in this city that I felt was gonna eat me alive. But really and truly I just gave myself to this music 100 percent, and that's what pulled me through."

Shaddix admitted that the band went into the studio this time with almost no new material prepared, explaining, "Usually when we begin working, we'll have a bunch of demos, and I'll have a bag of lyrics ready to go. We didn't have those things this time."

Guitarist Jerry Horton added, "We walked into the studio with nothing. It was frightening since it was so different, but it was also liberating. Once the ball started rolling, it was a snowball effect."

Los Angeles hardcore band TERROR will release a new album, "The 25th Hour", on August 7 via Victory in the U.S. and Century Media in Europe.

The track "The Solution", taken from"The 25th Hour", can be streamed below.

Says TERROR vocalist Scott Vogel: "We're very glad to finally get a new song of 'The 25th Hour' out. This is the hardest hitting song that we've had in a while. The lyrics are about children that had grown up in households that are negative, violent, and destructive to their innocence. As the cycle continues, they soon will too become bitter and aggressive in their lives."

"We Own The Night", the new video from IMPELLITTERI, can be seen below. Directed by John Logsdon, who has helmed videos for DEF LEPPARD, VAN HALEN and NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, the clip was filmed at the Mates rehearsal room in Los Angeles while VAN HALEN was preparing in the next room for its upcoming tour. "We Own The Night" is described in a press release as "the perfect anthem for all the rock fans that continue to live for the music." The song is taken from IMPELLITTERI's latest studio album, "Venom", which was released on April 17 in Europe and April 21 in North America.

"Venom" is described in a press release as "a record filled with addictive and memorable riffs, guitar solos that feature Chris Impellitteri's blistering shredding technique coupled with strong melody and taste. Rob Rock's vocals are mesmerizing, melodic, and will make the listener sing along with each song long after the record is over. Lastly, the band boggles the mind with brutal drumming (featuring John Dette, formerly of TESTAMENT, SLAYER, etc.) filled with speed and groove and beastly bass playing (curtesy of James Pulli) that supports IMPELLITTERI's sonic madness! The result is a record that excites and musically satisfy every Metal and Rock fan, and every musician around the world. To add to their quest, IMPELLITTERI also wanted to create music that would take the listener on a musical journey thru different time periods of metal and rock."

Chris Impellitteri is heralded as one of the world's greatest guitar shredders. He has won "Best Rock Guitarist" awards in several magazines during the years for his guitar soloing. He is the first guitarist to be called the fastest guitarist in the world by the international media. Impellitteri was recently officially voted second fastest guitarist in the world by Guitar One magazine; and Guitar World magazine listed Impellitteri within its top 50 fastest guitarists of all time!

Chris Impellitteri formed IMPELLITTERI in 1987, along with vocalist Rob Rock. That year, they released an EP called the "Black Album" which was well-received, and IMPELLITTERI went on to release the full-length album "Stand In Line" in 1988. To date, IMPELLITTERI has released a total of nine acclaimed studio albums and "Venom" follows after 2009's "Wicked Maiden".

"Venom" track listing:

01. Venom02. Empire Of Lies03. We Own The Night04. Nightmare05. Face The Enemy06. Dominoe Theory07. Jehova08. Rise09. Time Machine10. Holding On11. Rock Through The Night (bonus track)12. Reach For the Sky (bonus track)

Recording lineup:

Chris Impellitteri - Lead GuitarRob Rock - Lead VocalsJames Pulli - BassJon Dette - Drums

Los Angeles theatrical rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES will release their first-ever concert DVD and Blu-ray, "Alive And Burning", on July 10. The cover artwork for the set was designed by the band's longtime friend and previous album cover illustrator, Richard Villa, and can be seen below. Also available is a performance clip of the song "Faithless", taken from "Alive And Burning".

"Alive And Burning" will feature footage of BLACK VEIL BRIDES' sold-out hometown show in Los Angeles at the Wiltern Theater on November 1, 2014. The concert was part of the group's inaugural Halloweekend event as part of "The Black Mass" tour. The DVD was directed by Casey Tebo, known for his work on the acclaimed AEROSMITH documentary "Rock For The Rising Sun".

In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie, BLACK VEIL BRIDES frontman Andy Biersack stated about why it has taken so long for his band to release a concert DVD: "I think, for us, being the band that always had the aspirations and dreams to be the kind of band that could put on a big theatrical stage show, it's taken a long time in our career. And, naturally, it takes a while for any band to get to the point where they can have that big stage show."

He continued: "When you're a young kid and go to a concert and see a big pyrotechnics or video screens, the reality behind how long that may take to get to that point both where it's financially viable but also makes sense for you on a scalable ability to be able to tour with it, you don't really think about that. We now are at a point, thankfully, that we can do a much more impressive and visual show and we felt that it was time to capture that with the DVD."

BLACK VEIL BRIDES' latest, self-titled album skyrocketed to No. 1 on the iTunes Rock Chart, No. 4 on the iTunes overall album chart, and to Top 10 on iTunes in over 20 countries when it was released. It debuted at No. 10 on The Billboard 200 album chart, giving BLACK VEIL BRIDES their second consecutive Top 10 album.

"Black Veil Brides" was helmed by producer Bob Rock, whose resume includes albums by METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE CULT and many others.

Fan-filmed video footage of AC/DC's May 19 concert in Munich, Germany can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Rock Or Bust 02. Shoot To Thrill 03. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be 04. Back In Black 05. Play Ball 06. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 07. Thunderstruck 08. High Voltage 09. Rock 'N' Roll Train 10. Hells Bells 11. Baptism By Fire 12. You Shook Me All Night Long 13. Sin City 14. Shot Down In Flames 15. Have A Drink On Me 16. T.N.T. 17. Whole Lotta Rosie 18. Let There Be Rock

Encore:

19. Highway To Hell 20. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

AC/DC's sixteenth studio album, "Rock Or Bust", has sold around 524,000 copies since debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart back in December.

It's the band's first album without founding guitarist Malcolm Young, who is suffering from dementia. He has been replaced by nephew Stevie Young.

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was arrested last November at his home in Tauranga on charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

Although Rudd played on "Rock Or Bust", he did not appear in photos or videos for the disc.

One-time AC/DC drummer Chris Slade officially joined the band's lineup for its performance on the February 8 Grammy Awards telecast. Slade is also behind the kit for the group's current world tour.

The band will return to North America later this summer for 13 more tour dates, starting on August 22 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts and wrapping up on September 28 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Maryland rockers CLUTCH have set "Psychic Warfare" as the title of their eleventh album, tentatively due in September via the band's own label, Weathermaker Music. Songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 2013's "Earth Rocker" include "X-Ray Visions", "Firebird", "Quick Death In Texas", "Our Lady Of Electric Lights", "Monsters", "Decapitation Blues" and "Son Of Virginia".

CLUTCH frontman Neil Fallon tells Alexander Milas of TeamRock Radio 's "Metal Hammer Magazine Show" about the new album title: "'Psychic warfare' is a lyric from the first track, 'X-Ray Visions'. It's about a guy holed up in a motel for unexplained reasons, and he's under great duress, being attacked by psychically-empowered agents of unknown origin. At least, that's the back story I have in my head."

According to Fallon, the "X-Ray Visions" lyrical concept was influenced by Philip K. Dick, the science fiction author whose 1968 novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" was the basis for "Blade Runner". Neil says: "[Dick's] general philosophy and questions have always crept into my lyrics, because I share an interest in it. On 'Earth Rocker', 'Crucial Velocity' was definitely a Philip K. Dick song for me. On this record, 'X-Ray Visions' certainly is."

The basic tracks and most of the guitars for "Psychic Warfare" were laid down at producer Machine's studio in Dripping Springs, Texas, while the remainder was recorded at CLUTCH's studio in Maryland.

Fallon says that the secluded studio location was the inspiration for the song "Quick Death In Texas". He explains: "I was staying in a kind of unique, maybe 100-year-old property, by myself. I got spooked out because I come from the East Coast and the suburbs and I was out in the woods. That was the environment that brought out 'Quick Death In Texas' — and the locals."

In a recent interview with Pollstar.com, Neil stated about CLUTCH's forthcoming album: "There's nothing out of the ordinary of the CLUTCH canon [on the new CD]." He continued: "I think these songs were written so soon after 'Earth Rocker' that they have a lot in common. It's a faster record. It think it shares a bit of the sense of humor, lyrically, with 'Earth Rocker'. There are a lot of hooks on this record."

Fallon added: "It's hard for me to comment, because I'm still in the middle of it, still listening to mixes and stuff. I think it's another offering of our sincerest rock emotion."

Legendary guitarist George Lynch's "Shadow Train" project finally comes to light in an all-new 18 track deluxe edition two-CD set, due on July 17 via Rat Pak Records. The former DOKKEN and current LYNCH MOB axeman's stellar guitar work is combined with contributions from vocalist Gregg Analla, bassist Gabe Rosales, keyboardist Donnie Dickman and drummer Jimmy D'Anda to create honest, soulful and meaningful rock, blues and hard rock-based music, making this release a must-have for all Lynch fans.

Songs on this disc are also featured in Lynch's forthcoming movie, "Shadow Nation", a thought-provoking documentary that explores the trials and tribulations that face Native American Indians in our world today.

About the release, George says: "I've spent over four decades of my life pursuing elusive musical aspirations. But for even longer than that, I've cared, studied and thought deeply about the human condition and how we interact with each other and the world around us. Fusing these two aspirations into one has been a challenge for me throughout my creative life. This is my attempt at bonding the music and the message into one cohesive whole."

"Shadow Train" track listing:

Disc 1

01. Vulture02. Currency Of Lies03. Power And Resistance04. Now It's Dark05. Vulture (Slight Return)06. I Am Weapon07. Ghost08. White Clay09. Fight No More

Disc 2

01. Believe02. Blinded03. Fallen04. Glitter05. Prayer Mechanism06. Sioux Wake Up07. Trail Of Tears08. Under A Crooked Sky09. World On Fire

Pre-order bundles are available at this location.

"Shadow Nation" film synopsis: "[The film] will illuminate the cost of the destruction of the Native American community; to both the indigenous population as well as to their European conquerors. The documentary will reveal the qualities inherent in indigenous people's world views that should be recognized and adopted if we all, collectively, intend to not only survive, but to find a way to live happier, more meaningful lives. While engaging a wide variety of opinions from notable activists, authors, artists, elders and shaman, politicians and government officials, clergy, teachers and everyday people, the film will reveal its message through a powerful music-driven road trip.

"The journey begins as renowned guitarist George Lynch, drummer, artist and activist Vinnie Nicastro and a musical band of politically engaged musicians climb into an old station wagon in the southwest desert. They pull a vintage horse trailer, retro-fitted to carry band equipment, solar panels, generators and camping gear.

"They travel the back roads, searching for a truth that can speak to power. They visit the Apache, Navajo and Hopi reservations in Arizona, Zuni and Tewa in New Mexico, Shoshone in Nevada, Utes in Utah and Colorado and then on to the Dakotas to visit the people and places that were (and still are) the epicenter of conflict between the native peoples and their European conquerors.

"The people they visit on the reservations will share how they have created sensible environmentally sustainable solutions that work in today’s world. Simple and proven practices like passive solar water heaters on the Paiute reservation, active community gardens and other ideas will be explored. Then as [they] move on to other reservations, they will help to integrate these workable procedures, pick up more ideas and carry them further."

In the one-and-a-half-minute video below, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield recalls turning 50 and reminiscing about having to balance between being a rock star and his family. His family is most important, because it's unconditional love. Some parents can smother their kids with rules and boundaries; and some look the other way and give no attention. James talks about being in the middle of those two; finding a balance between showing you care but setting boundaries as a parent. It's not easy, but James knows how important the balance is.

Says Hetfield: "When I turned fifty, there was a strange split in the road, thinking I'm this rocker dude who's gotta go out blazing. I'm an artist, I'm a struggling artist. I need to struggle, I have to… Maybe I have to fall farther. Maybe the elevator needs to go further down. I need to… I need to… I need to do some more research. I need to show my fans that I really care about them more than anything else, and forgot about the other split — my family — and that's an unconditional love. Just because my family kind of disintegrated as a kid doesn't mean my parents didn't have unconditional love for me. I know there are parents out there that struggle with loving their kids, or not knowing how to love their kids."

He continued: "God, being a parent is so hard! And I'll either smother that kid with control, or I'll just go like this [puts his hands up]. 'Whatever you do, I don't wanna know about it.' Being in the middle is so hard… so hard in the very middle, showing that you care. And being hated as a parent… Even when you're doing a good job, you're hated."

The latest Hetfield video, like the three before it, was produced by Road Recovery, an organization dedicated to helping young people battle addiction and other adversities, in partnership with Hooplaha.

It was during the late '90s that cracks began to show in both METALLICA's public image and Hetfield's tough-guy demeanor. Always a heavy drinker, his alcohol intake reached toxic levels in 2001 just as the band was starting work on its eighth studio album.

He recalled the moment when he made the decision to get help for his problems with drugs and alcohol. "My wife threw me out of the house and I went to rehearsal, and she could not believe that I had done that, and said, 'You've got to check yourself in somewhere,' and I said, 'Nah, no way, I'm the singer for METALLICA, I can't get help. I don't need help,'" he told The Pulse Of Radio. "A lot of denial. She was very adamant about me seeking the help and I went in, I think, for her and for my family."

Hetfield said that entering rehab was one of the scariest times in his life. "I was just kind of really scared," he said. "I was dropped off into this place and at that point my family was in question. Basically the family had split up, or I was no longer in the house, and it was totally one of the most scary times in my life. It was really like the earth was shaking under me, there was no stability, it felt like a constant earthquake. I had no idea what I was doing, where I was going."

Hetfield got clean and sober in 2002, returning to METALLICA to record the controversial "St. Anger" album and make the documentary "Some Kind Of Monster", which chronicled his struggle as well as the band's near-breakup.

During an appearance on this past Monday's (May 11) edition of Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM satellite radio show, "Eddie Trunk Live", vocalist Gary Cherone of Massachusetts hard rockers EXTREME was asked about the band's plans to write and record the follow-up to 2008's "Saudades de Rock".

"Right now, we're all feeling the pressure of putting out something new," he said. "[Celebrating the 25th anniversary of EXTREME's 1990 album] 'Pornograffitti' is great. We're enjoying it. We're playing to new audiences the past couple of years. We're hitting Russia for the first time and China. We're going to South America in June for the first time in 23 years. So all that's great. But for me, and Nuno [Bettencourt, guitar] and the guys, we're writing, we're doing demos… Now it's like… Now we've gotta get… Let's get busy. Let's get some new music out."

He continued: "We're writing and demoing now, and, obviously, this summer, you take advantage of the touring season with the festivals… It's about all of us getting in a room together to record, and that's the fall. We'll find time to do it. But we'll be ready; the songs will be there."

EXTREME's first studio album in thirteen years, "Saudades de Rock" (pronounced "sow-dodge") was released in the U.S. on August 12, 2008 on Open E Records and distributed by Fontana. The European version of the CD, which came out on August 1, 2008, included a bonus track, the "Americocaine" demo from 1985, the very first studio recording of EXTREME.

The iconic rock foursome — Cherone, Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger and drummer Kevin Figueiredo — recorded their fifth studio offering at NRG Studios in Los Angeles with Bettencourt at the helm as producer and mixer. "Saudades de Rock" boasted 13 tracks, including the infectious roar of "Star", the groove-laden, swagger of "King Of The Ladies", a raw funk rock anthem called "Learn To Love", and the expressive ballad "Ghost".

EXTREME's "Take Us Alive" live CD and DVD came out on May 4, 2010 in the U.S. via Frontiers Records. This performance was recorded on the last night of their tour at the House of Blues on August 8, 2009 in EXTREME's hometown of Boston.

On March 19, Kati Rausch of Music Interview Corner conducted an interview with KAMELOT founder and guitarist Thomas Youngblood in Helsinki, Finland. You can now watch the chat in two parts below.

Asked what the craziest thing was that he has ever done on tour, Thomas said: "We were going through Switzerland one year, and the bus that we had actually had a sunroof kind of thing. So one of us decided to go climb out on top of the bus as it was going down the highway… [Laughs] I wasn't the first one [to get up there], but I was the second one. And in hindsight, that was really stupid. But that sticks out as one of the craziest and probably stupidest things we've done on tour."

KAMELOT's new album sold around 7,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 75 on The Billboard 200 chart. This mark's the biggest first week in the U.S. in KAMELOT's history.

KAMELOT's 2012 effort, "Silverthorn" opened with around 5,400 units to debut at No. 79. The band's 2010 CD, "Poetry For The Poisoned", registered a first-week tally of 6,100 to enter the chart at No. 74.

Commented Youngblood: "We want to thank our fans first and foremost for this great result. It's been an amazing start to the campaign and we are really loving the live shows so far. We also want to thank the folks at Napalm Records and our own social team for their work getting the news out regarding 'Haven'."

"Haven" was made available on May 5 in North America and May 8 in the rest of the world (excluding Asia) via Napalm Records as part of an exclusive licensing deal through the band's Kamelot Music LLC.

Produced by Sascha Paeth and mastered by Jacob Hansen, "Haven" is a massive album that is sure to please critics and fans alike. Guest musicians on the CD include Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY), Troy Donockley (NIGHTWISH) and Charlotte Wessels (DELAIN). The breathtaking cover and artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann and additional art/layout was done by Gustavo Sazes.

Lady Obscure recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked for his opinion about some OPETH fans' position that Mikael should have started a side project under a new name instead of taking the band completely away from the death metal-tinged sounds of OPETH's early albums, Åkerfeldt responded: "Well, I mean… It doesn't really work like that, does it? First and foremost, people can have their opinions. It doesn't mean we'll follow it. We love our fans, [and] we respect them, but we're a band first and foremost. I never felt that… Whatever we do with this band, whatever ends up being OPETH is OPETH, because it's us. And that argument kind of fails in that sense… How does that work with Joni Mitchell [or] David Bowie? For solo artists who have a sound. Should they change their name? It's just a random and, I think, a bit ignorant and stupid comment, to be honest. I think it's easier if [the fans] just stop listening to it. I think the best solution is that they stop listening to it if they don't like it."

During an interview with Australia's The Rockpit, Mikael spoke about the sharp musical turn OPETH took with 2011's "Heritage" album and its follow-up release, 2014's "Pale Communion". He said: "I do understand and appreciate that 'Heritage' was a little bit of a shock to fans who are more into the heavy, death metal type of sound, and maybe it's a bit much to expect them to take it all in so we got a bit of shit for that record. I love that album with a passion, because, for me, it was natural, but I have seen that with the coming of the 'Pale Communion' record that people come up to me and say, 'I did not like 'Heritage' when it came out, but when you put out 'Pale Communion', I finally understood 'Heritage' and now I'm starting to like it.' So I'm hoping it's going to escalate into a love for that record."

He continued: "People have been more gentle with us with 'Pale Communion' coming out, but there is still... Like, I don't have social media, I don't correspond with the fans in that sense, so I don't really get a lot of the confrontations about what the hell we are doing. My overall response to that question would be that people might be getting used to and maybe understand a little bit better about what we are trying to do. And, for me, that is good, of course. I never had a problem. For me, it was never a big step. For everybody in the band, it was not a massive thing for us to do 'Heritage', but I do accept that it might have been too curvy of a curveball for people who are not in the band, but now it's starting to calm down a little bit."

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich has praised "Montage Of Heck", a documentary about late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain, as "a great piece of filmmaking," but has admitted that parts of the movie were "almost too much" to watch because they "took a little bit of the mystique away."

"Montage Of Heck" marks the first time any authorized film about the life of Cobain has been made. Brett Morgen ("Crossfire Hurricane", "The Kid Stays In The Picture"), who serves as writer/director/producer on the doc, had full access to Cobain's personal archives and has dug through countless amounts of home movies, recordings, pages of writing and much more, all of which has never been seen by the public.

Asked for his opinion of "Montage Of Heck", Ulrich told the "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" radio show (hear audio below): "I thought it was a great piece of filmmaking. I thought it was unique; [I'd] never quite seen a film like that. I loved being that close to [Kurt], but I also had issues being that close to him, because it took a little bit of the mystique away. And I was kind of sitting there going, 'Do I really need to see Kurt Cobain in a bathtub?' Do you know what I mean?! That kind of stuff."

He continued: "I thought, as a film, it was a fantastic, original, very brave piece of filmmaking. And I thought it was very courageous and very daring. And I applaud the fact that the film was made. ]But] as a fan of Cobain, and as a fan of NIRVANA, it was almost too much, it was almost too close. Do you know what I mean?! Because, now, next time I hear 'Come As You Are' or one of those songs, I'll still sit there and think of him in a bathtub of him shaving, or that scene at the end where he's holding [his daughter] Frances [Bean Cobain], and some of that stuff, which was challenging to watch."

Ulrich went on to say that he "literally just saw [the movie] three or four days ago" and didn't get a chance to formulate a conclusive opinion of it yet. He said: "I'm still putting it together. I'd like to see it again."

He added: "As a movie, I thought it was really smart and very well made and I really admire the direction of it and how it was put together. Like I said, as a documentary, it's very, very… I mean, you're not gonna get any closer [to him] in terms of a biography… But, as a fan, it's, like, 'Woah, that was almost too much.' So I'm still putting it together. But I thought it was very interesting, and I look forward to seeing it multiple times more."

"Montage Of Heck" has been in limited theatrical release since last month and premiered on HBO on May 4.

METALLICA is no stranger to making revealing documentaries, having previously released "Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster", which followed the band through the three most turbulent years of their long career, during which they battled through addiction, lineup changes, fan backlash, personal turmoil and the near-disintegration of the group during the making of their "St. Anger" album.

In the clip below, AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson visits the iconic MG factory in Longbridge to gain an insight into the beloved British marque as part of the second season of the "Cars That Rock" series.

A six-part series, "Cars That Rock" features Brian meeting designers, engineers and car fans from around the world and visiting car plants and race tracks. It airs on the Quest channel in the U.K.

Johnson previously stated about his love of cars: "A few years ago, AC/DC did a gig at the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. There were 119,000 people gathered on the hills and stands. It was wonderful to stand up there with the band, but when I was on stage singing, I thought, I wish I could drive this track.

"If someone had asked me when I was a teenager whether I wanted to become a top driver or the lead singer with one of the world's biggest rock 'n' roll bands, I'd have said driver. I always imagined myself as Stirling Moss or Graham Hill. Luckily, the music worked out and has meant I can live the dream of racing.

"I am often asked to compare the two. When you are strapped into a car hurtling towards the first bend, the adrenaline has to be greater than it is when you're on stage. Maybe that's because the risk of hurting yourself or worse on stage is not the same as in motor racing.

"I was once racing a Porsche when the engine of the car in front blew up. Driving through a wall of smoke, with oil all over the windscreen, I couldn't see a thing. At times like that you wonder if you will emerge alive. Now I count myself as a lucky man in that I get the opportunity both to sing and to drive."

Fox 5 anchor Steve Lacy conducted an interview with Duff McKagan before the former GUNS N' ROSES bassist's May 12 book signing at the Strand bookstore in New York City. They spoke about the new Kurt Cobain documentary, "Montage Of Heck"; MCA from the BEASTIE BOYS; reconnecting with Axl Rose and the music of GUNS N' ROSES; staying in touch with his former bandmates; talking with his teen daughters about drugs and alcohol; and what it's like to be a highly recognizable rock legend on the streets of New York. Check out the chat below.

Speaking about "Montage Of Heck", which has been described as a deeply personal, no-holds-barred portrait of NIRVANA's leader via his own words, Duff — who grew up in Seattle — said: "It really illustrates some of the things I've written about. And I think it's a brilliantly done documentary. It's extremely sad at the end, but it depicts what it was like — not just with them, but with the whole… like, everybody I knew. And that's what it was like [in Seattle around that time]. And seeing that scene — those scenes at the end — kind of upset my stomach. And I watched it with my 17-year-old daughter. And to think [Kurt's daughter] Frances [Bean Cobain] produced [the film], and that was the footage she chose to be shown was really heavy."

Duff, who gave up a lifestyle of heavy drinking and drug abuse after a 1994 attack of acute alcohol-induced pancreatitis, also talked about the discussions he has had with his own daughters, 17-year-old Grace and 14-year-old Mae, about the dangers of drug addiction. He said: "Well, there's the convesations we don't need to have, because they know… I don't have to say, 'I know what I'm talking about.' They know what I'm talking about. I've talked to 'em about my genes that they might have, but I don't live in a fairytale. Just me saying, 'Just say no,' that's not gonna happen; that's like unicorns with horns. So, I mean, I'm honest. 'You might try some drugs. And you might actually like something. Here's the deal, though: I was your age, and that's when I was doing that. And I chased that first good high for thirteen years until my pancreas blew up. So you might have that same thing, and it's not cool. So just watch it.'"

McKagan shared a Seattle-bound flight with Cobain just days before the NIRVANA frontman's suicide, and was one of the last people to speak with Cobain.

Duff's new book, "How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions)", is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir, "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)".

In "How To Be A Man", McKagan shares the wisdom he gained on the path to superstardom — from his time with GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER to getting sober after a life of hard living to achieving his personal American Dream of marrying a supermodel, raising a family and experiencing what it's like to be winked at by Prince.

Loper and Randi of the Columbus, Ohio radio station 99.7 The Blitz conducted an interview with legendary guitarist Slash at this year's Rock On The Range, which is being held May 15-17 at MAPFRE Stadium (formerly Crew Stadium) in Columbus. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about why he is reluctant to perform new songs live before they are officially released, Slash said: "Unfortunately, as great as the digital age, in some ways, can be, one of the reasons we don't do new material live anymore is 'cause it'll be online before the show is over. And you can't really release material that way unless you really intend to do that."

He continued: "Rock music has always been something that was bootlegged. I mean, I used to buy bootlegs, and it was great. But now, what happens is it goes online and everybody shares it and it just goes out really quick. And it just lessens the blow… It's not even the money thing for me… It just lessens the blow of the material when it actually comes out. Sometimes the recording quality is really diluted, this and that and the other. So if it's gonna be that widespread, you've gotta really know if you wanna release it that early or not."

Slash and his band FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS are currently in the midst of a U.S. headlining tour. The month-long trek — encompassing headlining shows and festival appearances — is the first solo trek supporting the group's acclaimed studio album, "World On Fire", which is Slash's third straight solo album to debut in the Top Ten in the U.S and the second album with his official band THE CONSPIRATORS which features Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass) and Frank Sidoris (touring guitarist).

The new self-titled album from Polish thrash metallers Raging Death was released on April, 27 by Italian label Punishment 18 Records. The self-titled song, “Raging Death” has been released for streaming. The band plays old school thrash metal influenced by ‘80s Teutonic thrash scene.

 

The artwork was created by Mario Lopez (Game Over, Sabbat, Warstorm, Sofisticator, Repulsor, Axe Battler and many more). Raging Death play an old school thrash metal influenced by ‘80s Teutonic thrash scene.

Raging Death tracklisting:

“Space Invaders”
“Raging Death”
“Back To The Past”
“Warrior Of Revenge”
“Evil Command”
“Race Of Races”
“Cry For Time”
“Changelled By The Unknown”

Teaser:

“Evil Command”:

Raging Death is:

Piotr Ciepły - lead guitar
Igor Faliński - guitar/vocals
Michał Kotwicki - bass
Dawid Sówka - drums

Finnish power metal act Myon has returned with their new album Vitalworks. The album contains 14 new songs and is also the first Myon album with lead singer Marco Mannermaa.

Vitalworks will be released on June 15 worldwide. Vitalworks was recorded, mixed and mastered at legendary Soundmix studios in Oulu Finland by keyboardist Mika Pohjola. He also produced Myon’s 2007’s album Frameworks.

Vitalworks tracklisting:

“Otra Vez”
“Twist In The Orbit”
“Mystery Of The Moment”
“Call Of The Senses”
“Blood Mountain”
“In The Arms Of Eternity”
“When It Could Begin”
“Chains Of Society”
“How Does It End”
“Answer To It All”
“Last Tear”
“No Pain No Gain”
“Finally Forgiven”
“Silent Goodbye”

Video “Otra Vez”:

Black Tower hails from Ottawa, Canada, but it might as well be Middle Earth. Or at least a Middle Earth as filtered through heavy metal. Tolkien would probably not approve, but generations raised on his books - as well as Iron Maiden and assorted black metal records - will nod their long-haired heads in appreciation.  Their debut LP, Secret Fire, will come out on June 2 and the band is streaming a new track with “Riders”.

Black Tower is metal that wears its nerd credentials proudly on its sleeve. You don't sing "Under the Lonely Mountain" loud and proud in your opening song, or marry the sensibilities of Slough Feg to early Dissection and an almost Bad Religion-ish punk catchiness, without knowing exactly what you are. A lot goes into the mix, but as with any good recipe, what comes out has a flavor all its own.

With only a self-titled demo under their belts, the three members of Black Tower (who have played in many other outfits - most notably punk groups Crusades, The Creeps, and The Visitors) entered Apartment 2 Recordings in winter 2014 to track their debut LP The Secret Fire with fellow Ottawan and Fuck The Facts mastermind Topon Das. The album will be co-released by No Idea Records and Unspeakable Axe Records.

The Secret Fire tracklisting:

“Death March”
“Black Moon”
“The Dark Lord”
“Riders”
“Shadows”
“Winter”
“The Dragon Flies”
“Night Siege”

“Riders”:

“Death March”: