Groovey of Groovey.TV conducted an interview with Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, SEPULTURA, KILLER BE KILLED, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY) on April 29 in Denver, Colorado. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about SOULFLY's forthcoming album, "Archangel", which is tentatively due in August, Max said: "[It's a] really cool record. [It's] very exotic, mystic, really biblical. [It's] very, very heavy again. It's very influenced by the stuff I listen to right now — 1349 and BELPHEGOR, BEHEMOTH… I've been listening to a lot of death metal. Don't ask me why. I don't know why. I just fucking love the extremity of it. So, yeah, it's gonna be a really cool record. It's our tenth record. And I'm very excited for this album. And then I will tour for 'Archangel' probably for the next year and a half, two years, non-stop."

In a recent interview with Metal Wani, Max stated about "Archangel": "It's an interesting record. It's one of those [records] that come out once in a lifetime, an album like that comes out — really crazy sounds and very different dimensions. It's more experimental than the other stuff. It's still heavy as hell, and it's still fast. And Zyon's [Cavalera, Max's son] playing drums on it. He's actually playing really good. He reminds me of a young Dave Lombardo [SLAYER]. The fills that he's doing [are] really amazing; he surprised everybody in the studio. Matt Hyde is producing; he worked with SLAYER before. So it's really cool; a really good team."

Max also talked about the new SOULFLY song "We Sold Our Souls To Metal", which he previously described as a "metal anthem." Asked about the mindset that is required to write a track like that, Max said: "It just happens. You can't explain it. It's one of those things… [When] you play it, it has an instant reaction on the listener."

He continued: "I was very curious about that, so I was playing around with the song, playing it for people, to see what kind of reaction it gets. And almost everybody, the reaction was, like, 'This is so crazy. I can't wait 'till you guys play this live.' It's got this kind of New York hardcore chant that we do in the chorus — like, gang vocals. It's really, really fun, and everybody gets to sing together. That's why I was thinking that it's gonna become an anthem — the chorus, all the fans are gonna sing it together, and it's saying something. 'Cause, 'we sold our souls to metal,' I think every metalhead feels like that — that we did kind of a pact and we sold our souls for this music that we love so much. So it's something that I think [they'll] sing that with some kind of pride. I think it's gonna happen when that song comes out, at least. And then it ends [in a] very PINK FLOYD [-like way], which is really strange; I don't know why we did that. I still don't know if it was the right thing, but it came out like that. Marc [Rizzo] just did some really crazy guitars at the end of it that is just, like… It goes from total metal into crazy PINK FLOYD, but it works. I mean, it's really wild. And we like wild stuff. I always was drawn to weird, weird stuff, and that's definitely weird, in a good way."

Regarding the musical direction of the new SOULFLY material, Max told The Front Row Report: "Some of the stuff is really fast, actually; like the first couple of songs on the album are all fast. And then it eventually slows down and there's some kind of really heavy stuff. But I think it's a really strong album that I'm very proud of, and I think a lot of people are gonna like it."

SOULFY's ninth CD, "Savages", was released on October 1, 2013. The CD was produced by Terry Date, who is known for his work with such acts as PANTERA, DEFTONES and SOUNDGARDEN, among many others.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, filmmaker Brett Morgen (pictured), director of the new documentary "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck", has revealed that an album collecting previously unheard music from late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain's personal tapes will be released this summer. Morgen told Bedford + Bowery, "We're going to be putting out an amazing album this summer," adding that the record "will feel like you’re kind of hanging out with Kurt Cobain on a hot summer day in Olympia, Washington as he fiddles about. It's going to really surprise people."

Morgen told The Pulse Of Radio about the material he found while researching Cobain's archives for the film: "I knew that there was gonna be all this art, but what I didn't know was there was gonna be all this audio. I opened up a box and there were 108 tapes with over 200 hours of never-before-heard audio. And this ran the gamut from music — dozens of hours of unreleased music — to sound collage, and then there was this amazing spoken word material that I discovered."

The movie is constructed like a collage of previously unseen home movies, interviews, animation, photographs, music and other artifacts.

Collider called it "a deeply intimate look at Cobain's life that really takes you inside his head, revealing the joy, depression, anger, and immense creativity that populated his psyche."

The Age Of metal recently spoke with Kiske / Somerville vocalists Michale Kiske (Unisonic, ex-Helloween) and Amanda Somerville (Trillium, Avantasia) about the possibility of the project hitting the road in support of their new album, City Of Heroes.

Michael Kiske: "At the moment there are some kind of disagreements between Frontiers Records and some of the members of Kiske/Somerville, because they would like to bring it further and I can’t without pissing off my own Unisonic bandmates. That’s the thing, I’m not a solo artist anymore. I have to arrange everything. If my bandmates don’t like what I’m doing there I can’t ignore that. I don’t want to overdo things. I don’t see that happening at the moment. Maybe when Unisonic takes a longer break."

Amanda Somerville: "Probably not anytime soon, you know never say never, but it is increasingly difficult with things we are involved in and me becoming a mom. But maybe doing a special concert, you never know. Previously there is nothing planned on the horizon, but I wouldn’t say it would never happen. I would love to present the songs live at some point."

Check out the complete interview below.

 

Interview with Michael Kiske & Amanda Somerville of Kiske/Somerville by Theageofmetal on Mixcloud

 

City Of Heroes sees Mat Sinner (Primal Fear, Sinner) and Magnus Karlsson (Starbreaker, Primal Fear) handling most of the songwriting (with a song contribution “Breaking Neptune” from Sander Gommans formerly of After Forever and Amanda Somerville herself) and with Sinner overseeing the production in various recording studios in Europe. Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Primal Fear, Pretty Maids, Doro etc.) then took care of the mix of the album ensuring a sonic quality second to none.

The first Kiske / Somerville self-titled album instantly aroused enthusiasm in the rock and metal community. The two videos off the album -“If I Had a Wish” and “Silence” – amassed a total of approximately 3,000,000 plays to date, which means that these songs can legitimately be considered as nowadays rock classics!

Considered a Metal Diva in the European symphonic metal scene, Amanda Somerville is an American singer-songwriter from Flint, Michigan whose catalogue of projects, guest appearances and live shows garnered to date is an impressive body of work. Since 1999, she has divided her time between the US and Europe, primarily Germany and the Netherlands. She co-wrote the metal opera Aina, and has also been a vocalist, songwriter, producer and / or vocal coach for many bands like Avantasia, Epica and Kamelot, giving her more credibility in metal circles than she ever bargained for. Some of her most recent endeavors include working with renowned artists Alice Cooper, Bonnie Tyler, Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and many others.

Hamburg-born singer Michael Kiske is best known as the former lead vocalist for the German metal gods Helloween. After his departure from the band, Kiske recorded four solo albums, participated on various metal and rock related projects, such as Place Vendome and he also performed with numerous bands as a guest vocalist. In late 2009, he formed the hard rock/heavy metal band Unisonic, together with his former Helloween bandmate Kai Hansen and began touring again after 17 years.

City Of Heroes will be released in CD, Deluxe edition with a bonus DVD and 2LP vinyl gatefold sleeve.

Tracklisting:

City Of Heroes"
"Walk On Water"
"Rising Up"
"Salvation"
"Lights Out"
"Breaking Neptune"
"Ocean Of Tears"
"Open Your Eyes"
"Last Goodbye"
"After The Night Is Over"
"Run With A Dream"
"Right Now"

DVD includes:
City Of Heroes (video)
"Walk On Water" (video)
“Making of” documentary

“City Of Heroes” video:

Musicians:
Lead & Backing Vocals: Michael Kiske & Amanda Somerville
Guitars & Keyboards: Magnus Karlsson
Bass & Backing Vocals: Mat Sinner
Drums: Veronika Lukesova

Watch the “Walk Of Water” and checke out the official EPK video below:

Italian multi-instrumentalist/composer Zombie Sam has checked in with the following update:

"It's official! Finally started working again on my new album I wrote a new song and it's very... oh well, you will see. What if I release a free song very soon just to get into the mood of a scary Halloween party? 

Be sure my new album is gonna be as crazy as the first one. Working on the concept right now. Are you into Tim Burton? I'm your man, I'm the jester that will bring you into a macabre, spooky, dark movie with my cinematic music."

Zombie Sam released his previous album Self Conscious Insanity on June 4th, 2013 via Coroner Records. A video for the track "A Hallow Tale" featuring Season Of Ghosts vocalist Sophia can be viewed below:

Zombie Sam also collaborated on the Season Of Ghosts debut, The Human Paradox, released on December 8th, 2014 via Coroner Records. Mastermind/vocalist Sophia has posted a behind-the-scenes clip from the recording sessions of her debut album, The Human Paradox, featuring Zombie Sam. Check it out below:

A full length audio clip of the third song on the album, "Time Travellers", can be heard below:

Season Of Ghosts is a groundbreaking music project, dedicated to the love for the unseen and film soundtracks, combining extreme rock and metal sounds, harsh electronics and powerful, compelling vocals, through the eerie spectrum of a Sci-Fi and horror movie.

Tracklisting:

"Nothing Disappears Without A Trace"
"Genesis - The Phoenix Syndrome"
"Time Travellers"
"Dream; Paralysis"
"The Human Paradox"
"[NE]: MESIS - The Kiss Of Justice"
"Beautiful Eternal Things"
"Dreaming In The Gray Lands"
"The Road To Acheron"
"Quantum - Through The Looking Glass"
"Reincarnation"
"There And Back Again"

Preview:

For information on Zombie Sam go to this location.

Bassist Matt DeVries, previously of CHIMAIRA (where he played guitar) and SIX FEET UNDER, has released the following statement regarding his departure from FEAR FACTORY:

"For those that haven't already heard, I've decided to step down as bass player of FEAR FACTORY. The main reason being to simply take some time off of the road and focus on my kids.

"I couldn't think of anyone better to take my place than Tony [Campos, ex-SOULFLY, STATIC-X, PRONG, MINISTRY]. He's a good friend and great bass player!

"Thank you to all FEAR FACTORY fans. You guys have been amazing and made the past three years a blast! Thank you as well to Dino [Cazares, guitar], Burt [C. Bell, vocals], and Mike [Heller, drums] for a great ride, and some memorable/incredible shows! None of which could have happened without our amazing road crew: Wedge, Jerry, Justin, Sarah… You guys rule!

"Music is my passion, so this won't be the last time you see me."

FEAR FACTORY added in a separate statement: "We're really sad to see Matt DeVries go, but we totally respect his decision and wish him the best.

"The past three-plus years have been beyond amazing.

"We've known Matt for a very long time and we've gone through a lot together, so we will always be friends. We wish him the best of luck on his future endeavors."

FEAR FACTORY is putting the finishing touches on the follow-up to 2012's "The Industrialist" for a late 2015 release via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

Back in February 2015, THE DEAD DAISIES got the chance to play some rock'n'roll in Cuba and it proved a revelation. The revelation became a revolution as the boys started conceiving their next album. The passion they'd experienced in Cuba was confirmation — the world needs to be reminded that classic rock is alive and kicking — and with the new album, THE DEAD DAISIES were going to deliver just that, a collection of classic rock, "Revolución".

The official video for the first track from the upcoming CD, "Midnight Moses" (originally by ALEX HARVEY BAND), with new singer John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, RATT) on vocals and featuring Cuban musician Yaimi Karell Lay on percussion, can be seen below.

"'Moses' is a song I've always wanted to do," says Corabi. "So with the trip to Cuba, we all thought it would be cool to have some of the local musicians participate. As it turned out, the middle break in Moses allowed us to have Yaimi Karell Lay do some congas, and I think she nailed it beautifully!!"

The DAISIES were in Havana for 10 days as guests of the Cuban Ministry of Culture, Cuban Institute of Music and the Cuban Rock Agency. A number of Cuban outlets covered the cultural exchange, where the DAISIES performed acoustic sessions for press and sold-out shows for fans, jammed with Cuban musicians, visited schools to give lessons and conducted workshops. Somewhere in there they even found time to record tracks for "Revolución" at Abdala recording studios with producer Ben Grosse (MARILYN MANSON, SEVENDUST), who accompanied them on the journey. Additional recording took place in Sydney, Australia at Studio 301, with tracks being produced by THE DEAD DAISIES and Craig Porteils (GUNS N' ROSES, BILLY IDOL).

The entire Cuban adventure is being made into a documentary as well. Also titled "Revolución", the doc was shot by Katarina Benzova and Cuban videographer Karel Renzoly Green and will be edited by filmmaker Kenn Michael and produced by music and film producer Danny Sabre. View the documentary trailer below.

Due on June 1, "Revolución" features bassist Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY, WHITESNAKE), keyboard player Dizzy Reed (GUNS N' ROSES), guitarist David Lowy (MINK, RED PHOENIX), lead guitarist Richard Fortus (GUNS N' ROSES, THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS), John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, RATT) on vocals, Brian Tichy (OZZY OSBOURNE, BILLY IDOL) on drums and additional drumming from Jackie Barnes (TIN LIDS, JIMMY BARNES), who is the son of Scottish-born Australian singer Jimmy Barnes. Also included on the album is Cuban musician Yaimi Karell Lay on percussion.

THE DEAD DAISIES are thrilled to announce their return to Europe touring with KISS on their 40th-anniversary tour this summer.

THE DEAD DAISIES are a powerful musical collective created by a rotating lineup that features some of the world's best rock musicians. Influenced by '70s and early '80s hard rock, THE DAISIES' sound is soulful and accessible-equal parts THE FACES, BAD COMPANY and FOREIGNER: muscular vocals, bluesy riffs, big choruses, powerful melodies and strong hooks. Whether it was inspired by Elvis or THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN or Jimi Hendrix, it always started with the music, and that's what THE DEAD DAISIES are all about.

Fan-filmed video footage of Ace Frehley's entire April 30 performance at Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia can be seen below.

"Space Invader", the first new solo album from Frehley in five years, sold around 19,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on August 19, 2014 via Entertainment One Music (eOne Music).

Ace's previous CD, "Anomaly", opened with around 17,000 units back in September 2009 to debut at No. 27.

"Space Invader", which was made available in Europe on August 18, 2014 (three days earlier in Germany and Scandinavia) through SPV/Steamhammer, includes 11 brand new original songs as well as a cover of Steve Miller's "The Joker".

Frehley's touring lineup includes none other than Richie Scarlet, who rode shotgun performing rhythm guitar and vocal duties on Ace's "Trouble Walking" platter in 1989, and is doing so again on stage. Richie toured with Ace in 1984 and 1985 and periodically from 1989 through 1995 and was also known for touring with Sebastian Bach.

On bass and vocals is Chris Wyse from Queens, New York. Previously recording with Ozzy Osbourne and playing on Mick Jagger's 2001 solo album, Chris is well known as the bass player from THE CULT since 2006. Chris can also be heard on Frehley's new album, "Space Invader", on select tracks. He also covers bass duties in his current band OWL.

Finally, Scot Coogan is behind the drum kit for Frehley's tour. Coogan played with Frehley for five years until 2012 when he left Ace's band to focus on other projects. He has since toured and recorded with LYNCH MOB and sat behind the kit for Lita Ford on the 2012 "Rock Of Ages" tour with DEF LEPPARD and POISON.

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett joined legendary German axeman Michael Schenker on stage last night (Sunday, May 3) at the RockBar in San Jose, California to perform a couple of songs: UFO's "Natural Thing" and SCORPIONS' "Blackout". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Hammett tweeted after the show: "An honor to share the stage w/ Michael Schenker, Herman Rarebell & Francis Buchhol last night! Fanboy Level: EXTREME!"

Hammett and Schenker previously traded licks during the taping of VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" on April 14 at Metropolis Studios in New York City.

In an interview with Guitar World magazine, Hammett spoke about how his life was changed when he first heard UFO's 1975 album "Force It", which featured Schenker on guitar.

"I was 15 years old and a friend of mine brought it over to my house insisting I had to hear it," Hammett recalled.

"I was still living at my parents' house at the time, and they had a very loud stereo system. My friends would come over and we would blast it up to what we thought was concert level. Boy, was I naïve!

"The first track my friend played was 'Mother Mary', and I thought, wow, these guys are just as heavy as THIN LIZZY, AEROSMITH, MONTROSE and all the other hard rock stuff that I was listening to before I got into heavy metal.

"When it got to the guitar solo, I was just blown away by Michael Schenker's tone, phrasing and technique. By the time the second solo came on with the fastest descending lick I'd ever heard, I was totally hooked! I immediately grabbed the album cover and saw the picture of Schenker playing a Flying V.

"From that point on, I knew there was an entire rock vocabulary out there that was not just based on pentatonic scales, and I set out to learn as many Schenker solos as possible while trying to write heavy riffs just like UFO. I also wanted a Flying V so bad!

"That record taught me a lot about solo structure, phasing and melody, as well as playing for the song. I was amazed how UFO could be so heavy and so melodic in the course of one song. I think the band I was in at the time added two UFO songs to its set that week.

"For me, the standout tracks on 'Force It' are 'Mother Mary', 'Shoot Shoot', 'This Kid's', 'Out On The Street' and 'Let It Roll'. Every time I pick up the guitar and start improvising, I think a lick or two from that album squeaks out subconsciously. I probably spew the most Schenker licks on [METALLICA's 1983 debut album] 'Kill 'Em All' because everything was still kind of new to me at that time."

An honor to share the stage w/ Michael Schenker, Herman Rarebell & Francis Buchhol last night! Fanboy Level: EXTREME! pic.twitter.com/5w1zFSrbxM

— Kirk Hammett (@KirkHammett) May 4, 2015

According to Variety, Swedish film and music-video director Jonas Åkerlund will helm the English-language film "Lords Of Chaos", based on true events in the Norwegian black metal music scene in the early 1990s.

Rory Culkin ("Scream 4", "Signs") and Caleb Landry Jones ("X-Men: First Class", "Byzantium") are confirmed for leading roles in the adaptation of the scene-chronicling book "Lords Of Chaos: The Bloody Rise Of The Satanic Metal Underground", with further cast to be announced shortly.

"Lords Of Chaos" is described as "the terrifying story based on real events about a dream-turned-nightmare for a group of teenagers who spiral out of control." The movie will follow the life of Euronymous (a.k.a. Øystein Aarseth), the founding member of MAYHEM who was murdered in 1993 by BURZUM's Kristian "Varg" Vikernes. In the movie, Euronymous "becomes fixated on creating true 'Norwegian black metal' music with his band MAYHEM, and creates a phenomenon by using shocking stunts to put the band's name on the map. But as the lines between publicity and reality start to blur, acts of arson, violence and a vicious murder shock the nation."

The film will shoot in the fall of 2015 on location in Norway.

"Lords Of Chaos: The Bloody Rise Of The Satanic Metal Underground" was originally published in 1998 by Feral House U.S. A second edition followed in 2003, documenting black metal activities since 1997.

Back in 2009, when initial reports surfaced that the "Lords Of Chaos" book was being turned into a movie, vocalist Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven and drummer Kjetil-Vidar "Frost" Haraldstad of the Norwegian the black metal band SATYRICON expressed their disgust over the plans. Satyr told Dagbladet.no: "Now that the focus on black metal finally has shifted towards the actual music, this gossip journalism in the shape of a book is made into a movie. Since 'Lords of Chaos' is an incredibly bad book, I can only assume the movie will be bad as well."

He continued, "It is sad that such an inaccurate story, written by someone who doesn't understand black metal, has become a book of reference. And it is sad that someone is willing to go that far to exploit the history of black metal."

Frost added: "This is a parasitic phenomenon."

Åkerlund, who formed the pioneering black metal band BATHORY with Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg in the early '80s, went on to have a successful video-directing career, having worked with the likes of METALLICA, PRODIGY, MADONNA, U2 and the aforementioned SATYRICON.

Irish metal act Primordial have just launched a brand new video for the song "Wield Lightning To Split The Sun”, taken from their latest album, Where Greater Men Have Fallen, which BraveWords chose as the #20 BravePick of 2014 (see entire list here).

Primordial comments on the video: "'We Wield Lightning Before The Sun' has become an important song for us, the dramatic album closer has become something of a natural call to arms that people have really taken to their hearts. The video is a mixture of live outdoor footage shot at the Sonnenwende festival in Austria mixed with indoor footage from this years Blastfest in Bergen, Norway, all cut by Costin Chiorneau who also made the artwork for the last album. A hymn to the animal in man that needs to be exercised not exorcised!"

Primordial will play a string of selected club shows and festivals in the months to come.

For dates visit Primordial on Facebook.

Swedish power trio, Grand, will release their self-titled debut EP through Moving Air Music on May 6th.

The EP was recorded in the end of 2014 at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg (the name is only a coincidence). It has 5 songs and all of them were recorded live on tape with no editing at all. The music can be describe as something in between blues and metal, with it's shuffle grooves and heavy distortion they managed to capture a really raw and dirty feeling!

 

 

Grand is a Swedish power trio based in Gothenburg who started in the fall of 2012. It didn’t take too long before they hit the stage for the first time and with their crazy and energetic appearance it could not be anything else than a success. Since then they have played many shows in the major cities of Sweden including last years Rock Bitch Boat cruise.

“Gone In The Morning”:

 

Los Angeles, CA-based metal band, Phinehas, have launched the new song "Dead Choir”, from their forthcoming Artery Recordings debut, Till The End, out July 10th.

 

 

Phinehas Till the End Track Listing
 
“Dead Choir”
“White Livered”
“Truth Be Told”
“Non”
“Forever West”
“Tetelestai”
“Coup De Grace”
“Omnis”
“Seven”
“Iliaster (More Than Skin)”
“Evening Gray And Morning Red”
“Moriar”
“Till The End”

"Dead Choir”:

 

 

 

Goatsnake’s first full-length in fifteen years, entitled Black Age Blues, will be released via Southern Lord on June 2nd. Check out the album’s title track, streaming below:

“Black Age Blues”:

A record release show in Los Angeles is scheduled for May 20th, followed by their first performance at Maryland Deathfest just days later. That same week they head to Europe for a week-long tour kicking off with a set at Temples Festival.

Black Age Blues is an instant classic, with each one of the nine songs an anthem, and each of the four members of Goatsnake in top form. Everything is magnified; Pete Stahl's vocals have never sounded so good, the rhythm section comprised of Greg Rogers on drums and Scott Renner on bass are the driving force on each track, and Greg Anderson's riffs are heavier than ever before.

Appearing on the album intro to "Another River To Cross" is acoustic guitar courtesy of David Pajo (Slint, Aerial M, Papa M), the track also containing previously released recordings from Goatsnake's The River. Piano is played by Mathias Schneeberger and Petra Haden contributes violin and vocals. Another welcome addition to the album, across multiple tracks, are brilliant backing vocals by Dem Preacher's Daughters: Wendy Moten, Gale Mayes and Andrea Merrit.

Black Age Blues is familiar, but nothing here is a repetition of what we've heard before, as Goatsnake continues to refine the timeless, ultra-heavy rock that they are infamous for, surpassing even the highest of expectations.

The tracklisting and front cover, with photography and design from Samantha Muljat have been released. Audio samples and much more will be revealed in the coming weeks.

 

 

Black Age Blues tracklisting:

“Another River To Cross”
“Elevated Man”
“Coffee & Whiskey”
“Black Age Blues”
“House Of The Moon”
“Jimi's Gone”
“Graves”
“Grandpa Jones”
“A Killing Blues”

“Elevated Man”:

Below is Goatsnake's current list of upcoming live shows in the US and Europe, including appearances at prestigious events such as Maryland Deathfest in the US and Temples Festival in the UK.

May
20 - Complex, - Glendale, CA (record release show with Bl’ast, Eagle Twin)
24 - Maryland Deathfest - Baltimore, MD (with Amorphis, Anaal Nathrakh, Inverloch, Neurosis, Winter, more)
30 - Temples Festival - Bristol, UK

June
1 - De Kreun - Kortrijk, Belgium
2 - Melkweg - Amsterdam, Netherlands
3 - SO36 - Berlin, Germany
4 - Freakvalley Festival - Siegen, Germany
7 - AN Club - Athens, Greece
20 - Crucialfest - Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Italian melodic metal act, Prologue Of A New Generation, has launched a new lyric video, for the track ”Empty Bottles And Broken Dreams”.

""Empty Bottles and Broken Dreams" speaks of our need to find something," the band states. "We are in constant search of dreams and happiness, but life often obscures the decisions and leads us to make mistakes that take us away from ourselves. We remain empty, as the bottles, the same that we empty trying to smile again."

Prologue Of A New Generation is currently in the studio recording its first full-length album, entitled Mindtrip, scheduled to release this fall. The upcoming album follows the 2014 debut EP Written Buried And Forgotten, which catapulted the band to play the most renowned Italian festivals and tour Europe for the first time.

Stay tuned for more information on Prologue Of A New Generation.

Static Tensions Recordings announce its latest signing, California thrashers Tormenter. The label will be releasing the band's previously self-released album Prophetic Deceiver. The album is set to be released on July 24th. The band is recommended if you like Exodus, Warbringer and Destruction

Static Tension Recordings CEO Kyle Stevens had the following to say about the signing: "We are proud to announce La Puenta, CA's Tormenter to our ever expanding family of artists. Tormenter have built a large and loyal fan base in their home market and are now poised to build that fan base across North America. With melodic riffs and a sound that incorporates melodic thrash and death metal, Tormenter are poised to be your next favourite band!""

Listen to the track "Exile From Flesh" from Prophetic Deceiver:

The band are also embarking on a tour of the South West United States, beginning in June. The tour, which is being called Unrest In The Southwest, will consist of eight dates. All shows will be played with fellow Californian's Concrete Sledge. Tour dates can be found below.

 

 

Thrash metal veterans Indestructible Noise Command (I.N.C.) have released a music video for the track "Love like Napalm”, taken from the band's fourth album, Black Hearse Serenade. A lesson in DIY spirit, the video was written and directed by the band's own guitarist, Erik Barath, and his wife, Elena Paraskeva, for a total cost of under $200 (Stock video footage: $140, Carob syrup: $3.99, Red contact lenses: $15, Therapeutic mud: $8, White mask: $8.99).

"We wanted to make a really cool video on the cheap, but directors are expensive and rarely can they get inside my head and recreate what I see,” said Barath. "So I figure, what the fuck, let's buy some mud, contacts, and make fake blood and roll the dice on it all. As we got into the shooting, we realized we can do this with a little creativity and planning. It's not going to win any awards, but it should show a lot of bands working with just a few bucks in the pocket that they can DIY with solid results."

 

 

Black Hearse Serenade, which released last November on Ferocious Records, can be purchased now through iTunes, Amazon.com and the Ferocious Records web-store.

I.N.C. is currently gearing up for its first local show in 25 years at Cherry Street Station in Wallingford, Conn. on July 24th. Tickets can be purchased online at this location.

 

 

Detroit rockers, Wilson, will release their new album, Right To Rise, via Razor & Tie on June 30th. The band’s second full length album was produced by producer Johnny Andrews (Halestorm, All That Remains, Three Days Grace) in Atlanta, GA. The album track “Hang With The Devil” is streaming below.

The band recently wrapped a UK/Europe tour with Halestorm and Nothing More and will head out with Nothing More again in North America on May 31st.  Wilson will also have an album release party on Saturday, June 27th at the The Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac, MI.

Chad Nicefield of Wilson explains the new music: "This record is for the people out there who wake up everyday with one thing in mind, to survive. Those who roll up their sleeves and put bread on the table. It's a record that any man or woman can be proud of because it's about honest hard work and good times. Right To Rise is OUR record. Not just Wilson's record, but a record for all of the WILSONS out there.  It rips, sweats, and works its ass off. We couldn't be any more proud of the rock and roll jackhammer of Fuckery we created on this thing!"

 

 

Wilson has come a long way since their bombastic, brash, and ballsy 2013 full-length debut album, Full Blast Fuckery. They emerged on to the scene with a raucous, raw, and righteous rock sound that saw them become a live favorite, while sharing the stage with everybody from Black Label Society and Down to Five Finger Death Punch and Motörhead. Finishing up a touring whirlwind, the group decided to approach the creative process for Right To Rise from a new angle. Previously, Chad and Jason comprised the writing core, but they opened composition to the whole band, splitting sessions between the Motor City and Atlanta with producer and writer Johnny Andrews (Halestorm, Three Days Grace, Sick Puppies). Inspired by the band’s home-town of Detroit, MI, the album is armed with a battering ram of riffs and swaggering grooves, songs like the title track capture that spirit, while tapping into a distinctly “live” energy, offering a tribute to their home and rock music.

The band agrees, “Detroit is a city commonly portrayed as the underdog to most of the world. We were discarded by many when the shit hit the fan, but through hard work, passion, and determination we strive to rise again. ‘Right to Rise,’ though written to mirror our beautiful city is a song that we feel encompasses rock ‘n’ roll in the current climate of the industry. It’s for all the underdogs out there with their sleeves rolled up and their blue jeans on.”

 

 

Right To Rise tracklisting:

“Right To Rise”
“Guilty (You’re Already Dead)”
“Crave”
“Windows Down!”
“All My Friends”
“Satisfy Me   ”               
“The Flood”
“Hang With The Devil”
“I Am The Fly”
“Give ‘Em Hell”
“Waiting For The World To Cave In”
“Before I Burn”

“Hang With The Devil”:

Find the band’s live itinerary here.

 

Houston, Texas-based metal band, Royale, have released their debut single, "This Is My Life”. The track, which was produced, mixed and mastered by Wade Concienne (Like Monroe) brings out a sound never before heard. With energy filled riffs and catchy choruses, "This Is My Life" will surely be stuck in your head for days.

Watch the video for ”This Is My Life" below:

Royale is a brand new up and coming band announcing their formation in the fresh start of 2015. The band consists of members David (vocals), Brandon (lead guitar), Tyler (bass and vocals), Nick (lead guitar), and Jean (drums).

Previously known as Strength In Shadows, Royale has more experience than most would expect. The band has already earned a spot on the Vans Warped tour lineup of 2014, played on multiple tour packages like Oh, Sleeper, Volumes, and many others. The music is for fans of Erra, Of Mice And Men, and Bring Me The Horizon.

 

 

Do not mistake their music for a typical metal/hardcore band. Royale combines melodic guitar leads with catchy yet unique singing choruses. Royale is the band to keep a lookout for.

Western Colorado-based brutal death metallers, Exussum, will release their debut full-length album, False God Evolution, on May 12th via To The Head Records.

With a 10 year history behind them, Exussum has grown leaps and bounds into a pulverizing force on the brutal death metal scene. 'False God Evolution, their first proper full length album (their 4th release total) showcases a band, lead by guitarist and song writer Andreas Hollstein and rounded out by drummer Taylor Riley, at the top of their form as musicians, performers, and aware, conscious individuals.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Self-Proclaimed God”
“Ohmnivorous”
“Bringer Of Plague”
“The Frequency Of Fear”
“Bodies In The Bog”
“Evolution Of The False”
“Telekinetic Mutilation”
“The Meat Harvest”

False God Evolution by EXUSSUM

False God Evolution is available May 12th, with pre-orders beginning right now. Packages include a limited edition digipack, limited edition t-shirt (designed by artist Bahrull Marta), a signed 11x17 poster, and a beverage koozie, all for the low, low price of $22.00.

 

 

Arizona-based instrumental duo, Tempel, take their sound to the next level on their forthcoming sophomore effort, The Moon Lit Our Path, due June 16th in North America, June 15th in the UK/EU and June 19th in Germany.

Recorded at guitarist Ryan Wenzel's Phoenix-area Arrowhead Studio, The Moon Lit Our Path - which features intricate artwork by Lucas Ruggieri (Kylesa, Dragged Into Sunlight), as seen below - features five colossal tracks that mix progressive, black, death and post-metal into one mammoth sonic cocktail.

Today, Tempel reveals the album's opening track, the eight-minute composition "Carvings In The Door." The song is now available as an "instant grat" download with digital pre-orders of the new album on iTunes and Bandcamp. Fans can stream the track in its entirety below via YouTube.

Pre-orders of The Moon Lit Our Path on CD and gatefold 2LP are available now via the Prosthetic web shop, including an exclusive 180-gram clear vinyl variant limited to 200 copies worldwide. Also available for pre-order is a new vinyl pressing of On The Steps Of The Temple, the first two pressings of which sold out in short order last year. Choose your pre-order bundle now at this location.

 

 

The Moon Lit Our Path tracklisting:

“Carvings In The Door”
“The Moon Lit Our Path”
“Descending Into The Labyrinth”
“Tomb Of The Ancients”
“Dawn Breaks Over The Ruins”

“Carvings In The Door”:

Album teaser:

 

“Requiem For X”, the lead track from Italian rockers Goblin Rebirth’s new self-title album, out June 30th via Relapse Records, can now be heard streaming below. The group (which features members of Italian film score figureheads Goblin) has revealed an album trailer to give fans a taste of what to expect of the record. Goblin Rebirth will be available on CD/LP/Digital, and is available for physical preorder at Relapse.com.

Inspired by the legendary Goblin, the 1970's horror-synth / film score icons responsible for such soundtracks as Suspiria, Zombi and Tenebre, Goblin Rebirth came together after a temporary reformation of the original group in 2009.  The new incarnation of the group contains the famed rhythm section of the original Goblin (drummer Agostino Marangolo and bassist Fabio Pignatelli, who both played on the classic soundtracks to Zombi/Dawn of the Dead, Suspria, Profondo Rosso/Deep Red and more), with the addition of Aidan Zammit and Danilo Cherni on keyboards and Giacomo Anselmi on guitar.

The band formed in 2010 and started with a live repertoire of Goblin hits and some unusual songs from more obscure Goblin soundtracks. The band members soon began creating new material and decided to look to the future, creating songs that grew out of an organic process, through a combination of individual compositions and jam sessions.

Now the first new recordings from Goblin Rebirth will see the light of day via Relapse this summer.  The group's debut album was mixed and produced by bassist Fabio Pignatelli. Tracks were recorded at the various members' personal studios, while the drums were recorded in Trani, at Scuola Sul Mare Studios.  The album was mastered by Bob Fix at BobFixMastering. Guest musicians on the album include Arnaldo Vacca on percussion and Roberta Lombardini on vocals.

The music from this new album is to be performed at festivals in Italy starting in May, and there are plans for live performances in other countries in the following months.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Requiem For X”
“Back In 74”
“Book Of Skulls”
“Mysterium”
“Evil In The Machine”
“Forest”
“Bolero”
“Rebirth”

“Requiem For X”:

Album trailer:

 

Austrian death metallers, Epsilon, will release their new album, zu richten, on June 8th via Mighty Music. The band have released an official lyric video for the track “I Shall Feast”.

After having released two EPs and a full length album, Epsilon, established in 2003 in St. Pölten, the capital city of Lower Austria, now present their latest death metal masterpiece, entitled zu richten.

Just right in time for their tenth anniversary, Epsilon went through a personnel change: Guitarist Schmidi (Defiled Utopia) and drummer Urge (Bastard Peels) revitalized the quintet with fresh ideas. After several live performances they created eleven new songs, mainly elaborated by the two guitarists and drummer Urge alone, but always completed in teamwork.

Technically matured due to the musical development of the whole band, Epsilon referred to the sounds of Bloodbath, Vallenfyre or the early Entombed while writing and recording their songs. The final refinement (mixing & mastering) took place at the Stage One Studio under the aegis of Andy Classen (Destruction, Belphegor).

The artwork for the cover, which was designed by the renowned Austrian painter Roman Träxler especially for the album, portrays according to the artist, “a new kind of human being that does not eat, can’t hear, see nor speak and thus cannot do any harm to the world”.

 

 

The lyrics, penned by frontman Krise, deliberate the self-perception of mankind, its misconduct and ethical action. Another central issue are animal rights – and that in both, a very clear and a more metaphoric – fictional way of telling.

More details to follow.

 

Paris, France-based metallers, Chabtan, have released a music video for “The Kiss Of Coatlicue” (see below), the title track of their new album, due for release on physical and digital formats on May 22nd via Mighty Music.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“The Nahual's Omen”         
“Ixtab”         
“Born From Vucub Caquix”         
“Astral Monsters”         
“Anthropomorphic Beast”         
“The Kiss Of Coatlicue”         
“Follow The Darkest Way”         
“Ah Puch Reign”         
“Reptile”         
“Obsidian Butterfly”         
“Visions Of The Snake”           

Mighty Music has announced the signing of a worldwide deal with Finnish death/black metal act, Tomb Of Finland. The band’s new album, Below The Green, will be released on CD and vinyl on August 21st.

 

 

Check out the band’s video for “Damnation”, and stay tuned for more news.

 

French female-fronted metal band, Unsafe, have signed a worldwide deal with Mighty Music. The label are excited to release the band’s new album, Enter Dark Places, on July 3rd.

 

 

More details will be revealed soon. In the meantime, check out an album teaser video below;

German death/thrash metal outfit, Dying Humanity, have released their first music video, for "I Am King" from their upcoming album Deadened. Check it out below. The new album will be released via Bastardized Recordings on June 12th. Stay tuned for more details.

Dying Humanity also documented their recording experience in the form of a pair of studio diary videos. Watch below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Can you still differentiate between all of the genres and subgenres of heavy music? Without pigeonholing, Dying Humanity calls a spade a spade - metal.

Founded in 2006, the band showed a first sign of life with releasing the MCD The Origin of Dying Humanity. Restrain Records took notice and published the debut Fallen Paradise in 2007. With recording at the well-known Rape of Harmonies Studio (Heaven Shall Burn, Narziss) and the mastering getting done by producer Jacob Hansen (Hatesphere, Aborted), Dying Humanity got a good start and acquired a loyal fan-base through diligence and sweat.

The new experiences came benefiting to the new album Fragments of an Incomplete Puzzle (2009), which was mastered by Alan Douches and obtained a nice artwork by Brazilian Gustavo Sazes (Arch Enemy, Krisiun, God Forbid). The record received some international attention, leading to gigs in German bordering countries.

 

 

The follow-up Living on the Razor's Edge (2011) was the first concept album of Dying Humanity, telling the story of a woman living through the shady sides of life. This trip into the depths of human reality was mixed and mastered by Jörg Uken in Soundlodge Studio. Gustavo Sazes completed the result with an impressive comic artwork.

The recordings of the fourth album began at the end of 2013, but could not be finished at first, because the former singer and bass player dropped out. Nevertheless, the album was finally concluded after the new members completed the band in the middle of 2014.

After their split with former singer Luca Fizzarotti, Rome, Italy-based metallers Physical Noise have officially announce the entrance of Roberto Ramon Messina as the band’s official vocalist.

Following his 13-year career with the band Secret Sphere, metal music finally occurs to him again with Physical Noise, with immediate impact on the composition of the new album from the band.

 

 

The band state: “We’re so glad to have the chance to play with such a singer! We immediately started a good friendship bond that will make us go further, so we wish him a thousand “green” days!”

Says Ramon: “I’m honoured to be back in the metal scene again, I asserted myself to wait until I could find the right band to share strong emotions with. They firstly hit me with the energy they communicate as persons, even before their music. Together we are making Physical Noise reborn and we’re heading towards new musical aims!”

 

 

You’ll have a preview of the new style in a couple of weeks, when they will publish “Exodus”, new single taken from the upcoming album. Check out an introductory video below:

 

In their 25 years as a musical duo, Gunnar & Matthew Nelson, collectively known simply as Nelson, have grown from pop music idols to seasoned songwriters and performers. Now, as the brothers celebrate a quarter century at the forefront of the international music scene, they return with Peace Out, their most ambitious studio album to date. Listen to the new track, “Autograph”, below:

Released in Europe on May 15th and North America on May 19th by Frontiers Music Srl.,  Peace Out marks a return to the well crafted melodic rock songs that put the band at the top of the Billboard charts in the 1990s. From the anthemic “Invincible” to the rollicking soon-to-be classic “Back In The Day”, Peace Out is quintessential Nelson from start to finish.

“We set a pretty high standard with our previous release with Frontiers – Lightning Strikes Twice. That record received by far the most critical acclaim of any Nelson record to date... Peace Out was expected to be even better, the so the goal was to push ourselves to the very limit- past what we believed we could do,” says Gunnar Nelson. “We wanted to write and record the most exciting, authentic, uplifting, and rockin’ Nelson record ever made! The mission: to make a classic.”

The brothers have always had their work cut out for themselves, being the third generation in one of America’s most celebrated entertainment families, who came into US households every week from 1952 through 1966 on the ABC sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet. Their grandfather, Ozzie Nelson, was a celebrated big band leader, whose orchestra featured their grandmother, Harriet; and their late father, Ricky, was one of rock ’n’ roll’s earliest superstars, a member of The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and generally credited with creating the country-rock format.
 
When the Nelson twins burst onto the music scene with the Billboard #1 hit “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love & Affection,” in 1990, they set a Guinness World Record by being the only family to have three generations of #1 hits on the charts! Nelson went on to release a half dozen rock albums selling nearly 7 million records, beginning with the multi-platinum After The Rain.

Peace Out marks their fourth release on Frontiers since 2010. Look for Nelson to embark on a world tour upon the album’s release. “We're putting the live show together as we speak... And it will incorporate the very best live songs from our career... Focusing heavily on the Peace Out album,” tells Gunnar.

 

 

Peace Out tracklisting:

“Hello Everybody”
“Back In The Day”
“Invincible”
“Let It Ride”
“I Wanna Stay Home”
“On The Bright Side”
“Rockstar”
“Autograph”
“What’s Not To Love?”
“You And Me”
“Bad For You”
“Leave The Light On For Me”

“Rockstar” from the upcoming release, streaming below:

Preview:

Swedish reformed death metal unit, Centinex, have revealed a new video for the track "Moist Purple Skin", taken from the band's 2014 comeback album, Redeeming Filth. The video can be seen below:

The band will perform a short string of selected dates this summer, including the following festivals:

June
12 - Bucharest, Romania - Metalhead Meeting Festival
26 - Protzen, Germany - Protzen Open Air

July
10 - Trutnov, Czech Republic - Obscene Extreme Festival

September
25 - Hultsfred, Sweden - Mörkaste Småland Festival

 

 

Centinex is made up of Martin Schulman (Demonical) on bass, Sverker Widgren (Demonical, Diabolical) on guitars, Alexander Högbom (October Tide, Spasmodic) on vocals and Kennet Englund (Interment, Centinex 1999-2003) on drums.

The official video for the song "Stolen Life" (2015 version) from Swedish / Canadian / American metallers ARCH ENEMY can be seen below. This brand-new version of the track, which has just been made available digitally, features additional lead/solo parts by new ARCH ENEMY guitarist Jeff Loomis (formerly of NEVERMORE).

The "Stolen Life" video was directed and produced by Carlos Toro V. of Abysmo Films. It was filmed in Chile during ARCH ENEMY's early 2015 tour of South America.

The original version of "Stolen Life" can be found on ARCH ENEMY's latest album, "War Eternal", which sold around 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 44. The CD was released on June 10, 2014 in North America via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created by Costin Chioreanu. Comments ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott: "I can't believe it's been almost a year since we released the 'War Eternal' album! Time flies when you're having fun, huh?!

"We're just starting up our summer tour here in Europe and there's still a long way to go — we're booked up 'till Christmas!

"There has been such an amazing reaction to the new music and lineup and it is really keeping us motivated.

"Having Jeff Loomis out with us on the road is fantastic. A fine player and a true gentleman. I'm super happy that he could throw down a couple of leads on this new exciting version of 'Stolen Life'; it really adds some new fire to the song.

"On our recent tour in Latin America, we had the opportunity to film a video for our new single. It was a really good experience working with the talented Abysmo team and I'm more than happy with the end result!"

ARCH ENEMY in November 2014 parted ways with guitarist Nick Cordle and replaced him with Loomis. Loomis made his live debut with ARCH ENEMY on the band's most recent European tour.

ARCH ENEMY played its first show with singer Alissa White-Gluz in May 2014 in Bucharest, Romania. Angela Gossow, who joined ARCH ENEMY in 2000 and made her debut on the now-classic "Wages Of Sin" (2001), stepped down as frontwoman and is focusing on management, while Alissa is taking her place.