Armed and dangerous and with feet planted firmly in the soil on extreme metal’s war-torn frontline, Germany's Dew-Scented have spent the last 23 years building a formidable reputation as diehard standard-bearers in thrash metal’s ongoing evolution. The band will continue the battle on their 10th studio album, Intermination, scheduled for release on June 30th in North America.

The band states, “Our 10th (!) studio album is completed! The record is entitled Intermination and sounds more focused and determined than ever before. This time around, we worked with our old friend Dan Swanö (Unisound Studio) for the mix as well as with Gustavo Sazes (Abstrata.net) for the artwork and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results we achieved. We can’t wait share the new music with all of you!"

Listen to the new song "On A Collision Course” below.

All formats of Intermination include a cover of Repulsion's "Radiation Sickness," while the digital edition and the limited-edition gatefold vinyl (dark green and 180-gram black variants) will include two bonus tracks, “Those Who Will Not See” and “Survival Reaction” (Solstice cover). Pre-order information, including exclusive t-shirt bundles, can be found at this location.

 

 

Intermination tracklisting:

“Declaration Of Intent”
“On A Collision Course”
“Scars Of Creation”
“Affect Gravity”
“Means To An End”
“Ode To Extinction”
“Demon Seed”
“Power Surge”
“Ruptured Perpetually”
“Living Lies”
“Atavistic”
“Reborn”
“Radiation Sickness” (Repulsion cover)

Bonus tracks (vinyl and digital versions):

“Those Who Will Not See”
“Survival Reaction” (Solstice cover)

“On A Collision Course”:

Dew Scented will headline the Thrash Mercenaries Tour 2015 with Angelus Apatrida, No Return, and Heboïdophrenie.

 

 

Tour dates:

October
15 - Paris, France - Glazart
16 - Selestat, France - Rock Your Brain Festival
17 - Munster, Germany - Sputnikhalle
18 - Almelo, Netherlands - Naxt Stage
19 - Roeselare, Belgium - De Verlichte Geest
20 - Siegen, Germany - Vortex Club
21 - Hamburg, Germany - Bambi Galore
22 - Berlin, Germany - K17
23 - Erfurt, Germany - From Hell Club
24 - Nurnberg, Germany - Hirsch
25 - Innsbruck, Austria - PMK
26 - Budapest, Hungary - Durer Kert
27 - Praha, Czech Republic - Noca Chmelnice
28 - Graz, Austria - Explosiv
29 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex Club
30 - Lyon, France - CCO
31 - Saintes, France - Hell’ Oween Festival

To span their live inactivity this year, German gothic metallers Crematory have decided to release last year's Wacken show as a DVD, including private backstage footage, detailed interviews, footage from their rehearsal room and the three videoclips from Antiserum. Live W:O:A 2014 will be released through SPV/Steamhammer on June 17th in Scandinavia, June 19th in Germany, June 22nd in Europe and June 23rd in North America.

Live W:O:A 2014 tracklisting:

“Until The End”
“Fly”
“Höllenbrand”
“Shadowmaker”
“Revolution”
“Tears Of Time”
“Kommt Näher”
“Tick Tack”
“The Fallen”
“Virus”
“Black Celebration”

- Backstage at W.O.A. 2014
- brand new band interviews
- guitarist Matze’s last interview
- three Video Clips: Shadowmaker, Kommt Näher, Virus

Crematory is still looking for a new guitar player – preferred with the ability to do vocals! Send your applications, with video, to office@crematory.de.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guitarist/vocalist Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) is currently working on a new solo album, due for release later this year. He has checked in with another studio update:

"This song called 'Over And Over' I had previously released. However, I had originally done everything on the track and it was far from perfect with my drums. Everything has been re-recorded with the exception of some leads and a few background vocal tracks. All of the old bass and rhythm guitars were re-recorded to lock with Brian's drums.

So awesome having Mr Tichy in this track! I also had my good friend Lonnie Park add some keys and additional back up vocals. It's really massive now. I counted the use of 85 of my possible 96 tracks. The stereo tracks count as two but I've used 85 on this version! Not the easiest mix but it's a lot of fun. Song is almost eight minutes long so it takes forever to do just about any pass.

I am over half way finished with the mixing. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Almost time for some time off! My friends and family have filed a missing persons report! I hope you enjoy this little snippet. 

Peace and please share if you like! This record is going to be a really fun listen when it's finished! So excited..."

 

The tentative tracklisting for Caffery's new album, Your Heaven Is Real, is as listed:

"Your Heaven Is Real"
"Just Fine"
"Sick And Tired"
"I Never Knew"
"Too Soon To Be Too Late"
"Arm And A Leg"
"Death By Design"
"Hot Wheelz" (instrumental)
"Why"
"Damned If You Do, Dead If You Don't"
"My Light"
"2-26-15" (instrumental)
"Over And Over"
"Come Home"

Caffery recently commented on Savatage's upcoming reunion show at the Wacken Open Air:

"Savatage will close the festival that night following TSO's first ever European festival appearance. I have been waiting for them to announce this for weeks. It was hard to keep it a secret! Yes, legion, our patience has finally paid off..."

Wacken Open Air 2015 will take place July 30th - August 1st in Wacken, Germany.

Acts confirmed for the 2015 edition of this legendary yearly event include: Trans-Siberian Orchestra (exclusive European show), Savatage (exclusive European show), Running Wild, In Flames, In Extremo, U.D.O. (orchestra show), Sabaton, Amorphis (special Tales From The Thousand Lakes show), Death Angel, Powerwolf, Ensiferum, Kataklysm, Cannibal Corpse, Sepultura, Thyrfing.

More details at Wacken.com.

Long-running New Zealand-based progressive death metal tyrants, Dawn Of Azazel, released their fourth full-length on April 27. Titled The Tides Of Damocles, the ten-track slab of sonic violence is the trio's first output in six years following 2009's Relentless long-player. The album is streaming in full at Bandcamp.

The Tides Of Damocles was recorded, mixed and mastered last year at Mana Recording Studios (Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, Goatwhore, et al) in Tampa, Florida by Brian Elliot and J.J. Hrubovcak. A name referencing the ocean as a metaphor for the forces of life that constantly assail and erode the will of those who seek power, The Tides Of Damocles thrusts forth forty-eight minutes of harrowing, surgically precise death metal mastery.

Comments the band of their latest works: "We're excited as fuck to resurface with this record.  It has an anger and a dynamism that reflects the reasons we've been silent for a several years, and our aggression moving forward in spite of these obstacles. We couldn't be more proud of this record as our contribution of something ferocious and unique to the death metal genre.

The Tides Of Damocles tracklisting:

“Strike First, Strike Hard, Strike Often”
“Irresistible Foe”
“Vassalplasty”
“The Odious Tides”
“Forever Enduring, Always Ready”
“Controlled Burn”
“Progeny of Pain”
“The Eagles Grasp”
“Damocles”
“Tarnished Gold”

“Controlled Burn”:

“Vassalplasty” lyric video:

The Tides Of Damocles was released independently via the official Dawn Of Azazel BandCamp page at this location, and comes available digitally and as a stunning, deluxe, six-panel digipack with 20-page booklet.

Dawn Of Azazel will bring their brutality to the stage in the coming days on a slew of live excursions through New Zealand and Australia with further invasions to be announced shortly.

Tour dates:

May
2 - The King's Arm Tavern - Auckland, New Zealand (with Suffocation, Decapitated)

July
4 - Rust In Perth 2015 - Perth, Australia

August
29 - Living Death Fest 2015 - Melbourne, Australia

Dawn Of Azazel:

Rigel Walshe - bass, vocals
Joe Bonnett - guitar
Jeremy Suckling - drums

Swiss/Italian black metal band Bhagavat will release their debut album Annuciazione on May 8.

The album will be released by Rockshots Music and is available for preorder at Bandcamp.

Annuciazione tracklisting:

“Cloaca Doctrinarum”
“To Burn A Lair Of Snakes”
“Il Manifesto Del Maligno”
“Annuciazione”
“Black Tongue Of Ground”
“Nei Mondi Infimi”
“Su Navi D’Argento”
“MoKsa”

“Annuciazione”:

Annunciazione by Bhagavat

Famined Records hasannounced the signing of Belgium’s metal/hardcore outfit Strains. Strains’ vocalist Maarten Janssen had this to say on the signing, “We are glad we have been given the chance to release our first EP via American label Famined Records. From the start we felt they could give us the support we needed to reach new fans in and out of the US.”

The band is slated to release their upcoming Aljoscha Sieg recorded EP this summer that they began recording a year ago with Maarten commenting, “We took our time to get the best out of this first EP and are more than happy with the record we’ve been able to create.”
 
Details of their Redefine[d] EP will be released at a later date; however, the band’s new single from the EP will be released on May 19 and the band’s 2015 plans also include two separate tours during the summer. In July Strains will be hitting venues all over Europe before focusing just on the UK in September with details and further plans releasing closer to their respective dates. With the band releasing their debut EP on Famined Records this summer and touring throughout the year, the band is primed to explode into the scene and become a household name within the next year.

Massacre Records will release the two-CD album "A Light In The Black - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio" on May 22.

The label states in a press release: "Ronnie James Dio was a hero and inspiration to many musicians, such as Lars Ulrich (METALLICA), Doro Pesch and Axel Rudi Pell, and rumor has it that he's the main reason why every metal head worldwide is familiar with the sign of the horns. Now it's time for us to pay tribute to him as well: 12 of our bands covered Ronnie James Dio songs to honor this exceptional musician!" "A Light In The Black - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio" will contain 20 songs by 12 different bands, including CRYSTAL BALL, MESSENGER, GUN BARREL, GLORYFUL, THE ORDER, METAL INQUISITOR, CIRCLE OF SILENCE, BURDEN OF GRIEF, LOVE.MIGHT.KILL, REBELLION, IRON FATE and WIZARD.

CRYSTAL BALL's cover version of DIO's "Sacred Heart" — taken from "A Light In The Black - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio" — can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

The stunning artwork for "A Light In The Black - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio" was created by Jan Yrlund (Darkgrove.net), who is also a huge Ronnie James Dio fan himself.

"I decided to go for an old-school type of hand-painted look, like the classic DIO covers, but I still wanted to keep it original," he explained. "You'll find many hints and details that refer to well-known DIO themes: The mountain has two peaks as if they were devil's horns, and, of course, the DIO mascot Murray is featured too, merging from the fire."

Video footage of MICHAEL SCHENKER'S TEMPLE OF ROCK — featuring Schenker alongside ex-SCORPIONS drummer Herman Rarebell and bassist Francis Buchholz, ex-RAINBOW singer Doogie White and Wayne Findlay (guitar, keyboards) — performing on April 25 at Harpo's in Detroit, Michigan can be seen below.

MICHAEL SCHENKER'S TEMPLE OF ROCK's latest album, "Spirit On A Mission", features twelve 12 classic rock guitar-driven songs that highlight Schenker's distinctive and dynamic guitar playing, valiantly underpinned by the ferocious rhythm section of Rarebell and Buchholz, the same rhythm section that originally performed together on the SCORPIONS' 1979 album "Lovedrive".

The new album was recorded at Kidroom Studios in Münster, Germany; the same studio where 2013's "Bridge The Gap" album was laid down. The CD was produced by Michael Voss and Michael Schenker, and engineered by Voss.

"After the 'Bridge The Gap' Japan tour in March 2014, I started to put new material together for what was to become the 'Spirit On A Mission' album," says Schenker. I went to the recording studio in June 2014 to put down the song arrangements and we finished recording in November."

During the recording of the new album, the original recordings and guitars were stolen from the recording studio. Did this impact on the recording process of the new album?

"Yes, we got robbed [some guitars and some music] and got very upset about it," recalls Schenker. "Fortunately, it was just performances and not compositions. We caught up and performed the music better than before. It forced us to work extra hard and longer but it made it stronger."

Former RAINBOW singer Doogie White is described by Schenker as an "extremely creative individual with a fantastic range and a voice that never stops". "How many people do you know that can sing nine shows in a row, without a day off and still have a voice with a range like his?" says Schenker. "He's a real trooper."

Frontiers Music Srl will release of the new studio album from good-time rock 'n' rollers TRIXTER, titled "Human Era", on June 5 in Europe and June 9 in North America.

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for the album is available below.

Following on the heels of the successful comeback album "New Audio Machine", TRIXTER is returning stronger than ever.

"After the success of our last album, 'New Audio Machine', we felt more confident than ever in making another top-notch album," says TRIXTER lead guitarist Steve Brown. "I'm so proud to say that after more than 25 years of making records, TRIXTER is getting better and better. 'Human Era' will show the world this band at its finest."

The new CD sees TRIXTER sticking to their guns and delivering 11 new choice cuts, with a sound reminiscent of their earlier work which they were well known for in the '90s. For fans new to TRIXTER, their sound fits in nicely to an album collection next to BON JOVI, DEF LEPPARD, VAN HALEN, AC/DC and even '70s classic rock mainstays.

"Almost 30 years together and the band is tighter than ever!" adds Brown. "We are family and that makes everything we do more and more special. The title track, 'Human Era', really sheds insight into our story."

The first video for the album's opening song, "Rockin' to the Edge of the Night", can be seen below.

"Human Era" track listing:

01. Rockin' To The Edge Of The Night02. Crash That Party03. Not Like All The Rest04. For You05. Every Second Counts06. Beats Me Up07. Good Times Now08. Midnight In Your Eyes09. All Night Long10. Soul Of A Lovin' Man11. Human Era12. Always A Victim (acoustic version - bonus track iTunes)13. Road Of A Thousand Dreams (re-recorded version - bonus track iTunes)

TRIXTER is Pete Loran (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Steve Brown (lead guitar/harmonica/backing vocals), P.J. Farley (bass/backing vocals) and Gus Scott (drums/percussion/backing vocals).

FAILURE will release "The Heart Is A Monster", the Los Angeles-based trio's follow-up to 1996's "Fantastic Planet", on June 30 via INgrooves Music Group's artist services division, INresidence.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Segue 402. Hot Traveler03. A.M. Amnesia04. Snow Angel05. Atom City Queen06. Segue 507. Counterfeit Sky08. Petting the Carpet09. Mulholland Drive10. Fair Light Era11. Segue 612. Come Crashing13. Segue 714. The Focus15. Otherwhere16. Segue 817. I Can See Houses18. Segue 9 The band is offering a free download of the single "Hot Traveler" at this location.

"Trying to follow up 'Fantastic Planet' was a bit daunting," said Ken Andrews, who mixed the 18-song collection with the band acting as producers. "We've pushed the bar upward again, but at the same time, we've kept the signature sound of the band intact."

"Thematically we've moved from the outer space of 'Fantastic Planet' to inner space," explained Greg Edwards. "From the dislocation of one's identity to the complete erasing of it by sleep and dreams. I think we've used instrumentation in the service of mood and emotion to an even greater degree than on our previous records."

"FAILURE is that rare band who define a sound that transcends space and time. They are truly iconic and their time is now. Listen," said Bryan Mead, INgrooves senior vice president of INresidence, about the new partnership.

The band returned from a 17-year hiatus in early 2014 with a single Los Angeles date planned. The show sold out in seconds, which led to a North American tour, including a run of dates with TOOL, and eventually back to the studio. In a recent interview with Noisey, Andrews admitted that by the time the band announced their first live outing, he, Edwards and Kellii Scott were already working on new music. He said: "One thing that Greg and I agreed on very early on is that we did not want to reform for just one or two nostalgia tours. We wanted to come back as a full functioning musical force and creatively pick up where we left off with 'Fantastic Planet'. That meant we needed to start experimenting in the studio first, which we did in late 2013. After a few months, we came to the conclusion that we were having a good time and that we liked the results, and that we thought the results were definitely FAILURE. We've been chipping away at a new album this whole time."

In that same article, Andrews and Edwards explained that their approach to writing and recording "Fantastic Planet" and "The Heart Is A Monster" have been similar, saying "The songs on 'Fantastic Planet' appear more or less in the order that we wrote them… when, we do a song now, we write it and record it soup-to-nuts without moving to another song… It takes longer, but it makes more sense for us artistically to explore a song completely before you move on."

FAILURE's SXSW performance, which was the trio's first live outing since wrapping production on "The Heart Is A Monster", included the new song "Hot Traveler", which Entertainment Weekly said "had every bit the sonic thickness, rhythmic thump, and melodic bite as favorites like 'Another Space Song' and 'Heliotropic'."

FAILURE formed in Los Angeles in the early '90s, releasing "Comfort", their debut album, in 1992 via Slash Records. "Magnified" followed in the spring of 1994 with the band's final offering, "Fantastic Planet", released in 1996. "Fantastic Planet" earned a perfect 5-star score from Alternative Press, with the magazine saying the album was able "to breathe life into the corpse of contemporary, guitar-driven rock," adding that the band was "willing to stretch the definition of both their instruments and their songs." The 17-track album is considered one of the era's most influential and enduring rock records. Over the years, FAILURE has become known as a "band's band" whose songs have been covered by such diverse artists as A PERFECT CIRCLE ("The Nurse Who Loved Me") and PARAMORE ("Stuck On You"). TOOL/A PERFECT CIRCLE singer Maynard James Keenan said, "FAILURE has been a huge inspiration to me. They say amateurs borrow and professionals steal. Well, over the years this pro has robbed those poor saps blind."

The band recently announced the vinyl reissue of "Fantastic Planet", available exclusively via PledgeMusic.

Photo credit: Ken Andrews

In a brand new interview with Loudwire, ex-SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach was asked if he had any conversations with his former bandmates prior to the group recently replacing singer Johnny Solinger with Tony Harnell.

"No. I have not spoken to [SKID ROW bassist] Rachel Bolan in 19 years," he responded. "The last time spoke to him was in 1996. Let me repeat: 19 years. So, no — we didn't talk about that."

He continued: "There's two things I don't get. How can you be mad at somebody for something they did 19 years ago? I mean, really, let's get serious: It's not like I saw him last week and threw him down a flight of stairs or anything. I haven't seen that guy in 19 years. I don't even know what to say. It's insanity.

"The other thing I would like to say is that I would like to apologize to SKID ROW fans all over the world for one thing: SKID ROW does not acknowledge SKID ROW's legacy.

"I go to Amoeba Records and I buy a 180-gram vinyl RUSH 'Fly By Night' and it is the greatest feeling. I am so excited that they put out these albums and I can go there and get a new copy with all the packaging and the stickers and the downloads. The RUSH 'Sector One' box set with the first album — I took it out and put the poster on the wall of our garage. It's so fun.

"SKID ROW fans do not get that opportunity. I would like to say it's out of my control.

"It makes me heartbroken that the first SKID ROW album came out 25 years ago and there is not a 180-gram vinyl addition with a poster and a… It makes me nuts. It makes me crazy, if you want to know the truth.

"I don't even have to be in the same room with those guys to do that shit. Why don't we embrace the legacy like every other band? All I mean by that is put out a DVD, put out a vinyl record, put out a box set."

Bach added: "I would like to apologize to my fans and SKID ROW fans. I'm sorry that you can't go enjoy what we made for you. It doesn't exist. There's not one DVD of our videos. You cannot go and buy a DVD of the '18 And Life' video — it doesn't exist. Why? I mean, why?

"It's a bummer being in a business with guys that commit breach of fiduciary duty on a daily basis. I'm still in a company with them. I'm still in the corporation. It's me and Snake [guitarist Dave Sabo] and Rachel. We're the three guys that are the corporation. Not the replacement singer. He's not part of it.

"We got offered a reunion show at [the] Sonisphere [festival in England], and I can tell you all the details because it never happened. We were offered $250,000 per show for two shows, a Friday and a Saturday night. We were going to get paid half a million dollars and Rachel didn't want to do it. If you're in a company with somebody and they are turning down your work, that's really a bummer.

"I'm not a big fan of breach of fiduciary duties. Why do you have to breach your fiduciary duties?"

In a July 2014 interview with Planet Loud, SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo was asked if there were any plans for the band to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of its debut album, which came out in 1989. "You know, I haven't even thought about it," Dave said. "We're constantly asked about a reunion [of the classic SKID ROW lineup] and have been since the twentieth anniversary and the offers have been phenomenal, but, for me, I don't know. At this point, I don't have an interest in it. Again, it's not like I have any hatred for it or anything like that. I'm where I'm at right now and it feels really good."

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King visited the studios of Loudwire last week to talk about the band's forthcoming studio album, tentatively due in August. You can now watch the chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On "Piano Wire", the SLAYER song that will appear on the upcoming CD which contains musical ideas from the band's late guitarist Jeff Hanneman:

"That song we recorded, I think, [during] the 'World Painted Blood' sessions, at least the music. So, on this one, we kept the finished product. We had Paul [Bostaph] track drums to it, and Tom [Araya] re-sang it, just to make it better. That's the one that's gonna be included on this record. And then we have another [Hanneman song] that's musically finished that never had lyrics. And we addressed it late, so we didn't really get to it on this run. But my horizon says [we'll make] another record after this one. We'll see what Tom says and see what everybody feels like after this run, but we have another [Hanneman] song to add to that on the next one."

On whether there will be another SLAYER record after this one:

"We'll see. This is our first record in, like, six years, and it's just… You always watch football and they're talking about, 'Oh, we had to come through this adversity.' 'We had to get past this adversity.' We had some motherfucking adversity on this run, and it's taken a while to get back on track."

On what Paul Bostaph and Gary Holt brought to the recording process for the new SLAYER album:

"I think it's just making the unit whole, more than anything. Of course, Paul can play the shit out of the drums. I didn't realize — and I don't mean this in a detrimental way to Paul — I never realized Paul had so many niche SLAYER fans who are just Bostaph fans; I didn't realize that, and a lot of people had mentioned that to me since Paul has been working on the record. And I think that's great, 'cause people are gonna be stoked when they hear what he did on this record. I used to say 'God Hates [Us All]' was his 'Reign In Blood' — Bostaph's. The new one is his 'Reign In Blood'. The new one's… I would play any song live."

On how he went about filling the void left by Hanneman's death:

"Well, I think you make a mental note not to try to do that, because then I'm trying to be something I'm not. And the first thing any of our fans do not want me to do is try to be something I'm not. So I just… The hardest thing for me was just having to assemble all those songs myself in a way that they don't sound the same. 'Cause if you're writing that much material, it's very easy for one thing to borrow something from another and one thing to sound like something else. So that was the biggest challenge — getting… 'Cause we tracked a shit-ton of songs. There's twelve on the record and I think there's six extras toward the next one. So we've got, like, half the record done for the next one, without lyrics. So I'm just saying we're ahead of the game, and that's a good place to be."

On whether the new SLAYER album will contain any surprises in the way of musical experimentation:

"In my opinion, I'd say no. I think every record, two or three records, we throw something in there that adds to the menagerie of what you call a SLAYER record, you know, and it kind of evolves with you and moves on. I think this one is just the next page. There's certainly no left turns. It's just heavy, fast, moody, spooky… It's great."

On what he is most proud of about the new SLAYER album:

"Finishing it. I mean, nothing's really different. 'Cause since the '90s, I've been doing Jeff's parts [in the studio] — except for leads; he plays leads. But rhythmic-wise, I would just go in, 'cause usually I'd take mine first. And I know the nuances of the song; I know where I've gotta speed, where I've gotta slow down. 'Cause we don't play to click — we play live — so there's little bumps and slowdowns. So once you know that, it's easier to copy. So years ago, I just said… I'd get his guitar and play through his rig and we'd just go… This time, I think we used a different head. We didn't have Jeff's whole rig in there, so we used a different head and a different guitar. Just trying to find something that worked well together — to where it sounds like two guitars and it still sounds like SLAYER."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Slash may be a legendary guitar hero but if there's one thing he's not a fan of himself, it's what he calls "guitar nerds." In a new interview with AL.com, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer said, "That's the worst, when you're standing onstage and you look down and there’s people that are standing there expecting you to blow their minds with your guitar playing tricks… I mean, I'm a player and I can play, but it's all within the context of the music, the songs. So it's sort of interesting that you do get those guys who sort of analyze you from a technique point of view. It happens."

Slash told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he prefers being in a band to being a "guitar hero" type. "I'm a band guy," he said. "I've been in a band since I was 16 years old, I guess. So I like being in a band, I think that a group of musicians working, interacting together can come up with amazing material and so on and so forth."

As previously reported, Slash and his band MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS will release a double CD, triple vinyl set, Blu-ray and DVD on June 15. Titled "Live At The Roxy 25.9.14", the package was recorded on September 25, 2014 at the legendary Roxy nightclub in West Hollywood, California, shortly after Slash issued his third solo album, "World On Fire". The set list features a mix of current tunes, other tracks from Slash's previous solo records, and classics from his earlier bands GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER.

In addition to Slash and singer Myles Kennedy, the CONSPIRATORS features drummer Brent Fitz, bassist Todd Kerns and touring guitarist Frank Sidoris.

"World On Fire" sold around 29,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at No. 10 on The Billboard 200 album chart last September.

Slash recently told Classic Rock that he has "already started working" on material for his next studio set.

CINDERELLA frontman Tom Keifer recently appeared on Nashville's FOX affiliate (FOX 17) for a segment called "Rock & Review". You can now watch video footage of his appearance below.

Asked what his next project is going to be and whether there are plans for him to record another solo album, Keifer said: "Well, you know, [Keifer's 2013 solo debut 'The Way Life Goes'] has really taken on a life of its own. And the label is very committed, and that effort's ongoing there. And we're having such a good time touring with the band. And the live thing has really grown. So I take things one day at a time. I mean, I have been starting to write a little bit again. So I'll probably start thinking about getting into the studio to record some tracks at some point. But this year is gonna be all about touring again behind this record, 'cause it's still moving; it still has an energy to it."

Keifer also spoke about how his solo material is being received when he performs the songs alongside the CINDERELLA classics.

"That's the cool thing at the show — they sit alongside each other pretty well, and it goes in and out," he said. "And the new stuff gets probably just as good a response. That, for me, as a writer… When you put out something new, and you go and you play it alongside things that have been in people's minds for years and years and years, you're always afraid what people are gonna think. But they've been received very well."

"The Way Life Goes" sold 5,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 78 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on April 30, 2013 via Merovee Records (through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group).

"The Way Life Goes" is a raw, introspective look at the roller coaster ride that has been Keifer's life for the past 17 years. From being told that he would never sing again as a result of a partially paralyzed left vocal cord, to the emotional and personal battles that followed, his solo debut is a story of perseverance, a testament to the power of passion and will, when combined with a true love of music.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, VH1 has scrapped its plans to revive the reality show "The Osbournes", which follows the lives of the BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne and his family.

"We are no longer talking to the Osbournes about a series; that's not going to happen," VH1's executive vice president of original programming and production Susan Levison told The Hollywood Reporter. "We wish we could have worked it out, but it just didn't come together for us. The family has been absolutely lovely and we wish them the best. We'd love to figure out a way to work with them at some point in the future."

In early April, Ozzy's son Jack Osbourne filed several lawsuits against companies he partially owns, one of which Jack alleged was attempting to unjustly claim revenue for future episodes of "The Osbournes". It is not clear whether these legal issues contributed to the show's aborted return.

The original "The Osbournes" series was aired on MTV, VH1's sister network under the Viacom conglomerate.

The "fly-on-the-wall" TV series, which became the highest rated original program in MTV's history, started in 2002 and ended in 2005. The show chronicled Sharon Osbourne's battle with cancer, as well as younger children Kelly and Jack Osbourne's stints in rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abuse.

"The Osbournes" was credited with being the first show where cameras followed celebrities around and led to a number of copycats like A&E's "Gene Simmons Family Jewels", which followed the life of KISS bassist Gene Simmons and his family, and A&E's "Growing Up Twisted", about the family of TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider.

Speaking to The Times-Picayune, Ozzy said about "The Osbournes": "It was a TV show, which was a good idea that went fucking out of control.

"The No. 1 mistake I made was having it filmed in the house I lived in, instead of a reproduction in a studio where I could go every day and come home. You have camera crews living in your garage 24/7 for three years; anybody would go fucking crazy at the end of it."

He added: "Nobody could have predicted what was going to happen with it. It started off with 'Cribs'. MTV said a load of people wanted a rerun, asking for it to be shown again and again. Somebody said, 'Why don't you do an extended version of 'Cribs'?' It was like, 'We can do that.' But then it went wildly out of control."

In "The Osbournes", the legendary singer would often be seen running on a treadmill and getting fit. But he told The Daily Record back in 2009 that it was all a charade. Once the cameras stopped rolling, Ozzy, supposedly a recovering alcoholic, would go to a room and get stoned.

Ozzy revealed: "When the filming ended, I'd go in my little bunker and smoke a pipe and drink about a case of beer every day.

"I'd give myself some goodness and get up early in the morning and go jogging for six miles."

Kaaos TV conducted an interview with legendary hard rock singer Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) prior to this April 24 concert at Leipätehdas in Vaasa, Finland. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked about a possible reunion with RAINBOW leader Ritchie Blackmore, Turner said: "The real talk is that it's probable. We are talking, but we have not sat in the same room yet to discuss anything. And we could get in this room and we could say, 'Well, there's nothing.' We could get in this room and say, 'Well, there's this,' or, 'There's that,' or, 'There's a [RAINBOW] reunion,' or there's just a Blackmore-Turner album, or there's some remakes, or there's nothing at all. So we haven't gotten into that room yet. But we're talking, so there's fingers crossed."

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.

Asked what memory from his time with RAINBOW particularly stands out, Turner said: "The first year we played Madison Square Garden in New York City. That's my hometown. So when you play to 25,000 people at the Garden, you really have arrived, and my family and friends were there. So it was really a big occasion for me. That's what the special part of it was. The memory of that is huge. I mean, I played bigger stadiums and everything else after that, but that meant a lot to me, because I used to go see the acts there myself."

According to Turner, previous attempts to put RAINBOW back together fell apart because Blackmore wanted to focus on his band BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, which is fronted by the guitarist's wife, Candice Night.

After Blackmore's final departure from DEEP PURPLE in 1993, he resurrected RAINBOW before focusing exclusively on BLACKMORE'S NIGHT.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo was asked in a new interview with Yahoo! Music to compare current vocalist Chester Bennington with former frontman Scott Weiland. DeLeo replied, "There's no comparison. It's like talking about the strength of a two-year-old baby compared to a professional body builder. I'll tell you this man, Robert [DeLeo, bass], Eric [Kretz, drums] and I are really fortunate. We're having the time of our lives right now. We really feel like this has been a rebirth."

As for a possible reunion with Weiland somewhere down the road, DeLeo said, "Why the fuck would we want that? That fucking mess? I just told you earlier we're on a rebirth now. We're with a guy that pushes us. We're with a guy that is 1000% present. I've waited almost my entire career for this."

STP dismissed Weiland in February 2013, claiming that his erratic behavior held back the band's career. The two parties exchanged lawsuits which have since been settled.

"[Robert, Eric and I] never had trouble," DeLeo said. "Our trouble was Scott. Scott's troubles were our troubles."

STP recruited Bennington that spring and have so far cut one EP, "High Rise", with the LINKIN PARK singer. A new album is due out later this year.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS are just wrapping a tour now but have announced new fall dates, starting on September 15 in Cleveland.

Former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan reportedly appeared as FAITH NO MORE's Gimp character during the second Los Angeles show of the Mike Patton-fronted band's current North American tour.

The FAITH NO MORE vocalist joked from the stage that McKagan was the Gimp on Thursday night, April 23 at at the Wiltern, and Duff tweeted a photo of himself dressed as the Gimp.

The Gimp character has been accompanying FAITH NO MORE at all of their live shows in 2015.

As previously reported, McKagan and Krist Novoselic (NIRVANA) will share the stage May 17 at The Neptune in Seattle, Washington, where the bassists from the biggest bands of the '80s and '90s will talk music, politics, life and celebrate the release of McKagan's new memoir, "How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions)", the follow-up to his New York Times best-seller, "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)".

Whereas "It's So Easy" told the story of McKagan's life, from his Seattle upbringing, the formation of GUNS N' ROSES and his brush with death, "How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions)" recounts some of the lessons he's learned along the way. 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.

FAITH NO MORE's two best-selling albums, 1989's "The Real Thing" and 1992's "Angel Dust", are being reissued in new editions featuring plenty of bonus rarities. The reissues will be available as either double-CD or heavyweight double-vinyl sets with the CDs available on June 9, one month after the band releases its first set of new music in 18 years, "Sol Invictus", on May 19.

Neither disc will contain any previously unreleased tracks, but both will collect hard-to-find rarities in the form of live cuts, remixes and other B-sides and bonus tracks.

MelodicRock Records has announced the signing of Room Experience. The self-titled debut is going to be an experience for fans of high-class European AOR and melodic rock.

Room Experience is:

David Readman (Pink Cream 69, Voodoo Circle) - lead and backing vocals
Gianluca Firmo - keyboards, backing vocals and lead vocals on "Only Goodnight"
Davide "Dave Rox" Barbieri (Wheels Of Fire, Charming Grace) - keyboards, acoustic and electric piano, acoustic and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Pierpaolo "Zorro11" Monti (Shining Line, Charming Grace, Lionville) - drums and percussion
Amos Monti (Shining Line, Charming Grace, Lionville) - bass
Steve De Biasi (Gunshy, Charming Grace) – guitars

Making special guest appearances are:

Alessandro Del Vecchio (Revolution Saints, L.R.S, Three Lions, Shining Line) - Hammond on “Rainbow In The Rain"
Ivan Gonzalez (Secret, 91 Suite) - guitars on "Another Day Without You", "No Sign Of Summer" and "Tomorrow’s Came"
Sven Larsson (Street Talk, Fergie Frederiksen, Lionville, Charming Grace) - guitars on "The Only Truth"
Stefano Zeni (Wheels Of Fire, Charming Grace) - guitars on "Queen Of Every Heart"
Boris Matakovic (Human Zoo, Charming Grace) - sax on "Tomorrows Came"
Elena Aurë (Charming Grace) - backing vocals on "Rainbow In The Rain" and "Tomorrows Came"

Room Experience will release their debut album Room Experience via MelodicRock Records/Cargo Distribution on May 22. Available exclusively via MelodicRock.com pre-orders will be a very limited Room Experience Special Edition CD featuring exclusive bonus tracks and an exclusive variation on the regular release cover art.

Tracklisting:

“Shock Me”
“Tomorrow Came”
“Run To You”
“Queen Of Every Heart”
“Another Day Without You”
“One Way Out”
“The Only Truth”
“Not Time Yet For A Lullaby”
“Rainbow In The Rain”
“No Sign Of Summer”
“Only Goodnight”

Nekrogoblikon, the Los Angeles-based band who describe their music as “goblin metal” and became Internet sensations with their day-in the-life-of-a-goblin video for “No One Survives”, return with new album, Heavy Meta, on June 2nd. A new song from the album, “Atlantis”, can be heard streaming below.

Heavy Meta was produced by Matt Hyde (Deftones, Children of Bodom), Nicky Calonne and Nekrogoblikon with Matt Good mixing. Heavy Meta cover illustration by Aleksander Vujovic.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“The End of Infinity”
“We've Had Enough”
“Bring Us More”
“Snax & Violence”
“Atlantis”
“We Need a Gimmick”
“Full Body Xplosion”
“Let's Get F***ed” (with Andrew W.K.)
“Mood Swing”
“Nekrogoblikon”

“Atlantis”

“Full Body Xplosion”:

“A thousand years ago, we began writing an album," explained Nekrogoblikon singer, Scorpion. “Then we spent 998.5 years dicking around in the cave networks of rural Kentucky. After we were all spelunked out we decided we might as well finish the album. The album is Heavy Meta."

The 10-song album arrives via the multimedia outfit’s new label, Mystery Box, which is distributed by Razor & Tie. Mystery Box will serve not only as the band’s label but also as a freestanding production company headquartered in downtown Los Angeles.

“We're excited to finally announce the launch of Mystery Box, which will not only serve as a label for Nekrogoblikon and other musical acts, but also as a creative hub for artists and projects outside of the music realm. It's going to be a lot of fun,” said guitar player Alex “Goldberg” Alereza.

 

Relapse Records will be releasing a new album from Valkyrie, entitled Shadows, on May 19th. The album cut “Wintry Plains” is now streaming below. The band have also announced the following live dates:

May
22 - Harrisonburg, VA - Golden Pony
23 - Charlottesville, VA - Main Street Annex
29 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
30 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter

June
27 - Frederick, MD - Maryland Doom Fest

August
14 - Hamden, CT - Death to False Metal Fest

Propelled by the stunning guitar heroics of brothers Pete and Jake Adams, Virginia's Valkyrie return with their third full length, Shadows, one of the year's best guitar-driven, heavy rock records. Jam packed with harmonized leads, rich solos and melodic, blues-based riffs, Valkyrie sound like the perfect blend of American style doom rock bands like Pentagram or Spirit Caravan and classic hard rock like Thin Lizzy, Wishbone Ash, and Deep Purple.

Where Pete Adams' other band Baroness focuses more on the modern proggy and poppy side of metal, Valkyrie looks to proto metal trailblazers for influence while injecting plenty of current day inspiration. Produced by Sanford Parker (Pelican, Leviathan, YOB), Shadows is the perfect summer heavy rock record.

The cover art was created by Jeremy Hush.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Mountain Stomp”
“Golden Age”
“Temple”
“Shadow Of Reality”
“Wintry Plains”
“Echoes (Of The Way We Lived)”
“Carry On”

“Wintry Plains”:

“Mountain Stomp”:

Trailer:

 

Doomy heavy metallers, Exorcism, will release their World In Sin EP on June 1st via Dream Records on CD and digital formats. The limited edition EP of 666 copies will be made exclusively available through the band’s website. A new EP teaser is streaming below. The album artwork was made by Gragoth.

The EP was produced, mixed and mastered by Zvekan with the help of Dominus at Total Master Sound in Spain. All lyrics melodies and music by Csaba Zvekan for Corvus Publishing.

Tracklisting:

“World In Sin”
“Black Day In Paradise”
“Virtual Freedom”
“Sahara”
“Black Star”

Teaser:

Exorcism continuing the path and legacy of bands like Black Sabbath and Dio, while Exorcism is taking a more modern approach. With a groovy rhythm and bass section added with spherical pads and the signature vertigo guitar riffs down we go the underworld. On top of it hovering is always Csaba Zvekan’s phenomenal work on vocals that have been nominated numerous time with the debut album I Am God for “the best record” last year.

 

Reactivated New York death metal sickos, Skinless, further traumatize the metal hordes with the new visual accompaniment to their namesake track, "Skinless”. The latest skull-crusher comes by way of the band's imminent new full-length, the fittingly-titled Only The Ruthless Remain.
 
The sadistic, seven-minute "Skinless" clip begins innocently enough before surging throat first into a horrific world of lethal injections, human flaying and general group-inflicted suffering as part of "some sort of Satanic cult ritual”. A delightful exercise in Skinless’ signature brand of butchering riffs and surgical precision, "Skinless" is punishing both sonically and visually.

Elaborates vocalist Sherwood Webber, "The “Skinless” video chronicles the sordid obsession of our accomplice, the Hudson Skinner. Captured by an equally ruthless Jim Brassard and his team, have a look into the sickened world of the Hudson Skinner set to song by your fiends in Skinless.”

 

Only The Ruthless Remain is the imminent new full-length from Skinless. Boasting their classic late '90s lineup of founding guitarist Noah Carpenter, vocalist Sherwood Webber, bassist Joe Keyser and drummer Bob Beaulac, with the recent addition of second guitar gun, Dave Matthews, Only The Ruthless Remain is an unrelenting, seven-track symphony of sonic sickness as only Skinless could compose.

 

 

Captured by Tom Case at Edie Road Studio and Doomsday Bunker Studio, both in upstate New York, with vocals tracked by Dave Otero (Cephalic Carnage, Primitive Man) at Flatline Audio in Denver, Colorado, and the entire monster mastered by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Nails, Integrity) at Audiosiege in Portland, Oregon, Skinless returns, triumphant and thirsty. Brandishing their signature fusion of punishing, war-waging grooves and, blast-laden mayhem delivered with surgical precision, Only The Ruthless Remain is cruel, sadistic, and poised to stand among the most addictive death metal offerings of the year.

Skinless recently unleashed the gut-wrenching sounds of opening psalm, "Serpenticide”, for public inebriation. Relays Webber, "[Illustrator] Ken Sarafin summed it up best when he said that upon listening to the new Skinless, his balls exploded and bigger ones grew in their place. That's how we felt when making it! “Serpenticide” was the song that got us into the flow of creating this album. This track has the grind, dirge, and vengeful bludgeoning that makes it a slicing cross cut of Only The Ruthless Remain. You've heard the live version; here is the final in all its ruthlessness. The countdown is on. Much more to come. As the old saying goes, it's time to stop the teasin' and start the pleasin', ha!"

Shatter some gonads with "Serpenticide”, now soiling the airwaves via SoundCloud below. Additionally, you can get up close and personal with Skinless in the studio with the first part of the "Making Of" Only The Ruthless Remain video series, below:

Only The Ruthless Remain includes artwork by Ken Sarafin and will be unleashed on CD, LP and digitally via Relapse Records on June 2nd in North America (June 1st in the UK/Europe and May 29th in Germany/Benelux/Finland). Limited Relapse 25 Anniversary editions of the CD and LP will also be available. For pre-order bundles, visit this location. Desirers of the digitals, go here.

 

 

Only The Ruthless Remain tracklisting:

“Serpenticide”
“Only The Ruthless Remain”
“Skinless”
“Flamethrower”
“The Beast Smells Blood”
“Funeral Curse”
“Barbaric Proclivity”

"Serpenticide”:

Trailer:

In related Skinless developments, the band will levy their sonic brutality upon Baltimore this May as part of this year's Maryland Deathfest as well as Hellfest in France with further live conquests to be announced in the coming weeks.

Dates:

May
21 - Maryland Deathfest @ Soundstage - Baltimore, MD

June
20 - Hellfest Open Air - Clisson, France

(Photo - Shaun MacMahon)

 

Essex, UK-based metallic rockers, Forever Never, are back in business. They've just released a video for the new track, “Never Giving Up”, filmed by Sitcom Soldiers. The digital single will be released on June 15th via iTunes. This is the band’s first original release since coming back from their hiatus.

 

 

“It’s the first taster of new material that we are releasing so we’re really excited for people to hear the progression of the FN sound. We think the new stuff is a lot more eclectic and encompasses even more of our influences from both in and outside of the rock world." says Renny Carroll, vocalist.

 

All-star melodic metal act Nergard is back with two new singles entitled “Fall From Grace” and "On Through The Storm", taken off the upcoming album A Bit Closer To Heaven. A fan-made video for "On Through The Storm" can be see below, with an official lyric video to follow within a couple of weeks.

 

 

“Fall From Grace” features vocal performance from Thomas Løseth (Tempo, Eyeon), while “On Through The Storm” features guest performances from vocalists Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) and Andi Kravljaca (Aeon Zen, Silent Call) and guitarist Jørn Viggo Lofstad (Pagan's Mind).

“Fall From Grace” was released April 10th, and “On Through The Storm” was released April 24th. Both singles are slated to appear on the forthcoming ful-length album,  A Bit Closer To Heaven.

 

 

Tracklisting:

"Light And Shadows" (featuring Ralf Scheepers, Nils K. Rue, Andi Kravljaca, Ole Martin Moe Thornæs)
"Fall From Grace" (featuring Thomas Løseth)
"On Through The Storm" (featuring Elize Ryd, Andi Kravljaca + guest guitarist TBA)
"Let It Come" (featuring Michael Eriksen. Guitar solo by Øyvind Voldmo Larsen)
"Stay" (featuring Thomas Løseth)
"Help Me Through The Night" (featuring Andi Kravljaca. Guitar solo by Stig Nergård)
"I Will Find You" (featuring Andi Kravljaca)
"A Bit Closer To Heaven" (featuring Andi Kravljaca. Guitar solo by Stig Nergård)
"When All I Want Is You" (featuring Sunniva Unsgård. Guitar solo by Jostein Svarstad)

 

VHF (Vinciguerra Hoekstra Franklin) - featuring drummer Todd "Vinny" Vinciguerra (the brain child behind the project), guitarist Joel Hoekstra's (Whitesnake, Night Ranger, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and bassist Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder, Kenny Wayne Shepherd) - have released their latest video, “Backside Of Your Eyes”, from their instrumental rock CD, Very High Frequency, produced by Joe Floyd, Todd “Vinny” Vinciguerra and Tommy Kessler (Blondie) and mastered by David Donnelly.

 

 

Vinciguerra’s unique sequence of writing starts with the drum composition setting the tone before heading to Franklin for chord progression and underlying groove. Once a groove is established, the rhythm tracks are set in place for guitar virtuoso Joel Hoekstra's independent interpretation. The music is created from the bottom up with the drums being the creative force behind the band. Each musician has complete artistic freedom and the final pieces lie perfectly together for a magnificent masterpiece.

 

 

Watch the new video below:

 

Chicago’s The Bloodline have released their new music video, for the track “Poisonous,” which comes off their debut offering, We Are One (Another Century). The album is available now digitally and in stores everywhere on May 4th.

Travis Neal (vocals) states : "The track “Poisonous” is basically about someone that is poisonous in nature. A person that is like a parasite, that consumes all that they can before they abandon what’s left of the victim. In the lyrical sense, it’s referenced as a woman, but in reality this can be anyone. Someone that preys upon one’s emotions, feelings, finances or anything that would slowly cripple and destroy one’s confidence, self-pride and total being. I know that everybody that is reading this has met a person like that and can relate to these lyrics in one way or another.

"The music video for “Poisonous” depicts a scenario of a relentless jealous woman that will destroy anything that doesn’t work in her favour. In our case it was the fact that we did not pick her to be in the video from a panel of a total of five women, which in this case all were picked but her. She then takes the frustration out on us one by one to show that she will not except defeat and will repay the act of failure 10 fold. In a sense she makes her way through our video like a plague, consuming and destroying everything in her path.

"I also have to say, I’m pretty damn proud of this record. We worked on this record for about two years, through ups and downs and everything that goes hand in hand with living life and now that it is finished, finalized, pressed and about to be released the feeling of butterflies like being a kid excited about Christmas is definitely the feeling I am getting. There is a lot of truth in this record for me lyrically, so the fact that this vision is finally come to be is pretty awesome. We as a band as well as our team are all in the same feelings and are so very proud to release this to each and every one of you. We hope you enjoy this as much as we all do."

Shaun Glass (Guitars) further comments: "To say We Are One is my favorite album I've ever been a part of making is a understatement. Every song offers the listener a great snap shot of what we are as a band. From the most melodic songs to the balls out heavy stuff it's a journey that we hope you’re addicted too."

Look for the band on tour this summer on The Civil Unrest Tour with Kittie and Ill Nino, among others.

 

Six-headed Australian death machine Aversions Crown have released a candid on the road video from their last jaunt in Europe, back in January of this year. The video is for the track “Earth Steriliser” and can be seen below:

The band's guitarist Mick Jeffery comments on the group’s forthcoming dates: "We cannot wait to get back to Europe with our mates in Thy Art Is Murder for the Australian Takeover tour! We're hitting some new spots as well as some old favs so come out and bang your heads with us!"

 

 

Tour dates:

May
4 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo  
6 - Örebro, Sweden - Kulturhuset   
7 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Fängelset  
8 - Copenhagen, Denmark - KB18  
9 - Lingen, Germany - Alter Schlachthof  
10 - Leipzig, Germany - Four Rooms  
11 - Dresden, Germany - Chemiefabrik  
12 - Budapest, Hungary - Blue Hell  
13 - Wien, Austria - Viper Room  
14 - Milan, Italy - Circolo Svolta  
15 - Zürich, Switzerland - Dynamo  
16 - Lyon, France - CCO   
17 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix   
18 - Heidelberg, Germany - Schwimmbad Club  
19 - Paris, France - Glazart   
20 - Reading, England - Sub89  
21 - Bristol Marble, England - Factory  
22 - Glasgow, Scotland - Garage 2 

European horror punks, The Other, will be back with a bang in only a few weeks. After not having released an album in three long years, Fear Itself will be available via Steamhammer/SPV on June 22 on CD and double vinyl.

 

 

Singer Rod Usher tells of grand things to come: “I don’t want to speak of the cliché best album of the band’s history. But I do think that Fear Itself doesn’t have to hide behind its two successful predecessors... on the contrary!“

A first listen confirms that the singer is being unnecessarily humble and that the band have created a monster of an album that has been given the proper big sound by legendary producer Waldemar Sorychta (Moonspell, Tiamat, Sodom).

But it’s not just the number of hits that make Fear Itself such a great album, it`s also the diversity. The Other had a huge part in making the genre horror punk popular and have since pushed its boundaries. This time around they have mixed punk rock, metal and gothic more than ever but Rod Usher clearly states: “We still call it horror punk. Sure, our sound may be more diverse than on our first albums and we do have some more surprises waiting this time around, but the roots are still obvious.“

 

 

The band will play several festival and headliner shows in Germany. The first confirmed European dates can be found below, more to come.

November
9 - Manchester, England - Tiger Lounge
10 - Leicester, England - The Shed
11 - Nottingham, England  - The Old Angel
12 - Birmingham, England - Scruffy Murphy’s
13 - London, England - The Purple Turtle
14 - Brighton, England - Green Door Store

 

 

Norway’s Arcturus are streaming a new album player below. Arcturian is due for release May 8th in Europe and May 12th in North America as ltd. 2CD hardcover book, ltd. Gatefold LP, ltd. box sets and Digipak CD via Prophecy Productions.

Arcturian is Arcturus' first studio album in ten years, and the announcement of its release may take many a fan by surprise. Veined by the band's generic boundless creativity, Arcturian is a setting-to-music of both the sublime and beauty of outer space, uniting grandeur and filigree in their inimitable way, yet always being daring and unpredictable, just as the magnificent artwork designed by Costin Chioreanu in close collaboration with the band. 

Knut Magne Valle says on the album: "'Arcturian' contains elements from entire Arcturus' history and as a result it is both harder and softer than ever before. We went back to real drums, real strings and 'first take' improvised guitar solos to give it an authenticity and life that not many records tend to have these days. We worked hard to mix the old Arcturus sound into the newer material and the result was: We obtained a more homogeneous, mystic Arcturus sound picture."

 

Tracklisting:

“The Arcturian Sign”
“Crashland”
“Angst”
“Warp”
“Game Over”
“Demon”
“Pale”
“The Journey”
“Archer”
“Bane”

Check out the lead-off track below:

Arcturus plan to make a short tour of European venues between May 2nd - 10th. All dates will be announced next week. Further European club shows and festivals will be announced later in the year and the band will also perform at Maryland Deathfest, Maryland, on May 23rd , with extra South American dates to be announced shortly.

Arcturus lineup 2015:

Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs - vocals
Steinar "Sverd" Johnsen - keyboards
Knut Magne Valle - guitar
Hugh "Skoll" Mingay - bass
Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg – drums