Maiden United, the acoustic Iron Maiden tribute project featuring Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace) and Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation), have released the trailer for their upcoming album, Remembrance. As well, the band have revealed that Marcela Bovio (Stream Of Passion), Thunderstick (Samson) and Wudstik (Ayreon, For All We Know) have been added to the list of guest musicians on the album.

Remembrance will be released on May 22nd on CD, red 12” vinyl and as digital download.

 

 

Tracklisting:

"Strange World"
"Charlotte The Harlot"
"Killers"
"Remember Tomorrow"
"Burning Ambition" (featuring Bob Verschoyle)
"Futureal" (featuring Blaze Bayley)
"Aces High"
"Prowler" (featuring Paul Di’Anno)
"Still Life'15"

Contributing musicians:

Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace) - vocals
Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation) - guitar
Joey Bruers (Up The Irons) - bass
Stef Broks (Textures) - drums
Huub van Loon (Dearworld, Barry Hay) - piano
Marcela Bovio (Stream Of Passion) - vocals
Thunderstick (Samson) - drummer
Wudstik (Ayreon, For All We Know) - guitar
Thijs Schrijnemakers (Orgel Vreten) - Hammond
Perttu Kivilaakso (Apocalyptica) - cello on "Still Life"
Mike Coolen (Within Temptation) - drums on "Prowler"
Marco Kuypers (Cloudmachine) - piano on "Prowler"
Bob Verschoyle (Gypsy’s Kiss) - vocals on "Burning Ambition"
Paul Di’Anno - vocals on "Prowler"
Blaze Bayley - vocals on "Futureal"

 

 

"Strange World" was released as a 2-track single on CD and iTunes on January 30th.

Single tracklisting:

"Strange World" (album version)
"The Evil That Men Do" (alternate version featuring Wudstik on vocals)

"Strange World" can be streamed below:

Maiden United is an Iron Maiden tribute project which performs classic Maiden songs in new acoustic arrangements. Remembrance is the third full-length album released by this project. Maiden United's debut album, Mind The Acoustic Pieces (2010), was an acoustic re-imagining of the entire classic Iron Maiden album Piece Of Mind with new arrangements. The second album Across The Seventh Sea (2012) contained tracks from different Maiden albums.

The album can be pre-ordered at MaidenuniteD.com.

 

France’s nihilistic black metal act, The Negation, will release their sophomore album, Memento Mori, via Kaotoxin Records on July 7th in North America, July 10th for the rest of the world. It will be issued as a 500-copy limited edition deluxe three-panel DigiSleeve CD first press (followed by crystal / jewel box reprint) with 20-page booklet, as well as digitally; a teaser video can be seen below.

Produced at the Hybreed Studio (Temple Of Baal, Glorior Belli) and with artwork by Metastazis (Morbid Angel, Behemoth, Watain), Memento Mori features ten tracks of powerful, heavy, intense and extremely dark black metal. But don't expect straightforward Satan-praise here: there's far more than meets the eye with The Negation. Their lyrical conceptual is a call to resistance against the so-called élite who are making this world a living Hell. It's about a stand for liberty, free speech, and free will! Folks that got the chance to witness The Negation on stage during their recent tour with Marduk and Belphegor will testify their live performance is as extreme as their lyrical content is dark. You've been warned.

The Negation will also take part in the second annual KaotoxinFest on December 5th in Lille, France. Until further details are announced, enjoy the official music video for the track "Red Wrath" taken from their debut full-length, Paths Of Obedience.

 

 

 

 

"Most of you have probably heard news about upcoming Angel Dust and Real Thing reissues," says Faith No More. "And the latest statements seem to imply that these are band sponsored releases. In fact, they are Warners/Rhino reissues (who still own the license to them). This is not to say that they are not worth getting... it's just that they are not coming from us. Hope that makes sense. Thanks."

These deluxe reissues of The Real Thing and Angel Dust will be hitting stores on June 9th, and they’re chock full of rarities: the former album will have an 11-track bonus disc, and the latter album will have a 17-track bonus disc. (Yes, they’ll be available on vinyl as well, but with only a selection of the rarities added.) Below you’ll find the full track listing for the CDs.

 

 

Disc One: Original Album
"From Out Of Nowhere"
"Epic"
"Falling To Pieces"
"Surprise You're Dead"
"Zombie Eaters"
"The Real Thing"
"Underwater Love"
"The Morning After"
"Woodpecker From Mars"
"War Pigs"
"Edge Of The World"

Disc Two: Bonus Disc
"Sweet Emotion" (Taken from Kerrang! Flexible Fiend)
"Epic" (Radio Remix Edit) (Taken from the 'Epic' Promotional CD single)
"Falling To Pieces" (Matt Wallace Remix) (Taken from the 'Falling To Pieces' 12" single)
"Cowboy Song" (B-side) (Taken from the b-side of 'From Out Of Nowhere' single)
"The Grade" (B-side) (Taken from the b-side of 'From Out Of Nowhere' 12" single)
"From Out Of Nowhere" (Extended Remix) (Taken from the 'From Out Of Nowhere' 12" single)
"War Pigs" (Live Berlin 11.9.1989) (Iommi/Ward/Butler/Osbourne) Westminster Music Ltd. (Taken from the b-side of 'Epic' 12" single)
"Surprise You're Dead" (Live Sheffield) (Taken from the b-side of 'Epic' 12" single)
"Chinese Arithmetic" (Live Sheffield) (Taken from the b-side of 'Epic' 12" single)
"Underwater Love" (Live at Brixton Academy, London 28 April 1990) (Taken from the b-side of 'Falling To Pieces' 12" single)
"As The Worm Turns" (Live at Brixton Academy, London 28 April 1990) (Taken from the video for "You Fat B**tards")

 

 

Disc One: Original Album
"Land Of Sunshine"
"Caffeine"
"Midlife Crisis"
"R.V."
"Smaller And Smaller"
"Everything's Ruined"
"Malpractice"
"Kindergarten"
"Be Aggressive"
"A Small Victory"
"Crack Hitler"
"Jizzlobber"
"Midnight Cowboy"
"Easy"

Disc Two: Bonus Disc
"Easy" (Cooler Version) (Lionel Ritchie) (Taken from the 'I'm Easy' CD single)
"Das Schutzenfest" (German version) (Taken from the 'I'm Easy' CD single)
"As The Worm Turns" (Mike Patton vocal / Japan bonus track) (Taken from the Japanese edition of "Angel Dust")
"Let's Lynch The Landlord" (B-Side) (Jello Biafra) (Taken from the 'A Small Victory' single)
"Midlife Crisis" (The Scream Mix) Remixed by Matt Wallace (Taken from the bonus 12" included with "Angel Dust" LP)
"A Small Victory" (R-Evolution 23 (Full Moon) Mix) (Taken from the 'A Small Victory' 12" single)
"Easy" (Live Munich 9th November 1992) ((Lionel Ritchie) (Taken from the 'I'm Easy' CD single)
"Be Aggressive" (Live Munich 9th November 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'I'm Easy' CD single)
"Kindergarten" (Live Munich 9th November 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'I'm Easy' CD single)
"A Small Victory" (Live Munich 9th November 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'I'm Easy' CD single)]
"Mark Bowen" (Live Munich 9th November 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'I'm Easy' CD single)
"We Care A Lot" (Live Munich 9th November 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'I'm Easy' CD single)
"Midlife Crisis" (Live Dekalb, Ill. 20th September 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'Everything's Ruined' CD single)
"Land Of Sunshine" (Live Dekalb, Ill. 20th September 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'Everything's Ruined' CD single)
"Edge Of The World" (Live St. Louis 18th September 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'Everything's Ruined' CD single)
"R.V." (Live Dekalb, Ill. 20th September 1992) (Taken from the b-side of 'Everything's Ruined' CD single)
"The World Is Yours" (Outtake from Angel Dust sessions) (Taken from the album "Who Cares A Lot? The Greatest Hits)

 

RED DRAGON CARTEL, the band led by former OZZY OSBOURNE and BADLANDS guitarist Jake E. Lee, has tapped singer Chas West (pictured; Jason Bonham, LYNCH MOB, 3 LEGGED DOGG) to front the group for its next round of tour dates, which kick off this Friday, May 1 in Portland, Oregon.

RED DRAGON CARTEL's most recent vocalist, Michael Beck played his last show with the band on April 26 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Beck made headlines earlier in the month when he inexplicably sang the lyrics to Osbourne's "Now You See It (Now You Don't)" while the rest of RED DRAGON CARTEL played "The Ultimate Sin" at their first show together in Miami, Florida.

RED DRAGON CARTEL in March announced the departure of singer Darren James Smith and addition of Beck.

Bassist Greg Chaisson announced his departure from RED DRAGON CARTEL last month. He said in a statement: "I'm afraid to say real life just jumped right up and got in the way of my good time. I can no longer take any more time away from my regular job. I want to thank everyone in the RED DRAGON CARTEL organization, and most of all, my best friend Jake E. Lee. And a very special thanks to all of you who have treated me so great! They will continue on without me and it will be fantastic as always."

Chaisson's replacement in RED DRAGON CARTEL is Anthony Esposito, who has previously played with Ace Frehley.

A new video interview with Esposito, conducted by Rock Music Star, can be seen below.

Regarding how Beck landed the frontman gig in RED DRAGON CARTEL, Esposito said: "Greg had offered a replacement singer to Jake [after the band split with Darren], and that would be Michael. Michael did this East Coast run. And I don't really think Jake ever heard him sing [before]; I think Jake went on Greg's word. I think that's the way the situation went down. And he had a horrible first show; the Miami show. It's all over the Internet. He was singing the wrong lyrics. It's just not a good spot to be in; he kind of got shredded too."

RED DRAGON CARTEL's self-titled debut album sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 69 on The Billboard 200 chart.

RED DRAGON CARTEL's setlist includes new material like the singles "Feeder" and "Deceived", as well as major hits from Jake E. Lee's glorious past: "Bark At The Moon", "The Ultimate Sin" and "Rock 'N' Roll Rebel" (all originally recorded by OZZY OSBOURNE), as well as "Shine On" and "High Wire" (BADLANDS).

Ozzy Osbourne has confirmed that BLACK SABBATH will embark on one last tour in 2016 before calling it quits. "The plan is that next year [we'll do] the final BLACK SABBATH tour and then it's over," Ozzy said (see video below) during an April 24 press conference in in São Paulo, Brazil, where he performed as part of this past weekend's Monsters Of Rock festival. He said that the plans "could change," and added: "We all live in different countries and some of them want to work and some of them don't want to, I believe. But we are going to do another tour together."

Ozzy also said that he will keep recording and touring as a solo artist once SABBATH has packed it in. "I'm still gonna continue my solo career," he said. "I'm doing these few [solo] gigs down here [in South America] now. Then at the beginning of next year, I'm going out with SABBATH. The SABBATH thing is folding up after the next tour, but I'm gonna continue my solo career."

Asked what the differences are between performing with BLACK SABBATH and playing concerts with his solo band, Ozzy said: "With BLACK SABBATH, I'm part of a band that I grew up with, so we all know each other's temperaments… You know where to tread and where not to tread. It's a completely different [style] of music anyway [to my solo material] — it's very slow and heavy. And [BLACK SABBATH guitarist] Tony Iommi, he's the master of metal riffs; you can't beat him."

He continued: "It took [BLACK SABBATH] 45 years to get our first No. 1 album [with 2013's '13']. And Tony, I was amazed at what he was [coming up with]. Considering that he was fighting cancer [during the making of the album]. He's doing great now. I text him now and again. He sounds fine."

Iommi earlier in the month dismissed rumors that his health is the reason why the band canceled an appearance at this year's edition of Ozzfest Japan in November. Iommi, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in early 2012, wrote, "I'm not sure how the rumor of my being unwell started as I was away on holiday!" He added, "Once you've had something like lymphoma, the fear that it will return never leaves. All I can say is that right now I'm fine and have regular blood tests." Although it was announced last month that SABBATH would give its final Japanese performance at the event, the band dropped off the bill on April 8. Ozzy will now perform solo instead, accompanied by yet-to-be-disclosed "friends."

No reason was given for SABBATH's withdrawal from the event.

Ozzy has said previously that BLACK SABBATH planned to record one final studio album in 2015, to be followed by a farewell world tour. A rep for SABBATH told Rolling Stone on April 9 that there have been talks about a farewell tour but nothing has been confirmed.

Although Iommi completed his treatment last summer, he admitted that he was told by doctors that his cancer "more than likely… will come back and it could be any time."

It is not clear whether SABBATH has begun writing a new album yet. Ozzy has also hinted at working on a solo album, and will do a residency in Las Vegas this October.

"13" was the first SABBATH album in 35 years to feature Osbourne, Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler together, with drummer Bill Ward the only founding member to sit out the record and world tour.

"13" went to No. 1 in both the U.S. and the U.K., a first for the band in America and only their second chart-topper in their native country since 1971.

Osbourne released a solo career retrospective titled "Memoirs Of A Madman" in October 2014. The CD contained 17 of his greatest hits, while the DVD featured music videos, rare live performances and interviews.

Ozzy's last solo studio effort was 2010's "Scream".

EVANESCENCE has been confirmed for Ozzfest Japan, the first major international music festival to ever travel to Japan, which will return to Makuhari Messe Arena (just outside of Tokyo) Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22. The two-day event, which will feature more than 22 performers, will be headlined by two Ozzfest veterans: festival namesake OZZY OSBOURNE (who will perform as Ozzy & Friends) and KORN.

EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee, who became a mother for the first time in July 2014, told Rolling Stone last year that she had no plans to hit the studio or the stage with EVANESCENCE, prompting many fans to fear that the band was finished.

In an attempt to assure fans that EVANESCENCE wasn't over, Lee posted a message on her Facebook page in September, explaining that "EVANESCENCE is a part of me — it just isn't a complete picture of everything I'm capable of."

Speaking to "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" co-host Jenn Marino, Lee voiced pretty much the same sentiments, saying: "It's kind of frustrating sometimes if you read the Internet, ever, about anything. So, literally, I get a little frustrated when I'll literally say, 'No, the band is not over. We're just not doing it now.' And then every response is, 'No. EVANESCENCE is dead.' It's like, 'Man, that's so not what I said. Why do you have to make drama?' I said we're not doing it now. I'm totally open-minded. And, I don't know… I would just get bored doing the same thing forever. There's more to me than that."

Lee released a new album in August 2014 called "Amy Lee With Dave Eggar: Aftermath", consisting of music she wrote with Dave Eggar for an independent film called "War Story". The movie premiered last year at the Sundance Film Festival.

Asked how she decided when she is working on new music which ideas to use in EVANESCENCE and which to set aside for other projects, Lee told "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx": "That's always kind of a thought and a little bit of a decision. And I definitely feel like both things exist inside me. And there are songs that I have in the bank that are both. There are some things [where I think], 'That's like an EVANESCENCE song,' and that's sort of in the EVANESCENCE pile of the bank. And then there [are] other songs where I'm, like, 'I don't know what this is.' This is something that [I can use] for something else, and I haven't figured out what to do with it yet."

She continued: "It's funny. I just went through a long period of time between 'The Open Door' and the last record where I didn't know what I was gonna do next and there was just all this music flowing out. And there's just a big pile of really cool stuff that I still wanna do something with that isn't exactly EVANESCENCE. So there's definitely more things to come out in the future."

The last EVANESCENCE album, a self-titled effort, came out in 2011.

The "Aftermath" album sold 6,000 copies in its first week to debut at No. 47 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Fan-filmed video footage of U.D.O. — the German metal band fronted by former ACCEPT singer Udo Dirkschneider — performing on April 25 at Trädgårn in Gothenburg, Sweden can be seen below.

Udo's 21-year-old son Sven Dirkschneider recently joined U.D.O. as the group's drummer.

Sven made his live debut with U.D.O. on March 6 in Würzburg, Germany.

U.D.O.'s new studio album, "Decadent", was released in Europe on January 26 via AFM.

With recordings having taken place in Udo's current home, Spanish island Ibiza, and also at Redhead Audio Productions in Wilhelmshaven, this new album looks set to be yet another great statement of intent from a rock idol whose place in rock history is already well cemented.

"Decadent" was made available in the following formats: digipak, standard CD, black vinyl, colored vinyl, and as a limited-edition fanbox.

Asked if he felt it was important to deliver a political message with "Decadent", Udo told Music Enthusiast Magazine: "Yeah, and it was not directly planned for this album, but the first idea, lyric-wise, for 'Decadent' was when I saw an advertisement on TV about an organization that works with children. They were showing the poor kids in Africa, the kids that have nothing to eat and looked really horrible, so that was something I chose to write lyrics about."

He continued: "We're living in a decadent world. Let's say Germany or America, they're rich countries, but they have something wrong in this world. That's where I came up with the idea to write lyrics for the 'Decadent' album, specifically the song 'Decadent'."

Reunited seminal Swedish hardcore band REFUSED will release its new album, "Freedom", on June 30 via Epitaph. The CD was produced by Nick Launay (ARCADE FIRE, Kate Bush, Nick Cave) except for the songs "Elektra" and "366", which were helmed and co-written by Shellback, the Swedish pop superproducer who has worked with pop superstars Taylor Swift, Britney Spears and Pink, among others.

"It's not a reunion anymore," said REFUSED frontman Dennis Lyxzén in a statement. "This is one of the most radical things we've ever done, both musically and lyrically."

"Nobody wanted us to fuck with the image of the band who makes a great album and splits up," added drummer David Sandström. "Nobody wanted us to dilute it. That actually provoked us."

"Freedom" will get a limited-edition CD release featuring a 28-page hardbound book with a poster and gold foil stamping on the album cover.

"Freedom" track listing:

01. Elektra02. Old Friends / New War03. Dawkins Christ04. Françafrique05. Thought Is Blood06. War On The Palaces07. Destroy The Man08. 36609. Servants Of Death10. Useless Europeans

The song "Elektra" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

REFUSED last year parted ways with guitarist Jon Brännström. He revealed his exit from the group in an October 31, 2014 posting on REFUSED's Facebook page, where he wrote: "I was fired from REFUSED a while ago. I wasn't given a reasonable explanation and wasn't even invited to sit down and talk about it, so I'm not completely sure why they decided to go on without me."

Back in 2012, REFUSED embarked on a reunion tour where the band performed tracks from its classic 1998 album, "The Shape of Punk To Come", at festivals around the world. The final show of the trek took place on December 15, 2012 in REFUSED's hometown of Umeå, Sweden.

REFUSED's legacy was chronicled via the "Refused Are Fucking Dead" collection, which featured never-before-seen material and videos. In addition, REFUSED's landmark 1998 album, "The Shape Of Punk To Come", was remixed and remastered in 5.1 surround DVD audio format, and was re-released through Epitaph Records. Also re-released were remastered editions of REFUSED's "Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent" and "The EP Compilation" CDs.

MOTÖRHEAD has released a statement regarding the cancelation of the band's April 25 appearance at the Monsters Of Rock festival in São Paulo, Brazil.

Says the group: "Due to a food-related tummy problem, unfortunately, [MOTÖRHEAD frontman] Lemmy was not able to perform the show in São Paulo. He is already feeling much better and ready to continue the South America dates! Next stop Curitiba!

"Lemmy regrets this mishap very much and is looking forward to making it up to all the fans."

MOTÖRHEAD is scheduled to play in Curitiba, Brazil, on Tuesday (April 28) and in Porto Alegre, also in Brazil, on Thursday (April 30).

As a last-minute replacement for MOTÖRHEAD at Monsters Of Rock, the other two members of the band — guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee — took part in a jam session with Andreas Kisser and Derrick Green of SEPULTURA, along with other guests (see video below).

British metal legends JUDAS PRIEST, who were scheduled to play right after MOTÖRHEAD, added 30 more minutes to their set as a result of MOTÖRHEAD's cancelation.

OZZY OSBOURNE closed the first day of the festival, which concluded Sunday night with performances by KISS, MANOWAR, ACCEPT, UNISONIC, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and STEEL PANTHER.

Lemmy, who turned 69 years old in December, in 2013 suffered a haematoma (where blood collects outside of a blood vessel), causing the cancelation of a number of the band's European festival shows.

Reactivated Southern California metallers ATREYU have set "Long Live" as the title of their comeback album, due in September through the Search And Destroy imprint as part of the newly announced joint venture between Raw Power Management and Spinefarm.

ATREYU drummer and clean vocalist Brandon Saller recently told Australia's Music Feeds about the band's upcoming CD: "We're stoked. It came out great. We're very much just shooting from the hip with this record, and whatever came out first is what we did. [Vocalist] Alex [Varkatzas] is fucking as brutal as ever. And it's fun. It's a very fun, cool record."

Regaridng frontman Alex Varkatzas's decision to do away with clean singing on ATREYU's forthcoming effort, Saller said: "Here's the thing. When we started the band, we were a hardcore band, and we wanted to progress and do… We always wanted to do bigger, better, bigger, better, bigger, better… every [album we released] at the time. And when we did [2007's] 'Lead Sails Paper Anchor', it was, like, 'What's our next step?' We've gotten as big as a hardcore band can get, I think. What's the next step? So we were, like, 'Cool. Let's fucking do whatever the fuck we want. So we wrote a bunch of rock songs. A lot of heavy songs, a lot of rock songs… It was just an expansion of Alex wanting to do something different, and us wanting to do something different."

He continued: "We did 'Lead Sails', and it was a fucking really great record, and it sold a lot of records and it opened our band up to radio, opened our band up to tour with a lot of different bands we never would have before, and it was fun for us. But I think everyone loves their comfort zone and everyone just loves what they do, and it was kind of, like, 'It was rad to write this record and it was cool to tour it,' and whatever, but 'I just wanna get there and fucking be pissed and go fucking apeshit.' And we love that about him too. So I think going away for a while and not being in this band and coming back and being able to think about what you love most about the band… I mean, those were conversations that we had… Like, what do we love most? What's out strong suit? What do we feel most comfortable doing? 'Cause that's what we wanna do, 'cause that's the most fun. So I think, for him, he was, like, 'I just wanna fucking come out and rip people's heads off.' So it was, like, 'All right. Cool. You don't wanna sing? You don't sing. That's how we started. I'll sing. And you just fucking go nuts.' And everyone's stoked on it. And he's doing different shit. He's doing a lot of different stuff on the new record — different shit he's never done before. But it's brutal. It's fucking awesome."

ATREYU's "So Others May Live" video can be seen below. The song touches on an important topical issue —what veterans who serve our country feel and experience upon returning home from duty. The track's heartfelt subject is matched by its musical heft.

This live footage, which captures the band in its most natural state, was filmed at The Observatory in California in December 2014.

In addition to this adrenalized live video, which proves that ATREYU have not lost a step since returning to action and that they are as vital and vibrant as they ever were, the band participated in Record Store Day, which was Saturday, April 18. They released a seven-inch single featuring both "So Others May Live" and the brand new track "When the Day Is Done". These are the first new ATREYU songs to surface in years.

During appearance on this past weekend's edition of BBC Radio 1's "Rock Show" with Daniel P. Carter, DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno offered an update on the band's follow-up to 2012's "Koi No Yokan", which is tentatively scheduled for release on September 25.

"The record, as far as music, has been all recorded, and I am currently working on the vocals," he said. "So I've been recording from my home studio here in Oregon. Slowly but surely, [we're] getting it done, man. It's coming out really good. It's just another DEFTONES record. And I feel like it's us reaching a little bit, getting more into the song structures and trying to challenge ourselves a little bit, you know what I mean? It's sounding good. I think it's gonna be a great record."

Moreno also talked about DEFTONES' upcoming appearance at the Amnesia Rockfest in Montebello, Quebec, Canada where the band will perform its 1997 album, "Around The Fur", in its entirety. "[It] should be fun," he said. "It might be a little bit of a challenge, 'cause there's some songs on that record that we haven't played for years. We've yet to really rehearse for that. That was before I started playing guitar too, so it's just, like, all I gotta do is go out there and sing for, like, 45 minutes. It should be pretty easy, but who's to say?!"

Chino recently told RollingStone.com about the DEFTONES' next CD: "The songs are amazing, and we wrote them in a really cool way. We had all of us in a room together with one person expressing an idea and another person jumping on it. The songs are really built as a collective. We have five guys who have almost completely different takes on music, so when it works, it works great."

According to Moreno, sixteen songs were written for the new album, which is once again being produced by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, CHILDREN OF BODOM, MONSTER MAGNET, WINDS OF PLAGUE).

"I think it's a little more of a heady record," Moreno said when asked how the DEFTONES' new material compares to that on "Koi No Yokan". "I feel like we've gone into the songs and really dissected them. If something sounded a little straight, we took a left turn and made things a little screwy. We just tried something completely opposite, not to sabotage it, but to challenge ourselves and try new things that we haven't done in the past.

"It definitely feels like we've taken a step from our last record," he continued. "But it's definitely a DEFTONES record, and it has all the elements that make us who we are. We're not going out there to change anything, other than just thinking outside the box."

Metal Wani's Dawn Brown recently conducted an interview with Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, SEPULTURA, KILLER BE KILLED, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY). You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about SOULFLY's upcoming album, Max said: It's gonna be called 'Archangel', and it comes out in August on Nuclear Blast. And it's pretty much done now. The music is all recorded. I have to finish some vocals and mix and artwork and all that. But it's really good. I'm excited."

He continued: "It's an interesting record. It's very epic, mystic kind of SOULFLY record that we don't really do every day. 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.

Agonia Records will release Polish black metal force Blaze Of Perdition's third full-length album, Near Death Revelations, on June 26th worldwide. The album track, “Into The Void Again”, is now streaming below.

Blaze Of Perdition have managed to built up an excellent reputation with their two previous albums, Towards The Blaze Of Perdition (2010) and The Hierophant (2011), which solidified the outfit’s position as one the most interesting acts in the field of black metal. While the group does not reinvent the wheel, it truly makes use of its creative capacities, focusing on intelligent arrangements and developing a dark, yet enigmatic unity.

After a tragic road accident in November 2013, the band's career was open to doubt, but eventually the event did not manage to slow Blaze Of Perdition for long. The upcoming Near Death Revelations album, will refer directly to those past experiences. The album cover artwork was created by Mentalporn.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Królestwo Niczyje”
“Into The Void Again”
“When Mirrors Shatter”
“Dreams Shall Flesh”
“Cold Morning Fears”
“The Tunnel”
“Of No Light”

“Into The Void Again”

Near Death Revelations by Blaze of Perdition

Lineup:

S. - vocals
XCIII - guitars
Revenger - guitars/bass
Vizun - drums

 

 

IIVII is the solo project of visual artist, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Josh Graham. A founding member of Red Sparowes and Battle Of Mice, Graham currently plays in A Storm Of Light, and has also made appearances with Jarboe, Blood And Time, Tombs, Syndrome, Fallen Black Deer, and Tribes Of Neurot.

IIVII focuses on sonically engulfing and moody soundscapes, layered with a science-fiction edge. This approach has allowed Graham to expand his sonic body of work and explore new electronic territory, focusing on the subtle orchestration and manipulation of dense sonic atmospheres, rather than the bombastic approach found in A Storm Of Light.

Depicting a derelict space colony in view of Saturn, the artwork was also completed by Graham, who currently serves as art director to Soundgarden, and has also worked with many bands including, Neurosis, Jesu, Shrinebuilder, Sleep, Vattnet Viskar, and ISIS.  

 

 

IIVII's debut album is set for a September release on Consouling Sounds. The album will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl. More info to be announced in the coming weeks. 

US melodic power/progressive metal act, Psyco Drama, have signed a worldwide record deal with German label Pride & Joy Music (with distribution through Edel) for their new album, From Ashes To Wings, to be released in August.

Psyco Drama return with From Ashes To Wings, continuing the melodic power/progressive metal sound that brought them worldwide acclaim. Formed in Colorado Springs in 1990, Psyco Drama established themselves as a musical force to be reckoned with on their debut album, The Illusion (1996). Its unique blend of hooks and melodies combined with epic and progressive passages resulted in compositions such as “Eyes Of A Child”, “Flames” and “From Here”, with favourable comparisons placing them in the same league as progressive metal giants Dream Theater, Queensrÿche  and Fates Warning.

With Corey Brown (vocals) and Hercules Castro (guitar) being the main writing team behind Psyco Drama, the band is considering From Ashes To Wings to be the rightful follow-up to The Illusion. Joining Corey and Hercules on this musical rebirth is bassist Ian Ringler, a member of Psyco Drama during their previous incarnation (as well as Corey’s band mate in Magnitude 9), and drummer Greg Sands.

From Ashes To Wings’ 11 tracks will deliver Psyco Drama’s unique style of heavy metal to the world, with songs such as “To Live Again”, “Broken Road” and "Far From Grace" firmly reestablishing the band at the forefront of the power/progressive metal genre.

The band has put together two album preview videos which feature samples from all of the tracks on From Ashes To Wings:

Sweden has been a fertile ground for metal of all varieties for multiple decades, and there appears to be no sign that this will change anytime soon. The variety and quality of bands is staggering, and Metal Blade Records is prepared to help add The Great Discord to the list of one of Sweden's finest new groups. The band's cornerstone is with the enigmatic vocals of Fia Kempe. Her tone and delivery is immensely emotive and is augmented by a band whose sound is impossible to describe. It's technical, heavy, and yet not so much to overwhelm those not anointed in metal. What's important is that The Great Discord offer a truly unique twist on both metal, and what is to be expected from a female-fronted band.

Until now only one other full song from The Great Discord has been made available. Today another selection entitled "L'homme Mauves" is available for streaming. Check it out below:

“L'homme Mauves”:

Duende will be available worldwide via Metal Blade Records on June 2nd in North America, June 1st in the UK / Europe, and May 29th in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

 

 

Listen to the first single, "Eigengrau”, below:

The uniqueness The Great Discord encapsulates is put on display today with the release of the second teaser from Duende. Part 2, “Sacrosanct (Deus Ex Homine)”, can be viewed below:  

Part 1, entitled "Sanguine", gives a brief glimpse into the enigma that is The Great Discord.  It features a brief sample of new music with eerie yet perfectly entwined visuals.

The relationship between Kempe and drummer Aksel Holmgren has stood for many years, connecting on a deep personal level when it comes to music, though it was only when they came together to form The Great Discord in 2013 that their collaboration began. Sharing an interest in progressive music, they count the likes of Genesis and King Crimson as well as contemporary acts such as Meshuggah and The Dillinger Escape Plan among those who have inspired them.

While music pundits and critics will fall over themselves trying to label the unique and intriguing sounds contained within Duende the band are more interested in presenting their music to the world, with the hope of making a profound musical connection with the likeminded. Having been working toward the completion of the record for nearly two years the band have perhaps only just arrived at the beginning, and the ambitiousness of their music is further reflected in their goals. "We obviously want to take over the world," Kempe smiles. "We really believe in our vision, we really believe in the concept behind everything that we do. We want to entertain people. We want them to come to our shows and experience everything that we have visualized for this band, and we want them to relate to the emotion that we're putting into our songs, to be able to find something in The Great Discord that they cannot find anywhere else."

 

British melodic rock icons, Magnum, are releasing a new live album, recorded at selected venues on their Escape From The Shadow Garden European tour in the spring of 2014. The set list comprises songs chosen from seven of their 18 studio albums, the band have produced this album so that fans can fully appreciate the songs penned from Magnum’s beginning, in the 1970s, right up to the present day.

 

 

Escape From The Shadow Garden - Live 2014 will be released in Scandinavia on May 6th, in Germany on May 8th, in Europe on May 11th and in North America on May 12th as a super jewel case version, double gatefold vinyl version and download through SPV/Steamhammer. Complete audio samples can be heard at this location.

 

 

Tracklisting:

Super Jewel Case:

“Live ‘Til You Die”
“Black Skies”
“Freedom Day”
“Dance Of The Black Tattoo”
“Blood Red Laughter”
“Unwritten Sacrifice”
“How Far Jerusalem”
“Les Morts Dansant”
“Falling For The Big Plan”
“All England’s Eyes”
“Vigilante”
“Kingdom Of Madness”

2LP:

LP1

Side 1
“Live ‘Til You Die”
“Black Skies”
“Freedom Day”

Side 2
“Dance Of The Black Tattoo”
“Blood Red Laughter”
“Unwritten Sacrifice”

LP 2

Side 1
“How Far Jerusalem”
“Les Morts Dansant”
“Falling For The Big Plan”

Side 2
“All England’s Eyes”
“Vigilante”
“Kingdom Of Madness”

 

 

Tour dates:

July
17 - Derbyshire, UK - Rock And Bike Fest
18 - Väsby, Sweden - Väsby Rock Festival
31 - Rejmyre, Sweden - Skogsröjet Festival

August
1 - Seebronn, Germany - Rock Of Ages Festival
8 - Brienz, Switzerland - Brienzersee Rockfestival

 

 

Norwegian black metallers God Seed, featuring former Gorgoroth members Tom Cato Visnes (King: bass) and Kristian Espedal (Gaahl; vocals), are at work on their next studio album.

Drummer Baard Kolstad is recording drums for the new album in Ghost Ward Studios with David Castillo (Opeth, Katatonia, Bloodbath). Check out the video from the drum recordings below:


Baard Kolstad (Official) is currently in Ghost Ward Studios with David Castillo (Opeth, Katatonia, Bloodbath) recording drums for the upcoming God Seed album. King and Baard Kolstad of God Seed will join former Immortal frontman Abbath in his new band. Several headline shows across Europe are confirmed and the debut album is rumored released Febuary 2016.King: "It contains 9 tracks which will define a new and improved sound. We'll keep you posted on the development!Check out Baard laying down drums in the studio today!Stay tuned for more video clips from the studio in the days to follow!
Posted by God Seed on Thursday, April 23, 2015

 

King on the upcoming album: "It contains 9 tracks which will define a new and improved sound. We'll keep you posted on the development!"

Both King and Baard are recently announced to be part of the Abbath lineup.

 

Symphonic black metal band, Diabolus Arcanium, have released a teaser for their upcoming new album, entitled Path Of Ascension.  Path Of Ascension will be released via the Transcending Obscurity label. Release date and artwork will be revealed soon.

Says frontman Hex: “The album Path Of Ascension is very philosophically dealt. The lyrical theme inclines towards satanism.”

He adds that the orchestral arrangements have been carefully pieced together to create the grandness, that is brought with their style of black metal. Updates to follow.

 

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions have announced the new double CD collection from Japan's death/doom fiends, Coffins, entitled Perpetual Penance, set for release on June 9th on CD and digital formats.

 

 

This is an essential compilation of Coffins vinyl only and split release tracks, features artwork by Uchino and is the follow up to the 2011 release Ancient Torture. The first 100 orders come with a free chrome Coffin keychain, a miniature casket that opens to store your victims ashes.

 

 

Tracklisting:

Disc 1:

“Hellbringer” (Demo version from Colossal Hole EP)
“No Saviour” (Demo version from Colossal Hole EP)
“Colossal Hole” (Demo version from Colossal Hole EP)
“Drowned In Revelation” (from split with Noothgrush)
“The Wretched Path” (from split with Noothgrush)
“Reborn” (from Reborn flexi)
“Grotesque Messiah” (Extended version from split with Macabra)
“Axes Of Vengeance” (from split with Sourvein)

Disc 2:

“Till Dawn Of The Doomsday” (from split with Warhammer)
“Grotesque Messiah” (from split with Disgrace)
“In Bloody Sewage” (from split with Hooded Menace)
“The Fog Of Burning Flesh” (from split with Stormcrow)
“Slaughter Of Gods '09” (from split with Stormcrow)
“Till Dawn Of The Doomsday/Grotesque Messiah” (Live version from Live In Japan EP)
“In Bloody Sewage” (Live version from Live In Japan EP)
“Here Comes Perdition/Under The Stench/Slaughter Of Gods” (unreleased track Live in Czech Republic)

 

 

“Reborn”:

Pre-order the Double CD for only $14 with free shipping at this location. Pre-order the Digital Download for only $9.99 here.

 

Combining only the most severe elements of death metal, grindcore and punk, the Dresden, Germany-based quartet Deathrite have announced they've inked a deal with renowned metal label Prosthetic Records for the worldwide release of their new album, due out this summer. A brief teaser can be seen below.

Deathrite guitarist Andy commented, "We are really looking forward to this new beast we have created and we can't wait to spin this piece of wax on our turntables. It's harder, darker and more groovy than anything we've done before! As for signing with Prosthetic, we are super-stoked that they are giving us the chance to release our new shit via such a great label. We love Prosthetic and its awesome bands like Skeletonwitch, Trap Them, Mutilation Rites and Dragged Into Sunlight, just to name a few. Cheers!"

 

 

Having honed their knuckle-dragging savagery for the past four years over a series of releases - including the highly praised Into Extinction (released via Per Koro in 2013) - as well as on numerous tours and countless shows with internationally renowned artists like Napalm Death, Rotten Sound, Aura Noir, Mutilation Rites, Integrity and Full Of Hell, Deathrite will continue to cause pandemonium during an upcoming ring of dates across Germany. These shows includes performances alongside Boston's Unearth and UK grindcore legends Napalm Death, along with select appearances at summer festivals (including Party.San Open Air).

Prepare for the chaos and listen to a quick sample of what's to come below:

 

Melbourne, Australia’s Holy Serpent will release their five-song self-titled first opus on May 12th via RidingEasy Records. The track “The Plague” can be heard streaming below.

On Holy Serpent, tracks like the eight-minute “The Wind” roll from six-string brooding into strangely enticing soundscapes augmented by ethereal vocals. “

The lyrics talk a sort of alternate history of mankind’s beginnings,” says Scott Penberthy (guitar/vocals). “It’s a story of ancient alien gods visiting the race they created years ago – humans – through controlled inter-species breeding. Acting as true gods, they have returned to see how the experiment is going and make their judgments upon the earthlings. We get into some of those unexplained mysteries and conspiracy theories. It’s quite the journey.”

“The Plague” infects with a barrage of guitars and a cathartic slow swing. Then, there’s “Shroom Doom”, which lives up to its title by elegantly bridging the gap between sludge and psychedelica complete with a searing, fretboard-burning guitar solo.

“That one is about the general highs and lows of life,” continues Scott. “You find inner peace and the drive to continue on the right path when faced with adversity and hardship. It’s a song of reflection and uncertainty veiled by the comforting realization that were all in this together."

Holy Serpent are about to slither their way into the collective consciousness of likeminded souls around the world. “The name’s got these big connotations,” Nick leaves off. “It’s like this is something bigger than us. We want people to take this ride with us.”

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Holy Serpent”
“Shroom Doom”
“Fools Gold”
“The Plague”
“The Wind”

“The Plague”:

 

Bucharest, Romania-based death 'n' roll act, Blacksheep, have released a video from their first concert, which took place on April 8th in
Question Mark club, Bucharest. Below you can see the band perform the song “Freefall”.

Blacksheep released their debut album, The Future Started Yesterday, on October 31st, 2014. The artwork for the album was created by the well know Romanian graphic artist Costin Chioreanu from Twilight13media.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Freefall”
“Nation - Tagged”
“A Locked Box Quandary”
“No Day Like Today”
“Whiskey Galore”
“A Story For You”
“Hope Left For Dying”
“11th Commandment (Thou Shall Not Get Caught)”
“Last Song Never Be Sung” (bonus track)

“Last Song Never Be Sung” is a bonus track featuring German lead singer Martin Wittsieker from Harasai, as well as Costin Chioreanu from Bloodway on bass guitar.

The current band lineup is:

Liviu Gugui - lead vocals, guitar
Andrei Costan - guitar
Silviu Ruta - bass guitar
Dorin Costea - drums

 

French death metal act, Nesseria, today release their new album, Fractures, via french label Deadlight Entertainment. A full album stream, as well as the band’s video for the track “Des Rues Ordinaries”, can be found below.

Fractures was recorded and mixed at  Drudenhaus Studio (Alcest, The CNK) then mastered at  New Alliance East Mastering.

 

 

Tracklisting:

“Des Rues Ordinaires”
“Le Malheur des Autres”
“Leurs Histoires”
“Cent Mille Fois par Jour”
“Fractures”
“L'Incendie”
“Cette Somme de Problèmes”
“Civitas”
“Ceux qui Restent”
“Omayra”

Album stream:

Fractures by NESSERIA

“Des Rues Ordinaries” video:

Feared, the Swedish death-metal foursome led by The Haunted’s guitarist Ola Englund, recently announced the details for the band’s upcoming fifth album, Synder. They have now released a music video for the track “By Silent Screaming”, which can be found below.

 

 

Created by Thibault Barbaroux and Quentin Nigues, the animated video chronicles the story of Pierre, a father who’s trying to rescue his daughter from their apartment in Dunkirk (France) before the German soldiers raiding the building find her.

The album Synder, which means sins in English, is set for release on May 25th on Digipack CD and Digital Download and features once again the stunning artwork by Sylvain Lucchina of Razorimages.

 

 

Tracklisting:
 
“Synder”
“Your Demise”
“Of Iron And Ashes”
“Caligula”
“My Grief, My Sorrow”
“Dygder”
“By Silent Screaming”
“Wolf At The End Of The World”
“My Own Redemption”
“Dying Day”
“War Feeding War”
“The Narcissist”
“Godless Devotion”

“My Grief, My Sorrow” video:

Pre-orders for Synder are now available via iTunes, Amazon, and  the Feared webstore.

 

 

 

 

Feard lineup:

Ola Englund (The Haunted, ex-Six Feet Under) - guitars
Jocke Skog (ex-Clawfinger, Aeckel) - bass
Kevin Talley (Suffocation, ex-Dying Fetus, ex-Black Dahlia Murder) - drums
Mario Santos Ramos (Demonoid) - vocals

 

Art Gates Records has announced the signing of Haskovo, Bulgaria based occult metal combo, Ghost Warfare.

Ghost Warfare was born in 2008 and performs an original combination of diverse sub-genres in metal music, mixed with classical music and jazz influences, while forming unorthodox compositions. The vocals range from theatrical narratives and whispers, through operatic revelations and up to dramatic outbursts and sustained high tones, both male and female vocalists.

In words of the band: “It’s wonderful that we’re given the opportunity to go further with our music in a more mature and professional way while preserving our freedom as artists.”

 

 

After two successful LP’s, Alternate Endings and Outer Rim Part 1: Beyond The Veil, and performing several live shows in Eastern Europe, the band is ready to release their third album of studio this year through Art Gates Records worldwide.

More info coming soon.

Following their debut full length Omega in 2012, German blackened death metal maniacs, Kain, are back with their second full length album. Entitled Seele, the album is due for release on June 5th, with a German release show scheduled for May 29th.

 

 

Seele was recorded and produced in collaboration with Nikita Kamprad (Der Weg einer Freiheit), which has been also immortalized with some guest vocal passages on the album.

 

 

A week prior to the release, on May 29th a release show will take place at the cafe Dom in Würzburg, Germany. In addition to various special merch
bundles the album will be available this day for the first time.

 

 

 

SEPULTURA has recorded a new song called "DarkSide" for the Brazilian publisher DarkSide Books. The track, which was "inspired by the darker side of literature," can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

This is not the first time a member of SEPULTURA has collaborated with DarkSide Books. Back in 2013, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser wrote the foreword to the BLACK SABBATH biography "Destruição Desencadeada".

As previously reported, SEPULTURA will celebrate its 30th anniversary by releasing a special tribute to their fans. The band has asked fans to contribute to the artwork for a new track, and the result is "Sepultura Under My Skin", which will be released on June 5 on colored vinyl. The artwork for this release was created using pictures of tattoos of SEPULTURA fans all over the world.

SEPULTURA will headline a North American tour in May with support from German thrashers DESTRUCTION and American melodic tech-deathsters ARSIS.

The mayhem begins in Phoenix, Arizona on May 10 and ends on June 14 in Grand Junction, Colorado. SEPULTURA will also perform on May 9 at the Rock In Rio USA festival in Las Vegas.

SEPULTURA's latest album, "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart", sold around 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD came out on October 29, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records.