An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "A Light In The Dark", the debut album from NEXT TO NONE, the band featuring drummer Max Portnoy, son of Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, THE WINERY DOGS), can be found below. The CD will be released on June 30 via InsideOut Music. Prior to the CD's arrival, the band will be opening shows for English labelmates HAKEN on that band's April/May U.S. tour.

Based in Pennsylvania, NEXT TO NONE features Max Portnoy on drums, Ryland Holland on guitar, Kris Rank on bass, and Thomas Cuce on keyboards and lead vocals. The band has been honing its craft for several years, recording an independently released EP and playing various live gigs, including a slot at the Progressive Nation At Sea 2014 cruise. Later that year, the band went into the studio to record "A Light In The Dark" with producer Mike Portnoy. The CD features guest appearances by Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES) and prog legend Neal Morse.

Max Portnoy says: "It's so exciting to be signing with InsideOut... the home of the greatest prog bands in the world! We are honored to be part of the family."

Adds Mike Portnoy: "Producing the NEXT TO NONE album was like a trip back in time for me. I couldn't help but be reminded of recording my very first album with DREAM THEATER back in 1988.

"These boys have talent and maturity way beyond their years. It's obvious in their playing abilities, but I was most impressed with their writing and creative abilities.

"Six of the songs spread across the album tie together to create a conceptual piece... For a group of 15- and 16-year-olds to be thinking in big master strokes like that is absolutely incredible. They are doing things musically and thematically as teenagers that I wasn't exploring until I was in my mid-twenties and thirties!

"I must point out that THEY wrote all of the music and performed all of their instruments on the album. I do not want people to think that my role as producer had anything to do with those areas... it is all THEM! My main role was to help them explore the studio for the first time and help them learn the ropes in that department.

"I couldn't be prouder of this album and think that NEXT TO NONE represents the next generation of progressive metal."

"A Light In The Dark" track listing:

01. The Edge Of Sanity02. You Are Not Me03. Runaway04. A Lonely Walk05. Control06. Lost07. Social Anxiety08. Legacy09. Blood On My Hands




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Fan-filmed video footage of BLIND GUARDIAN's April 15 performance at La Laiterie in Strasbourg, France can be seen below.

BLIND GUARDIAN's tenth studio album, "Beyond The Red Mirror", was released in North America on February 3 via Nuclear Blast.

Four and a half years in the making, the follow-up to 2010's "At The Edge Of Time" was recorded at Twilight Hall Studio in Grefrath, Germany and produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (SAXON, HAMMERFALL, HELLOWEEN). The CD showcases BLIND GUARDIAN's collaborative work with three different classical choirs: one from the Czech Republic (Prague), one from Hungary (Budapest), and one from the United States (Boston). Two grand orchestras — each featuring 90 musicians — also lend their brilliant talents to the new recordings with absolutely spellbinding results.

In a recent interview with Dead Rhetoric, BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch was asked if it is more daunting than ever to come up with a new album. He responded: "For me, it was not, but for André [Olbrich; lead guitar], it has been. He has the pressure. Funny enough, he doesn't even consider the music we're doing as complicated; he would have gone even further, and I had to take him back sometimes. Even with the support of [producer] Charlie Bauerfeind, it turned out to be very complicated.

"What you hear is a sort of compromise in exploring new dimensions. The unbound output in André's ideas alone might have been even more complicated.

"I think it's a pretty good cooperation we have. The one calms down the soul of the other, and at points where it might become necessary.

"For me, my first idea was to do not a 'back to the roots' album, not even a simple album, but maybe a more open album to giving space."

He continued: "When André threw in his ideas, I knew we had to take it as things came in to see how the final output would be. [Laughs] Charlie reacted the same way.

"For us, it's being as innovative as possible, but with a passion. It's not that anything is really designed in this way before. Things come in, and we deal with it, and whenever I get a drawing from André, I'm eager to bring in as many colors as possible. And the other way around. He'll say, 'The green you brought in is not what I want there.' He comes in with two different colors and I'll say, 'These two colors might be better than my green.' And we work from there, so in the end, we have these constructs, these buildings which we feel both comfortable with. We stand behind it. That's important point in BLIND GUARDIAN. Whenever we finish a song, you can be sure the creators of the song and hopefully the producer, in this case, Charlie Bauerfeind, really believe this is the maximum we can do for a song. We try to treat each song individually and hope to finish with the best result."

Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA will celebrate their 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.

"We will be playing songs that we normally don't perform, so all you hardcore fans will not want to miss the surprises," says SEPULTURA frontman Derrick Green. "Come join us and be a part of this special moment in our career. We look foward to seeing you all there!" 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.

"The Mediator Between The Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" was tracked over a 40-day period at producer Ross Robinson's (KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, SLIPKNOT) studio in Venice, California and was mixed and mastered by co-producer Steve Evetts, who previously worked with SEPULTURA on the "Nation" (2001), "Revolusongs" (2002) and "Roorback" (2003) albums, in addition to having collaborated with Ross on a number of other projects in the past.

SEPULTURA's new live offering titled "Sepultura And Les Tambours du Bronx: Metal Veins - Alive At Rock In Rio" was released in North America on September 16, 2014 via Eagle Rock Entertainment. "Metal Veins - Alive At Rock In Rio" is available on CD, DVD and for the first time in the band's history, Blu-ray via a partnership with Rock In Rio, MZA Music and Eagle Rock Entertainment. In addition, the DVD includes an exclusive documentary of behind-the-scenes preparation with interviews, rehearsal and soundcheck footage and clips of the band just seconds before they hit the stage.

"Open Fire", the video from British rockers THE DARKNESS, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's fourth album, "Last Of Our Kind", which will be released on June 1 in partnership with Kobalt Label Services. The CD was penned in Ireland and was produced by THE DARKNESS guitarist Dan Hawkins.

The follow-up to 2012's "Hot Cakes" was recorded at Leeders Farm Studio in Norfolk, owned by Dan Hawkins.

Drummer Emily Dolan Davies, who made her live debut with THE DARKNESS in early March, has already left the band to pursue "new projects." The group says in a statement: "We part ways with fond farewells. Emily played a huge part in the recording of our new album 'Last Of Our Kind' and makes a final appearance in the video for our single 'Open Fire'… Good luck, Emily!"

Davies, who has previously worked with Bryan Ferry and Tricky, "revitalized" THE DARKNESS, according to singer Justin Hawkins. "She's a hard hitter," he previously told Classic Rock. "She's got the chops and the attitude that you need to be THE DARKNESS's drummer. She also makes us feel like dirty old men."

Regarding THE DARKNESS's split with founding member Ed Graham in late 2014, Hawkins said: "Ed has had some well-publicized health problems in the past. And for one reason or another, he wasn't capable of doing his job anymore. We're still friends with Ed. But now that we have Emily in the band, the worry is gone."

"Last of Our Kind" will be released on limited-edition color vinyl, compact disc and as a digital download.

"Last of Our Kind" track listing:

01. Barbarian02. Open Fire03. Last of Our Kind04. Roaring Waters05. Wheels of the Machine06. Mighty Wings07. Mudslide08. Sarah O’Sarah09. Hammer & Tongs10. Conquerors

"The new album is brutal," Justin Hawkins told Classic Rock. "It's definitely stripped back — with the exception of some mandolins. But when you're doing medieval rock, you should have a mandolin on it. And while I wouldn't say that this is our 'Rainbow Rising', we're definitely exploring the myths of old. It's medieval rock, but it still sounds like THE DARKNESS. It's medi-urban, I suppose.…"

The official lyric video for the song "How Many Times" from ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ, the new band featuring former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno alongside members of Paul's longtime German touring backing group THE PHANTOMZ, can be seen below. The track is taken from ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ's debut album, "The League Of Shadows", which will be released on May 29 via Metalville Records. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Apache Falls", "When Murder Comes To Town", "Je Suis Charlie", "AOC" and "Switched Off".

In an interview with Songfacts, Di'Anno stated about ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ: "This is my German touring band. We've been friends for so many years and we just decided that we've had enough of this, let's become a band. We still play some of the MAIDEN songs, but we started writing and it's all going very, very well. We had an EP we put out to try and get a record deal, and somehow, Metal Hammer got a hold of it and Rock Hard magazine have both made us the 'EP Of The Month' in August. And the vibe on us is going absolutely crazy, so we're loving it. So we're just going to see what happens with this now."

Di'Anno is scheduled to undergo knee surgery in June. He said in a recent interview: "I should have done this seven years ago. And now all the ligament is gone and all it basically is is bone rubbing against bone. And, oh my God, it's so painful some days, it's unbelievable. And through my mother, I caught osteoporosis [a progressive bone disease in which the bone density reduces over years] as well. When you get to a certain age. And [I can't be] buggered with that. [I'm like], sod this; I can't be dealing with it. So [fixing] the knee will make it a lot better."

Paul Di'Anno's April 9, 2014 performance at Lizard Club in Krakow, Poland as part of the Doładowanie festival was professionally filmed for a DVD, "The Beast Arises", which was released on October 6, 2014 in Europe through Metal Mind Productions and October 7, 2014 in North America via MVD. "The Beast Arises" was also made available on CD, digital and vinyl.

Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN before being fired and replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, 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.

The bonus disc for "The Real Thing" contains remixes of three of FAITH NO MORE's biggest hits — "Epic", "Falling To Pieces" and "From Out Of Nowhere" — non-album cuts like "The Grade", "Cowboy Song" and "Sweet Emotion", plus live cuts like a cover of BLACK SABBATH's "War Pigs".

"Angel Dust" also features live tracks, remixes and covers of THE COMMODORES' "Easy" and THE DEAD KENNEDYS' "Let's Lynch the Landlord".

A vinyl release for both albums is planned for August, though an exact release date has yet to be announced.

FAITH NO MORE is currently on its first full North American tour since 2010 and plays the third of three Los Angeles shows on Friday night (April 24).

Professionally filmed video footage of SYSTEM OF A DOWN's first-ever concert in Armenia, which took place earlier today (Thursday, April 23), can be seen below.

The concert marked the culmination of SYSTEM OF A DOWN's "Wake Up The Souls" tour, a global trek to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The arena tour, which is SYSTEM OF A DOWN's first since 2013 and included the band's first-ever performance in Yerevan's Republic Square, kicked off April 6 at the Forum in Los Angeles.

April 24, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an attempted extermination of the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire. From 1915 through 1923, 1.5 million men, women and children were starved, shot, beaten and banished to die in the desert during one of history's greatest crimes. Though considered by many to be the first genocide of the 20th century, the Turkish government denies it ever happened.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN's landmark tour took them to Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Russia. The group, whose four members are all of Armenian descent, have lost family members and history to the Genocide and have worked tirelessly over the years to promote awareness.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that the Armenian Genocide has been largely forgotten by history. "You know, I mean, it was all over the media in 1915 when it occurred, but since it's not put in the books as a genocide and not reviewed and studied like the Holocaust has been, like even the Cambodian genocide has been — you know, we've talked about Saddam Hussein's killing of the Kurds, etc. — all of that is known in modern times, but this is the first forgotten genocide of the century," he said.

German power metallers HELLOWEEN will release their 15th studio album, "My God-Given Right", on May 29 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was recorded between October 2014 and February 2015 at the band's MiSueno Studio on the isle of Tenerife with producer Charlie Bauerfeind (GOTTHARD, HAMMERFALL).

HELLOWEEN has just released the first single from "My God-Given Right", the speed metal hymn "Battle's Won". In addition to the digital download, a limited-edition two-track vinyl single was made available on April 24, also featuring the album cut "Lost In America".

A trailer for "Battle's Won" can be seen below. "My God-Given Right" track listing: 01. Heroes02. Battle's Won03. My God-Given Right04. Stay Crazy05. Lost In America06. Russian Roulé07. The Swing Of A Fallen World08. Like Everybody Else09. Creatures In Heaven10. If God Loves Rock 'N' Roll11. Living On The Edge12. Claws13. You, Still Of War The limited digipak (with special 3D cover) and the vinyl version will feature two bonus tracks:

14. I Wish I Were There15. Wicked Game The digital version contains three bonus tracks:

14. I Wish I Were There15. Wicked Game16. Free World The limited earbook will feature a bonus CD with four bonus tracks:

01. I Wish I Were There02. Wicked Game03. Nightmare04. More Than A Lifetime Pre-order here. The "My God-Given Right" artwork was once again created by graphic guru Martin Häusler (BON JOVI, QUEEN, GOTTHARD) and will also be available as a 3D lenticular print. Says Häusler: "We tried to build a world of ideas, keeping the 'classic HELLOWEEN' elements, like the pumpkins on the one hand and a complete new look on the other, just like we did it the years before, working on a HELLOWEEN artwork.

"A first inspiration came from the album title, 'My God-Given Right', and some of the song titles, like 'Swing Of A Fallen World', 'Lost In America', 'Battle's Won', etc.

"During my research, I stumbled upon the blockbuster 'Day After Tomorrow' and the idea of just leaving the world to the 'pumpkins' was born.

"The most challenging part of this artwork was to have both the limited edition and the 11-inch earbook provided with a 3D lenticular cover (a full 3D cover, visible without 3D glasses). That's the reason the entire artwork was done 'in one piece,' using a 3D program…We did not want one of those 'cheap' lenticular covers, done by converting a 2D version, but the best possible real 3D result. So don’t get any other versions — this will be a true collector's item!" Adds HELLOWEEN frontman Andi Deris: "I never know how, but somehow we did it once again… The album really rocks and kicks some major asses!!! We had the best folks with us to make this possible: producer Charlie Bauerfeind and Martin Häusler, who made a massive 3D artwork this time WITHOUT stressing the whole color range." States HELLOWEEN guitarist Michael Weikath: "This proves what a bit of snow not only is able to but really causes! I personally hate snow and the cover shows that too much of everything is never good. Just like Andi Deris, I'm very happy about the new album."

PureGrainAudio.com ran through some of its "Most Extreme" questions with guitarist Eric Peterson of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT when the band played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on April 15. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked to name his "most extreme talent outside of music," Peterson said: "Probably cooking. I don't know how extreme you can be with cooking, but I think I'm pretty wicked at cooking. I've got a lot of different crazy skillets and probably spend over… Yeah, I spend a lot of money on cooking stuff."

TESTAMENT kicked off the "Dark Roots Of Thrash II" tour with EXODUS and SHATTERED SUN on April 1 at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco.

"Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York in February 2013, was made available on October 18, 2013 (Europe) and October 29, 2013 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK) and mixed by Juan Urteaga (VILE, EXODUS, SADUS, MACHINE HEAD).

New batch of bands confirmed! Mexican cartel BRUJERIA is on the list among Canadian hyperblast death metal masters CRYPTOPSY and exotic DEMONIC RESURRECTION of India, who are returning to our festival as well more known and respected progressive death/black metal band. Cold nordic chill will be present through Norwegian viking metalers EINHERJER and blasting Swedish black metal by MARDUK, who will perform their classic album Panzer Division Marduk in its’entirety for the last time ever! Hailing from Brasil is NERVOSA, all female thrash power trio! Another band will bring their fresh South American thrash metal like from the golden age of 80's – NUCLEAR from Chile, while Australia’s own PSYCROPTIC will deliver thinking mans‘ death metal. Modern extreme technical deathcore RINGS OF SATURN will debut a tour fest as well as ROSETTA – well known post-hardcore ensemble from Philly. Old school crossover – thrash will be heared from classic band of the genre - M.O.D.! SVARTIDAUÐI from Iceland will bring their psychedelic black metal visions and VADER will join with their unaging death metal.

Texas-based guitar prodigy Rusty Cooley says that he turned down an opportunity to join MEGADETH because the idea of "playing everybody else's guitar solos… just [didn't] appeal to [him]."

Cooley claims that he was contacted about auditioning for MEGADETH at the end of January — approximately two months after Chris Broderick announced his departure from the group. "It was right after I got home from [the] NAMM [in Anaheim, California]," he told New Zealand's "The Sick Room" podcast (see video below). "I got home… I think it was a Sunday night or a Monday night… And I get a call from my artist rep saying, 'Hey, you need to call this number tomorrow. It's very important. This could be potentially life changing. And I can't tell you who it is.' I'm, like, 'Okay. Great.' I kind of had an idea who it was. So I get up the next morning, I call it, and it's Justis Mustaine [Dave Mustaine's son, who also works for MEGADETH's management]. And Justis… We talked for a few minutes, and he's, like, 'Hey, man, I'm kind of busy. Can I call you back later?' And I said, 'Yeah, dude. No problem.' I was really, really sick when I got home. It was hard for me to get up and call him. So a couple of days go by, and I hear from Justis the next day and I text and I don't hear anything back. And then Thursday night, I get a call from my artist rep, Josh, and he's, like, 'Dude, what the hell? Mustaine's been waiting for your call all week.' And I was, like, 'Dude, you gave me Justis's number, and that's all I got, man.' So he's, like, 'All right, Dave wants you to call him right now.' So I called Dave, and he ended up being at a concert. And he said, 'Let's talk tomorrow.' And I said, 'Okay, cool.' And, actually, I wasn't able to actually get on the phone with him for a few days because I was so sick, I couldn't actually speak. So we had to go a few days with talking through e-mail."

He continued: "Initially, I was, like, 'Oh, shit, I need to do this,' just because it's MEGADETH and it would be great for my career and whatnot, and I was learning songs, and I was gonna do it. [But] the more I started to think about it, I kind of started second-guessing myself, because I started to realize that I didn't really think I was doing it because I wanted to do it; I was doing it because I thought that that's what everybody around me, including the companies that I work with, and friends and family, because they wanna see me succeed at another level. So it was, like, 'I'm not doing this for me.' And on top of that, my daughter had just moved in with me, and she's 15, going on 16. And she just moved in. If I take this gig, I'm gonna be gone, and in a few years, she's gonna be in college, and I don't wanna miss these years of her life; that's more important to me than being out on the road touring in MEGADETH. And not to say that I'm not gonna tour and do things, but the amount of touring involved [with MEGADETH] would require her to go move back with her mother, and I'm just not gonna do that, man. I've already missed enough of her life, being divorced in 2011. So I decided not to do it pretty much because of that, and on top of the fact that… I just felt like I was doing it because everybody else wanted me to do it, and I've never done that; I've always made decisions based on what I wanna do."

Cooley added: "I struggled with it for a little while, because it is a huge offer. And I hate to use this word, because it's not what it is, but I've never played other people's music or played in a cover band, ever. And MEGADETH is not a cover band, obviously — I don't want that to be misconstrued the wrong way — but I would be going into this band playing twenty years' worth of someone else's material, and the only thing I would maybe get to contribute would be to solos on a new record. And as much as I write, I would just have to sit on this stuff and just play MEGADETH songs and maybe get to write some of my own solos on a couple of songs. Which, usually, with a band with a history that big, they don't play the stuff off the new record that much — maybe a couple of songs — 'cause all the fans wanna hear all the old stuff. So I'm just gonna be sitting around playing everybody else's guitar solos. And, in the long run, it just doesn't appeal to me. And no amount of money can make that better, really. Because, for me… I was put on this planet to write my own music and do my own thing, and that's what it really boils down to.

"For the last couple of years, I was, like, 'Man, why am I not getting the call?' And I finally got the call, and after realizing it and putting all those thoughts through my head, I was, like, 'You know what?! I don't really wanna do this.' And Dave, in all honesty, man, Dave was super-freaking cool, super complimentary… I have nothing but good things to say about Dave. He was the nicest gentleman… 'Cause, you know, the media says a lot of bad stuff and whatever, and it doesn't matter. When I met Dave and talked to Dave, he was nothing but a gentleman, and very kind. And I have nothing but thanks for him to consider me for the gig. It was kind of cool to know that I was pretty much the first guy that he called. And now that they've got [Brazilian guitarist] Kiko [Loureiro], that's cool."

Rusty has been a guitar instructor since his third year of playing. He has also released five instructional products, done lessons for magazines and posted many lessons on sites such as Shredaholic. In addition, he has taught for the National Guitar Workshop three times (1996, 1997, 1998) and given many clinics.

SLAYER frontman Tom Araya has told Metal Hammer magazine that the death of the band's co-founding guitarist, Jeff Hanneman, has brought Araya and fellow remaining original member Kerry King closer together.

Hanneman, who passed away in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver, is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

"Losing Jeff has brought us together somewhat," Araya told Metal Hammer. "We've had to open up a line of communication."

He continued: "Kerry's very black and white. I'm not a black-and-white person, but that's Kerry. We've had to talk, and that's not been the case in the past."

Araya added: "I talked to Jeff a lot. I could pick up the phone and call him and we'd talk, but that's not been the norm with me and Kerry. But with everything that's been going on, we've had to open up a dialogue to make sure we can communicate our thoughts to each other without pissing each other off."

In the August 2013 issue of Guitar World magazine, King spoke about the personal relationship he had with Hanneman. He said: "[Any time we would finish a tour, Jeff] would just go home and detach. He might have lived only 45 minutes away, but unless you were part of his inner circle, it was hard to stay in touch with him. And it took me a few years to understand that. For a while I was just like, 'Why isn't this guy calling me back?' But as I got older, I just realized that that was who Jeff was."

"I don't think Jeff and I were ever best friends," continued King. "I think we were probably the closest in the band, but never best friends. To put it in a way that everyone could understand, Jeff and I were like business partners. Was he my friend? Of course he was my friend. But we didn't really act like that. The last time I was at Jeff's house was January 2003. We went to his place to watch the Raiders in the playoffs. And it sounds horrible, but it wasn't horrible. That was just how it was."

MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil was the headliner of the annual Rock-N-Roar concert at this year's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Neil appeared on Saturday, April 18 at 6:45 p.m., on the outdoor stage adjacent to the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. The concert was free to all Grand Prix of Long Beach ticket holders.

Fan-filmed video footage of Neil's performance cab be seen below.

The Rock-N-Roar concert is a staple of Saturdays at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, providing live entertainment to close out the second day of a three-day race weekend.

Neil's live backing band continues to consist of bassist Dana Strum and Jeff Blando (both of SLAUGHTER) and drummer Zoltan Chaney.

Neil spoke to AberdeenNews.com about what keeps him inspired to play casinos around the country with his solo band when he is not busy performing in arenas around the world with the CRÜE. "I enjoy being on the road, and I enjoy doing these shows," he said. "If it wasn't fun, I wouldn't do it. I'd be doing something else. I'd be on vacation like the rest of the MÖTLEY guys."

Neil's setlist for his solo shows includes CRÜE hits "Dr. Feelgood", "Without You" and "Girls, Girls, Girls". "We kind of have to," he said in a 2014 interview. "I'd be disappointed as a fan if I went and saw me and I didn't play some of the hits…. Every song you're going to know. It's rock 'n' roll."

Neil's latest solo album, "Tattoos & Tequila", sold 7,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 57 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was issued in Europe on June 4, 2010 via Frontiers Records and was made available in the U.S. on June 22, 2010 through Eleven Seven Music.

ICED EARTH is set to begin the writing process for its twelfth studio album this spring.

After a short hiatus — primarily due to founder, chief songwriter, and guitarist Jon Schaffer's second cervical fusion surgery — the band is planning their schedule for the remainder of the year.

ICED EARTH fans can expect the next album, tentatively titled "The Judas Goat", and the subsequent touring cycle to begin in early 2016.

Schaffer comments on his recovery and the direction of the new album: "The recovery after this surgery has been more difficult than the first time around in 2000.

"Although there have been a few setbacks, I am confident that I'm ready to resume my duties in ICED EARTH, directing my full attention to the creative process, production, and touring future of the band."

He continues: "We are looking forward to songwriting and getting back in the studio.

"The creative direction of the new album is rife with intense and heavy emotions, as one would expect from an ICED EARTH record, as well as a wide variety of lyrical inspirations and themes.

"I am 100 percent confident that the bond our band has forged in these last several years will shine through in the music. It's a brotherhood in every way, and the fans will feel that.

"I couldn't be more proud of these guys and everything we’ve achieved together.'

Longtime ICED EARTH drummer Brent Smedley will return to the band for the next recording and touring cycle. Smedley had to step down due to personal family reasons in 2013 shortly before the recording of "Plagues Of Babylon".

"We are very pleased to have Brent joining us once again; he's always been a brother and an important part of the ICED EARTH legacy," says Schaffer.

ICED EARTH 's latest album, "Plagues Of Babylon", sold around 6,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 49 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was recorded at Principal Studios (KREATOR, IN EXTREMO, GRAVE DIGGER) in Senden, Germany and was mixed at NHow Studios in Berlin, Germany.

Jon Dette (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX) sat behind the drums for ICED EARTH's most tour, taking over for Raphael Saini, who filled in during the summer 2013 festivals, the recording of ICED EARTH's new album, and the club leg of the VOLBEAT 2013 tour.

Dette made his live debut with ICED EARTH on November 6, 2013 at O2 World in Berlin, Germany.

Phil Collen, lead guitarist of Def Leppard, announces the formation and release of his new blues based music project, Delta Deep, coming this summer. Collen recorded the mix of original and hand-picked cover tracks with fellow Delta Deep bandmates Debbi Blackwell-Cook (back-up vocalist for such artists as Michael Buble and Luther Vandross), Forrest Robinson (drummer for India.Arie, Joe Sample & The Crusaders, TLC), and Robert DeLeo (bassist for Stone Temple Pilots). Their self-titled debut album will be released on June 23rd on Mailboat Records and also features special guest appearances by Def Leppard vocalists Joe Elliott, Whitesnake’s David Coverdale, Sex Pistols/Manraze drummer Paul Cook, and Girl/Manraze bassist, Simon Laffy.

 

 

Collen initially started Delta Deep in 2012 after jamming at home over the course of a year with friend and relative, Debbi Blackwell-Cook (Blackwell-Cook is the Godmother of Collen’s wife, Helen). What started as a casual pairing singing Motown and classic blues staples while Debbi frequently visited Collen’s home quickly turned into much more. Collen, Helen, and Debbi began writing original music which Collen and Debbi recorded in Collen’s home studio. Later that year, a chance meeting re-acquainted Collen with Memphis native and enigmatic heavy metal, jazz, and rn’b drummer Forrest Robinson. A friend suggested giving STP bassist Robert DeLeo a call. Sharing a loving affinity for soul, funk and the blues, DeLeo was the perfect fit.

According to Collen, “We really wanted Robert in this band. He had the added firepower of being the premiere pioneer and most ‘badassed bass player’ to come out of the alternative rock explosion.”

The best description of Delta Deep, a multi-racial band, has been “Aretha and Tina in their prime singing over early Zeppelin”. Original song and lead off single “Bang The Lid” introduces the musical synchronicity of Collen, Blackwell-Cook, DeLeo, and Robinson. Blackwell-Cook also duets with Collen on the album tracks as well as with featured vocalists Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott (“Mistreated”) and Whitesnake’s David Coverdale (“Private Number”). Legendary Sex Pistol’s punk drummer Paul Cook and Collen’s former bandmate from Girl bass player Simon Laffy” guest on the classic cover “Black Coffee”. Guesting on the Delta Deep original song, “Burnt Sally” is keyboardist, CJ Vanston (Tina Turner, Toto, Joe Cocker, Carol King) adding to the soulful tune on the Hammond 3 Organ.

 

 

Collen is widely known to millions of rock ‘n roll fans for his iconic albums with Def Leppard. When asked what made him decide to do a blues project Collen responded, "Blues was created out of something completely different from what we hear today. I grew up listening to rock music but then I found out it was all based on blues. Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix, all of those guys….they got it from the blues. When I hear Debbi sing, I can hear the pain. She’s an incredibly beautiful 62 year old black woman who has been through things and she can sing through her pain. Not everyone can do that and not everyone sounds like Debbi.”

While many artists aim to make their mark by creating new genres or introducing their own new versions of music, Collen and Delta Deep melded their blues inspirations with who they are as artists and are unleashing that expression onto the world.

“Bang The Lid” single teaser:

New Hampshire-based Vattnet Viskar has unveiled the cover for their upcoming album, Settler. The artwork was created by multimedia artist, Josh Graham (ex-Neurosis, Soundgarden), who also created the video for "Breath Of The Almighty", from the band's Sky Swallower album.
 

 

Settler tracklisting:

“Dawnlands”
“Colony”
“Yearn”
“Impact”
“Glory”
“Heirs”
“Settler”
“Coldwar”
 
Settler will be out June 16th in North America (June 29th in Europe) via Century Media Records. The album was recorded at Earth Analog Studios in Champaign, IL with producer Sanford Parker (Minsk, Voivod).

Before Settler's release, the band will embark on an east coast run, ending at Maryland Deathfest, where they will share the stage alongside Napalm Death, Triptykon, Amorphis, and more. See below for all upcoming dates.
 
May
16 - Milly's Tavern - Manchester, NH
17 - Parlour - Providence, RI
18 - Great Scott - Allston, MA
20 - Ortliebs - Philadelphia, PA
21 - Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY
22 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD (Maryland Deathfest)
 
Vattnet Viskar is:  

Nick Thornbury - Guitar/Vocals
Chris Alfieri - Guitar
Seamus Menihane - Drums
Casey Aylward - Bass

 

American doomsters, Apostle Of Solitude, have released the official video for “Lamentations Of A Broken Man”, a track off the band's new release, Of Woe and Wounds, available via Cruz Del Sur Music.

From the 7-minute opener, "Blackest Of Times", to the ending, "Luna" (which can be heard below), Apostle Of Solitude deliver an oppressive and crunching performance that gives full sense to the sometimes-abused term doom. Mastered by Tony Reed (Saint Vitus), Of Woe And Wounds confirms Apostle Of Solitude as a versatile, multi-dimensional doom band that offers the most Sabbath-inspired sound around these days, blended with personal yet dynamic atmospheres such as those found in "Push Mortal Coil" or "Whore's Wings" (re-recorded hits from their 2012 demo), or the long and haunting "Die Vicar Die".  

The album also features the work of talented artist David Csicsely (Mournful Congregation, Solitude Aeternus).

 

 

Tracklisting:

"Distance And The Cold Heart"
"Blackest Of Times"
"Whore's Wings"
"Lamentations Of A Broken Man"
"Die Vicar Die"
"Push Mortal Coil"
"This Mania"
"Siren"
"Luna"
"Distance And The Cold Heart" (reprise)
"The Messenger" - Live (vinyl bonus track)
 "Sincerest Misery" - Live (vinyl bonus track)

"This Mania" video:

"Whore's Wings":

Whore's Wings by APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE

"Luna":

Luna by Apostle Of Solituide

 

 

 

Poland's grandmasters of radical grindcore, Antigama, have launched a video trailer (see below) for their seventh full-length installation of their cutting edge arsenal, entitled The Insolent, set for May release through their trusted alliance with Selfmadegod Records. Coordinated with the LP's release is Antigama's return to US shores for the first time since 2009, with a Northeastern tour planned with labelmates Drugs Of Faith, which will conclude a return performance at this year's intense Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore on Memorial Day weekend.

 

 

Following the impact of their massive 2013-released Meteor LP, Antigama will once again captivatingly scar the planet with the inundation of The Insolent. Seeing the band further along their ongoing path of progression, The Insolent contains another intriguing alloy of their futuristic grind savagery heavily diversified with cosmic exploration and harsh dissonance through ten new tracks of unorthodox, rapid forward-thinking metal. Recorded in February at JNS Studio in Warsaw, The Insolent was engineered by Pawel Grabowski, mixed by Pawel Grabowski and the band, and mastered by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound in Bethesda, Maryland (Pig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed), the album features a very special guest appearance of the legend of Polish electronic music scene, Władysław "Gudonis" Komendarek, and bears cover art designed by Bartek Rogalewicz. The first single from the album comes through a new Youtube video (see below) for the fourth track, "Used To”, cut from footage filmed by Paweł "Pavulon" Jaroszewicz and Łukasz Myszkowski during the recording sessions.

The Insolent will be released on CD, LP, cassette and digital download on May 7th through Selfmadegod Records. Stand by for pre-order info and more on the album to be dispatched in the coming days.

 

 

The Insolent tracklisting:

“Reward Or Punishment”
“Foul Play”
“Data Overload”
“Used To”
“Randomize The Algorithm”
“The Insolent”
“Sentenced To The Void”
“Out Beyond”
“Eraser”
“The Land Of Monotony”

Trailer:

 
“Used To”:

Also planned in coordination with Antigama's upcoming return appearance to Maryland Deathfest in late May, the band has confirmed a Northeastern US tour, set to begin less than a week after the release of The Insolent. Beginning on May 13th, Antigama will scorch their way through New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, and Virginia on the Blast the East Coast Tour, concluding at Maryland Deathfest where the band will storm Baltimore Soundstage on Saturday, May 23rd alongside Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Backslider, Cephalic Carnage, Engorged, Full Of Hell, Inter Arma, Martyrdöd, Wolfbrigade and more. The tour leading up to MDF will see direct support from Selfmadegod labelmates, Drugs Of Faith, and will see the bands playing shows alongside The Communion, Infernal Stronghold and more, and will see both bands as main highlights of Mildfest Vol. 1: The Grinding, alongside The Communion, Organ Dealer, Pink Mass, Sentience, Toxicology and Gorscum on May 15th in Clifton, New Jersey.

 

 

Blast the East Coast US Tour (with Drugs Of Faith):

May
13 - Nihil Gallery - Brooklyn, NY (with The Communion)
14 - The Funky Jungle - Providence, RI (with The Communion)
15 - Clash Bar - Clifton, NJ @ Mildfest (with The Communion, Organ Dealer, Pink Mass, more)
16 - Second Empire - Philadelphia, PA (with Infernal Stronghold)
17 - TBA - Washington, DC
18 - Cellar Door - Annandale, VA
19 - Strange Matter - Richmond, VA
20 - Main Street Annex - Charlottesville, VA
23 - Baltimore Soundstage - Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest (no Drugs Of Faith)

Antigama:

Lukasz Myszkowski - vocals, electronics
Sebastian Rokicki - guitars
Pawel Jaroszewicz - drums, percussion
Sebastian Kucharski - bass

 

French progressive and experimental death metal group, Pitbulls In The Nursery, will release their second full-length album Equanimity on May 4th via Klonosphere Records (Hacride, Trepalium, Klone). The album track “Crawling” can now be heard at this location.

 

 

Pre-orders for the CD/Digital Version are now available via ULULE, a crowdfunding platform the five-piece used to raise a total of 1.800€ to fund the recordings of Equanimity.

 

 

“Insiders” another song from the nine track release, their first in nine years, is streaming on Soundcloud.

 

Frontiers Records has announced the signing of musician/producer Billy Sherwood (ex-YES) for the release of a new, exciting band and concept album entitled Citizen. Billy Sherwood is well known for gathering amazing musicians together to perform on his projects. For this record, he has his eyes on some of the best in the business, once again, to help bring his vision to life.

In Billy’s words, “Citizen is the story of a lost soul wandering through time and living through many lives during historic periods of time. A reincarnate, he finds himself as a conscript to the ancient Roman legionaries, fighting in the last battles and as a witness to the fall of the Empire. As a close friend discussing the myth of the flat earth with Galileo. As an apprentice to Oppenheimer, he questions the ethics of splitting the atom and it's morality. As a messenger to the high command during WWI, racing through the trenches of Belgium and France. As a factory worker during the rise of the industrial age, merging man with machines. As a victim of the great depression with no options left....and more situations that place the "Citizen" in controversial, emotional and historic settings."

 

 

Billy has written all the music and production is now in full swing. Guest artists joining Billy in this journey through music, time and space include:

John Wetton (Asia)
Rick Wakeman Music (YES)
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)
Tony Kaye (YES)
Geoff Downes (YES, Asia)
Chris Squire (YES)
Steve Hackett (Genesis)
Jerry Goodman (The Mahavishnu Orchestra)
Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs)
Steve Hillage (Gong)
Patrick Moraz (YES)
John Wesley (Porcupine Tree)

More guests and musicians are to be announced. Frontiers hope to release this new album in early 2016.

In related news, Billy has also reformed his original band World Trade, along with all the original members Bruce Gowdy on guitar, Guy Allison on keyboards and Mark T. Williams on drums. A new album in a musical direction close to Toto's most recent releases and YES (90125/Big Generator era) will be unleashed after the release of Citizen.

Swedish born producer/artist, Big Swede, is releasing his new rock single, “Date Night In A Straitjacket”, on April 28th. The release includes an industrial remix and features Johnny Griparic (Slash’s Snakepit), Patrick Stone (Adler’s Appetite) and Howie Simon (Alcatrazz).

 

 

“This track is a little heavier and more up in your face than the “Rock Star” single which was released last year,” says Big Swede.

The release comes with an original version and a remix. “The original version is a straight up rocker. I was going for hi-energy and attitude with a live band feel. The remix is a whole other world, with a completely different feel, very industrial with synths, samples and loop elements,” continues Big Swede.

 

 

“I released a rock album last year and named the project Refurbished. This release and upcoming, heavier Big Swede tracks will have more of an industrial feel for sure, with electronic elements being a big part of the sound, like the remix of this track,” says Big Swede.

Original version:

Industrial version:

Swiss cult death/doom combo, Excruciation, have signed a worldwide deal with Wormholedeath/Aural Music for the release of their upcoming masterpiece, [c]rust, that will be produced by Wahoomi Corvi and will be unleashed during 2016. The band will enter the studio on August 17th and is now very busy with songwriting.

[c]rust will represent the band's deeper step into darkness and will be released in collaboration with the bands own label Auric Records. With [c]rust, Excruciation will forge their versatile influences ranging from 80s dark wave and crustcore to old school black and doom metal into a new piece of extreme metal.

 

 

Says the band: “Excruciation is proud to announce their signing with WormholeDeath Records, based in Italy. They made us an offer we couldn’t refuse… Though good experiences we've made in releasing on our own label Auric Records, we’re happy to benefit of an experienced and well-established label with broad international connections to spread Doom, Death and Mayhem all over the world. We’re looking forward to our collaboration on the coming record [c]rust!"

Worm stated: "We are honoured to work with such a cult band and we will do everything possible to support their work at the best possible level. We have asked them to go deeper than they did with [g]host as we are willing to expose the essence of Excruciation, the skeleton of this band. We will expose the violence and straight downward energy that lies within Excruciation. They told us, human flesh and skin is the crust that keeps us standing. But like rust eats iron, life decomposes the shell and nothing more than dust and bones will remain."

After fast and furious seven years from 1984 to 1991 their sheer aggression forced Excruciation to take a rest. In 2005 all original members rejoined forces unleashing doom, death and mayhem again on stage. Re-energized and reinspired by their sudatory live performances, Excruciation focused on the first full length album ever Angels To Some, Demons To Others, released in early 2007. It was followed by [t]horns in 2009 and in doing so re-established the bands status once again. 2012 saw the re-release of Excruciation’s early works Last Judgement and First Assault on vinyl by the Italian cult label F.O.A.D. Records and a live recording from 1987 being released on tape by The Ritual Productions from the Netherlands, who also released [t]horns on vinyl in 2013. Following in 2014 the new record [g]host crawled up the spine, critically well acclaimed and gaining several awards as “album of the month”.

Excruciation lineup:

Eugenio Meccariello - Vocals  
Marcel Bosshart - Guitar  
D.D. Lowinger - Bass  
Andy Renggli - Drums  
Hannes Reitze - Guitar / Theremin

(Photos - Eisa.ch)

The Dead Daisies is a rock 'n roll supergroup comprised of newly appointed vocalist John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, Union, The Scream), along with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus and keyboard player Dizzy Reed, bassist Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent) and drummer Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne). 

Revolución is the title of the band's forthcoming new album, due June 1st. The cover art, as well as a brand new song called "Mexico", have just been revealed:

   

Another song from the band’s new album Revolución, entitled “Midnight Moses” (Alex Harvey cover), was recently unveiled and can be heard below:

In live news, The Dead Daisies have secured opening slots for both KISS and Whitesnake; their complete tour schedule is available via Facebook.

 

 

 

 

Whispers from the underground have spoken of a hooded band from Columbia, TN that created haunting, doom-ish heavy metal. For over two decades this mysterious and allusive band has been lost in the depths of obscurity… until now.

Originally Hexenhammer was conceived in 1984 with members Ronnie Dean on guitar, bassist Tony Pruitt, drummer Andy Thornburg, guitarist Gene Davis, and vocalist Mark Warren. Over the next four years the band would re-locate to Jacksonville, FL and back to Tennessee while trying to find a foothold in any welcoming metal scene they could find, meanwhile struggling to hold together a solid lineup. In 1987, the band settled in Columbia, TN. and after some personnel changes an official line-up of the band would be solidified the following year.

That same year in 1989 Hexenhammer would issue a two song demo quickly followed by the D.I.Y full-length release Underground in 1990. The release would receive considerable press in zines and metal magazines both in the US and abroad. Unfortunately as things seemed to start rolling for Hexenhammer that year, they would also mysteriously disappear without a trace.

For years since Hexenhammer’s disappearance fans and collectors alike have spoken of the band as if some obscure myth. Now after years of searching Heaven And Hell Records has finally found them and will soon release the Hexenhammer recordings for the first time ever on CD. All tracks will be re-mastered by Jamie King at The Basement Studios from the best source material available, including the Underground full-length, and some bonus tracks. The CD will also include never before seen photos, lyrics and an essay. Cover art by Steven Cobb.

These recordings are rare treasures of US metal and soon will finally be restored and presented to the Hexenhammer fans. The album is set for release in June.

Tracklisting:

“Fear”
“Hatred Within”
“I’m Alive”
“Princess Of The Grave”
“Invasion (The Victors And The Vanquished)”
“Dominate”
“The Untouchables”
“Cryptographik”
“Witching Hour”

Click below to sample some tracks (Note: These are not the remastered tracks):

The newly founded extreme metal label Testimony Records from Hamburg, Germany has announced the signing of Germany’s atmospheric black death metal band KadavriK. The label will release the band’s new and fourth album entitled Grimm I & II on the June 26.

The lyrical background is a modern interpretation of lesser-known Brother Grimms’ fairy tales. The album will be available on gatefold vinyl, CD, and digital.

Tracklisting:

Grimm I: The Armless Maiden
“Wither Away”
“All The World But One”
“Ruins”
“7 Years”
“Queen Of Sylvan Lands”

Grimm II: Thoughts Of The Sore
“Lords”
“Voids”
“Shuttered”
“Helix”

“Lords”:

KadavriK - Lords by KadavriK

After releasing their debut EP, A Hymn Of The Vicious Monster in May 2014 through Xtreem Music, Iranian death metal act Azooma have recently entered the studio to start recording their first full length studio album which will be released this year again via Xtreem Music. The recording will take place in Mashhad at Azooma Studio under the supervision of the band's drummer Saeed Shariat.

Saeed commented: "We are excited indeed to bring some new material to our fans. Our upcoming album will have more horror, a more complicated story and more blood. This is something different and we assure you that this one will blow your mind, it's something you haven't heard before".

Also the band has recently signed a management contract with Mohsen Fayazi and Stargazer Consultancy. Mohsen commented on Azooma's forthcoming album: "I am glad that these guys found their way on the death metal path of glory. By listening to the demos of Azooma's upcoming album, I can say they found their signature style in this genre of music".

Melbourne, Australia's melodic death metallers Orpheus Omega have signed a deal with Kolony Records. The band’s upcoming third full-length album, Partum Vita Mortem is expected to be released in July. Orpheus Omega joins fellow Be’lakor as the second Australian act to be included on Kolony Records’ roster.

Commented vocalist Chris Themelco: “It is with huge pride and excitement that we announce our signing to Kolony Records for the worldwide release of our new album. We’re pleased to be joining a roster full of great upcoming acts and we want to express our gratitude to our fans that’ve supported us so far on this journey. We can’t wait to share all the great news regarding our next release in the near future and we can’t wait to see what that future holds for both Orpheus Omega and Kolony Records”

Since the release of 2013's ResIllusion, Orpheus Omega has cemented themselves as one of melodic death metal's most promising newcomers. After a slew of national support slots with Dark Tranquillity, Children Of Bodom, Korpiklaani, Eluveitie and more, followed by a 2 week headlining tour of Asia, the band are now ready to unleash their third album, Partum Vita Mortem, a concept album exploring the human condition through Birth, Life and Death across an hour of unrelenting musicianship. Featuring aggressive and melodic guitar work, intricate and powerful drumming, chaotic keyboard work and a varied array of vocal stylings, the album is sure to become a staple in modern melodic death metal.

Orpheus Omega lineup:

Chris Themelco - vocals, lead guitars
Joao Goncalves - guitars, backing vocals
Keswick Gallagher - keyboards
Nathan Mesiti - bass
Matt Themelco - drums

Finnish black metal band Curse Upon A Prayer will release their second album Rotten Tongues on June 12 worldwide via Inverse Records. In Finland the release date will be May 15.

Curse Upon A Prayer was founded in 2010 and they released debut album From The Lands Of Demise in 2014 via Nihil Interit Records and Le Crepuscule Du Soir Productions from France.

Rotten Tongues tracklisting:

“The Distant Chaos”
“Death Sentence”
“Third Day Of Creation”
“Red Room”
“Devil On The Churchyard”
“Divinus Mortis”
“Rotten Tongues”
“The Lost Symbol”
“White Ghost”

Lyric video “Rotten Tongues”:

Roger Miret and Vinnie Stigma are lynchpins of New York Hardcore (NYHC), and their band AGNOSTIC FRONT played a key role in defining, shaping and establishing the cultural code of conduct for the still-thriving movement. Film and music video director Ian McFarland ("Rungs In A Ladder: Jacob Bannon", "The Outlaw: Dan Hardy", "The Problem Solver: Joe Lauzon", MESHUGGAH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, FEAR FACTORY, AGNOSTIC FRONT) is crafting an intimate portrait of these two men — two of the most respected individuals in the 35-year history of hardcore punk music — dubbed "The Godfathers Of Hardcore". Miret and Stigma have remained close friends through great adversity that often threatened their very existence. Today, Roger and Vinnie are primed and reaching into 50s and 60s, balancing jobs and families, in addition to an upcoming touring schedule that will take them all over the world. "The Godfathers Of Hardcore" will serve as an up-close-and-personal look into the lives of these different yet inseparable musical icons, and in the process will illustrate the tenacity, optimism and enthusiasm with which they both approach their band to this day. Since the beginning, Miret and Stigma took on the system with fists clenched, and throughout the decades, they've maintained the powerful and youthful (if not as destructive) mindset that started it all. "The Godfathers Of Hardcore" is already in production and features intimate footage captured by McFarland over the past several years, but to do the story the greatest justice possible, director Ian McFarland is reaching out to the band's diehard fans, offering them a chance to join in supporting the film via a new Kickstarter campaign. The Kickstarter campaign will take place over the course of the next few weeks (ending on May 17) and features unique incentives such as an ESP Viper-100FM STBLK guitar with backplate signed by AGNOSTIC FRONT, custom Vinnie Stigma ringtones, a limited-edition AGNOSTIC FRONT skate deck, a personal Lower East Side tour with Vinnie Stigma, and even a "Kickstarter Executive Producer" credit on the film. The goal is to raise $15,000, and afterwards, some amazing stretch goals will be added (details coming soon). Over the next three weeks, McFarland will be adding more one-of-a-kind incentives, in addition to giving updates on the project and filming. McFarland says: "Unlike a large number of Kickstarter projects, our production team has already begun filming the movie and have shot a good amount of footage. We need this Kickstarter to help us with getting our film team over to Europe to travel with AGNOSTIC FRONT at the end of May." AGNOSTIC FRONT exists on a level all their own — a level of their own creation. Join director Ian McFarland in supporting his creation, his vision, and his story of one of the most influential bands of all time, "The Godfathers Of Hardcore", and watch the story live on in film! As a part of a potent subculture, AGNOSTIC FRONT probably will never sit beside AEROSMITH and THE BEATLES in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Nor have they been showered with platinum records or the rock and roll riches reserved for acts that value popularity over integrity. Miret and Stigma are perfectly happy with the niche they've carved for themselves, and the effect they've had on an entire subgenre that had infiltrated both the counter-culture and impacted the mainstream. A recent article in the New Yorker about hardcore music quoted was named "United Blood," after AGNOSTIC FRONT's first album. The band continues to play major slots on high-profile international festivals and their recently released album, "The American Dream Died", has earned the band some of its strongest reviews in years. AGNOSTIC FRONT's past legacy is perhaps even more praiseworthy than their present accomplishments. The movement the band pioneered has had a profound effect on millions of fans and musicians, as well as skateboarders, bikers and other individualists who refuse to accept the status quo. In a landscape of increasing apathy and complacency, the messages AGNOSTIC FRONT presents are as relevant today as they were in the '80s when the band members were impoverished, scrappy and ambitious, often fighting for their very survival as well as the perseverance of their volatile but highly inspirational band. Back in the '80s, Miret and Stigma roamed the dangerous streets of New York City's Lower East Side, fighting those who got in their way and laying down the gauntlet for the music they believed in and were willing to defend with their lives. At the time, they had no idea that the band that meant the world to them and the culture populated by runaways, street kids, punks, skinheads and other social misfits would also resonate with a generation of other music fans and musicians including METALLICA's Kirk Hammett, ANTHRAX's Scott Ian and PANTERA's Phil Anselmo, not to mention CREMASTER's Mathew Barney and electronic guru Moby. Roger Miret, 50 (vocalist), a Cuban-refugee from an abusive home and Vinnie Stigma, 59 (guitarist), a second-generation true-blue New York Italian, found each other on the rough streets of New York City in the early 1980s, becoming fast friends and developing an unbreakable bond. Together, over the next three decades, they became the "Godfathers of New York City Hardcore" — creating a vehicle through which three generations of fans could grow, scream and band together as one in the face of diversity, violence and discrimination. Through the strength and bonds of brotherhood, Roger and Vinnie birthed something larger than themselves — they birthed a revolution. Along the way, they experienced some of the most harrowing blows a band can endure, including various lineup changes, Roger's incarceration and the subsequent collapse of the band. After Roger was released in the late 1990s from New York's Wallkill Correctional Facility, Roger and Vinnie reunited, picking up right where they left off. Still touring and recording today, AGNOSTIC FRONT is the very embodiment of hardcore: endurance, perseverance, brotherhood, strength against oppression and the will to keep going, obstacles be damned.

Drummer Charlie Benante (pictured) will miss the first few weeks of ANTHRAX's spring North American tour with VOLBEAT so that he can undergo physical therapy in his continuing battle with carpal tunnel syndrome. He will once again temporarily be replaced by Jon Dette, who has previously played with SLAYER, TESTAMENT and ICED EARTH.

"This was a difficult decision to make," Benante said in a statement, "especially as I had to miss dates on the last cycle because of my hand surgery. But the fact is, playing a show five or more times a week just isn't realistic right now. I found that out when we were making our new album, and I don't want to let the fans down by not being able to give it everything I have at every show."

He continued: "I was driving the other day and my hand went numb, so unfortunately, it's just not 100 percent yet. I figure I can play for maybe three weeks at a time, but then I have to let it rest."

Benante added: "The guys in the band have been incredibly understanding and supportive, and I hope the fans will be as well. The positive side is that I plan to use the time off the road constructively and focus on our upcoming album, continue to work on the package artwork and develop a number of other ideas I've got for the campaign."

Benante plans to rejoin ANTHRAX on stage for the band's appearance at the Rock On The Range festival on May 17 in Columbus, Ohio.

Dette previously filled in for Benante during ANTHRAX's appearance at the Soundwave festival in 2013 and at a number of European shows in 2014. Jon told "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" how he initially got the call to step in for Charlie: "Actually, Jason Bittner from SHADOWS FALL, who was filling in for Charlie on [the 2012] ANTHRAX run, couldn't do one of the tours that was coming up and called me and asked me if I would be available to do it. And I said, 'Of course. It would be great.' And the next day Charlie called me — which, Charlie is one my biggest influences ever, next to [Dave] Lombardo [of SLAYER], so it was kind of a surreal moment for me to get a call like that, saying, 'Hey, can you help me out?' Which, of course, I said, 'Absolutely.'"

Asked how it felt to be playing with ANTHRAX, Dette said: "It's amazing, man. The first day that I started playing drums — a lot of people may or may not know this — the first album I ever got from the day I got my drum set was 'Fistful Of Metal' [by ANTHRAX], and literally, the first song I ever tried playing on drums was 'Metal Thrashing Mad'. Actually, I [was] hanging out with Charlie and I told him that this morning, and he was, like, 'Really?' And I'm, like, 'Yeah, really.' [laughs] ANTHRAX, METALLICA and SLAYER, they were such a foundation of my style growing up, and I've been privileged now to actually play for two of those bands [ANTHRAX and SLAYER]. It's a very natural thing for me to play, but at the same time, seeing the back of their heads on stage, and Joey [Belladonna] is looking at me and he's singing, and I'm just, like, 'This is great.' I guess you can say that I play with a lot of passion when I'm with those bands, 'cause it's just absolutely passion and just an amazing experience."