Byzantine takes its ferocious brand of progressive thrash to new heights with “The Agonies”, the second single off of the new album To Release Is To Resolve (out now via CEN/RED Distribution). The West Virginian band’s monstrous stage presence is further captured in the brand new video for the track, which can be seen below.

To Release Is To Resolve finds Byzantine picking up where they left off with 2013’s self-titled comeback album. Marking Ojeda and drummer Matt Wolfe’s first record with bassist Sean Sydnor and guitarist Brian Henderson, the band’s fifth album has been re-solidifying the band’s cult status within the metal community.

 

 

Byzantine return to their home state for two more April shows. Tour dates can be found below with more to be added shortly.

April
4 - Huntington, WV - The Vclub
17 - Beckley, WV - Muncheez Bar & Grill

“A Curious Lot”:

 

HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale joined CINDERELLA's Tom Keifer on stage this past Wednesday (April 15) in Nashville, Tennessee to perform the CINDERELLA classic "Nobody's Fool". Fan-filmed video footage of her appearance can be seen below.

In a 2010 interview with Lithium Magazine, Lzzy admitted that she once had a crush on Keifer and fantasized about marrying him. She said: "This is going to sound so girly, but the first thing that attracted me to CINDERELLA was Tom Keifer. It was those magnificent lips. They [CINDERELLA] were my version of the BACKSTREET BOYS or SPICE GIRLS. But while my friends were into those bands because they were our generation, I would be watching CINDERELLA. I have the video collection of 'Night Songs' [CINDERELLA's 1986 debut album] and I would watch these videos and be, like, 'I am going to marry Tom Keifer,' not realizing at the time that he was slightly out of my reach. They're [CINDERELLA] from the same area [of Pennsylvania] that we're from and by the time we got into the scene they were out."

She added: "Well, some day I'll meet you [Tom Keifer] and confess all of these things to you."

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

Formed in Basel, Switzerland, in 2012, Cold Cell are a cold dark black metal group that is slowly but constantly growing up and getting noticed. Having debuted in 2013 with the album Generation Abomination on domestic label Gravity Ent., they recently joined roster of Avantgarde Music after recording and presenting to us their sophomore album, Lowlife.

This album is driven by a superior force and graced by an outstanding production, giving justice to the main aces of the band: a gifted guitarist (nicknamed "Ath") able to make almost every single track of Lowlife memorable with unique riffings, an incredible drumming both powerful and technical by Boris AW, yet behind skins with town-mates Prosthetic recording artists Schammasch and vocalist "S", leading the wolverine pack with thrilling vocals.

Lowlife will be released on May 25th via Avantgarde Music.
 

 

Start Again
 
Low Life tracklisting:

“Lowlife”
“Lifestyle Lunacy”
“Scum Eradication”
“Way to Prevail”
“Idols Of Idiocrasy”
“Needle's Asylum”
“Dogma”
“Proliferation”
“Modern Pestilence (Is Salvation)”

Lowlife by Cold Cell

Lowlife by Cold Cell

Lowlife by Cold Cell

 

Periphery, who are about to embark on the second leg of their North American tour dates in support of the Juggernaut albums, premiere “The Bad Thing” video today. Jeff Holcomb directed the clip, which can be seen below:

Periphery released Juggernaut: Alpha and Juggernaut: Omega simultaneously in late January via Sumerian Records, with the pair of releases landing at #22 and #25 on Billboard’s Top 200 (#15 and #16 on the Top Albums chart as well as #2 and #3 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Chart).

Periphery begins a new round of North American dates on April 25th at Welcome to Rockville in Jacksonville. The band joins up with In Flames and All That Remains for a month of dates with stops at Carolina Rebellion, Rock On The Range and Rocklahoma interwoven.

 

 

Tour dates:

April
26 - Jacksonville, FL - Rockville Festival
27 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
28 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz Ybor
30 - Birmingham, AL - Zydeco *

May
1 - Clarksville, TN - The Warehouse *
2 - Charlotte, NC - Carolina Rebellion
3 - Huntington, WV - V Club *
4 - Richmond, VA - The National
6 - Patchogue, NY - The Emporium
7 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
8 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theater
9 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall *
10 - Clifton Park, NY - Upstate Concert Hall
12 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial
13 - London, ON - London Music Hall
14 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
15 - Buffalo, NY - The Town Ballroom
17 - Columbus, OH - Rock on the Range
18 - Reading, PA - Reverb
20 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Yolo Event Center
21 - Joliet, IL - Mojoes
22 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly’s
23 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma

July
16 - Viveiro, Spain - Resurrection Fest

August
7 - Montreal, QC - Heavy Mtl

* - Periphery headlining date

 

According to USA Today, KISS has recorded a new song for the the animated film "Scooby-Doo! And Kiss: Rock And Roll Mystery", available July 10 on digital HD platforms and July 21 on Blu-ray/DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

KISS members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer voice their own characters in the movie, which focuses on a Halloween concert at the group's amusement park Kiss World.

A trailer for "Scooby-Doo! And Kiss: Rock And Roll Mystery" can be seen below.

KISS previously appeared on a 2003 Halloween episode of "What's New, Scooby-Doo?"

In a 2010 interview with Spin, Stanley spoke about how KISS has always been forward thinking about things like branding and merchandising.

"The business side of the band is something that other bands can't do," he said. "They can't do it. It's not of interest to their fans. No one wants an EAGLES belt buckle."

He continued: "KISS has always been outside of the borders of what other bands can do. Not that some of these other bands wouldn't want to do it — the fact that they may snicker or look down their noses at what we do is more out of jealously than anything else."

Eternal Death Records has announced  the 12” split EP from British avant-garde black metallers, The Meads Of Asphodel, and US psych-black metal powerhouse Tjolgtjar, entitled Taste The Divine Wrath. The record is scheduled for a Tuesday, June 2nd release.
 

 

The Meads of Asphodel (Side A)

“An Ebullient Prelude to a Loathsomely Grim End”
“Chidiok Tichborne”
“You’ve Got Hate”
“Balthasar Gerard”
“Infidel”
 

Tjolgtjar (Side B)

“The 5th Mass and Her Works”
“Near You Always”
“A Goat in the Wood”
“Winter Research”
 

 

Side B shall be released as one continuous 18-minute saga.
 
Uncompromisingly bizarre, experimental and iconoclastic, both The Meads of Asphodel and Tjolgtjar continue their legacies as black metal’s most sonically progressive sons. Taste The Divine Wrath is set to be 2015’s weirdest and forward-thinking record thus far.

 

The world's first underwater live guitar performance happened on the Full Metal Cruise during DRAGONFORCE's "Through The Fire And Flames" on the "Maximum Overload" world tour. Check out video footage below.

DRAGONFORCE will release its debut DVD, "In The Line Of Fire", on July 10. Shot in high definition during the band's show at 2014’s Loud Park festival at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan, the DVD was filmed using nine camera angles to capture the raw energy of DRAGONFORCE's show and instrumental dexterity for which they are rightly celebrated worldwide.

The track listing for "In The Line Of Fire" contains a mixture of new songs from DRAGONFORCE's latest album, "Maximum Overload", and foot-stomping anthems and lightning-fast shred-fests from previous releases.

DRAGONFORCE is in the middle of the "Maximum Overload" world tour, which commenced in September 2014 and is due to conclude in 2016.

"Maximum Overload" was released in August 2014 in North America via Metal Blade and in Europe through earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group. The CD was recorded at Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with OPETH, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, AMON AMARTH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK and SYMPHONY X, to name a few. It marks the band's first-ever album involving an outside producer, having historically opted to record themselves in association with Karl Groom.

French progressive rock group, Klone, will release their sixth album, Here Comes The Sun, on April 27th via Klonosphere/Pelagic Records.

The six talented members of Klone combine their influences into one cohesive and satisfying progressive stew with mature, otherworldly rock overtones. Today, fans can witness the art of Klone first-hand via a track premiere of their haunting cover version of the traditional classic “Summertime”.

Guillaume Bernard, Klone guitarist and lead co-writer states, “I have great memories of this song, all the way back to when I first performed it at school when I was 10 years old. Since then, this melody has looped in my head and I really wanted to release it with my own feeling and artistic rendering. This song is emotionally strong and timeless. I’m a big fan of the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong cover, and also Janis Joplin’s. We attempted to perform the song with these two versions in mind, but with our own Klone twist!”

Here Comes The Sun is self-produced by the band in conjunction with longtime co-producer Francis Castes and sees the band evolve from their heavy metal roots to a more ethereal post-rock sound, without losing one bit of intensity. Driven by heavy riffing as much as by delay-soaked guitar-reverie and careful vocal melodies, melancholia defines the band's sound while leaving room for a much broader emotional spectrum.

Alone features central masterminds Yann Ligner (vocals) and Guillaume Bernard (guitars), with musical reinforcement from guitarist Aldrick Guadagnino, bassist Jean Etienne Maillard, saxophonist Matthieu Metzger and drummer Florent Marcadet (also of recognized French progressive metal group Hacride).

Guitarist Guillaume Bernard states, “We really worked hard on this album – it was a real challenge for us to not repeat what we did on our previous albums. This new album is emotionally intense and this music was written to touch the people in their hearts – a sort of “call to meditation”.”

 

 

Tracklisting:

"Immersion"
"Fog"
"Gone Up In Flames"
"The Drifter"
"Nebulous"
"Gleaming"
"Grim Dance"
"Come Undone"
"The Last Experience"
"Summertime" (cover, CD version only)

Album teaser:

“Immersion”:

Pre-order at this location.

 

Japanese extreme metal/noise icons, Sigh, will unveil their crushing tenth studio opus next month. Titled Graveward, the eclectic, ten-track offering took over two-and-a-half years to complete with each song comprising over one-hundred recording tracks exceeding 100GB of audio to select from in the final mixes.

 

 

Inspired by musician/composer Fabio Frizzi, Graveward pays homage to Italian zombie and Hammer Horror classics. Graveward features guest performances from Trivium's Matthew Heafy, DragonForce's Fred Leclercq, Shining's Niklas Kvarforth, Rotting Christ's Sakis Tolis, The Meads Of Asphodel's Metatron and others with fittingly twisted, grave-robbing cover art by Costin Chioreanu (Ihsahn, At the Gates, Deicide, Ulver, etc.).

Already devouring the hordes in Europe, Graveward will be released in North America via Candlelight Records on May 4th.  In the meantime, check out the official video for "Out Of The Grave" below.

 

 

Graveward tracklisting:

“Kaedit Nos Pestis”
“Graveward”
“The Tombfiller”
“The Forlorn”
“The Molesters Of My Soul”
“Out Of the Grave”
“The Trial By The Dead”
“The Casketburner”
“A Messenger From Tomorrow”
“Dwellers In Dream”

“Out Of The Grave” video:

For over two decades, Sigh has been transcending the confines of extreme metal. Forged in 1989 in Tokyo, Japan, the band was initially signed by Euronymous' infamous Deathlike Silence Records on which they released their debut full-length, Scorn Defeat, in 1993. Sigh would go on to release records via various imprints including Cacophonous, Century Media, Baphomet and The End before making Candlelight Records their label home with the release of 2012's crushing, critically-adored In Somniphobia and this year's Graveward.

Sigh:

Mirai Kawashima - vocals, keyboards, orchestrations etc.
Dr. Mikannibal - alto, tenor, baritone saxophones, vocals
Satoshi Fujinami - bass, drums
You Oshima - guitar
Junichi Harashima - drums

 

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach kicked off his "Youth Gone Wild West Tour 2015" last night (Thursday, April 16) at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, California. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

SKID ROW fired singer Johnny Solinger over the phone on April 6, a few hours before announcing ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell as his replacement.

Solinger, who joined SKID ROW in 1999, released a statement that same day claiming that he had "decided to leave SKID ROW to pursue [his] solo career."

Bach in July 2012 posted a letter on his Facebook page in which he said he was willing to reunite with SKID ROW. "For the fans, I would be willing to put my ego aside and do something that would be special for the people who put us where we are today," he wrote. "I do not personally want it myself. But it's not always about 'what I want.' If the fans really want to see us together, I would do it for the fans. Sometimes you can do things for people other than yourself."

Bach said he wanted to write the letter in response to Solinger's interview in which Johnny said a tweet by Bach about a possible SKID ROW reunion was an attempt to "get attention."

Pressed by Revolver magazine on why a SKID ROW reunion hasn't happened yet after he spent the past few years "teasing" it, Bach said: "I wasn't teasing. I go onstage every night and I sing my songs. Those are my songs. That's my voice. I'm part owner of the band, but it's not my call."

Asked what caused such bad blood between him and the rest of SKID ROW, Bach said: "I don't even remember. If you put a gun to my head, I couldn't tell you. They're happy doing what they're doing. I think it's an insult to everybody who ever bought a record. But they do the opposite of what the audience wants and they don't care."

Bach fronted SKID ROW until 1996, when he was fired. Instead of throwing in the towel, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band called OZONE MONDAY.

In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a bit of shuffling over the years, most recently featured a lineup consisting of original bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarists Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill, alongside drummer Rob Hammersmith and Solinger.

Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's April 10 performance in Ft. Wayne, Indiana during the "Unblackened" tour can be seen below.

Originally performed as a one-night-only concert at Club Nokia in Los Angeles for a live CD/DVD release two years ago, the "Unblackened" show is now making its way across the U.S. The performance features intimate versions of some of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's most popular songs, as well as tracks from Wylde's solo album "Book Of Shadows" and his southern rock band PRIDE & GLORY.

“I always wanted to take 'Unblackened' on the road, [but] we just didn't have the time until now," said Wylde. "You can take a song that you’ve played thousands of times and rearrange it, and all of a sudden it’s something totally fresh. The attitude of the songs doesn't change when we play them acoustically — the tunes are gritty regardless."

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's latest studio album, "Catacombs Of The Black Vatican", sold around 26,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 5 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Catacombs Of The Black Vatican" was released in Europe on April 7, 2014 via Mascot Label Group and one day later in North America through eOne Music.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY amicably parted ways with longtime guitarist Nick Catanese and replaced him with Dario Lorina (LIZZY BORDEN).

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley spoke to Billboard.com about his next project, a covers disc which is tentatively due before the end of the year. "The album's going to be about my influences," said Frehley. "I'm probably going to do a ROLLING STONES song, a WHO song, possibly a LED ZEPPELIN song, maybe a BEATLES song. Stuff from bands that I grew up on and greatly influenced me. Those are the songs I'd redo, besides vintage KISS stuff and a FREHLEY'S COMET track."

The set will "probably" include Frehley's versions of the KISS classics "Cold Gin" and "Parasite". "On KISS records, I'm not singing lead. So I'm going to sing lead on them like I do live so there's [studio tracks] out there with me," Ace said.

Frehley said that he has approached Lita Ford, Slash (GUNS N' ROSES) and Mike McCready (PEARL JAM) about making guest appearances on the CD. "I was actually going to ask [KISS bassist/vocalist] Gene Simmons to play bass on a track and sing with me. I haven't gotten to that stage yet," he said.

With all the back-and-forth in the media between Ace and his former KISS bandmates over the past year, VH1 Radio Network asked Frehley if he thinks Gene would accept his invitation to appear on Ace's covers album. "I think he'd consider it," Ace said. "I don't know if he'd do it. Maybe [KISS guitarist/vocalist] Paul [Stanley] won't let him. Who knows?" In an interview with The Tampa Tribune, Simmons was asked if KISS would ever consider reuniting with Frehley and original drummer Peter Criss "if they ever cleaned up their act." "Not a chance," he replied. "We've already danced that dance three different times. No way will we reunite. It wouldn't be fair to [current KISS members] Tommy [Thayer, guitar] and Eric [Singer, drums]. It wouldn't be right."

Although all four original members of KISS came backstage at last year's Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction for photo ops, Frehley was the only member to come back and talk to the press. Asked how he felt about Ace speaking to the media after KISS posed for photos as a group, Gene said: "His demons are his own. He leads a Jekyll-and-Hyde sort of existence. He has a new album coming out, and I wish him well. I wish Peter well, too."

(Thanks: NJthrasher)

Karisma Records recently inked a deal with Norwegian prog rockers, Magic Pie, and will release the band's fourth full-length album, King For A Day on May 25th in CD and digital formats, and, at a later date, on vinyl. A music video for the album’s lead track, “Trick Of The Trade”, can be seen below:

King For A Day was mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic, Neal Morse, Dream Theater) at The Mouse House Studios in Los Angeles, and contains six tracks of melodic, epic, and, on occasion, heavy, prog rock, that showcases superb vocal harmonies and skilled musicianship. Artwork for the album is by Chris van der Linden of Linden Artworks.

 

 

King For A Day track listing:

“Trick Of The Trade”
“Introversion”
“According To Plan”
“Tears Gone Dry”
“The Silent Giant”
“King For A Day”

 

 

With a lineup that consists of songwriter and producer Kim Stenberg on guitars and vocals, lyricist and melody co-writer Eirikur Hauksson (well known for his work with artists such as Artch, Ken Hensley and Kerrs Pink) on lead vocals and guitar, Eirik Hanssen on vocals and guitar, Jan Torkild Johannessen on drums, Erling Henanger on keyboards and backing vocals and Lars Petter Holstad on bass and backing vocals, Magic Pie was formed in Moss, Norway in 2001. The band's blend of classic prog and '70s hard rock, inspired by bands such as Spock’s Beard, Dream Theater, Genesis, Pink Floyd, The Flower Kings, Transatlantic, Kansas, Deep Purple, YES, etc., has made Magic Pie a household name on the prog rock scene, and King For A Day is a much anticipated album amongst fans.

 

 
Magic Pie will play two shows in Norway to celebrate the release of King For A Day, the first being at the Parkteatret in Moss on May 13th, and the second at We Låve Rock In Hurum 2015 at the Holm Gård in Holmsbu, on May 23rd. Additional live and festival appearances will be announced soon.

 

Fan-filmed footage of Magic Pie performing at ROSfest can be seen below:

 

The current owners of London Bridge Studio have released a statement denying involvement in the lawsuit between A&M Records and the studio's co-founder over ownership of the master recording tapes to the debut album from TEMPLE OF THE DOG, the famed early '90s outfit that included members of PEARL JAM and SOUNDGARDEN.

A&M has sued Rajan Parashar, whose brother Rick produced the disc, in order to get him to turn the tapes over. The former studio owner's attorney insists the tapes, which A&M says it bought in 1993, belong to Rajan, who says he was not a participant in the deal between his brother and the label. Rick Parashar died last year.

Geoff Ott and Jonathan Plum, who purchased London Bridge from Rick and Rajan Parashar in September 2005, along with their partner, Eric Lilavois, have released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"We recently learned about the lawsuit between previous London Bridge Studio owner Rajan Parashar and A&M Records and wish to clarify we are in no way associated with the situation or with the former ownership of the studio.

"As the current owners of London Bridge, we pride ourselves upon tirelessly working to preserve the deep history rooted at London Bridge, while simultaneously updating and upgrading our world class facility to make this historic studio available to our diverse and talented community of artists and musicians for generations to come.

"We are also enormous fans of the TEMPLE OF THE DOG album recorded here, and we hope with all sincerity that both parties can reach an amicable and swift conclusion to this dispute."

There's been no reason given for why A&M suddenly wants the tapes, but it's been speculated that the label intends to remaster the record for a 25th anniversary deluxe reissue next year.

The TEMPLE OF THE DOG album was recorded in 15 days as a tribute to late MOTHER LOVE BONE singer Andrew Wood. Cornell and Wood were roommates, while surviving MOTHER LOVE BONE members Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard formed the nucleus of PEARL JAM.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SOUNDGARDEN frontman Chris Cornell said Tuesday that the co-founder of Seattle's London Bridge Studios has no legitimate claim to own the master tapes of the self-titled 1991 TEMPLE OF THE DOG album, which Cornell and SOUNDGARDEN drummer Matt Cameron recorded with members of PEARL JAM in 1990. Cornell sided with A&M Records, which says it bought the tapes in 1993, against Rajan Parashar, whose brother Rick produced the disc.

According to the Associated Press, Cornell said, "A&M Records paid for the recordings and the use of the studio," adding that for Parashar "to pretend he has a right to keep the recordings makes no more sense than the owner of a laundromat claiming he owns the clothes you washed in his washing machine."

A&M has sued Rajan Parashar in order to get him to turn the tapes over. The studio owner's attorney insists the tapes belong to Rajan, who says he was not a participant in the 1993 deal between his brother and the label. Rick Parashar died last year.

There's been no reason given for why A&M suddenly wants the tapes, but it's been speculated that the label intends to remaster the record for a 25th anniversary deluxe reissue next year.

The TEMPLE OF THE DOG album was recorded in 15 days as a tribute to late MOTHER LOVE BONE singer Andrew Wood. Cornell and Wood were roommates, while surviving MOTHER LOVE BONE members Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard formed the nucleus of PEARL JAM.

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal is set to portray Jack Hayes in the upcoming " psychologically disturbing horror/thriller" feature film "Clean Cut", set for release in 2016. Thal will also score the movie, which is directed by Joseph Pepitone and written by Joseph Pepitone, Billy Pepitone and Keith Collins ("Gravedigger", "The Meat Puppet").

"Clean Cut" tells the story of Bill Horton who at seven years old watched in horror as a serial killer murdered his mother. Known as The Evangelist, he places a bible next to her body and quotes scripture as he leaves Bill alone and destroyed. Thirty years later, Bill has grown up and appears to be a model citizen, spending his days cleaning his house and baking. He has, however, picked up the mantle of The Evangelist, killing those who he finds wicked and evil and leaving a bible by their bodies. Bill only opens up to Dr. Laura Cooper, a psychiatrist, who discovers Bill's dark secret. She contacts young Detective Edward Legros who is working on the case with his cynical, veteran partner, Detective John Vance. But what Vance knows about the original Evangelist will lead to a bloody showdown. Thal recently revealed that he was focusing on his solo career after spending eight years playing in the Axl Rose-fronted band. Thal, however, stopped short of saying that he was no longer a member of GUNS N' ROSES, which has caused some fans to criticize him for not coming clean about where he stands with the group.

Bumblefoot joined GUNS N' ROSES in early 2006 as the replacement for Buckethead. He made his live debut with the band at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on May 12, 2006.

Bumblefoot 's latest solo album, "Little Brother Is Watching", was released on February 24. The disc was composed, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Bumblefoot at his studio in New Jersey, and also features drummer Dennis Leeflang and a crowd of 100 fans stomping, chanting and singing backing vocals recorded at a listening party in New York.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian has co-written with John Psathas a new song called "100 Years" to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian genocide perpetrated during World War One by Turkey's Ottoman Empire. Tankian, who is of Armenian descent, said about the song's accompanying video, "The video is a somber commemoration to honor the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian victims of the first genocide of the 20th century."

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.

SYSTEM is currently on a world tour to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, during which 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives at the hands of the Turkish government between 1915 and 1918.

Turkey has officially denied that the atrocity took place ever since.

The tour, which includes dates in Europe and North and South America, will culminate in Armenia in April 23, the day before the annual worldwide observation of the genocide. This will be the first time that SYSTEM OF A DOWN has ever performed in its home country.

Former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen’s live performance, Luna Park Ride, will be released in various formats on May 29th via earMUSIC. The live performance is available for the first time as audio and standalone video - including over 70 minutes of bonus material. 

Below you can check out the first glimpse of the bonus material; “Never Enough”, performed at Summer Breeze Open Air 2014 in Germany, is over eight minutes of pure emotions according to a press release. It’s full of electrifying solos, an energetic audience and of course an incredible vocal performance: the essence of Tarja live. The single bundle additionally includes the album version of “Never Enough”, taken from the top 10 release “Colours In The Dark”, its demo progression version as well as a live version from 2012. 

Imagine an enchanted audience in front of an enormous stage in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Thousands of fans screaming just for her: the one and only Tarja. Having their cameras and cell phones ready to film what will become one hell of a performance, Tarja finally appears, dressed fully in black and with the most beautiful smile on her face; she is in full bloom. Let the show begin.

Filmed at Stadium Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 27th, 2011 during Tarja’s What Lies Beneath World Tour 2011, Luna Park Ride will be released as 2CD, 2LP, DVD, Blu-ray and Download on May 29th via earMUSIC.

Previously included in a very limited edition of her Top 5 live production Act I, May 29th finally sees the stand-alone release of the breathtaking Luna Park Ride. For the first time available on audio and video, the fan filmed material is topped with 14 bonus live performances and offers the full package including previously unseen photos.

Ranging from Tarja classics like “I Walk Alone” to “Until My Last Breath”, the high quality audio mixed by Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam, Robert Plant) and fan video recordings also feature Nightwish rarities such as “Stargazers” or the electrifying medley of “Where Were You Last Night”, Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” and Bon Jovi’s classic “Livin’ On A Prayer”.

The 70 minute bonus material, also mixed by Tim Palmer, takes the fans on a tour of Tarja’s festival appearances and club shows from 2010 to 2014: From Tarja’s 2010 show at Masters Of Rock in Czech Republic with her band, choir and full orchestra live on stage, to a 2011 performance at Summer Breeze festival in Germany including a very special Gold Award presentation, continues with a recent performance in Ekaterinenburg, Russia as well as a performance together with Van Canto at last year’s Wacken Open Air. The bonus material finishes with three fan favourites – “Never Enough”, “Die Alive” and “Victim Of Ritual” – performed at Summer Breeze Festival 2014.

2CD artwork

Tracklisting:

“Dark Star”
“My Little Phoenix”
“The Crying Moon”
“I Walk Alone”
“Falling Awake”
“Signos” (Soda Stereo cover)
“Little Lies”
“Underneath”
“Stargazers”
“Ciaran’s Well”
“In For A Kill”
“Where Were You Last Night” – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” – “Livin’ On A Prayer”
“Die Alive”
“Until My Last Breath”
“Wishmaster”

DVD/Blu-Ray artwork

Bonus Material CD, DVD and Blu-ray only:

“In For A Kill” - Masters of Rock / Czech Republic 2010. Featuring Philarmonic Bohuslava Martinû Zlin and choir.
“I Walk Alone” - Masters of Rock / Czech Republic 2010. Featuring Philarmonic Bohuslava Martinû Zlin and choir.
“Archive Of Lost Dreams” - Masters of Rock / Czech Republic 2010. Featuring Philarmonic Bohuslava Martinû Zlin and choir.
“Crimson Deep” - Masters of Rock / Czech Republic 2010. Featuring Philarmonic Bohuslava Martinû Zlin and choir.
“I Feel Immortal” - Summer Breeze / Germany 2011.
“The Siren” (Nightwish) - Summer Breeze / Germany 2011.
“Until My Last Breath” - Summer Breeze / Germany 2011.
“500 Letters” - Ekaterinburg / Russia 2014.
“Damned & Divine” - Ekaterinburg / Russia 2014.
“Neverlight” - Ekaterinburg / Russia 2014.
“Anteroom Of Death” - Wacken / Germany 2014 featuring Van Canto.
“Never Enough” - Summer Breeze / Germany 2014.
“Die Alive” - Summer Breeze / Germany 2014.
“Victim Of Ritual” - Summer Breeze / Germany 2014.

 

2 LP artwork

Trailer:

"Until My Last Breath":

 

 

At least two people were killed and 12 injured Thursday night (April 16) during a concert by the British crust punk band DOOM in Santiago, Chile.

According to local media reports, the building where the concert was being held collapsed because the venue's capacity was exceeded by at least fifty people.

Seven people had life-threatening injuries and were taken to health centers for treatment.

"It is an authorized club," police chief Hugo Insulza told reporters, according to AFP.

"What happened was that more people were in the club than should have been present," causing part of the building structure to collapse.

"There was a crush of people," a spokesman for the national emergency office ONEMI said. "Even after the venue reached its full capacity, people kept pushing to get in. That led to the collapse of a containment fence that fell on people inside."

The club's administrator was taken into police custody pending an investigation.

DOOM is an English crust punk band from Birmingham, England, whose first, influential lineup existed from 1987 to 1990. They recorded for Peaceville and are cited as an early precursor to the grindcore style of heavy metal music.

Sadly we have to inform You that SIKTH have to withdraw from this year's line-up. The band explains:

„Firstly - we are so sorry that we have had to withdraw from Brutal Assault. We were so looking forward to it. We never pull out of shows. Unfortunately, our EP recording schedule has had to move back and thus we we will be in the studio recording around the time of the gig. We can't delay the recording any longer due to release date.
WE WOULD LOVE TO PLAY NEXT YEAR.
All the best with the show. Apologies again.“
As You can see, this was beyond our control and it's clear that there aren't any bands that could fully replace SIKTH in the line-up. However we can promise You that we'll do our best to have them next year. New York thrash hardcore crossover ALL OUT WAR and Czech progressive metal prodigies MODERN DAY BABYLON were confirmed instead. MDB played our fest last year but they have a new EP comming out this summer, so they will present a new material.
The second cancellation came from TROUBLE. The band explains:
„Trouble would like to regrettably notify the promoters … that we are unable to do the tour as planned. Unfortunately, one of our core members has a situation with his private life that has made it impossible for him to do this tour. Trouble has been a trustworthy act over 30 + years and this is the first time that we have ever had to cancel a tour.“
We're still working on a replacement.

Finally ANTAEUS ceased all their live activities and were replaced by one of the most blazing infernal death metal acts LVCIFYRE.

The latest confirmed bands besides the aforementioned are: ACID FORCE, ADOR DORATH, DIPHTERIA, DROM, ENDLESS, OBLITERATE, MALLEPHYR, MINORITY SOUND, MORTALLY INFECTED, MORTIFILIA, POSTCARD FROM ARKHAM, SUFFOCATE WITH YOUR FAME, THE TOWER, TORTHARRY.

WHITESNAKE has announced the addition of keyboardist/singer Michele Luppi to the group's ranks.

In 2011, Michele became the singer of SECRET SPHERE and released the album "Portrait Of A Dying Heart" the following year. A European tour followed to support the CD, including a show at the 2013 installment of the Wacken Open Air festival. After a successful tour in Japan, SECRET SPHERE released a re-recorded version of the band's 2001 album, "A Time Never Come", featuring the group's current lineup.

Michele is currently working on his solo album and is constantly touring with MLB (MICHELE LUPPI BAND), playing bass and singing all songs from all his previous albums/projects along with some AOR/hard rock classics.

WHITESNAKE will return with its twelfth studio album this spring. "The Purple Album" will be released in Europe on May 15 and in North America on May 19 via Frontiers Music SRL. "The Purple Album" is a re-imagination of classic songs from David Coverdale's time as the lead singer for DEEP PURPLE's Mark 3 and Mark 4 studio albums. The album is currently available for pre-order in various configurations on Amazon: a standard edition, a deluxe edition featuring two bonus tracks, four music videos and a behind-the-scenes featurette on the recording of the album and in a double LP vinyl format. Plans are also underway for a special limited box set edition with memorabilia and merchandise.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Human Era" track listing:

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

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

"A Wise Man", the new video from New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's eleventh album, "The American Dream Died", which was produced by MADBALL singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, TERROR). The record, which features guest appearances by Cricien, Toby Morse (H2O) and Lou Koller (SICK OF IT ALL), was made available as digital download, on vinyl as well as on CD. A limited bundle with an exclusive t-shirt was also on sale.

In a recent interview with RockSverige.se, AGNOSTIC FRONT singer Roger Miret was asked at what point the American dream died. "You know, that's just a statement from me," he responded. "I'm just stating that, little by little, this country is leaning towards losing its values, Americans are losing their constitutional rights. You see it happening, and it's no secret; it's out there and you can see what's going on."

He continued: "The main focal point to why we call the record 'The American Dream Died' and how this all started is the collapse of the housing market. When that collapsed, and you saw what followed with the banking collapse and then the world's banks collapsed. Everything went to hell all over the world pretty much, and that's when I clearly was making that statement, but it followed through."

Roger added: "It's a little bit of everything. You watch all of the corruption on all these higher levels. Police corruption and all this police violence going on. Everything just escalated. I'm not saying the American dream when it comes to cars, apple pie, baseball… it's all there and anybody can come to America. You can buy a home, but you won't own it for 30 years. America is a beautiful country, but the government is just so corrupt, it's destroying your dreams." "The American Dream Died" contains the following tracks:

01. Intro02. The American Died03. Police Violence04. Only In America05. Test Of Time06. We Walk The Line07. Never Walk Alone (feat. Freddy Cricien, Toby Morse, Lou Koller)08. Enough Is Enough09. I Can't Relate10. Old New York11. Social Justice12. Reasonable Doubt13. No War Fuck You14. Attack!15. A Wise Man16. Just Like Yesterday

Finland's postal service, Posti, will release nine new stamp publications in September-November, with a total of 35 different stamps. The stamps will feature musical themes ranging from Sibelius to hard rock, including six internationally successful Finnish rock bands that got to where they are today through a great deal of determination and perseverance.

The Finnish invasion of the global rock music scene began with HANOI ROCKS back in the 1980s. The other bands featured in the stamps are THE RASMUS, HIM, APOCALYPTICA, CHILDREN OF BODOM and NIGHTWISH.

"For each stamp, I selected a band photo and a logotype that together resemble a band poster," says Klaus Welp, the graphic artist that designed the Million miles away sheet. The background of the sheet depicts the green room backstage in the legendary Tavastia rock club, which Welp describes as an archaeological treasure of Finnish rock 'n' roll.

Heavy metal and hard rock music continues to thrive in Finland, where bands like CHILDREN OF BODOM regularly top the chart with their single and full-length releases.

According to Slate, Finland has the most heavy metal bands per capita in the world. While Sweden and Norway have only 27 heavy metal bands per 100,000 inhabitants, Finland boasts double as much, 54 bands per 100,000.

Some claim that Finland is "the only country in the world where metal is mainstream," and people actually study Finnish and Norwegian to better understand heavy metal music.

People have speculated that the climate in Finland, which is characterized by cold, and sometimes severe, winters and relatively warm summers, has contributed to the population's disproportionately high interest in heavier forms of rock. Says the A Metal State Of Mind web site: "When someone is surrounded by cold and dark for long periods of time, it is only natural that some form of depression will start to set in. And how do many Finns combat this depression, release the negative energy, and make themselves feel more positive? Well, I can't think of one form of music more tailored to the release of the negative more than metal."

Although the suicide rates of Finland are higher than those of other Nordic countries, the number of suicides among Finnish men has gone down by 48 percent since the '90s, according to a July 2014 report in the Helsinki Times.

Anthemic rockers HINDER have unveiled their music video for "Hit The Ground" — the first single from the band's upcoming fifth studio album, "When The Smoke Clears", due out May 12 via The End/ADA. The clip for the track, which Billboard proclaims "falls right into the band's arena rock wheelhouse," is also a debut for the band's new frontman Marshal Dutton. The video was filmed at Chevy Bricktown Events Center in the band's hometown of Oklahoma City, and features the guys doing what they do best — living and breathing life on the road.

With over a decade-long career under their belts, and having honed their chops touring with the likes of MÖTLEY CRÜE, NICKELBACK, AEROSMITH and PAPA ROACH, HINDER's upcoming album with Dutton has breathed new sound, and new air, into the ever-evolving band. The songs on "When The Smoke Clears" run the gamut from rowdy rock to subtle country influence, to memorable pop hooks, all of which retain the DNA-distinct spirit of HINDER. That ability to walk the tightrope between genres, without a net, is something the band has had fun with in creating the new album.

The band will perform select tracks from "When The Smoke Clears" at their upcoming shows, including stops at Loudwire Music Festival in Grand Junction, Colorado on June 28 and Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin on July 18.