Singer Johnny Solinger has announced his departure from SKID ROW. He says in a statement: "I have decided to leave SKID ROW to pursue my solo career. The past 15 years has been a great experience and I have appreciated the opportunity to be the lead singer in one of the most prominent bands of the 1990s and share stages with the likes of AEROSMITH, BON JOVI and KISS, performing in front of millions throughout the world. I wish SKID ROW the best of luck in their future pursuits."

Asked about former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach's constant calls for a reunion of the band's classic lineup, Solinger told SROMaginc.com last fall: "Well, it's really a non-issue. It's so long ago, and it's not gonna happen, so… I can't speak for him. I really don't ever talk about the old regime. This is gonna be my fourth record with the band. So it's just a non-issue. It's not even a topic. It's whole different world. It's been a decade and a half. So that speaks for itself."

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.

"Scotti, Rachel and myself made a vow early on that once it wasn't fun anymore we weren't gonna do it," Sabo told AXS.com. "And we did, until it wasn't fun anymore and we made the necessary changes in order for it to be enjoyable."

He continued: "There should be no way that you're ever playing music unhappy or unsettled. It can't be a miserable experience and we made changes.

"We figured it out that the three of us love making music together. We're proud of the songs that we created together and we wanted to play those songs again. We just wanted to do it with different people, so we did.

"Do you want to hang out with somebody that you just don't get along with? It doesn't make any sense. I want to enjoy life.

"[The latest SKID ROW] EP ['Rise Of The Damnation Army - United World Rebellion: Chapter Two'] was the most fun I've ever had with the SKID ROW record. That says something after doing this for 28 years."

Bolan confirmed to Classic Rock Revisited that SKID ROW was "offered money" to reunite with Bach for a festival appearance or tour. "It's not as much as people would think, but we've been offered money to do it," he said. "I think us not doing it kind of says that it is not about money as to why we are not doing it."

He continued: "I am not patting myself on the back, but with our past success, I have plenty of money. I am more about being happy at what I do.

"As far as everyone pointing the finger at me [as being the main reason there hasn't been a reunion with Bach], that came from one person.

"We are all individuals. If [the other guys in the band] wanted to do it, then I am sure I would have heard about it by now, as they are my best friends. It is what it is, and certain people say certain things, and you've just got to sit back and laugh."

**UPDATE #2**: Investigators have named the three people killed early Monday when a van carrying heavy metal bands WORMREICH and KHAOTIKA from Huntsville and Atlanta crashed in northeast Georgia.

Nicholas R. Crisostomo, 25, of Round Hill, Virginia; Ian A. McKinney, 30, of Madison, Tennessee; and Paul. J. Truesdell, 29, of Mableton, Georgia, were killed at the scene of the crash, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

McKinney and Truesdell were members of the Huntsville-based WORMREICH. Crisostomo was a member of the Atlanta-based KHAOTIKA.

**UPDATE #1**: Rick Hayes, the husband of KHAOTIKA singer Lariyah Hayes, has posted the following message on Facebook: "I want to let everyone know that Lariyah was involved in the accident this morning, and yes she has some injuries, but she is strong, and is going to be okay, they are not life threatening.

"Prepping her for surgery now, and will update everyone as soon as I can.

"The full extent of the accident is still unknown to me as of now, details are still coming in on everyone involved, from both bands.

"Thank you everyone, for your wishes and your support in our moment of tragedy."

The original article follows below.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there people were killed Monday morning when when a van carrying members of two heavy metal bands — Atlanta, Georgia-based KHAOTIKA and the Huntsville, Alabama-based WORMREICH — crashed in northeast Georgia.

The accident happened about 7 a.m. on I-85 southbound near Maysville Road in Jackson County, about 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, while the two bands were heading to Atlanta for a Monday night show after finishing a Sunday show in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The van's driver "apparently fell asleep and allowed the vehicle to leave the roadway, at which time the vehicle struck a tree on the passenger side," Georgia State Patrol Cpl. Scott Smith told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Three people were ejected and later died. Eight other people were taken to local hospitals, three in critical condition.

Authorities have not released the names of those killed and injured in the crash.

Another band that had been on the short tour with WORMREICH and KHAOTIKA, KULT OV AZAZEL, released a statement on Facebook about the crash.

"Unfortunately tonight's show in Atlanta, GA will be canceled," the statement reads. "The van carrying WORMREICH and KHAOTIKA was in a horrible accident this morning. We cannot go into details due to respect to the families of the involved and we are sure details will soon be available through the other parties when the time is right. Our thoughts are with those involved and their families."

WORMREICH is a black metal band which has released one full-length album, 2011's "Edictvm DCLXVI", and an EP, 2014's "Wormcult Revelations".

KHAOTIKA is a melodic black act that released its debut EP, "Bloodline Empire", in 2014.

Fan-filmed video footage of COAL CHAMBER, the reformed '90s alt-metal band fronted by current DEVILDRIVER singer Dez Fafara, performing two brand new songs — "Rivals" and "I.O.U. Nothing" — on March 26 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada can be seen below.

Speaking about how the COAL CHAMBER reunion came about, drummer Mike Cox told Horns Up Rocks!: "It was just a lot of time and communication over the years to get us back together, 'cause we never used to communicate back in the day like we do now. So all the time had to pass. We could have forced the comeback throughout the years many times, just to get back into it. So we just took a lot of time and patience and became friends and it all just kind of snowballed after that into the writing. And we wrote frantically towards the end, and it just happened every day. It worked out perfectly."

Added Fafara: "A lot of people don't know that we actually were talking in 2009, and [Mike and guitarist Miguel 'Meegs' Rascón] were throwing tracks back and forth to me about us doing something. So it just took years of us talking, working stuff out, hashing out tunes and hashing out relationships. And now the bond is stronger than ever, friendship-wise and musically. We've been incredibly tight on stage, and as friends, we've got everything worked out. We know who each other is, and nobody pushes buttons, and it's a good thing."

He continued: "I mean, it's been a wonderful thing. We never used to text back and forth and just laugh our asses off. And now, that's what we do. I find myself, when we're off tour, we're all texting and just, literally, it's 'LOL.' There's nothing to say than 'OMG.' So it's really cool. It's a great vibe. And that's what music has to be anyway."

Dez was also full of praise for COAL CHAMBER's comeback album, "Rivals, which will be released on May 19 North America via Napalm. He said: "When I first started getting the demos, I was so fucking impressed that I didn't wanna start writing until I got the whole bulk of the material. And they all came to the table individually. And you can hear the sonic differences between each one of them. You know it's Mike on drums by his cadence and by what he does; you know it's Nadja [Peulen, bass] by her playing and by her skill and her sound; and you definitely know it's Meegs, because there's just nobody that works soundscapes like that with a guitar, other than probably [Tom] Morello from RAGE [AGAINST THE MACHINE]. I mean, really. So I would put him with that kind of a caliber of a guy."

COAL CHAMBER's first CD in over thirteen years was recorded in part at Audiohammer studio in Sanford, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (DEVILDRIVER, CANNIBAL CORPSE).

Support on COAL CHAMBER's current U.S. trek — which runs through April 12 in Dallas, Texas — is coming from FILTER, COMBICHRIST and AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE.

IN THIS MOMENT will release a new collection, "Rise Of The Blood Legion - Greatest Hits (Chapter 1)" on May 5 via Century Media. Comments IN THIS MOMENT singer Maria Brink: "'Rise Of The Blood Legion - Greatest Hits (Chapter 1)' is a tribute dedicated to everyone who has risen with us through the blood, the sweat, the thick and the thin.

"We are honored to have such a beautiful connection with our 'Blood Legion' family.

"It's amazing that Century Media Records is releasing this compilation so everyone can hear our personal favorites over the last ten years.

"We love you all and the journey has just begun.

"Stay the course with us.

"'We are immortal , We rise from the wraith, We are eternal, You are my blood legion My faith.'" Adds IN THIS MOMENT guitarist Chris Howorth: "This compilation is for the 'Blood Legion,' our die-hard fans.

"We wouldn't be doing any of this without our fans; this album is for them.

"The songs were hand-picked by Maria and myself and we feel they show the growth of our band over the last 10 years.

"I hope everyone enjoys this.

"Thanks again for joining us on this incredible journey!" "Rise Of The Blood Legion - Greatest Hits (Chapter 1)" track listing:

CD

CD
01. Whispers Of October *
02. Beautiful Tragedy *
03. Prayers *
04. Daddy's Falling Angel *
05 The Rabbit Hole #
06. Forever #
07. Into The Light (live version) &
08. The Gun Show %
09. The Promise %
10. World In Flames %
11. Rise With Me ^
12. Blood ^
13. Scarlet ^
14. Adrenalize ^
15. It Is Written ^
16. Burn ^
17. Whore ^
18. The Blood Legion ^

* Taken from the album "Beautiful Tragedy"
# Taken from the album "The Dream"
% Taken from the album "A Star-Crossed Wasteland"
^ Taken from the album "Blood"
& Taken from the album "Blood At The Orpheum"

DVD

01. Beautiful Tragedy (produced by Robert Hall)
02. Prayers (produced by Mike Wildt)
03. Forever (produced by MyGoodEye, directed by David Brodsky)
04. The Gun Show (produced by MyGoodEye, directed by David Brodsky)
05. The Promise (produced by MyGoodEye, directed by David Brodsky)
06. Adrenalize (produced and directed by Robert Kley)
07. Blood (produced and directed by Robert Kley)
08. Whore (produced and directed by Robert Kley)

IN THIS MOMENT's latest album, "Black Widow", sold around 36,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on November 17, 2014.

"Black Widow" was once again helmed by Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, HELLYEAH, PAPA ROACH) at his The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada.

IN THIS MOMENT in 2013 inked a new deal with Atlantic Records, a division of Warner Music Group, following the completion of its contract with Century Media Records. IN THIS MOMENT released all four of its previous studio efforts through Century Media, including "Blood".

Guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH was interviewed at the 2015 edition of the Inferno festival, which was held April 1-4 in Oslo, Norway. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about BEHEMOTH's mindset during the making of the band's tenth album, "The Satanist", which came out in February 2014, Nergal said: "It was the first time we stopped overthinking and we just grabbed instruments and just… I would just punch chords. And that's what you hear on the record. So the music that you hear was exactly what was played here [points to his chest]."

He continued: "I've always been known for overanalyzing and just being very intellectually driven. So in the context of 'The Satanist', I tried to limit the impact that my brain [had] on the record, and rather than thinking too much [while making] the record, I would just start feeling it and trying to bring out my emotions and channel them through riffs, through music and make the music as natural as possible, and that's what you hear on the record."

Asked how the response has been to "The Satanist", Nergal said: "I mean, I'm overwhelmed, honestly. I know it's suspicious when all the people like the record, and when media praises the record, but that's what's happening in this particular case. I just had this feeling this is definitely our opus magnum. I'm not sure if it should be continued after such a… I'm just being honest here. I'm so happy with the record and the response and everything. It's been a year now, and I haven't really done any extreme metal music ever since, because I'm so happy with what's happening now. So we're just gonna give it some time. And let's just talk one or two years down the road and see what happens then. But we're definitely gonna take time."

"The Satanist" sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's ninth full-length studio CD, 2009's "Evangelion", opened with around 8,500 units to land at No. 56.

The definitive BEHEMOTH biography, "Behemoth: Devil's Conquistadors" by Lukasz Dunaj, was released in February via Metal Blade. The 490-page, hardcover tome includes quotes and anecdotes from current and former members that provide context and details in addition to the author's narrative, plus interviews with Tomas Krajewski, Rob Darken, Graal, Havok, and more. The artistically presented pages are splattered with old photos of the band, flyers, lyric sheets, etc.

The English-language version of Darski's autobiography, "Sacrum Profanum", was released on March 31 via Jawbone Press. The book received editorial assistance from Mark Eglinton, co-author of Rex Brown's memoir, "Official Truth, 101 Proof - The Inside Story Of Pantera".

Originally released in Poland in October 2012, "Sacrum Profanum" was previously described by Darski as "a really long in-depth interview."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland was asked by Details.com in a new interview if he would ever consider being a judge or a mentor on a show like "American Idol" or "The Voice". Weiland replied, "I don't watch those shows. It's just not my bag. When they were putting 'The Voice' together, I was asked if I was interested in being one of the judges. I was doing VELVET REVOLVER at the time, so I passed on it."

Asked if he was glad he turned down the offer, Weiland said, "I think it would have given me a different career. When you become a television personality, it's difficult to maintain your musical credibility."

The only problem with Weiland's story is that "The Voice" launched in 2011, three years after Weiland was fired from VELVET REVOLVER.

The interview was done to promote the release of "Blaster", the new album from Weiland and his band THE WILDABOUTS, which came out on Tuesday (March 31).

But the interview was also conducted before the sudden and tragic death on Monday (March 30) of Weiland's guitarist, Jeremy Brown, at the age of 34.

It is not yet known what impact Brown's death will have on THE WILDABOUTS' tour plans. The band is scheduled to play in London, England on April 9, while its next scheduled U.S. date is April 25 in Jacksonville, Florida at the Welcome To Rockville festival.

Extreme metal powerhouse, Unique Leader Records, has announced the addition of French death metal legion, Kronos, to their expending roster of mind-bending brutality.

Comments Unique Leader: "We are very proud to announce the multi-album signing of France's Kronos. The band has been an influence on many acts over their extensive career and continue to push the envelope in the genre with their aggressive form of extreme metal madness."

Adds the band, "Kronos is beyond stoked and proud to join Unique Leader Records... the perfect fit for the Titan's awakening! Unique Leader Records is one of the best extreme metal labels and has many talented bands from the brutal/technical death metal scene on its roster. We're absolutely pleased to be part of the UL family and eager to release our forthcoming new album very soon. Expect some real fury... the Titan is back!"

A name derived from the Greek god of time, Cronos, father of Zeus, Kronos was forged over 15 years ago and quickly established a name for themselves based solely on their musical unity of harmony and violence. Featuring a continuous textual reference to the gods of ancient civilizations, Kronos punctures ears with a heightened level of dynamics. It all began in a small town in the Northeastern province of Alsace-Lorraine. Following various lineup shifts and musical experimentation, the pandemonium squad recorded their first demo in 2000. One year later, Kronos would unleash their Titan's Awakening debut. Produced entirely by the band, the lethal creation lead to a union with French imprint Warpath Records (formerly known as Shockwave). By the end of 2001, Titan's Awakening was expelled once again into the world, this time with a brand new cover designed by Deather (Gurkkhas, Vital Remains, Angel Corpse) as well as a visually disquieting booklet.

Kronos later joined forces with Spanish label Xtreem Music run by Avulsed's Dave Rotten, for the unleashing of their next two full-lengths. Second offering, Colossal Titan Strife was discharged in 2004. Third offspring, The Hellenic Terror, emerged in April 2007 and served as an attestation of the band's enormous capacity for skilled execution and originality. Now that this Gallic Titan has blossomed into a powerful entity, they're ready to vanquish and destroy the world with musical bloodlust and a new album to be released via Unique Leader Records this Summer. Further details to be unveiled in the coming weeks.

British death metal mongers, Ravens Creed, have inked a deal with Xtreem Music for the release of their upcoming album, currently being recorded at Tenko Studios in Nottingham and to be entitled Ravens Krieg.

Ravens Creed was formed back in 2006 by Steve Watson (ex-Iron Monkey, Cerebral Fix) and Jay Graham (ex-Skyclad, Return To The Sabbat, Iommi) being joined by Frazer Craske (ex-Sabbat) and Ben Ward (Orange Goblin) who later left the band during some of the various lineup changed the band suffered, being nowadays completed by Al Osta (Cerebral Fix) and Rod Boston.

The discography of Ravens Creed is compound by four EPs and two albums, these two through Czech label Doomentia: Albion Thunder ('09) and The Power ('12) where the band has been developing their very own style of old fashioned death metal with a crusty edge inspired by the sound of bands like Master, Venom, and Hellhammer.

There's still no release date for Ravens Krieg as recordings and artwork haven't been finished yet, but as soon as all is done, they will reveal the cover art, advance track and definite release date, which should happen during this summer.

 

 

The Power by Ravens Creed

 

 

Albion Thunder by RAVENS CREED

In a brand new interview with HNGN, ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti spoke about the band's plans for the rest of 2015. He said: "I think we'll probably get together this year and get the ball rolling songwriting-wise, and 2016 is when we plan to hit the studio. We've got some offers for some shows later this year, but our schedules are so all over the place that I don't know if that's going to happen."

Mark also talked about the upcoming second album from his solo project TREMONTI, "Cauterize", which is due in June.

"The biggest difference [between 'Cauterize' and 2012's 'All I Was'] was the time we were able to put into the album," he said. "We had a very shoestring budget on the first one, a very small amount of time to get it done, whereas with this record we wanted to record a giant amount of songs; it's the most music I've ever recorded in one sitting. So if you compared it to even 'Fortress', the last ALTER BRIDGE record, we spent about a week, me and Myles [Kennedy, ALTER BRIDGE singer], putting together the outline of the album and then got right into pre-production, whereas with this album we spent 40 days writing before getting into pre-production, so there's a big difference."

He continued: "One of the big differences for me, personally, is that from touring off of 'All I Was' for about a year, my voice developed much more than just sitting home practicing. It's much better when you're out there getting real experience."

Regarding his working relationship with VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, who joined Tremonti's solo band for touring purposes after ALTER BRIDGE bassist Brian Marshall dropped off the project, Mark said: "It's great. After you know him for a while, you don't really think of the Van Halen thing, he's just one of the dudes. We all just mess with one another more than anything, just like any band. But he's a very quick learner and he's very technically precise. I love his approach on the bass. I can't really think of another bass player who could outdo what he does on the bass. He's the best I've heard."

ALTER BRIDGE released its last studio effort, "Fortress", in 2013.

Launching forth on a nefarious mission dictated specifically by the horned master himself, Satan's Wrath stubbornly refuse to take their foot off the accelerator on their nightmarish ride to insanity and overload. This brainchild of sulphur-throated multi-instrumentalist Tas Danazoglou, has grown in monstrous stature, unflinching cruelty and sheer bloody-minded intensity over the course of its two full-throttle platters thus far, building an ominous pathway for Die Evil, its third unholy document, which emerges from Stamos' own 210 Studios in Berlin, unto twilight in intimidating fashion, blasting their blasphemous attack into dimensions of dementia hitherto deemed beyond the pale.

Die Evil will be released on May 1st in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and on May 4th in the rest of Europe, on CD and vinyl via Metal Blade Records. Listen to "A Mindless Servant Of Satan" now:

The formula in Satan's Wrath's cauldron is simple, and the resultant elixir delivers a feverish 21st century continuation of the paganizing infernal assault that was heavy metal at its underground mid-'80s pinnacle: damaged by the slavering spite of Venom, the fleshripping fortitude of Metal Blade-era Slayer, the nightmarish derangement of Possessed, and the machine-gun onslaught of Destruction. Yet make no mistake; this is no retro confection, no harking back to an idealised, battle-jacketed aesthetic ideal. This is a sound driven by a hard-driving imperative of corruption and malevolence, and rendered forth with an unflinching filth of delivery.

Hideous new worlds of depravity are opened up by Die Evil without a shadow of a doubt the darkest, fastest and most powerful blast of fury that this demonic force has thus far produced. Satan's Wrath's diseased headspace is one where to play heavy metal means to be a thorn in society's side, and an adversary to respectability. Where metal means transgression, where metal means war. Where metal means evil.

Die Evil tracklisting:
"Raised On Sabbaths"
"Satanic War"
"Diabolical Shudder"
"Die Evil"
"Coffinlust"
"Dead Of The Shallow Graves"
"At The Strike Of Twelve"
"A Mindless Servant Of Satan"
"Castle Of Torment"

Satan's Wrath is:
Tas Danazoglou - bass and vocals
Stamos K - guitars
V - guitars
Kostas - drums

 

 

 

German power metallers HELLOWEEN will release their fifteenth 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).

Speaking to Greece's Rock Overdose about the new CD, HELLOWEEN guitarist Michael Weikath said (hear audio below): "I'm very surprised and happy with the outcome of it. I think it's more open, in the way of [2013's] 'Straight Out Of Hell', in a way. It's like a continuation, yes, but there's not so many dark or mystic elements on there. There are a few, but it's more open, you know, more open to the public. I wouldn't say commercial. It's more friendly."

He continued: "It's typical — that's what Charlie wanted to do — '80s HELLOWEEN and modern HELLOWEEN at the same time. But we wanted to just not worry so much about concepts and what to do and just be the ones that we are. And that was one of the things that Charlie, the producer, wanted to do. After such a long time, he said, 'Let's take an '80s approach.' Things being very orderly and the guitars and recordings and everything and a strict overview, but more open and more positive as well. And that works out very, very good, I think. And either it will be one of the best-sold albums or also one of the most criticized by the syndicate side of fans that are there."

Weikath added: "There's people who don't really like us anyways, and they will have great fodder to go, like, 'Ahhh, now they wimped out.' No, we didn't. We didn't. And there's nothing wrong with what's there. It's just good old classic heavy metal the way it's supposed to be. And that's what many people say should be the case with most bands.

"Many people, they think about, when they have a band and when they're producing something, how they can sound particularly growup or mature or modern or what's being dictated by the American market and whatever. And we didn't want any of that; we just wanted to do what we stand for, what we are known for. And, you know, there's actually no big surprise on there. It's just the typical classical metal as it's supposed to be."

"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. On April 17, HELLOWEEN will release the first single from "My God-Given Right", the speed metal hymn "Battle's Won". In addition to the digital download, there will be a limited-edition two-track vinyl single, also featuring the album cut "Lost In America". 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. Said 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!" Added 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 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."

Interview (audio)

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON kicked off their "The Dawn Of A New Age" European tour on April 4 at Doornroosje in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

SATYRICON has signed a worldwide deal with Austrian label Napalm Records for release of its upcoming DVD, "Live At The Opera".

To coincide with the release of its self-titled, eighth studio album, SATYRICON played a very special, exclusive show on September 8, 2013 at at Den Norske Opera & Ballett in Oslo, Norway, where they were joined by the 55-strong Norwegian National Opera Chorus as part of the Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival.

The performance was professionally filmed and recorded and will be released as the "Live At The Opera" CD/DVD on May 1 in Europe and May 5 in North America.

Commented SATYRICON frontman Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven about the story behind "Live At The Opera": "The whole thing started with us doing one song, 'To The Mountains', a year and a half before the actual show. We performed at a closed event in the main hall of the opera with the Royal Norwegian Opera Chorus. It was very inspirational. I then said to the conductor that I would love to do a whole show like this. He loved the idea, I was serious about it, and he was serious about it.

"We spent approximately one and a half year working with composer and arranger Kjetil Bjerkestrand on the choral arrangements.

"When I picked songs, I was not necessarily looking at only songs suitable for choral arrangements or typical in the SATYRICON live set. For me, it had to be a combination.

"If you look at songs like 'Die By My Hand', it's pretty obvious we'll want to use a choir for that because it has a choir on the record too. On the other hand, there were other things I had to consider. For example, 'K.I.N.G.' is probably the most famous SATYRICON song ever — and not necessarily a song I can imagine with choral arrangements. But just because people hear it more or less the same way always, I thought it would be interesting to take that song and give it a totally different vibe for this one time. And it's also interesting to see if we can work it around the structure of a song that is more or less straightforward.

"For something that we planned for so long, put so much work into, and something this unique — of course it would be nice to film it and record it. But I made it very clear to the people around SATYRICON that I'm not going to turn this into a recording session where you can buy tickets.

"When you hear or or watch this recording, you should feel like you're there.

"This is not SATYRICON - 'Best Of From The Opera', this is a show! The perfect parts need to go in there, but also the parts that are not so perfect. That's the nature of it, that's the real deal.

"It's not a live album. It's a celebration of what SATYRICON stands for as a band."

"Live At The Opera" will contain the full performance DVD and double CD of this exclusive and very special concert.

SATYRICON self-titled studio album was released in September 2013 in Norway via Indie Recordings, and in the rest of Europe through Roadrunner Records. The CD, which was made available in North America via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, was produced by Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven and was recorded in Norway, and mixed by Adam Kasper. The effort features a guest appearance by Sivert Høyem, the Norwegian singer best known as the vocalist of the rock band MADRUGADA.

Metal Exposure TV conducted an interview with NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala on February 12 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked if he was involved in the songwriting process for NIGHTWISH's new full-length album, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", Marco responded: "I did have something to do with it. There are quite a few songs where there's some music from me. This time even a few lyrical lines also. But it was in no way purposeful from me. I just had a bunch of demos I recorded in my home studio and in order to sing something over them, I had written some lyrics. And some of them I actually ended up writing pretty seriously. And when I brought the CD to Tuomas [Holopainen, keyboards] if he wants to see if there's anything to fit the album, he also saw some of the lyrics and said, 'I was just trying to write about these things and then you nailed it with these. Could we use these?' [And I said], 'If you think it's okay, then it's totally okay for me.' Yeah. Yeah. Let's put them in.' So that is how it came to be. A couple of pieces, I'm also the lyrical co-writer. This is what it is to collaborate between different people and bandmates. You actually complement each other as well, which is just a great way of doing things."

Speaking about how the main differences between the songwriting process for "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" and the albums that were recorded with NIGHTWISH's previous singers, Tarja Turunen and Anette Olzon, Marco said: "The main difference was, of course, that with Tarja and Anette, we actually rehearsed almost all the music on the album by ourselves, guys, recording the tracks and I was singing over some of them, and they kind of came in later to complement the work with the vocals and all that. And this time around, we really had the time to take the whole group in and build it in that way. And then we also did this for the first time, that we didn't do any kind of demos after rehearsing. We went straight on to the album recordings, and that, to my opinion, managed to transfer this organic band vibe very well onto the album, better than we've ever done before."

"Endless Forms Most Beautiful" was made available on March 27 in Europe and March 31 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast.

The "Élan" four-track single, which arrived on February 13, features the album version of the title cut, a radio edit and an alternate version of "Élan", as well as the non-album bonus track "Sagan".

The cover artwork for "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" was created by the band's longtime collaborator Toxic Angel. Famed evolutionary biologist and atheist writer/leader Richard Dawkins appears as a guest on the effort.

Longtime NIGHTWISH drummer Jukka Nevalainen sat out the recording sessions for "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" due to health issues. He has sicne been replaced by Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN, SWALLOW THE SUN, TREES OF ETERNITY).

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

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

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

The brothers have always had their work cut out for themselves, being the third generation in one of America's most celebrated entertainment families, who came into U.S. households every week from 1952 through 1966 on the ABC sitcom "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet". Their grandfather, Ozzie Nelson, was a celebrated big band leader, whose orchestra featured their grandmother, Harriet; and their late father, Ricky, was one of rock 'n' roll's earliest superstars, a member of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and generally credited with creating the country-rock format. When the Nelson twins burst onto the music scene with the Billboard No. 1 hit "(I Can't Live Without Your) Love & Affection", in 1990, they set a Guinness World Record by being the only family to have three generations of No. 1 hits on the charts! NELSON went on to release a half dozen rock albums selling nearly 7 million records, beginning with the multi-platinum "After The Rain".

"Peace Out" marks NELSON's fourth release on Frontiers since 2010.

Look for NELSON to embark on a world tour upon the album's release. "We're putting the live show together as we speak... And it will incorporate the very best live songs from our career... Focusing heavily on the 'Peace Out' album," says Gunnar.


"Peace Out" track listing:

01. Hello Everybody02. Back In The Day03. Invincible04. Let It Ride05. I Wanna Stay Home06. On The Bright Side07. Rockstar08. Autograph09. What's Not To Love?10. You And Me11. Bad For You12. Leave The Light On For Me

Canadian rock journalist Mitch Lafon of the "One On One With Mitch Lafon" podcast (Facebook page) recently conducted an interview with DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen. You can now listen to the chat using the Spreaker widget below. A couple of excerpts follow.

On when fans can expect to see the new DEF LEPPARD album released:

Phil: "We've gotta have it mixed and mastered and all that stuff first. But I think all the recording parts are done. Yeah, you know, we wanted to get it ready for the start of the tour, but that's not gonna happen. So it'll be out some time while we're on tour. I don't exactly know when, you know, so we'll just have to play that by ear."

On why DEF LEPPARD decided to go back into the studio and record a new album in the first place:

Phil: "Well, this was really interesting, actually. It's been, like, seven or eight years since the last studio album. And we went in and we said we're just gonna do, like, one or two songs — like an EP or something, or a single. And that first session, we came out with 12 songs. We've never done that. I think the approach was very different. We didn't really have anything to lose. We didn't have a record company or management or anyone breathing down our necks. We got some ideas, and they all worked. And the other thing, because of that… Normally, we'd go in and we'd always find ten reasons why to not do an idea as opposed to just going with it. And this was the first time we've ever just sat around and every idea got a fair shot, you know. Everyone was, like, 'Oh, that's cool. Let's try that.' There was no negative approach to it. So that's something we've never done before and it was so amazing. It blew me away that we got so many things done. And, honestly, I really think this is the best album we've done since 'Hysteria'."

On whether DEF LEPPARD was trying to go back to what the band was doing on "Hysteria" or "High 'N' Dry", or if it was just a natural progression:

Phil: "None of it. We'd just treat each song as kind of a different project. And what's another great thing about it is that we broke it up into three different parts. The initial one, we got the 12 songs, and pretty much, we played in the studio and we kind of played live and we got the essence of the songs down. And, again, [that's] something we don't normally do. And then we went back in May, just before the tour [with KISS]. And also, you have a different perspective on it. It sounds different. You change a few things. And we went back a third time and just kind of finished stuff off in January. And yeah, it's just amazing. I'm thrilled with how it turned out."

A recent advertisement for DEF LEPPARD's upcoming U.K. tour with WHITESNAKE revealed that DEF LEPPARD's eleventh album will be a self-titled affair.

DEF LEPPARD will return to the road April 15 for a Canadian tour, followed by Europe in May and June. A U.S. tour with STYX and TESLA will kick off June 23 in Tampa, Florida.

Sixteen year-old rock newcomer Gabbie Rae has checked in with the following update:

"Last night my friend, mentor and inspiration Michael Sweet of Stryper did an amazing acoustic solo show at the Whisky (in Los Angeles) and invited me to join him on stage for a couple of songs. So we decided to do something a little different and totally toned it down with some classic and beautiful Peter Frampton. The crowd sang along and it was just a great experience. 

Thank you Michael for sharing your stage and for believing in me since the first time we met when I was just 10 years old. I look forward to and am very excited to get our project together started real soon."

Back in November 2014, Gabbie Raepoke with BraveWords scribe Carl Begai about her rise to fame within the rock and metal community. An excerpt from the story is available below:

Gabbie Rae: "I met (Stryper frontman) Michael Sweet when I was 10 years old. Stryper played the House Of Blues in Myrtle Beach and I was at the show with my parents. I was holding up this huge Stryper sign and he saw it, and after the show security came over and said Michael Sweet had invited us backstage. We met and I told him I was a singer, and I ended up singing a song for the guys backstage. That was the first time I met him; it was like a movie (laughs). I kept seeing him over the years and we became friends. About a year-and-a-half ago he invited me to sing ‘Always There For You’ with him and Oz Fox at an acoustic show at the Whisky (in Los Angeles), so of course I said yes. I did the song and there was an industry person in the audience that was connecetd to Michael and is now connected to me. If it hadn’t been for that night I doubt I’d be where I am right now. I wouldn’t have been on the cruise, I wouldn’t have gotten to know Todd La Torre, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. I give so much credit to Michael Sweet for this.”

Go to this location for the complete story.

Gabbie Rae recently released a new single entitled "Scream". The official video for the track is now available and can be viewed below:

Queensrÿche vocalist Todd La Torre recently spoke with BraveWords about Gabbie Rae and he offered the following:

"Gabbie Rae is a rising star in her own right and has continued to garner respectable attention among her peers, which include some of the biggest names in rock history. We've talked about doing some collaborative songwriting together in the future, I've got some of my own original material that her voice would really bring to life with her tone and texture. It's wonderful to see her talent inspire so many people through her music, I truly believe in her."

For information and updates on Gabbie Rae go to her official website here.

 

 
Learn how to get your song on itunes at ReverbNation.com

Multinational metallers POWERWOLF have completed mixing their sixth album, "Blessed & Possessed", at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with Fredrik Nordström and Henrik Udd. The CD, which was mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street, will be released in July via Napalm Records. The album's cover artwork was once again created by POWERWOLF guitarist Matthew Greywolf.

Commented the band: "We have just had the pleasure to listen to the mastered album for the very first time. We're more than proud and satisfied with the result, and yet can hardly believe to have finished this intense production. Both Fredrik Nordström and Jens Bogren did killer jobs giving these songs exactly the sound they need."

Catch POWERWOLF live on their very special "Wolfsnächte" tour. The wolves will be accompanied by ORDEN OGAN, CIVIL WAR and XANDRIA.

Asked about the musical direction of the new POWERWOLF material, Matthew previously said: "Without revealing too much, you can expect an album that's 100% uncompromising POWERWOLF stuff. There's songs to go wild to, there's epic and atmospheric stuff, and a lot of wolfish metal madness in between, and quite a bunch of songs that will be must-plays on any future POWERWOLF show, for damn sure."

POWERWOLF's fifth album, "Preachers Of The Night", entered the official chart in Germany at position No. 1. The CD was released in July 2013 via Napalm Records.

POWERWOLF's first live album, "Alive In The Night", was recorded exclusively for Metal Hammer, Germany's leading metal magazine. The CD was only available with the April 2012 issue of Metal Hammer.

Down Among The Dead Men, the death punk band featuring former Bolt Thrower/Benediction vocalist David Ingram and Swedish mastermind Rogga Johansson, will release a 7” split EP (with the band Miseo) that will contain two tracks from the band: "The Faceless" and "Cyber Tomb.” The EP will be out on Brutal Art Records and limited to 300 copies.

Around the same time as the EP’s release, Down Among The Dead Men will unleash their second full-length album, titled Exterminate! Annihilate! Destroy!, featuring 14 songs and due on Cyclone Empire Records.

Tentative song titles include “The Oncoming Storm”, “Unearthly Child”, “Pyramids of Mars” and “Death Seed.” The line-up for this release will be: David Ingram (vocals), Rogga Johansson (guitar/bass), Dennis Blomberg (guitar/bass) and Brynjar Helgetun (drums). 

The Georgia State Patrol says Robert Lewis Burns Jr. died in a single-car accident northwest of Atlanta late Friday night.

Troopers said Burns' car went off the road and hit a tree in Bartown County just before midnight.

Burns was the original drummer with the Lynyrd Skynyrd. Burns was with the Southern-rock band that formed in Jacksonville's Westside in 1964 for 10 years.

Lynyrd Skynyrd
Burns performed on the band's first two official albums: Pronounced 'L?h-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd and Second Helping. According to reports, Burns became overwhelmed by life on the road and was replaced in 1974 by Artimus Pyle, three years before the plane crash that look the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, band members Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and the pilot and co-pilot.

Burns rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd for one performance in March 2006 at the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

"Bob was quiet. Still a good drummer he played around in different bands and had a good time. Bob was a night owl. Up all night sleep during the day I loved him he was great," said Gene Odom a longtime friend and one time security guard for the Burns.

Skynyrd remains on tour, performing both Thursday and Friday nights at the Florida Theatre in concerts that featured complete performances of those first two albums that were recorded for future DVD release.