The official lyric video for the song "Human Race" from THREE DAYS GRACE can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Human", which will arrive in stores on March 31 and is the band's first record with singer Matt Walst, who joined the band in 2013 following the departure of original frontman Adam Gontier.

The pre-order for "Human" is live and available at iTunes and Amazon. Fans who pre-order the disc will instantly receive the band's #1 Active Rock radio hit singles "I Am Machine" and "Painkiller".

A limited-edition two-CD deluxe version of "Human" will be available to fans on THREE DAYS GRACE's site. The limited-edition package consists of the standard album "Human" plus a second disc including live versions of "Painkiller", "Let Me Down", "Every Other Weekend" and an alternate recording of the album track "Human Race". In addition to the music, the deluxe package includes a custom woven beanie, 12" x 12" window cling sticker featuring album art, and a five-card set featuring picture and note from each band member.

On "Human", the band re-teamed with producer Gavin Brown, who did the same honors for THREE DAYS GRACE's platinum-selling 2003 self-titled debut album. "We went back to our roots a bit and recaptured that collaborative feeling of being in a band and bringing out the best ideas in each other," says drummer Neil Sanderson. "Gavin was a huge part of that in the beginning and we feel like we're back in those days where we're high-fiving each other with guitars in our hands." Music heavyweights Nick Raskulinecz and Chris Lorde Alge signed on to mix "Human". The band has spent much of the year vigorously touring, writing and recording their new album.

THREE DAYS GRACE will kick off a spring North American tour on April 9 in Riverside, California, winding down on April 23 in Dallas. The trek will follow gigs at the Brazilian and Argentinean editions of Lollapalooza in late March. "Human" track listing

01. Human Race02. Painkiller03. Fallen Angel04. Landmine05. Tell Me Why06. I Am Machine07. So What08. Car Crash09. Nothing's Fair In Love And War10. One Too Many11. The End Is Not The Answer12. The Real You

Deluxe edition disc 2:

01. Every Other Weekend02. Painkiller (live)03. Let Me Down (live)04. Human Race (Atmosphere Version)

Guitarist Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), his wife Pearl Aday (daughter of actor/musician Meat Loaf), drummer John Tempesta (formerly of EXODUS, TESTAMENT, WHITE ZOMBIE, HELMET and other bands) and bassist Joey Vera (current ARMORED SAINT and FATES WARNING member, who was briefly in ANTHRAX) in 2013 joined forces with Jim Wilson, guitarist/vocalist of MOTHER SUPERIOR (who doubled as Henry Rollins' backing band from 1997 to 2003) and longtime Daniel Lanois bassist, to perform MOTHER SUPERIOR's music at a show in Ian's house as the guitarist's birthday present to himself. The project, called MOTOR SISTER, has since written and recorded a debut album, "Ride", which was released on March 10 via Metal Blade.

Video footage of MOTOR SISTER performing the "Ride" album track "Get That Girl" on March 11 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California can be seen below.

"I wanted to cherry-pick a set list of my favorite MOTHER SUPERIOR songs and get these guys together and have the concert at my house," Ian says of the event that eventually led to an album. Enthralled at the idea of making a record of his favorite MOTHER SUPERIOR songs, Ian e-mailed producer Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER) and asked if he thought it was possible to recapture the same spontaneous energy MOTOR SISTER generated at their makeshift gig, and if an album could be recorded quickly. "He said, 'Yeah, we can make the record in two days and we can make it sound really good.' So that's what we did," Ian says. "A week and a half later, we made the record in L.A. over a two-day period. We recorded the whole thing live in the studio and the set-up was at my house."

He continues: "Jim was totally into the idea. Pearl was a huge MOTHER SUPERIOR fan from way back and was in. I asked my good friends Joey Vera and John Tempesta to be a part of it because I knew they were both big fans as well and with no hesitation they said, 'We're in.'" Wilson, too, was stoked by the opportunity to dust off some songs he hadn't played since his L.A. rock trio broke up in the early 2000s after releasing eight albums and playing as Henry Rollins' backing band. "I definitely didn't need any arm-twisting," he says. "I was totally flattered and thought it was a great idea. I figured it would be fun and it was a great opportunity for a new chapter to be established in order to move forward." The recordings from those two days are what became to be known as MOTOR SISTER's "Ride". "Ride" track listing:

01. A-Hole02. This Song Reminds Me Of You03. Beg Borrow Steal04. Fool Around05. Get That Girl06. Head Hanging Low07. Fork in the Road08. Little Motor Sister09. Pretty in the Morning10. Whore11. Doghouse12. Devil Wind

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

The follow-up to 2012's "Hot Cakes" was recorded at Leeders Farm Studio in Norfolk, owned by Dan Hawkins. "The new album is brutal," Justin Hawkins told Classic Rock. "It's definitely stripped back — with the exception of some mandolins. But when you're doing medieval rock, you should have a mandolin on it. And while I wouldn't say that this is our 'Rainbow Rising', we're definitely exploring the myths of old. It's medieval rock, but it still sounds like THE DARKNESS. It's medi-urban, I suppose.…"

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

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

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

"Last of Our Kind" track listing:

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

Justin Hawkins says that "Barbarian" contains "not one but two dramatic monologues, a guitar solo that has been declared 'irresponsible,' a riff that weakens lady knees and a chorus that makes grown men shit directly into their pants." Justin goes on to point out that "The lyrics describe the Viking invasion of East Anglia which culminated in the decapitation of Edmund the Martyr. So, yeah, classic DARKNESS."

Finnish metal icons Amorphis have completed the pre-production for the follow-up to 2013's Circle, with producer Jens Bogren in Helsinki. The album recordings will begin in April at Bogren's Fascination Street Studio in Stockholm. Their upcoming twelfth studio album is due out in September via Nuclear Blast.

The lyrics are written by Amorphis' spiritual mentor Pekka Kainulainen. ”Like Kalevala, they are descriptions of natural phenomena, seasons and the human mind. Reoccuring situations where hope and uncertainty alternate. Attempting to gain advice from higher powers. The poems do not form a complete story per se, but they are drawn together by a certain theme. We live under a red cloud and once again, time weighs us” describes Pekka Kainulainen.

The new album will be released in September when Amorphis will embark on a world tour, starting from their native Finland. Amorphis will be touring Europe with Nightwish at the end of the year.

Amorphis Summer Festivals in Finland:

June
6 - Tampere, Finland - Radio City South Park
27 - Helsinki, Finland - Tuska Open Air

July
3 - Turku, Finland - Ruisrock
17­-19 - Joensuu, Finland ­- Ilosaarirock

Go to this location to see all summer festival dates.

Dates with Nightwish, Arch Enemy:

November
16 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Falconer
18 - Hamburg, Germany - O2 World
19 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Heineken Music Hall
21 - Oberhausen, Germany - König-Pilsener-Arena
23 - Lyon, France - Hall Tony Garnier
25 - Paris, France - POPB-Bercy
26 - Toulouse, France - Le Zénith
28 - Basel, Switzerland - St. Jakobshalle
29 - Bologna, Italy - Unipol Arena

December
1 - Munich, Germany - Zenith
3 - Stuttgart, Germany - Schleyerhalle
4 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle
5 - Nürnberg, Germany - Arena
7 - Prague, Czech Republic - Tip Sport Arena Prague
10 - Bucharest, Romania - Romexpo
14 - Leipzig, Germany - Arena
15. - Berlin Max, Germany - Schmeling-Halle
16 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Rockhal
17 - Antwerp, Belgium - Lotto Arena
19 - London, England - Wembley The SSE Arena

Vancouver-based Trailight, launched by photographer-turned-musician Omer Cordell, is currently work on a new album, The Primitive Mountain. An audio teaser for the album is available below. The complete tracklist is as follows:

"Open Doors"
"Sentient Beings Pt. 1 - The Dim Future Of Our Distant Past"
"Sentient Beings Pt. 2 - All That We Are"
"We Are The Ocean"
"Frail Human Form"
"Passer By"
"A Thousand Years"
"Navarino"
"Beyond The Rubicon"

Devin Townsend Project drummer Ryan van Poederooyen was asked to record the drum tracks for the album. He checked in with the following update:

"Here is a song from an album I recorded a month after recording the Z2 double album in 2014. The band is called Trailight, it has many guest appearances from other well know bands; guys like Dave Padden (Annihilator, Terror Syndrome), Jed Simon (Scar The Martyr, ex-SYL), Christofer Malmstrom (Darkane, Non Human Level) and numerous other guest appearances including my close friend Conan Freeman. Here's a sneak peek into the sound of this record. I really enjoyed playing drums on it and dug the tunes! Hope you guys dig it as well.... got some flashy drum parts in the middle of this tune Good times! Enjoy!"

Following is an update from Cordell issued from the studio during the recording sessions:

"The recording process for The Primitive Mountain has officially begun! An absolute incredible day at The Farm Studios. Ryan Van Poederooyen is an absolute monster of a drummer and has set the bar for the musicianship on this album to be very high! I don't know of many people who have such an incredible command of their instrument. He nailed the entire album in under 10 hours with immense confidence and determination. It was an absolute treat to witness him in action like this. Here's a short video of Ryan recording one of the more complicated drum parts on the album..."

Cordell recently posted a 30 minute behind-the-scenes look at the production which can be viewed below:

For information on Trailight go to this location.

On March 10th the annual Rock Meets Classic tour - featuring classic rock veterans back by a full band and orchestra - kicked off in Ingolstadt, Germany at the Saturn Arena. This year's line-up of featured guests includes Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Rick Parfitt (Status Quo), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), John Wetton (Asia), Marc Storace (Krokus), and Italian singer Gianna Nannini. Fan-filmed video from portions of Martin's set - performing some of Mr. Big's most popular songs - is available below:

Martin checked in after the first show with the following update:

"Hey kids... first shows are always a little sketchy, there's a couple miscues, not the right guitar for the song, an accident happens, etc. All that sh$t did happen (not to me, mofos. Ha!) but it was one of the best concerts I've ever done. The dream did come true; all my idols shined and I got to sing with all of them on the finale... #1 show with Rock Meets Classic, not a virgin anymore, it's all uphill from here. Come and see us (Hell, the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra are the real stars anyway...)."

Check out a brief review of the first show from BraveWords scribe Carl Begai here.

The tour schedule is now as follows:

March
22 - Linz, Austria - Tips Arena
23 - Wien, Austria - Stadthalle 
25 - Leipzig, Germany - Arena Leipzig
26 - Berlin, Germany - Tempodrom
27 - Regensburg, Germany - Donau-Arena
28 - Nürnberg, Germany - Arena Nürnberger Versicherung
29 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle
31 - Passau, Germany - Dreiländerhalle

April
1 - Bamberg, Germany - Brose Arena
2 - Halle/Westfalen, Germany - Gerry Weber Stadion

Rock Meets Classic showcases classic rock artists of the '70s and '80s performing their hits backed by The Mat Sinner Band and the Bohemian Orchestra Prague. The Mat Sinner Band includes Primal Fear members Mat Sinner, Alex Beyrodt (guitars), Ralf Scheepers (backing vocals), and also features Trillium / Avantasia's Amanda Somerville (backing vocals), Avantasia's Oliver Hartmann (guitars), Voodoo Circle's Jimmy Kresic (keyboards), Tiffany Kirkland (backing vocals), Kolinda Brozovic (backing vocals) and Sascha Krebs (backing vocals). Watch the official Rock Meets Classic Facebook page here for updates.

Little Caesar "have been keeping a lot of news under wraps. First off, here are our Europe Tour 2015 dates."

June
19 - Puerto de Sta Maria, Spain - Puerto Sherry Harley Davidson HOG Weekend
20 - Weert, Holland - Bosuil
21 - Selestat, France - Fête de la Musique
22 - Krefeld, Germany - Kulturrampe
23 - Verviers, Belgium - Spirit of 66
24 - Frankfurt, Germany - Nachtleben
26 - Zaragoza, Spain - Sala Lopez
27 - Aviles, Spain - Centro Niemeyer
28 - Cangas, Spain - Salason
30 - Madrid, Spain - La Boîte Live

July
1 - Estepona, Spain - Louie Louie
2 - Cartagena, Spain - Sala Budokan
4 - Barcelona, Spain - Razz3

"Next news, we have a new guitar player replacing our Brother Joey Malone. It's Cary Beare (The Riverdogs, Deanna Carter, Heart, Kingsize). He's a long time close friend. No drama ridden breakup with Joey... just logistical hurdles too high to get over. Also, we will be joined on this tour with Pharoah Barrett on bass (Ron played with him for a tour together in The Four Horsemen). Fidel has some great opportunities happening in his life that require he stay close to home. In the subtle shifting of members over the years, we are proud to say it's never due to petty bullshit or ego driven rockstar battles. It's why we look at this as a family... you don't break up with family... and sometimes someone just can't make it to the family functions. We are really excited about coming to see you all again. Please come out with a friend or two... and we'll show ya how this RnR shit gets laid down proper. Have mercy!"

 

 

Polish death metallers Disloyal - featuring members of Thy Disease and Deathbringer - have signed with Ghastly Music, a division of Amputated Vein Records. Their new album, Godless, is now available for pre-order at this location. Official release date in June 9th.

Godless was recorded, mixed and mastered in Monroe Sound Studio and features guest appearance by members of Masachist, Yattering and Azarath.

The album tracklist is as follows:

"Abruption"
"Give Place Unto Wrath (Vengeance Is Mine; I Will Repay)"
"New Enemy Rising"
"Dybbuk"
"Self-Carving Titan"
"Mechanism Of Deceit"
"Mors Imperator Mundi"
"Corporate Beasts"
"On The Ashes Of The World"
"The Chastener"

For more information check out the official Disloyal Facebook page here.

In a brand new interview with Australia's News.com.au, KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley spoke about his refusal to perform with fellow KISS founding members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss during the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in April 2014.

"I enjoyed the Hall Of Fame in a twisted way," he explained. "It was a terrific night, but there was no way I was going to play with [Ace and Peter]. Frankly, I have too much pride in what I do than to create a moment of nostalgia for someone else."

He continued: "To get on stage with Ace and Peter was an interesting, surreal moment but nothing I wanted to prolong. It's like if you ever went back to an old girlfriend because you doubted your choice to leave, it only takes five minutes before you want to get back in your car and leave.

"Someone asked me before the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, 'Couldn't you just play with the original lineup again for one night?' And I said, 'How about spending a night with your ex-wife? What's the point?'"

Stanley also talked about his decision to discuss in depth what went wrong with KISS's original lineup in his autobiography, last year's "Face The Music: A Life Exposed". He said: "I didn't write anything to assassinate anybody's character. I wrote the truth.

"If someone asks you a question, you have to tell the reality as you know it. As you live it. I gave examples.

"I'm the first to say I didn't throw anybody under the bus, but some people walked under it.

"People connect the original lineup to a time in their lives. Neither one can you realistically go back to. You want to relive your past?! Well, try it. It doesn't really work. I certainly don't want to relive mine. Mine got me to here."

According to Stanley, he never took the time to read Ace's and Peter's own autobiographies. "On tour some people showed me a few pages," he said.

"People will think I keep taking potshots, but I keep getting asked about this and I give honest answers.

"In Ace's case, how can somebody who can barely remember what happened last week write a book? I'm not talking about today; hopefully, according to Ace, he's clean and sober. But there were certainly decades that he was anything but.

"When you have to call your friends to tell you what happened, is that really an autobiography? Or creative fiction.

"No, that was pointless."

He continued: "I think Peter's book began with him in an earthquake where the ground opened up and he had a gun in his mouth. Well, I know where he was living. The ground didn't open up.

"You gotta consider the source.

Stanley added: "A book can be a great opportunity to have an alibi or an excuse. If you choose to be a victim, then you will never accomplish anything you're capable of because your defeats and your lack of success will always be due to somebody else.

"It's very transparent to me. That doesn't only go for any guys that were in the band it goes for people in general. You're either a victim in life or you brush yourself off and say it's up to me.

"You're either a victim of your parents' good will or their mistakes or a victim of circumstances you create or you say it's time to change. It's all up to us. And we reap the rewards."

Read the entire interview at News.com.au.

Iñigo Dominguez Diaz of Spain's GoetiaMedia.com conducted an interview with singer Jill Janus of the Los Angeles-based, occult-themed traditional heavy metal band HUNTRESS before the band's February 7 concert in Barcelona as the support act for AMON AMARTH. You can now listen to the chat below.

Speaking about HUNTRESS's musical approach on its third studio album, which is being helmed by the production duo of Paul Fig (ALICE IN CHAINS, GHOST, RED LINE CHEMISTRY) and James A. Rota ("Sound City" movie, FIREBALL MINISTRY), Jill said: "It's the third album in the trilogy, so it's the dying phase of death, so you're gonna hear the viciousness, you're gonna hear a little bit more catchy. You're gonna hear songs that maybe are a little catchier, a little bit progressing. And it's very organic, very natural in the evolution. We're modern yet the sound is natural. We don't play with a bunch of bullshit technology. We play instruments; that's what we do. And I don't have any voice modulators; what you see is what you get. When I'm on stage, what you're seeing and what you're hearing is genuine. I'm just me and a microphone. So on this next album, you're gonna hear that very authentic, true sound of heavy metal."

HUNTRESS guitarist Blake Meahl recently told MikeJamesRockShow.com about the band's forthcoming CD: "Our goal for this record, and for every record since our first one, is to get more organic and real with it."

He continued: "The first two producers that we worked with, they liked to stick with that modern, edited sound where they're going, they're snapping things around and making sure, visually, everything lines up so it sounds extra tight. It's a byproduct of a little bit of Pro Tools and the whole situation. But you don't have to do it that way. The production we've got this time is awesome, 'cause they're using that technology, but we're doing full takes of everything and we're not editing things up. It's, like, yeah, if there's a fuckup, we'll punch it, but it's not all mechanized."

Blake added: "All my favorite records are the old ones, and I think part of that is that real natural energy of sound of that human push-pull. When it's all glossed like that, it just slides right by. Everything is so even, it doesn't feel musical."

HUNTRESS' sophomore CD, "Starbound Beast", was released in June 2013 in Europe and July 2013 in North America via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Hobby Shop Studios in Los Angeles with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED, MUNICIPAL WASTE).

"Starbound Beast" included the track "I Want to Fuck You to Death", which was co-written for Jill Janus by legendary MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister.


Performance footage:

Germany's true metal warriors Wizard will re-issue their four studio albums in 2015 via Limb Music. New editions of Bound By Metal (1999), Head Of The Deceiver (2001), Odin (2003) and Magic Circle (2005) have been remastered by Markus Teske (Vanden Plas, Mob Rules, Symphony X), and will include bonus tracks. The Odin and Magic Circle re-issues will also include bonus video clips.
 
"Nobody told us that metal was dead, believe me", says Wizard drummer Snoppi. "We didn’t notice that in the rehearsal room..." he adds. 

This totally naive yet very honest statement, taken from an early interview, is Wizard in a nutshell. The only thing that counts for them is the absolute will to write one good metal album after another and to keep the flame burning for the best kind of music in the world. The opinion of the international press that Wizard is Germany's answer to Manowar is not entirely incorrect. The band with singer Sven D'Anna take their fast, furious true metal sound from similar sources as Joey DeMaio's American band. Despite that, Wizard songs have their very own identity.

The Head Of The Deceiver, Odin and Magic Circle albums will be available on March 27th in Europe and May 12th in North America. Bound By Metal re-issue will be available on April 10th in Europe and May 26 in North America.
 
For more information go to this location.

With two full lengths under their belt - Life Apocalypse (2012) and The Divine Equal (2011) plus multiple tours across Canada, USA and Europe with bands such as Arch Enemy, Voivod, Anvil, Kill Devil Hill and more. Vancouver, BC thrashers Titans Eve return with a preview of artwork, track listing and headbanging audio from their latest effort Chasing The Devil due out June 12th. 

"We are so proud and excited to start sharing our upcoming album 'Chasing The Devil' with the metal community! All we want as a band is to empower and connect with all of you and this new album will do just that,” comments vocalist / guitarist Brian Gamblin.

Recorded at Vancouver's legendary Warehouse Studio with producer Eric Mosher whose credits for engineering includes AC/DC, Nickelback, and Buckcherry plus mastering done by Canadian metal hero Jeff Waters of Annihilator, Chasing The Devil features eight skull crushing tunes that stay true to Titans Eve's roots of straight up anthemic thrash.

 

 

Chasing The Devil tracklisting:
“We Defy”
“War Path”
“No Kingdom”
“Another Day”
“Chasing The Devil”
“The Grind”
“Stranded”
“The Endless Light”

Preview:

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Robert Plant joined forces with Jack White and his band on Saturday night (March 21) in Buenos Aires, Argentina at Lollapalooza Argentina. Plant, who was on the bill with his SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS, joined White for the "Led Zeppelin II" classic "The Lemon Song". Plant had previously revealed his hope to team up with White during a September chat on Facebook, in which he said, "I love Jack White's buccaneer spirit, and the way he dodges through the musical horizons. I'd be happy to make a single with him." Plant noted that he wanted the pair to record the PHANTOM's "Love Me".

LED ZEPPELIN's "The Lemon Song" infamously cribbed a portion of HOWLIN' WOLF's "Killing Floor" — one of the many blues songs that inspired ZEPPELIN during its pre-fame days. Plant told The Pulse Of Radio that he's most proud of the fact that it was his generation that first appreciated the blues music of the '50s and eventually brought it to the widest possible audience. "White musicians in 1965 looked back to the Chess studios, going back 10 or 15 years before that," he said. "At the time, there was black music and there was white music, and our translation of black music became — like THE YARDBIRDS, and the CREAM, and parts of THE WHO's program — we became blues-based."

To celebrate Record Store Day 2015, legendary Plant will release a special 10-inch EP, titled "More Roar", which collects three performances from his recent world tour to support "Lullaby And… The Ceaseless Roar", Plant's new solo set with backing band SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS.

The release will be limited to 10,000 copies and include live versions of "Turn It Up" and "Arbaden" on side A, with a medley of "Poor Howard" and "Whole Lotta Love" on side B.

"More Roar" will be available at participating outlets on April 18. Visit the official Record Store Day web site for more information.

"Lullaby And… The Ceaseless Roar" has earned the former LED ZEPPELIN frontman a Top 10 hit on The Billboard 200 album chart — and rose as high as No. 2 in the UK.

Fan-filmed video footage of JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE — which features Jack Russell on vocals alongside former GREAT WHITE bassist-turned-guitarist Tony Montana (as a guitar player and keyboardist), bassist Chris Tristram, lead guitarist Robby Locher and drummer Dicki Fliszar — performing on February 7 at the M15 Concert Bar & Grill in Corona, California can be seen below.

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE has released a new song in the style of the bluesy hard rock stomp that made Russell a rock icon in the first place. Available for purchase as a digital single on iTunes, "Hard Habit" is taken from the band's forthcoming studio album, "The Gauntlet", which is scheduled for release later this year.

Says Russell: "With the ever-changing climate of the music industry, we've decided that we will be releasing several digital singles throughout 2015. 'Hard Habit' is the first in a series of singles the band will put out this year. Be on the lookout for our next single in the coming months!

"We are really proud of this song and we plan on playing it live as well as some other new tunes and, of course, all the classic JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE songs you know and love." Regarding the musical direction of what will eventually be released as the JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE debut, Russell told SleazeRoxx.com: "We want the new material to blow people's ears back. It has the elements of the best GREAT WHITE music ever written, but there's an edge. Tony brings that validity, while Robby and Dicki add a new life. It's going to surprise people."

Added Montana, "It's got the classic sound. The first element is Jack's voice.

"No other band sounds like this one ever did or does now.

"When I was 17 years old, I remember walking around the UCLA campus listening to the band's first EP. I was a fan before I ever joined the band. We're going to maintain that same integrity going forward."

He continued: "The band was always a standout from the era it came from. It was never a hair band. Listen to the music, and that's evident. Everything was based in blues. We want to add to that legacy with new material preserving those timeless elements."

Russell concluded, "This is fun, first and foremost. I feel like I'm 27 again. I hope it sounds like GREAT WHITE — but for [2015]."

In support of the album, JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE will be on the road non-stop in 2015.

In March, 2012, Russell sued his former bandmates Mark Kendall, Michael Lardie and Audie Desbrow over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Russell had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. The band countersued, and the parties were involved in contentious litigation for more than a year. After three days of closed-door mediation before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla Woehrle, the parties reached a comprehensive agreement. While many of the terms of the agreement remain confidential, it was revealed in August 2013 that the current GREAT WHITE band would continue to use the name GREAT WHITE and Russell would perform under the name JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE.

Spanish death metal band Sad Eyes has released the cover art and tracklisting of their upcoming album, Ad Dicti On.

The cover art was designed by Joaquin Fernández from Kiniruralart, who will also design the CD booklet and promo flyers for the album.

Ad Dicti On tracklisting:

“Lunium”
“Voluptas”
“Cognitio”
“Tangere”
“Ipse”
“Vincere”
“Vulnus”
“Somnus”
“Enodo”
“Ad Dicti On”

Ad Dicti On is scheduled for release before the summer through Necromance Records.

Brazilian metallers Almah present their first best-of compilation ever, entitled Within The Last Eleven Lines, which represents highlights of the band’s history, established almost ten years ago by ex-Angra singer Edu Falaschi.
 
It’s a digital release available worldwide online and the songs were selected based on Almah fans’ preferences around the globe, and give an opportunity to review the most representative stuff from four albums released by the band worldwide in the period of 2006-2013.
 
The compilation is available via iTunes, CD Baby and other digital stores worldwide. Besides album tracks it includes and extended bonus section with such covers as “Moonlight Serenade” and “Pegasus Fantasy”, available for the first time worldwide.
 

 

Tracklisting:
 
“Wings Of Revolution”
“Days Of The New”
“Beyond Tomorrow”
“Breathe”
“Believer”
“Living And Drifting”
“Torn”
“King”
“Warm Wind”
“Trace Of Trait”
“Birds Of Prey”
“Pegasus Fantasy” (Bonus Track)
“The Sign Of Glory” (Bonus Track)
“Supermind” (Bonus Track)
“Moonlight Serenade” (Bonus Track)
 
In the meantime, the musicians are composing songs for the next studio effort and playing shows in various cities in Brazil. On September 10th Almah will perform at ProgPower Festival in the US.

 

Orchestral/operatic metal collective, Melted Space, announce a newly-signed worldwide deal with Sensory Records for the late summer release of the outfit's sophomore full-length opus, The Great Lie.

Melted Space is the creation of French composer Pierre le Pape, who bears a master degree in classical music and movie scores, here creating a modern opera that takes over the classical codes, including numerous characters, scenario, powerful orchestral arrangements and varied ambiances, all set to skilled and catchy songwriting and amazing casting. The new Melted Space album, The Great Lie, will feature fourteen prestigious and unexpected singers, joined by seven talented guest musicians and The City of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra. Together, this cast will create an epic saga as powerful as moving. By mixing the tradition of the classic opera with infectious heavy metal, The Great Lie promises to set a new milestone in the genre.

Initiated by pianist and composer Pierre Le Pape, from the city of Troyes, Melted Space stands as the first French metal opera boasting the air of a huge choral fresco, bringing together numerous female and male singers and musicians from the international metal scene. Powerful metal meets the refined essence of movie soundtrack-style movements, and through the embracing of various influences, citing Within Temptation and Dimmu Borgir, the band has seduced a wide audience. Melted Space's music is inspired by traditional symphonic metal but is also rooted in the black and death metal scenes, each coming to play depending on what action that is taking place within the story that Pierre is telling us.

Created in 2007, Melted Space began as an instrumental project from Le Pape. Under the thumb of his electro-acoustic teacher, Pierre created a universe of its own which can be described as a potential ultimate step in Dante's Divine Comedy. The first record, 2009's There's A Place, was totally self-produced and while it was a completely instrumental album, it laid the foundations of the band's 2012-released successor, From The Past, which really pushed the name further. Gathering twenty-six musicians, renowned female and male singers, From The Past received rapturous articles and one of the most enthusiastic welcomes. Following this success, Pierre didn't stop there and started to compose a mini-album entitled Between, which was released in May 2013 with Season Of Mist and PlasticHead handling French and European distribution. Melted Space had gone further again as Pierre hired two internationally-known singers to interpret his songs: Liv Kristine (Leaves's Eyes, ex-Theater Of Tragedy) and Ashmedi (Melechesh). Once again, the unanimous feedback from the media helped elevate Melted Space to one of the biggest names of the genre.

After these records helped create an international aura for the band, it was time to give their music a live sound. Pierre hired five talented musicians to go on tour with him as main support act for The Old Dead Tree's last tour in October 2013. This tour was a success, establishing Melted Space as a promising band, not only a studio project. This great motivation continues for Pierre and his team as 2014 brought them to new festivals and tour dates, and now, a brand new album, which will welcome some of the most famous names of the international metal scene, is set for release this September.

A new page opens in Melted Space's story...

Stand by for the amazing cast of guest musicians and vocalists who have taken part in the construction of Melted Space's The Great Lie, as well as the album's official street date, audio samples and more preceding its September worldwide release via progressive metal label, Sensory Records, a division of The Laser's Edge.

(Photo - Grande Sallede la médiathèque de Troyes)

 

Twisted Sister announced earlier today that drummer A.J. Pero has passed away at age 55. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Pero was a member of Twisted Sister from 1982-1986, from 1997-1998, and again from 2003-present. Pero performed on Adrenaline Mob latest albums, and was recently confirmed to be working with Four By Fate, featuring former Frehley's Comet bandmates, Tod Howarth and John Regan.

The members of Twisted Sister have posted comments about Pero:

Guitarist Jay Jay French: “A.J. Pero was a force, the likes of which I doubt I will ever have the chance to play in front of again. His drumming was legendary but his heart, as a human being, was even greater.

“This April 1st would have been his 33rd year as a member. In the Twisted Sister world he was always affectionately known as ‘the new guy’. That is how long and deep our history was/is. In our hearts he will always be the engine that drove the train. I loved him and today my heart has been ripped out. RIP"

Singer Dee Snider: “Today I lost a brother. Anthony Jude Pero passed away. A.J. was the final piece in a band that would become an international sensation and one of the greatest live rock acts to ever hit the stage. His sledgehammer assault on the drums helped drive Twisted Sister and I to greatness and inspired me to rock every single show. My heart breaks knowing I will never feel the power of his beat behind me, or turn to see his face smiling broadly from the sheer joy he got from doing what he loved. I will always remember that smile. RIP my friend."

Bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza: “This morning I received the tragic news about AJ's passing. As anyone would be, I am devastated. With such a loss, even I broke down and cried, allegedly the tough guy in the band. One statement says it all, ‘AJ was my band mate, my friend and my brother and I will miss him forever’.”

Guitarist Eddie Ojeda: “My family, extended Twisted Sister family and I are heartbroken and devastated to hear the news of Anthony Jude Pero's passing. A.J. was a dear friend and brother to me, and in my opinion, one of the most talented drummers of all time. I will always remember the amazing experiences and great laughs we shared. A.J. always had an amazing sense of humor and did his best to please everyone he came in contact with.

“Back in the day, when the band first started touring, we were often room-mates and he never failed to keep me smiling. It's very difficult for me to talk about this right now. However, I feel that out of respect for his legacy, it's important for us to let the world know how we all felt and will always feel about him. I know I will dearly miss him, but I'm grateful to have been his friend and musical partner for thirty three years.

“At this time, my sincerest sympathies go out to his family. Heaven just got a great drummer, one that will live forever in our hearts.

“The Ojeda Family”

The Artisan News Service has uploaded an interview with Pero and he talked about his drumming style, Twisted Sister, and what he was doing for a side-project, Tred, that never made it off the ground:

Pero was a member of Twisted Sister from 1982-1986, from 1997-1998, and again from 2003-present. Pero performed on Adrenaline Mob latest albums, and was recently confirmed to be working with Four By Fate, featuring former Frehley's Comet bandmates, Tod Howarth and John Regan.

Tod Howarth states: “The news of course is out. A.J. Pero has passed away... I learned of it this morning and had just spoken with him yesterday pertaining to the Four By Fate recording schedule for May. Twisted Sister's solid drummer was a great guy in the short time that John Regan and I got to know him..... Thoughts, prayers out to his family first, friends and fans - perhaps all in the same.”

Says Jeff Scott Soto: “I'm not believing this... just got info that brother A.J. Pero, drummer for Twisted Sister and Adrenaline Mob, has passed away!!! No other info or details but I am in shock... I just met the man a few months ago, we were instant bros, I am so sad for his family and bandmates... damn!”

Sean Kelly (Crash Kelly, Gilby Clarke, Helix, Four By Fate) states: “Deeply shocked and saddened to hear this news... RIP A.J., you were an inspiration.”

Says Slash bassist Todd Kerns: "So sad to hear of the passing of A.J. Pero. He was a good man and a monster drummer. So happy I got to share the stage with him. Big love."

Back in February, A.J. performed a Twisted Sister medley with The Foundry (featuring Blaze Bayley) at Rippers Rock House in Akron, Ohio. Video can be seen below.

Stay tuned for more details on this shocking news.

 

According to The Des Moines Register, SLIPKNOT guitarist Mickael "Mick" Thomson has been charged with disorderly conduct after an arrest earlier this month involving a knife fight with his brother.

A police investigation into the incident concluded that Thomson, 41, and Andrew, 35, were both responsible for the March 11 assault.

The two brothers were both charged with disorderly conduct by fighting or violent behavior in a public place.

Under Iowa's laws, the crime of disorderly conduct is a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a fine of $65 to $625, or both.

According to police, the altercation between Mickael and Andrew started inside Mickael's home in Clive, Iowa and spilled into the front yard about 4:25 a.m., where it became physical.

When officers arrived, the two men appeared to be intoxicated and had sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, with Mickael suffering a stab wound to the back of his head.

Neighbors told The Des Moines Register that they hadn't noticed anything unusual the morning of the incident.

Both men were transported to local hospitals in separate ambulances. They were booked and released, with their next court appearance scheduled for March 30. The brothers declined to seek charges against each other.

Andrew Thomson's Iowa criminal record includes a 2012 arrest for public intoxication in Polk County, court records show.

Mickael Thomson had previously committed no criminal offenses of note in the state, according to The Des Moines Register.

SLIPKNOT just got back from a stint on Australia's Soundwave festival tour and will launch a spring U.S. trek on April 25 in Fort Myers, Florida, ending on May 16 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

SLIPKNOT's manager told KCCI that the incident will not impact any of the band's future shows.

TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French joined ADRENALINE MOB on stage last night (Saturday, March 21) at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey to perform the TWISTED SISTER classic "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" as a tribute to the two bands' drummer, A.J. Pero, who died one day earlier of a suspected heart attack. Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Playing drums for ADRENALINE MOB for the Sayreville concert were the band's former drummer, Mike Portnoy, and ex-BREAKING BENJAMIN sticksman Chad Szeliga.

Pero died Friday morning (March 20) of what appears to be a massive heart attack, his longtime agent Dan Stanton told CNN.

"He had been complaining of a sore arm all week and took a few days off from his tour with the band ADRENALINE MOB," Stanton said.

The 55-year-old Pero was a member of TWISTED SISTER from 1982 to 1986, from 1997 to 1998, and again from 2003 until his death. Pero performed on ADRENALINE MOB's last two albums and recently joined FOUR BY FATE, also featuring former FREHLEY'S COMET members Tod Howarth and John Regan.

In a statement issued the day of Pero's death, Jay Jay French said: "A.J. Pero was a force, the likes of which I doubt I will ever have the chance to play in front of again. His drumming was legendary but his heart, as a human being, was even greater. This April 1st would have been his 32nd year as a member. In the TWISTED SISTER world, he was always affectionately known as 'the new guy.' That is how long and deep our history was/is. In our hearts, he will always be the engine that drove the train. I loved him and [on March 20] my heart [was] ripped out. RIP."

Fan-filmed video footage of QUIET RIOT's March 5 performance at Grand Central in Miami, Florida can be seen below.

QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali recently spoke to Indiewire's SydneysBuzz about the band's decision to enlist Jizzy Pearl (LOVE/HATE, L.A. GUNS, ADLER'S APPETITE, RATT) as its third post-Kevin DuBrow lead singer following the departures of Scott Vokoun and Mark Huff.

"I didn't hire the first singer we got just to fire him," he said. "It doesn't make any sense. I didn't hire the second singer just to fire him. That also doesn't make any sense, but this is life. None of this was planned."

He continued: "I have a pretty good sense of individuals and their moods. I take into consideration what people say during the day, their mood, their body language, and I knew the days when he [Mark Huff] was going to suck.

"I gave two different talented individuals the opportunity to walk into this situation, to stand on the stage with an iconic band, and sing the songs that Kevin DuBrow made famous. I gave them the opportunity, and they threw it away, so I had no remorse about it. They did it to themselves. They may blame me, because I'm the one who has to say, 'You're done,' when they drop the ball. I spent over three decades of my professional life with this band. I'm not going to let anyone do anything less."

Banali added: "Things are great now. If there's one regret that I have, it's that I don't have Kevin DuBrow. He's my best friend. I am never going to have another best friend like that. I am not going to live long enough to have a friend like that again. That I will always regret, but do I regret QUIET RIOT now? Absolutely not. I will not apologize for QUIET RIOT going on. Absolutely not. Never have. Never will."

QUIET RIOT's current lineup — featuring Pearl — made its live debut on December 31, 2013 at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort in Flagstaff, Arizona.

DuBrow died in November 2007 of an accidental cocaine overdose. He was 52 years old.

QUIET RIOT's latest album, "10", contains six new songs with Pearl on vocals and four live tracks from 2007 with DuBrow.

John Corabi, former lead singer of MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE SCREAM and UNION, has joined the rock 'n' roll collective known as THE DEAD DAISIES for the recording of the band's second album, titled "Revolucion". Due in June via INgrooves, the effort's title was inspired by the group's recent visit to Cuba — one of the first times a U.S. rock band has played the country since Barack Obama loosened travel and trade rules for Cuba. Corabi will also join THE DEAD DAISIES on their 2015 tour, which will take them on the road with KISS in Europe in Australia, where "Revolucion" is currently being recorded.

"THE DEAD DAISIES have been an absolute blast for me so far. The guys are all great musicians, and also incredibly easy to work with," Corabi tells Classic Rock magazine.

THE DEAD DAISIES keyboardist Dizzy Reed (also of GUNS N' ROSES) adds: "John loves deep-sea shark fishing. Passionate about it. He's also a wiz with a motorcycle helmet and baseball bat. We are making a new record together. It's gonna rock!"

THE DEAD DAISIES' lineup for the European tour with include BLACK SABBATH and OZZY OSBOURNE drummer Tommy Clufetos.

The band's recording lineup is completed by guitarists Richard Fortus (also of GUNS N' ROSES) and David Lowy, bassist Marco Mendoza and drummer Jackie Barnes.

Formed in 2012, THE DEAD DAISIES are a powerful musical collective created by a rotating lineup that features some of the best rock musicians on the planet with a sound that's influenced by late '70s and early '80s hard rock — big choruses, powerful melodies and strong hooks.

THE DEAD DAISIES are showing the world that a "classic rock" sound still has what it takes to get people hooked. They released their self-titled debut album in the U.S. and Canada through Caroline/Universal in 2013 and followed that up last year with the "Face I Love" EP, which was released in conjunction with an innovative app, where fans helped create the artwork for the EP cover and touring posters.

THE DEAD DAISIES have toured with KISS, AEROSMITH, ZZ TOP, DEF LEPPARD, BAD COMPANY, LYNYRD SKYNYRD and more.

Corabi's recent solo tour saw him performing MÖTLEY CRÜE's self-titled 1994 album in its entirety.

Brazilian death metal veterans KRISIUN have entered Mana Recording in Saint Petersburg, Florida to begin recording their new album. The production on the CD is being handled by Erik Rutan, who has previously worked with such bands as CANNIBAL CORPSE, NILE, SIX FEET UNDER, MALEVOLENT CREATION, MADBALL and AGNOSTIC FRONT. He also produced KRISIUN's "Conquerors Of Armageddon" album back in 1999, the most successful CD KRISIUN has released to date.

KRISIUN's latest album, "The Great Execution", was released on October 31, 2011 in Europe and November 1, 2011 in North America via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created by Japanese artist Toshihiro Egawa who has been doing tons of great designs for acts like SUICIDE SILENCE, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DEVOURMENT and DYING FETUS, among others.

"The Great Execution" was made available as a limited-edition digipack including a re-recorded version of the classic KRISIUN song "Black Force Domain" as a bonus track, as a 180-gram gatefold vinyl and as a digital download.

KRISIUN in October released a video for the song "Blood Of Lions", taken from "The Great Execution". According to the group, the clip featured "live footage shots from most of the festivals and clubs we played on [the most recent] tour, just for you to feel the live energy of the band, from big festivals to small clubs."

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was interviewed on a recent edition of Australia's "Blood, Sweat And Metal" show. You can now listen to the chat below.

Asked what needs to take place for a reunion of MEGADETH's "Rust In Peace" lineup to become a reality, Ellefson said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Here's the thing about reunions... Everybody wants to try to relive this glory day, because of what that period represented to them through that music. But you have to realize that it's greater than the sum of its parts; it isn't just the four people that recorded those songs. It is the darkness we were in, and then the clarity that we had getting sober and the people who were around us.

"That 'Rust In Peace' record is a story of a journey; it's really what you're hearing. That's why every record that we did with that lineup in particular told a different story, because we were in a different phase of our lives, [both] as individuals and together. And then came this point where that lineup just stopped making music together. There was no more harmony, there was no more melody, there was no more music together. And that's why that lineup split up. So to think that somehow that's just gonna all come back together… If it stopped working once, why would it ever work again? You know what I mean?!

"Life moves forward, man. Life is a verb, and it’s always in action. And music is just a reflection of life, you know. That's why I would say that the next MEGADETH record — whoever is gonna be on it — has to be able to tell the story of MEGADETH today, in 2015. Whoever that may be. Okay? And that… someone from the past, someone of the current day, that person has to be able to tell that story, and that's why…

"I know fans want to go see… Believe me, me and [former MEGADETH guitarist] Marty Friedman were second row to the KISS reunion in 1996 when they played in Phoenix, Arizona. Me and Marty were there together, as friends, as bandmates, watching our favorite band put the makeup back on and present to us the 1996 version of KISS 'Alive II' that came out in, like, 1978. So I know. And there's a part of me that said, 'Just lose yourself in the fantasy of being 14 years old all over again,' you know what I mean?! And I did. And then there's the other part of me that I looked at them and I went, 'Yeah, but now they're all, like, in the forties, and this is sort of just a recreation… There is nothing new being created here; this is just a recreation of past stuff.' So, believe me, I had that personal experience. There was the teenage fantasy and then there was the reality. And it's the same with MEGADETH. There's this teenage fantasy of [going] back to recreate some glory day versus the reality.

"MEGADETH in 2015, we can either go back and just recreate past glory days, which would probably sell a lot of tickets and we would probably make a lot of money. But MEGADETH has never been about just going out and making a bunch of money; it has never been about that — ever. So, to us, it's about creatively the next chapter of our story, and that's what you get when you go in the studio together — you get to write and create your next chapter. That is where MEGADETH is right now. That really is the page turner right now."

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on March 14, MEGADETH is rumored to have hired Chris Adler (LAMB OF GOD) and Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro (ANGRA) to play on the band's new album.

If true, Adler's involvement with MEGADETH would apparently be limited to studio work only, and he would not be expected to join the band on the road to promote the CD, which is scheduled to be recorded starting on March 17 in Nashville, Tennessee.

MEGADETH was still finalizing the recording lineup for its new album last week, with the band's mainman, Dave Mustaine, tweeting on March 10 that he was "excited to be auditioning one of my final picks for my new guitarist today."

The band has yet to officially announce replacements for drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick, who quit the group last year.

Speculation has been rife over the last three months as to whether fans could expect a reunion of MEGADETH's classic late 1980s and early 1990s lineup featuring Nick Menza on drums and Marty Friedman on guitar.

Both Menza and Friedman indicated in recent interviews and online postings that they weren't opposed to rejoining MEGADETH, with Menza saying: "I'm open to whatever could possibly happen. That's up to Dave [Mustaine." Friedman, who was also part of the band's "Rust In Peace" lineup, said in January that he "would not be against considering" a possible return to the band as the replacement for Broderick, but cautioned that fans shouldn't "get [their] hopes up either."

New York thrash metal veterans NUCLEAR ASSAULT — vocalist/guitarist John Connelly, bassist Danny Lilker, drummer Glenn Evans and guitarist Erik Burke — will release a new EP on June 1. Titled "Pounder", it will feature "four killer old-school thrash" tunes written by Lilker and Connelly.

In an August 2014 online posting, Lilker stated about NUCLEAR ASSAULT's future: "In 2015, it will be 30 years since NUCLEAR ASSAULT solidified our lineup and started making a name for ourselves in the metal/crossover scene. To commemorate this, the band will write and record another album and play some shows for a 'Final Assault.' The live front will be of a limited nature due to the reality of people in the band having careers that they can't just walk away from for the time needed to go tour the world like we did in the '80s. Nevertheless, we will try to do whatever we can, especially in the summer, to get out there and thrash for everyone again. Progress on writing music will not go quickly due to a couple of facts; we are geographically challenged, so we can't just jam once a week like we used to, and we want to make sure that this album is really killer so we can go out with a big bang."

NUCLEAR ASSAULT released its first-ever DVD, "Louder Harder Faster", in October 2006 via Screaming Ferret Wreckords. Recorded during the band's performance at the 2005 Louder Harder Faster Festival (taped on June 5, 2005), the disc also includes such extra bits as vintage live footage, slide shows (put to the original "Survive" demos), music videos, in the studio footage, unreleased songs, and an interview with longtime members Danny Lilker and Glenn Evans.

Originally formed back in 1984, NUCLEAR ASSAULT bassist Lilker witnessed the birth of thrash metal first as an original member of ANTHRAX, as well as a crucial component to S.O.D., NUCLEAR ASSAULT and BRUTAL TRUTH.

While many thrash metal bands tempered their aggression with melody, NUCLEAR ASSAULT stuck to its guns throughout and in the process, released such thrash classics as 1988's "Survive" and 1989's "Handle with Care".

After an extended hiatus, the group returned in the early 21st century with its first new studio album in over a decade, 2005's "Third World Genocide".

"Soror Irrumator", ANTHRAX's contribution to the the second installment of "Catch The Throne: The Mixtape", for HBO's Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning series "Game Of Thrones", is available for streaming at SoundCloud.com.

Building on the success of Volume I — with over 2.5 million streams to date — that attracted hip-hop and reggaeton fans alike, "Volume II" of "Catch The Throne: The Mixtape" also features MASTODON, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, MUSHROOMHEAD, Method Man, Snoop Dogg and Yandel. The mixtape was released in anticipation of the season 5 debut of "Game Of Thrones", airing April 12 on HBO.

Produced by Launch Point Records, the 15-song mixtape features diverse artists representing "Game Of Thrones" families, leveraging themes and highlights from season 4. Showcasing the importance of music in "Game Of Thrones", each song on the mixtape samples music from the show's season 4 soundtrack. This year's mixtape also weaves in the overarching theme of fire and ice, providing listeners with an exciting lineup of heavy metal and hip-hop artists.

Scott Ian, founding member of ANTHRAX, told Finland's Kaaos TV: "[Our contribution to the mixtape] was a song we had already written [for our next studio album]. We didn't have time to start writing something brand new from scratch. We listened to all the material we had and made the decision. That one just… We all thought the same thing. Everybody listened to the demos and we all had the same idea that this one demo just sounded like that should be the song for 'Game Of Thrones', so it was a pretty easy decision. The lyrics weren't written yet, though — we only had the music — so then [the show producers] said you have to pick something about the show to write about. And I got to write about exactly what I wanted to write about [the Lannister family], so I was very happy about that."

He continued: "It was a really fun thing for me to do, because I'm such a massive fan of the show. So are Charlie [Benante, drums] and Frankie [Bello, bass] — they're really big fans. So it was just something really exciting that we got the call to do that. And we were, like, 'Yeah!' A lot of times you get calls for things, and it's kind of, like, 'Naaahhh. Just say no.' But this we were very excited about."

Video footage of Canadian metal legends ANVIL performing the song "School Love" on March 17 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California can be seen below.

ANVIL's latest album, "Hope In Hell", sold a little under 800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The disc followed up "Juggernaut Of Justice", which opened with around 1,600 units back in May 2011. The 2009 re-release of the band's 2007 CD, "This is Thirteen", registered a first-week tally of 1,400 to enter the Top New Artist Albums chart at No. 19.

ANVIL vocalist/guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow told Horns Up Rocks! in a recent interview that the band will spend most of 2015 on the road, but will return to the studio at the end of the year to record the follow-up to 2013's "Hope In Hell". He said: "We have a new album pretty much all written, but we're gonna be busy probably 'till next September. So that's when we plan to go in and record again."

Regarding how the songwriting in ANVIL works, drummer Robb Reiner told "Slayer Tania": "In ANVIL, Lips writes generally most of the lyrics. I contribute a little bit here and there. When he asks me, sometimes I can contribute something. But primarily, Lips comes up with the lyrics and the primary riffs and stuff. We arrange all the music together. And that's basically how ANVIL works. It's a two-man thing. Lips and myself are the face of ANVIL."

ANVIL last year parted ways with bassist Sal Italiano and replaced him with Chris Robertson. Lips told M.E.A.T.'s Drew Masters that Chris has actually been part of the ANVIL camp for some time now, having been both their rehearsal bassist as well as a member of their road crew. Lips also stated that he's glad the band is, once again, "all Canadian — that is the heart and soul of ANVIL."

Video footage of DOKKEN performing the songs "Kiss Of Death" and "Breaking The Chains" on March 20 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California can be seen below.

DOKKEN last year parted ways with bassist Sean McNabb and replaced him with Mark Boals (former singer for YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN).

Regarding Boals' addition to DOKKEN, Don Dokken told "The Classic Metal Show" last fall: "It's hard to replace Jeff Pilson. Jeff Pilson, he plays with a pick, which I like. I don't like people that play with their fingers. It's not the same. I like Peter Baltes-type bass players who play with a pick, and Sean doesn't. And so it didn't have a lot of 'attack.' And I needed a really killer singer that was as accomplished as Jeff Pilson. And he was sorely missed, you know. So I meet Mark Boals, who's played with Ted Nugent. He did four albums with Yngwie Malmsteen and he's a great lead singer. I didn't really ask him if he wanted to play in DOKKEN because I figured that he's a lead singer and that's what he does. So we had a gig, and he was doing those acoustic shows with me. And he says, 'I play bass.' So I said, 'Let's play a show together and see how it goes.' So we rehearse with Mark on vocals and Mick [Brown, drums] and me, and it sounded amazing. And, as you see on the Internet, people go, 'I saw DOKKEN and the harmonies were awesome.' So I said, ' You wanna be the bass player?' He said, 'Yep,' And I said, 'OK, you're in.' So that's it."

DOKKEN's eleventh studio album, "Broken Bones", sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 173 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released in North America on September 25, 2012 via Frontiers Records, the effort was made available in two configurations: standard CD and limited-edition CD in digipak with a bonus DVD, which features a comprehensive "Making Of The Album" documentary.

Fan-filmed video footage of TWISTED SISTER drummer A.J. Pero's final performance with ADRENALINE MOB, which took place this past Thursday night, March 19 in Baltimore, Maryland as the support act for DROWNING POOL, can be seen below.

A review of the concert can be found on the Rock N Roll Experience web site.

Pero died Friday morning (March 20) at the age of 55.

According to the Associated Press, Pero was on tour with ADRENALINE MOB when members of that group were unable to rouse him on their bus Friday morning. He was taken to a hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he died of an apparent heart attack.

Pero was a member of TWISTED SISTER from 1982 to 1986, from 1997 to 1998, and again from 2003 until his death. Pero performed on ADRENALINE MOB's last two albums and recently joined FOUR BY FATE, also featuring former FREHLEY'S COMET members Tod Howarth and John Regan.

ADRENALINE MOB said in a statement: "We write this with tears in our eyes and our hearts broken to pieces.

"Our beloved brother A.J. Pero peacefully passed away in his sleep this morning on the bus.

"We are in complete shock and our hearts and prayers go out to his family.

"It has been nothing short of an honor to have shared the stage with such a beautiful soul and legend!

"We love you, A.J. Rest in peace.

"We will cherish this last picture [see below] we all took together on tour forever! What a great night we had... We'll miss you, buddy!"

ADRENALINE MOB guitarist Mike Orlando said: "Here it goes... Not sure how to make sense of this, but one of my dearest friends for almost 20 years passed away this morning while we we're on tour. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on the bus. A.J. Pero was one of the kindest, most caring and giving souls I've ever known! I have shared the stage with him on and off for almost two decades. It was nothing short of a true honor to not only have called him my bandmate, but one of my dearest friends! I will never forget you, buddy. I love you, brother! Rest in peace, my dear friend. You are a true legend!!!!"