US melodic metal band, Worldview, will release their debut album, entitled The Chosen Few, on May 22nd in Europe and on May 26th in North America via M24 Music Group. Pre-order the album at this location.

 

 

Worldview features members from iconic bands like Sacred Warrior, Deliverance and Recon. The Chosen Few is packed with a host of celebrity guest players: Oz Fox (Stryper) playing a blazing lead guitar, Les Carlsen (Bloodgood) laying down a dramatic guest vocal, Jimmy P. Brown (Deliverance) cutting some low and powerful background vocals, Larry Farkas (Vengeance Rising, Die Happy) shredding with his tasty licks, Armand Meinbardis (Rob Rock) dazzling with his violin and piano playing, and Niki Bente gracing the record with her lovely voice on the title track.

The artwork was created by Felipe Machado Franco (Blind Guardian, Rhapsody Of Fire) and the album was mixed and mastered by Bill Metoyer (Fates Warning, Slayer).

 

 

The Chosen Few tracklisting:

“Mortality”
“Illusions Of Love”
“Back In Time”
“The Mirror”
“Why?”
“Prisoner Of Pain”
“Two Wonders”
“Walk Through Fire”
“The Chosen Few”
“The Last Cry”

Album teaser:

Worldview lineup:

Johnny Gonzales - Drums, Percussion
Todd Libby - Bass guitar, Keyboards
George Rene Ochoa - Guitars, Keyboards, Background Vocals
Rey Parra - Lead Vocals

 

The Age Of Metal recently conducted an interview with COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On what fans can expect from COAL CHAMBER's forthcoming comeback album, "Rivals":

"We put a lot of work into it, and it seems to be getting just a very positive [response]. But what you can expect is a record that, when it's done, you're gonna wanna push 'play' again. I mean, we really, really honed in on it, and I think that's pretty evident."

On the writing process for "Rivals":

"We locked ourselves in a room and just waited until it was very tight. Then [the other guys in the band] would throw me songs and I would throw them back lyrics, and that's how it came together. It's a very democratic process when it comes to COAL CHAMBER and the writing. And I think they did a great job. It was extremely freeing to do this record, 'cause I could use anything I want — I could use high screams, low screams, clean vocals, whisper tracks… all sorts of stuff — which was very freeing as an artist to do. It was a great time to record. And I think you can feel that within the record. We didn't record with a click track, so [there are] ebbs and flows. Nothing was copied an pasted; everything was sung. I hit most of the stuff the first time I did the vocals, and the music itself is really raw and has a really great feel to it. I think it has a fresh feel to it. Don't expect a throwback record. It's not gonna sound like a throwback record. It's us moving forward."

On whether any of the stuff he has done with DEVILDRIVER has carried over into the new COAL CHAMBER album:

"[The other guys in the band have] done things in [the] thirteen years [since the release of 2002's 'Dark Days'], I've done things in thirteen years, and I think everything bleeds into everything. But when it all spills out onto the table, it's pure COAL CHAMBER. So no matter what I've done — whether it be DEVILDRIVER or BORN OF THE STORM or any number of things — I think when it does go on the table, it becomes COAL CHAMBER."

"Rivals" will be released on May 19 North America via Napalm. The group'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.

Lappeenranta, Finland-based act Lowburn have inked a deal with Argonauta Records.

“Lowburn are an impressive band able to blend the pure stoner rock frenzy to the doomier as well as more psychedelic fields”, says Argonauta.

Formed by Battlelore members Tomi Mykkänen and Henkka Vahvanen, Lowburn was born as a band since the very first jams, recruiting Miika Kokkola and Tommi Havo (replaced by Tommi Lintunen in the beginning of 2015). After a couple of EPs, the guys are now giving the final touches to their debut full length, highly anticipated as a massive energy of fuzzy groove.
 
Says the label: ”Showing the appreciation and gratidude to such bands as Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, ZZ Top, Kyuss, Acid King, Sleep, Monster Magnet and Cathedral, these four guys are delivering the rock as it's supposed to be!"

 

Killer Be Killed - the band featuring Max Cavalera (Soulfly, Sepultura), Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Troy Sanders (Mastodon) - have unveiled their brand new official music video for “Curb Crusher”, taken from the band’s self-titled debut. Directed by Melbourne photographer Neal Walters, the video combines a wealth of behind-the-scenes and live footage captured in Australia, where Killer Be Killed made their international debut at last month’s Soundwave Festival and Sidewave club shows. The band were joined by Juan Montoya (Monstro, ex-Torche), who also performed on the album, and Ben Koller (Converge, All Pigs Must Die, Mutoid Man).

Killer Be Killed cracked the Top 50 in Australia, the Top 100 in the UK, US, Germany, Canada, and Switzerland, and the Top 200 in Belgium and France. The album was produced and mixed by Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira). 

 

 

Guitarist Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel have announced a replacement for singer Darren Smith, who left the band yesterday. He will be joining his former bandmates Harem Scarem on their upcoming tour. A statement reads as follows:

"Red Dragon Cartel and singer Darren James Smith have officially parted ways. All scheduled shows will still take place as planned with Michael Beck on vocals. We would like to welcome Michael to RDC and we look forward to getting back on stage!"

Michael Beck (pictured below) is owner/producer/engineer at SoundVision Recording Studios in Mesa, Arizona. He currently lives in Mesa, Arizona, but is originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Jake E. Lee is best known for his work in Badlands and as guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne on Bark At The Moon and The Ultimate Sin albums. Released in early 2014, the Red Dragon Cartel debut also features various guest appearances from some of music’s most notable faces including Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander, original Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno, Kill Devil Hill/Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Slash’s Conspirators Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz and In This Moment front woman Maria Brink. The album was produced by Ronnie Mancuso and Jake E. Lee and was executive produced, mixed and mastered by Kevin Churko (In This Moment, Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch).

“Well, yes, the sound of the CD is an accumulation of things that I’d written for 15, 20 years, and so I can’t say there is any one particular sound," Lee told BraveWords. "It entails a big span of time, especially if you consider that the last song, the piano thing that I did, I wrote when I was 15. From there it spans a lot of years. So, I’ve heard people say that the album might not be cohesive or, it might be a little too spread-out musically. Most of it, I’d say the bulk of everything, actually everything other than that piano piece that I mentioned, was written after Badlands, on my own, and anywhere from 15 years ago to the present.”

 

Red Dragon Cartel dates can be found here.

 

 

 

Guitar World has posted an exclusive full performance of guitar legend Steve Vai's "Gravity Storm" from the upcoming 2DVD release, Stillness In Motion: Vai Live In L.A.

Vai recently checked in with the following update:

"Today I received the first pressing of Stillness In Motion that’s coming out on April 7. Steve Vai is one wildly happy guy!

The bonus footage is called The Space Between The Notes and is over 3 and a half hours. It’s sort of tour diary that has some footage from every city we visited.

I’m very excited for you to enjoy this. The viewer gets to be with us in our trek around this amazing blue globe, and you can get a good snippet of what life on the road, or at least our road, is about. It was a monumental task that took 5-6 months of 10-15 hour days to edit together, but when I finished it and watched it I felt as though it was perhaps the best work I have done to date.

Enjoy!"

An iTunes pre-order in now up and running at this location. A snippet of the track "Velorum" is available on the page.

Vai's first release under the new Sony/Legacy agreement will be Stillness In Motion - Vai Live in L.A., a spectacular performance recorded October 12th, 2012 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Available in 2CD and 2DVD configurations, Stillness In Motion revisits the 49th concert from Vai's monumental Story of Light World Tour.

Running from 2012 through 2014, The Story of Light World Tour totaled out at 253 engagements (including shows, master classes and concerts with various orchestras) in 52 countries.In addition to the full Club Nokia performance, the 2DVD configuration of Stillness In Motion includes a bonus disc premiering The Space Between the Notes (Tour Mischief), a revelatory video diary comprised of more than three and a half hours of footage, lensed around the world on-stage, off-stage and behind-the-scenes during Vai's epic Story Of Light World Tour.

"To say that this tour was a powerful life experience would be like saying the sun is hot," writes Steve Vai in his personal liner notes penned for Stillness In Motion.

Following Stillness In Motion, Sony/Legacy will release an album of new Steve Vai material, marking a significant next chapter in the musician's growing canon.

The new multi-album deal marks an SME homecoming for Vai, who set the gold and platinum standard for rock instrumental music across a series of albums released through Relativity and Epic Records from 1990's game-changing Passion and Warfare (his 2nd album and 1st major label release) through 2007's orchestral Sound Theories, Vol. I & II.

Tracklistings:

2CD Edition

Disc 1
“Intro/Racing The World”
“Velorum”
Band Intros
“Building The Church”
“Tender Surrender”
“Gravity Storm”
“Weeping China Doll”
“John The Revelator”
“The Moon And I”
“The Animal”
“Whispering A Prayer”

Disc 2
“The Audience Is Listening”
“Rescue Me Or Bury Me”
“Sisters”
“Treasure Island”
“Salamanders In The Sun”
“Pusa Road”
“Frank”
“The Ultra Zone” (CD Version)
“Build Me A Song L.A.”
“For The Love Of God”
“Taurus Bulba”

2DVD Edition

Disc 1
“Intro/Racing The World”
“Velorum”
Band Intros
“Building The Church”
“Tender Surrender”
“Gravity Storm”
“The Trillium’s Launch”
“Weeping China Doll”
“John The Revelator”
“The Moon And I”
“The Animal”
“Whispering a Prayer”
“The Audience Is Listening”
“Where Are We”
“Rescue Me Or Bury Me”
“Sisters”
“Treasure Island”
“Beastly Rap”
“Salamanders In The Sun”
“Pusa Road”
“Earthquake Sky”, Drum Solo
“I’m Tired”
“The Ultra Zone”
“Frank”

Disc 2
“Build Me A Song L.A.”
“For the Love Of God”
“Taurus Bulba”

Story of Light Tour: The Space Between the Notes (Tour Mischief)
Leg 1 (Rehearsals/USA)
Leg 2 (Europe/Eastern Europe)
Leg 3 (Vegas/Netherlands/Russia/Ukraine/Europe)
Leg 4 (Australia/NZ/Indonesia/China/S. Korea/Japan/Taiwan/Thailand)
Leg 5 (Europe...again)
Leg 6 (USA...again)
Leg 7 (Mexico/South America/China)
Leg 8 (Vegas/Singapore/Malaysia/Israel/Europe/Russia/Ukraine)
Leg 9 (USA/St. Barths/Japan/France/Poland)

According to Lambgoat.com, Buffalo, NY resident Nick Wright passed away on March 15th while attending a Chelsea Grin, Carnifex, Sworn In, and The Family Ruin show at the Agora Theatre in Cleveland, OH.

Circumstances surrounding his death have yet to be disclosed, though it's been reported that Wright collapsed around 8:00pm while one of the support acts was performing. 

Chelsea Grin acknowledged the matter on their Facebook page, stating, "We lost a good friend last night at our show in Cleveland." 

One commenter on said Facebook page offered, "I was there last night. Nick had a seizure and stopped breathing during the opening act and was immediately transported to the E.R. I'm sorry to hear that he has passed."

Wright was reportedly 21 years-old.

For information and updates on Chelsea Grin go to this location.

earMUSIC has announced that Status Quo will release Aquostic! Live At The Roundhouse on April 10th on 2CD, 2CD+DVD, vinyl, DVD and Blu-ray formats. This landmark release, recorded in October 2014 in a joint effort by earMUSIC and the BBC, captures the band’s first ever live acoustic performance at the glorious Roundhouse in London. This sensational recording features the new pared-back side of Quo, as revealed on the hit 2014 album Aquostic! (Stripped Bare). This album soared to number 5 in the charts, giving the band their highest placing for 18 years, and has now been certified Gold. It was in fact the best-selling independent label album of 2014. A behind the scenes trailer is streaming below:

BBC Radio 2 broadcast this special Aquostic performance live, and the footage was made available on the night on Red Button and was the BBC's highest-rated music program with 1.3m views in just five days. Now, with the release of Aquostic! Live At The Roundhouse, it is available for Quo fans to own. 2015 sees Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Andrew Bown, John ‘Rhino’ Edwards and Leon Cave building on the incredible momentum that Aquostic has generated. The DVD and Blu-ray formats will feature bonus behind the scenes material.

Tracklisting:

“And It’s Better Now”
“Break The Rules”
“Again And Again”
“Paper Plane”
“Mystery Song”
“Little Lady”
“Rock ‘N’ Roll”
“Caroline”
“What You’re Proposing”
“Softer Ride”
“Down Down”
“Pictures Of Matchstick Men”
“Down The Dustpipe”
“All The Reasons”
“Reasons For Living”
“Rollin’ Home”
“Don’t Drive My Car”
“Claudie”
“Rain”
“Marguerita Time”
“Na Na Na”
“Whatever You Want”
“Rockin’ All Over The World / Encore”
“Rock ‘Til You Drop”
“Burning Bridges (On And Off And On Again)”

“Whatever You Want”:

As well as working towards the release of this superb live album, the band will also undertake a truly special six date Aquostic Live 2015 UK tour in April; tickets are on-sale. After 50 years at the top of their game as one of the world’s premiere hard rock acts, Quo have leapt out of their comfort zone, this re-working of their legendary songbook is fully acoustic and features female backing vocalists, additional musicians and even a string section; a totally new Quo live experience.

Randy Bachman, the man behind rock anthems such as “Takin’ Care of Business”, “Let It Ride”, “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” and “American Woman,” will be releasing a brand new album under the moniker Bachman, with a rhythm section consisting of Anna Ruddick on bass and Dale Anne Brendon on drums.

A new music video for “The Edge” has been released and is streaming:

Heavy Blues will be available worldwide on April 14th and features an enviable list of Randy Bachman’s contemporaries including Neil Young, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph and the late Jeff Healey; each musician contributing their signature-style guitar solos.

Listen to "Bad Child", featuring special guest Joe Bonamassa, below.

With internationally-acclaimed producer Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, Rush, Led Zeppelin) at the helm, Heavy Blues marks the rare occasion that Randy Bachman has relinquished the producer reins.

“'I’ve known Kevin for many years and watched his producer credits grow to include many rock legends,” explains Randy Bachman. “I knew that he could push me past my limit, pull me onto new paths and direct me down new roads.”

A legendary figure in rock n’ roll, Randy Bachman has earned over 120 gold and platinum album/singles awards around the world for performing and producing. As the co-founder and principal songwriter for The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Randy Bachman’s monstrous hits have garnered him the coveted #1 spot on radio playlists in over 20 countries and he has amassed over 40 million records sold.

Heavy Blues tracklisting:

"The Edge"
"Ton Of Bricks" (Featuring Scott Holiday)
"Bad Child" (Featuring Joe Bonamassa)
"Little Girl Lost" (Featuring Neil Young)
"Learn To Fly"
"Oh My Lord" (Featuring Robert Randolph)
"Confessin’ To The Devil" (Featuring Jeff Healey)
"Heavy Blues" (Featuring Peter Frampton)
"Wild Texas Ride"
"Please Come To Paris" (Featuring Luke Doucet)
"We Need To Talk"

EPK:

Bachman Tour Dates (more to be announced):

April
1 - Potawatomi Bingo Casino - The Northern Lights Theater - Milwaukee, WI
2 - The Arcada Theater - St. Charles, IL
4 - Quicken Loans Arena - Cleveland, OH
24 - Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT
25 - The Concert Hall at NY Society for Ethical Culture - New York, NY

 

 

In a brand new interview with Vanyaland, former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland was asked where he sees his current band, THE WILDABOUTS, fitting into today's rock scene.

"I don't know. That's a hard question to answer," he responded. "It has changed so much and it's just not the same industry as it was, but I think we'll do the best we can and we'll be successful."

He continued: "You can't compare that to the success of records I made in the '90s — that just doesn't happen anymore. But success for ourselves and just continuing to do bigger and better things; that's where I see us."

Regarding how he finds himself adapting as a musician, coming from an era where it was no problem to sell a couple million albums if you were a top-tier band, Weiland said: "Eight million albums [sold of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' debut album, 'Core']. I came from a time where if you had a massive record you sold six, seven or eight million records. It's just not the way it was; it's different [now]. You can still have success, you just have to do it in different ways, and a lot of it is touring."

SCOTT WEILAND AND THE WILDABOUTS will release their first album on March 31. Titled "Blaster", the CD was produced by Rick Parker (BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB) and recorded throughout 2014 at Lavish Studios in Burbank and at The Sandbox in Beachwood Canyon.

"Blaster" features twelve tracks, all but one written by Weiland.

SCOTT WEILAND AND THE WILDABOUTS recently parted ways with drummer Danny Thompson and replaced him with former QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and CALIFORNIA BREED drummer Joey Castillo.

Weiland told The Pulse Of Radio that touring with his solo band changed the way he approached writing his new album. "It's much more of an overall collaborative effort, and it's much more rock 'n' roll and it's a newer thing, 'cause we've been creating our own sound as we've been touring, and the sound grows and evolves and changes as we collaborate together as writers," he said.

His last solo effort was the more experimental "Happy In Galoshes", released in 2008.

One of the final interviews with Andy Fraser, bassist for legendary British band FREE and co-writer of "All Right Now", conducted on February 8 by RocknRolivia of The Rockin' Rag at Rock Against Trafficking's Grammy after-party in Los Angeles, can be seen below.

Fraser died on Monday (March 16) at his home in California after battling both AIDS and cancer. Fraser co-founded FREE when he was just 15-years-old with Paul Rodgers, the late Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke.

An official statement was issued, saying: "Andrew McLan Fraser passed away on Monday at his home in California. He leaves behind his daughters Hannah and Jasmine Fraser, and their mother Ri, his sister Gail, brothers Gavin and Alex, and many friends and associates in the industry. A survivor of both cancer and AIDS, Andy was a strong social activist and defender of individual human rights."

In 2005, Fraser spoke about his musicianship, telling DMME.net, "To be quite honest, I never thought of myself as a bass player. I actually only used the bass guitar because the other kids in our school band wanted to be the singer or drummer or guitarist. I have always thought of myself as doing whatever was necessary to make the whole thing work."

In addition to his work with FREE, Fraser will be remembered for his '70s work with guitarist Chris Spedding in the band SHARKS.

To commemorate the return of the great Hexx, Metal Blade Records will re-release strictly limited vinyl of the two classic albums from 1984 and 1986 on April, 17th with newly designed gatefold sleeves and exclusive bonus tracks.

Their 1984 debut No Escape will be limited to 500 copies, 200 on 180g black, 200 on “ice blue vinyl”, and 100 on “clear with blue haze vinyl.”

No Escape tracklisting:

Side A
“Terror”
“Invader”
“The Other Side”
“Look To The Sky”
“Beware The Darkness”

Side B
“Night Of Pain”
“No Escape”
“Live For The Night”
“Fear No Evil”
“Search For The King” (bonus track, taken from Paradox demo)

1986’s Under The Spell will also be limited to 500 copies, 200 on 180g black, 200 on “blue with haze vinyl” and 100 on “blue/black splattered vinyl.”

Under The Spell tracklisting:

Side A
“Hell Riders”
“A Time Of War”
“Edge Of Death”
“The Victim”
“Under The Spell”
“Suicide”

Side B
“Out For Control”
“The Hexx”
“Fever Dream”
“Midnight Sun”
‘Edge Of Death” (bonus track, live 1986)

Preorders are available at this location.

PRC Music will be releasing brand new music from Canada's powerhouse Fuck The Facts in the form of a split CD with the equally insane Québec city grindcore combo Fistfuck. Fuck The Facts' new material is probably their most extreme and grinding music written in the last decade.

Fistfuck is back to the grind with its most extreme recording since the classic “23 songs in the same hole” album. Fuck The Facts were recently confirmed for the Montreal edition of the Obscene Extreme Festival in August.

The split album will also be available as a 10" vinyl from D7I Records and Noise Salvation.

Dutch unconventional extreme metal band Villainy has signed a multi-album deal with Listenable Records. The band’s music sounds quite unorthodox melting death, doom, black and thrash metal in good measure and have become popular for their thunderous and raw, incendiary live performances. Villainy has recorded their new album with Jos Kessels, and is being mixed by Toneshed Recording Studio in Holland for a fall release.

Reinier Vrancken (Guitars and Vocals) comments: "The new album will consist of three chapters. Each chapter shows different conceptual twists to the same philosophical questions. Its diversification in musical styles and lyrics is part of the concept. This variety is more present than ever and takes up an important role in Villainy's form of eclectic heavy music.  It will remain more extreme in many ways. "

The artwork will be made by the fantastic Manuel Tinnemans from Comaworx.

Villainy has also confirmed a series of shows with Entrails and an appearance at Bloodstock festival in the UK.

Tour dates:

March
27 – Essen, Germany – Turock
28 – Edegem, Belgium – JH Nootuitgang

April
3 – Hengelo, The Netherlands – Metropool
4 – Eindhoven, The Netherlands – Dynamo
5 – Leeuwarden, The Netherlands – Eggbangers Ball

May
14 – Tilburg, The Netherlands – The Little Devil

August
6-9 – Derbyshire, UK – Bloodstock Open Air

Former Genesis singer Ray Wilson (he sang on the band’s 1997 album, Calling All Stations) will release the eight-CD box set called Ray Wilson The Studio Albums 1993 - 2013 on March 20th via Soulfood International.

 

 

Ray Wilson The Studio Albums 1993 - 2013 features:
Swing Your Bag - 1993
Millionairhead - 1999
Change - 2003
The Next Best Thing - 2004
She (Ray Wilson & Stiltskin) - 2006
Propaganda Man - 2008
Unfulfillment (Ray Wilson & Stiltskin) - 2011
Chasing Rainbows - 2013

ART OF ANARCHY, the new band featuring Scott Weiland (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, VELVET REVOLVER) on vocals, John Moyer (DISTURBED) on bass, Jon and Vince Votta on guitar and drums, and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES) as co-guitarist and producer, will release its self-titled debut album on June 8 via Century Media imprint Another Century. The band states: "We're all excited our album will be released worldwide on Century Media/Another Century and the public will finally hear what this band stands for." Weiland recently denied that he was ever a member of ART OF ANARCHY, explaining that he was paid to contribute to the group's CD as a session musician and a songwriter.

"It was a project I did where I was just supposed to have written the lyrics and melodies for this band that I'd never heard of, and I was paid to do it," Weiland told The Daily Beast. "And so I did it, and did some production work on it, and the next thing I knew there were press releases that I was in the band. I mean, I did one photo shoot with them, 'cause it was part of the deal, but I'm not in the band."

He added: "I wish them all the best once they find a singer, I hope they do well, but [SCOTT WEILAND AND THE WILDABOUTS] is my band."

In addition to Weiland, the recording lineup for ART OF ANARCHY's first album included GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DISTURBED bassist John Moyer. The rest of the lineup is filled out by Jon Votta on guitar and Vince Votta on drums. The group's debut disc will arrive this spring.

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Thal wrote that "ART OF ANARCHY is not competition or a threat or interference to what any of us are doing — it's a complement, an addition, one I'm proud of creatively."

He continued: "[There is] no need to minimize or undermine or devalue a project we all worked on together over the course of two years.

"I enjoyed working with Scott. And I'm looking forward to [the SCOTT WEILAND AND] THE WILDABOUTS album release, the Bumblefoot album release, and the ART OF ANARCHY album release. The more music the better, it's what we do, right? :) Artists do collaborations and a month later, their own album comes out. This is normal stuff. All good. :)"

Thal added: "The five of us made an album together. Scott is currently the singer of the band. It's in writing; no confusion. But yes, Scott's solo album and tour are his priority and we're all on the same page about getting another vocalist if ART OF ANARCHY hits the road. But we don't need to cross that bridge just yet. Taking everything as it comes, one step at a time, letting it evolve organically. Where it goes from here (and with who!) is yet to be seen."

ART OF ANARCHY is the brainchild of Thal and the Votta brothers, who have been friends for 18 years dating back to their days on the New York music scene.

Thal also serves as producer and engineer on the album.

Weiland is no stranger to supergroups, having formed VELVET REVOLVER with several former members of GUNS N' ROSES more than a decade ago.

He was dismissed from that band in 2008, rejoining STP until they also fired him in early 2013. He and THE WILDABOUTS will put out a new album in March.

Thal has been with GUNS N' ROSES since 2006, playing on the 2008 album "Chinese Democracy". He has also released a number of solo CDs.

Moyer has been DISTURBED's bassist since 2004. The band has been on an extended hiatus since late 2011.

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY — has inked a new deal with AFM Records.

"We couldn't be happier with our choice to sign with AFM Records," says Liv. "We wanted a trustful and true partner and we feel that with Jochen and his whole team."

Added LEAVES' EYES singer and producer (and Liv's husband) Alexander Krull: "We are more than happy to sign with AFM Records! It's incredible to team up with Jochen Richert and his entire supportive staff! We have known Jochen for years and also worked successfully together in the past. This is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of LEAVES' EYES!”

Says Jochen Richert, AFM CEO: "When you get the chance to work with such an incredible band, you just have to do it. LEAVES' EYES are one of the leading bands in their genre and we know that Liv and her band are professional in every way. In addition, we know each other for many years and get along so well. So LEAVES' EYES for us is the 'total package' and we are delighted and proud to be their new label home."

States Nils Wasko, AFM creative director: "I can only agree here: it's a pleasure to have LEAVES' EYES on board now. Liv is an icon of the gothic and symphonic metal scene and has led both THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and later LEAVES' EYES to international fame. We are really looking forward to this new collaboration."

LEAVES' EYES recently entered Mastersound Studios in Steinheim, Germany to begin recording its new full-length CD for a late 2015 release. Liv states: "The album's concept is rooted in a highly important chapter in the history of Norway. The sagas of Norway's kings and the Middle Ages has always been of great interest to me and it's such a pleasure to compose and record this huge soundtrack with my dream team here at Mastersound Studio. Thanks to my guys for these enchanting tunes and killer production!"

LEAVES' EYES' latest album, "Symphonies Of The Night", was released on November 13, 2013 in Spain, Sweden and Norway; November 15 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Benelux; November 18 in the rest of Europe; and on November 26 in North America via Napalm Records. The effort was produced by Liv's husband, ATROCITY singer and LEAVES' EYES co-vocalist Alexander Krull, at his Mastersound Studio in Germany. The cover artwork was created by Heile (a.k.a. Stefan Heilemann).

"Hell To The Heavens" video:

The official lyric video for the song "Not Losing The Edge" from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, the band led by brothers and founding SEPULTURA members Max (also of SOULFLY) and Igor Cavalera, can be seen below. The track is taken from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's third album, "Pandemonium", which sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 177 on The Billboard 200 chart.

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's previous CD, 2011's "Blunt Force Trauma" opened with around 5,000 units to land at No. 122.

The band's first CD, 2008's "Inflikted", registered a first-week tally of 9,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 72.

"Pandemonium" was produced by John Gray, who has previously worked with SOULFLY.

During an appearance on the "Metal Hammer" magazine show on TeamRock Radio, Max stated about "Pandemonium": "It's very, very heavy — the heaviest of all the three [CAVALERA CONSPIRACY albums]. I was really possessed to get Igor back to his 'Arise' [SEPULTURA] era of drumming, everything fast."

He added in a separate interview with HardRockHaven.net: "The CAVALERA album is really more about me and Igor, the brothers, thrashing. This one is almost grindcore. I was really a dictator in the studio with Igor to try to keep him from going into the groove and tried to keep him playing fast; I wanted him play fast for most of the record. So every time he'd go into the groove, I would be, like, 'Fuck the groove! Get out of the groove! Go back to the fast shit.' And I succeeded, man. It's a really brutal album. I think it's definitely the most brutal of all the CAVALERA albums and it's definitely gonna turn some heads."

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY will embark on a U.S. tour in April. Support on the trek will come from DEATH ANGEL, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY - BLIND (featuring Karl Agell, who sang on the classic CORROSION OF CONFORMITY [C.O.C.] album "Blind" [1991], and founding C.O.C. drummer Reed Mullin) and LODY KONG.

Swedish death metallers AMON AMARTH have parted ways with drummer Fredrik Andersson after 17 years. The band says in a statement: "Fredrik has been an important part of AMON AMARTH's development since he joined the band in 1998 and we wish him all the best for the future. We are currently in the process of writing the new album, but at the moment there is no replacement for him."

Added Andersson: "I am no longer the drummer in AMON AMARTH. We have decided to part ways and I wish them all the best in the future.

"I will not answer any questions about why or how, simply because it's private.

"I'm finalizing the last details with the new THIS ENDING CD, and we will look into releasing that somehow during this year. Stay tuned. I will also evaluate any future opportunities.

"I want to thank everyone that I've met, both fans and business related, through AMON AMARTH. It's been my pleasure. It's been a long sweet ride but now it's time for something new."

In a 2014 interview with Loudwire, Andersson stated about his approach on AMON AMARTH's latest album, "Deceiver Of The Gods": "I have a much more relaxed and laid back attitude in general. I let go of a lot of personal pressure that I usually have going into album recording. For me, as a drummer, in the past I always wrote every part 100 percent and made sure that was exactly what ended up on the album. On this album, I actually winged 50 percent of the stuff and just did a couple of different takes and improvised a lot more in the studio. It made me a little bit on edge when I played but it was more relaxed, not as strict and I didn't get pissed off every time I didn't nail it. I think improvising makes the album a little bit more edgy and aggressive."

Asked what the secret was to AMON AMARTH's longevity as friends and as bandmates, Fredrik said: "We kind of hit the bump already, that three-year bump or whatever it is. We have a very good working relationship and I think the key is that we went into this never expecting to come this far. I mean, we were just playing together as friends, and that's where we started off. Having no expectations when gradual success happens, we've just taken it on the same level all the time. Early on, we decided there are no egos in the band. We share everything equally; everyone has equal say on everything. We have a democracy working, [so] there's no reason for anyone to argue. Songwriting as well, even though Johan [Hegg] and Olavi [Mikkonen] write more than 90 percent of the music — when someone else in the band has ideas, if they are good then they will be in the song. There's no egos in that either; the best music always ends up on the record no matter who wrote it. Even on the albums we put 'written by AMON AMARTH,' not the person who wrote that."

"Deceiver Of The Gods" sold around 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 25, 2013 via Metal Blade Records.

Recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (OPETH, MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), "Deceiver Of The Gods" delivers ten fiery battle hymns made of buzzsaw riffs and epic harmonies all driven by vocalist Johan Hegg's commanding Viking roar and absorbing accounts of Norse crusades and treachery.

Barbaranne Wylde, the wife of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY leader and former OZZY OSBOURNE axeman Zakk Wylde, who also helps run Zakk's career as his as his co-manager, has revealed to Examiner.com that the guitarist/vocalist will enter the studio after his "Unblackened" spring 2015 tour to record "Book Of Shadows Volume II" for an early 2016 release. The effort, which will be made available on the 20th anniversary of the arrival of the original "Book Of Shadows" album, will be followed by a world tour to support "that side of Zakk's music," according to Barbaranne.

Released in 1996, and reissued by Spitfire in 1999 with the bonus disc containing "Evil Ways" (the Japanese bonus track from the album's original release), "The Color Green" and "Peddlers of Death" (an acoustic version of a track that appeared on BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "Sonic Brew"), "Book Of Shadows" showed a different side of Zakk's songwriting output, with Wikipedia describing it as "an introspective and mostly acoustic [effort] recalling many of the lighter moments from his previous project, PRIDE & GLORY, as well as classic folk rock artists such as Neil Young."

In an interview with Rough Edge, Zakk stated about the creation of the original "Book Of Shadows" album: "The thing is that I had all these tunes from [OZZY OSBOURNE's] 'Ozmosis' record, you know. Aside from writing all the fuckin' heavy shit because at the time we were doing 'My Jekyll Doesn't Hide' and the 'Perry Mason' stuff. And then 'Thunder Underground', just like fuckin' pure riff fuckin' music. So, aside from doing that, I always had acoustic around because it's just great for your chops. You know, you sit down and jam on an acoustic when you pick up an fuckin' electric guitar it's like fuckin' lightning."

He continued: "So I'd be jammin' on an acoustic all the time and I'd have all these ... I'd just be dickin' around writing songs all the time. So whether I'm writing riffs all the time or I'm writing regular flat-out songs, I just had all these tunes and I was like, man, it's like fuckin' beer-drinking music at the end of the night, you know? I had all these tunes lying around and that's when Geffen… they asked me to do another album. I tried to get out of it, because I owed them, like, three records when I signed with them, so we did the PRIDE & GLORY thing and then [A&R guru John] Kalodner left and went to Sony and it was just like fuckin'… I didn't know what the fuck was going on. Let's put it this way: They wanted me there about as much the Pope wanted to have lunch with fuckin' Anton LaVey, man. Which was basically not gonna ever fuckin' happen. The whole thing was, like, 'We gotta get outta here, man.' So we did the 'Book Of Shadows' thing."

Zakk added: "I tried to get off the label but it was more cost effective for them to have me go in an do another fuckin' record, so we ended up doing the record and after that, Ozzy called and said, 'Dude, you wanna do this 'Ozmosis' record?' so I was jammin' with... Actually, I got it backwards here. Fuckin' 'Book Of Shadows' was after the 'Ozmosis' record. In between jammin', we'd go back to trackin' the stuff and I'd go back to this bar that was right next to the hotel and I'd be in there until, like, six in the morning drinking with everybody. They'd be, like, 'Dude, go get your fiddle and play us a fuckin' tune.' So I'd be jammin' for 'em — I'd be playing all this new shit for 'em. You know, that's pretty much how that record came about."

In a brand new interview with Metal Ireland, former SLAYER and current PHILM drummer Dave Lombardo was asked if there is any truth to the rumor that he was being considered as a possible replacement for Lars Ulrich when METALLICA was allegedly contemplating making a drummer change in 1986.

"That's news to me," he responded. "I never heard about that. I never heard they were gonna get rid of Lars."

He continued: "In '86, I was looking to join MEGADETH, to replace Gar [Samuelson]. I met all of them sometime in '86, but they were heavily into drugs and I really wasn't into that. They really didn't look to healthy either; they looked pretty bad."

Asked if he could see himself joining a band like MEGADETH today following the group's recent split with Shawn Drover, Lombardo said: "MEGADETH has its own style.

"I'm really busy with my own music and new band.

"I've been getting phone calls, like, 'Are you gonna join this band? Are you joint this band?' No, no. I refuse to be someone's employee. I want to work on something I'm a part of, not just a guy that receives a paycheck. I want to be part of the artist development… an artist, not just a hired gun. I've had enough of that. I need that freedom."

Drover quit MEGADETH on November 25, 2014 "to pursue [his] own musical interests." His statement can be found at this location. Guitarist Chris Broderick announced his departure from MEGADETH a few hours later, saying that he was exiting the group "due to artistic and musical differences."

Lombardo was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the band's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group. He has since been replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band.

PHILM released its sophomore album, "Fire From The Evening Sun", on September 16, 2014 (one day earlier internationally) via UDR. The band's lineup is completed by guitarist/vocalist Gerry Paul Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE), and bassist Francisco "Pancho" Eduardo Tomaselli (WAR).

British heavy metal legends SATAN have entered First Avenue Studios in Newcastle, England to record their new album for a September release via Listenable records. The CD will once again be mixed by Dario Mollo, who is part of TONY MARTIN'S HEADLESS CROSS touring project and has worked with numerous artists as a producer and engineer, including SKYCLAD, ANATHEMA, CRADLE OF FILTH, LACUNA COIL, Tony Martin and Glenn Hughes. The artwork will be created by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, SODOM).

SATAN released a live album in October to celebrate its debut live appearances last year on the North American soil in support of its most recent album "Life Sentence", released on Listenable in April 2013.

Originating from Newcastle, England in 1980, SATAN is known as part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement. Though generally obscure throughout their career, the band is considered influential for playing a form of proto-thrash metal that was fairly advanced by the standards of the early 1980s, influencing major acts like METALLICA, EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL.

"Life Sentence" was released on April 29, 2013 in Europe and May 21, 2013 in the U.S. via Listenable Records. The CD was the culmination of a process that began when the original "Court In The Act" lineup got together for an exclusive "one-off" reunion show at Germany's Keep It True festival in 2011 in what marked their first performance together in 28 years.

The recording lineup for "Life Sentence" was the same as that on "Court In The Act":

Brian Ross (vocals) Steve Ramsey (guitar) Russ Tippins (guitar) Graeme English (bass) Sean Taylor (drums)

SATAN is one of the most important groups that emerged in the early NWOBHM era. Their unique mixture of heavy and power metal spirit with thrash riffage brought a handful of unforgettable tunes and revolutionized heavy music as we know it.

"Court in the Act" was SATAN's debut release and was considered a true milestone at the time of its release (1983). The songs were melodic, but at the same time very aggressive. The band's two guitarists, Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey, delivered a truly amazing performance; although their styles were completely different, they managed to perfectly complement each other's playing and introduced a handful of timeless riffs and solos.

Fan-filmed video footage of DRAGONFORCE's first-ever concert in Puerto Rico, which took place this past Saturday, March 14 at Shannan's in San Juan, can be seen below.

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

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

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

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

The first Slovenian all-female heavy metal band Hellcats are presenting a new video for their newest single entitled "Demon Dreams". The video was made in collaboration with one of the best Slovenian video/movie director Predrag Rajčić – Perica.

Filming took place in Ljubljana's forests, which in the cold and dark days proved to be the right place to deal with the demons. The song and the video will be released in both Slovenian and English language, since the girls have a lot of fans, not only at home but also all over the world. At the end of April Hellcats will be touring Germany and will finally visit the German fans who have faithfully supported them from the beginning.

(Photo by: Dare Brenko)

Swedish rock legends, Europe, released their 10th studio album, War Of Kings, on March 10th in North America via Hell & Back Recordings. Europe and Yahoo Music are giving North American fans an exclusive chance to listen War Of Kings an entire week early, starting today. The video below details the limited box set edition of War Of Kings:

Recorded at the brand new PanGaia Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, produced by Dave Cobb (Rival Sons) and engineered by John Netti, War Of Kings sees the quintet confidently creating 11 monstrously melodic, yet hard-hitting classic rock’n’roll standouts for their fervent global audience.

War Of Kings is be available in multiple formats, as a CD digipak, a CD jewel case, a vinyl LP and in digital download format.

Joey Tempest states, “War Of Kings is the album we always wanted to make, ever since we were kids listening to bands like Zeppelin, Purple and Sabbath. And after hearing Dave Cobb amazing production for Rival Sons we simply had to work with him. Our adventure is still ON!”

 

 

War Of Kings tracklisting:

"War Of Kings"
"Hole In My Pocket"
"Second Day"
"Praise You"
"Nothin’ To Ya"
"California 405"
"Days Of Rock N Roll"
"Children Of The Mind"
"Rainbow Bridge"
"Angels (With Broken Hearts)"
"Light Me Up"

Bonus:

"Vasastan" (Instrumental)

The music video for title track directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company (In Flames, At The Gates, Arch Enemy), can be seen below:

Check out the official War Of Kings trailer below:

Europe’s place as a legendary classic rock band was platinum-stamped early in their career, having enjoyed an explosive period of worldwide success in the ‘80s, under-pinned by their hit album and single The Final Countdown, before going on hiatus between 1992 and 2003. They reunited and quickly settled into a period of re-establishment which has seen them re-enforce their reputation worldwide as one of the premier purveyors of blues-tinged classic rock with an edge and some kick. Their last album, 2012’s Bag Of Bones, saw Europe hit the UK top 40 rock album charts and debut at #2 on the Swedish national charts.

War Of Kings is set to take full advantage of the global groundwork Europe have put in over the last few years.

Tempest adds, “Hey! We took the long road! But we wanted to re-establish Europe the proper way. It’s taken 10 years and countless tours since the re-union, but we’re finally getting there and we’ve done it our way!”

Europe will ship off on the Monsters Of Rock cruise on April 18th from Miami, FL, and cruise to Poseidon’s Grotto/Nassau, Bahamas, docking back in Miami on April 22nd. In addition to Europe, the cruise features performances from Tesla, Night Ranger, Lita Ford, and more. Visit this location for pricing and more information.

Once back on land, Europe will embark on an eight-city tour of select eastern US states, including a stop at the M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, MD. See below for a full listing of tour dates:

April
18-22 - Miami, FL - Monsters of Rock Cruise
24 - Milwaukee, WI - Potowatomi Casino
25 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
26 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
28 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues (with Black Star Riders)
30 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza (with Black Star Riders)

May
1 - Niagara Falls, NY - The Bears Den (with Black Star Riders)
2 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion (M3 Rock Festival)
3 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun

 

 

Europe is:

Joey Tempest – lead vocals, acoustic and rhythm guitar, keyboards
John Norum – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
John Leven – bass, backing vocals
Mic Michaeli – keyboards, piano, backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Ian Haugland – drums, percussion, backing vocals

 

Blackened thrash metal unit Frosthelm have release a lyric video for "A Storm Of Teeth", a track from upcoming album The Endless Winter.

Frosthelm will release The Endless Winter through Matt Hyde's Black Work (Alkemy Brothers) label on March 22nd. The album is available for preorder on Bandcamp.

A vile brew of black/thrash metal, The Endless Winter is abundant with punishingly memorable riffs, melodic frostbitten savagery, and plague infused revulsion down to its frozen core.  Guitarist Dakota L. Irwin describes the album as "bitter, dark, angry and disgusted."

Tracked at Clear Lake Recording Studios in Los Angeles during July 2014, The Endless Winter was produced and engineered by Eric Milos and Alec Schneider. Drum engineering was handled by Sir Robert Kramer at Mekoche Studios in Bismarck, ND. Mixing and mastering duties were helmed by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Skeletonwitch, Kreator).

The Endless Winter tracklisting:

“Glacial Eon”
“Storm Of Teeth”
“Forlorn Tides”
“Tomb Of Sordid Ruin”
“Beneath Dead Horizons”
“The Endless Winter”
“Hell Between Us”
“The Dragon”
“Silent And Dark, The Everlasting”

“Forlorn Tides”:

"The Endless Winter":

The Endless Winter by Frosthelm

 

Le Havre, France-based rockers, Akasava, unveil their freshly-recorded single “The Deep”, taken from upcoming debut EP, Strange Aeons.

 

 

Packing the heavy punch of their forefathers, the track represents a band firing on all cylinders, and channeling their heroes into a precise burst.

Strange Aeons is due for a late spring 2015 release. Updates to follow.

 

 

Watch Akasava live below:

Akasava are:

Louis Hauguel: Vocals, Lyrics
Arnold Lucas: Guitars, Organ
Amélie Gavalda: Bass Guitar
David Touroul: Drums

 

Bellingham, WA-based hard rock/heavy metal trio, Wild Throne, has announced the release of their debut LP, Harvest Of Darkness, which is set to arrive August 18th via Roadrunner Records. The album was produced by Ross Robinson (At The Drive-In, The Cure, Blood Brothers).

Later this month Wild Throne will embark on a string of US tour dates which will commence with a performance at Boise, Idaho’s Treefort Music Festival on March 26th (see full dates below). Having shared stages with everyone from Red Fang to Melt-Banana to Marnie Stern, Wild Throne will look to spend the majority of 2015 on the road and will be announcing additional tour dates in the coming weeks.

 

 

Tour dates (with Marmozets):

March
26 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Fest
27 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
30 - Seattle, WA  - El Corazon

April
1 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
2 - Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex