Melbourne, Australia’s Horsehunter are streaming the new track, “Caged In Flesh”, from their upcoming self-titled debut album, out on April 21st.

Canned, scrapped, rewritten and rerecorded numerous times over an obsessive two-year period, the threateningly lyrical and brutally heavy compositions of Caged In Flesh embody Horsehunter’s perverse and maniacal precision as a band. It’s an album forged in iron and cleansed by fire. Sinister, brooding and heavy enough to weight the earth in place and stop it spinning wildly of it’s axis.
 
Horsehunter’s debut album is set to become something of a new and thrilling masterwork of the genre. Powered by the darkest, most gut-wrenching riffs imaginable and fuelled in full by psychedelic and atmospheric doom, upon it’s self-funded release early last year the band garnered instant praise.
 
Horsehunter has already drawn comparisons with likes of YOB, Neurosis and Shrinebuilder. Yet alongside the brutal vocal chord rips and vicious guitar throw downs of the album’s heavier moments, surrounded by darkness they still manage to enfolded themselves in light. From the gently creeping "Nightfall" to the dynamic and progressive passages of "Witchery" the four tracks on offer here showcase the talents of a young band with an arsenal of understanding.

 

 

Tracklisting:

"Stoned To Death"
"Caged In Flesh"
"Nightfall"
"Witchery"

"Caged In Flesh”:

The Bonghunter National Australian Tour Dates:

March
19 - The Phoenix - Canberra, Australia
20 - Monster House - Sydney, Australia
21 - Beetle Bar - Brisbane, Australia
22 - Tym Guitars (Instore) - Brisbane, Australia
22 - Thomas Surfboards - Noosa, Australia (with Scab Eater, Hobo Magic, Black Deity, Vile Specimen, Tender Lavender, and Lefft)
28 - Crown And Anchor - Adelaide, Australia

 

 

Horsehunter:
 
Dan McDonald - Guitar
Michael Harutyunyan - Guitar, Vocals
Himi Stringer - Bass, Vocals
Nick Cron - Drums

 

Skeletonwitch has proven time and time again that mixing killer tunes with an unshakeable work ethic remains the key to metal success. Arguably the genre's hardest-touring band, the group will soon support their 2013 release, Serpents Unleashed - which has already seen the quintet conquer stages worldwide alongside some of metal’s most reputable acts, including Amon Amarth, Enslaved, Suffocation and Ghost B.C. - with their most extensive European tour to date.

The Midwestern blackened metal troopers will return to The Old Continent in April to appear at several of the spring's heaviest festivals (Inferno, Roadburn) in addition to headlining 26 shows across Western Europe with support from Goatwhore and Mortals. From there, the group will pillage their way across Eastern Europe and headline dates in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Greece. A full list of dates appears below; tickets are available now at www.skeletonwitch.com.

Skeletonwitch have also begun writing material for a new album, expected to be released later this year. Guitarist Scott Hedrick commented, "After we return from melting faces in Europe, our entire focus will be on writing a new album. We have a mountain of riffs and ideas that will be carved into epic tunes. Excited to get started!"

 

 

Tour dates:  

April
3 - Oslo, Norway - Inferno Fest
4 - Motala, Sweden - Kulturakademin #
6 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset #
7 - Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang #
8 - Osnabruck, Germany - Bastard Club #
10 - Tillburg, Netherlands - Roadburn Festival
11 - Manchester, England - Sound Control #
12 - Dublin, Ireland - Voodoo Lounge #
13 - Glasgow, Scotland - Ivory Blacks #
14 - Birmingham, England - The Oobleck #
15 - Sheffield, England - Corporation #
16 - London, England - Underworld #
17 - Brussels, Belgium - Magasin 4 #
18 - Koln, Germany - Underground #
19 - Paris, France - Covent Garden #
20 - Angouleme, France - La Nef #
21 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Lemon #
22 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Razz 3 #
23 - Lyon, France - MJC O Totem #
24 - Zurich, Switzerland - Dynamo/ Werk 21 #
25 - Milan, Italy -  Lo Fi #
26 - Rome, Italy - Traffic Live #
27 - Innsbruck, Austria - p.m.k. #
28 - Munchen, Germany - Backstage #
29 - Leipzig, Germany - Conne Island #
30 - Berlin, Germany - Magnet #

May
1 - Wien, Austria - Arena #
2 - Prague, Czech Republic - Exit-us #
3 - Budapest, Hungary - Durer Kert
4 - Kosice, Slovakia - Collosseum
5 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania - Flying Circus
6 - Bucharest, Romania - Colectiv Club
7 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Bar Zar
8 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Eightball Club
9 - Athens, Greece - Ground Zero

# with Goatwhore and Mortals  

 

 

Tour trailer:

 

Portuguese dark metallers, Heavenwood, have announced the return of drummer Daniel Cardoso to the group’s ranks which is considered by Filipe Marta, the band’s manager ‘one of the most creative, professional and competent musicians around besides being a very important part of Heavenwood history’. In fact, Daniel Cardoso recorded the drums on the Redemption (2008) and Abyss Masterpiece (2011) albums and played with the band during this period.

Daniel Cardoso  is a talented multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer and is currently a member of British band Anathema. Daniel was also in Head Control System with Kristoffer Rygg and Leafblade with Danny Cavanagh.

Daniel presently has an extensive curriculum as both producer and/or session musician for a vast list of bands including Anneke van Giersbergen, Angelus Apatrida, Ava Inferi, and many more.

Heavenwood are currently recording their fifth studio album, The Tarot Of The Bohemians, to be released late September 2015. Bass and main vocal recording sessions took place at Stone Sound Studio, in Oporto, under the supervision of producer/ bassist Ricardo Oliveira; the drum recording session will take place at Ultrasoundstudios in Braga with Pedro Mendes. After finishing the drum tracking, Heavenwood will enter the Raising Legends Studio, where producer André Matos will be at helm of the final recordings.  

The band recently inked a album deal with Raising Legends Records for the exclusive release of the record in Portugal. The album will be released worldwide through a International label soon to be named. There will be a total of twelve songs thats will be included on the album and there are also plans for some bonus material to be included and some known international guest appearances.

Studio video reports will be posted online on the next weeks.

Spanish melodic death metallers, Jotnar, recently introduced their new lead singer, Mario Infantes. The band have now announced studio dates to record the vocals for their upcoming album.

Says the band in a statement: “It’s been a long time since we started the recording of this album but we are now thrilled to announce that we will enter in Jotunheim Studios in Barcelona next 26th March to record the vocals with our new singer, Mario Infantes.

Everything is ready, all the tracks are fully recorded just waiting for vocals and we must say that the demo vocal tracks sounds simply amazing. We will try to keep you updated from the studio.”

Below you can hear a few demo cuts from the upcoming new album:

Stay tuned for updates. More on Jotnar at Facebook.

Balingen, Germany-based prog/power metal act, We Are Legend, have released a new video (see below) for the song “Enemy Within“, taken from the 2013 debut album, Rise Of The Legend.

 

 

Rise Of The Legend tracklisting:

“Hungry Mirrors”
“This Holy Dark”
“Enemy Within”
“Birth Of The Legend”
“Rise Of The Legend”
“God Is Dreaming”
“Out!”
“Only Time Can Tell”
“March Of The Living”

“Enemy Within“ video

 

Vocalist Till Lindemann of German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN has joined forces with Swedish producer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) in a brand new project simply called LINDEMANN.

LINDEMANN's debut album, "Skills In Pills", will be released in May.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Skills In Pills02. Ladyboy03. Fat04. Fish On05. Children Of The Sun06. Home Sweet Home07. Cowboy08. Golden Shower09. Yukon10. Praise Abort

Pär Hulkoff, vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist for the Swedish industrial metal band RAUBTIER, claims to have had the opportunity to check out some of LINDEMANN's music and has said that "the small parts I heard really blew my mind." He added: "This will echo in eternity."

RAMMSTEIN guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe, who is currently promoting the sophomore album from his EMIGRATE project, recently told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about RAMMSTEIN's future plans: "We have a live DVD coming out, we have another live DVD coming out, we have another live DVD… We have so many live DVDs right now that we have to work that through. So, I think, at the moment, everyone does his own thing. I think it's important, because, again, RAMMSTEIN was always a band that took their time, that listened to themselves, listened to what they need, how much time they need between [albums]."

He added: "One good thing about that the music industry changed is that you don't have to do a record every year — it's not necessary — and I think a lot of people that did this put [out] records that weren't that great. So I like that idea, actually, to take breaks. Again, I think we will come back together. I love touring with RAMMSTEIN, and if somebody has a vision for a record, we'll do another record."

In an interview with UK's Kerrang! magazine, Kruspe said that he and his RAMMSTEIN bandmates were keeping a healthy distance from each other during the group's downtime.

"Flake's [keyboardist Christian Lorenz] writing a book, Till's doing some kind of solo thing, but I haven't heard anything," he said. "That's the other problem. We've been through so many years together, we've lost contact in a way. At 18 or 20, it's natural to have a gang around you. But in your 40s or 50s, it's not normal to be around five guys the whole year. Because normally you'd start a family, have children. It's like a marriage with six guys who are never having sex. People get frustrated!"

He added: "EMIGRATE saved my place in RAMMSTEIN."

Rock icons WHITESNAKE are set to return with their 12th studio album this spring. "The Purple Album" will be released in Europe on May 15 and in North America on May 19 via Frontiers Music SRL. "The Purple Album" is a re-imagination of classic songs from David Coverdale's time as the lead singer for DEEP PURPLE's Mark 3 and Mark 4 studio albums. The album is currently available for pre-order in various configurations on Amazon: a standard edition, a deluxe edition featuring two bonus tracks, four music videos and a behind-the-scenes featurette on the recording of the album and in a double LP vinyl format. Plans are also underway for a special limited box set edition with memorabilia and merchandise.

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "The Purple Album" is available below. "It's a tribute," says Coverdale. "A homage. It's a huge thank you from me to DEEP PURPLE for the opportunity I was given over 40 years ago.

"As I said to Ritchie [Blackmore], you guys set me on an incredible journey that continues today and I couldn't have asked for better teachers. The University Of Deep Purple was an extraordinary, amazing school to learn from. We can't wait to play these songs in concert!" From the opening notes of the classic track "Burn" to album closer "Stormbringer", WHITESNAKE are back and better than ever. Songs like "Lady Double Dealer", "Soldier Of Fortune" and "Sail Away" are given a new energy in the very capable hands of the current WHITESNAKE lineup, featuring David Coverdale on vocals, Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra on guitars, Michael Devin on bass and Tommy Aldridge on drums.

A video for the first single, "Stormbringer", can be seen below. "The Purple Album" track listing: 01. Burn02. You Fool No One (interpolating Itchy Fingers)03. Love Child 04. Sail Away05. The Gypsy06. Lady Double Dealer07. Mistreated08. Holy Man09. Might Just Take Your Life10. You Keep On Moving11. Soldier Of Fortune12. Lay Down Stay Down13. Stormbringer Deluxe edition bonus tracks:

14. Lady Luck15. Comin' Home DVD content:

* "Lady Double Dealer" - Music Video* "Sail Away" - Mix Music Video* "Stormbringer" - Music Video* "Soldier Of Fortune" - Music Video* "The Purple Album" Behind The Scenes* "The Purple Album" EPK

Progressive instrumental rock outfit Scale The Summit are currently in the process of recording their fifth studio album, which will once again be mixed by Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me, The Contortionist). King also worked with the band on their 2013 effort The Migration.

Additionally, Scale The Summit has announced a lineup change for the new release, as drummer J.C. Bryant has joined the group.

The band says, "We have parted ways with our drummer Pat Skeffington. Pat is a fantastic drummer and will be greatly missed. We wish him the absolute best in the future! Moving forward, we'd like to officially welcome J.C. Bryant as the new drummer for Scale The Summit. We just finished drum tracking for the new album this past weekend and can't wait for everyone to hear the songs! Get excited!"

Bryant added, "I've known the Scale guys for years, and I'm excited for the opportunity to work alongside them in the creative process!"

Check out a video teaser featuring newly recorded material from the band's upcoming album in the below playthrough video featuring Bryant:

 

Glenn Danzig was in a Los Angeles-area recording studio on Monday (March 16) with guitarist Tommy Victor and drummer Johnny Kelly laying down tracks for the upcoming DANZIG album, tentatively due in late 2015 or early 2016.

Not to be confused with Glenn's "covers" record, which is scheduled for a late spring release, this will be the first all-new material by DANZIG since 2010's "Deth Red Sabaoth" album.

Check out photos from the studio below.

As previously reported, Glenn's "Danzig Legacy" special — which was filmed in May 2012 in Glendale, California with director Mark Brooks (Adult Swim's "Metalocalypse") — will be made available in a few weeks via Vimeo. Brooks and Danzig finished all editing and post EFX and "it came out epic," according to a posting on Danzig's official web site.

Danzig also recently worked on an EP of Elvis Presley covers.

"Deth Red Sabaoth" sold 11,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.

British/American heavy metal trio RAVEN will release its new album, "ExtermiNation", in Scandinavia on April 22, in Germany on April 24, in the rest of Europe on April 27 and in North America on April 28 via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be made available as a digipak version (including one bonus track), 2LP gatefold green vinyl version and as a digital download.

The official lyric video for the song "Destroy All Monsters" can be seen below.

RAVEN recently raised more than $27,000 in a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to finance the recording of its next studio album. The band recorded a full-length covers CD titled "Party Killers" that was given away as an exclusive Kickstarter reward for backers. The group also offered exclusive t-shirts, patches, and a seven-inch vinyl single via the campaign, which ran through November 28.

"It seemed more obvious the longer we went into this that it was gonna cost more than the budget we have," RAVEN vocalist and bassist John Gallagher told Metal-Rules.com.

"We have a good relationship with our record company, SPV, but this is gonna cost about twice as much as the last one due to the extra rehearsals.

"We took a lot of time writing the record and condensing and looking into it, 'Does this part suck?' 'Could we do a better part?' 'Is this something obvious that we've done a million times before? Get rid of it. Come up with something different.' And [we've come up with] very strong melodies as well. So you've got very heavy songs with great melodies, which is king of all things."

"ExtermiNation" track listing:

01. Destroy All Monsters02. Tomorrow03. It's Not What You Got04. Fight05. Battle March/Tank Treads (The Blood Runs Red)06. Feeding The Monster07. Fire Burns Within08. Scream09. One More Day10. Thunder Down Under11. No Surrender12. Golden Dawn13. Silver Bullet14. River Of No Return15. Malice In Geordieland (bonus track)

2LP track listing: LP 1 Side 1

01. Destroy All Monsters02. Tomorrow03. It's Not What You Got04. Fight

Side 2

01. Battle March/Tank Treads (The Blood Runs Red)02. Feeding The Monster03. Fire Burns Within04. Scream

LP 2 Side 1

01. One More Day02. Thunder Down Under03. No Surrender04. Golden Dawn

Side 2

01. Silver Bullet02. River Of No Return03. Malice In Geordieland (bonus track)

"Party Killers", which is is available on CD and 12-inch vinyl, includes the following tracks:

* "Too Bad Too Sad" (NAZARETH)* "Bad Reputation" (THIN LIZZY)* "Cockroach" (SWEET)* "Fireball" (DEEP PURPLE)* "Hang On To Yourself" (DAVID BOWIE)* "He's A Whore" (CHEAP TRICK)* "In For The Kill" (BUDGIE)* "Is There A Better Way" (STATUS QUO)* "Ogre Battle" (QUEEN)* "Queen Of My Dreams" (EDGAR WINTER)* "Tak Me Bak 'Ome" (SLADE)

RAVEN released the "Rock Until You Drop - A Long Days Journey" two-disc DVD as a digipak in North America on July 2, 2013 via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort contains four hours and 30 minutes of concert footage from around the world, in the studio, backstage, interviews with the band, the fans, musicians and producer. It tells the story of over three decades of trailblaizing metal mayhem!

RAVEN's last album, "Walk Through Fire", was released in the U.S. on March 30, 2010 (one day earlier in Europe through SPV/Steamhammer) via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Assembly Line Studios with engineer/mixer Kevin 131 (PROJECT: FAILING FLESH, DECEASED, DYSRYTHMIA, GARDEN OF SHADOWS).

Lifeforce Records has announced the signing of one of The Netherlands’ heaviest and freshest acts with Teethgrinder.

An uncompromising manifestation of ferocity and utter discontent is probably the best way to describe the dismally melancholic sound of Teethgrinder. Fueled by a sense and a rage evoked by the steady decline of modern day society, Teethgrinder seek to release their bottled-up hatred through matching sonic extremity, they do so while making no compromises and refusing to any standards in the process. The authentic yet progressive sound of the band has been spawned by a fusion of the several genres, namely; grindcore, black metal, crust, sludge and noise. Teethgrinder honors their roots and simultaneously broaden the spectrum of grindcore itself, resulting in an unsettling maelstrom of ferocity.

Teethgrinder's debut album Misanthropy is set to be released on May 25th in Europe and on June 2nd in North America as CD, limited LP and download.

Teethgrinder live:

April
16 – Utrecht, Netherlands – Ekko

May
24 – Den Haag, Netherlands – Metalcon
30 – Torgau, Germany – Grind The Nazi Scum Festival

July
8 – Prague, Czech Republic – Thirst For Grind
9 – Trutnov, Czech Republic – Obscene Extreme Festival
11 – Hogeveen, Netherlands – Graveland Festival

Sterbhaus of Stockholm, Sweden, who recently signed with Black Lodge, will release their follow up to the successful album Angels For Breakfast …And God for Lunch on May 29th. The album is entitled New Level Of Malevolence and will be preceded by a digital single release for the song “Necrostabbing The Corpsefinder” on March 27th. The song will be released on all major streaming/downloading platforms worldwide.

Sterbhaus, who spent 2013 touring as support for Vader, Melechesh and Shining went on to use most of last year finalizing the preproduction as well and recording the album during the autumn. Ronnie Björnström (Aeon) did the mixing and once again Gyula Havancak (Annihilator, Destruction, Sirenia) is responsible for the artwork.

New Level Of Malevolence tracklisting:

“Grudgeholder + Hatemonger”
“El Giftus Satanus”
“Necrostabbing The Corpsefinder”
“Bloodbarf”
“Crossed And Pissed And Devoured”
“New Level Of Malevolence”
“Baby Jee And The 3 Stalkers”
“The King Of The Red”
“It Came From The Brain”
“The Grand Theology”

Sterbhaus are also confirmed as main support for Anaal Nathrakh and Benighted for the second leg of the Serpens of Anima tour from October 23rd-31st.

Texas thrashers WARBEAST have announced the addition of 20-years-old guitarist Drew Shoup and 17-year-old bassist Lyric Ferchaud to the group's ranks.

Commented WARBEAST drummer José Manuel Gonzales: "[These are] two young guns with a fire in their bellies and hungry for thrash.

"It's humbling and refreshing for me to work with two dedicated individuals ready and eager to hit the road and continue the tradition of thrash." Shoup was always a big fan and supporter of WARBEAST. Born in Dallas, he moved to Colorado at the age of 10. He recently moved back to texas pursue this opportunity to join one of his favorite bands. He says: "WARBEAST is one of the tightest, most energetic bands I've ever heard. I am very excited to be a part of what they do." Ferchaud, who is the stepson of WARBEAST singer Bruce Corbitt, started doing gigs in clubs at the young age of 15 with his band PSYCLOPS. He's also performed with his dad's bands… who is a proven lifetime singer/musician. His youthfulness will not be a concern for Lyric when it comes to his self-confidence… as he proclaims: "I've watched the band become who they are and to be a part of that is pure excellence. I feel that joining this band will keep 'The Beast' alive as it should always be, and lead to even more powerful thrash metal than before." Bruce is very thrilled about the future of WARBEAST, with Lyric and Drew now in the band. He says: "The positive energy they both bring is so cool and it's like breath of fresh air. They're both excited and this is a big step up for both of them. They want to contribute to the creative side of the band too."

He continues: "Drew has worked really hard to make the transition to move back to Dallas/Fort Worth, as well as to learn our material. I know we made the right choice by picking Drew to fill this spot… I really like the guy." As for Lyric joining WARBEAST, Bruce states: "Obviously I'm really proud of him and it's nice to have a member of the family in the band too." He explains why this didn't happen sooner. "We've all known how talented Lyric was for many years. But I believed it would have been a mistake to give him a chance like this too soon. It was kind of like the old show 'Kung Fu' and he was Grasshopper… 'When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to join WARBEAST. [Laughs]" WARBEAST also recently had a clean sweep in the "Thrash Metal" category at the Maxima Distorzion Awards, which honors Texas bands and musicians for metal, rock and punk genres. WARBEAST won the "People's Choice" award for "Best Thrash Band" in Texas, and the three remaining core members of the band also won the "People's Choice" awards in their respective categories.

Punishment 18 Records is preparing to release Belgium thrashers Bloodorocuted new album Disaster Strikes Back on March 30th. Artwork was created by artist Mario Lopez (Game Over, Sabbat, Warstorm, Sofisticator, Repulsor, Axe Battler and many more).

Disaster Strikes Back tracklisting:

“71:52 Leikeze”
“Revolution Of The Enslaved”
“Burning The West”
“Consumer Of Death”
“Soulclaimer”
“The Sickened Mind”
“HumanBeast”
“Mors Indecpta”
“Disaster Strikes Back”
“Rise Ov Evil” (bonus track)

Announced today is Sunshine Of Your Love, a tribute concert to the late Jack Bruce, one of the finest musicians of his generation and sadly missed. The concert, in aid of Jack’s favourite charity, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), will be held on Saturday, October 24th at The Roundhouse in London, England. Tickets will be on sale from Wednesday, March 18th and available from this location.

Artists confirmed so far: Ginger Baker, Joss Stone, Phil Manzanera, Ian Anderson, Vernon Reid, Mark King, Liam Bailey, Fiona Bevan and Jack Bruce’s Big Blues Band. Further additions and special guests yet to be announced.

 

 

Musical Director, Nitin Sawhney has said: “Jack Bruce was one of my biggest heroes when I was growing up – a consummate musician, composer and all round rock genius with a killer voice and one of the most creative and versatile musical minds of his generation.  Being asked to musically direct this show celebrating his life and work is a great honour and privilege and I look forward to working with an amazing line up of contemporary artists and rock legends.”

 

 

Jack Bruce was a music colossus with a restless musical spirit. His 50-year career saw him work with a wide range of collaborators, across many genres. He was respected by all for his inventiveness and instrumental dexterity. He composed some of the greatest songs of the 20th Century including: “White Room”, “I Feel Free”, “Sunshine Of Your Love”, and “Theme For An Imaginary Western”. His last album was Silver Rails, released in March 2014 and recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

 

 

Tickets will be available to Roundhouse members on Tuesday, March 17th with general sale available from Wednesday, March 18th. Ticket prices are £37.50 - £45.00 and available from this location.

EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices) support families and care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. Their care and support is tailored for the needs of all family members and delivered where the families wish – in their own home, at hospital, in the community or at one of three hospices in Ipswich, Milton and Quidenham.

(Photo - Marek Hofman)

During a March 7 interview with Argentina's Vorterix, Duff McKagan was asked about his recent tweet in which he wrote that he spent "the first part" of his birthday "rocking" in the studio with his former GUNS N' ROSES bandmate Izzy Stradlin.

"[Izzy and I] recorded a song that day," Duff revealed. "We were talking on the phone, and [Izzy] said, 'Let's go record a song.' And we used Josh [Homme] from QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's studio; it was open. So we just went it — Izzy and I and [ex-REVEREND HORTON HEAT drummer] Taz [Bentley] — and just had a blast. We recorded a song. I have it. It just got mixed. It's a super kick-ass song. And we just had fun, and we'll probably do it some more."

He continued: "We've always kind of done [stuff like that], but usually on his records. This was just like this open thing. And I had a riff, and he had an idea, and we recorded it in half a day."

Asked if fans can expect to hear the song on his next album, Duff responded: "Maybe. We're gonna maybe record some more. But we just enjoy making music together and enjoy each other's company. We're allowed to do that."

McKagan, along with fellow former GUNS N' ROSES members Slash, Steven Adler, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke, performed three "Appetite For Destruction" songs with Myles Kennedy at the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in April 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Both Izzy and GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose skipped the induction, with Stradlin issuing a statement the week before the event, thanking his bandmates, the Hall Of Fame for "the acknowledgment of our works over the years," and the fans who "have supported GUNS N' ROSES from day one."

Acclaimed rockers STONE SOUR have welcomed guitarist Christian Martucci as a "permanent" member of the band.

Martucci originally joined STONE SOUR in late 2013 as the replacement for Jim Root, who was fired from the group after deciding he wanted to sit out the band's last tour in order to start work on the next album from SLIPKNOT, of which he is also a member.

Asked by a fan on Facebook earlier today (Wednesday, March 18) if Martucci will be the "permanent replacement" for Root, STONE SOUR replied: "Yes."

Root told Guitar World magazine in a 2014 interview that he had no desire to rejoin STONE SOUR and that some of its members were "only concerned about money." Root explained, "Some of the guys in STONE SOUR, I think they just want to be a radio band and write strictly for radio and try to be more of a poppy rock band. And that's not really what I'm into. There's at least one guy in the band that's only concerned about money. I really have no desire to associate with people like that anymore." Regarding his split with STONE SOUR, Root told Revolver magazine, "The band kept pushing for more dates, and I was just, like, 'It's time to stop!'"

Root and SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor spent much of the last five years recording and touring behind three STONE SOUR studio records, including 2010's "Audio Secrecy" and the double concept album "House Of Gold & Bones".

Taylor said last year that STONE SOUR's split with Root "put a strain between he and I for a little bit" when the two reconvened to work on the new SLIPKNOT album.

STONE SOUR will release "Meanwhile In Burbank…", a five-song "Record Store Day" exclusive EP featuring covers of legendary artists BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA, KISS, JUDAS PRIEST and ALICE IN CHAINS. Recorded live at Room 237 in Burbank, California, "Meanwhile In Burbank…" will be available on vinyl exclusively at select record stores on April 18.

MESHIAAK, the new band featuring ex-4ARM frontman Danny Tomb, TERAMAZE guitarist Dean Wells and former SLAYER/TESTAMENT drummer Jon Dette, has inked a deal with Mascot Label Group. The group will enter GREEN DAY's Jingletown Recording Studios in Oakland, California on March 25 to begin tracking Dette's drums for MESHIAAK's debut album, titled "Alliance Of Thieves". The CD will feature nine tracks mixed and mastered by Matt Hyde and is tentatively due in late September. The cover artwork will be created by Brent Elliot White.

MESHIAAK is:

Vocals/guitars: Danny TombLead Guitars: Dean WellsBass: Nick WalkerDrums: Jon Dette

Regarding how MESHIAAK came together, Tomb told Loud magazine: "Dean Wells and I used to chat a lot about doing some kind of project together and had been talking about it for months prior to actually doing anything. Just so happens that the timing became right and things fell into place and we were able to seriously begin to look at it."

Tomb also spoke about the songwriting process for the new band, telling Loud: "I'm a thrash head through and through, I grew up on it, and it's in my blood. When I write music, it definitely comes through. That's another reason why writing with Dean is so cool; it's like everything goes to a different level and it all comes together so easily and effortlessly.

"What's real exciting for me at the moment is for the first time ever, I've been able to write music with someone that can have an input or idea about riffs. I've never had that before, so it's something very fresh and new for both of us.

"Before we started anything, I had a heap of material just sitting there, but since MESHIAAK started, we've worked on it all and changed or pulled it apart and put back together almost everything. I'm really looking forward to the end result."

As for the origin of the MESHIAAK band name, Tomb said: "The pronunciation of the word is Meh-she-yuk. We've played on the spelling a little but it's actually the Hebrew word for Messiah. Dean and I felt it had a strong appeal and we both share the same faith and beliefs in things, we both kind of felt it was fitting for us."

Based in Australia, MESHIAAK promises to tour nationally and internationally upon the completion and release of its debut album.

Wincent, the Swedish company that produces high-quality drumsticks, rods and brushes, recently visited the studio of Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH to get a report on the creation of the band's next studio album, tentatively due in 2016. Check out the footage below.

In 2014, MESHUGGAH was awarded an exclusive scholarship for its services to the Swedish and international music scene. The musicians were presented with the scholarship and diploma by SKAP president Alfons Karabuda at an intimate event in the south side of Stockholm in December.

Asked what MESHUGGAH has been up to the last few months, the band's guitarist, guitarist Mårten Hagström, told Nev Pearce of Australia's "Rabid Noise" podcast last November: "We've been touring up until July this summer when we stopped doing the first leg of our 25th-anniversary touring that we kicked off. We finished off the 'Koloss' touring for 'The Ophidian Trek', and then we went into doing some shows to kind of commemorate the fact that we're old fuckers now and have been around for too long. That's what we've been up to. And then we've been wrapping things up for this album and taking care of some things on the administrative side that are not so fun to take care of. And then, right now, we're starting to get back into some kind of writing mode. It's early stages yet, but we're messing around with new ideas and stuff."

Regarding what stage of the writing process MESHUGGAH is in right now for the follow-up to 2012's "Koloss", Mårten said: "[We're] mainly just sending stuff back and forth. I've been sitting down the last few weeks at home working by himself. I know Tomas [Haake, drums] has been working a little bit with Dick [Lövgren, bass], but mostly by himself as well. And that's generally how it goes for us. I mean, it doesn't get to be, kind of, a band effort until we've got something to stand on, some ideas and some half songs here and there that we can all dig into, cool stuff that might make it to the next album. And then everybody gets into the process and then it gets snowballing from there, it gets bigger and bigger real fast. But the early stages are always real slow, and that's where we're at now. But we're not rushing anything."

Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the recording of its first EP, MESHUGGAH released a concert DVD / 2CD set and Blu-ray, "The Ophidian Trek", on September 30, 2014 via Nuclear Blast. With visual footage shot in the U.S. and Europe during "The Ophidian Trek" tour and festival footage from Wacken Open Air 2013 in Germany, the live audio was processed and edited by MESHUGGAH guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, mixed by Daniel Begstrand (DIMMU BORGIR, BEHEMOTH) and mastered by Mats "Limpan" Lindfors (ROXETTE, OPETH, MANDO DIAO).

"The Ophidian Trek" is MESHUGGAH's second live DVD, the first being 2010's "Alive", which debuted at position No. 8 on the Billboard Music DVD chart.

Former ACCEPT singer Udo Dirkschneider says that "clever" marketing on the part of the band's record label helped the current version of ACCEPT land its first-ever No. 1 album in Germany with last year's "Blind Rage".

Asked by The Rock Online if he is bothered by the fact that ACCEPT took the pole position in Germany for the first time with an album that features his replacement, Mark Tornillo, on vocals, Udo responded: "Let's say it this way. I mean, I know the business, I know how everything works, you know. I mean, they were changing the release date [of the album in order to insure that it would place high on the chart]. Normally, it was planned [to be out] one month before [in July 2014], but it was the same time that JUDAS PRIEST was coming out [with 'Redeemer Of Souls']. I mean, I know the business behind [the decision to push the release date back]. You know, and then they moved it to August. August, normally nothing is happening [in terms of big releases coming out]. [It was a] really clever [move] by the record company. I mean, I know how much albums it sold to [land] on the first… to be Number One in Germany. So that's the whole thing behind the scenes. I mean, of course, it's good if they have a Number One. It's, like, yeah, the press [reacts very enthusiastically]: 'Wow...!'"

Udo also revealed more details behind his decision to purchase a ticket to see the most recent touring lineup of ACCEPT perform live on October 4, 2014 at Docks in Hamgburg, Germany during the European leg of the "Blind Rage" tour.

"Yeah, I can tell this: I mean, I was in Hamburg. I was waiting for the guy to pick me up for the mixing [of the new U.D.O. album 'Decadent']," he said. "And then I was buying a ticket — this is true — I was buying a ticket to see the [ACCEPT] show in Hamburg at the Docks. Yeah, really! [laughs] And it was, for me, very interesting."

He continued: "I wanted to see it once live, you know, what they're doing on stage. And let's say it in this way: I was… I cannot really explain it. It was like something like… It was, for me, nothing… like there was no band on stage, you know. For me, it was like they were playing everything without emotion. They [didn't] look [at] each other. It was something, you know, it was like just, 'Okay, here we go... Be finished and go!' And, okay, in a way… It was sold out. But I thought the reaction of the people... Let's say, the most reaction was when they did the old songs. Of course. So, but, you know, and the singer [Mark Tornillo]… In a way, he's a good singer, but when he has to sing all the old ACCEPT stuff, I feel very sorry for him. This is a nightmare."

Udo added: "I don't wanna say anything bad, you know, but it was really, like… I was, like, really, 'What are they doing there!?' I mean, I thought they really [would perform]... yeah, let's say, really with energy and really with, you know, emotion. But this was like something… Okay… There was nothing… There was not a band, for me, on stage. So, but now I saw this, and I wish them all the best."

Asked if a lot of ACCEPT fans recognized him in the crowd during the band's show in Hamburg, Udo responded: "Of course a lot of people recognized me. In the beginning, it was very interesting. I came in when [ACCEPT had] already started [playing], and then I was staying in the back. And then I could see all the people [looking at me], you know, like, 'Err... is this Udo!?' Then the people came up, of course: 'What are you doing here?' I said: 'I watch ACCEPT!" [laughs] 'I wanna see that!' So it was really funny, you know. [laughs] Yeah, what can I say? And then, of course, [people] started taking pictures [with me], [asking me for] autographs, blah blah blah. Yeah, but I don't have any problems to do stuff like that, you know."

He continued: "I mean, yeah, for me, it was really important to… I wanted really… I had the chance [and] wanted to see [the current version of ACCEPT perform] live. And it was very important for me. And now I know what I wanna know from this band, you know, and then I say, 'Okay, I saw it with my own eyes, I hear everything.' That's it."

In a September 2014 interview with Music Enthusiast Magazine, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann was asked if Udo Dirkschneider has tried to reach back out or re-establish communication with his ex bandmates in recent years. "I haven't heard from him in forever other than indirectly in the press, and honestly none of us are even thinking about him," Wolf replied. "It's really not been an issue at all, I mean, we surely put it to rest with this album ['Blind Rage']. Clearly it was a big deal the first time around for [2010's] 'Blood Of The Nations'; a lot of people were asking, 'Why?' and 'What?' and 'How come?' But the story has been told so many times now that it's clear that we've started a new life and Udo didn't want to be part of it. He made his choice, we're moving on, and that's that."

Multinational metallers POWERWOLF will release their sixth album in July via Napalm Records. Titled "Blessed & Possessed", the CD's cover artwork was once again created by POWERWOLF guitarist Matthew Greywolf.

POWERWOLF is currently mixing "Blessed & Possessed" with Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden. Catch POWERWOLF live on their very special "Wolfsnächte" tour. The wolves will be accompanied by ORDEN OGAN, CIVIL WAR and XANDRIA.

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

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

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

According to Le Journal De Montréal, DEF LEPPARD will perform on the season finale of "La Voix", Quebec, Canada's version of the popular sing-off competition show "The Voice". Also set to appear on the April 12 episode are Jean Leloup, Kelly Clarkson, Cœur de Pirate, Louis-Jean Cormier, Melissa Etheridge, Patrice Michaud, Ariane Moffatt and Alex Nevsky.

DEF LEPPARD has completed recording its new album for a late 2015 release.

During a recent interview with Billy Kidd of the 100.3 Jack FM radio station, DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott stated about the band's first new studio album since 2008's "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge": "I keep wanting to say [it's] probably one of the most honest records we've ever made, but that makes everything sound like everything else we've done has been dishonest or something, [which] it's not. But it's one of the most refreshingly, kind of, easy albums that we've made. There was no big fights or [that] it took forever to do. It was done over a period of about… by the time it's finished, over about 14 months. But that's only because we did a month's work last February [2014]. We did about another two weeks in May. We just did another month this February just gone — last month. And little bits in between where I'd be on the mic while the rest of the guys were back home, you know. So we've not spent a massive amount of time on it. It came very naturally."

He continued: "We got together last year to write what we thought was just gonna be an EP. And we'd been listening probably a little too hard to the naysayers, saying that the album [format] was dead. We were kind of thinking, 'Well, maybe it is, you know. Let's just do an EP.' But when we all played each other everything that we had, we had 12 songs that we couldn't really whittle down to three of four; we liked them all. So we looked at each other and said, 'Well, maybe the album's not dead then, you know, because I think we've just written one.'"

Elliott added: "When we got back together last May to work more on those 12 songs, we wrote three more. So, you know, we had this pool of 15 songs knocking around, of which, you know, 12, 13 or 14 will make the album, no doubt. But it's a… it's got a bit of everything. It's got some stuff that will be instantly recognizable as DEF LEPPARD, and it's got some stuff that's just us stretching our wings a little further than normal, and making a record that people of our mature age should be making. But it rocks. It's a real good record."

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

DEF LEPPARD released a deluxe, expanded edition of 1996's "Slang" album in February 2014.

D.M.K. (Dunbar, Merrill, Karl), the new new group that features solo artist Scotty Dunbar, guitarist Ted Merrill (formerly of Mach 22) and drummer Brian Karl (formerly of Station), have just released a sample of their first single, “The Fire That Won’t Go Out”, from their upcoming debut EP, entitled 3. Listen here.

The EP will be released worldwide digitally on March 24th and will also be available on CD as of April 2nd.

 

 

D.M.K. will celebrate the release of 3 by performing at the world famous Whisky A Go Go in W.Hollywood, CA on April 2nd along with Michael Sweet of Stryper and Mike Tramp of White Lion.

Dunbar states: “As some people may or may not be aware is that I am a survivor of The Station Night Club Fire, which occurred on February 20th, 2003. I was in attendance that night along with my two buddies Derek Gray and Eugene “Gino” Avilez to see the band Great White. My two friends perished in the fire along with 98 other innocent lives.

The lyrics to “The Fire That Won’t Go Out” are pretty bold and in your face. I wrote the lyrics in regards to my recovery, acceptance and rising above such a tragic situation as the fire. So many of us go through dark valleys in life, I think that many people will be able to relate to the lyrics of this particular song. Musically It’s the heaviest song I’ve ever done. Ted & Brian really deliver BIG time on this track.”

Plasma Films are also set to release a documentary of the same title. The film tells Dunbar’s story of survival and his road to recovery. The film was directed by Brian Ouellette and is scheduled for a late-May release.

Trailer:

Guitarist Ted Merrill states: “We had such a great time recording this EP. There’s no BS! What you hear is what you get.”

Dunbar concludes: “It’s definitely fate that brought the three of us together and we have become the very best of friends.”

The 3 EP was produced by Kenny Lewis and was recorded at Mixed Emotions Studio in Middleton, Massachusetts.

D.M.K.’s first release as a group was this past December. The band recorded a bluesy take of the Christmas classic “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, which was mastered by Mark Slaughter. The single peaked at #2 on Amazon’s Top 100 Hot New Releases Chart. The single remained on the digital charts for the entire Christmas season.

 

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA has announced its return to Rise Records for the release of the band's next effort, a conceptual EP titled "Space", coming in summer 2015. The band's "Zombie 5 Tour Presented by Rockstar Energy Drink" celebrating the fifth anniversary of the acclaimed EP "Zombie" kicked off in Nashville this past Sunday night and and will criss-cross the country through mid May, wrapping in Bloomington, Illinois on May 14. The band is performing the "Zombie" EP in its entirety for the first time, as well as a new song (see video below) from the forthcoming "Space" EP, among many other fan favorites. Commenting on THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's return to Rise Records, vocalist Mike Hranica said: "We're all very confident in working with Rise again. The label has grown tremendously since our first release back in 2006. Nonetheless, we know their intention is still the same as ever and we know it's a model that will complement us well. We're persistently hands-on and love to do exactly as we please, and they're a great place for us to be able to continue that path while supporting our visions. Rise can be commended, deservedly, for their wholehearted drive at releasing albums they believe in; and it's that enthusiasm that is both welcoming and exciting for our band moving forward." The "Space" EP marks THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's first concept release since "Zombie" and the first on Rise Records since the band's sophomore release, "Plagues", in 2007.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's latest full-length album, "8:18", was released in September 2013 via Roadrunner.

Finland-based melodic death metal act, Bloodred Hourglass, are streaming the opening track, “The Greatest Time Of Change”, from their upcoming album, Where The Oceans Burn.

Where the Oceans Burn was recorded and mixed by Juho Räihä at Soundspiral Audio and mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers Mastering. Details about the release of the album and full tracklisting will be announced later.

Bloodred Hourglass previously released their debut album, Lifebound, via Spinefarm Records in 2012. The band went more melodic and atmospheric on their second release.

(Photo - Annika Sorjonen)