Professionally filmed video footage of WATAIN's entire June 20 performance at Hellfest in Clisson, France can be seen below.

WATAIN played its only U.S. show of the summer on June 15 at the Brooklyn Bazaar in New York.

The band's fifth full-length, "The Wild Hunt", sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD was released on August 19, 2013 in Europe and August 20, 2013 in USA via the group's own label His Master's Noise through Century Media Records.

Produced once again by Tore Stjerna at his Necromorbus studio in Alvik, Sweden, "The Wild Hunt" is a sonic and lyrical tour-de-force that explores WATAIN's roots, such as BATHORY and DISSECTION, while also remaining truly unique. Having lost none of their integrity, WATAIN continues to push the boundaries of the scene with their fifth full-length, refusing to compromise their sound and vision. Amid the tracks teeming with the band's classic sound, "The Wild Hunt" also features clean vocals (a first for the trio!) which, as Erik Danielsson puts it, "is just us being brutally personal and honest. It shows another important facet of the WATAIN world."

Executed in oil and mixed materials, the cover of "The Wild Hunt" was created by Zbigniew M Bielak, the very same artist who was responsible for the "Lawless Darkness" artwork. The piece depicts one of the inmost shrines of WATAIN's temple. As on every classic still life, each object has a significant meaning, while each song of the album is also connected to an object.

Professionally filmed video footage of SOULFLY's entire June 21 performance at Hellfest in Clisson, France can be seen below.

SOULFLY's ninth album, "Savages", sold 4,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 84 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Enslaved", opened with 5,900 units in March 2012 to land at No. 82.

"Savages" was released on October 1, 2013 via SOULFLY's new label home, Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The CD was produced by Terry Date, who is known for his work with such acts as PANTERA, DEFTONES and SOUNDGARDEN, among many others. Guest vocal appearances on "Savages" include SOULFLY bass player Tony Campos, CLUTCH's Neil Fallon, NAPALM DEATH's Mitch Harris, Jamie Hanks of I DECLARE WAR and SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera's son Igor Cavalera (of LODY KONG).

The cover artwork for "Savages" was created by renowned artist Paul Stottler, who is best known for his work on SACRED REICH's legendary "Surf Nicaragua" cover.

Date previously mixed SOULFLY's "3" (2002), "Prophecy" (2004) and "Dark Ages" (2005) albums, but had never produced any of the group's CDs.

Professionally filmed video footage of DEATH ANGEL's entire June 20 performance at Hellfest in Clisson, France can be seen below.

DEATH ANGEL recently canceled its European summer tour dates in order to take the time to "restructure our business team to make DEATH ANGEL the strongest band that we can possibly be from the outside to the core," the band explained in a statement. The group added: "Certain aspects of how this band was being handled were no longer matching up to the quality level of product we are releasing, and the live shows we've been unleashing! And if we carried on that way any longer, it would have damaged the core of what is us, and that is the band." DEATH ANGEL's seventh album, "The Dream Calls For Blood", sold 5,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 72 on The Billboard 200 chart.

DEATH ANGEL's previous CD, "Relentless Retribution", opened with 2,700 units in September 2010. The band's 2008 effort, "Killing Season", registered a first-week tally of around 2,300. This number was in line with the performance of its predecessor, "The Art of Dying", which premiered with around 2,100 copies back in May 2004.

Released on October 11, 2013 in Europe (except for the U.K. where it arrived three days later) and October 15, 2013 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records, "The Dream Calls For Blood" was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER), and once again features cover art by Brent Elliot White (JOB FOR A COWBOY, CARNIFEX, WHITECHAPEL).

Professionally filmed video footage of SEPULTURA's June 20 performance at Hellfest in Clisson, France can be seen below.

SEPULTURA's new album, "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart", sold around 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD came out on October 29, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Although it was inspired by Fritz Lang's classic 1927 movie "Metropolis", "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" is not a concept album or a soundtrack like its precedessors "Dante XXI" (based on "The Divine Comedy") and "A-Lex" (based on "A Clockwork Orange").

"The Mediator Between The Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" was tracked over a 40-day period at producer Ross Robinson's (KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, SLIPKNOT) studio in Venice, California and was mixed and mastered by co-producer Steve Evetts, who previously worked with SEPULTURA on the "Nation" (2001), "Revolusongs" (2002) and "Roorback" (2003) albums, in addition to having collaborated with Ross on a number of other projects in the past.

Asked in a 2013 interview if he was concerned about the length of the new album title, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser said: "Not at all. For one thing, the length of the phrase that became the title made it more exciting, actually. It's something different. The title expresses the importance of being human, not to lose our heart, not to turn completely into robots. And the title expresses this kind of difference in the human side."

He continued: "People are so accustomed to certain things that when something new happens, everybody thinks that it's weird or it's wrong. That's a type of robotic feeling as well. Anything away from the normal, from the routine is considered as a wrong thing. But it's not. Art in general is here to break the rules, you know. And for SEPULTURA, it's been our motto since we started. We really tried to look for something different all the time, new music, new instruments, and we've had the privilege to travel the world and to know new people. We keep our mind fresh and that's why every time we have these ideas.

"So I would say there was never a doubt or an attempt to find a shorter name just because the phrase was too long. I think the phrase really expresses basically what we feel today and what we see today."

Kisser also spoke about the musical direction of "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" and how it compares to 2011's "Kairos". "Well, every past SEPULTURA album is definitely an influence on every new album we start working on," he said> "Of course 'Kairos' was the closest one from this, and it was really well received and everything. We did two years of touring in support of it and played great places and great festivals. It was our first album on Nuclear Blast too. So yes, there's definitely a reference to 'Kairos' on this new album in every aspect, but musically, we always try something different because we don't try to reproduce a past album again, you know. But on this one we have influences from the old stuff, more of the death metal type of thing, and I think it's dirtier and more raw than 'Kairos'. I think the main difference is the drummer Eloy Casagrande. This was the first time we worked with him, he's 22 years old, has a lot of energy and he has done a lot more metal than our previous drummer Jean Dolabella. I mean, don't get me wrong, Jean is a great musician and drummer. We did 'Kairos' with him and as we were just saying, 'Kairos' was really well received. But the new drummer is more into the metal world with his background. He's a big SEPULTURA fan and loves playing the style of music. He made a big difference to the sound and inspired us to write what we did."

Fan-filmed video footage of TROUBLE's June 18 performance at Strange Matter in Richmond, Virginia can be seen below.

TROUBLE played its first show with the band's new lineup — featuring singer Kyle Thomas and bassist Rob Hultz — on October 12, 2013 at the Day Of Doom festival in Barcelona, Spain.

Hultz is no stranger to the heavy metal, hard rock, and doom metal genres as his lengthy music resume boasts. While still in high school, he joined an East Coast hardcore band called SOCIAL DECAY which served as his introduction to recording and touring. After a decade, he left with the guitar player to form the doom metal band GODSPEED and was signed to Atlantic Records. Their debut album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York and produced by Rachel Bolan of SKID ROW. The band was represented by Gloria Butler Management and toured with iconic bands such as BLACK SABBATH, DIO and CATHEDRAL, to name just a few. In 1996, Hultz helped form SOLACE, another notable doom metal band, which was signed to Meteor City Records, and played large arenas, clubs, and festivals such as Roadburn and Hellfest. Their last recording, "A.D.", was released on Small Stone Records in 2010 and voted Best Metal Album of the Year on iTunes. Since then, Hultz has lent his talents on projects for LETHAL AGGRESSION and DISEASE CONCEPT. "The Distortion Field", the first studio album in six years from TROUBLE, sold around 760 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 25 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Released in Europe on August 23, 2013 via FRW Records, the 12-song follow-up to 2007's "Simple Mind Condition" was helmed by veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P., ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) and marks the recording debut with TROUBLE of lead singer Kyle Thomas following the departure of the group's frontman of four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame).

TROUBLE 2014 is:

Kyle Thomas: VocalsBruce Franklin: GuitarRick Wartell: GuitarMark Lira: DrumsRob Hultz: Bass

Fan-filmed video footage of legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen's June 15 performance at Braun's Concert Cove in Akron, New York during the "Guitar Gods" tour with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal of GUNS N' ROSES and Gary Hoey can be seen below.

Malmsteen is currently mixing a live album and DVD recorded at back-to-back shows in Tampa and Orlando. According to Yngwie, it will be released in August and will probably be called "Spellbound Live". He told CitizensVoice.com about the live album and DVD: "That's a perfect example of how when I play, it's always different. Because one's from Tampa and one's from Orlando, and it's completely different."

Regarding how the Guitar Gods tour, which kicked off June 12 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, would be structured, Yngwie told Highway 81 Revisited: "A lot of people probably get the idea that I'm this extremely calculated kind of guy, and in a lot of ways I am. But when it comes to music or artistic expression, I'm very uncalculated and do things very spontaneous. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't want to do this anymore. I can't just play the same thing over and over, it would drive me crazy."

He continued: "So for instance, if I do a regular show, like 20 minutes before the show, I say to the tour manager, 'Here's the setlist,' and it's not the same setlist as the night before. And I say to the tour manager, 'Print them out and put them on the stage.' So now everybody has a setlist. And once I hit the stage, I'll play a different setlist anyway. If you go to two of the shows, they're very different. This is how I keep the thing alive, this is how I stay inspired."

On the topic of "Relentless", the memoir he published last year, Malmsteen said: "I felt that I had to put this on paper from the only perspective from which it could be told, which is my perspective. I'm talking about walking in the snow when I'm seven years old and wondering what the fuck am I doing here, why am I born in this fucking place? And now of course I'm looking at palm trees, so now I'm remedying that; I'm still thawing out. But the thing is, it has to be read to understand where I'm coming from."

He added: "It's not just all the chicks — it was that too, you know the rock 'n' roll thing? I did all that fucking shit. Trust me. I'm a very different person now. I don't touch alcohol, I don't touch cigarettes, I don't touch drugs. I'm a very clean-living person for the last 10 years, maybe more now. I just felt it had to be told. It's so different from where I started. When I looked back, I said, fuck, that was me? It's very therapeutic as well."

Yngwie's latest album, "Spellbound", was released in December 2012.

A brand new KORN track called "Hater" can be streamed below. The song, which arrived at rock radio on Thursday (June 19), is taken from the upcoming expanded edition of the band's latest album, "The Paradigm Shift". KORN frontman Jonathan Davis told The Pulse Of Radio that the track is a direct rebuttal to the kind of person described in the title of the song. "Everybody has a hater," he said. "Everybody has someone that hates on you because you have something they want. And it's really, like, the first empowering song I've ever wrote where it's just blatantly telling you — I mean, the lyrics are: 'You can't bring me down/I've already had my life turned upside down/I ride a downward spiral round and round/But I keep flying, I keep fighting/You'll never bring me down.' That's like the most positive shit I've ever wrote. And it's so different. Everyone that's heard it loves it."

Davis wrote and recorded most of the song at a studio near his home in Bakersfield, California before sending it to the other members of the band to add their parts.

The new version of "The Paradigm Shift" is due out July 15 and features another new studio cut, called "The Game Is Over", as well as live tracks recorded all over the world.

Davis told Billboard.com, meanwhile, that he's also recorded a track with KORN called "So Unfair", which was inspired by his youngest son Zeppelin's battle with Type One diabetes. Davis called the song "the most personal to me."

The singer is also working on a new album from his electronic dance music side project KILLBOT.

KORN returns to the road this summer with the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, starting July 5 in Devore, California.

FOZZY, the band featuring WWE wrestling superstar Chris Jericho alongside members of STUCK MOJO, will release its new album, "Do You Wanna Start A War", on July 22 via Century Media.

A snippet of the song "Died With You" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Fans can now pre-order the 12-track album at iTunes and receive an instant download of the song "One Crazed Anarchist".

The official lyric video for "One Crazed Anarchist" can be seen below.

Produced by FOZZY guitarist Rich Ward, "Do You Wanna Start A War" features 12 tracks, including the debut single, "Lights Go Out", the title track and the return of the Theremin in "Bad Tattoo". SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor recently described the CD as "dark, dense and sharp. Sonically and lyrically, this feels like it's going somewhere big. I love it!"

Asked about whether FOZZY's new album will feature any special guests, Jericho told the Boise, Idaho radio station 100.3 The X Rocks: "I mean, we always have a guest or two on every record, because… It's interesting when you see… You listen to Top 40 radio — every radio when I drive my kids to school, we listen to it — and you'll always hear Jay-Z plus Beyonce, or featuring Beyonce, or Rihanna featuring Lil Jon. And we thought, why don't we do more of that in rock and roll? I man, that's what we did. The last record, we had 'Sandpaper' with M. Shadows [AVENGED SEVENFOLD] and we had 'She's My Addiction' with Phil Campbell of MOTÖRHEAD. So this record we have one collaboration — a song called 'Tonight' with Michael Starr from STEEL PANTHER, who we toured with in Australia; a great singer. And we like that vibe. Musicians like jamming with other musicians; it's kind of what we do."

Regarding FOZZY's musical uproach on "Do You Wanna Start A War", Jericho said: "We wanted to do something a little different. We love, obviously, AVENGED SEVENFOLD or FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, we love IRON MAIDEN, we love OZZY [OSBOURNE]. But we also love PINK FLOYD and LED ZEPPELIN and QUEEN and U2 and THE BEATLES, bands that would always broaden their horizons, but still sound… the core of the band's sound was still there, but they would different things. And when we were listening to a lot of songs on rock radio, we felt that they fit a certain pattern. We wanted to do something that was different from that, and that's what 'Lights Go Out' kind of came from that mindset. So it is a different type of tune, but we wanted to do that and shake things up and take a chance. You know, when you do something like that, sometimes your hardcore fans will go, 'Well, this isn't what we've heard before,' but they'll eventually like it. And you do this to appeal to new fans, and that's what we're getting from 'Lights Go Out', who'd never heard FOZZY before, who'd never listened to FOZZY. 'Man, you guys rock! This song is amazing!' That's what you want…. This is a song that you can hear in a strip club, you can hear it in a dance club, you can hear it in next to a SLAYER song. It's kind of got all things to all people. 'Cause all that matters with music and a good song is the melody and the hook. And this has a great hook; you could catch 'Jaws' with this hook, that's how big it is. But it's dark, it grooves, it's sexy, it's sleek, and the chicks dig it, which is the most important thing. 'Cause when the chicks like something, that means the guys will follow."

"Do You Wanna Start A War" track listing:

01. Do You Wanna Start A War02. Bad Tattoo03. Lights Go Out04. Died With You05. Tonite06. Brides of Fire07. One Crazed Anarchist 08. Unstoppable09. Scarecrow10. No Good Way11. SOS12. Witchery FOZZY's last album, "Sin And Bones", sold around 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 143 on the Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 1 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

FOZZY is Chris Jericho on vocals, Rich Ward on guitar and vocals, Frank Fontsere on drums, Billy Grey on guitar, and Paul Di Leo on bass.

Fan-filmed video footage of SLAYER performing the new song "Implode" on June 15 at a small club near Milano, Italy can be seen below.

Photos of the concert are available at Soundsblog.it.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Hell Awaits02. The Antichrist03. Necrophiliac04. Mandatory Suicide05. Captor Of Sin06. War Ensemble07. Disciple08. Postmortem09. Hate Worldwide10. At Dawn They Sleep11. Die By The Sword12. Chemical Warfare13. Implode14. Seasons In The Abyss15. Dead Skin Mask16. Hallowed Point17. Raining Blood18. Black Magic----------------------------19. South Of Heaven20. Angel Of Death

SLAYER surprised the capacity crowd at this past April's Revolver Golden Gods awards in Los Angeles with an unannounced performance, kicking off the show with a three-song set that included the global premiere of "Implode", the band's first new studio recording in five years. Recorded in April at Henson Studios in Los Angeles and produced by Terry Date and co-produced by Greg Fidelman, "Implode" was made available as a free download as a "thank you" to the band's fans for their continued support.

Later this year, the two-time Grammy-winning SLAYER will begin recording a new album, tentatively set for an early 2015 release. The album will make SLAYER history as it will be released on Nuclear Blast Records through the band's own label imprint, closing out a 28-year relationship with Rick Rubin and American Recordings. No name for the imprint has been decided on yet. All future recordings on the band's label imprint will be released worldwide exclusively through Nuclear Blast. Joining bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King during the sessions for SLAYER's new album are returning drummer Paul Bostaph, who replaced Dave Lombardo last year, and guitarist Gary Holt (also of EXODUS), who has been filling in for late SLAYER axeman Jeff Hanneman on tour for the past four years.

Bostaph was SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band — the gold-certified "Divine Intervention" (1994), the 1996 punk covers album "Undisputed Attitude", "Diabolus In Musica" (1998), "God Hates Us All" (2001) that received a Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance", as well as the DVD "War At The Warfield" (2001), also certified gold. In addition to SLAYER, Bostaph has been a member of FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, SYSTEMATIC and TESTAMENT.

Original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo sat out the band's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group. Filling in for him was Jon Dette (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX).


"Implode" studio version:

QUEEN has returned to North America for a 24-date arena tour with "American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert once again fronting the band. Video footage of the kick-off concert, which took place last night (Thursday, June 19) at Chicago's United Center, can be seen below.

"On the technical side, it's definitely more of a production than two years ago," Lambert told RollingStone.com. "We've got a lot more cities to visit and so I think we all decided to build up the visuals and the stage accordingly."

Regarding the prospect of filling late QUEEN singer Freddie Mercury's shoes, Lambert told RollingStone.com: "It's not an easy feat. I think a lot of the apprehension has faded because we've done this a number of times in the past couple of years. That's not to suggest I'm getting cocky at all, because I will never compare to Freddie Mercury. He's one in a million. At this point, I know how to strike a balance between honoring the way these songs were originally meant to be sung and my own instincts, my own choices."

QUEEN members Brian May and Roger Taylor recently admitted that their current collaboration with Lambert is a better fit than their previous involvement with legendary rock singer Paul Rodgers.

In 2008, May and Taylor, who had been touring with Rodgers as QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS, released the chart bomb, "The Cosmos Rocks", before calling it a day as a trio and a recording entity — despite a string of globally sold-out concerts.

"Paul has one of the greatest rock voices but it's more blues- and soul-orientated I would have thought," Taylor told the Toronto Sun. "I would say, with all due respect to Paul, that Adam is more suited to a lot of our material and whereas we had great tours with Paul, I think Adam is more naturally at home with us." May concurred and added that Lambert's remarkable range and flamboyant stage presence are much more in line with those of QUEEN's original singer, Freddie Mercury. "Yeah, I think the styles match more closely in a sense," May said. "But we had a great time with Paul, no doubt about it, and it kind of stretched it to a new place and, I think, a thoroughly good experience. But Adam is really… Like us, he has many, many colors, so we can explore some of those strange excursions that QUEEN likes to."

QUEEN's North American tour with Lambert winds down on July 28 at Toronto, Ontario's Air Canada Centre.

"It's surreal," Lambert told the Toronto Sun about performing with QUEEN. "Having auditioned with 'Bohemian Rhapsody' on 'American Idol', and this weird full-circle gorgeous dream come true. When we did our first [tour] run, like giving a full set, it was definitely was intimidating. The idea that I would be in front of QUEEN die-hard fans and I was taking on a large chunk of the catalogue and it was a short time to put it together. And we did it and I think it turned out really, really beautifully, and then when the Vegas thing happened [September 2013 appearance at the iHeartRadio Festival], I feel like it really grounded itself a little bit more."

The threesome first shared the stage during "American Idol" in May 2009 for a performance of "We Are The Champions". They teamed up again in 2011 at the MTV European Music Awards in Belfast, Ireland for an electrifying eight-minute finale of "The Show Must Go On", "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" and in the summer of 2012, Lambert performed a series of shows with QUEEN across Europe as well as dates in Russia, Ukraine and Poland. They also performed three sold-out gigs at London’s Hammersmith Apollo.

Fan-filmed video footage of MASTERPLAN's June 5 performance at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden can be seen below.

MASTERPLAN's new album, "Novum Initium", was released in June 2013 via AFM Records.

Joining guitarist Roland Grapow (ex-HELLOWEEN) in MASTERPLAN's current lineup are drummer Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka (CRADLE OF FILTH), vocalist Rick Altzi (AT VANCE, SANDALINAS, THUNDERSTONE), who replaces Jorn Lande, and bassist Jari Kainulainen (STRATOVARIUS, SYMFONIA, DEVIL'S TRAIN).

In an interview with Metal Shock Finland, Grapow stated about the band's new CD: "We are not leaving the MASTERPLAN path too much, but everything we have — the melodic part and a little bit progressive — I would say we're a little bit more powerful and I'm also mixing the album this time. I want to get a little bit more modern, as the sound we have was created ten years ago. We're still having the typical sound with melodies, but the drummer is amazing and plays a lot of crazy shit!"

Speaking to Myglobalmind, Grapow said about MASTERPLAN's numerous personnel shuffles: "I think that it's basically hard to explain why we always had singer changes. When we started MASTERPLAN with Jorn [Lande], a lot of people had warned me to be careful saying that he was very difficult. That he was never happy or satisfied with things. I think that the only thing that he really was concentrated on was trading on a solo career called JORN. Everything else for him was just a side project; he never saw MASTERPLAN as his main band. It was especially bad for me as I had put so much love, work and so much feeling for this band. I had given everything to make the band big. Jorn never did anything for us for this band. He never even said anything great about MASTERPLAN. That is not nice; you need a really good team behind you which loves this work. It's the same as a company — if someone is not dedicated totally 100%, it doesn't matter what a great voice he has. You stay on the same level, but now with a totally different lineup, we have a really big chance of getting further now. We can play live again. That just wasn't happening for about six years, which was quite terrible, to be honest."

MASTERPLAN's current lineup:

Rick Altzi - vocals Roland Grapow - guitars Axel Mackenrott - keyboards Jari Kainulainen - bass Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka - drums

Professionally filmed video footage of MASTODON's June 9 performance at the Pinkpop festival in Landgraaf, The Netherlands can be seen below.

MASTODON's sixth album, "Once More 'Round The Sun", will be released on June 24 via Reprise Records. The follow-up to 2011's "The Hunter" was recorded in Nashville with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz, who is known for his work with RUSH, DEFTONES, FOO FIGHTERS and ALICE IN CHAINS. Also available on June 24 will be a stunning deluxe 2LP vinyl edition of "Once More 'Round The Sun". This limited edition will include two discs pressed onto 180-gram black vinyl housed in a quadruple gatefold vinyl jacket featuring artwork by Skinner, plus a CD of the complete album. The package will include four exclusive lithographs derived from the album artwork.

MASTODON singer and bassist Troy Sanders told Paste Magazine about the "Once More 'Round The Sun" cover artwork: "It's... a work of art for sure. It's... very eye-opening, very striking. It's from another dimension, and a lot of our music is geared toward that idea — taking you to another planet on songs. It's out there, and I think it's incredible."

Regarding the new MASTODON album title, Sanders told Paste Magazine: "The idea was generated before we recorded the title track on the record, but the title was thought up many months ago.

"After we finished the two-year touring cycle on our last record, 'The Hunter', we were kind of gearing up to go back to our rehearsal space in Atlanta. And we were starting the effort, the time, the blood, the energy, the months of driving, the recording and the long process between recording and the release day.

"In a nutshell: we're fortunate enough to do this again, but there's this feeling of this yearly cycle. It's not a bad thing. We get to go tour a bunch, we get to record a bunch of songs we love. It's embracing the positive — the wonderful side, to be able to have the same four dudes who love doing what we do so much. And like anything in the MASTODON world, it's open to interpretation."

LINKIN PARK was the musical guest on last night's (Thursday, June 19) episode of the ABC late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" The band performed three songs off its new album, "The Hunting Party" — "Until It's Gone", "Wastelands" and "Guilty All The Same" — as part of iHeartRadio's CD-release party, an hour-long set that was streamed online. Check out video footage below.

As previously reported, LINKIN PARK was inducted into the Guitar Center RockWalk in Hollywood, California on Wednesday (June 18). The bandmembers put their handprints in cement next to those of rock legends like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, IRON MAIDEN, Carlos Santana, Johnny Cash, VAN HALEN, AC/DC, AEROSMITH and many others. Speaking on behalf of the band at the ceremony, singer Chester Bennington said, "This spot in L.A., this strip of L.A., really means a lot to me. It was the very first place I met these guys."

With the 15th anniversary of the band's debut album, "Hybrid Theory", happening next year, The Pulse Of Radio asked guitarist Brad Delson if the band ever imagined what its success would mean to them. "Well, when we made 'Hybrid Theory', we certainly never expected it to be such a huge commercial success," he said. "Not only did it, you know, connect with people in such a massive way at the time, but it still resonates. It's really surreal and it's certainly a privilege for us to be able to continue to share not only those songs but songs that we've made throughout our whole career with such a dedicated and loyal fan base."

LINKIN PARK's new album, "The Hunting Party", arrived in stores on Tuesday (June 17) and is expected to sell between 100,000 and 110,000 copies in its first week of release.

"The Hunting Party" follows up 2012's "Living Things". Guests on the new album include RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello, HELMET mainman Page Hamilton, SYSTEM OF A DOWN axeman Daron Malakian and rapper Rakim.

LINKIN PARK will head out this summer with 30 SECONDS TO MARS and AFI on the "Carnivores Tour", which kicks off on August 8 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"Secrets", a brand new song from BORN OF THE STORM — the collaborative project featuring DEVILDRIVER vocalist Dez Fafara and LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton — is available for free download at this location. Threee previously released tracks — "The New Rain Blues", "Nowhere Fast" and "Dust" — can be streamed below.

According to Morton, Kevin Talley (SIX FEET UNDER, DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA) played drums on the demos, with Morton handling the bass on "Dust".

"Nowhere Fast" features a guest appearance by Ryan Lake of ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY on the first guitar solo.

Writing on his Twitter profile, Fafara previously compared the music to CIRCUS OF POWER meets "Badmotorfinger"-era SOUNDGARDEN while Morton cited Chicago doom legends TROUBLE as an influence on the material.

In an interview with The Metal Review, Dez stated about BORN OF THE STORM's inception, "It started about three years ago with Mark and it was more inspired by bands that aren't metal; we have 12 completed tracks now, but it's taken so long because we were just so busy with everything else."

He added, "I think my favourite part about BORN OF THE STORM is the fact that the music is so different from anything else we've made. We didn't think we were going to release it; but now look at it."

"With DEVILDRIVER, we can't call it an influenced genre, because we don't really sound like other bands, especially after five records, because our sound is different every time and BORN OF THE STORM is so unique is style as well; because of the different musical genres we've incorporated into the music. It definitely gives it a unique feel, and I'd say that it feels like that because we're not just pulling influence from one genre, we're utilizing a spectrum of genres as musical inspirations."

When asked about his "clean" singing approach in BORN OF THE STORM, Dez said, "I like it all. The clean style is something I like to get out more; people need to know I can do both… It's hard to sing your lungs out into a microphone, and it's also hard to scream your lungs out into a mic; I really just wanted to show off my vocal capability and kind of prove to myself and everyone else that it's possible to do both."

The first rehearsal photo of the reunited original lineup of Canadian thrash metal pioneers EXCITER — guitarist John Ricci, drummer/vocalist Dan Beehler and bassist Allan Johnson — can be seen on this page (courtesy of Allan Johnson).

On episode 475 of the "Talking Metal" podcast, Mark Strigl conducted an interview with Ricci. You can now listen to the chat using the Spreaker widget below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether he had anything to do with the announcement that was made in February 2014 that he was "retiring" from the music business:

Ricci: "No, never, I never did. The former members [drummer Rik Charron, bassist Rob 'Clammy' Cohen and vocalist Kenny Winter] just decided they were gonna word it that way. When I had a falling out with the other members, I was so stressed out — I don't wanna get into the details about the whole thing — I did say to them, 'I need a break from music.' But, to me, that's not saying I'm retiring. So they interpreted that as, 'Oh, John doesn't wanna play music anymore.' So I never even hinted at that. They were just covering up what the real story behind the whole uprising was, in my opinion. So when they made that announcement, I got flooded with more e-mails from all over the world, saying, 'John, we don't believe this. We know you'll never retire. You are the band. What's the real story?' So that's one issue I had to deal with."

On how the other members of the last EXCITER lineup could think that they could continue as EXCITER without any of the group's original members:

Ricci: "It's a very complicated story. I've been doing this for many, many, many years. But I can't tolerate stress. Some situations I can't handle because I'm just gonna lose it, and I'm trying to be sane in this business. So, technically, I removed myself from the band, because I was so fed up with their behavior, and I just couldn't take it. So they thought, 'OK, if John's removed himself from EXCITER, we can continue as EXCITER.' Now, it's a very complicated story. I don't wanna… It would get into legal stuff, and I just don't wanna get into it right now. So, skipping all the details, yes, they were gonna try to continue as EXCITER without me. [But] how could you get bookings calling yourself EXCITER without at least one original guy in the band. So, what happened was the three of them ended up, as far as I hear through the grapevine — I mean, I don't know; I haven't really spoken to any of them since all of this has happened — they had a falling out among each other, so now there's no band. And the name was surrendered back to me, which I am the lawful owner of the name. I'm skipping a lot of details here; there's probably a lot of blank things that [I have not talked about]… The three of them kind of had disagreements among each other, and I wasn't involved in any of it. And they basically dissolved… We could have fixed what was happening at the time. But as far as I'm concerned — it's just my personal opinion — what was happening, we could have fixed it and continued, after I made the changes in the band. But it didn't happen that way. So any kind of apology, and they're making apologies on the Internet for the whole world to see, well, it doesn't matter anymore, 'cause the damage is done. I mean, they've toured with me, they've toured with the world, people want their autograph, people want their picture taken with them, you'd think… I'm not criticizing those guys — they played a great role in the band's music and everything — you'd think they'd sort of see clear my position in the band. I'm the guy who started the band in the '70s, I continued the band, I did most of the songwriting. In the recent version of EXCITER, I did all the lyrics, I did the melodies. You'd think if you're playing with someone like that, you'd have a little more devotion. Things could have turned out better for everybody, but it didn't happen that way. And they can make all the apologies they want, it doesn't matter anymore. The damage is done."

On how he mended fences with the other original members of EXCITER, drummer/vocalist Dan Beehler and bassist Allan Johnson:

Ricci: "Well, we haven't even spoken about [the issues that caused to have a falling out back in the day]. [laughs] We've had two meetings. We're only gonna start rehearsing this coming week. And when we had our meetings, those topics never even came up. We basically said, 'What happened in the past happened. It's water under the bridge.' But back then when I did that last interview with you, I very rarely spoke to Allan. I mean, we had no reason to speak to each other for anything, really. But things happened through word of mouth and the media, and 'He said this' and 'He said that.' You don't know what to believe. I mean, are they actually saying things, or is it just fabricated? So at the time, that's the way I felt. I had no idea in 2014 we'd get back together. I'm completely surprised myself. But I think Dan and Allan — and I can't speak for them — they might have a certain level of frustration as well that they really wanted to get back with me and continue the music that we made. 'Cause the three of us have incredible chemistry when we play our instruments. A lot of great bands — I'm not saying we're a great, fantastic band — but a lot of classic rock and metal bands, they have incredible chemistry when you put certain individuals together. So I think Dan and Allan, over the years, realized that, and they probably thought, 'Let's get back together with John and just keep going, having fun and playing our music.'"

On whether there is still a friendship between the original members of EXCITER or if they are working together purely as business partners:

Ricci: "Our first meeting, when we sat down, we did not discuss business, we just reminisced and talked about the old days and all the fun times that we had. 'Cause, I mean, we toured quite a bit. In 1985, we did a MOTÖRHEAD tour across the U.S., coast to coast, we also did a MEGADETH tour, coast to coast, we played shows with MERCYFUL FATE, we did a couple of shows in upstate New York with ANTHRAX when we were signed with Megaforce. We had a really good time and everything. So our first meeting was just four hours of… You know, we were sitting at a bar, just drinking beer and talking about the old times. So yeah, we're still friends. Our level of dedication to EXCITER, no one has ever questioned it. Yes, we have a difference of opinion on certain business issues, but when it comes to music, we're exactly on the same wavelength — like, our headspace is exactly the same, musically speaking. And it makes it so much easier when you're writing songs, that everyone recognizes everyone else's vision; you don't have to shove down their throat. But, I mean, on the other hand, for the past 20 years I've been continuing EXCITER, in most cases I handle all the band's business dealings. So the same thing will stay — I will be handling a lot of the business stuff. But because we're the original three guys, everyone's opinion counts when it's time to make decisions; I'm not just gonna be railroading those decisions — I'll ask Dan and I'll ask Al their opinion — and we'll move forward with whatever opinion we take."

On EXCITER's setlist for the upcoming shows:

Ricci: "We've discussed it. I think, initially, our live shows will be just the old classics. We're not trying to be a nostalgia band, but it's timeless music as far as I'm concerned. With the former EXCITER, when we played all the old songs anyway, all the younger fans, they know all the songs, they know all the lyrics. If a 15-year-old fan knows the first three albums, obviously that music's timeless because something has brought that music to their attention. But, initially, it will be just the classics — just one after another, just rip-your-face-off classics — and then we're gonna phase in some new material and do a new record."

On how Beehler's voice has held up over the years:

Ricci: "We haven't actually rehearsed yet. I haven't heard Dan's voice in a live situation since 1993 — only on YouTube or the record that he put out. But when we had our meeting, Allan told me that Dan's voice is better than ever, as far as the octaves that he can hit and the aggression that he has in his voice. So I'm sure Dan's voice is still there."

On when the reunited original lineup of EXCITER will make its live debut:

Ricci: "We're working with a South American promoter. He has booked two shows in South America the first week of October. And it's a triple bill — there's two other bands, and I don't recall their names right now. But right now I think the first live shows will be these two South American one-off shows. I mean, it's not the official announcement — it's not out yet — but it will come soon."

The original EXCITER lineup recorded three classic albums in the 1980s — "Heavy Metal Maniac" (1983), "Violence & Force" (1984) and "Long Live the Loud" (1985) — before Ricci left he group and was replaced by Brian McPhee.

EXCITER's latest album, "Death Machine", which featured Ricci as the sole remaining original member, was released on October 29, 2010 via Massacre Records.

"Born Strong", the new video from New York hardcore veterans MADBALL, can be seen below. The clip, which was filmed on June 12 at The Bowery Electric in New York City, features WALLS OF JERICHO frontwoman Candace Puopolo on guest vocals.

"Born Strong" is taken from MADBALL's ninth studio album, "Hardcore Lives", which will be released on June 27 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was tracked and engineered by UNEARTH guitarist Ken Susi and mixed and mastered by longtime collaborator Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, AGNOSTIC FRONT, SOULFLY, TERROR, WHITECHAPEL). Official promo photos were taken by LAMB OF GOD's very own Randall D. Blythe.

Commented MADBALL frontman Freddy Cricien: "I shouted 'Hardcore Lives' on MADBALL's first release, 'Ball Of Destruction'. I was twelve then. It wasn't pre-planned or written down... It was an ad-lib that I just threw out there and we kept it!

"Back then, there was no choice, really, not the way we were recording — two-track live at Don Fury's... NYHC style!

"I feel the sentiment behind the expression still holds true today, maybe even more so. Hence the reason we finally chose to use it as a title. Sure, it's about waving the flag for our genre/culture, etc.

"I've always felt that 'we as a scene' had to scream just a lil louder... to be heard! That said, 'Hardcore Lives', at least to us, is not just about a cool 'catchphrase,' it's about that rebellious spirit that doesn't give in... in life, music, whatever. It's about growing, evolving, and maintaining your integrity in the process. It's about family, overcoming adversity, and respect. All the things that matter inside and outside of the music realm. It's for everyone and anyone with an open mind and heart."

"Hardcore Lives" will be available as limited-edition digipak and on black vinyl, both including two additional bonus tracks: "The Beast", which also appeared on 2012's EP "Rebellion", and "Spit On Your Grave", from 1994's landmark release "Set It Off". Both tracks have been exclusively re-recorded for the inclusion on "Hardcore Lives". The album will also include guest appearances by some of hardcore's most notable singers: Scott Vogel (TERROR), Toby Morse (H20) and Candace Puopolo (formerly Kucsulain, WALLS OF JERICHO).

"Hardcore Lives" track listing:

01. Intro02. Hardcore Lives03. The Balance04. Doc Marten Stomp05. DNA06. True School (feat. Scott Vogel)07. The Here And Now08. Nothing To Me09. My Armor (feat. Toby Morse)10. Beacon Of Light11. Born Strong (feat. Candace Puopolo)12. Spirit13. Mi Palabra14. NBNC15. For The Judged

Bonus tracks:

16. The Beast17. Spit On Your Grave 2014

MADBALL recently took part in the fifth installment of the band's renowned Rebellion tour with BIOHAZARD, DEVIL IN ME, WISDOM IN CHAINS and FINAL PRAYER.

METALLICA has released a new song, "Lords Of Summer - First Pass Version", on iTunes via Blackened Recordings. The track, which was first performed in March this year at a concert in Bogota, Colombia, will by synching with all ESPN's programming in the U.S. on Saturday, June 21.

METALLICA recently completed a South American tour where the band played a nearly all-request set, with 17 songs chosen online by fans prior to each gig and the last slot filled by "Lords Of Summer".

METALLICA drummer Ulrich Ulrich told RollingStone.com that "Lords Of Summer" "is fairly representative of where our creative headspace is at right now. It's one of those things that's like, 'Here, we're writing and we're creating.'" However, according to guitarist Kirk Hammett, even that track is still being refined.

"Because of everything we had going on, I didn't have time to work out the guitar solo in 'Lords Of Summer'," Hammett told Guitar World. "The solo that's on the demo track was all we had time to do. I barely knew what I was gonna do and didn't have time to really formulate anything. We told everyone that the song was a demo version…and the solo is really a demo version. [Laughs] If you compare the solo in the demo version to what I've been playing live at those South American shows, it's a lot better and more refined now."

As previously reported, Ulrich told "Metal Zone" host Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2008's "Death Magnetic": "I can tell you, all kidding aside, I'm pretty convinced that 90 percent of the record is actually written, it's just gotta be kind of assembled between all those riffs. It's just a matter of connecting this to this and sort of shaping it into a song. And so, I'm pretty psyched about that."

Ulrich added: "Like I said, I'm pretty convinced that most of the raw material actually exists. It's just a matter of connecting the dots. And we're not busy with all this other stuff that we're doing . . . I've said this before, we've applied for 28-hour days, but we haven't gotten word back yet, because the four extra hours that we would get out of that would certainly expedite the making of the next record . . . it would get it sooner. But we're still stuck with 24-hour days and something about six-hour minimum sleep requirements and kids that have to go to school and all the rest of it. So we try to use the rest of the time as wisely as we can in connecting these dots. And it does move forward, but maybe not as fast as we would like and certainly not as fast as a lot of our fans would like. It's certainly not 'cause we're avoiding it."

The "Metallica By Request" tour is hitting Europe this summer, with a single North American date confirmed in Montreal.

Ulrich said that U.S. fans might get to experience "Metallica By Request" either next year or in 2016, depending on when the band's new album is finished.



"The Lords Of Summer" official performance footage:


"The Lords Of Summer" "garage demo" version:

The following are the attendance/gross figures for GUNS N' ROSES' just-concluded second Las Vegas residency, "No Trickery! An Evening Of Destruction", at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, as reported by Billboard's Boxscore:

Artist: GUNS N' ROSESVenue: The Joint, Hard Rock HotelDates: June 4, 6-7Gross sales: $853,785Attendance/capacity: 9,221 / 10,130Number of shows/sellouts: 3 / 2Ticket prices: $195, $129.50, $85, $69.50

Artist: GUNS N' ROSESVenue: The Joint, Hard Rock HotelDates: May 28, 30-31Gross sales: $739,534Attendance/capacity: 8,021 / 9,449Number of shows/sellouts: 3 / 0Ticket prices: $195, $129.50, $85, $69.50

Hotel executive Don Marrandino, who may return to Las Vegas as the possible future head honcho at the Hard Rock Hotel, told Robin Leach of the Las Vegas Sun: "They [GUNS N' ROSES] are definitely thinking of returning for another mini-run at the Hard Rock. We've already had conversations about converting one of the restaurant venues into a GUNS N' ROSES hangout with its own barbecue and hamburger lineup."

GUNS N' ROSES will release "Appetite For Democracy 3D: Live From The Hard Rock Casino - Las Vegas" on July 1 via Universal Music Enterprises. The show was filmed on November 21, 2012 during the "Appetite For Democracy" tour in celebration of twenty-five years of "Appetite For Destruction" and four years of "Chinese Democracy".

GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose hinted in a rare new interview with Revolver magazine that a follow-up to the 2008 album "Chinese Democracy" could be in the works. Rose explained, "We recorded a lot of things before 'Chinese' was out. We've worked more on some of those things and we've written a few new things. But basically, we have what I call kind of the second half of 'Chinese'. That's already recorded. And then we have a remix album made of the songs from 'Chinese'. That's been done for a while, too."

Fan-filmed video footage of SKID ROW's performance at this year's Download festival, which took place June 13-15 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, United Kingdom, can be seen below.

SKID ROW — Johnny Solinger (vocals), Scotti Hill (guitar), Rachel Bolan (bass), Dave "Snake" Sabo (guitar) and Rob Hammersmith (drums) — will release its new seven-song EP, "Rise Of The Damnation Army - United World Rebellion: Chapter Two", on August 5 via Megaforce Records.

After a hiatus that started in 1996, SKID ROW returned to the big stage — literally — opening for KISS in 2000. Exhilarated to tour with the heroes who rallied them in the first place, the band was reinvigorated by being underdogs who needed to come out fighting to prove themselves. "When we put the band back together, we needed to reintroduce SKID ROW as relevant without relying too much on past success," explains SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan. "We wrote songs and hit the road. We sunk our heart and soul into it, letting people know we weren't doing it for lack of something better to do." 2003's "Thickskin" and 2006's "Revolutions Per Minute" were battle plans for hundreds of live shows with new singer Johnny Solinger out front, every night being a hard fought battle to win new fans and convince the old ones. "United World Rebellion - Part 2" is SKID ROW coming out swinging. Rachel and Sabo tapped again into the potent songwriting collaboration that built the band. Sabo says they were eagerly up to the challenge. "We seem to be at our best when we're faced with adversity. It's us against the world again — and by us I mean the band and the fans who stick with us and carry the SKID ROW torch without fail." New plans came together in an Atlanta recording studio. But it's a different time, a different industry, so they decided to record a series of EPs. "The idea really appealed to me," says Bolan, "especially with the constantly changing musical climate. I like the idea of a steady flow of new music, as opposed to releasing a full-length album then riding it for the next two years." That guerrilla burst of recording a concise EP fostered a focused intensity that was liberating, says Snake. "The pressure seemed to be lifted. That immediately set me at ease and it became really exciting." Exciting and potent, prompting Solinger to exert the full range of his ability. "The third time in the studio as the voice of SKID ROW was the proverbial charm, and the proof is in the tracks. 'United World Rebellion - Part 2' is the most meaningful work I've done with the band. It's definitely the most I've been challenged, vocally."

"Rise Of The Damnation Army - United World Rebellion: Chapter Two" will also contain covers of QUEEN and AEROSMITH classics as bonus tracks. Asked why they chose these tracks to cover, SKID ROW said: "These songs fit seamlessly into the subject matter of 'United World Rebellion: Chapter Two'. They both have that 'get up and fight' attitude.

"These songs were from our youth that meant a lot, and as far as we know, no one has covered them, and more important, the songs are still exciting and fit perfectly with the attitude of all other songs on the album."

"Rise Of The Damnation Army - United World Rebellion: Chapter Two" EP track listing:

01. We Are The Damned 02. Give It The Gun 03. Catch Your Fall 04. Damnation Army 05. Zero Day

Bonus tracks:

06. Sheer Heart Attack (QUEEN cover)07. Rats In The Cellar (AEROSMITH cover)

Fan-filmed video footage of PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS — the band led by former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo — performing on June 16 at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium can be seen below.

On the current European tour, Anselmo is once again being joined by his backup band THE ILLEGALS — guitarist Marzi Montazeri (ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL), drummer José Manuel Gonzales (WARBEAST) and bassist Steve Taylor.

Anselmo's career-first solo album, "Walk Through Exits Only", sold around 8,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Produced by Anselmo and Michael Thompson, and recorded over a couple of years at Philip's New Orleans studio, Nodferatu's Lair, "Walk Through Exits Only" is abrasive, aggressive, anthemic and 100% Anselmo.

According to Anselmo, he worked on an estimated 15-17 songs for "Walk Through Exits Only", which was issued via his own Housecore Records (MRI/Megaforce)

"I could've put on any number (of songs) I wanted, but for me, these eight songs all together, 40-something minutes, that's my idea of a proper listening length," he told Billboard.com. "When you start to get longer, it gets a little redundant and boring, and I didn't want to bore anybody."

Fan-filmed video footage of TESLA's June 10 performance at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland can be seen below.

TESLA's new studio album, "Simplicity", sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 24 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 10 via Tesla Electric Company Recording's arrangement with Entertainment One Music and distribution.

The Sacramento rockers are back with 14 new songs offering a ride of energy that doesn't come easy for a band of rookies much less a band whose been doing this for over 20 years. "Simplicity" is TESLA's seventh all-original studio album which follows a six-year creative break from the release of the previous album, "Forever More".

After a string of shows in the USA in 2013, the band went back into the studio in early 2014 and came out with a new album, which goes straight back to the TESLA roots. The bandmembers produced it themselves, as they did with "Into The Now", their successful comeback effort from 2004. Helped by the legendary Tom Zutaut, who was the man behind the best TESLA albums, this new CD rocks from start to finish, showing a variety of emotions where each song has its own twist — not sounding like another.

In a recent interview with NI Rocks, TESLA singer Jeff Keith stated about the band's approach while writing and recording the new album: "We wanted to keep it simple. With so much of today's technology, Pro Tools and all that stuff, it's very easy to overdo it and oversaturate the record, because there is an endless amount of tracks you can do and there are so many ways you can cheat and stuff. We like to make records that we can keep simple and reproduce live you know." He continued: "'Simplicity', we thought, was a great name for the record because we wanted to keep it simple and we're a simple blue-collar rock 'n' roll band. We always like to make records, like I said, that we can play live."

"Simplicity" was mixed by legendary producer Michael Wagener (SKID ROW, OZZY OSBOURNE, METALLICA, DOKKEN, ACCEPT, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITE LION, EXTREME, POISON, MEGADETH, OVERKILL, TESTAMENT).

TESLA is:

Jeff Keith: Lead VocalsFrank Hannon: Guitars, Vocals, Piano, BassBrian Wheat: Bass, Vocals, PianoTroy Luccketta: Drums and PercussionDave Rude: Guitars, Vocals, Bass

The first official photo of the new lineup of San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans EXODUS — featuring returning vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza — can be seen on this page.

EXODUS on June 8 announced the departure of the band's singer of the past nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Souza, who was Rob's predecessor.

Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004, told MetalRecusants.com about his return to the band: "A lot went into my decision. They [EXODUS] have got great management now with Chuck Billy [TESTAMENT], they really got it together. A lot of it was enticing to me and it makes great sense to [my other band] HATRIOT. Those guys [HATRIOT] are nearly as excited as me. They know we might have to sit for a minute but we're still working on songs [for the third HATRIOT album] and stuff."

Souza also confirmed that he will pull "double duty" for the foreseeable future, splitting his time between EXODUS and HATRIOT, which also features his sons Nick Souza (drums) and Cody Souza (bass). He said: "[EXODUS guitarist and main songwriter Gary Holt is] in SLAYER. What am I gonna do when he's [on the road with those guys]? They told me not to quit [HATRIOT], and I was, like, I'm not. I'm not gonna shelve everything we [HATRIOT] have worked for. I'm not. I'm like Corey Taylor now [who is splitting his time between SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR]. You know, we're writing the new HATRIOT album right now and it will be out next year guaranteed."

Dukes joined EXODUS in January 2005 and appeared on four of the band's studio albums — "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (2005), "The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A" (2007), "Let There Be Blood" (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS' classic 1985 LP, "Bonded By Blood") and "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" (2010).

Holt stated about the decision to re-hire Zetro: "The lines of communication with the band and Steve are the strongest they've ever been. All things have been discussed — the past, present and future going forward.

"Steve [has jus tstarted recording] vocals [for the new EXODUS CD] and the small sampling I have of him on the new songs is fucking amazing. His best shit ever is coming. Be prepared, it's going to kill."

EXODUS' next live appearance is scheduled for July 11 at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany.

Souza left EXODUS ten years ago on the eve of the band's South American headlining tour in September 2004 over what was described as long-standing business and personal differences. Holt subsequently issued a statement calling Souza "human crap" for pulling out the trek "only about twenty-four hours before were ready to leave." He added, "Yes, he did a killer job on the [then-latest] album [2004's 'Tempo Of The Damned'], but mainly because we did not allow him to fuck everything up with his stupid Bon Scott impersonations anymore. We made him sing more like [previous vocalist Paul] Baloff. I tried to make it work. More than you can imagine. But he was (is) the most miserable pile of crap to be around."

After Souza made it clear in several interviews in 2011 that he wanted his old EXODUS job back, Holt — who has been pulling double duty with SLAYER for the past four and a half years — said: "I have nothing against Zetro; really, I don't. I consider him a friend, but the lobbying through the press for people to convince me to give him his job back just got under my skin, because Rob is NOT a placecard holder in EXODUS, he's our singer.

"Zetro's place in EXODUS history is solid, he made some great records with us, and had a good run with the band. But this is now, not then, and we do not plan on throwing away what we have to go back in time."

"Hell Funeral", the new video from German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's 1th studio album, "Return Of The Reaper", which will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:

July 11: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, BeneluxJuly 16: Spain, Sweden, NorwayJuly 14: Rest of EuropeJuly 15: USA, Canada

The "Return Of The Reaper" cover artwork (see below) was created by Gyula Havancsák of Hjules Illustration And Design, who has been responsible for all GRAVE DIGGER artwork since 2004's "The Last Supper".

The CD was recorded at Principal Studios (KREATOR, IN EXTREMO, GRAVE DIGGER) in Senden, Germany.

GRAVE DIGGER vocalist Chris Boltendahl recently revealed that "Return Of The Reaper" will be stylistically reminiscent of GRAVE DIGGER's classic albums "Heavy Metal Breakdown" (1984), "Witch Hunter" (1985) and "The Reaper" (1993).

"Return Of The Reaper" track listing:

01. Return Of The Reaper02. Hell Funeral03. War God04. Tattooed Rider05. Resurrection Day06. Season Of The Witch07. Road Rage Killer08. Dia De Los Muertos09. Satan's Host10. Grave Desecrator11. Death Smiles At All Of Us12. Nothing To Believe

A six-minute clip featuring audio samples of all the tracks that will appear on "Return Of The Reaper" can be found below.

GRAVE DIGGER's last album, "Clash Of The Gods", was released on August 31 , 2012 in Europe and September 4, 2012 in North America via Napalm Records. A six-song mini-CD, "Home At Last", preceded the full-length effort on July 27, 2012 in Europe and August 7, 2012 in North America.

"The Clans Are Still Marching", the latest DVD from GRAVE DIGGER, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 56 (German chart rules allow music DVDs to enter album charts).

Fan-filmed video footage of legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen's June 17 performance at Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey during the "Guitar Gods" tour with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal of GUNS N' ROSES and Gary Hoey can be seen below.

Malmsteen is currently mixing a live album and DVD recorded at back-to-back shows in Tampa and Orlando. According to Yngwie, it will be released in August and will probably be called "Spellbound Live". He told CitizensVoice.com about the live album and DVD: "That's a perfect example of how when I play, it's always different. Because one's from Tampa and one's from Orlando, and it's completely different."

Regarding how the Guitar Gods tour, which kicked off June 12 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, would be structured, Yngwie told Highway 81 Revisited: "A lot of people probably get the idea that I'm this extremely calculated kind of guy, and in a lot of ways I am. But when it comes to music or artistic expression, I'm very uncalculated and do things very spontaneous. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't want to do this anymore. I can't just play the same thing over and over, it would drive me crazy."

He continued: "So for instance, if I do a regular show, like 20 minutes before the show, I say to the tour manager, 'Here's the setlist,' and it's not the same setlist as the night before. And I say to the tour manager, 'Print them out and put them on the stage.' So now everybody has a setlist. And once I hit the stage, I'll play a different setlist anyway. If you go to two of the shows, they're very different. This is how I keep the thing alive, this is how I stay inspired."

On the topic of "Relentless", the memoir he published last year, Malmsteen said: "I felt that I had to put this on paper from the only perspective from which it could be told, which is my perspective. I'm talking about walking in the snow when I'm seven years old and wondering what the fuck am I doing here, why am I born in this fucking place? And now of course I'm looking at palm trees, so now I'm remedying that; I'm still thawing out. But the thing is, it has to be read to understand where I'm coming from."

He added: "It's not just all the chicks — it was that too, you know the rock 'n' roll thing? I did all that fucking shit. Trust me. I'm a very different person now. I don't touch alcohol, I don't touch cigarettes, I don't touch drugs. I'm a very clean-living person for the last 10 years, maybe more now. I just felt it had to be told. It's so different from where I started. When I looked back, I said, fuck, that was me? It's very therapeutic as well."

Yngwie's latest album, "Spellbound", was released in December 2012.

An audio sample of the new JUDAS PRIEST song "Battle Cry", along with footage of guitarist Richie Faulkner discussing the cut, is available in the YouTube clip below.

"Battle Cry" is taken from JUDAS PRIEST's forthcoming studio album, "Redeemer Of Souls", which will be released in North America on July 8 (pushed up a week from the originally announced July 15) via Epic Records. The CD's title track was made available for purchase via iTunes and other digital service providers on April 29.

Speaking to the "Trunk Nation" show, which airs on SiriusXM's Hair Nation, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford stated about "Redeemer Of Souls": "When we finished [the] 'Epitaph' [tour], we just got so buzzed from the fans and the reaction wherever we went. Just to put the 'Epitaph' tour together, which was we tried to put a song from every record into the show, and we were living in the life of JUDAS PRIEST, all those decades, in one show, night after night on the world trek, and I think that really did something to us eternally; as musicians, it should do when you tour. So we realized that this next record really had to be really strong, full of energy, because it's relentless, the tracks are relentless. The energy that you feel off 'Redeemer Of Souls' is replicated in that direction time and time and time again."

Asked whether the members of JUDAS PRIEST still feel good about "Nostradamus" six years after the album's release, Halford said: "If you look at bands of longevity, like PRIEST, you see the trail of music that we've left, I don't think we could have probably made as great a record as we have with 'Redeemer Of Souls' if we didn't have 'Nostradamus' as a reference point. It's a stepping stone to the next place.

"Every record that we've made, we've tried to give it some distinction, some separate identity. 'British Steel' doesn't sound like 'Stained Class', 'Stained Class' doesn't sound like 'Painkiller', 'Painkiller' doesn't sound like 'Defenders Of The Faith'… So I think everything has its place and has its moments, and we've always fed off these different areas that we've gone into with our metal. So thanks to 'Nostradamus', we've got 'Redeemer Of Souls'."

Regarding why there are five "bonus" tracks that are included on the deluxe version of "Redeemer Of Souls" and do not appear on the CD's regular version, guitarist Glenn Tipton said: "They are all great songs. The reason they are not on the album is because the 13 that we chose are very consistent with what we wanted to do, which was release an undisputable heavy metal album. The others, they are not lightweight by any chance, but they've got a different feel, a different texture. So it's not a case of trying to rip the kids off and trying to get more money for an extra album, it's just a case of, these five tracks seem to deserve to go on their own CD, and that's what we did."

Added Halford: "We didn't want to drop the energy. From the opening thunder-and-lightning on 'Dragonaut' right up 'till the end of 'Battle Cry', it's just full-on, it's relentless. It's great."

"Redeemer Of Souls" CD track listing:

01. Dragonaut02. Redeemer Of Souls03. Halls Of Valhalla04. Sword Of Damocles05. March Of The Damned06. Down In Flames07. Hell & Back08. Cold Blooded09. Metalizer10. Crossfire11. Secrets Of The Dead12. Battle Cry13. Beginning Of The End

Bonus tracks:

14. Snakebite15. Tears Of Blood16. Creatures17. Bring It On18. Never Forget

"Battle Cry" preview:


"Dragonaut" full song:


"March Of The Damned" full song:


"Redeemer Of Souls" full song:


"Crossfire" preview:


"Halls Of Valhalla" preview:


"Redeemer Of Souls" album artwork:



"Redeemer Of Souls" single artwork: