"Invade, Destroy, Repeat", a brand new song from POWERMAN 5000, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Builders Of The Future", which will be released on May 27. The CD is the first release through POWERMAN 5000's partnership with T-Boy Records, a co-venture with Universal Music Enterprises founded by veteran rock manager Andy Gould. T-Boy releases include ROB ZOMBIE's "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", MEGADETH's "Super Collider" and the self-titled debut album from KOBRA AND THE LOTUS.

"Builders Of The Future" track listing:

01. Invade, Destroy, Repeat02. We Want It All03. How To Be A Human04. You're Gonna Love It, If You Like It Or Not05. Builders Of The Future06. I Want To Kill You07. Modern World08. Live It Up Before You're Dead09. I Can't F-cking Hear You10. Evil World

POWERMAN 5000 has carved out a corner of the galaxy where their devoted supporters created a culture that's bigger than music, drawing upon a tapestry of comic books, horror films and fantasy cobbled together years before "geek" became a hip buzzword.

New tracks like "How To Be A Human", "Invade, Destroy, Repeat", "Live It Up Before You're Dead" and "Modern World" are turbocharged with the same futuristic, b-movie bite of enduring, electro-tinged POWERMAN 5000 anthems like "When Worlds Collide" and "Nobody's Real".

"I never would have imagined that after all the albums, the band members, the ups-and-downs of the always changing music business, I'd still be here doing this, which is thanks to our most diehard fans," marvels band leader, visionary and sole remaining original member Spider One, who founded POWERMAN 5000 with a 4-track and a drum machine.

Armed with giant hooks and crowd-empowering choruses, Spider and his merry band of musical superheroes have made a record vibrantly reminiscent of their commercial breakthrough "Tonight The Stars Revolt!" (which gave DreamWorks Records their first platinum plaque). "Builders Of The Future" delivers on the promise of 2009's return to form "Somewhere On The Other Side Of Nowhere". POWERMAN 5000 has retrofitted their songwriting prowess even further, sounding hungry yet sophisticated, as if smiling amid a dystopian landscape, flipping middle fingers in the air and dancing till doomsday.

"At the end of the day, we are the ones who will go out and play these songs in every city in America and everywhere else around the world we can," Spider points out. "You have to live and breathe it. If you don't believe in it, it's easy for people to smell a rat. We can sit around and cry all day long about how the music business isn't what it used to be, but none of that really matters. What matters is to have a blast being in a band."

"We've replanted our flag as the weird, sci-fi, electronic band," proclaims Spider. "This is what we are. This is what we do best. This is clearly what people like from us the most, too. So I'm going to love it like they love it. We're back. The fanbase has really rallied around us again. The enthusiasm feels like it's picked right up from the year 2000. The electronic-metal-dance thing, we've locked it down once and for all with this one."

"The Way", the new video from CALIFORNIA BREED, the new band built around the foundation of legendary vocalist-bassist Glenn Hughes, drummer extraordinaire Jason Bonham and 23-year-old newcomer guitarist-singer-songwriter Andrew Watt, can be seen below. The song is taken from the group's self-titled debut, which was recorded at Cobb's Nashville studio and features equal co-writing credits among the three-man lineup. "It's proper rock," Hughes told Classic Rock magazine, "but at the same time it's very now. Andrew is as influenced by Mick Ronson as he is Jimmy Page." "This kid is amazing," says Bonham. "The first time we met I thought he looked like the white Jimi Hendrix. And he plays in the studio like he's on stage!"

Glenn Hughes, 'The Voice Of Rock', is a true original, a legendary icon whose credits include DEEP PURPLE and guesting with everyone from BLACK SABBATH to EARTH, WIND & FIRE — up to his most recent collaboration in rock supergroup BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. No other rock musician has carved such a distinctive style blending the finest elements of hard rock, soul and funk. That astonishing voice is Hughes' calling card.

The legacy of LED ZEPPELIN lives on in Jason Bonham, British drummer and son of ZEP's legendary John Bonham. He has inherited the best of his father's skills while mastering his own distinctive and dynamic technique. Jason has followed his own distinctive path over the years, fronting his own successful outfits like BONHAM, and playing with LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER, HEART and, most recently, movie composer Hans Zimmer.

Andrew Watt is a soulful singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose high-energy aggressive style and creative spirit are synonymous with New York City.

Hughes says: "I live in the moment, it's all about NOW. CALIFORNIA BREED is exactly where I live, breathe and where my freak flag flies."

"California Breed" track listing:

01. The Way02. Sweet Tea03. Chemical Rain04. Midnight Oil05. All Falls Down06. The Grey07. Days They Come08. Spit You Out09. Strong10. Invisible11. Scars12. Breathe13. Solo*

* Deluxe Edition includes "Solo" bonus track and a DVD including 2 video clips ("The Way" and "Sweet Tea"), plus documentary

When BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION disbanded, Hughes and Bonham had a strong desire to keep playing together. Their only challenge was finding a new guitarist worthy of their musicality. Easier said than done for these stars who between them have worked with some of the greatest guitarists in history — including Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page and Joe Bonamassa, to name just a few. Then fate took a hand in things when Glenn's friend Julian Lennon introduced him to the astounding talents of a New York City hotshot guitarist named Andrew Watt. "Literally, the first day me and Andrew got together we wrote two songs," recalls Glenn. "One was 'Chemical Rain' and the other was 'Solo', both of which are now on the finished album. I was so moved by the music, I said, 'We've got to record this!' That's when I called Jason."

"I was excited from the start," says Jason, "because apart from locking in as a rhythm section, Glenn and I had started writing together in BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, and we wanted to continue that." "There was such energy in the room the first time we all played together, me and Glenn didn't even have to talk about it," says Jason. "He was so exited to be playing, though, it was infectious! He was just on stage! No going through the motions, kicking the chair over, everything! I was like, you know what, this kid is a free spirit. It was cool, we all just clicked straight away." "Nothing though has gotten into my blood like CALIFORNIA BREED," says Glenn. "I feel the same way," says Jason. "I feel like a kid again starting out." Recording with Dave Cobb at the producer's own studio in Nashville, added all the finishing touches, says Glenn. "I'd gotten into Dave's work via the RIVAL SONS, who I know and really love. But Dave has done a lot of great stuff. That whole Nashville trip which Dave is a part of. Well, me and Jason don't want to sound like anyone else, we already sound like ourselves, but we felt we needed some fresh energy — and Dave absolutely brought it." At Cobb's insistence, every vocal was recorded live as the band was playing. "Totally the reverse of what I'm used to," says Glenn. "But I went into that aggressive rock soulfulness and everything down to the whispers, it was all done live! I enjoyed myself so much, just going for it." For what is on paper a three-piece, the sheer range of sounds and melodies you get from CALIFORNIA BREED are breathtaking. "I'm the oddball of the group but I'm the thing that makes us different from any other classic rock band. I grew up loving grunge music," explains Andrew. "But my father always played me THE WHO and THE BEATLES and LED ZEPPELIN. I always felt like I was in the wrong generation. I used to make rock music on my own and I'd play all the instruments because I could never find anyone my age that really got it the way I heard it. Then I got to play with Jason and Glenn and I haven't picked up anything but a guitar since!" "What we've got here is a kid who isn't a hammer-on, virtuoso," says Glenn, "but a whole new entity. This kid grew up listening to Mick Ronson on Bowie's records, as well as Jimmy Page in LED ZEPPELIN. He has a completely different take. And it's fresh and bold and so exciting. It just gets into your blood."

KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch will be forced to miss some of the band's Russian shows with SOULFLY after being diagnosed with kidney stones. He wrote last night on his Facebook page: "I'm in hospital for a few days. So sorry, Russia, I can't be at a few shows. I have kidney stone. Thank you SO MUCH for your understanding, well wishes, prayers and love. I am very touched by your hearts in my situation."

Remaining dates on KORN's Russian tour:

May 20 - Novosibirsk, Russia at FairgroundsMay 22 - Yekaterinburg, Russia at URALETsMay 23 - Ufa, Russia at Ufa ArenaMay 24 - Kazan, Russia at Palace SportsMay 26 - Voronezh, Russia at City Event HallMay 27 - Rostov-on-Don, Russia at Vertol ExpoMay 28 - Moscow, Russia at Basket-Hall

Welch left KORN in 2005, got sober and embraced Christianity, saying that as a single father he did not want his daughter around the rock and roll lifestyle. "The last two years I was in KORN, I partied non-stop and started doing speed every day," he said. "I got so addicted that I got scared. I tried to go to rehab, but that didn't work. No one could help me. Then I ended up seeing if Jesus was real, and He instantly took the drugs away. He revealed Himself to me and gave me the strength. Once I figured that out, I knew I was accountable to God."

Welch pursued a solo career for several years before rejoining KORN onstage in 2012 at a festival. He reunited with the group permanently last year and recorded his first album with them in 10 years, "The Paradigm Shift".

Technical death metallers ORIGIN will release their new album, "Omnipresent", on July 8 in North America via Nuclear Blast (July 4 in Europe through Agonia). The CD was recorded with longtime producer/engineer Robert Rebeck at Chapman Recording in Lenexa, Kansas and was mixed and mastered at Menegroth - The Thousand Caves with Colin Marston. The artwork was once again created by Colin Marks (NEVERMORE, KATAKLYSM, EXODUS).

The official lyric video for the song "All Things Dead", taken from "Omnipresent", can be seen below.

Comments ORIGIN vocalist Jason Keyser: "We were very happy to be able to work again with Colin Marks of Rain Song Design for the artwork of 'Omnipresent'. He designed the art for our previous album, 'Entity', which had a barren, stripped down minimalism, but for 'Omnipresent', we wanted bigger. We were looking for something that would represent the total insignificance and helplessness of humanity to the impending doom of the universe that surrounds us at all times. It's a strong running theme of the album, lyrically; how our pride and arrogance can advance us as a species in so many ways, eventually conquering the unknown reaches of space. But ultimately we continue to exist only at the whim of the cold, indiscriminate forces that could snuff our sentient spark at any moment. “The title of the album, 'Omnipresent', works perfectly with the artwork in the way that omnipresence does not come from expanding to new worlds and growing as a species, but only through being whittled down to a last living being alone in the universe. The final failed experiment of life has no comparison, it is the most powerful, only through our sentient extinction can we finally understand some sliver of godhood."

"Omnipresent" marks ORIGIN's first CD to feature Jason Keyser (ex-SKINLESS), who has being touring with the band as their vocalist since the release of "Entity".

"ORIGIN records albums in a somewhat masochistic, chaotic, and senseless fashion," comments drummer John Longstreth. "It's our best trick, and we need the best guy for our best trick, so that's why we have Jason. He's had two years of hard road work with the band and we know he's the guy.

"For those that weren't aware, ORIGIN recorded 'Entity' as a trio without a proper vocalist, so we are very excited to have Jason in to do what a proper vocalist is supposed to do."

"Omnipresent" track listing:

01. All Things Dead02. THRALL:FULCRUM:APEX03. Permanence04. Manifest Desolate05. Absurdity of What I Am06. Source of Icon O07. Continuum08. Unattainable Zero09. Redistribution of Filth10. Obsolescence11. Malthusian Collapse12. The Indiscriminate13. Kill Yourself (S.O.D. cover song)

"A culmination of 15 years of technical death metal brutality, 'Omnipresent' transcends definition,” states the band. “From light speed to absolute zero it is a journey to the farthest reaches of the universe to the darkest nether of the mind. We are everywhere and nowhere. We are omnipresent."

Formed in Kansas in 1997, ORIGIN is one of the most intense and most brutal technical death metal forces to be reckoned with. Since its inception, the group has charted twice on the Billboard Top Heatseekers (with "Antithesis" at #21 and "Entity" at #20) and emerged on countless highly energetic shows across the world. In 2007, ORIGIN reached Europe for the first time in career (on tour with MISERY INDEX and NECROPHAGIST) and five years later, in 2012, reclaimed The Old Continent together with SUFFOCATION. This coming May, ORIGIN will be heading out on a headlining run in Southeast Asia and Australia.

ORIGIN is:

Jason Keyser - VocalsPaul Ryan - Guitars/VocalsMike Flores - Bass/VocalsJohn Longstreth - Drums

STONES OF MADNESS, the Florida band formed by Scott Thompson (DRY KILL LOGIC) and ATHEIST/NEUROTICA frontman Kelly Shaefer, has released its self-titled debut EP on the Berlin-based U-Motion Records. The artwork was created by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, HATEBREED). A full-length album in the works now with Scott "Scoob" Bush at Timeline Studios in Ft. Myers, Florida, where the EP was also recorded.

"I'm so happy it's finally out," says Shaefer. "I really couldn't be more proud to be a part of this EP; I think it's a beast! Working with Scott Thompson and Scoob as producers really took my vocals in a direction I might not have ventured to. I was able to find some new voices and textures and three-part harmonies are running through the whole record while the music, for the first time in my career, had no hands of mine on it. It allowed me to just sing."

STONES OF MADNESS will perform on June 7 at the Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida and will schedule dates throughout the summer.

Tentatively due in October, STONES OF MADNESS' full-length debut will include a "stunning" cover version of the classic RUSH song "Working Man", which STONES OF MADNESS has been playing in at recent live shows.

A video for the EP's next single, "I See The Wave", will be shot in the next few weeks.

The "Hostility" clip was directed by STONES OF MADNESS guitarist Shawn Bowen and the rest of the band, and was shot in the group's hometown of Sarasota, Florida. The song is described in a press release as "an anthemic, harmony filled track full of piss and vinegar, lyrically entertaining the bitterness relationships seem to conjure up."

Formed in 2011, STONES OF MADNESS includes Thompson, Shaefer, former NEUROTICA members G.J. Gosman (drums) and Shawn Bowen, along with Julia Simms (bass).

STONES OF MADNESS is a slightly different venture for Scott, Kelly, Shawn and G.J. who come from more aggressive metal backgrounds. But this project shows how truly diverse their influences really are.

Kelly previously described the STONES OF MADNESS material as "big thick guitars, along with some fucking big catchy vocals.... bashers to sing along with, cranked to 11, of course."

For more information, visit www.stonesofmadness.com.

U.K. rockers BLACK STATE HIGHWAY have inked a deal with HNE Recordings for the release of their self-titled debut album. BLACK STATE HIGHWAY is a five-piece, multinational, female-fronted hard rock band on a mission. Equal parts filthy blues riffs, monster rhythm and raw, melodic hooks, these young guns have set a determined foot on the road to glory.

Formed at Brighton Institute of Modern Music, BLACK STATE HIGHWAY includes Latvian singer Liva Steinberga (22), English guitarist Olie Trethewey (23), Scottish bassist Gordon Duncan (23), Swedish guitarist Jon "Yonnis" Crampton (24) and Ginger drummer Harry Bland (22).

BLACK STATE HIGHWAY has been honing its skills around London, tearing up venues like O2 Academy Islington, The Big Red and the Intrepid Fox. With its self-titled debut album recorded and poised to drop, the band is ready to step it up a notch. You'll hear shreds of AC/DC, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, LED ZEPPELIN and BLACK SABBATH in the music, but it's their bone-crunching riffs and bottle-shattering vocals that set them apart from the rest of the pack. With a respectful nod at the musical pedigree that influenced them, the band stamp their own authority on the scene by stepping outside the boundaries of classic rock traditions with their own original brand of heavy, riff-based rock.

For more information, visit www.blackstatehighway.co.uk.

Hardcore heroes EVERY TIME I DIE will release their new album, "From Parts Unknown", on July 1 via Epitaph Records. "Thirst" is the first cut and the video is the first half of a short series.

It could have been easy for EVERY TIME I DIE to go on autopilot. After sixteen years as a band they know what works and could go on doing the same thing — but that would be "boring and baseless," according to vocalist Keith Buckley. "Instead of making something that the kids can all sing along to, we wanted to make music that scares them," he says.

So EVERY TIME I DIE brought out the big guns and spent a month recording with legendary producer and CONVERGE co-founder Kurt Ballou at his GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts.

"Working with Kurt was stressful in the best way, like when your dad comes to watch you play baseball for the first time and you just want to make him proud," says Buckley. Ballou challenged the band to dig deeper, work quickly, and create heavy but catchy tracks. Vocals transverse from dark and light by swerving from scream to howl to like a fired-up war cry. Guitarists Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams, and drummer Ryan Leger cement their massive riffs, frantic rhythms, and brutal vocal work into a dozen of the most awesomely devastating songs the band’s created so far. Ballou has produced countless classic hardcore records for over 15 years, with recent releases including NAILS' "Abandon All Life", SKELETONWITCH's "Serpents Unleashed" and MODERN LIFE IS WAR's "Fever Hunting".

The "From Parts Unknown" title was initially inspired by a term used by wrestlers to increase their mystique, It ultimately references the more hopeful mood that creeped into the album's lyrics during songwriting.

"I didn't even realize I had that more positive outlook in me," notes Buckley. The positive outlook is especially impressive considering that a bout of laryngitis left Buckley laid up for much of the recording and forced him to tear through most of the vocal tracking in a single day. Adding to the already impressive state of this album, Brian Fallon of GASLIGHT ANTHEM and Sean Ingram of COALESCE lend their vocals to a few tracks as well.

"From Parts Unknown" track listing:

01. The Great Secret02. Pelican Of The Desert03. Decayin’ With The Boys04. Overstayer05. If There Is Room To Move, Things Move06. Moor07. Exometrium08. Thirst09. Old Light10. All Structures Are Unstable11. El Dorado12. Idiot

WAMI, the brand new project featuring vocalist Doogie White (RAINBOW, MICHAEL SCHENKER, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), drummer Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, DIO) and bassist Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY, WHITESNAKE) alongside 16-year-old Polish guitarist Iggy Gwadera, released its debut album, "Kill The King", on May 13 in North America via MVD and May 12 in Europe through Metal Mind Productions.

White's vocals were laid down in November 2013 at Studio Analiz in Szczecin, Poland. Wojtek Cugowski, Piotr Cugowski and Jarek Chilkiewicz from the Polish rock band BRACIA were responsible for overseeing the recording session.

"Kill The King" track listing:

01. The Rider02. Young Blood03. One More For Rock 'N' Roll04. Guardian Of Your Heart05. Transition06. The Resistance07. Exodus (The Red Sea Crossing)08. Heart Of Steel09. Wild Woman (You Oughta Know)10. Get Out Of My Way11. I Don't Wanna Lose You

The official video for the song "One More For Rock 'N' Roll" can be seen below. The front cover illustration of the album was created by Polish graphic designer Jaroslaw Wieczorek.

The idea to record an album together was born after THIN LIZZY's concert in Poland. Mendoza — impressed with Iggy, who supported THIN LIZZY with his band ANTI TANK NUN — suggested that they record some music together. This first idea, which was maturing for the next dozen-odd months, eventually evolved into the above-mentioned project.

In a recent issue of Polish edition of Metal Hammer magazine, Vinny stated about WAMI: "The music is quite heavy. but not as dark as, for example, BLACK SABBATH or KILL DEVIL HILL. It's melodic music, and very well performed. I would label it high-quality heavy rock." He added: "When I first heard that music, I really liked it. Later on, I was informed that the guitarist is only 16 years old. I thought, 'Wow, what an incredible instrumentalist.' And then I learnt that Marco Mendoza will be involved in this project and that made me even more interested in this idea. The demo versions of the tracks sounded very promising so I can't wait for the final results."

AVATARIUM, the project led by Leif Edling, founding bassist and main songwriter of Swedish doom metal legends CANDLEMASS, entered David Castillo's Studio Gröndahl on Sunday, May 18 to begin recording its new EP, for a late 2014 release. The band states: "Rickard Gustavsson assisted and did a great job! Lars Sköld made that vintage Gretsch kit sound amazing!!"

Due to his health condition, Edling was unable to perform with AVATARIUM at the Roadburn festival in April in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Filling in for him once again was Anders Iwers from TIAMAT (see video below).

AVATARIUM previously performed without Edling at the House Of Metal festival on March 1 in Umeå, Sweden.

AVATARIUM's self-titled debut album was released in Europe on November 1, 2013 via Nuclear Blast.

In addition to Edling, AVATARIUM features Marcus Jidell (ROYAL HUNT, EVERGREY) on guitar, Lars Sköld (TIAMAT) on drums, Carl Westholm on keyboards and Jennie-Ann Smith on vocals.

AVATARIUM's first release was a 12-inch mini-LP, "Moonhorse", featuring the title track, the B-side "Boneflower" as well as an acoustic cover version of BLACK SABBATH's "War Pigs". It arrived on September 20, 2013.

The cover artwork for "Avatarium" was created by Swedish artist Erik Rovamperä, who has previously worked with CANDLEMASS.

Jidell had the following to say about the birth of "Avatarium": "When we started to demo the songs on this album, we had one thing that we thought was extremely important: we wanted to make music that was heavy, dark and poetic. Also, we had an urge to make an album with a very organic sound and no fixing and trixing in computers but just try to make great emotional music.

"During the whole process, we have been looking for feeling rather than trying to make everything technically perfect. "I think that everything really came together the first day Jennie-Ann came in the studio and sung 'Moonhorse'. She had everything we looked for in a singer: rock 'n' roll attitude, jazz and blues feel, a big and powerful voice and yet so able to be fragile and extremely tender in her interpretation of the songs.

"If you like heavy, dark riffs and big guitars, emotional, raw and bluesy vocals, thunderous and groovy drums, I am quite sure that you'll like AVATARIUM." AVATARIUM made its live debut on November 9, 2013 in Stockholm. The band played two songs at the private 40th birthday party for AVATARIUM and TIAMAT drummer Lars Sköld at Blå Cupolen.

AVATARIUM is:

Leif Edling: BassJennie-Ann Smith: VocalsMarcus Jidell: GuitarLars Sköld: DrumsCarl Westholm: Keyboards



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Post by Avatarium.

TWISTED SISTER celebrated the 30th anniversary of its 1984 breakthrough album, "Stay Hungry", with a show this past Saturday night (May 17) at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. The New York-based band — guitarist Jay Jay French, singer Dee Snider, guitarist Eddie Ojeda, bassist Mark Mendoza and drummer A.J. Pero — played the majority of the album's nine tracks, plus a host of other TWISTED SISTER classics spanning the band's entire career.

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

"Those songs became worldwide anthems," Jay Jay French told NorthJersey.com about tracks like "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock", which are heard in hockey arenas, at political rallies and in countless commercials and movie soundtracks. "They've appeared in more than 100 movies, movie trailers, television shows, commercials and video games. It's extraordinary and something none of us could have imagined."

He added: "'Stay Hungry' became a statement album that everyone had to have. From the album's release in May 1984 until about November 1985, TWISTED SISTER was being hailed as the biggest band in the world." To date, "Stay Hungry" has sold 6 million albums worldwide.

"This was our shot to have a big record," French said. "For all the struggles the band had leading up to 'Stay Hungry', it was a confluence of extraordinary timing. MTV had just started and we knew we were going to get really good placement on MTV if we came up with a good video."

TWISTED SISTER, which reunited in 2001, performs about 12 shows a year, including festivals around the world, holiday-themed performances and occasional local concerts. It has released several live CDs and DVDs over the past decade but has no intention of recording new material.

"We don't tour regularly and I don't see any reason to [make a new record]," French told NorthJersey.com. "If I told you we were going to play new songs and take some classics out of the set, you'd kill me."

Digital Tour Bus, which gives fans "an all-access pass" to the tour buses that their favorite bands travel in, has posted its latest "Bus Invaders" episode, focusing on reformed death metallers BROKEN HOPE. The nine-minute clip, which was filmed April 4 in Joliet, Ilinois, can be seen below.

BROKEN HOPE's sixth album, "Omen Of Disease", sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Issued on October 1, 2013 (September 30, 2013 internationally) via Century Media Records, the CD's drum tracks were laid down at Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin with engineer Chris Wisco (LAZARUS A.D., JUNGLE ROT, ORIGIN, GORGASM), while the remaining instruments were tracked at Mercenary Digital Studios in Zion, Illinois with engineer Scott Creekmore (DIRGE WITHIN, PUTRID PILE, LIVIDITY).

"Omen Of Disease" features a special guest appearance by Trevor Strnad of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER on the new BROKEN HOPE track "Rendered Into Lard". The cover painting for the CD was created by world-renowned horror artist Wes Benscoter (SLAYER, CATTLE DECAPITATION, AUTOPSY, KREATOR). BROKEN HOPE tapped James Murphy (DEATH, OBITUARY, TESTAMENT) to mix and master "Omen Of Disease" at Murphy's studio, Safehouse Production. "Omen Of Disease" — a title conceived by chief lyricist and guitarist Jeremy Wagner — is also a song on the new album, marking the first BROKEN HOPE "title track" since their 1991 debut LP, "Swamped In Gore". BROKEN HOPE last fall supported DEICIDE on the "No Salvation Tour 2013". Also appearing on the bill were DISGORGE and NECRONOMICON.

John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant came together in 1968 as LED ZEPPELIN. Over the next decade, the band would become one of the most influential, innovative and successful groups in modern music, selling more than 300 million albums worldwide. Their songs are some of the most celebrated in rock 'n' roll history that, to this day, resonate with fans young and old around the globe. Still, no matter how many times you may have listened to their music, you've never heard LED ZEPPELIN like this before.

With the June 3 release of deluxe editions of "Led Zeppelin", "Led Zeppelin II" and "Led Zeppelin III", the band will launch an extensive reissue program of all nine of its studio albums in chronological order, each remastered by guitarist and producer Jimmy Page. LED ZEPPELIN will also open its vaults to share dozens of unheard studio and live recordings, with each album featuring a second disc of companion audio comprised entirely of unreleased music related to that album.

"The material on the companion discs presents a portal to the time of the recording of LED ZEPPELIN," says Page. "It is a selection of work in progress with rough mixes, backing tracks, alternate versions, and new material recorded at the time"

"Led Zeppelin", "Led Zeppelin II" and "Led Zeppelin III" will each be available June 3 from Atlantic/Swan Song in the following formats:

* Single CD - Remastered album packaged in a gatefold card wallet.

* Deluxe Edition (2CD) - Remastered album, plus a second disc of unreleased companion audio.

* Single LP - Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl, packaged in a sleeve that replicates the LP's first pressing in exacting detail. (For example, "III" will feature the original wheel and die cut holes.)

* Deluxe Edition Vinyl - Remastered album and unreleased companion audio on 180-gram vinyl.

* Digital Download - Remastered album and companion audio will both be available.

* Super Deluxe Boxed Set - This collection includes:

- Remastered album on CD in vinyl replica sleeve.- Companion audio on CD in card wallet.- Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl in a sleeve replicating first pressing.- Companion audio on 180-gram vinyl.- High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit. (Live tracks are 48kHz/24 bit).- Hard bound, 70+ page book filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia.- High quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered.- "Led Zeppelin" will also include a replica of the band's original Atlantic press kit.

The LED ZEPPELIN legend began in January of 1969 with the group's eponymous debut. From the opening salvo of "Good Times Bad Times", on through to "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", "Communication Breakdown" and "Dazed And Confused", the album introduced the band's unmistakable sound and left an indelible mark on the music landscape. "Led Zeppelin" has been certified diamond by the RIAA for sales over 10 million and was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2004.

The companion audio for "Led Zeppelin" features a previously unreleased performance recorded on October 10, 1969 at the Olympia Theatre in Paris. The nine-song set features seven tracks from the album, including an epic 15-minute version of "Dazed And Confused", as well as "Heartbreaker" and "Moby Dick", which would debut on "Led Zeppelin II" later that month.

The band wrote and recorded nearly all of "Led Zeppelin II" while touring relentlessly to support its debut album. Incredibly, the album was released just seven months after "Led Zeppelin" in October of 1969. "Led Zeppelin II" features some of the band's most beloved tracks including "Ramble On" and "Heartbreaker" as well as "Whole Lotta Love", considered by many to be one of the greatest rock 'n' roll songs of all time. The album is certified diamond by the RIAA with sales of over 12 million copies.

The "Led Zeppelin II" companion audio gives fans the first peek into the band's recording sessions, with alternate mixes of five songs from the album, backing tracks to "Thank You" and "Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)", and the previously unreleased track "La La".

Following the whirlwind success of their first two albums and near constant touring, Page and Plant took to the now famous Bron-Yr-Aur cottage in Wales in 1970 to start the early composition of "Led Zeppelin III". They later convened with Bonham and Jones for rehearsals before entering London's Olympic Studios to begin recording in May 1970. Fueled by classic tracks such as "Immigrant Song" and "Since I've Been Loving You", the album soared to the top of charts worldwide upon its release in October of 1970 and has since been certified six times platinum.

The nine tracks featured on "Led Zeppelin III"'s companion audio continue to offer a window into the band's recording process with seven studio outtakes of songs from the album as well as three previously unheard compositions: "Jennings Farm Blues" (an instrumental forerunner of "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp"), "Bathroom Sound" (an instrumental version of "Out On The Tiles"), and their take on the blues classics "Keys To The Highway/Trouble In Mind".

LED ZEPPELIN continues to be honored for its pivotal role in music history. The band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1995, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and a year later was awarded with the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm. Founding members Jones, Page and Plant — along with Jason Bonham, the son of John Bonham — took the stage at London's O2 Arena in 2007 to headline a tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun, a dear friend and Atlantic Records' founder. The band was honored for its lifetime contribution to American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. In January of 2014, the band won their first ever Grammy Award as "Celebration Day", which captured their live performance at the Ertegun tribute concert, was named "Best Rock Album."

"Led Zeppelin" track listing:

01. Good Times Bad Times02. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You03. You Shook Me04. Dazed And Confused05. Your Time Is Gonna Come06. Black Mountain Side07. Communication Breakdown08. I Can't Quit You Baby09. How Many More Times

Companion Audio Disc: Live At The Olympia - Paris, France October 10, 1969

01. Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown02. I Can't Quit You Baby03. Heartbreaker04. Dazed And Confused05. White Summer/Black Mountain Side06. You Shook Me07. Moby Dick08. How Many More Times

"Led Zeppelin II" track listing

01. Whole Lotta Love02. What Is And What Should Never Be03. The Lemon Song04. Thank You05. Heartbreaker06. Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)07. Ramble On08. Moby Dick

Companion Audio Disc

01. Whole Lotta Love02. What Is And What Should Never Be03. Thank You04. Heartbreaker05. Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)06. Ramble On07. Moby Dick08. La La09. Bring It On Home

"Led Zeppelin III" track listing

01. Immigrant Song02. Friends03. Celebration Day04. Since I've Been Loving You05. Out On The Tiles06. Gallows Pole07. Tangerine08. That's The Way09. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp10. Hats Off To (Roy) Harper

Companion Audio Disc

01. The Immigrant Song02. Friends03. Celebration Day04. Since I've Been Loving You05. Bathroom Sound06. Gallows Pole07. That's The Way08. Jennings Farm Blues09. Keys To The Highway/Trouble In Mind

Video footage of the unboxing of the "Super Deluxe" edition of "Led Zeppelin III" can be seen below.

Page told The Pulse Of Radio that after all the success LED ZEPPELIN had, the real reward has been that the music has lasted so long. "The most satisfying, the most rewarding part of it, is having been part of music like that, which has stood up to the test of time," he said. "Every musician hopes that their music will hold up. And it's wonderful."

Page, who produced all of LED ZEPPELIN's live and studio albums, has served as the band's chief archivist and personally oversaw the remastering of the band's catalog back in the early '90s.

"They Don't Need To Understand", the first video from BLACK VEIL BRIDES frontman Andy Biersack's side project called ANDY BLACK, can be seen below.

Biersack — who described ANDY BLACK as a "fun and artistic way for me to try something that musically I wouldn't want to force into BLACK VEIL BRIDES" — explained to Kerrang! magazine how the "dark wave" project came into being. He said: "My whole life, I've loved '80s synth and goth rock like THE SISTERS OF MERCY and DEPECHE MODE. My biggest love has always been the music BLACK VEIL BRIDES make, but that doesn't mean I don't listen to or enjoy other things."

Biersack added, "The older I get, the more interest I have in writing other kinds of music… The idea of doing it as a side project didn't really interest me until I got about nine songs in and realized I had some great stuff."

Asked why he couldn't incorporate his songs into BLACK VEIL BRIDES, Biersack replied, "There are so many bands I loved growing up whose singer would have a new idea for a sound and then completely ruin the band by taking a shit on the whole audience. That wasn't my interest."

Biersack continued, "It would be different if the reason I was doing this was that I wanted to get away from BLACK VEIL BRIDES . . . this is more that I didn't want to cross the two things."

Biersack told The Pulse Of Radio the relationships within BLACK VEIL BRIDES are as solid as they can be.

"We've been together for a while and it's sort of like any other band that's been touring for a while together, you develop sort of a gang mentality," he said. "And obviously like group of grown men who are sort of brothers, we have our little fights and we bicker, but for the most part, you know, I think we always go into everything as 'This might be hard to do, but we're going to do this together,' and we try to enjoy our experiences together."

The singer said that when he informed his bandmates about the project, "I made it very clear… it was a passion project on the side, and everybody in the band gets it."

Biersack has not made plans to record an ANDY BLACK album yet.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES is currently in the midst of recording its fourth album, which will follow up last year's "Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones".

"Wretched And Divine" came out in January 2013 and featured the Top 15 rock radio single "In The End".

Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA took part in an interview and live performance of two songs — a cover of "Firestarter" by THE PRODIGY, and the SEPULTURA classic "Roots Bloody Roots" — on the latest edition of "House Of Jam", a joint effort between Evoke and Update Or Die. You can now watch the 13-minute segment 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.

In a 2013 interview with Live-Metal.net, SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green stated about the new album title: "We always have the simple one-word titles or very basic. And with this we knew what we wanted to do. We wanted to maybe make people think a little bit.

"I think we have become lobotomized, including myself, because I'm not putting myself outside of anything. I think a lot of times we live in a time where people are thinking actions or creating ideas — doing something in their head but going right to their hands. And they're missing the essential part, the heart and the compassion, that's behind what you are doing. And (the title) came from a movie called 'Metropolis' (1927) by a director called Fritz Lang, and it's a silent movie. And it's actually the first thing you see in the movie. And the meaning behind it is just that: It's impossible to be human without having the heart dictate what you're doing and why you're doing certain things.

"So I believe this album has that passion and drive and love for music.

"So many things I've been hearing are just about trying to be perfect, with the digital age and trying to make everything sound perfect. Like on albums and things like that, it doesn't even sound real. It doesn't sound human anymore. So this is something going back to really trying not to be perfect. We're trying to pull out that love and desire and just grabbing that moment, placing it on an album and recording it, and not being worried about those other things."

THE ORDER OF APOLLYON, the black/death metal project featuring current/former members of ABORTED, CARCASS, AKERCOCKE and CRADLE OF FILTH, has posted its cover version of the METALLICA classic "Creeping Death". Check it out using the SoundCloud widget below.

Says THE ORDER OF APOLLYON: "Something like two years ago, we entered the BST Studio and began working on what would become our second album. Nothing ever goes as planned, but back then, we didn't think it would take that much time to achieve this record. Anyway, this was recorded during these sessions, and we should be giving more news about the album itself soon."

THE ORDER OF APOLLYON's debut album, "The Flesh", came out in April 2010 through Listenable.

THE ORDER OF APOLLYON's recording lineup for "The Flesh" was as follows:

BST (ABORTED, AOSOTH) - Guitar, VocalsDaniel Wilding (CARCASS, ABORTED) - DrumsJames McIlroy (CRADLE OF FILTH, CHAOSANCT, MATRON) - GuitarPeter Benjamin (AKERCOCKE) - Bass

Fan-filmed video footage of THE HAUNTED performing "Hate Song" on May 16 in Linköping, Sweden can be seen below.

THE HAUNTED recently entered Antfarm studio in Åbyhøj, Arhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen to begin recording its new album for a late 2014 release via Century Media Records.

THE HAUNTED released a new three-song single, "Eye Of The Storm", on January 20 in Europe and January 21 in North America via Century Media Records.

"Eye Of The Storm" was made available as limited-edition seven-inch EP (1,000 copies split as follows: 500 on black vinyl, 300 on red vinyl and 200 on white vinyl) and as digital single, featuring the new songs "Eye Of The Storm", "Infiltrator" and "My Enemy".

"Eye Of The Storm" track listing:

01. Eye Of The Storm02. Infiltrator03. My Enemy

The single marked the recording debut of THE HAUNTED's new lineup, which was announced last summer, featuring founding members Patrik Jensen (guitar) and Jonas Björler (bass), returning members Marco Aro (vocals) and Adrian Erlandsson (drums), as well as new guitarist Ola Englund.

THE HAUNTED's 2014 lineup:

* Patrik Jensen - Guitar * Ola Englund (SIX FEET UNDER, FEARED) - Guitar * Marco Aro (THE RESISTANCE, FACE DOWN) - Vocals * Jonas Björler - Bass * Adrian Erlandsson (AT THE GATES, PARADISE LOST) - Drums

Vocalist Marco Aro (ex-FACE DOWN, also in THE RESISTANCE) was previously involved with THE HAUNTED for three acclaimed releases between 1999 and 2003 as well as for several worldwide touring campaigns. Drummer Adrian Erlandsson (also in AT THE GATES and PARADISE LOST) belonged to the original lineup of THE HAUNTED together the Björler twins after the demise of their previous legendary group, AT THE GATES. Together with Jensen, they launched THE HAUNTED's self-titled debut in 1998, an album which has been widely considered as the kick-start for a new era in the thrash metal movement and which, despite its initial underground status, climbed to be a massively inspirational record for a whole new generation of musicians and bands in the following decade. Guitarist Ola Englund is a highly talented young player from Sweden, who has recently been active as touring and recording member of U.S. death metal institution SIX FEET UNDER.

"This Is Your Life", the official tribute to album to Ronnie James Dio, will be released as a special-edition double red-color vinyl LP on July 8 via Rhino Records. July 8 is just two days before Ronnie's birthday, making this release even more special to fans and collectors alike.

"This Is Your Life" sold around 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 20 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on April 1 via Rhino.

Side A

01. "Neon Knights" - ANTHRAX * 02. "The Last In Line" - TENACIOUS D * 03. "The Mob Rules" - ADRENALINE MOB 04. "Rainbow In The Dark" - Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, Jason Christopher * Side B

01. "Straight Through The Heart" - HALESTORM * 02. "Starstruck" - MOTÖRHEAD with Biff Byford * 03. "Temple Of The King" - SCORPIONS * 04. "Egypt (The Chains Are On)" - DORO

Side C

01. "Holy Diver" - KILLSWITCH ENGAGE 02. "Catch The Rainbow" - Glenn Hughes, Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Warren * 03. "I" - Oni Logan, Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy * Side D 01. "Man On The Silver Mountain" - Rob Halford, Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, Scott Warren * 02. "Ronnie Rising Medley" (featuring "A Light In The Black", "Tarot Woman", "Stargazer", "Kill The King") - METALLICA * 03. "This Is Your Life" - DIO

* Previously unreleased

Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, DIO, BLACK SABBATH, LAST IN LINE) and members of HALESTORM are among the musicians who ere interviewed at the March 17 exclusive VIP listening party for "This Is Your Life" and awards gala at the Avalon in Hollywood, California. Check out the footage below.

Ronnie James Dio is one of the most beloved figures in rock history. His gifts, both as a singer and songwriter, are instantly recognizable, whether he was with RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, or leading DIO. Sadly, Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer in 2010 but his towering voice and legacy live on.

To celebrate one of rock's most powerful voices, an all-star group of his friends and fans recorded 13 of their favorite tracks for a tribute album, 100% of proceeds from which will go to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. Produced by his longtime manager and wife Wendy Dio, the album includes contributions by such metal heavyweights as METALLICA, MOTÖRHEAD, SCORPIONS, ANTHRAX, and Rob Halford, as well as appearances by many of the musicians who performed with Dio over the years.

Although the songs featured on the album touch on the different eras of Dio's career, several spotlight his time with RAINBOW, including METALLICA's epic, nine-minute "Ronnie Rising Medley", which combines the RAINBOW songs "A Light In The Black", "Tarot Woman", "Stargazer" and "Kill The King". SCORPIONS add a scorching take on "Temple Of The King" while MOTÖRHEAD is joined by Biff Byford from SAXON on "Starstruck". Rob Halford teams with frequent Dio collaborators Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, and Scott Warren for "Man On The Silver Mountain". The final lineup of Dio's solo band — Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo and Scott Warren — are joined by Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) for "Catch The Rainbow", a track from RAINBOW's 1975 debut.

ANTHRAX and ADRENALINE MOB honor Dio's memorable stint with BLACK SABBATH with their takes on "Neon Knights" and "The Mob Rules", respectively, as does a group, led by Oni Logan on vocals along with Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, and Brian Tichy, which performs "I" from "Dehumanizer".

"This Is Your Life" also includes songs from Dio's back-to-back platinum albums "Holy Diver" (1983) and "The Last In Line" (1984), with DORO's take on "Egypt (The Chains Are On)", HALESTORM tackling "Straight Through The Heart", Corey Taylor (STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT) covering the classic "Rainbow In The Dark" and TENACIOUS D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) putting their signature spin on "The Last In Line". KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's cover of "Holy Diver", a hit in its own right when released in 2006, is also included here.

Fittingly, Ronnie James Dio provides the finale (and the album's title) with his moving performance of "This Is Your Life". Originally released on "Angry Machines" (1996), the song's lyrics explore mortality and are backed by a stark and beautiful arrangement that features Dio accompanied only by his longtime keyboardist Scott Warren on piano. The song serves as a poignant reminder that we will never hear a voice like Dio's again.

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, co-founded by Wendy Dio, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable fund dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention when dealing with this deadly disease.

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund is a privately funded 501(c)(3) charity organization which has already raised more than $600,000 in its short history. Monies raised to date have been committed to the cancer research work of the T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research and the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life.

Guitar legend Neal Schon has joined forces with bassist Marco Mendoza (BLACK STAR RIDERS, TED NUGENT, WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY) and drummer Deen Castronovo (JOURNEY, OZZY OSBOURNE, STEVE VAI, HARDLINE) to create a unique body of work with jazz and blues-inspired virtuosic hard rock playing, entitled "So U". Due on May 20 via Frontiers Records, the new album features Schon, Mendoza and Castronovo splitting vocal and writing duties, with many of the tracks also co-written by NIGHT RANGER/DAMN YANKEES songwriter, singer and bassist Jack Blades.

"So U" track listing: 01. Take A Ride02. So U03. Exotica04. What You Want05. Love Finds A Way06. On My Way07. Serenity08. Shelter09. Big Ocean

An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) for "So U" can be seen below.

In a recent interview, Schon gave Ultimate Classic Rock some insight regarding "What You Want" and how it came together: "I had the opening riff floating around in my head. I went up to Jack Blades' house, because he and I write very quickly, and I showed him the idea and we wrote the lyrics and put the song together. I did a demo of it pretty much as it sits on the record in the same form. Jack had sung the lead verses back then and I was singing the parts that I'm singing, so that one was [mostly] together when I walked in the studio with Deen and Marco. That was one of the first songs that I wrote for this project."

"The song itself is kind of cool, it's funky and it's rockin'," Schon added. "I wanted to kind of do the SLY STONE thing with me singing the lower parts and Deen singing the high harmonies with myself and Marco, and then Marco lead singing and it's sort of pinballing around. I think that's a cool idea for a trio that I haven't seen done in a while."

Of "So U", Neal Schon commented, "This is a great new record that features all three of us — Deen, Marco and myself — sharing lead vocals. Enjoy!" Best known as founding member and lead guitarist of JOURNEY, Neal Schon has enjoyed a remarkable career as one of rock 'n' roll’s top virtuosos, with a hand in creating some of the most popular songs of all time. Beginning his career more than 35 years ago in the San Francisco Bay area, the 15-year-old guitar prodigy left home to join Santana. Schon moved on in 1973 to form JOURNEY. With JOURNEY and other projects, he has earned 19 Top 40 singles and 25 platinum and gold albums, was awarded the prestigious "Legend Of Live Award" at the 2011 Billboard Touring Awards, received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2005 and was individually inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame in 2013. As the only member to record on all of JOURNEY's albums, Schon continues with the band today in its latest incarnation. In addition to 6 solo albums and 14 studio albums with JOURNEY, Neal Schon has performed with Joe Cocker, Sammy Hagar, Paul Rodgers, Larry Graham, Betty Davis, Michael Bolton, fusion legend Jan Hammer, HARDLINE and supergroup BAD ENGLISH, as well as a variety of side projects. His latest instrumental solo album, "The Calling", released in 2012 via Frontiers Records, won rave reviews from fans and the media alike, with Vintage Guitar declaring "'The Calling' is a fine piece of work demonstrating that Schon still has it going on — and then some…The songs are strong and his guitar tones are absolutely luxurious." In demand as one of the leading guitarists of his generation, Schon also worked with Gibson to manufacture his own limited edition Neal Schon signature model custom Les Paul guitar, but now uses custom PRS Neal Schon LTD Private Stock guitars, made especially for Neal by Paul Reed Smith.

Legendary bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, CALIFORNIA BREED) recently took part in an acoustic performance at the studios of the U.K. digital radio station Planet Rock. Check out video footage of the session below.

CALIFORNIA BREED, the new band built around the foundation of Glenn Hughes, drummer extraordinaire Jason Bonham and 23-year-old newcomer guitarist-singer-songwriter Andrew Watt, will release their self-titled debut album on May 20 via Frontiers Records. It was produced by Dave Cobb (JAMEY JOHNSON, RIVAL SONS, SHOOTER JENNINGS).

"California Breed" was recorded at Cobb's Nashville studio and features equal co-writing credits among the three-man lineup. "It's proper rock," Hughes told Classic Rock magazine, "but at the same time it's very now. Andrew is as influenced by Mick Ronson as he is Jimmy Page." "This kid is amazing," says Bonham. "The first time we met I thought he looked like the white Jimi Hendrix. And he plays in the studio like he's on stage!"

Glenn Hughes, 'The Voice Of Rock', is a true original, a legendary icon whose credits include DEEP PURPLE and guesting with everyone from BLACK SABBATH to EARTH, WIND & FIRE — up to his most recent collaboration in rock supergroup BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. No other rock musician has carved such a distinctive style blending the finest elements of hard rock, soul and funk. That astonishing voice is Hughes' calling card.

The legacy of LED ZEPPELIN lives on in Jason Bonham, British drummer and son of ZEP's legendary John Bonham. He has inherited the best of his father's skills while mastering his own distinctive and dynamic technique. Jason has followed his own distinctive path over the years, fronting his own successful outfits like BONHAM, and playing with LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER, HEART and, most recently, movie composer Hans Zimmer.

Andrew Watt is a soulful singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose high-energy aggressive style and creative spirit are synonymous with New York City.

"California Breed" track listing:

01. The Way02. Sweet Tea03. Chemical Rain04. Midnight Oil05. All Falls Down06. The Grey07. Days They Come08. Spit You Out09. Strong10. Invisible11. Scars12. Breathe13. Solo*

* Deluxe Edition includes "Solo" bonus track and a DVD including 2 video clips ("The Way" and "Sweet Tea"), plus documentary

When BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION disbanded, Hughes and Bonham had a strong desire to keep playing together. Their only challenge was finding a new guitarist worthy of their musicality. Easier said than done for these stars who between them have worked with some of the greatest guitarists in history — including Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page and Joe Bonamassa, to name just a few. Then fate took a hand in things when Glenn's friend Julian Lennon introduced him to the astounding talents of a New York City hotshot guitarist named Andrew Watt. "Literally, the first day me and Andrew got together we wrote two songs," recalls Glenn. "One was 'Chemical Rain' and the other was 'Solo', both of which are now on the finished album. I was so moved by the music, I said, 'We've got to record this!' That's when I called Jason."

"I was excited from the start," says Jason, "because apart from locking in as a rhythm section, Glenn and I had started writing together in BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, and we wanted to continue that." "There was such energy in the room the first time we all played together, me and Glenn didn't even have to talk about it," says Jason. "He was so exited to be playing, though, it was infectious! He was just on stage! No going through the motions, kicking the chair over, everything! I was like, you know what, this kid is a free spirit. It was cool, we all just clicked straight away." "Nothing though has gotten into my blood like CALIFORNIA BREED," says Glenn. "I feel the same way," says Jason. "I feel like a kid again starting out." Recording with Dave Cobb at the producer's own studio in Nashville, added all the finishing touches, says Glenn. "I'd gotten into Dave's work via the RIVAL SONS, who I know and really love. But Dave has done a lot of great stuff. That whole Nashville trip which Dave is a part of. Well, me and Jason don't want to sound like anyone else, we already sound like ourselves, but we felt we needed some fresh energy — and Dave absolutely brought it." At Cobb's insistence, every vocal was recorded live as the band was playing. "Totally the reverse of what I'm used to," says Glenn. "But I went into that aggressive rock soulfulness and everything down to the whispers, it was all done live! I enjoyed myself so much, just going for it." For what is on paper a three-piece, the sheer range of sounds and melodies you get from CALIFORNIA BREED are breathtaking. "I'm the oddball of the group but I'm the thing that makes us different from any other classic rock band. I grew up loving grunge music," explains Andrew. "But my father always played me THE WHO and THE BEATLES and LED ZEPPELIN. I always felt like I was in the wrong generation. I used to make rock music on my own and I'd play all the instruments because I could never find anyone my age that really got it the way I heard it. Then I got to play with Jason and Glenn and I haven't picked up anything but a guitar since!" "What we've got here is a kid who isn't a hammer-on, virtuoso," says Glenn, "but a whole new entity. This kid grew up listening to Mick Ronson on Bowie's records, as well as Jimmy Page in LED ZEPPELIN. He has a completely different take. And it's fresh and bold and so exciting. It just gets into your blood."

"March Of The Damned", a brand new song from British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track is taken from the band's forthcoming studio album, "Redeemer Of Souls", which will be released in North America on 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.

Said JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton about the "March Of The Damned" track: "'March Of The Damned' is really one of my favorite songs. It's just simple and straight to the point. It's not really a song about zombies or the walking dead. It also has a reference to all the kids that come to our concerts that march along and can't be stopped. So it's not JUDAS PRIEST and the audience. With all the anthems we've done and all the singing the audience does, it's one and the same thing."

"March Of The Damned" has been released to rock and metal radio and is available for purchase via all digital sales providers. Additionally, pre-orders for the "Redeemer Of Souls" album are now available through iTunes.

Speaking to the "Trunk Nation" show, which airs live Mondays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST 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, 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

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral


"Redeemer Of Souls" album artwork:



"Redeemer Of Souls" single artwork:

Accoring to Soundsblog.it, Saturday's (May 17) AT THE GATES concert at the Metalitalia Festival in Milan, Italy marked the first time the band has ever performed without rhythm guitarist and founding member ‪Anders Björler.

Afew hours prior to the show, it was announced that Björler had to stay behind in his home country of Sweden due to "acute food poisoning." The band decided to go on and play an abbreviated set as a four-piece while apologizing to the fans and promising to return to Italy soon to perform a full concert.

Video footage of AT THE GATES singer Tomas Lindberg announcing Björler's absence to the Italian audience can be seen below, along with a live rendition of "Under A Serpent Sun", filmed at the Milan gig.

Photos of the show are available on Soundsblog.it.

AT THE GATES will enter the studio in June to begin recording its comeback album, "At War With Reality", for an October/November release via Century Media Records.

Lindberg recently told Decibel magazine about what happened to change the bandmembers' minds about making a new CD in the six years since the AT THE GATES reunion was first announced: "I think a lot happened, mentally, when we decided to continue touring. When we started to do the global thing in 2011. That whole idea of being an active band, touring and hanging out, just grew on us, I guess.

"To be able to be in a band that has no internal problems whatsoever, to be able to tour around the world together with some of your best friends, it's just incredible, mind-blowing even. Then the idea just grew on us.

"I play in a band that involves some of my favorite musicians and songwriters and we are all still very hungry, creatively. I think that you can hear that in all our other projects, they are very alive and pushing boundaries still — from Anders' [Björler, guitar] solo album, to AGRIMONIA, to the new reinvigorated THE HAUNTED lineup, to DISFEAR and LOCK UP, to PARADISE LOST and VALLENFYRE. We feel that we have great and relevant new music in us. And we know how important this next album will be.

"When Anders came around saying that he had been jamming some new ideas around, it was not hard to make the decision to go 'all in,' so to say.

"I know it's kind of a gamble or what you want to call it. But this is a very creative album that we are writing right now, it's not a comfortable 'Slaughter Of The Soul Pt. 2' or anything like that, it's an album that I feel is pushing our own boundaries, and challenges our collective creative intellect. And that is the main reason for us to do this, it's for our own sake.

"We could easily go out and continue touring the old stuff successfully for quite a while, I think, but this is us putting ourselves on the line here, and we do that solely because we feel that we need to do this, this material is too strong to say no to."

Lindberg also spoke about not wanting to live up to people's expectations of making another album in the vein of "Slaughter Of The Soul".

"We have gone beyond the idea of making 'Slaughter Of The Soul Pt. 2', which was actually never the idea to start with," he explained. "This is an album that is so full on conceptually and creatively, so involved and ambitious that I am almost compelled to call it pretentious. And that brings me back to the feeling that was with us when we were creating 'With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness'. I'm not saying that this album sounds like that album, but it has that burning urge, the sense of importance that album is trying to portray.

"As I have always stated, we are an honest band, a band that is very focused on being true to ourselves and never follow any trends or try to portray a given perception of what people want us to be.

"What we decided on was really to let the music take us where it had to go, to go 'all in,' so to say.

"To answer your question, the record will be filled with a lot of the SLAYER worship and riffage that is 'Slaughter Of The Soul', but people will also recognize the more dark, melodic side that was 'With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness', and maybe some of the more pretentious arrangements that was part of our early career."

AEROSMITH kicked off its European tour last night (Saturday, May 17) at at Stadium Lokomotiv in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Walkin' Тhe Dog (RUFUS THOMAS cover)02. Eat Тhe Rich 03. Love In An Elevator 04. Toys In The Attic 05. Oh Yeah06. Cryin' 07. Jaded08. Livin' On The Edge 09. Last Child 10. Rag Doll 11. Stop Messin' Around (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)12. What It Takes 13. Janie's Got А Gun 14. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing 15. No More, No More 16. Come Together (THE BEATLES cover)17. Walk This Way

Encore:

18. Dream On 19. Sweet Emotion

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Photos are available at MetalHangar18.com.

AEROSMITH was foced to cancel the May 14 concert at the İstanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Stadium in İstanbul after Turkey declared a three-day mourning for the victims of Tuesday's coal mine disaster in Soma.

As previously reported, tickets for AEROSMITH and Slash's upcoming summer trek, dubbed the "Let Rock Rule" tour, are among the most expensive of the season. According to The Street, the average ticket price for the road trip is a whopping $275.85. The most expensive show on the trek comes in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with an average price of $385.24 — nearly 40 percent above the tour average. The "Let Rock Rule" tour kicks off on Thursday, July 10 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York.

The bill will also stop in cities like Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas and others before coming to a close on September 12 in Canada.

AEROSMITH released its first set of all-original material in 11 years, "Music From Another Dimension!", in 2012, and toured for much of the year after its release.

Multi-camera footage of DARKANE's entire March 17 concert at Bibelot Poppodium in Dordrecht, The Netherlands can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. The Sinister Supremacy 00:01:4502. Innocence Gone 00:06:1603. Insurrection Is Imminent 00:11:0104. Mechanically Divine 00:17:0405. Chaos Vs. Order 00:21:3106. Layers Of Lies 00:26:1507. Ostracized 00:31:2608. Third 00:35:5109. Convicted 00:40:08

DARKANE's latest album, "The Sinister Supremacy", was released in June 2013 via Massacre and Prosthetic.

Regarding the album's title, the band said: "'The Sinister Supremacy' is a metaphor for the evil that controls us. It's the dark part of our minds and it’s inside us all. It tells us it's OK to do bad things, to hurt other people, and hurt ourselves. It guides us into making choices based on pure selfishness, and it thrives on complete chaos.

"The cover art by Carlos Holmberg is a Rorschach test as seen by an individual who has completely succumbed to the sinister supremacy."

Vocalist Jens Broman left DARKANE in August 2011 due to "personal issues" and was replaced by Lawrence Mackrory, who previously sang on DARKANE's debut album, "Rusted Angel" (1999), and made a guest appearance on the song "Chaos vs. Order" on the band's 2002 effort "Expanding Senses". Broman explained in a statement, "At the moment my life is in a phase where I'm unable to find inspiration for new adventures with DARKANE and therefore it's best for me to pass on the mic."

San Francisco-based death metal outfit FALLUJAH has completed work on its new album, "The Flesh Prevails", for a summer release via Unique Leader Records. The follow-up to 2011's "The Harvest Wombs" was mixed, mastered and engineered by Zach Ohren (ANIMOSITY, SUFFOCATION, ALL SHALL PERISH) at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California over the course of a few months and features guest appearances by Christian Muenzner (OBSCURA, NECROPHAGIST) and the voice of Roniit Alkayam. The cover artwork was a collaborative effort between Poland's Tomasz Alen Kopera and the band's vocalist, Alex Hofmann. "The Flesh Prevails" will be made available during FALLUJAH's participation in this year's Summer Slaughter Tour alongside MORBID ANGEL, DYING FETUS, THE FACELESS, GOATWHORE and more. Formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2007, FALLUJAH has displayed a rugged work ethic, investing countless weeks on the road in North America and internationally. The band's commitment to crafting forward thinking music has helped them build their own diehard fanbase from the ground-up through several releases, including 2009's "Leper Colony" EP, 2011's "The Harvest Wombs" debut LP, and most recently, their 2013 "Nomadic" EP. FALLUJAH is:

Alex Hofmann - VocalsRob Morey - BassAndrew Baird - DrumsScott Carstairs - GuitarBrian James - Guitar

"Three Degrees Of Evil", the new video from DENIED, the Swedish metal band featuring vocalist Johan Fahlberg (JADED HEART) and bassist Fredrik Isaksson (formerly of THERION and GRAVE), can be seen below. The clip was produced by Atomic Movie Labs and directed by Fylo. "Three Degrees Of Evil" was recorded with producer Fredrik Folkare (UNLEASHED) and was mastered at Dugout Productions. The artwork was created by Alexander Lifbom.

DENIED's third album, "Let Them Burn", was released in January 2012 via Sliptrick Records. The CD was recorded with producer Fredrik Folkare (UNLEASHED) and was mastered at Dugout Productions. The artwork was created by Alexander Lifbom.

DENIED was formed in Upplands Väsby, Stockholm, Sweden in 2003 by Andreas Carlsson. Devoted to heavy-yet-melodic metal, he wanted to expand his vision beyond a simple dream. The band recorded its first album, "Seven Times Your Sin", in 2005 and supported it with local gigs.

In September 2005, DENIED underwent its first lineup change when bassist Robert Stellmar and drummer Pete Dolls were recruited. The group's second album, "New Army For The Old Revolution", saw the light of day in late 2008.

In 2009, DENIED enlisted longtime friend Fahlberg as their new vocalist and in November of that same year, guitarist Chris Vowden joined the group. In May 2011 the band parted ways with Stellmar and recruited Isaksson.

DENIED has "earned a reputation as a great live act from their performances in various rock clubs in the Stockholm area," according to a press release." Through the years, DENIED has supported such acts as DREAM EVIL, SISTER SIN and ENTOMBED. Their ability to work the crowd and drive them into a frenzy has become a trademark for DENIED."