Scot McFadyen, the Canadian co-founder of Banger Films, has confirmed to Times Colonist that his company has inked a contract to make a full-length documentary on the legendary heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH.

Since 2005, McFadyen and co-director Sam Dunn have worked on the essential heavy metal documentary "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" (2006) and its follow-up "Global Metal" (2008) as well as films about RUSH (2010's "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage") and IRON MAIDEN (2009's "Iron Maiden: Flight 666"); they've also collaborated on a doc about Satan and will soon take on a project about reunited grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN. As was the case with the TV doc series "Metal Evolution", their current feature, "Super Duper Alice Cooper", adds a third co-director, Reginald Harkema, for the colorful story of shock rocker Alice Cooper, née Vincent Furnier.

Asked if he can foresee Banger Films in the future moving away from documenting heavy metal, Dunn told Metal Insider in a recent interview: "Well, music documentaries and doing films about rock and metal bands is, and will always be, our bread and butter, but we are expanding. We're even doing some kids programming, a lot of live concert filming, and in the future we may get into creating dramatic feature films. But we're big music fans and we feel there are still a lot of stories out there that need to be told on some of the greatest rock bands. Think AC/DC, AEROSMITH, GUNS N' ROSES — there's loads of bands out there that are still pulling in big audiences and have had a big impact on the history of music but who many don't really know much about beyond the great songs and great show. So we still see a lot of golden hills. I wish it was gold, but in fact it's probably more silver. [Laughs]"

BLACK SABBATH's latest album, "13", debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart in June 2013, the band's first LP to ever top the U.S. chart.

The disc features singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi playing together for the first time in 35 years. Their last effort together was 1978's "Never Say Die!"

"13" has sold more than 360,000 copies in the United States since its release.

BLACK SABBATH's recent North American tour consisted of a series of 10 shows encompassing mostly Canadian stops until winding down on April 26 in Los Angeles. A contract dispute led drummer Bill Ward to sit out the reunion, which was also marred by Iommi's cancer diagnosis in early 2012.

BLACK SABBATH was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 56th annual Grammy Awards on January 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. BLACK SABBATH was nominated for the track "God Is Dead?", from "13". BLACK SABBATH's "God Is Dead?" also picked up a nomination in the "Best Rock Song" category. In addition, "13" earned a nod for "Best Rock Album", alongside LED ZEPPELIN's "Celebration Day" and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's "…Like Clockwork", among others.

BLACK SABBATH's "Live… Gathered In Their Masses" DVD sold around 9,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 2 on the Top Music Videos chart. Released on November 26, 2013, the set was recorded April 29 and May 1, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia when the band kicked off its world tour in support of "13".

"Hardcore MF Heartattack", the new video from reformed Swedish hard rockers SKINTRADE, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's comeback album, "Refueled", which was released on February 28 via AOR Heaven. The CD was recorded at SKINTRADE's studio and mixed by Oscar Ammer, frontman and songwriter of STEREOLITH, at Echobox Studio in Stockholm.

According to SKINTRADE, the band's new album represents "everything they stood for in the past, and exactly where they are musically at the present."

"Our focus always was and always will be on the songwriting and the ferocious riffs and grooves to match," says the group.

Added singer Matti Alfonzetti: "We have been working very hard writing songs and recording for over a year and half.

"We're really proud of the new album and we definitely feel that this is our best effort so far.

"We can't wait to get out on the road again and meet our old friends and to make new ones."

"Refueled" track listing:

01. Monster02. Liar03. Pay In Blood04. Hardcore MF Heartattack05. Close My Eyes06. Getting Away With Murder07. Mountain08. Been To The Bottom09. Worse Than Wasted10. Dying In Your Arms11. Wild One12. Look Me In The Eye

SKINTRADE's "best-of" album, "Past And Present", was released in March 2012 via Universal Music. The CD includes three new songs and 12 classics.

SKINTRADE was formed in 1992 by Matti Alfonzetti (vocals), George Bravo (guitar, backing vocals), Stefan Bergström (guitar, backing vocals), Hakan Calmroth (bass) and Håkan Persson (drums, backing vocals). The group's self-titled debut was released in 1993 and received overwhelmingly positive respnse from both media and audience. The singles "Sick As A Dog" and "One By One" were played frequently on the radio and their videos spun on MTV's "Headbangers Ball". The same year, SKINTRADE was honored with a Zeppelin award for "Best Hard Rock Album" and was nominated for a Swedish Grammis (Grammy equivalent) in the category of "Best Video." The follow-up CD, "Roach Powder", came out in 1995 with Thomas Skogsberg as a producer (ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER). The videos for the singles "Snap Goes Your Mind" and "Flies" were played regularly on MTV.

Between 1993 and 1995, SKINTRADE embarked on several tours of Europe and played at some of Sweden's and Europe's biggest festivals such as Sweden Rock, Hultsfred, Dala Rock, Dynamo Open Air (Holland) and Rock Am Ring (Germany). SKINTRADE also supported the Danish band D-A-D on their European tour in 1995. One of their last and most memorable gigs took place in late 1995 with the Irish band THERAPY? during a live radio show in Amsterdam, Netherlands. SKINTRADE disbanded shortly thereafter.

The idea for the SKINTRADE members to collaborate again came about as they got more and more requests from fans asking them to make new music. During the first rehearsal in May 2011, it became obvious that the band's chemistry was very much intact.

In the summer and autumn of 2011, SKINTRADE recorded four new songs at Sound Trade Studios with their old friend and partner Ronny Lahti, engineer and producer who previously worked with the band on all the recordings in the '90s.

SKINTRADE 2014 is:

Matti Alfonzetti - Vocals, GuitarStefan Bergström - Guitar, Backing VocalsHåkan Calmroth - BassHåkan Persson - Drums, Backing Vocals

"Hardcore MF Heartattack" video:

Reformed U.K. industrial metal pioneers GODFLESH will release a new EP, "Decline & Fall", on May 26 via GODFLESH frontman Justin K. Broadrick's Avalanche Recordings. The Japanese version of the EP will include two bonus songs.

"Decline & Fall" track listing:

01. Ringer 02. Dogbite 03. Playing With Fire 04. Decline & Fall + 2 Japan-only bonus tracks

GODFLESH released its first new recording in over 12 years through Decibel magazine's Flexi Series. A cover of the track "F.O.D. (Fuck of Death)" by legendary death thrashers SLAUGHTER (Canada) was included in the subscriber version of the magazine's November 2013 issue.

In an interview with the French radio station Le 106, Justin K. Broadrick stated about the band's forthcoming album — which is tentatively titled "A World Lit Only By Fire" and due in September— "It will be [musically] similar to the first two or three [GODFLESH albums]. I just think, like we're playing these shows, we feel very pure about we're doing and honoring the initial intentions with what we originally set out to do. Which, I think, like most bands and musicians and all the rest of it, by the time you get on to your fourth album, it's somewhat of a dilution going on to what you initially tried to achieve. It will definitely sound aggressive and it probably won't sound like any of the other records we've made, but it will have the minimalism of the first few records."

Added GODFLESH bassist G.C. Green: "It won't sound like the first two record; it will be more the spirit… When you make records over the years, you change as people, you change as musicians, you progress, you develop and you take other styles on, but I think, having had a break from it and come back to it, it seems that we've gone straight back into what the essence of it was originally, and that's why it feels good."

Continued Justin: "It's getting straight back to the core of what this is all about. And I think having a break from it has probably even more inspired… It's like refocusing and obviously, we're somewhat older and wiser. It's gonna be a really interesting record. It's extremely minimal and very, very brutal — a fairly unforgiving record, really, I think."

Founding TERRORIZER member and legendary drummer Pete Sandoval (MORBID ANGEL) was joined by Lee Harrison (MONSTROSITY) on guitar and Sam Molina on bass and vocals for a May 2 appearance at the Neurotic Deathfest at Poppodium 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Sandoval, Harrison and Molina celebrated the 24th anniversary of TERRORIZER's classic album "World Downfall" with a run of U.S. dates last November.

TERRORIZER's latest CD, "Hordes Of Zombies", was released on February 28, 2012 via the French label Season Of Mist.

Asked about the status of Sandoval — who in 2010 underwent surgery after a prolapsed disc — MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist David Vincent told Capital Chaos TV: "Pete is no longer in MORBID ANGEL. Pete's concentrating on TERRORIZER. And Timothy Yeung is the drummer for MORBID ANGEL and he's a doing a great job. And we're pressing forward."

Vincent also spoke about his guest appearance on the latest TERRORIZER album, "Hordes Of Zombies", and his continued working relationship with Sandoval.

"It was a lot of fun [laying down the bass tracks on the CD]. He asked me if I'd be willing to play on the record, and of course I said yes. It's a good record. It's obviously a different style to MORBID ANGEL, and that's OK. We like all kinds of music. So I'm glad that he's actually out touring again and making his way. This is what he does — he plays drums and he's damn good at it. So I'm glad that he has found his place and that he's feeling good about it. And he's getting a lot of support, obviously, from the fans, so everyone wins."

Guitarist Jesse Pintado, a founding member and guitarist of TERRORIZER, died at Holland's Erasmus MC hospital on August 27, 2006 due to liver failure, only less than a week after the release of TERRORIZER's second album "Darker Days Ahead". His death effectively put TERRORIZER's future in question.

Fan-filmed video footage of estranged STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman Scott Weiland performing three new songs — "The Way She Moves", "Beach Pop Rock" and "Circles" — during his April 30 solo concert in Dallas, Texas can be seen below. The tracks are set to appear on the singer's forthcoming solo album, tentatively due before the end of the year.

Weiland's second solo CD, "Happy In Galoshes", was released in November 2008 via Softdrive Records and distributed by New West Records/ RED/Sony. The CD, produced by Scott Weiland and Doug Grean (VELVET REVOLVER, SHERYL CROW, CRYSTAL METHOD), with select tracks recorded by Steve Albini, featured several guest appearances, including Adrian Young, Tony Kanal and Tom Dumont of NO DOUBT, who, along with Grean and Weiland, penned "Paralysis", which features Young on drums. "She's so Cold" was co-written by Gary Beers from INXS.

"Happy In Galoshes" sold 10,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS fired Weiland in February 2013, claiming that his own solo activities and erratic behavior were detrimental to the band.

The group later sued Weiland, with the singer firing off a countersuit and claiming that they could not use the band name without his involvement.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS last fall completed its first North American tour with LINKIN PARK's Chester Bennington on the mic.

"High Rise", the first EP from STONE TEMPLE PILOTS to feature Bennington, sold 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 24 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on October 8, 2013 via Play Pen/ADA.

Chicago-based Metal Kaoz conducted an interview earlier today with CRADLE OF FILTH's mainman, Dani Filth, who talked about the release of Total Fucking Darkness and the band's future plans, revealing that they booked a studio to start recording the new Cradle Of Filth album this December. The entire conversation can be streamed at this location.
Earlier this month, Filth revealed that the band had begun work on the follow-up to 2012’s The Manticore And Other Horrors:

"Fired up from the recent spate of shows in Europe with co-headliners BEHEMOTH, the band has decided to forego the year away from writing, and leap back into the fray with vigour anew.

The crux of three songs has already been broached and I can say the material is comparable to that of Dusk, Cruelty and Midian, albeit with a fresher sound. I can't define it exactly as it incorporates a wide variety of styles and dark emotions as one would come to expect from a Cradle record. One thing is certain though, this next release is going to be pushing the boundaries of what the band can achieve, and with forthcoming live shows peppering the writing process, I know this album is going to be fuelled by 101% metal fury!"

On May 2nd, DRAKKAR will enter the studio to begin recording the successor to the comeback album When Lightning Strikes. Veterans Dario Beretta (guitars), Davide Dell’Orto (vocals) and Simone Cappato (bass) will be joined by newcomers Emanuele Laghi (keyboards) and Paolo Pirola (drums), plus a few special guest musicians.

According to guitarist/composer Dario Beretta, the new record, called Run With The Wolf and scheduled for early 2015 on My Kingdom Music, will be “a very straightforward, direct album. After a concept so complex and thought-out like When Lightning Strikes, we thought it was the right moment to do something very immediate and energetic. There are also a couple of songs that make use of traditional Irish melodies and chord progressions, something we’ve never done before. As a life-long fan of THIN LIZZY, I’m pretty excited to be finally able to incorporate those influences in our sound”.

The record will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band, which is coming in 2015.

“In all honesty,” said Beretta, “I never would have thought to reach such an important milestone when we were recording the first demos, back in the ’90s. To celebrate properly, we have invited some very good friends that we had the fortune to share the stage with a few times: Terence Holler (ELDRITCH), Olaf Thorsen (LABYRINTH, VISION DIVINE) and Mat Stancioiu (Labyrinth, CROWN OF AUTUMN) will all make special guest appearances on the album and I can’t thank them enough for that”.

As part of the 20 years celebration, Run With The Wolf will also come out in a very limited special edition with five classic Drakkar songs newly re-recorded. Longtime Drakkar-member Corrado Solarino will be taking keyboard duties on these remakes and Gabriels (METAPHYSICS, GABRIELS) will also make a special appearance with his orchestral version of ‘Galadriel’ Song’.
For more info visit Facebook.

UK dark rock/prog quintet THINE are streaming the track 'Out Of Your Mind & Into A Void', from their third studio album, The Dead City Blueprint, which is due for release via Peaceville Records on May 13th
Thine entered the hallowed and legendary Academy Studios (PARADISE LOST, ANATHEMA, MY DYING BRIDE) to record the long overdue follow-up to the 2002 album, In Therapy, and sees the band building upon the sublime hooks and dark existential themes from prior works.

Commented the band: "We've been toiling away for over a decade on shaping our latest monster. It has been such a long and grueling process with countless collapses and relapses and a traumatic voyage on numerous levels, but this opus is finally in the flesh so to speak. It is an encapsulation of all those glorious tragedies we all find ourselves overcoming along the way, and essentially for us, a welcome catalyst. Sometimes the best art comes only through being unexpectedly forced through the city's darkest avenues, so hope you'll find us there."
Tracklisting:

'Brave Young Assassin'
'Flame To The Oak'
'Out Of Your Mind & Into A Void'
'To The Precipice'
'The Dead City Blueprint'
'A Great Unknown'
'The Rift'
'The Beacon'
'Scars From Limbo'
'Adrift Through The Arcane Isles Of Recovery'

'Out Of Your Mind & Into A Void':
'To The Precipice':
Teaser:
Having formed in 1995 in Yorkshire, UK with the core trio of Alan Gaunt, Paul Groundwell and Daniel Mullins (currently handling drum duties with My Dying Bride), Thine initially burst onto the scene in 1997 with the release of the atmospheric prog/doom Journeys demo tape, with the debut album of boundary-warping metal noir, A Town Like This, appearing on Peaceville the following year. Thine's most accomplished work to date, In Therapy saw light of day a full four years later, and showcased a more sleek and immediate sound, bringing comparisons to other dark and emotional acts such as KATATONIA and Anathema. The band line-up is completed by Dylan Rhodes on rhythm guitar and Richard Swift on bass.

Rome, Italy based symphonic-gothic metallers TOTHEM have released a new video for ‘Smile Again’, from their debut full-length album Beyond The Sea. Beyond the Sea was released by Canadian label Maple Metal Records last November, and will see the UK, European, and Japanese releases through Code 7 via Plastic Head Distribution on June 2nd.

The video was filmed on location and directed by Fabio Seri. It features actress Serena Vitaliano. Check it out below:

‘Beyond The Sea’ was produced by the band last summer at MM Studio in Rome, and mastered by Creative Mastering in Forli, Italy.
The album artwork was created by Adhiira Art in Rome.

The first music video ‘Run to You’, off the album “Beyond the Sea”, can be viewed below:



Recently Tothem have supported PAUL DI’ANNO (ex-IRON MAIDEN) in Rome, and performed at the Red Roar Festival in the UK last summer. Tothem will be playing select dates in Europe this summer and fall, details of which to be announced.

DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott's DOWN N' OUTZ released their new album, The Further Adventures Of..., on April 22nd in Europe (April 21st in the UK). The Further Adventures Of... is the third installment of the project fronted by Joe Elliott, and features tracks connected to MOTT THE HOOPLE. An album sampler is streaming below:
The project was born in 2009 when Mott The Hoople reformed and asked long-time friend and fan Joe Elliott to get involved. Joe formed the Down N’ Outz with THE QUIREBOYS' Paul Guerin (guitar), Guy Griffin (guitar) and Keith Weir (keyboards), plus Phil Martin (drums). Together they looked to bring songs by Mott The Hoople and spin off projects of Mott, Ian Hunter and British Lions to a wider audience.

In 2009 Down N' Outz supported Mott The Hoople at one of the band’s five Hammersmith Apollo shows, which garnered much interest with fans. The fan demand eventually led to the bandlooking to create an album. 2011 saw the release of the critically acclaimed debut My Re-Generation through Bludgeon Riffola via Mailboat Records. My Re-Generation included the singles 'England Rocks' and 'Overnight Angels', that reached #4 and #1 respectively on the US Media Base Rock chart - keeping ERIC CLAPTON’s new single off the top of the chart for two weeks. The band then released a live DVD taken from those initial shows called Live At Hammersmith Apollo.

The new album The Further Adventures Of… picks up where the live DVD left off and features the driving groove of album opener - and first single - 'Rock And Roll Queen'. The collection also includes the good time of rock-n-roll tune 'One Of The Boys', and ballad 'The Journey', plus the drum heavy song 'Violence'. This LP is set to bring out a rich and much loved seam of British songwriting to a whole new audience. The album was produced by Joe Elliott with co-production by Ronan McHugh. The album was recorded at Joe Elliott’s own studio Joe’s Garage.

Joe Elliott says, “These songs make up a huge portion of who I am and I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to record them and hopefully give them a new lease of life, which, quite frankly, is long overdue.”

Morgan Fisher (keyboardist Mott The Hoople 1973/1974 and also Mott and British Lions) expresses, "It's like Joe and the boys have taken some vintage films and slapped them onto a big, bright Technicolor screen. A great, in-your-face new way to experience some of Mott's finest songs!"

Ian Hunter says, “I’m blown away by these recordings. The solo by Paul Guerin on ‘The Journey’ is one of the best I’ve heard. These songs really suit Joe’s voice also. It’s a whole different side to him and the project gets my approval!”

After supporting Mott The Hoople in 2009, Down N' Outz played the main stage of inaugural High Voltage festival at Victoria Park, London during the summer of 2010. Following this memorable performance, they toured the UK as main support to PAUL ROGERS in 2011. The band is currently working on live dates for 2014/2015.

Tracklisting:

'Rock And Roll Queen'
'Stiff Upper Lip'
'Marionette'
'One Of The Boys'
'Whizz Kid'
'Violence'
'The Journey'
'Drivin' Sister'
'The Original Mixed-Up Kid'
'Crash Street Kidds'
'Broadside Outcasts'
'The Revenge Of The Shipwrecked Hedgehog'
'Sea Diver' (iTunes bonus track)
'One Of The Boys' (radio edit) (iTunes bonus track)

Pre-order the album now on ITunes and get 'Rock And Roll Queen' instantly:

UK Pre-Order
US Pre-Order

Extreme thrash band DIVINE CHAOS is set to release their debut album A New Dawn In The Age Of War worldwide on May 29th via Evil EyE Records.
A New Dawn In The Age Of War was produced by Scott Atkins (STAMPIN GROUND) and features James Stewart (VADER) on drums. The album also features guest performances from Josh Middleton (SYLOSIS).

Divine Chaos seek to pick up where seminal thrash bands such as SEPULTURA, DEATH and CARCASS left off in the early 90's and continue to explore the darker, more visceral side of the genre combined with innovative production standards.

A New Dawn In The Age Of War tracklisting:

‘Last Confession’
‘Death Toll Rising’
‘The Myth Of Huam Progress’
‘Shadow Of God’
‘Ignorance Everlasting’
‘Rivers Of Blood’
‘Fields Of The Fallen’
‘Sinain Sands’
‘Perpetual War Policy’

Divine Chaos has collaborated with music video director Doug Anderson from Visceral Video in March to produce the first promotional video for the second track on the album, 'Death Toll Rising'.

Italian metal band KLOGR have released their new video, for the track 'Zero Tolerance', featured on the band's new full-length album, Black Snow, available via Zeta Factory for physical and Believe for digital.

Recorded between Zeta Factory and Green River studios, the album was produced by Klogr frontman and mastermind Rusty and Tancredi Barbuscia. Black Snow will be released in a special digital edition including the band's 2011's Till You Turn EP and Ground Zero 11-11-11 Live.

Black Snow tracklisting:

‘Zero Tolerance’
‘Refuge’
‘Draw Closer’
‘Hell Of Income’
‘Life Is Real’
‘Heart Breathing’
‘Failing Crowns’
‘Guilty And Proud’
‘Plunder’
‘Room To Doubt’
‘Severed Life’
‘Ambergris’

'Zero Tolerance' video:
'Guilty And Proud':
‘Draw Closer’ video:
Trailers:
For more info visit Klogr.net.

Melodic metal band SIGNUM REGIS have announced their new vocalist, Mayo Petranin.

Ronnie König of Signum Regis comments: "Mayo Petranin has been with us as a guest singer since the last autumn. We played several gigs together, did a lot of rehearsing and spent a quite a bit of time together. During those months, we were able to tune in to the same vibe musically, we got to know each other and became friends. Being so happy with Mayo's work and his interpretation of our songs, we are now naturally moving forward to the next step: Mayo is now officially the singer and frontman of Signum Regis."
Signum Regis lineup 2014:

Mayo Petranin - Vocals
Filip Koluš - Guitars
Ronnie König - Bass
Ján Tupý - Keyboards, backing vocals
Jaro Jancula - Drums

Upcoming shows:

May
2 - Blast Of Eternity Club Show - Neckarsulm, Germany
3 - Rock For Eternity - Amersfoort, Netherlands

Signum Regis are currently working on new material, and will hit the studio later this year to record the follow-up to Exodus.

Serbian epic power metal band CLAYMORE has released a full new demo from their upcoming third album.

The demo features three brand new tracks and one cover track of MANILLA ROAD’s ‘Into The Courts Of Chaos’. All songs were recorded in guitarist’s Vlad Invictus’ home studio.

Claymore will enter Midnight Studio in October to record brand new, yet untitled, third studio album, which will be released in 2015.
Demo tracklisting:

‘Ironhide’
‘Night Eternal’
‘We Fight Like Lions’
‘Into The Courts Of Chaos’ (Manilla Road cover)

Demo stream:
Claymore lineup:
Dejana - vocal
Zex - vocal
Vlad Invictus - guitar
Goran - bass
Alex Cane - drums

Danish metal outfit BLOOD LABEL, which features members of HATESPHERE, DAWN OF DEMISE and THE BURNING, have released their new video, for the track 'Snake In The Grass', lifted from their debut album, Skeletons, out now via Mighty Music.

The cover art for the album was hand painted by MNEMIC guitarist and esteemed cover artist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie (SOILWORK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK TRANQUILLITY).
Tracklisting:

'Deliver Me From Evil'
'Snake In The Grass'
'Shotgun-Blown In The Face'
'Paranoia'
'Bad Blood'
'Stuck In Limbo'
'Hell Holds A Place For You'
'Explode'
'Disease Pit'
'Skeletons'
'Coup De Grace'
'The Black Arts'

'Snake In The Grass' video:
'Shotgun-Blown In The Face' lyric video:

Teaser:
Blood Label lineup:

Kenneth Klitte Jensen - vocals
Alexander Kjeldsen - guitars, backing vocals
Jesper Jakobsen - guitars
Nikolaj Poulsen - bass
Bastian Thusgaard - drums

Australian technical death/black metallers NORSE will release their Pest EP digitally on June 7th. A video for the lead track, 'Encoded Weakness', is now streaming below.
Tracklisting:

'Encoded Weakness'
'Disarmed. Toothless. Weak'
'Pest'
'Irradiator'
'True Insignifigance'
'Aimless'

NORSE - Encoded Weakness from Norse on Vimeo.

Doomy heavy metallers EXORCISM released their debut album, I Am God, on April 25th via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. The album track 'Stay In Hell' can now be streamed below.
Tracklisting:

'End Of Days'
'I Am God'
'Voodoo Jesus'
'Last Rock’N Roll'
'Master Of Evil'
'Exorcism'
'Higher'
'Stay In Hell'
'Fade The Day'
'Zero G'
'Stay In Hell':
'Zero G' lyric video:



Trailer:
All drums by Garry King recorded at La Foret Groupe Studio, France. All guitars by Joe Stump recorded at The Dungeon, Boston, MA, and edited and processed by Franciso Palomo, private studio, Boston, MA. All bass guitars by Lucio Manca recorded at Total Master Sound, IB, Spain. All vocals, keyboards, synthesizers and additional rhythm guitars recorded and edited by Csaba Zvekan, slide guitar on 'End Of Days' by Csaba Zvekan, additional rhythm guitars on 'Voodoo Jesus' by Csaba Zvekan at Total Master Sound, IB, Spain. Mixed and Mastered by Csaba Zvekan at Total Master Sound studios, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Guitarist JOE STUMP (HOLYHELL, RAVEN LORD) spoke with Bravewords scribe Carl Begai about his involvement in the project:
"It was an interesting record for me to do as I didn't write anything on it, but that it was a cool record to make none the less. I'm playing all different schools of stuff on the thing guitar-wise, from GARY MOORE / JIMI HENDRIX / MICHAEL SCHENKER-induced bluesy playing to my usual YNGWIE MALMSTEEN meets RITCHIE BLACKMORE meets HANK SHERMAN / ULI JON ROTH evil shred."

Exorcism are:

Csaba Zvekan – vocals
Joe Stump – guitars
Lucio Manca – bass
Garry King – drums

Fan-filmed video footage of ALICE IN CHAINS' entire April 29 concert at Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas can be seen at this location. A couple of the clips are available below.

ALICE IN CHAINS' fifth studio album, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", sold 62,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart. The disc follows up 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", which was the group's first all-new collection of material in 14 years. That CD opened with 126,000 units back in October 2009 to debut at No. 5.

ALICE IN CHAINS was last in the Top Two with its self-titled 1995 set, which debuted at No. 1 on that year's November 25 chart, according to Billboard.com. It would be their final studio release with singer Layne Staley, who died in 2002.

"The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" is ALICE IN CHAINS' second album with William DuVall on vocals.

Asked how he would characterize his guitar role in ALICE IN CHAINS, DuVall told GuitarPlayer.com in a 2013 interview: "It's everything from writing riffs to providing counterpoint to what [Jerry] Cantrell is doing to doubling what he's doing to playing solos. I do the solo on 'Phantom Limb' on this new album. So, it's really everything that you would expect from a two-guitar band. My being in the group also gives the band another guitar player who can write things, and we've also turned into a bit more of a jamming outfit when we rehearse. I'm told they didn't really do a whole lot of that before. But that's sort of where I come from: a jamming background. I'll start up something and see where it goes in rehearsal. That's a different way of interacting, which is cool."

NECROPHAGIA have completed the re-recording of WhiteWorm Cathedral; a Fall 2014 release is expected via Season Of Mist. The lineup for the record is:

Killjoy - vocals
Scrimm - guitars
Abigail Lee Nero - guitars
Damien Matthews - bass
Shawn Slusarek - drums and percussion
Mirai Kawashima - synthesizers
Late last year Necrophagia released a new single, 'The Wicked'. The song was written and recorded in August of 2013. Says the band: "It is not going to be featured on WhiteWorm Cathedral. It is an exclusive FREE download. It's our way of saying thanks for the years of support. The delay of WhiteWorm Cathedral is not something we expected. It is no way the fault of the band or our record label Season Of Mist. We completed the basic tracks in November 2012. It's been sitting and collecting coffin rot at James Murphy's studio for almost a year. Broken promises and missed deadlines galore. We are not waiting any longer for James to finish it. We have started re-recording WhiteWorm Cathedral. Crank this up. We will see you on tour very soon. Gore Forever!"

Get your free download of 'The Wicked' at this location. The track is streaming below:

Following the success of last year's third album, The Eldritch Dark, BLOOD CEREMONY are back with a brand new single. Released and recorded to coincide their forthcoming headline European tour in May, 'Let It Come Down' further displays the uniqueness of this Toronto-based band.
Conviction and dedication to what they do is so evident here, whilst their songwriting is sounding more confident than ever. Backed with a cover version of 'Loving You', originally recorded by early 70s obscure Scottish proto-metal legends, IRON CLAW, Blood Ceremony are rapidly becoming legends themselves.

This limited edition vinyl comes in several different colors with a lyric insert. This is a brand new recording with both tracks exclusive to this release. The single will be released June 24th in North America on Rise Above Records.
Tracklisting:

'Let It Come Down'
'Loving You'

BEAUTY IN THE SUFFERING, the electronic-rock studio project from producer DieTrich Thrall (MARAZENE), have released a new lyric video for their track 'Reveille (The Zombie Charge)'. The track is also available for free download on their Bandcamp page.
The lyric video is a follow-up to the band's debut single and video, 'The Crazies (The Zombie Song)'. A full production zombie video is expected in the coming weeks.
Thrall comments on the new track: "Excited to add to the craziness that kicked off our official introduction to Beauty In The Suffering music a few months ago. The new track is called 'Receille (The Zombie Charge)' - we're coming for YOU!"

A little over two years in the making, 'Reveille (The Zombie Charge)' is the first Beauty In The Suffering track to feature Chris Emery of AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE on drums and marks the second song DieTrich has released for his new project.

Frontiers Records announces the digital release of ADRENALINE RUSH's debut single, 'Change'. The single is available from today for download (iTunes, Amazon etc) and legal streaming (Spotify, Deezer, etc.) on all digital platforms across the world.
The single is taken from the forthcoming debut album, entitled Adrenaline Rush, which is planned for release at the end of August on Frontiers. A new EPK (Electronic Press Kit) can be found below:
Fronted by one of the most talented and hottest chicks in today’s hard rock scene, Tåve Wanning, Adrenaline Rush promises to fire up the rock scene with their lethal dose of heavy guitars, infectious hooks and full blown rock n' roll attitude. With a debut album recorded under the direction of producer Erik Martensson (ECLIPSE, W.E.T), this impressive band needs to be on the “to buy” list for all fans of DANGER DANGER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WARRANT, TREAT and CRAZY LIXX.
Adrenaline Rush will make their international live debut this week, on May 2nd at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Trezzo, Milan, Italy.

Sacramento, CA modern death metal juggernaut THE KENNEDY VEIL have released a new video clip of guitarist KC Childers performing a play through of 'In The Ashes Of Humanity'. The track is taken from their crushing debut album, Trinity Of Falsehood, which saw a release on January 21st via Unique Leader Records. Check out the video clip below:
Produced by Nick Botelho at NB Recording in Santa Rosa, California and featuring the debut of vocalist Taylor Wientjes, Trinity Of Falsehood is the band’s most technically precise, conceptually captivating and indisputably brutal material to date. Trinity of Falsehood can now be streamed in it's entirety below:
Trinity of Falsehood by The Kennedy Veil

Upcoming live dates:

June
6 - The Red House - Walnut Creek, CA (with Aegaeon, The Zenith Passage)

In early June, Metal Mind Productions will release a new studio album by Polish hard rock band KRUK. Kruk’s fourth full-length release, entitled Before, should be interesting for fans of such big artists as DEEP PURPLE, LED ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH and DIO.
The album is scheduled for release on June 9th in Europe and July 8th in North America (via MVD) and includes a bonus DVD featuring additional material: live show from Spodek Hall, Katowice from February 2014 when Kruk supported the legendary band Deep Purple, interviews, documentary and studio report.

Tracklisting:

CD:
'Open Road'
'Ones'
'My Morning Star'
'Gray Leaf'
'Farewell'
'My Sinners'
'Wings Of Dreams'
'Last Second'
'Timeline'
'Moja Dusza' (bonus track)
'Szary Li??' (bonus track)

Bonus DVD (Live show recorded at Spodek Hall, Katowice - 15.02.2014):
'Now When You Cry'
'Otul Sw? Cisz?'
'Rising Anger'
'W Zamy?leniu'
'Kameleon'
'It Will Not Come Back'

+ interviews, documentary & studio report

VOICIANO, the new acoustic project of EDENBRIDGE members Sabine Edelsbacher (vocals) and Lanvall (grand piano, acoustic guitars and other string instruments, percussion), have launched the fifth in a series of webisodes.
In the new clip, Sabine and Lanvall talk about the background of the logo and present Erik Martensson (W.E.T., ECLIPSE) and Peter Aschenbrenner (GANDALF, CIUNAS) as next guest stars.
In webisode #4, Sabine and Lanvall are introducing guest star #4, the world music icon Gandalf, one of the most successful international Austrian musicians! He will also be responsible for the mix and the mastering of the album. Furthermore they are talking about the background of the cover artwork and the sponsoring packages.
The third webisode sees Sabine and Lanvall talking about the background of the name, presenting the crowdfunding campaign and introducing the third guest star Karl Groom, the guitar wizard and mastermind of THRESHOLD.
The second sees Lanvall talking about the orchestra recordings with the Junge Philharmonie Freistadt and is introducing the second guest star Arjen Lucassen, the AYREON mastermind.
The first webisode features Sabine and Lanvall introducing the project and announcing the first guest star, Jim Peterik (ex-SURVIVOR, PRIDE OF LIONS, THE IDES OF MARCH), who wrote the Rocky hymn 'Eye Of The Tiger'.
According to a press release, Voiciano is based on acoustic instruments exclusively, mainly the grand piano. However many other instruments like acoustic guitars, hammered dulcimer, kacapi, bouzouki, mandolin, saz and diverse percussion instruments are appearing. Furthermore a real string orchestra can be heard, the orchestra JUNGE PHILHARMONIE FREISTADT. The music was recorded nearly exclusively without any click tracks, that means without any predetermined tempo, which accentuates the liveliness and soul of the songs. The piano parts as a main basis were recorded live continuously at all."

Lanvall states: "The idea was born after our Edenbridge promotion acoustic show in Vietnam. In 2010 Sabine and I flew to Vietnam for a 10 minutes show case, to perform 3 songs on the 1000 Years Hanoi Festival. The simplicity of the whole process concerning the rehearsals and the show were pure fun for us. You just request for a microphone and a grand piano, enter the stage and perform. When we came back, I went through my files and piles of sketches of numerous ideas, which remained unused to this point. I was astonished how many great songs I found in layouts in this acoustic form. This inspired me immediately to write completely new songs additionally.":

Sabine adds: "I always had the idea for a solo project with more balladesque songs. Voiciano is exactly, what I had in mind. In Voiciano my voice gets more room in all its nuances, this is what I enjoy of course. Furthermore I will bring myself in into the lyrics. The mystic atmosphere of our songs will remain of course - I think we cannot do it differently - it´s a part of us."

Sabine and Lanvall were also able to win some great guests for the album. Most of them are longtime friends and fellow companions with prominent names.

Lanvall: "After the huge production of the last Edenbridge album The Bonding, it was extremely important to gain distance musically and be involved in something, which is different. The reduction in the music and the process to record much of the music live, gave me tremendous joy. I believe that everybody who loves Edenbridge, will love Voiciano too, although it shows us from a completely different side. When I began to arrange the songs I was immensely touched by the feeling and the souls of the songs. This inspired me to learn new instruments like the hammered dulcimer, which can be heard in a couple of songs and creates an own mystic atmosphere."

Will Sabine and Lanvall concentrate on Voiciano now exclusively?

Lanvall: "No, of course not. Voiciano is a project among our main band Edenbridge, to live out this faible for acoustic music. All songs would also work with just vocals and piano in the live situation. I think that after this album I will also be really inspired for a next big Edenbridge album!"

Sabine: "I am convinced that we will attract a bigger audience apart from the metal scene with Voiciano. Even better when they learn about Edenbridge then. This will be a total win/win situation."

Voiciano will also go new ways in marketing with their album Everflow. The album will be released over their own label in spring 2014 and will only be available over the Edenbridge webstore.

Lanvall: "With all the wonderful experiences we made with the crowdfunding action related to our last album The Bonding, where we were able to outfinance the whole orchestra costs. We wanna continue this way with our new project Voiciano, and here even more than in the past. In recent times the relationship fan to musician/band is more important than ever. It was extremely enriching to see in the process of The Bonding, how many people wish to support "real" music. Therefore we wanna bring in our fans to join in as part of a record label and advance suppliers, and came up with some special and interesting packages. With your pre-orders and sponsoring donations you guarantee the best possible production of the Voiciano album Everflow."

Long-running US rock legends TOTO and Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the band's 35th Anniversary Tour - Live In Poland this week. Check out the live version of their million-selling 1982 hit 'Rosanna' below:
The title will be available in configurations that include 2CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and a deluxe edition featuring all formats with a 60-page book.

Filmed on June 25, 2013 in Lodz, Poland, the offering captures the band in the midst of a standing-room-only European tour. The two-hour plus performance features Toto's hit stocked repertoire alongside other favorites.

The 35th Anniversary Tour - Live In Poland release captures Toto's European tour that hit 29 cities staging successful concerts Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Toto World Tour 2013 featured Luke, David Paich, Steve Porcaro on keyboards, and singer Joseph Williams, who sang the hits 'Pamela' and 'Stop Loving You' on the worldwide platinum release The Seventh One (1988). Williams is also featured on the platinum certified Fahrenheit (1986), Toto XX (1998), the track 'Bottom of Your Soul' on Falling In Between (2006), and the multi-platinum release Past to Present 1977-1990 issued in 1990.

Tracklisting:

Intro
Medley: 'On The Run' / 'Child's Anthem' / 'Goodbye Eleanor'
'Goin' Home'
'Hydra'
'St. George And The Dragon'
'I'll Be Over You'
'It's A Feeling'
'Rosanna'
'Wings Of Time'
'Falling In Between'
'I Won't Hold You Back'
'Pamela'
'99'
'The Muse'
'White Sister'
'Better World'
'Africa'
'How Many Times'
'Stop Loving You'
'Hold The Line'
'Home Of The Brave'

The set also includes behind-the-scenes bonus content.

Watch 'Hold The Line' below:
Toto has revealed plans for 2014 that deliver what fans have been waiting years for. The band will record a new studio album planned for release in 2015, their first since Falling In Between (2006). Keyboardist and founding member David Paich recently shared, "The repertoire is coming together so naturally it is as though we never took a break from creating as Toto in the studio. For the fans who have been waiting patiently and continually showing the band support and love over the last decade or so, this one's for you. Collectively we can't wait to share these recordings with The World."

This April, they return to Japan for a seven show headlining sold-out arena tour that takes them through Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Sendai and Sopporo. In August and September, Toto will hit the road as co-headliners with MICHAEL MCDONALD, for their most comprehensive North American tour in years.

Few ensembles in the history of recorded music have individually or collectively had a larger imprint on pop culture than the members of Toto. As individuals, the band members can be heard on an astonishing 5000 albums that together amass a sales history of a HALF A BILLION albums. Amongst these recordings, NARAS applauded the performances with more than 200 Grammy nominations.

With over 35 years together and thousands of credits and accolades to their names, Toto remains one of the top selling tour and recording acts in the world. They are the benchmark by which many artists base their sound and production, and they continue to transcend the standards set by the entire music community, being simply synonymous with musical credibility.

Band members have been South Park characters, while recently Jimmy Fallon and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE offered a light-hearted homage via a comedy sketch around the band's hit 'Africa'. They are pop culture, and are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles, and more than 35 years in to a career enjoy a multi-generational fan base.

Toto also continues to raise awareness for ALS, for their brother and friend, Mike Porcaro, who has been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease. The band commits energies towards fundraising for Police and Fire Departments of California and the Fallen Heroes initiative, and help the United Nations in their humanitarian endeavors through music.

Recently reformed Ft. Wayne, Indiana shred power metal band ZEPHANIAH, have released the cover for their upcoming second CD titled Reforged with artwork created by New York state based freelance illustrator Kip Ayers.
Zephaniah's new 2014 lineup consists of original members, Justin Zych (VIKING, VINDICATOR, VALHALLA) on guitar, Logan Detwiler (Valhalla) on vocals, Ian Bender (BENEATH IT ALL) on bass, and new members, Tony Rudny (Beneath It All) on guitar and Cody Johns (Viking, 80000 DEAD) on drums.

Zephaniah has checked in with the following studio update:

“Cody just finished tracking drums this weekend! An intense two days of blasting and thrashing! Our producer has never seen sixteenth note double kicks line up so perfectly! More updates to come!”

Zephaniah recently re-released their 2008 earthshaking debut CD Stories From The Book Of Metal due to popular demand from their ever expanding fan base.
The band will triumphantly return to the stage to headline the USA's Warriors Of Metal Fest VII from June 26th-28th in Columbus, Ohio where the band will play their entire debut CD Stories From The Book Of Metal from start to finish.

For more info visit ZephaniahBand.com.

Italian fantasy metal band HOLY SHIRE will release their debut album, Midgard, May 13th via Bakerteam Records.

Holy Shire has two female singers and a flute player in addition to the classic rock metal lineup. They play original music and their lyrics are inspired by fantasy literature such as Lord Of The Rings and Game Of Thrones.
They have released a video for ‘Winter Is Coming’, loosely based off the fantasy saga Game Of Thrones.
Midgard tracklisting:

‘Bewitched’
‘Winter Is Coming’
‘Gift Of Death’
‘Overlord Of Fire’
‘Holy Shire’
‘The Revenge Of The Shadow’
‘Beyond’
‘Holy War’
‘Midgard’

For more info visit Facebook.

Colorado-based modern melodic death metallers ALLEGAEON will release their new album, "Elements Of The Infinite", on June 24 in North America (one day earlier internationally) via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered in February-April 2014 by Dave Otero at Flatline Audio in Colorado. Otero's work has been more prominent in the last few years — some fans may have heard his work on the latest CATTLE DECAPITATION album, CEPHALIC CARNAGE, and more. Otero's efforts here, along with the band's new material, has led to ALLEGAEON's most realized and mature release to date. Musically, fans will be treated to orchestrations that provide significant depth to the sound. The orchestrations were composed by guitarist Greg Burgess along with Joe Ferris. Lyrically, the band has gone full-tilt with their space and science themes. Vocalist Ezra Haynes has penned songs that discuss both theoretical and practical science topics. Anyone who may be watching "Cosmos" with Neil de Grasse Tyson will surely catch references to Dyson Spheres, the high probability of alien life in the universe, humanity's eventual exodus from earth, the golden ratio, and much more. It's as fun dissecting the lyrics as it is the complex and challenging music.

With change comes new ideas, and "Elements Of The Infinite" is the culmination of a flurry of new ideas within ALLEGAEON. It is, in essence, an album with a chip on its shoulder, a point to prove, and a big step out of the shadows from its predecessor. With two new members, the band is in a very different place than they've ever been, and the music reflects that. Burgess states: "It is material that stays true to where we've come from, while exploring some new territory. We've had the opportunity to do some things we've wanted to from the beginning, but haven't been able to until now.

"We're very proud of this record, hopefully it will live up to what our fans have come to expect from us."

A video for the song "1.618", taken from "Elements Of The Infinite", can be seen below.

Burgess comments on the video: "The '1.618' video is quite a departure from what ALLEGAEON has done in the past. For our music, lyrically speaking; it's been really hard for us to come up with story lines to capture what Ezra was singing about. So in the end, we always ended up just having performance videos. This video is more like us hanging out and having fun, a reflection of our personalities, and well... poking fun at ourselves for the lack of success we've had with the music video medium."

After having spent some time in drummer limbo, the band enlisted Brandon Park as its new permanent drummer in 2013. Additionally, the departure of Ryan Glisan led to the addition of guitarist Michael Stancel. The re-tooled ALLEGAEON lineup is fresh, hungry, and ready to solidify the band's place within the elite, virtuoso-filled world of extreme technical death metal.

"Elements Of The Infinite" track listing:

01. Threshold Of Perception
02. Tyrants Of The Terrestrial Exodus
03. Dyson Sphere
04. The Phylogenesis Stretch
05. 1.618
06. Gravimetric Time Dilation
07. Our Cosmic Casket
08. Biomech II
09. Through Ages Of Ice - Otzi's Curse
10. Genocide For Praise - Vals For The Vitruvian Man

ALLEGAEON is:

Ezra Haynes - Vocals
Michael Stancel - Guitar
Greg Burgess - Guitar
Corey Archuleta - Bass
Brandon Park - Drums