Norwegian singer Liv Kristine (LEAVES' EYES, ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY) has entered Mastersound Studio in Steinheim, Germany — the facility owned by her husband, Alexander Krull (ATROCITY, LEAVES' EYES) — to begin recording her fifth solo album, "Vervain", for a fall release via Napalm Records. She says: "With this album, I wish to take you on a journey through my artistic vision of the spheres — shadows and light, by eye and mind."

Liv Kristine's fourth solo album, "Libertine", was released in September 2012 through the Napalm Records subsidiary Black Rose Productions.

The singer's third solo CD, "Skintight", came out in North America in September 2010 via Napalm.

Fan-filmed video footage of Wayne Static of STATIC-X performing the band's entire 1999 album, "Wisconsin Death Trip", as part of the "Wisconsin Death Trip" 15th-anniversary tour on April 14 in Corpus Christi, Texas can be seen at this location. A few of the clips are available below.

"Wisconsin Death Trip" came out on March 23, 1999 and featured such future STATIC-X classics as "Push It", "I'm With Stupid" and "Bled For Days". Though the album only climbed as high as No. 107 on The Billboard 200 chart, it did top the Heatseekers chart that same year.

Said Wayne about the current trek: "I can't believe it's been almost 15 years to the day since 'Wisconsin Death Trip' was released, and in 1999 I never could have predicted all the love from all you Evil Disco followers for so many years.

"This tour is for all the hardcores as a celebration of what we have accomplished together. 15 years later, and I'm still kicking, thanks to all of you!

"We are [playing] the CD top to bottom and it's… a blast to pull out some of the old tracks that I have not performed live in years, some that have never been played live, and, of course, all the songs that have become staples of my show.

"'Wisconsin Death Trip' is a rather short CD, so you can also look forward to a hefty encore that will be different every night! This is going to be insane!"

In a recent interview with the LA Music Blog, Static stated about his new solo band: "I had a few changes in 2012. One of my bass players, Brent [Ashley] — he left. Then Frankie came in, then Frankie left. I've got this guy Andrew Cole right now, who's awesome. He plays in a band right now in L.A. with the COAL CHAMBER guys, with Meegs and Mikey… And then Ashes, he's been my guitar player since day one, so he's my guy. And then drums, I'm bringing back Bevan Davies, who did the last two STATIC-X tours. He lives in Atlanta. I've already toured with him, so I'm not worried about him. He's really solid. He's got that real old-school STATIC-X feel, ya know? The first STATIC-X drummer, Kenny Lacey, had this basic kind of style and that's what Bevan does — just real solid and basic. It's really cool playing the old shit with him because he really nails it."

Wayne also spoke about playing smaller clubs on his upcoming run, saying: "Ya know, we're starting slow, and I don't have the STATIC-X name anymore. I made a deal with Tony [Campos], my old bass player, last year. He's the only legal STATIC-X member besides me. I paid him a bunch of money [m 2012] to use the name, and he's just a greedy motherfucker, man. He just hates me to death. He's trying to gouge the shit out of me. I made him an offer to give him 25 percent of my net profits and he refused it. He wants this outrageous number. [laughs] He wants more money than I make in a year, and he's just doing it on purpose because he hates me for whatever reason. But he doesn't want to play in STATIC-X, though. I gave him the opportunity, like, 'Do you want to tour with us?' He's like, 'No.' Okay, well, 'Will you let me use the name?' 'No.' [laughs] He's basically just telling me, like, 'Fuck you.' Ya know? [laughs] I'm like well, at least my name is Wayne Static and people know who I am. I'm not just some jack-off bass player that used to play in a band called STATIC-X. I'm like, 'Fuck you,' ya know? I'm still playing in a band called WAYNE STATIC. It's a little bit smaller because not everyone knows the name WAYNE STATIC, and everyone knows the name STATIC-X, but we're gonna build it up. I basically made the choice that STATIC-X is done, unless Tony changes his mind at some point, which I doubt he will. We're just going to build on STATIC-X. The funny thing is that it's still the same guys that played with STATIC-X last year, the same songs basically…we just can't call it STATIC-X."

"Me And Mary Jane", the new video from Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Mason Dixon in Nashville, Tennessee.

"We wanted to make a cool, interesting, and dangerous video… all the while keeping it sexy and rock 'n' roll," BLACK STONE CHERRY frontman Chris Robertson tells Billboard.com.

The clip has "a ton of vibe and we're sure people will want to watch it over and over again," adds Robertson. "I mean, if you're gonna do a video in today's world, why not go for it."

"Me And Mary Jane" is taken from BLACK STONE CHERRY's fourth album, "Magic Mountain", which will be released on May 6 (one day earlier internationally) via Roadrunner Records.

"Magic Mountain" track listing:

01. Holding On…To Letting Go02. Peace Pipe03. Bad Luck & Hard Love04. Me And Mary Jane05. Runaway06. Magic Mountain07. Never Surrender08. Blow My Mind09. Sometimes10. Fiesta Del Fuego11. Dance Girl12. Hollywood in Kentucky13. Remember Me

Commenting on the making of the Joe Barresi-produced "Magic Mountain", BLACK STONE CHERRY said: "Not since before our first album have we felt the freedom and confidence that we felt while writing and recording this album.

"After touring the world behind three previous albums that we are extremely proud of, we feel this album best captures the live energy, honesty and vibe that encompasses our true musicianship."

BLACK STONE CHERRY's previous albums, 2008's "Folklore And Superstition" and 2011's "Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea", both topped the U.K. Rock Albums chart on their release and have since racked up silver sales certification status from the BPI (British Phonographic Industry).

BLACK STONE CHERRY is:

Chris Robertson - Vocals/GuitarBen Wells - Guitar/VocalsJon Lawhon - Bass/VocalsJohn Fred Young - Drums/Vocals

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". 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

The video for the song "What You Want" 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.

The official lyric video for the song "Beneath The Earth" from German thrashers DUST BOLT can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's sophomore album, "Awake The Riot", which will be released on June 10 in North America; May 30 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Benelux; June 4 in Spain, Sweden and Norway; and June 2 in the rest of Europe via Napalm Records.

Andrei Bouzikov, who is responsible for album covers from such bands as SKELETONWITCH and MUNICIPAL WASTE, created the artwork for "Awake The Riot".

The effort will be made available on standard CD, limited 2LP gatefold, and digitally.

"Awake The Riot" track listing:

01. Living Hell02. Soul Erazor 03. Beneath The Earth 04. You Lost Sight 05. Agent Thrash 06. Living A Lie 07. Awake The Riot - The Final War 08. Eternal Waste 09. Drowned In Blind Faith 10. Worlds Built To Deceive 11. The Monotonous - Distant Scream 12. Future Shock (EVIL DEAD cover)

DUST BOLT's debut album, "Violent Demolition", was released in July 2012 via Napalm Records. The CD featured a guest appearance by SEPULTURA frontman Derrick Green.

According to a press release, DUST BOLT "demonstrate[d] with their debut album that they are hungry, bursting with energy and highly explosive! The love for Bay Area trash metal is evident in the songs of the German quartet, but the use of modern elements gives their sound a highly unique character. The songs are aggressive, furious and reminiscent of old classics by the likes of KREATOR, SLAYER and TESTAMENT."

Finnish female-fronted symphonic metal band AMBERIAN DAWN will release its new album, "Magic Forest", on July 8 (one day earlier internationally) via Napalm Records.

The CD's title track can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

Says AMBERIAN DAWN songwriter Tuomas Seppälä: "I'm very glad about this new deal with Napalm Records. I'm sure that our cooperation will be successful and enjoyable. This label showed interest in us at the very beginning of our career so I feel very comfortable working with this great label today! Together with our booking agency/management Twisted Talent Concerts, we're surely going to make something happen here.

"New album, 'Magic Forest', is AMBERIAN DAWN's first studio album with singer Capri. Now with her I've been able to fullfill some of my early dreams with musical styles and this new style is really big, fresh and naturally flowing. New sound is more keyboard-driven and the vocal lines have some strong influence of 1980s. But since this is AMBERIAN DAWN, there's, of course, also some fast songs included and some really serious guitar and keyboard shredding too. Mr. Jens Johansson of STRATOVARIUS once again contributed some really awesome playing in form of one keyboard solo. Thank you, Jens, you've been supporting us so many years now. This is also first time on AMBERIAN DAWN's history when we had an actual production team put together.

"Thank you, Mikko P. Mustonen and Capri, for your awesome support and work. We really have an extraordinary good production team here.

"We had so much fun in doing this album and you can really sense and hear the relaxed atmosphere we had on the process.”

"Magic Forest" track listing:

01. Cherish My Memory 02. Dance Of Life 03. Magic Forest04. Agonizing Night 05. Warning06. Son Of Rainbow 07. I'm Still Here08. Memorial09. Endless Silence 10. Green-Eyed

AMBERIAN DAWN released a compilation album of songs that originally appeared on their first four albums — "Circus Black" (2012), "End Of Eden" (2010), "The Clouds Of Northland Thunder" (2009) and "River Of Tuoni" (2008) — to showcase new singer Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen after the departure of Heidi Parviainen. "Re-Evolution" was made available on June 14, 2013 in Finland, distributed by Suomen Musiikki.

"Re-Evolution" was mixed by Mikko Mustonen and mastered by Henkka Niemisto at Chartmakers.

AMBERIAN DAWN parted ways with vocalist Heidi Parviainen in November 2012. Her final appearance with the band was at the Metal Female Voices Fest at the end of October 2012 in Belgium.

A double clear vinyl reissue of SLIPKNOT's "Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses", which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year (original street date: May 25, 2004), will be released as part of this year's Record Store Day on April 19. Produced by Rick Rubin, "Vol. 3" features classic SLIPKNOT anthems like "Duality", "Pulse Of The Maggots", "Vermilion" and "Before I Forget", with the latter song winning the band a Grammy for "Best Metal Performance."

Founded in 2007 and officially kicked off in 2008 by METALLICA, Record Store Day normally takes place on the third Saturday of every April and brings together artists and independently owned record stores around the world to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and sold in independent stores.

Go to www.recordstoreday.com to find a participating Record Store Day store near you.

As previously reported, SLIPKNOT is rumored to have recruited former MADBALL and AGAINST ME! drummer Jay Weinberg to assist them during the sessions for the band's new studio album following last year's departure of Joey Jordison.

Weinberg — the 23-year-old son of Max Weinberg (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND) — was most recently a member of AGAINST ME!, having played with the Florida-based act from November 2010 until December 2012.

Weinberg joined AGAINST ME! shortly after he was ousted from MADBALL and following the departure of AGAINST ME!'s previous sticksman, George Rebelo.

In May 2013, Weinberg filled in for KVELERTAK drummer Kjetil Gjermundrod during the band's North American tour because Gjermundrod had to bow out of the run after experiencing significant pain in his arm.

SLIPKNOT announced in December 2013 that it had parted ways with Jordison, one of the band's founding members and key songwriters. The group posted a statement at its web site which read, "It is with great pain but quiet respect that, for personal reasons, Joey Jordison and SLIPKNOT are parting ways. We all wish Joey the best in whatever his future holds. We understand that many of you will want to know how and why this has come to be, and we will do our best to respond to these questions in the near future." The statement added, "It is our love for all of you, as well as for the music we create, that spurs us to continue on and move forward with our plans for releasing new material in the next year. We hope that all of you will come to understand this, and we appreciate your continued support while we plan the next phase of the future of SLIPKNOT."

SLIPKNOT has not disclosed the reasons for Jordison's exit, although the drummer issued a statement in January saying that he did not quit the band.

SLIPKNOT's forthcoming CD will be the band's first since the 2010 death of bassist Paul Gray.

"High Road", a brand new song from Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track is taken from the band's sixth album, "Once More Round The Sun", which will be released in June. The CD was recorded at a Franklin, Tennessee studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH and ALICE IN CHAINS, among others. The cover artwork is being created by Oakland-based artist Skinner, who specializes in "psychedelic nightmare paintings." MASTODON singer and bassist Troy Sanders told Paste Magazine: "It's going to be a work of art for sure. It's going to be very eye-opening, very striking. It's from another dimension, and a lot of our music is geared toward that idea — taking you to another planet on songs. It's out there, and I think it's incredible."

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

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

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

According to Sanders, MASTODON recorded more than an album's worth of material this time around, with the possibility an additional EP coming out sometime after the album release.

"We didn't want a 90-minute album," he told Paste Magazine. "We like to record around the 60-minute mark. That's what our favorite records are. We're in love with all 15 of [the songs], so they might all see the light of day in some platform or another."

Other songtitles set to appear on "Once More Round The Sun" include "Ember City" and "Diamonds In The Witch House", the latter of which features yet another guest spot from longtime collaborator Scott Kelly of NEUROSIS.

"I think subconsciously that we're trying to involve him with every album enough to have a full set of songs eventually," Sanders joked. "I think his performance is great, his part still gives me chills. That's a great sign."

Asked what it's been like working with Raskulinecz on the new album, MASTODON guitarist Bill Kelliher told Metal Hammer magazine: "It's something that we totally need — a cheerleader to get our asses in gear. There he is saying, 'Come on, you're MASTODON… you're one of the biggest bands in metal… Smash that hammer down and write some heavy shit. It's time to do or die!' He's that kind of a guy."

MASTODON drummer Brann Dailor recently told RollingStone.com about the band's forthcoming CD: "It's gonna be massive and insane, lots of epic greatness. There will be lots of huge riffs and new directions. It's real weird, real math-y, real straightforward. It's up, down and all around. It's a culmination of everything for the band. The snowball keeps rolling and collecting snow."

Irish pagan metal masters PRIMORDIAL will release their new album, "Where Greater Men Have Fallen", in November via Metal Blade Records. To coincide with the CD's release, the band will play three shows in Germany with support from Swedish labelmates PORTRAIT and Switzerland's BÖLZER. All dates include signing sessions with PRIMORDIAL. The new album will be available for purchase in all configurations at the gigs and there will be exclusive merchandise available as well.

Comments PRIMORDIAL: "Time moves slowly… but it does move and the rusty gears have been grinding lately a new PRIMORDIAL album will come this year, November, to be more precise… The working title right now is 'Where Greater Men Have Fallen', and in just as we did for the last album, we have a weekend of release shows in Germany right as it hits… We will be supported by Sweden's PORTRAIT and Switzerland's BÖLZER on the three nights, all for a very healthy ticket price and there will be special releases, merch and music just for these shows."

The details are as follows:

Nov. 20 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust Nov. 21 - Essen, Germany - Turock Nov. 22 - Berlin, Germany - Brutz & Brakel Stromgitarrenfest

PRIMORDIAL's latest album, "Redemption At The Puritan's Hand", was released in April 2011 via Metal Blade Records.

The band's legendary debut, "Imrama", was released on vinyl for the first time ever in March 2013. This official version includes a remaster of the album as well as a free poster and was made available as a gatefold LP with the original artwork.

Drummer Daniel Liljekvist has announced his departure from Swedish dark rockers KATATONIA. He explained in a statement: "I've been thinking about this for the last couple of months and I've come to the sad conclusion that I have to leave the band. It's got nothing to do with 'difference in views' or any other bullshit. I just cannot combine job, family and commit 100% to KATATONIA. Times for musicians are rough and I've decided to concentrate on my family and get a normal job that gets the bills paid."

He added: "I've had some of the best moments in my life the past 14-odd years together with my favorite people in the world. I've been all over the planet with this lot… my second family.

"Thank you! I'm gonna miss playing with you and I'm gonna miss hanging out with you on the road so much. And I'm gonna miss meeting all the great KATATONIA fans all over the world. You know who you are. You are truly amazing! I'm not gonna miss all the freaks and idiots we've come across during all the years. You probably don't know who you are. And I will not miss bad catering, shit beer and banana juice…

"This is Daniel, rocking the fuck off! Cheers!"

The remaining members of KATATONIA said: "We are sad and hollow to see Daniel leave our ranks, but yet his decision has our sincere understanding. Nothing lasts forever and all good things must come to an end sooner or later. Yet it makes it so much more frustrating when it happens for the wrong reasons or before reaching our terminus. Particularly, we can't pretend the current climate has nothing to do with it; in fact, this is undeniably yet another outcome of musicians struggling at the crossroads of today's 'scene/industry.' Tragically, this situation forces a member, brother — and our fans' favorite longtime drummer — to resign from a band he sacrificed a decade and a half to build.

"While encouraging this topic to inevitable debate and re-evaluation, we will always be grateful for the years we shared together and we wish Daniel the best of luck in the future. It goes without saying we part as band members, but certainly remain as friends.

"On a further positive note, this will not affect any of the upcoming tour dates. The 'Dethroned & Uncrowned - Unplugged & Reworked' tour next month will proceed accordingly and see JP Asplund taking on percussion duties. He was the one who actually played all original percussion on 'Dead End Kings'/'Dethroned & Uncrowned' albums. Stand-in drummer Daniel Moilanen (ex-ENGEL) will perform on the upcoming summer festivals.

"Let's welcome our helping hands, have a goodbye toast for Daniel (note that would be 11 sips for him) and keep our eyes on the horizon: new tours coming up in South America and Australia as well as the long-awaited 20th anniversary 'Last Fair Day Gone Night - Live At Koko' DVD coming out this fall and much more…"

KATATONIA recently parted ways with guitarist Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson due to "a difference in views on the band's current operative as well as last year's decision from Per to permanently live in Barcelona."

A two-minute video clip featuring footage from the pre-production sessions for b>"At War With Reality", the comeback album from seminal Swedish metallers AT THE GATES, can be seen below.

"At War With Reality" will be recorded in June/July and will be released in October/November via Century Media Records.

AT THE GATES vocalist Tomas 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."

German/American metallers ACCEPT will release their new album, "Blind Rage", on July 18 via Nuclear Blast. Like its two predecessors, 2010's "Blood Of The Nations" and 2012's "Stalingrad", the new CD was helmed by British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with MEGADETH, EXODUS, TESTAMENT, ARCH ENEMY and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. The cover artwork was created by Daniel Goldsworthy.

ACCEPT will promote "Blind Rage" with a European headlining tour which will kick off on September 19 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The dates are as follows:

Sep. 19 - Amager Bio, Copenhagen [DK] Sep. 20 - Garden, Linköping [SE] Sep. 21 - Trädgår'n, Gothenburg [SE] Sep. 24 - Rytmikotjaamo, Seinäjoki [FI] Sep. 26 - Torunda, Tornio [FI] Sep. 27 - Pakkahuone, Tampere [FI] Sep. 28 - Helsinki, The Circus [FI] Sep. 30 - Debaser Medis, Stockholm [SE] Oct. 01 - Rockefeller, Oslo [NO] Oct. 03 - Karlstad, Nöjesfabriken [SE] Oct. 04 - Docks, Hamburg [DE] Oct. 06 - Hyde Park, Osnabrück [DE] Oct. 07 - Trix, Antwerp [BE] Oct. 08 - Bataclan, Paris [FR] Oct. 10 - Totem, Pamplona [ES] Oct. 11 - Riviera, Madrid [ES] Oct. 12 - Razzmatazz 1, Barcelona [ES] Oct. 14 - Bikini, Toulouse [FR] Oct. 16 - La Laiterie, Straßbourg [FR] Oct. 17 - Live Club, Mailand [IT] Oct. 18 - Tonhalle, München [DE] Oct. 20 - Langen / Frankfurt, Neue Stadthalle [DE] Oct. 21 - Huxleys, Berlin [DE] Oct. 22 - Live Music Hall, Köln [DE] Oct. 24 - Stadtgarten, Erfurt [DE] Oct. 25 - Euronics, Zlin [CZ] Oct. 26 - Petöfi Hall, Budapest [HU] Oct. 28 - Z 7, Pratteln [CH] Oct. 29 - Filharmonie, Filderstadt [DE]

In a recent interview with Metal Wani ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo stated about what fans can expect to hear on "Blind Rage": "You can expect more of the same, but you can also expect, on this album, a little more diversity, I think. And the way I see it, some of the songs sound more classic than the stuff that we've done. I mean, there are songs, I think, when I hear the opening riff, I go, 'Wow! That could be on 'Balls To The Wall'.' So you're gonna get a few different… I mean, we're not searching for a direction at this point. We're writing to please ourselves and to please our fans… We're not changing horses in the middle of a stream. I mean, if something works for us, we're gonna stick with it. We're certainly not gonna change direction, but I think we're not afraid to step out a little bit. We're also not afraid to go back and be what the band was in the '80s, which is what we've really strived for."

Speaking about vibe in ACCEPT during the songwriting process for "Blind Rage", compared to how it was for its two predecessors, 2010's "Blood Of The Nations" and 2012's "Stalingrad", Tornillo said: "The vibe is good. We're, I think, more relaxed at this point. 'Blood Of The Nations' was… We really had no idea where we were going at that point; we didn't even have a record deal when we wrote that record. We had no idea what was gonna happen and where it was gonna go, and we had a lot of time to do it. And then the response came, and we set the bar pretty darn high with that record. And then when we went back to do 'Stalingrad', we didn't have that luxury of time; they gave us a deadline, that they wanted the record by such and such a time, and it was a little more hectic. There was a lot more pressure than [there was on 'Blood Of The Nations']. Plus we had 'Blood Of The Nations' out there, and we had to try to top it, if possible, or at least try to get to where that record was. This one, we've had a little more time. This past year, all we did was festivals, which was nice, which gave us time to write on the road. And when we were done touring, we had a good three or four months to complete everything, which is a nice time frame."

Terrorize, the new album from Los Angeles, California modern heavy metal act DIAMOND LANE will be independently released worldwide on May 10th, with a celebratory concert that night at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, CA.
Led by founding members Brandon Baumann (vocals) and Jarret Reis (guitar) with Ray Zhang (bass), Frankie Lindia (guitar) and Dave Vandigitty (drums), Diamond Lane has been leaving music fans breathless throughout the legendary City of Angels and Southern California for the past five years with their incendiary live shows after the band relocated from Northern California in 2009.

Upon the release of their full-length debut CD, World Without Heroes in 2011, Diamond Lane consistently sold out various Sunset Strip venues including the famous House of Blues, has regularly participated in the Sunset Strip Music Festival, and continues to build a reputation for itself as one of the hottest live acts in Southern California and the West Coast.

During 2013, Diamond Lane expanded their established growing relationship with television network FOX, who have been using World Without Heroes album songs in advertisements and promotional placements across NBA, NFL and UFC Regional Sports programs.

If that wasn't enough, the band released their second CD, the hard hitting EP Sapphire, along with a music video for the album’s title track to critical acclaim from the music media and fans.

Terrorizer features nine speaker melting and ear bleeding songs showcasing the American band's take no prisoners attitude.
Tracklisting:

'The Enemy'
'Favorite Kind Of Victim'
'Cheating Death'
'Slow Destruction'
'Life To Lose'
'Kiss The Ring'
'Hopeless Romantic'
'New Model'
'Drift'

PROCESS PAIN is a Finnish group consisting of five young lads from Southern Ostrobothnia. The band was founded in 2006 and has released two EP's so far: The Beginning in 2008 and The Prologue in 2009.

The group has played shows all around Finland since 2008 with such bands as NICOLE and CARNALATION. The pre-production and the recording of the group's debut full-length album started in 2011. It was recorded, mixed and mastered in Vaasa by Sami "Hannu" Koivisto.

Their debut is now finally ready, and will be released by Inverse Records on May 9th. The album is titled Outcast Of Society and includes ten tracks which the band self-produced.
Lyric video ‘Life Beyond Reasons’:
Outcast Of Society tracklisting:

‘Life Beyond Reason’
‘Outcast Of Society’
‘Words Of Respect’
‘Selfconfidence’
‘Steal The Grail’
‘Walls Of Liars’
‘Silence’
‘Moment’
‘N.O.I.S’
‘Final Escape’

Lineup:

Jan-Erik Niemi - vocals
Toni Riihiluoma - guitar and vocals
Sami Sandberg - guitar
Mikko Keränen - bass
Teemu Hauta – drums
For more info visit ProcessPain.com.

The following are some of the BLACK SABBATH's recent Canadian concert attendances/grosses, as < href="http://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore" target="_blank">reported by Billboard magazine:

Artist/Event: BLACK SABBATH & REIGNWOLFVenue: Bell CentreCity/State: Montreal, QCDate: April 7, 2014Gross Sales: $1,109,650Attendance/Capacity: 12,195 /12,195Ticket Prices: $117.92, $54.18

Artist/Event: BLACK SABBATH & REIGNWOLFVenue: Budweiser GardensCity/State: London, ONDate: April 9, 2014Gross Sales: $895,753Attendance/Capacity: 8,863 / 8,982Ticket Prices: $117.83, $81.29, $53.89

Artist/Event: BLACK SABBATH & REIGNWOLFVenue: Halifax Metro CentreCity/State: Halifax, NSDate: April 3, 2014Gross Sales: $833,438Attendance/Capacity: 8,730 / 8,730Ticket Prices: $117.42, $81.15

Artist/Event: BLACK SABBATH & REIGNWOLFVenue: Colisee PepsiCity/State: Quebec City, QCDate: April 5, 2014Gross Sales: $813,574Attendance/Capacity: 8,767 / 10,545Ticket Prices: $113.51, $54.03

BLACK SABBATH's current North American tour consists of a series of 10 shows encompassing mostly Canadian stops until winding down on April 26 in Los Angeles. According to a press release, these gigs are among the final shows that SABBATH does in support of its current studio album, "13", which became the band's first No. 1 album ever in the U.S. when it was released in June 2013. The group has been on the road since April 2013 in support of the record, which reunited singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler for their first full-length studio project since 1978's "Never Say Die!"

A contract dispute led drummer Bill Ward to sit out the reunion, which was also marred by Iommi's cancer diagnosis in early 2012.

SABBATH released a live album and DVD/Blu-ray captured on last year's world tour, called "Black Sabbath: Live… Gathered In Their Masses", on November 26, 2013.

"13" has sold more than 360,000 copies in the United States since its June 2013 release.

Iommi revealed in January of 2012 that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma, which is described by the Mayo Clinic as "a cancer of the lymphatic system, the body's disease-fighting network."

He described his "infusion" treatments to the Birmingham Mail earlier this year, explaining, "I have to have an antibody administered by drip every six weeks or so to keep the lymphoma in check. It sort of coats the cancer cells, stops it from going anywhere else. I have to come back home no matter where I might be in the world."

He added, "The tour dates are arranged so that I can always get back for treatment. It's the only way I can manage my illness and keep on the road. I'd love to play more shows . . . but my health has to be sorted out first."

The legendary guitarist said that his treatment is a relatively new process and doctors are not sure what all the side effects might be. He also said that it "takes around 10 days to fully recover from each round of treatment, but if that's what it takes, I have to accept it."

My Kingdom Music has announced that EMBRACE OF DISHARMONY have signed a multi-album deal with the label, and their debut, enitled Humananke, will be released on May 19th.

The band come from Rome, Italy and present a magnificent sound made by progressive metal structures, the essence of the extreme metal and symphonic arrangements, for what they call progressive avantgarde metal, and could be considered a sort of golden son of OPETH, THERION and SYMPHONY X.

Humananke is a fascinating journey into a unique musical universe made precious by the wonderful Gloria's voice and the complex and dark progressive structures. The album is enriched by the participation of international renowned artists like Kobi Farhi (ORPHANED LAND), Mike Lepond (Symphony X), Rafael Bittencourt (ANGRA) and Gabriele Caselli (ELDRITCH), and by the mixing done at Outer Sound Studio with Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE, DGM) and the mastering of the legendary Finnvox Studios made by Mika Jussila (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS, etc.).

Updates to follow.

With their hot mix of independent rock, garage and grunge, THE ARKANES are the band of the moment. Discovered by a talent scout at shows in their hometown of Liverpool and the surrounding region, the release of their debut album W.A.R. through SPV has been scheduled for April 29th digitally in North America and will make a major splash. After all, an experienced team of professionals has taken care of The Arkanes for the past two years, ensuring that the band got lots of opportunities to let off steam live all over Europe.
Amazing success stories have already been reported: Their track 'Crash And Burn' reached into the #1 slot of a Los Angeles download chart, where it stayed for almost nine months. The Arkanes where selected to be the first British band ever to ascertain a slot on the NACA University/College circuit in America. The band was nominated for a peoples music award (rock/indie/metal genre) with their single ´Sharpshooter` and appeared on BBC Radio Live, SWR 3, Eldoradio, TV Berlin, Harvard/MIT university radio in Boston and on NRW TV. The single 'Don't Act Like You Know Me' reached #10 in Germany's most requested song of the week and #8 in the most downloaded single.

Manager Wolfgang Funk is justly proud of the four-piece surrounding vocalist Chris Pate: "I've rarely seen a band live which immediately had me under its spell like these young, fresh guys of The Arkanes. In addition, there are their irresistibly catchy songs, which I haven't been able to get out of my head since I first heard them. That's the stuff that rock stars are made of!"

And Chris Pate himself can hardly wait for the release of W.A.R.: "We poured our heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears into this album and we are so proud of the finished product. Being from Liverpool our music naturally has some BEATLES influence incorporated - as expected. But W.A.R is much more than that. Our influences leap from LED ZEPPELIN to NIRVANA, MOTÖRHEAD to OASIS, and the color of these bands also resonates in our sound. We hope you enjoy listening to W.A.R. as much as we enjoyed creating it."

Check out the band's video for 'Sharpshooter' below and stay tuned for updates.

Berlin based rock ‘n’ roll band KAMIKAZE KINGS will release the follow-up to their debut, The Law, this summer through 7us Media Group.

Frontman Elmo Kamikaze gives the following statement: "We are happy to announce the collaboration with the 7us Media Group. We appreciate their dedication, professionalism, enthusiasm and passion for music very much. We are looking forward working with them."
Currently the band is producing the new album which will include 13 tracks. More details concerning the album title and cover artwork will be announced very soon.

For more info visit Facebook.

Midwestern blackened sludge act WOLVHAMMER and US black metal stalwart KRIEG will release a split 7" on Broken Limbs Recordings in June. This partnership is an exciting and extensive preview of the road ahead. A busy year for both bands, Profound Lore will be releasing Wolvhammer's new full-length this summer, and nearing autumn, Krieg's Transient will be available through Candlelight Records. Fans have plenty to look forward to: Wolvhammer's upcoming US tour will coincide with the release of its LP and Krieg is scheduling a slew of live dates.
Until then, the brand new tracks exclusive to this split will ease the wait. As stated by N. Imperial of Krieg, "Seeing that both bands have shared members and toured together in the past it seemed only natural that through this camaraderie we would eventually spawn a split release between us. Both bands have provided sonic statements of intent for where we are at this fine year of our lord 2014 and where we plan on traveling in the future." 500 copies of the split 7" will be pressed, 300 black and 200 on black and clear splatter.

Nordavind Records has announced the signing of London based post-black metallers BEAUTALITY. Having released their debut full-length Providence in 2012, the band is now working on a new full-length titled Solitude and about to unleash the Einfallen EP in-between.

David Ravengarde, lead-singer and guitarist comments: "It comes with great pride and honor to announce the signing of Beautality to Nordavind Records. After much searching we have finally found a home to facilitate our dualistic visions of opulence. We commend the integrity, work ethic and ethos of Nordavind. They shall spread the word of Beautality. Here's to a new dawn. Join us, as we walk the path not yet travelled."
Nordavind's co-owner Joel Costa added: "We are very excited and honored that Beautality have accepted to join our roster. They are intense and their songs are very powerful which makes of Beautality a perfect fit!"

Release dates for both Einfallen EP and Solitude will be announced soon.

For more info visit Facebook.

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson has shot down reports that the band is retiring, telling U.K.'s Telegraph that the band is about to begin work on its 16th studio album. "We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver," he said. "We're going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we'll record it."

Johnson also confirmed that one member of the band — believed to be rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, the older brother of lead guitarist Angus Young — has been suffering from ill health, but denied that this will result in the group's demise.

"I wouldn't like to say anything either way about the future," he said. "I'm not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don't want to say too much about it. He is very proud and private, a wonderful chap. We've been pals for 35 years and I look up to him very much."

Johnson told a Florida radio station in February that AC/DC is planning to embark on a 40th-anniversary tour involving 40 concerts in 40 different venues. "That would be a wonderful way to say bye bye," said Johnson. "We would love to do it. But it's all up in the air at the moment.

"AC/DC is such a tight family. We've stuck to our guns through the Eighties and Nineties when people were saying we should change our clothes and our style. But we didn't and people got it that we are the real deal."

Asked about the prospect of retiring one day, Johnson previously told The Pulse Of Radio that he would know when the time had come. "You know, retirement is like anything," he said. "A good football or a good ice hockey player, they don't want to retire. But unfortunately, sometimes there's a time when you have to call it quits. I don't want to do it, and if we can get out another album and do another little short tour or something, and have a bit of fun, well. I'm your man. I'll be right there."

AC/DC's last album was 2008's "Black Ice", one of the group's most successful later albums, which was followed by a nearly two-year world tour.

The official re-issue of DAWN’s classic debut album Nær Sólen Gar Niþer For Evogher as well as the band’s demo material collection The Eternal Forest – Demo Years ’91-‘93 can be pre-ordered now. The band has reworked the entire layouts, adding unseen photos to the releases as well as refreshing the covers, while consciously staying close to the original versions. The sound of both releases has been carefully remastered by Dan Swanö.

Nær Sólen Gar Niþer For Evogher and The Eternal Forest – Demo Years ’91-‘93 will be released in Europe on April 21st. CD and LP preorders are available at the CM Distro.

Dawn’s gigantic masterpiece Slaughtersun – Crown Of The Triarchy as well as the Mini-album Sorgh På Svarte Vingar Fløgh will be released on June 6th.
Sólen Gar Niþer For Evogher tracklisting:

‘Eyesland’
‘The Ethereal Forest’
‘Diabolical Beauty’
‘In The Depths Of My Soul’
‘Ginom Rinande Lughier’
‘As The Tears Fall’
‘Svarter Skiner Solen’
‘Everflaming’

The Eternal Forest – Demo Years ’91-’93 tracklisting:

‘In The Depths Of My Soul’
‘Incantation Of Unholiness’
‘Spawn Of Evil’
‘Thirst Of The Dead’
‘In The Depths Of My Soul’
‘The Eternal Forest’
‘As The Tears Fall’
‘Thirst Of The Dead’
‘Dawn Of Torture’

Tracks one to four are taken from the Apparition tape (demo, December 1992)
Tracks five to seven are taken from the Promotional demo tape (demo, October 1993)
Tracks eight and nine are taken from the Demo 1 tape (demo, March 1992)

CLUTCH, the acclaimed Maryland-based rock group, has teamed with producer J. Robbins (THE SWORD, COLISEUM) to record the new song "Run, John Barleycorn, Run". The track will be released on Saturday, April 19 via Weathermaker Music as a special split seven-inch single with labelmates LIONIZE as part of Record Store Day.

On June 10, CLUTCH will release a triple deluxe version of their acclaimed "Earth Rocker" album via Weathermaker Music. Released in 2013, "Earth Rocker" was tagged by Rolling Stone on the "Top 20 Metal Albums" list and hailed by the magazine for its fusion of "seething admixtures of jam-band chops, careening blues-punk riffs" (December 2013). The "Earth Rocker" triple deluxe album package will include: 1) the full record and brand new songs "Night Hag" and "Scavengers", 2) "Earth Rocker Live", a CD audio version of the album performed live; and 3) on DVD "Live In Denver" recorded with seven cameras in 1080i on November 14 at the sold-out Ogden Theatre show in Denver, two videos shot, directed and edited by actress Aisha Tyler: "Gone Cold" (unreleased) and "Crucial Velocity".

Produced, engineered and mixed by Machine (KING CRIMSON, LAMB OF GOD), "Earth Rocker"'s triple deluxe cover artwork was created by longtime CLUTCH art director Nick Lakiotis.

A claymation video created by an inspired CLUTCH fan, Curtis Hein, without any input from the band can be seen below. Curtis spent months working on the clip which features an animated CLUTCH performing "The Wolf Man Kindly Requests…" that will now be included on the forthcoming "Earth Rocker" triple deluxe album out June 10.

CLUTCH's classic 2005 album, "Robot Hive/Exodus", will receive a collector’s edition double vinyl release on Tuesday, June 10. The beautiful double LP is remastered and comes in a re-designed gatefold package boasting some of CLUTCH's best tracks.

CLUTCH — Neil Fallon (vocals, rhythm guitar), Tim Sult (lead guitar), Dan Maines (bass,), Jean-Paul Gaster (drums and percussion) — will launch an overseas tour on Tuesday, April 22 in Newcastle, U.K. at the O2 Academy, taking them through the European festival circuit through June 29. In July, they'll return to the U.S. for a handful of shows before joining JANE'S ADDICTION, RISE AGAINST, GOGOL BORDELLO and HALESTORM at the Shindig Festival in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, September 27.