Lexington, KY's BEYOND THE SHORE recently filmed some clips with guitarists Zach Hunter and Jared Loucks, as well as bassist Eli Masherbash, to demonstrate the track ‘Glass Houses’ from the Ghostwatcher album. The clips were edited together into a sort of performance demonstration / lyric video hybrid that is streaming below:
Beyond The Shore is on the road now with Santa Cruz, California's progressive experimental band ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS, THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE, and SEEKER, in support of their latest album and Metal Blade Records debut, Ghostwatcher.

Guitarist Zach Hunter comments: "We've had a blast on this tour so far and there are plenty of shows still to go! Come hang out with us and support all the other amazing bands on the package. Despite all the craziness in the beginning this has been one of the best experiences for us as a band and we'd love to share it with all of you. Hope you enjoy the video!"

Listen to the Color North America Tour featuring Arsonists Get All The Girls, The Last Ten Second Of Life, Beyond The Shore, and Seeker:

March
27 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
28 – Mobile, AL – The Box
30 – Houston, TX – Walters

April
1 – San Antonio, TX – The White Rabbit
2 – Austin, TX – Dirty Dog Bar
3 – Fort Worth, TX – Tom Cats
5 – El Paso, TX – The Spot
6 – Albuquerque, NM – Gasworks
7 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
8 – Santa Ana, CA – Malone’s
9 – Canoga Park, CA – The Cobalt Café
10 – Bakersfield, CA – Jerry’s Pizza
For more info visit Facebook.

Northern Ireland's DARKEST ERA have revealed the cover artwork and tracklisting for their forthcoming album, Severance, which is due for release on June 3rd (North America) and June 13th (Europe) via Cruz Del Sur. The album was recorded at Data Recording Studios in Ballyheigue, Ireland and produced by Chris Fielding and Darkest Era. The artwork was created by Costin Chioreanu.



Guitarist Ade Mulgrew said: "We are really pleased with the artwork which totally captures the atmosphere of this album. Costin has a unique style and immediately got what we were looking for. Severance was recorded during what was a pretty stormy time in the band and against the backdrop of some very atmospheric natural scenery in one of the remotest parts of the west of Ireland. I think all that certainly comes across in the music and we are looking forward to finally unleashing it this summer."
Severance tracklisting:

'Sorrow's Boundless Realm'
'Songs Of Gods And Men'
'The Serpent And The Shadow'
'Beyond The Grey Veil'
'Trapped In The Hourglass'
'The Scavenger'
'A Thousand Screaming Souls'
'Blood, Sand And Stone'

Severance will be released on CD, vinyl and digital formats.

North Carolina's BLOODY HAMMERS have confirmed a June 10th North American release date for their new album, Under Satan's Sun. The album will be available on May 30th (Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Finland/Benelux), June 2nd (UK/Rest of Europe), and June 4th (Spain/Sweden/Norway) via Napalm Records/Spinning Goblin. Under Satan's Sun will be available a regular CD, limited edition vinyl gatefold and digitally. Check out a new lyric video for the album's lead track, 'The Town That Dreaded Sundown', below.
Under Satan's Sun tracklisting:

'The Town That Dreaded Sundown'
'Spearfinger'
'Death Does Us Part'
'The Moon Eyed People'
'Second Coming'
'Welcome To The Horror Show'
'Under Satan´s Sun'
'Dead Man's Shadow On The Wall'
'The Last Alarm'
'Necrommancer'

'The Town That Dreaded Sundown' lyric video:
Album trailer:
The first single, 'The Town That Dreaded Sundown' is available in limited edition 7". The A side features 'The Town That Dreaded Sundown' and the B Side is a non-album track called 'Glimpse' which will only be available on this release. The single is available in both white and red vinyl.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions has signed Serbian progressive black/death warriors AT RADOGOST'S GATES and will release their concept album, Reflection Of A Lunar Eclipse In The Stained Mirror Of Time, on April 22nd on CD and digital formats. Below is the official description:

Radogost is a Slavic God and warrior, armed with all possible weapons, guardian of the legendary town with the same name. This album is a search for lost sanity, full of misanthropy and paganism, destroying the walls between reality and dreams. “It takes only a one step journey to begin, and all that came before is rooted in the Earth, the tie that binds, crumbling pages of an old tome”.
Tracklisting:

'Beneath Ceaseless Skies'
'Reflection Of A Lunar Eclipse In The Stained Mirror Of Time'
'Dreams That Swallowed The Sun'
'A Path In The Dust'
'In Hourglass Shaped Hands'
'Above The Earth'
'Under The Trees In Darkness And Roots'
'Cleansed By Funeral Pyres'
'The Sound Of Endearing Silence'
'Behold, My Body Torn Apart By Carrion Birds... Shredded To Pieces, Carried Across The Earth, Now I Can Finally Call Myself Free'

'Reflection Of A Lunar Eclipse In The Stained Mirror Of Time' sample:
Pre-order the CD for only $10 with free shipping at this location. Pre-order the digital download for only $6.66 here.

Italian hardrock/heavy metal newcomers FAKE IDOLS (feat. ex-members of RAINTIME and SLOWMOTION APOCALYPSE) have released the track 'My Hero', featuring Mia Coldheart of CRUCIFIED BARBARA.
The track will be included on the band's self-titled debut album, which is set to be released on the following dates:

April
25th (digital worldwide)
29th (North America)

May
2nd (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
5th (Rest of Europe)

According to a press release, the quintet’s self titled debut album consists of twelve hymns which are based on great songwriting with focus on killer riffs and intoxicating hooks. Fake Idols believe in their unerring songwriting abilities and the quality of their dynamic and catchy tracks. And they are absolutely right! The selected cover-song on the debut album can be interpreted programmatically: 'My Favourite Game' (THE CARDIGANS).

Swedish black metal project IN MY EMBRACE - featuring Johan Sjöblom (WELL OF TEARS, ex-PLANET RAIN) and Bosse Öhman (ex-Planet Rain), as well as guest drummer Tommy Holmer (Planet Rain, RIMTHURS, UNDIVINE) and guest synth player Johan Björklund - have released a lyric video for the title track of their new EP, Dead To Dust Descend.
Dead To Dust Descend is a 6-track (plus one bonus ) EP of pure Swedish black metal, whose spectrum ranges from material written between 2004 and 2013, mixed and mastered by Jonas Lindström (Studio Apocalypse), also drummer in ISOLE, EREB ALTOR, and Undivine.
Tracklisting:

'Dead To Dust Descend'
'To Forevermore'
'Av Skymning Kommen, Mot Gryning Går'
'Diabolical Masquerade'
'Nattvandraren'
'Remembrance'
'Av Skymning Kommen, Mot Gryning Går' (Acoustic Instrumental Version)

'Dead To Dust Descend' lyric video:
'Nattvandraren':

American symphonic black metallers ZORAKARER have announced the release of their first full-length album on April 4th. The album is entitled Clarion Call Of Destiny and it will be self-released both in CD and in digital format via iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Bandcamp, Spotify, Pandora Radio and Facebook.
Zorakarer was formed in early 2012 in Portland, Oregon by Jacob Williams as a studio project, but soon the lineup was expanded and the band started its live activity. On February 24th, 2013 Zorakarer released their first demo MMXlll.

Clarion Call Of Destiny will feature eighty tracks, along with two very special guest vocalists, Amanda Kiernan from INTO ETERNITY and Jacob Buczarski from MARE COGNITAM. Conceptually the album revolves around paganism, celestial mysticism, Gothic mythology and fantasy oriented themes.

The band has unveiled the cover artwork, created by Juanjo Castellano, and will soon reveal the album tracklist, as well as their new website later next month, along with new merchandise.
Zorakarer will also be touring in support of the record with a date in Santa Ana, CA with NEGURA BUNGET, DIN BRAD, VELNIAS and GIGAN. You can check their Facebook profile for current tour dates.

Lineup:

Jacob Williams – vocals, guitars
Brandon Gulling – guitars
Jeremy Hamilton – bass
Jason Borton – drums

Guest musicians:

Amanda Kiernan – vocals
Jacob Buczarski – vocals
Phil Cancilla (HANK 3) – session drums
Andrew Wood – vocals

Canadian progressive metal/hardcore outfit, THE AFTERIMAGE, announced the release of a brand new single off of their upcoming album earlier this week.

The single, titled ‘O N Y X’, is the first song to be released from the 6-piece’s debut full-length Lumière, set to be put out later this year.

"The thought behind the presentation of ‘O N Y X’ is very simple,” says vocalist Kyle Anderson, “It is about complete transformation. One must release negative emotions such as sorrow and grief to allow positive energies to flow and to recognize their truest form. As a group we have been through a very difficult period, battling with personal issues and member changes… it is a wonder the band has endured. This transition however, has concentrated our efforts entirely. ‘O N Y X’ is merely scratching the surface of what our full length record Lumière has to offer.”
In recent months, the traction surrounding the band’s new album has risen substantially alongside the release of several successful singles: ‘The Seeking’, ‘Pathogen’, and most recently, ‘The Unseen’.

Dallas Bricker, bassist, commented on the direction of the new single, stating how ‘O N Y X’ will stand apart from The Afterimage’s previous releases.

“This song is a window into something entirely new for us, both musically and personally. ‘O N Y X’ will be a single that everyone, not just metal-lovers, can get into. It was important for us to harness this new opportunity to experiment and grow as song-writers and I think that this song will resonate with that without a doubt.”

‘O N Y X’ is scheduled to be released independently on April 23rd through various digital retailers.

For more info visit Facebook.

Epic doom metal band BELOW spent the end of 2013 at Sonic Train Studios in Sweden with none other than Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) recording their debut full-length album. Across The Dark River will be released on April 15th in North America, and April 14th/11th in UK/Europe.
The new single 'Mare Of The Night' can be heard below:
The previously released track, 'Portal', can be heard below:
Pre-order Across The Dark River at this location.

Below, hails from Sweden and music has influences from late BLACK SABBATH, CANDLEMASS, and King Diamond, so going with Andy La Rocque as the producer was a clear choice for the group.
Not much is known about the Swedish quintet, however they are working with Tobias Rosén - bass player of fellow Metal Blade Records artists NOCTUM - of Howlin' Owl Productions. Below started writing songs and in November of 2012 and a 4-track EP was recorded at Deep Blue Studios in Sweden. By this time, Tobias of Howlin' Owl Productions heard them and asked to act as manager for the band.

Below is:

Zeb - Vox
Hedman - Bass
Paud - Guitar
Berg - Guitar
Doc - Drums

Australian groove metal unit CRYPTIC ABYSS has released a new six track EP Into The Abyss.

It was produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Themelco at Monolith Studios and the zombie feeling artwork was made by Pzychopart/Abyss Designs. ‘Blood On The Nature Strip’ features Matt Young from KING PARROT.

Cryptic Abyss comments:

"We have had so much fun ever since the very creation of the band, but when we first went onto that stage we knew that this was for us and through all the jamming and writing we have a six track EP that has been released March 2014."
Into The Abyss tracklisting:

‘Grooveback’
‘Words Of A Brute Spirit’
‘Throne Of Hatred’
‘No Sympathy’
‘Blood On The Nature Strip’
‘Into The Abyss’

‘Blood On The Nature Strip’ featuring Matt Young:
The EP is available for streaming and purchase on Bandcamp.

Germany's THE INTERSPHERE have released a video for the track 'Out Of Phase', featured on their new album, Relations In The Unseen (out now).

Almost two years after the surprising German chart success of Hold On, Liberty!, The Intersphere return with a brand new studio album. And instead of relying on formulas or formats, the band has relied completely on their hands and hearts. That being said, The Intersphere are pushing the boundaries of rock music towards new horizons with a pace and precision seldom found in German bands in the last few years. Under the production acumen of singer/guitarist Christoph Hessler and co-producer/mixer Moritz Enders, this fourth release in The Intersphere discography was recorded together with Wolfgang Manns at Toolhouse Studios.

"Relations In The Unseen is not a concept album, but there is definitely a purveying train of thought overall. We all communicate, not only directly, but also indirectly through gestures, body language, thoughts and connections that are unconscious at first," says Christoph Hessler. "Lyrically, the album concentrates on these unconscious things that influence our feelings, thoughts and reactions. Every day we're offered countless examples of this - invisible, unknown - over distances, times and dimensions."



Tracklisting:

'Relations In The Unseen'
'Thanks For Nothing'
'The Ones We Never Knew'
'Out Of Phase'
'Panic Waves'
'Joker'
'Tonight'
'Origin: Unknown'
'Walk On Broken Glass'
'The Ghost Of A Chance'
'...Like It Is'
'Golden Mean'

'Out Of Phase' video:
A full preview of the album is available at this location.

More on the band, including their live itinerary, at Facebook.

SHATTERED SUN, the first signing from Breaking Bands LLC. are currently working on their upcoming, currently untitled album. Meanwhile, the band wants to give fans a taste of what they can look forward to, and have released a brand new track, entitled ‘Hope Within Hatred’.

‘Hope Within Hatred’ portrays that even within moments of negativity and oppression, one can find the positive and make their own way. “When I wrote this song it seemed like my life was in a downward spiral. I was holding on to a lot of negativity and people who were truly bad for my future,” states vocalist Marcos Leal. “For some reason I could never see past this and always held on and avoided change. ‘Hope Within Hatred’ is the flip side of that, about having your own voice, embracing change and facing the ugly truth about things.”

'Hope Within Hatred':
‘Hope Within Hatred’, as well as the entire upcoming album, is produced by Robert Beltran of Precision Studio, LLC in Corpus Christi, TX. In addition to production from Robert, Shattered Sun also credits SPINESHANK guitarist Mike Sarkisyan with assisting with pre-production duties and general consultation. The band greatly appreciates the work put in by both Mike Sarkisyan and Robert Beltran.

“We’ve been working with Rob Beltran for a while now and he’s definitely become more than just our producer. To us, he’s family and at times feels like a seventh member of the band. In addition, we’ve learned a lot from Mike Sarkisyan through our early touring days and keep in contact with him still to this day,” adds Marcos.

Stay tuned for in-studio videos chronicling Shattered Sun’s recording experience, put together by their good friend Steve Garcia.

Shattered Sun boasts a potent mix of heavy thrash and melodic metal - featuring impressive guitar riffs, gripping vocals, memorable hooks, and a magnetic, raw appeal that allows them to create truly unforgettable music. The band offers a consistently brutal sound, but succeeds in bringing a riveting melodic touch to each track. Shattered Sun executes a truly exhilarating live show by bringing enormous amounts of force and energy to any and every venue they perform at. The band has effectively honed their performance craft based on their advanced ability to understand what their audience is truly craving in a live show.

Shattered Sun is set to perform with hard rock legends SKID ROW at The Whisky on May 17th
Shattered Sun is:

Marcos Leal - Vocals
Daniel Trejo - Guitar
Jessie Santos - Guitar
Joseph Guajardo - Bass
Robert Garza - Drums
Henry Garza - Keys/Samples

Depressive doom/death metal quintet DECEMBRE NOIR have announced the May 9th release of theirfull-length debut, A Discouraged Believer, via FDA Rekotz.

Melancholic, outstanding and incredible emotional death/doom metal from Thuringia, Germany. The album features seven entrancing compositions that will draw you into their spell and was produced, mixed and mastered by Alex Dietz (HEAVEN SHALL BURN) and Eike Freese (PROJECT MAYHEM).
Tracklisting:

'A Discouraged Believer'
'Thorns'
'The Forsaken Earth'
'Decembre Noir'
'Stowaway'
'Resurrection'
'Escape To The Sun'

'Resurrection' video:
Band lineup:

Sebastian - Guitar
Martin - Guitar
Kevin - Drums
Lars - Vocals
Mike - Bass

Norwegian black metal act VREDEHAMMER have released a new single from their upcoming new album, Vinteroffer, out on April 7th in Norway and Europe, and on April 11th of April in Germany/Austria.
'We Are The Sacrifice' is now available on iTunes, Spotify, WiMP and more. A video for the track can be found below.
You can pre-order the album here.
Tracklisting:

'The Awakening'
'Cthulhu'
'Seduce Infect Destroy'
'Suicide Forest'
'We Are The Sacrifice'
'Sykdom'
'Summoned'
'Vinteroffer'
'Admissa'

Trailer:
'Cthulhu':

THINE, the enigmatic UK dark rock/prog quintet have revealed the artwork and tracklisting for their third studio album, The Dead City Blueprint, which is due for release on Peaceville Records April 28th.
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'

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.

Danish groove metallers ELECTRIC HELLRIDE (winners of the last Danish edition of W:O:A Metal Battle) are ready with new material, the first to see the light of day since the debut album Hate.Control.Manipulate from 2012 (Mighty Music).
Come Darkness, Come Light is the title for Electric Hellride’s new release, a 4-song EP which will be released on May 5th through the band's own label, ElHell Records, on CD, vinyl and free download.

In the YouTube clip below, Electric Hellride brings you inside the studio, where you can get a sneak peek of some new material.
Come Darkness, Come Light sees Electric Hellride evolving and changing the music into something more varied and diverse. This is also the primary reason for choosing to release an EP instead of a full length album. The band is working hard with the songwriting for the next album but wanted to make a little stop in the studio to try out some of the new stuff as well as to test the music on the fans and potential new fans.

Poland's CHEMIA present a brand new video, for the track 'Fire'. The video was shot on January 9th in Warsaw during the band’s show at Club 55.
The band comment: “The video was made on the 9th of January, 2014 at the club 55 during our annual concert - Openchemia. The whole footage was shot using our audience's devices (smartphones, etc.). Maybe we have started a new tradition? We had a good nose for it - we had already made a video for this song before launching the tour. Emotions run really high when we play it live.”

'Fire' comes from the album The One Inside, released internationally in fall 2013. The band are currently working on their next studio album to be released later this year.

Swedish instrumental rock collective MY BROTHER THE WIND has just put the final touches on their expansive new LP, Once There Was A Time When Space And Time Were One, and are preparing to release it this summer through American label, Free Electric Sound.
Free Electric Sound is another subdivision of New Jersey-based The Laser's Edge Group. While The Laser's Edge primarily focuses on progressive rock, and its offshoot, Sensory Records, is geared towards the collective's progressive metal releases, Free Electric Sound is the label's portal into instrumental territory, making it a prime outlet for this mammoth third full-length studio voyage from My Brother The Wind to end up.

With the outfit's four members hailing from Stockholm, Amal, and Gothenburg, My Brother The Wind is a fully improvisational cosmic rock collective consisting of members of widely known Swedish acts MAKAJODAMA, MAGNOLIA, THE GREENCOATS and most notably ANEKDOTEN, one of the most widely recognized names in the 1990s prog rock revival.

Once There Was A Time When Space And Time Were One was recorded during a cold Saturday in January 2013, and captures My Brother The Wind's flawless space/desert jam and progressive soundscape qualities with incredible analog studio production, with forty-five sprawling minutes of the band's most succinct material to date. Free Electric Sound will release the album via digital, CD and deluxe LP formats in the summer of 2014, with an exact street date and final release info currently being finalized.

Prior to the release of the new LP, My Brother The Wind's Nicklas Barker has been invited back to Roadburn in 2014, where he has recently performed as a founding member of Anekdoten. Barker is set to perform with psyche/jazz rock extraordinaire, REINE FISKE, at Mikael Akerfeldt's curated event at this year's gala on April 11th.

My Brother The Wind was formed in 2009 by Anekdoten's Nicklas Barker, Makajodama's Mathias Danielsson, and Magnolia's Ronny Eriksson and Tomas Eriksson. While the four were not too familiar with each other musically yet, their Twilight In The Crystal Cabinet debut was recorded in only two hours at Drop Out Analouge Studio in Åmål, Sweden in May 2009 and the band's live gigs corresponding with its release throughout Sweden, Finland and Belgium saw them immediately build a solid reputation as a great psychedelic improv act.

2011 welcomed the act's second album, I Wash My Soul In The Stream Of Infinity, which was considered by many as a triumph in majestic psychedelic rock. This album was also totally improvised and recorded in a mere four hours. In 2012, drummer Tomas Eriksson decided to leave the collective and was replaced with Daniel Fridlund Brandt, of Gothenburg psych rockers, The Greencoats. In 2013, MBTW expanded into an even wider fanbase, having been invited to play the mighty Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland, as well as at Duna Jam in Sardinia.

Stay tuned for additional updates as Once There Was A Time When Space And Time Were One nears release.

Svart Records, in conjunction with Solina Records and Twisted Films, has set May 9th as the international release date for NIGHTSATAN’s Nightsatan And The Loops Of Doom CD/DVD. Nightsatan caught the ear of the attentive laser metal enthusiast with their debut album, Midnight Laser Warrior, in 2010, and now the trio debut as movie stars in Nightsatan And The Loops Of Doom. The movie draws inspiration from the very same source the band does: '80s post-apocalyptic science fiction.

The synth trio Nightsatan hails from the doomy city of Turku, Finland, and they place themselves in the post-apocalyptic laser metal genre. In the beginning, the synth warrior Wolf Rami envisioned the band's music as "the soundtrack to Miami Vice meets heavy metal." During their career, the band's sound has extended to both ends of that spectrum, and the synth-metal riffs of the early material have given way for a more progressive and atmospheric approach.

Given the international cult fame gained with the already quite cinematic debut album - with kudos given by the likes of MONOCLE, EMPIRE, and POPVOYAGE - and live shows in their native Finland and Sweden, it is fitting that the trio's next step is a movie soundtrack. Directed by Chrzu, better known as the director of animated films such as Curse Of The Remote Island (2008), Nightsatan And The Loops Of Doom is a tribute to vintage Italian post-apocalyptic sci-if. It is a very unusual short epic, full of sex, violence, and general sense of wonder.

The soundtrack album is a considerably more epic and measured affair than its predecessor. Recorded and produced by the band's second keyboard wizard Mazathoth, the album features full-length versions of all tracks from the movie. Contrary to the synthy debut, Loops Of Doom has several guest musicians and even string instruments. The retail package contains both the soundtrack and the movie, loaded with juicy bonus features.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
‘Lost Karelia’
‘(Obey) Thy Master’
‘Of Wolf And Rami’
‘Theme From Loops Of Doom’
‘Secret Of The Mystery’
‘Doom Doom Girl’
‘Nightmare In The Night Doomsday Judgement’
‘Enter The Loop’
‘Mazathoth Speaks’
‘Battle Knights’
‘Inhalator II Love Theme’
‘Rejects Of The Wasteland’
‘Echo Of A Dying World’
‘Loops Of Doom End Credits’

The first sample tracks are streaming below:
For more info visit Facebook.

UK progressive rock legends CURVED AIR, featuring iconic vocalist Sonja Kristina, have released a new CD, North Star, via Cherry Red Records. North Star is the band's first album featuring new studio material since 1976. The full-length CD features a mixture of re-recordings, cover songs and seven new original compositions, all housed in a lavish digi-pack.
Says Sonja, “I am proud to release into the world Curved Air's North Star. The North Star is the fixed point in the sky about which all the stars seen from the Northern Hemisphere rotate. A star linked to the celestial magnetic energies of the North Pole. Following its light, the lost, the wanderer, the explorer and the warrior have been guided throughout time. The North Star helps us know where we are and where we are going. Curved Air's album North Star is born of the musicianship and dedication of this brilliant incarnation of Curved Air - renowned for the audience's rapturous response to their concerts. The North Star album material reflects on humanity, love, solutions , perspectives and staying human through changing times and revolutions, virtual lives and delicate attractions - love and shamanic sub atomic worlds.”

Curved Air, originally formed in 1969, is a groundbreaking progressive art-rock band renowned for their showmanship. Each member pushed the boundaries of possibilities for rock music performance. Vocalist Sonja Kristina won the hearts of a generation of music lovers and was voted top British Female Vocalist of the 1970's whilst the three top twenty albums that this lineup released are regarded as classics.

Breaking through from the underground scene into top of the early '70s album charts, Curved Air's musicians hailed from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band is a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock and fusion with classical elements. Along with HIGH TIDE and EAST OF EDEN, Curved Air was one of the first rock bands after IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA to feature a violin.

Sonja Kristina, who topped the British Music female vocalist polls throughout the '70s was the first UK female lead singer fronting a rock band. She has been the constant flame leading Curved Air through the decades. Today, vibrant and edgy as ever, Sonja, the original prog diva gives a charismatic and highly visual performance. Looking like a glamorous gipsy queen with her flowing red hair and dressed in sparkly black, that signature voice is still as smoky and seductive as ever as she spins around the stage around the excellent musicians who are Curved Air.

Phil Oakey recently recalled, “When I formed THE HUMAN LEAGUE it was because I was such a huge Sonja Kristina fan and I still am.”
All of the players impress. Although only drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa is from the original lineup, Sonja has found some stunning new instrumentalists who immerse the audience in a set of swirling, whirling solos that emphasize moods and nuances and floating waves of sound that act as a counterpoint to Sonja's dramatic sense of theatricality. Much to the excitement of Curved Air fans, classic-era guitarist Kirby Gregory returns to the fold for North Star.

Says Sonja, “The performances were created and produced collaboratively by Curved Air with the expressive and intricate touch of the original drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa, and the mighty eloquence of Kirby Gregory (the composer of 'Purple Speed Queen' and 'UHF'), interwoven with the passionate melodic wizardry of violinist Paul Sax, and the atmospheric extemporization and groove of ambient sonic explorer Robert Norton on keyboards. Kirby returns to Curved Air after 35 years and has added his identity and creativity to the sound. His input and presence in the band feels so right to us all as we prepare to bring new Curved Air material to the world stage. Chris Harris on bass earths the music with drive and precision within the moods, motifs and fire of Curved Air - who are - as always - a dynamic creative collective of virtuoso performers.”

DOOMLORD, the new power/doom metal band from Puerto Rico has sign a deal with Emanes Metal Records, the French record label known for releasing albums from bands such as NOMAD SON, HOODED PRIEST, HIRAX and THE BOTTLE DOOM LAZY BAND. The agreement consists in the release of a limited edition Spanish version split vinyl album, and a full length CD, both scheduled to be released this summer.
Doomlord recently recorded their debut full length album called Black Testament at Archeus Creative Solutions Studio in Puerto Rico with engineer Juan Carlos Ruiz and produced by singer Dark Nerudas. Says the band, "the album consists of eight English version dark low tempo doom tracks. The Split LP will contain four Spanish version doom metal tracks."

“I think it's an excellent opportunity for us to satisfy both, our spanish speaking fans from Hispanic America, and to bring our music to the world through English as an international language, but metal music is metal music no matter the language,” commented Nerudas. “We are very excited about working with Emanes Metal Records and both projects releases, is going to be a very loud summer.”

Doomlord will follow the release with a live DVD scheduled to be released late 2014 or 2015.

Doomlord is:
Dark Nerudas - lead vocal
Pedro Candelaria - lead guitar
Kevin "Caveman" Rosado - lead guitar
Athelknatch Soldat - bass guitar
Joshua Lo?pez – drums

In the clip below, X JAPAN drummer Yoshiki "battles" a holographic version of himself while performing the piece 'Art Of Life'. The performance was part of a private SXSW event for Flaunt Magazine in Austin, TX on March 14th:

Footage of Yoshiki vs his hologram performance playing Art of Life at his private event at SXSW in Austin, TX on March 14, 2014.
According to the Orange County Register, Yoshiki will be kicking of his upcoming classical solo world tour in OC:

"It isn’t often that international tours launch from Costa Mesa, let alone make scarce few North American stops before heading to Moscow and Mexico City, Beijing and Berlin. But that’s exactly the route Yoshiki is taking, starting in O.C. at the end of April.

The longtime leader of the symphonic metal band X Japan, a superstar at home whose group plays to sold-out stadiums, has made more of a name for himself in America in just these past few years than in the three decades before then. That’s due in part to X Japan’s trip to the States after reuniting in 2007, but more so it’s because of Yoshiki’s forays into classical crossover material, a shred-free extension of his artistry that began 20 years ago with the instrumental effort Eternal Melody. (Producer on that one: Sir George Martin.)

Since then, the 48-year-old pianist and composer, who began as (and still is) a drummer, cut a sequel in 2005 and last year provided the theme to the Golden Globe Awards. Roughly six months ago, that piece plus the best bits from both of his solo discs were culled for the fast-selling compilation Yoshiki Classical, which has topped iTunes classical charts worldwide (in the U.S. it stalled at No. 2). Also included on it are several other milestones from the first person to have his own line of Hello Kitty collectibles, most notably his themes for the Emperor of Japan’s 10th anniversary in 1999 and the country’s World Expo six years later.
Los Angeles has been a go-to destination for Yoshiki – he’s recorded there, X Japan played L.A. Live’s Nokia Theatre, and now the Grammy Museum in that same complex is hosting an exhibit about him, displaying his signature crystal piano as well as many of his flamboyant, gender-blending outfits and more. It’s the venue’s first such installation for an Asian artist.

But alongside unveiling that array with a performance on the Target Terrace there, Wednesday night’s opening also served to announce Yoshiki’s world tour behind his new compendium. That kicks off April 25 at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, the more glittering of the two big rooms at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

After that, he plays only one more U.S. date, April 28 at Davies Hall in San Francisco, before he starts globetrotting: Mexico City, Toronto, Moscow, Berlin, Paris, London, Beijing and, finally, Shanghai on June 8."

Go to this location for Yoshiki's complete tour schedule and ticket links.

Las Vegas breakthrough rockers have begun recording their sophomore album, "Peace At All Costs", for a tentative late summer/early fall release via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2012's "True Love Never Dies" is being helmed by by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Bottrill (TOOL, MUSE, STONE SOUR, GODSMACK, STAIND, PETER GABRIEL) at Audio Mix House and Vegas View Recording Studios in the band's hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. During the tracking of the album, the band will take a break and fly to Orlando to play this year's WJRR Earthday Birthday fest on April 12, where they hope to debut a new track. Comments OTHERWISE singer Adrian Patrick: "We've always felt different from other bands; not just as performers but as people also.

"Being in the studio with an elite producer like David Bottrill, knowing his impressively diverse resume and discerning taste in the artists he chooses to work with, only reinforces our resolve.

"Our next album, 'Peace at All Costs', will prove what we are capable of." The excitement for the new album is being felt throughout the band's team, where co-manager George Cappellini Sr. (former VP of promotion for Geffen Records and VP of rock promotion for Elektra Records, who worked with monumental acts such as METALLICA, AC/DC and GUNS N' ROSES and many more.) had this to say: "I wanted to work the band to radio after hearing 'Soldiers' on Octane. Fast forward two years later after 200+ shows, two Top 20 singles, and now being a part of the management team, this band has grown into a powerhouse right before our eyes. You will all hear that on their sophomore album." Robert Kampf, founder of the band's record label Century Media, had this to say after hearing the band's demos: "After hearing the demos for the new album, OTHERWISE is going to be the future of rock, period." "True Love Never Dies" featured radio hits "Soldiers", "I Don't Apologize (1000 Pictures)" and "Die For You", making it one of the best-selling debut rock albums of 2012-2013. This success helped propel OTHERWISE to tours with STONE SOUR, PAPA ROACH and THREE DAYS GRACE, along with appearances at most of the premiere rock festivals in the United States.

After a successful run of dates all across Europe including shows with HATEBREED and THE EXPLOITED, British grindcore legends NAPALM DEATH have announced two very special projects that have been in the works recently.

First of all and as of today, NAPALM DEATH are launching a special cover song of the track "To Go Off And Things" by the CARDIACS via their Bandcamp site as charity download.

NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury checked in to comment as follows: "Since I was blessed with being introduced to CARDIACS way back in 1986, they have been one of my favorite bands of all time! Getting to meet and become friends with Tim Smith, the musical genius behind it all, over the years was an added bonus. Tim always struck me as a person with a massive heart, who had a very pure and innocent view of the world in which we live in — something I totally related to, as the world can be a dark place — he radiated happiness. We shared many fun and elaborate conversations after CARDIACS shows in the early '90s and I loved every minute of every conversation with him. I could go on and on for hours about how amazing his music is and the immense influence it has had on my life but suffice to say this cover of 'To Go Off And Things' that we have recorded is in tribute to the brilliance that is Tim Smith. It is the least we can do for a man who has given us so much.

"Tim has, unfortunately, been severely unwell for a few years now, and we hope with this recording made available to everyone for download on our Bandcamp site for only £1 (you can pay more if your heart so desires!) we can help raise some money to go towards Tim's rehabilitation!

"We hope you like our version of the song and find it in your heart to donate something towards such a worthy cause."

In other news, NAPALM DEATH has announced the release of a limited and exclusive vinyl 12-inch EP entitled "Our Pain Is Their Power" to commemorate its very special Roadburn festival appearance on April 10.

The Roadburn-only vinyl releases have become a tradition over the last few years. Proceedings started in 2012 with the VOIVOD "Live At Roadburn 2011" LP and the ULVER "Roadburn" EP, followed last year by DREAD SOVEREIGN's "Pray To The Devil In Man" EP and the GODFLESH live "Streetcleaner" set. This year is no exception, and Roadburn once more presents a special release for you: In conjunction with the special live set concentrating on the slower, painful, dirgy elements of NAPALM DEATH at this year's festival, Roadburn will release NAPALM DEATH's "Our Pain Is Their Power" EP to commemorate their appearance at Roadburn 2014 on Thursday, April 10.

NAPALM DEATH's "Our Pain Is Their Power" EP collects those slower tracks that drip with sonic anguish from the last few albums onto one EP in a one-time run of 500 copies, to be sold at the Roadburn festival 2014.

The track listing is as follows:

Side A:

01. Persona Non Grata02. Smear Campaign03. Atheist Runt

Side B:

01. Morale02. Our Pain Is Their Power03. Weltschmerz (Extended Apocalyptic Power)

NAPALM DEATH vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway checked in as follows about the release: "I think it's fair to say that live and on album NAPALM DEATH has always had more of an emphasis on a bare bones approach — just hit the 'go button' and it should all just about stay on the rails. However, there are other layers to the band and recently we've been in situations with more potential to pluck those from our repertoire. So, this EP gives you a significant flavor of that — as will the live performance. Although the music isn't entirely identical, I feel the moroseness and sheer desperate bludgeon of early SWANS is a big factor for us in creating this different type of mood. Hopefully we can emulate that kind of power."


To go off and Things (Cardiacs Cover) by Napalm Death

When MOTÖRHEAD does anything, they do it big. So naturally, MOTÖRHEAD is taking part in Record Store Day 2014 in a big way — offering a must-have collectible item! The band is releasing a limited and numbered special edition "Aftershock" picture disc vinyl, exclusively for Record Store Day on April 19. The 180-gram picture discs are limited to 4,500 units worldwide and are individually numbered. Go to www.recordstoreday.com to find a participating Record Store Day store near you. MOTÖRHEAD's 21st studio album, "Aftershock", sold 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart.

MOTÖRHEAD's previous CD, 2011's "The Wörld Is Yours", opened with 7,000 units to enter the chart at No. 94. The band's 2008 effort, "Motörizer", premiered with 6,400 copies to debut at No. 82, while 2006's "Kiss Of Death" registered a first-week tally of 3,500.

"Aftershock" was recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California and is described in a press release as "a true leveler, a crushing confirmation of everything MOTÖRHEAD stands for, marching from the dust storm to deliver 14 belting statements which see MOTÖRHEAD in perhaps their best writing form for years. There's swagger, there's punch, there's speed and there's dirty filthy grooves, Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee showing clearly that MOTÖRHEAD is not simply a band, it's a genre!"

"Aftershock" track listing:

01. Heartbreaker02. Coup De Grace03. Lost Woman Blues04. End Of Time05. Do You Believe06. Death Machine07. Dust And Glass08. Going To Mexico09. Silence When You Speak To Me10. Crying Shame11. Queen Of The Damned12. Knife13. Keep Your Powder Dry14. Paralyzed

The "Heartbreaker" video can be seen below (courtesy of RollingStone.com). The clip incorporates concert footage from last year's Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards ceremony in the U.K., a 2010 Manchester gig and several 2011 shows (including Rock In Rio, Germany's Wacken Open Air Festival and Teatro Caupolicán in Santiago, Chile). Fans who hang on for the credits at the end of "Heartbreaker" may be surprised to learn that the video's sketch art was created by frontman Lemmy Kilmister.

MOTÖRHEAD canceled a handful of shows on its European festival tour in August 2013 after Lemmy suffered a haematoma (where blood collects outside of a blood vessel). The news of Lemmy's latest medical issue followed reports that he was also fitted with a defibrillator because of heart problems. The band also postponed a European headlining tour which was scheduled to kick off in November.

New Orleans' disciples of hardcore, blues-based, post-amplified audio wreckage, EYEHATEGOD will unleash their long-anticipated new studio recording later this spring. Set for North American release via Housecore Records, the domestic version of the self-titled offering will come in a CD digipack while the LP will be a single slab of vinyl in a gatefold jacket. The first pressing will be limited to 1600 copies and made available in the following colors: * Black (600 copies)* Purple (300 copies)* Clear (400 copies)* Purple and Grey (300 copies) "Eyehategod" track listing:

01. Agitation! Propaganda!02. Trying To Crack The Hard Dollar03. Parish Motel Sickness04. Quitter's Offensive05. Nobody Told Me06. Worthless Rescue07. Framed To The Wall08. Robitussin And Rejection09. Flags And Cities Bound10. Medicine Noose11. The Age Of Bootcamp

The song "Robitussin And Rejection" can be streamed below. Preorder packages including various CD, LP and T-shirt bundles are currently available via Housecore Records at this location.

"Eyehategod" will be released on May 27 by their partners at Housecore Records in North America, May 26 by Century Media in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and May 21 by Daymare in Japan. Comments EYEHATEGOD vocalist Mike IX Williams: "I have to say I don't believe we've lost nary a step in the creation of this album and we think these newer songs are a killer combination of classic EYEHATEGOD mixed along with our best production, mixing, engineering and songwriting in thirteen years. The main and total tragic break in the chain, was obviously last year's death of our great friend and drummer, Joey LaCaze. However, his original drum tracks made it onto the final master recordings and we're fucking psyched about that... As for working with Housecore, it was a no-brainer. We've always been a family, and will always remain a family." Adds Housecore founder Philip H. Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN): "Being a part of the new EYEHATEGOD record is a dream come true. I've known, supported and loved the guys for almost as long as I've been playing music myself, and it is our pleasure here at the Housecore Records compound to have 'em aboard. And I gotta mention, having heard the new record, this is the EYEHATEGOD record every true fan has been waiting for.... Hail!" In related news, EYEHATEGOD will take to the streets again next month for a short string of live takeovers including a return trip to Japan with VENOM and MORBID ANGEL, a stint on Three Floyds Beer's annual Dark Lord Day Festival as well as various onstage abrasions through the West Coast and the previously announced Baltimore, Maryland gala with HIGH ON FIRE and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, with additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

As a band that helped create a genre as well as equate a city with a sound, EYEHATEGOD has always remained humble anytime words like "legend" were thrown around to describe them. The thing with legends is that they grow stronger in time and over the years, word of mouth has been kind to the band. EYEHATEGOD is bigger now than they ever have been in their twenty-five plus years as a band. Pretty impressive seeing as they haven't released a full-length album in almost fifteen years. Most people who know the band have a story to tell or they heard a story about the guys. Whether it was them playing nothing but feedback to a bewildered WHITE ZOMBIE crowd during their opening stint for the arena metal band in the mid-Nineties, being banned from a certain venue for attacking a promoter with a barstool or cleaning out entire small towns of their drug supply, these stories spread throughout the metal community over the years, usually through a game of one-up-manship, establishing them as one of the most notorious bands around. Certainly not the first band to be surrounded by myth and lore, EYEHATEGOD's staying and growing power ultimately comes from the music. No one riffs like Jimmy Bower and Brian Patton. Drummer Joey LaCaze grooved and held it together with numerous bass players throughout the years, doing so impeccably with Gary Mader over the past decade. Singer Mike IX Williams has always been able to encapsulate the ruins of life through his lyrics and vocal delivery. All combined, the music is the most genuine, distressing cacophony of sound around. "BLACK SABBATH mixed with BLACK FLAG with a little bit of SKYNYRD and the element of blues thrown in there," Bower once said of the band's sound. In 2014 that style might sound somewhat commonplace. In 1988 it most definitely was not. The band's second album, 1993's "Take As Needed For Pain", is the pinnacle album that other bands of this genre to this day try to reach. Today, EYEHATEGOD sounds as fresh and innovative as ever. When the band released its first new track in over a decade, "New Orleans Is The New Vietnam", it was clear that nothing about the band had changed. They were touring more than ever and used that time and energy to work on an album's worth of songs. At the end of 2012 they were ready. The recording process for "Eyehategod" started with producer Billy Anderson back in the fold (he recorded 1996's "Dopesick"). The session saw both producer and band not quite on the same page and at the end, the album was unfinished. A few months later, the band reconvened at longtime friend Phil Anselmo's home studio with producer Stephen Berrigan (DOWN). Both Anselmo and Berrigan helped draw out the missing pieces to one of underground metal's most anticipated albums in years. An unexpected tragedy occurred shortly upon returning home from a recent five-week European tour in the fall of 2013: Joey LaCaze passed away due to respiratory failure. An outpouring of condolences and tributes spread online. Enough can't be said of the loss felt by the band, family and friends. Fortunately, LaCaze's drum tracks were captured by Anderson and appear on the album, creating the definitive tribute for the member of the band who encapsulated best just what EYEHATEGOD was all about; seriously not taking yourself too seriously. New Orleans native, Aaron Hill (MOUNTAIN OF WIZARD, MISSING MONUMENTS), took over for LaCaze without missing a beat, both figuratively and literally. The band hit the road after wrapping up the record and plan to embark upon their most exhaustive touring schedule to date. EYEHATEGOD is:

Mike IX Williams - VocalsJimmy Bower - GuitarBrian Patton - GuitarGary Mader - BassAaron Hill - Drums

Late GWAR frontman Dave Brockie (a.k.a. Oderus Urungus) was laid to rest yesterday (Tuesday, April 1) in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

Several photos from the private memorial attended by Brockie's family and friends can be found at YellMagazine.com.

DARKEST HOUR guitarist Mike Schleibaum attended the ceremony and wrote on Facebook: "Very emotional and beautiful event yesterday.

"I will celebrate the life of Dave whenever I hear his music or spend time with the people he loved!

"[Richmond] has lost a great man but gained a legend!

"All HAIL GWAR!"

Brockie was found dead in his home in Richmond on March 23. He was 50 years old. GWAR manager Jack Flanagan released a statement saying, "It is with a saddened heart that I confirm my dear friend Dave Brockie, artist, musician, and lead singer of GWAR, passed away at approximately 6:50 p.m. EST Sunday, March 23, 2014 . . . A full autopsy will be performed. He was 50 years old, born August 30, 1963. My main focus right now is to look after my bandmates and his family."

Brockie is the second member of GWAR to die within the past three years. Guitarist Cory Smoot, who played the character Flattus Maximus, died of a heart attack on the band's tour bus in November 2011 at the age of 34.

Brockie said at the time, "I think Cory's death is a big wake-up call for all of us. We all breathed a big sigh of relief when we found out it wasn't a drug overdose, to speak quite frankly. But then to think that he was 34 and died of a heart attack — it's really scary."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Brockie was the last remaining original member of GWAR, which was founded 30 years ago. The future of the band at this stage is uncertain.

The satirical metal band earned a following for its macabre, over-the-top costumes, offensive lyrics and graphic, gore-soaked shows, in which the band members performed as the descendants of alien warriors who arrived on Earth to enslave and slaughter the human race.

The band released its 13th album, "Battle Maximus", last year.

Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY will release their fourth album, "Magic Mountain", on May 6 (one day earlier internationally) via Roadrunner Records. The cover artwork for the CD can be seen below.

"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

The song "Fiesta Del Fuego" can be streamed below.

The first single from "Magic Mountain", "Me And Mary Jane", hit radio waves in February to coincide with the band's sold-out series of intimate "fan-curated" U.K. shows.

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."

Renowned as electrifying live, BLACK STONE CHERRY will hit the road hard in support of "Magic Mountain", kicking off the album cycle in the U.K. with a series of intimate — and already sold out — live performances dubbed "The Southern Hospitality Tour". Set for late February/early March, the dates will see BLACK STONE CHERRY creating each evening's set list from a list of fan requests, guaranteeing every night's performance will be completely unique. The boys will also break the lengthy set to answer fans questions during an audience question-and-answer session, marking the shows out as a really special evening.

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

Norway's masters of blackened sonic evil 1349 are finally back with a deadly vengeance. Four long years after the release of the masterpiece "Demonoir", the band will return with a new full-length album this fall. This CD will be released on Indie Recordings throughout the world except for North America, where Season Of Mist will be handling the effort.

To shorten the wait, the band has decided to bring a digital single, "Slaves", on the market, in addition to a specialseven-inch single, limited to 666 copies. The single will be available on digital services from April 4, the same day as the band's U.S. tour starts.

1349 is touring the U.S. with BEHEMOTH and GOATWHORE in April and May, and a full European tour will follow later in the year.

Comments the band: "We entered the studio with an idea of putting everything that 1349 has ever been about into a cauldron, stir it well, and pour in some fresh ingredients — as well as some strange old ones — and come up with our most potent elixir ever. And we brought the spirit to match the ambitious attempt. Boil, boil, toil and trouble...Behold! We have made the most delightfully intoxicating and dangerous potion you can dream of. FEEL THE FIRE! And Hail Hell."