Germany’s PRESIDENT EVIL have released their new video for the track 'Priest Of Rock 'N' Roll'. The track is featrured on the band's new album, Back From Hell’s Holiday, available via Firefield Records.

The new album features new singer (Neal McCocker) as well as, Dan Nelson (BLACKGATES, ex-ANTHRAX) and Chris Birx (MOTORJESUS) on guest vocals.
Tracklisting:

'Intro'
'Dirty Cage'
'Coffee & Cocaine'
'Black'
'Cold Inside'
'Hell's Holiday'
'Priest Of Rock 'N' Roll'
'Angel'
'Temptation'
'Never Ending Sin Of Life'
'Hit The Score'
'Sad'
'Psycho Valley'
'Outro'

'Priest Of Rock 'N' Roll' video:

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‘Coffee & Cocaine’ video:
Teaser video:

Melodic death metal band PERSEFONE will re-release their classic masterpice, Core, worldwide on April 18th. The album has been sold out for years and many fans have requested that the band would re-release it.

The new release, which also includes a very exclusive bonus track, has been remixed by Pere Revert (producer directly involved in the creation of both Shin-ken and Spiritual Migration). And Core strikes back with even more power, bigger production, better sound and Annica von Holdt’s artwork revisited by world renowned cover artist Travis Smith.

Back in 2005 Persefone got in the studio to start working on what was to become the biggest production ever, in the history of the band for that time and one of the most acclaimed album for media and fans.

The idea was simple: Telling the story of the goddess Persephone, who gives name to the band, in three long epic songs from the point of view of every main character in the story: Demeter (mother of Persephone), Hades (god of the Underworld) and Persephone herself. A long epic story with memorable solos, harmonies, complex rhythms and beautiful melodies in 70 minutes of non-stop music.
Core tracklisting:

Sanctuary: Light And Grief:

'Act I : Goddess' Wrath'
'Act II: Light's Memories'
'Act III: Exiled To The Void'
'Act IV: To Face The Truth'

Underworld: The Fallen & The Butterfly:

'Act I : Clash Of The Titans'
'Act II: Dark Thoughts From A Dark Heart'
'Act III: When The Earth Breaks'
'Act IV: Released'

Seed: Core & Persephone:

'Act I: A Ray Of Hope'
'Act II: Self Betraying'
'Act III: Doubts Are Seed'
'Act IV: Dark Inner Transition'
'Act V: The End'

'Star Wars Medley' (Bonus track)

'Sanctuary Act III: Exiled to the Void':

Core (2014) by Persefone

Persefone will be heading out on their second Asian tour, this time including shows in both China, Japan, and Taiwan. The tour will be a co-headlining tour with Taiwanese band SILENT HELL.
Carlos Lozano (Guitars) comments: “This is another dream, coming true for us, and a milestone in the band’s career. We had a great time with the Chinese fans on our last tour over there, and we expect things to be even crazier this time around, with both Taiwan and Japan added to the schedule! We’re so stoked to get to experience this again.”

Dates below:

April
24 - Fukuoka, Japan
25 - Osaka, Japan
26 - Nagoya, Japan
27 - Tokyo, Japan
29 - Harbin, China
30 - Sheng Yang, China

May
1 - Da Lian, China
4 - Taipei, Taiwan
6 - Tai Chun - Taiwan

Germany's ENFEEBLE will release their second full-length-album, Encapsulate This Moment, on Friday, March 7th. The album track 'False Faith' can be heard below.
Tracklisting:

'Opening'
'Shock Me'
'Personage Collapse '
'Flashedever'
'Cavity Door'
'Cries'
'The Last Night Before'
'Reality Loss'
'Agony Revenge'
'The Creation'
'A Million Voices'
'False Faith'
'As We Were Like Shadows'

'False Faith':

Germany's ARISING FEAR will release their debut album, Beyond Betrayal, on March 29th.
Arising Fear was founded back in 2008 in Augsburg, Bavaria (Germany), and affect their listeners with catchy hooks, complex song structures and hard headbanger riffs - all those musical elements meet in the music of Arising Fear and give their individual wall of sound a very interesting and powerful attitude.

Followed by an immense number of live shows in Germany, Poland and Italy, with well known bands like EMIL BULLS, FAREWELL TO ARMS and TENSIDE the band released their self-titled debut EP in September 2009 which received excellent press consistently.
In Arising Fear, Alex Rauh (vocals/guitar), Kevin Pöllmann (guitar/vocals), Tobi Möhring (drums) and Tom Franz (bass) prescribe themselves to the passion for creating their own music which can be considered as a mix of classical heavy metal, thrash metal and elements of the metalcore genre.
Currently, the four playful guys of Arising Fear are in the studio, workin diligently on their debut album, Beyond Betrayal, which will be released on March 29th.

Album trailer:

British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST have completed work on their brand new studio album, to be released later in the year.

Speaking to Artisan News at last night's (Monday, March 17) VIP listening party for the Ronnie James Dio tribute album "This Is Your Life" and awards gala at the Avalon in Hollywood, California, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford stated about the band's new CD (see video below): "The record is finished; it's absolutely finished as of today." He added: "It's a relief. It's a relief because whenever PRIEST makes an album, like any band, you put your heart and soul into it; it is that typical 'blood, sweat and tears.' It's not an easy thing to do 40 years later. But PRIEST has always been up for the challenge of that, and it's one of things that we love to do more than anything else as we move on through our metal years. So this is a great time for PRIEST: 40th anniversary, a brand new record. Life couldn't be better."

In a 2013 interview with Billboard.com, Halford described the new PRIEST CD's sound as "hard. It's heavy. It's something we think our PRIEST fans will be thrilled with. We know we have a reputation to maintain, and we know we have to deliver something really strong and solid. The album is going to be full of all the great things you love about JUDAS PRIEST — I don't think I can say anything more than that without being hung, drawn and quartered."

Speaking to VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner, Halford said about what fans can expect from JUDAS PRIEST's next LP: "We felt it was very important to follow up [2008's] 'Nostradamus', the last release, and that was a concept experiment and it was a real success for us and the fans loved it, but I think our fans and ourselves as a band, we want to get back to the side of PRIEST that we haven't heard for a few years and reemphasize and remake those big, heavy metal statements again."

PRIEST's next album will mark the band's first release with Richie Faulkner, most recently guitarist in the backing band for Lauren Harris (daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris).

Faulkner joined PRIEST as the replacement for original PRIEST guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing, who announced his retirement from the band in April 2011.

Asked how it has been collaborating on new music with Faulkner, Halford told Guitar World in a 2012 interview: "Really, really strong. Exciting. He's riffing and saying, 'Robby, I'm thinking of this and this and this.' It's really exciting to have that kind of energy, because you feed off of it."

He added: "[Richie] went through the ritual on [the 'Epitaph'] tour, did great work on stage, the fans embraced him, so it's now time to see what we're capable of, the writing trio of Glenn [Tipton] and Richie and myself."

Regarding whether technology has changed JUDAS PRIEST's songwriting process at all, Halford said: "It's dangerous to walk around with a flash drive on a bunch of keys. [Laughs] To a great extent, it doesn't really change. The technology is amazing in terms of the advantages it brings to music now, some of it good, some of it very bad. It's all about discipline and self-belief, determination, wanting to do the best you can do and not accepting anything that's below par. We've always had that attitude in PRIEST. We've always felt really strongly about any track that goes out for our fans. We're still doing it like we always have: firing up the riffs and finding a vocal melody to go with it, me going into me wonderful world of the Roget's Thesaurus and trying to come up with a new lyric and a new idea. And that's what we've been doing for four decades."

The first single from EPICA's new album The Quantum Enigma, entitled 'The Essence Of Silence', is now available via iTunes and Amazon (using the widget at the bottom of the page).

The Quantum Enigma, on May 2nd in Europe, May 5th in the UK, and May 13th in North America through Nuclear Blast.
A release show has been announced for April 30th in Tilburg, The Netherlands at Poppodium. INSOMNIUM are on the bill as special guests.

Tickets and special bundles are available at this location.

Where the 2013 Retrospect performance reflected on a decade as one of the leading bands in the symphonic metal scene, the upcoming sixth studio album, The Quantum Enigma, marks the beginning of a new Epica: modern, heavy, and without compromises.

"More than any of our previous albums, this album is a group effort. The only goal we had in mind: creating the album that could lift EPICA up to the next level."

Together with upcoming producer Joost van den Broek, the sextet worked on The Quantum Enigma at the Sandlane Recording Facilities in the Netherlands. The album has been mixed by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, HATESHPERE). "Every detail finds its way into a perfectly balanced mix, and makes EPICA sound raw and overwhelming.”
The album will be released in five different configurations:

- regular Jewel Case
- 2CD Digipack
- 3CD Earbook
- double Vinyl
- Digital Download

Tracklisting:

'Originem'
'The Second Stone'
'The Essence Of Silence'
'Victims Of Contingency'
'Sense Without Sanity (The Impervious Code)'
'Unchain Utopia'
'The Fifth Guardian' (Interlude)
'Chemical Insomnia'
'Reverence (Living In The Heart)'
'Omen (The Ghoulish Malady)'
'Canvas Of Life'
'Natural Corruption'
'The Quantum Enigma (Kingdom Of Heaven Part II)'

Digipack additional track: 'In All Conscience'
Earbook additional track: 'Dreamscape'
Vinyl additional track: 'Memento'
iTunes additional track: 'Banish Your Illusion'

Disc 2 (Digipack and Earbook only):

'Canvas Of Life' (acoustic version)
'In All Conscience' (acoustic version)
'Dreamscape' (acoustic version)
'Natural Corruption' (acoustic version)

Disc 3 (Earbook Only):

'Originem' (instrumental)
'The Second Stone' (instrumental)
'The Essence Of Silence' (instrumental)
'Victims Of Contingency' (instrumental)
'Sense Without Sanity' (instrumental)
'Unchain Utopia' (instrumental)
'The Fifth Guardian' (instrumental)
'Chemical Insomnia' (instrumental)
'Reverence' (instrumental)
'Omen' (instrumental)
'Canvas Of Life' (instrumental)
'Natural Corruption' (instrumental)
'The Quantum Enigma' (instrumental)

Epica have launched the second episode of their studio documentary, which gives a behind the scenes look at the recording process of The Quantum Enigma. It also previews the first music from the upcoming album. Watch both parts below:

Part 1:
Part 2:
Check out Epica live on the following dates:

April
30 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013

May
4 - Istanbul, Turkey- Headbanger’s Weekend

June
14 - Nickelsdorf, Austria - Novarock

July
10 - Vizovice, Czech Republic - Masters of Rock
12 - Wegorzewo, Poland - Seven Festival

August
8 - Vagos, Portugal - Vagos Open Air

HEAVEN’S BASEMENT will release their latest single, 'Can't Let Go' - taken from their debut album Filthy Empire - on April 14th via Red Bull Records. The single is available as a free download on the band's Facebook page.

Hot off their recent live stint at Soundwave in Australia, the band are excited to be back in the UK for their headlining Welcome Home Tour, with GLAMOUR OF THE KILLl as support.

Catch them live at these dates:

March
13 - Norwich, England - Waterfront
14 - Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms
15 - Southampton, England - Takedown Festival
16 - Leeds, England - The Cockpit
18 - Newcastle, England - Newcastle Uni Union
19 - Glasgow, Scotland - Cathouse
20 - Belfast, Ireland - Voodoo
21 - Dublin, Ireland - Voodoo Lounge
22 - Manchester, England - Academy 2
24 - Chester, England - The Forum
25 - Bristol, England - The Fleece
27 - London, England - Electric Ballroom
28 - Plymouth, England - White Rabbit
29 - Birmingham, England - Academy 2
30 - Brighton, England - The Haunt

BLACK STONE CHERRY recently visited the studios of UK-based digital radio station Planet Rock. While there, the quartet from Kentucky performed acoustic renditions of their new single, 'Me And Mary Jane', as well as a cover of the JOHNNY CASH classic, 'Folsom Prison Blues'.
Roadrunner Records will release the new Black Stone Cherry album, Magic Mountain, on May 6th. The tracklisting and cover art are available below:

'Holding On…To Letting Go'
'Peace Pipe'
'Bad Luck & Hard Love'
'Me And Mary Jane'
'Runaway'
'Magic Mountain'
'Never Surrender'
'Blow My Mind'
'Sometimes'
'Fiesta Del Fuego'
'Dance Girl'
'Hollywood In Kentucky'
'Remember Me'
Catch Black Stone Cherry on tour:

April
22 - Varsity Theatre - New Orleans, LA
25 - Tampa Bay Times Forum - Tampa, FL
26 - Jet Blue Park - Fort Myers, FL
27 - Metropolitan Park - Jacksonville, FL
29 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
30 - Iron City - Birmingham, AL

May
2 - Track 29 - Chattanooga, TN
3 - Monster Energy's Carolina Rebellion - Concord, NC
4 - Beale Street Music Festival - Memphis, TN
6 - Ram's Head Live - Baltimore, MD
7 - Sherman Theater - Stroudsburg, PA
8 - Upstate Concert Hall - Clifton Park, NY
10 - Darling's Waterfront Pavilion - Bangor, ME
11 - Webster Theater - Hartford, CT
13 - Freedom Hall - Lancaster, PA
14 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
16 - Columbus Crew Stadium - Columbus, OH
17 - The Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, MI
18 - House Of Blues - Chicago, IL
20 - Myth - St. Paul, MN
21 - The District - Sioux Falls, SD
24 - AT&T Center - San Antonio, TX

Galician heavy/death metal act SKYDANCER have released a new lyric video, for the track 'The Galician Exile', featured on their new studio release, Land Of The Grim.
Tracklisting:

'Swamp Tomb'
'Ancares'
'Ancestral Lands'
'L´Even'
'Meet The Ferryman'
'The Treason Wall'
'The Galician Exile'
'Lembranza'

The Galician Exile' lyric video:
'Ancares':
Album teaser:
Skydancer lineup:

Daniel Soengas - Guitars / Vocals
Jose Casal - Guitars
Victor Louzan - Bass
Daniel Díaz - Drums
More on Skydancer at this location.

Australia’s TERAMAZE will release their follow-up to the 2012 release AnhedoniA on April 12th via Nightmare Records, distributed by Sony/RED.
Entitled Esoteric Symbolism, the new album blends amazingly tight and speedy syncopated guitar/drum riffs and rhythms, with melodic hard vocals, for a very unique brand of metal. Listen to the album track 'Punishment By Design' below.
Tracklisting:

'All Seeing Eye
'Line of Symmetry
'Transhumanist
'Bodies of Betrayal
'Parallels-Dual Reality
'Spawn
'Punishment by Design
'Dust of Martyrs
'The Divulgence Act (CD edition only)
'Esoteric Symbolism':
vi - Order Out of Chaos
vii - Darkest Days of Symphony
viii - In Vitro

'Punishment By Design':
Teaser:

When the two KILLER BEE kingpins Anders L.A. Rönnblom and Brian Bee Frank in 2011 decided to release a compilation album featuring songs from their three 90s album, there were no plans to start the band again.
"I wanted to have a closure of the 90s Killer Bee-era. I felt that we never had an official farewell, so this was a good chance to do so", Anders explains. But a renewed interest in Killer Bee whetted their appetites and got them writing new material again. In October 2012 Killer Bee released their fourth album, From Hell And Back, after a 15 year long break.

From Hell And Back has been re-released in cooperation with Target Group and the band premieres at the same time a brand new video for the title track.
Tracklisting:

'From Hell And Back'
'Drive Me Crazy'
'Step Into My World'
'Love It Or Leave It'
'All Night Long'
'Footprints In The Sand'
'Rock Another Day'
'Heat Of The Night'
'Leave Me Alone'
'On And On'
'I Believe'

'From Hell And Back' video:
From Hell And Back is now available as download and stream wordwide.

Bay Area Backstage has uploaded video footage of SPIRALARMS, the San Francisco Bay Area-based heavy rock band featuring Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, ex-MANMADEGOD) on guitar, Tim Narducci (ex-SYSTEMATIC) on vocals, Chris "Cornbread" Lombardo on bass, Brad Barth on keyboards, and Anthony Traslavina on rhythm guitar and drummer Andy Galeon (DEATH ANGEL), performing on March 13 at the Heritage Theater in Campbell, California. Check it out below.

Galeon made his live debut with SPIRALARMS on February 8 at the Milk Bar in San Francisco.

SPIRALARMS' second album, "Freedom", was released on October 22, 2013 via Steamhammer/SPV.

SPIRALARMS rose from the ashes of millennial bands SYSTEMATIC, FORBIDDEN and MANMADE GOD.

Friends since the age of 15, Narducci and Locicero bonded over their love of heavy metal and hard rock music. Looking back at that time period, Craig said, "[We were] probably the youngest kids in the East Bay metal scene that were drinking beer out in the parking lot after seeing bands like TESTAMENT and EXODUS play."

Although the two remained friends throughout the years, they both went their separate ways and started bands of their own.

After years of playing with their respective groups, the two friends contacted each other and decided it was time to start playing music together again, and in 2004 SPIRALARMS was born.

"Freedom"'s down-to-earth and very dynamic production deserves a mention. The album oozes a liveliness, which many other bands tend to lose in the studio. "We always work at the studio as a full band," says Locicero. "The basic tracks of the new album were recorded in just about 16 hours, the rest was recorded by and by, but always in the same spirit. From the beginning, we never lost sight of our vision and that special flair which our new songs have."

Alissa White-Gluz, former vocalist of Canadian extreme metallers THE AGONIST who was named the new lead singer of ARCH ENEMY following the departure of Angela Gossow, has released the following statement:

"To all my fans, friends and supporters,

"I am very honoured and happy to announce a new chapter in my life and musical career beginning now; I have joined forces with one of my all-time favourite and globally respected bands, ARCH ENEMY. 'Wages Of Sin' was the first metal album I ever bought and it was love at first listen. It is not often that you get a phone call from your favourite band asking you to join! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazingly talented musicians whom I also consider great friends.

"But it is with great sadness that I must also announce that THE AGONIST as you have come to know it is now a thing of the past. I had every intention of (and had even started) writing and recording yet another killer album this year, but my former bandmates decided to choose a different path. I wish I could change the situation, but the unfortunate decision was made beyond my control so I can only wish them the very best of luck now that our time working together has concluded. I will always be proud of the three albums we created since 2005 and I would like to show my appreciation for the incredibly open-minded and loyal fans that I have come to know through my past decade of work in the metal scene. Thank you for accepting every bit of eccentricity I threw your way. Everything from the band name to the lyrics, the songs, the artwork and visuals, the photo shoots, harmonies, melodies, (etc); I created every bit of those with immense thought and passion. I can assure you that I will continue to pour my creativity into writing, singing and performing and look forward to your continued support with ARCH ENEMY. Thank you all so much for believing in me and allowing me to express myself in a completely boundless way.

"Very importantly, I have to thank Angela Gossow for being my mentor and guardian angel over the years — I can honestly say that without her love and support, I would not have been able to make it through as much as I have. Angela has been an inspiration, an invaluable friend and I am proud to now call her a partner. I am very humbled and grateful to her, Michael, Daniel, Sharlee and Nick for entrusting me with the ARCH ENEMY torch. I feel very privileged that they have welcomed me not only to take over as vocalist but also to contribute to the writing process, since lyrical integrity is important to me. Everything about this new relationship feels so right and I think our music is representative of how strong the creative chemistry is. I'm ecstatic about the music we are making! I would also like to extend my deepest and most sincere gratitude to all the members, crew and fans of KAMELOT for believing in me, encouraging me and showing me endless love and appreciation over the years. It really means the world to me.

Thank you, again, to all my fans, family, colleagues and friends who supported my work all along for your relentless loyalty. I look forward to being able to write and perform at a whole new level now with ARCH ENEMY!

"Music is forever, metal is limitless and this is only the beginning!"

ARCH ENEMY's new album, "War Eternal", will be released in June via Century Media Records. The CD was mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KREATOR) at Fascination Street in Örebro, Sweden. ARCH ENEMY will debut new material on a short Eastern European tour before the album is released; this trek will then be followed by an extensive run of European summer festivals, including Sweden Rock Festival, Wacken Open Air and many more. A full headlining tour in North America and Europe will take place in fall/winter 2014. On March 20, ARCH ENEMY will present the video for the album's title track, "War Eternal".

THE AGONIST has announced the addition of singer Vicky Psarakis to the group's ranks.

THE AGONIST's third album, "Prisoners", debuted at No. 19 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Prisoners", was released on June 4, 2012 in Europe and June 5, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records.

Long Beach, California blues rockers RIVAL SONS will release new album, "Great Western Valkyrie", on June 10 in the USA (one day earlier internationally). The CD was recorded with producer Dave Cobb at LCS Studios in Nashville, Tennessee

Comments RIVAL SONS frontman Jay Buchanan: "Every time we set out to make a record, the experience ends up being some of the old and some of the new. Same studio, same town, same on-spot writing/recording process with the same guys. Actually, not the same guys; we have a new bass player in Dave Beste, and we had my buddy Ikey Owens (THE MARS VOLTA, JACK WHITE) throw down some craziness on keys while he was in town.

"I'd like to think we became a little bit more of ourselves making this record and that the selection of influences has broadened a bit. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Miley during the recording; I believe his playing on this record is his most lyrical and musical yet and that's probably a direct reflection of Beste's fresh blood in the mix.

"Speaking of Beste, whoa. Thunder from his hands all over this album.

"I think Scott really expanded his approach in these songs and you can definitely hear it in the moodier tracks, while on the hot tracks you can hear him forcing his aviary of Firebirds to drink moonshine. Dangerous.

"There are some serious house burners on 'Great Western Valkyrie' but there are also a couple where thesis dictated more subtlety from the arrangement.

"My performance? I think it's more of the same on my end, but Cobb did tell me that my finest performances were given in these sessions, but what the fuck does he know?

"They say the truth is in the taste — I'd say this record is the filthy magazine hidden in the hymnal."

"Great Western Valkyrie" is available to pre-order now on digi-sleeve CD and limited-edition coloured vinyl, as well as an ultra-limited box set including the following:

* Double LP on limited clear vinyl with etched fourth side* Signed band photo insert* Custom vinyl slipmat* 5-bonus-track CD* Album cover t-shirt* Woven throw blanket* Album presentation box

The album is also available to pre-order now on iTunes, including five bonus tracks and three instant grat tracks.

An "Great Western Valkyrie" audio preview is available below.

California "Destroyers of Rock 'N' Roll" THE SHRINE will release their new LP Bless Off on March 11th via Tee Pee Records. Recorded at Eliminator Studios in Venice Beach, CA, Bless Off is the follow-up to the power trio's debut album Primitive Blast. The first music video from Bless Off, for the track 'Worship', can be seen below:
Recorded on reel-to-reel tape using vintage gear and colossal Marshall stacks, Bless Off is a record that attacks with buzzing riffs, blazing hooks and a bruising, mega-amplified punch. The album features 11 tracks of quintessential riff rock channeling hazy hesher glories including a song ('The Duke') with lyrics penned by Chuck Dukowski in 1983 originally intended for an unreleased BLACK FLAG song. The cover art to Bless Off features The Shrine's ever-present wolf mascot and is an homage to legendary skate punk and gig flyer artist Ric Clayton (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) and Dogtown Skateboards.
Bless Off tracklisting:

'Destroyers'
'Worship'
'Tripping Corpse'
'The Duke'
'Nothing Forever'
'Bless Off'
'On The Grind'
'No Penalty'
'Spit In My Life'
'Napalm'
'Hellride'

The Shrine plays loud, heavy rock 'n' roll fueled by cheap beer and bad acid that combines the hook-laden appeal of '70s garage rock and gritty '80s hardcore with a skate punk energy and attitude resulting in a sound the trio describes as "psychedelic violence."

TatuI/Sao Paulo-based metallers SYMPTOMEN are streaming the new song 'Heavy Metal In Blood', to be featured on the band's second album, Into The Future, out soon.

Into The Future was recorded at the band's own studio, Studio 8, and follows the line of pure traditional heavy metal.
Into The Future tracklisting:

'Into The Future'
'2 Lives 2 Live'
'About To Blow'
'Payback Time'
'The Eye Of The Universe'
'Heavy Metal In Blood'
'The Game'
'Glory Night'
'Freedom War'
'Goodbye'

'Heavy Metal In Blood':
'Into The Future':

Indie Recordings has announced the signing of black metallers PATRIA. Hailing from Brazil, Patria is one of the most imminent black metal bands in South America today. They have four releases behind them, and will release Individualism via Indie Recordings on April 21st (24th in G/A).
Individualism tracklisting:

'Individualism'
'Blood Storm Prophecy'
'Uncrowned God Of Light'
'Outrage'
'Orphan Of Emptiness'
'Far Beyond The Scorn'
'Catharsis'
'Epiphany'
'Your Rotten Heart Dies Now'
'God’s Entombment'
'Requiem For The Ego'
The first single, 'Blood Storm Prophecy', is available on all digital platforms like iTunes, Spotify and WiMP. Listen to 'Blood Storm Prophecy' below:

TRIPTYKON — the occult/avant-garde metal project formed by former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Tom Gabriel Warrior) — and Century Media Records/Prowling Death Records have announced a special limited-edition box set of the band's second album, "Melana Chasmata", containing the album's main Mediabook CD edition as well as a selection of unique TRIPTYKON paraphernalia. The "Melana Chasmata" Mediabook features a 32-page booklet and an additional 12-panel fold-out cross-booklet; the paraphernalia comprises a silver TRIPTYKON "T" necklace, 2 specially manufactured TRIPTYKON candles, a TRIPTYKON tote bag, a poster, and 3 postcards.
The box set will be limited to 2000 copies worldwide.

Says Fischer: "Some time ago, I voiced my personal disapproval regarding the original concept for the planned TRIPTYKON 'Melana Chasmata' box set as scheduled for release by our licensing partner, Century Media Records. It is to Century Media Records' credit that they listened and subsequently approached me to address my misgivings and create a box set that represents the group's ideas and intentions far more comprehensively. I am grateful for such an open and creative collaboration, and I deeply respect Century Media Records for sparing neither effort nor expenditure to please TRIPTYKON and the band's audience. I wish record labels would have acted like this in the 1980s."

"Melana Chasmata" will be released on April 15 (one day earlier internationally). The CD will be made available through a collaboration between TRIPTYKON's own label, Prowling Death Records Ltd., and renowned metal giant Century Media Records. This is the same label partnership already responsible for CELTIC FROST's final album, "Monotheist" (2006), HELLHAMMER's "Demon Entrails" demo compendium (2008), and TRIPTYKON's debut album, "Eparistera Daimones", and "Shatter" EP (2010).

Like its predecessor "Eparistera Daimones", the album was produced by TRIPTYKON's singer/guitarist Tom Gabriel Warrior and guitarist V. Santura and recorded and mixed at V. Santura's own Woodshed Studio in southern Germany as well as at TRIPTYKON's rehearsal facilities in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2013 and 2014. Those who have already heard "Melana Chasmata" have described it as "atmospheric, dark, diabolical, and dramatic", "diverse, epic, and doomy, but on an entirely different level", "a fierce boulder of abhorrence", or "very heavy and yet very aesthetic at the same time".

"Melana Chasmata" will feature the following nine songs, at a playing time of around 67 minutes:

01. Tree Of Suffocating Souls
02. Boleskine House
03. Altar Of Deceit
04. Breathing
05. Aurorae
06. Demon Pact
07. In The Sleep Of Death
08. Black Snow
09. Waiting

To commemorate the unveiling of "Melana Chasmata", Century Media has released a collector's gatefold seven-inch vinyl single, featuring the songs "Breathing" and "Boleskine House". The single was made available on March 17, and be limited to a pressing 1000 (of which 200 will be in red vinyl). "Breathing" and "Boleskine House" are also available as a digital single (including the option for a digital booklet), and they are now being streamed via the YouTube clips below.

The official listening and release party for "Melana Chasmata" will be held on Friday, April 11 at 10:00 p.m. at Duff's Brooklyn in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The address is:

Duff's Brooklyn
168 Marcy Avenue (between S 5th & Broadway)
Williamsburg, New York

For more information, visit www.duffsbrooklyn.com.

"Melana Chasmata" will be further distinguished by featuring, for the second time for TRIPTYKON, the extraordinary art of legendary Swiss surrealist HR Giger. Following "Eparistera Daimones", the group began to make arrangements for an entirely different cover for the second album. Completely unexpectedly, HR Giger approached Tom Gabriel Warrior in October of 2011 to express his appreciation of how TRIPTYKON had used his art on the first album and to propose a continuation of the artistic collaboration. This development thus marks the first time any musical artist has worked with HR Giger on three albums (CELTIC FROST's "To Mega Therion", and TRIPTYKON's "Eparistera Daimones" and "Melana Chasmata"), and it commemorates a collaboration that has now lasted for 30 years.

"Melana Chasmata" features Giger's dramatically mysterious "Mordor VII" (work no. 283, 100 x 70 cm, acrylic on wood, 1975) as a front cover and Giger's "Landschaft XVI" ["Landscape XVI"] (work no. 209, 100 x 70 cm, acrylic on paper on wood, 1972) as gatefold art.

After a lengthy hiatus, TRIPTYKON will return to the stage this year to promote "Melana Chasmata". Among the concerts so far scheduled are appearances at the celebrated Roadburn festival, at Rock Hard festival, and, pending the issuance of the proper visas by U.S. authorities, TRIPTYKON's return to the United States for an exclusive appearance at Maryland Deathfest.

TRIPTYKON consists of V. Santura (guitar, vocals), Norman Lonhard (drums, percussion), Vanja Slajh (bass, vocals), and Tom Gabriel Warrior (voice, guitars).

Just because KISS will finally be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next month doesn't mean that Paul Stanley isn't still offended that the band had to wait a humiliating 14 years to gain entry. According to The Pulse Of Radio, Stanley, who'll be inducted with Gene Simmons and estranged guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, told the Associated Press that he's upset that only the band's co-founders and not current and other key members of KISS will be getting the nod on April 10, explaining, "In the GRATEFUL DEAD's case, (they) also inducted a writer who never played an instrument. Or they've inducted rap artists, or they've inducted people who have been in the band for seven years as opposed to. . . 25 years or 20 years — whatever their criteria of this week is."

Frehley left KISS after the band's 2002 "Farewell Tour" dates, saying afterwards that he took the word "farewell" seriously. Peter Criss has claimed that his contract with KISS wasn't renewed in March 2004. Both charges have been disputed by Stanley and Simmons. Paul Stanley says that the powers that be at the Rock Hall "tried to strong-arm us into playing in original lineup… Their craving of nostalgia or for wanting to have us play by their rules in many ways jeopardizes what we have spent 40 years building.

"I've been there since the beginning, and when I put on my KISS gear, I do it with great pride, and anything that may jeopardize that by going out with a lineup that I might question is a nonstarter for me."

Stanley went on to explain why current KISS members — guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, both of whom dress as Criss and Frehley's respective alter egos, "The Spaceman" and "The Catman" — should be inducted, saying that they "have been in the band for decades and played on multi-platinum albums and toured the world."

Stanley admitted to The Pulse Of Radio that his contempt for the Rock Hall — which is based on the Rock Hall's apparent contempt for KISS — has been brewing for quite some time now. “It starts decades ago, it starts years ago that it's 14 years on and we're getting into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is a clear indication that the people who hide behind that moniker don't like us," he said. "And it clearly reached a point where it was so absurd and ludicrous that they caved. The part is, as I've said before that I'm most proud of, is the same criteria that kept us out is now getting us in — we didn't change. But, when I feel that we're being treated unfairly and that the rules, clearly, are no rules, 'cause they don't apply to everybody, and the criteria for how and who gets in based entirely on a personal like or dislike, I have issues with that."

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany-based metallers BLACK HAWK have released a new video for 'Beast In Black', the track lifted from the band's new album, A MIghty Metal Axe, out via Pure Underground/Pure Steel Records.
A Mighty Metal Axe tracklisting:

'Arise' (Intro)
'Fear'
'The Fighter'
'A Mighty Metal Axe'
'Nightrider'
'FashionVictim'
'Burning Angels'
'Skills Of Arabia'
'Killer'
'Heroes'
'Venom Of The Snake'
'Beast In Black'

'Beast In Black' video:
Black Hawk lineup:

Udo Bethke - Vocals
Michael Wiekenberg - Bass
Thorsten Bettge - Guitar
Dan Schamschor - Drums
Günter Kruse - Guitars
More on Black Hawk at Facebook.

German art/prog rock band RPWL will release their new album, Wanted, in North America on April 1st via Gentle Art of Music/E1. The album's title track is streaming below:

'Wanted':
RPWL was recently confronted with a rather difficult question: how do you follow up a both epic as well as celebrated album as was the Nietzsche-themed Beyond Man And Time? Here's the answer: you tackle the really, really huge topic on your new record Wanted - the ultimate liberation of the spirit.

But... how does an idea like that spring to the minds of an art rock band in the first place?

RPWL tell of the hero of two worlds, Giuseppe Garibaldi who, being a tremendous admirer of the Greek antiquity became aware of a scroll of Plato's in which he analyzes the work of Hippocrates. It can be read in Garibaldi's diaries that Hippocrates had in fact found the formula for a medicine that leads the spirit into a real and absolute world, free of all illusion and invisible ghost worlds. The question, however, that inevitable arises at that point is the following: is the human race ready for what Plato called the "gift of absolute freedom?"

It lies in the artistic fearlessness of RPWL that the band is not afraid of transferring that complex question to the world of today: is modern man, being the evolutionary creature that he is, ready for absolute freedom? To explore that, these Bavarians have established a back-story full of fantasy. In it RPWL and their friends aim at granting the world access to the product of the secret formula - disguised as a homeopathic drug against mental fatigue that goes by the name of "Veritas Forte." Considering the true intention of the operation the fact that the wrath of the churches of the world religions is unleashed at the band rather sooner than later is understood. And so, consequently, they are forced to go underground. That, however, is where RPWL continues to organize ultimate liberation from all oppression through the machineries of illusion run by religions and sects. RPWL are Wanted.

The action of Wanted starts several days before the great day: Plato's Day. The enemy's fear is ever growing, as, after all nobody knows at what point the mirages and illusions are eradicated from people's minds once and for all. In the course of the record RPWL shift through ten varied songs full of breathtaking soundscapes and tell a compelling story of courage, doubt, bravery, the unconditional desire to never give in and, ultimately, the belief in what is right.

By making a philosophy that is new and to a degree unique the subject of the concept of Wanted, RPWL bring the principle of the concept album to a new level. That is how this gigantic piece of art evolves into a true explosion of creativity. Furthermore the intellectual firepower of the content is in every way matched by the artistic and emotional depth of the music. More than ever a sharp artistic edge and the hunger for discovery is what drives this record forward. Despite more than fifteen years in the scene, Yogi Lang (vocals, keyboard), Kalle Wallner (guitar), Marc Turiaux (drums), Markus Jehle (keyboard, piano) and Werner Taus (bass) brilliantly avoid playing it safe.

The masterpiece that is Wanted will also be released as double vinyl as well as a limited edition in additional 5.1-surround-sound. Yes, Wanted is a gamble - and boy does that gamble pay off.
Wanted tracklisting:

'Revelation'
'Swords And Guns'
'A Short Cut Line'
'Wanted'
'Hide And Seek'
'Disbelief'
'Misguided Thought'
'Perfect Day'
'The Attack'
'A New Dawn'

Teaser trailer:

Four years after How Hate Is Hard To Define and a pair of splits, the second full-length from Toulouse, France's PLEBEIAN GRANDSTAND, Lowgazers, will be released March 31st.

Armed with new drummer Ivo (STUNTMAN, PAL), the four-piece picks the most dissonant and experimental aspects of black metal, hardcore and sludge to create an unreal vortex of desolation. The eight-track album can be streamed in its entirety right now:

Lowgazers by PLEBEIAN GRANDSTAND

According to a press release, "From the first notes of ‘Thrvst’, the band reaches new heights of intensity, switching from inhuman blast beats to slow-motion torture, while unorthodox guitar work and painfully shrieked vocals tear the listener from all quarters."

Lowgazers tracklisting:

'Thrvst'
'Endless Craving'
'Flail In The Bliss'
'Lowlifer'
'Relief Of Troth'
'Svn In Your Head'
'Aimless Roaming'
'Mvrk Diving'

Galicia-based melodic death metallers BLOODHUNTER are releasing their online single, 'Ages Of Darkness' on March 20th via Suspiria Records. The single includes as a bonus track, an alternate version of 'Bring Me Horror'. This single is a taster of the album that will be released by Suspiria Records, and is a great example of the enormous potential of the Galician band. '
Ages Of Darkness' is written by Fenris, with lyrics by Diva Satanica and was recorded at Ultrasound Studios in Portugal by Pedro Mendes and Daniel Cardoso.

Stay tuned for more news, the release date of the full length will soon be revealed.

Debemur Morti Productions will release INFESTUS' new opus, The Reflecting Void, on April 25th (May 13th in North America) on CD, vinyl and digital download versions.
What better way to introduce you to The Reflecting Void than a few words from the maestro, Andras: "The Reflecting Void. A daring glimpse behind the mirror-like emptiness of the mind that only serves one purpose: to hide what lies underneath. A mental barrier unconsciously created by the existential need to burry unbearable emotions and experiences that corrode the “soul”. But to burry is not to delete. The cancer of the mind dwells hidden under this cloak of void. And while constantly flourishing, the light of life fades into an indistinguishable grey haze, “decolorizing” the view and encircling your existence. You may be able to reflect the darkness within and to a certain degree process it. But you will never leave behind the things that defined and changed you. Catharsis is an illusion."
Tracklisting:

'A Dying Dream'
'Spiegel der Seele'
'Constant Soul Corrosion'
'Hyperion Under Glass'
'Fractal Rise Of The FallFiligree'
'Inner Reflexion'
'Devouring Darkness'
'Origin'

Arizona-based hard rockers STORM OF PERCEPTION have released the new video for the song 'In Light Of My Solitude', which can be found on the band's self-titled new album. The video was shot by Forrest Sandifer (Channel 7) and edited by drummer Stevie Thunder and singer Brian Herring.
Storm Of Perception's debut is out now via Tru-B-Dor Records which was launched by former GUNS N' ROSES/GREAT WHITE manager Alan Niven and his wife Heather.
A description of the band reads: "Historically and mythological the desert is known as the place where seekers find that which they are searching for, under it’s canopy of countless stars. The desert of Northern Arizona is known for it’s dramatic summer monsoon storms. Prescott, the old territorial capitol of Arizona, is known for it’s Storm Of Perception. Six seekers, desert rats and righteous rock n’ rollers all have come together to form a metal brotherhood bound by the the supersonic steel sound of Storm Of Perception."

U.S. death metal veterans INCANTATION will release their new album, "Dirges Of Elysium", in late May via Listenable Records.

Comments the band: "Elysium. Sky burial, necromancy, a cult in ancient Prussia, and pure blasphemy all await those who will hear the new release.

"The music is diverse and holds more aggression then our previous, alongside with more doom hymns heard at a demonic funeral!

"As each and every record gets better by date, this by far surpasses any past materials!!

"Hell awaits in the ashes of Elysium!!"

INCANTATION earlier in the month announced the departure of guitarist Alex Bouks, who joined the band in 2007. Filling in for him during the touring cycle for "Dirges Of Elysium" will be former INCANTATION guitarist Sonny Lombardozzi.

Says INCANTATION: "We have been friends with Sonny for quite some time and he has also played with INCANTATION as far back as the early 2000s during the 'Blasphemy' era. We really feel he understands the style of the band and that he will execute the songs in a very honorable way.

"It's great to welcome back an old friend into the fold!"

INCANTATION's latest album, "Vanquish In Vengeance", was released on Listenable Records. The effort was also made available in a limited-edition box featuring a flag and an exclusive metal pin.

Although based in Pennsylvania, INCANTATION has enjoyed a 25-year musical career as one of the leaders the New York death metal scene along with SUFFOCATION, IMMOLATION and MORTICIAN.

INCANTATION and Listenable Records' working relationship previously resulted in "Decimate Christendom" (2004) and "Primordial Domination" (2006) albums.