In recognition of that holiest of holy days, Record Store Day, the masked mutants in GHOUL are releasing Hang Ten, a limited edition six-song (mostly) instrumental 10" EP. Featuring guest vocals from Tony Foresta (MUNICIPAL WASTE, IRON REAGAN) as Henchman #1 and the inimitable R.A. MacLean (ex-DEADBOLT) as Kreeg, alongside Digestor, Cremator, Fermentor, Dissector and The Moron Cavern-Shackled Choir, Hang Ten was recorded by Salvador Raya at Earhammer Studios in Oakland, mastered by Dan Randall at Mammoth Sound Mastering and sports cover art by Sean Aaberg of Pork Magazine.
Surely an anomaly in Ghoul's catalog, the EP features songs written exclusively in their unique brand of surf metal the quartet has previously only dabbled in. Hang Ten picks up right where Transmission Zero left off, relaying the tale of a Creepsylvania in tatters, and the terrible power struggle that ensues between two vicious motorcycle gangs.

Noted Cambridge University musical anthropologist Dr. Mantle Bannister PhD had this to say about this odd assortment of tenebrous tunes: "Why, it's quite remarkable. I've never heard the like. Is it surf? Not quite. Is it metal? Maybe. Is it jazz? No, that's a stupid question, unfit for a real life noted musical anthropologist such as myself. It's from Creepsylvania, you say? Ghastly country. Absolutely crawling with gypsies. Say, old chap, who let you in to my office?"
Hang Ten 10" tracklisting:

'The Midnight Ride Of The Cannibals MC'
'Kreeg'
'Sidehackers'
'Hang Ten'
'Blood On The Street'
'It Was A Very Good Year'

Hang Ten will be released on April 19th via Tankcrimes Records.

In related news, Ghoul will headline the first night of this year's edition of Brainsqueeze Fest. Set to take place April 18th and 19th at the Oakland Metro and April 20th at Eli's Mile High Club, which will include BBQ and an Andrei Bouzikov art show, the mammoth event features more than a dozen acts including MUNICIPAL WASTE, FINAL CONFLICT, NEGATIVE APPROACH, FUCKED UP and CANNABIS CORPSE as well as a gaggle of new Tankcrimes releases to be revealed in the coming weeks.

HighVolMusic announces the brand new Baltimore-based hard rock band SAINTS OF REBELLION, featuring vocalist Coby DeShazo, guitarist John Adams, bassist Jay Hitaffer, and drummer Ryche Green.
Saints Of Rebellion is ready to release their brand of fusion rock to the world. The band completed their debut release, which combines both retro and current musical styling's into a fusion of in-your-face rock and roll. For the past eight months, Saints Of Rebellion has been in various rehearsal and recording studios from Maryland to Florida writing, preparing and refining their music.

In January, Saints Of Rebellion entered The Recovery Room in Conway, AR with producer Ty Sims to record their debut album, titled New American Dream. The title track, 'New American Dream', is currently streaming for a limited time below. A future release date will be announced with a late March release expected.
New American Dream tracklisting:

'New American Dream'
'Gasoline'
'Alone'
'Garden'
'Get You Some'
'Wine, Women & Song'
'Matters'
'Rise'

'New American Dream':

Free Electronic Press Kits from ReverbNation.com

Currently in Nashville, TN working on material for the next BLACK STAR RIDERS album, Ricky Warwick and Damon Johnson have checked in with the following video update:
When it comes to the team behind the soundboard, Black Star Riders decided to change things up this time around. Taking over the production reins will be DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott. Adding to the dream team will be long time Leppard sound guru Ronan McHugh.

Vocalist Ricky Warwick chimes in on the reason Joe was tapped for this album: “Joe Elliott's passion, enthusiasm for music, as a fan, artist and friend is unquestionable and Ronan McHugh is a phenomenal engineer. Personally having worked with these guys before, it was a no brainer when they said they would like to produce the new BSR album. We are confident that this will be a huge leap forward in the evolution of BSR.”

Joe Elliott adds, “Having worked with Scott on the THIN LIZZY remixes a few years ago and having produced Ricky’s first two solo albums, I’m looking forward to taking our musical journey together even further. We’re aiming to make a serious leap forward with the next album and I’m proud to be able to contribute to the next chapter in the BSR story.”

Guitarist Damon Johnson adds “We are all excited about working with Joe, he is like part of the family. And recording this album in Ireland is a special treat for us.”

Black Star Riders is set to enter the studio in Dublin, Ireland in October to start recording their follow-up release. The new, as yet untitled, album will be released in the spring of 2015 through Nuclear Blast.

Arizona-based extreme trash act HEMOPTYSIS have released the new single, 'Traitor', via their official bandcamp page, here. The track is streaming below.
The song was originally released on the band's debut EP, Who Needs A Shepherd?, in 2008, but the band re-recorded it at Validus Recording Studios in North Hollywood, CA. It was produced, engineered, and mixed by Ryan Greene.

Hemoptysis comments: “We cannot wait to release the new songs we have written. We are currently waiting for studio time to record a 5-song EP of all new material. We will keep you posted and let you know as soon as we start recording. In the meantime, we hope you all enjoy this new version of the song 'Traitor'! Thank you so much for your continuous support! Horns up!”

Traitor by Hemoptysis

California death horde GRAVEHILL and Dark Descent Records have announced April 1st as the release date for the band's third full-length, Death Curse, on CD and digital formats with vinyl treatment coming soon.

Death Curse features over 35 minutes of powerful death metal in the old-school vein and includes guest appearances from some of the biggest legends of death metal. Chris Reifert and Eric Cutler of AUTOPSY and Kam Lee (MASSACRE, DEATH and BONE GNAWER) all made contributions to what threatens to be one of 2014's most skin-grating albums. Death Curse features artwork by Christopher Moyen (INCANTATION, BLASPHEMY).

Vocalist Mike Abominator had this to say about Death Curse, "We have some filthy fucking death metal terror here with Death Curse. These are the things of nightmares, the stench that makes you puke. This is what this album will make you do when you hear it. We are going with the raw, putrid and dismal live sound this time, to try and capture the feel of one of our live show performances, of which we feel hasn't been represented with our releases so far. Expect the same rotten and old school death metal from us. Fuck triggers! Fuck trends! Fuck technical bullshit! Fuck progress! And fuck you!"
Death Curse:

‘Gates Of Hell’
‘Death Curse’
‘At Hell’s Command’
‘Open Their Throats’
‘Fear The Reaper’
‘Unending Lust For Evil’
‘Black Blood Rising’
‘Crucified’
‘The Ascending Fire’
For more info visit Gravehill666.com.

February 14th has been set as the release of Conviction Of Voidness, the debut full-length studio album of the Spanish black metal act PERENNIAL ISOLATION, through Darkwoods.

A press release describes the album: “Conviction Of Voidness will feature eight tracks of the most incredible emotive pagan black metal that you actually can listen to, eight tracks full of magic and melancholy, of emotions on the edge, of immense and desolate landscapes to enjoy the power of Mother Nature... organic black metal, absolutely free of additives, just pure black metal with heathen soul to get lost alone in the gloomiest mountains in those cold rainy winter days.”
Conviction Of Voidness tracklisting:

‘Waterfalls From Nothing’
‘Majestic Void’
‘My Last Journey To Nowhere’
‘The Wheel Of Desolated Madness’
‘Lost In The Mist’
‘Narayama’
‘The Wind Comes From Aokigahara’
‘Prelude To Voidness’

Recorded at Aggressive Studios in Barcelona, which ensure a top-notch sound, Conviction Of Voidness also comes with an outstanding artwork done once more by el dios perezoso for PuertaOskura, transforming into images the nostalgia and melancholy that emanate from Perennial Isolation's songs.
An official trailer has been released, which runs more than four minutes featuring a selection of each song:

Shadow Kingdom Records has announced a special double-CD reissue of PALE DIVINE’s 2007 release, Cemetery Earth, on February 18th. The fully remastered Cemetery Earth album is contained on Disc One, while Disc Two contains Demo 2006, as well as live and rehearsal material.

Shadow Kingdom owner Tim McGrogran had this to say about the reissue: “The third Pale Divine album is probably right where the band envisioned their sound to be when they first started their career. They are the masters at blending 70s psychedelic blues jamming with sinister dark heavy traditional doom metal. There are not too many bands that are able to do what they can do which makes them the big fish in a small pond if you’re into psych/doom. The guitar leads sweep you away, but also gently bring you back to the heart of the song. The addition of John Gaffney (songwriter for SINISTER REALM) on bass added different dimension to this album that helped them grow as a band.”
Tracklisting:

CD1
'The Eyes of Destiny'
'Fire and Ice'
'Broken Wings'
'(I Alone) The Traveller'
'Cemetery Earth'
'Empyream Dream'
'The Seventh Circle'
'Soul Searching'
'Shadows of Death'
'The Conqueror Worm'

CD2

Demo 2006
'Eyes of Destiny'
'Broken Wings'
'Cemetery Earth'
'(I Alone) The Traveller'
'Fire and Ice'

Live from Howlers Coyote Café; Pittsburgh, PA 6-21-2011
'(I Alone) The Traveller'
'Soul Searching'
'I’ve Been Around Too Long' (MARMALADE cover)

Calgary, AB’s EVERY HOUR KILLS is a new modern melodic metal band featuring ex-DIVINITY guitarist Sacha Laskow, bassist Brent Stutsky (BREACH OF TRUST), drummer Rob Shawcross (ex-OUT OF YOUR MOUTH) along with vocalist Jerrod Maxwell-Lyster (WALK AS CHAOS, Out of Your Mouth, AUTOBODY).
Over the last two years, the band has been busy in the lab working on recording new songs to be unleashed to the masses. Last year saw their first single 'Deliver Us' exposed to the world and set the path for their next knock out force 'Chosen' produced by Joey Sturgis (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, EMMURE, OF MICE & MEN, WE CAN AS ROMANS).
"It was an awesome experience working with an outside producer this time, especially one as talented as Joey. Usually we've done everything ourselves, so it was really interesting getting an outside perspective from someone we respect. We are all beyond stoked with the results; Joey definitely added some of his magic to our vision and took the song up to a higher level. Lyrically the song is basically about rising up in the face of adversity, struggling to make our goals and dreams a reality amidst the chaos of the world and other people trying to drag us down. We are all 'Chosen' for something; to take our own path and create our own lives," comments guitarist Sacha Laskow.
For more info visit EveryHourKills.com.

Mediaskare Records has announced the addition of California’s REFORMERS to its roster of artists. The band’s first Mediaskare release will be their debut full-length album, Abolish, which is set to hit stores and digital retailers on April 29th.
Abolish was self-recorded with additional vocal production from the famed Jeremy Reeves of production group The Stereotypes and mixed by Kyle Black (COMEBACK KID). The album also features guest appearances from members of WINDS OF PLAGUE, IMPENDING DOOM, and THE GREAT COMMISSION.

When asked why they chose to title the album Abolish, the band responded, “We see injustice happen every day, some of us being trapped in a chokehold by it, others being the cause of it. It seems as if our culture has taught us to accept these things as the social/political/spiritual norm, leaving little room for one to questions whether or not things could be different, whether or not they could be free... or whether or not they could change the world. We chose the title Abolish as a battle cry. To abolish is to completely do away with something, to end it completely.”
Abolish tracklisting:

'Reform'
'Reckless American' (feat. Johnny Plague of Winds of Plague)
'Hooked'
'Abomination'
'Commercialized Genocide'
'Greed Machine'
'Eliminate The Sickness'
'Belligerence'
'PNP' (feat. Justin Singh of The Great Commission)
'Lipserver'
'Turn It Around'
'Last One Standing' (feat. Brooke Reeves of Impending Doom)

'Belligerence' lyric video:
“This album is our response to the injustice that we see around us. Instead of believing what we are taught from our culture, ("Thing's will never change", "This is just how the world goes round"), we wanted to question to status quo, approach the giant, and see if it were really as immovable as we were told. The album deals with many different injustices, each of them being things that we would like to see come to a complete end. We are all born to change this world that we live in, will we have the strength, courage and fortitude to abolish that which causes injustice?”

German doom metallers MIRROR OF DECEPTION have decided to part ways with their bassist and drummer in order to fully concentrate on the band again. The two remaining founding members, Jochen and Siffi, are currently searching for replacements to start writing songs for a yet-untitled new album.
A band statement reads: "After a two year hiatus we have come together to discuss the future of our band. Andi (bass) and Josef (drums, vocals) have decided to leave Mirror Of Deception.

We have always seen ourselves as a band which rehearses on a regular basis. Due to job and family obligations it will be no longer possible to meet our own demands with this lineup. They both will continue to be active with MOUNTAIN THRONE and in Josef's case also HOLISTIC HOBOS.

We are proud of all the music we have created together, everything we have experienced and achieved in these 10 years together and we are parting as friends. Siffi (vocals, guitar) and Jochen (guitar) will now search for a new bass player and drummer, work on new songs, return to the stage later this year and continue what we have started back in 1990.”

To coincide with the launch of Piledriver beer, legendary UK rockers STATUS QUO are releasing the Deluxe Edition of their legendary 1972 album of the same name, Piledriver, on March 24th via Universal Music.
Piledriver tracklisting:

Disc 1

'Don't Waste My Time'
'Oh Baby'
'A Year'
'Unspoken Words'
'Big Fat Mama'
'Paper Plane'
'All the Reasons'
'Roadhouse Blues'

Disc 2

'Don't Waste My Time (BBC Sounds Of The Seventies, London/1972)
'Oh Baby (BBC Sounds Of The Seventies, London/1972)
'Unspoken Words (BBC Sounds Of The Seventies, London/1972)
'Paper Plane (BBC Sounds Of The Seventies, London/1972)
'Softer Ride (BBC Sounds Of The Seventies, London/1972)
'Paper Plane (John Peel BBC Session, London/ 1973)
'Don't Waste My Time (John Peel BBC Session, London/1973)
'Junior's Wailing (BBC In Concert/ Paris Theatre, London/1973)
'Someone's Learning (BBC In Concert/ Paris Theatre, London/1973)
'In My Chair (BBC In Concert/ Paris Theatre, London/1973)
'Railroad (BBC In Concert/ Paris Theatre, London/1973)
'Don't Waste My Time (BBC In Concert/ Paris Theatre, London/1973)
'Paper Plane (BBC In Concert/ Paris Theatre, London/1973)
'Roadhouse Blues (BBC In Concert/ Paris Theatre, London/1973)
'Bye Bye Johnny (BBC In Concert/ Paris Theatre, London/1973)

The double album features extensive liner notes by rock writer Dave Ling and a host of rare artist photos provided by Bob Young.

For more details and audio samples visit this location.

German death machine LAY DOWN ROTTEN has debuted the video for 'The Fever', featured on their new album, Deathspell Catharsis, out in Europe via Apostasy Records, and available tomorrow (February 11th) in North America.
The follow up to 2012's Mask Of Malice, Deathspell Catharsis sees the death metal veterans firing on all cylinders. Get a taste for yourself now with the debut of the title track:
For nearly 15 years, Lay Down Rotten has stood for energetic top-notch death metal. Their haunting live-shows at festivals like With Full Force, Rock Harz, Extremefest, Death Feast and Summer Breeze, and shows alongside the likes of CANNIBAL CORPSE, BOLT THROWER and ABORTED have always grabbed the audience by the balls.
Albums like Breeding Insanity (Remission Records), Gospel Of The Wretched (Metal Blade Records) and last year's Mask Of Malice (Metal Blade Records) have been well-received within the whole scene and the press. Now, it is time for the first sign of life from the band via their new label-home Apostasy Records.
In May, Lay Down Rotten will hit the road as direct support for MASSACRE during the German leg of their upcoming tour. Confirmed dates are as follows:

May
6 - Oberhausen, Germany - Resonanzwerk
7 - Aalen, Germany - Rock It
8 - Hamburg, Germany - Bambi Galore
9 - Dresden, Germany - Scheune
10 - Siegen, Germany - Vortex

Toronto-based epic metallers PRIMALFROST are streaming two more tracks from their debut full-length album, Prosperous Visions, released on February 10th via Maple Metal Records. The album will have a worldwide release on March 3rd. The album cover art is by renowned metal artist Jan Yrlund of Darkgrove Design. (KORPIKLAANI, TÝR)

Prosperous Visions tracklist:
'Visio Prosperum'
'Distant Cries Of War'
'An End To Tyranny'
'Path Of The Sky'
'Beyond The Shores And Lands'
'Tale Of The Hero'
'Catharic Quest (An End to Tyranny Part II)'
'Awakening Of the Boreal Sun'
'Silencing The Empire'
'Unforgotten Valor'

'Beyond The Shores And Lands':
'Silencing The Empire':
'An End to Tyranny':
'Distant Cries of War':
Also two live clips of Primalfrost, from their recent Toronto show can be viewed below. The band will be promoting their new album on Tours of Ontario and Quebec this Spring; details of which are to be announced.
Primalfrost live lineup is as follows:

Dean Paul Arnold - vocals, guitars
Douglas Gonzalves - guitars
Larry Varvarici - bass
Matt Ianuzzi - drums

THE WAY OF PURITY collective is ready to enter Mathlab Recording Studio to begin recording their third album, The Majesty Of Your Becoming, with producer Jonathan Mazzeo.
The Majesty Of Your Becoming tracklisting:

‘The Clouds Behind Your Eyes’
‘Disfigured By Karma’
‘The Majesty Of Your Becoming’
‘From The Nest To The Grave’
‘Dare To Be Yourself’
‘Sarin’
‘Jakob’
‘The Roots Of Evil’
‘Noah’
‘Eleven’
‘Escape The Nest’ (EDITORS cover)
‘Tide’ (LLID cover)

Straight after the album's tracking the band will start mixing the songs with Canadian sound-monster Christian Donaldson.

Without Name recently stated: "We are still working on the songs and we will continue working 'till the last moment available. The songwriting process for this record has been like never-ending and our nerves are on the edge at this point but we wouldn't give up. We are actually ready to give our best and deliver the insanely epic release that TWOP collective has been dreaming. Expect something absolutely shocking that will take TWOP to the next level."
In a further press release TWOP will announce the new line up through new visuals, reveal the album cover and will possibly unleash some studio diary footages / pictures.

For more info visit Facebook.

Bulgarian old school gothic metallers ANGERCURE have released their second album, Through Soreful Harmony Demanded. Unlike their debut Arguing In Dichromatic Days, which was mastered by Jens Bogren, this time the band decided to work with local engineers and the new effort was mixed and mastered by Deso Velchev (OSTAVA, EUFOBIA, ALLEY SIN, FYELD).

Angercure describe their music as “putting an emphasize on haunting guitar melodies, blues feel and harsh male vocals, thus staying true to the original 70's-80's punk idea of JOY DIVISION and THE CULT. More like PARADISE LOST and TYPE O’ NEGATIVE than the modern world of operatic divas and polished sound."

Through Soreful Harmony Demanded tracklisting:

'I Come to Dust
'Gravedigger Girl
'Dead Light Dial
'Amative
'Bonds of Stupidity
'A Stephen Allan Lovecraft
'Seven Years of Breeding Bad
'Let Me Perish Lazily
'Heart Lycanthropy
'Sympathy for the Loveless Beloved

'Amative' video:

Angercure is:

Vocals: Atanas Kostadinov
Lead guitar: Victor Mihaylov
Rhythm guitar: Hristo Hristov
Bass: Zhivko "Fozzy" Lazarov
Drums: Hristo Petrov
The entire album is available for digital distribution via iTunes and the band's Music Store at Facebook.

Symphonic metallers DELAIN will release their new album, The Human Contradiction, on the following dates:

Germany/Austria/Switzerland - April 4th
UK, Rest of Europe - April 7th
North America - April 8th

They have checked in with the following update:

"And yet another guest performance for our upcoming record "The Human Contradiction". We're proud to announce the return of: George Oosthoek (ex-ORPHANAGE).
The collaboration between Delain and George goes way back! He already performed with us on our debut, Lucidity, and has often joined us at live gigs over the years. His brutal grunts don't find their equal easily, and since our upcoming record The Human Contradiction in many ways re?ects back on our earlier work that featured his grunts, we are very excited about this reunion!"

Delain recently announced THE AGONIST vocalist Alissa White-Gluz as a guest vocalist for the new album. An update from the band reads: “We are really excited about Alissa’s addition to our new record! Alissa needs no introduction: we love her great, versatile and powerful vocal style and after spending time on the road with Alissa on our tour with KAMELOT last fall, we simply needed her awesomeness Both Alissa’s clean vocals and signature screams are featured on the record’s finale ‘The Tragedy Of The Commons’. We can’t wait to share the song with you!”



Alissa states: "After a couple days of touring with Delain, I HAD to go buy a cd or two. This band blew me away with their intelligent songs, energetic yet extremely precise live show and overall charisma. Sure enough, after buying an album at their merch table and listening to it on repeat while working out, my suspicions were confirmed: DELAIN IS AN AWESOME BAND! I'm very flattered and honored to participate in their upcoming album. I see Delain going very far, I wish them nothing but success and I'm glad to contribute my share!”

Delain also recently announced NIGHTWISH vocalist Marco Hietala as guest vocalist. The band said: “"We are very excited about the much anticipated return of vocal force Marco Hietala on our upcoming record. After our collaboration with Marco on our first two albums we can’t help but hearing his voice in some of the songs we write! We love his contributions on The Human Contradiction: Marco adds greatly to the power of 'Your Body Is A Battleground' as well as to the melancholia of 'Sing To Me'."
Marco states: “I've done quite a few visitations on select albums during my career. Delain and their albums are among the most frequent. If you listen to their stuff, you´ll know why. Martijn and his group seem to have plenty to say both musically and lyrically. Keep it up mates!”
The Human Contradiction tracklisting:

'Here Come The Vultures'
'Your Body Is A Battleground'
'Stardust'
'My Masquerade'
'Tell Me, Mechanist'
'Sing To Me'
'Army Of Dolls'
'Lullaby'
'The Tragedy Of The Commons'

Danish hard rockers MALRUN have signed a deal with Swedish record label ViciSolum Productions, and will release their third album on August 29th.
For the past couple of months, Malrun has been in close dialogue with several European record labels and ended up signing with ViciSolum Productions, which offered the exact right mix of dedication, commitment and ambition in process of launching Malrun to the next level.

Since the release of The Empty Frame in 2012, Malrun has continuously built up a growing fan base and is now returning with an even more melodic, aggressive, groovy, and powerful album. Malrun toured a lot in Europe in 2012 and 2013 with bands such as Tremonti, Emil Bulls etc., and the intensive experiences with the European live audience has this time been incorporated directly in the creative writing process for the new album in order to make the music even more accessible/effectful.

The band has once again teamed up with the experienced producer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE) who has produced, mixed, and mastered the album. This time around, the collaboration band and producer pressed each other out of former comfort zones in order to forge an even more forceful and heavy sound to support the more aggressive, yet melodic musical ventures of the new album.

Fans of Malrun will not have to wait long for new music though. The first single, 'Justine', will be released on March 14th, and a music video for the second single, 'Cycle Of Abuse', is scheduled for release in June.

Malrun expect to support the new album with summer festivals as well as tours throughout fall 2014 and spring 2015, so stay tuned for updates.

German art/prog rock band RPWL will release their new album, Wanted, in North America on April 1st via Gentle Art of Music/E1. A teaser trailer can now be seen below:
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'

Swedish melodic progressive band Constancia is currently in the process of recording the follow-up to the debut Lost And Gone, which was released on Frontiers Records in 2009. Since bass-player Michael Mueller is busy with Jaded Heart and other projects he has decided to leave the band. Constancia has announced they have now found a replacement, this time a Swedish bassist in Linus Abrahamson. Linus is/has also been found in bands like SOLAR DAWN, MISTER KITE, EDGE OF A CIRCLE, NONEXIST and progsters ANDROMEDA. The band still features singer David Fremberg (Andromeda, TRUTH), guitarist Janne Stark (OVERDRIVE, GRAND DESIGN, LOCOMOTIVE BREATH), keyboard player Mikael Rosengren (SCUDIERO, TOKEN) and drummer TrumPeter Svensson (FAITH, MERCY, Locomotive Breath). The band¹s new album is set to be finished before summer and hopefully released in the fall. No label is as yet set.
“Having a Swedish, and even a local, bass-player now makes it a lot easier for us to rehearse and play shows, which we intend to do once the album is out,” the band says. The new album, which will feature Linus bass-playing, is as yet untitled, but some song titles are: ‘Greyhound Therapy’, ‘Spectres’, ‘Lucidia’, ‘Lies Within Lies’, ‘Wake Up Dreaming’, ‘Final Curtain’ and ‘Don¹t Tread On My Heart’.

For more info visit Facebook.

Persian progressive death metal warriors AZOOMA have inked a deal with Stargazer Consultancy.
The band comment: "We are excited to announce that we have recently signed a contract with Stargazer Consultancy, which is powered by the first Iranian metal music journalist and publicist Mohsen Fayyazi. We started to find our way in the metal world about 10 years ago, it was not easy as perhaps many of you know, we faced several difficulties, but now we took another step forward into the metal music industry. Ahmad, Saeed, Shahin and Farid's best wishes to you all, especially to all Persian metalheads."

Azooma recently finished recording their first conceptual EP, which includes stories about human misery, time travelling and awakening. The band was influenced by legendary bands such as DEATH, OPETH, GOROD when writing this album, but it still will be a very new experience for true metal fans to hear this Persian style death metal. Also the band played as co-headliner act at the Persian Metal Fest 2013 and shared a stage with great metallers such as Gorod.

Azooma recently paid tribute to the legendary MORBID ANGEL by covering their 'Dawn Of Angry' song. The video can be seen below

"One Life", the new video from U.K. glam metal legends TIGERTAILZ, can be seen below. The song is taken from TIGERTAILZ's new EP, "Knives", which was released on October 15, 2013 via Scarlet Records. The CD was recorded at Red Rock Studios in South Wales.

Featuring footage of the band on the road during their extensive U.K. "Knives" tour last November, the "One Life" video sends out a strong anti-war message, and pays poignant homage to the men and women who serve their countries, as well as the thousands of civilians who have been lost to war. With 2014 also marking the centenary of the outbreak of World War One and the 70th anniversary of D-Day, that message seems both relevant to today and steeped in history.

Guitarist Jay Pepper had this to say about "One Life": "'One Life' is dedicated to the allied servicemen and women currently fighting overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq — and also the thousands of civilian lives that have been lost in the recent wars within the region. But it's also a reminder of the tragic loss of life in any war. Syria being the latest debacle.

"It seems we just never learn...

"Most of us can only imagine what it feels like to endure death and destruction on a daily basis. But hopefully the lyrics in some way capture what goes through someone's mind when their caught up in these devastating situations.

"If the song brings some small comfort to one person, then it was worth writing..."

Writing is well underway for "Daggers", with plans to start recording in March. This will be the second EP release from TIGERTAILZ's current incarnation, and is tentatively due this summer.

"Knives" track listing:

01. The Shoe Collector 02. One Life 03. Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds You 04. Spit It Out 05. Punched In The Gutz

Drummer Matt Blakout last year rejoined the 'TAILZ lineup after a three-year absence and teamed up with Jules Millis (vocals), Rob Wylde (bass) and Jay Pepper (guitar).

Fan-filmed video footage of WITHIN TEMPTATION's February 6 acoustic performance in Amsterdam, The Netherlands can be seen below.

WITHIN TEMPTATION's new album, "Hydra", sold around 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 16 on The Billboard 200 chart.

WITHIN TEMPTATION's previous CD, "Unforgiving", opened with 12,000 units back in March 2011 to land at No. 50.

"Hydra" first-week chart positions:

#1: Netherlands, Czech Republic#2: Finland, Switzerland#4: Germany, Poland#5: Austria#6: United Kingdom#9: France#11: Portugal#12: Sweden#16: USA#17: Norway#22: Japan#25: Canada#26: Australia#28: Spain

"Hydra" was released in North America on February 4 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, the new U.S. partnership between Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger and former Roadrunner Records A&R chief Monte Conner. The album was made available in several luxury formats. The cover artwork was created by Romano Molenaar ("X-Men", "Batman", "The Unforgiving").

The digital premium album, complete with digi-booklet, was made available on iTunes and includes 18 audio tracks and a music video. The digital premium album features bonus "Evolution Versions" of four new songs, which contain audio commentary from guitarist Robert Westerholt and singer Sharon Den Adel and give you unique access to the development of the songs, their lyrical inspiration and the sound of the initial demos and vocals.

In a recent interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com, WITHIN TEMPTATION vocalist Sharon Den Adel stated about the songwriting process for "Hydra"": "A lot of bands were inspired by the '80s at the time we were writing 'The Unforgiving' album. There was a lot of music based on the '80s coming out and it had a lot of '80s flavors. With this new album, even though we're only a few years further up the road, you can feel that music has changed again. Music is not inspired on the '80s, but more like there are different influences in the music again. Music's always organic, and you feel things are changing comfortably."

She added: "When people asked us after 'The Unforgiving', 'Are you gonna make another 'Unforgiving' album?" we said, 'Of course.' Because we were really full of it in a positive way. We really like the album a lot and still do like it a lot but we really feel there's an '80s feel to the songs. When we started writing this album, again we felt like we were already knowing we were gonna go a different direction also."

Update: Australian touring mogul and Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah has posted a message on Twitter saying that he is "trying to find NEWSTED and figure out what is going on.' He added: "The band's equipment just arrived in Brisbane so not sure what's up." He also wrote: "I can't get hold of any of [Jason's] people. [I am] hoping that is because he is on the plane [on his way to Australia]!"

NEWSTED — the new band featuring former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist Jason Newsted and STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok — has posted a message on Facebook earlier today indicating that it will no longer be coming to Australia for the Soundwave festival, which begins in just a few days' time.

The very short and simple message, which has since been deleted, read as follows: "The NEWSTED Band will not be appearing or performing live in February or March 2014."

NEWSTED's cancelation follows MEGADETH's withdrawal from Soundwave earlier this month after a disagreement between MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and the Soundwave promoters over NEWSTED's appearance on MEGADETH's "off" dates during Soundwave.

NEWSTED's debut album, "Heavy Metal Music", sold nearly 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was made available on August 6, 2013 in North America via Chophouse Records/Collective Sounds and August 5, 2013 in Europe through Spinefarm Records.

NEWSTED took part in last year's edition of Gigantour, the critically acclaimed package festival founded in 2005 by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. Also appearing on the bill were headliners MEGADETH, along with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DEVICE, HELLYEAH and DEATH DIVISION.

Portuguese legendary death/grind outfit HOLOCAUSTO CANIBAL has revealed the cover artwork for its upcoming opus, "Larvas", to be released via Bizarre Leprous Production.

Conceived by guitarist Eduardo F., the cover portrays a bloody eye being open by surgical tools while a worm silently slithers into the iris. According to Eduardo, "The whole ideia of this release is to mark the transition between our previous album 'Gorefilia' and the new songs we're already working on.

"'Larvas' is Portuguese for 'larvae,' and somehow we wanted to pass the image of a rotten body infested by worms (which represent 'Gorefilia'), while one of those worms silently crawls into a brand new body (the new songs). This worm is this new opus: rotten, ugly, slimy and fat — which actually are some of the words we can use to describe these songs!"

"Larvas" was recorded at 213 Studios in Portugal by producer Bruno Silva (HEAVENWOOD, GRUNT) and was mixed and mastered at Hertz Studio (BEHEMOTH, VADER, DECAPITATED, KRONOS, ABORTED, LOST SOUL) in Bialystok, Poland, by Slawek and Wojtek Wieslawsky. The band previously described "Larvas", which contains four new songs, as a continuation of "Gorefilia"'s approach to paraphillias, involving sexual arousal and gratification towards sexual behavior that is atypical and extreme, while the music evolved into something faster and brutal, but maintaining the grooviest side of the band presented in the previous opus. Commenting on the recent deal signed with Bizarre Leprous Production, HOLOCAUSTO CANIBAL bassist Z. Pedro stated: “It's with huge pride and accomplishment that I can say that HOLOCAUSTO CANIBAL joined the Bizarre Leprous Production family. We've been fans of the label and its releases and we know Roman for a long time and can honestly say that this was undoubtedly the best choice for this release due to their hard work and their own cult mark on the scene!"

Added HOLOCAUSTO CANIBAL drummer Diogo P.: “Personally, I'm very stoked for being working with Roman and the rest of the Bizarre Leprous Production crew. We've known each other for a long time and we know his work and ultra intense distribution around the globe, so I'm very sure that 2014 will be a good year for us! Also, it is amazing to join the ranks of such cult acts as INGROWING, PIGSTY, JIG-AI, AHUMADO GRANUJO, BLOOD, and HAEMORRHAGE."

Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame members LILLIAN AXE will be releasing their thirteenth album, the acoustic live, One Night In The Temple, produced by Steve Blaze, on April 15th via CME Records/Sony Music (RED) in North America, and via Melodic Rock Records/Cargo Distribution for the world.
Performed acoustically in an intimate setting housed in a Masonic Temple in the Bayou, with their most diehard fans, One Night In The Temple, features all their hits including 'True Believer', 'Show A Little Love', 'Crucified', 'Misery Loves Company', 'Ghost Of Winter', 'The Great Divide', 'Bow Your Head', 'Waters Rising' and the crowd favorite 'Nobody Knows'.

Lillian Axe founder Steve Blaze reflects: "When I first had the idea of putting this show together, it was originally going to be a private 20 person show with acoustic guitars, vocals and no production, however, it took on a life of its own."

One Night In The Temple will be released as 3-disc set (2CDs/1DVD and 2CDs/1Blu-Ray), housed in an elaborate digipack. Filmed in high definition, the Blu-Ray and DVD will contain the acoustic performance, fan question and answer session, videos for the songs Caged In and Death Comes Tomorrow, live concert footage from their July 4th, 2013 performance at the Paragon Casino and behind the scenes footage.
Tracklisting:

Disc 1:
'Waters Rising'
'Death Comes Tomorrow'
'Ghost of Winter'
'See You Someday'
'The Great Divide'
'Nocturnal Symphony'
'Sad Day On Planet Earth'
'Bow Your Head'
'Show A Little Love'
'Misery Loves Company'

Disc 2:
'Crucified'
'The World Stopped Turning'
'Dyin’ to Live (Shades of Blue)'
'Until The End Of The World'
'The Day I Met You'
'The Promised Land'
'Nobody Knows'
'My Apologies'
'True Believer'
'Nobody Knows' (Crowd Version)

Lillian Axe is:

Brian Jones (lead vocals)
Steve Blaze (guitar, vocals)
Sam Poitevent (guitar, vocals)
Eric Morris (bass)
Ken Koudelka (drums)

Lillian Axe will be touring to support this release this summer.

Ireland’s emerging metal scene received a steel-toecapped kick in the behind last year with the arrival of Celbridge, County Kildare three-piece DEAD LABEL, whose ferocious blend of old-school influences and modern metal precision sees them take up the challenge set by their countrymen GAMA BOMB and English headbangers EVILE.

Now, Dead Label announces the release of their brand new single, ‘It Burns Within’. The track appears on the band’s currently untitled full-length release, coming soon. You can purchase ‘It Burns Within’ on iTunes, and stream the track below. ‘It Burns Within’ is mixed by Brian Virtue (ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL, NONPOINT).
Dead Label supported metal heavyweights MACHINE HEAD in their home country last year. Check out a fan-filmed live performance from Dublin below: