Britain's MARTYR DEFILED will release their sophomore album, No Home No Morality, on April 29th via Siege Of Amida Records/Century Media.
Mixed and mastered by Andreas Magnusson (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DESPISED ICON), No Hope No Morality’s tracklisting is as follows:

'LVCIFER
'Demons In The Mist
'Sineater
'616
'No Hope
'Neverender
'Under The Influence
'The Taste Of Iron
'Of Sheep & Swine
'Deathstare
'No Morality
'Infidels' (bonus track)
'Redneck (LAMB OF GOD cover, bonus track)

'Infidels' video:

Channeling a more groove laden template to their sound, Lincoln’s heaviest have produced a sonic recreation of a beautiful nightmare - city leveling riffs meet bone crushing breakdowns, embodied through powerful songs that are sure to devastate in the live arena.
Martyr Defiled recently announced a UK headline run for February, supported by BLACK TONGUE and HERITAGE.
Tour dates:

February
13 - Lincoln, UK - The Scene
14 - Manchester, UK - Sound Control
15 - Newcastle, UK - Think Tank
16 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
17 - Edinburgh, UK - Opium
18 - Dundee, UK - Non Zero's
19 - Leeds, UK - The Packhorse
20 - Cardiff, UK - Clwb Ifor Bach
21 - Preston, UK - 53 Degrees
22 - Bridlington, UK - Basement
23 - London, UK - Boston Music Rooms
24 - Derby, UK - The Hairy Dog

Italian cult metal stronghold Iron Tyrant has announced two release dates for FUOCO FATUO's debut album, The Viper Slithers In The Ashes of What Remains: February 17th for the CD version, and March 31st for the gatefold vinyl version.
The CD tracklist is as follows:

'Ancestral Devouring Anxiety' (12:06)
'Junipers of Black Iridescence' (9:38)
'Inner Isolation in a Sea of Mist' (6:25)
'Eternal Transcendence into Nothingness' (11:56)
'Requiem for Nulun' (12:22)

The vinyl LP tracklist:

Side A
'Ancestral Devouring Anxiety'
'Junipers of Black Iridescence'

Side B (released on vinyl on a separate 7" enclosed in the package)
'Inner Isolation in a Sea of Mist'

Side C
'Eternal Transcendence into Nothingness'
'Requiem for Nulun'

For more information go to the band's official Facebbook page here.

Japan's BLOOD STAIN CHILD have released a new single, 'Last Stardust', worldwide via Amazon. The track is used as the opening and ending theme for PC game Slavenil The War-Maiden (Mirai Senki Sureibuniru). It is available via the widget at the bottom of the page
The tracklist is as follows:

'Last Stardust'
'Over The Galaxy'
'Stargazer X'

The track was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (PRETTY MAIDS).
Back in July 2012, Blood Stain Child parted ways with Greek female vocalist Sophia after only one album. The band checked in with the following update back in December 2012 introducing their new singer:

"With careful and thorough screening, Kiki has been selected to be the lead singer of Blood Stain Child. She has been performing as a singer/songwriter and actively involved with studio works and live scenes in various fields. What makes her so unique and talented is to be able to handle both clean voice and scream voice. Some demos will be out soon hopefully soon for you to check out. We already can see your face going 'damn!'"
Fan-filmed live video from the recent Geki-Rock Tour in Japan featuring Kiki fronting the band is available below:

Today, January 28th, SHINEDOWN vocalist Brent Smith and guitarist Zach Myers - known as SMITH & MYERS - released a digital EP titled Acoustic Sessions, featuring six unplugged cover songs:

THE CLASH - 'London Calling'
OTIS REDDING - 'Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay'
METALLICA - 'Nothing Else Matters'
THE BLACK CROWES - 'She Talks To Angels'
SOUL ASYLUM - 'Runaway Train'
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD - 'Blue On Black'
Each of the six songs have accompanying videos. Thus far, S&M has posted the clips for 'London Calling', 'Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay', 'Nothing Else Matters', 'Blue On Black', 'Runaway Train', and now 'She Talks To Angels'.

Swiss-Norwegian duo LETHE - formed in 2012 by Tor-Helge Skei (MANES) and Anna Murphy (ELUVEITIE) – is streaming their debut album, When Dreams Become Nightmares, on Bandcamp.
A press release says: “On this stunning first opus, Lethe creates a delicate sphere of Onirism. A deep sonic shockwave at the crossroad of metal / trip-hop / electro and dark pop!”

The fantastic artwork was realized by Norwegian artist Robert Høyem from Overhaus (MONOLITHE, SAHG, KAMPFAR).

When Dreams Become Nightmares tracklisting:

‘In Motion’
‘Haunted’
‘Come Look At The Darkness With Me’
‘Ad Librum’
‘Love Pass Filter’
‘Oblivion’
‘You’
‘Transparent’
‘No Reason’
‘When Dreams Become Nightmares’

CHAINREACTION, the melodic heavy metal band from Germany, have signed a worldwide deal with Pure Legend Records, a sub-label of Pure Steel Records.

ChainReAction play catchy and manifold metal with diverse influences. Their focus is on very catchy choruses; the expressive vocals of band leader Conny Bethke will let the listeners almost melt into the songs.
Line-up:
Conny Bethke - vocals
Scott Boelter - guitars, vocals
Christoph Quant - bass
David Flenner – drums

For more info visit Facebook.

"Pathfinder", the new video from Italian symphonic death metallers FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, can be seen below.

Regarding the video shoot, the group stated: "It will definitely stand up from the average as we are going to shoot it in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Sicilia. This region was part of Greece right in the era where the 'Labyrinth Of Knossos' myth is collocated and our philological research led us there. It will be artistically deep and metaphorically intricate, a real reflection on the sense of our lives."

"Pathfinder" is taken from FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's latest album, "Labyrinth", which was released on August 16, 2013 in Europe and August 20, 2013 in North America via Nuclear Blast. The CD was mixed and mastered by Stefano "Saul" Morabito. The cover artwork was once again created by Colin Marks, who was also responsible for several neoclassical pieces of art in the massive inlay.

Swedish melodic metal outfit DEAD BY APRIL will release its third studio album, "Let The World Know", on February 12 in Sweden via Universal.

Audio samples of five songs from the CD can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

DEAD BY APRIL's new CD is the follow-up to 2011's "Incomparable" and is the first to feature brand new vocalist Christoffer Andersson (SONIC SYNDICATE, BY NIGHT) following Jimmie Strimell's departure last year.

01. Beautiful Nightmare02. Abnormal03. Empathy04. Done With Broken Hearts05. As A Buttlerfly06. Same Star07. Let The World Know08. Peace Of Mind09. Freeze Frame10. Infinity x Infinity11. My Tomorrow12. Hold On13. Replace You

The band's latest single, "As A Butterfly", can be streamed below.

DEAD BY APRIL issued a statement in March 2013 blaming the split with Strimell on "Jimmie's personal problems." The band added: "His problems has affected the band for many years and we have basically tried everything we could to make this work. We have even gone through group therapy lately to get honesty and sincerity into the group. As nothing changed, we had to realize that if we want to move forward with this band, there's, unfortunately, no other way but to continue without Jimmie. We're sick of not knowing whether he'll turn up for shows, recordings and sick of having such bad environment within the band — at all times. It came to a point where we could not be in the same vehicle. We also want to strongly declare that DEAD BY APRIL is against drugs — an important statement for us to make in a time were we know a lot of our fans are young."

A photo of the new DEAD BY APRIL lineup can be seen above.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have released the following statement:

"We regret that, due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, our forthcoming tour dates in Australia, the Middle East and Hawaii have had to be cancelled.

"An initial statement citing 'recording delays' wasn't true — the conflict wasn't related to recording new STP material.

"We are deeply disappointed to not be able to perform these shows, and look forward to making them up in the future."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have kept a low profile since completing their first full tour with Chester Bennington on the mic last fall.

STP's first foray into the studio with Bennington, an EP called "High Rise", came out last October and yielded the No. 1 single "Out Of Time".

Plans to record a new full-length disc, however, were put on hold late last year so that Bennington could work on a new album with his main band, LINKIN PARK.

Bassist Robert DeLeo told The Pulse Of Radio that STP has used the time constructively when Bennington is not around. "His main concern definitely is LINKIN PARK and, you know, when he's busy with them, it offers Dean (DeLeo, guitar) and Eric (Kretz, drums) and myself some time to really get some new music together. And when he's available, that's when we work, man, and we make the best of that time."

Bennington joined STP last spring after the band fired original singer Scott Weiland.

STP and Weiland have launched lawsuits against each other, although the results of both legal actions are pending.

"Condemned To Decay", a brand new song from the San Diego death metal outfit CARNIFEX, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Die Without Hope", which will be released on March 7, (Europe) and March 4 (North America) via Nuclear Blast. The CD was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida and produced by Mark Lewis (ARSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, DEICIDE, SIX FEET UNDER). Cover art for the album was created by renowned artist and longtime collaborator Godmachine.

"CARNIFEX and Godmachine have been working together for many years," commented CARNIFEX vocalist Scott Lewis. "To be able to bring his art to the cover of this album is truly when all the pieces fell into place.

"The artwork here represents the tone and overall blackened feeling 'Die Without Hope' captures."

"Die Without Hope" will contain 10 tracks and over 35 minutes of crushing metal. Lewis states, "'Die Without Hope' is CARNIFEX at our very best. This is an album over two years in the making. We pushed ourselves every step of the process to include new elements never before heard on any previous CARNIFEX album."

"Die Without Hope" track listing:

01. Salvation Is Dead02. Dark Days03. Condemned To Decay 04. Die Without Hope 05. Hatred And Slaughter 06. Dragged Into The Grave 07. Rotten Souls 08. Last Words 09. Reflection Of The Forgotten 10. Where The Light Dies

On recently signing to Nuclear Blast, Lewis continues: "Signing with Nuclear Blast is a career-defining moment for CARNIFEX.

"To be aligned with the largest metal label on earth is a true honor.

"This worldwide deal signals a turning point for us as a band and individuals. Together with Nuclear Blast, you will see CARNIFEX like you have never seen us before. Prepare yourself for an album that crushes any and all expectations. An album that will stand as the definitive mark for modern metal."

CARNIFEX's Nuclear Blast Records debut will also introduce new lead guitarist and longtime friend of the band, Jordan Lockrey.

CARNIFEX's last studio CD, "Until I Feel Nothing", was produced by Tim Lambesis (AS I LAY DYING) and was released in October 2011.

CARNIFEX is:

Scott Lewis - VocalsShawn Cameron - DrumsJordan Lockrey - GuitarCory Arford - GuitarFred Calderon - Bass

Actor Dominic West has revealed to Daily Star that Prince Harry is a die-hard heavy metal fan whose iPod is filled with the music of bands like MEGADETH, SLAYER, METALLICA and ANTHRAX.

West, who accompanied Prince Harry on the Walking With The Wounded charity trek to the South Pole, said: "Harry has a terrible selection on his iPod. It is the sort of thing soldiers listen to. Hardcore thrash metal."

Dominic was a celebrity patron of Team Commonwealth with the Prince, one of three teams battling to the South Pole to raise cash for the charity Walking With The Wounded.

"The Looking Glass", the new video from progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest, self-titled album (available for purchase here), which sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on September 24, 2013 via Roadrunner.

Speaking to Music Radar, DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci stated about "The Looking Glass": "The song is definitely a tip of the hat to RUSH. We're such fans — they've been a huge influence on us, and we continue to admire and look up to them. One of the great things about them is how they write really uplifting songs with positive messages, but they always sound cool.

"It's really interesting. 'The Spirit Of Radio', 'Limelight' — those are big, big songs with big arena-rock riffs in a major key. Even 'Free Will' has that. The songs aren't dark, but they're tough. It's really hard to write something that can cut both ways like that, but that was my goal.

"'The Looking Glass' has a few different stylistic changes: There's the RUSH arena-rock major riff, but the verses are tricky as far as time signatures, and the style is a little darker. The pre-choruses are very pretty and flowing — they're in half-time — and the choruses open up and get really hooky. From verse to pre-chorus to chorus to riff, you've got a lot of musical styles, and that helps to keep things interesting."

DREAM THEATER's "Along For The Ride" tour will pick up on March 20 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada following the band's European tour and then continues through the end of April where it will eventually wrap up in Guadalajara, Mexico on April 26.

"Along For The Ride" tour dates:

Mar. 20 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall Mar. 21 - Montreal, QC - Bell Center Mar. 22 - Quebec City, QC - Pavillon de la JeunesseMar. 25 - Boston, MA - Opera House Mar. 27 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre Mar. 28 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom Mar. 30 - Huntington, NY - The ParamountMar. 31 - Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie TheatreApr. 01 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theater Apr. 02 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Palace Apr. 04 - Detroit, MI - Fillmore Apr. 05 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre Apr. 06 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater Apr. 08 - Minneapolis, MN - Burnsville Performing Arts Center Apr. 09 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater Apr. 10 - Denver, CO - Paramount Apr. 12 - Vancouver, BC - Queen Elizabeth Theatre Apr. 14 - Seattle, WA - McCaw HallApr. 15 - Salem, OR - Elsinore Theatre Apr. 17 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield Apr. 18 - Riverside, CA - Fox PAC Apr. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum Apr. 20 - Mesa, AZ - Ikeda Theatre

DREAM THEATER's spirit of adventure and fearless musical virtuosity continues to reap dividends for the progressive metal titans who recently earned their second Grammy nomination, this time for "Best Metal Performance" for their single "The Enemy Inside" from their current self-titled album. The band — John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), James LaBrie (vocals), Jordan Rudess (keyboards & continuum) and Mike Mangini (drums) — received its first-ever Grammy nomination in 2012 for "On The Backs Of Angels" (from their "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" album) in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category.

The official lyric video for the song "Control Freak" from the progressive-rock powerhouse BIGELF can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's fourth studio album, "Into The Maelstrom", which will be released on April 1 in North America via InsideOut Music.

"Into The Maelstrom" marks the BIGELF recording debut of drummer Mike Portnoy (TRANSATLANTIC, THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER), whose Progressive Nation At Sea cruise the band will perform on between February 18 and February 22, 2014, playing alongside such bands as TRANSATLANTIC, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, RIVERSIDE and ADRIAN BELEW POWER TRIO.

Comments BIGELF frontman and mastermind Damon Fox: "Let the ceremony commence!!! No more waiting...anticipating, the first single, 'Control Freak', is here.

"'Control Freak' is a bit different from previous BIGELF singles, it has a more aggressive approach that features mostly guitar. "Life is bizarre indeed, and sometimes the universe has other plans in store for you. Hence you realize you're not in control and all the will power in the world won't alter your predicament. Paradoxically, the ultimate form of control is actually letting go. Which led me to the chorus lyrics, 'Please God help me to let it go.'

"I think there's a control freak in each one us, some worse than others, of course."

"Into The Maelstrom" will be available on a limited 2CD digipak which includes exclusive remixes and demo versions, as well as a gatefold 2LP vinyl edition which includes the full album on CD.

"Into The Maelstrom" track listing:

01. Incredible Time Machine02. Hypersleep03. Already Gone04. Alien Frequency05. The Professor & The Madman06. Mr. Harry McQuhae07. Vertigod08. Control Freak09. High10. Edge of Oblivion11. Theater of Dreams12. ITM: I. Destination Unknown / II. Harbinger Of Death / III. Memories

Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON will embark on a spring headlining tour with support from GOJIRA and KVELERTAK. The trek kicks off April 28 in Seattle and criss-crosses the U.S. before culminating in a performance at the Rock On The Range festival on May 18. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 7.

The dates are as follows:

Apr. 29 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater May 01 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater May 02 - Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theater May 03 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues May 07 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue May 08 - Chicago, IL - The Riviera Theater May 09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE May 12 - Buffalo, NY - The Town Ballroom May 13 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club May 15 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 May 16 - Boston, MA - The Palladium May 17 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory May 18 - Columbus, OH - Rock On The Range

MASTODON is putting the finishing touches on its sixth album at a Nashville studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS).

Speaking to ARTISTdirect.com, MASTODON singer and bassist Troy Sanders was asked if the band's new material picks up where "The Hunter" left off or if the group is "on a whole new trip." "I think, to a degree, it picks up where we left off," he said.

"As always, nothing was really pre-determined and spoken of beforehand, like, 'Okay guys, we need to write a lot of long epic songs and a lot of short sweet songs. We need to have a couple of slow ones.' Nothing like that was predetermined verbally amongst the four of us. We go in there and we kind of pick up on whatever comes through Brent [Hinds] and Bill's [Kelliher] fingers and their guitars and build and build.

"I guess it's going to be more of a continuation of where we left off with 'The Hunter'. Hopefully, it's just a collection of good MASTODON rock 'n' roll songs. That's where it's headed."

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

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

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA will release their eighth studio album, "Pariah's Child", on March 28 via Nuclear Blast. The cover artwork for the CD can be seen below.

"Pariah's Child" track listing:

01. The Wolves Die Young02. Running Lights03. Take One Breath04. Cloud Factory05. Blood06. What Did You Do In The War, Dad?07. Half A Marathon Man08. X Marks The Spot09. Love10. Larger Than Life

The track "The Wolves Die Young" will be released as a single on February 7. It will be available digitally and on CD.

The third trailer for the album is available below.

Comments SONATA ARCTICA vocalist Tony Kakko: "There are some instant SONATA 'greatest-hits' songs there, which feels good.

"I think we reached the result we had in mind, each of us in our own field.

"We went on to create the next SONATA ARCTICA power metalesque album and I think we achieved it adequately.

"I have to say that I had drifted pretty far away from those 'days of thunder,' that speedy, happy-go-lucky attitude.

"I was happy to notice this style can still make me smile. It's good. Music has to do that to me. It also shows the other older songs in a totally new light for me.

"I can now understand and appreciate why the fans enjoy what we did in the early days."

Regarding the new CD title and cover artwork, Kakko said: "As always, it's pretty hard coming up with a name for the new baby. I tried to approach it from many angles; how this is our eighth album and how easy it would be to abuse that fact. All the symbolism of figure eight, eternity and so on. But that just did not feel right, as it's been done so many times. Then I started to think how we'd in ways abandoned our 'totem animal,' the wolf and all what comes with the territory.

"As the music on the album is bowing more towards the 'old' SONATA, meaning more power metal-style elements and wolves in many of the songs in one form or another, it was clear we need a wolf on the cover. An abandoned wolf. A pariah. Or pariah's child, actually. The new generation to bring the old logo back."

SONATA ARCTICA last August parted ways with bassist Marko Paasikoski and replaced him with Pasi Kauppinen (SILENT VOICES, ex-REQUIEM, WINTERBORN).

The band will launch a European headlining tour in support of "Pariah's Child" on April 10 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

SONATA ARTICA's latest album, "Stones Grow Her Name", was released in Europe on May 18, 2012 and in North America on May 22, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Stones Grow Her Name" sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 9 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.

The Bavarian thrash metal masterminds from RUNNING DEATH are currently putting all their love, sweat and tears into writing their upcoming debut album which will be released late this year.
A press release describes the band: “The band was founded 2004 and has from the beginning always been looking for quality, diversity and a completely unique style. Exploring their own ground is what keeps the musicians around founder, guitarist and singer Simon Bihlmayer awake at night. You're way more likely to hear stomping heavy metal riffs paired with unorthodox arranged razor sharp trash riffs ... than all the things you've already heard so often and really have grown weary of! Celebrating wide diversity and integrating an extraordinarily ambitioned reinterpretation of 80s flair, the four métier maniacs invite you to a journey through their wonderfully catchy and powerful songs.”

'Unleashed':
For more info visit Facebook.

The debut album from Italian progressive metallers LIES OF NAZCA, entitled Aleph, will be released on February 18th via Rogue Records America, in both Limited Edition Digipak CD and Digital Download formats. Aleph will be available via Spotify, Deezer, Rdio, Amazon, Amazon retail and Pandora, among others upon release, and is available via iTunes now for pre-order.

Aleph is a concept album telling a narrative of the journey of a man who attempts to overturn the unrelenting mechanisms of the universe. Featuring the popular previously-released track ‘Cosmogonal Grounds’, Aleph promises to be a relentless, complex onslaught.

Aleph is a death metal tour de force with extreme high energy and complex layers of sound. As progressive metal fans can attest, Aleph fits excellently alongside other releases in the Rogue Records America catalogue. The album serves as a recap of more than two years of songwriting.

Founded in early 2013, Lies Of Nazca features the finest selection of musicians collected from different projects through the years. In October of the same year, Lies Of Nazca signed a deal with rapidly-expanding metal label Rogue Records America.
Lies Of Nazca is:

Matteo Boscolo - Vocals
Elio Bizzotto - Bass
Luca Zoldan - Drums
Diego Basso - Guitar
Ivan Vidale – Guitar

Zaragoza, Spain-based metal act CORPORE has inked a deal with Art Gates Records.
Says the label: This stunning quintet consolidates its current lineup in 2006, combining their sound with own attitude and personality where speed and aggressiveness are combined in the metal way, blending seamlessly with powerful electronic bursts.

With an overwhelming staging, Corpore combines in a solid way all the visceral from the most powerful contemporary metal, combined with electronic sounds and enveloping melodic passages of high voltage.

In their discography, the fieve pieced combo contains two EPs, Corpore (2007), Cadenas Invisibles (2008) and a debut LP entitled City Of Infinity (2012). In 2013 the band joins forces with promotional agency Pegada Brutal and carries out a huge tour through Spain.

Corpore are currently involved in the recording process of their new and second album of studio, which will be released in spring 2014.

THE DEAD DAISIES, whose current lineup features: Jon Stevens (INXS), John Tempesta (THE CULT), Richard Fortus (GUNS N’ ROSES), Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY), David Lowy (RED PHOENIX), and Dizzy Reed (GNR) have released a new live video, shot in Israel. The clip features special guests Orit Shachaf and Tom Petrover joining the band in a cover of the FREE classic 'All Right Now'.
Catch The Dead Daisies live:

February
6 - The Gov - Adelaide, Australia
7 - Old Mill - Hahndorf, Australia
8 - A Day On The Green at Annie's Lane - Teringie, Australia
15 - A Day On the Green at Rochford Wines - Vic, Australia
16 - The Esplanade Hotel - Melbourne Vic, Australia
21 - Taronga Zoo - Sydney, Australia
22 - Bateau Bay Hotel - Central Coast Tas, Australia
23 - Oxford Art Factory - Sydney, Australia
25 - Country Club Casino - Launceston Tas, Australia
26 - Wrest Point Casino Showroom - Hobart Tas, Australia
28 - Mulwala Water Ski Club - Mulwala Nsw, Australia

March
1 - SS&A Club - Albury Nsw, Australia

The crude horde that be the CAULDRON BLACK RAM emerge yet once more from wat'ry tomb to besiege hapless poseurs and put to manacles weak would be picaroons. Being the third of albums to sail under the banner of CBR, the new recording is a commanding effort of sludgy crossboned black death metal and slimy, rum-sodden doomed debauchery. The brigands from the far side of the world prove well versed in the execution of this unfair trade, delivering knavish punishment unto unprepared ears in the form of Stalagmire.
Bear witness to the sordid melody at the opening of the 'Maw' and be ushered violently into cave where "luckless beggars only want for open sky." Doomed seafarers spew forth 'A Litany Of Sailors Sins' wherein their anthemic call "What dire straights we are in" foreshadows the final echo of men given to lust for plunder. And that old reprobate from earlier days of the black ram, Black Douglass again here appears in 'The Devil's Trotters'.

This scurrilous tale, Stalagmire, puts Cauldron Black Ram in league with similar ugly contemporaries who pay heed to old, distasteful gods and outlaw tradition but yet forge a singular path of their own making. Be it black, death, doom or thrash, all goes into the strange brew mixed in the Cauldron Black Ram. Horrible, horrible end for ye who enter thus.

Stalagmire will invade ports and pillage villages in North America on April 1st, and in Europe on April 4th as part of the 20 Buck Spin armada.

Stalagmire tracklisting:

'Fork Through Pitch'
'Maw'
'Discarded Death'
'A Litany Of Sailors Sins'
'Bats'
'Cavern Fever'
'From Whence The Old Skull Came'
'The Devil's Trotters'
'Speliogenesis'

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has revealed that he will focus on his SIXX: A.M. project once he is done touring with his main band.

SIXX: A.M. — which consists of Sixx alongside guitarist DJ Ashba and vocalist James Michael — is putting the finishing touches on its third album, due later in the year.

In a brand new post on his official Facebook page, Sixx writes: "Yes, SIXX: A.M. has been my SIDE project but after MÖTLEY CRÜE is finished touring, it will become my MAIN project. I will finally have the time to commit to what so many have been asking for and that is a TOUR from SIXX: A.M.

"We will be releasing our new album this year… But I have to say it's gonna be a great send-off going out on top for me and the guys in the CRÜE. I look forward to what they bring into the world too."

Sixx spoke to Revolver magazine last year about how the new SIXX: A.M. CD is different than its predecessors. "When we did [our 2007 debut] 'The Heroin Diaries', it was the soundtrack to a book," he said. "And when we did 'This Is Gonna Hurt', there was a lot of inspiration that drew from the photography in my book 'This Is Gonna Hurt' as well as the bandmembers' personal experiences and how they related not only to the characters in the book, but what they'd gone through growing up. Without meaning to, it hinted at this whole concept of bullying. If you're different than other people you're made fun of and you're made to believe you'll never achieve your dreams. Loosely, that's what 'This is Gonna Hurt' was about. We feel like between 'The Heroin Diaries' and 'This is Gonna Hurt', we've exposed a lot of wounds and we've talked about how to recover from them, but we haven't had a chance to really celebrate. I think this album is a celebration."

Asked if SIXX: A.M. took a different approach to writing the songs this time around, Sixx said: "We put a lot fewer restrictions on ourselves. We went into genres that you wouldn't expect us to possibly be influenced by, but unless you know the bandmembers, you don't know that there are all kinds of influences, especially from the '70s and some of the great bands that came out of that era. So when we started writing, it was almost ridiculous. The songs were so left of center that you're like, 'These could never be on a record.' We were creating something so different, and once we got the songs written, people said, 'God, it reminds me of QUEEN's 'Night At The Opera' at times. It reminds me of EDGAR WINTER GROUP 'Free Ride' and these amazing things off of 'They Only Come Out At Night'. There was still the drama and the texture that SIXX: A.M. brings, but there was this celebration happening. Then as we started layering in the guitars, bass, drums and vocals, you started to go, 'Wow, this is a SIXX: A.M. album!' But it started out as not."

Sixx also spoke about whether he is concerned that the musical diversions won't appeal to fans of the first two SIXX: A.M. albums.

"I think SIXX: A.M. fans are going to love this record and I think new people will come in and be really surprised by it and become fans as well," he said. "I don't think our first two records sound like the same type of record, but I do think there's a sound with the band and I think we're going to continue on that tradition."

SIXX: A.M., made a rare appearance — its first in four years — on April 11, 2012 at Revolver Golden Gods Awards at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.

As each band member has been kept busy with their other careers — Sixx is also a syndicated radio host; Ashba is a member of GUNS N' ROSES; James Michael is a famed rock producer who has worked on records for PAPA ROACH, HALESTORM and others — this marked the band's first chance to perform in support of their "This Is Gonna Hurt" album, which supplied the #1 rock anthem "Lies Of The Beautiful People".

"7", the latest EP from SIXX: A.M., came out in December 2011 and sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort contained acoustic versions of songs from the group's first two albums — 2007's "The Heroin Diaries" soundtrack and 2011's "This Is Gonna Hurt".

Released on May 3, 2011, SIXX: A.M.'s sophomore album, "This Is Gonna Hurt" is a companion piece to Sixx's "This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx" book, a follow-up to his New York Times bestseller, "The Heroin Diaries".

Candlelight Records has announced the signing of Irish hardcore punks COLDWAR. The band's new album, "Pantheist", will be released later this year.

Comments COLDWAR in a statement: "COLDWAR are proud to announce that we have signed to Candlelight Records.

"We are very excited about our future with Candlelight and are honoured to be on a label with such a varied and talented collection of artists."

The song "Heart Of Darkness", taken from the upcoming COLDWAR album "Pantheist", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

Formed in 1999 in Dublin, COLDWAR is influenced by underground hardcore punk and extreme metal. To date, the band has toured Ireland and the U.K. and has made several trips to Europe and the USA.

COLDWAR's previous four releases were made available via Underground Movement.

Fan-filmed video footage of WITHIN TEMPTATION's February 1 acoustic performance at Tros Muziekcafé in De Vorstin, Hilversum, The Netherlands can be seen below.

U.S. fans can tune in to SiriusXM's Octane channel (Ch. 37) next week to hear a WITHIN TEMPTATION special featuring an interview with Sharon and Ruud as well as a performance of several acoustic tracks exclusively for Octane.

The airtimes are:

* Tuesday Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT* Thursday Feb. 6 at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT* Saturday Feb. 8 at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a..m PT* Sunday Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT* Monday Feb. 10 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

WITHIN TEMPTATION's new album, "Hydra", will be released in North America on February 4. The album will be available in several luxury formats. The cover artwork was created by Romano Molenaar ("X-Men", "Batman", "The Unforgiving").

Pre-order "Hydra" via iTunes now, and you will instantly receive the first two singles: "Dangerous", featuring a guest appearance by former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones and "Paradise (What About Us?)" featuring ex-NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen.

The digital premium album, complete with digi-booklet, will be 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 Sharon and give you unique access to the development of the songs, their lyrical inspiration and the sound of the initial demos and vocals.

"Hydra" digital premium album track listing:

01. Let Us Burn02. Dangerous (feat. Howard Jones)03. And We Run (feat. Xzibit04. Paradise (What About Us?) (feat. Tarja)05. Edge Of The World06. Silver Moonlight07. Covered By Roses08. Dog Days09. Tell Me Why10. Whole World Is Watching (feat. Dave Pirner)11. Radioactive (originally performed by IMAGINE DRAGONS)12. Summertime Sadness (originally performed by Lana del Ray)13. Let Her Go (originally performed by PASSENGER)14. Dirty Dancer (originally performed by Enrique Iglesias)15. And We Run (evolution track)16. Silver Moonlight (evolution track)17. Covered By Roses (evolution track)18. Tell Me Why (evolution track)19. Paradise (What About Us?) (feat. Tarja) music video (exclusive to iTunes premium version)

Aside from the digital premium version, "Hydra" will also be released in a deluxe box set including exclusive items many of you have been asking for, for a long time:

"Hydra" deluxe box set

* "Hydra" 18-track album including bonus tracks in the form of a media book with a hot foil print cover, featuring a 100-page booklet consisting of unique photos* Double gatefold black vinyl version of the album including bonus tracks* Instrumental version of the entire album* Songbook with sheet music of the songs of the album* "Hydra" guitar pick* Packaged in an especially designed LP-sized box

In a recent interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com, Sharon 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."

Fan-filmed video footage of STONE SOUR performing a cover of the KISS classic "Love Gun" on January 24 at the House Of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio can be seen below.

As previously reported, STONE SOUR guitarist Jim Root has chosen to sit out the band's current North American tour so that he can concentrate on writing music for the next SLIPKNOT album. The Pulse Of Radio spoke with Root and asked him to explain his decision in a little more depth. "You know, unfortunately I'm only one person," he said. "I can't really be in two places at one time and the amount of focus that I need to put into SLIPKNOT makes it really difficult for me to be on tour with STONE SOUR. It's crushing and it's heartbreaking and I really don't like the idea of not being out there, but I don't really see any other way to really do it without — I mean, this is like the best way that we could come up with for a compromise." Root is being replaced for the month-long tour, which began on January 14 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, by Christian Martucci. POP EVIL and STOLEN BABIES are also on the bill.

The trek marks the end of the touring cycle for STONE SOUR and the band's two-album set, "House Of Gold And Bones".

SLIPKNOT's long-awaited fifth album will be its first since 2008's "All Hope Is Gone" and first since the 2010 death of bassist Paul Gray and last month's dismissal of drummer Joey Jordison.

Austrian grind-machine MASTIC SCUM are streaming their new track ‘The Vortex Within’, featured on their new album, CTRL, which was released December 6th, 2013 via Massacre Records.
CTRL is a concept album depicting a futuristic vision of the technological evolution and development of society - the need to control and the inevitable collapse of a system.

The album was mixed by Mike Kronstorfer at Metal Forge Studio and mastered by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio. The artwork was designed by Lukas Lancko of Isis Design Studio.
CTRL tracklisting:

‘Controlled Collapse’
‘Dehumanized’
‘Cause & Effect’
‘Brute-Force-Methode’
‘D1s3mb0d1m3nt’
‘Rebornation’
‘Perceptive Illusion’
‘Hyper-Detection 2.0’
‘Create/Negate’
‘The Vortex Within’
‘Resurrection’

'The Vortex Within':
Track-by-track album samples:
'Controlled Collapse' lyric video

Colorado's SATAN'S HOST have released their new video, for the track 'Dichotomy', featured on the band's new album, Virgin Sails, released last November 19th via Moribund Records.
The Virgin Sails album artwork was created by Joe Petagno (MOTÖRHEAD, MARDUK).
Tracklisting:

'Cor Malifecus – Heart Of Evil'
'Island Of The Giant Ants'
'Dichotomy'
'Of Beast And Men'
'Akoman'
'Reanimated Anomalies'
'Infinite Impossibilities'
'Vaporous Of The Blood'
'Taromati'
'Virgin Sails'
In other news, drummer Anthony "Evil Hobbit" Lopez reveals the following: "We are in the process of finishing writing the follow-up to Virgin Sails and plan to release at some point this year, and we are just working on getting some live dates for later this year. We will be performing at the Doom in June fest in Las Vegas on June 6th - 7th, and will be headlining the Up the Hammers Festival in Athens, Greece in November."

More on Satan's Host at Facebook.

A pact between Czech death metal mongers DESTROYING DIVINITY and Lavadome has been sealed. Destroying Divinity will release their new album, Hollow Dominion, in the first half of 2014 via the label. A contemporary stab of classic, ancient death metal is to be expected.

As a pre-taste, the opening track of the album, 'Eternity Guardians', can be heard below:

Hollow Dominion by DESTROYING DIVINITY

Hollow Dominion tracklisting:

'Eternity Guardians'
'Burning Divine Domination'
'Scent of Death'
'Empire of Emptiness'
'Suffering Redemption'
'Defleshed Skeleton'
'Sinful Omens'
'Inner Slavery'
Destroying Divinity is:

Erik - vocals
Gassi - guitar
Flagin - guitar
Ommurtag - drums