KISS and NIRVANA were announced as two of next year's inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Joining them in the 2014 class of inductees are Peter Gabriel, HALL & OATES, Linda Rondstadt and Cat Stevens, while the E STREET BAND (Bruce Springsteen's backing group) will be given the Award For Musical Excellence

Those artists will be inducted on April 10 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Tickets to the event will go on sale in January, and the ceremony will air on HBO in May.

2013 marked the second consecutive year where members of the public were invited to vote alongside the artists, historians and music industry insiders that make up the Hall Of Fame's voting body.

Voting ended on December 10 on RollingStone.com, with the Top Five acts compiled from those votes onto a "fan's ballot" that will count as one of the more than 600 total ballots turned in.

Gene Simmons has often been the first to credit KISS' legions of fans for their success and admits that the love and support the band has been given by their "Kiss Army" remains beyond their wildest imaginations. "KISS fans are beyond anything we ever dared hope for, in terms of fans," he said. "We were gonna be happy with just being able to sell a record and, and doing our music, but to get this kind of loyalty is beyond anything we ever expected."

This year marked the first appearance of NIRVANA on the ballot. NIRVANA was the only act this year to land on the ballot in its first year of eligibility.

KISS was previously nominated in 2010, while DEEP PURPLE got their first chance last year. Both were seen as glaring hard rock omissions equal to that of RUSH, who were finally inducted with the class of 2013 after years of fan outcries.

Ozzy Osbourne's BLACK SABBATH bandmates have revealed to Classic Rock magazine that they had no idea the singer had relapsed back into the addictions that have haunted him throughout his career.

"You know what?! I couldn't believe it," BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi told the magazine. "He was working at my house and I didn't pick up on it at all. None of us did. He really hid that well! It was a shock, actually, when Sharon [Ozzy's wife/manager] told me. I just couldn't believe he'd been drinking again. I didn't see any signs of it. He was turning up to my house on time and we were rehearsing and writing, and I never saw anything. I've known him for 50 years, so I should know him, but God, I never sussed that at all." Added BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler: "[Ozzy] was really good at keeping it secret. I thought he was talking a lot — he used to drive us nuts because he wouldn't stop talking — but we put that down to the excitement of doing the album. Any time I'd had a drink, he'd be saying: 'Oh, have you got a hangover?' And meanwhile he was doing all kinds of stuff. But it certainly didn't affect his performance in the studio — to us, he'd worked better than ever. Sharon told me and Tony, and by that time Ozzy had gone into rehab."

Iommi and Butler also spoke about their relationship with estranged BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward, who was originally announced as part of the band's reunion album and tour in late 2011, but bowed out in early 2012 over a contract dispute. "I haven't spoken to Bill, but to be honest, I don't actually know how to reach Bill these days because he doesn't have the same phone number as I have for him," Tony said.

"I see people saying: 'Why don't they talk?' But it's not that simple. The only way I can reach Bill is by e-mailing his secretary, and then she speaks to Bill. It's not as easy as picking the phone up. I e-mailed him the other week, because he'd been in hospital and wasn't that well, but that's as far as it's got at the moment.

"I'd like to talk to Bill — me and Bill have been friends for many years — but it's not happened recently." "I don't talk on the phone to anybody because I'm horrible on the phone as we didn't have one in our house forever," Geezer said. "But I've exchanged a few e-mails with Bill, just to see how he is.

"We all still love Bill, and we desperately wish that it had worked with him, we really do, because that's the true SABBATH, the four of us. But we tried, and for some reason, it didn't work, so you have to get on with life.

"When I'm in touch with Bill, I don't mention the album or tour or anything. I wouldn't do that." The members of SABBATH also expressed their uncertainty about whether making a follow-up to this year's reunion album, "13", would be a good idea for the group. "We've not spoken about it, to be honest," Iommi explained. "I don't know if it would be the right thing to do. God knows what the expectations would be next time around. I'd probably have a heart attack worrying about it!

"Making '13' was such a great, memorable experience, so if that's the final chapter, we'd have to be happy. But who knows. l don't think we'd write anything off. The history of this band has taught me to never say never." Added Butler: "To me, it's been nicely rounded off now.

"If we did another album, it just wouldn't have the same vibe, as far as I'm concerned. And with this one doing so well, the next one would have to be No. 1 everywhere too or people would see it as a failure!" Commented Ozzy: "We'll see what happens. We made promises about another album 15 or 20 years ago and it took this long for it to happen. I don't think you'll see another one in 20 years, put it that way."

Progressive-rock supergroup TRANSATLANTIC, featuring Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Roine Stolt and Pete Trewavas, will release its fourth studio album, "Kaleidoscope", on January 27, 2014 via InsideOut Music.

"Kaleidoscope" will be released on four different formats, including a limited-edition deluxe artbook with 2CDs, DVD and bonus 5.1 mix DVD-video in an LP-sized book with loads of pictures, liner notes and a lenticular card cover. There will also be 2CD and DVD mediabook, standard 2CD jewelcase and a 3LP and 2CD in slipcase. Pre-orders for the album will begin on the InsideOut shop on December 27.

The full track listing for both discs can be found below.

CD1:

01. Into The Blue (25:13)02. Shine (7:28)03. Black As the Sky (6:45)04. Beyond The Sun (4:31)05. Kaleidoscope (31:53)

CD2 (Bonus CD):

01. And You And I (YES cover) (10:45)02. Can't Get It Out Of My Head (ELO cover) (4:46)03. Conquistador (PROCOL HARUM cover) (4:13)04. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (ELTON JOHN) (3:20)05. Tin Soldier (SMALL FACES cover) (3:22)06. Sylvia (FOCUS cover) (3:49)07. Indiscipline (KING CRIMSON cover) (4:45)08. Nights In White Satin (THE MOODY BLUES cover) (6:13)

TRANSATLANTIC's cover version of YES' "And You And I" can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

The official video for the song "Shine" can be seen below. The clip was filmed in September in London, England.

TRANSATLANTIC will embark on a six-week world tour that will see them joined once again by PAIN OF SALVATION's Daniel Gildenlöw as a fifth touring member. As part of the extensive tour, the band will also headline the Progressive Nation At Sea 2014 cruise from February 18 until February 22 alongside 22 other leading prog acts. This unique performance will see the band performing a very special encore of classic YES material with the legendary Jon Anderson on vocals.

German power metallers HELLOWEEN have uploaded video footage from their Hellish Rock Part II world tour 2013. The clip was which filmed using iPhone5 and Nikon D800, can be seen below.

HELLOWEEN recently completed a 10-date North American tour. The band travelled across the U.S. and Canada, bringing its power hooks and catchy melodies to fans who have yearned to see them since their 2008 tour with GAMMA RAY.

HELLOWEEN's new album, "Straight Out Of Hell", sold around 4,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 97 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD entered the Media Control chart in Germany at position No. 4 — the highest chart position in the band's history. It also landed at No. 4 in Finland and No. 2 on the international album chart in Japan.

"Straight Out Of Hell" was released in Europe on January 18 and in North America on January 22. The cover artwork for the CD was once again created by Martin Häusler, who previously worked with the band on the "7 Sinners" and "Gambling With The Devil" CDs.

"Straight Out Of Hell" was produced by Charlie Bauerfeind, who also worked on "7 Sinners", and sees the five musicians maintaining a rawer edge throughout, working quickly in the studio (MiSueno Studio in Tenerife) and delivering 13 brand new compositions that, in the words of founding member, guitarist Michael Weikath, will "kick even the laziest listener's ass!"

DEF LEPPARD's Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell and Rick Allen joined "The Voice" coaches Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and CeeLo Green during last night's (Monday, December 16) episode of the program to perform the band's classic song "Pour Some Sugar On Me". Low-quality video footage of their appearance can be seen below.

"The Voice" season five champion will be announced tonight on NBC.

Asked if he ever gets tired of playing the DEF LEPPARD classics over and over again, Campbell said in a 2011 interview, "To be honest, yeah, it would be great to go out and do obscure stuff. Instead of playing 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' every show, it would be more fun for us to go out and play an album cut from the 'High 'N' Dry' album or something. Having said that, every time that we go on stage we're playing in front of a different audience so the audience becomes like the sixth member of the group and it's exciting for the audience because even though we've played 'Photograph' a million times before, that might be their first time hearing it."

Roadrunner Records and Warner Music Latina will release the eagerly anticipated debut album from Latin metal group DE LA TIERRA. "De La Tierra" — the explosive self-titled collection from the Latin group consisting of Andreas Kisser, guitarist of SEPULTURA, Andrés Giménez, former leader of A.N.I.M.A.L., Sr. Flavio, bassist of LOS FABULOSOS CADILLACS, and Alex González, drummer of MANÁ — features the lead single "Maldita Historia", which is available now via the iTunes store along with an official music video that made its worldwide premiere last month on several media outlets across the globe. "De La Tierra" arrives everywhere on January 14.

The "De La Tierra" cover artwork can be seen below.

"De La Tierra", the band's crushing 11-song debut was recorded and mixed by Stanley Soares (MOTÖRHEAD, SEPULTURA) in Sao Paulo, Guadalajara, Buenos Aires and Los Angeles and produced by the band themselves. The album, which marks an electrifying new chapter for the always daring members of DE LA TIERRA, will feature lyrics sung entirely in both Spanish and Portuguese, elevating the group's Latin roots.

"On 'De La Tierra', there are some moments when you feel the world is coming to an end and others when the sky seems to open up, letting the light shine," says Gonzalez. "It is metal that is fast, powerful, explosive, with lots of adrenaline. You have darkness and light. There is melody and also a lot of punch."

DE LA TIERRA's history can be traced back eight years to backstage conversations between Giménez and González, discussing their passion for heavy music. A tour with MANÁ brought González to Argentina in 2011, which rekindled discussions of starting a group with Gimenez. The following evening the two had dinner with Flavio, a friend of Giménez's who both revered, as the three flirted with the idea of forming a power trio. Giménez however wanted more firepower and suggested Kisser as a possible second guitarist. González reached out to Kisser via email telling him about the project which was conceived as a gathering of like minds to create metal music which they all enjoyed and appreciated. Kisser responded immediately: "I am the band's guitar player!"

DE LA TIERRA is Andrés Giménez (vocals/guitar), Andreas Kisser (guitar/vocals), Sr. Flavio (bass/vocals) and Alex González (drums/vocals)

For more information, visit DeLaTierraMusic.com.

Former ONWARD/current WAXEN guitarist TOBY KNAPP has checked in with the following update:

"Lots going on as I find the more I play and focus, the more things fall into place. There is an instrumental album well underway with guitar shredder Markus Johansson. It's a first for me as I've always been a guitar 'hog.' Now I am excited about collaborating with another guitarist; what he is sending over is killer and challenging.

In other news, I recently announced I'd be working with vocalist Rick Mythiasin on a traditional/power/speed metal project (Don't worry STEEL PROPHET fans, this does not affect that band). Our band/project is called WHERE EVIL FOLLOWS, based on an Onward tune I actually penned some lyrics to. We, in record time, secured a deal and funding for our debut, but this is something that the label will announce in it's own time.

Although no live performances have taken place, 2013 has otherwise been far more productive than I imagined. Guitarists/musicians out there, just keep PLAYING! Do not stop, do not give up."

Shredguy Records and Sumthinfierce Records have joined forces to bring fans of heavy metal guitar, Toby Knapp - Archives Of Magick.

This special two hour double disc compilation reaches far back into Knapp's history from 1988 to the present. Unreleased neo-classical instrumentals, never before heard ONWARD tracks and serious explorations into extreme musical genres. This limited pressing is autographed by Knapp, who has had a very prolific year with the release of Static Warfare and the upcoming reissues of his band Onwards first two albums.




Michael McDowell of Shredguy Records says about the project, “It has been great working with Curtis Wray and Sumthinfierce Records. Curtis Wray has a passion for music that is unrivaled in this business. We are both based in Ohio and have been releasing music for the past few years, but never had a joint release. There have been projects we tried to get going with some local yokels in Ohio that ultimately failed, so it was great working with a professional and internationally known guitar player like Toby Knapp who has toured the world and is known throughout the guitar community as a great player.”

In the December issue of Sweden Rock Magazine, MORBID ANGEL frontman David Vincent and producer Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA) talk about the recording of the band's classic album "Covenant", widely considered to be the best-selling death metal LP of all time. For the feature, Rasmussen has also shared private photos from the 1993 recording session in Morrisound in Tampa, Florida.

When asked if he'd be open to working with MORBID ANGEL again, Rasmussen said: "That would probably be fun. They actually called me last summer and asked if I was interested. I was, but since then I haven't heard from them. I have no idea how far into the creation of a new album they are."

Regarding why MORBID ANGEL chose to perform the "Covenant" album in its entirety on the band's North American tour, Vincent told Invisible Oranges: "This tour was just an idea that I had been thinking about for a few years, and we eventually talked about it and thought it'd be something cool to do — a themed tour where everyone knows what we'll play."

He added: "I always tell people that when you've done nine or ten records, there are certain songs that you kind of have to play, that people expect to hear. Those take up probably half the set. Then you have the other half of the set, where you're trying to touch on this and touch on that. Sometimes that half works well and sometimes it doesn't. It seems like if you do a themed tour, you can add a couple songs here or there from all over, and that's what we're doing here."

Vincent also spoke about what it was like for MORBID ANGEL to be the first death metal band to sign to a major label. "I looked at it as an opportunity more than anything else," he said. "It gave us some muscle to get us into the big boys' swimming pool, as it were. We had to work a lot harder, obviously, but we had some opportunities available to us that weren't before. We got on some really good tours. We had some really good videos. It takes a lot of money to do some of these things, and Warner has very deep pockets. They allowed us to realize some of our dreams — we got to do some things that I enjoyed a lot, and that the fans tell me they enjoyed as well."

Argentinean rock journalist Lucas H. Gordon, who currently resides in Hollywood, California, conducted an in interview with former MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza at The Rock N Roll Autograph Show, which took place September 13-15 at The Westin Los Angeles Airport. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked if there is a possibility of him ever doing anything with MEGADETH again, Menza said: "You never know what can happen in the future. It's, like, I'm open to whatever. I would never say, 'I'll never join MEGADETH back up again.' But it's really up to [MEGADETH mainman Dave] Mustaine. I put the ball in his court."

Following the reissue of the entire MEGADETH catalog, Menza was invited to reunite with the band in 2004. Days after a reunion was announced, Menza was fired after rehearsals and replaced with Shawn Drover. Mustaine said that this was because Nick "just wasn't prepared."

Menza has been writing, recording and producing constantly but only releasing sporadic singles for years. That will all change when he opens the floodgates with the upcoming release of his memoir, "Nick Menza: Megalife", by acclaimed writer J. Marshall Craig.

"MEGADETH was a big part of my story," Menza said, "but it was just one part. Jeff [Craig] has got me to talk about it all!"

Menza is currently negotiating a publishing deal for the book, which was written over the past 18 months. It features rare and never-before-seen photos of Menza with every band he's ever been in, including, of course, MEGADETH.

"It's a memoir of music," writer Craig said. "But a lot more. It's a book about chasing the ultimate gig, the ultimate drum setup, the ultimate sound and, it will come as no surprise to Nick's fans, the ultimate aliens, government conspiracies and anything else his muse sees fit to lay across his path."

Menza's first performance was at the age of two on stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival when legendary jazz percussionist Jack DeJohnette (Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson) placed Nick on his kit. Thirty years later, he was stepping out on stage in front of thousands of screaming fans every night.

Menza, son of legendary jazz saxophonist Don Menza, was at the top of his game when MEGADETH started a world tour in support of its album, "Cryptic Writings", but began to suffer knee problems and escalating pain. Doctors diagnosed him with a tumor. Surgery waylaid the drummer briefly, but he was relieved to learn the tumor was benign and was eager to rejoin his bandmates, who had continued their tour with a replacement drummer. But deteriorating relations within the band exploded and Menza was replaced permanently.

"Nick Menza: Megalife", by J. Marshall Craig, is due in stores, in Kindle and eBook versions, in late 2013.

J. Marshall Craig is best known for his critically acclaimed work as writer for Eric Burdon's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", THE ROLLING STONES keyboardist Chuck Leavell's "Between Rock And A Home Place", West Coast hip-hop history "Guilty By Association" (Damizza and J. Marshall Craig). Author of more than a dozen books, his work has been translated and published all over the world.

Video footage of QUINTANNICA — the band featuring guitarist Doug Piercy (formerly of HEATHEN and ANVIL CHORUS) and drummer Tom Hunting (of EXODUS) performing the BUDGIE classic "Melt The Ice Away" and the ANGEL WITCH song "Atlantis" live at the Jon Torres memorial show on December 7 at 23 Club in Brisbane, California can be seen below (courtesy of Capital Chaos TV).

Veteran San Francisco Bay Area heavy metal musician Jon Torres, who played bass and guitar for a number of the region's most acclaimed cult acts, including ULYSSES SIREN, HEATHEN and LÄÄZ ROCKIT, died in September as a result of a reported heart failure.

At the time of his death, Torres was married to REPULSA vocalist Tambre Bryant. They have a daughter, Cassandra.

In a 2006 interview with Earth-Dog, Torres spoke about why he felt ULYSSES SIREN never achived the same commercial success as some of their peers, such as TESTAMENT and EXODUS. "There are many reasons, in my opinion," he said. "I'd have to say the number one reason was alcohol and substance abuse mixed in with a heaping dose of testosterone added to the toxic soup. Second: SIREN never had the contacts and or management that some of the other bands had, and even if we did, we probably would have fucked that up as well. Also, we had a real love-hate relationship involved between members."

Torres also talked about his time with LÄÄZ ROCKIT and how he became involved with the cult Bay Area thrash metal act. "I got a tryout with LÄÄZ through my longtime friend Walter Morgan," he said. "I'd had enough of SIREN and Walt asked me if I'd like to try out. At first, I flat out told him no. I had never really liked the band. The first record was good but when I heard 'Annihilation Principle', I changed my opinion. Good record. I auditioned and got the gig."

He continued: "I could write a book about the 2 1/2 years I was with LÄÄZ. I'll give you the short version for now. I had a blast with LÄÄZ. The tours and the vids and records were a great time and learning experience I'll never forget."

On December 21, 2012, the metal community came together in an amazing way to celebrate the life of SUICIDE SILENCE singer Mitch Lucker and raise money for his daughter's future education (with an unforgettable evening of collaborative performances between past/present SUICIDE SILENCE members and elite heavy vocalists that created a defining emotional event forever captured on video and audio. "Suicide Silence - Ending Is The Beginning: The Mitch Lucker Memorial Show" will be released on February 18, 2014 in North American and March 17, 2014 In Europe as a CD/DVD digipack and CD/Blu-ray combo pack. Directed by Jeremy Schott of MentalSuplex Productions and Zafer Ulkucu of Backseat Conceptions, the concert's first official trailer can be seen below.

Throughout the historic event, SUICIDE SILENCE band members played as guest vocalists covered their songs.

The official track listing is as follows:

01. Destruction Of A Statue (with Jonny Davy)02. Distorted Thought Of Addiction (with Greg Wilburn)03. Ending Is The Beginning (with Brook Reeves)04. Bludgeoned To Death (with Ricky Hoover)05. Unanswered (with Phil Bozeman)06. Girl Of Glass (with Myke Terry)07. Price Of Beauty (with Danny Worsnop)08. No Pity For A Coward (with Johnny Plague)09. Disengage (with Cameron "Big Chocolate" Argon)10. No Time To Bleed (with Burke VanRaalte)11. Smoke (with Anthony Notarmaso)12. Wake Up (with Tim Lambesis)13. March To The Black Crown14. Slaves To Substance (with Eddie Hermida)15. OCD (with Austin Carlile)16. Fuck Everything (with Chad Gray)17. Die Young (with Robb Flynn)18. Roots Bloody Roots (with Max Cavalera)19. Engine #9 (with Mitch Lucker)20. You Only Live Once (with Randy Blythe)

Mitch Lucker died November 1, 2012 after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle crash in Huntington Beach on Halloween night.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lucker struck a light pole near the intersection of Main and 13th streets and was thrown from his 2013 Harley Davidson. The motorcycle continued sliding south on Main Street and struck a northbound 2007 Nissan Titan pickup.

SUICIDE SILENCE recently entered the studio to begin recording its new album with producer Steve Evetts (SEPULTURA, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, WARBRINGER). The group's first CD with new vocalist Eddie Hermida (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH) will be released next summer via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, a division of Nuclear Blast Records formed by Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger and former Roadrunner A&R chief Monte Conner.

Germany's EMP Rock Invasion recently conducted an interview with AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked about recent comments from MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn, in which Flynn called AVENGED's new "Hail To The King" CD a "covers album" and specifically called AVENGED SEVENFOLD out for songs like "This Means War", which bears a strong resemblance to METALLICA's "Sad But True", Christ said: "I heard a little bit about that.

"Everyone has their own opinions and they're entitled to them.

"We've never been shy to admit that METALLICA is a huge influence in our lives and on our music.

"We wrote some songs, like we always do, and we got in there…

"If we're compared to METALLICA, the greatest metal band in the world, I think that's actually a pretty damn good compliment."

He added: "I never really cared about [the negative things people have to say about our music]. Like I said, everyone's entitled to their own opinion. And it's fine. If I disagree, it's not gonna bum me out. I just don't have time to really sit there and worry about someone disliking what we put so much effort into."

Christ also revealed that METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich got in contact with AVENGED SEVENFOLD shortly after the release of "Hail To The King" and was happy about the band's success. "Lars reached out to Matt [AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows] when the record first came out and debuted at No. 1 and had nothing but good things to say about it," the bassist said. "So, I mean, we've gotta be doing something right."

AVENGED SEVENFOLD is getting ready to release both an animated series and a mobile game based around the band's recently issued sixth album, "Hail To The King". The series will consist of six episodes and will be available on Machimina's HappyHour channel on YouTube starting December 15. The series will serve as a prologue and back story for the group's mobile game, "Hail To The King: Deathbat", with M. Shadows saying, "We felt this was the best way to tell the story and give you all an idea about the type of game we are creating." The "Hail To The King" series was directed by Jon Schnepp, producer of the Adult Swim animated show "Metalocalypse".

Both the series and game tell the story of AVENGED SEVENFOLD's fictional mascot, the Deathbat.

The game will debut sometime in early 2014. Shadows said about it, "We wanted to bring the story of the Deathbat to life and allow you to control its destiny. While the game stands on its own in terms of the story and game play, we still wanted to add in some extras for our fans."

The band recorded seven brand new songs for the game, which will also include 16 pieces of never-before-seen artwork from all the group's albums that players can unlock.

"Hail To The King" sold 159,000 copies in its first week of release, giving the California band their second straight chart-topper after 2010's "Nightmare".

According to Therecord.com, RUSH make its way to the comic-book age beginning in March with the six-issue Boom! Studios miniseries Clockwork Angels, based on the group's 2012 concept album of the same name.
Rush lyricist/drummer Neil Peart hatched the coming-of-age story of a naive youngster in a turn-of-the-century world of airborne steam liners, pirates, carnivals, working alchemy and wind-up contraptions with novelist Kevin J. Anderson, who wrote the Clockwork Angels novel and is also penning the comic-book adaptation.

"It's just a beautifully painted world in the music that I tried to capture in the novel and now tried to turn into a different direction," says Anderson, who's working with artist newcomer Nick Robles.

"Who knows, we might have ice follies someday or a Broadway musical."

Clockwork Angels has grown far bigger than Peart ever imagined.

"Kevin and I had talked for years about combining a novel and an album in some fashion, but I guess the idea had to grow up as Kevin and I did — gaining maturity and confidence in our own separate crafts, while gaining the life experience necessary to give the story its scale and depth," Peart says.

"So, rather than a longtime dream realized, this project is more like a fantastic new dream unfolding before us."

Read more at Therecord.com.

Finnish dark metallers ASA-NOIR have signed a worldwide deal with Wormholedeath for the release of their debut album, Fall Of The Idols. The record features 10 tunes of insanely powerful, epic, obscure devastating metal and will be released during 2014 worldwide via Aural Music Group. Release date will be announced during the coming months.

Asa-Noir stated: "Thought's strange sister comes in many unique forms. However, the true matter under our scrutinizing analysis are the darkened images of human nature, embedded deep within the collective subconsciousness of us all and embroidered with a ravenous hunger for gore and lust. The Aesir may be dead but the yawning Valkyrian Void we are drowning in - WormHoleDeath - is the reality with which we pave our path to self-enlightenment and awakening. Silentvm est aureum pro apostaticos!"
Worm stated: "Asa-Noir deliver dark, claustrophobic and insanely emotional metal and this album is aboslutely a must for all lovers of epic and devastating music. I decided to sign the band since Asa-Noir perfectly represent the modern era in music and they have been able to narrate the drifting and contemporary state of things we are living with this huge work. Rage, Decadence, Obscurity and Violent Reaction are the feelings that this band is able to express with their music and I truly admire them for these incredible vibes that they are able to communicate. Check this out, they will devastate you all in pieces, this is the final fall and Asa-Noir made the soundtrack of it ... Yes, it's like a knife penetrating you without mercy with the only purpouse of setting you free."

Preview two songs from Fall Of The Idol below:
More on Asa-Noir at Facebook.

APOCALYPTICA — the ground-breaking Finnish orchestral rock group — has premiered the new video for "Stormy Wagner".

"Stormy Wagner" is part of APOCALYPTICA's just-released live album "Wagner Reloaded - Live In Leipzig" (BMG), for which the band teamed with the acclaimed MDR Leipzig Symphony Orchestra. The album's release is perfectly timed since 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of iconic German composer Richard Wagner.

"It's complex to record a live album with an orchestra, because there are so many lines, microphones and there's one stupid drummer, who beats the shit out of the drums and creates so much noise that everything is spoiled afterwards," laughs APOCALYPTICA's cellist Eicca Toppinen while nodding to drummer Mikko Siren. "It's a challenge, we prepared well in advance, and Sven Helbig, the orchestrator, did a great job in making it run together, it works."

APOCALYPTICA stopped by "ZDF-Morgenmagazin" TV in Germany for a stripped-down acoustic performance of "Flight Of The Valkyries" and "Ludwig Wonderland" off "Wagner Reloaded - Live In Leipzig". Watch the clip below.

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS' video for the song "Ugly Mug" can be seen below. The track was recorded exclusively for Scion A/V to mark the inaugural edition of Anselmo's Housecore Horror Film and Music Festival, held in Austin, Texas this past October. Released as a free, limited-edition 10-inch single available only at the October event, "Pigs Kissing Pigs" and "Ugly Mug" are available for download via Scionav.com.

Anselmo's career-first solo album, "Walk Through Exits Only", sold around 8,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Produced by Anselmo and Michael Thompson, and recorded over the past couple of years at Philip's New Orleans studio, Nodferatu's Lair, with his band THE ILLEGALS — guitarist Marzi Montazeri (ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL) and drummer José Manuel Gonzales (WARBEAST) — "Walk Through Exits Only" is abrasive, aggressive, anthemic and 100% Anselmo. screams with uncompromising ferocity and uncontainable fire.

According to Anselmo, he worked on an estimated 15-17 songs for "Walk Through Exits Only", which was issued via his own Housecore Records (MRI/Megaforce)

"I could've put on any number (of songs) I wanted, but for me, these eight songs all together, 40-something minutes, that's my idea of a proper listening length," he tells Billboard.com. "When you start to get longer it gets a little redundant and boring, and I didn't want to bore anybody."

BLOOD LABEL, the Danish alternative metal outfit featuring members of HATESPHERE, DAWN OF DEMISE and THE BURNING, has inked a deal with Mighty Music.

BLOOD LABEL's debut album was produced by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, SUICIDE SILENCE, SICK OF IT ALL) and is scheduled for release in early 2014.

A video teaser for the CD is available below. Formed in 2008, BLOOD LABEL has supported some of the biggest international metal acts, including ENTOMBED, ARCH ENEMY and VADER, and played venues and festivals all over its home country.

The band's debut EP, "Existence Expires", was produced by ex-HATESPHERE frontman Jacob Bredahl and was released in 2011.

SOILWORK's March 21, 2014 concert at Circus in Helsinki, Finland will be professionally filmed for DVD release. The band will play a career-spanning set, with special guest appearances and other surprises planned.

The choice of location for the shoot of the first-ever SOILWORK audiovisual live document was an easy one since Helsinki has always been a second home to the band. The venue itself, Circus, was just the right one to offer a full-on SOILWORK show.

The show will mark SOILWORK's only Scandinavian show of the spring.

The DVD will be produced by Jouni Markkanen and directed by Ville Lipiäinen, who also helmed the most recent NIGHTWISH DVD, "Showtime, Storytime".

Tickets for this special show will go on sale on Wednesday, December 18.

SOILWORK's ninth studio and first dual-disc album, "The Living Infinite", sold around 7,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 60. The effort also landed at No. 11 on the Independent Albums chart, and No. 2 on the Hard Music chart. "The Living Infinite" entered the iTunes Metal Top Albums chart at No. 1 and was the No. 1 most added album on the CMJ radio chart.

"The Living Infinite" was produced by Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH) and boasts artwork by MNEMIC's Mircea Gabriel Eftemie. The CD features Justin Sullivan — lead singer of the English band NEW MODEL ARMY — as a guest vocalist on the track "The Windswept Mercy" and also marks the recording debut of longtime SOILWORK touring guitarist David Andersson (also of THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA).

SOILWORK released a lavish deluxe version of its 2001 classic breakthrough album "A Predator's Portrait" on October 18 in Europe and October 15 in the U.S. The effort was reissued as a digipack with an all new artwork and will contain two previously unreleased live bonus tracks.

Mascot Label Group recently announced the signing of VANDENBERG'S MOONKINGS. The Dutch rock group will join, amongst others, Joe Bonamassa, VOLBEAT, GOV'T MULE, Beth Hart, Zakk Wylde/BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and Kenny Wayne Shepherd on the Rotterdam, Holland-based record company's roster.

VANDENBERG'S MOONKINGS is currently in the studio recording its debut album for a February 24, 2014 release. An extensive European tour will follow.

A video teaser for the forthcoming CD is available below. "We are proud to have joined the Mascot family," says Adrian. "It's a great company with fantastic people that love the music they work with. The band is raring to go and prove itself to the world, so we're anxious to finish the album and get it out there and I'm very happy that Ed van Zijl is giving us the opportunity to do so."

Mascot Label Group CEO Ed van Zijl is over the moon with signing Adrian Vandenberg's brand new band.

"Adrian is one of the most outstanding rock guitarists in the world," Ed said. "I have always followed his career and needless to say we are thrilled to finally be working with him. VANDENBERG'S MOONKINGS are a fresh and hard rocking new band that will surely make an impact on the scene." Adrian Vandenberg rose to worldwide prominence with VANDENBERG, the melodic rock band that hit internationally with the powerful ballad "Burning Heart". Adrian solidified his status as one of the most talented rock guitarists around when he joined David Coverdale in the hard rock supergroup WHITESNAKE, co-writing many of its Billboard Hot 100-hits, like "The Deeper The Love" and "Now You're Gone", and supplying the legendary guitar solo to "Here I Go Again". After leaving WHITESNAKE, Adrian concentrated on his successful career as an artist, exhibiting his paintings in prestigious galleries all over Europe. Music however was always prevalent on his mind, so as soon as he had the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented young musicians, he started creating new music.

VANDENBERG'S MOONKINGS is:

Adrian Vandenberg (guitar)Jan Hoving (vocals)Sem Christoffel (bass)Mart Nijen Es (drums)

AVENGED SEVENFOLD has released the animated series based around the band's recently issued sixth album, "Hail To The King". The series consists of six episodes and is available on Machimina's HappyHour channel on YouTube (see all six episodes below). The series serves as a prologue and back story for the group's mobile game, "Hail To The King: Deathbat", with M. Shadows saying, "We felt this was the best way to tell the story and give you all an idea about the type of game we are creating." The "Hail To The King" series was directed by Jon Schnepp, producer of the Adult Swim animated show "Metalocalypse".

Both the series and game tell the story of AVENGED SEVENFOLD's fictional mascot, the Deathbat.

The game will debut sometime in early 2014. Shadows said about it, "We wanted to bring the story of the Deathbat to life and allow you to control its destiny. While the game stands on its own in terms of the story and game play, we still wanted to add in some extras for our fans."

The band recorded seven brand new songs for the game, which will also include 16 pieces of never-before-seen artwork from all the group's albums that players can unlock.

"Hail To The King" sold 159,000 copies in its first week of release, giving the California band their second straight chart-topper after 2010's "Nightmare".

Legendary rockers KISS have won the fan vote for induction into the 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The poll ended with KISS at 17.22 percent, followed by NIRVANA at 15.69 percent, DEEP PURPLE at 11.93 percent, and YES at 10.88 percent.

The Rock Hall's official poll will be used to create a single online fan vote. That will be matched against about 600 voters consisting of artists, historians and members of the music business.

The artists who get the most votes will be announced later this month December and will be inducted at a New York City ceremony next April. Highlights from the event will be shown on HBO in May.

During an interview with The Huffington Post, KISS frontman Paul Stanley took time to salute the band's fans while taking a swipe at chairman of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation, Jann Wenner, when asked if he ever sees a day when KISS will be inducted into the Rock Hall. "Well, it depends on who lives longer, us or Jann Wenner," Stanley said.

"Look, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is marketing," he continued. "You've got a bunch of faceless people in a back room who trademark a name that sounds very official. Well, if you had thought of it first, you would have been the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I am one of the biggest Laura Nyro fans. I still listen to that stuff incessantly. Laura Nyro does not belong in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Songwriter Hall Of Fame? Absolutely."

He went on to plead his case, saying: "It's absurd for anybody to look around and hear the acts and artists who cite us as an inspiration, and then tell me that we're not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I would certainly accept on their (the fans) behalf because it seems to be a major sore spot for them, but I don't need the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame."

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons told Rolling Stone last year about being shut out of the Rock Hall: "It's become a joke. We've been thinking about it and the answer is simply, 'We'll just buy it and fire everybody.' In all seriousness for the fans, for something to be called Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is such an insult to MADONNA, BLONDIE. . . Who the fuck knows what other disco act is in there? It's an insult to them because they don't get to be in the 'Dance Hall Of Fame', because that's what they do. They're legitimate dance, disco artists. They don't belong in rock and roll."

Stanley added: "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has reached a point where they're really scrounging and scratching to find someone left that they consider viable. With all due respect, when you get to Patti Smith, you're about two steps away from Pete Seeger."

Gene Simmons told The Pulse Of Radio that awards hold little allure for him, since it's the fans that ultimately decide who stays around and who doesn't: "Our awards are under the 'K' section in record stores. Every time somebody goes out and plunks down their hard-earned money — either for a KISS ticket or for an album — that's the award, and reward."

Swedish female-fronted sleaze/hard rock quartet VANITY BLVD will release its second full-length album, "Wicked Temptation", on February 8, 2014 via Noisehead Records.

Recorded at Deep Blue Studios with producer Nicko Di Marino (STEELWING) and mastered at Black Lounge Studios by Jonas Kjellgren (AMORPHIS, PAIN, OVERKILL), the CD contains 11 tracks of "high-octane hard rock deeply rooted in the late '80s Sunset Boulevard sound, all driven forth by the energetic and charismatic frontlady Anna Savage," according to a press release.

"Now the long wait is finally over and we are really proud to announce our upcoming album, 'Wicked Temptation'," says Savage.

"We have put our heart and soul into this release and we hope you will love it as much as we do.

"VANITY BLVD are back and stronger than ever!"

"Wicked Temptation" track listing:

01. Dirty Rat02. Miss Dangerous03. Do Or Die04. Hot Teaser05. Had Enough06. Soulshaker07. Scream Out 08. Thrills In The Night09. Falling Down10. Desperate Heart11. Dirty Action

The official lyric video for the song "Do Or Die" can be seen below. The track is described in a press release as "a four-minute smash hit with a fists-in-the-air chorus that will revive the heydays of stadium-size hard rock and metal."

Harry of the Minneapolis radio station 93X spoke to SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor earlier today (Friday, December 13). You can now listen to the chat using the SondCloud widget below. A few excerpts from the chat follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On SLIPKNOT's split with drummer Joey Jordison, one of the band's founding members and key songwriters:

Corey: "Honestly, I can't really talk about it right now. It's still so fresh and there's a lot of things going on behind the scenes that people don't know about. So, legally and respectfully, I can't say a lot about it. I can confirm that — obviously, we put something up on the web site but I can confirm that we have parted ways with Joey, and as soon as we can say something, we will. I mean, we're trying to protect him, trying to protect us, just making sure that we do everything right, because that's what we would expect from ourselves and that's what we would expect from the fans. And I know the fans are chomping at the bit; it's just we can't really say anything right now. It sucks for them and it sucks for us, because, I mean, we have always really prided ourselves on being able to come out and be honest with everybody. But there's really nothing we can say right now. And until we can, it's just kind of… It's difficult, but if people can bear with us, we'll cross that bridge when we can."

On the progress of the songwriting sessions for the next SLIPKNOT album:

Corey: "We're working on new material right now and getting some stuff together. I've been writing some stuff, Jim [Root, guitar] has got a ton of stuff. The guys are actually together right now jamming and putting stuff together. It's sounding really, really good. In light of yesterday's news, I know it's weird, but if anything positive can come out of this, it's just that I hope the fans know that we're really working towards putting out an album next year. So we're deep in it right now."

On whether Joey has been involved in the songwriting process for the next SLIPKNOT album:

Corey: "No, no. He's been doing SCAR THE MARTYR. So this is all fresh material that just a handful of us have been putting together."

On SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root sitting out STONE SOUR's next tour so he can concentrate on writing material for the next SLIPKNOT album:

Corey: "We wanted to go back out with STONE SOUR and do one more tour — just kind of wrap things up, because we were pretty smoked by the time we got done with the European run, especially with doing both bands, that we all just kind of needed some time off. But we wanted to go out and kind of do one more cool, quick run through the States, especially, and play some stuff off 'House Of Gold And Bones Part 2' that we never got a chance to, and just kind of make it fun for the fans. So we talked to Jim — Jim was in SLIPKNOT mode — so we talked to him about bringing a friend of ours, Christian Martucci, out to play, and he was fine with it, everybody was cool with it. So this is just kind of a way for us to kind of wrap everything up before I have to jump off the ship and start working on SLIPKNOT stuff as well."

On when he will start getting more involved in the songwriting process for the next SLIPKNOT album:

Corey: "I'm letting them kind of work stuff out right now. I've got a handful of things that I'm doing… Obviously, I'm doing a tornado relief show in Peoria tomorrow, and I'm also filming a movie, which is pretty sweet. My schedule is pretty crazy, but I didn't wanna hold them back from really jumping in and getting started on the writing process. So they're sendinig me stuff, I'm kind of jotting down notes and everything. And I've been writing down a lot of lyrics and ideas for about a year and a half now, so I'm well ahead of the game. And just with the stuff that they're coming up with, I'm working on arrangements and trying to kind of get as much pre-production done as I can while they're doing rough demos and stuff, so once we do go into the studio next year, we'll be just well rehearsed and ready to make this as live and heavy as possible."

On the next SLIPKNOT album being the band's first without bassist Paul Gray (who passed away in 2010) and Joey Jordison:

Corey: "Everybody's kind of stepping up. I think that was one of the reasons why we took so long to kind of start breaking ground on something like this. Everybody was in really weird places in their lives. so we wanted to make sure that not only we were getting out to the fans and letting them kind of pay their respects and celebrate the music, but also giving us a chance to kind of come back to this band with a more positive attitude and be able to get our heads around the fact that we are gonna have to step it up and really and come in creatively ready to fill in those holes. In the last couple of months, it's really started to feel like it's time. Like I said, I've been writing stuff, Jim's been writing stuff. Everybody's really kind of coming up with these great ideas that sound very different, but they're very SLIPKNOT. It's just getting to the point where we're getting very serious about it. And without getting too much into the Joey situation, it really felt like everybody in the band was on the sme page when it came to everything that was going on."

SLIPKNOT announced its split with Jordison in a statement on the band's web site late on Thursday (December 12) which read, "It is with great pain but quiet respect that, for personal reasons, Joey Jordison and SLIPKNOT are parting ways. We all wish Joey the best in whatever his future holds. We understand that many of you will want to know how and why this has come to be, and we will do our best to respond to these questions in the near future." The statement added, "It is our love for all of you, as well as for the music we create, that spurs us to continue on and move forward with our plans for releasing new material in the next year. We hope that all of you will come to understand this, and we appreciate your continued support while we plan the next phase of the future of SLIPKNOT."

Jordison told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he expected great things out of the next SLIPKNOT record. "I think it's gonna be really, really cool," he said. "I think it's gonna be a really, really great record because, I mean, everyone's being really involved in the process and I think it should be, definitely for me it's gonna be, I think it's gonna be a healing process for all of us."

Jordison has spent the past few months touring with his new project SCAR THE MARTYR, whose self-titled debut album came out in October.

Jordison joined SLIPKNOT in 1995 when the band was called THE PALE ONES. He was the third of the band's eventual nine members to become part of the lineup.

Jordison has also been the lead guitarist for the group MURDERDOLLS, and has performed as a touring drummer for ROB ZOMBIE, KORN and MINISTRY. He even played for METALLICA one time when Lars Ulrich fell ill.

Interview (audio)

Germany's VOICES OF DESTINY have released the following statement regarding the departure of their long-time vocalist, Maike Holzmann:
"During the last few months an uncomfortable feeling arose that some change needs to be done within the band. Last week we have finally come to the conclusion that there is no other way but to perform this important step right now: We decided to separate from our long-time singer Maike.

This is due to the different directions Maike and we were heading for and the different attitudes with which we worked on this project. In the end the whole band thing is intensively based on personal feelings and we didn't feel these one hundred percent of passion and fellowship anymore like we used to.

This wasn't an easy call for us to make. But yet we are certain that it was the right one if we want to make progress. Maike has been a member of this band for eight years. We would like to thank her for all the moments we shared during that time and wish her just the best for the future.

Anyway, the work on our new album will continue with full force! We're so excited to present you our new material as soon as possible. Great times are about to come! With the best wishes and rock on!"

Stay tuned for updates.

Following the recent unveiling of their latest long player, A Black Sea, St. Louis doom metal night stalkers, THE LION'S DAUGHTER, spew forth ‘Gods Much More Terrible’. A fully collaborative effort between The Lion's Daughter and somber folk collective/fellow St. Louis occupants, INDIAN BLANKET, A Black Sea is a torrid sound collage of dark and light recorded, mixed and mastered by Gabe Usery (FISTER) at Encapsulated Studios in St. Louis.

Comments guitarist/vocalist Rick Giordano: “‘Gods Much More Terrible' was actually the very first song that The Lion's Daughter ever wrote back in 2007. As we continued writing, songs became faster and more intricate, and this song got left in the dust. We always liked it but were never sure exactly what to do with it until (Indian Blanket vocalist/guitarist/banjoist) Joe Andert began playing his banjo along to an old recording. Together with Joe we built a new song on top of the skeleton of the first song we had ever written. The song is set in an old western town facing the apocalypse. It's the idea of civilized but somewhat primitive people facing a blazing disaster they cannot understand and placing responsibility on the only thing they know to fall on; God. Whether that refers to their Christian God, something more sinister, or just the power of Mother Nature is left open to interpretation. But the basic premise was something like the ending of High Plains Drifter with a small old town in a panic as it burns to the ground. It's a bit of an epic, but worth journeying through the inferno to the ending when the sky opens and swallows you whole. I also think that lyrically, it's a perfect blend of both bands... Old West meets the Apocalypse.”
A Black Sea is officially available via the Good Die Young Music webstore. This LP is a two-hundred-fifty pressing with fifty limited edition, all white pressings available and includes a digital download of the album with bonus track, ‘Moonshiner’.

COSMIC INFUSION is an atmospheric/symphonic black metal band from Mumbai, India. One of the premier bands from India in their style of music, Cosmic Infusion was reformed early 2012 after initially being in existence from 2003-2007. Drawing influences primarily from Norwegian style of black metal, Cosmic Infusion was formed to create a pure blend of Symphony and extreme metal music. Cosmic Infusion live is an enthralling experience with its raw energy and the emotions depicted through its music.
After having recently released the self-titled debut EP earlier this year, Cosmic Infusion was signed onto Transcending Obscurity India for their next full-length album release. Cosmic Infusion will now be releasing their very first DVD, one of the very first DVDs by an Indian metal band and the first DVD by an Indian Black Metal Band entitled Rise Of The Funeral Smoke Cosmic Infusion Live in Mumbai.

The DVD has been video edited by Aseem Momin. Audio mixing/editing by Nakul Rathod, Amnish Lohire. Artwork/Layout was by Srinivas Naidu, Shalini Jha and photographs by Satya Naren.
Promo video below:
For more info visit Facebook.

Berlin-based metallers THE OCEAN have announced a new guitar player. The band's statement reads as follows:

"We're happy to announce that Damian Murdoch will be our new guitarist for all upcoming shows and tours next year. 32 years old, Australian born and bred but living in Vienna (and soon moving to Berlin), Damian is currently teaching guitar and playing songs with titles such as "The Final Absturz" with his instrumental blues band, the DAMIAN MURDOCH TRIO. We like that.

He also surely knows how to play heavy stuff though. Here's the vid that first caught our attention:
… and that's the audition clip that made us invite him to Berlin to rehearse with us:
… and so we did, and found Damian to be not only a great guitar player who knew our stuff in and out, but also a fun dude to hang and drink with - and there we go, that's it, decision made! Ocean 3.0 is now complete. Tour announcements coming up next week!"
On the heels of three long months of touring (North America, Asia, Russia) in support of their latest album, Pelagial, The Ocean have announced that their triple-DVD release, Collective Oblivion, will be released one month later than originally planned. Fans will be able to buy their copies in stores and on-line on December 10th.
Collective Oblivion includes:

- Three full live concerts with a total of 21 individual song performances
- 130 minutes of The Ocean history, as told by band members, past and present
- 175 minutes of tour documentaries and live footage filmed in North America, Asia, Russia, Australia, and Europe
- Total run time of over 500 minutes

View the trailer for Collective Oblivion below:

After more than 10 years on hiatus, veteran rock band GUARDIAN has returned to the music scene with a new record, "Almost Home", and brand new rock single entitled "The Real Me", which will be released through digital music outlets on December 13.

More than two years in the making, the "Almost Home" project reunites all original GUARDIAN members: vocalist Jamie Rowe, guitarist Tony Palacios, bassist David Bach, and drummer Karl Ney. The album was produced by veteran guitarist Jamey Perrenot (LeAnn Rimes, Taylor Swift), who also recently joined GUARDIAN for a reunion tour of Latin America.

The Kickstarter-funder project was not without drama as the band struggled to regroup creatively after so many years apart.

"This new record was a marathon… definitely not a sprint," said Bach. "With lots of stops and starts along the way…and a few epic band fights thrown in for good measure."

Recorded in Perrenot's studio in the Nashville area, the album shows the band returning to their hard rock roots while still retaining the acoustic sensibilities of previous releases.

"Jamey Perrenot brings a whole new dimension to GUARDIAN," Bach added. "His acoustic prowess and innovative production really bought out a new chapter in GUARDIAN and we think these are possibly some of the best songs we have ever written."

Originally slated for a 2012 release, the album went through continued delays as the group labored to break new musical ground without riding current trends or fads.

"It was actually a bit like training for a prize fight," Bach said. "Things got more intense as we finished the record. I think that the first single 'The Real Me' embodies that struggle. It's about breaking free and shedding the layers that we all pile on ourselves trying to fit in somewhere. Musically, its loud guitars in your face. It's definitely the opening bell."

"The Real Me" is available on Friday, December 13 through iTunes and all major digital stores. The official lyric video can be seen below.

Following the news that they've enlisted French soprano Clémentine Delauney and Austrian singer Siegfried Samer, former VISIONS OF ATLANTIS singer Maxi Nil has issued the following statement:

"I remember the first time I got on a plane to Austria almost 5 years ago, and as the plane was taking off, I was filled with happiness and excitement!...This flight was a beautiful journey, full of great times, and I got to meet beautiful people,make good friends and play around the world. Now Visions of Atlantis wish to go back to their roots- reunite with some of the old members and play the music they used to play when they first started, something that fills them up with energy and makes them really happy.This is a decision I really respect and support. However, my motto in life is to be true to yourself and the ones around you, so I've decided to follow my heart and play the music that I have always loved, because to do otherwise would be unfair to Voa and to you, our friends and supporters. This means that I'm no longer the singer of VOA, and my place will be given to my dear friend Ms. Clémentine Delauney and I'm sure she will do a great job as the new frontlady of the band. I wish them all another great new beginning to their journey, and I thank them from the bottom of heart for everything. As for me...I'm embarking on the project I?ve always had in my soul, a band called Jaded Star Official, which will be a true reflection of ME as an artist. It is something different from what you?ve heard from me in the past, and I think you will enjoy it very much!Our debut album will be ready in early 2014. So this is not an end, only a different beginning, for VoA, Clementine and myself- We are all thankful for your support, and look forward to bringing you wonderful new music!"

Deep in the forests of Sweden, a long trip into the southern countryside and in the small village of Linneryd, ENTRAILS guitarist Jimmy Lundqvist has resurrected the old converted woodshed that the band used as rehearsal room in the 90's. Behind these walls he was making some nasty riffs during the early 90's until the band was put to sleep.

It has now become a studio/rehearsal room for the band where they can record all their music including the drums, instead of hiring a studio to record drums. But it doesn't end there; when Jimmy was done with the studio, he was so inspired that he basically locked himself in and wrote music for days.
Comments Lundqvist: "These walls have some cool memories and bring me in the mood to create, so it was a good decision to renovate that room and make it a studio combined with a rehearsal room. It took me some weeks during the summer to fix the room and of course I had friends helping me until it was done. Finally we have our own studio which will help us a lot in being even more creative."

Entrails have gathered to rehearse and will soon begin the recordings for their fourth album.

And the Swedish death metal machine have more to offer. "We will work a bit harder to do more shows in 2014 and so far we already have a few confirmed. More to follow soon!"

Live dates:

February
22 - München, Germany - Feierwerk (with Fleshcrawl, Deserted Fear, Revel In Flesh, Lifeless)
28 - London, England - The Unicorn

March
1 - Manchester, England - FOAD Fest @ Sound Control
2 - Oxford, England - The Wheat Shearf

May
22 - New York, NY - Saint Vitus Bar
23-25 - Baltimore, MD - Maryland Deathfest

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