The stepfather of LOSTPROPHETS singer Ian Watkins has spoken to the Daily Mail about being "devastated" to hear about his son's "heinous" crimes against children, expressing his fear that Watkins will be remembered as a "Jimmy Savile character".

Watkins appeared in court in Cardiff, Wales on Tuesday (November 26) and pleaded guilty to a number of child-sex charges including attempting to rape a baby. Two female co-defendants, who cannot be named, also admitted to numerous child-sex offenses.

Watkins' stepfather, church minister John Davies, told the Daily Mail: "Ian was loved, cherished, encouraged and nurtured. We did our best. He was a normal happy young lad who grew up in the Valleys in a loving family which had no more problems than anybody else has."

He added: "I don't know how this will turn out. I don't know whether he will be remembered for years to come as somebody infamous and evil — like a sort of Jimmy Savile character. I hope not.

"I hope something will happen to change that perception of people. Time will tell. We're going to do our best to support him and hope for the best, that's all we can do."

Speaking about his family's horror at the charges read out in court in Cardiff yesterday, Davies said: "It was devastating. We thought, 'there must be some mistake here. There must be some reason for this. There's no way that this is true... We just left the magistrates' court in a state of absolute despair and shock."

Meanwhile, former call girl Joanne Majic — who says she has had an on-off relationship with Watkins from 2006 — claims she went straight to the authorities when he confided in her about his desire to have sex with children. She tells the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Everything changed for us when he confided in me that he wanted to abuse children in 2008. I went straight to South Wales Police then and made a complaint but they ignored me and said I needed evidence. I warned them this man was a danger to young kids but I think they thought I was just a troublemaker.

"I couldn't believe how indifferent the police were, it was like they were taking his side and dismissing me as some stalker. I told Ian I had gone to the police and we argued but he was so cocky, he did not think the police would touch him and he was right."

German melodic metallers FREEDOM CALL will release their new studio album, "Beyond", on February 24, 2014 in Europe and March 4 in North America via SPV/Steamhammer. The 14-song effort was recorded at Separate Studios in Nuremberg and FREEDOM CALL's own studio and was produced by guitarist/vocalist Chris Bay and Stephan Ernst.

Comments Chris Bay: "Stylistically, we have remained faithful to ourselves. In fact, we've even returned to a slightly more traditional direction. I think that's probably the result of recent tours, where we had lots of fun with the classic FREEDOM CALL numbers, which not only a lot of our faithful fans from the band's early days will appreciate."

Along with the album release, there will be a video for the song "Union Of The Strong". Other tracks featured on the CD include "Knights Of Taragon" and "Colours Of Freedom", which is described as "a typical FREEDOM CALL number."

"'Dance Off The Devil' — the 'off' is consciously spelled with a double 'f' — with its African rhythms and mystic grooves may sound slightly unusual, but it perfectly suits the album title, which is meant in a spiritual sense," adds Bay.

"Beyond" was recorded by FREEDOM CALL's current lineup consisting of Chris Bay (guitar, vocals), Lars Rettkowitz (guitar), Ilker Ersin (bass) and Ramy Ali (drums).

For the second time in six years, German rapper Bushido (real name: Anis Mohamed Youssef Ferchichi) is accused of having "stolen" music from the black metal band DIMMU BORGIR, this time for his new song "Leben Und Tod Des Kenneth Glöckler" (English-language translation: "Life And Death Of Kenneth Glöckler").

Bushido's track — which will appear on his upcoming album "Sonny Black" (due in February 2014) — allegedly borrows the musical theme from the DIMMU BORGIR cut "Dimmu Borgir", which is featured on the Norwegian group's 2010 CD "Abrahadabra".

You can hear both songs below.

DIMMU BORGIR in 2007 threatened to sue Bushido for allegedly using melodies from the band's songs on his albums without permission.

DIMMU BORGIR manager Yvette Uhlmann stated at the time: "The band was contacted via the Internet and was told that Bushido had stolen the melody of their song 'Mourning Palace' and that he used it in his song 'Mittelfingah'. Since we were not contacted by Bushido through proper channels and told about his desire to do this, it is clear that Bushido has seriously infringed our intellectual property rights."

DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Silenoz was quoted as saying: "If the German rapper in question does not agree to compensate us adequately, we will sue him! Whoever crosses us will face serious consequences."

Bushido was also accused of having stolen music from the American gothic group NOX ARCANA. Bushido allegedly copied music from three of the band's songs: "Beyond Midnight" (used by Bushido on "Weißt Du?" ), "No Rest for the Wicked" (used by Bushido on "Kurt Cobain") and "Cthulhu Rising" (used by Bushido on "Blaus Licht"). Bushido allegedly took NOX ARCANA's recordings, including the complete melodies, arrangement and instrumentation, then simply rapped over the music. He also registered the songs as his own.

Norwegian black metallers ISKALD will release their new album, "Nedom Og Nord", on January 14 in Europe via Indie Recordings.

According to a press release, "this new masterpiece is a tribute to their artic, majestic and dark home — the northern part of Norway. ISKALD ('ice cold' in English) makes you feel like you're alone on the top of an iceberg in the middle of an artic storm!

"'Nedom Og Nord' is by far [ISKALD's] most epic album to date, containing six long masterpieces, each with different lyrical themes.

"This is their first Norwegian-entitled album, in which half of the lyrics are based on their mother tongue.

"And finally, their self-titled song 'Iskald' was finished and put on the new record. It's a monumental hymn dedicated to the surroundings and people of their home; Nordland."

"Nedom Og Nord" track listing:

01. A Fading Horizon02. Underworldly03. Iskald04. The Silence05. Nidingsdåd06. Nedom og Nord

According to NME.com, HMV has confirmed that it will no longer sell any releases by LOSTPROPHETS following the report that the group's lead singer, Ian Watkins, has pleaded guilty to 13 sexual offenses, including two of attempting to rape a baby.

A spokesperson for the high-street retailer, which currently operates 140 stores in the United Kingdom, said that it will not sell any of the band's music in stores and online, and that staff have been directed to remove stock from shelves.

Although Watkins denied charges that he raped a 11-month-old child, he admitted to two counts of attempted rape. The 36-year-old musician also admitted to sexually assaulting at least one child under the age of 13, aiding and abetting a female unnamed co-defendant to sexually assaulting a child under age 13, and conspiring to rape a child under the age of 13.

LOSTPROPHETS announced in October that they were splitting up, explaining in a statement, "After nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache, we finally feel ready to announce publicly what we have thought privately for some time. We can no longer continue making or performing music as LOSTPROPHETS. Your love and support over the past 15 years has been tremendous, and we'll be forever grateful for all you've given us. As we look forward to the next phase of our lives, we can only hope to be surrounded by people as devoted and inspiring as you guys have been." LOSTPROPHETS formed in 1997 and have sold 3.5 million albums in their 16-year career. They scored a No. 1 hit at Modern Rock radio in 2004 with the track "Last Train Home".

Since the comeback of JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR in 2009 with the brilliant studio album called "Defiance", both band's career and Jack Starr's (ex-VIRGIN STEELE) solo career have been on the rise. In 2010 the band signed with Limb Music, the German label who promptly released next studio album, "Land Of The Dead", in 2011. The LP received rave reviews and is considered by many to be one of the best albums of 2011. The album featured the exact same lineup as "Defiance", including the fiery drumming of the ex-MANOWAR drummer Rhino, the spot-on vocals of Todd Micheal Hall and the solid bass playing of Ned Meloni — longtime member and songwriting contributor of the band — and guest appearances by Ross The Boss (ex-MANOWAR, SHAKIN' STREET, DICTATORS) and David Shankle (ex-MANOWAR, DSG). One year later, Skol Records reissued the legendary and classic second BURNING STARR album "No Turning Back!" from 1986, with brand new front cover artwork, and which is often listed as one of the very best U.S. power metal albums.

The recent activities of Jack Starr also include guest solos on new album of the Australian band DRAGONSCLAW, Lebanese band ZIX, where he played on a track with former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin, and various compilations, including the Italian tribute album to STRANA OFFICINA, and Texas metallers WITCHMARK's debut album. Earlier in 2013, BURNING STARR recorded live DVD at the Keep It True festival in Germany. 2013 also saw the re-release of "Out Of The Darkness", the much-acclaimed solo album from 1984 that featured Jack Starr and Rhett Forrester — former singer of RIOT, and members of THE RODS and RAINBOW. Even more reissues are planned for this year: the two legendary PHANTOM LORD albums and DEVIL CHILDE mini album, that were recorded in the '80s by Jack Starr with Ned Meloni (another JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR member) and Joe Hasselvander (RAVEN, PENTAGRAM), will be reissued by Italian label Minotauro Records. In 2014, another reissue will see the light of the day: the ultra-rare self-titled album from 1989 (so-called "The Orange Album"), will be released in CD format in its original form first time ever, with all tracks recorded during that particular session — mastered from the original tapes — and with fat booklet with many previously unseen photos.

Jack Starr and the boys have been busy, but the real news is the impending release of an all new original album, scheduled for 2014, entitled "Stand Your Ground", which promises to be a fire-breathing monster of an album. As Jack has said in a recent interview: "Some bands from the Eighties lose steam and make albums that are less and less powerful as the years go by. BURNING STARR does the opposite: as the years go by, our albums are getting heavier, better played and feature stronger songwriting."

BURNING STARR will be back in Europe in 2014 playing festivals and clubs in a full tour that promises to see the band doing what it does best: delivering classic U.S. power metal with virtuoso playing and melodic songwriting that rocks.

Finnish melodic rockers MYON are back with the new lead singer, the one and only Marco Mannermaa. The new single 'Chains Of Society' / 'How Does it End' is the first release with the new lineup, and shows once again their very unique way of connecting interesting and very complex musical textures to very catchy vocal melody lines, and making it sound at the same time very unique, fresh and modern.
“'Chains Of Society' is basically pure progressive rock served in a today’s pop form, with a very catchy riffs and chorus line. It also displays Marco’s very charismatic sound and presence, that song will expand the concept of modern rock ‘n roll”, says the band’s leader Mika Pohjola.

Myon has also released a music video for 'Chains Of Society', which is streaming below:
The band's new album, Vitalworks will be released 2014... more information later.
Myon are:

Marco Mannermaa - Vocals
Mika Pohjola - Keyboards
Jyrki Laiho - Guitar
Keijo Koivikko - Bass
Matti Torro - Drums

More on Myon at Facebook.

Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G. has signed a worldwide solo deal with Century Media Records. Well known in rock and metal circles for his work as OZZY OSBOURNE's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, Gus G. will make his solo debut with the release of "I Am The Fire" in spring 2014.

Says Gus G. of the signing: "Loyalty is a very important thing in the music business, and for me it just felt natural to trust my first solo effort to the hands of the record company that has been loyal, supportive, and has helped build my career for more than 11 years now — a label that I truly feel as a family. Thank you, Robert Kampf, Leif Jensen, Antje Lange, Don Robertson, Steve Joh, Jens Prueter, Nasrin Vahdani, Paul Gargano and the rest of the Century family! I truly feel blessed to be a part of CM history and look forward to exploring new territories with this new album!"

Century Media founder and owner Robert Kampf adds: "'I Am The Fire' is going to be another display of the amazing talent Gus G. possesses. We at Century Media are proud to work with a player and songwriter of his class and status, as well as the fantastic new album that Gus has crafted. Horns up!"

"I Am The Fire" was mixed by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR, STEEL PANTHER) and was recorded between Los Angeles and Gus' home country of Greece through the latter half of 2013. A few of the album's tracks include "Eyes Wide Open", "Redemption", "End Of The Line" and "Blame It On Me". The album showcases a well-balanced mix of active rock, classic hard rock, traditional metal and guitar-driven instrumentals, taking listeners on a diverse journey and opening doors to Gus G.'s soulful playing. Guest musicians and vocalists will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Gus G. has had an amazing rise within the worldwide rock and metal scenes and has amassed an impressive body of work, both in studio and touring. He emerged as an up-and-coming talent with the groups DREAM EVIL, MYSTIC PROPHECY and NIGHTRAGE, but it is his work with his own band FIREWIND (who have released seven studio albums and two live releases) and as a member of Ozzy Osbourne's band that have helped him emerge as one of the world's top metal and rock guitarists. His work on Ozzy's "Scream" album led to a Grammy nomination in 2010, and his list of accolades includes Guitar Player magazine's "Best Metal Guitarist," the "Dimebag Darrell Shredder" award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, and Metal Hammer Greece "Best Guitarist" on three separate occasions.

Finnish death metallers WHORION will release their debut EP, "Fall Of Atlas", on January 17, 2014 via Eternal Sound Records.

Formed in 2009, WHORION's musical mission was "to make metal that breaks bones, but at the same time having powerful symphonic elements."

After few years of composing, material started to come together. In 2013, guitarist Iiro Illman and bassist Dorian Logue joined the band. The lineup was completed with the addition of Ari Nieminen on vocals.

WHORION is:

Ari Nieminen - VocalsEp Rautamaa - Vocals/GuitarIiro Illman - Guitar/Backing VocalsDorian Logue - Bass/Backing Vocals

Session members:

Vili Itäpelto - Synth/OrchestralJussi Kirves - Synth/OrchestralUkri Suvilehto - Session Drums ("Fall Of Atlas" EP)

Swedish heavy rockers GRAND MAGUS will release their seventh album, "Triumph And Power", on January 31, 2014 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to last year's "The Hunt" was recorded with producer Nico Elgstrand and engineer Staffan Karlsson (ARCH ENEMY, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS) at Studio Sweetspot in Halmstad.

The official "Triumph And Power" trailer can be seen below. The track listing for the CD is as follows: 01. On Hooves Of Gold02. Steel Versus Steel03. Fight04. Triumph And Power05. Dominator06. Arv07. Holmgång08. The Naked And The Dead09. Ymer10. The Hammer Will Bite11. Blackmoon (bonus track) Commented the band: "'Triumph And Power' has been completed. It's a metal triumph of Viking power!!!

"Once again we worked with Nico Elgstrand as producer, a tradition that started with 'Hammer Of The North' back in 2010.

"This is our strongest album yet. It has the northern feel, it has the power and the melody that has become our mark of excellence.

"Fans of true metal will take this album to their hearts. To top everything off, we have the striking and epic artwork of Anthony Roberts.

"The album cover perfectly captures the work on this album and GRAND MAGUS as a band." Due to family obligations and work commitments, drummer Sebastian "Seb" Sippola left GRAND MAGUS last year.

Fan-filmed video footage of SCAR THE MARTYR's November 17 performance at Concrete Street Amphitheater in Corpus Christi, Texas during the "Night Of The Living Dreads" tour with KORN and ROB ZOMBIE can be seen below.

SCAR THE MARTYR's self-titled debut album sold around 3,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 129 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was made available on October 1 via Roadrunner Records.

Recorded at Sound Farm Studios in Des Moines, Iowa, SCAR THE MARTYR's album was helmed by Rhys Fulber, whose production and mixing credits include FEAR FACTORY, ROB ZOMBIE, MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY and more. The CD was written by SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison and lead vocalist Henry Derek Bonner (BLOOD PROMISE), and joining them in the studio were keyboardist Chris Vrenna (NINE INCH NAILS), as well as Simon and Norris, who collectively handled all lead guitars on the album.

In addition to Jordison and Bonner, SCAR THE MARTYR's current touring lineup features guitarists Jed Simon (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Kris Norris (DARKEST HOUR), keyboardist Joey Blush and bassist Kyle Konkiel (IN THIS MOMENT).

"With this project, I focused my efforts on writing for the better of the song," said Jordison. "I wasn't worried about flash or persona... It's all about writing a good solid song. I'm writing music that people can grasp and hold on to...something that resonates. If you don't have that, then you have nothing."

"I'd been working on new SLIPKNOT material since the end of the 'All Hope Is Gone' tour cycle, but I ended up with so much stuff I had to take a step back and stop working on it," he explained to Metal Hammer magazine. "The time wasn't right. But I came up with a bunch of material that was really killer and heavy and started taking some of it in a different direction. I started focusing on a lot of the post-punk and industrial stuff that I've always loved and started putting super heavy and brutal guitars over the top of it. That's how it started. It's taken me a couple of years to get to this point, but I can honestly say this is the most satisfied I've ever been in the studio."

Ron Fauth Rockography has uploaded video footage of the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE performing the song "Cold" at the fourth annual Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards, which was held on August 25 at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Check it out below.

Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE now features Tate along with guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and the band's latest additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET).

"Frequency Unknown", the new album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, sold around 5,500 copies in its first week of release in the United States to land at position No. 82 on The Billboard 200 chart. Issued on April 23, the CD was produced by Jason Slater at a studio in Northern California.

"Frequency Unknown" is packaged with bonus tracks — four QUEENSRŸCHE classics, newly recorded, including the smash hit single "Silent Lucidity". Guest musicians on the CD include K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST), Chris Poland (MEGADETH), Ty Tabor (KING'S X), Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS), Lita Ford, Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER), Dave Meniketti (Y&T) and Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN).

BODY COUNT, the metal band fronted by legendary rapper Ice-T, has begun recording the vocals for its new album, "Manslaughter", for a 2014 release via Sumerian Records.

BODY COUNT's last album, "Murder 4 Hire", came out in 2006 via Escapi Music. Lyrically, the songs ranged from political ("The End Game"), personal ("You Don't Know Me [Pain]"), and religious ("The Passion Of The Christ"), to obsession ("In My Head"), armegeddon ("Dirty Bomb"), hate ("Lies") and relationships. A eulogy for fallen band member D-Roc was also included ("D Rocs [RIP]") as was a hilarious take on deep south rednecks ("Down In The Bayou"). The CD closed with "Mr. C's Theme", a show-stopping hard-rock instrumental.

U.S. power/heavy metal veterans ATTACKER have laid down a cover version of the RIOT classic "Fire Down Under" that will appear on the Keep It True festival tribute album, to be released at the 2014 edition of the festival.

A one-minute preview of the track is available in the YouTube clip below.

ATTACKER's fifth album, "Giants Of Canaan", was released in February via Metal On Metal Records. The CD was recorded at Katalomi Studios in Jersey City, New Jersey and engineered and mixed by Pat "Taps" Guden and drummer Michael Sabatini. The effort was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York.

The "Giants Of Canaan" cover art was painted by Jowita Kaminska-Peruzzi (who has previously worked on covers from ATTACKER, EXODUS, WITCHBURNER, FORSAKEN, MELIAH RAGE, MANILLA ROAD, DECEASED, ARKHAM WITCH and others).

Fan-filmed video footage of American rockers NASHVILLE PUSSY performing three new songs — "Rub It To Death", "Everybody's Fault But Mine" and "Up The Dosage" — on November 19 in Florianópolis, Brazil can be seen below.

NASHVILLE PUSSY will release its new studio album, "Up The Dosage", on January 21, 2014 in North America, in Germany on January 17, 2014 and in the rest of Europe on January 20, 2014 via Steamhammer/SPV. It will be made available as a limited digipak edition (including two bonus tracks and a poster), double gatefold LP edition with colored vinyl, standard version and download.

According to a press release, "Up The Dosage" picks up seamlessly where their 2009 release "From Hell To Texas" left off. And what is more: the quartet's five-year hiatus seems to have done frontman Blaine Cartwright (vocals, guitar) and Ruyter Suys (guitars) good — all 13 new songs (plus two bonus tracks) sound like they were catapulted into to the public from a fountain of youth, rocking in typical PUSSY style. Blaine Cartwright is rightly proud of and unmistakably happy about the new material. "None of the previous NASHVILLE PUSSY albums have been as diverse and at the same time consistent," he said. "Everything sounds even bigger and better, yet raw and authentic through and through. This is our 'Back In Black'!" NASHVILLE PUSSY came together in 1996. Ever since, the band has been performing a strenuous annual gig marathon, touring with acts like LYNYRD SKYNYRD, REVEREND HORTON HEAT and ZZ TOP as well as playing festivals like Wacken Open Air. Classic albums such as "Let Them Eat Pussy" (1998), "High As Hell" (2000), "Say Something Nasty" (2002) and "From Hell To Texas" (2009) have caused an international stir, and their single release "Fried Chicken And Coffee" earned the band a Grammy nomination in the late Nineties in the category "Best Metal Performance."

Just in time for the holiday season, HATE ETERNAL bass maverick J.J. Hrubovcak vomits forth "Death Metal Christmas - Hellish Renditions Of Christmas Classics", a twistedly unholy rendition of some of the season's darkest hymns. Composed and produced by J.J. with vocals and artwork, by brother and MONSTROSITY throat Mike Hrubovcak, "Death Metal Christmas - Hellish Renditions Of Christmas Classics" was engineered by HATE ETERNAL mastermind Erik Rutan and J.J., mixed and mastered by Brian Elliott all at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and boasts five deformed Christmas classics. Far from a campy holiday metal record, "Christmas - Hellish Renditions Of Christmas Classics" comes replete with updated arrangements, blast beats, double bass drum battery, hellbound guitar solos and new lyrics with a purpose. A death metal record first and Christmas album second, the themes of the hymns were used as a foundation for the music and can mostly be heard in the right channel. Everything else was built around the theme — solo sections, intros, outros, harmonies, etc. It was important from the start that this album not be a joke, but a serious record that could survive outside of the Christmas season and thus the resulting symphony of sickness. Since many hymns written ages ago are dark in nature, they were obvious concept choices. The lyrics have been altered to portray a possible future outcome to mankind's current path and focus on Azrael, the angel of death in some Islam, Sikhism and Hebrew lore. The story follows a child (Azrael) born to a wealthy family heavily involved in politics throughout the generations. The child is not named Azrael but is infused with its spirit and is predestined by Abaddon (the Destroyer) to cleanse the earth of man though he does not know it yet. Azrael is never in the public eye nor is he ever elected to any position but is heavily involved in the family business of politics. He develops concepts for solutions to many of the world's problems and seduces world leaders into designating him the de facto authority on most major issues. The world leaders implement his "solutions" over the years as he slowly awakens to his own lust for power. He is so adept at manipulating men that they crown him king either in the public eye or behind the scenes. Once this king has total authority, he betrays the world leaders who realize that they've been misled for years. After systematically eliminating opposition, he turns on the entire human race. At this point, Azrael is fully self-actualized and carries out acts of suffering and death throughout the world in a way never before witnessed by mankind. Bear witness to the "Unrest For Melancholy Men (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)", the beginning of this torrid holiday tale that centers itself on Azrael's birth and foreshadows what's to come. J.J. elaborates: "At this stage in the story, the earth is in great turmoil, thus the melancholy men who can get no rest from their suffering. Cultures from around the world are looking for answers. The song lyrics basically warn the human race that this demon is now born and will seduce every last mind on this planet into altering their morals and convictions to suit his purpose unless man refocuses. He is not at all direct but very insidious." "Christmas - Hellish Renditions Of Christmas Classics" track listing:

01. Unrest For Melancholy Men (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)02. Earthen Kings (We Three Kings)03. Nutracker: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy04. Greensleeves05. O Come, O Come, Azrael (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)

The song "Earthen Kings (We Three Kings)" can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. Hrubovcak states: "At this point in the story, the kings of the world have already created regional unions to help them maintain a tighter grip over citizens and global policy. This was done at the behest of Azrael, under the guise of solving other smoke screen surface issues and has already caused suffering as a by-product of new policies. Little do they know, the greatest suffering is to come. The kings of the world are bringing alms to the new king (Azrael) and continually granting him more influence over policy until he is officially crowned (in public or behind the scenes) and turns on these kings."

"Death Metal Christmas - Hellish Renditions Of Christmas Classics" will be available for purchase on November 29, Black Friday. J.J. Hrubovcak is current bass player for HATE ETERNAL and can be heard on "Phoenix Amongst The Ashes", released on Metal Blade Records.

Hrubovcak has performed in numerous capacities over the years on lead and rhythm guitars, bass and drums. Prior to joining HATE ETERNAL in 2008, Hrubovcak played lead and rhythm guitars in DIVINE RAPTURE and VILE, drums in MOURNING, wrote the Metal Rules Radio theme song, played in black metal band ICE (IMPERIAL CRYSTALLINE ENTOMBMENT), and has performed with a host of other notable bands over the last two decades Mike Hrubovcak is current vocalist for MONSTROSITY and VILE and founder of avant-garde death metal act AZURE EMOTE. He's performed vocals and written lyrics in ABRAXAS and DIVINE RAPTURE and other acts over the years and is a renowned artist designing CD layouts, T-shirts, ads, etc for bands throughout the metal community including PATHOLOGY, RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER and GRAVE. His work has been featured in galleries, published in hard cover art books and used in feature film "Dream House".

Italian progressive doom sludgers VOID OF SLEEP have signed a new deal with Aural Music for the release of their second album, scheduled for late 2014.

A statement from the band: "Ladies and Gentlemen, important news on the horizon: Void Of Sleep are glad to announce the renewal of their worldwide deal with Aural Music, even for their second studio album! The decision is the result of both parts due to the mutual trust, the constant goal to grow more and more the band reputation and the excellent results achieved by the first record in just one year of cooperation. Void Of Sleep are starting right now to work hard on the new record material, which will probably be a concept album and it will be tentatively scheduled for late 2014."
Updates to follow. More on Void Of Sleep at Facebook.

Check out a video below of guitar legend MICHAEL ANGELO BATIO and Dave Reffett performing ‘Nuclear Blues’ at a clinic for Dean Guitars in Smithfield, RI at the Music Complex from November 19th.
Batio released his latest album, Intermezzo, was released on November 14th and features the following guests: GEORGE LYNCH (LYNCH MOB, ex-DOKKEN), Guthrie Govan (THE ARISTOCRATS), JEFF LOOMIS (ex-NEVERMORE), Michael Romeo and Mike Lepond (SYMPHONY X), Rusty Cooley, Dave Reffett, Craig Goldy (DIO, DIO DISCIPLES), Elliot Dean Rubinson (MICHAEL SCHENKER, ULI JON ROTH), Chris Poland (ex-MEGADETH), Andrea Martongelli (ARTHEMIS), Florent Atem, Alex Stornello, JOE STUMP (HOLY HELL, RAVEN LORD), Annie Grunwald (FORMLESS), Bill Peck, Maxxxwell Carlisle (HELLION), and Joe Rose.

CLEAVER has announced a release concert for their debut album, When There’s No More In Hell… (Dead Center Productions). The event will take place in Trondheim, Norway at the heavy metal bar Rock Heaven.

Cleaver will be supported by Norwegian death and thrash metal acts THE SICKENING and IRR.

Founded in 2009 by guitarist Øyvind (CHTON, ex-LUMSK) and drummer Espen (Chton,
ex-TELLUS REQUIEM) as homage to the great bands who paved way for extreme metal in the 80`s, Cleaver have already laid both the Inferno Metal Festival (2012) and Trondheim METAL Fest (2012) in ruins.

The band’s music can be likened to bands like BATHORY, VENOM and SODOM, with vocalist Ola (ex-THE SICKENING) screaming horrific tales of death, murder and rampage delivered by bloodthirsty zombie hordes.

The entry price is set to 50 Norwegian kroner (6 euro), with a special price for those who haven`t bought a hard copy of the album, 100 Norwegian kroner (12 euro) for both the entry and album.
The album can also be bought through the band itself or record label Dead Center Productions. When There’s No More In Hell… will be released on all major digital music stores (Spotify, iTunes, CDBaby, Amazon) on Saturday, December 7th.

When There’s No More Room In Hell… tracklisting:

‘Necro XXX’
‘Healing By Violence’
‘Eternity’s End’
‘The Stench Remains’
‘Fuel To The Flame’
‘The Death Will Walk The Earth’
‘Worship Denied’
‘Destroyer Of Worlds’
‘Demon Semen’

‘The Dead Will Walk The Earth’:
For more info visit here.

Dutch singer Floor Jansen of NIGHTWISH and REVAMP was recently interviewed by Germany's EMP Rock Invasion. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked if she is already involved in the songwriting process for the next NIGHTWISH studio album, Floor said: "I think it's more like it's always been. So Tuomas [NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen] is gonna start writing. And how it's gonna evolve later on, we'll see. But I don't feel the necessity of me being an active songwriting member, because the music is so good. It's about the songs and the music that goes first and not about my ego wanting to join like that. But if I can participate or add something with my creative input, of course I would love that. Of course, I have creative energy in me that needs to come out one way or another, but that's where REVAMP comes in."

Jansen was recently asked by Finland's Radio Rock whether she has spoken to her friend, former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen, about their shared experience of fronting the band and the circumstances that led to Tarja's departure from the group. "Not really. No," Floor replied. "Because I feel everyone is different. Time and times have been different. People grow, people change. And I don't wanna go down that road. I'd rather see what happens around me and be in the here and the now with the people I work with and don't go behind backs and [say], 'How was it for you? What happened?' You know. I don't do that."

Regarding whether she has any fears that, due to the band's troubled history with lead vocalists, her time with NIGHTWISH will not last very long, Floor said: "No. And whether this is in NIGHTWISH or in anything with anyone in everyone's lives, what guarantees do you have? So it's just about what you make of it and with the chemistry that you believe in. And I believe in the chemistry that we have today, 'cause it's been very strong since the beginning and grew to be better throughout the months. It's still a very recent thing. But what feels good now, that's where you should go from, and that's what I do."

NIGHTWISH will release a new DVD, "Showtime, Storytime", on November 29 as a limited 2Blu-ray + 2CD digipack, limited 2DVD + 2CD digipack, limited 2CD digipack, 2LP (colored) in gatefold and an exclusive Nuclear Blast mailorder edition.

"Showtime, Storytime" contains NIGHTWISH's entire August 3 performance at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. The show, which was played in the front of 85,000 screaming metalheads, was directed by Ville Lipiäinen, filmed with seventeen cameras and has a total running time of 85 minutes. The second disc consists of a 120-minute tour documentary, "Please Learn The Setlist In 48 Hours", also directed by Ville Lipiäinen, with no shortage of drama or overall madness. Also, there is a 16-minute NIGHTWISH Table Hockey Tournament, filmed on tour. In addition, there are two music clips: "I Want My Tears Back" (live at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland) and "Ghost Love Score" (live in Buenos Aires).

The Wacken Open Air appearance was the first of the three final shows of NIGHTWISH's "Imaginaerum World Tour", which saw the band and their Jansen playing 104 concerts in 34 different countries, with a total audience of over 1.5 million fans around the globe.

Jansen made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon.

Tuomas Holopainen has known Jansen for more than 10 years already, having previously toured with her former band, AFTER FOREVER.

In the December 2013 / January 2014 issue of Revolver magazine, MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy Kilmister was asked about the band's performance at this year's Wacken Open Air festival in Germany, which was cut short after six songs due to his health issues.

"It was strange," Lemmy explained. "The Wacken date was going really good and it sounded really good, too. And then I got this pain in my back that came out of nowhere and it was crippling. When you get to this age, stuff starts going on, y'know? There's nothing you can do about it. At this stage, things would be going wrong anyway, even without my history."

Asked if he has any plans to retire, Lemmy, who turns 68 years old in December, said: "No, I ain't done yet with the music. After I get better, we're gonna try to tour again, and if I can't do that full-on, I want to do another album with [the rockabilly band] HEAD CAT, and, of course, I want to do a couple more MOTÖRHEAD records. But the next thing I've got coming out is my solo album, which is almost done. I still want to do a track with [SKUNK ANANSIE vocalist] Skin before I put it out. There are two tracks with the REVEREND HORTON HEAT, two with THE DAMNED, a track with Dave Grohl [FOO FIGHTERS, NIRVANA], and a track with Joan Jett. Right now we're thinking of calling it 'False Teeth For The Deaf'. It's all just great rock and roll, that's the only way to describe it. Some of it is bluesy and some isn't. It's not MOTÖRHEAD, but obviously there are elements in common."

In a 2004 interview with Metal Maniacs magazine, Lemmy stated about his solo CD, "I've got two [songs recorded] with [German hard-rock band] SKEW SISKIN [reportedly titled 'Stand Upon The Mountain' and 'Don't Matter To Me' Ed.], which are fucking great! And I've got two with the REVEREND HORTON HEAT, some good psycho-metal-billy! I've got a track from Dave Grohl that I'm still sorting out and two tracks from THE DAMNED [including a cover of THE DAMNED's 'Neat Neat Neat']. That's with Dave and The Captain! Some good stuff."

It was previously reported that guitarist Jim Voxx of SKEW SISKIN, who own Berlin's Monongo studios, was producing/recording and mixing two of the songs for the project. A full horn section was recorded, a saxophone player, a blues piano player and a lot more.

Lemmy's health issues caused the band to cancel a number of European festival appearances this past summer — including shows in France, Germany and Russia. The dates were called off when doctors discovered an unspecified haematoma, a pool of leaked blood gathered in Lemmy's muscles. The legendary rocker is also suffering from Type 2 diabetes, diagnosed more than a decade ago, and has had a defibrillator fitted earlier this year to iron out the uneven bumps in his heart.

Lemmy takes two pills every day for his diabetes, which has affected the circulation in his legs. As a result, his legs stiffen and ache if he walks too far and his back hurts if he stands for too long.

Ulterium Records has announced the release of a limited 12-inch vinyl edition of the classic Rob Rock album "Rage Of Creation". The edition includes an insert with lyrics as well as brand new liner notes and album history written by Rob Rock. The edition is strictly limited to 300 copies and features new artwork by Felipe Machado Franco (BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, THEOCRACY). The release date is set to December 20.

"Rage of Creation" is available for pre-ordering at the Ulterium Records store.

Track listing:

Side A:

01. In The Beginning 02. The Sun Will Rise Again 03. One Way Out 04. Judgment Day 05. Streets Of Madness 06. Media Machine Side B:

01. Eagle 02. All I Need 03. In The Night 04. Never Too Late 05. Forever

In 2011, Gregor Mackintosh (PARADISE LOST) announced that he would go back to his death metal roots with his new band, VALLENFYRE. The level of expectation was set high with a lineup consisting of Hamish Glencross (guitar; MY DYING BRIDE), Scoot (bass; DOOM, EXTINCTION OF MANKIND), Adrian Erlandsson (drums; AT THE GATES, PARADISE LOST, THE HAUNTED) local friend Mully (second guitar) — and, of course, Gregor on vocals (for the first time in his career!). Their debut, "A Fragile King", was a reference to Gregor's father's (lost) battle with cancer; the harrowing, crusty death-doom found on the album was hailed as "a beast of a record" (Terrorizer) and "a sonic force that bites deep and hard" (Decibel). Simply put, "A Fragile King" is "old school to the bone" (Rock Hard). Two years and some exclusive live shows later, VALLENFYRE is pleased to announce that they will begin recording the follow-up to "A Fragile King" in January 2014 at GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts. Produced by Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, BLACK BREATH, NAILS), this currently untitled opus will see the crusty death-doom merchants take their sound to new extremes. Gregor Mackintosh comments: "We were very pleased with our debut album as a dirty mix of all our earliest death, doom and crust influences. On the follow-up, we want to take this much further and develop our own niche. It will be a stench-ridden, grim, face-melter that will separate the men from the boys." VALLENFYRE's second album is scheduled for a worldwide release in April 2014 via Century Media Records. VALLENFYRE is:

* Gregor Mackintosh (PARADISE LOST) - Vocals and Lead Guitar* Hamish Glencross (MY DYING BRIDE) - Rhythm and Lead Guitar* Mully - Rhythm Guitar* Scoot (DOOM, EXTINCTION OF MANKIND) - Bass* Adrian Erlandsson (AT THE GATES, PARADISE LOST, THE HAUNTED) - Drums

"Cathedrals Of Dread" video:

California-based rock quintet OF MICE & MEN will release its third studio album, "Restoring Force", on January 28, 2014 via Rise Records. The follow-up to the band's 2011's acclaimed release "The Flood" was recorded at House Of Loud in New Jersey and produced by David Bendeth (PARAMORE, PAPA ROACH, A DAY TO REMEMBER, BREAKING BENJAMIN).

"What happens after a disaster? What happens after 'The Flood'?" asks the band's frontman Austin Carlile. "You return to normal. You find balance again. That's what we felt like we were doing with this album. We wanted this record to bring equilibrium back to our band and music. We're letting everyone know that we're here to stay. We're 'Restoring Force'." Today the band also unveiled various "Restoring Force" pre-order bundles, including limited edition items such as a shell shaped pewter pendant necklace, autographed promotional posters, limited edition colored 12-inch LPs, and more. Visit www.ofmiceandmenofficial.com for more details. OF MICE & MEN recently announced that they will join BRING ME THE HORIZON for "The American Dream Tour" — an extensive run of North American dates that will kick off on February 3 in Orlando, Florida. Tickets for the tour are on sale now. "The Flood" was originally released on June 14, 2011 and received a re-release on July 24, 2012 and included four new tracks. "The Flood" debuted at No. 28 on The Billboard 200 chart and was hailed by the New York Times as "one of the year's most bruising rock debuts." Alternative Press called the album a "genuine statement of artistic purpose." Rock Sound declared the release "a truly memorable, hip-shaking face-breaker of epic proportions." To this date, "The Flood" has sold over 125,000 copies and has been streamed nearly 16,000,000 times on YouTube, making it one of the most successful releases in Rise Records' 22 years of operation. The band has brought their memorable live show to audiences around the world having sold out multiple headlining tours domestically and internationally. OF MICE & MEN is Austin Carlile (vocals), Alan Ashby (guitar), Valentino Arteaga (drums), Aaron Pauley (vocals / bass) and Phil Manansala (guitar).

A brand new song from Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE entitled "Raising Hell" was premiered on the November 18 edition of BBC Radio 1's "Rock Show" with Daniel P. Carter and will be released digitally on December 10.

The bandmembers, who only released their latest album, "Temper Temper", in March of this year, recorded and produced the track themselves at Metropolis Studios in between finishing touring America and before their U.K. arena tour, where they will debut the track live for the first time ever.

Says BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck: "'Raising Hell' is a beast of a tune which is definitely taking the next chapter of BULLET into a more intense, thrasher style of metal. We're super happy how it came out, especially as it was self-produced and can't wait to get the ball rolling on the next album. [It's] gonna be great to get back to an edgier heavy sound. Look out!!"

The official "Raising Hell" video can be seen below. The clip was directed, produced and edited by James Sharrock.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas told Billboard.com in a recent interview that the band has "already started writing for the next album, which is completely different from [this year's] 'Temper Temper'."

"It's definitely more of a step towards our first two records," Thomas said. "We always like to keep changing our records and our sounds and stuff. I think you have to change, otherwise it gets boring for us and the fans get bored. Look at all the great bands through rock history; they changed on all their albums — especially METALLICA. Their albums have always changed, and they're the biggest metal band ever. So we just want to keep changing and get to another level each time out."

Tuck told the U.K.'s Rock Sound magazine, "We're actually going to start working on the new record before the (U.K.) arena dates (in early December). We've got (producer) Terry Date coming over from America, we'd like to work with him, he'd like to work with us so we're gonna have a bonding session, write a couple of songs and see how it goes."

Date is known for working with heavier acts like PANTERA, WHITE ZOMBIE and DEFTONES, while BULLET's previous producer, Don Gilmore, is known for more commercial fare like LINKIN PARK.

Tuck said about hiring Date, "When we worked with Don, he was very much focused on chopping parts out and making things concentrated, now we want to work with someone who has worked with bands like PANTERA and DEFTONES, where that mentality was probably not in the game at all. We want someone to go 'it's not big enough' or 'it's not metal enough' and keep us focused on our talents."

Tuck told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he had no regrets about the band exploring its more melodic side on its last two albums. "The big thing that we've learned is, like, you're not gonna please everyone all the time," he said. "As long as you do what you want to do and the band is happy and you feel you haven't given away your integrity, you know, I don't really care if people go, 'Oh, it's not metal enough, it's not heavy enough.' It's like, that's not what we are."

The singer said that the band already has "four or five song ideas" ready to go, adding, "It's riff after riff after riff after riff so far. We're very much concentrating on musical ability, we're showing off basically! We pulled back a bit from it on the last couple of records, on this one if we do work with Terry Date, I think it'll be a no-holds barred display of what we're about."

"Temper Temper" entered The Billboard 200 album chart at No. 13 earlier this year. The latest single from the disc is "Dirty Little Secret".

Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK SABBATH's November 26 performance at Forum København in Copenhagen, Denmark can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. War Pigs 02. Into The Void 03. Under The Sun / Every Day Comes And Goes 04. Snowblind 05. Age Of Reason 06. Black Sabbath 07. Behind The Wall Of Sleep 08. N.I.B. 09. End Of The Beginning 10. Fairies Wear Boots 11. Rat Salad 12. Tommy Clufetos Drum Solo13. Iron Man 14. Dirty Women 15. Children Of The Grave

Encore:

16. Paranoid

According to The Pulse Of Radio, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi is not sure if making a follow-up to this year's reunion album, "13", would be a good idea for the group. Iommi said in Revolver magazine, "I don't know if that would be an anticlimax if we wrote another album. I'd like to, but we haven't actually spoken about it, you know? I don't know if that would be a good idea after this one, because this one's done so well. I'm sure we'd all like to do one. But I don't know. Maybe I should talk to the others about it." Bassist Geezer Butler added, "I really haven't thought about it. I'm just glad that we made this one. It can't be something where you go in and go, 'Well, that one was No. 1, so let's do another No. 1 album.' I think we'll know if we can do it or if we can't. If we have to force it, then we won't be doing it."

"13", the first SABBATH album in 35 years to feature Iommi, Butler and singer Ozzy Osbourne recording together, went No. 1 around the world, earning the band their first chart-topper ever in the U.S.

Ozzy said about the prospects of making another record, "I don't want to say there's going to be another album, because I don't want you to ask me in another year, 'What happened when you said you were going to do another record?' I'll leave it open. I'm open for anything. I have three albums to deliver of my own solo thing to my record label."

Ozzy added, "We'll all still be doing music. It's been a lot of fun doing it with BLACK SABBATH, and I'm not sorry at all for getting back together."

The making of "13" was marked by several dramatic events, including drummer Bill Ward's withdrawal from the project over a contractual dispute and Iommi's cancer diagnosis.

Butler told Revolver that he started writing a song for "13", called "Hanging By A Thread", that was inspired by Iommi's illness. He explained, "It was very much about dying, about giving your last breath and passing your spirit on." But the track didn't make it onto the album because, Butler said, "We never came up with the finished thing."

BLACK SABBATH will return to North America in 2014 for 10 shows that will be among the last in support of "13".

Reunited British rockers THE DARKNESS have released the new song "The Horn" as a download single.

The only new track that THE DARKNESS is currently playing on tour, it is available to download from iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon UK (cheapest single price) and other official download stores.

You can stream "The Horn" in the YouTube clip below.

THE DARKNESS is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its first album, "Permission To Land", by performing the CD in its entirety on the band's U.K. tour.

"Permission To Land" was released in 2003, hitting the No. 1 spot in the U.K. chart and winning "MasterCard British Album" at the 2004 Brit Awards (along with "Best British Group" and "British Rock Act").

Between 2003 and 2006, THE DARKNESS was honored with many awards and accolades; along with three Brit Awards, the band won an Ivor Novello in 2004 for "Songwriters Of The Year", four Kerrang! Awards, two Metal Hammer Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award and even an Elle Style Award in 2004 for "Most Stylish Band".

THE DARKNESS — Justin Hawkins (vocals/guitars), Dan Hawkins (guitars/backing vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass) and Ed Graham (drums) — resumed active service on the main stage of 2011's Download festival with their original lineup.

The band's latest album, "Hot Cakes", was released in August 2012 via Wind-Up (North and South America) and PIAS (U.K. and rest of the world). The CD was produced by Justin and Dan Hawkins with longtime collaborator Nick Brine and mixed by Bob Ezrin.

Hartke, one of the leading bass amplification manufacturers in the world, left a mark on Los Angeles' Fonda Theatre on November 9 at Bass Player LIVE! The company brought together some of music's finest players for an all-star tribute to bass legend Geezer Butler. The all-star lineup partnered vocalists Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) and Sebastian Bach (formerly of SKID ROW) with guitarists Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) and Chris Broderick (MEGADETH) alongside a collection of some of the most notable bass players in music today. Frank Bello (ANTHRAX), David Ellefson (MEGADETH), Rex Brown (KILL DEVIL HILL, PANTERA), Billy Sheehan (THE WINERY DOGS), JD DeServio (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY), Jason Newsted (NEWSTED, formerly of METALLICA) and Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, WHITESNAKE) rotated bass duties on a set list that consisted of some of BLACK SABBATH's most notable songs as well as some rarely performed gems. Drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) was sole timekeeper handling all of the drum parts for every song. The all-stars and attending crowd were even treated to a performance by the legend and Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Geezer Butler, grabbing the bass for SABBATH classics "Fairies Wear Boots" and "N.I.B."

Professionally filmed video footage of the "Fairies Wear Boots" performance can now be seen below. "The energy and excitement by everyone in the room was overwhelming. Looking out on that stage and seeing this amazing roster of musicians along with the honoree himself, Geezer Butler playing these classic songs up close and personal was awe-inspiring. We knew we were witnessing something special and looking out in the crowd, they knew it too," says Hartke's director of marketing, Mark Menghi. "I even saw Robert Trujillo of METALLICA in the crowd acting like a kid in the candy store when Geezer took the stage. Having the honor of presenting the Bass Player Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award to Geezer was easily one of the most memorable nights of my career and Hartke was glad to be a part of it." "This was the year metal took over Bass Player magazine! To honor Geezer Butler, THE quintessential metal bassist, was the pinnacle of dedication to our genre," explains MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. "To prove it, a congregation of the top ranking metal bassists and musicians were in the house, all to show our respect to Geezer for all of his remarkable contributions and songs that have been the soundtrack to our lives." "Terry 'Geezer' Butler is my number 1 influence and greatest teacher of electric bass," says Jason Newsted. "All true metal bassists look up to Geezer as a pioneer and Godfather of our chosen instrument. The best, ever."

In a recent interview with Loudwire, Newsted stated about Butler: "Geezer, for me — not really sure how to describe it. Somehow he just got his hooks into me. Maybe he did that with many other bass players too, but he was a lead bassist from the get go. BLACK SABBATH, there's a lot of space in those songs. There's a lot of room for everyone to go off and he was always doing that so supportive and so musical with the drums, very jazz-oriented rhythm section in BLACK SABBATH that just got super loud and heavy. Very progressive. So that was always a big influence on me, having the bass that loud up front like that. That attracted all of us."

He added: "Ever since I discovered Geezer and that he wrote most of the lyrics, and he was the guy that was really the driving force for the band, that was the greatest impression for me. Probably the first guy to inspire me to be that in all the bands I was in. From way back, any of those people that were the leaders as bassists. Lemmy. Steve Harris. Peter Baltes from ACCEPT. A lot of these cats. Any of these people that were leaders as bassists were a great influence on me. Geezer is the first on that list."

Asked what Butler's impact on him was, Taylor told ARTISTdirect: "I think one of the great things about Geezer Butler was his ear for how music could fit together. Between him and Tony Iommi, they wrote the bulk of that music. Unconsciously, growing up as a SABBATH fan, it made me realize that things didn't just have to follow musically. Things could fit on top of each other that maybe didn't sound like they could coexist. Then, you put them together, and you're like, 'Oh, wow!' There was such a dynamic virtue to the music. It's one of those things you almost take for granted. It's the difference between hearing SABBATH play live and seeing a band try to cover it because they never get it right. There's such a nuance there that is so different that you really don't understand it until you see the real thing. The impact for me was really about the complexity of the simplicity and making it feel unlimited with something as simple as the way the bass, the drums, and the guitar fit together, whether the singing was in it or not. I think that was a hell of a lesson for me, because it was the way I approached music as well. To hear another band do it and almost unconsciously give me that lesson, that was the one major thing about SABBATH I truly love and I think most people miss."

In a 2011 interview with For Bass Players Only, Geezer stated about his musical upbringing: "I had absolutely no formal musical education. I suppose my earliest musical experience happened when I was about 7 or 8 years old. Skiffle was big in England at the time and the bass players would make basses out of a tea chest, a broomstick and string. I had a toolkit for Christmas, so I made a 'guitar' from two pieces of wood, nails and rubber bands.

"My first real guitar was an acoustic, bought from a kid at school when I was 11. It had two strings and cost ten shillings (about seventy-five cents). I used to play BEATLES vocal melodies on it, no chords. Eventually, my brother saw how serious I was about learning to play and he bought me a new guitar, complete with six strings, for eight pounds (about twelve dollars), when I was 13. I learned to play chords, mainly BEATLES songs, with the help of Bert Weedon's 'Play In A Day' book.

"I formed a group with some schoolmates and we called ourselves THE RUUMS. I eventually bought an electric guitar, a Hofner Colorama, and an amp, a Selmer. We played a few birthday parties and a wedding. The guitarist, Roger 'Dope' Hope, and I wanted to get serious about the band, so we replaced the drummer and bass player, recruited a vocalist and started playing heavier, blues-orientated stuff and changed the name to THE RARE BREED. We played around Birmingham at proper gigs, but we were never asked back because of our outlandish (for then) stage act. We were so desperate for gigs, we temporarily changed the name to THE FUTURE, but when we turned up at gigs, the promoter would recognize us and refuse to let us play. Finally, the singer left to be replaced by Ozzy [Osbourne]. We did one or two gigs, then disbanded."

British heavy metal legends SAXON have released their brand new video. "Frozen Rainbow" (acoustic version) is a special reworking of a classic SAXON tune from the band’s 1979, self-titled debut album, taken from their new collection "Unplugged And Strung Up". Chec kit out below (courtesy of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine).

SAXON's selection of unique, fresh and adventurous interpretations of material previously heard only with raw heavy metal thunder, "Unplugged And Strung Up" was released on November 18. The effort reveals layers and pieces previously dormant in many of the 14 classic SAXON songs chosen for this makeover, thanks to some ear-catching new arrangements and mixes. Recorded, mixed and mastered with Andy Sneap in Derbyshire, U.K. earlier this year, "Unplugged And Strung Up" contains re-evaluated, re-worked and re-energized versions of "The Eagle Has Landed" and "Crusader" by introducing orchestral dynamics to offer added dimension. "Frozen Rainbow", from the band's 1979 debut, gets a stunning acoustic reprisal which transports it into a power ballad to be proud of, while "Red Star Falling" soars and sweeps the emotions with its orchestrally arranged dovetail.

As if this reinvention wasn't enough, SAXON superfans and collectors can purchase a digipak version of the release which includes 2002's storming set of full-volume, pedal-to-the-metal re-recorded hits "Heavy Metal Thunder". Featuring staple SAXON stormers such as "Motorcycle Man", "Strong Arm Of The Law" and "Dallas 1pm", it is a quintessential part of any collection.

The standard single CD of "Unplugged And Strung Up" comes in a jewel case, and a double-vinyl gatefold sleeve version of the release is also available. The digipack is a two-disc version of the release featuring the bonus disc "Heavy Metal Thunder", and there was a digital release of the same.

"Unplugged and Strung Up" track listing:

01. Stallions Of The Highway (remix)02. Crusader (orchestral version)03. Battle Cry04. The Eagle Has Landed (orchestral version)05. Red Star Falling (orchestral version)06. Broken Heroes (orchestral version)07. Call To Arms (orchestral version)08. Militia Guard09. Forever Free (re-recorded version)10. Just Let Me Rock (re-recorded version)11. Frozen Rainbow (acoustic version)12. Iron Wheels (live acoustic version)13. Requiem (acoustic version)14. Coming Home (acoustic version)

"Heavy Metal Thunder" track listing:

01. Heavy Metal Thunder02. Strong Arm Of The Law03. Power & The Glory04. And The Bands Played On05. Crusader06. Dallas 1pm07. Princess Of The Night08. Wheels Of Steel09. 747 (Strangers In The Night)10. Motorcycle Man11. Never Surrender12. Denim & Leather13. Backs To The Wall

SILENT VOICES, the Finnish melodic metal band featuring SONATA ARCTICA keyboardist keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg and bassist Pasi Kauppinen, will release its new album, "Reveal the Change", on November 29 in Europe and December 3 in North America through Inner Wound Recordings. The CD, which features guest appearances by by Mats Levén (CANDLEMASS, ex-THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA), Mike Vescera (OBSESSION, ex-LOUDNESS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and Mike DiMeo (ex-MASTERPLAN, RIOT), was mastered by Ted Jensen (BON JOVI, DREAM THEATER, MEGADETH).

"Reveal the Change" track listing:

01. The Fear Of Emptiness02. No Turning Back03. Reign Of Terror04. Faith In Me05. Black Water06. Burning Shine07. Through My Prison Walls

The song "No Turning Back" can be streamed below.

SILENT VOICES recently announced the addition of vocalist Teemu Koskela (WINTERBORN) to the group's ranks. Teemu already fronted SILENT VOICES for three successful shows in the U.K. and Czech Republic earlier this year.

"The entire band and all the people we are working with are very excited about this new album," says the group. "We cannot wait for everyone to hear the new songs and to be back on tour again."

"Reveal the Change" can be pre-ordered at the Inner Wound Recordings store.