Oldenburg, Germany-based rockers MOB RULES are busy working on the "next big thing“ coming in 2014.

Says the band: "Did you know, next year is a remarkable milestone in the band's history: Mob Rules was founded in 1994 and will celebrate the bands 20th anniversary! Be aware and be excited!"
Mob Rules released their last album, Cannibal Nation, on October 19th, 2012 via AFM Records.
Mob Rules lineup:

Klaus Dirks - Vocals
Matthias Mineur - Guitars
Sven Lüdke - Guitars
Jan Christian Halfbrodt - Keyboards
Markus Brinkmann - Bass
Nikolas Fritz - Drums

Warner/Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has announced that it has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with renowned MEGADETH singer, songwriter, and guitarist Dave Mustaine. Effective immediately, Warner/Chappell will administer Mustaine's songwriting from MEGADETH's recently released album "Super Collider", as well as future songwriting. Mustaine said, "I am very excited about this new partnership with Warner/Chappell. I am glad to be reuniting with a hero of mine, Jon Platt, and industry legend Greg Sowders. I have never been happier." "As a singer, songwriter and guitarist, Dave Mustaine has virtually defined heavy metal music for the past three decades," said Jon Platt, President, Creative - North America, Warner/Chappell Music. "Since founding MEGADETH, Dave has built a body of work that serves as the benchmark for an entire genre. Today, MEGADETH remains a vital force, and Dave continues to rank among rock's most creative and influential musicians and composers. We are thrilled to welcome him to Warner/Chappell." In 1983, Mustaine founded MEGADETH and, in 1985, they released their first album which established the band as pioneers in the thrash metal movement. The band has since sold 50 million albums worldwide, including five consecutive platinum or multi-platinum albums in the U.S., while garnering 11 Grammy nominations. The band's 14th studio album, "Super Collider", was released this past summer and debuted at No. 6 on The Billboard 200 album chart. It was the first MEGADETH album to be released via Mustaine's own imprint, Tradecraft. Prior to MEGADETH, Mustaine was an early member of METALLICA. Before leaving the band in 1983, he had co-written a half dozen songs that would appear on the band's first two albums. In the video game arena, Mustaine composed the Grammy-nominated MEGADETH track "Sudden Death" for the 2010 release Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock. The game also featured two other Mustaine-composed MEGADETH songs: 1990's "Holy Wars… The Punishment Due" and 2009's "This Day We Fight!" Noted rock author/journalist Joel McIver ranked Mustaine No. 1 in his 2009 book, "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists", and 2010 saw the publication of Mustaine's New York Times bestselling autobiography, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir". Mustaine is also the organizer of the traveling heavy metal music festival known as Gigantour. Throughout MEGADETH's various personnel changes over the years, Mustaine has remained the band's sole constant member.

Seventh Circle Artworks last week announced a new piece for 2013, exclusively designed by Cristina Scabbia, the voice of LACUNA COIL.

Seventh Circle Artworks has been fortunate enough to work with some great musicians in the past and feels very fortunate to have collaborated with Cristina on this rather devilish piece.

In 2012, Seventh Circle Artworks designer Alex Palmer met with LACUNA COIL at the band's London show to do a photo shoot with Cristina. They got talking and the idea for her to design a piece became a reality. They have been working together over the last 12 months on a few designs, but as is always the way, the first idea was the best.

The "I'm No Saint" ring was born.

The sterling silver ring, designed by Cristina, will only be available in the official shop from December 2.

A closer look at the ring is available below.

LACUNA COIL is currently taking part in the "Tragic Illusion Tour" that celebrates PARADISE LOST's 25th anniversary.

LACUNA COIL has completed recording its new album with producer Jay Baumgardner (P.O.D., SEVENDUST, EVANESCENCE, PAPA ROACH) for an early 2014 release via Century Media Records.

Photo credit (above): Marie GC

Former RACER X guitarist Bruce Bouillet will release his third instrumental album, "The Order Of Control", on January 21, 2014 via Mascot Label Group's Music Theories imprint.

Bouillet has enjoyed a successful career for the past couple of decades as both a sought-after player and a fixture within the Los Angeles studio scene.

THE ORDER OF CONTROL is a new band featuring Bouillet, Dave Foreman (bass) and Glen Sobel (drums). Bouillet made the move towards instrumental music when conspiring creatively with Foreman about eight years ago. He offers, "Dave is a L.A. underground legend. He has played on more big albums then I can list, some of which include DJ Quick, Aaliyah, Tupac, Snoop Dog, Ice Cube and BOYZ II MEN. His main instrument is guitar, but he plays all instruments amazing. His bass playing on the new album is incredible, and even though he is known for more hip hop and R&B, his rock playing really brings something new to the table." Sobel is an L.A. based drummer who tours with ALICE COOPER, but has also played with BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and Orianthi. Bouillet has been through the exercise of crafting instrumental album releases three times now, and articulates with ease the benefits to approaching songwriting without vocals in mind. He offers, "Instrumental albums give me a chance to speak with the guitar 100%. Not that I'm some sort of control freak, but just like someone who paints a picture chooses the artistic outcome, I want my instrumental albums to be uniquely me, and since I am not a singer, it provides the right vehicle for me to express myself. That being said I do have a new vocal band in the works for 2014, so in a way I have the best of both worlds." The guitarist shares his inspiration comes from, "Life, family, friends, traveling, teaching, reading, hiking in the mountains, playing live, or from anyone at the top of their game be it music, sports, science, or art."

"The Order Of Control" is a concept album. Its theme deals with a force intermixed throughout humanity that manipulates the masses. In choosing titles, everything relates to the theme. Bouillet advises, "Sometimes you have to read into it and research." With the opening track, "Blind As We Watched", it makes reference to events that happen around us, right in front of our eyes but invisible to our sight. With "Seeing Through", these days information travels at an ever increasing pace. This title is in reference to disinformation or seeing through disinformation. What better way to spread confusion to the masses, then by adding one sentence of truth in a paragraph of lies, and letting the social networks do the work for you by spreading it around." A third track titled "The Manipulators" references "those that possess the power to remote view, communicate with telepathy, orchestrate street theater, read minds, and place thoughts. They are well trained and organized. They stalk individuals in groups, and use such things as schizophrenia as a weapon to destroy people. It is the perfect crime manipulating one into self destruction."

Guitarist Alex Lifeson of Canadian rock legends RUSH tells Billboard.com that the band is currently taking a break following the completion of the length world tour in support of the group's latest album, "Clockwork Angels".

"We've committed to taking about a year off," Lifeson says. "We all agreed when we finished this ('Clockwork Angels') tour (in early August) we were going to take this time off and we weren't going to talk about band stuff or make any plans. We committed to a year, so that's going to take us through to the end of next summer, for sure. That's the minimum. We haven't stopped or quit. Right now we're just relaxing. We're taking it easy and just enjoying our current employment."

Although there are no firm plans for RUSH to regroup anytime soon to begin work on its follow-up album, Lifeson tells Billboard.com: "We enjoy writing and working together and I wouldn't doubt that some time in the New Year we'll probably gravitate towards each other and start doing some writing."

He adds: "It's going to be interesting to see where we do go next. You know, the album is dying as a format. We're so used to it and we're so old school in that format, but will we get more mileage by doing a few new songs at a time, or do we do another album? It's hard to say what the future holds, and it's just changing so rapidly. It's always hard to speculate where you're going to go."

Together with Rounder Records, NCM Fathom Events brings a rare VIP concert experience to fans with the one-night cinema event "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" on Monday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m. local time. The "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" event is a celebration for passionate and loyal RUSH fans to experience a big screen taste of the band’s upcoming, long-anticipated DVD release and relive the tour. Pre-recorded in Dallas and Phoenix on the band's extensive "Clockwork Angels Tour", the 2013 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees perform such classics such as "Tom Sawyer", "The Spirit of Radio" and "2112" alongside newly arranged material featuring the Clockwork Angels String Ensemble, which marks the first time the trio has taken additional musicians on stage. This epic fan experience also features 25 minutes of exclusive, behind-the-scenes RUSH footage that includes interviews with all three members and offers a rare glimpse into the band’s touring life. Tickets for "Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" are available online at FathomEvents.com and at participating theater box offices. The event will be presented in more than 350 select movie theaters around the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.

For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events web site (theaters and participants are subject to change).

"Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour" will be released via Anthem/Roadrunner Records on November 19. Anthem/Zoe Vision/Rounder will simultaneously release the companion DVD.

"Shadow Of The Stone", the new video from Italian guitarist Aldo Giuntini's GIUNTINI project can be seen below. The song is featured on the GIUNTINI "Project IV" album, which was released on May 24 via Escape Music. The CD features lead vocals by none other than Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH), with the help of Ezio Secomandi (on drums), Dario Patti (on keyboards) and Fulvio Gaslini (on bass).

Regarding the six-year gap between the last two GIUNTINI albums, Aldo said: "My way of writing and producing the songs needs a lot of time. One could say I am a perfectionist, but when I have musical ideas for my guitar, I often have the other guys working with their own inputs: Also I need to have Tony Martin to work on the lyrics at the end, so this takes away a lot of time."

He added: "I wanted to have Tony again, because he is my favorite voice and I think that the blend of our styles is just perfect!

"'Project IV' continues the line of 'Project II', 'III', musically and I'm sure that who loved my second, and third work will appreciate the 'IV' album in the same way and more, since the production work is a lot improved this time and produced by Dario Mollo (MOLLO / MARTIN)."

According to a press release, "The sound of Giuntini's work is a combination of the warmth and the power of BLACK SABBATH's 'Headless Cross', 'Tyr', RAINBOW's 'Long Live Rock & Roll' and 'Rising' and DIO's 'Holy Diver' with energetic sound of LOUDNESS, the Japanese metal heroes! Giuntini's guitar playing is mainly influenced by Akira Takasaki, Vivian Campbell, Edward Van Halen, Jake E. Lee, John Norum and, of course, Yngwie Malmsteen."

GIUNTINI "Project IV" track listing:

01. Perfect Sorrow (3:08)02. Born In The Underworld (5:17)03. Shadow Of The Stone (3:58)04. Cured (4:08)05. I Don't Believe In Fortune (4:03)06. If The Dream Comes True (4:45)07. The Rise And Fall Of Barry Lyndon (4:33)08. Bring On The Night (4:20)09. Not The Jealous Kind (4:32)10. Saint Or Sinner (3:57)11. Last Station: Nightmare (5:19)12. How The Story Ends (4:24)13. Truth Never Lie (5:12)

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 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." The third in a series of video clips featuring footage from the studio can be seen below.

Due to family obligations and work commitments, drummer Sebastian "Seb" Sippola left GRAND MAGUS last year.

New Orleans sludge metal veterans CROWBAR have entered OCD Recording Studio in their hometown with engineer Duane Simoneaux to begin recording their tenth studio album for a 2014 release. The follow-up to 2010's "Sever The Wicked Hand" will be mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with HATEBREED, SOULFLY and SHADOWS FALL, among others.

Windstein exited DOWN in September in order to focus "100%" on CROWBAR. He was replaced in DOWN by the band's longtime stage manager and HONKY founding guitarist Bobby Landgraf.

"After 22 wonderful years, we are parting ways," Windstein said. "They will always be my brothers and I wish the best to all of them. We have created some bad-ass music together that we can all look back on and be proud of. All of our great times will never be forgotten."

With Windstein devoting 100% of his focus on CROWBAR, he is assuring fans that the sky is the limit. He continues: "CROWBAR is my heart and soul. The music is a part of me that I am extremely proud of.

"It's an amazing feeling to be putting all of my energy and focus into something that I created 25 years ago!

"We are extremely excited to record our 10th full length album and to bring the riffs to as many people as possible on tour."

CROWBAR recently announced the addition of bassist Jeff Golden to the group's ranks.

Jeff (pictured all the way left in photo above), 32, is from Bolton, Connecticut, but currently resides in Estero, Florida.

Bassist Patrick Bruders quit CROWBAR in September in order to focus on DOWN

CROWBAR will head out on the road throughout Europe shortly before album release. The band has also been confirmed for the Roadburn, Maryland Death Fest and Hellfest festivals in 2014.

Christian thrash metal veterans DELIVERANCE will release their tenth and final studio album, "Hear What I Say!", on December 10 via 3 Frogz Records/Roxx Records. The CD will include the track "The Annals Of Subterfuge", a demo version of which will appear on the upcoming "Thrashmageddon" compilation album.

A seven-minute sampler of the songs that are featured on "Hear What I Say!" can be streamed using the ReverbNation widget below.

According to a press release, "Hear What I Say!" is "a surprising fresh blend of the entire 'D' musical repertoire rolled into one record. With nine originals and two surprise cover songs, this release will once again show the world that founder and main songwriter Jimmy P. Brown II has not missed one step with his four-man army! Always ready to deliver, he assembled a true cast of players for this final venture that were up to the task!"

DELIVERANCE 2013 features Jimmy P. Brown II out front on vocals and lead guitar as well as the return of Michael Phillips (DELIVERANCE, THE SACRIFICED, JOIN THE DEAD) shredding once again on lead guitar. On bass making his long overdue return to the DELIVERANCE fold, none other than Manny Morales! And this time around pounding the drums is Jayson Sherlock (MORTIFICATION, HORDE, PARAMECIUM).

Jimmy P. Brown II says: 'I wanted to put the final chapter to this book called DELIVERANCE in its proper prospective! In the end, it was a magnificent journey with all the band members over the years, and, more importantly, our fans! This album is for them, to say goodbye in true 'D' fashion!

"I am ever grateful to all the supporters throughout the years, but 'D' has run its course. I want her to rest and go out with a nice beautiful and loud bang!

"To all our fans, supporters, and ALL of my former bandmates, it was a wonderful roller coaster ride, scary, exciting, nauseating, thrilling, terrifying, but in the end it was fun! Lives were touched, people found what they needed at the time, and now, the next journey will begin…"

"Hear What I Say!" track listing:

01. Liber 111 (intro)02. The Annals of Subterfuge03. Angst04. Hope Lies Beyond05. Detox06. Nude07. Passing08. A Perfect Sky09. Where Eagles Dare (IRON MAIDEN cover)10. Entgiftung (German version of "Detox")

As an additional bonus, the first 200 copies will feature a limited-edition poster that will be hand numbered and signed by DELIVERANCE frontman and founder Jimmy Brown.

Helping shape the early thrash and speed metal scene of the late '80s and early '90s, DELIVERANCE was one of the premiere bands to stand out and break away from the pack. Signed to Intense Records in the early stages of its career and with its video "Weapons Of Our Warfare" a staple on MTV's "Headbangers Ball", DELIVERANCE was at the forefront of all things speed metal.



Free Electronic Press Kits from ReverbNation.com

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a brand new reissue of SOUNDGARDEN's very first record releases can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The recordings are being reissued on CD, double vinyl and as a digital set next Tuesday (November 26) via Sub Pop Records, the legendary independent label that was the Seattle grunge act's first home. The set includes the band's entire debut EP, "Screaming Life", as well as bonus tracks from its second EP, "Fopp", and songs that appeared on the "Sub Pop 200" compilation, all initially issued in the late Eighties. SOUNDGARDEN, which reunited in 2010 after a 13-year hiatus, still plays a few songs from these early records in its current live show.

Guitarist Kim Thayil told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago how it felt for the band to play its old songs again after many years. "Surprised at what we remembered, and also surprised at what we forgot," he said. "We remembered some of the most ridiculous things, and forgot the most obvious and easy things, so it was kind of strange. We'd play some stuff really intensely tight until about two minutes into it, and then we would kind of look at each other and say, 'What did we do there?'"

All the tracks have been remastered by producer Jack Endino and the LP versions are the first time the songs have been pressed to vinyl since the original releases.

SOUNDGARDEN is currently on a break after spending much of 2013 on tour in support of last year's reunion album, "King Animal", the group's first set of all-new music since 1996.

Lead singer Chris Cornell is currently on a solo acoustic tour that brings him to Providence, Rhode Island on Tuesday (November 19), while drummer Matt Cameron is on the road with PEARL JAM.

Cameron announced last week that he will sit out SOUNDGARDEN's 2014 live dates due to tour commitments with PEARL JAM and a desire to spend more time with his family. His temporary replacement has yet to be named.

Renowned Canadian multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer Devin Townsend played a special concert October 27, 2012 at the Roundhouse venue in London, England as part of a one-night-only event, dubbed "The Retinal Circus", that was recorded for both DVD and Blu-ray, and was released on October 29 in North America (Sepember 30 in Europe) via InsideOut Music.

"The Retinal Circus" was released on several formats, including a lavish and bonkers limited edition befitting of the man himself, and which took months of hard work to put together. The complete list of formats is below:

* Standard 2-disc DVD * Standard 1-disc Blu-ray * Standard 2-CD audio * Special edition (2 DVDs/1 Blu-ray/2 CDs) box set * Diehard deluxe fan box including 2 DVDs, 1 Blu-ray, 2 CDs

A six-minute "unboxing" video of the diehard deluxe fan box of "The Retinal Circus" can be seen below.

Devin previously described "The Retinal Circus" as "a retrospective of my career in music to date, with the central theme being a metaphor of how life and the adventures therein are a 'circus' of sorts. The show involves a cast of characters and guests that support this theme through carnival type performances. A story about how a troubled young man dreams of fantastic scenarios, (illustrated through the music of my back catalogue), which ultimately crests in the characters realization that life is all about the relationships we have with each other. This is the first opportunity I have been given to make theatrical representations of my music."

In an interview with Metal Insider, Townsend stated about "The Retinal Circus": "It's like such a clusterfuck on stage. Whether or not people who're new to it understand what I'm trying to do, I like the idea that it's like… When I watch it, I'm, like, 'That's pretty much how I feel it should look like.' For better or for worse, it's like this crazy chaos."

Regarding what inspired the setlist for "The Retinal Circus", Townsend said: "I tried to get a bit of everything, but at the end of it, it was most important to include the songs that we could illustrate the best. The show itself had this peculiar story and so that story arc required me to choose songs that would contribute to that, rather than just elbow it in there. So we missed some stuff. 'Terria' wasn't in there, and whatever, but it leaves room for the next thing."

A brand new song from Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE entitled "Raising Hell" was premiered on last night's (Monday, November 18) edition of BBC Radio 1's "Rock Show" with Daniel P. Carter.

A low-quality rip of the track can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck stated via Twitter: "We haven’t just raised the bar, we've sent it into fucking orbit."

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".

Dutch death metal miscreants PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT will unleash their latest manifestation of audio abrasions on February 4 via Willowtip Records. Tenderly titled "From Crotch To Crown", the long-anticipated follow-up to 2008's malicious "Descendants Of Depravity" long player features ten groin-churning tracks of merciless brutality. Recorded in multiple locations throughout The Netherlands, including Split Second Sound Studio in Amsterdam, guitarist Frank Schiphorst's home studio in Zwolle, guitarist Martijn Moes' home studio in Meppel and Final Focus Studio in Tilburg, and re-amped, mixed and mastered by Yuma Van Eekelen and Bart Hennephof (also at Final Focus), "From Crotch To Crown" promises to deliver the band's sickest, most sadistic material yet. Warns the band in a collective statement, "'From Crotch To Crown' is a mix of old-school mayhem and modern, bonecrushing, technical riffing with horrifying vocals spewed from the minds of the most sick and evil beings in history!" "From Crotch To Crown" track listing:

01. Only Taste For Decay02. Battered To The Grave03. Crowned In Entrails04. Dismember The Transgender05. Under The Patio06. From Crotch To Crown07. Glorify Through Cyanide08. Set Forth To Annihilate09. Compulsive Beheading Disorder10. Reduced To Stumps PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT is:

Niels Adams - VocalsMichiel Van Der Plicht - DrumsPatrick Oosterveen - BassFrank Schiphorst - Rhythm, Lead GuitarMartijn Moes - Rhythm, Lead Guitar

Dutch singer Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH, REVAMP) joined KAMELOT on stage on November 9 in Oslo, Norway to perform the song "The Haunting". Fan-filmed video footage of her appearance can be seen below.

REVAMP is currently touring Europe as the support act for KAMELOT.

KAMELOT's latest album, "Silverthorn", sold 5,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 79 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Poetry For The Poisoned", opened with around 6,100 units in September 2010 to enter the chart at No. 74.

"Silverthorn" was released on October 30, 2012 in North America, October 26, 2012 in Germany and October 29, 2012 in the rest of Europe via Steamhammer/SPV. The CD marks the band's first release with Tommy Karevik, the Swedish vocalist who previously fronted SEVENTH WONDER (a group that he is still a member of).

REVAMP's second album, "Wild Card", was released in Europe on August 23 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at SandLane Studio in Rijen, The Netherlands with Joost van den Broek (ex-AFTER FOREVER) and features guest choir parts by Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION) and Daniël de Jongh (TEXTURES). The effort features additional guest appearances by Mark Jansen (EPICA), Johan van Stratum (STREAM OF PASSION) and Devin Townsend.

The deviant sect known to their cult fanbase as LORD MANTIS is currently decimating the innards of hometown Chicago-based Electrical Audio and Soma Studios, harnessing the astonishing madness that is to be the group's third full-length release.




Lord Mantis is working in conjunction with Sanford Parker (VOIVOD, EYEHATEGOD), the engineer also responsible for recording the band's previous two albums. While the newest composition has yet to bear a title, the third installment of the band's torrid lineage will be their first release for the eclectic Profound Lore Records - following their 2009 Seventh Rule Recordings debut, Spawning The Nephilim, and subsequent 2012 full-length, Pervertor, released by Candlelight Records - and promises to be their most disturbing work yet, crawling forth from some of the darkest recesses of the human psyche.

Having revamped their lineup since their previous releases, Lord Mantis has inducted Ken Sorceron into its ranks on guitar on this outing, the lineup rounded out by the three founding members, bassist/vocalist Charlie Fell, guitarist/vocalist Andrew Markuszewski and drummer Bill Bumgardner. Additionally, Indian guitarist/vocalist Dylan O'Toole will contribute additional vocals on several of the tracks. Stated Fell this week in a brief recess between the punishing sessions on these new works: "This record is more serious and dark than our other stuff. We have all been through a lot of really fucked-up shit in recent years, and that's all showing through in these sessions. We left behind anything slightly sci-fi, nightmarish or casually antagonistic, musically and visually; this time it's all brutally realistic and ultimately much, much darker."

More on the pending album will be available in the coming weeks as the sessions conclude, and Lord Mantis prepares to pillage the populous with their new odes of torment with a Spring 2014 release date being confirmed.

Steven Tyler tells RollingStone.com that he is hopeful producer Rick Rubin will be involved in the making of the AEROSMITH vocalist's upcoming solo album, which is tentatively due next year.

"I'm working on it," he said about his solo disc. "I just got back from Russia. Tour was over last week, so I set up my studio, and I had dinner with Rick Rubin last night."

He added: "We did do 'Walk This Way' with RUN-D.M.C. That was [Rubin's] idea."

Tyler recently told The Pulse Of Radio that his plans to go out on his own should not be a cause of concern for AEROSMITH fans. "I'm just doing a solo record because I think it's kinky, you know, to go write a song with Johnny Depp," he said. "I think it's ridiculous to go, you know, write a bunch of songs that I started five years ago and never finished. It feeds my passion, you know. But, no, the band's not breaking up. Me doing a solo record doesn't mean the band's not working on a record, you know what I mean? But I get that in the press one has to hear that from one lead singer of one AEROSMITH." Tyler issued his first-ever solo song, called "(It) Feels So Good", in May 2011 while serving as a judge on "American Idol".

The AEROSMITH frontman recently teamed up with the South Korean pop star Psy on a new record. In an interview with Italian magazine L'Uomo Vogue, Psy said, "When I was in middle school, I literally cried when AEROSMITH were singing 'Crazy' or 'Amazing' or whatever. They were my lifetime role models, and now I am collaborating with Steven Tyler. What the fuck, man? I love my life."

AEROSMITH's latest album, "Music From Another Dimension!", came out in November 2012 and debuted at No. 5 on The Billboard 200 album chart, selling 63,000 copies in its first week of release.

Cyclone Empire has announced the signing of Dutch killing machine WINTER OF SIN.

Hailing from Groningen, Netherlands, Winter Of Sin are the not only one of the best Dutch underground bands of the past years but also the new home of ex-GOD DETHRONED members Michiel can der Pflicht (drums) and Henri Sattler (vocals)!

Says the label: "We are very happy to welcome this brutal, yet melodic death / black inferno in our little Cyclone Empire family! Their new album, Violence Reigns Supreme (already their fourth), is scheduled to be released sometime around spring 2014... be prepared!"

The band states: "Winter Of Sin is very happy to announce that we have now signed a record deal with Cyclone Empire. We are really looking forward to cooperating with the guys from Cyclone Empire. We feel that they makes for an excellent and professional partner. Our first release with them will be our killer new album Violence Reigns Supreme. We are looking forward to a bright future here at Cyclone Empire!”
Winter Of Sin are:

Henri Sattler (vocals)
Dirk Barelds (guitar, bass)
Ricardo Gelok (guitar, bass)
Michiel van der Plicht (drums)

More on Winter Of Sin at this location.

Selfmadegod Records has announced the pending release of a vicious split CD between Swedish death metal division USURPRESS and international grindcore unit BENT SEA.

The Usurpress side includes three brand new songs of the pure crust-fueled Swedish death metal the band is becoming infamous for, recorded March 2013 with producer Erik Sundström. Self-dubbing their brutal brew as "death crust," the band disburses short, aggressive songs based around weird, dissonant death metal riffs and raw, primitive d-beats. Formed in Uppsala, Sweden in 2010, the musical aim of founding members Steffe Pettersson (vocals), Påhl Sundström (guitar) and Calle Andersson (drums) was, and still is, to combine the bestiality of old death metal and the undying hate of true hardcore/punk. The band was later joined by renowned death metal-expert Daniel Ekeroth (bass), and have subsequently released their In Permanent Twilight EP and following 2012 debut full-length, Trenches Of The Netherworld, both via Selfmadegod, in addition to splits with BOMBS OF HADES and PYRAMIDO. The members hail from a diverse array of musical backgrounds, but their common ground is the love and understanding for all kinds of dark and aggressive underground music.

On an angst-driven evening in January 2011, multi-instrumentalist Dirk Verbeuren (ABORTED, SCARVE, SOILWORK) carved grindcore act Bent Sea out of his disembowling passion for the noise that permeated the air of his teenage years. Equipped with an arsenal of enraged beats and ferocious riffage, Verbeuren created an assaulting army of tracks, enlisting his Aborted bandmate and fellow Belgian Sven De Caluwe to call the formations. Later on the band was joined by legendary NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury. A musical homage to the founding fathers of grindcore such as Napalm Death, REPULSION and TERRORIZER, Bent Sea is also a tribute to today's vibrant scene and countless amazing bands that push the envelope and/or keep the tradition alive, citing GODFLESH, BLACK LUNG, SCORN, ENDVRA and other non-grindcore acts being a definite source of inspiration as well. Lyrically, Bent Sea addresses human and social issues, although it must be said that the music precedes the message. "We're not here to preach", says Verbeuren, "but we're certainly not afraid of our opinions."

The split is set for an early December release via Selfmadegod Records.
Tracklisting:

Usurpress:
'Eternity Denies History'
'A Tidal Wave Of Fire'
I. Empty Triumphalism
II. Carved In Filth
III. The Styx Runs Dry
'City Of The Nomads'

Bent Sea:
'Double Standards'
'I Am Become Lust'
'Fashion Victims'
'At Any Cost'
'Animalist'
'Nature Of The Blast'
'Relentless'
'See-Through'

Australia's I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN have officially signed to Epitaph Records worldwide. They will release their third studio album in 2014.
Following his stint with BRING ME THE HORIZON, songwriter and guitarist Jona Weinhofen returns to his role in I Killed The Prom Queen and he states: “We are absolutely ecstatic to join the Epitaph Records family. Having worked with the label previously with Bring Me The Horizon, I knew exactly what Epitaph was capable of and that it would be the perfect home for I Killed The Prom Queen. Epitaph is already the home to so many of our heroes such as CONVERGE, REFUSED, PENNYWISE and EVERY TIME I DIE, and has helped launch our good friends PARKWAY DRIVE, THE GHOST INSIDE, DAY OF CONTEMPT, LETLIVE and more. To say that we are a part of this family is truly an honour.”

The band has just finalized the recording process in Gothenburg, Sweden with Fredrik Nordström (Bring Me The Horizon, AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DIMMU BROGIR, ARCHITECTS UK), with plans to release the new material in 2014.

Jona Weinhofen continues: “We are dying to get this album out and into the hands of old and new I Killed The Prom Queen fans everywhere. To me this record feels as though I Killed The Prom Queen never took a break and is a natural progression of the band. You will hear hints of our side projects and new influences, but make no mistake, this is an I Killed The Prom Queen record through and through. Its fast, melodic, heavy, catchy and we have added a couple of new elements which really bring it up there with the level of music being created these days.”

I Killed The Prom Queen is also making plans to tour in 2014 in support of the new album as well. Stay tuned for further details.

Catch up and reacquaint yourself with I Killed The Prom Queen’s teaser video below:

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT, the band featuring former DEEP PURPLE guitarist and RAINBOW mastermind Ritchie Blackmore and his singer wife Candice Night have released a new, remastered edition of their Christmas album, Winter Carols.

The CD has been rereleased as a 2CD set featuring a new pop/rock and German version of ‘Christmas Eve’ and selections taken live from Minstrel Hall Holiday Recordings.
Winter Carols tracklisting:

Disc 1:

‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing/ O Come All Ye Faithful’
‘I Saw Three Ships’
‘Winter (Bass Dance)’
‘Ding Dong Merrily On High’
‘Ma-O-Tzur’
‘Good King Wenceslas’
‘Lord Of The Dance/Simple Gifts’
‘We Three Kings’
‘Wish You Were Here’
‘Emmanuel’
‘Christmas Eve’ (Original Album Version)
‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’

Disc 2 (Live From Minstrel Hall):

‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing/O Come All Ye Faithful’
‘Emmanuel’
‘We Three Kings’
‘Ma-O-Tzur’
‘Good King Wenceslas’
‘Christmas Eve’ (2013 Version)
‘Christmas Eve’ (German radio edit)
‘Christmas Eve’ (English and German radio edit)
‘Christmas Eve’ (English radio edit)

This new edition of Winter Carols can be ordered from Amazon.de.

The Israeli heavy metal band SWITCHBLADE, based in Haifa, has issued ‘Infernal Paradise’ as a digital single. Clinging to heavy metal, with tinges of modern hints, ‘Infernal Paradise’ exemplifies Earth’s environmental future.



Switchblade will release its debut album, Heavy Weapons, on November 29th. The album consists of fresh material along with re-recorded songs from the band’s earlier singles in the past two years. Switchblade has been mixing various elements of NWOBHM along with European and American 80s traditional metal.



Heavy Weapons was produced, mixed and mastered by Federico Taich at Flam Studios, Haifa, Israel. Artwork and logo design were produced by the Romanian artist, Costin Chioreanu, of Twilight 13 Media.

Heavy Weapons tracklisting:
‘Heavy Weapons’
‘Euphoria’
‘Metalista’
‘Lost Lovers Unite’
‘The Lost Kingdom’
‘Infernal Paradise’
‘Curse Of The Father, Sins Of The Son’
‘Into The Unknown’
‘Endless War’

‘Metalista’ below:



Current Switchblade Lineup:

Lior “Steinmetal” Stein – vocals
Federico “FedeRock” Taich – lead / rhythm Guitars
Venedict “Vene” Pavlovic – lead / rhythm Guitars
Boris Siper – bass
Moshe “Moshpit” Sabach – drums

Hamilton, Ontario-based bashers VARGA, released their brand new album Enter The Metal on October 30th via their own label, Vargantuan Music. A full length clip of the song 'Beginning Of The End' is now available:
Comprised of members Joe Varga (bass & vocals), Adam Alex (guitar), Sean Williamson (guitar), and Dan Fila (drums), the veteran band - originally formed in 1989 - has built a large and loyal following of heavy metal fans, particular in their Canadian homeland, on the strength of such popular releases as 1994's Prototype (released via the Zoo label), which spawned the hits 'Freeze Don't Move' and 'Greed', even earning the band a thumbs up on the then-popular Beavis And Butthead program on MTV. After over a decade apart, Varga reunited in 2011 and issued their awesome reunion effort, Enter The Metal,their first new studio album in 17 years.

The album was produced by long time friend and producer/engineer, Julius “Juice” Butty (ALEXISONFIRE, PROTEST THE HERO), and recorded at both Six Nations’ Jukasa Studio, and Butty’s own Silo Studios. As the band's leader, Joe Varga, states, “In this collection of music, you’ll hear a return to our metal and progressive roots with songs laden with heavy licks, crazy time changes and insane vocals.”

Varga recently posted the new song, 'Gamera' (found below) and have now launched a preview page featuring more songs from Enter The Metal. Check out the previews here.

Preview tracks include;

'Beginning Of The End'
'Gamera'
'Mad Scientist'
'Plane Crash'
'No More Clean Air'
'Shark Attack'
Varga have just announced a CD release show in Hamilton, ON. The show will take place on Saturday, December 7th at Club Absinthe. Cover charge is $10, and doors open at 9 PM (music at 10 PM).

Rimini, Italy-based prog/goth/black metal act HORTUS ANIMAE have released a teaser video for their comeback album, Secular Music, for which a release date has not yet been announced.
Secular Music tracklisting:

'Disgusting God And His Children'
'Blood Of The Earth / The Truth Against The World'
'Dystopian Apocalypse'
'At The End Of Doomsday'
'The Poison Of The N?ga'
'Impromptu Op II - Pain Relieved'
'Chamber Of Endless Nightmares'
'Aqualung' (JETHRO TULL cover - bonus track)

Teaser video:
More details to follow. More on Hortus Animae at this location.

PRC MUSIC, who recently signed Quebec-city epic pagan black metallers VALKNACHT, invite you to listen and enjoy and share the new single, 'Sacrifice'.

Taken from the band's forthcoming upcoming album Le Sacrifice d'Ymir, 'Sacrifice' is a 10 minute song that reflects what is to be expected from the record.
PRC Music's Remi Coté states: “I am totally ecstatic to work with this band for their brilliant third album! Honestly, this band deserves worldwide recognition and I am amazed that no established labels signed them. Their loss, really! Their music is just astonishing! Plus, they are hard working, down to earth and very easy going individuals. I know their type of pagan black metal is a ‘curve ball’ for our listeners but believe me when I say they are head and shoulders above every band I have heard in a while, playing that type of extreme music. It's with a sense of pride that I welcome this great band to our small label's ranks. I will do my very best to push their music locally and across borders. Once again they really deserve it."

Vocalist Thorleif comments on the new deal: “As of late, we have thought about which label will sign us and release our new album. That time is now! It is with great pleasure and honour that we have joined the ranks of PRC Music! Due to this alliance, now Sacrifice d’Ymir can have a proper distribution and can be discovered by everyone while we have the chance to reissue our first full length from 2009, When the Might of the Storm Becomes Mine. This is truly a new chapter in our band’s history. No cross shall stand in our path!”

Le Sacrifice d'Ymir will be released in March 2014 on CD and in digital format. The first single, De Murmures et de Givres' can be heard below:
More on Valknacht at Facebook.

Rome, Italy-based blackened doom metallers RITI OCCULTI will release their new album, Secta, on November 30th via Epidemie Records.
Produced and mastered by Lorenzo Stecconi (LENTO, UFOMAMMUT, THE SECRET), this is a more heavy and psychedelic journey through alchemy: from lead to silver and gold between symbolisms and mysterious ancients scripts.
Copies are strictly limited to 300 hand-numbered digipack with a 12-page booklet. Order through Epidemie Records at info@epidemie.cz, or directly from the band at ritiocculti@hotmail.it.

More on Riti Occulti at Facebook.

After their 2013 debut album The Presence Of Evil, Finnish old school death / thrash metallers NUCLEAR OMNICIDE will release their new 6-track EP Bringers Of Disease on January 3rd via Violent Journey Records.

Bringers Of Disease EP is "faster and heavier than ever, ready to hit you in the fucking face with a 20-minute sonic assault of aggressive, uncompromising thrash. With songs ranging from slow, death metal influenced chugging to insanely fast neck breaking riffing completed with raging vocals, destructive drumming and furious guitarsolos, Nuclear Omnicide is proud to deliver you their new born bastard child."
Tracklisting:

'We Came To Thrash!'
'Curse Of The Undead'
'Ruler With The Iron Fist'
'Institution (Execution)'
'Merciless Butcher'
'Bringer Of Disease'

'Merciless Butcher':
Pre-order worldwide at this location.

More on Nuclear Omnicide at Facebook.

February 2014 sees two-piece German monster MANTAR release their debut album via Swart Records. Recorded earlier in 2013 and titled Death By Burning, the album is a raw, self-produced, and 100% DIY display of power. The half-German/half-Turkish band has existed for less than a year and released one limited run 7" - probably sold out by the time you read this.

Mantar manages to sound even heavier than most five-piece bands you may know, in spite of the fact that no bass guitar was used on Death By Burning - just drums and guitar set for destruction. Forget about rock 'n' roll: this will hurt. Flogging beats and blackened melodies meet feedback orgies and doom mayhem - early MELVINS, MOTORHEAD, DARKTHRONE, you name it. Don't call it sludge, though. Everything as black as possible, a soundtrack for the final battle.

Svart Records will unleash the black 10-track attack on February 7th on CD, LP, tape, and digital. The first sample track off the album is titled 'White Nights' and can be heard below:
Additionally, a teaser video for Death By Burning can be viewed below:
Cover and tracklisting for Death By Burning to be revealed shortly.

DEEEP PURPLE videos have discovered film footage of early Mark 1 era of the band from October 1968 performing their smash hit 'Hush'. The song written by JOE SOUTH, saw the band hit #2 in Canada and #4 in the US.
Mark 1 Deep Purple recorded three albums: Shades Of Deep Purple (1968), The Book Of Taliesyn (1968) and Deep Purple (1969).

The band featured:
Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
Jon Lord – keyboards, backing vocals
Ian Paice – drums
Rod Evans – lead vocals
Nick Simper – bass, backing vocals

Nathan Smith of HoustonPress.com recently conducted an interview with SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On the May 2013 death of SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman:

Araya: "It was just as shocking to me. We all have issues with vices in life, but I didn't know they were to that extent with his health. It was a shocking thing to get a phone call saying, 'Hey, Jeff passed away this morning,' and I'm like, 'What?! I talked to him a few days ago, and everything was fine!'"

On how Hanneman's death has changed his outlook on the band:

Araya: "Before, there was always hope that [Hanneman] would return. It wasn't a question of returning, it was a question of when he was returning. After he passed and we went to Europe to do that tour maybe a month later, it was... it was different. People don't realize that he had a major creative role in this band and in this new music we called thrash metal.

"I still find myself having to tell myself now that he's passed that he's not going to be a part of the band anymore. So it changes your attitude; it changes your mood about things. It changes your outlook on quite a bit."

On whether SLAYER will continue beyond the current tour:

Araya: "That's something that me and Kerry [King, guitar] have to sit down and communicate our thoughts about. I have my feelings and my thoughts, and I need to share them with Kerry. That's what's going to happen on this trip. We need to sit down and figure out what we want to do and how to move forward."

On the likelihood of Jeff's leftover material being used on SLAYER's next album:

Araya: "There is definitely music there. Whether we get permission to use it or not is another story! But there is stuff there, and I plan to go through it and listen to it and see what he had, what gems are in there. There is talk of an album. We'll see."

On the possibility of SLAYER coming to an end:

Araya: "I don't know, dude! I don't know. I don't think SLAYER will ever end, because our music is going to live forever. Our music will always be accessible to anybody that wants to hear it. When you talk about it like that, I think we'll be around for a really long time."

Read the entire interview at HoustonPress.com.