BLACK SABBATH's triumphant 2013 tour — which kicked off earlier this year in Australia — can now be seen by fans around the world via the forthcoming "Black Sabbath: Live…Gathered in Their Masses" (Vertigo/Republic).

Due out November 26, "Black Sabbath: Live…Gathered in Their Masses" will be available via a variety of formats. Options include:

* DVD standalone* Blu-ray standalone* Blu-ray/CD combo pack with a CD featuring live audio from the show, all packaged in a Blu-ray case* DVD/CD combo pack with a CD featuring live audio from the show, all packaged in an Amaray box * Deluxe box with a Blu-ray disc of live show with exclusive bonus visual extras/two DVD discs/a CD featuring live audio from the show/poster/signed set list/photo booklet/guitar picks/official show "ticket"

"Black Sabbath: Live…Gathered in Their Masses" was recorded April 29 and May 1, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia when the band — Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar) and Geezer Butler (bass) — kicked off their world tour in support of their "13" album, which entered the charts at No. 1 in 13 countries (including their first #1 in the U.S.). Meanwhile, BLACK SABBATH will head to South America and Mexico in October for a headlining stadium tour (where they're expected to play to more than 300,000 fans) and then on to Europe in November and December.

"Black Sabbath: Live…Gathered in Their Masses" track listings:

Blu-ray and DVD track listing is as follows:

01. War Pigs02. Into The Void03. Loner04. Snowblind05. Black Sabbath06. Behind The Wall Of Sleep07. N.I.B.08. Methademic09. Fairies Wear Boots10. Symptom Of The Universe11. Iron Man12. End Of The Beginning13. Children Of The Grave14. God Is Dead?15. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Intro) / Paranoid

CD track listing is as follows:

01. War Pigs02. Loner03. Black Sabbath04. Methademic05. N.I.B.06. Iron Man07. End Of The Beginning08. Fairies Wear Boots09. God Is Dead?10. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Intro) / Paranoid

A performance clip of the song "Loner" featuring footage from "Black Sabbath: Live…Gathered in Their Masses" can be seen below.

The official lyric video for the new song "Loneliness Remains" from British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST can be seen below.

From the harrowing doom of their 1990 debut, "Lost Paradise", to 1991's genre-defining "Gothic", to 1995's break-out masterpiece "Draconian Times", to 1997's electronically tinged "One Second", to 2007's return to a heavier form "In Requiem", to last year's opus "Tragic Idol", PARADISE LOST have continued to evolve since their inception in 1988, inspiring countless artists throughout the years. To celebrate their influence on the scene, a special compilation will be released this fall to commemorate the band's 25th-anniversary landmark. Entitled "Tragic Illusion 25 (The Rarities)" , this album will be released on October 21 in Europe (digitally on October 29 in North America) and features artwork by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has worked with artists such as ORPHANED LAND, MORBID ANGEL, WATAIN, and more than 150 others. All tracks found on the compilation are previously released rarities — except the new track "Loneliness Remains", and newly recorded "Gothic 2013" and "Our Saviour 2013". "Tragic Illusion 25 (The Rarities)" track listing:

01. Loneliness Remains02. Never Take Me Alive (SPEAR OF DESTINY cover version)03. Ending Through Changes04. The Last Fallen Saviour05. Last Regret (Lost in Prague Orchestra Mix)06. Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us (Lost in Prague Orchestra Mix)07. Cardinal Zero08. Back On Disaster09. Sons Of Perdition10. Godless11. Missing (EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL cover version)12. Silent In Heart13. Gothic 201314. Our Saviour 2013

PARADISE LOST's Aaron Aedy (guitar) comments: “The years surrounding our formation in the 20th century would have earmarked this as a B-sides collection. These were the songs that were left over from an album recording session you couldn't fit on to the sound quality restrictive, optimal length of both sides of a vinyl LP. You then usually used these for the flip side of your single as a nice extra for fans and also perhaps, as an incentive for the collectors to purchase to help any important charting or sales which could facilitate radio airplay, the best and most important way for your band to heard at that time.

"Yes, my friends, it's hard to imagine now, there was a time before the Internet! A time when, even during the recording and writing of songs for our 'Lost Paradise' album, tape-trading demos and live tracks on the underground scene via mail (the real physical post kind!) were essential to a band's chance of being known by the people who would 'get it.' The magazines Metal Hammer, Metal Forces and Kerrang! also had a couple of champions of the underground scene too, helping bands like ourselves be known on a wider scale, but rarer still indeed back then were the audio and visual outlets. In the U.K., we had the legendary 'Friday Rock Show With Tommy Vance', who introduced myself and many others to a lot of the bands they went on to love for life. Later, TV shows 'The Powerhour', 'Raw Power' and, of course, 'Headbangers Ball' on MTV. All, of course, pre-empted that Smörgåsbord of information, the Internet, for the discerning and hungry-for-more rock music fans to feast upon. "Twenty five years has seen a lot of change, not just musically for the band — take 'Our Saviour' and 'Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us', for instance. The Internet has broadened the choice of music we can readily hear enormously, and more importantly, hear and see for ourselves to form our own opinion — not just what the larger commercial companies and stations want us to hear! "Added to our extra tracks from the past, we've included the recent re-recordings of 'Gothic' and 'Our Saviour'. This is something as a musician you find a strange experience.

"We as a band have always been an album rather a single band, and re-recording old songs is most often best left alone — but when we rehearsed 'Our Saviour', a song long lost from our live sets for a good twenty years, we found it pretty exciting and fun! We decided before hitting the studio that we would not record it as a perfect 21st-century studio version, as I don't feel this song would benefit from it (in fact more so, lose its original charm), but we decided to just do it quick and almost demo speed. Whilst recording to capture the most raw element, we drafted in our old friend and producer Simon Efemey, who worked on our 'Shades Of God', 'Icon' and 'Draconian Times' recordings to capture this, which whilst working to make it sound raw, made it fun too! Don't think of the re-recordings as replacements for our originals, but just as five blokes having fun and re-visiting the past in the studio. "I hope this collection helps some of the people who like our music have a more completed playlist of our most recent album sessions' songs. I personally am very pleased that 'The Last Fallen Saviour' is here, as I would love to have had that on the 'Tragic Idol' album. Also 'Cardinal Zero', which only just didn't make the cut for 'Faith Divides Us…' due to it having a very different vibe to the other album tracks. Both nonetheless, I feel are very strong songs and show a slightly different side to those writing periods. "CD and downloads not having a 'flip side' or 'side B' had almost made that term redundant, but for a resurgent vinyl hardcore that has thankfully kept that one alive, I'm pleased to say. I often reminisce those teen years of travelling home excited on the bus with a new LP, reading all the lyrics, enjoying the large enough cover to make artwork intricately delightful and worthwhile. Great heart-warming memories for me, indeed. Yet the music new and old I'm discovering on the Internet these days in the 21st century is an absolute joy! I'm pleased to have had both experiences during my years with PARADISE LOST and the future holds who knows what. I for one am very excited though to see where we go next! "Here's wishing everyone all the best from PARADISE LOST and most importantly, thank you very much from us all for your amazing support, which humbles us greatly. Twenty five years and counting!"

PARADISE LOST has also confirmed that its 25th-anniversary "Tragic Illusion" tour has been extended to now include a number of European dates. As with the U.K. shows, the band will be supported by both LACUNA COIL and KATATONIA (who will be playing the entire "Viva Emptiness" album at all shows).

Due to the overwhelming response to the lyric video for the track "Clarity" from the band's forthcoming album "Volition", Canada's PROTEST THE HERO have released a lyric video for one of the more socially conscious songs on the album, "A Life Embossed".

PROTEST THE HERO lead singer Rody Walker, who wrote the lyrics for the track, says: "The boys in PROTEST THE HERO are long time dog lovers, it has come to our attention that there's injustice afoot! Our home of Ontario, Canada is the largest territory in all the world to pass legislation that discriminates against a specific breed of dog. This is a worldwide issue that the band is incredibly disturbed by. The song and video for 'A Life Embossed' attempts to draw much-needed attention to an issue that affects all dog lovers alike."

After the departure of longtime drummer Moe Carlson, PROTEST THE HERO enlisted LAMB OF GOD's Chris Adler to sit behind the kit for the recording sessions of "Volition". Now with extensive touring on the horizon, PROTEST THE HERO has decided to fill the slot permanently with Mike Ieradi.

PROTEST THE HERO's fourth studio CD, "Volition", will be released on October 29 (one day earlier internationally). The long-awaited follow-up to 2011's "Scurrilous" (Vagrant), "Volition" has been licensed to series of worldwide partners who will help distribute and market it to both traditional stores alongside digital service providers, thus making the new record available on a worldwide scale. PROTEST THE HERO and Razor & Tie will join forces for the United States, while the album will be released in Canada through Sony Music and in the rest of the word via Spinefarm.

"Volition" track listing:

01. Clarity 02. Drum-Head Trial 03. Tilting Against Windmills 04. Without Prejudice 05. Yellow Teeth 06. Plato's Tripartite 07. A Life Embossed 08. Mist 09. Underbite 10. Animal Bones 11. Skies

The cover artwork can be seen below.

Capital Chaos TV has uploaded multi-camera video footage of NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) legends DIAMOND HEAD performing their classic song "Am I Evil?" on October 15 at DNA Lounge in San Francisco, California. Check it out below.

DIAMOND HEAD singer Nick Tart is sitting out the band's current U.S. tour due to the untimely death of his father. In order to maintain its commitment to the group's fans, DIAMOND HEAD has called upon vocalist Chas West (JASON BONHAM, LYNCH MOB, TRIBE OF GYPSIES), who has been a longtime friend of the band, to help out for this tour.

For a complete list of tour dates, visit Diamond-Head.net.

DIAMOND HEAD is touring to support its latest Universal compilation titled "Am I Evil: The Best Of Diamond Head".

DIAMOND HEAD has revealed that this leg of the tour will feature the classic songs that fans have come to know and love, with a different set of songs to accompany them than performed on the previous U.S. East Coast leg of the tour. With Chas West singing, anything is possible.

For the first time in its four-decade history, DIAMOND HEAD made its way stateside for a U.S. tour in the summer of 2011.

DIAMOND HEAD's first-ever appearance with the "Big Four" (METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX and MEGADETH), the artists on whom they had a major influence, in July 2011 at the Sonisphere festivals in the U.K. and France, was followed by their first performances in Canada, playing with MOTÖRHEAD, and MEGADETH at the Heavy TO festival in Toronto, along with an appearance with GIRLSCHOOL, MOTÖRHEAD and KISS, at the Heavy MTL festival in Montreal.

"Elevate", the new video from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Belgrade, Serbia with acclaimed director Ivan Colic from iCode Productions (EX DEO, SOILWORK, MOONSPELL, ALESTORM, KAMELOT).

Ivan Colic previously worked with KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono on KATAKLYSM's "Push The Venom" video and EX DEO's "Romulus" and "Final War (Battle Of Actium)" clips.

"Elevate" comes off KATAKLYSM's new album, "Waiting For The End To Come", which will be released on October 29 in North America via Nuclear Blast. Says Iacono: "This year Halloween comes earlier with KATAKLYSM with the release of our new video for the song 'Elevate'.

"The video clip was loads of fun to film with our great friend Ivan in Serbia from iCode films. The makeup scenes were awesome, [and] the dedication to detail from the entire crew was great from start to finish.

"The idea behind this production was to bring the artwork to life as much as possible.

"The song deals with the transition between life and death and the process of death coming to earth to claim a life...

"Since we knew the record was coming out a day before Halloween, we decided to make it creepy and add some blood for flavor. Enjoy and spread it!"

The "Waiting For The End To Come" artwork by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED) will be featured on the deluxe digipak and LP versions of the effort. The cover by Peter Sallai (SABATON) will be featured on the standard jewel case and limited edition cassette tape versions.

"This other version of the new art made by Eliran Kantor represents a more iconic and epic approach," commented Iacono. "A man representing all of humanity, shaking the foundation of existence and ultimately beginning the process of destruction. The main foundation is depicted here as the famous KATAKLYSM 'tribal sun' logo. It does not represent the end of KATAKLYSM by any means; more the beginning of a new era after the end of a certain existence."

The follow-up to 2010's "Heaven's Venom", "Waiting For The End To Come" was recorded by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, who has previously worked with MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX and DESPISED ICON, among others, and mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SUFFOCATION, HATEBREED, ARSIS).

"Waiting For The End To Come" jewel case and limited cassette track listing:

01. Fire02. If I Was God - I’d Burn It All03. Like Animals04. Kill The Elite05. Under Lawless Skies06. Dead & Buried07. The Darkest Days of Slumber08. Real Blood - Real Scars09. The Promise10. Empire Of Dirt11. Elevate

"Waiting For The End To Come" digipak and LP track listing:

01. Fire02. If I Was God – I'd Burn It All03. Like Animals04. Kill The Elite05. Under Lawless Skies06. Dead & Buried07. The Darkest Days of Slumber08. Real Blood - Real Scars09. The Promise10. Empire Of Dirt11. Elevate12. The American Way (SACRED REICH cover; digipak bonus track)

As previously reported, KATAKLYSM has recruited ex-NEURAXIS drummer Oli Beaudoin to sit behind the kit during the recording sessions for "Waiting For The End To Come". Beaudoin is also playing all of KATAKLYSM's currenty announced shows. Drummer Max Duhamel announced on April 8 that he was taking a break from KATAKLYSM to deal with issues related to alcohol abuse.

KATAKLYSM will embark on a European headlining tour in January 2014. Support on the trek will come from KRISIUN and FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE.

Highway 81 Revisited recently conducted an interview with legendary rocker Alice Cooper. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Highway 81 Revisited: Are you working on a new album?

Alice: I just finished the bed tracks for a new album in Los Angeles. There's about seven vocals that I finished and I have about five or six vocals I need to finish, then that album's done. I have never done a covers album, and I decided to cover all my dead drunk friends. All the guys I used to drink with, we had a drinking club called the Hollywood Vampires. And so I'm covering Harry Nilsson, John Lennon, Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, THE SMALL FACES, T. REX. It's one of those things where all of the guys I used to drink with are gone, so we are covering those songs.

Highway 81 Revisited: Being such a visually oriented artist, is it difficult to translate your ideas to audio when you record?

Alice: No. First of all, it's two different things. When we're writing an album, we totally realize that the audience is going to hear it and then picture it. So when you're doing a song, I definitely write colorful lyrics, and I try to tell a story in three minutes or four minutes. And I learned that from Chuck Berry. Chuck Berry can tell you a story in three minutes. I said, "That guy is the best lyricist ever," because I listen to "Nadine" or "Maybellene" or "Memphis Tennessee" or any of that, and I go, "Jeez, the guy told me an entire story in three minutes." So I learned from that, and that's what I do. Almost every one of my songs is a little story or a little incident or something like that.

Highway 81 Revisited: You made some comments recently about MUMFORD & SONS and THE LUMINEERS not being real rock n' roll. What do you think of the current state of rock? And is there anything new that you enjoy?

Alice: I'm telling you, the FOO FIGHTERS are one of the only rock bands out there. The FOO FIGHTERS are a pure '70s rock 'n' roll band that don't take prisoners. Same with Slash's band THE CONSPIRATORS, and, ya know, Axl Rose, Axl's GUNS N' ROSES. Those are three bands that go out to rock 'n' roll, like AEROSMITH, Ozzy's band, BLACK SABBATH, Alice Cooper. We are bands that are dedicated to guitar rock. I don't think you're ever going to hear us unplugged. At least I can guarantee you are never going to hear Alice Cooper unplugged. So that's the kind of stuff I like. I think there's a lot of good, young bands out there. I think we're in a folk period right now. We're kind of in this really, to me, very dull period, where bands are just kind of boring. I'm sorry to say that, but I can't wait until the next cycle comes out when you come up with another BUCKCHERRY or another GUNS N' ROSES or another MÖTLEY CRÜE or someone that goes out on stage and plays rock n' roll and makes you go, "Wow! OK, That was fun." Right now, though, it's a little boring.

Read the entire interview from Highway 81 Revisited.

KISS, DEEP PURPLE, YES, and NIRVANA are among the nominees for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2014.

For the second time in as many as years, a fan vote will be conducted and counted among the 600 ballots to be cast by members of the Rock Hall.

Fans can cast their votes beginning October 16 on the Rock Hall's web site, RollingStone.com and USAtoday.com. The top 5 vote getters will make up the fans ballot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MAYAN — the band featuring EPICA guitarist/songwriter Mark Jansen alongside Jack Driessen (ex-AFTER FOREVER) and Frank Schiphorst — will release its sophomore album, "Antagonise", on January 31, 2014 via Nuclear Blast Records. The 11-song CD, which was recorded at Sandlane studio with producer Joost Van Der Broek (REVAMP, STREAM OF PASSION), features guest appearances by Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH, REVAMP), Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION) and the Greek virtuozo violinist Dimitris Katsoulis.

The concept for "Antagonise" is based on "the current state of the world which is going totally insane," according to a press release. "For example the explosive situation in Syria, governments who constantly accusing each other of lying, spying and using tricks to revoke their own population." Henning Basse (LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA) and Laura Macri recently joined MAYAN as permanent members. MAYAN is: Mark Jansen - grunts, screamsHenning Basse - vocalsLaura Macri - sopranoJack Driessen - keysFrank Schiphorst - guitarRob van der Loo - bassArien van Weesenbeek - drums MAYAN will present "Antagonise" at two Dutch CD-reloease shows: on January 30 at Mezz in Breda and on January 31, 2014 at Tivoli in Utrecht.

Guitarist Isaac Delahaye (EPICA) recently left MAYAN because he "wanted to concentrate on other things."

MAYAN's debut album, "Quarterpast", was released in Europe on May 20, 2011 and in North America on July 12, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded and mixed by Sascha Paeth (EPICA, KAMELOT).

In an interview with The Great Southern Brainfart, Mark Jansen stated about MAYAN, "It started as just something for fun but soon it grew into something that had to be perfect as well. I thought it was just for fun to make music with old friends but now it's as serious for me as EPICA is. Of course, EPICA remains my priority band and that's the band that's doing the most of the tours but MAYAN will fill in the gaps."

When asked if the MAYAN material is — conceptually and lyrically — similar to EPICA, Mark replied, "Lyrically, you will find a lot of comparisons because it's my style of writing. I didn't attempt to write about completely different stuff. It could have been lyrics for an EPICA CD as well but music-wise it's completely different. It contains way more grunts and it's way more heavy. It is still symphonic because I love that kind of music. It's like a mixture of SYMPHONY X and OPETH style. That kind of direction."

German guitarist Alex Beyrodt (PRIMAL FEAR) has completed work on the first SILENT FORCE studio album in nearly seven years, Entitled "Rising From Ashes", the follow-up to 2007's "Walk The Earth" will be released on December 13 via AFM Records.

The cover artwork for "Rising From Ashes" can be seen below.

"Walk the Earth" was released in Europe in February 2007 via AFM Records (the CD was issued in the U.S. in May 2008 via Locomotive). The German label has also reissued the band's first two albums — "The Empire of Future" (2000) and "Infatuator" (2001). "The Empire of Future" contained an acoustic version of the song "Saints And Sinners" as a bonus, while "Infatuator" included a bonus live video of the title track.

Swiss hard rockers CRYSTAL BALL will release their new album, "Dawnbreaker", on November 29 via Massacre Records. The CD was produced, mixed and mastered by Stefan Kaufmann (former ACCEPT drummer and U.D.O. guitarist) at ROXX Studio in Solingen, Germany.

The "Dawnbreaker" cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard, who has previously worked with such bands as KISSIN' DYNAMITE, RAGE, AVANTASIA and EDGUY. The standard edition of the album will contain 11 tracks, while the limited-edition digipak will feature 13 songs.

CRYSTAL BALL's new digital single, "Anyone Can Be A Hero"/"Eternal Flame", is out now. The Swiss version of the single comes with different artwork and the songs are featured in reverse order.

CRYSTAL BALL recently filmed a video for the song "Anyone Can Be A Hero".

The band will celebrate the "Dawnbreaker" release with a headlining performance on November 29 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

CRYSTAL BALL is:

Markus Flury - Lead, Rhythm Guitar Marcel Sardella - Drums Steven Mageney - Vocals Scott Leach - Lead, Rhythm Guitar Cris Stone - Bass

Experimental metal act EPHEL DUATH will return with its first album in five years, "Hemmed By Light, Shaped By Darkness", on November 19 in Europe and November 26 in North America via Agonia Records.

Ignited by commitment and passion, "Hemmed By Light, Shaped By Darkness" is a multi-layered hybrid of death metal, jazz and post rock, and a strong statement from a band never bounded by rules. With intuition set as the only significant parameter, EPHEL DUATH takes an uncompromising will to experiment, to a whole new level of intensity. "This album holds together all that EPHEL DUATH's music has touched in the last fifteen years and pushes its boundaries even further," comments EPHEL DUATH mainman Davide Tiso. "Lyrically, the new songs dig deep in higher self subject matters, combining brutally visual imagery with a painfully honest soul-searching quest." Featuring eight new songs and reaching over 50 minutes of total length, "Hemmed By Light, Shaped By Darkness" includes a unique line-up of: Marco Minnemann (KREATOR, NECROPHAGIST, JOE SATRIANI) behind the drums, Bryan Beller (DETHKLOK, JOE SATRIANI) on bass, lead singer Karyn Crisis (CRISIS) along with Tiso. The album was produced by Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL) at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Studios in New York. "Hemmed By Light, Shaped By Darkness" track listing:

01. Feathers Under My Skin02. Tracing The Path Of Blood03. When Mind Escapes Flesh04. Within This Soil05. Those Gates To Nothing06. Through Flames I Shield07. Hemmed By Light08. Shaped by Darkness

The lyric video for the song "Shaped By Darkness" can be seen below. "Hemmed By Light, Shaped By Darkness" will be available in digipack CD, double LP and digital formats.

A video trailer for the CD featuring album artwork created by visionary artists Dehn Sora and Aeron Alfrey can be seen below.

Established in 2004, Back On Black specializes in vinyl editions of classic metal albums and is dedicated to providing top-quality releases for record collectors and metal fans worldwide.

The label just reissued the following SAXON albums:

* "The Eagle Has Landed" (1982)* "Denim And Leather" (1981)* "Innocence Is No Excuse" (1985)* "Power And The Glory" (1983)* "Rock The Nations" (1986)* "Crusader" (1984)* "Wheels Of Steel" (1980)* "Strong Arm Of The Law" (1980)

The albums are available for purchase at PlasticHead.com.

The label's releases are pressed on exquisite, heavy weight vinyl to produce the very best in sound quality with a mesmerizing tactile feel that makes them a pleasure to handle. Beautiful vinyl colours are carefully chosen to complement the artwork, with some releases available in a variety of colours for the dedicated collector. Many releases are double, or even triple, LPs.

The artwork itself is reworked to faithfully interpret the original album, and reproduced on superior quality gatefold sleeves in heavy weight card with a superb and unrivalled finish.

Back On Black also issues many exclusive vinyl editions of contemporary metal releases.

Far from being dead, the beloved vinyl format is going from strength to strength — and Back On Black is proud to serve the needs of the metal vinyl connoisseur!

The official lyric video for the song "Betrayal" from the reactivated Norwegian metal band EXTOL, can be seen below. The track comes off the group's self-titled fifth album, which was released on June 25 (one day earlier internationally) via Indie Recordings. Vocalist Peter Espevoll talks about the meaning behind the song: "It was one o'clock at night and I didn't have any lyrics for 'Betrayal'. I sat down in a chair and just closed my eyes. I see this image of a small girl that we met in Kenya at a garbage dump searching for scraps of food. I knew that I wanted to write a song about this."

According to a press release, EXTOL's new CD "is a like a complex metallic alloy. The playfulness of the songs and the brutal bonding of genres are transformed into a fusion of atmospheric and harmonic prog rock, merged with the tempered thrash and death metal that EXTOL so uniquely master. This album leads us straight to the core of EXTOL."

Comments EXTOL drummer David Husvik: "'Extol' is the album that was planned all the way, but never materialized. Partly due to changes in the lineup, but also because of the band´s urge to always reach for something new. The album is the recap of 20 years of Extolhistory, both musically and lyrically."

With a long-awaited creative collaboration with Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, ENSLAVED) and some truly magnificent artwork by Travis Smith (KATATONIA, OPETH, DEATH), EXTOL has managed to create a timeless masterpiece and the vision of the band seems clearer than ever.

Mastermind Ole Børud has returned, and along with Husvik and Peter Espevoll, the trio now constitutes the 2013 lineup of EXTOL.

"Extol" track listing:

01. Betrayal 02. Open The Gates 03. Wastelands04. A Gift Beyond Human Reach 05. Faltering Moves06. Behold The Sun07. Dawn Of Redemption08. Ministers09. Extol 10. Unveiling The Obscure

Fan-filmed video footage of Doro Pesch's October 15 performance at Atak in Enschede, The Hetherlands can be seen below.

Leisure time does not seem to exist for Pesch, as she is once again about to face an event-packed schedule shuffling between two worlds: the music business and the movie industry. After laying down vocals in early October in Hamburg, Doro took off to the Swiss mountains to finish working on the sequel to "Anuk - Way Of The Warrior', where she will star as the warrior Meha, who is fighting dark rivaling hordes with her mountain people in 2,500 BD.

The new "Anuk" film will be released in late 2014 and the accompanying soundtrack will include songs from Doro's most recent output, "Raise Your Fist In The Air". Doro states: "For me, the song 'Free Your Heart' fits the film perfectly." "Raise Your Fist" sold 585 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 65 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Robinsons Brewery today announced that over one million pints of IRON MAIDEN's Trooper beer have already been exported around the world. Given that the beer was only launched in the U.K. five months ago on May 9, and only made available to the USA and most other countries less than two months ago, this is a remarkable accomplishment for the Cheshire family brewers and takes the total number of Trooper pints sold globally to over 2 million pints.

Robinsons managing director (beer division) Oliver Robinson commented: "The beer itself is fantastic in terms of quality and taste, hence repeat purchases are high, but we are astonished to reach this second millionth mark in less than six months. To add to this, we have discovered that Trooper is driving the sales of cask ale across the board. Within our Robinsons estate beer sales of the pubs that have listed Trooper are actually 8% ahead of those which have not. This is a beer that not only drives customers into pubs; it also drives the sales of our other brands. There are not many beers in the world that can do that. Establishing a new beer in the U.K. and globally is a long and difficult process but we feel we are off to a great start”

At home, Trooper now has listings in many of the major pub chains, including Punch, Spirit, Coors and Wetherspoons as well as the major wholesalers. Heineken has elevated Trooper from a temporary seasonal listing to a permanent listing to the whole of the U.K. for free trade accounts. Abroad, expansion continues in Europe with Trooper the No. 2 best-selling ale in Sweden — fast chasing down Newcastle Brown Ale which is currently No. 1 there. Further afield the beer is just starting to impact across the continents after having secured all necessary licenses, permits and customs clearances which can be a lengthy process; New Zealand are preparing to take their first shipment, and Trooper has just landed in Canada for the first time. Brazil alone have ordered almost 84,000 pints since May, when the first two shipments to arrive there sold out immediately.

David Davies, managing director of Sovereign Beverage Company, and Robinsons' official export partners, claims Trooper is the most successful new beer ever launched from the U.K.: "We are the largest exporter of ales and cider from the U.K., with distribution of products in over 52 countries. In an eight-week period, distribution in 30 countries and over 1,000,000 bottles with some of the world's leading importers has made this product launch the most successful we have ever seen from the U.K. Trooper is simply a phenomenon!

"With the support of the globally renowned IRON MAIDEN, we look forward to longevity and building a really successful brand for the future in the world of export."

In the USA, Lanny Hoff, VP, brand development and marketing Artisanal Imports, Inc., commented, "Trooper is the most dynamic beer we have ever imported. Our distributors tell us it is outselling all of their other British beer, combined! Even more exciting, it is introducing many American beer drinkers to real, handcrafted, no-compromise British ale."

Ruth Evans MBE, CEO of Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers' Association (BFBI), director of Brewing Technology Services Limited, and organizer of the oldest international brewing awards in the world, agrees that Trooper is providing a great profile for British beer all around the world: "It is great to see such a successful launch of a British beer with the internationally famous British band IRON MAIDEN into the export arena. With distribution into 30 countries in 8 weeks and over 1 million bottles sold overseas in the same period, we are confident that Trooper is the most successful launch of an English ale in recent years and will be sure to help raise the overall profile of British beers in export."

With its focus firmly on taste and easy-drinking, Trooper was personally designed and developed as a top quality premium British beer by IRON MAIDEN vocalist and real ale enthusiast Bruce Dickinson with Robinsons' head brewer Martyn Weeks.

Trooper not only appeals to IRON MAIDEN's legendary loyal fan base, it is attracting new customers to the beer category who are now trying cask ale for the very first time. Keith Bott, SIBA chairman, believes Trooper is strengthening the British brewing industry in these times of austerity and is one to watch for future world beer competitions: "There's no doubt that a beer like Trooper with Robinsons is great for British beer exports generally. There have been 1 millions pints sold abroad to date and the way things are going this will multiply. Because the beer is directed at IRON MAIDEN fans worldwide it stands to reason that we have a fair proportion trying British beers for the first time and, if they like what they taste, then that can only be good for other British brewers. In recent years new world craft beers have done increasingly well in world beer competitions and this is the sort of beer that can fight back."

Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen will release the new AYREON album, "The Theory Of Everything", on October 28 via InsideOut Music. The artwork was once again created by Belgian artist Jef Bertels, who has an incredible and distinct fantasy/sci-fi style.

The "The Theory Of Everything" title track can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"The Theory Of Everything" track listing:

Disc 1

Phase I: Singularity

01. Prologue: The Blackboard02. The Theory Of Everything Part 103. Patterns04. The Prodigy's World05. The Teacher's Discovery06. Love And Envy07. Progressive Waves08. The Gift09. The Eleventh Dimension10. Inertia11. The Theory Of Everything Part 2

Phase II: Symmetry

12. The Consultation13. Diagnosis14. The Argument 115. The Rival's Dilemma16. Surface Tension17. A Reason To Live18. Potential19. Quantum Chaos20. Dark Medicine21. Alive!22. The Prediction

Disc 2

Phase III: Entanglement

01. Fluctuations02. Transformation03. Collision04. Side Effects05. Frequency Modulation06. Magnetism07. Quid Pro Quo08. String Theory09. Fortune?

Phase IV: Unification

10. Mirror Of Dreams11. The Lighthouse12. The Argument 213. The Parting14. The Visitation15. The Breakthrough16. The Note17. The Uncertainty Principle18. Dark Energy19. The Theory Of Everything Part 320. The Blackboard (Reprise)

"The Theory Of Everything" formats:

* Limited deluxe artbook (2CD, DVD + Bonus 2CD) includes a 48-page perfect binding LP-sized book with plenty of artwork, the bonus DVD with a making of feature, full-length interviews and the recording session time lapse footage and in addition all tracks as instrumental versions on 2CDs * Special-edition 2CD+DVD mediabook * Gatefold black 2LP+2CD incl. Booklet with additional artwork * Standard 2CD jewelcase * Digital download

"The Theory Of Everything" recording lineup:

Vocalists (in order of appearance):

* Janne "JB" Christoffersson (GRAND MAGUS) as The Teacher * Sara Squadrani (ANCIENT BARDS) as The Girl * Michael Mills (TOEHIDER) as The Father * Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL) as The Mother * Tommy Karevik (KAMELOT, SEVENTH WONDER) as The Prodigy * Marko Hietala (NIGHTWISH) as The Rival * John Wetton (ASIA, KING CRIMSON) as The Psychiatrist

Instrumentalists:

* Ed Warby - drums * Rick Wakeman (YES) - keyboards * Keith Emerson (EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER) - keyboards * Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER) - keyboards * Steve Hackett (GENESIS) - lead guitar * Troy Donockley (BAD SHEPHERDS, NIGHTWISH) - Uilleann pipes and low flute * Arjen Anthony Lucassen - electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, mandolin and keyboards.

AYREON's latest album, "01011001" (2008), sold 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 32 on the the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart (which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200).

AYREON's 3CD + DVD compilation album entitled "Timeline" came out in November 2008. The set followed the thirteen-year evolution of the AYREON sound from the 1995 debut "The Final Experiment" to the release of "01011001". In addition to selecting tracks from the existing AYREON discography, Arjen also wrote and recorded a new AYREON song exclusively for "Timeline". Titled "Epilogue: The Memory Remains", this previously unreleased nine-plus-minute track introduced AYREON fans to the clear, powerful voice of Jasper Steverlinck (ARID).

"Love & Meth", the new video from KORN, can be seen at RollingStone.com. The song comes off the band's 11th studio album, "The Paradigm Shift", which sold 46,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on October 8 via Prospect Park.

"The Paradigm Shift" is the first KORN disc to feature original guitarist Brian "Head" Welch since 2003's "Take A Look In The Mirror" and follows up 2011's dubstep experiment, "The Path Of Totality". Frontman Jonathan Davis told The Pulse Of Radio that Welch's return on guitar was a good balance to Davis' own continued fascination with electronic music. "We wanted to make a record that everybody was happy with, and Head coming back, I think, was great, 'cause me and him butted heads. 'Cause he really is on the rock side and I was on the electronic side, and it was good having the compromise on both sides. It was just good for the creative process, I think."

Welch recently told Rolling Stone that the new album has "the old KORN vibe, but with a new twist . . . The end product is a really good mix of old KORN mixed with some new elements. It's got a fresh new KORN 2013 sound."

Welch left KORN in 2005 after he converted to Christianity and got off drugs. He rejoined them for a handful of live performances last year before officially becoming part of the lineup again in early 2013.

Davis recently revealed that he was dealing with personal issues during the early stages of the new disc, including his son being diagnosed with diabetes and his own struggle to kick an addiction to anti-depression medication.

KORN and ROB ZOMBIE will co-headline the "Night Of The Living Dreads" tour this fall. The 17-date run begins on November 3 in Reno, Nevada and wraps on November 26 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The official lyric video for the song "Dyin' Since The Day I Was Born" from Leslie West, the legendary guitarist, vocalist and original founding member of MOUNTAIN, can be seen below. The track features a special guest appearance by ALTER BRIDGE and CREED guitarist Mark Tremonti.

"Dyin' Since The Day I Was Born" comes off Leslie West's new studio album, "Still Climbing", which will be released on October 28 via Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group.

The CD is a testimonial to the strength and durability of West's artistry. Born October 22, 1945, as he approaches his 68th birthday, West has packed some of the most soulful and searing vocal performances of his half-century career into these 11 tracks. His guitar has never sounded more massive or riff-orientated.

West, who ascended rock's Mt. Olympus with Mountain in a historic performance at 1969's Woodstock festival, accomplished all of that despite a life-threatening battle with diabetes that cost him most of his right leg in 2011, just after his previous Mascot Label Group release, "Unusual Suspects", was recorded.

"I'm lucky it wasn't one of my hands or I'd be screwed," says West. "It was a difficult struggle, and after the amputation I didn't know whether I'd ever want to or be able to perform again. But a month later I played at the Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp in New York City, and I heard my guitar on stage and that was it. I knew I had to keep going."

Following the success of "Unusual Suspects", West approached the new release with vision of tying the albums together. "The new album is a sequel to 'Unusual Suspects', where I had friends of mine that include Slash, Zakk Wylde, Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa and Billy Gibbons come to the studio and play," West explains.

This time Jonny Lang, Johnny Winter, TWISTED SISTER's Dee Snider and Mark Tremonti do the honors. "What's different on 'Still Climbing' is that I wanted my guitars to sound as big as I look," Leslie says. "So I used four of my Dean Signature model guitars with my Mountain of Tone humbucking pickups. I plugged them into my Blackstar amps — no pedals — and turned them up loud and raw, and what you hear is exactly what I did in the studio. These Blackstar amps deliver everything I need without 'confidence' pedals. I played one of the early tracks we recorded for Slash, and he said, 'That is as heavy as it gets.'"

"Still Climbing" track listing 01. Dyin' Since The Day I Was Born (feat. Mark Tremonti)02. Busted, Disgusted or Dead (feat. Johnny Winter)03. Fade Into You04. Not Over You At All05. Tales Of Woe06. Feeling Good (feat. Dee Snider)07. Hatfield or McCoy08. When A Man Loves A Woman (feat. Jonny Lang)09. Long Red10. Don't Ever Let Me Go (feat. Dylan Rose)11. Rev Jones Time (Somewhere Over The Rainbow) "Still Climbing" is co-produced by West and Mike "Metal" Goldberg, who engineered all of the sessions. Songs like "Dyin' Since The Day I Was Born", "Hatfield or McCoy" and "Busted, Disgusted or Dead" establish a new litmus test for "heavy." The latter features West and Johnny Winter on duelling slide guitars. West also gave up smoking cigarettes and pot after a bout with bladder cancer, so it's no wonder many of "Still Climbing"'s numbers explore the theme of survival and, ultimately, triumph. To that end, West avows, "Not only am I lucky to be here, but because I stopped smoking my voice is now stronger than it's ever been — as strong as my guitar playing."

His inclusion of "Feeling Good", a song by British actor-musician Anthony Newley that was made famous by Steve Winwood's group TRAFFIC, is a testimonial to all of that. Its lyrics celebrate a "new dawn for me" as West and his long-time buddy Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER) trade vocal lines.

West has always been an outstanding vocalist, earning comparisons to soul legends like Otis Redding since his 1969 debut "Mountain", which gave his historic band its name. On "Still Climbing", West revisits the catalogue of another classic soul man, Percy Sledge, with the enduring "When A Man Loves A Woman". He's joined by now 32-year-old soul man Jonny Lang, whom he met 15 years ago when Lang was a rising guitar prodigy. West says they cut the tune side-by-side in the studio, their soaring guitars and voices twining to bring fresh blood and a blues-soaked arrangement to the song.

"When A Man Loves A Woman", "Never Let Me Go" and "Fade Into You" explore a romantic theme. In 2009, West married his wife Jenni, who co-wrote many of "Still Climbing"'s songs with the guitar giant.

They exchanged vows on stage at the Woodstock 40th-anniversary concert. West credits her with saving his life — first with her love, and then by making the difficult decision to permit his doctors to amputate while he was in a coma.

"Being in MOUNTAIN was one of the most satisfying things I have ever done in my professional life," says West. "I became a musician, not just a guitar player."

"Being in MOUNTAIN with Felix Pappalardi was an honour. He was so talented as a producer, arranger, bass player, guitar player — all the things I aspired to be. We had some great years together, and some rocky roads. His wife Gail, who, by the way, shot and killed Felix, could suck the fun out of a clown. It left a terrible taste in my mouth about working with my wife, Jenni. I did not want to risk going down that path where your wife was involved in every aspect of your musical life. Jenni has become so good at expressing thoughts to paper. She has become my primary collaborator on the lyrical side of my new recordings."

West has been performing since 1965, when he fronted the soul-fired VAGRANTS in his native New York City. Rolling Stone placed him at #66 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists."

His repertoire continues to be relevant with enduring appeal to this day as top-selling rap recordings are built around samples from "Long Red", which appeared on the "Mountain" album. Jay-Z tapped the tune for his 2004 mega-smash "99 Problems". So did Kanye West, for "Barry Bonds" and "The Glory", and Common's "The People", along with others.

Recently, Lana Del Rey sampled West's voice and features it in the beginning, middle and end of the worldwide smash "Born To Die". For "Still Climbing", West re-recorded "Long Red" with his brother and former VAGRANTS mate Larry West on bass. He offers, "It was time for me to let people hear that song the way I do it now. I used a B-3 organ on it again, but this time it has a lot more balls."

Balls, guts, heart — more words that are part of West's legend and describe the roaring crescendos and deep emotional roots of "Still Climbing" — and West himself. "You know, when it comes to talent, we don't all move at the same rate of speed," West muses. "Some people start at the top of their game and after 10 or 20 years you wonder what the hell happened to them. I like to joke that the older I get the better I used to be, but after giving up drugs and smoking, my voice can hit notes that I never could reach before. I'm thankful for that."

"The Mouths Of Madness", the video for the title track of the new album from San Francisco-based doom rockers ORCHID, can be seen below. The CD was released on April 26 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Guitarist Mark Thomas Baker stated about the extensive "The Mouths Of Madness" production process: "Most of the tracks on 'The Mouths Of Madness' were cut in early June 2012. We were pretty fresh off of our European tour and full of confidence. The basics done at that time were the best recording experience that we've had so far. Everybody got along great and did great work.

"We did this album with a completely different guitar sound than 'Capricorn'. I think it sounds much heavier in that regard. We take a lot of time to get things right. I hope people enjoy it and let it sink in. I think it's miles above our past efforts."

Mastering engineer Richard Whittaker, who also took care of the latest BLACK SABBATH and THIN LIZZY rereleases/analogue transfers, comments: "I've been a huge fan of ORCHID since I first heard their debut EP back in 2009, and they've certainly come a long way since then. So, as you can imagine, to be asked to work with ORCHID on their records was an honour and a pleasure. They're a great bunch of guys and a stellar band to be involved with.

"'The Mouths Of Madness' is such a well-crafted and awe-inspiring album. Sonically, its 1974 meets 2013 which, for me, takes the SABBATH/PENTAGRAM vibe to whole new level."

ORCHID was named "the best and most important doom band of the past five years" by Rock Hard Germany's editor-in-chief Götz Kühnemund. In addition, BEHEMOTH mainman Adam "Nergal" Darski stated: "BLACK SABBATH should do an album like 'The Mouths Of Madness'!"

Since its inception in 2006, ORCHID — which features in its ranks well-known tattoo artist Theo Mindell on vocals — has achieved massive global awareness with their stunning releases "Through The Devil's Doorway" (EP, 2009) and "Capricorn" (full-length, 2011).

On November 15, ORCHID will release "The Zodiac Sessions", which consists of "Through The Devil's Doorway" and "Capricorn". 

For "The Zodiac Sessions", both releases have been completely remastered and put on one CD in a lavish digipak featuring an all new cover art, created by the band's gifted singer, Theo Mindell.

On November 1, ORCHIDwill kick off a European headlining tour alongside labelmates BLUES PILLS and SCORPION CHILD.

ORCHID is:

Theo Mindell: VocalsCarter Kennedy: DrumsMark Thomas Baker: GuitarKeith Nickel: Bass

Finnish goth metallers THE 69 EYES will release a new compilation album, "The Best Of Helsinki Vampires", on November 1. The collection will include a brand new song, "Lost Without Love", written by the singer Jyrki69 and dealing with situations he and the band's drummer, Jussi69, have both gone through.

"The Best Of Helsinki Vampires" track listing:

CD1

01. Lost Boys02. Perfect Skin03. Brandon Lee04. Lost Without Love05. Feel Berlin06. The Chair07. Dead Girls Are Easy08. Radical09. Tonight10. Dance D'Amour11. Borderline12. Rocker13. Dead N' Gone14. Rosary Blue (feat. KAT VON D)

CD2

01. Never Say Die02. Gothic Girl03. Betty Blue04. Sister Of Charity05. Love Runs Away06. We Own The Night07. Red08. Devils09. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams10. Wasting The Dawn11. Kiss Me Undead12. Crashing High13. Stolen Season14. Ghost

The official lyric video for the song "Lost Without Love" can be seen below.

THE 69 EYES released a digital EP, "Love Runs Away", via iTunes on February 1. The effort included two previously unreleased bonus songs, "Rosary Blue" and "Dracula's Castle".

"Love Runs Away", the third single and opening track of THE 69 EYES' latest album, "X", which came out in September 2012, has by now already become a live favorite with its pure rocking metal riffs and a chorus with a bulletproof hook line.

The larger-than-life ballad duet "Rosary Blue" on which Jyrki69 is accompanied by world-famous tattoo artist and "L.A. Ink" star Kat Von D is the first of two never-before-heard bonus tracks. Jyrki69 said: "We've known each other for some years and since Kat is also starting to make music, I thought it would be interesting to have her on board. The song is amazing and with her help, it turned out even more magical — it's like our own 'Stairway to Heaven'."

The final track, "Dracula's Castle", is at least equally interesting, as it can be considered pure rockabilly — or rather gothabilly! Jyrki69 shared its background: "THE FUZZTONES is one of my all-time favorite bands and I've got to know their leader Rudi Protrudi a bit. We wrote this track with him in Berlin one night before our show and he actually even sings backing vocals on it. Words can't describe the feeling of making music with your own idol — I still can't believe it! The song is like a Scooby Doo-on-acid-by-Halloween kind of gothabilly track."

Dutch rockers VENGEANCE will release their new album, "Piece Of Cake", on November 5 (October 28 in Europe) via SPV/Steamhammer.

"Piece Of Cake" track listing:

01. World Arena (04:39)02. Tears From The Moon (03:40)03. Raintime Preload (00:36)04. Raintime (03:31)05. Sandman (05:08)06. Back To Square One (04:54)07. Headquake (03:44)08. Train (05:07)09. Mirrors (03:15)10. Piece Of Cake (03:27)11. Goodbye Mother Sky (06:30)

The official video for the song "Back To Square One" can be seen below.

"People can expect what to my ears is the best VENGEANCE album to date," declares guitarist Timo Somers. "The songs are a nice blend of old-school VENGEANCE (think 'Arabia') and some more modern-sounding songs. This time the instrumental side of the band is really outspoken; it features a lot of nice intros, solos and instrumental pieces. And to top it off, Leon [Goewie, vocals] sounds better than ever."

Somers promises eleven gripping new compositions: "'Raintime' is the fastest song on the album. The song kind of sounds like a Malmsteen song with Leon on vocals. Double bass, big chorus and a fast guitar solo are the keywords." The most typical song is the title track "Piece Of Cake". Somers says: "We needed a party song for the album and we wrote this together in about an hour in the studio. It's this typical AC/DC thing with Leon going nuts and some Van Halen-like guitars." The most unusual song is "Back To Square One", a blues rock ballad in the vein of Gary Moore. "I don’t think a lot of people know this side of VENGEANCE," Somers suggests, "but it showcases our more soulful side."

VENGEANCE will embark on a European tour with labelmates MAD MAX this fall. "This is a double tour together with MAD MAX to celebrate our new albums being released on the same day," Somers says. "I'm pretty sure we'll be on tour in spring 2014 as well — we're working on that at the moment."

Roadrunner Records has announced the signing of MARMOZETS. The five-piece, which hails from Yorkshire, England, has released a brand new single, "Move, Shake, Hide", accompanied by an official music video for the track which can be viewed below.

MARMOZETS are slated to release their debut album in the spring of 2014.

"Move, Shake, Hide" follows MARMOZETS' previous single, "Born Young And Free", which received high critical praise and support from BBC Radio 1 DJs Daniel P Carter, Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe, with regular airplay on Kerrang! Radio and XFM's "Rock Show".

Celebrated by Rock Sound as "one of the most exciting new sounds to come out of the U.K.," MARMOZETS released their debut EP, "Passive Aggressive", in 2011 followed by 2012's "Vexed" EP, which Kerrang! touted as "a breathless, bold and brilliant effort from a band with a seemingly bottomless reserve of ideas."

MARMOZETS, which is comprised of two sets of siblings — Becca Macintyre (vocals), Sam Macintyre (guitar/vocals), Josh Macintyre (drums), Jack Bottomley (guitar) and Will Bottomley (bass/vocals) — have been cutting their teeth since 2011, earning widespread applause for their chaotic live shows. Nominated for the "Best British Newcomer" award at the 2013 Relentless Kerrang! Awards, MARMOZETS have destroyed stages all over the U.K., including appearances at the prestigious Download and Reading and Leeds festivals. With an average age of 18, MARMOZETS are no strangers to the road and have toured alongside the likes of GALLOWS, YOUNG GUNS, FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND and more, recently completing a sold-out U.K. headline tour.

PAIN SAVIOR, the new project from ormer DIO guitarist Tracy "G" Grijalva, will see the light of day, or dark of night, this Halloween with the release of "Dead Weight On A Dying Planet".

Featuring the multifaceted vocals of Elvin Rodriguez (BLACK WING HAZE, SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM), PAIN SAVIOR has also enlisted a tour de force of guest musicians, including Ray Luzier (KORN) on drums, and longtime Tracy G band bassist Randy Oviedo.

"Dead Weight On A Dying Planet" creates haunting landscapes throughout its 60-plus minutes of pure buzzsaw metal, and truly never lets up. From the stomp of "Red Scare" and punch of "Kneeface" to the doom march of the title track, PAIN SAVIOR offers something for every metal fan out there.

"Dead Weight On A Dying Planet" was recorded at The G Factory Studio in La Puente, California by Tracy G, with vocals recorded at The Forge Studios in Roselle, New Jersey by Matt Westlake. The CD will be released through the Spooky G label. Pre-orders can be submitted now at www.tracyg.com.

"Dead Weight On A Dying Planet" track listing:

01. No God But I02. Red Scare03. Last Words04. Pushing The New Machine05. Kneeface06. Bedlam07. Pain Savior08. Soul Taker09. Poison Is The Medicine10. Master Of Lies11. Shades Of Darkness12. Murder Hole13. Life... Beyond The Black (demo)

A teaser video can be viewed below.

Tracy left DIO in 1999 after he claimed he was "asked to play in a dual-guitar situation" in Ronnie's band. According to a posting on Tracy's web site, DIO was "looking for more of a Ritchie Blackmore style . . . and wanted [Tracy] to step back and just play rhythm guitar. That's when [Tracy] knew it was time to leave, freeing him to more diligently pursue his home studio projects."

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY — will release its new album, "Symphonies Of The Night", on November 13 in Spain, Sweden and Norway; November 15 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Benelux; November 18 in the rest of Europe; and on November 26 in North America via Napalm Records. The CD was produced by Liv's husband, ATROCITY singer and LEAVES' EYES co-vocalist Alexander Krull, at his Mastersound Studio in Germany. The cover artwork was created by Heile (a.k.a. Stefan Heilemann).

"Symphonies Of The Night" track listing:

01. Hell To The Heavens02. Fading Earth03. Maid Of Lorraine04. Galswintha05. Symphony Of The Night06. Saint Cecelia07. Hymn To The Lone Sands08. Angel And The Ghost09. Éléonore De Provence10. Nightshade11. Ophelia12. Eileen's Ardency (bonus track)*13. One Caress (bonus track)**

* feat. Carmen Elise Espenæs (MIDNATTSOL, SAVN)** DEPECHE MODE cover

Audio samples of all the songs that will appear on "Symphonies Of The Night" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Says LEAVES' EYES: "We couldn't be more proud of the final result.

"Expect this album to be the heaviest and most epic LEAVES' EYES experience to date: it will haunt you, even in your dreams."

Liv previously stated about the upcoming LEAVES' EYES CD : "We have taken a great inspirational step since the production of 'Meredead', both sound-wise and vocal-wise.

"It has been such a pleasure evolving in my singing techniques and knowledge and I thank my band members for giving me an inspirational kick when I needed to gain momentum behind the microphone.

"'Symphonies Of The Night' is hauntingly dream-like and heavy to the core!"

LEAVES' EYES released a digital-only EP, "Melusine", on December 16, 2011 in Europe and December 20, 2011 in the U.S. via Napalm Records. The five-track EP effort included no less than four previously unreleased songs.

LEAVES' EYES' latest album, "Meredead", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 32. Released on April 22, 2011 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland via Napalm Records, the effort was made available exclusively as limited-edition mediabook CD, including bonus track and bonus DVD "Live At The Metal Female Voices Fest", strictly limited-edition deluxe box set and regular jewel case.

MOTÖRHEAD's 21st studio album, "Aftershock", is available for streaming in its entirety using the widget below (courtesy of Yahoo! Music.

The release party for "Aftershock" will take place on Friday, October 18 upstairs at the world-famous Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood, California between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m

Listen to "Aftershock" before it is released on October 22 and enjoy free Rainbow pizza and win MOTÖRHEAD prizes. The first 100 fans get in free to the listening party upstairs.

"Aftershock" will be released as a an official Classic Rock collectors fanpack that features the new LP in full plus a 132-page magazine that forms the "ultimate sleevenotes" to the new release, with extensive and exclusive interviews with Lemmy, Mikkey Dee and Phil Campbell.

Pre-order your copy now at this location (official on-sale date is October 21).

Inside is everything you need to know about "Aftershock" and the world of MOTÖRHEAD in 2013: inside the making of album, new features covering all eras of the band's career from 1975 to 2013, and tons of previously unseen pictures.

Fanpack edition includes:

* New album "Aftershock"* 132-page magazine* Giant double-sided poster* Exclusive MOTÖRHEAD car sticker

"Aftershock" track listing:

01. Heartbreaker02. Coup De Grace03. Lost Woman Blues04. End Of Time05. Do You Believe06. Death Machine07. Dust And Glass08. Going To Mexico09. Silence When You Speak To Me10. Crying Shame11. Queen Of The Damned12. Knife13. Keep Your Powder Dry14. Paralyzed

Due in North America on October 22, "Aftershock" was recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California and is described in a press release as "a true leveler, a crushing confirmation of everything MOTÖRHEAD stands for, marching from the dust storm to deliver 14 belting statements which see MOTÖRHEAD in perhaps their best writing form for years. There's swagger, there's punch, there's speed and there’s dirty filthy grooves, Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee showing clearly that MOTÖRHEAD is not simply a band, it's a genre!"

MOTÖRHEAD canceled a handful of shows on its European festival tour in August after Lemmy suffered a haematoma (where blood collects outside of a blood vessel). The news of Lemmy's latest medical issue followed reports that he was also recently fitted with a defibrillator because of heart problems.

DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN, the new musical project from the minds of Rogga Johansson and Dave Ingram, will release its self-titled debut album on November 22 via Cyclone Empire. Dave is well known from his time as vocalist for two of England’s mightiest metal legends, BOLT THROWER and BENEDICTION, along with his Danish band DOWNLORD and his current two online radio shows, "Metal Breakfast Radio" and "Lambert's Basement". Rogga is equally legendary, with multiple bands under his belt, including PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER, FONDLECORPSE, HUMANITY DELETE and THE GROTESQUERY, to name but a few. Joining them is Rogga's fellow PAGANIZER and RIBSPREADER bandmate Dennis Blomberg (guitar).

DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN's musical style has been specified as crust-riddled punk with a definite death metal edge.

"Down Among The Dead Men" track listing:

01. Down Among The Dead Men02. The Doomsday Manuscript03. Adolescence Of Time04. Bones Of Contention05. Dead Man’s Switch06. The Stones Lament07. A Handful Of Dust08. Dead Men Diaries09. As Leeches Gorge10. Draconian Rage11. Venus Mantrap12. Infernal Nexus13. The Epoch

The song "Draconian Rage" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN is (from left to right in photo above):

Dave Ingram - VocalsDennis Blomberg - GuitarRogga Johansson - Guitar/Bass Said Ingram: "I'm real proud to be working with Rogga Johansson and Dennis Blomberg in DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN, and for us to be a part of the Cyclone Empire family.

"It was a great surprise that the label signed us without even hearing a single note of music. This shows confidence in all our abilities as musicians and this is more than true, as the world will hear once the album has been released. If I say so myself, it kicks serious ass.

"DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN are based in Scandinavia — myself in Denmark and the rest of the guys in Sweden — so meeting to rehearse for future touring is definitely viable and is something we have talked about with great anticipation.

"We're extremely confident in the album so we know we'll be getting DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN out on the road in the future."

GIFT OF GODS is the name of a new project from the mind of Nocturno Culto, one half of the legendary Norwegian black metal band DARKTHRONE. For GIFT OF GODS, Nocturno turns his hand to creating pure unbridled heavy metal excellence, taking in a vast array of influences from decades past to concoct a special whirlwind of melodic riffing and headbanging anthems on this 30-minute heavy metal pilgrimage.

Due on October 28 in Europe and November 5 in North America on vinyl and CD via Peaceville Records, "Receive" also features a rendition of "Looking For An Answer", originally written and recorded by the obscure Swedish '80s band UNIVERSE.

A mini-site for "Receive" has been launched at this location.

A labour of love over several years since its initial inception, GIFT OF GODS sees Nocturno performing all instruments himself and recording the mini-album at his own studio.

"Receive" was mixed and mastered at Enormous Door by Jack Control, who previously worked with Nocturno on DARKTHRONE's "The Underground Resistance" album.

Comments Nocturno: "Finally the mini album is done.

"GIFT OF GODS has been a great ride for me. I don't want this to end now, so I will most likely work on new material.

"Thanks to my partner in crime, K.A. Hubred, we got to rehearse during the last two years.

"What to expect? I have no idea how to describe this, but it's metal, for sure."

"Receive" track listing:

01. Intro02. Enlightning Strikes03. Receive04. Looking For An Answer05. Last Solstice06. Outro

The edited version of the song "Enlightning Strikes" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.