Frontiers Records will release the much-anticipated third album from PLACE VENDOME, "Thunder In The Distance", on November 1 in Europe and November 5 in North America.

PLACE VENDOME is the melodic rock project featuring UNISONIC and former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske on all lead vocals and production from Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69).

PLACE VENDOME started in 2004 when Kiske, following a self-imposed exile from the rock and metal scene which lasted a few years after his departure from HELLOWEEN and solo career, accepted an offer in 2004 to be part of a melodic rock-oriented concept put together by Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino.

The resulting PLACE VENDOME debut album brought Kiske back to a more straight-ahead rock sound, still very accessible and melodic and far from the heavy metal stereotypes of blood, violence and hate which Kiske never had anything to do with. He collaborated for the first time with PINK CREAM 69's Dennis Ward, Kosta Zafiriou and Uwe Reitenauer with Gunther Werno (VANDEN PLAS) on keyboards. In a quite ironic twist of fate, Michael found himself to work with members of PINK CREAM 69 when that band's original singer, Andi Deris, took his place in HELLOWEEN after Kiske left.

The very favorable acceptance of the first PLACE VENDOME album planted the seeds for a second recording entitled "Streets Of Fire", which was produced during 2008. The concept was slightly changed, with some outside writers such as Robert Säll (WORK OF ART), Ronny Milianowicz (SAINT DEAMON) and Torsti Spoof (LEVERAGE) handling the bulk of the songwriting, with Dennis Ward still handling the recording and production sessions.

Following his stint with the band UNISONIC, Kiske decided to go back once again to the PLACE VENDOME concept with more melodic rock-oriented songs which — once again — have been selected by Perugino from outside writers, including Magnus Karlsson (PRIMAL FEAR), Timo Tolkki (ex-STRATOVARIUS), Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE), Roberto Tiranti and Andrea Cantarelli (LABYRINTH, A PERFECT DAY), Tommy Denander (RADIOACTIVE), Sören Kronqvist (SUNSTORM, ISSA), and Brett Jones.

"I am having a very open mind in terms of music anyway, and the PLACE VENDOME vibe is a pretty different approach than UNISONIC," says Kiske. "I like many tracks off the PLACE VENDOME albums, but especially 'Guardian Angel', 'Streets Of Fire', 'I Will Be Waiting', 'Set Me Free' from the previous albums or now 'Maybe Tomorrow'. For me, the vocals are the most important part of a song, of course."

Ward once again produced and mixed the whole affair with such musicians as Dirk Bruineberg (CONSORTIUM PROJECT), Gunter Werno (VANDEN PLAS) and Uwe Reitenauer (PINK CREAM 69) completing the lineup.

"Thunder In The Distance" track listing:

01. Talk To Me02. Power Of Music03. Broken Wings04. Lost In Paradise05. It Can't Rain Forever06. Fragile Ground07. Hold Your Love08. Never Too Late09. Heaven Lost10. My Heart Is Dying11. Breakout12. Maybe Tomorrow13. Thunder In The Distance

The lyric video for the song "Power Of Music" can be seen below.

PLACE VENDOME is:

Michael Kiske - Lead Vocals Dennis Ward - Bass, Vocals, Rhythm GuitarDirk Bruineberg - DrumsGunter Werno - KeyboardsUwe Reitenauer - Lead Guitar

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", British gothic metal pioneers 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

The song "Gothic 2013" can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below. 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).

"Time Machine", the new video from THE WINERY DOGS — the power trio featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB), legendary bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, TALAS, DAVID LEE ROTH) and guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen (MR. BIG, POISON) — can be seen below. The clip was directed by Greg Kaplan and includes live rehearsal footage shot in Southern California, as well as concert footage shot during the band's recent sold-out tour of Japan.

"Time Machine" comes off THE WINERY DOGS' self-titled debut album, which sold around 10,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released in North America on July 23 via Loud & Proud Records and in Japan on May 15 via Victor Entertainment, the CD was mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, ADRENALINE MOB, STONE SOUR and STEEL PANTHER.

"Bands like [LED] ZEPPELIN and THE WHO, THE [ROLLING] STONES, and THE BEATLES, CREAM, and [Jimi] Hendrix. I mean, I grew up with that stuff," Portnoy told Voice Of America. "And, although I've been able to pay tribute to it throughout my career with tribute bands and things like that, I've never been in an all-original band that was kind of playing classic rock power trio stuff. That's how I describe this band: just a straight-up rock band."

Regarding the songwriting process for THE WINERY DOGS' album, Portnoy said: "In all cases, the music was the very first element and from there, Richie would start melodies on top of it. Sometimes the final lyrics were there, coming up on the spot, and other times he would take the melodies and write lyrics later. There were a couple of examples of Richie having something and bringing it in. In those cases, like 'Damaged' and 'Regret', we just left them. Because in those two particular cases, the songs were great as they were."

Portnoy was full of praise for his THE WINERY DOGS bandmates, telling Voice Of America: "Billy Sheehan is my favorite bass player on earth and he has been for almost 30 years now. So to work with him and make music with him for me is an honor. And Richie is someone I have the utmost respect for as an artist. I mean, he is just so underappreciated, not only as a guitarist, but as a singer and a writer as well. I think for me, the most exciting aspect of this band is for people to discover Richie that aren't aware of what a musical genius he is."

The official lyric video for the song "Piece by Piece" from Finnish "battle metal" warriors TURISAS, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Turisas2013", which was released on August 26 in Europe and will be made available on September 3 in North America. The CD was once again produced by vocalist Mathias Nygård and the majority of the album was recorded by Nygård and guitarist Jussi Wickström in a remote house outside of Helsinki that served as the "Turisas2013" command center and headquarters. Additional recordings were done in three other studios: the drums at Atomic Spa Studio and orchestral recordings at 5 by 5 Studio, both in Helsinki. A lot of vocals and numerous additional acoustic elements were laid down at Sound Supreme Studio in Hämeenlinna where TURISAS also recorded "The Varangian Way" and "Stand Up And Fight".

"Turisas2013" track listing:

01. For Your Own Good (4:34)02. Ten More Miles (4:16)03. Piece by Piece (5:37)04. Into The Free (3:50)05. Run Bhang-Eater, Run! (4:43)06. Greek Fire (4:51)07. The Days Passed (4:33)08. No Good Story Ever Starts With Drinking Tea (2:51)09. We Ride Together (6:33)

Says vocalist Mathias Nygård: "'Turisas2013' is a very diverse album: it has some of the heaviest and fastest tracks that we've ever done, but 'For Your Own Good' comes more from the lighter end. It's a very catchy song and we hope you'll enjoy the track that we picked to give you a very first taste of the many flavors to come."

With "Turisas2013", TURISAS deliberately aimed for a more organic sound.

Comments Nygård: "When it comes to the production, it's just the opposite of the polished and massive 'Stand Up And Fight'. It's raw and dry and in your face, but still maintaining that TURISAS largeness.

"People attest us that we are a great live band, and we wanted the album to be based more around that than orchestral massiveness. It's our most varied record to date and even if some of the songs sound very different, I think the common thread is that every single one has a lot of energy to it."

The mix and mastering was done by London-based producer Jaime Gomez Arellano, who previously worked with GHOST, PRIMODIAL and ULVER, just to name a few.

An audio snippet of the SUICIDE SILENCE song "You Only Live Once" featuring the band's as-yet-unidentified new vocalist can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

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

A funeral service for Mitch Lucker was held on November 8, 2012. The ceremony was attended by family and friends, including SUICIDE SILENCE bassist Dan Kenny, who tweeted afterwards, "Had to bury my brother today, he looked peaceful when I saw him. It was very hard but it was needed! To the fans just know Mitch loved yall"

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

Lucker, who was treated at the scene by paramedics, died shortly after 6 a.m. at UC Irvine Medical Center.

Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Robb Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA) were among the "surprise" guests who performed with with the surviving members of SUICIDE SILENCE at a special show on December 21, 2012 at the Fox theater in Pomona, California as a tribute Mitch Lucker. All proceeds from the event went towards the education of Mitch's six-year-old daughter, Kenadee Lucker.

The Pomona concert was professionally filmed for a DVD that is expected to surface before the end of the year.

"Son Of The Morning", a brand new song from San Francisco Bay Area metallers DEATH ANGEL, can be streamed at DeathAngel.us. The track comes off the band's seventh album, "The Dream Calls For Blood", which will be released on October 11 in Europe (except for the U.K. where it will arrive three days later) and October 15 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2010's "Relentless Retribution" was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER), and once again features cover art by Brent Elliot White (JOB FOR A COWBOY, CARNIFEX, WHITECHAPEL). Fans will be able to purchase a standard jewelcase version of the album or digipak edition that includes a bonus track and bonus DVD.

"The Dream Calls For Blood" track listing:

01. Left For Dead02. Son Of The Morning03. Fallen04. The Dream Calls For Blood05. Succubus06. Execution - Don’t Save Me07. Caster Of Shame08. Detonate09. Empty10. Territorial Instinct / Bloodlust11. Heaven And Hell (digipak bonus track)

Digipak bonus DVD

* The Making Of "The Dream Calls For Blood"

In a recent interview with Metal Covenant, DEATH ANGEL guitarist Rob Cavestany stated about the "The Dream Calls For Blood" album title: "The title is basically our motto. It's what we're talking about, you know. In our point of view the dream being our band and keeping the band going and making music for your life. The blood is all the sacrifice and all hard work that goes into it and that's the metaphor for that. It's not only meant for music. It's also meant for other people to relate in their own life and goals that they're trying to achieve and the sacrifices that it takes to achieve these goals. And along with that, there's also a tinge of aggression in there about other people that cut corners and don't quite go through all the steps it takes to achieve the goal the right way. So there's a little bit of a middle finger to those people that go about it that way and don't fully respect what it takes."

DEATH ANGEL's North American headlining tour in support of "The Dream Calls For Blood" will kick off on October 18 in San Francisco. Support on the trek will come from 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, BATTLECROSS, REVOCATION and DIAMOND PLATE.

"We are so excited to announce this upcoming tour," commented DEATH ANGEL vocalist Mark Osegueda.

"We worked so hard writing, and recording this record! Especially writing this while on the road for the last three years of touring. And it reflects the triumphs, and mainly hardships, of all we went through while touring. The anger, perseverance, and energy was captured on the recording of 'The Dream Calls For Blood'.

"This tour is the PERFECT springboard to launch off of and back on the road; hungrier and more focused then ever! With a lineup of bands handpicked by us, you’re basically sonically ravaged from the moment the lights dim at the beginning of the night until the lights turn back on at the end! I'm confident every band on this bill plan on sending you home feeling like you've survived a massacre that you can't help but brag about.

"Look forward to feeding off each other's energy!

"Stay hungry! Stay thrash! See you on the road, in the pit, and at the bar!!!"

The San Francisco, Hollywood and Ramona gigs are considered CD-release shows and everyone that purchases a ticket will also receive a copy of the new DEATH ANGEL album at the show.

CRONIAN (formerly ION) — the Norwegian/Swedish avant-garde metal project featuring BORKNAGAR members Øystein G. Brun (guitars and programming) and Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund (vocals and programming) — will release its third album, "Erathems", on November 12 (four days earlier in Europe) via Season Of Mist's Underground Activists division.

"Erathems" track listing:

01. Cold Wave Eruption02. Ecocracy03. Drifting Station04. Moments And Monuments05. Blackwater Horizon06. Core Resiliency07. Chemical Dawn08. End(Durance) Part III09. Full Moon Inferno (bonus track on European digipak and digital editions)

The song "Ecocracy" can now be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

The cover artwork for the new CRONIAN album was created by the Brazilian visual artist Marcelo Vasco (SOULFLY, DIMMU BORGIR, BORKNAGAR, SATYRICON) and can be seen below.

"I am so excited and honoured to join forces with Season Of Mist for future albums with CRONIAN!", Øystein said back in May.

"We have just finished up the third album and I don't even slightly blush when arguing out loud that it is the very pinnacle of my fairly long musical career. Musically and production-wise, it almost feels like a leap up and into another division.

"Mr. V and I have been working intensely and fully isolated over the last six months with this bastard of an album and we firmly regard this as our most catchy, aggressive, atmospheric and darken flavoured effort to date.

"I am pretty sure this album will blow the socks off of all those who liked our previous releases, as well as fans of BORKNAGAR, VINTERSORG and likewise. So being able to work with one of the most credible, passionate and professional labels around makes my day — and make us proud! So excited to get this album out!"

Vintersorg added: "A new album has left our 'systems' and is now finding its path throughout the musical world. It has surely been a great journey to write, record and complete this third album in the CRONIAN chronicle. The music finally matches our vision is and it's been an intense period for me and Øystein to really get there. We're also very pleased to now enter the relationship with Season Of Mist to get this album out. Even if the music has been taking its path out of our bodies, it is still lingering in our minds… It's stuck… And it feels just great. We're so proud of this album and it's just a pleasure to be reminded all the time of what a trip this has been."

CRONIAN's second CD, "Enterprise", was released in October 2008 via Indie Recordings.

Mascot Label Group will release FLYING COLORS "Live In Europe" on October 14 via the Music Theories Recordings label on Blu-ray, DVD, 2CD, limited-edition 3LP Vinyl and digital download (iTunes, mastered for iTunes, Amazon MP3).

A performance clip of the song "Odyssey", taken from FLYING COLORS "Live In Europe" can be seen below.

FLYING COLORS features Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Dave LaRue (bass), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals), Casey McPherson (vocals, guitars) and Steve Morse (guitars).

The concert release captures the band live in Tilburg, Netherlands at 013 on September 20, 2012. Directed and edited by Bernhard Baran (GUNS 'N' ROSES, THE CURE, PORCUPINE TREE) with Bill Evans as executive producer, the concert presents the entire studio album, alongside popular favorites performed by the individual members of the band.

The limited edition vinyl set includes 3 LPs on 180-gram colored vinyl, a LP-sized booklet and an exclusive bonus track. The Blu-ray and DVD include stereo and 5.1 surround mixes. Every effort has been made to assure the highest audio quality. All Blu-ray audio being uncompressed, mastered for iTunes is prepared from a 96KHz/24-Bit master, and the vinyl edition spans three audiophile-grade LPs.

The Blu-ray and DVD includes the 45-minute documentary "First Flight" featuring exclusive interviews with the band members, meet-and-greet footage and candid moments on the road captured backstage, in the dressing rooms, the band bus, and during tour rehearsals. The documentary also features excerpts from songs recorded during the band's very first show (Los Angeles, California), first show in Europe (Hamburg, Germany) and final show (London, U.K.) of the tour.

The self-titled debut album from FLYING COLORS sold 6,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 81 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"I think if most people looked at this band on piece of paper, they would think that it would be very progressive and instrumentally based music, but I think once we started playing together, we got taken into all new directions," Portnoy told Audio Ink Radio. "I think a lot of that had to do with Casey, because Casey comes from a more modern rock and alternative rock background, so I think that really helped take the entire band in new directions."

He added, "The diversity element is pretty crazy. It ranges from poppy classic rock sounds like THE BEATLES and QUEEN all the way to modern rock and alternative bands like RADIOHEAD, MUSE and COLDPLAY, and everything in-between. There’s some prog stuff like YES thrown in, as well, and then there are moments that are like the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS or FOO FIGHTERS. So, it really runs the gamut from track to track."

The formation of FLYING COLORS began with a simple idea: virtuoso musicians and a pop singer joining together to make new-fashioned music the old-fashioned way. Refreshing, classic, old and new, the recordings are saturated with the many styles, tones and hues of the players who in becoming a band have delivered a unique fusion of vintage craftsmanship and contemporary music.

In 2008, executive producer Bill Evans brought the idea to the world-renowned musicians and producer Peter Collins. Intrigued by the idea and the prospect of working together, the four musicians signed on to form a band and record a first album.

Steve Morse and Dave LaRue have developed magical music chemistry over the years that began early in their careers as partners in DIXIE DREGS. In 1995, Morse subsequently became a member of DEEP PURPLE, while LaRue's ongoing musical adventures include Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Steve Vai, and the aforementioned Portnoy.

Multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer Neal Morse is one of the leading figures in progressive rock, whose notoriety follows his co-founding of the seminal band, SPOCK'S BEARD in 1995, recordings as a solo artist, and contributions to the super-group TRANSATLANTIC.

Mike Portnoy is one of the most popular and respected drummers in both metal and rock, and an accomplished writer and producer. He is the recipient of numerous industry accolades, including 26 Modern Drummer awards, Revolver magazine's Golden God award for "Best Drummer" and Drum magazine's "Drummer Of The Year". He rose to prominence as the leader, drummer, producer, and co-writer for metal/prog juggernaut DREAM THEATER, before moving on in 2010. That same year, he worked on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's #1 album "Nightmare" and their subsequent tour.

It was Portnoy who recommended ALPHA REV's emotive singer Casey McPherson as a contender to join FLYING COLORS. McPherson, whose 2010 Hollywood/Disney album "New Morning" debuted in the Top 5 on two Billboard charts, enjoyed major success at radio with multiple hits. The track "New Morning" spent 17 weeks in the Top 10 on Triple A Radio, and enjoyed a run on VH1's Top 20 Countdown for months. Steve Morse offers, "Casey was a glorious find, because he could make anything sound fantastic, and is a multitalented like the others."

FLYING COLORS convened for just nine days in early 2011, and composed and recorded this album during a short and intense session.

The third trailer for "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart", the new album from Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA, can be seen below. The CD will be released on October 25 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was created by Brazilian artist Alexandre Wagner, who specializes in charcoal drawing techniques.

Guitarist Andreas Kisser commented on how he discovered the work of Alexandre Wagner. "It was through Silvio Bibika, who was my roadie for a long time," he said. "He always shows me things in general that SEPULTURA might need. Alexandre, who is from Belo Horizonte, Silvio showed me a year ago. So before we went to the United States, to record the album, I was at his house to talk about the cover, tell him the album title, talk about the concept of the film 'Metropolis', so he could do something original. But when I saw the picture with the drawing, I thought it was all about what we wanted and we did not need something new. I asked him to do a tribal S in the style of the cover. The S made by Alexandre will be on the back cover."

Said Alexandre: "I did this series of charcoal drawing work when I still lived in Belo Horizonte. They were all made there. They were quick drawings without much reference, almost an experimentation that may have came from a desire to use the most basic of basic materials — coal, paper and wood. The cover design was already done, Andreas saw it and liked it. We talked a little more and I also sent some other pictures for the booklet. I was pleased with the choice of the theme of the album, I like Fritz Lang very much, and not only 'Metropolis'. 'Dr. Mabuse der Spieler' is a fucking great movie."

As a Mineiro, from Belo Horizonte like SEPULTURA, Alexandre was glad to be part of the band’s history. "It's impossible to be from Belo Horizonte and not know the band," he said. "Some of their albums followed me for a long time, especially 'Chaos A.D.' I remember seeing 'Refuse/Resist' on TV and thinking it was wonderful. It’s really cool to work with the guys, being part of something together. It is somehow a shared history."

"The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" track listing:

01. Trauma Of War02. The Vatican03. Impending Doom04. Manipulation Of Tragedy05. Tsunami06. The Bliss of Ignorants07. Grief08. The Age Of The Atheist09. Obsessed10. Da Lama ao Caos (CHICO SCIENCE & NAÇÃO ZUMBI cover)

Although it was inspired by Fritz Lang's classic 1927 movie "Metropolis", the CD, "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" is not a concept album or a soundtrack like its precedessors "Dante XXI" (based on "The Divine Comedy") and "A-Lex" (based on "A Clockwork Orange").

"The Mediator Between The Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" was tracked over a 40-day period at producer Ross Robinson's (KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, SLIPKNOT) studio in Venice, California and is being mixed and mastered by co-producer Steve Evetts, who previously worked with SEPULTURA on the "Nation" (2001), "Revolusongs" (2002) and "Roorback" (2003) albums, in addition to having collaborated with Ross on a number of other projects in the past.

SEPULTURA recorded a total of 14 songs for the follow-up to 2011's "Kairos", including a cover version of DEATH's "Zombie Ritual". The CD will also feature a guest appearance by former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo. In a recent interview with JacksonGuitars.com, Kisser stated about the direction of the new SEPULTURA album: "I write stuff all the time — riffs or ideas on an acoustic guitar. But we really started working on this album in February of this year, so it was pretty quick. We have Eloy Casagrande as our drummer, and he's 22 years old. The guy's a beast. One of the best drummers I've seen on the planet Earth. He has this metal blood that has so much energy and brings so many possibilities for riffs and stuff like that. It is a SEPULTURA album, but like every SEPULTURA album, there is something different. I think the main difference now is the drummer. It's the first time we've worked in the studio with him. It's been almost two years [since the last album], and it's very exciting."

Asked about SEPULTURA's decision to include a bonus track covering DEATH's "Zombie Ritual", Kisser said: "Without DEATH, there wouldn't be a SEPULTURA — especially in the beginning. The very early albums — like 'Morbid Visions' and 'Schizophrenia' — there's a lot of influence from Chuck Schuldiner and his riffs. You can hear that very clearly in our early music. And we never really had the opportunity or idea to play that. We really play our idols, like BLACK SABBATH or MOTÖRHEAD and some Brazilian stuff, but because we covered so many different bands, I think it was time for this tribute to this great band."

SEPULTURA's upcoming CD will mark the first time the band will have recorded an album outside Brazil since "Against".

The reunion between SEPULTURA and Robinson was first suggested by Monte Conner, the former Roadrunner Records A&R chief who is now the head of Nuclear Blast Entertainment, a U.S. partnership with Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger.

Robinson produced SEPULTURA's classic "Roots" album in 1995. Released in February 1996 by Roadrunner, it was the band's last studio album to feature founding member and vocalist Max Cavalera.

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "No More Hell To Pay", the new album from Christian hard rockers STRYPER, are available for streaming at Amazon.com.

"No More Hell To Pay" will be released on November 5 in North America via Frontiers Records. The effort will be made available in two formats — standard CD and deluxe digipak featuring exclusive video content. Produced by Michael Sweet himself, the set features some of STRYPER's strongest and heaviest material ever.

Commented STRYPER guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet, "'No More Hell To Pay' marks our 30-year anniversary and what a journey it has been! It's our eleventh studio release since our first album in 1984 ('The Yellow & The Black Attack') and it's quite possibly our best record to date. Why? It's everything you might expect from a STRYPER record — high-octane vocals, layered vocal harmonies, guitar solos galore, driving drums and bass and an energy that hasn't been achieved since our glory days. The message is equally as powerful as it offers hope and inspiration to anyone listening. If you're a STRYPER fan, it'll make you proud to be one. If you're not, listen with caution as you may actually become one.

"We've been waving the striped flag for 30 years and we're proud to say that it's an honor to still be making music with you and for you. The best is yet to come and it's coming November 5th!"

"No More Hell To Pay" includes STRYPER's cover version of "Jesus Is Just Alright", a gospel song written by Arthur Reid Reynolds. STRYPER guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet said, "It rivals our cover of EARTH, WIND & FIRE's 'Shining Star' — riffs!"

"Jesus Is Just Alright" was first recorded by Reynolds' own group, THE ART REYNOLDS SINGERS, on their 1966 album, "Tellin' It Like It Is". It was later covered by THE BYRDS and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS.

"No More Hell To Pay" track listing:

01. Revelation02. No More Hell To Pay03. Saved By Love04. Jesus Is Just Alright05. The One06. Legacy07. Marching Into Battle08. Te Amo09. Sticks & Stones10. Water Into Wine11. Sympathy12. Renewed

Regarding the musical direction of STRYPER's new material, Michael Sweet told Screamer Magazine: "The song 'God', which is on 'The Covering'; if you took that song along with 'Bleeding From Inside Out' and 'Blackened' [from 'Second Coming'], and you put it on the same album, that's a pretty good indication of where we are going and where we are at right now. But at the same time this album is all its own."

He added: "Every song has a hooky guitar riff. Everything is in minor keys, so it's a little darker sounding and a little tougher. It's definitely our heaviest record and I think people will be pleasantly surprised.

"The people who do like the poppier side of STRYPER, like 'Calling On You' and 'Holding On', this record isn't going to really give them that. There are a lot of vocal hooks and melodies going on, but it's a little darker, and a little edgier. To reference, there is less songs like 'Calling On You' and more songs like 'To Hell With The Devil'. It's more in that vein than the poppier vein."

EDGUY / AVANTASIA vocalist Tobias Sammet has checked in with a brief update:

"Working on new material for Edguy right now. Different from Avantasia stuff, but if you think we became 'pop', wait and then SHUT UP!"

Metal Shock Finland's Blackdiamond recently spoke with Sammet about Avantasia and how the metal opera project's popularity may or may not affect Edguy.

Sammet: "We won’t disband, we will go on. We are about to start working on a new album this fall. We will take all the time we need until we come up with something that makes sense. I don’t expect a new album to come out until spring or summer 2014."

Listen to the audio interview at this location.

Ohio-based metallers AXEMASTER have revealed the title of their next album, which will be called Overture To Madness. Song titles in no specific order include:

'Sanity's Requiem'
'Forsaken'
'Dream Or Nightmare'
'Chyld'
'Statutes Of Liberty'
'Peeling Skin'
'Ashes'
'Thirty Pieces Of Silver'
'Epic'
'Dark Souls'
'Sinister'
'Crimson Haze'

ArmyOfOneTV have released a video interview with guitarist Joe Sims, who discussed the addition of Geoff McGraw as the band's new vocalist, the new album's process and production and the confirmed shows for 2014.

Watch the video below:
Axemaster was formed in 1985 by lead guitarist Joe Sims and Drummer Brian Henderson. The project and music has stood the test of time and remains strong after over 25 years.

Additionally, the band was recently given the opportunity to appear on a promotional compilation CD which is being used to publicize the re-launch of the German magazine That's Metal. So they temporarily put off working on the album in order to record a song especially for the compilation. Released in April 2013, the CD should be valuable in spreading Axemaster's name in advance of their new album being finished and released.

More on Axemaster at Facebook.

Pitch Black Records recently announced the addition of Canadian stoner metallers GYPSY CHIEF GOLIATH to its artist roster. The band incorporate three guitar players and a harmonica player giving them a blues edge to their heavy groove. New Machines Of The Night is the band’s second studio album and it’s due for release worldwide on October 8th on CD and digital.
New Machines Of The Night tracklisting:

'Uneasy Kings'
'Are You Pulling Through'
'Dirt Meets Rust'
'Busting The Avenue'
'St. Covens Tavern'
'Got No Soul'
'Secret Liaison'
'White Owl'
'Slow Leak'
'Fought For Death'

The band have debuted the first video from New Machines Of The Night called 'Got No Soul' below:
Gypsy Chief Goliath are:

Al the Yeti Bones – vocals, guitar
Dave Ljubanovich – guitar
Sean Hamilton – guitar
Adam Saitti – drums
Sean De Faria – bass
Brodie Stevenson – harmonica

LEGION OF THE DAMNED has unveiled the Ravenous Plague cover art, painted by Wes Bensecoter (KREATOR). The new album is set for release on December 20th via Napalm Records.
Ravenous Plague features 11 tracks:

'Intro: The Apocalyptic Surge' (by Jo Blankenburg)
'Howling For Armageddon'
'Black Baron'
'Mountain Wolves Under A Crescent Moon'
'Ravenous Abominations'
'Doom Priest'
'Summon All Hate'
'Morbid Death'
'Bury Me In A Nameless Grave'
'Armalite Assassin'
'Strike Of The Apocalypse'

Check out 'Summon All Hate' below:
Ravenous Plague will be Legion Of The Damned's first album with new guitar player Twan van Geel, who the band succesfully recruited two years ago when former guitar player Richard Ebisch left. LOTD enlisted Jo Blankenburg to work on their new album intro. Jo Blankenburg's tracks have been used in advertising campaigns of major Hollywood feature films including: The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, X-Men, Lincoln, Hitchcock, The Wolfman and How To Train Your Dragon.

French epic/heavy power metallers STONECAST have joined Pitch Black Records and their album Heroikos will mark the label’s last release for 2013.

The band recently enlisted the help of legendary drummer Kenny Earl “Rhino” (ex-MANOWAR and JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR). Mixed and mastered by Mariusz Pietka of MP Studio, Poland (known from his work with CRYSTAL VIPER and SACRED STEEL) Heroikos is an album of epic proportions that is full of adrenalin pumping steel, acceding to a press release

The band is currently working on a number of live shows, including a support slot at the upcoming BLAZE BAYLEY (ex-IRONN MAIDEN) concert in France in March 2014. Heroikos is scheduled for release worldwide on November 12th on CD and digital while a track is now available for streaming and free at Pitchblackrecords.com
Album tracklisting:
'Jakuta (Cult Of The Bolthrower)'
'The Barbaric Rhyme'
'Elysean Winds'
'Triumph'
'Substance'
'Of Fire And Ice'
'Kings Unborn'
'Gods Of Dust'
'The Place'
'Savage Princes'
Stonecast lineup:

Franck "Kanon" Ghirardi - vocals
Seb "Cazu" Casula - Rhythm guitars
Bob "Flying" Saliba - lead guitars
Lionel "Beev" Antonorsi - bass
Rhino - drums

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

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

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

"Reveal the Change" track listing:

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

A teaser for the album is available below.

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

South Carolina-based extreme metallers LECHEROUS NOCTURNE have inked a deal with Willowtip Records. The band states: "We are excited to join this roster and eager to continue spreading our brand of metal upon the masses."

LECHEROUS NOCTURNE's "Ouroboros Chains" video can be seen below. The track comes off the group's third album, "Behold Almighty Doctrine", which was released on March 19 via Unique Leader Records. The CD was recorded at SoundLab Studio in Lexington, South Carolina with longtime engineer Bob Moore.

In a recent interview with Xplosive Metal, LECHEROUS NOCTURNE bassist James O'Neil stated about the making of "Behold Almighty Doctrine": "The recording went very well. We recorded with Bob Moore at Soundlab in Columbia, South Carolina over the course of one week in December 2011. Bob is a great guy and very easy to work with. A true master of his craft. The vocals were originally recorded by Brett Bently, whom myself and Ethan had known for years. We went on tour with DEICIDE, JUNGLE ROT and ABIGAIL WILLIAMS in March of 2012. After parting ways with the band during the tour, it was immediately decided that the vocals would be re-recorded. After searching for a vocalist for some time, we decided to get Chris Lollis. Chris is an original member of LECHEROUS NOCTURNE and handled guitar on the previous albums (self-titled EP, 'Admiration Of The Blade' and 'The Age Of Miracles Has Passed'). He also played bass and handled vocal duties for NILE. Chris has a very powerful vocal style and stage presence that matches the ferocity of our music. But his vocals are at the same time clear and legible."

Regarding the musical direction of "Behold Almighty Doctrine", O'Neil said: "The style of music we play is not easily absorbed in a single listen. I have read reviews of this album where our music is described as confusing. Saying the riffs are crowded together into a nonsensical mess. The way we write is not your typical this riff four times, that riff four times, breakdown, repeat. It challenges the listener to pay attention to the detail of the music itself. Regardless of how many times the album is listened to, something different is noticed every time. In retrospect, like a film that you may have seen hundreds of times but you always notice something different every time you watch it."

"Behold Almighty Doctrine" track listing:

01. Intro 02. Ouroboros Chains 03. Bring The Void 04. Archeopteryx 05. Those Having Been Hidden Away 06. Prelude #2 07. Judgments And Curses 08. Lesions From Vicious Plague 09. Caustic Vertigo 10. Creation Continuum

During a brand new interview with Chile's Radio Futuro, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Dave Murray was asked if there are any plans for the band to return to the studio to begin work on material for the follow-up to 2010's "The Final Frontier".

"We've been out on tour quite a few months this year," Dave explained. "So when we finish, we're actually going to go and head back and take a break, really."

He continued: "We haven't got any plans, as such, really, what's gonna happen next year. Basically, we're just gonna wait and see. [laughs] But there's things that are going on in the meantime. I mean, we just had a beer come out — it's like the Trooper beer — and that's actually doing really well. So we'll just let the Trooper beer go on tour for us. [laughs] And then we're just gonna spend some time off recuperating. So I'm not quite sure what's gonna be happening next year. It's all up in the air."

IRON MAIDEN last month landed at position No. 1 on Billboard.com's "Hot Tours" list of top-grossing tours with $8.5 million in ticket sales from six performances on their summer tour of Europe. The shows were attended by a total of 121,280 fans, including a two-night, sold-out stand on August 3-4 at the O2 Arena in Lonon, England, where the band played to 27,000 fans. With totals added from this summer's Europe dates, overall ticket sales from the tour top $42 million from 45 reported concerts.

MAIDEN's 15th studio CD, "The Final Frontier", featured 10 tracks that had an average running time of seven minutes and 40 seconds, with the shortest song, "The Alchemist", clocking in at four minutes and 29 seconds, and the longest, "When The Wild Wind Blows", lasting ten minutes and 59 seconds.

"The Final Frontier" sold 63,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 4.

IRON MAIDEN's previous album, 2006's "A Matter Of Life And Death", opened with 56,000 units to land at No. 9. This was a notable increase from the 40,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, 2003's "Dance of Death" (which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart), and that of "Brave New World", which moved 38,000 copies in June 2000 to land at No. 39 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"The Final Frontier" was IRON MAIDEN's fourth U.K. No. 1 album. The band previously topped the chart in 1982 with "The Number of the Beast", in 1988 with "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" and in 1992 with "Fear of the Dark".

Official MetOnTour video recap of METALLICA's September 19 performance at the Rock In Rio festival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil can be seen below. The 20-minute clip includes a tuning-room segment, and "Holier Than Thou" from the concert.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Hit The Lights02. Master Of Puppets03. Holier Than Thou04. Harvester Of Sorrow05. The Day That Never Comes06. The Memory Remains07. Wherever I May Roam08. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)09. Sad But True10. ...And Justice For All11. One12. For Whom The Bell Tolls13. Blackened14. Nothing Else Matters15. Enter Sandman

Encore:

16. Creeping Death17. Battery18. Seek & Destroy

According to The Pulse Of Radio, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich explained in a question-and-answer session that followed a recent screening of METALLICA's "Metallica Through The Never" movie that the film has actually inspired the metal legends to get moving on new music. Ulrich said, "Getting a chance to do all these challenges and adventures really fuels us to go back into the studio and make hopefully a better album... METALLICA, I think, increasingly depends on these types of things to feel challenged as artists. So making films is great and it certainly gets us out of our comfort zone, so when we get back to the studio we just feel more inspired and more invigorated."

Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that the band gets energized by branching out into other projects before returning to work on its next record. "There'll be a new record and we certainly never want to turn into a nostalgia band, but at the same time, you've got to keep yourself, I guess, creatively alive and that's what we do by playing these gigs and doing all these other projects and doing movies and festivals," he said. "I mean, it's just, all that stuff's a lot of fun, but it takes a lot of time, you know."

The drummer added that the band is immensely satisfied with the filmmaking experience and final result, saying, "Three years later it's just so cool to sit up there and feel the energy and take it in that energy on the screen."

Frontman James Hetfield agreed that the band's creative process while making the film was similar to the way it comes up with ideas for its albums, saying, "We had a whole bunch of ideas and that was the easy part. Making them all come to fruition and getting them in the movie was (the hard part). We couldn't put everything in there as the price tag would have doubled or tripled."

"Through The Never" opened in IMAX theaters on September 27, expanding to more screens on October 4.

"Open The Gates Of Hell", the new video from Southern California metallers WINDS OF PLAGUE, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's fourth album, "Resistance", which will be released on October 29 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded with producer Will Putney, who has previously worked with SHADOWS FALL and SUICIDE SILENCE, among others.

WINDS OF PLAGUE last year parted ways with drummer Art Cruz due to creative differences. Sitting behind the kit during the studio sessions for the new album was Brandon Gallindo (ex-DEAD IN EXISTENCE).

WINDS OF PLAGUE will embark on a tour with BLEEDING THROUGH in early November.

WINDS OF PLAGUE's third full-length CD, "Against The World", sold 8,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 60 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on April 19, 2011 via Century Media Records, the effort featured guest appearances from members of HATEBREED, TERROR, FOR TODAY, STRAY FROM THE PATH and former world heavyweight wrestling champion and sports entertainment legend Ultimate Warrior (who performs an epic spoken-word track entitled "The Warrior Code").

Guitarist Kirk Windstein appears to have exited DOWN in order to focus "100%" on his other band, CROWBAR. Windstein is not taking part in the songwriting sessions for the next DOWN EP and is being replaced in that band by longtime DOWN stage manager and HONKY founding guitarist Bobby Landgraf.

Writing on Facebook, Windstein said: "For months now, I have been posting that I am concentrating on CROWBAR 100% FULL TIME…

"2014 marks the 25th anniversary of CROWBAR and it's a great feeling to put my heart and soul into something that I created so long ago.

"We are entering the studio on December 16 to record our 10th full-length record. Look for a late spring release on eOne.

"See y'all on the road with CROWBAR!!!"

Added Landgraf in a separate posting: "Feeling very lucky to have this gig with DOWN. It wouldn't be the same without Kirk Windstein's blessing. He is Riff Lord and the new CROWBAR will be amazing."

DOWN bassist Pat Bruders recently left CROWBAR and was replaced in the latter band by Jeff Golden.

Said Windstein in a new Facebook posting: "I will say it again… With my decision months ago to focus 100% on CROWBAR, Pat resigned as our bassist, and I respect his decision because it's impossible to give 100% to two bands. I am giving my ALL to CROWBAR as he is giving his ALL to DOWN. There is no animosity… no drama… Just great music being written by all, and that sounds pretty awesome to me!"

"Turn The Tide", the new video from SPIRITUAL BEGGARS — the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, along with vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (ex-FIREWIND) — can be seen below. The song comes off SPIRITUAL BEGGARS' eighth studio album, "Earth Blues", which was released on April 16 (one day earlier internationally) via InsideOut Music.

Comments Amott: "Excited to have a second video off our 'Earth Blues' opus — just in time before we hit the road in Europe and Japan in October/November!

"We filmed this video in Mexico City and Cologne, Germany earlier this year while Martin Björnlund of Flat Feet Productions did a superb job on a heavy and psychedelic edit back home in Sweden."

Just in time for the upcoming tour, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS will reissue two of its classic catalog titles on October 14: the band's 2005 "Demons" album will be available for the first time ever on vinyl via InsideOut Music; and their acclaimed and hard-to-find debut LP, the self-titled "Spiritual Beggars" from 1994, will be re-released with over 70 minutes of unreleased bonus material via Century Media Records. Look out for more details about these titles soon.

Amott previously stated about "Earth Blues": "I had the idea for this artwork from my time as a child, seeing posters of two young lovers watching a romantic sunset on the beach — just your typical tacky bedroom art in the '70s, really... Also, growing up in what is now referred to with some nostalgia as the Atomic Age — the threat of nuclear war was always looming over our heads it seemed. I wanted to combine these two images of my youth in one paradoxical image and Per Wiberg of Hippograffix (and SPIRITUAL BEGGARS keyboardist) really managed to capture the melancholic feeling perfectly. Earth Blues, indeed."

Regarding the making of "Earth Blues", Amott said: "We started the recording process of 'Earth Blues' with an eight-day-long session at Fat Guitar Studios (Sweden) with knob-twiddler Roberth Ekholm, a truly great dude who really knows how to capture a band jamming live, sadly a rare quality in recording engineers nowadays! We continued with some overdubs at various studios in Sweden, and it's all come together super easy this time. Sonically, I think this might be our finest hour yet. It's a raw, heavy and honest record."

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2013 is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - DrumsPer Wiberg (OPETH) - KeyboardsSharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - BassApollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) – Vocals

AVATARIUM, the new project led by Leif Edling, founding bassist and main songwriter of Swedish doom metal legends CANDLEMASS, will release its self-titled debut album on November 1 via Nuclear Blast.

In addition to Edling, AVATARIUM features Marcus Jidell (ROYAL HUNT, EVERGREY) on guitar, Lars Sköld (TIAMAT) on drums, Carl Westholm on keyboards and Jennie-Ann Smith on vocals.

AVATARIUM's first release was a 12-inch mini-LP, "Moonhorse", featuring the title track, the B-side "Boneflower" as well as an acoustic cover version of BLACK SABBATH's "War Pigs". It arrived on September 20.

The official lyric video for the song "Moonhorse" can be seen below.

The cover artwork for "Avatarium" was created by Swedish artist Erik Rovamperä, who has previously worked with CANDLEMASS.

Commented Erik: "As opposed to many contemporary artists eager to express their inner emotional turmoil, my ambitions as a painter stand first and foremost from a lifelong love of hard-rockin' music and the inherently darker iconography of that genre.

"I'm seldom one to channel personal experiences in my art but rather view my work as part of the heavy metal tradition forged by likes of Derek Riggs, Ken Kelly and many more.

"In the specific chase of AVATARIUM, my sources of inspiration have come to include the heretical idolatry of the pre-Christianized cults throughout ancient Europe and esoteric allegories of the late medieval secret societies."

Jidell has the following to say about the birth of "Avatarium": "We are very proud to present the first, but not the last, AVATARIUM album to you.

"When we started to demo the songs on this album, we had one thing that we thought was extremely important: we wanted to make music that was heavy, dark and poetic. Also, we had an urge to make an album with a very organic sound and no fixing and trixing in computers but just try to make great emotional music.

"During the whole process, we have been looking for feeling rather than trying to make everything technically perfect. "I think that everything really came together the first day Jennie-Ann came in the studio and sung 'Moonhorse'. She had everything we looked for in a singer: rock 'n' roll attitude, jazz and blues feel, a big and powerful voice and yet so able to be fragile and extremely tender in her interpretation of the songs.

"If you like heavy, dark riffs and big guitars, emotional, raw and bluesy vocals, thunderous and groovy drums, I am quite sure that you'll like AVATARIUM." "Avatarium" track listing: CD:

01. Moonhorse02. Pandora's Egg03. Avatarium04. Boneflower05. Bird Of Prey06. Tides Of Telepathy07. Lady In The Lamp 2LP:

Side A

01. Moonhorse02. Pandora's Egg

Side B

01. Avatarium02. Boneflower

Side C

01. Bird Of Prey02. Tides Of Telepathy

Side D

01. Lady In The Lamp

AVATARIUM is:

Leif Edling: BassJennie-Ann Smith: VocalsMarcus Jidell: GuitarLars Sköld: DrumsCarl Westholm: Keyboards

Nuclear Blast has announced the signing of Iceland classic rock trio THE VINTAGE CARAVAN. The band's new album, "Voyage", will be released in early 2014.

The official video for the CD's first single, "Expand Your Mind", can be seen below.

Founded in 2006, THE VINTAGE CARAVAN has thus far released a self-titled debut album, played numerous shows in and outside of Iceland and built up a reputation as a highly intense live band.

Commented the band: "Humbled, shocked, happy and honoured are few words that describe how we, THE VINTAGE CARAVAN, feel right now!

"We have always respected Nuclear Blast and to have them invite us in the family is beyond our wildest dreams. We see great times ahead of us and we hope that every rocker in Europe gets a chance to hear our music next year."

Added Nuclear Blast A&R manager Jaap Wagemaker: "Nuclear Blast is very happy to announce the newest addition to the Nuclear family THE VINTAGE CARAVAN!

"Everybody knows that we at Nuclear Blast, besides our love for thrash metal, also have a soft spot for retro rock and because of the success we have with ORCHID, GRAVEYARD, WITCHCRAFT, FREE FALL, SCORPION CHILD and BLUES PILLS we are very curious to see if the fans will embrace our newest family member, THE VINTAGE CARAVAN, as well! Their debut album for Nuclear Blast is scheduled for an early 2014 release and we are looking forward to start working with the band and bring them to a higher level!"

Swedish hard rockers IMPERA will release their sophomore studio album, "Pieces Of Eden", on October 18 via Escape Music. The CD was produced by Johan "Impera" Kihlberg and was mixed by Lars Chriss (LION'S SHARE), who also plays guest guitar on the song "Goodbye" a cover of the track that originally appeared on Paul Stanley's (KISS) 1978 album. "Goodbye" features an additional guest appearance by Bob Kulick, who was also the guitarist on the song's original version.

A release party and performance for "Pieces Of Eden" will be held on October 16 at ROQ on Gyldéngatan 2 in Stockholm, Sweden. The doors open at 18.00 (6:00 p.m.), and there is no entry fee.

"Pieces Of Eden" track listing:

01. Beast Within02. These Chains03. All Alone04. Smalltown Blues05. Since You've Been Gone06. Goodbye07. Easy Come08. You And I09. This Is War10. Fire And The Flame

The song "Beast Within" can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

IMPERA is:

* Tommy Denander (TOTO, PAUL STANLEY, MICHAEL JACKSON, ALICE COOPER) - Guitar* Matti Alfonzetti (JAGGED EDGE, SCOTT GORHAM, SKINTRADE, ROAD TO RUIN, RED WHITE & BLUES) - Vocals* J.K. Impera (BRUCE KULICK, GRAHAM BONNET, VINNIE VINCENT, JOHN CORABI, BRIAN ROBERTSON) - Drums* Mats Vassfjord (VINNIE VINCENT, JOHN CORABI, SCAAR, GRAND DESIGN, LANEY'S LEGION) - Bass

IMPERA released its critically acclaimed debut album, "Legacy Of Life", last year through the U.K. label Escape Music.

IMPERA is described as "the perfect amalgamation of everything that makes rock roll with the punches. A guitar player who, seemingly effortlessly, delivers stunning solos and riffs of that classic, timeless grit you thought were killed off by grunge. Pounding bass that will put you through the wall. Blistering drumming that's as solid as it is technically challenging. And on top of all that, add a vocalist that sings circles around the competition."

IMPERA's style "lies firmly on a classic hard rock ground with a dose of strong melodies collected from the AOR world."

The reformed CHASTAIN — featuring Leather Leone on vocals — will release its comeback album, "Surrender To No One", on November 19 via Leviathan Records.

"Surrender To No One" track listing:

01. Surrender To No One 02. Fear My Wrath 03. I Am Sin 04. Stand And Fight 05. Freedom Within 06. Bleed Through Me 07. Call Of The Wild 08. Evil Awaits Us 09. Save Me Tonight 10. Deep Down In The Darkness 11. Rise Up

The cover artwork can be seen below.

Guitarist David T. Chastain and Leather Leone have been writing material since January. Also back in the saddle is original bassist Mike Skimmerhorn. The drum tracks for the CD were recorded by Stian Kristoffersen (PAGAN'S MIND, FIREWIND) since original drummer Fred Coury is still busy touring with CINDERELLA and other projects.

The Leather-fronted version of CHASTAIN recorded five CDs in the mid-to-late 1980s: 1985's "Mystery Of Illusion", 1986's "Ruler Of The Wasteland", 1987's "The 7th Of Never", 1988's "The Voice Of The Cult" and 1990's "For Those Who Dare". After the "For Those Who Dare" tour, David and Leather amicably went their separate ways but kept in touch over the years.

Leather last year released the debut album from her SLEDGE LEATHER project, "Imagine Me Alive". The CD was inspired in 2010 when Leather called Sandy Sledge to collaborate on the Ronnie James Dio track "Egypt" for a demo tribute recording. Due to the overwhelming response for more material, SLEDGE LEATHER was born and was confirmed for Germany's Keep It True festival in April 2011.

Regarding the new CHASTAIN material, David states: "We are trying to write and record music that is expected of us but with some modern twists and turns. We demoed up 20 tracks and it was difficult to leave any of them off the CD. Stian did an amazing job with the drum tracks and his performance is probably the best drumming on any CHASTAIN release to date. We have been in no rush as we wanted to make sure everything would live up to our past releases, but at this point we are in the home stretch."

Leviathan Records in 2010 released "The Reign of Leather", a collection of CHASTAIN tracks Leather had a hand in writing during her glory days with the band. Leviathan also reissued two of the classic CHASTAIN CDs with Leather: "The 7th of Never" and "The Voice Of The Cult". Both were digitally remastered and are in their original unedited versions.

Austrian extreme metallers MASTIC SCUM will release their fifth album, "CTRL", on December 6 via Massacre Records. The CD will contain 11 tracks, including a re-recorded aong from the band's 1994 demo. The effort was mixed at Metalforge Studio by Mike Kronstorfer. The artwork was designed by Isisdesignstudio and can be seen below.

Says the band: "The concept of the album depicts a futuristic vision of the technological evolution and development of society — the need to control and the inevitable collapse of a system!"

"CTRL" track listing:

01. Controlled Collapse02. Dehumanized03. Cause & Effect04. Brute-Force-Methode05. D1s3mb0d1m3nt06. Rebornation07. Perceptive Illusion08. Hyper-Detection 2.009. Create/Negate10. The Vortex Within11. Resurrection

MASTIC SCUM's last album, "Dust", was released on November 13, 2009 via Twilight Distribution.

The band in 2009 parted ways with vocalist Will due to "musical differences" and replaced him with Maggo Wenzel (INZEST, TRISTWOOD, WATCH ME BLEED).

HELLOWEEN singer Andi Deris has returned with his first solo album since 1999. Not so much a solo effort in its original sense, but recorded in a band envoirement to achieve a real band feeling, "Million Dollar Haircuts On Ten Cent Heads" will be released on November 22 via earMUSIC.

Written and composed by Andi Deris himself, "Million Dollar Haircuts On Ten Cent Heads" has a crispy, modern sound to it. The diverse, high-class production is snotty, dirty and brutally honest and is described in a press release as "a healthy mixture of HELLOWEEN's recent records combined with 'Master Of The Rings' tradition (Andi's first HELLOWEEN album)."

Recorded together with his band BAD BANKERS, "Million Dollar Haircuts On Ten Cent Heads" sees Deris criticizing the economic system and its corruption. Although the topic may seem a bit dull, the heavy guitar riffs and Deris' recognizable voice clearly make a point: "fuck banks, fuck managers, fuck bankers." He explains: "Obviously we despise everything around banks, managers and bankers who are clearly responsible for the shit that goes on nowadays (and most certainly in our future), so it felt very good to vocally tell them what we think about them. Sure, therefore it's highly explicit but hey… who gives a fuck? That's what they deserve... and it helps the music to really kick some ass."

"Million Dollar Haircuts On Ten Cent Heads" standard CD track listing:

01. Cock02. Will We Ever Change 03. Banker's Delight (DOA) 04. Blind 05. Don't Listen To The Radio (TWOTW 1938) 06. Who Am I 07. Must Be Dreaming08. The Last Days Of Rain09. Enamoria 1.810. This Could Go On Forever11. I Sing Myself Away

"Million Dollar Haircuts On Ten Cent Heads" limited-edition digipak track listing:

CD1

01. Cock02. Will We Ever Change03. Banker's Delight (DOA)04. Blind 05. Don't Listen To The Radio (TWOTW 1938)06. Who Am I07. Must Be Dreaming08. The Last Days Of Rain09. Enamoria 1.810. This Could Go On Forever11. I Sing Myself Away

CD2

01. Behind Dead Eyes (unreleased track; demo)02. Little Lies (unreleased track; demo)03. TWOTW 1938 (Don't Listen To The Radio) (unreleased demo version)04. Must Be Dreaming (unreleased demo version)05. EnAmoria (unreleased demo version)

"Million Dollar Haircuts On Ten Cent Heads" vinyl track listing:

A1. CockA2. Will We Ever ChangeA3. Banker's Delight (DOA)A4. BlindA5. Don't Listen To The Radio (TWOTW 1938)

B1. Who Am IB2. Must Be DreamingB3. The Last Days Of RainB4. Enamoria 1.8B5. This Could Go On ForeverB6. I Sing Myself Away

ANDI DERIS AND THE BAD BANKERS lineup:

Andi Deris (Bad Vocals, Bad Guitars)Nico Martin (Bad Guitars)Jezoar Marrero (Bad Bass)Nasim López-Palacios (Bad Drums)

Las Vegas metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH have unleashed the official video for their new single, "Battle Born". The clip is described by USA Today as "a celebration of the band's success and a thank-you of sorts to its fans, who include martial artists and members of the military and law-enforcement communities, all of which are represented."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH frontman Ivan Moody explains the meaning behind "Battle Born": "After getting off the road from two years of touring, I was physically and emotionally drained. It felt like I’d seen almost every inch of the globe and shook every hand there was to shake. I completely lost track of time, the flights, the travel, the shows all seemed to blur together. My family and friends became a distant memory. Even though I was doing what I'd dreamed of doing, it took all the energy that I had… it was exhausting. That made me realize, everything worth fighting for you will actually HAVE TO fight for. Every wish, every dream, every idea comes to existence only through blood, sweat and sacrifice… We are all battle born."

"The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2", the second half of a two-record set, is due to arrive on November 19 via via Prospect Park in North America and Eleven Seven in all other territories.

"The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2" track listing:

01. Here To Die02. Weight Beneath My Sin03. Wrecking Ball04. Battle Born05. Cradle To the Grave06. Matter Of Time07. The Agony Of Regret08. Cold09. Let This Go10. My Heart Lied11. A Day In My Life12. House Of The Rising Sun

Even though the band recorded two albums worth of material this time around, Ivan Moody told The Pulse Of Radio he's not a fan of working in the studio. "No, I don't spend a lot of time in the studio, man," he said. "I truly don't. I'll be in there when I have to. I hate the containment, I can't stand the schedule crap. The monotony drives me frickin' crazy, you know, 'Do it again, do it again, let's try that again,' and it's just, it's so frustrating to me. Sitting in the booth and feeling like, basically it's just a cold, dead coffin, and a lot of the time people want to know why my lyrics are so angry — that has a lot to do with it."

The first half of "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell" came out on July 30 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart, selling 113,000 copies in its first week of release.

The first single from "Volume 1", "Lift Me Up", featured JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford and hit the top of the rock radio chart.

"Volume 1" has sold more than 241,000 copies to date. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's three previous albums have all gone gold for sales of 500,000 copies or more.

A four-minute video clip in which Rolf "Rock'n'Rolf" Kasparek of German power metallers RUNNING WILD answers fan-submitted questions can be seen below.

RUNNING WILD will release its new album, "Resilient", on October 4 in Germany and October 7 in the rest of Europe via Steamhammer/SPV.

Kasparek has come up with twelve storm-proof numbers, ten of which are scheduled for release on the regular CD. Two bonus tracks and a poster will be included on the limited version of the album.

Kasparek was working full throttle on this new album since February 2013. Due to his intense involvement with GIANT X, his band with guitarist Peter Jordan, Rolf had consciously taken a break from RUNNING WILD and has now resumed work with the band with zest and lots of new ideas.

"The break was important and extremely refreshing for me," he explains. "I felt that renewed vigor as soon as I started writing the material for 'Resilient', tracks such as 'Fireheart' and 'Soldiers Of Fortune' just came pouring out of me. The dynamic pace of 'Soldiers Of Fortune' in particular kicked off a whole avalanche of creativity in me."

Rolf explains that "Resilient" is audibly tougher and more compact than its predecessor, "Shadowmaker", clearly enjoying his revived zest. "'Shadowmaker' happened to come about slightly unexpectedly and spontaneously, even for me," he says. "The album has brought back the fun I used to have with RUNNING WILD, and my fans will get to feel this fun when 'Resilient' comes out in October!"

The album's opener, "Soldiers Of Fortune", and the title track, "The Drift" and "Run Riot" will be three typical RUNNING WILD numbers. The most outstanding song on the album, however, is called "Bloody Island", with almost ten minutes playing time one of the longest tracks in RUNNING WILD's career to date. Rolf says: "As a composer, it's, of course, difficult for me to pigeonhole the new material stylistically, but friends who have heard the demo version of 'Bloody Island' claim that it would have fitted in on 'Pile Of Skulls'."

In terms of lyrics, there are the familiar fusillades that we've come to expect from RUNNING WILD: "Bloody Island" and the bonus track "Payola & Shenanigans" see Rock'n'Rolf criticize the curse of greed that we've seen specifically in the European banking crisis of recent years. "Crystal Gold" is about the obviously politically motivated privatization of drinking water, and "Fireheart" and "Run Riot" are warnings to RUNNING WILD's fans to be confident of themselves and vigilant towards authorities. Rolf says: "For me, that's the attitude which stands for that true rock'n'roll feeling."

"Resilient" was produced by Rock'n'Rolf himself, supported by Niki Nowy during the mixing and mastering process, as well as Katharina Nowy and Peter Jordan, who contributed a number of guitar solos. For the first time, Rolf worked with precise vocal lines during the demo recordings.

"The targeted use of lyrics and vocal melodies during the demo stage was new for me, but it worked out really well and I've never gone to the studio as well prepared as I did this time around," he says. "I didn't have to try and test things but only had to put a few finishing touches to my singing at the studio. A definite advantage!"

As to whether RUNNING WILD will present this brilliant album live on stage. Rolf says: "We've had a lot of festival offers for summer 2014, which we will look at carefully. We'll know more in a few months' time and will inform our fans as soon as we've made up our minds."

"Resilient" digipak track listing:

01. Soldiers Of Fortune02. Resilient03. Adventure Highway04. The Drift05. Desert Rose06. Fireheart07. Run Riot08. Down To The Wire09. Crystal Gold10. Bloody Island11. Payola & Shenanigans (bonus track)12. Premonition (bonus track)

"Resilient" jewel case track listing:

01. Soldiers Of Fortune02. Resilient03. Adventure Highway04. The Drift05. Desert Rose06. Fireheart07. Run Riot08. Down To The Wire09. Crystal Gold10. Bloody Island

"Resilient" LP track listing:

LP 1

Side 1

01. Soldiers Of Fortune02. Resilient03. Adventure Highway

Side 2

01. The Drift02. Desert Rose03. Fireheart

LP 2

Side 3

01. Run Riot02. Down To The Wire03. Crystal Gold

Side 4

01. Bloody Island