Audio samples of "Darkness In A Different Light", the eleventh studio album from American progressive metallers FATES WARNING, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The CD will be released on September 27 via InsideOut Music.

Featuring founding guitarist Jim Matheos alongside classic-lineup members Ray Alder (vocals) and Frank Aresti (guitar), longtime bassist Joey Vera and drummer Bobby Jarzombek, "Darkness In A Different Light" was produced by Matheos and mixed by longtime FATES WARNING engineer Phil Magnotti. The effort was mastered by Maor Appelbaum (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, SEPULTURA, ANVIL) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California. The cover artwork was designed by Conte di San Pietro.

In addition to the standard CD jewel case and the digital download format, "Darkness In A Different Light" will be available in Europe as 2CD mediabook edition and as gatefold 2LP version (180-gram vinyl in black, red or white vinyl) with four bonus tracks.

"Darkness In A Different Light" track listing:

CD 1

01. One Thousand02. Firefly03. Desire04. Falling05. I Am06. Lighthouse07. Into The Black08. Kneel And Obey09. O Chloroform10. And Yet It Moves

CD 2

01. Firefly (extended)02. Falling Further03. One (live)04. Life In Still Water (live)

Regarding the song "Firefly", Alder said: "'Firefly' is very personal to me in more ways than one....

"After I had written the melody for this song, I knew immediately what the title was going to be, as well as the subject; it just fit the mood.

"As for the subject, I'm pretty sure we've all felt this way at one time or another.

"Sometimes things just don't work out the way you think they would, but that's okay, that's part of life... We move on. Ironically, while recording 'Firefly' in New Hampshire, I was outside the studio late one night, and there they were, floating through the trees in the forest! I hadn't seen a single firefly for at least fifteen years since I had left my hometown of San Antonio, Texas, so I kinda took it as a sign. A sign of what, I don't know... But very ironic nonetheless..."

On the topic of "Darkness In A Different Light" as a whole, Alder said: "'Darkness In A Different Light' is the result of almost two years of very hard work from everyone in the band.

"I believe that this lineup is the best that FATES WARNING has ever had, and I also think that it comes through in the music on this album.

"It's been almost nine years since our last studio album and I couldn't be more proud of what we've accomplished here.

"We are looking very much forward to playing some new songs for our fans who have stuck by us over all these years.

"We plan on touring as much as possible for 'Darkness In A Different Light' and hopefully we'll hit a few places we've never been."

FATES WARNING will embark on a North American tour in November. The trek will launch November 15 in Joliet, Illinois and wrap December 14 in Seattle, Washington. The "Parallels" lineup of FATES WARNING played a number of shows in 2010 in support of the released special edition of the album, which was made available through Metal Blade Records. In addition to remastered audio, there is a second audio disc of live and demo material. The package also includes a DVD with nearly three hours of material, including a complete live show from the 1992 "Parallels" tour and a documentary on the making of "Parallels" which includes live, studio, and current day interview footage with all the band members, Terry Brown (producer) and Brian Slagel (CEO of Metal Blade Records).

FATES WARNING's last CD, "X", was released in 2004 on Metal Blade Records.

"To Hell And Back", the new video from Greek/German heavy metallers MYSTIC PROPHECY, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Killhammer", which will be released on September 27 via Massacre Records. The effort will be made available as a jewel case, limited-edition A5 digipak with a bonus live DVD, as well as limited vinyl LP in gatefold cover (500 copies) and limited clear vinyl (100 copies).

"Killhammer" was recorded at the Prophecy & Music Factory Studios with singer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis (SUICIDAL ANGELS, VALLEY'S EVE, INSIDEAD) once again sitting in the producer's chair. Fredrik Nordström (HAMMERFALL, IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY) was responsible for the mix at the Studio Fredman in Sweden. The album's cover artwork was created by Uwe Jarling and can be seen below.

Comments Liapakis: "We are truly satisfied with our new album.

"I'm pretty confident that we have taken MYSTIC PROPHECY to the next level, and I believe our fans will be satisfied with the result too.

"We already have great reviews coming in, and a very warm response from the people who have already listened to it.

"We strongly believe that 'Killhammer' is heading for the German charts.

"As in our previous albums, we had some nice surprises to present; the same goes for 'Killhammer'. We have a couple of aces up our sleeves, certain elements which, when you listen to it, you will understand the path we are walking into."

"Killhammer" track listing:

01. Killhammer (4:16)02. Armies Of Hell (4:24)03. To Hell And Back (4:24)04. Kill The Beast (3:24)05. Hate Black (4:54)06. Children Of The Damned (4:41)07. 300 In Blood (4:22)08. Angels Of Fire (4:07)09. Warriors Of The Northern Seas (4:21)10. Set The World On Fire (3:47)11. Crazy Train (OZZY OSBOURNE cover) (5:19)

MYSTIC PROPHECY is:

Roberto Dimitri Liapakis - Vocals Markus Pohl - Rhythm guitar Laki Ragazas - Lead guitar Connie Andreszka - Bass Tristan Maiwurm - Drums

A few days after the release of "Killhammer", MYSTIC PROPHECY will launch a European tour alongside MASTERPLAN and JADED HEART.

Umami Burger, with locations in Oakland, San Francisco, Miami and New York City, has collaborated with legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES) to create his own hamburger. Tattooed with a big "U" on the bun, the Slash Burger contains shiitake mushrooms, caramelized onions, American cheese, avocado spread, and wasabi aioli, served with a Parmesan cheese crisp.

The Slash Burger costs $15, with one dollar going to Los Angeles Youth Network. It is available at 20 Umami locations now until November 27.

For more information, visit Umami.com.

SPIRALARMS, the San Francisco Bay Area-based heavy rock band featuring Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, ex-MANMADEGOD) on guitar, Tim Narducci (ex-SYSTEMATIC) on vocals, Chris "Cornbread" Lombardo on bass, Brad Barth on keyboards, Anthony Traslavina on rhythm guitar and Ron Redeen (THE ESSENESS PROJECT) on drums, will release its second album, "Freedom", on October 22 via Steamhammer/SPV.

SPIRALARMS rose from the ashes of millennial bands SYSTEMATIC, FORBIDDEN and MANMADE GOD.

Friends since the age of 15, Narducci and Locicero bonded over their love of heavy metal and hard rock music. Looking back at that time period, Craig said, "[We were] probably the youngest kids in the East Bay metal scene that were drinking beer out in the parking lot after seeing bands like TESTAMENT and EXODUS play."

Although the two remained friends throughout the years, they both went their separate ways and started bands of their own.

After years of playing with their respective groups, the two friends contacted each other and decided it was time to start playing music together again, and in 2004 SPIRALARMS was born.

"Freedom"'s down-to-earth and very dynamic production deserves a mention. The album oozes a liveliness, which many other bands tend to lose in the studio. "We always work at the studio as a full band," says Locicero. "The basic tracks of the new album were recorded in just about 16 hours, the rest was recorded by and by, but always in the same spirit. From the beginning, we never lost sight of our vision and that special flair which our new songs have."

"Freedom" track listing:

01. Dropping Like Flies02. Hold Me To The Sky03. Exit 6304. Blackmoon Morning05. Drugs & Alcohol06. Dealer07. Lovers Leap08. Tomorrow's Dream09. Freedom10. I Lay Low (digipack bonus track)

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

SPIRALARMS is:

Tim Narducci - Vocals/GuitarCraig Locicero - GuitarAnthony Traslavina - GuitarChris "Cornbread" Lombardo - Bass/VocalsBrad Barth - KeyboardsRon Redeen - Drums

Video footage of Arizona's EYES SET TO KILL performing a 28-minute set for EMGtv can be seen below.

Commented EYES SET TO KILL frontwoman Alexia Rodriguez: "We're excited to debut some of our newer tunes from our brand new album, 'Masks', on EMGtv.

"We love to stay connected with our fans, so I feel like [by] broadcasting this performance online, those who haven't yet been able to see us live can finally get that chance thanks to our friends at EMG.

"A lot of people have been asking about my tone off of our newest album, so now people will be able to hear that familiar EMG sound, raw and live!"

EYES SET TO KILL's fifth full-length album, "Masks", sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 161 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on September 17 in North America via Century Media Records, the CD was produced by Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SUICIDE SILENCE and SEPULTURA, among others.

In the time leading up to pre-production and the recording of "Masks", EYES SET TO KILL decided instead of pandering or worrying about expectations, they would hunker down and demo two of their strongest new songs, the irresistibly "True Colors" and "Nothing Left To Say". Both merged anthemic scope and jarring metallic elegance, making for some of the group's catchiest fare and as a result, they joined forces with Century Media Records for their fifth studio album. "Those two songs served as a blueprint for the entire record," explained Alexia Rodriguez. "When we were writing, I didn't try to do what everybody else does. We didn't need to throw a ton of riffs into one song or get overly technical. I wanted to make music that was catchy." With that mindset, the group retreated to a Southern California studio with Evetts. In the process, Alexia evolved immensely as the band's songwriter, and the band's patented sound expanded. For the first time, Cisko Miranda added staggering screams and vocals, building the harmonies and everything became amplified from the heaviness to the hooks. "Masks" track listing:

01. Masks02. Killing In Your Name03. Lost And Forgotten04. Where I Want To Be05. True Colors06. Surface07. Little Liar08. Nothing Left to Say09. The New Plague10. Infected11. Secrets Between12. Haze13. Forbidden Line

KATAKLYSM / EX DEO frontman Maurizio Iacono has slammed Hellfest organizers for using the DEATH name in their new advertisements for the 2014 edition of the festival, for which Kataklysm is booked:

"I am one to say what he thinks or I wouldn't be who I am, no matter the consequences. I take full responsibility, I believe in integrity. Death being announced at Hellfest or any other show as Death and not DEATH TO ALL the tribute band is a travesty and an abomination. Chuck (Schuldiner) was a friend of mine and I know he wouldn't approve. It's wrong. Imagine advertising TYPE O NEGATIVE headlining festivals without Pete Steele. Advertise it as a tribute, not the real band. Someone is making money...."

Check out the offending ad below:
Hellfest 2014, which takes place in Clisson, France from June 20th - 22nd, are in the process of confirming their line-up. Acts currently on the bill include EMPEROR, CARCASS, ICED EARTH, ANNIHILATOR, KATAKLYSM and many more.

Go to Hellfest's official Facebook page here and the official website for updates.

Southern Ontario-based metallers VARGA, who reportedly reunited in 2011, have been hard at work in the studio. They recently posted the new song, 'Gamera' (found below) and have now launched a preview page featuring more songs from their forthcoming album, Enter The Metal. Check out the previews here.
Preview tracks include;

'Beginning Of The End'
'Gamera'
'Mad Scientist'
'Plane Crash'
'No More Clean Air'
'Shark Attack'
Enter The Metal will be released on October 30th digitally and through the band's official website, vargahq.com. Check out their official Facebook page here.

Varga released two albums in the '90s before they broke up: Prototype (1994) and Oxygen (1996). Dan Fila and Sean Williamson went on to form the short-lived HYPODUST.

Polish death metal squad CALM HATCHERY is preparing to enter the studio this Autumn to record their third full-length.

Set to invade the illustrious Hertz Studio (BEHEMOTH, VADER, DECAPITATED) this November, Calm Hatchery will record the follow-up to their 2010-released sophomore album, Sacrilege Of Humanity. With nine songs so far bearing titles including: 'Sun Of God', 'Bomben Uber Warschau', 'Bardo Of Dream State', 'Blessing Mantra' and 'Ilusory World Of Gods', the forthcoming as-yet-untitled full-length is slated for early 2014 release, once again through Selfmadegod Records.
The band's approach summons all fans of technical and brutal death metal influenced by genre masters NILE, MORBID ANGEL, and IMMOLATION. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles dubs the band, "very quality death metal from a band with a huge future ahead of them."

Portuguese power metal outfit MINDFEEDER has signed a deal with Metalodic Records for their debut album, Endless Storm.
Endless Storm was co-produced, mixed and mastered by Piet Sielck from IRON SAVIOR at Powerhouse Studios in Hamburg, Germany. Endless Storm also features special collaboration by Piet Sielck on vocals and solo guitars, as well as several Portuguese special guests.

Set to be released sometime in the winter of 2013/2014, Mindfeeder's Endless Storm will contain eight songs:
'The Call'
'Endless Storm'
'Colors Of The Skie'
'1628'
'Feed Your Mind'
'Together' (ft. Piet Sielck)
'Memories'
'Our Side Of Life'

A teaser video can be seen below:

MICHAEL ANGELO BATIO has confirmed that his eighth solo album titled, Intermezzo, is due out on November 14th. Featuring guest appearances by Rusty Cooley, George Lynch, Craig Goldy, Guthrie Govan, Jeff Loomis, Joe Stump, Dave Reffett, Elliott Rubinson and more, Intermezzo will be available on iTunes, Amazon and Angelo.com. More details will be revealed soon.
An eBay auction has recently launched for a guitar previously owned by Michael Angelo Batio. A description of the guitar reads below:

"There's fast, there's shred, and then there's Michael Angelo Batio. This is the greatest shred machine ever crafted for the world's premiere shred guitarist.
This is the same exact guitar used by Michael in NITRO recordings, can be seen in MTV's 'Freight Train' video (including MTV's Headbangers Ball), MAB's 'Speed Kills' video, and Nitro's 'O.F.R.' and 'H.W.D.W.S.' recordings. It is USA hand-crafted by Wayne Richard Charvel with documentation. The guitar is in excellent condition. It has been housed in its hardshell case since 2007 in a sunlight-free, smoke-free, humidity and temperature controlled environment. Everything functions on the guitar as it should. Designed by Michael Angelo and Jim Gillette, this guitar is worthy of any Hard Rock Cafe or the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. Alder body, aircraft-grade aluminum facia on the body and headstock. 29 frets... this shred ax is sick! Comes with hardshell case.

If you're looking at this guitar, it's more than likely you know what it is. It is the ultimate piece for the avid guitar collector, MAB fan, Nitro fan, or shred aficionado. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity created by Michael and signed by Michael Angelo Batio and Jim Gillette which states the following:

'This certificate of authenticity is proof that the "Rocket" Guitar, owned by Michael Angelo Batio, designed by Michael Angelo Batio and Jim Gillette, built by Wayne Charvel in 1989 for MAB is 1 of only 2 built in the world. Michael used this guitar on the entire "Nitro OFR" tour, on the song 'No Boundaries' from his Speed Kills instructional program and on the second Nitro CD 'H.W.D.W.S.' This guitar was also used for a live performance on the MTV show Headbangers Ball.'"

Michael's 'Speed Kills' video produced by Doug Marks and Metal Methods which showcases the guitar:

Frontiers Records and REO SPEEDWAGON have announced the release of Live At Moondance Jam - the band’s hit-filled performance from the country’s premier classic rock festival, Moondance Jam. Recorded at the Walker, Minnesota festival in high-definition, Live At Moondance Jam, puts the band’s brilliant showmanship on display as the veteran rockers blast through 13 of their best-loved songs. Available in both Blu-ray and a deluxe edition (containing a CD + DVD in a glossy digipak) formats, Live At Moondance Jam will be released on November 19th in North America and November 29th in Europe.
Broadcast on Palladia, Direct TV and VH1 Classic in the US in early 2013, Live At Moondance Jam features a baker’s dozen classic REO Speedwagon tunes, including the hits, 'Keep On Loving You', 'Take It On The Run', and 'Can’t Fight This Feeling', along with the first ever live versions of 'In Your Letter', 'Golden Country', and 'Like You Do'. The packages also feature 'Don't Let Him Go', 'Keep Pushin',' 'Time for Me to Fly', 'Back on the Road Again', 'Roll with the Changes', 'Ridin' the Storm Out', and '157 Riverside Avenue'. Additionally, both the CD+DVD and Blu-ray packages contain a bonus interview with REO’s iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin.

Check out a trailer below:
"I can't really explain it, but we feel like our band is actually still getting better,” said REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin. “This Moondance show captures the essence of this exciting new chapter in the continuing story of REO. I can look you in the eye and say that this performance is us playing our best, totally live, and having an absolute blast."
Formed in 1967, signed in 1971, and fronted by Cronin since 1972, REO Speedwagon has rocked to the top of the charts with a RIAA-certified 22 million albums sold in the U.S., 40 million around the globe, and a string of gold and platinum records. The group’s nine-times certified platinum Hi Infidelity spent 15 weeks in the #1 slot. Thirty–plus years later, Cronin and bandmates Bruce Hall (bass), Neal Doughty (keyboards), Dave Amato (lead guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums) are currently electrifying concert audiences on headlining tour dates and festival shows through the spring of 2014.
On the band’s last tour, the Midwest Rock N' Roll Express, STYX and REO Speedwagon’s Rock to the Rescue charity organization not only raised thousands of dollars for local charities at each tour stop, but also raised $108,000 which will go directly to the Boston One Fund, helping victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Recently, REO’s Kevin Cronin unveiled the band’s “Great Chicago Fire Hydrant” as part of a citywide Chicago public art installation project which will feature oversized replicas of Chicago's iconic fire hydrants. There will be 101 fire hydrants to represent each firehouse, and later in December, these will be auctioned, with proceeds benefitting 100 Club Chicago. Finally, a rerecording of 'Roll With The Changes' is currently featured in the movie Jobs, starring Ashton Kutcher.

Amstelveen, Netherlands-based metallers JACKAL have signed a worldwide deal with Pure Underground Records, a sublabel of Pure Steel Records. On October 18th, the album Cry Of The Jackal will be re-released on CD and first time on vinyl, remastered and with five bonus tracks.
Complete details to follow.
Jackal lineup:

Erwin Siereveld – Vocals
John Bouman – Guitar
Tercy Paul – Guitar
Stephan Pechler – Bass
Rick Waalewijn - Drums

More on Jackal at Facebook.

EYE OF SOLITUDE, UK's orchestral funeral doom's finest (featuring members of UNFATHOMABLE RUINATION and Kaotoxin Records label-mates SIDIOUS), which released their successful and second full-length, Sui Caedere, in June 2012 through Kaotoxin have returned with a monolith of heaviness entitled Canto III.

The album, lyrically-based on Dante's Inferno and featuring six tracks for a total duration of over 66 minutes, is by far the most intense and heavy, yet diverse material the band has ever released Adding to their trademark orchestral layers, superb despaired melodies and dark ambient plains of desolation, bursts of rage sometimes ranging from death metal blastbeats to black metal-ish grim aggression. All of this is topped by the inhuman low growls of EOS mastermind Daniel Neagoe and the contributions of violinist Casper and vocalist Anton, both from Russia's DOMINIA.

"Canto III is the most mature material we've worked on," comments Neagoe. "Its elements vary from pure agonizing and suffocatingly depressive moments, to a burst of rage and blast beats invoking quite a black metal environment. It's a development for sure due to the new line-up and its input on the songs and, with guests from Dominia -Anton on vocals and Casper on violin- we have included even more atmosphere and variety. It is for sure, our peak of creativity and musicianship!"

A video teaser for Canto III can be seen below:

Coming as a limited edition (1,000 hand-numbered copies) double DigiFile CD, the first pressing features no less than six bonus tracks taken from the band's 2011 untitled promo (later digitally released by Kaotoxin as the Awoken By Crows EP) and The Deceit digital EP for a total of nearly 39 minutes of additional material, with stunning artwork by Mortal Torment's own Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art (responsible for the Sui Caedere artwork), Canto III will be released on November 25th in France (Season Of Mist), UK (Code7) and through the label's mailorder for international territories and December 3rd in the BeNeLux (Rock Inc.), NorthAmerica (MVD) and through all major digital retailers. Pre-order opportunities, including exclusive merch packs, will start on October 28th. The US release will mark the first time ever that Sui Caedere, repressed for this occasion, will hit North America retail stores and mail order distros.

Canto III tracklisting:

‘Act I: Between Two Worlds (Occularis Infernum)’
‘Act II: Where The Descent Began’
‘Act III: ‘He Who Willingly Suffers’
‘Act IV: ‘The Pathway Had Been Lost’
‘Act V: ‘I Sat In Silence’
‘Act VI: ‘In The Desert Vast’

Bonus CD (limited to 1,000 copies):
‘The Deceit’
‘Night’s Dew’ (SHAPE OF DESPAIR cover)
‘Painstained’
‘Suffocating Silence’
‘Die Alone’
‘Death Said Bring A Friend’
‘Awoken By Crows’

1-3 taken from The Deceit EP
4-6 taken from Awoken By Crows EP

To preorder visit this location.

The Housecore Horror Film Festival (HHFF) is pleased to welcome the MELVINS to the stage. The experimental sludge metal icons celebrate 30 years of musical disturbance at Housecore Horror Film Festival on Saturday, October 26, with an appearance alongside GWAR, WHITECHAPEL, GOATWHORE and IRON REAGAN.

Housecore Horror Film Festival co-founder Philip Anselmo had this to say about the last-minute addition of one of his favorite bands of all time: "Sadly, CROWBAR will not be able to make the gig. But madly great news is that the mighty MELVINS are gonna jam the fucking night away!"

Many people have wondered if EYEHATEGOD would carry on despite the tragic and unexpected death of drummer Joey LaCaze, 42, last month of respiratory failure brought on by asthma. Amazingly, MELVINS drummer extraordinaire Dale Crover has stepped up to the kit to honor LaCaze's name and help the EYEHATEGOD legacy reach its 25th anniversary at Housecore Horror Film Festival.

Said Anselmo about the news that his long-time New Orleans mates will still be able to play Housecore Horror Film Festival: "In the wake of severe tragedy, with EYEHATEGOD drummer Joey LaCaze passing away recently, MELVINS drummer Dale Crover will be filling in for an unforgettable alliance with EYEHATEGOD! Dammit, you KNOW you have to see this unique performance! If you don't have a ticket to the EYEHATEGOD, get one ASAP to witness this historic event. It’ll be historic on so many levels!"

EYEHATEGOD vocalist Mike IX Williams will also be performing spoken word and signing his book, "Cancer As A Social Activity", at Housecore Horror Film Festival and guitarist Jimmy Bower will also appear at Housecore Horror Film Festival as the drummer with his other band, DOWN.

Housecore Horror Film Festival is also excited to welcome New York-based horror doom metallers BLOOD FARMERS. Originally formed in 1989, the band combines the atmosphere of '70s horror with heavy doses of psychedelia and doom in the tradition of BLACK SABBATH and SAINT VITUS. Now, thanks to the bandmembers' affiliation with cult film distributor Grindhouse Releasing, BLOOD FARMERS will make their first-ever appearance in Texas alongside the movies that inspired their creeped-out music... live at the Housecore Horror Film Festival!

For more information, visit HousecoreHorrorFilmFestival.com.

British metallers SYLOSIS have reportedly been forced to drop off their North American tour with TRIVIUM, DEVILDRIVER and AFTER THE BURIAL after being involved in a serious RV accident last night. DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara broke the news via Twitter, explaining that SYLOSIS "ran into the back of a tractor trailer full speed" and "totaled the RV," landing three of the members of the band in a local hospital. He added: "My thoughts go out to those guys. This is so sad! Send positive thoughts, everyone."

SYLOSIS' latest album, "Monolith", was recorded with Romesh Dodangoda in Wales at Monnow Valley Studio and was mastered by Jens Bogren (SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH) at Fascination Street Studios. The concept for the lyrics were loosely inspired by the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. The artwork was created this time around by Dan Goldsworthy (ACCEPT, HELL). "Monolith" can be purchased on Amazon, iTunes and the Nuclear Blast webshop.

North American metallers ICED EARTH will release their new album, "Plagues Of Babylon", for a January 2014 via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created and illustrated by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS, GWAR).

Says ICED EARTH vocalist/guitarist Jon Schaffer: "This is a seriously heavy album with a seriously brutal album cover. I'm sure it will go down as a classic in the epic ICED EARTH catalog."

"Plagues Of Babylon" track listing:

01. Plagues Of Babylon02. Democide03. The Culling04. Among The Living Dead05. Resistance06. The End? 07. If I Could See You08. Cthulhu09. Peacemaker10. Parasite11. Spirit Of The Times12. Highwayman

Speaking to Metal4 magazine at the Rockharz open-air festival in Germany in July, Schaffer said about the upcoming CD: "It's a bit of a different thing for us, because it's half of a concept and the other half is [standalone] tracks. Musically, I think it's just another step in the right direction. It's really heavy, it's very melodic. It has a really epic feeling. Even though there isn't, like, a monster, long epic track, the overall feel of the songs is very epic. I mean, there's no 'Dante's Inferno' or 'Gettysburg' or the 'Something Wicked' trilogy or something like that on here, but I'm really happy with it."

ICED EARTH recently parted ways with drummer Brent Smedley for "personal family reasons." He has since been replaced by Raphael Saini (CHAOSWAVE).

ICED EARTH has been hitting it relentlessly, with the recent studio album, "Dystopia", being the most toured album in the band's illustrious history.

One of the many highlights of the "World Dystopia Tour", a headline show at the historic Kourion Amphitheatre in Cyprus, was recently released on Blu-ray, DVD and in many other formats under the title "Live In Ancient Kourion".

"Dystopia" was released in October 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD marked the band's recording debut with singer Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY), who joined ICED EARTH in March 2011 following the departure of Matt Barlow.

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "High Rise", the debut EP from the new version of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS featuring LINKIN PARK's Chester Bennington, can be seen below. The effort will be released on October 8 via 13Star Records.

"High Rise" track listing:

01. Out Of Time02. Black Heart03. Same On The Inside04. Cry Cry05. Tomorrow

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

"Out Of Time" reached the No. 1 position on both the Mediabase Active Rock and Mainstream Rock chart last month.

"In terms of style, when the DeLeo brothers [Dean and bassist Robert] get in the studio and start writing, they have a very unique way of putting chords together and structures and the type of chord progressions they put together," Bennington told Fuse News of the writing process in the new STP. "So, in that sense, it's gonna be undeniably the sound of STP — I mean, they're the heart and soul of the band. Naturally, I'm not [former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer] Scott [Weiland], so I'm not gonna think of the same melodies, I'm not gonna think of the same lyrical content and such, so in that sense, naturally, there's gonna be a difference in terms of how I interpret what the band puts together musically. I think that's one of the reasons why we're so eager to get the [new STONE TEMPLE PILOTS] EP out, because we want people to hear the new direction and feel the vibe of the new music. Because there's definitely a vibe in that EP that is fresh and it's new but it still feels very STP."

He added: "When we started writing, the ideas came so fast; every single day, it semed like there was four or five things that we were all bringing in and contributing in terms of new songs. We could have easily spent three more months on this thing and had a full-length record out. There's enough material there for us to do that and start getting into the next one. So in terms of the amount of creativity that's been going on, it's very healthy."

STP fired Scott Weiland in February after reuniting with him in 2010 for a series of tours and one self-titled album. The band had previously been on hiatus since 2002, primarily due to the singer's struggles with drugs and alcohol.

The group sued Weiland in May, accusing him of using the band's name to advance his solo career, while claiming that his poor performances, late arrivals, and addiction struggles harmed the band's career.

Weiland has countersued, claiming that the band cannot use the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS name without him.

Professionally filmed video footage of Swedish occult rockers GHOST performing the song "Secular Haze" live on May 11 at Webster Hall in New York City can be seen below.

A nameless ghoul stated: "Playing in New York will always feel very special for us, since it was the first city in the U.S. that embraced us. Every time we play there, it marks another step up for us — going from filling up the basement at Webster Hall, to filling up the Bowery to finally play at sold-out Webster Hall. We simply love New York."

GHOST's sophomore album, "Infestissumam", sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 28 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The CD topped the official chart in the group's home country after selling nearly five times as many copies as the No. 2 album, MISS LI's "Wolves".

In a recent interview with ARTISTdirect, a nameless ghoul from GHOST said about "Infestissumam": "It feels way more theatrical and bombastic. In many ways, 'Infestissumam' is thematically a continuation of where [the debut album] 'Opus Eponymous' began. Whereas a lot of the thematic ideas we have in mind for upcoming albums might differ a little bit and will go in another direction. That's not to say we won't sing about the things we do and not have makeup. I'm just saying it will evolve into other things in the future. On this record, I feel like we're doing a lot of things we intended to do on the first naïvely being we could pull off a show like that at that point — which we couldn't. Now, we have a little bit more muscle. The attendance is probably more in accordance with being able to present a show like that."

Regarding the lyrical themes covered "Infestissumam", the nameless ghoul said: "Thematically we knew the major difference between the first and the second albums as much as we do between the second and the third. It's a bit ironic now. Jumping up to the contemporary controversy with our album artwork and the refusal of printers to print the art is funny because the whole record is about the presence of the devil. Obviously, it's about how mankind relate to the presence of the devil. Historically, it's always been the female body that has taken the fall for that, which is what happened in this case. The problem was a vagina in the art not the inverted crosses."

GHOST was forced to modify its name in the U.S. to GHOST B.C. for "legal reasons."

"Fallen", 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.

CADAVERIA — the Italian band featuring former OPERA IX vocalist Cadaveria and ex-OPERA IX drummer/NECRODEATH vocalist Marçelo Santos (a.k.a. Flegias) — will release its first retrospective DVD, "Karma", on October 22 via Scarlet Records. The double-disc set will live and backstage video material, unreleased interviews and much more, spanning the band's entire career, for a total running time of two hours and 40 minutes.

A detailed list of the DVD's contents can be found at this location.

The official trailer for "Karma" can be seen below.

CADAVERIA's fourth album, "Horror Metal", was released on January 31, 2012 via Bakerteam Records, a division of Scarlet Records.

The group's long-awaited follow-up 2007's "In Your Blood" (released on French extreme metal label Season Of Mist) has been described by Cadaveria as "the most obscure, raw and horror-filled work ever produced by the group."

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 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."

Atlanta, GA-based bastards of noise rock, WHORES, have revealed the album details behind their sophomore release, Clean.

Recorded with Ryan Boesch at Parhelion Recording Studios, Clean will see an October 29th release on 12" vinyl / digital formats via Brutal Panda Records. Additionally, Whores' debut Ruiner has been repressed on vinyl and is available at this location.



Clean tracklisting:

'Baby Bird'
'Last Looks'
'I Am Not A Goal-Oriented Person'
'Cougars, Not Kittens'
'Blue Blood'
'I Am An Amateur At Everything'

'Baby Bird':

Clean by Whores

More on Whores at Facebook.

As previously announced, Metal Mind Productions will release a brand new studio album by one of the most interesting rock bands from Poland – CHEMIA. The album entitled The One Inside is scheduled for release on October 4th in Poland and November 4th in Europe. The album is already out in Canada.

Today, you can see two official video clips promoting the album – 'Hero' and 'Bondage Of Love' below:

The band was formed by the guitarist Wojtek Balczun in 2010 in Warsaw and their current lineup includes: Maciej Maka (guitar), Krzysztof Jaworski (bass guitar), Adam Kram (drums), Rafal Stepien (keyboards) and Lukasz Drapaaa (vocals).

The band performed together with such big artists as RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and GUNS N' ROSES. In fall 2012, Chemia left for the Canadian Warehouse Studio to record their third studio album The One Inside. During the whole recording process they were supported by Marc LaFrance and the album was mixed by Eric Mosher (CHICKENFOOT, JOE SATRIANI). The One Inside features 13 rock tracks inspired by classic rock ranging from THE BEATLES to LED ZEPPELIN and by the best post grunge tunes. Currently, the band is planning a big international tour but Canadian dates are confirmed for November:

Dates include:

2 – Ottawa, ON – Café Dekuf
6 – London, ON – Norma Jeans
7 – Hamilton, ON – Club Absinthe
9 – Markham, ON – The Attic
10 – Waterloo, ON – Maxwell’s Music House
12 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern

More on Chemia at Facebook.

Czech black metallers INFERNO will release a new album entitled, Omniabsence Filled By His Greatness, on September 24th worldwide through Agonia Records.

Check out the new song 'The Funeral 'Of Existence' below:
The band's sixth album is a leap forward in comparison with their previous release, Black Devotion. While straightforward black metal and melodic riffs are still present, Omniabsence Filled By His Greatness has gained in terms of quality and atmosphere. Dissonant passages now go hand in hand with a delicate use of psychedelia, with the compositions becoming more demanding as a result.

The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Necromorbus Studio by Tore Stjerna (WATAIN, VALKYRJA). Fenomeno Design (BLUT AUS NORD, GLORIOR BELLI) prepared the layout.
Omniabsence Filled By His Greatness is the second release recorded with the new lineup of Adramelech (vocals), Ska-gul (guitars) and Sarapis (drummer). The album features guest bass lines played by Beldaroh (BESATT).

Tracklist:

'Pervasion'
'The Firstborn From Murk'
'The Funeral Of Existence'
'Revelations Through The Void'
'The Vertical Fissure Of The Most Distant End'
'Metastasis Of Realistic Visions'

A video trailer is available below:

Late THIN LIZZY guitarist GARY MOORE’s debut album Back On The Streets - featuring Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott and Brian Downey - is now available as an extended edition featuring the original album plus bonus B-sides and alternate versions. For complete details and to purchase go to Amazon.co.uk here.
The tracklist according to Amazon is as follows:

'Back On The Streets'
'Don't Believe A Word'
'Fanatical Fascists'
'Flight Of The Snow Moose'
'Hurricane'
'Song For Donna'
'What Would You Rather Bee Or A Wasp'
'Parisienne Walkways'
'Track Nine'
'Spanish Guitar'
'Spanish Guitar'
'Spanish Guitar'

From his scorching playing with SKID ROW and THIN LIZZY to his incendiary solo work, GARY MOORE produced some of the most powerful guitar performances known to stage and studio from the mid ’70s right up until his untimely death in 2011. Throughout his career, Moore virtually defined high-octane blues-rock, coining a signature tone that thousands have sought to emulate. Across three decades of playing, his weapon of choice remained the mighty Les Paul, one of which was the legendary ’59 Burst originally owned by FLEETWOOD MAC guitarist Peter Green.
Now Gibson USA honors this certified guitar legend with the Gary Moore Les Paul Standard, a first-class Les Paul decked out to this demanding artist’s preferred specifications. Many details are reminiscent of the famed Peter Green Les Paul, formerly played by Gary Moore and now owned by collector Melvyn Franks. From its highly flamed maple top with Lemonburst finish, to its traditional Les Paul Model headstock with signature truss-rod cover, to its mismatched amber and gold top-hat knobs, the Gary Moore Les Paul Standard offers uncompromising looks. Plug in and fire up its BurstBucker Pro humbucking pickups via Orange Drop tone caps, all anchored with a quality TonePros hardware, and it rips it up with a tone fit to carry the name, Gary Moore.

For more details visit Gibson.com.

Balingen, Germany-based prog/power metal act WE ARE LEGEND have signed a worldwide deal with Pure Legend Records, a sub-label of Pure Steel Records.
Label boss Andreas states: "The material of We Are Legend is an absolute hammer. In our opinion no other German prog/power newcomer appeared in the past time, that got so much potential and of course we are more than proud that the guys have signed with us."

Founded in 2010, the experienced musicians got a lot of attention in the scene with their self-produced EP We Are Legend in 2012. In the national competition German Rock and Pop Award 2012 the quintet convinced the jury and reached the finals in Wiesbaden without any problems. They finally won in four categories, Best Metal Band, Best Metal Song, Best Metal Singer and Best Hard Rock Song! Only few other bands achieved this before.

The debut album of the band will be released in November. More info to follow.
We Are Legend lineup:

Selin Schönbeck - Vocals, Piano
Dirk Baur - Gitarre, Backings
Siggi Maier - Gitarre, Backings
Heiko Burst - Drums
Dominik Burgdörfer - Bass

More on We Are Legend at Facebook.