In celebration of the release of AIRBOURNE's new album, Black Dog Barking, Roadrunner Records is giving away an exclusive live MP3 of 'No Way But The Hard Way'. Recorded live at Germany’s Wacken Open Air in 2011, this track is only included on the European 2CD deluxe edition of Black Dog Barking. Get the track here.
Black Dog Barking, which was produced by Brian Howes, is the third studio album from Airbourne and features the lead single 'Live It Up'. Hailing from Warrnambool, a small drinking town on the southwestern coast of Victoria, Australia, Airbourne has steadily gained an immense following with their explosive live shows and main stage festival appearances.

“A lot of thought and effort has gone into this record not only by the band, but by the production crew who worked countless hours, seven days a week, even through Christmas and New Year’s Eve to achieve the best possible performances, backed by real undying tones. Now we’re handing it over to you… so crank it up, crack a beer and stick some rock ‘n’ roll in your ear,” said the band.
Catch Airbourne live at the following shows:

May
31 - Wuhlheid - Berlin, Germany

June
1 - FortaRock - Nijmegen, Netherlands
2 - Metalfest - Pilsen, Czech Republic
4 - Impact Festival - Warsaw, Poland
5 - Vieta Teatro Arena - Vilnius, Lithuania
7 - Rock Im Park - Nuremberg, Germany
8 - Rock Am Ring - Nurburg, Germany
9 - Sonisphere Festival - Amnéville, France
14 - Nova Rock Festival - Nickelsdorf, Austria
15 - Greenfield Festival - Interlaken, Switzerland
16 - Download Festival - Donington Park, United Kingdom
19 - Orion - Ciampino, Italy
20 - Vidia Rock Club - Cesena, Italy
23 - Club Quarter - Novi Sad, Serbia
28 - Rock The Beach Festival - Helsinki, Finland
29 - Le Rock Dans Tous Ses Etats - Evreux, France
30 - Garorock - Marmande, France

July
4 - Festival Park - Werchter, Belgium
19 - Whalers Hotel - Warrnambool Vic, Australia
20 - Corner Hotel - Richmond Vic, Australia
26 - Anu Bar - Canberra, Australia
27 - HiFi - Sydney, Australia
28 - Splendour In The Grass - Byron Bay Nsw, Australia

August
24 - Shadow Hill Ranch - Twin Lakes, WI
31 - Convention Center - Tulsa, OK

September
3 - Maverik Center - West Valley City, UT
4 - The Joint - Las Vegas, NV
5 - Gorge Amphitheatre - George, WA
6 - Gorge Amphitheatre - George, WA
19 - Bayou Music Center - Houston, TX
22 - The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
27 - Tsongas Center - Lowell, MA
28 - Williamsburg Park - Brooklyn, NY

November
14 - Alcatraz - Milan, Italy
26 - Rockhal - Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg

On June 17, Dutch black metal veterans COUNTESS will release a new EP entitled Sermons Of The Infidel. The EP will be exclusively available digitally through the band’s official Bandcamp site.

Sermons Of The Infidel features 35 minutes of metal spread over eight tracks: six brand new versions of Countess classics and two new songs. The EP is the first Countess release since 2011’s full-length On Wings Of Defiance, two tracks of which are featured here in killer new renditions.

Sermons Of The Infidel tracklist:

'Hymn To The Gods Of Yore'
'Trumpets Of Dawn'
'I Am The Infidel'
'Sermon Of The Devil Preacher'
'Son Of The Dragon'
'Child Of The Millennia'
'City Of Satan'
'Chosen By The Gods'

Sermons Of The Infidel also marks the return of guitarist Zagan, who was last heard on the legendary Revenge albums over a decade ago.

The EP will be available for download in several high-quality formats of choice and includes a printable cover, back inlay and CD label (in pdf format). From June 17, Sermons Of The Infidel can be purchased here.

Italian speed metallers IRON JAWS have signed a worldwide deal with Pure Steel Records.
The band's new album has already been recorded, and will be released later this year. More information to follow.
Iron Jaws lineup:

Andrea “Mixy” Finotti - Vocals
Roberto “Rock ’N’ Rob” Massasso - Bass
Roberto “Micini” Quaglia - Guitars
Riccardo “Ricky” Porzio - Drums

More on Iron Jaws at this location.

Tomorrow, May 24th, Noisehead Records will release Road To Redemption, the new album from Austrian death-thrashers DARKFALL.
Tracklisting:

'Road To Redemption (Intro)'
'Misery Of Peace'
'War Has Come'
'Fading Away'
'Phoenix Rising'
'The Gods Await'
'Never Ending Hate'
'Rise To Dominate'
'Echoes From The Past'
'Peacemaker'
'Kill The Need MMXIII'

'Fading Away' lyric video:

Massachusetts metallers REVOCATION have confirmed an August 6th release date for their new self-titled album, via Relapse Records. This is their 4th full-length release and the first featuring new bassist Brett Bamberger.
The band has unveiled the artwork and tracklisting for the album. The artwork was created by Orion Landau (DYING FETUS, OBSCURA, NILE).
Tracklisting:

'The Hive'
'Scattering The Flock'
'Arch Fiend'
'Numbing Agents'
'Fracked'
'The Gift You Gave'
'Invidious'
'Spastic'
'Entombed By Wealth'
'A Visitation'

Throughout the recording process the band had cameras rolling capturing everything. From this footage Revocation has put together a series of videos detailing different aspects of the recording process.

The first in-studio video focuses on the drums and bass:
The second video in the series focuses on the guitar and bass tracking:
Revocation will be taking part in this year's Summer Slaughter Tour. The tour starts July 19th in San Francisco, CA and runs through August 16th in Denver, CO.

For more info visit Facebook.

DEEP PURPLE’s new album NOW What?! has reached gold status in Russia, with sales exceeding 25,000 copies. The album reached the Russian charts at No.3 in its first week of release.

Deep Purple recently released the video for their new single ‘Vincent Price’. The single for the band’s first video clip in over 20 years, will be released on June 7th as download, CD single, and 7” transparent vinyl.

The 'Vincent Price' single will become a collector's item, due to the inclusion of the song 'First Sign Of Madness', which was recorded during the NOW What?! sessions and not included in the final selection.

7" single:
Side A: 'Vincent Price'
Side B: 'First Sign Of Madness'

CD single and download:
'Vincent Price'
'First Sign Of Madness'
'The Well Dressed Guitar' (from the now-deleted "Rapture Of The Deep" limited-edition CD)
'Wrong Man' (live) (from the now-deleted "Rapture Of The Deep" limited-edition CD)
'Vincent Price' (video)

For more details visit DeepPurple2013.com.

Canadian metallers WRETCHEDPAIN have revealed the tracklisting of their upcoming EP as follows:

'Hatriot' (featuring Jon Howard of THREAT SIGNAL)
'Cleansed In Fire'
'Laced With Cyanide'
'The Hell You Seek' (Featuring Kris Norris of Threat Signal/ex-DARKEST HOUR)
'The Lessons Of The Wise And Dumb' (featuring Robert Meadows of A LIFE ONCE LOST and John Bechdel of MINISTRY/ex-FEAR FACTORY)

'Hatriot' featuring Jon Howard of Threat Signal can be found streaming at this location.

Wretchedpain's as-yet-untitled forthcoming EP is due out in late summer and was mixed/mastered by KATAKLYSM's J-F Dagenais.
For information on Wretchedpain and updates go to this location

Finnish black/death act COPROLITH has released a new video and first single ‘Life=Disease’, and is taken from their upcoming album Death March.

Coprolith will tour China beginning May 22nd with NAUZEA, BOB MALMSTRÖM, and DRILLER.

16 cities, 16 venues and 10,000 miles. Dates are below:

May
24 - Beijing, China - 13Club
25 - Shijiazhuang, China - Underground Velvet Club
26 - Tianjin, China - 13Club
28 - Langfang, China - Rock Bar
31 - Baotou, China - Kunzi Bar

June
1 - Huhehaote, China - Ning Livehouse
3 - Shanghai, China - Yuyintang
4 - Nanking, China - Gubao Bar
5 - Hangzhou, China - 9 Ball Bar
7 - Xian, China - Monkey Livehouse
8 - Lanzhou, China - Kui Livehouse
10 - Chongqing, China - Jiangguo Bar
11 - Chengdu, China - Xiaojiouguan
13 - Tianshui, China - Juji Bar
15 - Zhengzhou, China - 7 Livehouse
16 - Beijing, China - Marku Livehouse

Canadian thrashers FATALITY have revealed the artwork and tracklisting for their upcoming album, Psychonaut, which is set for release on June 28th, along with an epic tour of Canada and the US that will kick off in Oshawa, Ontario on June 21st and wrap up in Buffalo, New York on August 28th.
Psychonaut tracklisting:

'Enter Purgatory'
'Thoughts Collide'
'Monstrous'
'Before the Collapse'
'Towards Disaster'
'Psychonaut'
'Satan's Shepherd'
'Thrashterpiece II'

Listen to 'Thoughts Collide':
Catch Fatality on the road this summer supporting their new album:

June
21 - Oshawa, ON - The Atria (CD release show)
23 - Belleville, ON - Bell Pub
28 - Toronto, ON - Sneaky Dee’s (CD Launch Show with Shotgun Cure, Call Of The Wild)
29 - Montreal CD Release - Frites Alors
30 - Portland, ME - Geno’s Rock Club

July
2 - Worcester, MA - Hotel Vernon
3 - Providence, RI - Dusk
4 - Allston, MA - O'briens Pub
5 - Florence, MA - Silk City Music
6 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
8 - New York City, NY - Saint Vitus Bar
9 - Baltimore, MD - Side Bar
11 - Chesapeake, VA - Rogers
12 - Richmond, VA - TBA
13 - Wilmington, NC - Reggies
15 - Jacksonville, FL - Shantytown Pub
16 - Miami, FL - TBA
17 - Tampa, FL - Brass Mug
19 - Atlanta, GA - TBA
22 - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald
23 - San Antonio, TX - Backstage
24 - Dallas, TX - Double Wide
25 - Oklahoma City - TBA
26 - Midland, TX - TBA
29 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
31 - San Diego, CA - Winston's

August
3 - Fullerton, CA - Riff Haus
4 - Los Angeles, CA - Five Star Bar
8 - San Jose, CA - The Pocket
9 - Oakland, CA - TBA
10 - Medford, OR - MusicHead
11 - Eugene, OR - TBA
12 - Portland, OR - East End
14 - Seattle, WA - TBA
16 - Vancouver, BC - TBA
17 - Portland, OR - Tonic Lounge
18 - Boise, ID - TBA
19 - Salt Lake City, UT - Liquid Joes
20 - Denver, CO - TBA
21 - Wichita, KS - TBA
22 - Kansas City, MO - TBA
23 - St. Louis, MO - TBA
24 - Fort Wayne, IN - TBA
25 - Detroit, MI - TBA
26 - Cleveland, OH - TBA
27 - Pittsburgh, PA - TBA
28 - Buffalo, NY - Waiting Room
Fatality is:

Eytan Gordon - Lead Guitar
Spencer LeVon - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Adam Zlotnik - Bass Guitar
Mason LeVon - Drums
More on Fatality at this location.

Brazilian metallers ALMAH have released another teaser for their upcoming fourth, as-yet-untitled studio album.

First album teaser:

The musicians are currently finishing pre-production of new songs in a home studio of Falaschi, who states: "The new album will be more positive. While Motion (2011) is a fucking heavy, tense and dark album, the new one will be hopeful with fast songs.”
To keep fans updated on the recording process, Almah have launched a series of "making-of" videos. Edu comments: “Hello guys, the new album is almost ready, we are finishing the last songs now! We’d like to show you one part of a new song: it’s a guitar duel with tapping and right now we are working at this idea! Very soon the whole new material will be ready for the recording!”

Almah recently released an official video for the song ‘When And Why’, taken from their 2011 album, Motion.

Kerry King (SLAYER), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Gary Holt (EXODUS, SLAYER), Robert Trujillo (METALLICA), Shavo Odadjian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN), Robb Flynn (MACHINE HEAD), Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS), Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT) and John Tempesta (THE CULT, EXODUS, TESTAMENT) are among the musicians who attended the public memorial celebration for SLAYER's late guitarist Jeff Hanneman, which was held yesterday afternoon (Thursday, May 23) at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.

High-quality photos of the event from photographer Stephanie Cabral can be found at this location. Fan-filmed video footage is available below.

A full report, including photos from Stephanie Cabral, can be found at the web site of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine.

Members of SLAYER released a statement on May 9 saying that Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis.

The guitarist had actually not been playing with SLAYER for more than two years since he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard in January 2011. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.

Hanneman's last appearance with SLAYER was in April 2011, when he played an encore with the band at the "Big Four" concert in Indio, California.

Hanneman recalled in a 2011 interview with Classic Rock magazine that he initially didn't even feel the spider bite, adding, "But an hour later, I knew that I was ill. I could see the flesh corrupting. The arm was real hot. I got to the emergency room, and thank god the nurse knew straight away what it was . . . At that point, I was an hour away from death."

SLAYER was founded in 1981 in Los Angeles and went on to become one of most popular bands of the speed/thrash metal movement, eventually being considered one of the "Big Four" alongside METALLICA, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX.

While never a band that got any substantial radio airplay, the group has long been considered a major influence on the metal genre and acclaimed as one of the best live metal acts of the past 30 years.

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King received a huge ovation from the crowd at the Revolver Golden Gods awards show on May 2 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, where he said that Hanneman would have wanted "noise" rather than a moment of silence and then drank two shots in his bandmate's honor.

Reactivated British extreme metal legends CARCASS have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records for the release of their comeback album, "Surgical Steel". Due in the fall, the CD was mixed by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY) after the project's producer, Colin Richardson (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE), quit the project two weeks into the mixing process. During a March 2013 concert at the Underworld in London, CARCASS bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker claimed that Richardson walked away from the mix in order to work on the new TRIVIUM album.

The first official photo of the new lineup of CARCASS can be seen below (courtesy of Adrian Erlandsson of Murder Mile Studios). Joining guitarist Bill Steer and Walker in the band's current incarnation are new drummer Dan Wilding (ABORTED, TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED) and guitarist Ben Ash (PIG IRON, DESOLATION, LIQUEFIED SKELETON).

CARCASS' first studio LP since 1996's "Swansong" will feature guest vocals from original sticksman Ken Owen.

CARCASS has released the following statement regarding their new found partners in medical deviancy: "We are pleased to announce that we have found the perfect home for 'Surgical Steel', the first CARCASS album for, what, seventeen years?!

"We've inked a deal with Nuclear Blast for our new baby. We have to thank Markus Staiger for his enthusiasm and belief in what he heard, but mostly his ability to take advantage of Jeff with a bad hangover when he visited the office in Donzdorf to let him be the first to hear the rough mixes.

"Nuclear Blast has managed to secure this release despite interest from all the main players in what remains of the metal 'music industry.' We're also looking forward to working with our pals in the U.S. office, who have done favors for us behind the scenes over the last few years.

"On a personal note, Jeff looks forward to his and label manager Gerardo Martinez' friendship to come crashing down in flames and tears in a few months. As long as we don't mention 'The War,' we think we're going to do just fine with our new Teutonic home!"

Commented Nuclear Blast owner and founder Markus Staiger: "One of my all-time favorite U.K. metal bands signed recently to Nuclear Blast. It feels like a dream come true.

"When Jeff Walker let me listen to the new record, I knew immediately that CARCASS made one of their best albums ever! It is a perfect mixture of 'Heartwork' and 'Necroticism' with a massive production to boot. The album is without a doubt just as perfect and lethal as surgical steel itself, and exactly what both old and new fans have waited for eagerly all of these years!

"I am very proud to say, CARCASS — welcome to the Nuclear family. It is an honor to work with this legendary metal band."

Adds Nuclear Blast North American label manager Gerardo Martinez: "First of all, apologies to the many that were wondering where that signing statement was the other day. Well, we didn't anticipate the prenuptial agreement to take this long, but here we are, and about to release to the world what many people said would never happen: a new CARCASS record!

"All joking aside, this is a dream come true. All I can say is that even the biggest critic, Señor Walker himself included, will find this to be one of the best CARCASS albums. It already sounds like a classic and I can’t wait for people to hear it. 'Time to die, die in pain'!!!"

In a recent interview with Chile's Radio Futuro, Walker stated about the new CARCASS CD: "We think we've made a good album, so it's gonna be very interesting when people get to hear the record. We can't wait to see what people think."

He continued: "It sounds like CARCASS. Even the drumming sounds like CARCASS. Everything about it… I think it's gonna shock people, how good it is. I think it's got all the elements that people like, yet it still sounds fresh. So that's all I can say, really, 'cause we don't really sound like any other band, and the fact that after 17 years, we wrote music and it still sounds like CARCASS, I think it's good."

Guitarist Michael Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson, who had been touring with CARCASS since the band's reunion was announced in 2007, are no longer involved with the group due to scheduling conflicts with their main band, ARCH ENEMY.

Fan-filmed video footage of CARCASS performing on May 4 at Neurotic Deathfest at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands can be seen below.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell said in a recent fan question-and-answer session at HBO's web site that inducting HEART into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last month was an "eye-opening experience" that changed his view of the entire institution. Cornell explained, "I was certainly honored, but had always had a cynical attitude about an institution like this as it pertains to rock 'n' roll in general. The fan support of all the bands inducted and their emotional enthusiasm changed everything for me."

Asked "If SOUNDGARDEN is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, who would be the presenter?" Cornell replied, "I would hope it is a when, as opposed to an if. How about Gene Simmons?"

As for who he would like to induct into the Hall if he had the chance to do it again, Cornell selected singer and songwriter Daniel Johnston, who recorded a lot of music on cassette tapes through a boom box.

Cornell said, "It occurred to me at one point that I got no less enjoyment out of listening to his records than I did from a PINK FLOYD record . . . That thought spoke to me as an absolute definition of what rock 'n' roll is really about."

SOUNDGARDEN plays in Kansas City on Wednesday night (May 22) as the band continues to support its 2012 album, "King Animal".

VISTA CHINO, the group, comprised of two founding members of the legendary rock band KYUSS — Brant Bjork and John Garcia — and guitarist Bruno Fevery, has inked a deal with Napalm Records. The band's debut is scheduled for an early fall release.

The final live appearances of KYUSS LIVES! — featuring the same lineup as VISTA CHINO — took place in early 2013 as part of Australia's Soundwave Festival.

KYUSS LIVES! decided to change its name after a lawsuit launched by former KYUSS members Josh Homme and Scott Reeder prevented KYUSS LIVES! from recording and releasing any new material.

Commented Garcia: "KYUSS LIVES! is now VISTA CHINO!...it feels great just to write that....and to say it out loud, feels even better. Now that our relationship with Napalm Records is official; it's time to forget about the past year, move forward, and execute our original plan, which was to make kick-ass music and tour the world!

Added Bjork: "We look forward to working with Napalm Records and we anticipate great support in rolling out the VISTA CHINO rock."

Thomas Caser, Head Of A&R at Napalm Records, commented on the signing: "It's with great pride we announce the signing of VISTA CHINO. After all the band has been through they are ready to rock! We at Napalm Records are thrilled to work with such talented artists and look forward to a long-lasting cooperation!"

"Dargona, Dragona", the first song from VISTA CHINO's highly anticipated first full-length album, is available for streaming at this location.

Speaking to Music Feeds, Brant was asked whether there was a slight sense of relief that the legal dispute over the KYUSS name is over. "Absolutely," he replied. "There's always relief when conflict is resolved and people can just let go and move forward. That's where we're at and we feel great. It's always unfortunate to experience differences with specific people, but we feel great as a band. We're really, really excited to move forward into the future and focus on what it is that we do, which is play music."

Regarding whether the change of band's name to VISTA CHINO would have happened had it not been for the lawsuit, Brant said: "That's a good question. The answer to that question is: I don't know. Possibly. We didn't really think about it. We were really just looking at what was in front of us and making our decisions based on what our present situation was. But now we just came to a point where we felt that changing the name was appropriate and was the fastest way for us to get back to playing music."

VISTA CHINO's first North American performance will take place at this year's Orion Music + More festival — curated by METALLICA — in Detroit, Michhigan. VISTA CHINO will play on Sunday, June 9 on the "Frantic Stage." A full North American tour will be announced shortly.

After nearly a decade on the road with WOLFMOTHER, winning a Grammy and numerous ARIA Awards along the way, Andrew Stockdale will release his first solo album, "Keep Moving", this summer.

Stockdale spent the last three years writing in and out of studios and hotel rooms, recording with a variety of musicians and fine-tuning the record to a point where he felt he gelled with it. "I'm really happy with it," Stockdale says of the CD. "Totally, absolutely, I love it. I can live with it. I've listened to it 1,000 times."

The first single, "Long Way To Go", was released April 30 as part of a four-track EP entitled "Keep Moving" on Caroline Records. For Andrew Stockdale, the track came together in a flash — a songwriter's dream. The song grapples with the theme of others' expectations. "It's about when people pigeonhole you, and categorize you," he says. "It's not up to anyone else to tell you the way your dreams can be fulfilled. It's up to you to follow your heart and try make things happen. Whatever someone thinks you can or can't do, it's not up to them. It's up to the individual. And if someone thinks they've got me all worked out, well, hey, I've got a long way to go."

"Keep Moving" is an honest exposé of Stockdale's poetic point of view within his day-to-day experiences and relationships with people. Players and engineers involved in the making of this record featured musicians from the old WOLFMOTHER camp as well as new artists and crew that Stockdale met along the way. Some of them include: Ian Peres (bass, keys); Vin Steele (rhythm guitar); Elliott Hammond (wurly, harp); Hamish Rosser (drums); Will Rockwell-Scott (drums) and Dave Atkins (recording and drums). "Keep Moving" was mixed by Vance Powell at Sputnik Sound in Nashville, and the album was mastered by Chris Athens Masters in Nashville.

Stockdale admits there was pressure to continue playing as WOLFMOTHER, a name created with earlier collaborators. "It was a name, a brand everyone knows," he says. "But I don't feel comfortable playing as WOLFMOTHER. When you write a song, what's on your mind comes out, what's in your heart and soul comes out. It's about your life experiences. I've been getting stuff off my chest, expressing ideas and experiences that are personal to me and I don't want to keep then applying that to the WOLFMOTHER name. I had pressure on my shoulders."

Now there's a new pressure — facing the music world as Andrew Stockdale. "It's a good pressure," Stockdale admits, "because it asks that question: is it any good? Do you like this music, do you like the film clips, the artwork. What's it about? I've put my heart and soul into it, and I believe in it."

Finnish/Dutch symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH kicked off their Japanese tour this past Tuesday, May 21 at Namba Hatch in Osaka.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Dark Chest Of Wonders
02. Wish I Had An Angel
03. She Is My Sin (performed for the first time since 2007)
04. Ever Dream
05. Storytime
06. I Want My Tears Back (with Troy Donockley)
07. Nemo (with Troy Donockley)
08. Last Of The Wilds (with Troy Donockley)
09. Bless The Child (with Troy Donockley) (performed for the first time since 2005)
10. Romanticide
11. Amaranth
12. Over The Hills And Far Away (GARY MOORE cover) (with Troy Donockley)
13. Ghost Love Score
14. Last Ride Of The Day

Fan-recorded audio clips of the concert can be streamed below.

NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen told Finland's MTV.fi in November that he was pleased with the addition of Dutch singer Floor Jansen to the group and that she was only getting better with each performance.
"We have done 13 shows with her [so far] and every concert has been better than the last," he said. "We are taking it day by day as much as we can. The vibe in the band is marvellous. We are enjoying every moment."

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

"We are very much on the same wavelength and we have a similar sense of humor," Holopainen said of his new bandmate.

Stepping into NIGHTWISH was made easier for Jansen by the fact that she has extensive experience in both classical and rock music.

Following AFTER FOREVER's split, Jansen launched a brand new project called REVAMP, which has thus far released one album and recently entered the studio to record a follow-up effort.

"We have been in the same circles since the late '90s," says Tuomas. "She has toured a lot and has spent a lot of time recording and performing this genre of music. So it was easier for her to come into the band."

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

"[Floor is] a vocal coach herself, so she's very professional," said Tuomas. "The fact that she had about 40 hours to learn 15 songs is quite revealing. She practically learned our tour set on the flight from Amsterdam to Seattle. We're talking about a high-level professional and her attitude is fabulous as well. It can be seen in her stage presence. She clearly enjoys what she does."

Asked about the reasons for Olzon's sudden exit from the group, Tuomas told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine: "I'm sure it came as a shock to everybody. We came out with a statement [regarding the split], which pretty much says it all. It still is a private matter, and that's all we wanna say about it, like, ever. It was an amicable divorce, so to say, and made in good spirit, and we are just looking to the future. There really is no reason to go back into all the details and all that. I mean, this is not politics, this is a rock band."

Regarding whether there is a chance that Floor will become the official new NIGHTWISH lead singer, Tuomas said: "The way that we have decided is that we're gonna continue with her until the end of the festival season in 2013 — just have fun, just do the shows the best we can. I mean, the atmosphere in the band is so good at the moment, [we want to] just enjoy this what we have right now. They try not to think about NIGHTWISH at all for a few months. Everybody take a little vacation. And we already have the rehearsal place for the next album booked in 2014 — from July to September. So that's how far we have planned. But when we do the last festival show next August, after that, it's gonna be total nothing for a few months. So I would say everything is possible, but that's really not the thing that we want to be thinking about right now, because there's absolutely no reason to."

Fan-filmed video footage of SLIPKNOT performing at the first-ever Ozzfest Japan — which debuted on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, 2013 to capacity crowds and wide critical acclaim — can be seen below. The two-day music festival — the first major international music festival to ever travel to the country — drew sold-out crowds of 20,000 fans on each day.

Ozzfest Japan — a collaboration between Sharon Osbourne and Japanese promoter Hayashi International Promotion (H.I.P.) — included Ozzfest alumni BLACK SABBATH, SLIPKNOT, TOOL, DEFTONES, SLASH and STONE SOUR. Other bands on the bill included MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, DIR EN GREY, MAN WITH A MISSION, MOMOIRO CLOVER Z, STEEL PANTHER, NINGEN ISU, GALNERYUS, NAMBA69, AA=, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, MUCC, THE TREATMENT, ANTHEM, CROSSFAITH, COLDRAIN, KNOCK OUT MONKEY, HEAD PHONES PRESIDEN, ARTEMA, and FADE.

"It was an extreme honor to have been invited to play the first show of two shows at the first-ever Ozzfest in Japan," says Clown from SLIPKNOT. "It's always a beautiful thing to be a part of something that is brand new for the fans. As always, our love for the Japanese people goes without saying, and we are relieved that we finally got back to Japan. Everyone went off at the show, making it completely incredible…but it’s always like that when we go to Japan. Thank you to everyone for having us and you can rest assured we will always be back. We love you."

For a long time, SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor seemed the most hesitant to get back into the studio and make a new album following the 2010 death of bassist Paul Gray. But with three years having passed since Gray's death, and with Taylor making three albums with STONE SOUR since then, the singer told The Pulse Of Radio that he thinks 2014 will finally be the year of the KNOT. "I know everybody is pretty keen on getting together and seeing what happens next year, so I mean, if it takes us a year to write an album, so be it," he said. "The main goal is to just get us in the room and just see what happens, you know. If we can get past that first day, I think it'll come together. Now that we're all kind of in better places in our lives and whatnot, it's making it a little easier to be excited about it again. It's just starting to feel like it's time."

SLIPKNOT has performed live over the past two years but has not recorded a new album since 2008's "All Hope Is Gone".

SLIPKNOT plays the Download festival in the U.K. on June 14 and the Graspop Metal Meeting festival in Belgium on June 29.

Singer Mark Tornillo's pre-ACCEPT band TT QUICK reunited for a performance at Rock N' Roll Heaven and the Old Bridge Metal Militia's reunion concert and fundraiser to benefit the victims of Superstorm Sandy. The event took place on May 11 at Encore Event Center in Freehold, New Jersey. Also appearing on the bill were TWISTED SISTER, ANVIL, RAVEN, THE RODS and LORDS OF MERCY.

Fan-filmed video footage of TT QUICK's performance can be seen below.

TT QUICK was a popular club band during the 1980s in the New York and New Jersey area and was known for the guitar work of David Dipietro and the powerful vocals of Mark Tornillo. Dipietro's skills were especially singled out as he had given lessons to both Zakk Wylde of the OZZY OSBOURNE band and SKID ROW's Dave Sabo.

TT QUICK disbanded and later reunited sporadically and released a few more albums, including a live CD from one of their reunion gigs ("Thrown Together Live") and a studio effort, "Ink", which came out in 2000.

"Endtime Hearts", a brand new song from Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's tenth studio album, "Construct", which will be released on May 27 via Century Media Records. The CD was mixed by Jens Bogren (PARADISE LOST, OPETH, KATATONIA) at his Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden.

"Construct" track listing:

01. For Broken Words
02. The Science Of Noise
03. Uniformity
04. The Silence In Between
05. Apathetic
06. What Only You Know
07. Endtime Hearts
08. State Of Trust
09. Weight Of The End
10. None Becoming
11. Immemorial (U.S. bonus track)
12. Photon Dreams (U.S. bonus track)

The "Uniformity" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed on April 13 with Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.

Comments the band: "After the introspective 'For Broken Words' and the uptempo riffing of 'The Science Of Noise', it's time to showcase the more anthemic aspects of the new album with the song 'Uniformity'.

"In contrast to the more experimental promo videos we made last year, we wanted the 'Uniformity' clip to be an intimate and genuine performance video. Nothing but the music itself and the band members playing in the rehearsal room. For this, we hired renowned director Patric Ullaeus, and we're very happy to share the result with you.

"Stand up and be counted!"

Regarding "Construct", DARK TRANQUILLITY previously said: "The selected few people that so far have been granted the privilege of hearing the full album are uniformingly convinced that 'Construct' is the strongest and most exciting DARK TRANQUILLITY album in a long time, and who are we to disagree? While still bearing the unmistakable mark of the DARK TRANQUILLITY, the record is probably our most different and diverse offering since 1999's 'Projector'. For now, we're pleased to share the tracklist, trailer and sleeve design with you, but the first musical preview will appear in the near future."

DARK TRANQUILLITY recently amicably parted ways with bassist Daniel Antonsson. According to the band, "Daniel wanted to focus on his own musical projects as well as working more in his recording studio. Being first and foremost a guitarist, he felt that the playing bass in a full-time band didn't allow him much time for his main instrument and true passion. With this in mind, he chose to follow his heart and step aside at this point instead of committing to another album and an intense touring cycle that would leave little room for other activities."

ASHES OF ARES, the new band featuring Matt Barlow (ex-ICED EARTH), Van Williams (ex-NEVERMORE) and Freddie Vidales (ex-ICED EARTH), made its live debut this past Friday, May 17 at the Rock Hard Festival at Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

ASHES OF ARES is:

Matthew Barlow - Vocals
Freddie Vidales - Guitar/Bass
Van Williams - Drums
Gio Geraca - Guitar (session/touring member only)
Dean Sternberg - Bass (session/touring member only)

ASHES OF ARES earlier in the year inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band's debut album is being recorded at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida with legendary producer Jim Morris (ICED EARTH, OBITUARY, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, JAG PANZER) for a late summer/early fall release.

ASHES OF ARES is a band which represents the culmination of experiences, trials and tribulations of its founding members. Within months of their departures from the iconic metal bands ICED EARTH and NEVERMORE, the trio came together with a renewed drive to create a sound which is a true collaboration of their personal influences, ideas and visions. Armed with the knowledge acquired through years of the writing, touring and recording cycle, and with the support of an army of loyal fans across the globe, ASHES OF ARES is poised to carve out a new legacy and stand alongside those who have helped pave the way.

In an October 2012 interview with Rocket Queen Promotion, Barlow stated about ASHES OF ARES' musical direction: "Well, most folks know what to expect from me, from my work with ICED EARTH and PYRAMAZE. So you take some of that and mix it with Van's brand of cadence and Freddie's riffage… blam-o….it's ASHES OF ARES!!! It's just straight-up heavy metal!"

Regarding the band's future plans, Barlow said: "The reason we are all doing this is for the love of music. We are metal guys and this is what we do. ASHES OF ARES live shows will be limited, but there will be live shows for fans, friends, and family to come to and enjoy with us. We really just want to create music that we enjoy and have that translate to our listeners."

The official lyric video for "Freeze Frame", the new single from the Swedish "pop/metal" band DEAD BY APRIL, can be seen below. The song comes off the group's forthcoming third studio album, due to be released this September via Spinefarm Records.

"Freeze Frame" will be available, digitally, on all the usual platforms (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc.) from May 26.

DEAD BY APRIL's new CD is the follow-up to 2011's "Incomparable" and is the first to feature brand new vocalist Christoffer Andersson (SONIC SYNDICATE, BY NIGHT) following Jimmie Strimell's departure earlier this year.

DEAD BY APRIL issued a statement in March blaming the split with Strimell on "Jimmie's personal problems." The band added: "His problems has affected the band for many years and we have basically tried everything we could to make this work. We have even gone through group therapy lately to get honesty and sincerity into the group. As nothing changed, we had to realize that if we want to move forward with this band, there's, unfortunately, no other way but to continue without Jimmie. We're sick of not knowing whether he'll turn up for shows, recordings and sick of having such bad environment within the band — at all times. It came to a point where we could not be in the same vehicle. We also want to strongly declare that DEAD BY APRIL is against drugs — an important statement for us to make in a time were we know a lot of our fans are young."

A photo of the new DEAD BY APRIL lineup can be seen below.

Fan-filmed video footage of the current touring lineup of Geoff Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE — which includes bassist John Moyer (DISTURBED, ADRENALINE MOB) and backing singer Sass Jordan (who sings the duet with Tate in "Suite Sister Mary") — performing on May 17 at Arcada Theatre in Saint Charles, Illinois can be seen below.

"Frequency Unknown", the new album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, sold around 5,500 copies in its first week of release in the United States to land at position No. 82 on The Billboard 200 chart.

As previously reported, Deadline Music/Cleopatra Records is making available the "new and improved" mixes of "Frequency Unknown" to any customers who have purchased the original mix version and are dissatisfied with the audio. Simply e-mail the label a scan of your actual receipt for the physical CD to Queensryche@cleorecs.com and they will happily send you a replacement disc — at no charge whatsoever. No questions asked!

"Frequency Unknown" was released on April 23. The CD was produced by Jason Slater at a studio in Northern California.

Asked about the decision to remix "Frequency Unknown" shortly before the album's release, Tate told "The Continental Breakfast With James & Raina": "We were a little rushed on the mixing end of it, so after listening to it back, we're having some of the songs remixed now before the album comes out. But that's typical with records — you have to have them in on time. So sometimes you compromise in areas. Luckily, with this situation, we get to go back and correct some areas in the sound where we thought it was kind of lacking. So that's fine. I've done that on… gosh… probably three quarters of the records I've ever made. It's no new thing, but it's a luxury when you get to fix it."

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

Although a lineup for Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed. The band now features Tate along with guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and new additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET).

MONSTERS SCARE YOU, the post-hardcore/electro band from Seattle, Washington, will release its debut album, "Die A Legend", on July 9 via Century Media Records.

Formed in the winter of 2008, MONSTERS SCARE YOU has created an enthusiastic fan base with the combination of pop, metal and electronica. Their sound has been compared to ATTACK ATTACK!, ASKING ALEXANDRIA and ENTER SHIKARI.

In 2010, MONSTERS SCARE YOU went into the studio with engineer/producer Joel "Casey Jones" to record the "Teratophobia" EP. In support of the release, the band embarked on a West Coast tour consisting of 23 shows in 25 days. With increasing crowds and buzz, MONSTERS SCARE YOU was named the #2 unsigned band in Alternative Press magazine.

"Die A Legend" track listing:

01. Legends And Legions
02. Brohemian Rap City
03. Elephant Graveyard
04. Smiling's My Favorite
05. Wolfman's Got Nards
06. Give Me Some Sugar Baby
07. 1080p HD
08. I'm Gonna Sleep Real Good Tonight
09. Shut Up! Our Song Is On!
10. I Wish I Could Quit You
11. Shirts Vs. Skins
12. Suck It
13. The Light That Only Lasted So Long

The official lyric video for the song "Smiling's My Favorite" can be seen below.

Robert Plant and his SENSATIONAL SHAPE SHIFTERS recently added 16 new stops to their summer itinerary, which now makes 21 gigs spread over five weeks in late June and July. Plant and the band — who have recently been playing a LED ZEPPELIN-heavy setlist, kick things off on June 20 in Dallas, Texas and eventually wind the trek down in Brooklyn, New York on July 27.

On March 23 in Australia, Plant and the SHIFTERS' 14-song opening night setlist featured nine ZEPPELIN classics, with Plant tackling "Heartbreaker", "Friends", "Black Dog", "Going To California", "Four Sticks", "Ramble On", "Bron Y Aur Stomp", "Whole Lotta Love" and "Rock And Roll".

An exclusive clip that shows footage from Robert Plant and SENSATIONAL SHAPE SHIFTERS' Australian and South American shows, as well as audio of Plant and company performing the song "Tin Pan Valley" from Plant's 2005 solo album, "Mighty ReArranger", can be seen below.

Robert Plant told The Pulse Of Radio that in his solo career, the music he tends to cover traces a different historical path than ZEPPELIN's tried and true blues reinterpretations. "LED ZEPPELIN played quite a lot of tunes which we took from the Chicago genre, and this is me taking tunes from perhaps an area which I probably wasn't able to touch on quite so much, previously," he said. "In '68, '69, we were looking directly back into one particular, physical area of music, whereas this is a kind of a reflection — or I'm seeing the reflection — of so much, so many of my early inspirational sources."

CRADLE OF FILTH's new video for the song "For Your Vulgar Delectation", taken from the British extreme metal band's latest album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", is now available exclusively on iTunes as part of "The Manticore & Other Horrors - Extended Claws". This new release also features 12 unreleased demos and another three videos.

"The Manticore & Other Horrors - Extended Claws" track listing:

01. The Unveiling Of O
02. The Abhorrent
03. For Your Vulgar Delectation
04. Illicitus
05. Manticore
06. Frost On Her Pillow
07. Huge Onyx Wings Behind Despair
08. Pallid Reflection
09. Siding With The Titans
10. Succumb To This
11. Nightmares Of An Ether Drinker
12. Death, The Great Adventure
13. Sinfonia
14. The Unveiling Of O (Demo)
15. Manticore (Demo)
16. Siding With The Titans (Demo)
17. Death, The Great Adventure (Demo)
18. Succumb To This (Demo)
19. Huge Onyx Wings Behind Despair (Demo)
20. Illicitus (Demo)
21. Pallid Reflection (Demo)
22. The Abhorrent (Demo)
23. For Your Vulgar Delectation (Demo)
24. Frost On Her Pillow (Demo)
25. Sinfonia (Demo)

A trailer for "The Manticore & Other Horrors - Extended Claws" can be seen below.

Check out audio samples at Amazon.de.

"For Your Vulgar Delectation" comes off CRADLE OF FILTH's tenth studio album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", which sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous full-length effort, "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa", opened with 5,800 units in November 2010 to land at No. 99.

CRADLE OF FILTH's 2008 CD, "Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder", premiered with a little over 11,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 48. This was slightly less than the first-week tally registered by 2006's "Thornography", which shifted nearly 13,000 copies the first week out to enter The Billboard chart at No. 66, and "Nymphetamine", which premiered with almost 14,000 copies back in October 2004.

"The Manticore And Other Horrors" was released in North America on October 30, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Recorded in eight weeks at both Springvale and Grindstone studios (where it was also mixed by Scott Atkins), Suffolk, "The Manticore And Other Horrors" is a testament to the longevity of the 'FILTH, as not only does it reek of CRADLE's (feared or revered) brand of delicious metal vamperotica, but this thoroughly modern album places the band firmly in fresh killing fields anew.

"The Manticore And Other Horrors" itself possesses an altogether new atmosphere for the band, incorporating a heavier, faster NWOBBM punk vibe that is both current and cruel, blended with ornate orchestration and the quirky immediateness of 2000's "Midian" opus.

The album's title can be likened to a bestiary, a collection of stories on monsters - personal demons, Chimeras, literary fiends and world-enslaving entities to blame but a few. "Manticore", the ravening title track, is a song about a beautiful mythological horror that comes to be feared as the disfigurehead of foreign occupation in the Indian provinces.

The songs "Illicitus" and "Pallid Reflection" bear the sweet ingredients of vampirism and lycanthropy; the wicked "For Your Vulgar Delectation" and "Frost On Her Pillow" are woven perversely into grim fairy tales, whilst classic, monumental tracks like "The Abhorrent And Siding With The Titans" both extol tentacular Lovecraftian values.

Greek/German heavy metallers MYSTIC PROPHECY will release their eighth album, "Killhammer", 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.

"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: "After 12 years and seven albums, we are ready to release our eighth album. 'Killhammer' will be a metal masterpiece with a wall of sound, loud guitars straight in your face and without compromises!"

MYSTIC PROPHECY is:

Roberto Dimitri Liapakis - Vocals
Markus Pohl - Rhythm guitar
Constantine - Lead guitar
Connie Andreszka - Bass
Tyronne Silva - Drums