Norwegian death metallers BLOOD RED THRONE will release their new, self-titled album on May 21 via Sevared Records. The CD was recorded by Audun Grønnestad at Mayhem Music Studios and was mixed and mastered by Martin Berger Enerstvedt at Skar Productions. The cover art was created by Rafael Tavares and can be seen below.

"Blood Red Throne" track listing:

01. Soulseller
02. In Hell I Roam
03. Hymn Of The Asylum
04. Primitive Killing Machine
05. Deatholation
06. Torturewhore
07. Exoneration Manifesto
08. Dødens Makt
09. March Of The Undying

The official video for the song "Primitive Killing Machine" can be seen below.

BLOOD RED THRONE in December 2011 parted ways with vocalist Osvald "Vald" Egeland and bassist Erlend Caspersen and replaced them with Yngve "Bolt" Christiansen (GODDAMN) and Ole "Bent" Madsen (HORIZON ABLAZE), respectively.

BLOOD RED THRONE's sixth album, "Brutalitarian Regime", was released in August 2011 via Sevared Records.

BLOOD RED THRONE is:

Daniel "Død" Olaisen - Guitar
Yngve "Bolt" Christiansen - Vocals
Ole "Bent" Madsen - Bass
Ivan "Meathook" Gujic - Guitar
Emil Wiksten - Drums

Santa Cruz metallers ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS will independently release their fifth full-length album, "Listen To The Color", this summer. The 15-song effort was recorded with Zach Ohren (ANIMOSITY, ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, LIGHT THIS CITY) and features the return of original vocalist Remi Rodberg. Remi's vocals can be heard on early ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS releases like "Hits From The Bow" and "The Game Of Life", which were defining albums for the band and the genre itself. With the new material, look out for a faster, heavier, crazier, yet extremely focused ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS as the band looks to return to its roots, with Rodberg adding a key piece.

"Listen To The Color" track listing:

01. Setting Course For Disaster
02. When I Was Your Age Pluto Was Still A Planet
03. Bottle City
04. MK-ULTRA: Psychotropic Puppets
05. MK-DELTA: Glorified Killers (feat. ex- ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS vocalist/keyboardist Cameron Reed)
06. Disease Test The Best
07. Balloon Battle
08. Listen To The Color (feat. Robby Bancroft of FIVE CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN EXIT)
09. Beast Fist
10. Bardonis Chonies
11. Play The Sheep
12. My Newest Vision (feat. Rob Smith of HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW/DOWNSTARIIS)
13. Ride The Wave (feat. Garin Rosen)
14. Watchers (feat. Kevin McCaughey of ION DISSONANCE)
15. Sunny Places For Shady People

"Motherland", the fourth album from ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS, was released in May 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Castle Ultimate studios in Fremont, California with producer Zack Ohren (AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, ALL SHALL PERISH)

KILL DIVISION, the Dutch metal band featuring former members of LEGION OF THE DAMNED and GOD DETHRONED, has inked a deal with Metal Blade Records. The group's debut album, "Destructive Force", will be released in the fall. The CD was recorded at Toneshed studio and was mixed and mastered at Andy Classen's Stage One studio.

Taking their experiences from LEGION OF THE DAMNED, GOD DETHRONED, ASPHYX and INHUME, Richard Ebisch (guitar, bass, vocals), Susan Gerl (guitar, vocals) and Roel Sanders (drums) decided it was time to release their combined sound on the world with a new band.

Comments KILL DIVISION: "We are thrilled about signing to Metal Blade Records, since they are a very devoted label with a remarkable history and legacy and we're really excited to be part of their metal family."

KILL DIVISION is:

Richard Ebisch - Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Susan Gerl - Vocals, Guitar
Roel Sanders - Drums

Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK SABBATH's entire May 4 performance at the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia can be seen below.

Quality photos of the concert are available at PerthNow.com.au.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. War Pigs
02. Into The Void
03. Under The Sun
04. Snowblind
05. Black Sabbath
06. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
07. N.I.B.
08. Fairies Wear Boots
09. Symptom Of The Universe (instrumental)
10. Drum Solo
11. Iron Man
12. God Is Dead?
13. Dirty Women
14. Children Of The Grave

Encore:

15. Paranoid (with "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" intro)

According to The Pulse Of Radio, BLACK SABBATH frontman Ozzy Osbourne has provided perhaps his most candid comments yet on original drummer Bill Ward's decision to back out of the band's reunion album and tour. In a new interview with Mojo magazine, Ozzy explained, "I guess it's to do with finances or something. But there was also another side to it. When Bill came along, we all had to ask, 'Can he do an hour-and-a-half, two-hour gig? Can he cope?' My suggestion was that we run through a set and see how he got on because he was so out of condition and the drummer is the most demanding job in the whole band. We looked at Bill, and he couldn't remember what the fuck we were doing."

Ozzy added that it "would have been cool" for the band to tour with a back-up drummer or just have Ward play a portion of the set, but that Ward "didn't come clean and say, 'I can't cut this gig.'"

Ozzy continued, "I get where he's coming from, though. His pride was hurt and I get it. I really do get it. The guy will always be a dear, dear friend and a brother to me . . . I'm not gonna give Bill a hatchet job, but at the same time we haven't got the patience to deal with it."

Ward was on board for the reunion when it was first announced in November 2011, but backed out soon after, claiming that he was given contractual terms that were not fair.

SABBATH has used Ozzy's regular touring drummer Tommy Clufetos since then for live work. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Brad Wilk laid down the drum tracks on the band's upcoming album, "13", due out June 11.

SABBATH finished the Australian leg of its world tour over the weekend and now heads to Japan to play that country's first-ever Ozzfest on Sunday (May 12). A North American trek begins on July 25 in the Woodlands, Texas.

SKID ROW's new EP, "United World Rebellion - Chapter One", will be released in Europe on May 24 via Germany's UDR Music. The European version of the EP will include two bonus tracks, both of them cover tunes: "Fire Fire" (EZO) and "United" (JUDAS PRIEST). "One of [the cover songs] you'll know very well and one of them you may have to go back into the archives," guitarist Scotti Hill recently told Eyes From The Mosh Pit. "[It's] a little more obscure. But it's really cool."

"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" European version track listing:

01. Kings Of Demolition
02. Let's Go
03. This Is Killing Me
04. Get Up
05. Stitches
06. Fire Fire (EZO cover)
07. United (JUDAS PRIEST cover)

"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" sold around 1,500 copies in the Unted States in its first week of release. Released in North America on April 16 via MRI, the effort is the first in a series of EPs that the reincarnated band — Dave "Snake" Sabo (guitar), Rachel Bolan (bass), Scotti Hill (guitar), Johnny Solinger (vocals) and Rob Hammersmith (drums) — plans to release in the near future.

"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" reignites the youthful energy and blistering sound that SKID ROW is recognized for around the world. "That sound and energy is what resonates with people and knocks them on their ass," says Hammersmith. "We had a lot of great ideas to work with, so we're all really excited about this new music."

SKID ROW's rebellious tunes hit the big time in the late 1980s. However, after several Top Ten singles, gold and multi-platinum sales, No. 1 Billboard-charting tracks and more, the band split in 1996. In 2000, to the delight of fans everywhere, SKID ROW reformed and returned to the stage to open for KISS. They then released two new musical offerings in the form of 2003's "ThickSkin" and 2006's "Revolutions Per Minute" with new singer Johnny Solinger out front. Seven years later, the band is back again with new music, ready to take over in the new age of heavy metal.

"When we put the band back together, we needed to reintroduce SKID ROW as relevant without relying too much on past success," explains Bolan. "We sunk our heart and soul into it, letting people know we weren't doing it for lack of nothing better to do."

For the new EP series, Bolan and Sabo tapped again into the potent songwriting collaboration that built SKID ROW. Sabo says they were eagerly up to the challenge. "We seem to be at our best when we're faced with adversity. It's us against the world again — and by us I mean the band and the fans who stick with us and carry the SKID ROW torch without fail."

"The idea [of releasing EPs] really appealed to me," adds Bolan, "Especially with the constantly changing musical climate. I like the idea of a steady flow of new music, as opposed to releasing a full-length album then riding it for the next two years."

And although striving to reintroduce themselves and try something different, these boys are still strong in their roots. They got older, but SKID ROW never really grew up. "United World Rebellion" is still the youth gone wild, their musical spark still burning gasoline.

"I will always be that 16-year-old kid in front of the mirror, pretending to be Ace Frehley or Michael Schenker," admits Sabo. "It's still about writing a great song with your friend, praying it connects with someone. That has never left me. That willfulness will always exist, and there's so much left to say!"

Fan-filmed video footage of DOKKEN's May 11 performance at Henderson Pavilion in Henderson, Nevada can be seen below.

DOKKEN guitarist Jon Levin was unable to perform with the band for the last several months while he was recovering from surgery on his neck and shoulder for thoracic outlet syndrome (a condition when the nerves or blood vessels just below the neck are compressed, or squeezed).

Although DOKKEN frontman and namesake Don Dokken said in an interview with "Rich Davenport's Rock Show" that Levin "had to have surgery on his arm," the guitarist corrected his bandmate, explaining that the surgery, which was performed in October, "was on my neck and shoulder, not my arm or hand."

DOKKEN's eleventh studio album, "Broken Bones", sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 173 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released in North America on September 25 via Frontiers Records, the effort was made available in two configurations: standard CD and limited-edition CD in digipak with a bonus DVD, which features a comprehensive "Making Of The Album" documentary.

"Broken Bones" was produced by Don Dokken and was mixed by Bob St. John (EXTREME, DURAN DURAN, COLLECTIVE SOUL) and Wyn Davis (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, WHITESNAKE) and mastered by famed engineer Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, SEPULTURA). The new set features a return to the band's signature sound of catchy melodies, hot riffs and monster production.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan told Loudwire in a new interview that 2014 is looking more and more like the year that the band comes back. Crahan said, "SLIPKNOT 2014. You can smell it in the air and people can feel it. The energy is out there and you can feel it. People go places we once were and feel it there, but not in full body, and that's just because we're returning. You can ask anyone around the world what the culture of the 'KNOT is, who truly knows, and they will tell you that something has changed in the atmosphere."

Crahan told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he has high hopes for the band's next album. "When it's right, there will be a new record, and that record is going to be, I predict, one of the most serious things that we will have ever comprehended that we've ever done in our life," he said. "And we pretty much say that on every record, but I really feel that when the time comes, what will be on hand is going to be something almost unimaginable."

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

Following the death of bassist Paul Gray in 2010, the group has remained ambivalent about recording plans, although Crahan and drummer Joey Jordison have expressed more urgency than singer Corey Taylor, who's been busy writing books, doing solo gigs and recording and touring with STONE SOUR.

But Crahan indicated that a return to the studio might finally be imminent, saying, "We're coming back full force and I haven't been so excited for a very long time. I mean, we just got off a tour last summer and it's only been eight months, but I feel like we've got six shows this summer and then after that, everyone is just going to chill a little bit. It's on. It feels fucking good."

SLIPKNOT plays Ozzfest Japan this Saturday (May 11) and the Download festival in the U.K. in June.

On June 1, legendary rockers KISS will kick off the European leg of their "Monster" world tour in Stockholm, Sweden and they'll have a new stage show for the trek. VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner caught up with the band's frontman, Paul Stanley, when he opened his new restaurant, Rock & Brews, in California on Wednesday and Paul spoke about what to expect from the jaunt.

"It's really great," Stanley said. "You know, for so many years, we've talked about a new stage show and basically what we've been doing has been an extension of the old stage show. So people would sometimes come and, obviously, the band does a great show and it's great to be there, but some people would say, 'Gee, it doesn't look that different.' This is a completely different stage, it follows a really great theme, the lights are like nothing you've ever seen before."

When pressed for more details, Paul said, "Um… I hate to give anything away but when you see first photos of this new tour, and we're headlining festivals all over Europe, I think people will be blown away by what we're doing onstage."

KISS recently completed an Australian tour with very special guests MÖTLEY CRÜE.

"Monster", the 20th studio album from KISS, sold 56,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Stanley recently admitted that he's never surprised by how deep KISS' fan devotion continues to run worldwide. "It really for me, resoundingly once again, I guess validates for me why this band exists," he told The Pulse Of Radio. "It's not a tepid recreation of the past, it's really an ageless beast that dominates at will. It's timeless."

Las Vegas metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH introduced the first single from their upcoming album, called "Lift Me Up", via a live appearance at the Revolver Golden Gods on May 2 in Los Angeles. The performance featured a special surprise guest — Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST — who also appears on the studio version of the track.

The studio version of the song premiered earlier today (Monday, May 13) on U.S. radio stations and can now be streamed below. It will be available for purchase online May 14.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's fourth studio effort will be a double album that the band will release in two installments. The first volume, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1", will arrive on July 23, with the second half, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2", to surface sometime later this fall.

Comments FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH singer Ivan Moody: "First and foremost, just to work alongside an icon like Rob Halford, THE Metal God, was absolutely surreal.

"The song itself was originally written about overcoming everyday obstacles and less-than-perfect situations.

"Most of us weren't born with a silver spoon in our mouth, but if life dealt you all the wrong cards, you still have to play.

"The song's intent is to inspire; if you play that hand right, you might just come out on top anyway."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Zoltan Bathory said, "We came off the road after a couple of great years of touring and were really amped up to write the fourth record . . . (we) found ourselves 12-13 songs deep fairly quick but were still coming up with better and better material so we looked at each other and said, 'OK, why stop there? Let's keep going.' Once we passed the 24th song, we knew we're going to have to do a double album."

Bathory added, "We had this massive amount of music that's very dear to us, possibly the best material this band has ever created. At that point there was no way to decide which songs to leave off the album. So we made the decision to release them all."

The guitarist told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that everyone in FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is capable of coming up with music. "You know, it's important to write songs," he said. "There was a time when people couldn't be in a band if they couldn't write songs or they couldn't play their instruments. In this band, that's how this band was kind of assembled, like everybody's a top shelf musician. Everybody can really kick ass, and we have a singer who can sing. And then we write songs."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will co-headline the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival this summer alongside ROB ZOMBIE, with the tour kicking off in San Bernardino, California on June 29.

The new double disc follows up 2011's "American Capitalist", the group's third studio album and its third consecutive release to reach gold status for sales of half a million copies or more.

"Lift Me Up" (studio version) audio stream:

"Onyx", the new full-length album from Grand Rapids, Michigan hard rockers POP EVIL, can be streamed in its entirety using the SoundCloud widget below (courtesy of Loudwire).

Due on May 14, "Onyx" features the following track listing:

01. Goodbye My Friend
02. Deal With The Devil
03. Trenches
04. Torn To Pieces
05. Divide
06. Beautiful
07. Silence & Scars ?
08. Sick Sense
09. Fly Away
10. Behind Closed Doors ?
11. Welcome To Reality ?
12. Flawed

The message of the first single and video, "Trenches", applies to the world of art as well as the world of sports, the military, or anyone struggling with the economic downturn, like POP EVIL's home state of Michigan.

"It's about our battles," vocalist Leigh Kakaty says. "Not focusing on the things we can't control, if we really want to be a band that stands the test of time we have to write the music that connects. We have to dig our way out of the trenches."

During a slump in the music industry, POP EVIL is living proof that you can still make a living following your dreams. "It's a matter of time before rock and roll is in the forefront again and we want to be part of that," Kakaty says.

After three Top 5 songs at rock radio, a fourth in the Top 10, a half million digital singles sold and over 1,000 shows a few short years into their impressive career, POP EVIL's return with "Onyx" is a swaggering, fist­pumping, ball­busting ride through American rock. The grandiose melody of the '70s, the danger of the '80s, the emotion of the '90s and the loudest of modern riffs all have a home in POP EVIL, who fashion a fresh sound that looks to the future through the prism of rock's past.

"The Sound", the first, Fabien Martorell-directed video from THE TRACII GUNS LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN, the new band led by former L.A. GUNS guitarist Tracii Guns, can be seen below. The song comes off THE TRACII GUNS LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN's debut album, "The First Record", which will be released on June 21 via Shrapnel Records.

THE TRACII GUNS LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN is described as "a rock and roll band leaning heavy into 1970s British and American blues-based hard rock."

In addition to Guns, THE TRACII GUNS LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN features Scott Foster Harris on vocals, Doni Gray on drums and Craig McCloskey on bass.

At the end of last year, Guns launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds towards the completion of the THE TRACII GUNS LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN debut album, only to halt the effort after a month. He explained at the time: "We are partnering with Shrapnel Records and this is how it works. Shrapnel owns the master recordings and will exclusively do the CDs, iTunes, digital, etc. That means that we will be obtaining a license for a limited run of 500 double albums and 500 double cassettes on our label Nervous Wreckords, which will allow us to relaunch our Kickstarter project. This gives more time to get the Kickstarter project as fun as possible for everyone involved. The only down side is that we will not be able to include digital downloads because digital is exclusive to Shrapnel Records."

Las Vegas rockers FALLING IN REVERSE have been forced to cancel the rest of their tour dates scheduled in May. According to a post on the band's Facebook page, singer Ronnie Radke "will not be able to appear as his girlfriend is about to give birth to their first child and he needs to be by her side."

FALLING IN REVERSE will release its second album, "Fashionably Late", on June 17 via Epitaph Records. It's the follow-up to the band's Top 20 debut, "The Drug In Me Is You".

Since forming in 2008, FALLING IN REVERSE has racked up a fanatical fan base, so much so that the band's legendary videos have been viewed over 30 million times.

The attitude of the 1980s Sunset Strip, the bravado of battle-ready rap, the take-no-prisoners bottom end of metalcore and the boundless revelry of underground EDM parties have all beautifully converged in this one band and this new album. It's for everyone on Instagram, on Twitter, or anyone with a brain and two ears.

"My dad raised me on metal, but my first serious love was hip-hop," Ronnie Radke explains. "When I heard Dr. Dre's 'The Chronic', that's when I fell in love. I didn't know what the hell they were talking about, the beats were intertwined, and it came inside of me and took me over. When we added hip-hop elements I was thinking, 'Should I do this? This sounds crazy! Are people going to like this?' Now I've never been so proud of something. The final product, 'Fashionably Late', is the best work I've ever done."

The first single from "Fashionably Late" will be "Alone". Blending big radio beats with moshpit inducing riffage, the track addresses Ronnie's critics head-on. "It's everything I've ever wanted to say to all these Twitter followers that talk shit," he says. "I wanted to let everyone that dedicates their lives to just one genre of music know why they are so unhappy."

The brand new video for "Alone" can be seen below.

"Fashionably Late" track listing:

01. Champion
02. Bad Girls Club
03. Rolling Stone
04. Fashionably Late
05. Alone
06. Born To Lead
07. It's Over When It's Over
08. Game Over
09. Self-Destruct Personality
10. Fuck The Rest
11. Keep Holding On
12. Drifter

Nina Noir (pictured below) was selected by Geoff Tate to take part in the 2013 QUEENSRŸCHE tour after making a guest appearance on the band's new album, "Frequency Unknown", says in an online posting that she was "forced" by QUEENSRŸCHE's management "into [the] decision" to discontinue her involvement in the trek. She continues: "I hope them nothing but the best! They are fantastic musicians and ever better people. Nothing but love for them." She adds in a separate posting: "This was my decision and is in no way a reflection of the band members… I had such a good time on tour aside from some unnecessary stress." Nina sang a duet with Geoff on the group's epic song, "Suite Sister Mary".

Nina mastered speech level singing with renowned vocal coach Seth Riggs. In 2011 she performed on "America's Got Talent", where she received high praise from Sharon Osbourne. She has gone on to form THE LIONS, a rock band based out of San Francisco, California. They are currently recording their debut album with producer Jason Slater (QUEENSRŸCHE, THIRD EYE BLIND, SMASHMOUTH, SNAKE RIVER CONSPIRACY). She has played many roles in music and is currently fronting an all-female QUEEN tribute band called THE KILLER QUEENS as Frederica Mercury. The girls have headlined sold-out shows on their winter tour and are currently booking dates for their 2013 summer tour across the Western United States.

As previously reported, Sass Jordan, Brian Tichy's (BILLY IDOL, FOREIGNER, OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE) musical partner in their band SOMETHING UNTO NOTHING (S.U.N.), has been asked to sing the duet in "Suite Sister Mary" as Geoff Tate and the boys perform the epic "Operation" Mindcrime" album in its entirety. To make it complete, Tichy and Jordan will open the shows with a 30-minute "S.U.N. Acoustic Stomp," which is Jordan and Tichy (on guitar and bass drum) as a duo.

Tichy will fill in for Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET) in the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE from June 2 to June 29.

"Desire", the second video from THE WINERY DOGS, the new project featuring Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB), Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG) and Richie Kotzen (MR. BIG, POISON), can be seen below. The song comes off the band's self-titled debut album, which will be released in Japan on May 15 via Victor Entertainment. The CD was mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, ADRENALINE MOB, STONE SOUR and STEEL PANTHER. Sheehan previously stated about the effort: "I'm really pleased with it. Richie sang his ass off and played amazingly unique stuff, and, of course Mike annihilated on drums. [It's a] really cool, unique record."

Regarding how THE WINERY DOGS got its name, Portnoy said: "It was Richie's name. We had a list of about 50 names. I had about 10 that I preferred over THE WINERY DOGS, but you know, when you're in a band, you have to give and take and choose your battles, and Richie really, really loved this band name. So, you know, it was, like, 'OK.' A name is a name. If you feel that strongly about it, then go for it. So that's who we are."

THE WINERY DOGS will kick off its world tour by playing two shows in Japan this summer: July 16 in Osaka and July 17 in Tokyo. Dates for the rest of the world will be announced soon.

"The Winery Dogs" track listing:

CD:

01. Elevate
02. Desire
03. We Are One
04. I'm No Angel
05. The Other Side
06. You Saved Me
07. Not Hopeless
08. One More Time
09. Damaged
10. Six Feet Deeper
11. Criminal
12. The Dying
13. Regret

DVD (limited edition):

01. Elevate
02. Desire
03. I'm No Angel

At the end of 2011, Portnoy and Sheehan tapped Kotzen to be the guitarist/vocalist of their new project following the departure of John Sykes (WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, THIN LIZZY).

Although Portnoy and Sykes demoed a dozen or so songs at a Los Angeles studio in 2011, their vastly different work ethics and conflicting schedules were solely to blame for the dissolution of their collaboration.

During an interview that aired on the July 13, 2012 edition of Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM, Portnoy said, "I love John personally, and we get along great — he's a sweetheart of a guy — but I need to keep moving. I can't sit still and kind of wait to make an album over the next three years, I need to put things on the calendar and move forward and get them done, and John's kind of just a 'wait, wait, wait' guy. Sadly, it kind of just stopped in its tracks, and Billy and I said, 'Look, let's do something.' And you [Eddie] were the one, actually, that suggested Richie Kotzen and I thought it was a brilliant suggestion, because he's an unbelievably underrated talent, not only [as] a guitar player but a phemonal singer, and just an amazing songwriter and artist. I think people just kind of lump him, or write him off as the guy that was with POISON and MR. BIG. I think they have no idea what he's really capable of."

When asked to describe the musical direction of the project, Portnoy said, "It's a classic-rock kind of power-trio sound. If you picture the classic-rock bands of… the classic ones — [LED] ZEPPELIN, CREAM, [JIMI] HENDRIX, GRAND FUNK [RAILROAD] — if you take that classic-rock power-trio sound of the early '70s, and then you sprinkle it on top with some of the modern kind of sounds of SOUNDGARDEN and ALICE IN CHAINS or BLACK CROWES or LENNY KRAVITZ… It's in that vein; it's kind of a [mixture] of all of those bands. But on top of it all you've got the phenomenal playing that Richie and Billy do, and I could play a couple of things on the drums as well [chuckles], so... And all three of us are singing — Richie is the lead vocalist, obviously, but me and Billy are also singing."

"Desire" video:

"Special", the new video from German/British melodic hard rockers PINK CREAM 69, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Ceremonial", which entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 83. The CD was released on January 25 in Europe and January 22 in North America via Frontiers Records. The cover artwork was created by Kai Brockschmidt (PRETTY MAIDS, ROYAL HUNT) and can be seen below.

Six years after the critically praised "In10sity" CD, PINK CREAM 69 delivers another slice of great arena hard rock. Hot on heels after a successful German tour with HELLOWEEN and STRATOVARIUS, "Ceremonial" is PINK CREAM 69's second studio effort for Frontiers and the first with their new drummer, Chris Schmidt. Recorded partially at Hofa Studios and mixed at Dennis Ward's private studio — The TrakShak — the effort is possibly the freshest and most diverse PINK CREAM 69 album to date

"The songs had to be 100% ready and we took all the necessary time," states bass player and producer Dennis Ward. "This gaves us the possibility to experiment and to achieve the best possible result." And indeed, the explosive, energetic opening track "Land Of Confusion", the contemporary rocking "Wasted Years", the biographic "I Came To Rock" the heavily '90s-influenced "Find Your Soul" and the soulful "Passage" are all new, bright and shining diamonds in a discography full of highlights and hits.

"We deliberately called the album "Ceremonial" because we feel it's kind of a celebration of music styles we all grew up with, regardless of what PINK CREAM 69 has done in the past", continues Ward.

"There were various projects that I was involved in over the last couple of years", adds singer David Readman. "But the work on 'Ceremonial' felt like coming home. A real relief."

"Ceremonial" track listing:

01. Land Of Confusion
02. Wasted Years
03. Special
04. Find Your Soul
05. The Tide
06. Big Machine
07. Let The Thunder Roll
08. Right From Wrong
09. Passage Of Time
10. I Came To Rock
11. King For One Day
12. Superman

Check out audio samples in the YouTube clip below.

PINK CREAM 69 is:

David Readman - Vocals
Alfred Koffler - Guitar
Uwe Reitenauer - Guitar
Dennis Ward - Bass
Chris Schmidt - Drums

CorpusChristiRocks.com has uploaded video footage of IN THIS MOMENT's May 7 concert in Corpus Christi, Texas. Check it out below.

As previously reported, IN THIS MOMENT will professionally film its May 21 concert in Madison, Wisconsin for the group's first-ever live DVD. IN THIS MOMENT has partnered up with longtime supporter, radio station WJJO, as part of their Mayday Maylay concert series. The band has a bunch of surprises in store for this show including rarely played songs from their catalog and an all-new stage show created specifically for this concert. Also performing that night are special guests NONPOINT and GEMINI SYNDROME.

IN THIS MOMENT's DVD is being directed by Brad Golowin who is known for his work with MISS MAY I and 10 YEARS, to name a few.

IN THIS MOMENT singer Maria Brink told The Pulse Of Radio that before the band had a bigger stage production, she used to go out into the crowd and get the fans to form a pit around her. "I don't have to do it all the time anymore, 'cause now we have so much of a live performance and we're kind of upping theatrical everything onstage," she said. "But once in a while it's such an adrenaline rush. The other day I went out there and the funniest thing — I didn't realize it in the moment, but they told me afterwards that I said as I was walking through the crowd, 'Nobody touch me! I get anxiety!' 'Cause I spread the crowd open and walked through, and I said that! [laughs] And it works! I mean, they part the way!"

IN THE MOMENT has just completed the Road To The Golden Gods tour with STONE SOUR. The trek finished on May 2 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

The band has followed up its first-ever Top 10 rock radio hit, "Blood", with a new single called "Adrenalize". Both tracks are taken from the group's fourth album, also called "Blood", which debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard album chart and has sold more than 140,000 copies since coming out last August.

"Blood" was reissued as a double-disc set through Hot Topic last December. The special package contained the full original album on one disc, plus a second disc that featured a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Closer", as well as four additional new remixes of songs from "Blood".

Austin, Texas-based classic rock sensation SCORPION CHILD will release their self-titled debut album on June 21 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, the new U.S. partnership between Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger and former Roadrunner Records A&R chief Monte Conner. Produced and arranged by Chris "Frenchie" Smith (THE ANSWER, ...AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD, THE TOADIES, DAX RIGGS), the CD was recorded using analog recording technology.

The limited CD digipack, vinyl, digital download versions of "Scorpion Child" include the following songs:

01. Kings Highway
02. Polygon Of Eyes
03. The Secret Spot
04. Salvation Slave
05. Liquor
06. Antioch
07. In The Arms Of Ecstasy
08. Paradigm
09. Red Blood (The River Flows)

Bonus track:

10. Keep Goin' (LUCIFER'S FRIEND cover)
11. Lover's Leap (iTunes version only!)

The second trailer for "Scorpion Child" can be seen below.

Attributes in music are known to be cyclical. Every few years, a band comes along which borrows just enough from the revered past to bring a new infusion of vitality to the musical present. SCORPION CHILD's sound invokes a time when guitar-driven rock ruled radio's airwaves, when being hypnotized by a frontman and his bandmates in a concert arena was one of life's ultimate main events.

SCORPION CHILD has spent the last few years perfecting both its songwriting and stage show. Guitarists Chris Cowart and David Finner deliver their finessed twin guitar attack with experience older than their years; bassist Shaun Avants and drummer Shawn Alvear are steadfast sentinels of their driving rhythm section; and lead singer Aryn Jonathan Black fronts the psychedelic rock cavalry with a passion and voice reminiscent of the early eras of Robert Plant and Ronnie James Dio.

"I've always wanted to hear new musical ingredients within a classic heavy sound," states Aryn Jonathan Black. "It’s great to witness captivating performances where both the live show and the band’s recorded material can complement one another. The heavy-prog sounds of URIAH HEEP, HAIRY CHAPTER, and the epic delivery of early RAINBOW showcases these crossovers brilliantly and gave us all honest — yet relentless — sonics to aspire to. That's why it’s important for us as a band to maintain spontaneity while putting a special emphasis into integral hooks."

The lyric video for "Polygon Of Eyes" can be seen below.

"Black Dog Barking", the third album from Australian hard rockers AIRBOURNE, can be streamed in its entirety using the SoundCloud widget below (courtesy of RevolverMag.com). Due on May 21 via Roadrunner Records, the follow-up to 2010's "No Guts. No Glory." was produced by Brian Howes, who has previously worked with HINDER, DAUGHTRY and PUDDLE OF MUDD.

"Black Dog Barking" track listing:

01. Ready To Rock
02. Animalize
03. No One Fits Me (Better Than You)
04. Back In The Game
05. Firepower
06. Live It Up
07. Woman Like That
08. Hungry
09. Cradle To The Grave
10. Black Dog Barking

Bonus tracks:

11. Jack Attack
12. You Got The Skills (To Pay The Bills)
13. Party In The Penthouse

The Full Throttle edition of AIRBOURNE's new single, "Live It Up", will be made available for the opening of Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, the tallest, fastest looping roller coaster in the world. The Full Throttle edition of "Live It Up" will be featured throughout the newly themed five-acre section of the park where guests will experience high-energy action through fast-paced imagery, sound and lights, with additional music featuring various Roadrunner artists. The launch will be further supported nationally in all theme parks, Roadrunner and Six Flags online and social media channels, live events and press outreach.

AIRBOURNE's infectious music has been used in more than 20 video games, countless films, trailers and more.

AIRBOURNE is Joel O'Keeffe (vocals/lead guitar), Ryan O'Keeffe (drums), David Roads (guitar) and Justin Street (bass).

U.K. rockers THE QUIREBOYS will release seventh studio album, "Beautiful Curse", on June 24 via Off Yer Rocka Recordings. A single, "Too Much Of A Good Thing", will precede the full-length CD on May 15. The band's first CD since 2008’s critically acclaimed "Homewreckers & Heartbreakers" was produced and mixed by the legendary Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST, GARY MOORE, THIN LIZZY), who promises a modern sound with old-school values.

"Beautiful Curse" track listing:

01. Too Much Of A Good Thing
02. Chain Smokin'
03. Talk Of The Town
04. Mother Mary
05. King Of Fools
06. Homewreckers And Heartbreakers
07. Diamonds and Dirty Stones
08. Beautiful Curse
09. Don't Fight It
10. For Crying Out Loud
11. Twenty Seven Years
12. I Died Laughing

In a recent interview with Rushonrock, THE QUIREBOYS guitarist Paul Guerin stated about working with Tsangarides: "I didn't know Chris personally before these sessions, but, of course, I knew of him and all the fantastic work he's done in the past. Well, I thought I knew his body of work! But we were listening to [BBC] Radio 2 the other day and it seemed like every other song he'd pipe up and say he'd played his part in this and that. But more importantly he's a thoroughly nice chap. And he cooks us tea."

THE QUIREBOYS' current lineup includes original frontman Spike Gray and guitarist Guy Griffin alongside Paul Guerin (guitar), Dave Boyce (bass), Keith Weir (keyboards) and Matt Goom (drums).

"Wild Eyes", the new video from Australian metallers PARKWAY DRIVE, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's fourth album, "Atlas", which was released on October 30, 2012 via Epitaph Records. The deluxe package included the "Home Is For The Heartless" DVD, a unique travelogue that follows the band's adventures touring to many obscure destinations including Colombia, China and India.

Yet another creative leap forward for the chart-topping Australian band, "Atlas" boasts some of the most up front and confrontational material PARKWAY DRIVE has ever released, while at the same time taking several unexpected turns into lush sonic terrain, redefining their trademark sound while reinforcing their position as leaders in their field.

Recorded in Los Angeles with esteemed producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED), "Atlas" sets the standard in musical progression by pushing musical boundaries and drawing from a wider scope of influence. From heavy, technically advanced riffs and rapid fire blast beats, to haunting death growls combined with fervent vocals and symphonic melodies, "Atlas"' ferocious mix of metal and hardcore reaches new horizons with songs such as "Dark Days", "Old Ghost / New Regrets" and "The River", all of which will have fans careening straight for the circle pit.

"Everything has been enhanced," said McCall. "People don't have to kiss the old parts goodbye. When you think of change, you think of things being taken away, but there's not a case here where anything has been taken away. This is just more on top."

Professionally filmed video footage of JUDAS PRIEST performing the song "Heading Out To The Highway" at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, England in May 2012 — taken from the forthcoming "Epitaph" Blu-ray and DVD — can be seen at RollingStone.com.

JUDAS PRIEST, the heavy metal legends whose influence on generations of musicians and metalheads is incalculable, celebrate their 40th year as recording artists with the global cinema release of the live concert "Epitaph". A unique live career retrospective, "Epitaph" will be shown at two very special cinema events — one in New York at the Clearview Chelsea on May 14 and the other at London's Forum in Kentish Town on May 15.

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford and guitarist Richie Faulkner will introduce the New York screening of "Epitaph". The event will be hosted by "That Metal Show"'s Eddie Trunk.

It will then be released in cinemas on May 16 across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Bulgaria, Estonia, Romania, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Central America, with many more to follow. Fans will have a limited opportunity to re-live the excitement of the final show of the band's last-ever world tour, which was filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo London in May 2012.

Cinema locations and ticket purchasing information can be found at JudasPriest.com or using the widget below.

Says the band: "The 'Epitaph' world tour came to an exciting conclusion at the renowned Hammersmith Odeon (now known as the Apollo) in London. Knowing our fans around the planet recognize that venue for many legendary metal moments, and of course with JUDAS PRIEST being a British metal band it was the perfect gig for us to film and record. Big thanks as always to you our metal family of fans — so start banging your heads one more time with us as we scream together 'The PRIEST is back!'"

A unique live career retrospective, "Epitaph" will be made available on Blu-ray and separate DVD on May 28 through Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. This release precedes a new studio album by JUDAS PRIEST which the band are working on now.

JUDAS PRIEST's current lineup comprises lead singer Rob Halford, lead guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis.

Heavy metal historians will regard "Epitaph" as the most far-reaching live concert recording in the band's career. The set revisits the climactic closing date of the 50-week "Epitaph" world tour, captured live at London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo on May 26, 2012. Adding to the drama is the fact that this was JUDAS PRIEST's final large-scale world tour ever.

"Epitaph"'s 23 tracks represent at least one song from every one of the band's 14 studio albums, from 1974's "Rocka Rolla" ("Never Satisfied") to 2008's "Nostradamus" ("Prophecy"). In the special case of "British Steel", four songs are featured: "Rapid Fire", "Metal Gods", "Breaking The Law" and perennial set closer "Living After Midnight". Others exempted from the one-song-quota are the LPs which appeared before and after "British Steel". The first of these is 1979's "Hell Bent For Leather" (U.K. title: "Killing Machine") which lends the title song as well as "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)". The other LP is 1982's "Screaming For Vengeance", source of "The Hellion", "Electric Eye" and "You've Got Another Thing Coming".

"They have epitomized the genre with their Harley riding frontman, rapid-fire guitar assaults, and spectacular stage shows," wrote journalist Bryan Reesman in his liner notes for 2004's leather-bound, metal-spiked "Metalogy" box set. "Influential, innovative, and exuberant in expression," he wrote, "they are the true Metal Gods who have been as unwavering in their desire to expand the boundaries of their music as they have been in crossing international borders to deliver it to their disciples.

"Unabashedly committed to their cause, and unrepentant in proclaiming themselves a true heavy metal band even when others have shied away from the term, Judas Priest have forever been defenders of the faith."

"Epitaph" track listing

01. Battle Hymn (L)
02. Rapid Fire (F)
03. Metal Gods (F)
04. Heading Out To The Highway (G)
05. Judas Rising (M)
06. Starbreaker (C)
07. Victim Of Changes (B)
08. Never Satisfied (A)
09. Diamonds And Rust (C)
10. Prophecy (N)
11. Night Crawler (L)
12. Turbo Lover (J)
13. Beyond The Realms Of Death (D)
14. The Sentinel (I)
15. Blood Red Skies (K)
16. The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) (E)
17. Breaking The Law (F)
18. Painkiller (L)
19. The Hellion (H)
20. Electric Eye (H)
21. Hell Bent For Leather (E)
22. You've Got Another Thing Coming (H)
23. Living After Midnight (F)

Album index:

A - from "Rocka Rolla" (originally issued 1974, on Gull Records)
B - from "Sad Wings Of Destiny" (originally issued 1976, on Gull Records)
C - from "Sin After Sin" (originally issued 1977, on Columbia Records)
D - from "Stained Class" (originally issued 1978, on Columbia)
E - from "Hell Bent For Leather" (originally issued 1979, on Columbia; aka Killing Machine in UK)
F - from "British Steel" (originally issued 1980, on Columbia)
G - from "Point Of Entry" (originally issued 1981, on Columbia)
H - from "Screaming For Vengeance" (originally issued 1982, on Columbia)
I - from "Defenders Of the Faith" (originally issued 1984, on Columbia)
J - from "Turbo" (originally issued 1986, on Columbia)
K - from "Ram It Down" (originally issued 1988, on Columbia)
L - from "Painkiller" (originally issued 1990, on Columbia)
M - from "Angel Of Retribution" (originally issued 2005, on Epic Records)
N - from "Nostradamus" (originally issued 2008, on Epic)

PRIEST's forthcoming album will mark the recording and songwriting debut of the band's new guitarist, Richie Faulkner, who replaced co-founder K.K. Downing in 2011.

Asked what fans can fans expect from the group's next CD, JUDAS PRIEST lead singer Rob Halford said in an August 2012 interview, "We've already got a strong cross-section of ideas, some of them complete, some of them in bits and pieces. It's shaping up to be quite intense, in terms of the riffage and the strength of certain tracks. Much like every time you try and talk about music, it's practically impossible to capture it. You can only point it in the direction of where things are shaping up, and it's just glorious. If I try to pinpoint it, there are elements of 'British Steel' and there elements of 'Painkiller' in terms of the vibe. We've got a really solid record coming together slowly in a strong metal way that will make all of our PRIEST fans around the world very happy and content. At least I hope it does."

Regarding a possible release date for the new PRIEST album, Halford said, "I'm not really sure. It'll be ready when it's ready. We're not under the same clock as we used to be. I remember in the '80s we were banging out a record almost every year, and that was on top of putting in a world tour. We have the luxury now, if you want to call it that, of taking our time. And that's just because that's the way it is. We're just as eager to get this done as ever, but we do it at a slower pace. It's that British thing, you know? [laughs] It's that monarchy thing. Let's look forward to that moment for another PRIEST record for everyone to bang their heads to."

In a November 2011 interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Halford stated about PRIEST's plans for the upcoming CD, "Glenn and I started to write in the early part of January [of 2011]. We just went to it from the heart really, there was no specific agenda or idea, as opposed to what we had to do with 'Nostradamus', which was very focused and a real anchor of a project. This one has just been some straight-forward, classic British heavy metal. Some of it feels a bit like 'Painkiller', some of it feels like 'Sad Wings Of Destiny', some like 'British Steel'. We didn't do much research, we didn't bother checking some of our previous releases, we didn't do any homework, we just sat down and played, you know? Glenn came up with riffs and I came up with vocal melodies. There was no outside influence or interference in the writing sessions. We just started the day, plugged in some amps, got the mic up and made the metal that way. It's a very pure record, in that respect."

Game Over Cycles, the Polish company which specializes in the construction of custom motorcycles and vintage cars restoration, recently announced a collaboration with the country's veteran extreme metallers BEHEMOTH.

Behemoth Bike, as the project is initially called, is a custom motorcycle inspired by and currently being created in collaboration with BEHEMOTH, and particularly the band's leader, Adam "Nergal" Darski. The bike is planned by the designers to be a powerful dark machine with exceptional technical parameters and unprecedented ornamentation.

Construction started in January 2013. Completion of construction is scheduled for May, with plans to unveil the bike during the Impact Festival on June 4 in Lotnisko, Warsaw, Poland.

A new teaser for the Behemoth Bike can be seen below. Also available is video footage of Nergal's first test ride of the bike.

Philip Anselmo, legendary frontman of PANTERA and DOWN, will release his career-first solo album, "Walk Through Exits Only", on July 16 via his own Housecore Records (MRI/Megaforce). "Walk Through Exits Only" will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl.

Produced by Anselmo and Michael Thompson, and recorded over the past couple of years at Philip's New Orleans studio, Nodferatu's Lair, with his band THE ILLEGALS — guitarist Marzi Montazeri (ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL) and drummer José Manuel Gonzales (WARBEAST) — "Walk Through Exits Only" is abrasive, aggressive, anthemic and 100% Anselmo. The album's eight songs are as unstrained as it gets, from "Battalion Of Zero" to "Usurper's Bastard Rant", to the album's title track that goes against the grain and right through the exits. Brash, brutal guitars cut through punishing percussion as Anselmo screams with uncompromising ferocity and uncontainable fire.

The track "Usurper's Bastard Rant" is now available for streaming using the SoundCloud widget below (courtesy of RollingStone.com).

"It wasn't about doing a paint-by-numbers thrash or heavy metal record," Anselmo explained about the project. "It's an angry album that only I could do. I don't see anybody else out there screaming about the same shit I'm screaming about. On this album, there isn't any wordplay, there isn't any hidden message, it's all right there in front of you."

The genesis of "Walk Through Exits Only" proved both comfortable and natural for its architect. In fact, everything began to slowly come together in the frontman's New Orleans home back in 2010.

"It started right there in the fucking black bedroom where I haunt," he smiles. "When I get an itch, I've got to scratch it. The sole idea at the beginning was to be unorthodox. It wasn't about doing a paint-by-numbers thrash or heavy metal record. I've always believed there are different elements of groove. It's definitely not a cemented science. It's an angry album that only I could do. I don't see anybody else out there screaming about the same shit I'm screaming about. I tried to portray it as personally as I possibly could."

Gonzales puts it best. "I think it's going to put the rock 'n' roll back in extreme music," he says. "That combination is very different. For as extreme as it is, it's controlled chaos."

"It's meant to be very unpredictable," Anselmo affirms. "When I hear enough of the same thing, I want to rebel. That was a key factor. Right when you think you've got it pegged, it goes in a different direction. That's what keeps things interesting."

In order to harness that unpredictability and realize his vision, he enlisted the talents of longtime friend Houston-based shredder Montazeri. Filling the seat behind the kit is Gonzales, who entered the fold at the tender age of 19. Back at Anselmo's studio Nodferatu's Lair, they recorded in spurts between DOWN's own rigorous recording and touring schedule. In the process of those intense sessions alongside engineer Stephen "The Big Fella" Berrigan, the record was born.

"There's nobody like Philip," says Montazeri. "For years, I've always wanted to do something completely original and meaningful with him. I'm just trying to bring something pure to this. Nothing gets in the way of this band's purity. When all of us get together, it's automatic. If I have an idea, Philip always welcomes it. We share a love for extreme music, and I feel like we've got an unbreakable bond."

Gonzales agrees, "These guys pushed me to limits I didn't even know I could be pushed to. We've been able to create something really special together."

The world's proper introduction to PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS came on the "War Of The Gargantuas" split with WARBEAST at the top of 2013. The two songs included on the split — "Conflict" and "Family, Friends, and Associates" — were only a separate and small taste of what was come to come on the full-length though.

In many ways, "Walk Through Exits Only" embodies the same underground spirit and ethos that Anselmo has proudly possessed for his whole life. Since his career began, he consistently shined light on what was happening beneath the typical "surface" of music, whether by inviting MORBID ANGEL, EYEHATEGOD, CROWBAR, or NEUROSIS onto a PANTERA tour or donning a DARKTHRONE or MAYHEM t-shirt on television or in a major publication. He's gone against the grain, past the tides, and right through the exits. Now, that sentiment pipes through loud and clear on the record's viciously vital title track.

"It does create an unorthodox approach to things," Anselmo continues. "The hook is a powerful line. Why make music the 'right' way? There really aren't any fucking rules. You've got to simply take what’s there and make it your own."

The opener "Music Media Is My Whore" lays all speculation to rest with its focused pummeling. About the title, he laughs, "I've gotten my share of fucking licks from the media over the years. I figured I'd give them one back. Lyrically, there was always something driving me though. I couldn't put my finger on it for the longest time, but it's very reality-based. I didn't mince any words."

"The message comes across in a crazy way," adds Montazeri. "That goes for the entire record though. There's no similarity between this and any other band. It breaks from tradition."

Not only does "Walk Through Exits Only" break from tradition, it lays the groundwork for a new road.

"Fuck another chapter," concludes Anselmo. "This is a whole new book. Some might call it ambitious. I say it's natural. I can do anything I want with this, and I will. I want people to take that unpredictability with them. If you're in a younger band, I want you to realize you don't have to play by the fucking rules. I want everyone to see that there's a lot more to the story than they'd ever realized when it comes to me. You can't and won't be able to tell what comes next from the kid. You can't pin me down unless it's in my own fucking corner which will be painted black and say, 'Reserved for Philip H. Anselmo.' You're very welcome to do that."

Anselmo and THE ILLEGALS will support the new album with a major North American tour planned for this summer.

Israeli progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND will release their sixth full-length album, "All Is One", in North America on June 25 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records. The cover artwork for the follow-up to 2010's "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" was created by the French artist Metastazis (PARADISE LOST, AS I LAY DYING, SONNE ADAM, WATAIN) by perfectly incorporating the three biggest religious symbols into one piece of art.

"All Is One" track listing:

01. All Is One
02. The Simple Man
03. Brother
04. Let The Truce Be Known
05. Through Fire And Water
06. Fail
07. Freedom
08. Shama'im
09. Ya Benaye
10. Our Own Messiah
11. Children

The official lyric video for the song "Our Own Messiah" can be seen below.

Commented ORPHANED LAND singer Kobi Farhi: "I'll say it plain and simple — 'All Is One' is ORPHANED LAND's best album so far. I feel that we took all aspects to a new level — the way we write, arrange, play and produce.

"We recorded the album in three countries (Turkey, Sweden and Israel) and it turned out so strong, we can't stop listening to it.

"The album is very rich in sound, with more than 40 people participating (choirs, violins, and many traditional instruments, too).

"Our secret recipe was always the fact that unlike many other bands, ORPHANED LAND doesn't follow ONE master mind that writes everything; we work in a way that 'all is one.' We create our music in a perfect blend of synergy and harmony and all the band members are a part of this process. We translate the album's title and message exactly in the way we work, and we always hope we could give a bit of an inspiration to the people in the tragic Middle Eastern lands.

"We have fans all over the Middle East. We live in a place where huge amounts of people who consider themselves enemies still share one thing in common, they are all fans of ORPHANED LAND, and in these lands of orphans and bloody holy wars, our only weapon is music, and hopefully we will grow to understand that 'all is one.'"

ORPHANED LAND's forthcoming effort will be the band's first to feature guitarist Chen Balbus following the departure of Matty Svatizky in June 2012 due to "personal" and "professional" issues.

From September to November, ORPHANED LAND will play stages all over Europe in support of "All Is One" — but before heading out on this headlining tour, ORPHANED LAND will play a few festivals and shows in South America and Europe.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 80 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" was released in Europe on January 25, 2010.

ORPHANED LAND's concert DVD, "The Road To OR-Shalem", was released in October 2011 in Europe and November 2011 in the U.S. via Century Media Records.

The video for the song "Transference" from Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM can be seen below. The track comes off the band's eighth album, "Halo Of Blood", which will be released on June 11 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover art was created by Sami Saramäki, who was responsible for the artwork on previous CHILDREN OF BODOM albums "Follow The Reaper", "Are You Dead Yet?" and "Hate Crew Deathroll".

Pre-order the CD (including the bonus track and digital booklet) now and get the single "Transference" instantly.

Comments CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho: "'Transference' is a straight-up CHILDREN OF BODOM to-the-core-type song and therefore was a good pick for a video and obviously is one of our favorite tracks. It always had an evil vibe to it, which I wish I knew how to explain because it still gives me chills… Enjoy!"

CHILDREN OF BODOM's new CD was recorded at Danger Johnny Studios in Helsinki. For the recording of the LP, CHILDREN OF BODOM has teamed up with recording engineer Mikko Karmila, who worked with the band on their fan-favorite albums "Hatebreeder", "Follow The Reaper" and "Hate Crew Deathroll", as well as Swedish producer Peter Tägtgren (MARDUK, AMON AMARTH), who oversaw production of both vocals and keyboards on the record. The album was mixed at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki.

Commented Laiho: "'Halo Of Blood' is the eighth studio album from CHILDREN OF BODOM, and believe it or not, but we still managed to keep it fresh and new while still maintaining the elements that make COB sound recognizable. It's got the fastest and the slowest song we ever made and lyrics wise there are themes we had never had before. It's 10 new songs of pure Nordic metal and whether you enjoy it with a beer or a glass of water, I'm sure you will have a good time."

"Halo Of Blood" track listing:

01. Waste Of Skin
02. Halo Of Blood
03. Scream For Silence
04. Transference
05. Bodom Blue Moon (The Second Coming)
06. The Days Are Numbered
07. Dead Man's Hand On You
08. Damage Beyond Repair
09. All Twisted
10. One Bottle And A Knee Deep

Fan-filmed video footage of NEWSTED — the new band led by former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist Jason Newsted — performing on April 24 at Starline in Fresno, California can be seen below.

NEWSTED has been confirmed for this year's edition of Gigantour, the critically acclaimed package festival founded in 2005 by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. Also scheduled to appear on the bill are headliners MEGADETH, along with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DEVICE, HELLYEAH and DEATH DIVISION.

NEWSTED kicked off its first-ever U.S. tour on April 19 at Red House in Walnut Creek, California. The 14-date trek will conclude on May 23 in Asbury Park, New Jersey and will lead into a number of European festival appearances for the band, which is rouded out by STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok, drummer Jesus Mendez Jr. and guitarist Jessie Farnsworth.

NEWSTED has just completed recording its first full-length album, to be released later this year. NEWSTED began mixing the effort last month, with more details to be announced soon.

NEWSTED's debut EP, "Metal", sold around 6,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 62 on The Billboard 200 chart.

NEWSTED is:

Jason Newsted - Bass, Lead Vocals
Jesus Mendez Jr. (THE NAPOLEON BLOWNAPARTS) - Drums
Jessie Farnsworth - Guitar, Backing Voice
Mike Mushok (STAIND) – Guitar

Helsinki, Finland-based, female-fronted symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN will release a compilation album of songs released on their first four albums — "Circus Black" (2012), "End Of Eden" (2010), "The Clouds Of Northland Thunder" (2009) and "River Of Tuoni" (2008) — to showcase new singer Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen after the departure of Heidi Parviainen. "Re-Evolution" will be made available on June 14 in Finland, distributed by Suomen Musiikki.

Comments AMBERIAN DAWN guitarist Tuomas Seppala: "We all thought that the best way to introduce our new singer Capri to our fans is by re-recording a compilation album of our best songs. It was very important for us to give you all a broad overview about Capri's great talent in all its facets and present her vocal sound and way of singing to you before we start recording a whole new studio album. We hope very much that you like the fresh sound created through Capri's voice and the re-recording of the music parts which was necessary due to some required key changes. I believe that this compilation album is an excellent 'visiting card' of the new AMBERIAN DAWN sound and style, all in all we all are really happy with the results we achieved."

"Re-Evolution" was mixed by Mikko Mustonen and mastered by Henkka Niemisto at Chartmakers.

"Re-Evolution" track listing:

01. Valkyries
02. Incubus
03. Kokko - Eagle Of Fire
04. Lily Of The Moon
05. Come Now Follow
06. Crimson Flower
07. Circus Black
08. Lost Soul
09. Cold Kiss
10. River Of Tuoni
11. Charnel's Ball

A music video for the song "Kokko - Eagle Of Fire" can be seen below. The clip was produced by Routafilmi, which is the same company that made the AMBERIAN DAWN's "Arctica" video.

In other news, bassist Jukka Koskinen has left AMBERIAN DAWN. He says in a statement: "I can't dedicate [the time and attention to AMBERIAN DAWN that] it needs [due to my] busy schedule with WINTERSUN."

Capri previously released two solo albums: "Salaa Sinun" (1997) and "Kuun Morsian" (2001).

AMBERIAN DAWN parted ways with vocalist Heidi Parviainen in November 2012. Her final appearance with the band was at the Metal Female Voices Fest at the end of October in Belgium.

AMBERIAN DAWN's fourth studio album, "Circus Black", was released in Finland on February 29 via Spinefarm Records. The band's mainman, keyboardist and guitarist Tuomas Seppälä composed all ten songs for the CD and Parviainen penned the lyrics.

Reactivated British extreme metal legends CARCASS inked a deal last Thursday (May 9) with an as-yet-undisclosed label for the release of their comeback album, "Surgical Steel". The CD was mixed by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY) to mix its comeback album, "Surgical Steel", 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.

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

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."

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).

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.

"Altered State", the second full-length album from the U.K. progressive rock band TESSERACT, can be streamed in its entirety in the YouTube clip below. Due on May 27 throughout Europe and May 28 in North America via Century Media Records, the CD — which is divided into four movements — Of Matter, Of Mind, Of Reality and Of Energy — is, in its purest form, about the transformations the band has gone through over the past few years.

Comments TESSERACT: "The concept behind the presentation of 'Altered State' is very simple. It is about change, and how life is change. We have been through a very difficult period of time over the last few years. It is a miracle that the band has survived. I feel it is the ability to step back and see everything for what it is (hence the 'Perspective' EP) that has allowed us to get on with life and try to enjoy it. Reality is change."

"Altered State" track listing:

01. Of Matter - Proxy
02. Of Matter - Retrospect
03. Of Matter - Resist
04. Of Mind - Nocturne
05. Of Mind - Exile
06. Of Reality - Eclipse
07. Of Reality - Palingenisis
08. Of Reality - Calabi-Yau
09. Of Energy - Singularity
10. Of Energy - Embers

"Altered State" was produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by TESSERACT guitarist Acle Kahney, assisted by bassist Amos Williams at Acle's 4D Sounds studio, and marks the first full release with new vocalist Ashe O'Hara following the departure of American vocalist Elliot Coleman (OMNOM, SKY EATS AIRPLANE, ZELLIACK) in June 2012.

"The new album has shaped up to be something of an evolution for TESSERACT," TESSERACT bassist Amos Williams told ThrashHits.com. "Obviously, there's the new voice, which is exciting for us to work with. Ashe brings such an intense level of emotion to the table, it feels as if we have added another dimension to the music. We've also travelled so much and met so many incredible and inspiring musicians since the first album. This has had a huge impact upon our songwriting."

He continued: "Also, we now enjoy playing with dynamics and instrumentation. This came from releasing an acoustic EP last year. We're no longer afraid to mix things up or stray from the expected path, which we feel we did with our first album. That was in the box, whilst this album is way out there for us. Don't be afraid, though — whilst it has evolved, our music is still somehow TESSERACT. It's like there is something just beneath the surface of everything we do, that shapes all we produce into a distinctly TESSERACT-ish form."

Hailing from Northampton, Ashe spent his early years singing in many different groups, from choirs to musical theatre, and has more recently been involved with a number of ambient/alternative metal projects in addition to doing session work. Ashe currently resides in Hove, East Sussex.