Cyprus-based metallers ARRAYAN PATH return with their new, fourth album, titled IV: Stigmata.

According to a press release, IV: Stigmata is a more fierce and dark album and it is a concept album dealing with religion. Everything that has defined Arrayan Path over the years however – superb and very melodic compositions, passionate performances and excellent atmospheric parts and some of the best metal vocals ever – are all there, unfolded through the album’s 12 tracks.

The album’s production, mixing and mastering was handled once again by the very capable Vagelis Maranis (ex-SANVOISEN) who also created some beautiful choirs using just his own voice. More guest appearances on the album include vocals by Jimmy Mavrommatis (ARMAGEDDON), guitar solos by Kikis Apostolou (Armageddon), Alexis Kleidaras (ex-DECEPTOR) and George Kousa.
IV: Stigmata will be released worldwide on June 10th and it will also be available through all major MP3 stores. The CD version includes a bonus track, 'Mystic Moon', which is a re-recording of the opening song of the band’s first demo. Another bonus track ('Charming Paranoia') will be available as an exclusive download. A special edition of the album (limited to 50 numbered copies) will include the new album as a CD/cassette bundle with both covers signed by singer Nicholas Leptos.

The song, 'Midnight And The First-born Massacre', is already available for streaming and free download below, while all album pre-orders from the Pitch Black Records online store here will receive access to 'Charming Paranoia', the bonus download track of the album.

IV: Stigmata tracklisting:
'Clepsydra'
'The Bible Bleeds'
'Midnight And The First-born Massacre'
'Judas Iscariot'
'Stigmata'
'Cursed Canaan'
'Pharaoh’s Wish'
'Harbingers of Death'
'Disguising your Soul'
'The Storyteller'
'Mystic Moon' (Bonus Track)
'Charming Paranoia' (Bonus Download Track)

'Midnight And The First-born Massacre':
Arrayan Path is:
Nicholas Leptos – vocals
Socrates Leptos – guitars
George Kallis – keyboards
Paris Lambrou – bass
Stefan Dittrich – drums

The fourth album from Japan’s death/doom metal kings COFFINS will finally arrive this summer in the form of The Fleshland, the band’s maiden LP under the banner of Relapse Records.

The Fleshland will be the first proper studio album from Coffins since their commended Buried Death album, released by 20 Buck Spin in 2008, undoubtedly making it one of the most awaited death/doom albums of 2013. Recorded late 2012/early 2013 at Tokyo’s Noise Room Studio with engineer Shigenori Kobayashi, and produced by Bungo Uchino and the rest of Coffins, The Fleshland shows the revamped and expanded band lineup smashing down everything in their path, having upped the lineup from a trio to a quartet with a new drummer and full-time vocalist since Buried Death. Nine grisly numbers thunder with the unbeatable mid-paced Coffins stomp, laying down over forty-five minutes of bruising low-end sludge-infiltrated, plodding doom with possibly the best production values in the band’s meaty catalog of carnage.

Relapse will roll out The Fleshland via CD, download and mammoth 2xLP, the bloodsoaked opus now locked for a North American release date of July 9th. In addition, a deluxe black and white artwork edition on 2xLP, Cassette and CD will be made available only via Relapse direct.

The album’s cover art, created once again by Chris Moyen, can be seen below:
The Fleshland tracklisting:

'Here Comes Perdition'
'Hellbringer'
'The Colossal Hole'
'No Saviour'
'The Vacant Pale Vessel'
'Rotten Disciples'
'Dishuman'
'The Unhallowed Tide'
'Tormentopia'

Check out an album trailer below:
Coffins lineup:

Bungo Uchino - guitars/vocals
Takuya Koreeda - bass/vocals
Ryo Yamada - vocals
Satoshi Hikida - drums
More on Coffins at this location.

Stockholm, Sweden based rockers DYNAZTY check in with the following updates:

"As you probably know by now Joel Fox Apelgren (bass) recently left the band. This is not the only change happening in the Dynazty camp right now. We recently also parted ways with both our management and record company. A conscious choice on our part. The management will be strictly handled by ourselves from now on.
A new album is in it's final stages of the writing process and will be recorded this summer. The album will have a release date once we've found a record deal that we are 110% certain will be absolutely right for us. This new album will musically see us embark in a slightly different journey than before, updating ourselves to where we sonically want to be right now. Thank you for your time and feel free to share if you'd like! Godspeed!"

(Photo by Karl Nordgaard)

Swedish hard rockers IMPERA have tapped producer/engineer Lars Chriss (LION’S SHARE) to mix their sophomore studio CD, Pieces Of Eden, tentatively due in September.

A video clip of the band in the studio can be seen below:
Impera is:

Tommy Denander (TOTO, PAUL STANLEY, MICHAEL JACKSON, ALICE COOPER) - Guitar
Matti Alfonzetti (JAGGED EDGE, SCOTT GORHAM, SKINTRADE, ROAD TO RUIN, RED WHITE & BLUES) - Vocals
J.K. Impera (BRUCE KULICK, GRAHAM BONNET, VINNIE VINCENT, JOHN CORABI, BRIAN ROBERTSON) - Drums
Mats Vassfjord (VINNIE VINCENT, JOHN CORABI, SCAAR, GRAND DESIGN, LANEY'S LEGION) - Bass
Impera is described as "the perfect amalgamation of everything that makes rock roll with the punches. A guitar player who, seemingly effortlessly, delivers stunning solos and riffs of that classic, timeless grit you thought were killed off by grunge. Pounding bass that will put you through the wall. Blistering drumming that's as solid as it is technically challenging. And on top of all that, add a vocalist that sings circles around the competition."

More on Impera at this location.

Inner Wound Recordings will release Swedish melodic hard rock band SAFFIRE's debut album, From Ashes To Fire, on May 17th in Europe and North America.
From Ashes To Fire was mixed by Fredrik Nordström & Henrik Udd at Studio Fredman (AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL) and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (SYMPHONY X, OPETH, KREATOR). The artwork for the album was created by Anders Fästader at A Trailermade Production (H.E.A.T., HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, THE POODLES).
From Ashes To Fire tracklisting:

'Magnolia'
'Kingdom Of The Blind'
'Freedom Call'
'End Of The World'
'What If'
'A Symphony Unheard'
'Paralyzed'
'Modus Vivendi'
'The Betrayer's Fate'
'She Remains A Mystery'
'Say Goodbye'
'The Redemption'
'Stormy Waters'

The new video, for the track 'Magnolia', can be seen below:
Check out an album teaser for From Ashes To Fire below:
For more details visit Saffire.se.

Mighty Music has announced the release of the debut album, From Illusion To Despair, from Belgian metal band FADING BLISS. The album is an exciting journey into the early 90s gothic doom scene with role models like PARADISE LOST, MY DYING BRIDE and ANATHEMA, and will be released June 24th.
The history of Fading Bliss started in November 2009, when Olivier (DEWBACK, REDRUM 4) decided to start a new project combining gothic and doom metal influences, and paying somehow tribute to the early 90s bands Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and alike.

In August, 2010, the band entered the Noise Factory Studio with Gérald Jans (CHANNEL ZERO, MACHIAVEL, EPYSODE) and recorded their first self-titled demo. Featuring four tracks, this demo showed the personality of the band, ranging from aggressive and melodic songs to slower and darker tunes.

The following months, Fading Bliss played a few shows and kept on writing new tracks, further developing their sound trademarks, and adding even more depth and darkness to their music. Over these new tracks, eight were chosen to be featured on the forthcoming debut album. The recordings happened between March and June 2012, again in Noise Factory studio, which resulted in From Illusion To Despair. The album includes a guest appearance by Paul Kuhr (NOVEMBERS DOOM) on the track 'A Walk Through Despair'.



From Illusion To Despair tracklisting:

'Illusion'
'Fading Bliss'
'1462 - Part I'
'Chant De Ruines'
'She Evil'
'1462 - Part II'
'The Pretender'
'A Walk Through Despair'

An album trailer can be found below:

Los Angeles, CA-based rockers HEAVEN & EARTH's new studio album Dig was released on April 23rd, via Quarto Valley Records. The band has released the uncensored version of the video for the new song 'No Money, No Love', which can be viewed via Facebook here.
Dig tracklisting:

‘Victorious’
‘No Money, No Love’
‘I Don’t Know What Love Is’
‘Man & Machine’
‘House Of Blues’
‘Back In Anger’
‘Waiting For The End Of The World’
‘Sexual Insanity’
‘Rock & Roll Does’
‘A Day Like Today’
‘Good Times’
‘Live As One’

The album is currently streaming in it's entirety at this location.

Heaven & Earth recently released their official video for the single ‘No Money, No Love’. The video features performance footage of the band, along with an old hotel packed with a motley crew of midgets, magicians, and scantily clad temptresses. The video was directed by acclaimed photographer Glen Wexler, who has worked with VAN HALEN, BLACK SABBATH, and MICHAEL JACKSON. Check out the clip below:
For more info visit Facebook.

On May 2nd, STONE SOUR performed at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, cranking out a three song set consisting of 'Gone Sovereign', 'Absolute Zero', and a cover of BLACK SABBATH's 'Children Of The Grave'. Check out the pro-shot video below:
On July 15th, Da Capo Press will publish the second book from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman COREY TAYLOR entitled, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven (Or, How I Made Peace With The Paranormal And Stigmatized Zealots And Cynics In The Process).

The 256 page hardcover is available for pre-order via the Amazon link below. A paperback version will go on sale in June 2014.
In this book, Corey Taylor undertakes something never before attempted in the history of rock superstardom: he takes you with him as he journeys undercover through various ghostbusting groups who do their best to gather information and evidence about the existence of spirits. Some are more credible than others, and, frankly, some are completely insane, but all are observed with appropriate seriousness as Taylor attempts to better understand some of the spooky things that have happened to him in his life, especially that night at the Cold House. But that’s not all, folks. Taylor once again gives you a behind-the-scenes tour of his crazy life and the many beyond-the-grave events he’s encountered. (You’ll be shocked how often Slipknot has been invaded by the supernatural.) Taylor also touches on his religious background and how it led him to believe in much more than the Man in the Sky.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of IN-GRAVED, the new band led by former PENTAGRAM and PLACE OF SKULLS guitarist Victor Griffin, performing two new songs - 'Love Song For The Dying' and 'The Fall' - at this year's Desert Fest (Thursday, April 25) in Berlin, Germany can be viewed below.
In-Graved recently released its self-titled debut album in Europe last March via Finnish label Svart Records and in North America through Veritas Vinyl. The band and touring line up features Griffin, TROUBLE's original drummer Jeff "Oly" Olson (RETRO GRAVE) on Hammond organ, drummer Pete Campbell (60 WATT SHAMAN, PLACE OF SKULLS), and bassist Guy Pinhas (THE OBSESSED, ACID KING, GOATSNAKE).
In-Graved is scheduled to perform at the Days of The Doomed Festival in Milwaukee, WI Saturday, June 22.

Guest appearances on the debut album are bassists Ron Holzner (TROUBLE, EARTHEN GRAVE, DEBRIS INC), Greg Turley (PENTAGRAM), Marty Swaney (DEATH ROW, PENTAGRAM), Dan Lively (SWEET CICADA), Anne Griffin, and keyboardist Mike Puleo (ORODRUIN).

It was announced back in February 2012 that Norway's THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, who spawned the career of LEAVES' EYES vocalist Liv Kristine and officially called it quits in October 2010, were working on remastered re-issues of their first three albums: the self-titled debut, Velvet Darkness They Fear, and Aegis. Initially meant to be released in late 2012, Massacre Records have announced July 5th as the official release date for all three albums in digipack CD and double vinyl LP formats.

The re-releases will feature rare bonus material, new liner notes penned by BW&BK's Carl Begai including comments from the band members.
Stay tuned for updates.

Theatre Of Tragedy released their Last Curtain Call DVD/CD set and two-CD on May 20th, 2011. It features 18 tracks spanning the band's entire career. Full length clips of the songs 'Image' and 'Machine' are now available for viewing below.

The concert film has a running time of 94 minutes and includes a half hour On The Road movie from the last tour of the band, footage from the last ever rehearsal 01.10.10 (with fans attending) as well as in-depth interviews with all band members shot in January 2011. The concert film features both stereo and 5.1 surround sound. Audio was mixed by Alex Møklebust and mastered by Chris Sansom at Propeller Mastering. In addition there is a live CD included with the band's pick of their live favorites.
The tracklist for the DVD is as follows:

'Hide And Seek'
'Bring Forth ye Shadow'
'Lorelei'
'Frozen'
'Ashes and Dreams'
'A Rose for the Dead'
'Fragment'
'And when He Falleth'
'Venus'
'Hollow'
'Storm'
'Image'
'Cassandra'
'A Hamlet for a Slothful Vassal'
'Fade'
'Machine'
'Der Tanz der Schatten'
'Forever Is The World'
The tracklist for the double-CD is as follows:

CD 1:
'Hide And Seek'
'Bring Forth Ye Shadow'
'Frozen'
'Ashes And Dreams'
'A Rose For The Dead'
'Fragment'
'And When He Falleth And Venus'

CD 2:
'Hollow'
'Storm, Image'
'A Hamlet For A Slothful Vassal'
'Fade'
'Machine'
'Der Tanz Der Schatten And Forever Is The World'

For more info visit Theatreoftragedy.com. A DVD teaser is available below:

EMI has released a new set of MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP live material titled Walk The Stage: The Highlights. The live collection presents a single disc highlight of the 2009 four-CD release, collecting together live MSG classics from five different shows including Hammersmith Apollo, Reading Festival and Osaka Festival Hall in 1980 through 1982. The set is now bolstered with the previously unreleased track ‘Lost Horizons’ from a 1980 Manchester Apollo show which didn’t appear on the original release.

Walk The Stage: The Highlights tracklisting:

‘Armed And Ready’
‘Looking Out From Nowhere’
‘Lost Horizons’ (previously unreleased)
‘Cry For The Nations’
‘Attack Of The Axeman’
‘Tales Of Mystery’
‘Ready To Rock’
‘Victim Of Illusion’
‘Into The Arena’
‘Never Trust A Stranger’
‘Rock You To The Ground’
‘Bijou Pleasurette’
‘Feels Like A Good Thing’
‘Doctor Doctor’

It's been over two years now since Canadian traditional heavy metal maniacs EVIL SURVIVES released their sophomore album Powerkiller on Heavy Artillery Records. Since the release and heavy touring across North America in 2010 and 2011, the band have parted ways with original vocalist Karl 'Axe n Smash' Warkentin. After an exhaustive search for a Dickinson to call their own - Evil Survives has officially announced the search is over. Pete Klassen has taken the reins.

According to a press release, Klassen brings a global-metal element to the table, hailing from Calgary but currently living in Tokyo and being involved with the Japanese heavy metal scene working for an independent label and translating touring/management contracts for Hokkaido heavy metal legends SABER TIGER.

After tracking instruments in several sessions over the past nine months, Evil Survives is currently putting the finishing touches on the upcoming third full length called Painslave. The album was engineered and mixed once again at Private Ear Studios by longtime ES audio-sensai John Paul Peters (PROPAGANDHI, COMEBACK KID), and co-produced - as always - by Satan herself.
'Destroyer', the first single from the upcoming full length will be made available for free download on Bandcamp.

Destroyer describes Napoleons fateful 1812 Russian campaign, the notorious burning of Moscow and the crippling miseries of the winter retreat.

The new track – the world premier of singer Pete Klassen - will be unleashed online May 31st at 11:58pm sharp.

For more details on Evil Survives visit Facebook.

WHITE WIZZARD will release their new album; The Devils Cut, on June 3rd in Europe via Earache Records and June 25th in North America via Century Media/Earache Records. The band has now released a new song from the album, ‘Kings Of The Highway’, and can be heard below:

The Devils Cut is the band's third full-length release, and features artwork by Cameron Davis, who is known for his work as lead character designer and illustrator for the Guitar Hero video game series. View the artwork for The Devils Cut below:

White Wizzard bassist and mainman Jon Leon comments: "It was great to work with the amazing artist Cameron Davis again, who also did the art for our album Over The Top. Cameron and I live in the same building here in LA and he is a really talented guy. When he presented me the piece for the album cover, I knew right away it was the one. It has amazing imagery and depth and is very artful, while making a tongue-in-cheek statement poking some fun at organized religion, which is something I feel strongly about."

"Some of my lyrics on this album and previous albums focus on not letting religion and the cult of group belief blind you from the preservation of thinking for yourself and being an individual, so it ties into that very well, as the statement of the piece is how religion is imprisonment for the soul and how, even within its own confines, it forces its believers into blind group submission. I think any of us that went to catholic school as a child can relate to that nun!!! It has 'classic metal cover' all over it and it just blew my mind."

"I look forward to this imagery being out there and am proud to have it be a part of White Wizzard. To have art of this quality to convey the visual aspects of the band is just fantastic."

See White Wizzard live:

May
8 – Fullerton, CA – Slide Bar (with CAULDRON)

For more info visit Facebook.

Napalm Records will release a split 7" from LEGION OF THE DAMNED and KREATOR, on July 28th. Strictly limited to 250 copies in Goldne Vinyl and 250 copies in Purple Vinyl, with two previously unreleased tracks. Exclusively available via the Napalm Records mailorder.
Tracklisting:

Side A:
Kreator - 'From Flood Into Fire' (Live)

Side B:
Legion Of The Damned - 'Summon All Hate'

Nashville-based Mind’s i Entertainment has signed Australia’s DATURA CURSE to a multi-year management agreement.

The band's debut album will be out in June and check in with the following update: "Excited to say we have the legend of melodic death metal Fredrik Nordström mixing our debut album for us. He is known for creating albums with IN FLAMES, SOILWORK, ARCH ENEMY and CIPHER SYSTEM to name a few. Mixing starts on May 23. Very excited with the material we have and can't wait for you all to hear it. We also have Seth Siro Anton doing the artwork for us again as we were extremely happy with his work on Reason(s)."
“We are proud to be working with this awesome band.”, states Mark Warner, President of Mind’s i Entertainment. “They bring together melodic and hard metal in a very special way. We have some amazing plans for Datura Curse. They are excellent musicians and a great group of guys.”

For more details visit Datura Curse on Facebook.

Hells Headbangers announces June 21st as the international release date for INSANITY's Death After Death vinyl reissue. Hailing from California, Insanity's roots stretch back to the mid '80s, when death metal was just beginning to get a toehold in the underground. While the band would hone their twistedly memorable/memorably twisted craft across a clutch of demos during that decade, it wasn't until 1994 when Insanity would release their debut album, Death After Death. By then, black metal was taking over the underground and death metal was on a slow, steady decline, but Insanity stuck to their guns and produced an alternately crazy/catchy slab of old-school death metal that somehow maintained a forward-thinking outlook.

With solos flying out of control yet retaining a dark melodicism, and riff/battery doing much the same - serpentine, obtuse structures retaining a memorable flow - had Death After Death been released five years earlier as originally intended, Insanity would be held in the same reverence as DEATH, ATHIEST, and MORBID ANGEL were in the late '80s. Now, Hells Headbangers unleashes Death After Death on gatefold vinyl and with new artwork by Drew Eliot - resurrection never sounded so deathly!

Death After Death tracklisting:

‘Attack Of Archangels’
‘Fire Death Fate’
‘In Memory’
‘Rotting Decay’
‘Morbid Lust’
‘Blood For Blood’
‘Possession’
‘Death After Death’

Finnish melodeath act ILIAC THORNS will release their debut full-length album, It, on May 20th in Finland and June 26th in the rest of the world via Inverse Records. The album contains eight songs of blackened melodeath which “attacks the core of listeners like a ton of black sludge.”


It tracklisting:
‘Decimate Prayer’
‘Brutal Seizure’
‘Euphoria Lost’
‘Kammiovärinä’
‘The Serpents Calling’
‘Enter Parasites’
‘The Shining’
‘Itsetuntosi’

Even thou Iliac Thorns plays melodic metal of death, their music aren’t meant to sound like this faceless mainstream genre, what melodeath has unfortunately become over the years. In guitar riffs you can hear the sound of mid 90’s melodeath mixed to their distinctive "blackish" expression. Also the production, song writing and vocal performances has taken reflections of raw and extreme black metal, as this side is also important to some band members.

Iliac Thorns are:
Antti Tani – drums
Ilkka Lonnqvist – guitar and backgrowls
Jere Harju – bass
Samu Haatainen – guitar and vocals

For more info visit Facebook.

Spanish thrash metal newcomers TRALLERY have reached an agreement with Xtreem Music for the exclusive worldwide distribution and promotion of their debut album Catalepsy. Coming out from various local acts and previously playing as a METALLICA cover band, Trallery finally decided to start the recordings of their album in summer 2012 and finishing in December of the same year.


Check out the title track ‘Catalepsy’ below:

After some months where the band had to deal with various matters, specially the making of the cover art by renowned artist Andrei Bouzikov (MUNICIPAL WASTE, CANNABIS CORPSE, SKELETON WITCH, DEATHRAISER) and their participation on the Wacken battle of bands of which they were winners of the whole Spanish territory, resulting on the band's inclusion on Wacken 2013, Trallery is ready to release this album and will come out on June 1st.

A press release describes the band: “Trallery plays a stunning brand of classic thrash metal with a fresh sound and varied dynamics resulting with extremely catchy yet both melodic and aggressive tunes with outstanding instrumental and vocal performances that makes this band one of the most hopeful formations on the healthy Spanish thrash metal scene.”

For more info visit Facebook.

Canadian power thrashers SANKTUARY will be unleashing their debut album Something Fierce, on July 2nd via Spread The Metal Records.
Bassist Cole Hume comments: "This journey has been quite the experience and we are incredibly stoked to unleash Something Fierce to the masses. So crack a cold one, strap on some clean undies and grab an umbrella 'cause this shit storm's coming soon to a record store near you."

Spawning from high school friendship and growing into something much more epic, Sanktuary kicked things off with two back-to-back EPs – 2009's self-titled release and 2010's Black Magic Brew – and soon followed that up with a massive move from Whitehorse, Yukon to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

After touring the country following their epic relocation and being faced with a major blow in Toronto that saw their van and nearly all their gear get stolen, Sanktuary turned things around with a third EP in 2011, Tundrastruck (a 3 way split with BLACK MOOR and METALLIAN), followed by them signing to Spread the Metal Records, which sent them all the way back to Whitehorse to record Something Fierce.

"Sanktuary was one of the very first bands that I looked at for my label, Spread the Metal Records. They've been with me from the beginning and I believe in them so strongly that I've never let them go. The way that they've matured on this record is nothing short of astonishing." comments Matthew Day of STM.
Something Fierce tracklisting:

'Deadly Prey'
'Heat Lightning'
'Hail The Villain'
'Thrill Of The Kill'
'Screeching For Vengeance'
'Fire In The Sky'
'Beyond The Wall'
'Midnite Mass'

More on Sanktuary at this location.

Indianapolis modern metal band EYES ON FIRE have released a video for their new single, 'In The End', from their forthcoming album, Victimizer.
The video was directed by Adam Shewmaker, and showcases the band's live performance, as well as powerful concept footage focusing on the US Armed Forces.
Eyes On Fire are set to independently release their new 15-song album, Victimizer, on June 1st. The full length album was produced by the band, and recorded at Threshold Studios in their hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Victimizer strikes the perfect balance of ear-catching riffs, blazing solos, rapid-fire rhythms, combined with the soaring dynamic vocal range of Sahar Montalvo. A June 1st album release event at Birdy's in Indianapolis is planned, with a performance at a Helping Hands For Freedom charity event the following night.
More on Eyes On Fire at this location.

Chilean band SILVERJACK recently released their third album, Apostando A Ganador, via Digmetalworld Records in North America. The album contains nine tracks and many guest musicians such as Claudio Cordero and Victor Escobar (ALTO VOLTAJE), Elias Jaramillo (LOS MUERTOS) and Rocardo Tampier (NO HAY TRATO). The artwork (below) was done by Roberto Jaras.

Apostando A Ganador tracklisting:

‘Apostando A Ganador’
'Disparo En Mi Cabeza’
‘Demonio Errante’
‘El Control’
‘Sin Dios Ni Ley’
‘Golden Ritz’
‘Retribucion’
‘El Ultimo Soldado’
‘Corazones Negros’

Check out the new video for the album's title track, below:
The album can be streamed in full at DigitalMetalWorld.com.

ONWARD/GODLESS RISING guitarist TOBY KNAPP has revealed the cover art to his sixth full length solo release Static Warfare marking a 20 year anniversary of the release of his Shrapnel Records debut Guitar Distortion.
The following nine tracks are set to appear on Static Warfare:

'Static Warfare'
'Weaponology'
'The Impossibility of Reason'
'X Class Flare'
'Plasma Spheroid'
'Not If But When'
'Trashed Radiation Shield'
'The Arrival Of Polaris'
'The Doomsday Clock'

Knapp recently stated the following about the release: "When I began writing the album the idea I had in mind was a totally uplifting melodic guitar instrumental album, something an Eric Johnson fan would like. As I finished I realized it's probably, unintentionally, going to be one of darkest and most abrasive "instrumental" albums out there. What I write just naturally comes out dark, the happy shred 'guitar boy' disappeared long ago".
For more details visit TobyKnappMusic.com.

EMI has released a new set of MARILLION singles on four CDs with a 12 page booklet. This is a scaled down and revised version of the 2002 Marillion ? Singles Box Volume 2 ’89?’95 packed with tracks only previously available on the now very rare Singles Box Volume 2 ’89?’95.

The Singles ’89-95’ tracklisting:

Disc 1
‘Hooks In You’ (7” version)
‘After Me’
‘Hooks In You’ (meaty mix)
‘Uninvited Guest’ (7” version)
‘Easter’ (7” version)
‘The Release’
‘Easter’ (12” edit)
‘Uninvited Guest’ (live)
‘Warm Wet Circles’ (live)
‘That Time Of The Night’ (live)
‘Cover My Eyes (Pain And Heaven)’
‘How Can It Hurt’
‘The Party’

Disc 2
‘No One Can’
‘A Collection’
‘Splintering Heart’ (live)
‘Dry Land’ (7” edit)
‘Holloway Girl’ (live)
‘Waiting To Happen’ (live)
‘Easter’ (live)
‘Sugar Mice’ (live)
‘After Me’ (live)
‘The King Of Sunset Town’ (live)
‘Substitute’ (live)
‘Sympathy’
‘Kayleigh’ (live)
‘Dry Land’ (live)
‘Kayleigh’ (live)
‘I Will Walk On Water’ (5” mix)

Disc 3
‘Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)’ (Mike Stone Remix)
‘Sympathy’ (acoustic version)
‘Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)’ (acoustic version)
‘Sugar Mice’ (acoustic version)
‘The Great Escape’ (alternative ending)
‘Made Again’
‘Marouatte Jam’
‘The Hollow Man’
‘Brave’
‘The Great Escape’/’The Last Of You’/’Fallin' from the Moon’ (medley) (orchestral version)
‘Winter Trees’ (instrumental)

Disc 4
‘Alone Again in the Lap of Luxury’ (radio edit)
‘Living With the Big Lie’
‘River’ (instrumental) (live)
‘Bridge’ (live)
‘Living With the Big Lie’ (live)
‘Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)’ (live)
‘Slainte Mhath’ (live)
‘Uninvited Guest’ (live)
‘The Space’ (live)
‘Beautiful’
‘Afraid Of Sunrise’
‘Icon’
‘Live Forever’
‘The Great Escape’ (demo)
‘Hard As Love’ (demo)

Unsung New Jersey-based melodic blackened doom ensemble FORLORN PATH recently unveiled their debut full-length, Man’s Last Portrait. A majestic work of morose wisdom, sonic sanctity and deviant beauty, the self-released Man’s Last Portrait was recorded by guitarist/sound engineer Ivan Chernikov mixed by Rob Torres and Frightbox Studios, and mastered by Jens Bogren and Fascination Street Studios.
Man’s Last Portrait tracklisting:

'The Coming Of Winter'
'Empire Of Decadence'
'Words Only Wind Can Speak'
'Masquerade'
'A Moment Of Silence'
'As Hope Fades'
'Ghosts'
'Man’s Last Portrait'
'What Lies Beyond'
'Relics'

'Empire Of Decadence' is streaming below:

The Forlorn Path story begins in the fall of 2008 in an inconspicuous college house in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Through a mutual desire to create beautifully brutal music, the original lineup — Yuriy Garnaev, Ray Dib, Alex Fiore, and Dave Imbriaco — culled a diverse blend of influences, including death metal, folk, jazz, noise, and black metal. Two years later, the band emerged with their first EP, Being Towards Death. Flaunting a deliberately low-fi production, the EP merged the prime tenets of death metal with dissonant melodies to create an unsettling treatise on the ignorance of man. Fan favorite, 'These Walls Stand No More', was the album’s magnum opus, nearly 10 minutes of heavy, evocative passages and a jazzy conclusion that set Forlorn Path apart from their strictly metal contemporaries.

2012 saw the release of their second EP, Intifada, which centers itself around a journey through a man’s horrific coma dream. Forlorn Path fine-tuned their sound to depict the crushing battle against oppression and inner strife, and began to experiment with denouements that were at once both brutal and melodic. These elements and structures hinted at their progression as a band, which would thrust them back into recording just months after their sophomore release.

By the time recording began again in spring 2012, the band had seen a great deal of change. It now consisted of only two founding members, Garnaev and Imbriaco, who were now joined by guitarist/sound engineer Ivan Chernikov. With Imbriaco taking over lead vocals and Garnaev taking full creative control of the music, a new sound began to take shape.
Clocking in at just over an hour long, the debut full-length Man’s Last Portrait is the culmination of the band’s efforts to date. The album features material new material alongside tunes written over the course of many years, telling stories of loss, longing, and the gradual decay of an ignorant world. Some songs hearken back to the strength of the band’s earlier aggression; others feature strains of darkness and melancholy, ambient keyboards, and acoustic interludes. All told, the latest release combines the best of the old with previously uncharted waters, inviting listeners on a journey that is at once despondent and hopeful, treacherous and alluring.

More on Forlorn Path at this location.

Blackened heavy metal band FAETHOM from Fort Lauderdale, Florida have released a lyric video for their song 'Beware The King' off their debut album, In The Name Of The Father, The Son, And The Unholy.
The video features the song’s lyrics and displays in a very special way the album’s artwork by artist Fernando Saavedra. In The Name Of The Father, The Son, And The Unholy is a concept album and tells the harrowing story of an old hermit named Victor Garcia who is witness to the desecration of an innocent nun named Ophelia by a demon named Ezrahmael, which is what the song 'Beware The King' describes. Victor not only has to deal with the demon’s pressure to bring the demon-child to him at its birth but also the bitter wrath of the cruel Mother Superior Beatriz Cruz. Lucky for Victor he has the aid of Eterna, a ancient witch, who holds all knowledge of the demon Ezrahmael’s past and gives much needed counsel to Victor.
Faethom are currently working on their second concept album that they hope to release by the end of 2013.

For more details visit Faethomweb.com.

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem conducted interviews with various hard rock and heavy metal musicians on the "black carpet" at the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards, which was held on May 2 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California. Featured artists include members of ANTHRAX, SUICIDE SILENCE, MEGADETH, ROB ZOMBIE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and CHILDREN OF BODOM. You can now watch the footage below.

The sold-out Revolver Golden Gods awards was broadcast live on national television for the first time through AXS TV and broadcast in the United States and key international markets through Xbox LIVE and Revolver's Facebook page. In addition, May 2 was declared Golden Gods Day in the City of Los Angeles, with Councilwoman Jan Perry opening the show with an official proclamation.

Glenn Danzig took the stage at this year's show with fellow MISFITS legend Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein for a very special live MISFITS set. Also performing at the event were METALLICA, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and HALESTORM.

In addition to the not-to-be-missed performance lineup, this year's show featured appearances by some of the biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal. The list included Gene Simmons, Lemmy Kilmister of MOTÖRHEAD, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Philip Anselmo, Jason Newsted, Zakk Wylde, Kerry King of SLAYER, Munky and Brian "Head" Welch of KORN, Taylor Momsen, David Draiman of DISTURBED/DEVICE, David Ellefson and Chris Broderick of MEGADETH, HEAVEN'S BASEMENT, TESTAMENT and IN THIS MOMENT.

FOZZY frontman and WWE pro-wrestling legend Chris Jericho reprised his role as host for the fourth consecutive year. Returning as well was the Black Carpet pre-show special, which was hosted by iconic heavy-metal frontman Sebastian Bach and SiriusXM's Jose Mangin. The special aired on AXS TV, Xbox LIVE and Revolver's Facebook page.

Fans everywhere were given the opportunity to vote to help decide who will take home the awards for Best Guitarist, Best Drummer, Best Vocalist, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Live Band, Best New Talent, Most Metal Athlete, Comeback Of The Year, Paul Gray Best Bassist and Most Dedicated Fans. Voting ended on April 15 with over 3.25 million fans weighing in, and the results were unveiled live during the show.

This year's Golden God Award, which is given to one special honoree a year who embodies the spirit of hard rock and metal, went to Rob Zombie. Performers and hard-rock icons METALLICA received the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Riff Lord Award , given each year to a legendary guitarist in the field of hard rock and heavy metal, went to none other than BLACK SABBATH axeman Tony Iommi.

Razor & Tie, the North American record label of Finnish "love" metallers HIM, has released the following statement:

"HIM's North American tour (which was due to kick off in Los Angeles on May 3rd at the House Of Blues) has been cancelled due to unforeseen medical circumstances. HIM's lead vocalist Ville Valo has been diagnosed with severe asthma with presumptive pneumonia. Tickets for all dates will be refunded at the point of purchase. HIM will be back later this summer as part of the Rock Allegiance tour."

HIM's new album, "Tears On Tape", was released on April 30 via Razor & Tie in North America and on April 29 through DoubleCross (Cooking Vinyl's specialist rock imprint) in the U.K. and Ireland. The "love metal" act's eighth official album was recorded at Helsinki's Finnvox Studios with longtime producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (APOCALYPTICA, AMORPHIS, MOONSPELL) and was mixed in London, England by Tim Palmer, who previously helmed 2005's "Dark Light" and 2007's "Venus Doom".

In addition to the 13 new tracks, the very exclusive and very limited "fanpack", presented by Metal Hammer magazine and DoubleCross Records features some not-to-be-found-anywhere-else content. Exclusively available from April 29 for four weeks, it comes with a bespoke 132-page magazine edited by frontman Ville Valo himself that plays as the ultimate sleeve notes to the album.

The album's artwork was described by artist Daniel P. Carter as having come about via "a series of strange coincidences involving Lee Dorrian, sacred geometry and the ramblings of a madman."

HIM's current lineup is Ville Valo (vocals), Mikko "Linde" Lindström (guitar), Mikko "Migé" Paananen (bass), Janne "Burton" Puurtinen (keyboards), and Mika "Gas" Karppinen (drums). The band is managed by Seppo Vesterinen at Hinterland, Inc. and represented for U.S. touring by Justin Hirschman/AGI.

Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE have commenced the songwriting process for the long-awaited follow-up to 2010's "We Rule The Night" for a tentative late 2013/early 2014 release.

A short video update from the band can be seen below.

SONIC SYNDICATE bassist Karin Axelsson gave birth to her first child on October 12, 2012. The baby girl weighed in at 3.02 kilograms and measured 46 centimeters long.

Axelsson is engaged to André Gonzales, guitarist of the Swedish band BY NIGHT.

After an almost year-long hiatus, SONIC SYNDICATE co-headlined the Vekeri Fesztival at the end of June 2012 in Hungary.

"We Rule The Night" was released in Europe on August 27, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Bohus Sound studios in Kungälv, Sweden with producer Toby Wright, who has previously worked with KORN, SLAYER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KISS, FEAR FACTORY, IN FLAMES, STONE SOUR and OZZY OSBOURNE, among others.

AEROSMITH, BOSTON, EXTREME and GODSMACK are among the artist who will perorm at "Boston Strong: An Evening Of Support And Celebration", a benefit concert to be held at the TD Garden on Thursday, May 30. Net ticket proceeds from the historic concert will benefit The One Fund Boston, set up by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15.

Tickets for the event will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster for $35 to $285 (including all fees and service charges). In an effort to make sure all net proceeds from ticket sales go directly to The One Fund, all tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster's paperless ticket delivery. Fans must have the credit card used to make the purchase and a valid, government-issued ID to gain entry.

"Live Nation and TD Garden have hosted thousands of concerts over the years, but none with such a sense of purpose as 'Boston Strong: A Concert Of Support And Celebration'," said Don Law, President of Live Nation New England, in a press release. "Boston is a city with strong roots, and homegrown artists reached out to us to see what could be done. We are proud to help solidify this huge concert lineup."