The first part of a new "Road Warriors" feature with Joel O'Keeffe (vocals/lead guitar), Ryan O'Keeffe (drums) of Australian hard rockers AIRBOURNE can be seen below.

AIRBOURNE's third album, "Black Dog Barking", will be released 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.

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).

Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK SABBATH performing a brand new song, "End Of The Beginning", earlier tonight (Monday, April 22) at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand can be seen below. The track is taken from the new SABBATH album, "13", which arrives on June 11.

SABBATH will perform "End Of The Beginning" on the season finale of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation". The episode is set to air on Wednesday, May 15 at 10:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

"13" is the first SABBATH record in 35 years to feature singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler all playing together.

Details of the album's deluxe edition surfaced on Friday (April 19), with the band revealing that the eight-song effort will be accompanied by three bonus tracks called "Methademic", "Peace Of Mind" and "Pariah".

Several versions of "13" are available for pre-order, including a standard CD, a double CD that includes a second disc of exclusive bonus audio, a heavyweight vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve and a "Super Deluxe Box Set" containing the double CD, the vinyl album, an exclusive DVD documentary on the band's reunion, 13 photographic prints and hand-written lyrics.

Osbourne went on the BBC in England to discuss the band's new single, "God Is Dead?" and the inspiration behind the track. Ozzy explained, "I was in somebody's office and there was a magazine on a table and it just said, 'God Is Dead', and I suddenly thought about 9/11 and all these terrorist things and religion and how many people have died in the name of religion. When you think about the tragedy that's happened throughout time, it just came in my head. You'd think by now that their God would have stopped people dying in the name of, so I just starting thinking that people must be thinking, 'Where is God? God is dead' and it just hit me."

Ozzy added that the question mark at the end of the title is his way of showing that he's not sure about the answer himself, saying, "At the end of the thing, there's still a bit of hope because there I sing that I don't believe that God is dead. It's just a question of when you see so many dreadful people killing each other with bombs, and blowing the tube trains up and the World Trade Center."

SABBATH kicked off its world tour in support of "13" on Saturday (April 20) in Auckland.

According to Rolling Stone, Boston's local heroes DROPKICK MURPHYS raised $65,000 in just 15 hours for those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings by selling a new t-shirt on their website.
The tee is priced between $24.99 and $26.99, based on size, and the front reads "For Boston" with a photo of the skyline. The back is emblazoned with the city's seal and the note, "Thank you, to all who purchased this shirt. All proceeds go to the victims and families of the Boston Marathon bombings. Love, Dropkick Murphys."

Go to the band's official webshop here to purchase.

Italian symphonic metallers RHAPSODY OF FIRE will release a new live album, "Live - From Chaos To Eternity", on May 3 in Europe and May 7 in the USA via AFM Records. It will be available as two-CD digipak and as limited three-vinyl set. The material (a mixture of old classics and newer tracks) was recorded on the band’s latest European tour in spring 2012.

Comments keyboardist Alex Staropoli: "We wanted to deliver a live album that can actually be called a live album. Not one single part was re-recorded in studio as most of bands do.

"Personally, I am always looking for perfection but in the case of this live album, I truly believe it had to sound live and maintain both live playing and feeling at 100%."

Adds vocalist Fabio Lione: "This live album it's the concrete proof that this band is strong and willing to keep playing and producing music for all our fans out there for the years to come."

"Live - From Chaos To Eternity" track listing:

CD 1

01. Dark Mystic Vision
02. Ad Infinitum
03. From Chaos To Eternity
04. Triumph Or Agony
05. I Belong To The Stars
06. The Dark Secret
07. Unholy Warcry
08. Lost In Cold Dreams
09. Land Of Immortals
10. Aeons Of Raging Darkness
11. Dark Reign Of Fire
12. Drum Solo

CD 2

01. The March Of The Swordmaster
02. Dawn Of Victory
03. Toccata On Bass
04. The Village Of Dwarves
05. The Magic Of The Wizard's Dream
06. Holy Thunderforce
07. Reign Of Terror
08. Knightrider Of Doom
09. Epicus Furor
10. Emerald Sword
11. Erian's Lost Secrets
12. The Splendour Of Angels’ Glory (A Final Revelation)

Video footage of RHAPSODY OF FIRE performing the song "Dawn Of Victory", taken from "Live - From Chaos To Eternity", can be seen below.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's signature sound, consisting of power metal, soundtrack-like elements and classical influences, gave a new meaning to the word "epic" since the release of "Legendary Tales" in 1997.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE 2013 is:

Fabio Lione - Vocals
Alex Staropoli - Keyboards
Roberto De Micheli - Guitar
Tom Hess - Guitar
Oliver Holzwarth - Bass
Alex Holzwarth - Drums

The new RHAPSODY OF FIRE lineup made its live debut on April 6, 2012 at the PPM Fest at the Lotto Mons Expo in Mons, Belgium.

Staropoli and RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli in 2011 announced their decision to go their separate ways.

Due to legal reasons, Staropoli is continuing under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, is making his efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE's original name), in which he is joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's latest album, "From Chaos To Eternity", was released in North America on July 12, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. Described by the band as "the natural evolution" from 2010's "The Frozen Tears Of Angels", the CD marks RHAPSODY OF FIRE's final release based on the fantasy saga started in 1997 with the group's debut album, "Legendary Tales".

QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate was interviewed on this past Friday's (April 19) edition of Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM. A transcript of the chat follows below.

Eddie Trunk: How does it feel to be [back out on the road with the new QUEENSRŸCHE lineup]?

Geoff Tate: It feels great. It's a good bunch of guys and, more importantly, I think we're having a great time playing together and a great time hanging out, which is a big part of it, you know. There's a great camaraderie that's already beginning with everyone, so that's a great thing. It makes it so much easier and more comfortable to tour, you know.

Eddie Trunk: In a certain sense, Geoff, does it feel like you're starting all over again?

Geoff Tate: No, not at all. You know, in some ways I suppose it feels different, you know, because I'm playing with some different people. But they're also people I've known for many, many years so it's not like a big stretch of having to get to know ya kind of stages. So I don't know, it just feels really comfortable, you know. We're having a great time.

Eddie Trunk: Was that a big part in selecting the musicians for your version of QUEENSRŸCHE — to make sure that these were people that were not only musicians that you liked and that you thought could certainly handle the gig but also guys that you could really connect with and had some history with?

Geoff Tate: Yeah, well, that's a big part of it, you know. You're traveling together, you're living together, so, you know, it's better if people's personalities gel and they can get along — that kind of thing. And also, you know, it's very important to find people that can play the stuff. You know, a lot of times people, musicians, you know, you say, "Hey, can you sit in with us and play this?" And they listen to it once, they go, "Oh yeah, I got that." Because they kind of interpret it as being, you know, kind of standard rock stuff. And then when they actually playing it they find, "Oh, wait a minute. This is a lot more complex than I thought." It's a little bit more difficult to wrap my head around. You know, there's some strange stuff about QUEENSRŸCHE music, you know, different timings and different counts between sections. Odd things that happen. Very strange chord voicing, you know, on the guitar and very unique. That's probably what makes the sound unique.

Eddie Trunk: So do you feel they've pretty much come together and nailed it or do you still think you're working through some stuff?

Geoff Tate: Oh no, I think everybody's doing really well now, you know. The first week out was kind of an adjustment period with the band getting used to playing together and then we also have a new crew as well so getting people, you know, tuned in to what we were expecting and what our expectations were and that kind of thing. You know, just getting things dialed in always takes a little while to get things up and running. But it's going good now. Everything's smooth and, you know, happy days.

Eddie Trunk: And I got a tweet or a text actually last night from a good friend of mine, drummer Brian Tichy [WHITESNAKE, OZZY OSBOURNE] who told me he's coming on board the QUEENSRŸCHE camp in your band starting in June. Tell me about that.

Geoff Tate: Yeah, Brian's taking over for Simon [Wright]. Simon has a commitment in South America for June so Brian's gonna take over and play with us and we're starting rehearsals with him the beginning of May.

Eddie Trunk: Yeah, he's an amazing player as well.

Geoff Tate: Yeah, he is. Nice guy, too.

Eddie Trunk: Yeah, and he sings really well, too.

Geoff Tate: Now that I didn't know.

Eddie Trunk: Yes, he sings well and he also is an amazing guitar player. The guy's… He's kind of like a Dave Grohl, if you will. He can do a little bit of everything. It's pretty remarkable.

Geoff Tate: Oh, that's cool.

Eddie Trunk: So, yeah, anybody else has to take a leave or whatever you could probably pretty much plug him anywhere and he could more or less handle it. What's the set now that you've put together for this band? I'm sure… and we're gonna talk about your new record and your first with this band in a second, but as far as the old material, what was your approach to going out on tour with these guys for the first time?

Geoff Tate: Well we're really focusing on the 25th anniversary of "Operation: Mindcrime" and so we're playing that whole album in its entirety. And that's really our focus. And then we do quite an extensive encore, really. Quite a few songs, kind of the more popular songs of QUEENSRŸCHE. And, yeah, pretty much that's it really. The focus is on the "Mindcrime" record.

Eddie Trunk: And let's talk about, of course, the new record, which, I imagine, you're doing something from live?

Geoff Tate: We haven't yet, no. We're getting ready to do that though when the album comes out.

Eddie Trunk: Well the album will be out this Tuesday and it's called "Frequency Unknown" and it's a very significant record I would imagine in your history because it's the first album with the QUEENSRŸCHE name that only features you from the original lineup. Tell me about putting this record together, Geoff, because when did you write this material? Was it written when things were disintegrating with the other band or was it all done after that had happened?

Geoff Tate: No, it was all done after that. Yeah, it's pretty much we started writing it in, oh, sometime around my birthday. I think January, something like that. And jumped to the studio right away and things started rolling, you know. And it had a real good kind of organic start with the writing team. And then we started getting different people on board for performances, you know, which was really fun. And sitting down and seeing where people could take it, you know, take the songs which is always really fun for me. You know, every musician has a different way of interpreting music. You can have four guys play the same chord progression and it's gonna sound different, you know, each time through with a different guy. So I like that part of musicianship, you know, seeing how people put their signature on things.

Eddie Trunk: And you reached out to a number of special guests on this record to come in and do a part. Can you tell us about some of those guys. I know you had K.K. Downing [JUDAS PRIEST] is on there. Dave Meniketti [Y&T]. Guys, of course, I'm a big fan of. Tell me about your approach to doing that.

Geoff Tate: Yeah, well, you know, just — let's see who was else on it. Brad Gillis [NIGHT RANGER, OZZY OSBOURNE] played on it. Paul Bostaph from TESTAMENT. God, there's a lot of people actually that I can't remember. I don't have a list in front of me right now. But it was really fun. You know, really fun hearing different people's interpretations of the songs and then giving them, you know, free rein to play solos and seeing what they came up with. And seeing how each guy approached it, you know, like K.K., the way he performs and the way he approaches writing a solo is so different than what Brad Gillis does. You know, they're two radically different approaches. And having never worked with them in a studio situation, it was really interesting to see that difference.

Eddie Trunk: I think, Geoff, outside o I know he did a cover of THE WHO, "Eminence Front", for a WHO tribute, but outside of that this is kind of the first thing that K.K. has done since leaving PRIEST, musically.

Geoff Tate: I think you're right, yeah.

Eddie Trunk: That's pretty cool that you were able to pull him out of semi-retirement.

Geoff Tate: Well he's a good guy. I've always gotten along with him.

Eddie Trunk: He's a great guy. Did he get talking about maybe getting his juices flowing to start playing a little bit more? Did you get to talk to him at all?

Geoff Tate: We talked about a lot of stuff, you know, I think, but nothing that I could really feel comfortable about sharing with other people, really, honestly.

Eddie Trunk: Right. On the new album you also rerecorded some QUEENSRŸCHE songs. Tell me about doing that.

Geoff Tate: Yeah, I think we rerecorded four past QUEENSRŸCHE songs, and that was quite a trip down memory lane. I'll tell you, really kind of a strange thing to do but fun. I enjoyed it.

Eddie Trunk: Was the idea just to put a different spin on them and show what you would do with them now with the guys you're playing with now?

Geoff Tate: No, no. It was just done for the record company. You know, they wanted to have these different versions and they wanted them to sound as close as we could make them to the originals. And that's what was really hard was making them sound that way, you know. With today's technology it's somewhat difficult to actually replicate some of that old sound gear and the way they were recorded and, you know, different studios, different gear, that kind of thing. Very challenging.

Eddie Trunk: They sound really cool, though. I mean there's some different — some little differences in there and, obviously, you've got different people playing that stuff and it's always interesting to hear their take on things.

Geoff Tate: Uh huh.

Eddie Trunk: So, Geoff, it's been — I would say we're coming up on a year since everything kind of imploded with the old band and it's been, you know, quite the year for you and I imagine for them and for the fans and trying to decipher everything along the say. You also put out a solo album which shouldn't be lost in the shuffle because there was some good stuff on it. Maybe it did a little bit, I think. Do you feel that way because of everything that went on?

Geoff Tate: Oh, you know, Eddie, I don't know. I don't really understand the whole, you know, position of records in today's world anymore. It's a whole different thing.

Eddie Trunk: That's a good point. What doesn't get lost in the shuffle. The record business is pretty different.

Geoff Tate: Yeah, it really is. It doesn't, you know, even resemble what it used to be. So I make new music because I have to, you know, it's something that's in me to create music and to write and it's really come down to that, you know. It's not so much a monetary gain exercise anymore. It's really all about the love of writing and making music. That's what it is. I guess that's what it's always been really.

Eddie Trunk: Right.

Geoff Tate: But the industry was just in such a state back then where, you know, you could make a record and then you could do a reasonable tour and you could make ends meet pretty well just following that schedule, you know, financially I'm speaking. And nowadays, you know, you just can't sell that many records so you have to tour more of course. So it's a whole different way of doing things.

Eddie Trunk: But being that it's been almost a year now that this has all gone down, when I first had you on "That Metal Show" and we discussed it, it was much more raw. It was much more… It had just happened and you were really, I felt, at least in talking to you then, still trying to process it and still very much stung by everything that had happened. And you kind of reflected that in the interview when we had you on the TV show. Now that some time has passed and you have your own band and you're out there touring and you've got a new record coming out with it Tuesday, are you in a different place with it now? I mean, how do you feel? Are you excited? Are you optimistic? What's your thought process after everything that's went down in the last year as far as the future and where your head's at?

Geoff Tate: Well, you know, when you have your life's work, and you all of a sudden are not doing that anymore in the same way, it takes a while to sort of adjust your mind to, you know, the possibilities of what could be in the future. And, you know, there's a lot of stuff you have to process and sort out. And I've done that now so, you know, I'm on the… I guess I'm on the road and moving ahead with my life and my music and my relationships and just enjoying life. And it's a great place to be in, actually. I wish I could have been in this position a lot earlier in my life. I never really realized how slightly miserable I was, you know. I guess you get used to your misery, you know, you get kind of used to the way things are and you just accept it and you live with it. But then when you're, say, divorced from that situation and you realize, "Gosh, I'm so much happier now." And it's a wonderful revelation really to realize that you don't have to be miserable. You don't have to be stuck in the situation you're in. You know, life goes on and it is what you make it. So I'm busy making it.

Eddie Trunk: Have you heard the [recently released] song ["Redemption"] from the other [version of QUEENSRŸCHE]?

Geoff Tate: No, no I haven't.

Eddie Trunk: Do you have an interest in it or do you just choose to not even kind of think it exists?

Geoff Tate: No, Eddie, I just have honestly no interest at all in anything on that side of the tracks. I'm very happy on my side of the tracks and moving where I'm going and I don't want to look back.

Eddie Trunk: And when will this be resolved as to which… Is it November that once and for all one QUEENSRŸCHE will more or less be anointed?

Geoff Tate: I suppose so. That's a good way to put it. Anointed. Yeah, I think November is our court date and I suppose some things will be decided by then. Maybe even before then, I don't know. But definitely by November we have a court date where we have to go in and actually, you know, move ahead from there.

Eddie Trunk: And the last thing, Geoff, is the fans. You know, obviously they were obviously put into this. QUEENSRŸCHE has a very passionate fan base. I find in talking to the fans some have felt the need to choose a side. Some have decided, like myself, to, you know, I'm not only a fan, but I'm friends with all you guys for a long time to just give everybody a platform and let the fans listen and decide. But for you, what have you seen in the fan response that you've been out there with this band and what are you hearing from the fans. And what are some of the things maybe that you think are out there that are erroneous or out of line that you maybe want to set the record straight on?

Geoff Tate: Well, you know, from my perspective I just see people coming to the shows and having a good time and celebrating the music. And, you know, nothing's changed in that respect. I do caution people, in my opinion, I don't think people have to choose a side at all. These things happen with people, relationships, bands where people go their separate ways and, you know, there's a reason for it and life moves on and why not roll with it and just enjoy what each camp has to offer. You know, if you don't like something somebody's doing then no big deal. Go listen to somebody else. It's not worth getting all worked up about, you know, and getting emotional about. It's music. It's subjective. It's art. It's somebody's idea, you know, and people make those choices to be upset about things. All I'm staying, I guess, is choose to have a good time in life. It's too short to get all worked up about stuff that doesn't matter.

Eddie Trunk: And the last thing — and there's a number of people that pointed this out and I think it's kind of funny. The album that comes out tomorrow, or Tuesday rather, is called "Frequency Unknown". The cover features a fist with the F.U. initials. There's a number of people that have read into that as being not too subtle of a dig at your former band. Coincidence or not?

Eddie Trunk: Oh, gosh. People read so much into everything. It's kind of funny, isn't it?

Eddie Trunk: Well, a big fist with the letters F.U. You know, it's — you don't have a bouquet of roses under it so maybe it would be a little different if that was pictured.

Geoff Tate: Well I don't think a bouquet of roses is very metal, do you?

Reactivated Norwegian metal band EXTOL will release its self-titled fifth album on June 25 (one day earlier internationally) via Indie Recordings.

According to a press release, EXTOL's new CD "is a like a complex metallic alloy. The playfulness of the songs and the brutal bonding of genres are transformed into a fusion of atmospheric and harmonic prog rock, merged with the tempered thrash and death metal that EXTOL so uniquely master. This album leads us straight to the core of EXTOL."

Comments EXTOL drummer David Husvik: "'Extol' is the album that was planned all the way, but never materialized. Partly due to changes in the lineup, but also because of the band´s urge to always reach for something new. The album is the recap of 20 years of Extolhistory, both musically and lyrically."

With a long-awaited creative collaboration with Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, ENSLAVED) and some truly magnificent artwork by Travis Smith (KATATONIA, OPETH, DEATH), EXTOL has managed to create a timeless masterpiece and the vision of the band seems clearer than ever.

Mastermind Ole Børud has returned, and along with Husvik and Peter Espevoll, the trio now constitutes the 2013 lineup of EXTOL.

"Extol" track listing:

01. Betrayal
02. Open The Gates
03. Wastelands
04. A Gift Beyond Human Reach
05. Faltering Moves
06. Behold The Sun
07. Dawn Of Redemption
08. Ministers
09. Extol
10. Unveiling The Obscure

Check out the song "Open The Gates" in the YouTube clip below.

Tom Keifer, best known as the singer/songwriter/guitarist of the Philadelphia-based blues-rock band CINDERELLA, will release his debut solo album, "The Way Life Goes", on April 30 via Merovee Records (through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group).

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on the CD can be streamed at TomKeifer.com.

"The Way Life Goes" track listing:

01. Solid Ground
02. A Different Light
03. It's Not Enough
04. Cold Day In Hell
05. Thick And Thin
06. Ask Me Yesterday
07. Fools Paradise
08. The Flower Song
09. Mood Elevator
10. Welcome To My Mind
11. You Showed Me
12. Ain't That A Bitch
13. The Way Life Goes
14. Babylon

The collection of 14 new songs ranges from intimate, organic, acoustic tracks to driving hard rock. It embraces the blues, rock and country roots that have always been present in his unique sound that has generated the sale of over 15 million records worldwide for CINDERELLA. Rolling Stone praised Keifer as "a gritty, bluesy (rocker) with enough genuine swagger to draw comparisons to Mick Jagger."

"This record was a labor of love," Keifer told TriCities.com. "When I started this record, CINDERELLA was in the middle of a lawsuit with Sony Records. This record is not in any way to be taken as me stepping away from CINDERELLA."

"I took a lot of time making this record," he continued. "I made it over 10 years. I wanted to make something I loved. My wife, Savannah (Snow), co-wrote a lot of the songs with me. It was a blessing to me.

"Each song has something to do with life. It's just life, love, love lost, being crazy, going crazy, being lost. The record, there's no change, really, in style. It has the peaks and valleys.

"I've always approached music, played music that I like. I've never chased trends through CINDERELLA and with this album. It reflects what's in me."

"The Flower Song", the album's first single, was serviced to AAA radio stations nationwide on February 4, while "Solid Ground" was serviced to all rock formats on March 11.

Keifer wrote "The Flower Song" with Jim Peterik, formerly of the bands SURVIVOR and the IDES OF MARCH.

"The Way Life Goes" is a raw, introspective look at the roller coaster ride that has been Keifer's life for the past 15 years. From being told that he would never sing again as a result of a partially paralyzed left vocal cord, to the emotional and personal battles that followed, his solo debut is a story of perseverance, a testament to the power of passion and will, when combined with a true love of music.

"It's pretty scary," Keifer said of his vocal paralysis. "I've had six surgeries to deal with the collateral damage. Performing… has been difficult for me because of the vocal issues I've had. I work several hours every day on that. That's a difficult thing for me every day."

Keifer will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, May 1 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Keifer by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The show will be streamed on the "Rockline" web site for two weeks beginning the afternoon after the live broadcast.

For more information, visit RocklineRadio.com.

"Dead Messiah", the new video from DENIED, the Swedish metal band featuring vocalist Johan Fahlberg (JADED HEART) and bassist Fredrik Isaksson (formerly of THERION and GRAVE), can be seen below. The song comes off the group's third album, "Let Them Burn", which was released in January via Sliptrick Records. The CD was recorded with producer Fredrik Folkare (UNLEASHED) and was mastered at Dugout Productions. The artwork was created by Alexander Lifbom.

DENIED was formed in Upplands Väsby, Stockholm, Sweden in 2003 by Andreas Carlsson. Devoted to heavy-yet-melodic metal, he wanted to expand his vision beyond a simple dream. The band recorded its first album, "Seven Times Your Sin", in 2005 and supported it with local gigs.

In September 2005, DENIED underwent its first lineup change when bassist Robert Stellmar and drummer Pete Dolls were recruited. The group's second album, "New Army For The Old Revolution", saw the light of day in late 2008.

In 2009, DENIED enlisted longtime friend Fahlberg as their new vocalist and in November of that same year, guitarist Chris Vowden joined the group. In May 2011 the band parted ways with Stellmar and recruited Isaksson.

DENIED has "earned a reputation as a great live act from their performances in various rock clubs in the Stockholm area," according to a press release." Through the years, DENIED has supported such acts as DREAM EVIL, SISTER SIN and ENTOMBED. Their ability to work the crowd and drive them into a frenzy has become a trademark for DENIED."

A two-minute snippet of the song "Lucifer Rising" from Rob Zombie can be streamed using the audio player below. The track comes off his eagerly awaited new album, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", which will be released on April 23 on Zodiac Swan/T-Boy/Ume. The CD was produced by Bob Marlette, who has previously worked with everyone from BLACK SABBATH and ALICE COOPER to WILSON PHILLIPS and LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" track listing:

01. Teenage Nosferatu Pussy
02. Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown
03. Revelation Revolution
04. Theme For The Rat Vendor
05. Gong Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga
06. Rock And Roll (In A Black Hole)
07. Behold! The Pretty Filthy Creatures
08. White Trash Freaks
09. We're An American Band (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD cover)
10. Lucifer Rising
11. The Girl Who Loved The Monsters
12. Trade In Your Guns For A Coffin

Zombie has told Artist Direct in a new interview that "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" could one day make it to the big screen as a Zombie-directed film. The rocker and filmmaker explained, "I think it could. I made it with that in mind. At least in my mind — no one else knows this — I wanted to have a storyline that runs through the record so if someday I wanted to make it into a movie musical like THE WHO's 'Tommy' or 'Quadrophenia', there was a structure to follow. I'm not really talking about what it is because I think it's sort of relevant at this point."

Even if he does make a movie out of the album, it won't be for a while: Zombie's next planned film is "Broad Street Bullies", about the notorious Philadelphia Flyers hockey team of the 1970s. Zombie told The Pulse Of Radio how the film came to him. "Someone came to me who had the rights to the story," he said. "He had gotten the rights from the Flyers and he was a fan of my films. And he saw 'Devil's Rejects', I think it was, and he was like, he said just the feel of the movie and the look of the movie felt so authentically '70s that he thought that — he didn't even know I liked hockey or had any affinity for it, he just took a chance. So it was just a perfect match."

Zombie has finished the script for "Broad Street Bullies" but does not know when production will begin due to his touring commitments.

His latest completed movie, "The Lords Of Salem", is out in limited release.

Zombie and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will headline the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, which kicks off on June 29 in San Bernardino, California.

"Lucifer Rising" sample (audio):

San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD recently began the process of searching for a temporary bassist for this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in the U.S.

Commented the band: "Auditions are officially over, and MACHINE HEAD would like to thank each and every person for their YouTube submissions as part of the bass / vocal auditioning process. A lot of hard work and effort went into each and every submission, with many people bravely making them public for the whole world to see and judge both their singing and playing, mostly fairly. It took a lot of brass to do that and we earned an even greater respect for our fans in doing so. There are some incredible musicians out there, fantastic players who unfortunately did not make an attempt to sing, and thus were ineligible, but you should absolutely keep at it! In fact, in the course of these submissions, it looks like many people have earned a lot fans in doing so. Congrats!!

"We will now begin the process of having our top picks come down and jam with us in person, and get a feel for each other, both musically and on a personal level.

"On a final note, many of the men and women who sent in YouTube clips performing, did so with the utmost passion and intensity, but of all the submissions, this man deserves a special mention. He learned and played not only the hardest song of the submission, 'This Is The End', but played it with only ONE HAND. It moved some of us to tears, it took a lot of heart to do this. Cheers, Frank Memolo."

MACHINE HEAD in February parted ways with bassist Adam Duce. The band's guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn explained in an online posting: "We may have fired Adam on [February 11], but Adam quit MACHINE HEAD well over a decade ago. He just never bothered to tell anyone… but we all knew it."

He added: "Adam hasn't been happy in this band for a long time. But how do you leave? To a guy like Adam, everything is either winning or losing. A stunning victory or the ultimate failure. There was no in between … No matter how unhappy or fed up he got, quitting the band would be seen as 'losing' or a 'failure.' Truth be told, he was sick of it. Sick of touring, sick of recording, sick of practicing, sick of looking at album artwork, sick of being on a team but never getting the ball, sick of yearning for the honeymoon to resume when 20 years deep it never does. Sick of never quite hitting the big time, sick of carving the niche... sick of caring."

"Machine Fucking Head Live", the new live album from MACHINE HEAD, sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. It's the band's second live effort; "Hellalive" came out in 2003.

MACHINE HEAD's most recent studio album, "Unto The Locust", sold more than 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart — putting MACHINE HEAD in the Top 25 for the first time in the band's 17-year history.

"Machine Fucking Head Live" was recorded at various tour stops across the globe last year. It features songs from throughout the band's expansive catalog, including crowd favorites like "Imperium", "Aesthetics of Hate", "Locust", "Ten Ton Hammer", "This is the End" and "Halo".

"Machine Fucking Head Live" was mixed and mastered at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California by Juan Urteaga and Robb Flynn.

MACHINE HEAD is currently seeking a new label home following the expiration of the band's contract with longtime record company Roadrunner Records.

Violent Journey Records is releasing the new album from Finnish death/thrash band UNHOPED on May 24th called Nuclear Death. A release party is set to Steelfest Open Air 2013 which is featuring German thrash legends SODOM and DESTRUCTION among others.
Nuclear Death tracklisting:

'Pestilence'
'Modern State Of Sodomy'
'Eternal Infernal'
'Empire Of Lies'
'Nuclear Death'

Check out 'Eternal Infernal' below:

The video for the official Swedish team song for the 2013 World Championships Of Ice Hockey called 'En För Alla För En', performed by THE POODLES together with the Swedish hockey team Tre Kronor, can be viewed below:
'En För Alla För En' is now available at iTunes.

The 2013 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships is the 77th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The championship will take place between sixteen teams from May 3rd to May 19th. Finland and Sweden will host the event with games being played in Helsinki and Stockholm.

Lisbon-based symphonic prog metallers FACTORY OF DREAMS - featuring Hugo Flores and Jessica Lehto - have released the first official video clip from their new 12-track album, Some Kind Of Poetic Destruction, due out on May 7th.
Check out the 'Seashore Dreams' video directed by Emil Jonsvik and produced by Hugo Flores below:
According to a press release, the video tells part of the album's storyline: "After a long journey, Kyra sees the seashore ahead. She lays down on the sand, falls deeply asleep and dreams of Earth's invasion and the secrets soon to unfold. Within the dream, Kyra stands inside a strange and eery house close to the seashore. The ocean shows her images of the hidden Star now closing-in on the planet and images of a Metropolis being engulfed by rays of soundwaves. The answer to Earth's fate is being revealed through 'Seashore Dreams'."
Some Kind Of Poetic Destruction features a 12-page book with 12 artworks to depict the full story.

For more details visit Facebook.

On December 31, 1984 Chicago based metal act MASTER signed with US metal label COMBAT (DEATH, POSSESSED) and soon afterwards started recording what should have been the band’s first full length album. Due to inseparable differences over the negotiations with Combat and mainly drummer Schmidt's insecurities, the contract was torn up. The 1985 album recordings were tape-traded in the underground scene, serving as a heavy influence for many (later) important bands from the death, black and thrash metal scene.
Due out on June 10th under the title Unknown Soldier, Vic Records will release the album featuring newly painted cover art by Richard Schouten (ACHROSTICHON, PENTAGRAM, ABOMINATION) and freshly designed booklet and liner notes from Paul Speckmann and rare mid '80’s Master pictures.

Check out a promo video below:

German-based metallers METAL INQUISITOR have inked a deal with Massacre Records. According to a press release, "the band's goal is to play music that's influenced by traditional heavy metal, that's why their sound is often referred to as NWOBHM."
In March, the band released the vinyl single 'Trial By Euthanasia' featuring Jess Cox (ex-TYGERS OF PAN TANG) and Brian Ross (SATAN, BLITZKRIEG).

More details about a new studio album from Metal Inquisitor will be revealed soon.

Metal Inquisitor feature:
Blumi - lead guitar
T.P. - guitar
El Rojo - vocals
Havoc - drums
Cliff Bubenheim - bass

For more details visit Metalinquisitor.de.

Spanish TV program Radio 3 has posted 30 minutes of live STRATOVARIUS footage from a studio visit during the band's recently wrapped European tour. Check it out below:

Los conciertos de Radio 3 - StratovariusVer vídeo

• Los conciertos de Radio 3 - Stratovarius

Stratovarius' new Nemesis album was released as a tandard 11-track edition as well as 13-track special edition on February 22nd. The tracklist of the standard edition is as follows:

Abandon'
'Unbreakable'
'Stand My Ground'
'Halcyon Days'
'Fantasy'
'Out Of The Fog'
'Castles In The Air'
'Dragons'
'One Must Fall'
'If The Story Is Over'
'Nemesis'
Check out samples of the first single, 'Unbreakable', and the album's title track below:

The DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT recently performed at The Metal Fest 2013 in Santiago, Chile. During the set, the band ripped through the STRAPPING YOUNG LAD track 'Love?'. Check it out below:
It was a move that frontman Devin Townsend, best known as Strapping Young Lad's mastermind, later regretted judging by the message he posted on Twitter after the gig:

“So, just wanted to say: yeah, I played 'Love?' in South America and it was a mistake. I didn’t think it through as I had said I wouldn’t again. I figured it had not been played there before so I’d do it as a ‘cover tune.’ But it just confuses people. It won’t be played again. Thanks for the support – signed: ‘Work in frikkin progress.’ Again, my mistake fully.”

Italian metal band AWAKE FOR DAYS has a released a video for the song ‘Hatred’, taken from their upcoming debut album Magnificent Disorder. The album is due for release in the spring or summer.

Check out the video below:

Awake for Days offers a modern kind of music, a mix of melodies and clean vocals alternated to the heaviest rhythms and screams.

For more info visit Facebook.

Svart Records has confirmed June 7th as the international release date for DARK BUDDHA RISING's Dakhmandal. Due to the nature of the work, the oppressive and circular Dakhmandal will be released primarily as a triple 12" EP, but will also be available on CD and digital download.
Drenched in deep mystery, Dark Buddha Rising are a Finnish occult psychedelic drone-doom metal group with no biographical information available. Described by Roadburn Festival as "sprawling dirge of doom metal and myriad cryptic incantations luring the listener into a trance of doom-induced sensory depravation," the band have released three self-financed full-length albums (Ritual IX, Entheomorphosis, Abyssolute Transfinite) on vinyl only.

The time has come for the fourth Dark Buddha Rising opus, Dakhmandal, for which the band chose to employ the services of the eclectic Finnish label Svart Records
Dakhmandal tracklisting:

'D'
'K'
'H'
'M'
'N'
'L'

More on Dark Buddha Rising at this location.

Chicagoland-based melodic death metal band STARKILL will release their debut album, Fires Of Life, on April 29th in Europe and April 30th in North America via Century Media. Check out a new album trailer below:
The album artwork was done by renowned metal artist, Joshua Belanger, in which he properly portrayed the epic musical styling of the band.

Fires Of Life tracklisting:

'Whispers Of Heresy'
'Fires Of Life'
'Sword, Spear, Blood, Fire'
'Below The Darkest Depths'
'Immortal Hunt'
'New Infernal Rebirth'
'Strength In The Shadow'
'This Is Battle; This Is Our Day'
'Withdrawn From All Humanity'
'Wash Away The Blood With Rain'

The track 'Whispers Of Heresy' is streaming below:
The band's video for 'New Infernal Rebirth' can be seen below:
Another video, for the track 'Fires Of Life', filmed mainly in the studio (but also featuring candid clips of Starkill), can be seen below:
Listen to the track 'Sword, Spear, Blood, Fire' below:
Starkill was formed at the tail end of 2008 by Parker Jameson, Spencer Weidner and Charlie Federici. The band makes no qualms about wearing their influences on their sleeves. They combine what they love - melodic death metal, shredding guitars, blasting drum beats and the epic sounds of modern film scores - and make some of the most promising metal music heard this side of the Atlantic in years.
Starkill lineup:

Parker Jameson: Lead guitar, vocals, keyboards and orchestral programming
Spencer Weidner: Drums
Charlie Federici: Guitar

More on Starkill at this location.

Finland's THE 69 EYES have released the exclusive iTunes single, 'Rosary Blue', featuring L.A. Ink/ex-Miami Ink tattoo artist KAT VON D.
'Rosary Blue' was recording during the studio sessions for the band's most recent album, X, and can be purchased here.

More about this recording session can be seen on the documentary DVD which comes along with the digipak version of X. Check out the documentary trailer on 'Rosary Blue' below:
Commented lead singer Jyrki69: "Kat Von D is a bona fide renaissance woman. I wasn't surprised when she mentioned me some time ago that she's going to spread her wings over music. Strangely enough we happened to have a suitable soung for a female duet ready at the same time, so it was completely natural to ask her to join in. Kat boldly flew over to Stockholm to Anders Bagge's studios to lay down her sweet vocals last spring and the result is pure magic!"

San Francisco-based doom rockers ORCHID have released another video trailer, this time featuring bass player Keith Nickel talking about his musical influences and it's effect on the upcoming album, The Mouths Of Madness, scheduled for a April 26th release via Nuclear Blast. Watch below:
In another trailer, below, guitarist Mark Thomas Baker talks about his musical influences and their effect on the upcoming album:
The Mouths Of Madness tracklisting:

'Mouths Of Madness'
'Marching Dogs Of War'
'Silent One'
'Nomad'
'Mountains Of Steel'
'Leaving It All Behind'
'Loving Hand Of God'
'Wizard Of War'
'See You On The Other Side'
Orchid previously released the title track from The Mouths Of Madness. Check out the viral video below:
A lyric video for 'Wizard Of War' can be seen below:
WITCHCRAFT and Orchid will embark on a tour together this month. Dates include:

April
26 - Lichtenfels, Germany - Paunchy Cats
27 - Berlin, Germany - Desertfest
28 - Warschau, Poland - tbc
29 - Krakau, Poland - Lizard King
30 - Wien, Austria - Szene

May
1 - Darmstadt, Germany - Steinbruch Theater
2 - München, Germany - Backstage Halle
3 - Siegen, Germany - Vortex
4 - Paris, France - Trabendo
6 - Tilburg, Netherlands - O13
7 - Aarau, Switzerland - Kiff
9 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 3
10 - Madrid Spain - El Sol
11 - San Sebastian Spain - C.C. Intxaurrondo
12 - Toulouse, France - Le Saint des Sains
13 - Milano, Italy - Lo Fi Club
14 - Rome, Italy - Traffic Live Club
15 - Bologna, Italy - Freak Out Club
16 - Dornbirn, Austria - Schlachthaus
17 - Stuttgart, Germany - Universum
18 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
19 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Rock Hard Festival (Orchid only)

Canadian epic folk metallers NORDHEIM announce their second album Refill will be released by Maple Metal Records on May 1st in North America, and May 13th worldwide.

The artwork was created by Nicolas Francoeur of Vorace Art, as was their 2010 debut album Lost In The North. Refill was recorded at Badass Studio, Montreal, QC, Canada in the winter of 2012/13 and produced by Jef Fortin (NEURAXIS, AUGURY, BLACKGUARD, UNEXPECT, KÄLTER).

Norway’s TROLLFEST, who are on the Paganfest America IV Tour, have a guest vocal performance on the track ‘Get Drunk or Die Tryin’. The trailer can be viewed below:



The Refill tracklisting is:

'OV Frost and Ice'
'Mask of the Banned One'
'Get Drunk or Die Tryin’'
'Watch the Raven Die'
'Under a Crying Storm'
'The Grief'
'Winter’s Dawn'
'As Shadows Pass By'
'Soulblood'

‘Soulblood’ off the album Refill is streaming below:

Nordheim will be touring Quebec and Ontario this summer in support of their new album, but the details of which have yet to be announced.

Nordheim is:
Warraxe – lead vocals and guitars
Fred - lead guitars
BenFok - bass and vocals
Thom - keyboards
Lukas – drums (Kälter)

For more info on Nordheim visit here.

LEADING THE BETRAYED - featuring THE AGONIST guitarist Pascal "Paco" Jobin - have checked in with the following update:

"We have been working with a singer, and we can't wait to release the track 'Eradicate' as the first one!

Paco is out on tour with The Agonist at the moment. But, when he gets back we will be working on releasing it asap, along with trying to get our EP done and out before the end of summer.

This track 'In The Dark' will definitely be on there..."
Audio samples of some new material are currently available for streaming here.

OF EARTH, the band fronted by UFO, SPREAD EAGLE bassist Rob De Luca has uploaded the title track off their sophomore Lovember Records album, The Monarch, which is due later this year. Listen to 'The Monarch' via the player below:



The first single from The Monarch, entitled ‘Prototype’, is out now and available for free on CD Baby. Head to this location to download the track. A video for the song can be seen below:
Of Earth is performing live April 20th at Spike Hill in Brooklyn, NY.

Esoteric Recordings has announced the latest release on new front-line label, Esoteric Antenna, dedicated to new releases by both new acts and established artists. LIFESIGNS's eponymous release has the hallmarks of being one of the finest progressive rock albums of 2013. Making the album even more impressive is the guest appearances from such respected figures in progressive music as STEVE HACKETT, Thijs Van Leer (FOCUS), Jakko Jakszyk (KING CRIMSON), and Robin Boult (JOHN YOUNG BAND).
Lifesigns features John Young (keyboards, lead vocals), Nick Beggs (bassist, Chapman Stick player, backing vocals) and Frosty Beedle (drums). The material reflects the excellence of the musicians who perform on the album. John Young is a classically trained composer, keyboardist and vocalist, who has worked with the likes of ASIA, STRAWBS, GREENSLADE, FISH, ULI JON ROTH and his own John Young Band. He also tours with BONNIE TYLER. Bassist/Stick player Nick Beggs was the founding member of 80s group KAJAGOOGOO and has worked with artists like ALPHAVILLE, BELINDA CARLISLE, JOHN PAUL JONES, GARY NUMAN, Steve Hackett, STEVE HOWE, TINA TURNER and many others. He is currently on tour with STEVEN WILSON. Drummer Frosty Beedle has worked with the likes of the CUTTING CREW, SARAH BRIGHTMAN, RUSSELL WATSON and ZUCCHERO.

Working with engineer Steve Rispin (Asia, URIAH HEEP, DAVE KILMINSTER, SHAKECHARMER), Lifesigns is a tuneful, innovative and hugely impressive debut album certain to appeal to those who appreciate the finer aspects of modern progressive rock.
Tracklisting:

'Lighthouse'
'Telephone'
'Fridge Full Of Stars'
'At The End Of The World'
'Carousel'

Purchase the CD here. More on Lifesigns at this location.

German dark metal quintet AGATHODAIMON entered Kohlekeller Studios in February with producer Kristian "Kohle" Kohlmannslehner to begin recording its new album, "In Darkness", for a June 28 release via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Phoenix" will feature cover artwork by Hicham Haddaji of Strychneen Studio.

Commented AGATHODAIMON guitarist and vocalist Sathonys: "We're sure 'In Darkness' has a lot of killer songs, and we did step into the right direction — though it's also a step backwards. Back to the roots, to be clear.

"We collectively felt that 'Phoenix' reached a point that's as far as we can go, without denying our roots. So we summoned the spirit of the old times (of course without trying to pretend it's 1995).

"We've put focus on the atmosphere and got rid of elements which did not fit to our vision.

"To summarize, I'd say it's less technical, but more dense, coming rather from the heart than our heads. This sounds strange maybe, but you'll get it once you'll hear the first songs.

"Speaking of new songs, 'In Darkness' also features 'old' material, back from when our Romanian vocalist Vlad was still around. But don't worry, it's a history lesson that won't sound outdated. Actually, there's a re-recording of 'Dusk Of An Infinite Shade', something we actually worked on many years ago, but back then skipped the idea because it didn't seem to match with the other material. It simply did not sound right. But now, it turned out that it was a great preparation to get in the mood and to set the sails to embark on a journey... 'In Darkness'."