According to an update from UNISONIC frontman Michael Kiske's official Facebook contact page (found here), HELLOWEEN fans hoping to see Kiske reunite with his former bandmates can forget it:

"I just talked to Michael Kiske and he confirmed that he has absolutely NO interest at all in what certain persons are dreaming about loudly in a lot of interviews according to a possible reunion with Helloween or similar bullshit."
During a recent interview with TV Rock Live for the new Helloween album Straight Out Of Hell, current frontman Andi Deris (since 1994) commented on the upcoming Hellish Rock II tour with GAMMA RAY:

Deris: "My personal dream would be a Hellish Rock Part III together with (original singer) Michael Kiske maybe the next time we would have support of UNISONIC. And maybe then we could fulfill the dream for everybody it would be the whole old Helloween band, unfortunately without Ingo, but it would be a dream come true for the people."

Check out the inteview below:
Unisonic recently issued the following update:

"Hello out there, we wish you all a healthy and happy year 2013!!!

2012 was an event- and successful year for Unisonic: We released our debut CD and did the first tour, leading us to many countries in Latin America, Asia and Europe. The feedback on the CD and the live shows was phenomenal and we want to thank you all from the deepest of our hearts for your support!

2013 will be a more silent year for Unisonic. Besides working with our other bands and projects, be sure that we will use the time to write and record a new Unisonic album! Touring together for the first time and your overwhelming reactions glued us together as a band, and we can´t wait to canalize all these impressions into a powerful and melodic metal album to be released in early 2014!"
Unisonic lineup:

Michael Kiske (vocals - ex-HELLOWEEN)
Mandy Meyer (guitars - ex-GOTTHARD, ex-KROKUS)
Kai Hansen (guitars - GAMMA RAY, ex Helloween)
Dennis Ward (bass - PINK CREAM 69)
Kosta Zafiriou (drums - Pink Cream 69)

Unisonic performed at the Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 15th. Quality fan-filmed video from the show is available below:
The band's complete setlist was as follows:

'Unisonic'
'Never Too Late'
'King For A Day'
'My Sanctuary'
'March Of Time'
'Over The Rainbow'
'Star Rider'
'We Rise'
'I Want Out'

More on Unisonic at this location.

Recent Rock It Up Records signings Swedish metal band CULT OF THE FOX will release their next studio album, entitled Angelsbane in the spring. The album art created by Anna Björklund can be viewed below:
Cult Of The Foxwas formed in 2007, that year they released their first demo Kitsunetsuki. Later followed the demos The Power We Serve (2008) and The Sea Beneath The Sand (2010). In 2011, the band recorded their debut full lenght album, A Vow Of Vengeance, and gained a lot of positive feedback from the metal community.

Angelsbane features ten new tracks. More details will be revealed soon.
Cult Of The Fox lineup:

Daniel Fritze - drums
Peter Svensson - bass and backing vocals
Erika Wallberg - guitars
Magnus Hultman - lead vocals

More on the band at this location.

After releasing his Songs Of Flesh (Part I) 7” EP in early 2012, inexhaustible Swedish maniac Rogga Johansson (PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER, DEMIURG, THE GROTESQUERY, BONE GNAWER, REVOLTING, etc.) strikes back with the debut album of his most recent project, MEGASCAVENGER.

Out now via Selfmadegod Records, Descent Of Yuggoth consists of nine Swedish-style death metal songs that will definitely appeal to all fans of Rogga's music and Scandinavian metal in general.

More than that, with Megascavenger Johansson spews out his death metal dreams by recruiting the talents of some legendary death metal figureheads including guest vocals by Dan Swano (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH), Marc Grewe (MORGOTH, INSIDIOUS DISEASE), Jörgen Sandström (ex-GRAVE, KRUX, TORTURE DIVISION) and Paul Speckmann (MASTER, DEATH STRIKE, ABOMINATION) as well as guest solos by Patrick Mameli (PESTILENCE), Jonas Lindblood (PUTERAEON), Eric Daniels (ex-ASPHYX, SOULBURN).
Descent Of Yuggoth tracklisting:

'Nihilisticon'
'Descent Of Yuggoth'
'Smokescreen Armageddon'
'Catapulted Through Aeons'
'Void Of Damnation'
'Funerals And Ceremonies'
'Death Obsessed'
'No Haven For The Sane'
'To Revel With Vermin'

Listen to the album below:

Swedish black metallers MÖRKER have released the following update regarding their current recording efforts:
"There has been drastic change of plans. Instead of releasing the full-length album that was planned from the beginning, we will release a 7" EP with two songs.

So meanwhile you're waiting for the full-length album to be released, you'll have a chance to pick up this very limited EP. Only 250 copies will be made, so make sure to pre-order it, because I think it will be sold out really fast! More info about the EP, pre-orders etc. will come later. No pre-orders can be done yet!

B-side is exclusive for this release and won't be released anywhere else. The B-side is already recorded earlier, and today we will start recording the A-side, which we hope will be ready in a couple of days. Jani's drumming will be used on the song, and for the full-length album, we will find another drummer, and that won't be a problem since we are working on that as we speak.

That's all for now! Time to get ready for the studio!"

Stay tuned for updates.

Since 2009, British music project NHOR creates its own unique art world that is characterized by a dream-like aura in all of its facets. This does not only pertain to the music ranging from doleful piano compositions to archaic black metal, but also to Nhor's own short stories – each of which was written in the context of their releases – as well as to the project's own imagery.

"I owe everything I have created to the universe," Nhor approaches the origins of his inspiration. "I owe it to the stars and the planets, to the Moon and the Earth, to the wind and the rain. To the forest and its creatures, everything I have is borrowed from them. My music is but a poor interpretation of their song, and my imagination is just a diluted replica of Mother Nature's."
After Prophecy introduced Nhor on the Whom The Moon A Nightsong Sings compilation in 2010, it is our pleasure to announce the signing of a five-album contract with Nhor. The first fruits of this new collaboration will be the release of the new album, Within The Darkness Between The Starlight, as well as a re-release of the project's early works that were published in very small print-runs.

Nhor has this to say on the signing of the contract: "Prophecy has supported me since the beginning. I am confident that together we will be able to realise the full spectrum of Nhor in ways that were previously out of my reach. Prophecy are a rarity in these times; devoted to releasing honest and poignant music, regardless of current biases. This coupled with their attention to the artistic release as a whole makes them timeless, and the perfect partner to aid in the growth of Nhor."

Updates to follow. More on Nhor at this location.

Thrawsunblat II: Wanderer on the Continent of Saplings is the second album by THRAWSUNBLAT, due for release in early 2013. According to an update from frontman/founder Joel Violette, "the recording is done! Thanks to everyone who has supported us in any way throughout this process, which began in May 2012! Release date news coming soon..."
The tracklist is as follows:

'Lifelore Revelation'
'Once Fireveined'
'We, The Torchbearers'
'Goose River (Mourners' March)'
'Bones in the Undertow'
'Wanderer on the Continent of Saplings'
'Maritime Shores'
'View of a Million Trees'
'Borea (Pyre of a Thousand Pine)'
'Elegy Across the Silence'
'Song of the Nihilist'
'I Am the Viator'

The recently issued update below posted by drummer Rae Amitay includes some vocal tracking and a special announcement about the band's first album, Canada 2010:
Thrawsunblat is the brainchild of Joel Violette, former guitarist for WOODS OF YPRES. He has reprised his role as songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist for the album, and enlisted Rae Amitay and Brendan Hayter to handle drums and bass respectively. The pair was chosen to complete the Woods of Ypres line-up for the band's European tour in support of Woods 5: Grey Skies And Electric Light. Unfortunately, the tragic passing of David Gold put an end to those plans, but drummer Rae Amitay says, "Thrawsunblat II is an incredibly special way for the three of us to create music together. It's an amazing project, and I'm honoured that Joel has chosen us to be a part of it."

Thrawsunblat II was recorded in July and August, in studios in both Canada and the United States. The band hopes to release both physical copies and digital downloads of the album in January of 2013.

Thrawsunblat's first official release - the Canada 2010 "demo" - is still available via BandCamp.com. Go to this location to check out audio samples and to purchase.

The tracklist is as follows:

'Black Sky'
'Set Us Ablaze'
'Misted Shores'
'Slake the Earth'
'Through the Ice'
'Fire Still Burns'
'She, Arboreal'
'Vastland'

Reflections Records has announced their newest signing - ACID DEATHTRIP.

Hailing from Horst, The Netherlands and bringing the Blasphemous Boogie like none other, Acid Deathtrip draws influences from sludge, doom, blues, down-tuned rock and roll and good old heavy metal, making sure their sexually intimidating cocktail of sleaze and dirt hits where it hurts.

With lyrics that borderline on complete and utter retardation, drug-fuelled tales of madness, pagan midgets and nudist goat-monks radiate through raw and clean vocals surrounded by riffs that seduce elephants in heat and drums that crush the very thickest of skulls, Acid Deathtrip is ready to roll up its sleeves and unzip its pants for a golden shower of power.

Anyone into filthy, dirty and all out incredible rock’n’roll metal and bands like ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, ENTOMBED, SAINT VITUS or ORANGE GOBLIN can’t afford to miss out.

Reflections will be releasing Acid Deathtrip's self-titled debut album on vinyl, CD and digital format on March 18th. In the meantime, check out 'The Aftermath' and visit the band on Facebook.

Jersey riffsmiths CLAMFIGHT will release their second full-length, I Versus The Glacier, on January 22nd via Maple Forum. The artwork and tracklisting can be seen below:
'The Eagle'
'Sandriders'
'Shadow Line'
'I Vs. the Glacier'
'Age Of Reptiles'
'River Of Ice'
'Mountain'
'Tower Of The Elephant II'
'Stealing The Ghost Horse'

Clamfight has also just shelled out info on a few new Spring live gigs:

January
18 - El' n' Gee - New London, CT
19 - The Bug Jar - Rochester, NY

February
9 - JB McGinnes - New Castle, DE at Eye Of The Stoned Goat 2

March
29 - Cafe 611 - Frederick, MD

Finally, check out Clamfight performing 'The Eagle' live at Kung Fu Necktie earlier this month:

Lausanne, Switzerland-based stoner rock/fuzz band FEUERZEUG have released their new album, Dead Wahines And Tsunamis.
The album includes the following tracklisting:

'Cyclops Will Be Beheaded'
'Landkreuzer'
'Evel Knievel Has Kissed The Devil'
'I'll Scratch Until I Bleed A Flood'
'Nitroghostcar'
'Fusion Van'
'Cruising The Desert (Pt. 1)'
'Cruising The Desert (Pt. 2)'
'Release The Kraken'
'Kometa'
'Lieuplorodon Vs Giant Orthocone'
'Magma, Lava And Burned Karma'
'Dead Wahines And Tsunamis'

Listen to the track 'Release The Kraken' below:
The album is available at this location.
More on Feuerzeug here.

MELTED SPACE, the French "opera metal" project created in 2007 by composer and pianist Pierre Le Pape (WORMFOOD, EMBRYONIC CELLS), is preparing to release new mini-album, "Between". The CD will feature artwork by by Strychneen Studio and guest appearances by Liv Kristine (LEAVES' EYES), Ashmedi (MELECHESH), Black Messiah (SETH) and El Worm (WORMFOOD).

According to a press release, "Between" will contain a mix of symphonic, black and modern metal and acoustic music. The lyrical concept will deal with Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers and central characters of Rome's foundation myth.

MELTED SPACE's first instrumental album, "There's A Place", featured 26 singers and musicians from bands like HACRIDE, DESTINITY, THE OLD DEAD TREE, CARNIVAL IN COAL, PHAZM, KELLS and OTARGOS.

"Stormcrow", the new EP from Indianapolis doomsters THE GATES OF SLUMBER, will be released on January 29 via Scion Audio/Visual, (a.k.a. Scion A/V), the in-house record label and lifestyle marketing division of the Scion marque produced by Toyota Motor Corporation for the North American market. The CD was recorded by Sanford Parker and it features cover artwork by Dave Quiggle.

"Stormcrow" will contain five brand new songs:

* Death March
* (Devil's Grip) - Driven Insane
* Son Of Hades
* Dragon Caravan
* Of That Which Can Never Be

THE GATES OF SLUMBER last year parted amicably with drummer J. Clyde Paradis, who recorded and toured behind the 2011 album "The Wretch" (Rise Above Records).

THE GATES OF SLUMBER started in 1998 as a backlash against the stoner rock trend prevalent at the time and with their mixture of BLACK SABBATH, SAINT VITUS, PENTAGRAM, and prime-era CELTIC FROST, the band has crushed or converted unbelievers ever since.

"The Wretch" was released in May 2011 via Rise Above/Metal Blade. The CD was recorded at England's Orgone Studios with producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, ANGEL WITCH).

According to The Local, the Swedish man that achieved worldwide fame five years ago by having his love of hard rock classified as a disability and being granted social security benefits for his affliction says he remains addicted to heavy metal music.

"I'm still very addicted," Roger Tullgren, 47, told The Local this past week from his home in Hässleholm in southern Sweden. "I listen to heavy metal music 24 hours a day."

Because heavy metal dominated so many aspects of his life, the Employment Service agreed in 2007 to pay part of Tullgren's salary as a part-time dish washer — an amount of "a few thousand kronor" a month (1,000 kronor = $155). In addition, his boss gave him a special dispensation to play loud music at work.

"I have been trying for ten years to get this classified as a handicap," Tullgren told The Local at the time. "I spoke to three psychologists and they finally agreed that I needed this to avoid being discriminated against."

From time to time, Tullgren's remarkable story would resurface in international media, with articles surfacing last month on the Huffington Post and NME web sites, both of which reported the facts from five years earlier as if they had just occurred.

"It's really funny," Tullgren told The Local. "I'm not really sure why the story popped up again, but I've had a lot of people emailing me about it from all over the world."

According to Tullgren, he hasn't been receiving benefits since January 2012, because he "took a new job as a janitor. I work four hours a day and then spend most of the rest of my time with my band, PAPA MIDNITE," he said.

"Metal controls my life," he added. "I need to have my music with me wherever I go.

"I'm taking medication that makes it hard to sleep, which leaves me with even more time to listen to metal."

Photo below courtesy of PAPA MIDNITE Facebook page

GAMMA RAY frontman / UNISONIC guitarist Kai Hansen is featured in the January issue of Spain's La Heavy Magazine discussing Unisonic. Following is an excerpt translated by the official Unisonic fan page, Souls Alive.
On the live show:

Hansen: "...I think we have improved a lot as a band, we have a better coordination between us and we find ourselves on the stage. Which is very different from creating an album. It was funny to be really so close also live.""

On Unisonic being secondary to Gamma Ray:

Hansen: "Of course it is something different. Yes, it is a band, two guitarists, a bassist a drummer but it is a different thing. Not only the different musicians, also the different way to make the songs and the style is very different from Gamma Ray, there is something that makes me crazy and it is really different to me, and I only play the guitar and I have a great vocalist with me, Michael Kiske. I'm grateful that people like Kosta (Zafirious/drums) take care of that stuff like managament, organization. In Unisonic I can focus on being just a musician... of course I always contribute when there are arguments to decide or to improve the band, the responsability is shared between everybody. In Gamma Ray there is of course democracy, but I still have my position as the founder which makes me more responsible about everything that happens in the band."

On the Unisonic debut:

Hansen: "There are songs I really like in the album but I prefer more to play them live. For example: 'No One Ever Sees Me' is a track I was not really into, it was a good song but something was missing for me and I had doubts we should play it live, I was not sure if it would work well. Michael was convinced it will be great live and he was right. When we started playing it live I felt the magic of this song. There are other tracks which work better live because we give it more energy and even more passion."

On vocalist Michael Kiske's live performances:

Hansen: "Yes, its much more spontaneous live. Recording a CD is always difficult because you want to do it perfectly, too controlled. The best thing comes live. Michael will get the live experience of this last tour to use it in the studio. The next album he will do a performance more closer how he is doin' it live and he will not care very much about technical issues. He sings fantastic on the album but I prefer how he sings live."
Unisonic recently issued the following update:

"Hello out there, we wish you all a healthy and happy year 2013!!!

2012 was an event- and successful year for Unisonic: We released our debut CD and did the first tour, leading us to many countries in Latin America, Asia and Europe. The feedback on the CD and the live shows was phenomenal and we want to thank you all from the deepest of our hearts for your support!

2013 will be a more silent year for Unisonic. Besides working with our other bands and projects, be sure that we will use the time to write and record a new Unisonic album! Touring together for the first time and your overwhelming reactions glued us together as a band, and we can´t wait to canalize all these impressions into a powerful and melodic metal album to be released in early 2014!"

Unisonic lineup:

Michael Kiske (vocals - ex-HELLOWEEN)
Mandy Meyer (guitars - ex-GOTTHARD, ex-KROKUS)
Kai Hansen (guitars - GAMMA RAY, ex Helloween)
Dennis Ward (bass - PINK CREAM 69)
Kosta Zafiriou (drums - Pink Cream 69)

Unisonic performed at the Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 15th. Quality fan-filmed video from the show is available below:
The band's complete setlist was as follows:

'Unisonic'
'Never Too Late'
'King For A Day'
'My Sanctuary'
'March Of Time'
'Over The Rainbow'
'Star Rider'
'We Rise'
'I Want Out'

More on Unisonic at this location.

Brazil’s PANZER have announced the release of the new EP Brazilian Threat for free download at this location.

Brazilian Threat features three songs, two new and one remake of the track ‘Red Days’ from their previous album The Strongest.

The cover was developed in a partnership between the band and Metal Media and the production of material was handled by Henrique Baboom also responsible for the single ‘Rising’.



Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Burden Of Proof’
‘Hastening Of Death’
‘Red Days’

The band previously released the video for the track ‘Rising’. Check it out below:

Pat Douglas of GreatFallsTribune.com recently conducted an interview with former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist, and current NEWSTED frontman, Jason Newsted. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On how the NEWSTED project came about:

Jason: "METALLICA did their Fillmore shows for the 30th anniversary (and METALLICA drummer) Lars (Ulrich) called me and said they were having all the family out and anybody that played a part in the history. I said 'Let's do it.' I really didn't know what to expect. I was overwhelmed by the positive vibe from people. It truly took my breath. I heard my name in all kinds of dialects and accents and positive vibes coming. I had an epiphany and looked over the crowd and said 'I'm gonna try this one more time.' That's why we're where we are now because Lars gave me a call and asked me to jam again."

On having to go through series of shoulder surgeries on both arms and not being able to play, which made him turn to painting:

Jason: "When I had my shoulder surgeries, they took over a three-and-a-half to four-year span, back and forth, left shoulder, right shoulder, left shoulder, right shoulder. With complete bicep tears and rotator cuff tears and very ugly rehab and therapy. Painkiller addiction, the whole deal. I only had one arm at a time, so I started painting. Now, I can use both hands equally for everything. That's how the art came. I had to have something to do because I could not play my instrument."

On playing guitar and singing in NEWSTED:

Jason: "It's exciting and terrifying at the same time. It's gonna be that newness, scared, excited feeling when you first start out again. I get to taste a bunch of that."

On his 15-year run with METALLICA:

Jason: "The METALLICA thing was just a dream. Still kind of is. I don't know how to explain that. I'm the only human out of all the humans that got to be in that band and then back out, still alive and healthy and appreciating them still. I'm the only person that has that perspective and that's kind of a crazy place to be."

On the freedom he's enjoyed the 11 years since he left METALLICA:

Jason: "I filled my role every time I was asked to do something, but it does put this thing in you that you can't really make any kind of plans of serious aspects with anybody you really care about because the band has to come first. Having the freedom to be with the people you love and still do the music you want and do the paintings you want and live the life you wanna live, only do what you want to do when you want to do it, it is worth more than all the money that's ever been printed. That's the bottom line."

On his expectations for NEWSTED:

Jason: "I'm not taking anything for granted. This is like a rebirth. I don't have to start over again. I just start from where I stepped off, which happened to be the peak of the highest mountain you could climb in metal. I stepped off that spot so that's kind of where I'm at. I'm doing this because I wanna do it. It's hard for people to fathom it, but it's more valuable to have control of my time than to be in the biggest band in the world."

Read the entire interview from GreatFallsTribune.com.

"Soldierhead" video teaser:

MANOWAR have announced that the Warriors Of The World 10th Anniversary Remastered Edition is now available on iTunes and at their webshop.

The brand new edition of the album includes a previously unreleased live version of ‘House Of Death’, recorded in Birmingham, UK during the Battle Hymns 2011 tour.

The physical CD of Warriors Of The World 10th Anniversary Remastered Edition will be released in the spring and will first be available during the upcoming second leg of The Lord Of Steel Tour in March.
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Call To Arms’
‘The Fight For Freedom’
‘Nessun Dorma’
‘Valhalla’
‘Swords In The Wind’
‘An American Trilogy’
‘The March’
‘Warriors Of The World United’
‘Hand Of Doom’
‘House Of Death’
‘Fight Until We Die’
‘House Of Death’ (Live at O2 Academy 2011)

Catch Manowar live on the second leg of The Lord Of Steel World Tour, confirmed dates include:

March
4 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
6 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
8 - Karlstad, Sweden - Nöjesfabriken
9 - Örebro, Sweden - Conventum Kongress
10 - Stockholm, Sweden - Münchenbryggeriet
13 - Oulu, Finland - Club Teatria
14 - Tampere, Finland - Pakkahuone
16 - Helsinki, Finland - The Circus

Israeli progressive metallers ORPHANED LAND recently commenced recording the follow-up to 2010's The Never Ending Way of ORWarriOR. The album is the first to feature guitarist Chen Balbus, who replaced Matty Svatizky this past June "due to personal issues".

An update from the band states: "We are after three days of recordings already (one in Turkey and two in Israel). So far we "nailed" violins, buzuki, cumbus, 12 strings accoustic + classic guitars, flutes and some vocals for one song.

During the upcoming weekend we will rehearse the songs again and again. On Monday next week we will head to Sweden to record the heavy machines - drums, bass, guitars and vocals!"
Stay tuned for further updates.

Following the December release of Solid (1997), No Limits (1998), Holy (1999) and Man And Machine (2002), AFM records will re-release the second wave of classic U.D.O. albums as Anniversary Editions with bonus material. Titles include Animal House, Mean Machine, Faceless World and Timebomb, which will be available on February 15th with the following tracklists:
Animal House tracklisting:
'Animal House'
'Go Back To Hell'
'They Want War'
'Black Widow'
'In The Darkness'
'Lay Down The Law'
'We Want It Loud'
'Hot Tonight'
'Warrior'
'Coming Home'
'Run For Cover'

Bonus:
'Animal House' (Live)
'They Want War' (Live)
'In The Darkness' (Live)
'They Want War' (Video)
'Go Back To Hell' (Video)
Mean Machine tracklisting:
'Don't Look Back'
'Break The Rules'
'We're History'
'Painted Love'
'Mean Machine'
'Dirty Boys'
'Streets On Fire'
'Lost Passion'
'Sweet Little Child'
'Catch My Fall'
'Still In Love With You' (Instrumental)

Bonus:
'Break The Rules' (Live)
'Break The Rules' (Video)

Faceless World tracklisting:
'Heart Of Gold'
'Blitz Of Lightning'
'System Of Life'
'Faceless World'
'Stranger'
'Restricted Area'
'Living On A Frontline'
'Trip To Nowhere'
'Born To Run'
'Can't Get Enough'
'Unspoken Words'
'Future Land'

Bonus:
'Living On A Frontline' (Live)
'Heart Of Gold' (Live)
'Heart Of Gold' (Video)



Timebomb tracklisting:
'The Gutter' (Instrumental)
'Metal Eater'
'Thunderforce'
'Overloaded (Instrumental)
'Burning Heat'
'Back In Pain'
'Timebomb'
'Powersquad'
'Kick In The Face'
'Soldiers Of Darkness'
'Metal Maniac Master Mind'

Bonus:
'Metal Eater' (Live)
Album-EPK (Video)

Vocalist Warrel Dane (SANCTUARY, NEVERMORE) joined forces with Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist JONNY SMOKES for a performance at All Star Acoustic Night in Seattle, WA on Saturday, October 20th, 2012 at Studio Seven. Footage from the show, which was recorded for a future release, is available below:
According to a recent update from Dane via his official Twitter page, Sanctuary will officially sign with Century Media for the release of their new album "in a few days." Watch for updates here.

Sanctuary's new album is tentatively titled The Year The Sun Died. Two songs due to appear on the album - 'I Am Low' and 'The World Is Wired' were performed at Bloodstock 2012 on the weekend of August 9th - 12th. Fan-filmed video is available below:
Dane spoke with Hayley Leggs at Total Rock Radio while at the Bloodstock 2012 Check out the video interview below:

The release date for the new MILKING THE GOATMACHINE album, Stallzeit, has been rescheduled to March 29th. Initially the release was planned for March 1st. Besides this, the grindcore goats from planet GoatEBorg have announced new tour dates for 2013.

The band previously stated: "The album will be, like all other MTG albums, a concept album. The topics are the experiences that we`ve made on your planet and how we narrate everything to our Goatlord on planet GoatEborg... it's effectively a goat diary! The song 'When A Goat Loves A Woman' for example describes the difficulty when you receive a phone number from an earth-doe and you try to dial the number with hooves on your touchscreen smart phone... Musically we stayed true to ourselves and we grind down everything that we are up against.“
Stallzeit tracklisting:

'Only Goat Can Judge Me'
'Goatriders In The Sky'
'Stallzeit'
'3 Room Shed'
'Goatpainter'
'The Day I Lost My Bell'
'Salt Lick City'
'Milk ´Em All'
'Hornbreaker'
'Whoola Hoove Groove'
'Strawless'
'Look @ These'
'When A Goat Loves A Woman'
'Udder Infection'
'In 10 Years We Are Old School'
'Ace Of Spades' (MOTÖRHEAD cover)

The band have recently debuted the video for their cover of Motörhead's classic 'Ace Of Spades'. Check it out below:
Upcoming tour dates include:

March
1 - Wien, Austria - Escape
2 - Ljubljana, Slovakia - Gala Hala

April
5 - Magdeburg, Germany - Factory
6 - Weimar, Germany - Schützengasse
20 - Sulzbach an der Murr, Germany - Belinda
27 - Harderwijk, Netherlands - Estrado

May
11 - Malters, Switzerland - Nothing But Metal Festival
23 - Hünxe, Germany - Extremefest
30-June 6 - Geiselwind, Germany - Beastival

June
29 - Gallio, Vicenza, Italy - Sun Valley Metal Festival

July
27 - Bertingen, Germany - Rock unter den Eichen

August
30-31 - Crispendorf, Germany - Wolfszeit Festival

Johnny Firecloud of Crave Online recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA and current DOWN singer Philip Anselmo. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Crave Online: I've heard [your two solo] songs [that appear on the "War Of The Gargantuas" split album with WARBEAST], man... and holy shit. Holy shit. What motivated the solo route?

Anselmo: Thank you, buddy. Well, man... I've always had this great affinity for extreme music. That's a well-known fact. After Dimebag's [PANTERA] death and after things went really sour with SUPERJOINT RITUAL, and DOWN became one of the main focal points, if not the main focal point of my musical output. I won't call it an empty feeling, because at heart I'm a free agent — I can do what I want. DOWN will be there, and all that stuff. But if I was going to put my fingers on something heavy again, I wanted it to be different from anything that I had touched before. Not that it's annoying or anything, but I see a lot of the comments saying it's similar to SUPERJOINT. But it's coming from a musician who knows and played guitar in both projects — it's very different. Maybe they're alluding to the vocal style that I use, but I guess that's just what naturally comes out of me. To do an extreme metal record is something that is well within my capacity as a musician to write stuff out of the box, write stuff that's probably more extreme than the band I'm in at the present time, and it's something that needs to come out of me one way or another. The two songs of mine that are on this split are some of the more straightforward, and honestly, tame in comparison to what the full-length will offer. So I guess I'm really glad that you think it's any good at all. I appreciate that much of it, and there's plenty more to come.

Crave Online: What about this really comes across as tame? I'm not hearing tame in this at all.

Anselmo: It's true. The full-length really touches on a lot of the same stuck-in-my-room, agonizing in fucking pain, what the fuck do I do besides bounce off these fucking walls? But I may touch on some other interior things that I'd like to put into plainer words, but it's best that it comes out in music. Because it can get kind of ugly or might be taken the wrong way, so I guess it's kind of like the freedom of having the stage to vent as one platform without harming anyone else's reputation or integrity in music. But as far as subject matter, it's not the be-all-end-all. I've got so much fucking material to sort through that I did get recorded, and there's about three songs that I haven't even touched vocally yet. I'm just sitting back to see how these songs, and the full-length down the road — we're aiming for early summer release — run. Not everything's been tapped, subject-wise. There's a lot of irons in the fire, a lot to cover.

Crave Online: We talked a year and a half ago about a lot of it being informed by the pain in your back...

Anselmo: Not just the back, now. It's my whole fucking body. I've destroyed this fucking skeleton. So let's clarify, and make sure I'm the Evel Kneivel of fucking goddamn metal. I think anyone who suffers from chronic pain can agree with this — you feel this great significance. What I wanted to capture was that significance, and as a matter of fact, I think that's one of the lyrics on "Confict", on the split. I touch on the significance, and really it's a selfish thing, in an offbeat way. But you can only exist as far as your mind will allow you to exist, and I think chronic pain will stop time dead in its tracks. You feel like you're the only one, and how unfair it is, and a million different feel-sorry-for-yourself-type feelings. In my better sense of mind, I know that I'm far from alone and far from the worst, and the earth keeps spinning. Everything keeps moving, with or without me. So I guess a lot of these songs are very selfishly hedonistic/defeatist attitude. But between you and I and the readers, there is no quit here at the Anselmo camp. But sometimes especially within these songs, you gotta get this whole fuckin' bad day, bad week, bad whatever off the fucking chest, you know?

Read the entire interview from Crave Online.

The Ajna Offensive has set a January 22 international release date for HEAD OF THE DEMON's self-titled debut album.

A mysterious Swedish entity comprising nameless members from known bands, HEAD OF THE DEMON's first CD is a sepulchral, doom-laden slab of occult black/death metal that's Lovecraftian in intent and aims for the abyss.

A press release states: "H.P. Lovecraft is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for those who play metal, and tributes to the great visionary of Providence have been countless. HEAD OF THE DEMON are ones who have seen the faces of the Great Old Ones, yet all but eschew the usual clichés based upon tentacles and unspeakable horrors. Their occult black/death metal is hypnotic and honed, played mainly on the rawness of riffs and chants that are repeated cyclically. Psychedelic vertigo is assured, and with it the stimulation of perceptions that open windows to mysterious parallel dimensions. The voice sounds like that of Tom Warrior mentally dissociated under acid, while the guitars constantly seek ways of expressive, original, yet oblique metal without foresaking metal altogether. The long ramblings of 'Phantasmagoria' and 'They Lie In Wait - Riding The Waste' creep ominously between proto-doom BLACK SABBATH-ian realms and the atmosphere of Mortuary Drape's cenotaph, never fully enjoying one or the other. The key, however, is the ancient and mysterious sound of an organ, which gives additional character to such ritualistic music, making the result extremely gruesome. HEAD OF THE DEMON realize that in order to see the true horror and the unfathomable depths narrated by Lovecraft, you do not need to travel to the edge of the cosmos: just look in our own head...in the demon's head.

"Head Of The Demon" track listing:

01. By Titan Hand (6:30)
02. The Lie In Wait - Riding The Waste (9:22)
03. Phantasmagoria (5:48)
04. The Man From Foreign Land (6:51)
05. The Key (6:22)
06. Fifth House Of The Mausoleum (8:18)
07. Wraith From The Unknown (7:54)

Legendary heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH has set "13" as the title of its much-anticipated new album. The group's first LP with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978 will be released in June via Vertigo/Universal Republic in the U.S. and Vertigo in all other territories. The drum tracks on the CD were laid down by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE sticksman Brad Wilk following original drummer Bill Ward's decision to bow out of the reunion.

Osbourne, Tony Iommi (guitar) and Geezer Butler (bass) recorded the album primarily in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin.

In advance of the CD's release, BLACK SABBATH will head to New Zealand, Australia and Japan for live performances. Additional tour plans will be revealed in the coming months.

Iommi, Osbourne and Butler discussed their new album in a video interview posted at NME.com. Asked how Rubin influenced the band's approach to writing together again, Butler explained, "He sat us down, put the first album on and said 'listen to this', imagine it's 1969, you've just done that, what would you do next?"

Iommi added, "It's taken on the flavor of the old stuff in the way we put things together, but with a different look on it."

Back in August, Butler said SABBATH had recorded 15 tracks, with 12 making the final cut, including a song entitled "God Is Dead".

Ward in May 2012 announced again that he was declining to join his former bandmates for its scheduled 2012 dates, as well as the recording of a new album, due to a contractual dispute.

He also allegedly had his lawyers direct SABBATH to remove him from photos of the band posted at the official BLACK SABBATH web site "so as to not give the public the wrong impression about his involvement in the current BLACK SABBATH lineup," according to a statement issued by the band's publicist.

Butler issued a lengthy retort at his own web site, writing that Ward "hadn't told any one of us he was having contractual problems, and frankly those things are worked out between our representatives, and never between the four of us, let alone in public."

Until now, Iommi told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that the members of SABBATH stayed friendly even when there were legal or other issues going on. "We've always been talking. We've always been in touch with each other," he said. "There might be a lawsuit in the thing between us, but we still talk to each other like nothing's happened, you know."

Asked if there is any chance of Ward rejoining the band, Iommi said last October, "We'll always have a heart for Bill, but I think it's gone past that now, because it's gone on so long that I don't see that happening at the moment. Maybe at some point we might [play together again]."

Iommi, Osbourne and Butler performed live together for the first time in seven years on May 19, 2012, playing an intimate show at the 3,800-person O2 Academy in SABBATH's hometown of Birmingham, England. The concert, which served as a warm-up for the group's appearance at the following month's Download festival, was laced with emotion and drama: it was the first live appearance for Iommi since being diagnosed with cancer, and it was the first with stand-in drummer Tommy Clufetos, making the split official between Ward and the rest of SABBATH.

BLACK SABBATH took part in a photo shoot on November 30, 2012 with famed British photographer/artist Sam Taylor-Wood.

HICKS KINISON (formerly RAIJIN) is the name of the hardcore metal project featuring current and former members of NAPALM DEATH, BRUJERIA and BORN FROM PAIN.

A song from HICKS KINISON entitled "Poisonous Words" can be streamed on the band's Facebook page.

HICKS KINISON is:

Chris Paccou (a.k.a. Aa Kuernito) (BRUJERIA) - Guitar
Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH) - Bass
Roel Klomp (ex-BORN FROM PAIN) - Drums
Sofia Magalhaes (ex-WE ARE THE DAMMED) - Vocals

WILDSIDE RIOT, the new band fronted by former WRATHCHILD vocalist Rocky Shades, will release its debut album, "No Second Take", on January 28 via Cargo/Livewire Records.

WILDSIDE RIOT is a new five-piece melodic sleaze band based in the Midlands which composes "instantly infectious songs" with "a heavy edge."

Joining Shades in this new project are Joss Riot (lead guitar), Jimmy Gunn (guitar), James Crofts (bass) and Gaz Wilde (drums).

According to a press release, WILDSIDE RIOT has "an incredible live energy" and "brings an exciting attitude to an at-times-lackluster scene."

The band recently performed at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Wales and has a few London shows lined up in early 2013, including supporting John Corabi (THE SCREAM, MÖTLEY CRÜE) at the Underworld on January 24, and opening for BAI BANG at Surya Kings Cross on February 15. WILDSIDE RIOT's album-launch event will be held on February 2 at the Unicorn.

"No Second Take" track listing:

01. All Hail The Wasted
02. Wildside Riot
03. Broken Toys
04. Fukk Em
05. Candiis Gone Bad
06. That's What Sunday Mornings Are For
07. Babe I Gotta Go
08. Angel On My Back
09. My Paradise
10. Glitter-Tramps
11. Wasted Lust
12. My Woman
13. There Is A Bullet For Each Of You

The official lyric video for the song "Believe" from FREEDOMS REIGN, the band led by Victor Arduini, original guitarist and founding member of FATES WARNING (having played on 1984's "Night On Brocken" and 1985's "The Spectre Within"), can be seen below. The track comes off FREEDOMS REIGN's forthcoming, self-titled sophomore CD, which will be released later in the year.

The group, which features Arduini on lead vocals and guitar, Tom Vumback on guitar, Mike Jones on bass and Chris Judge on drums, recorded the new album at Dexters Lab Recording in Milford, Connecticut with Nick Belmore (TOXIC HOLOCAUST).

States Arduini: "FREEDOMS REIGN is right where I want to pick up from where I left off. This music feels as great to play as it did when we recorded 'Spectre'. It still means something to do this, and I don't think I've ever been a part of anything better."

FREEDOMS REIGN's musical direction is described as "very powerful [with] heavy riffs which hark back to the old FATES" material.

A five-song FREEDOMS REIGN "sampler" video can be seen below.

"Believe" lyric video:



"Shadows Of Doubt" song stream (audio):



Five-song FREEDOMS REIGN "sampler" video:

The Mighty Z conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Jesse Matthewson of Canada's KEN MODE on November 1, 2012 at Sub-Mission in San Francisco, California. You can now watch the chat below. Also available is performance footage from the San Francisco concert.

As previously reported, KEN MODE has inked a deal with Season Of Mist. The band's new album, "Entrench", was recorded with producer Matt Bayles (MASTODON, THE SWORD) and will be released on March 19.

Commented the band: "KEN MODE is proud to be forming an alliance with a label with as heavy hitting and as creatively diverse a roster as Season Of Mist. As (mostly) Canadians, we are excited to take this opportunity to put our 9th-grade-level French skills to use, particularly in our communications with the Season Of Mist head office. We are also excited to visit the Season Of Mist U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia where no doubt the staff will present us with the most extravagantly cheesed Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. As newly anointed cultural treasures of Canada, we look forward to the awards and accolades we are no doubt to receive through our international partnership with Season Of Mist."

The group added: "The only logical way to follow up on the success of our previous album, 'Venerable', was to put our noses to the grindstone and top that record in every way possible. With 'Entrench', we are convinced we have accomplished this. 'Entrench' is our most collaborative effort, and the most creative and sonically diverse album of our entire career. 'Entrench' sees us expand in both our handling of dynamics and general song and album craftsmanship; utilizing piano, keyboards, and strings to build on the classic power trio format. For this album, we have also enlisted guest vocal contributions from Dave Verellen (NARROWS, ex-BOTCH) and former DEADGUY/KISS IT GOODBYE vocalist Tim Singer. Both of them add another layer of icing to the metallic-hardcore-noise-rock-whatever-core cake we've baked."

"Entrench" track listing:

01. Counter Culture Complex
02. No; I'm in Control
03. Your Heartwarming Story Makes Me Sick
04. The Terror Pulse
05. The Promises of God
06. Romeo Must Never Know
07. Secret Vasectomy
08. Figure Your Life Out
09. Daeodon
10. Why Don't You Just Quit?
11. Monomyth

The "Entrench" cover artwork can be seen below. The sculpture is by Lil Duncan (a.k.a. Ben Bonner) and it was photographed by Ryan Klatt, with layout by Randy Ortiz.

KEN MODE will embark on a tour with TODAY IS THE DAY, BLACK TUSK and FIGHT AMP in early March.

KEN MODE was honored in the "Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year" category at last year's Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards), which was held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on March 26 - April 1, 2012.

KEN MODE is a name synonymous with the Canadian hardcore and metal scenes. The band has effortlessly blended Amphetamine Reptile-styled noise rock with pure hardcore fury to become one of the Canada's most crushing acts. In the process, it has built a reputation for itself through its unique brand of metallic noise rock as well as touring with musical titans such as MASTODON, PELICAN, CURSED, PROPAGHANDI, BARONESS and more.

KEN MODE's "Venerable" was released in March 2011 via Profound Lore Records. The CD was produced by Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, TRAP THEM, TORCHE) at Godcity Studios and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side.

Interview: