HATRIOT, the new San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band led by former EXODUS and LEGACY (pre-TESTAMENT) frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza, will release its debut album, "Heroes Of Origin" on January 25 via Germany's Massacre Records. The CD was recorded with producer Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TESTAMENT) and features guest appearances BY TESTAMENT 's Chuck Billy and MACHINE HEAD 's Phil Demmel . The cover artwork, which can be seen below, was created by Mark DeVito, who has previously worked with MOTÖRHEAD and ANVIL CHORUS, among others.

"Heroes Of Origin" track listing:

01. Suicide Run
02. Weapons Of Class Destruction
03. Murder American Style
04. Blood Stained Wings
05. The Violent Time Of My Dark Passenger
06. Globicidal
07. And Your Children To Be Damned
08. The Mechanics Of Annihilation
09. Shadows Of The Buried
10. Heroes Of Origin

Check out audio samples of the entire album at Amazon.com.

HATRIOT will play a record-release show for "Heroes Of Origin" on Friday, January 25 at The Joint in Los Angeles, California. The concert is sponsored by Poor Kids Radio. Admission is free with a NAMM pass, or $15 without.

A snippet of the first single from the CD, "The Violent Times Of My Dark Passenger", can be streamed using the audio player below. The track was released digitally on December 28.

Guitarist Steve Howe has left ASIA in order to concentrate fully on other projects.

Howe, who co-founded in 1981 with John Wetton, Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer, says in a statement: "Myself and the band wish to thank their fans for the enthusiasm shown during the original members' reunion. I will continue with YES, and with my trio and solo guitar work. I wish my friends continued success."

YES will perform three of its classic albums in their entirety, all in one concert, on a special tour in 2013: 1971's "The Yes Album", 1972's "Close To The Edge" and 1977's "Going For The One".

ASIA was forced to cancel its 30th-anniversary U.K. tour last month due to drummer Carl Palmer coming down with a severe case of E. coli.

ASIA released its latest studio album, "XXX" (pronounced Triple X) via Frontiers Records on June 29, 2012 in Europe and July 3, 2102 in North America. The record, produced by Mike Paxman, which is being hailed as ASIA's best album since its classic early '80s releases, was made available as a CD, collector's-edition CD/DVD (featuring new music videos and behind-the-scenes footage), and on vinyl (limited edition Europe only). Original artwork for "XXX" was created by Roger Dean.

In addition, ASIA has also released "Resonance", a DVD concert film of the group's 2010/2011 Omega World Tour, captured live in Switzerland. The effort came out at the end of November.

The official lyric video for the song "Feast Of The Cross" from reunited Dutch death metallers CENTURIAN can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Contra Rationem", which will be released on January 28 via Listenable Records. The CD was recorded at the We Are (Music) Junkies studio in Eindhoven with producer/sound engineer Jo Peeters (ABORTED, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, SEVERE TORTURE) and Ralph Timmermans (MINDPARK).

Commented guitarist Rob Oorthuis, CENTURIAN's founding member and writer/composer, "'Contra Rationem' is an adversive record in the broadest sense of the word. It lacks all the ethics of contemporary productions. Leaving only the dynamic range of decay and rats exploring your skeleton. Through the rattle of bones... One might even hear flesh on instruments.

"We keep our deathmetal underproduced. All songs were nailed with conviction, without hesitation. In one take. Guided only by tongues of fire descending upon our heads. Uncorrected. As real as we are not."

"Contra Rationem" track listing:

01. Thou Shallt Bleed For The Lord Thy God
02. Crown Of Bones
03. Feast Of The Cross
04. Judas Among Twelve
05. Antinomian
06. The Will Of The Torch
07. Sin Upon Man
08. Damnatio Memoriae
09. Adversus

The song "Judas Among Twelve" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Oorthuis previously stated about CENTURIAN's new material and decision to reform, "The new songs are more CENTURIAN-esque than they are NOX songs. The chemistry among the bandmembers, musically and technically, leans on an approach we had back in the CENTURIAN days. Because of this I coined the idea about changing back the name."

CENTURIAN is:

Niels Adams - Vocals
Rob Oorthuis - Guitars
Patrick Boleij - Bass
Seth Van De Loo - Drums

CENTURIAN's last album, "Liber Zarzax", was released in 2001 via Listenable Records.

"Feast Of The Cross" lyric video:

APOLOKIA, Italy's most controversial, nihilist and hateful black metal band, return with their inhuman icecold and satanic form of art with the release of the long awaited debut album, Kathaarian Vortex, out in CD/LP/tape format on February 25th, 2013. A new album trailer can be seen below:
The album represents a compendium mix of early first wave and second wave black metal with a 1992 black metal sound production, icecold and razor sharp guitar sound, inhuman cryptic and mystic vocals, ultrafast and violent drums everything overwhelmed by an outstanding, inhuman, evil geniality based on the original Apolokia trademark that is the true evolution of the pure black metal spirit, sound and attitude without any compromise in ideologies and musical expression.

An exclusive album for the followers of the cult, for those who are nowadays disappointed by the ridicolus and politically correct music that the mass wrongly labels black metal.

Check out the album artwork below:
Kathaarian Vortex tracklisting:

'Consolamentum'
'Post Kristus Daemonolatry'
'In Figuram Baphometis'
'Order Of The Nine'
'Malignant Asphyxiation'
'Kathaarian Vortex'
'Signum Satani'
'Coil of Nihilism'
'Pure Imperial Darkness MMXII'
More on Apolokia at this location.

Progressive death metal masters VEX will release their new album entitled Memorious, on February 5th on CD format via Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.

The track ‘Terra Soar’ has now been released for streaming and can be heard below:
Memorious tracklisting:

'Terra Soar'
'Carve My Eyes'
'Astride A Grave'
'No Such Thing'
'Spectral Nation'
'Away From The Sun'
'Wasteland (How Long Ago...)'
'Solace In Sleep'
'Those Days Are Gone'
'A Drinking Song'

Singer Ronnie Atkins of Danish hard rock veterans PRETTY MAIDS has been confirmed as one of the guest musicians who will appear on "The Mystery Of Time", the new album from EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA project. Also scheduled to make appearances on the CD are Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, HELLOWEEN), SAXON frontman Biff Byford, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, drummer Russell Gilbrook of URIAH HEEP and AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen (also ex-BODINE, VENGEANCE).

Commented Tobias: "I have been a huge PRETTY MAIDS fan since I was a teenager. I already asked Ronnie to be on the 'Metal Opera' in 1999, but he was busy back then. Last year I saw PRETTY MAIDS live, and they were a steam train on stage, unbelievable. After the show, we met and Ronnie was a great guy. Finally after 13 years, I am really proud to have him on the new AVANTASIA album. And his kick-ass performance leaves no doubt: It was a great decision to ask him!"

A YouTube clip containing footage of the orchestra recordings as well as a rough-mix sample of a song featuring Kiske is available below.

Bruce previously appeared on AVANTASIA's "The Wicked Symphony" and "Angel Of Babylon" CDs and Tobias contributed guest vocals to Bruce's last solo release, "BK3".

The new AVANTASIA CD is being recorded in part at VOX Klangstudio in Bendestorf, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth (KAMELOT, EDGUY, EPICA, RHAPSODY).

Immediately after the release of "The Mystery Of Time", a metal opera based on a story written by Sammet, the band will embark on a full-fledged indoor tour, during which the band and special guests will bring the epic undertaking to the stage.

Since the performances will embrace all the different eras and history of AVANTASIA, these shows will feature an extended playing time and the entire evening will be dedicated to AVANTASIA with no support acts.

Tobias originally wanted to put AVANTASIA to rest after the release of the "The Flying Opera - Around The World In 20 Days" concert DVD in April 2011, but he has since had a change of heart. He explains, "Even though I love to record and tour with EDGUY, I didn't foresee how much I need AVANTASIA when I decided to finish this chapter of my life in 2011. I didn't know if there would be another AVANTASIA album one day, but I didn‘t feel like doing it. After the worldwide success of the latest studio releases, an arena world tour that was sold out pretty much everywhere, collaborations with childhood heroes like Alice Cooper, Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Eric Singer of KISS, etc. I 'knew' that I had said everything I could possibly say in the name of AVANTASIA. But that's not what AVANTASIA is all about. I wanna create more great music, I wanna create more fantasy worlds, the bigger and the more epic, the better. And listening to the material that I have created for this forthcoming chapter in the history of AVANTASIA, I know there is no way I am not going to do it! I have got the feeling and the certainty that this is absolutely meant to happen and to be!"

Pictured below: Ronnie Atkins

A seven-minute preview of "Youngblood", the fourth studio album from the Norwegian rock band AUDREY HORNE, is available in the YouTube clip below. The CD will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Norway: January 25, 2013
Sweden, Finland, Espania: January 30, 2013
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux: February 1, 2013
Rest Of Europe: February 4, 2013
USA, Canada: February 5, 2013

According to a press release, "Youngblood" follows in "the ancient tradition of honest and true handmade music, a fresh enthusiasm and new energetic sound. 'Redemption Blues', 'Youngblood' or 'Show And Tell' not only live up to the numerous AUDREY HORNE classics, but turn into irresistible tunes with catchy refrains right from the start that will stay with you for a long time."

AUDREY HORNE will present "Youngblood" live on stage with live shows in Oslo (with STONE SOUR on December 18 and with BLACK DEBBATH on January 25). In March 2013, AUDREY HORNE will play Germany and Prague, Czech Republic with LONG DISTANCE CALLING and SÓLSTAFIR.

AUDREY HORNE was formed in 2002, taking its name from Sherilyn Fenn's character in the cult TV series "Twin Peaks". Although some of the band's members play or have previously played in black metal bands like ENSLAVED and GORGOROTH, AUDREY HORNE's music is far removed from the black metal genre, and can be described as heavy and melodic hard rock, similar to bands like FAITH NO MORE, ALICE IN CHAINS and A PERFECT CIRCLE.

Classic rockers GREAT WHITE — Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous — will release a live album, "30 Years - Live From The Sunset Strip", on February 22 in Europe and February 26 in North America via Frontiers Records.

To mark its 30th anniversary live on March 22, 2012, GREAT WHITE celebrated the only logical way — on stage. In a nod to its early days, GREAT WHITE returned to the infamous Sunset Strip, where a storied past of music's biggest fans are fused into the walls of the Key Club. GREAT WHITE delivered its entire repertoire to a packed house, pining for the band's raw energy and cheering its illustrious history track after track.

The Southern California blues hard rock band debuted with a Don Dokken/Michael Wagener-produced EP in 1983 and later on were signed by EMI for 1984's self-titled debut album. Since then GREAT WHITE has achieved worldwide success, encompassing sales of over six million records. They received a Grammy nomination for "Best Hard Rock Performance" for the song "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and earned a double platinum certification for the album "…Twice Shy".

It's the soulful, blues-based signature sound that turned songs like "Face The Day", "Rock Me" and "Save Your Love" into international hits. The late '80s were boom years for the band, marked by non-stop touring with some of the biggest bands of the era, including stints in Europe and Japan. GREAT WHITE recorded two more albums for Capitol — "Hooked", which was certified gold, and "Psycho City".

"30 Years - Live From The Sunset Strip" track listing:

01. Desert Moon
02. Lady Red Light
03. Face The Day
04. House Of Broken Love
05. Save Your Love
06. Mista Bone
07. The Big Goodbye
08. Back To The Rhythm
09. Rock Me
10. Can't Shake It
11. Once Bitten Twice Shy

GREAT WHITE's latest album, "Elation", sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Issued on May 22 via Frontiers Records, the 12-song CD marks GREAT WHITE's first effort with Ilous following the band's split with founding singer Jack Russell.

This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL (formerly JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE), which features Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) on guitar, Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) on bass and Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) on drums.

Hot on the heels of their recent critically acclaimed album release "New York Connection", U.K. rock legends SWEET have released a new live CD only available by digital download.

Performing the band's most famous and influential album from 1974, "Desolation Boulevard", live, SWEET's "Desolation Boulevard Revisited" recaptures the album in concert with all of the raw energy that can only come from a live performance.

Originally titled "Sweet Fanny Adams" in the U.K., the 1974 U.S. release of the album, re-titled "Desolation Boulevard", was a turning point for the band featuring, for the first time, more of a hard rock sound. The album yielded classic hits such as "Ballroom Blitz", "Fox On The Run" and "The Six Teens", catapulting the band to international stardom.

Says original member Andy Scott: "SWEET's 'Desolation Boulevard' album was groundbreaking back in 1974 and proved to be a major influence on soon to be famous rock bands such as KISS, MÖTLEY CRÜE, DEF LEPPARD and many more. The album was a tightly produced collection of power-pop, heavy-rock, radio-friendly tunes that still sound great today. This was the album that accelerated SWEET into a major headlining touring band in the '70s, a testament of anyone who saw the band 'live.' Several of the songs from the album have been covered by other artists which pays true homage to a great band. Now in 2013, we have 'Desolation Boulevard Revisited'. A 'live' album release, almost 40 years on from the original but sounding as fresh as the day the songs were conceived. This is a 'must' for SWEET fans everywhere!"

With worldwide album sales of more than 55 million copies, SWEET have notched 34 No. 1 smashes across the globe as part of a run of timeless hits that includes "Blockbuster!", "Hell Raiser", "The Ballroom Blitz", "The Six Teens", "Action", "Fox On The Run" and "Love Is Like Oxygen". Seen on "Top Of The Pops" on what felt like a weekly basis throughout the 1970s, their über-harmonious, multi-tracked guitar work and layered production was to provide inspiration to other acts such as QUEEN, the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA and, in later decades, DEF LEPPARD, MÖTLEY CRÜE and THE DARKNESS.

"Desolation Boulevard Revisited" track listing:

01. Sweet F.A.
02. Heartbreak Today
03. The Six Teens
04. Restless
05. No You Don't
06. Into The Night
07. AC-DC
08. Fox On The Run
09. Set Me Free
10. Ballroom Blitz

Check out audio samples at Amazon.com.

SWEET is:

Andy Scott - Guitar, Vocals
Pete Lincoln - Lead Vocals, Bass
Bruce Bisland - Drums, Vocals
Tony O'Hora - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

"Child Of War", the new video from classic southern California power/speed metalists HERETIC, can be seen below. The clip was shot and directed by Metal Refuge TV's FreddyMedal (a.k.a. Fred Swift of DOWN HEAVAL/AUGMENTED).

"Child Of War" comes of HERETIC's latest album, "A Time Of Crisis", which was released last July via Metal On Metal Records. The band is currently working on the follow-up effort, which will feature such new tracks as "Demonize" and "Quick Sand".

HERETIC, formed in 1985 in Los Angeles, California, released an EP, "Torture Knows No Boundary" (1986), and a full-length, "Breaking Point" (1988), through Metal Blade Records before disbanding. Later on the founding member, songwriter and guitarist Brian Korban together with bassist Dennis O'Hara formed REVEREND, which featured the vocal talents of the late David Wayne (METAL CHURCH).

In 2011 Brian Korban reformed the band, recruiting Julian Mendez, the vocalist who sang on the band's first EP. Soon they were joined by the seasoned musicians, long-time friends and collaborators, guitarist Glenn Rogers (VIKING, ex-HIRAX, ex-DELIVERANCE, ex-STEEL VENGEANCE and others) and bassist Angelo Espino (BITCH, ex-REVEREND, ex-HIRAX, ex-ANGER AS ART, ex-UNCLE SLAM and others) and a young, but talented drummer Ignazio Coppola.

HERETIC recorded its first-ever live DVD on August 25, 2012 at Malone's in Santa Ana, California.

Post-metal prog group INTRONAUT has revealed the artwork for "Milk Leg", the first single off its highly anticipated new album, "Habitual Levitations". The "Milk Leg" cover was designed by Randy Ortiz of Damn The Design, and the single will be available on all digital platforms on February 5. A single sided, etched seven-inch vinyl of the single will follow, with the exact release date to be announced.

Leading up to the release of "Habitual Levitations" on March 19, INTRONAUT will be on the road with MESHUGGAH and ANIMALS AS LEADERS, following a small run of headlining dates.

While fans eagerly await the first single and tour kick off, a taste of what's to come can be heard on the rehearsal video below, where the band is practicing a new song that will appear on "Habitual Levitations".

Drums for "Habitual Levitations" were recorded by producer John Haddad (EXHUMED, PHOBIA) and Derek Donley (BEREFT) handled recording for all other elements on the record. It was mixed by Josh Newell and artwork and layout will be done by David D'Andrea, who has worked with the band on previous albums.

INTRONAUT's last studio album, "Valley Of Smoke", was met with vast critical acclaim and the band toured extensively in support of the album. In addition to landing a slot as direct support for TOOL, INTRONAUT toured with ANIMALS AS LEADERS, CYNIC, THE OCEAN, HELMET and more.

British vocalist Tony Mills (TNT, ex-SHY) is working on a new solo album for a 2013 release. The follow-up to 2008's "Vital Designs" will feature guest appearances by a number of "well-known names in the rock business," including Tommy Denander, Bruce Gaitsch, Gregg Bissonette (DAVID LEE ROTH, RINGO STARR), Tony Franklin (THE FIRM), Erik Engerbretsen, Mike Garson, Simon Harrison, Terje Eide, Neil Hibbs and Roger Gilton.

TNT's latest album, "A Farewell To Arms", was released in Japan in December 2010 via Avalon/Marquee and in Europe (excluding Norway) in January 2011 through Metal Heaven. The CD was produced by TNT guitar player Ronni Le Tekrö at his Studio Studio, and the songs were mainly written by Tekrö and Mills.

Mills suffered a heart attack at Oslo airport in August 2010 on his way to a gig with the rest of the band, but a quick response from the airport's paramedics saved the singer's life.

NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW (featuring members of BEREFT and GRAVITON) just self-released their third album entitled Festival Of The Horned God. The album is now available for a name-your-price download fee at Nationalsundaylaw.bandcamp.com.
With three new songs spanning 27 minutes, Festival Of The Horned God is another set of epic compositions featuring dissonant riffs, thunderous drumming, progressive arrangements, powerful vocals, haunting acoustic guitars, analog synths, electronics and keyboard textures, according to a press release.

Following the recording of Graviton’s Massless (a collaboration between National Sunday Law and INTRONAUT’s Sacha Dunable), National Sunday Law went on a temporary hiatus when Darin Tambascio (guitars, bass, keys, vocals) moved from Los Angeles to Baltimore due to financial issues. Since 2011, Derek Donley (drums, vocals, keys, recording engineer) remained busy in Los Angeles with multiple music and recording projects. In addition to being a member of National Sunday Law, Donley is the drummer of the new doom supergroup Bereft, the vocalist in THE CRUELEST ANIMAL, and a jack-of-all-trades in his solo project named YOU BIG OX. Each these bands released their first recordings in 2012, which Donley recorded at his studio. Just prior to the release of Festival Of The Horned God, Donley also recorded the bulk of Intronaut's upcoming 2013 LP titled Habitual Levitations.

After the success of the "Polaris" and "Elysium" albums and the warm response to the CD/DVD/Blu-ray "Live In Tampere" that featured one show of the band's last world tour with longtime drummer Jörg Michael, STRATOVARIUS is about to reinforce its position as one of the undisputed leading name of the prog-symphonic metal genre with "Nemesis", an album that promises to be one of its best ever.

STRATOVARIUS recently entered the studio again, only a few weeks after having completed the new CD, to record an additional song they had been working on for a while. The acoustic ballad, "Old Man And The Sea", will be an extra track included in the 2,500 numbered limited-edition vinyl version of "Nemesis".

With "Nemesis" two months from release, STRATOVARIUS will soon shoot the first video clip from the CD and is inviting its fans to take part in the filming process.

Fans are being asked to send a picture of their most precious STRATOVARIUS fan item to: win_earmusic@edel.com. T-Shirts, a signed concert poster, drawings, CDs official or… not, self-made shirts, flags or anything that they feel is rare or unique related to any phase or moment of the band's long history. The possibilities are endless! The band will select the most original and fun fan items to be featured in the clip. Deadline to send in photos is January 23. All received items will be returned in mint condition.

STRATOVARIUS will try to find the time to comment and share all the memories brought back by all pictures through the band's and earMUSIC's Facebook pages.

On top of the newly announced 2LP edition, "Nemesis" will be released on February 22 via earMUSIC as an 11-track CD and as a special-edition 13-track hardcover CD.

For more information, go to this location.

"Nemesis" track listing:

01. Abandon
02. Unbreakable
03. Stand My Ground
04. Halcyon Days
05. Fantasy
06. Out Of The Fog
07. Castles In The Air
08. Dragons
09. One Must Fall
10. If The Story Is Over
11. Nemesis

An audio sample of the song "Unbreakable" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Dutch melodic doom/death metal veterans OFFICIUM TRISTE will release of their fifth studio album, "Mors Viri", on March 18 through Hammerheart Records. The CD was recorded on several occasions during 2011 at El Pato studios in Bergweiler, Germany. Ronnie Björnström at Enhanced Audio Productions did the mix and master in Sweden. "Mors Viri" sounds mature and varied with a focus on melancholic melodies, and is definitely the band's strongest recording to date.

"Mors Viri" track listing:

01. Your Fall From Grace
02. Burning All Boats And Bridges
03. Your Heaven, My Underworld
04. Interludium
05. To The Gallows
06. The Wounded And The Dying
07. One With The Sea (Part II)
08. Like Atlas

You can listen to "The Wounded And The Dying" in the YouTube clip below.

Says OFFICIUM TRISTE: "We've been working really hard on this new album and we are convinced we made a huge leap forward in both song writing as well as production. We are positive Hammerheart Records will be a big help in spreading our name even further. We're really looking forward working with them."

Adds Hammerheart: “When we received the new recordings of OFFICIUM TRISTE, we were blown away; the sheer quality of every aspect of this recording is simply superb. Anyone interested in strong melodic doom/death metal (think KATATONIA, MY DYING BRIDE, ANATHEMA, NOVEMBER'S DOOM) will have a new favorite band to add!!! Great to be working with these veteran guys who are around for almost 20 years now..."

During the recording sessions for "Mors Viri", OFFICIUM TRISTE recorded a cover version of ANATHEMA's "Sleepless". The band states: "We used to play this song live quite often in our early days. We thought it was cool to record this one. It won't appear on any official release so we made it available for you to download. It's our gift to our fans, because we can."

AVENGED SEVENFOLD recently returned from taking most of 2012 off by debuting a new song called "Carry On" in last year's most anticipated video game, Call Of Duty: Black Ops II. Not only did the band contribute the tune, but they also appeared as characters during the game's closing credits to perform it. Singer M. Shadows told The Pulse Of Radio about the work involved in turning AVENGED SEVENFOLD into video game avatars. "We had two full days of motion capture, so the band went in there, put on silly outfits and we danced around and pretended like we were playing in front of an audience," he said. "Hopefully none of those pictures will leak. But we did that, and then we went in there and for vocals I had to sit there and put my head in this vise, and they did motion capture of me singing the words a bunch of times. Between acting and pretending that you're playing onstage when there's nobody there, it was a pretty fun experience."

AVENGED SEVENFOLD's video game counterparts do a little acting and fighting in the game in addition to performing "Carry On".

Call Of Duty: Black Ops II arrived in stores last November and has been selling in record-breaking numbers.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD is entering the studio this month to begin recording its sixth studio album, with Shadows recently telling Metal Hammer that the set "has a lot more of a [BLACK] SABBATH / [LED] ZEPPELIN feel to it."

The band's next album is due out this summer and will follow up 2010's "Nightmare", the first No. 1 record of AVENGED SEVENFOLD's career.

UPON WINGS will release its new EP, "Afterlife", on March 5 via Sword Of The Spirit Records LLC. The CD features guest vocals and production from Brett Hestla (ex-CREED, DARK NEW DAY).

The EP's debut single and title track is set to hit alternative and rock radio and digital outlets on January 15, but you can hear it first today using the audio player below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep).

Rock and metal fans will recognize plenty of names on "Afterlife". KID ROCK recording engineer and Grammy-nominated mixing engineer Glenn Brown mastered the single, while Hestla provided guest vocals and production talents. More metal assistance for the upcoming EP came from producer and guitarist Kevin Jardine, best known as the guitarist of Canadian nu metal giants SLAVES ON DOPE, formerly on Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's Divine Recordings label. Drummer Peter Tzaferis also contributed to the EP.

Recording sessions for "Afterlife" took place at Johnny K's Groovemaster Studios in Chicago, where DISTURBED, 3 DOORS DOWN, STAIND and countless other heavy music-makers have laid down tracks.

UPON WINGS combines operatic, female-fronted goth-pop with rousing rock and metal in a unique, ethereal fashion. Frontwoman Anne Autumn Erickson is a classically-trained dramatic mezzo-soprano, and her lyrics take listeners down a path of heartfelt introspection, pain, joy and faith.

UPON WINGS's debut single, "The Dream", was made available in March 2012 via iTunes, Amazon MP3 and Google Music. "The Dream" was the result of a collaboration between Erickson and Grammy-nominated producer Glenn Brown (EVANS BLUE, SPINAL TAP, THE VERVE PIPE).

UPON WINGS hails from the U.S. and can be described as symphonic metal with a classical influence.

Erickson is also a music journalist for Gannett, Gibson, Loudwire and radio host and managing editor of Audio Ink Radio.

For more information, visit www.uponwings.com.

"Afterlife" song audio stream (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep):

Ohio-based metallers AXEMASTER have parted ways with vocalist Tony Webster and have replaced him with Geoff McGraw.

Commented the band: "Due to personal issues, Tony was unable to do any work with the project for a significant length of time and had informed the band that he was unsure as to whether he would ever be able to continue. After allowing some time to see if the problems could be resolved, it became clear that a change was needed in order to be able to move forward with the band in general and the new album in particular. We all wish Tony the very best for the future and hope that he finds success in whatever path he chooses.

"Enter new vocalist Geoff McGraw! Geoff has been performing and singing since he was practically old enough to walk and at a young age developed a huge appetite for all things heavy metal. He has been a member of various local original bands across the state of Ohio for many years and is very much looking forward to working with AXEMASTER."

Said McGraw: "I am honored and excited to be offered the opportunity to join AXEMASTER, and can't wait to help bring the new music to the world."

Added guitarist Joe Sims: "From the very beginning, I have been impressed with everything about Geoff. He's a talented singer who's voice fits PERFECTLY with what we do musically. Plus he's an excellent songwriter, has a great attitude, and is really easy to work with. It's the kind of unique combination you always hope to find in a singer, or any band member for that matter."

McGraw's style has already been praised by a prominent European contact who heard Geoff's audition demo recording and said: "What I really think is important is his voice matches perfectly with the band's dark riffs. Also, I think his vocals sound quite unique which is also a great advantage. I think this will be well received over here".

A longtime and avid guitar player, Geoff intends to attempt to double his duties within AXEMASTER and take on the second guitar position as well. Once he finishes recording all the vocal tracks for the new album, the band will seriously look into this possibility.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/axemasterofficial.

Italy's gothic melodic sensation THE FORESHADOWING has parted ways with drummer Jonah Padella due to "personal reasons" and has replaced him with Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE, AIRLINES OF TERROR).

Commented THE FORESHADOWING guitarist Alessandro Pace: "The choice of Giuseppe on drums was so natural in our eyes since he's a longtime friend and he produced our first two albums and travelled many times with us as sound engineer, growing up in parallel with the band as a sort of additional member! He will increase the level of the band with his precious experience and inner talent that everyone well knows. Welcome onboard, mate!"

Added Giuseppe: "I'm very happy to join THE FORESHADOWING. We know each other since long time, even before the foundation of the band, and I've always considered them as good friends, great musicians and composers. I felt honored when they asked me to become their drummer because I always loved their music! I think it's the result of passion and sacrifice and I think we will create good vibes together."

THE FORESHADOWING will join Swedish black metallers MARDUK and Portugal's dark, gothic heavy hitters MOONSPELL for the "Voices From The Dark" North American co-headlining tour in February/March. Additional support on the trek will come from Colombian/American black metal rising demons INQUISITION and Sweden's dark rock/metal band DEATH WOLF (featuring MARDUK members).

States Pace: "It will be our first time in North America and we are very proud to hit the road with such great bands!!! Are you ready to be part of the Second World?"

THE FORESHADOWING's most recent album, "Second World", was released in North America on August 14, 2012. The CD has been widely praised by fans and critics alike as one of the top doom releases of 2012.

Madrid, Spain-based female-fronted metallers TEARS OF MARTYR have inked a deal with Germany's Massacre Records. The band's second album, "Tales", will be released on April 26. The CD was recorded in August 2012 at the New Sin Studios in Loria, Italy, with Enrik Garcia and Luigi Stefanini.

Formed in the mid-'90s in Gran Canaria, Spain, TEARS OF MARTYR's debut album, "Entrance", was released in 2009 via STF Records.

The band was honored with the "Best Spanish Band Of The Year" award at the Female Metal Awards in 2009.

Commented TEARS OF MARTYR: "We are happy and excited to work with Massacre Records. We are looking forward to the release of 'Tales' and we hope you'll enjoy it!"

TEARS OF MARTYR is:

Berenice Musa - Soprano
Miguel Angel Marqués – Guitar, Vocals
Adrián Miranda - Bass
Doramas Párraga - Drums

Acclaimed Swedish hard rock vocalist Mats Levén (CANDLEMASS, THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TREAT, KRUX) has collaborated with Swedish musician/producer Jimmy Lagnefors on music for a fictional band called LUDOR that is featured in the Swedish movie "Mammas Pojkar" (international title: "Metal Brothers"), which was released in Sweden in December.

Levén, who has spent the past seven months fronting legendary Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS following the departure of Robert Lowe, tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET about his involvement in the film: "Jimmy and I wrote 10 songs for the band LUDOR in the movie plus the usual score.

"LUDOR is just a made-up band that the two brothers [in the movie] are fans of. You never see the actual members in the film except for some poster and album covers. I sing on all the songs and play guitar/bass together with Jimmy. Henka Johansson (ex-CLAWFINGER) plays drums.

"The first two songs [from LUDOR] will be released on Spotify/iTunes in a week or two. The rest will be out soon (January/February), hopefully on CD as well as download."

Levén and Lagnefors, along with Chris "Seven" Antonopoulos (drums; OPIATE FOR THE MASSES, LEAVES' EYES, ATROCITY), Pontus Norgren (guitar; HAMMERFALL) and -Nalle Påhlsson (bass; TREAT, THERION), performed three LUDOR songs at the Swedish premiere of "Mammas Pojkar" and they may do additional shows in Sweden if there is a demand.

For more information, visit the LUDOR Facebook page.

"Band Of Brothers", the brand new video from DEEZ NUTS, can be seen below. The track, which features a guest appearance by Sam Carter (ARCHITECTS), comes off the band's third album, "Bout It", which is scheduled for release in Europe on March 29 via Century Media Records. The CD features additional guest appearances by Freddy Cricien (MADBALL) and Jon Blake (ON BROKEN WINGS).

The brainchild of vocalist JJ Peters, DEEZ NUTS was formed after his previous group, acclaimed Australian metalcore outfit I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN, decided to split up in early 2008.

Says Peters: "DEEZ NUTS and myself are extremely proud to announce we've joined the family over at Century Media and will finally have a label to call home in Europe and the U.K. for our upcoming full-length, 'Bout It'. Look at what we've achieved in Europe and U.K. doin' it DIY. With Century Media in our corner, there's no stopping us."

DEEZ NUTS are:

JJ Peters - vocals
Matt "Realbad" Rogers - guitar
Jon Green - bass
Alex Salinger - drums

After the success of last year's "III", and the reissue of debut album "Soma", the Marseille, France-based female-fronted metalcore band ETHS will make its first EPs — "Autopsie" and "Samantha" — available again on February 15 via Season Of Mist.

Originally released in 2000 and 2002, respectively, "Autopsie" and "Samantha" spread like wildfire and gained the young band cult status. The raw emotionality of outstanding singer Candice Clot on top of a raging mixture of metal and core captured the immediate interest of their rapidly growing following. Now these two milestones of French metal will be reissued with the addition of four previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Track listing:

"Autopsie":

01. Pourquoi
02. La Chair et le Sang
03. À la Droite de Dieu
04. Le Mâle
05. Des Hommes Bons
06. Autopsie
07. Dévore
08. Encore (remix)
09. Rien À Dire (bonus demo track)
10. Encore (bonus demo track)

"Samantha":

01. Intro
02. Samantha
03. Des Cendres
04. Encore
05. Volée
06. Le Projet Humain
07. Animadversion
08. Entends-Tu
09. Septum Lucidum (bonus demo version)
10. Elle S'endort (bonus demo version)

ETHS last fall recruited Virginie Goncalves (KELLS) and Nelly Wood-Hasselhoff to handle lead vocals at the group's shows following the departure of Candice Clot.

Clot played her final show as a member of ETHS on October 13, 2012 at L'Arcade in Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon, France.

ETHS' third album, "III", was released on April 6, 2012 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others.

Czech Republic-based metallers SEBASTIEN will enter Grapow Studios in Slovakia on February 11 with producer Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN, ex-HELLOWEEN guitarist) to begin recording their sophomore album, "Dark Chambers of Déja Vu" for a late 2013 release. The band states: "All lyrics are already written (as well as on the 'Tears Of White Roses' album) by our friend and a great lyric writer, Jan Petricko! The cover artwork and all new design is [being created] right now by Dis-Art Design from Slovakia."

SEBASTIEN parted ways with drummer Radek Rain at the end of last year and has enlisted Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka (CRADLE OF FILTH, MASTERPLAN, INNER FEAR) to lay down the drum tracks on the new CD.

SEBASTIEN's current recording lineup:

George Rain – Vocals, Guitar
Andy Mons - Guitars
Petri Skalainen - Bass
Pavel "Dvorkys" Dvorak - Keyboards
Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka - Drums

Video footage of SEBASTIEN's performance at the Masters Of Rock festival — with special guest appearances by Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND), Roland Grapow and Katie Joanne (SIREN'S CRY) — can be seen below.

"Earth Rocker", the title track of the new album from Maryland rockers CLUTCH, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below (courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan).

Produced by Machine (LAMB OF GOD, FOUR YEAR STRONG, FALL OUT BOY) at the Machine Shop studio in Belleville, New Jersey, "Earth Rocker" will be released on March 19 via CLUTCH's own Weathermaker Music label. The CD was described by CLUTCH vocalist Neil Fallon in a recent interview with DCHeavyMetal.com as "probably faster than most of our recent albums. Maybe compared to some other bands, it's not the fastest thing on planet Earth. For us it was definitely a step up in the tempo. And I think the other thing that kind of stands out about this one is the blues influences that we've been flirting with over the past couple records is more or less absent in this record, which didn't really happen intentionally until we looked back at it. As a whole, it's just much more of a straight-up rock and roll record."

The artwork for "Earth Rocker" was created by Nick Lakiotes, longtime CLUTCH art director, who has worked on previous efforts, including "Robot Hive/Exodus" and "Strange Cousins From The West".

CLUTCH's North American dates kick off March 8 in Cincinnati, Ohio and are currently slated to run through March 24 in Anaheim, California. Support on the trek will come from ORANGE GOBLIN, LIONIZE and KYNG.

Video footage of CLUTCH performing the "Earth Rocker" title track at a secret CD-listening party on October 17, 2012 at the Machine Shop in Belleville, New Jersey can be seen below.

"I Said It", the new video from NONPOINT, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Ramon Boutviseth, who has previously worked with TRIVIUM, DARKEST HOUR, INCUBUS and ALL THAT REMAINS, among others. It was filmed at the Majestic Theater in Madison, Wisconsin.

Commented NONPOINT frontman Elias Soriano: "It's been a long time since I've had this much fun on a video shoot — especially since we had a chance to shoot it in one of our favorite towns to play — Madison, Wisconsin. Put your mouthguards in and protect your neck folks. This one's a swinging fist to the grill."

"I Said It" comes off NONPOINT's new self-titled album, which sold 7,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 62 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Miracle" (2010), opened with around 8,000 units to land at No. 60.

"Nonpoint" was produced/mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (DISTURBED, STAIND, MEGADETH) and features additional production and mixing from Brian Virtue (30 SECONDS TO MARS, CHEVELLE). The CD contains 12 of the most raw and real songs of their 15-year career with unique, uncompromising, and undeniable hard rock on their self-titled ninth studio album and first for Razor & Tie. Weathering lineup changes, label shifts, and other trials and tribulations, founding members Elias Soriano (vocals) and Robb Rivera (drums) regrouped with fresh blood — Dave Lizzio (guitar), Adam Wolosyzn (bass), and Rasheed Thomas (guitar) — and captured pure fire this time around.

A better-quality stream of SEVENDUST's new single, "Decay", has been posted online ahead of its official release on January 22. Check it out in the YouTube clip below.

"Decay" is the first single from SEVENDUST's ninth album, "Black Out The Sun", which will be released on March 26, 2013 via the band's 7Bros. Records label (through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group). The CD was recorded at Architekt Music studios in Butler, New Jersey with engineer Mike Ferretti.

"The craziest thing about this record is finishing it in about a month," guitarist John Connolly told Revolver magazine. "We haven't done that since our debut album [1997's self-titled effort]. This is one of the fastest records we've ever made, but also one of the strongest — working off instinct mostly."

According to Connolly, SEVENDUST's forthcoming CD finds the band exploring "a darker vibe," but "there's still plenty of melody," he added. "The record fits right in with 'Animosity' [2002], 'Alpha' [2007], and our self-titled album. Lots of heavy stuff and some more mellow, moody songs as well It's a nice balance of what makes for the SEVENDUST sound."

Other songtitles set to appear on the 12-track CD, which was produced by the bandmembers themselves, include "Mountain" and "Murder Bar". The latter was reportedly inspired by a Butler, New Jersey bar across from the hotel where SEVENDUST was staying while recording the new CD. Rumor had it the place was popular with many of New Jersey's murderers.

"It's a basic SEVENDUST record," guitarist Clint Lowery recently told "Source Of The Sound With Wendy Campbell". "There's nothing, like, too completely different than anything we've done before. It's got a darker vibe to it. We've got a good amount of the programming element in there. It's a lot of what we do — it's heavy and it's got its melodic element in it. So if you're a SEVENDUST fan, it's more along the lines of the second and third records we did — it's kind of like that. It's got a couple of throwback vibes to it. 'Animosity' and 'Home' [1999], if I can put those two records together, it would [sound similar to the new CD]."

SEVENDUST and LACUNA COIL will join forces for a U.S. tour in early 2013. The bands will head out on a 17-date run throughout the month of February. The trek kicks off on February 2 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

"Decay" audio stream:

German epic pagan metallers WOLFCHANT will release their new album, "Embraced By Fire", on March 1 via NoiseArt Records. According to the band, the follow-up to 2011's "Call Of The Black Winds" is "the most elaborate and detailed album in our band history so far! We've made sure to create catchy and interesting song structures and to deploy a multifarious instrumentation. Andre Hofmann of Forte Fortissimo studio supplied a very forceful and clear sound, which fits perfectly to the new songs."

In other news, WOLFCHANT is featured in the Cartoon Network's "Aqua Something You Know Whatever". Three members of the band appear in the episode called "Totem Pole" as the band TOTEM POLE performing the song "Polegasm". Check out snippets at this location.

"Aqua Something You Know Whatever" began its long run on Adult Swim under the title "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" for its first seven seasons, then was renamed "Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1" for a season before the creators decided to change the title again.

Commented WOLFCHANT singer Mario "Lokhi" Möginger: "In April 2012 we've got a mail from Turner Media / Time Warner (CNN, etc.) with the question if we were interested to compose the soundtrack for an episode of the TV serial 'Aqua Something…' First of all we thought this is a joke because a short time before we've talked about how funny it would be to create wicked sounds for something like 'Family Guy' or 'South Park'. It turned out quickly that it was a serious offer and that the producer Matt Maiellaro knows us and likes our music. We especially have a strong fan base in South and North America and most of our merchandise is going overseas. So, the offer arrived at the opportune moment to to heighten the profile of our name there! We installed a dedicated line between the studio in Atlanta and our studio to produce the songs and to dub the fictional band TOTEM POLE. That was a great experience for us to see how everything originates and to be part of this all!"

WOLFCHANT will take part in the Paganfest Europe tour alongside ALESTORM, ARKONA, EX DEO, THYRFING and BORNHOLM.

The official lyric video for "Ride The Void", the title track of the sophomore album from Southern California traditional metallers HOLY GRAIL, can be seen below. Due in Europe on January 18 via Nuclear Blast Records and in North America on January 22 through Prosthetic Records, the effort will be made available as a limited CD version including a bonus track, a black 2LP version and a strictly limited clear 2LP version.

The follow-up to 2010's "Crisis In Utopia", "Ride The Void" was recorded with producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED, CHILDREN OF BODOM) throughout the year, working around national tours with DRAGONFORCE and VALIENT THORR. The cover artwork was created by famous American digital matte artist Dylan Cole, who is well-known for his work on movies like "The Lord Of The Rings", "Avatar" and "Daredevil".

"Ride The Void" track listing:

01. Archeus
02. Bestia Triumphans
03. Dark Passenger
04. Bleeding Stone
05. Ride The Void
06. Too Decayed To Wait
07. Crosswinds
08. Take It To The Grave
09. Sleep Of Virtue
10. Silence The Scream
11. The Great Artifice
12. Wake Me When It's Over
13. Rains Of Sorrow
14. Can't Hide The Wolf (bonus track)

The artwork for the "Dark Passenger" single was designed by Sam Turner (3 INCHES OF BLOOD), who also did the art for the band's 2011 holiday EP "Seasons Bleedings". The seven-inch edition also includes an unreleased B-side, "Go Down Swinging", which does not appear on "Ride The Void".