A few short weeks week after shocking the music world by announcing their plans to disband following a January 2013 farewell tour, Christian metalcore act UNDERØATH is debuting one of the final new tracks of its remarkable career, "Sunburnt". Check it out using the SoundCloud player below. (courtesy of Billboard.com).

"Sunburnt" is one of two new songs recorded by UNDERØATH with longtime producer Matt Goldman for release on the band's career retrospective album, "Anthology 1999-2013", available November 6 on Solid State Records. Together with final new track "Unsound", "Sunburnt" is a worthy addition to the career-spanning collection, which includes fan favorites culled from the band's 1999 debut, "Act Of Depression", through the instant classics on 2010's "Ø (Disambiguation)".

Due to unexpectedly high demand and in the midst of several rapid sell-outs, UNDERØATH's previously announced farewell tour has been expanded to include additional dates, with several of the tour's shows to be moved to higher capacity venues. Among the dates added are a January 13 stop at Worcester, Massachusetts' The Palladium and an additional night at New York City's Irving Plaza. Changes of venue have taken place in Toronto, Detroit and St. Petersburg, allowing for the accommodation of additional fans seeking to watch the powerhouse live act one final time. Shows in five of the tour's ten cities have already sold out.

The group's unanticipated decision to disband sent shockwaves through social media networks, with UNDERØATH becoming a worldwide trending topic on Twitter as countless fans shared their thoughts on the influential band and the impact its music had on their lives.

One of hard rock's biggest success stories, UNDERØATH leaves a remarkable legacy that includes seven acclaimed albums — chief among them gold-certified releases "They're Only Chasing Safety" and "Define The Great Line" — multiple Grammy nominations, tours of six continents and over 1.3 million records sold.

"Anthology 1999-2013" track listing:

01. Sunburnt (new song)
02. Unsound (new song)
03. In Division
04. Catch Myself Catching Myself
05. Paper Lung
06. Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
07. Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear
08. In Regards To Myself
09. You're Ever So Inviting
10. Writing On The Walls
11. A Boy Brushed Red Living In Black And White
12. Reinventing Your Exit
13. It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door
14. I've Got Ten Friends And A Crowbar That Says You Ain't Gonna Do Jack
15. When The Sun Sleeps
16. Cries Of The Past
17. Heart Of Stone

San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD will release a new live album, "Machine Fucking Head Live", on November 13 via Roadrunner Records. It's the band's second live effort — "Hellalive" was released in 2003 — but in the nine years that have passed, the group has only gained in power; MACHINE HEAD still slay and administer a beating in the live realm.

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

"The Head Cases [MACHINE HEAD's nickname for the band's fans] have been so intense on this tour cycle that we had to start capturing the shows, especially with technology making it so much easier to record," said frontman Robb Flynn. "We culled some of the best nights where the band and crowd were on fire and made a badass, nearly two-hour, double live album, which is a great documentation of where the band is at, 18 years deep."

"Machine Fucking Head Live" track listing:

01. I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)
02. Be Still And Know
03. Imperium
04. Beautiful Mourning
05. The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears
06. Locust
07. This Is The End
08. Aesthetics Of Hate
09. Old
10. Darkness Within
11. Bulldozer
12. Ten Ton Hammer
13. Who We Are
14. Halo
15. Davidian

A live recording of the song "This Is The End", taken from "Machine Fucking Head Live", is available for free download using the widget below (e-mail sign-up required).

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

MACHINE HEAD will hit the road in North America with DETHKLOK, ALL THAT REMAINS and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER beginning October 30.

Vocalist Angela Gossow of Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY has issued the following update:

"[The ARCH ENEMY] European tour was awesome!! Lots of people came to the shows. [We are] very, very grateful for this, given the tough economy all around.

"We know how it feels to be broke. Been there many times. But just like you, we rather spend our last penny on music (or gear for that matter) than paying our phone bill. For that matter, I only have a prepaid card and no phone contract ;-) I hate bills and reminders.

"Back home now, recovering from dirty backstage rooms, cold showers and lack of quality sleep.

"I love playing live. [It's] a shame I can't bring my home (or at least my bed and my clean bathroom) on tour though, haha..

"After 12 years of continuous touring, I can tell ya, sometimes I think about stopping for good and route for the homely life instead.

"We got the Latin America tour kicking off in November all the way through December and then we'll stop touring for at least six months. We'll just do a few [European] festivals in the summer, like Wacken :-). Will be interesting how that feels. If I get bored with being 'static?'

"I'll miss playing shows, but I am also excited to finally have some time to myself, actually being able to take up an art class, start drawing again, take some vocal lessons for fun, try new sports (like thai boxing or any sort of angry martial arts, haha), spend quality time with my family, decorate my home with framed pictures, paint the walls.. you know, that stuff 'normal' people do when they are not living like gypsies, always on the move.

"It will be nice not having to do pre-production for a tour in my 'off time' but actually allow my mind to rest and stop worrying about travel arrangements, technical riders, ticket sales, budgets, crew, stage production etc.

"I have noticed I am in an constant 'alarm-state' mentally and I don't relax in my sleep either anymore. I dream about figures and band stuff every night.

"I miss my crazy, funny, light dreams.. and simply being worry-free.

"This said, I wont be lazy. We have a massive new live DVD/Blu-ray in the works and it will take up a real chunk of my time to get that together for an autumn 2013 release. We filmed so many shows.. And we will film even more now during the Latin America tour. We got a ton of incidental footage too.. That will be weeks and weeks of sorting out, editing, cutting, mix and master. Plus we got a new album to write and record in 2013 too. It will drop in spring-ish 2014.

"So yeah.. today I am catching up with thre weeks of unanswered postal mail, final tour budget, tax office paperwork and shopping for groceries. I will go for a walk later, take a long bath to soak my sore back and neck and try to go to bed before 6 a.m. as I am not on tour anymore ;-)"

ARCH ENEMY's ninth album, "Khaos Legions", which sold around 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 78.

The band earlier in the year amicably parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott and replaced him with 26-year-old American musician Nick Cordle (ARSIS).

TRILLIUM, launched by AVANTASIA vocalist Amanda Somerville, performed at the Metal Female Voices Festival 2012 in Wieze, Belgium on October 21st. The band performed the KISKE/SOMERVILLE song 'Set Afire' - originally recorded with vocalist Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) - during the band's set. Fan-filmed video of the performance plus the songs 'Coward' and 'Mistaken' is available below.

'Set Afire' was written by Somerville and guitarist Sander Gommans (HDK, ex-AFTER FOREVER), who performed with Trillium as a guest at the festival.

As previously reported, Trillium will support veteran British rockers MAGNUM on their upcoming UK tour this November. Dates are as follows:

November
18 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy
20 - Liverpool, UK - O2 Academy
21 - Glasgow, UK - Garage
22 - Newcastle, UK - O2 Academy
23 - Holmfirth, UK - Picturedrome
24 - Manchester, UK - Ritz
25 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
27 - Leamington, UK - Leamington Assembly
28 - Southampton, UK - The Brook
29 - London, UK O2 - Academy Islington
30 - Pontypridd, UK - Muni Arts Centre

December
1 - Wolverhampton, UK - The Wulfrun
2 - Norwich, UK - Waterfront
Trillium played their first ever UK show at the HMV Institute in Birmingham on May 12th. Fan-filmed quality footage is available below:

A three-minute YouTube clip containing audio samples of the tracks that will appear on the debut EP from CIVIL WAR — the new Swedish metal band featuring former SABATON members Rikard Sundén (guitar), Daniel Mullback (drums), Daniel Mÿhr (keyboards) and Oskar Montelius (guitar) alongside singer Patrik Johansson (ASTRAL DOORS, LION'S SHARE) and bassist Stefan "Pizza" Eriksson (VOLTURYON) — can be found below. The CD will be released on November 13 via Despotz Records.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Rome Is Falling
02. Civil War
03. Forevermore
04. Custers Last Stand
05. [Bonus Song]

You can pre-order the EP at this location.

"Rome Is Falling" is available for free download at PledgeMusic.com (e-mail sign-up required).

According to Sundén, CIVIL WAR's sound is "more old-school hard rock," with "a little less keyboards" than that of SABATON. He says, "With Patrik's vocals on top, it becomes a different thing, but there are some parallels [to our previous band]."

Regarding how CIVIL WAR came together, b>Mullback told the Swedish-language newspaper Dalarnas Tidningar (DT), "It came pretty naturally. We always thought Patrik had a good voice and he accepted our offer when we asked him to join the band."

"I had no hesitation about getting involved," Patrik said. "ASTRAL DOORS certainly has a solid fan base, but we are a little more underground. I see this as an opportunity to reach a wider audience."

The four ex members of SABATON were never involved in the songwriting process with their former band since those duties were usually handled by vocalist Joakim Brodén. But in the new group, everyone is contributing ideas.

"This has been a reawakening of sorts," Mÿhr said. "I have never been in a situation where there has been so much creativity."

On the topic of whether CIVIL WAR will continue SABATON's tradition of focusing on war-related themes in its lyrics, Mÿhr said, "No, we won't. Now the lyrics can be about anything. [CIVIL WAR was just] a good name that sounded good."

Video footage of Michael Schenker's October 26 performance at Arcada Theatre in Saint Charles, Illinois can be seen below.

Vocalist David Van Landing is fronting Michael Schenker's band on the current North American tour, which kicked off on October 3 in Modesto, California. David has stepped in for Robin McAuley, who was originally slated to take part in the trek after recently reuniting with Schenker for their first full tour together in almost 20 years.

Van Landing, who has previously done three tours with MSG and had a short stint with CRIMSON GLORY, said prior to the start of the trek: "I am just looking forward to getting out on the road again with the boys and seeing all my old friends and hopefully meet some new ones!!"

In addition to Schenker and Van Landing, the lineup for the tour includes Pete Holmes on drums, Wayne Findlay on guitar and Elliott Rubinson on bass.

Schenker's latest album, "Temple Of Rock", was released in Europe on September 23, 2011 and in North America on October 11, 2011 on CD and LP through Schenker's own Inakustik label via MVD Entertainment Group.

Joe Satriani, one of rock music's most respected and celebrated electric guitar players, will record a new solo album later this year for a worldwide release via Sony in May 2013. The enterprising guitarist is also in the planning stages of releasing a career retrospective box set for spring 2013.

Joe released his 11th studio album, "Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards", in October 2010 and followed this with extensive North American and European tours. The following year, CHICKENFOOT's second album, "III", was released to critical acclaim.

In January 2012, Satriani embarked on a European tour with CHICKENFOOT. By April 2012, he released the DVD/Blu-ray of his much-talked-about 3D concert film "Satchurated: Live In Montreal". During the same year, he embarked on G3 tours of Europe and Australia with Steve Vai and Steve Lukather.

Dutch old-school death/thrash metallers WEAPONS TO HUNT, who released three albums under the name INFINITED HATE, last year transformed into WEAPONS TO HUNT. The group, featuring mainman Adrie Kloosterwaard (SINISTER) on vocals, Ron van de Polder (original and founding member of SINISTER) on guitar, Paul Beltman (ex-SINISTER, ex-SUPREME PAIN) on drums and Bastiaan Brusssaar (SINISTER, FONDLECORPSE) on lead guitar, will release its debut CD, "Blessed In Sin", on November 26 via Vic Records. The bass tracks on the effort were laid down by Erwin Harreman (ex-SINISTER, SUPREME PAIN).

According to a press release, WEAPONS TO HUNT "bring an intense death/thrash metal style on this new album that brings you back to the good old days of SOLSTICE, DEMOLITION HAMMER… and, of course, SINISTER's mighty debut album, 'Cross The Styx' (needless to say, both debut albums are written by riff master Ron van de Polder!)."

"Blessed In Sin" track listing:

01. The Hell Room
02. Blessed In Sin
03. Corpse Field
04. The Smell of Victory
05. Bullets For The Assassin
06. Merciless Impact
07. False Positive System
08. Strike Face

Belgian melodic black metallers SAILLE will release their new album, "Ritu", on January 18, 2013 via Code666 Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Irreversible Decay" was produced and mixed by Reinier Schenk (GORATH, FLESHMOULD) and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll (1349, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN). Cover art comes courtesy of Polish digital landscape artist Michal Karcz.

"Ritu" track listing:

01. Blood Libel
02. Subcutaneous Terror
03. Fhtagn
04. Upon The Idol Of Crona
05. Sati
06. A Titan's Sacrifice
07. Haunter Of The Dark
08. Runaljod
09. Ritual Descent

A trailer for "Ritu" can be seen below.

SAILLE keyboard player Dries Gaerdelen previously stated: "When creating our new album, I did research on and was inspired by several ancient destruction rituals. The new songs are therefore darker, faster, more aggressive and create a feeling of unease. The lyrics, written by frontman Dennie Grondelaers, explore the history of those death rites. With the drums being recorded a while ago, we’ve all got a 'recording state of mind' and have a feeling we're creating more than just songs. We're looking forward to unleashing our creations on the audience, both on CD and live!"

Fan-filmed video footage of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's October 27 performance at Effenaar in Eindhoven, Netherlands can be seen below.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's latest album, "Dead Throne", sold 32,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. The follow-up to 2009's critically acclaimed "With Roots Above and Branches Below" was recorded at Zing Studios in Massachusetts with producer Adam Dutkiewicz (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TIMES OF GRACE). Additional synth/key production was handled by Joey Sturgis (who has worked on all of the THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA records so far) with further assistance on the vocal production by Jeremy McKinnon (A DAY TO REMEMBER).

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA released a live CD/DVD, "Dead & Alive", on June 26 via Ferret Music.

"Dead & Alive" was filmed and recorded last year during THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's hugely successful "Dead Throne Tour: North America" tour.

Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA) will release a split 10-inch EP with Texas thrashers WARBEAST on January 8, 2013 via Anselmo's Housecore label. Entitled "War Of The Gargantuas", , the effort is expected to include a pair of previously unreleased tracks from WARBEAST — "IT" and "Birth Of A Psycho" — along with with two songs from Anselmo's forthcoming solo debut, "Walk Through Exits Only".

In a recent interview with U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine, Anselmo spoke about "Walk Through Exits Only", which will be released in early 2013 via Housecore.

Asked what prompted him to make a solo CD now, Anselmo said, "I am a lover of all sorts of music but really my heart is ... really I love extreme music, underground music, whether it be grindcore, death metal, thrash, black metal, [or whatever other] subgenre, and I find beauty in a lot of this stuff."

He continued, "I wanted to do an extreme record that didn't necessarily fit in any of those aforementioned categories, really, but it's metal. It's very tough for me to describe, man. I really wanted to do an extreme record again. I did it out of pure, fucking need — need — and love. I just needed to do it for myself."

Anselmo said that he chose to release the CD under his own name because "if I was to name it something, to me, it may be tough on the fans, or people, that might be interested in hearing what I'm doing, just to buy into a whole new band, where in all truth, I'm very, very, what's the word, just very guarded and I wrote every fucking goddamn note of it and that's just how its going to fucking be.

He added, "I don't want another all-star band, I don 't want another supergroup, if you will, I don't want it to be misconstrued, and this is something I can take as a solo artist, as a free agent, I can take this wherever I want to go. If I want to make the next record a completely different style, yet still extreme in its own right, I can do that … So it's gonna be up to y'all to figure it out: it's really not my place to say it's death metal or it's extreme thrash or black metal, I'm not gonna put it in a category. It is extreme, though, in its own right. Anything that was completely traditional, I would stop it and fuck with it a little, make sure it wasn't so paint-by-numbers, because that's the last thing I wanna do, and as a matter of fact, I believe that's what people will be expecting."

On the topic of his lyrical approach on "Walk Through Exits Only", Anselmo said, "[It's] very real, very honest, very close to the sleeve, close to the heart, close to the fingertips, close to everyday life, and maybe [about] periods of my life that I've gone through. People that have heard the record have said it is the angriest record that they've heard in a very, very long time. And I have to agree with them — it is an angry, angry album. It is just a statement of my condition a lotta times. Daily I still deal with heaps of chronic pain, if you will, whether it be my knee, my hip, the shoulder sockets, the elbow, the fucking back — you name it, man. I've busted everything, man, so there is a frustration there that you can't necessarily get across in DOWN, so it does have an angry edge to it and really, truth be told, the name of the record could be 'Songs From The Bedroom Of Philip Anselmo'; it's not a pretty place. [laughs] [It's] not as sexy as it sounds'l [It's a] fucking, raging fucking place where I can simmer and boil over in private."

Asked what expectations he has for the solo record, Anselmo said, "Me being the pessimist, some people will love it, some people will hate it. Will I break new ground? I don't know. I really don't have any fucking idea. Music is vast, people's opinions are vast and boy can you read them on the comments section today.

He continued, "If you enjoyed stuff in the past, then I think you 'll really enjoy the fucking solo record and people who still to this day [say], 'Ah I wish Phil would sing more. He's got such a pretty voice when he sings' then its gonna be a gigantic fucking letdown. [laughs] I cannot wait, truthfully, for the likes of yourself and fans alike to consume
this shit. Love it or hate it, it's coming."

Australian / Los Angeles tech-metal masters DEVOLVED will unleash their fourth full length studio album world-wide on November 20th through Unique Leader Records. Titled Reprisal, the album includes 10 crushing new tracks and is once again led by founding member, drummer and lyricist John Sankey.

'Terminal Enslavement', featuring Tony Campos (SOULFLY, PRONG, MINISTRY, ASESINO, ex-STATIC-X) on guest vocals, is streaming below:
Reprisal is the first release with guitarist Mark Hawkins and vocalist Mark Haggblad and is undoubtedly Devolved's most accomplished and innovative work to date with vastly superior songwriting and musicianship.
Reprisal tracklisting:

'Systematic Avenger'
'Accelerated Human Degeneration'
'Reprisal Of The Damned'
'Supremacy Enforced'
'Embodiment'
'Collateral Damage'
'Apocalyptic Visionary'
'Terminal Enslavement'
'Corrupted Mind Processor'
'Inanimate Infinity'
'(Cadence Of) The Dirge' (EXHORDER cover - bonus track)

'Embodiment', featuring a guest guitar solo by Nate Vennarucci from ONTOGENY and ANOMALOUS, can be heard below:
The lead track, 'Systematic Avenger', is streaming below:
More audio samples can be heard below:
A lyric video for 'Supremacy Enforced' is below:
Sankey stated about the album: "I deliberately wanted to combine an organic death metal approach with more progressive and modern elements, while still incorporating a cold and futuristic soundscape which has always been a signature of our sound and concept. I had a very specific vision for this album and it is finally the definitive representation of what I have always wanted Devolved to be. After our last studio release, Oblivion, I decided to work on my own and wrote all the new song structures and arrangements in their entirety by tracking just drums and vocals myself. Once they were complete I recruited new guitarist Mark Hawkins who then wrote and recorded all the guitar and bass parts, his involvement really allowed us to push the boundaries of each track and took the music to a totally new level of speed and technicality. To say the guitar work on this Album is far beyond anything we have done before would be a huge understatement! New singer Mark Haggblad also brings a rejuvenated ferocity to the band, his relentless vocal delivery is extremely aggressive throughout each track while still maintaining a unique tone that fits the dynamics and diversity of the songs perfectly. It has been a renewed creative experience working with such focused and talented new members, and it has definitely allowed us to surpass anything the band has been capable of in the past. Reprisal is without doubt the album I have always strived to create since the formation of Devolved!"

The album also includes a cover of the EXHORDER classic 'Cadence Of The Dirge' as a bonus track, which was originally released on the Exhorder album The Law in 1992 via Roadrunner Records. Both Kyle Thomas (Exhorder vocalist) and Monte Conner (Roadrunner Senior VP) praised the band on their version of the song saying it is an “amazing cover, Devolved have more than done it justice!”. Also featured is a guest vocal appearance by Tony Campos (SOULFLY, PRONG, MINSTRY, etc.) plus blistering guest solos by a number of the most highly renowned guitarists in todays modern metal scene : Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH), Nate Vennarucc (ONTOGENY, ANOMALOUS), Malcolm Pugh (DISKREET, A LOATHING REQUIEM) and Vishal Singh
(ROBOTS PULLING LEVERS).

John Sankey recently co-wrote and arranged all the drum parts alongside Dino Cazares for the newly released FEAR FACTORY album, The Industrialist. Sankey also assisted with writing material that is featured on the previous Fear Factory release Mechanize, as well as both DIVINE HERESY albums and the Roadrunner United All-Stars CD. Legendary metal fuitarist and songwriter Dino Cazares (Fear Factory, ASESION, Divine Heresy) recently posted this statement regarding the new Devolved material: "Systematic brutality at its best. Raising the bar once again with their intellectual song arrangements and insane drum patterns that would make any tech metal fan turn their heads. This band just keeps getting better and better. Welcome to the end of everything that you once knew and say hello to the future."

All music written and performed by John Sankey and Mark Hawkins. Vocals by Mark Haggblad. Lyrics and arrangement by John Sankey. Devolved's new singer, Mark Haggblad (UNVEIL THE STRENGTH), and new guitarist, Mark Hawkins (ROBOTS PULLING LEVERS) are featured on the new demo tracks.

Devolved previously released another new track, 'Collateral Damage' (demo version). Check it out in the widget below:

Drummer MIKE PORTNOY (ex-DREAM THEATER) has posted drum cam footage of his PSMS project (PORTNOY / SHEEHAN / MACALPINE / SHERINIAN) performing 'Apocalypse 1470 BC' at the Glav Club in St. Petersburg, Russia on October 28th. Check it out below:
The virtuoso band is currently on the road in Europe. They are playing an all-instrumental set consisting of material from each of their solo records and their previous collaborations as well as classic instrumental covers and extended solo spots. Mike Portnoy formed the lineup to perfom at two drum events at the NAMM show last January. Due to overwhelming response that band has decided to take their show on tour.

"I knew when assembling this lineup that it would be a magical musical experience that would be a blast for us as well as the fans! I can't wait to play again with these tremendous musicians and share the experience with you all at these special shows!" says Portnoy.

Tour dates are now as follows:

November
1 - Yugong Yishan - Beijing, China
2 - Mao Live House - Shanghai, China
4 - Hwa Sha Auditorium - Taipei, Taiwan
6 - SM Sky Dome - Manila, Philippines
7 - BKK Convention Center- Bangkok, Thailand
10 - TAB Live Music Bar - Orchard, Singapore
11 - Senayan Lapangan D - Jakarta, Indonesia

The band recently posted a promo clip for their new InstruMENTAL Inspirations DVD, which offers an inside look at the project and is available on tour. Check it out below:

Although his participation as guest vocalist on the new AVANTASIA album never has been any real secret, Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) now confirms the continuation of long-term collaboration with Tobias Sammet.

Kiske states: “I will sing on three to four songs, although it might be possible that there will be even more as the guys are still in the middle of songwriting and recording. The songs I will sing are typical Avantasia songs, great melodies in a power metal vesture. I really like the material, Tobi simply is able to compose excellent and great melodies.”

As previously reported, Tobias Sammet (EDGUY) is currently in the studio working with a legion of guest instrumentalists and vocalists on a new Avantasia album, to be released in spring 2013. The album will once again be a Rock Opera based on a conceptual story very similar to the early Avantasia albums.

Nevertheless, Tobias explains that the album is not a mere journey back in time: "The new material sounds very fresh and new and yet you can hear the old classic Avantasia vibe on the album, it will be an enchanting fairytale again, far away from any musical trends. Our latest album was our most successful album of all time, but I guess it was only that successful because it came from the heart. That's the only proven remedy I wanna stick to. I tried to lay down any thought of expectations, but instead just do a completely unseasonable, unfashionable and even unreasonable piece of art. Anyway, I feel at home when I listen to those melodies, choirs and guitars. I just talked to (singer) Michi Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) and he said that the stuff reminds him a lot of the old classic Avantasia material in the good old Keeper style. As a fan, now that sounds even exciting to me, so the circle shuts. For myself it's hard to describe the material in words, I had and have so many ideas that I had to restrain myself a little, otherwise the album would become too long, and I'm trying not to do a double album this time. However, I am really excited, and I just thought I'd let you know how excited I am. I'll try to give you more updates from now on."

Check out a video update from Tobias Sammet below:

German despondent-rockers AUTUMNBLAZE recently tapped world-renowned introspect artist Travis Smith (DEATH, NEVERMORE, KATATONIA, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) to work on the band's upcoming album, Every Sun Is Fragile.

The album artwork for Every Sun Is Fragile will feature two different formats; the normal jewel case CD version, and a limited edition slipcase CD version. The slipcase CD edition will feature an alternate artwork gracing the cover and will be made available in limited quantities.

Every Sun Is Fragile Jewel Case Cover:
Every Sun Is Fragile Slipcase Cover:
Every Sun Is Fragile Tracklisting:

'Opening'
'New Ghosts In Town'
'Invisible Fields'
'Im Spiegel'
'Mein Engel, Der Aus Augen Fließt'
'Every Sun Is Fragile'
'Cold Soul'
'How I Learned To Burn My Teardrops'
'A Place For Paper Diamonds'
'Verglimmt'

Mexico's SPLIT HEAVEN have parted ways with singer Eli Valenzuela. The band's statement reads as follows:

"Today ends a stage in our long journey. One of our pillars left the band, from today, Eli Valenzuela is no longer a member of Split Heaven. It's a cycle that closes to open new doors and explore unknown territories.

We want to thank Eli all shared moments and unforgettable experiences that we lived for more than six years, is a stage in which no longer we’ll work together, but it does not mean that our friendship will break.
For our part, we want to inform you that we will continue working on the composition of our third album, which will be released by Pure Steel Records in 2013.

Soon you will have more news.

Thanks a lot, long live to rock and roll!"

On November 6th, AEROSMITH will release Music From Another Dimension! on Columbia Records. It marks the band’s 15th studio album and their first studio album of all-new material in 11 years.
RollingStone.com are premiering the album, one track at a time, in the weeks leading up to the release. 'Street Jesus' began as a twangy lick that guitarist Brad Whitford had been playing for 15 years, bringing to Aerosmith rehearsals and recording as demos, but it never became a song until sessions for Music From Another Dimension!

"I just thought it was this great, driving rock lick, that it was so Aerosmith, but nobody ever heard it," Whitford says. "We would play it sometimes and jam on it quite a bit."

Read more and hear 'Street Jesus' at this location.

Commentary and audio of other tracks from the album can be found via the links below:

- 'What Could Have Been Love'
- 'Legendary Child'
- 'Out Go The Lights'
- 'Tell Me'
- 'Beautiful
- 'Oh Yeah'

Aerosmith recently released the video for 'What Could Have Been Love'. The clip can be seen below:
A deluxe version of Music From Another Dimension! will include:

- Four live performance videos: 'Rats In The Cellar', 'Train Kept A Rollin'', 'Oh Yeah' and 'Same Old Song and Dance'
- Exclusive interviews with the members of Aerosmith band members
- Three exclusive new bonus tracks: 'Up On A Mountain', 'Oasis' and 'Sunny Side of Love'
Music From Another Dimension! tracklisting is as follows:

'LUV XXX'
'Oh Yeah'
'Beautiful'
'Tell Me'
'Out Go The Lights'
'Legendary Child'
'What Could Have Been Love'
'Street Jesus'
'Can’t Stop Loving You' (with CARRIE UNDERWOOD)
'Lover A Lot'
'We All Fall Down'
'Freedom Fighter' (with JOHNNY DEPP)
'Closer'
'Something'
'Another Last Goodbye'

Check out BraveWords.com scribe Martin Popoff's new interview with Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford, in which he discusses the band's new album, at this location.

Aerosmith are known for throwing a helluva party, and they’ve got a special one planned for their beloved hometown, Boston, on the day before Election Day, Monday, November 5th.

They’re planning to show up somewhere in the city, around noon, and play on the streets. That’s all the band are telling us for now. Well, they would like to tell us more, but they’re cooperating with authorities who will let them reveal the location the morning of November 5th.

Says Joe Perry, "People, get out and vote! For whomever you like. Just do it. Be a 'Freedom Fighter'”, to quote a song title from the band's new album. “Anyone who votes is a Freedom Fighter.”
Aerosmith recently announced the second leg of The Global Warming Tour, which will include support act CHEAP TRICK. Tickets are on sale now at LiveNation.com. For VIP ticket packages, including opportunities to meet band members, backstage tours, great tickets and more, visit Aeroforceone.com.

Dates:

November
8 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy Arena
11 - Wichita, KS - INTRUST Bank Arena
14 - Kansas City, MO - Spring Center
16 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
20 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
23 - Atlantic City, NJ - Revel Resorts – Ovation Hall
25 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
27 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre

December
1 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
3 - Los Angeles, CA - STAPLES Center
6 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
9 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - BB&T Center
11 - Tampa, FL - Tampa Bay Times Forum
13 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena

According to the Late Night TV Page, Arrosmith will guest on CBS's Late Night With David Letterman, on Thursday, November 1st. For more details visit CBS.com.

MAMMOTH MAMMOTH have released a new video, for the track 'Go'. Check it out below:
The band's album, Volume III - Hell’s Likely, will be released on November 23rd as a limited digipack and special limited vinyl edition, via Napalm Records. All vinyl editions feature an exclusive bonus track and are available as double LP in Cream (limited to 100 copies) and Orange (Limited to 400 copies). The first 250 orders will receive a free A2 size cover poster of the new album.
World release dates for the CD version of the album can be seen below:

Volume III - Hell's Likely, will be released on the following dates:

November
21 - Spain, Sweden, Greece
23 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Benelux
26 - Rest of Europe
27 - North America

Check out the first video 'Hell´s Likely' below:

Germany's ALPHA TIGER present the first single and video, 'From Outer Space', from the upcoming album, Beneath The Surface. The video was shot at the legendary SO 36 club in Berlin by director Silvio Rosenthal who combined the band’s amazing stage presence with a classic Science Fiction b-movie vibe. Watch below:
The digital single is being released worldwide over the next few days. Beneath The Surface is set to be released on January 28th worldwide via Century Media Records.

With the album nearly finished, the band comments: "It took us most of June and July to record the album once again under the wings of 'Godi' Hildman in Berlin's Musicflash Studio. Peter Langforth (guitar) had composed the nine new songs and the intro over the course of the previous six months and spent considerable time to put them all on 'tape' over a period of two months prior to entering the studio. To get a little impression about our work in the studio, check out the following studio-video. Mixing and mastering is currently in the final stages. Andreas Hilbert, another sound wizard from Berlin's Musicflash Studio, is about to finish things at the beginning of October."
Alpha Tiger are set to go on tour with metal beasts W.A.S.P. in Europe.
Alpha Tiger live dates (supporting W.A.S.P.) include:

October
30 - Live Music Hall - Koln, Germany
31 - Zeche - Bochum, Germany

November
2 - 013 - Tilburg, Netherlands
3 - Trix - Antwerp, Belgium
16 - Backstage - Munchen, Germany
17 - Lka Longhorn - Stuttgart, Germany
19 - Posthof - Linz, Austria
28 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
30 - Rockfabrik - Nurnberg, Germany

December
2 - Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany
3 - Hugenottenhalle - Neu Isenburg, Germany
5 - Rosenhof - Osnabruck, Germany
6 - Kaminwerk - Memingen, Germany
7 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland

More on Alpha Tiger at this location.

German black metallers SILENT LEGES INTER ARMA have announced the release of their self-titled debut album via Eisenwald. The album comes in Deluxe Digipack with booklet, executed with black cartone/paper and fine gold ink.

According to a press release: "‘Silent leges inter arma’ was a quote from the Roman politician and philosopher Cicero. Roughly translated, it means ‘Under the weapons the laws keep silent’.”
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘We Are’
‘Falcon-Headed One’
‘I Will Hunt You Down’
‘Beyond The Light’
‘Shades’
'For The Dead’
‘Wings’
‘In Shadows Again’

On November 23rd, German thrashers DESTRUCTION will release their 30th anniversary album, Spiritual Genocide, via Nuclear Blast. The band has just issued a sneak peek inside the CD booklet, available to view underneath the cover art, which is pictured below:
Spiritual Genocide tracklisting:

'Exordium'
'Cyanide'
'Spiritual Genocide'
'Renegades'
'City Of Doom'
'No Signs Of Repentance'
'To Dust You Will Decay'
'Legacy Of The Past' (featuring Gerre from TANKARD and Tom Angelripper from SODOM)
'Carnivore'
'Riot Squad'
'Under Violent Sledge'

Limited Edition Digipack Bonus Tracks:

'Princess Of The Night'
'Carnivore' (featuring former members: guitarist Harry Wilkens and drummer Oliver 'Olli' Kaiser)

Listen to 'Cyanide' now:

Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE will release their fourth album, "Temper Temper", on February 11, 2013 in the U.K. via Sony Music. The album's title track will be released on November 25 across all digital providers. The band debuted the song live at London, England's Maida Vale studios on October 22 during BBC Radio 1's "Rock Week".

"Temper Temper" was once again produced by Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, GOOD CHARLOTTE), who worked on the group's last LP, 2010's "Fever", and was mixed by noted engineer Chris Lord-Alge (DEFTONES, NICKELBACK, AVENGED SEVENFOLD).

In other news, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE will embark on a U.K. tour in March. Support on all dates will come from HALESTORM.

March 12 - O2 Academy Birmingham
March 13 - O2 Academy Glasgow
March 15 - O2 Apollo Manchester
March 17 - Roundhouse London

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, October 31 and are priced £18.50 regionally and £20 London (subject to booking fee).

In a recent interview with South Africa's Voice Of Rock Radio, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck stated about the band's upcoming album, "For me, it's a huge compliment that [Gilmore] really didn't have much input [this time around], 'cause on the last record he did, and it kind of opened my eyes to write differently and to think about, not slowing things down, but kind of… there's no restraint on screaming and restraint on a million miles an hour. It's not necessary, really. We've kind of done that [already]. So on this record, [he kind of] sat back and let me do it without having much input, which to me, knowing Don, is a huge compliment, 'cause it means I've kind of done it right by my own. So, yeah, we've definitely fucking nailed it on this record. I know it's a long way before coming out and anyone's gonna hear anything, but I've lived with [it] and I know what it is, and trust me, it's good."

Asked about BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's longevity and musical progression over the years, Tuck said, "We've been doing this eight years now and we're still at the top of the game of… we're still at the top of our tree of our style of music. I mean, no one's really kind of tried to take us over. So we have kind of taken the foot off the gas already a little bit with 'Fever', and the album we just recorded, we've actually backed off a little bit again — not because we don't think people don't wanna hear heavy music, we've actually made it heavier by slowing down and less is more. Like METALLICA's 'black album,' you wouldn't necessarily call it a heavy album, but the sound of it is fucking heavy and it's big and it sounds timeless because of that. It's not a million miles an hour — it's big and heavy and loud. We're not trying to make a 'black' album, we're just trying to kind of take that theory of slowing down, putting less technical bits in and concentrating on the vocals and the meat and bones of the song."

Fan-filmed video footage of TOMAHAWK's entire October 27 performance at Exit/In in Nashville, Tennessee can be seen at this location. A couple of the clips are available below.

TOMAHAWK is the alt-rock supergroup featuring Duane Denison (THE JESUS LIZARD, UNSEMBLE), Mike Patton (FAITH NO MORE, FANTÔMAS), John Stanier (BATTLES, HELMET) and Trevor Dunn (MELVINS LITE, MR. BUNGLE).

The band's new album, "Oddfellows", is scheduled for release on January 29, 2013 via Ipecac.

In a brand new interview with Nashville Scene, Denison stated about the new CD, "Some of this album is, to me, fairly straightforward hard rock, and then some of it is ... I don't know what you'd call it — avant-pop or something? If anything, I think the album is a bit hookier and has bigger choruses than anything we've done. There's a lot of group vocals from song to song, almost these Greek choruses showing up. To me, it's kind of depressing when I go see a band or hear a record where the songs all have a similar rhythmic feel or the vocals always start on the downbeat. At the same time, you don't want things to be so different that it doesn't even sound like it's the same band. You want it to sound like it's the same people with the same point of view — you're just expressing it in a different way."

"Stone Letter", the new single from TOMAHAWK, is available for streaming at Spin.com.

"Stone Letter" will be released as a limited-edition seven-inch single on Record Store Day's Black Friday event on November 23. The track will also be made available digitally on December 4. The B-side will be an original etching by famed cartoonist and comics scholar Ivan Brunetti.

TOMAHAWK has been dormant for the past five years after releasing a trio of albums: "Tomahawk" in 2001, "Mit Gas" in 2003 and "Anonymous" in 2007.

Quality video footage of HATRIOT, the new San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band led by former EXODUS and LEGACY (pre-TESTAMENT) frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza, performing the song "Murder American Style" on October 25 at The New Parish in Oakland, California can be seen below (courtesy of Capital Chaos TV).

HATRIOT will release its debut album, "Heroes Of Origin", on January 25, 2013 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 is being created by Mark Devito, who has previously worked with MOTÖRHEAD and ANVIL CHORUS, among others.

HATRIOT's new drummer is none other than Steve's 18-year-old son, Nicholas Souza. Nicholas auditioned for the band after the recent departure of Alex Bent and "proved himself to be the best choice," according to Steve.

HATRIOT's lineup also includes Zetro's 21-year-old son Cody, who got his first bass as a present from his father after Zetro bought it off current EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson. "I told him," Zetro said in a recent interview with Metalholic.com, "'You have to try out [for the bassist position in HATRIOT if you want to be in the band]. There's no nepotism here, boy. If you can hang, you're on.' So he actually tried out, and he got the gig."

Regarding HATRIOT's musical direction, Zetro said, "It's in the vein of typical Bay Area thrash, but these guys are a lot younger, so there's gonna be some blast-beats in there. There's gonna be some kind of death [metal] approach to it, a little bit. 'Cause these guys are new. They're raw, and they're fast, young, heavy, hard and aggressive, and I'm trying to convey that along as well."

He added, "These new kids seem to understand what we did in the '80s, but still bring a little bit of a new essence to it. We put that together with what I write vocally and it's turned out to be really, really killer. It's good stuff."

Asked why he thinks thrash metal has enjoyed something of a revival in more recent years, Zetro told Über Röck, "You know, I get asked this a lot, and I think it is because the first wave of thrash came and went so fast. I mean, it started in the mid-'80s and was gone by 1991 or so. The older bands still have something to say, and I feel that's why they are still able to put out great music so many years later. Now the fans that were young kids back then have bands of their own, so these new bands are naturally influenced by the old sound and it has come full circle. Of course, with technology and things like they are today, it is a totally different ballgame when it comes to marketing the music. I don't know that there will ever be another band as big as the 'Big Four' or anything, because the business structure just isn't there anymore, but it is really cool to see these new bands carrying the torch of what we helped invent back in the old scene."

HATRIOT's "Blood Stained Wings" video can be seen below.

HATRIOT is:

Steve "Zetro" Souza - Vocals
Kosta Varvatakis - Guitar
Miguel Esparza - Guitar
Nicholas Souza - Drums
Cody Souza - Bass