PureGrainAudio's Mitch Lafon conducted an interview with singer Anders Fridén of Swedish metallers IN FLAMES at this year's edition of the Heavy MTL festival, which was held August 11-12 at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked of IN FLAMES is already thinking about writing the follow-up to last year's "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" or if the band will continue touring in support of the latest CD, Anders said, "We'll probably continue touring for whole next year, and then we're gonna think about what we're gonna do. I mean, we already have some stuff in our heads, but the actual writing process is something that we do when we get off the road; we need to focus on that. The thing is that you have so much [free] time, really, when you're on the road, but we can't focus; I don't know what it is with us. There's so many distractions around you. I'd rather go out and have good food and good beer than sit by a computer and record. I do have my own stuff with me — I have a Pro Tools rig, I have a small, little keyboard where I can play… I do that. And I write, basically, for myself, just to keep sane. But, actually, IN FLAMES, musically, we need to relax a little bit and then start thinking about it."

On the topic of whether it's still important for a band like IN FLAMES to make full-length albums as opposed to putting out singles and EPs, Anders said, "For me, it is, definitely. I think about the album format. And I think today, it's actually more important than ever, when it's so easy to just release singles and small snippets of music and it's out there. I think it's important to still have that feeling. Maybe kids growing up today don't have that, but I'm too old school in my thinking — I'm used to that, used to the vinyl. I wasn't that fond of the CD format, because it was so easy to skip music — even though I have, like, one million CDs. But I'm more of the album type of guy."

IN FLAMES' tenth album, "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" (Century Media), sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.

IN FLAMES' previous CD, "A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) opened with 20,000 units to land at No. 28. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which shifted just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to enter the chart at position No. 58.

Savannah, Georgia-based quartet BARONESS was involved in a road accident on August 15 in England when the band's tour bus reportedly plummeted for 30 feet over a viaduct after going through a security barrier during heavy rain. Nine people, including the four members of the group, were sent to the hospital, two of them with serious injuries. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.

According to a new post on BARONESS's Facebook page, John Baizley (guitar, vocals) has been released from hospital. Allen Blickle (drums) and Matt Maggioni (bass) have arrived back in the United States.

All previously scheduled BARONESS shows have been canceled.

Baizley broke his left arm and left leg. Blickle and Maggioni each suffered fractured vertebrae. Pete Adams (lead guitar, vocals) was also treated and released from the hospital.

BARONESS released its new album, "Yellow & Green", last month via Relapse Records.

The masked shredders of GWAR have tapped CANNABIS CORPSE/ANTIETAM 1862 guitarist Brent Purgason (pictured below) to replace their fallen bandmate and friend Cory Smoot, a.k.a. Flattus Maximus, who was found dead as GWAR was about to enter Canada on November 3, 2011. He was 34 years old.

During an appearance on the August 10 edition of the "What The Fontaine?!" show, which airs on the WRIR 97.3 FM radio station in Richmond, Virginia, GWAR frontman Dave Brockie (a.k.a. Oderus Urungus) stated about the group's new axeman, "Everyone knows we lost Cory last year and it's been a rough time, but we have been forging onwards, we've been writing new songs, and we're in the middle of writing a really awesome new album. And part of the whole process was finding a new guitar player and I'm really happy [to say that] Brent Purgason, who plays in ANTIETAM 1862 and CANNABIS CORPSE now plays in this little band called GWAR. He was a really good friend of Cory's and he's just a perfect fit. He actually got the job about a month ago and he's been in the Slave Pit five days a week. We've been working really hard on the new album. . . His [character] name is 'Pustulous Maximus.'"

Brockie went on to detail the backstory for the Pustulous Maximus character's addition to GWAR, explaining, "What happened was when Flattus went back to the stars, all the different members of the Maximus tribe came to earth, because, you see, every member of the Maximus tribe shreds on guitar. So they all laid tracks for the new GWAR album. And what we're doing with that is we're getting a bunch of friends of ours who knew Cory, artists we know, local artists, big-time artists, to all kind of do a 'Scumdog' version of themselves and lay down tracks on the new album. So we have all these guest guitar players, all members of the Maximus clan. But, when they all went back to their home planets, one of them stole Pustulous's spaceship. So Pustulous was trapped on earth and he had no choice but to join GWAR permanently."

He continued, "Now Pustulous is angry. He has really bad acne, and it hurts, and the only way to make it not hurt so bad is to play guitar. But also, he's deaf, and so he yells at everyone all the time, 'cause his acne hurts, but when we talk back to him and try to say, 'Hey, we know some stuff that you can rub on your acne to have it not hurt so bad,' he can't hear us, so he thinks everyone is ignoring him, so he gets even more mad."

According to Brockie, Purgason will make his live debut with GWAR on the band's fall tour. "His costume is still getting put together, and we wanna release the way he looks in a series of Big Foot-like photographs," said the frontman. "Like, 'This shadowy picture of this strange beast was taken on the southside as he attempted to buy crack.' [laughs] Something like that."

He added, "Brent is awesome. GWAR is whole again. We'll always love and miss Cory, but we're a band again."

Tentatively due in early 2013, GWAR's new album will be "really interesting," according to Brockie, because it "tells the story of Oderus's view of the future in which he says the human race falling into a complete apocalypse that they have to somehow save themselves from. And it kind of tells two stories at once: it tells the story of the human race being set against incredible odds and having to overcome these odds; and it tells the story of us, as a band, being faced with a similar situation, losing someone who was an integral part of our band and someone we loved very much and somehow finding the strength to continue on as a band and not fold it."

He adde, "It's heavy stuff. It's taken a while to get together, but we've got 13 songs now, and six are fully arranged with lyrics and everything, so hopefully early next year we'll be dropping that new GWAR album and Flattus will smile."

GWAR's latest album, "Bloody Pit Of Horror", sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

The band's previous CD, "Lust In Space", opened with 5,000 units to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The nearly forty-year career of heavy metal legends MOTÖRHEAD is chronicled in a new collectable book, "Motörhead: Live To Win", by Alan Burridge, to be released on August 28 via Cleopatra.

"Live To Win" is the full, in-depth MOTÖRHEAD story, with previously unpublished, revealing facts, rare and early photos, and is fully approved and endorsed by frontman Lemmy Kilmister (who also contributes to the introduction).

Official book descrpitoon: "The book starts in those early days in the 1970s, when the rocky start and personal struggles of the band threatened to keep it on the ground. But with Lemmy's focus and gutsy determination, the late part of the decade showed success in the U.K. The MOTÖRHEAD world domination of the 1980s and 1990s, including the release of 'Aces Of Spades', 'Bastards' and more, is chronicled with stories from nearly twenty years of heavy touring with everyone from DIO to OZZY OSBOURNE. The book concludes present day, with Lemmy cemented as a rock icon beside long-time bandmates Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee, and still driving that MOTÖRHEAD train in music history."

"Motörhead: Live To Win" will be available in stores and at online retailers for $36.98. The book is 220 full-color glossy pages with shiny silver trim, and includes a collectible full-color bookmark. The cover features a red and silver foil logo on black leatherette.

For more information, go to Amazon.com.

NONPOINT will release its new, self-titled album on October 9 via Razor & Tie. The CD 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).

"Nonpoint" features 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.

"Nonpoint" pre-order bundles are also available now at Nonpoint.com. The bundles include a variety of t-shirts and jersey designs as well as the full album and digital download.

NONPOINT is currently on the road for a headline tour that will run through November. The band recently wrapped a summer run with CALL ME NO ONE.

Soriano explains the new album, "We wanted this record to be a punch in the face. There was a lot of stuff I wanted to artistically vent about. It's a fresh start for us. We felt like having a self-titled record says it all. We hit the reset button, and there's life again. You can hear it musically. We're not going anywhere."

"This album is the beginning of a brand new chapter in the world of NONPOINT... rejuvenated and full of positivity," adds Rivera. "Elias has written his most personal lyrics yet that shows the signs of endurance this band has had in our 15-year career."

The band opened up the floodgates to the new album by unleashing one of its heaviest tracks, "I Said It", as a free download on their web site this summer and the fans responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, welcoming the onslaught. The first official single, "Left For You", is for sale now on iTunes and is closing in on the top 25 already at active rock radio.

"Nonpoint" track listing:

01. Lights, Camera, Action
02. The Way I See Things
03. I Said It
04. Left For You
05. International Crisis
06. Another Mistake
07. That Day
08. Pandora's Box
09. Go Time
10. Independence Day
11. Temper
12. Ashes

Swiss hard rock veterans KROKUS have set "Dirty Dynamite" as the title of their 17th studio album, tentatively due in early 2013. The band's bassist, Chris Von Rohr, who is producing the CD, explains, "The new songs sound like 'dirty dynamite': pure, dirty, in-your-face hard rock with a touch of blues."

Adds KROKUS vocalist Marc Storace, "We've been taking the time it needs writing for our next rock album and we guarantee that it definitely will contain no fillers."

For the next couple of weeks, Von Rohr and Storace are laying down bass and vocal tracks at London, England's legendary Abbey Road Studios. The sound engineer for the sessions is Dennis Ward, who recorded KROKUS's last album, "Hoodoo".

Drummer Freddy Steady left KROKUS in May 2011 because he "concluded that he really wanted to play music just for fun in small clubs rather than conquering the world, playing arenas on huge stages with pyro props, etc.," according to guitarist Fernando Von Arb. A replacement drummer has not yet been announced.

"Hoodoo" was certified platinum in the band's home country for sales in excess of 30,000 copies. Sony Music presented the bandmembers with their gold and platinum plaques prior to the first concert of the "Hoodoo Tour" on April 30, 2010 in Zuchwil.

"Hoodoo", which entered the Swiss chart at No. 1 in its first week of release, was made available in the U.S. on May 25, 2010 via SonyMusic Independent Network (SIN).

Partnered with Ariola and Arista, KROKUS became an international success and ran up the charts with their hit albums "Metal Rendez-Vous" (1980), "Hardware" (1981), "One Vice At A Time" (1982), "Headhunter" (1983), "The Blitz" (1984) and "Change Of Address" (1986).

Fan-filmed video footage of Maria Brink from IN THIS MOMENT performing the song "Devour" with SHINEDOWN on August 24 at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey can be seen below.

SHINEDOWN and IN THIS MOMENT are taking part in this summer's edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. The third annual rock extravaganza — which boasts a main stage lineup that also includes GODSMACK, PAPA ROACH and STAIND — got underway on August 17 at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas, and continues through September.

SHINEDOWN's new album, "Amaryllis" debuted atop Billboard's "Rock Albums" chart and at #4 overall on The Billboard 200 — SHINEDOWN's biggest chart debut thus far — with over 105,000 units sold its first week out.

IN THIS MOMENT's new album, "Blood", was once again produced by Kevin Churko, who has previously worked with OZZY OSBOURNE and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, among others.

"Devour" performance:

Sweden Rock Magazine correspondent Daniela Pilic has posted a one-minute video overview of SLAYER's recently released Sweden-exclusive red wine. Check it out below. The name of the wine, "Reign In Blood", is taken from the band's classic album, which came out in 1986.

"Reign In Blood" was released by the start-up company Brands For Fans.

According to Brands For Fans founder Sari H Wilholm, the response to the wine has been astounding. If the wine is successful, she hopes to export it to other countries.

"The demand has been enormous; we never expected it to be quite like this," she said.

Asked why it was a good idea to launch a SLAYER wine, Wilholm told Dagens Media, "I think people understand that SLAYER would never attach their name to anything without having been involved throughout the process and having personally tried and approved the product. That kind of commitment, I think, is different from other artists who release similar items."

The wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon from California, is as uncomprimising and tough as the band. After a couple of Seasons in the Abyss, the wine has an undisputed attitude and a soft nose of dark berry fruits with oak and spicy nuances. Good mouth feel with hints of fresh fruit and juicy, smooth tannins. Well structured and rounded with subtle notes of oak, showing true Divine Intervention. Enjoy it while headbanging, riffing or with food, friends and great music. Reign in Wine!

Name: SLAYER "Reign In Blood" Red Cabernet Sauvignon
Item No.: 74527-09
Year: 2010
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: California, USA
Quantity: 6 bottles (cardboard)
Price: 714 SEK (approximately $107) per cardboard box (6 bottles)

Since the release of their eighth album Dum Spiro Spero, DIR EN GREY went into hiatus following a vigorous touring schedule in Japan and abroad, and now a year and a half since their last single release, they are back with 'Rinkaku' which will hit stores this December 19th.

According to a press release, "the track is unlike anything you have heard before, almost overturning the band's musical concept on a new scale, coming in with a range full of depth with Kyo's vocals that evoke classical elements in this beautiful and intricate melodic track which builds up dramatically with the intertwining guitars and bass. 'Rinkaku' mixed by an internationally acclaimed engineer has turned out to be an inimitable track with an intense sound."




'Rinkaku' will be released as a Limited Order-Only Deluxe Version, Initial Limited Version, and Original Version.

The Initial Limited Version will feature a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the recording of 'Rinkaku'.

The Limited Order-Only Deluxe Version features a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the recording of 'Rinkaku' and the band's November 11th, 2011 concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.

The tracklisting is as follows:
'Amon'
'Lotus'
'Obscure'
'Ruten No Tou'
'Akatsuki'
'Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami'
'The Blossoming Beelzebub'
'Mazohyst Of Decadence'
'Tsumi To Batsu'
'Yokusou Ni Dreambox Aruiwa Seijuku No Rinen To Tsumetai Ame'
'Different Sense'
'Decayed Crow'
'Rinkaku'Scenes From Recording)

RED LAMB, the band led by former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz, has inked a deal with MIG Records.

Says Spitz: "I am so happy to have found the perfect fit for RED LAMB (in most countries outside of the U.S.) with MIG Records.

"I have known Rainer Hänsel at MIG since the first tour of Europe with ANTHRAX.

"MIG is a wonderful company headed by Manfred Schütz, who believes in the unique mission I am on and the new paths that must be administered in the music arena to get where I want to go. I'm absolutely positive Universal distribution, who is partners with MIG, will be a wonderful avenue for RED LAMB's music to get in the hands of all that love metal.

"This record deal will not extend to Mars, where I also have my guitar riffs playing in the Top 10 charts. I am now searching for an intergalactic record deal for those areas, but so far... no luck.

"The connection was made by Tammy Taylor at Artist International to whom I thank so very much deep down in my heart for all her hard work.

"Release date for Europe is expected in late September early October, with many live shows commencing thereafter."

RED LAMB's self-titled debut album was released in February via iTunes. The 12-song effort was co-produced by Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH) and Spitz and is described in a press release as "explosive hard rock, pop punk, alternative rock, with a taste of thrash." The CD was mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (DISTURBED, 3 DOORS DOWN, DROWNING POOL, MEGADETH) and it features cover artwork by John Lorenzi, who worked on the last three MEGADETH studio albums — 2007's "United Abominations", 2009's "Endgame" and 2011's "TH1RT3EN" — as well as the band's 2007 box set, "Warchest". Grammy Award winner Chris Vrenna (NINE INCH NAILS, MARILYN MANSON) handled all synths and additional programming on the entire CD.

RED LAMB features Spitz (lead guitar, guitar, bass guitar, programming, background vocals, engineering, co-producer), Patrick Johansson (drums; YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P.) and Don Chaffin (vocals and video productions).

"Red Lamb" track listing:

01. Watchman
02. The Cage
03. Get Up
04. Runaway Train
05. Angels Of War
06. Puzzle Box
07. Keep Pushing Me
08. Warpaint
09. One Shell (In The Chamber)
10. Standby Passenger
11. Temptation
12. Don't Threaten To Love Me

"The Cage" video can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Metal Insider, Spitz stated about Mustaine's involvement with RED LAMB, "Dave heard what used to be my project [DEUXMONKEY] before RED LAMB and we were just cruising into the studio in one of his crazy cars, I think it was an Aston Martin or something. And he just fell in love with the music, and as a friend offered, 'Can I take this from you and kind of help?' At that point in time, I was wearing 50 hats, so it became quite difficult. It was just a blessing for Dave to say, 'Yeah, absolutely!' and that's where we started. His credit is he's a co-producer; we worked together on taking that material that was already recorded. All the music was done by me and recorded and we edited the music and moved verses and choruses around, shortening songs and got rid of the seven-minute solo if there was one. [laughs] . . . Dave worked with Donnie consistently day in day out on all the vocals. . . And previous to that, via electronic means, meaning e-mail and so forth, me and Dave took all the lyrics that I had written for the CD and we dissected those the same way we dissected the music. And Dave co-wrote every song on the album with me as far as the lyrics go and so that's his role in it. He's the co-writer on every song. So it's a wonderful collaboration."

Following is a little glimpse into the everyday world of ARJEN LUCASSEN, as he tries to quietly write songs for his new project but is constantly thwarted by an overly-inquisitive camera:



Lucassen recently posted a new video for the track 'Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin', taken from his new album Lost In The New Real. The video was mainly shot where Arjen grew up, near the sea in Holland.

In regards to the video, Arjen comments: "It's a very 'Dutch' clip, windmills and all! So you could say this clip goes back to my roots, also musically. It features many visual links (at least ten!) to the bands and albums that I grew up listening to. Peace, man!"

Eagle Rock Entertainment is presenting one of the greatest live bands in rock’n’roll history: THE WHO Live In Texas ’75 on DVD October 9th.

Pete Townshend. Roger Daltrey. Keith Moon. John Entwistle. Filmed in Houston, Texas 11/20/75, it was right at the start of a massive tour of the US to promote The Who By Numbers, their seventh album in their 10th year of existence. With Dolby Digital Stereo sound, this 117-minute 25-song bomb blast - previously only available as a muddled bootleg - has been pridefully restored to its rightful visual and sonic superiority by longtime Who collaborator Jon Astley.

Filmed only five years after what arguably is the greatest live album in rock, Live At Leeds, The Who Live In Texas ’75, lives up to and in some ways actually surpasses its predecessor’s greatness. The Who, at that particular point in time, had achieved an unerring almost magical mystical chemistry. Between the windmilling antics of guitarist Townshend, the mic wire lasso of lead singer Daltrey, the crazed bombastic danger of drummer Moon (1946-1978) and, of course, their secret weapon, genius bassist John Entwistle (1944-2002), this was a truly revolutionary band who changed all the hard rock rules. Even the punks, in the anti-rock star era of the late ‘70s, loved The Who.

The extensive Tommy section…the savage recreations of early hits such as “My Generation” (with its iconic “hope I die before I get old” line delivered in all its lusty nihilistic truth)…the celebrated cover of EDDIE COCHRAN’s 'Summertime Blues'…plus 'Baba O’Riley” and 'Won’t Get Fooled Again' make this a Who fan’s delight.




The Who Live In Texas ’75 tracklisting:
'Substitute'
'I Can’t Explain'
'Squeeze Box'
'Baba O’Riley'
'Boris The Spider'
'Drowned'
'However Much I Booze'
'Dreaming From The Waist'
'Behind Blue Eyes'
'Amazing Journey'
'Sparks'
'Acid Queen'
'Fiddle About'
'Pinball Wizard'
'I’m Free'
'Tommy’s Holiday Camp'
'We’re Not Going To Take It' / 'See Me, Feel Me' / 'Listening To You'
'Summertime Blues'
'My Generation'
'Join Together'
'Naked Eye'
'Roadrunner'
'Won’t Get Fooled Again'
'Magic Bus'
'My Generation Blues'

Swedish death metal legends SORCERY have inked a deal with Xtreem Music for the release of their second full length album. Formed back in 1985 and thus being one of the very first Swedish death metal bands, they released three demos in '87, '88 and '89, a 7" EP in '90, and an already classic album in 1991. The band split up in '97 and reformed in '09, recording two more demos before signing to Xtreem Music

Sorcery is currently working on their new album, over 20 years after their debut. Still untitled, it's being partly recorded with Tomas Skogsberg at Sunlight Studios, the same studio used in 1991 with Bloodchilling Tales. Seven out of the nine songs on the album are brand new, written with the latest line-up consisting of original members Ola Malmström (vocals), Paul Johansson (guitar) and the two new members, John Falk (drums) and Mikael Carlsson (bass). The other two songs, 'Master Of The Chains' and 'Maculated Life' were written during the band's earlier days and will perfectly link the old material with the new.

Cover artwork for the new album is being drawn by renowned artist Daniel Devilish. The recording will be finished around November for an expected release in January 2013 on CD with vinyl version later on. In the meantime fans can listen to two new songs featured on the band's Warbringer pre-production demo 2012 which are being re-recorded for the album with better sound, production and arrangements, will serve to hear what's coming. Check out the clips below:

"Fire & Damnation", the first-ever official video from German thrashers EXUMER, can be seen below. The clip was entirely filmed and edited in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during the band's "South American Damnation" tour in June 2012.

Commented EXUMER vocalist Mem V. Stein: "The idea behind the clip was to showcase the band's intense relationship with our Brazilian fans in a live situation and the disparities that are still present in one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
"We chose the song 'Fire & Damnation' because its vibe is quite universal, where you don't have look to religion or elsewhere to find damnation here on earth. Ultimately, the clip is a 'thank you' to all our fans in South America and around the world as we always try to relate to them in an honest and very real way."

"Fire & Damnation" is the title track of EXUMER's latest album, which was released in April via Metal Blade Records. The 10-track CD, which was recorded with renowned producer Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., THERION, SODOM, MOONSPELL), "combines a punishing production with aggressive songwriting," according to a press release. "EXUMER manages to capture the intensity and feel of the 1980s thrash metal gems and yet sound up to date on their latest output."

EXUMER is:

Mem V. Stein - Vocals
Ray Mensh - Guitar
T. Schiavo - Bass
H.K. - Guitar
Matthias Kassner - Drums

Formed in 1985 by Mem V. Stein and guitarist Ray Mensh, EXUMER went on to release two albums (1986's "Possessed By Fire" and 1987's "Rising From The Sea") that are regarded as some of the most cult thrash metal releases ever to come out of Germany. EXUMER was also one of the first thrash metal acts to capture exotic, foreign markets like Poland and Brazil, where their albums were domestically released in the 1980s. The subsequent tours that followed those releases secured the band live shows in front of thousands of fans and an unusually large following outside of Germany.

Plagued by lineup changes and internal turmoil, the band broke up in 1990, and did not perform live, with the exception of 2001 appearance at the prestigious Wacken Open Air festival, until 2009.

Mem and Ray decided to re-activate EXUMER in 2008, and the band embarked on their first tour since 1988. The "5 Nights of Fire Tour", took the band through Europe (Germany, Holland, Greece), and the USA, where they headlined the "Thrasho de Mayo Festival" in front of 1,300 fans in Los Angeles.

EXUMER returned to Europe in spring and the fall of 2010, where the band appeared at Norway's Inferno Festival, among other stops in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Bulgaria during the "European Ignition Tour Part I & II".

"Fire & Damnation" video:

The official lyric video for "Per Oculos Aquila", a brand new somg from EX DEO, the Ancient Roman-themed arsenal fronted by KATAKLYSM singer Maurizio Iacono, can be seen below. The track will appear on EX DEO's sophomore album, "Caligvla", which will be released via Austria's Napalm Records on the following dates:

Aug. 29 - Spain, Finland, Sweden, Greece
Aug. 31 - Germany/Austria/Switzerland, Benelux
Sep. 03 - Rest of Europe
Sep. 11 - USA/Canada

"Caligvla" was mixed by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, who has previously worked with MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX and DESPISED ICON, among others. The artwork and layout for the album were handled by SEPTICFLESH's Seth Siro Anton. The booklet for the new album will feature commentaries and descriptions from frontman Iacono with his views on each song. The limited first pressing will be released as a six-panel digipack featuring the bonus track "Burned To Serve As Nocturnal Light", a song dealing with Caligvla's madman rival emperor Nero.

The "I, Caligvla" video can be seen below. The clip, which was filmed in June in Philadelphia, features an appearance by Iacono's girlfriend, Colombian model Suzzy, and is described by the band as "a resurrection in time, blood and courage."

"Caligvla" features contributions from ALL SHALL PERISH guitarist Francesco Artusato, TRISTANIA singer Mariangela Demurtas, SEPTICFLESH's Seth Siro Anton and GRAVEWORM's Stefano Fiori. Every invited guest on the album is of Roman or Greek descent.

"Caligvla" track listing:

01. I, Caligvla
02. The Tiberius Cliff (Exile To Capri)
03. Per Oculos Aquila
04. Pollice Verso (Damnatio Ad Bestia)
05. Divide Et Impera
06. Burned To Serve As Nocturnal Light
07. Teutuborg (Ambush Of Varus)
08. Along The Appian Way
09. Once Were Romans
10. Evocatio: The Temple Of Castor & Pollux

"Per Oculos Aquila" lyric video:

Lead singer of AC/DC and self-confessed car fanatic, Brian Johnson will share the songs and artists that have provided the soundtrack to his life for six weeks on BBC Radio 2.

Drawing from 32 years as the frontman of one of the world's biggest ever rock bands, Brian shares stories of rock 'n' roll loves, laughs and losses, plus anecdotes and pearls of wisdom from a lifetime of tour bus mischief and a devotion to rockin' all night long.

Listeners can expect massive hits from the likes of LED ZEPPELIN, QUEEN, Joe Walsh and ZZ TOP, as well as rare gems from THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND, NASHVILLE TEENS and the PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND.

"Everyone thinks doing radio is just sitting down, you put a mic in front of you and just waffle, but it's not that easy," Brian told Sunday Sun.

"I sat in this studio with a big black mic in front of us and not an idea. Thankfully Ben Jones and Dan Cocker helped me out. I have to thank those two."

He added, "Basically, I wrote a book called 'Rockers And Rollers', not about me, there's enough of them."

"My memory is terrible, but cars always help me remember things. If someone asked, 'What's the name of the girl you went out with when you were 19?' you couldn't remember, but you'd remember having a Mini Cooper. Cars started to get cool and groovy when rock and roll started — when Ike Turner brought out Rocket 88 it was about his car, the thing he loved.

"The thing you wanted when you were a young man was a car because it was freedom!"

"Cars and music, the two of them sort of went together, so I start to marry the two."

Brian Johnson's "Rockers And Rollers" starts this Thursday, August 30 at 10 p.m. on BBC Radio 2.

REIGN OF THE ARCHITECT – the new project by AMASEFFER guitarist and producer Yuval Kramer – have announced the addition of new drummer Yuval 'Boolbool' Tamir to the band.




The band comment: “A talented musician and a close friend, mostly known from his work with the old school thrash metal band, DARK SERPENT, and the experimental metal band OF MARBLE'S BLACK.

We officially announce his joining as a permanent member of Reign Of The Architect. He is purely devoted, filled with passion and a true pro! You'll see us on stage together at our upcoming shows - don't look directly into his eyes.”

Video of Tamir performing the track ‘Siatha De'Shmaya’ with DARK SERPENT can be seen below:

Inner Wound Recordings have announced the signing of the Brazilian heavy metal act PASTORE to the label. Their new album, The End Of Our Flames, will be released on October 12th in Europe and North America. Their debut album The Price For The Human Sins will be released digitally in Europe and North America October 12th as well.

The sound of Pastore can be described as a modern straight to the point kind of heavy metal, with powerful vocals influenced by bands like JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, IRON MAIDEN and HELLOWEEN. The mix and mastering of The End Of Our Flames was handled by Thomas "Plec" Johansson (SCAR SYMMETRY, MISERATION, INCRAVE) at Panic Room Studio, Sweden.

GREASE HELMET, the new Finnish band featuring former HANOI ROCKS guitarist Andy McCoy alongside members of AMORPHIS, will release its self-titled debut album in Japan on September 5 and in Finland on September 19.

GREASE HELMET was founded in 2009 by Niclas Etelävuori (bass; AMORPHIS) and Jere Garcia (vocals). They were eventually joined by Jan Rechberger (drums; AMORPHIS) and Ben Varon (rhythm guitar, AMORAL) and McCoy.

According to a press release, "Grease Helmet" "travels from present time to the history of rock with flavors of funk, blues, classic hard rock and psychedelic colors."

Commented the band: "We wrote the songs together in rehearsals from different ideas and riffs. They tell many stories. There is a message from Andy to all non-believers. Songs tell also classic rock stories and bring along L.A. vibes, celebration of rock, pretty women, fast cars and the true spirit."

GREASE HELMET's first single, "Keep Your Helmet Greasy", "represents traditional hard rock," while the single's "B-side, "Mustang Bebe", "respects the early years of rock' n' roll with sounds from the '50"s," according to a press release.

Fan-filmed video footage of Norway's TRAIL OF TEARS performing a brand new song at the seventh edition of the ARTmania festival, which was held August 6-12 in the center of Sibiu, Transylvania, Romania, can be seen below.

TRAIL OF TEARS earlier in the year finished recording its seventh album at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes. The band is currently seeking a suitable record label to release the effort.

Commented the band: "Cathrine [Paulsen] came through the extreme schedule with flying colours, putting the finishing vocals on the end result and delivered a performance for the history books!

"We believe that we have created something extraordinary and can't wait to share it with you all. Never before has a recording process involved so much blood, sweat and tears!"

TRAIL OF TEARS in March announced the addition of drummer Bjørn to the group's ranks.

The band's longtime drummer Cato Jensen left the band in January in order to focus on other priorities.

TRAIL OF TEARS in 2010 parted ways with guitarist Pål Olsen and opted to carry on as a five-piece.

TRAIL OF TEARS's sixth album, "Bloodstained Endurance", was recorded and mixed over a six-week period at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes.

In 2007, TRAIL OF TEARS was rejoined by vocalist Cathrine Paulsen, who sang on the group's 2002 album, "A New Dimension of Might".

New song performance:

Longtime bassist Marcus Riewaldt has announced his departure from German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA. He says in a statement, "After more than 250 shows and 10 years being in the band, I feel that now time has come to change my priorities a bit and see what else life has to offer for me. No hard feelings involved; it's just that I cannot motivate myself for another writing-rehearsing-recording-promoting-touring cycle and that I'm really annoyed by some of the music business mechanisms that one has to deal with in order to continue this beautiful and exciting, but at the same time very time- and energy-consuming hobby. I wish SUIDAKRA much luck and success for the future — it would all be well deserved!"

SUIDAKRA has already secured a replacement bassist in Tim Siebrecht, who was a stand-in guitar player for SUIDAKRA on several occasions in recent years.

SUIDAKRA is tentatively scheduled to enter the studio in January to begin recording its new CD for a mid-2013 release. Singer Arkadius Antonik recently told Metal Kaoz, "The songs we have finished [so far] are bombastic and we also finished the first song with Tina's female vocals. This time, it's gonna be a faster song with a real epic and catchy chorus." Famous Belgian graphic artist Kris Verwimp will once again create the art for the new effort.

SUIDAKRA's tenth album, "Book Of Dowth", was released on March 25, 2011 via AFM Records.

Helsinki, Finland-based female-fronted metallers SHEAR have parted ways with bassist Eerik Purdon and replaced him with Silver Ots (DEAD SHAPE FIGURE, THE NIBIRUAN, AMORAL).

Commented the band: "Our former bassist, Eerik Purdon, decided to step down after many great years together. We thank Eerik for the good times and wish him the best of luck for the future.

"We are currently writing and rehearsing new material for the next album. We will also be playing gigs later this year. Hope to see you there!"

SHEAR released its full-length debut, "Breaking The Stillness", in March via Lifeforce Records.

SHEAR guitarists Mikael Gronroos and Lauri Koskenniemi, and keyboardist Lari Sorvo have played together since 2001.

SHEAR is:

* Alexa Leroux - Vocals
* Mikael Grönroos (CRYSTAL BLAZE) - Guitar
* Lauri Koskenniemi (THE NIBIRUAN, ELENIUM, CRYSTAL BLAZE, ex-IMPERANON) - Guitar
* Silver Ots (DEAD SHAPE FIGURE, THE NIBIRUAN, AMORAL) - Bass
* Lari Sorvo (CRYSTAL BLAZE) - Keyboards
* Juhana Karlsson (AMORAL, CRYSTAL BLAZE) - Drums

The world is mourning the death of Neil Armstrong, the US astronaut who made "one giant leap for mankind" when he became the first man to walk on the moon according to CNN. He passed away yesterday (August 25th) at the age of 82.




"We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures," Armstrong's family said in a statement.

Armstrong underwent heart surgery this month.

"While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves," his family said.




Members of the hard rock/metal community have reacted to this tragic loss:

Nigel Glockler (SAXON) - "Have just heard the sad news, RIP Neil Armstrong, who whose words 'The Eagle has Landed' inspired not only our song but millions of people around the world.

MARILLION - "Last night the world lost Neil Armstrong. For our generation, perhaps the ultimate hero. We have the great good fortune to have known him and we will mourn the passing of not just a great man, but a thoroughly decent and thoughtful bloke. Our thoughts are with his family."

SLEEP - "Rest in peace Neil Armstrong."

CANDLIGHT RED - "R.I.P. Neil Armstrong....your memory will live on!"

HEXVESSEL - "Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied. But he was the first, and he will remain the foremost in our hearts. For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind. Rest In Peace Neil Armstrong 1930-2012."

MORTAD - "Neil Armstrong, the man who walked on the moon in "one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind" has passed away! Please share with your condolences!"

Australian metallers NE OBLIVISCARIS have released the following update:


“It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce that Dan Presland is returning as the drummer for Ne Obliviscaris. We would like to offer a huge thanks to Nelson Barnes, who did an incredible job in all the shows in the six months he was playing with Ne Obliviscaris. We’re sure that he’s headed for big things with his band THE SCHOENBERG AUTOMATON and wish him all the best into the future. In the end, the decision to bring Dan back was less to do with Nelson and more to do with the fact that we never really wanted to part ways with Dan in the first place and have such great chemistry working together. Dan was our drummer from our early days, right up to and including the recording of Portal Of I, (2005-2011), and in the end an incredibly difficult year last year, where the whole future of the band was in doubt with Benji stuck in France and no clear future in sight, took its toll on everyone and Dan moving on was one of the results of that. For us, this feels a bit like getting back together with your ex-wife. We have such a long history together, so many great memories and much love for each other, and despite some ups and downs, everyone is as determined as ever to make it all work. Dan has already started rehearsing again with the band and will be playing drums on our upcoming Australian tour starting on September 7th. We’ve also started writing material for album number 2 already, and are incredibly excited about working together again and with the way the new material is coming along thus far. See you on tour!”