Diamond Head are of seminal importance to heavy metal music, and their debut album Lightning To The Nations is a key influence on the genre.


“We wrote instinctively,” explains co-founding member and riff lord Brian Tatler. “We had an undeniably unique sound. Four young lads, each with an element that, when combined, produced an alloy that was our own heavy metal sound.”


Lightning To The Nations (The White Album) [Remastered 2021] is the ultimate version of this ultimate album, which is set for release via Silver Lining Music on September 30. The release will feature not only the original album from ¼ inch master tapes which Lars Ulrich helped Brian Tatler retrieve back in 1990, but also alternative mixes of classic cuts “Lightning To The Nations”, “The Prince”, “Sucking My Love”, “Am I Evil?” and “Sweet And Innocent” never publicly released (or heard) before. There is also brand-new cover artwork based on an idea Brian Tatler had, to show a character referred to as ‘The Lightning God’.




“In 1990 as a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the NWOBHM, Lars Ulrich and Geoff Barton compiled the double album ‘New Wave of British Heavy Metal ‘79 Revisited’ which came out on Phonogram Records. It was Lars who made it his business to track down wherever possible the original master tapes because all he had were the old, often scratched singles,” recalls Brian. “He told me that he would often call up members of the bands they wanted to feature on the album and the confused guy on the other end of the phone would assume it was wind-up. ‘Who? Lars Ulrich? From Metallica? Fuck off!’ When Lars called me, I explained that the original ¼ inch masters for ‘Lightning To The Nations’ hadn’t been seen since they were sent by our old manager to a guy called Horgi at Woolfe Records years back. Apparently Horgi didn’t return the tapes, so Lars dispatched someone from Metallica’s German label to pay the guy a visit… The tapes were duly returned and after Phonogram had finished with them, Lars made sure they came home to me. I still have them stored safely.”


The original tapes were first quite literally baked (a process which allows degraded tape to be returned to playable quality), then restored and digitized before Diamond Head frontman Rasmus ‘Ras’ Bom Andersen remastered the tracks, ending up with a pristine edition of the original recordings and the recently discovered alternative mixes. Pure treasure for all fans of both Diamond Head and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the restored masters are supplemented by a set of bonus tracks originally recorded in 1980s. Rounding-out this ultimate edition are a set of deep and detailed notes on both the era and each song by Brian Tatler.


“I don’t really know what inspired ‘Lightning to the Nations’, says Tatler in his notes. “I can't think of any other song by any other band that sounds like it and that's a hell of a claim. Sean got the title from a painting he had seen in an art book somewhere and thought it would make a good title for a song. Once we had the song and it became track one, side one, it seemed like a good album title too. It’s still in the live set after forty-years.”


Watch a video for "Lightning To The Nations" (Original Lost Mix) below.





Lightning To The Nations (The White Album) [Remastered 2021], will be released as a double CD, a deluxe 180 gms gatefold triple-vinyl edition containing the original album remastered, the lost mixes and the bonus tracks. There will also be a single vinyl edition of just the remastered album, also on 180 gms. The complete recordings will also be available to stream and download. A 24-hour exclusive pre-sale is available now via the band’s D2C record store here; general retail pre-orders will be available from Friday, August 12 via the same link.





Lightning To The Nations (The White Album) [Remastered 2021] tracklisting:


"Lightning To The Nations"
"The Prince"
"Sucking My Love"
"Am I Evil?"
"Sweet And Innocent"
"It’s Electric"
"Helpless"
"Lightning To The Nations" (Lost Original Mix)
"The Prince" (Lost Original Mix)
"Sucking My Love" (Lost Original Mix)
"Am I Evil?" (Lost Original Mix)
"Sweet And Innocent" (Lost Original Mix)


Bonus tracks:


"Shoot Out The Lights"
"Streets Of Gold"
"Play It Loud"
"Waited Too long"
"Diamond Lights"
"We Won’t Be Back"
"I Don’t Got"


"Lightning To The Nations" (Lost Original Mix) video:





Later this year, Diamond Head will embark on a string of shows when they will be joining Saxon as special guests for the European and UK dates on their Seize The Day world tour.


Dates:


October
2 - Paris, France - Trianon
3 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013
4 - Hannover, Germany - Capitol
6 - Berlin, Germany - Admiralspalast
7 - Munich, Germany - Muffathalle
8 -  Offenbach, Germany - Capitol
10 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
11 -  Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
12 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
13 - Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat
15 - Aarhus, Denmark - Train
17 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Pustervik
18 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
19 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
21 - Zwolle, Netherlands - Hedon
22 - France - La Bam
23 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks


November
11 - Ipswich, UK - Regent Theatre
12 - Southampton, UK - O2 Guildhall
13 - Bexhill, UK - De La Warr Pavilion
14 - Cardiff, UK - St. David’s Hall
15 - Bath, UK - Forum
16 - Cambridge, UK - Corn Exchange
18 - Newcastle, UK - O2 City Hall
19 - Blackburn, UK - King George's Hall
20 - Aberdeen, UK - Music Hall
21 - Glasgow, UK - Barrowland
22 - Hull, UK - City Hall
23 - York, UK - Barbican
25 - Leicester, UK - De Montfort Hall
26 - London, UK - Roundhouse


Diamond Head are:


Rasmus Bom Andersen: Vocals
Brian Tatler: Lead, Rhythm Guitars
Karl Wilcox: Drums
Andrew “Abbz” Abberley: Rhythm, Lead Guitars


Diamond Head 1980 Lineup:


Sean Harris: Vocals
Brian Tatler: Guitar
Duncan Scott: Drums
Colin Kimberley: Bass

Loudness frontman Minoru Niihara recently performed with Japanese drum prodigy Yoyoka Soma. Video of Niihara and the band performing the Van Halen classic "Dreams" can be viewed below. 


The clip was shot at Takutaku in Kyoto, Japan on July 18th. It features:


Minoru Niihara - vocals 
Satsuma3042 - guitar / backing vocals 
Madooooon - bass
Holy - keys
Yoyoka - drums

Spanish heavy metal band Nigromante have signed with Metal on Metal Records for the release of their second full-length Summon The Devil this September.


Commented the label:


"The second new signing we are happy to announce this year is a Spanish band Nigromante who self-describe their style as ‘Unholy Heavy Metal.’ They were formed back in 2003 and were the first to play old school heavy metal in this new millennium over there. Their vocalist and guitarist Ángel Muñoz, also known as Choco, is in big part responsible for the later explosion of the NWOTHM scene in their country mostly by having organized countless gigs and festivals as the founder of the Pounding Metal Union. After three demos, the band's debut album Black Magic Night was finally released in 2014 through Shadow Kingdom Records. We have to admit we missed it at that time and checked it only earlier this year, after Choco contacted us submitting their new album, which turned out to be far superior in every respect: they have improved the songwriting and individual skills immensely over those years, so the decision to offer them a deal was a no-brainer."




Here's what Choco had to say:


"We are really happy to return to activity as Nigromante and really proud to be working with Metal On Metal Records. We've known the label work for a long time, and been good friends with many of the bands in their roster. They work really hard for the bands they sign and pay a lot of attention to detail. For sure, together we are going to bring some great Unholy Heavy Metal to the world."


The band recently released a digital single "Die On A Lie", which can be checked on several platforms, and commented: "'Die On A Lie' is a song about something of sad actuality, it's about war and fallen warriors, about those who had to fight a war on false purposes, by the greed and hunger for power of their governors... and about how they will finally return with vengeance against those who sent them to 'Die On A Lie'."

It’s been three decades since Jackyl shot out of Georgia spewing equal parts hard rock, heavy metal, and Southern rock.


In celebration of the band's 30th anniversary - Jesse James Dupree, along with the Worley brothers, and Roman Glick - debut a brand new album, Jackyl 30 Coming In Hot. Earmarked by three new tracks: “Bad Decisions”, “Another Round” and the first single, “Get All Up in It”, Jackyl 30 Coming In Hot will be released on August 12th. Pre-add / pre-save your copy now at this location, and enjoy “Another Round” right now.







Jackyl 30 Coming In Hot features 17 tracks - three brand new studio songs, and 14 live versions of fan favorites. The artwork and tracklisting can be seen below.





"Another Round"
"Get All Up In It"
"Bad Decision"
"Blastoff" (Live)
"My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaine's Ass" (Live)
"Encore" (Live)
"Screwdriver" (Live)
"Down On Me" (Live)
"Push Comes To Shove" (Live)
"Just Because I'm Drunk (Don't Mean You're Right)" (Live)
"Secret Of The Bottle" (Live)
"I Stand Alone" (Live)
"When Will It Rain" (Live)
"Dirty Little Mind" (Live)
"Redneck Punk" (Live)
"Cut The Crap" (Live)
"The Lumberjack" (Live)


Check out the video for one of Jackyl's new studio songs, "Get All Up In It":





Catch Jackyl live at the following shows:


August
11 - Full Throttle Saloon - Vale, South Dakota
26 - Shagnasty's Grubbery and Pour House - Huntsville, Alabama
27 - The Shed Smokehouse & Juke Joint - Maryville, Tennessee


September
3 - Harley-Davidson Museum - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - FREE ALL AGES SHOW
8 - The Alliance - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
9 - RockTember Music Festival - Hinckley, Minnesota
10 - Beaver Bottoms Saloon - Fountain, Minnesota
15 - OC Bikefest - Ocean City, Maryland
17 - Bonnie & Clyde's Gangster Park - Harshaw, Wisconsin
24 - WIIL Rock Fest - Grayslake, Illinois





 

Inspired by the trials and tribulation that can only be found in the Kingdom of Lothric, Vancouver’s Nameless King spin trashy, melodic tales about the people and places of Dark Souls 3. Back in March, they released their debut EP Order Of The Black Flame and now a video is ready for the track “Amalgamated Kin”.





The EP is a fast, in-your-face collection of four songs that are dynamic with many tempo changes and contain elements from different subgenres including melodic death metal, thrash metal, and even hints of prog, black, and deathcore. The track tells the story of one of the bosses featured in the game - a horrific beast-like creature, Oceiros, the Consumed King. Musically, it re-enacts the dramatic and frantic fight that ensues with the player - it’s mostly pure melodic death, accented with a very black metal chorus along with a hardcore two-step feel to the solo section. 




The band explains the EP in their own words:


"With this EP we really wanted to set the best first impression possible with quality production and songwriting that wouldn’t feel out of place in a playlist with staple bands of the genre. We feel that even though it’s still early in the band’s life, we’ve already managed to carve out a sound that perfectly describes our identity and what we want to get out of creating music. It’s a perfect sum of all our different influences and the direction we want the band to keep going in. The response from people so far has been far beyond what we expected, and we don’t intend to ever stop that momentum.”


So far the reception to Order Of The Black Flame has blown away Nameless King. They have new songs in the works with more of the same style of heavy riffs, along with a bit more focus on melodic and hardcore elements. They are certain that fans of the first EP will love the new material when it comes out.





The EP was produced, mixed, and mastered by Jeff Black and its artwork was done by aleh_z.


Nameless King delivers trashy melodeath with occasional breakdowns that complement the horror themes throughout. They are recommended listening for fans of At The Gates, Mors Principium Est, and The Black Dahlia Murder.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the debut album from Salt Lake City Utah's colossal doom/sludge/hardcore/post metal act Harvest Of Ash. Ache And Impulse is up now for pre-order and will be released September 23 on CD and Digital formats. Find preorders on Bandcamp.


Harvest Of Ash sonically are a meticulous blend of doom metal, post metal, sludge and hardcore.  Ache And Impulse pummels listeners with colossal riffs, spacey interludes and triumphant resolutions throughout the albums five epic tracks, which clock in at over 40 minutes.  Thematically, these tracks invoke the stages of a migraine headache to take listeners on a personal journey from self-loathing to self-affirmation. Enthralling and devastating, Harvest Of Ash push the boundaries to the extreme while bringing the beatdown. Ache And Impulse was engineered and mastered by metal maestro Andy Patterson (Sub Rosa, Cult Leader, The Otolith).







Tracklisting:


“Harvest Of Ash”
“I Prodrome”
“II Aura”
“III Headache”
“IV Postdrome”


“I Prodrome”:

The Iranian metalcore outfit Out Of Nowhere has released their song “Dying Sun” after settling in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the premiere of their last music video, “Blind Crow”, on Knotfest’s website, the band has been going through the hardships every immigrant faces. They captured these hardships in their latest creative endeavor, “Dying Sun”. 


Vocalist Amin says:


“‘Dying Sun’ is closely tied to our immigration which was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. We had to leave our homes, families, jobs, and friends to pursue what we’ve worked hard for years because there was no room for progress for us in Iran. When we arrived in Turkey, we had to go through a hard process to achieve a decent standard of living which was one of the hardest times for our band. We intended to release new music sooner, but the immigration process didn’t let us do things on schedule. But thankfully, we managed to move through these issues.’”







Every immigrant will tell you how hard it is to leave everything behind and start a new life. Their new creative effort, ‘Dying Sun’ sees Out Of Nowhere transfer all the raw emotions tied to the journey they’ve been through this past year 


Amin continues:


“This song is the chapter in our band’s personal diary about not letting go of our dreams in the face of adversity and working hard for the things we all believe in while also accepting the risks. I hope that Dying Sun will help anyone in a similar situation endure and keep pushing to achieve what they believe in. We chose the name ‘Dying Sun’ because we are all like suns that move closer to their end each day, but we also try to keep shining despite that.”


The Turkish scene is far superior for local artists than Iran because, unlike in Iran, artists in Turkey are permitted to perform live shows and even perform at big festivals without any unnecessary concerns like government intervention. Out Of Nowhere is currently working towards performing local shows in Turkey. Fans should expect several singles and eventually a twelve-song LP in the future.


“Dying Sun” was mixed and mastered by Joonas Vuojolahti at Cold Truth Music Studios. The music video was made by Darken Rush.

Metal On Metal Records have announced the signing of a new US power/heavy metal band from Boston, MA, Kingdom Of Tyrants featuring members of Meliah Rage and Steel Assassin. The band's debut album Architects Of Power is scheduled for the release this November.


To get an idea what to expect, check the video teaser featuring an excerpt from the track "Daedalus" which will be released in this rough mix version on the label's new compilation CD Compendium of Metal Vol. 15 in September.







Commented Jowita Kaminska-Peruzzi of Metal on Metal Records:


"We are proud to announce that Kingdom Of Tyrants, a brand new band comprising veterans of the Boston area metal scene has joined our roster. It was in March 2021 when our friend Anthony Nichols (Meliah Rage guitarist) told us his old band mate Mike Munro and Stu Dowie teamed up with two Steel Assassin guitarists to work on a new project. Being big fans of both bands, we were naturally very curious about the results of the collaboration of these talented musicians and really excited to hear Mike's awesome vocals again, so we contacted the guys and started talking, but it wasn't until almost one year later that we finally got to hear the first tracks. As expected, the songwriting was top-notch, while the style classic heavy metal with a bit of US power, so that was enough for us to know we definitely wanted to release their album."


The band added:


"Kingdom Of Tyrants is very pleased to announce signing on with Metal On Metal Records for the release of their debut record Architects Of Power. The band features former Meliah Rage vocalist Mike Munro, drummer Stu Dowie, and former Steel Assassin guitarists Kevin Curran and Mike Mooney. Long-time friend of both bands and musical cohort Dave Liolios takes the helm on bass guitar. The band looks forward to the collaborative effort with MOMR and is extremely excited to join the label and introduce their new compositions to metal fans worldwide."

Coming off their most recent single/video “Last Drop,” Velvet Chains are sharing more new music from their second as-yet-untitled full-length album (due in October) with the hard-hitting track “Back On The Train,” out digitally August 12. The Las Vegas hard rock outfit collaborated with award-winning director Dean Karr (Ozzy Osbourne, Velvet Revolver) for the song’s hauntingly twisted music video and acclaimed artist Tim LeNoir (Guns N’ Roses, Rolling Stones) for the cover artwork.





“Back On The Train” is sonically inspired by one of the band’s primary influences, Velvet Revolver, and lyrically explores romantic desire, seduction and obsession. The track’s
heavy riffs, melodic guitars, soaring vocals and driving rhythms were captured at Monster Sound and Picture in Vegas with producers Darren Trentacoste and James Boldt and sent for mixing and mastering by Tristan Hardin (The Hideout Studio). It was written by Goldschmidt and the band’s drummer Jason Hope along with multi-platinum songwriter Drew Lawrence (Lindsey Stirling, Christina Perri).




With a refreshed lineup consisting of Nils Goldschmidt (bass), Brazilian brothers Laurent (lead guitar) and Larry (rhythm guitar) Cassiano, drummer Jason Hope and Chilean-bred lead singer Ro Viper, Velvet Chains will bring their new music to audiences at Blue Ridge Rock Fest (Alton, VA) on September 1. They also performed this past July at Rock Fest (Caddott, WI) and opened in June for Todd Kerns (Slash Feat. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, The Age of Electric) at Count’s Vamp’d in Vegas. Look for Velvet Chains to support Kerns again at Count’s Vamp’d on Friday, September 16 and catch them in Vegas weekly on Monday’s beginning on August 29 at The Barbershop speakeasy at The Cosmopolitan.

This past May, GREAT WHITE announced that it had parted ways with singer Mitch Malloy and had replaced him with Andrew Freeman (LAST IN LINE). Malloy had been in GREAT WHITE for nearly four years, having joined the group in 2018 following the departure of Terry Ilous. Asked in a new interview with "Barstools & Bandtalk" if Freeman's addition to GREAT WHITE had been in the works for a long time, guitarist Mark Kendall said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Not necessarily. Not by design. It seems like everything that happens to us, some freak thing happens. What happened was we played with FOREIGNER up north in California [last October], and our singer at the time [Malloy] had to cancel the gig to go do a VAN HALEN tribute show. [Laughs] So we got Andrew to fill in for that gig. We didn't rehearse or anything; in a hotel room, we went over the songs and he kind of learned them at home. And he blew our minds. He just sang the songs so perfect in that short amount of time that we wanted to know if he was available, 'cause we really liked his vibe. I could read him pretty good right away that he wasn't into any kind of weird head trips or ego or anything like that; he was just straight-forward. He engaged the crowd really good and it seemed totally natural. For a guy going out and singing with GREAT WHITE for the first time ever, and we don't even rehearse, and he's getting the crowd up on their feet. And also not just doing that, but just not scripted just rapping to the crowd. So it wasn't just that arena rap; it was kind of just natural, and I really liked that too. I liked the way he was onstage. So when he told he was available, we went and rehearsed for a couple of days in Vegas, and he blew our minds again. He goes, 'Do you guys still do 'Stick It'?' And I go, 'How would you…?' 'Cause he's younger than us, a little bit. I go, 'How do you know 'Stick It'?' And he's, like, 'Oh, when I was 13, me and my buddy, we used to get these songs on 'Metalshop', and that one was always in the loop.' I go, 'Okay. Let's do 'Stick It'.' So we launched in, did 'Stick It'. He sings it perfect. So it was kind of cool to see all the different sides to his voice. I mean, obviously, LAST IN LINE is straight-ahead kind of metal delivery, but he has some different sides to his voice that I really like. So for us to be able to play 'Stick It' and him hit all the notes, and actually not ditch any notes in our other songs either… And a lot of 'em are kind of geared in a higher range; it's difficult to sing these songs — some of 'em. But he handles it all, and he's really prepared, real professional in that sense too."

Kendall went on to say that interpersonal relationships within GREAT WHITE are smoother now than they have been in a while.

"The vibe within the band, there's no… Everybody's, like — I don't know — just at ease and just enjoying ourselves," he said. "These days, if somebody has some big ego or there's… I told this one journalist, I'm, like, it'd be like you go to a party and you see cocaine, you see blow on the table, and you're going, 'They still have that stuff?' That's how I feel if somebody has a big ego. I go, 'They still do that?' At our age, we're gonna have a big ego or have some kind of head trip or something? I just don't get it. I just like to go out and play hard and play our hearts out and leave all the weird stuff away."

This past June, Freeman discussed his GREAT WHITE gig during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Regarding how he approaches singing the classic GREAT WHITE songs originally recorded by the band's founding vocalist Jack Russell, Freeman said: "When I'm playing with GREAT WHITE, that's their thing, and I'm just there to try to do the songs like Jack. If we do original material, great. We're talking about it.

"I wanna make that band tough again, like it was when Jack was in it," he explained. "Jack would do a show and then bust a bottle over your head off the side of the stage."

Freeman, who has already played a dozen or so shows so far with GREAT WHITE since he joined the group, continued: "The hits — the 'Once Bitten' [1987] and '...Twice Shy' [1989] and that stuff — they're fun songs to play, but I think if the wrong person is presenting them, they come off like — I don't want anybody to get mad at me — they come off like a lesser, more glammy type of band. And I've never seen GREAT WHITE as that, as a glammy-type band. Everybody had the big hair; even Ozzy [Osbourne] had the big hair and the glitter and all that stuff… I never really saw them as that. I always see them as… when everybody was in the leather pants and the leather jackets and the cuts over the leather jackets with their band name on the back and stuff — that's how I see 'em. I see Jack… Even now when I see him on the road, 'cause I've done gigs with him — he doesn't know me from Adam — but he still seems like that guy [who's] gonna hit you with his cane. [Laughs]"

Andrew went on to say that he was a GREAT WHITE fan from the early 1980s. "I really loved the first album," he said. "I got the first album when I was young, alongside with MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'Too Fast For Love'."

In a recent interview with Dr. Music, Mark stated about Mitch's departure: "We were going in separate ways in the sense that he was always by himself; he didn't really talk to us much. He just kind of showed up… That's just not the way a band works, as far as we're concerned. He's a wonderful singer. I don't think he's used to him not being in full control of everything because he's been a solo artist for so many years. He's a sweet guy. I really liked him. I think a few of our songs are a little out of his range, so it's a little bit of a struggle. But nothing real heavy — no big, huge fights. Nothing ever came to fisticuffs, if you will. [Laughs] So it wasn't a case of that."

Kendall went on to say that he doesn't think Malloy is upset about being out of GREAT WHITE. "He likes his solo career," Mark said. "I saw his post [about his exit from GREAT WHITE] where he said, 'Get ready for my VAN HALEN experience. And I'm gonna be doing an acoustic show, a storytellers show,' and all this stuff. So I'm encouraging people to go check him out when he gets in your area and wishing him to do well."

Asked if he and his bandmates had given any thought at all to the idea of reuniting with original GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell, Mark said: "That's the other thing. [People say,] 'Why don't you patch things up with Jack?' What people don't understand is we never even got in fights [with Jack]. In 25 years together, we might have gotten in two arguments. The thing that took him out is the horrible demons of addiction, and it's really affected his health. I just saw a video the other day where he's not even standing — he's using wheelchairs and he's sitting in a stool. So for us to go back to that, it just feels dark. I'd rather remember him… 'Cause I'm very proud of our career — I'm very proud of the past. I'm so lucky to be a part of it. And I wanna remember it like that, where he's flying around on stage and getting the crowds pumped and singing his heart out — not a sick person. So going to that…

"My goal has always been to deliver the best show we can possibly deliver and have the fans be beyond impressed," Kendall explained. "And the way Andrew sings, I really like the way he delivers the songs, because it's what you wanna hear. So that's important to me, just to have the songs — the big songs, especially — be sung right and with full power. It just makes everything — it makes us play better, believe it or not. So that's the whole thing with me."

GREAT WHITE's current lineup is rounded out by Audie Desbrow (drums) and Scott Snyder (bass).

Ilous, frontman of '80s L.A. hard rockers XYZ, joined GREAT WHITE in 2010 after stepping in for touring vocalist Jani Lane (WARRANT).

The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012's "Elation" and 2017's "Full Circle", before Terry was dismissed from the group.

This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, which features Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Dan McNay on bass, Tony Montana on guitar and Dicki Fliszar on drums.

Whitesnake revisit its multi-platinum career as it remixes some of its biggest hits for the new collection that spotlights updated versions of classic tracks like “Still Of The Night,” “Here I Go Again,” and “Is This Love.”


Whitesnake's Greatest Hits is available now on digital and streaming services, on CD, 2LP, and fans are invited to order the collection by going here.


The band have released this remastered video for "Sweet Lady Luck":







In another clip, David Coverdale looks back on "Sweet Lady Luck":





David Coverdale had 16 tracks remixed and remastered for this collection. He explains: “We’ve definitely expanded on the original Greatest Hits, took them all out of the sonic time capsule of the ’80s and ’90s, and brought them up to date, sound-wise … as always, we have the original albums for those who consider them holy relics.”


Keyboardist Derek Sherinian, who also appeared on Whitesnake’s recent Red, White and Blues trilogy, adds Hammond organ to more than half the songs on the collection. His scorching contributions can be heard on the #1 smash “Here I Go Again,” “Fool For Your Loving,” “You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again,” and more. New performances by former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg can also be heard on “The Deeper The Love” and “Judgement Day” from the 1989 album, Slip Of The Tongue.


Along with those new additions, Coverdale also went back to the vault to unearth vintage performances by guitarist John Sykes that didn’t appear on the original recordings, including a solo on “Slide It In” and rhythm guitar on “Give Me All Your Love.”


Whitesnake Greatest Hits focuses extensively on three blockbuster albums the band released during the 1980s: 1984’s Slide It In (2x platinum), 1987’s Whitesnake (8x platinum), and 1989’s Slip Of The Tongue (platinum). But the collection goes deeper with songs like “Sweet Lady Luck,” a b-side on the 12” single for “The Deeper The Love,” and “Forevermore,” the title track from the band’s 2011 album.


Whitesnake have embarked upon a farewell tour with special guest, Europe. Coverdale said: “I pray every day we can all make this happen & once again, share unforgettable evenings together & celebrate the amazing journey we have been on for almost 50 years!!!”





CD/Blu-ray tracklisting:


“Still Of The Night”
“Here I Go Again”
“Is This Love”
“Give Me All Your Love”
“Love Ain’t No Stranger”
“Slide It In”
“Slow An’ Easy”
“Guilty Of Love”
“Fool For Your Loving”
“Judgment Day”
“The Deeper The Love”
“Now You’re Gone”
“You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again”
“Sweet Lady Luck”
“Crying In The Rain”
“Forevermore”


"You're Gonna Break My Heart Again" remastered video:





"The Deeper The Love" remastered video::





"Judgement Day" remastered video:





"Fool For Your Loving" remastered video:





"Guilty Of Love" remastered video:





"Slow An' Easy" remastered video:





"Slide It In" remastered video:





"Love Ain't No Stranger" remastered video:





"Give Me All Your Love" remastered video:





"Is This Love" remastered video:





“Here I Go Again” remastered video:





"Still Of The Night" remastered video:

Miss May I have released the newest single from the upcoming Curse Of Existence album.


Miss May I vocalist Levi Benton shares "This song ‘Free Fall’ is our open invitation to anyone who wants to take that leap they never had the courage to take. When you reach the edge of a journey you have struggled to travel through and you back out before the final step, this is your chance to take that leap off the edge and see where the journey takes you. I know the popular term for this is ‘imposter syndrome’ and for anyone who has felt the relief of pushing through, this song is your anthem."


Get the single here, and watch the video below:







Curse Of Existence, the seventh studio album from Miss May I, explodes with the life experience of an established band, the uncertainty of mental health struggles, the isolation of the global shutdown, and the perspective gained from the most extensive time away from the road of each man’s adult life.


"Curse Of Existence is exactly what it reads, the curse we have in our existence. This doesn’t mean anything strictly negative, but it covers all existence that is the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the sorrow and the joy. Everything that comes with life comes with a lesson and a price and that is what we have put into this new album. It tells our lessons over our lives that have shaped us and have brought us to the very bottom of our lowest low and the tallest point to our highest high. We know the reflection we all went through during the world coming to a halt and that experience brought a lot of these sheltered emotions to light!" - Levi Benton


Produced by Will Putney (A Day To Remember, The Amity Affliction, Every Time I Die), Curse Of Existence is the sound of five people prying victory from the jaws of defeat. Unbroken by isolation, fearless in the face of fear, Miss May I wrestle with demons real and imagined all over the album.


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"A Smile That Does Not Exist"
"Earth Shaker"
"Bleed Together"
"Into Oblivion"
"Hollow Vessel"
"Free Fall"
"Born Destroyers"
"Unconquered"
"Savior Of Self"
"Bloodshed"


"Earth Shaker" visualizer:





Miss May I are:


Levi Benton - Vocals
B.J. Stead - Lead Guitar
Justin Aufdemkampe - Guitar
Ryan Neff - Bass/Vocals
Jerod Boyd - Drums


(Photo - Ross Theisen)

Coheed And Cambria have shared the official music video for their new single, "A Disappearing Act". The song finds frontman Claudio Sanchez swapping his signature Gibson Explorer for a synthesizer that blasts a mighty dance riff.


Directed by Max Moore, the video sees Coheed And Cambria whipping up a high energy dance party in the underground lair of the villain Candelaria from their new album and story, Vaxis - Act II: A Window Of The Waking Mind.


In the video, Candelaria is out to get the members of Coheed And Cambria. The band first teased the video last Friday with a ransom note to fans from the villain threatening to make the band “Disappear”. For those familiar, Candelaria is the highly illustrious, deeply depraved leader of the black market syndicate known as The Liars Club and the central villain in Vaxis II.







Coheed And Cambria are currently out on their 2022 North American summer headline tour which features special guests Alkaline Trio and Mothica. Deemed the “A Window Of The Waking Mind Tour,” the run marks the band’s first major headline tour in five years and has seen them performing at some of the largest venues of their career.


This October, Coheed And Cambria will embark on a massive European co-headline tour with Thrice. Touché Amoré are confirmed as special guests. Coheed And Cambria will close all dates in the UK, while Thrice will close in mainland Europe  The upcoming trek will kick off on October 14 and see the band performing across mainland Europe and the UK.  


Earlier this summer, Coheed And Cambria released their new album - the latest chapter of “The Amory Wars” saga - Vaxis II: A Window Of The Waking Mind.





Tracklisting:


“The Embers Of Fire”
“Beautiful Losers”
“Comatose”
“Shoulders”
“A Disappearing Act”
“Love Murder One”
“Blood”
“The Liars Club”
“Bad Man”
“Our Love”
“Ladders Of Supremacy”
“Rise, Naianasha (Cut The Cord)”
“Window Of The Waking Mind”


“Comatose” lyric video:





 “The Liars Club” video:





“Rise, Naianasha (Cut The Cord)” video:





“Shoulders” video:





(Photo - Alexandra Gavillet)

Celebrate 20 years of Epica with reissues of the first three albums (including unreleased bonus tracks), plus Live At Paradiso and We Will Take You With Us. Head to epicamerch.com to pre-order The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion, The Score and the unreleased/rare live albums on a variety of (limited!) formats. It's all out September 2 via Nuclear Blast.


The band have released the video below, stating: "The performance was Epica's first-ever major TV appearance and hasn't been available physically since 2007. It will be available as a part of We Still Take You With Us, which bundles it together with their legendary (and never released) live performance, Live At Paradiso, as well as their first three albums: The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion and The Score."







Live At Paradiso is the 2006 Amsterdam show that is mythical among Epicans, as it's never been officially released. Now, the holy grail is available as a part of We Still Take You With Us, which bundles it together with their (long sold-out) first major TV performance/DVD release, We Will Take You With Us, as well as their first three albums: The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion and The Score.





Pre-order it on an 11-disc vinyl box set, Earbook with 36-pages and 8 discs or 8-CD box clamshell. Live At Paradiso and We Will Take You With Us will also be available to download or stream, while Live At Paradiso will be released on 2-CD+Blu-ray, too.


"Sensorium" (Live At Paradiso) video:





"Solitary Ground" HD remastered video:





Epica recently announced their 20th anniversary livestream event, scheduled for September 3. Watch a video trailer below, and tickets and limited edition merchandise here.





Says the band: "While we’d love to see all your faces in the crowd on our 20th-anniversary show on September 3rd, we are aware that not every one of you is able to attend the SOLD-OUT party live in Tilburg. Therefore, we’re happy to offer you the chance to be part of the celebrations and join us right from your living room through an exclusive pro-shot live stream of the entire show that will contain plenty of surprises, several guests and spectacular stage effects!


"In addition, you will also get to witness the return of a band that has disappeared from the face of the earth for 20 years and will finally be back for a one-off live performance as opening act on this special night: Sahara Dust. Don’t miss their show, because although you might have never heard of them, their history is heavily interwoven with Epica’s inception, and you will surely be able to sing along to a few of their songs…


"Starting live at 19:30 CEST, the shows will remain online for 72 hours to re-watch in your account at any time within that period.


"Early bird tickets are available until August 12th, and you can also get bundles with exclusive anniversary show merchandise that will only be available with the stream and at the show in Tilburg, so don’t miss out!"

Legendary guitarist Steve Hackett recently announced Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out & More, the visual document of his 2022 UK tour celebrating the classic Genesis live album. Set for release on the September 2, 2022 (with vinyl following on the November 25), it sees Steve and his band perform Seconds Out in full and in sequence, as well as a selection of solo material including tracks from his most recent studio album Surrender Of Silence.


Today, Hackett launches a live clip for the track, "The Devil’s Cathedral", a track originally featured on Surrender Of Silence.


Steve comments: “I’m thrilled to be releasing Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out + More, giving everyone a chance to see this dynamic show… Enjoy ‘The Devil’s Cathedral’, an exciting dark Gothic track that includes all the boys in the current band line-up at their most explosive!”







Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out & More will be available as Limited 2CD + Blu-ray & Limited 2CD + DVD, both including 5.1 surround sound, behind the scenes documentary & promo videos. Steve Hackett and his band comprise Roger King, Rob Townsend, Jonas Reingold, Nad Sylvan & Craig Blundell, and they were joined by Amanda Lehmann as special guest on the night.


It will also be available as Ltd Gatefold 180g 4LP+2CD, and as Digital Audio Album (in 16 & 24bit). Preorder here.





Tracklisting:


“Apollo Intro”
“Clocks – The Angel Of Mons”
“Held In The Shadows”
“Every Day”
“The Devil’s Cathedral”
“Shadow Of The Hierophant”
“Squonk”
“The Carpet Crawlers”
“Robbery, Assault And Battery”
“Afterglow”
“Firth Of Fifth”
“I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”
“The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”
“Musical Box (Closing Section)”
“Supper’s Ready”
“The Cinema Show”
“Aisle Of Plenty”
“Dance On A Volcano”
“Los Endos”


“Squonk” video:





Steve Hackett and his band have just completed a run of shows in New Zealand and Australia, and will continue their Seconds Out & More tour in Japan, Europe and North America throughout the rest of year. In September and October 2022, they will present their Foxtrot at Fifty 25-date tour in the UK. 

Swedish heavy metallers, Trial (Swe), have set September 2 as the release date for their new full-length, Feed The Fire. For a preview of the album, a new video for the single "In The Highest", directed by Christoffer Tönnäng, can be viewed below:





Twin guitars, romping rhythms, towering vocals and distinctive melodies - heavy metal is alive and well in the hands of Trial (Swe). Returning five years after 2017's 'Motherless' with new vocalist Arthur W. Andersson on board, the quintet is hungry, and it shows in the tracks that comprise the mighty Feed The Fire, perhaps the most urgent record in their repertoire.




"Hearing Arthur's voice made me want to write more up-tempo songs," explains lead guitarist Alexander Ellström. "That desire didn't occur to me prior to him joining. We owe him a lot in shaping the new record after his voice. The result is a fast-paced, ferocious yet melodic album, and is about giving everything for something you hold dear, and letting it ruin you. This is visualized through a canticle of a goddess. For me, the goddess is very specific, I know who the goddess is, and what she means for me. Are you willing to find your equivalent and let it engulf you? I will happily feed the fire knowing what I get in return."


Recorded at Welfare Sounds in Gothenburg, with Per Stålberg, Kalle Lilja and Olle Björk as engineers and producers, the band were in the studio every day for almost two weeks, and they approached recording differently than before. "On this album we focused more on playing with feel rather than perfection. In the past, we could spend too much time on parts that ultimately didn't end up better than the first takes we did. This time around we all felt much more relaxed about the situation, knowing what was needed of us to perform." The band also recruited none other than Tomas "Tompa" Lindberg from At The Gates to do some vocals on the song "Snare Of The Fowler".





Feed The Fire will be available in the following formats:


- digipak-CD w/ 2 bonus tracks
- 180g black vinyl (limited to 500 copies)
- transparent violet vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 400 copies)
- transparent orange/red splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 250 copies)
- wood brown marbled vinyl (Kingsroad & US exclusive - limited to 250 copies)


Pre-order here.





Feed The Fire tracklisting:


"Tria Prima"
"Sulphery"
"Thrice Great Path"
"In The Highest"
"Snare Of The Fowler"
"Feed The Fire"
"The Faustus Hood"
"Quadrivium"
"The Crystal Sea"


CD Bonus Tracks:


"Sisters Of The Moon"
"Die Young"


"Sulphery" video:





Trial (Swe) lineup:


Arthur W. Andersson - Vocals
Alexander Ellstrom - Guitars
Andreas Johnsson - Guitars
Andreas Olsson - Bass
Martin Svensson - Drums

Southern Californian death/thrash battalion, Exmortus, has officially joined the roster of Nuclear Blast Records. In addition to the signing announcement, the band is giving fans a taste of their next album with the single, "Oathbreaker", which is available for streaming now and accompanied by the video created by Wayne Joyner (Dream Theater, Devin Townsend).


Commenting on the signing, founding guitarist Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez says: "We are very excited to announce that our upcoming album will be our first with Nuclear Blast as our new label. We're working with them to bring you what we consider to be our best album yet!"







Adding about the single, Conan states: "'Oathbreaker' is the perfect teaser for the new album. Not only is it fast, heavy and filled with shred, but it's inspired by Tolkien's haunting lore of the Dead Men of Dunharrow in the Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King. While our previous work focused more on the heroic aspect of fantasy and sword & sorcery, this album expresses the darker side with tragic heroes and horrors of humanity. Enjoy the new track cause we feel it belongs in our setlists for years to come!"





Exmortus' new single was produced and mixed by Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Fallujah) and is the first new music since 2018's full-length The Sound Of Steel and subsequent 2019 EP, Legions Of The Undead. The band recently supported Death Angel on the road and are expected to announce additional touring soon.


(Photo - Hugo Juarez - Juarez Photography, Heavy Defender)

One of Norway’s most creative black metal bands, Dimmu Borgir, released the groundbreaking Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia album in 2001. The band celebrates this seminal album by releasing a brand-new sonic experience.


The band is now releasing the rehearsal version of "Puritania", from the bonus album, Dust Of Cold Memories.







Stream "Puritania" here, and below, and pre-Order Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Remixed & Remastered) here.





Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Remixed & Remastered) is available as a 3 LP Box, CD Digipak and digital. Dust Of Cold Memories includes extensive bonus material, which includes the pre-production of Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and instrumental rehearsals.


- 3LP Box,
* Black
* Red
* Gold (Sold Out)
- CD Digipak





Tracklisting:


Side A
"Fear And Wonder" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Kings Of The Carnival Creation" (Remixed & Remastered)


Side B
"Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Architecture Of A Genocidal Nature" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Puritania" (Remixed & Remastered)


Side C
"IndoctriNation" (Remixed & Remastered)
"The Maelstrom Mephisto" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Absolute Sole Right" (Remixed & Remastered)


Side D
"Sympozium" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Perfection Or Vanity" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Burn In Hell" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Devil's Path" (Remixed & Remastered)


Side E
"Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy"
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny"
"IndoctriNation"
"Architecture Of A Genocidal Nature"
"Absolute Sole Right"


Side F
"Fear And Wonder"
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny"
"Kings Of The Carnival Creation"
"Puritania"
"The Maelstrom Mephisto"
"Sympozium"


"Puritania":





"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny":

Purpendicular's forthcoming third album, Human Mechanic, is set for international release on September 23 via Metalville Records. Featuring Ian Paice of Deep Purple, Purpendicular create Godly rootsy hard rock, understandably steeped in a 'Purple tradition: hearing is believing, and then you're hooked for good.


Today, Purpendicular release the official lyric video for "Human Mechanic", the first single and title track of the upcoming album. Watch the clip below.


Purpendicular was founded in October 2007 by Irish singer Robby Thomas Walsh. With over 25 years of experience, he played in several semi-pro bands before becoming a full professional with Purpendicular.




Purpendicular's success story is astonishing. In their first year on tour, the band already completed a short European tour with Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice.


"This band is one of the top bands I work with. You will love them; these guys are so good, I only have myself to worry about." - Ian Paice 2012


Ian had grown fond of Purpendicular due to their great musicianship and his friendship with singer Robby Walsh, who were introduced to each other by chance before their first show in Vienna in 2004. In the first two years, the band did shows in Austria and Germany, focusing mainly on the Steve Morse lineup era of Deep Purple. In 2012, the band embarked on the official 40th anniversary tour of Machine Head, supported by Ian Paice. Also in 2012, Purpendicular was the most booked Deep Purple tribute show in the world. This was repeated in 2013 and 2014.


In August 2015, Purpendicular released their debut album, tHis is the tHing#1. 2016 saw another collaboration with Ian Paice for Purpendicular. This tour was by far the most successful and earned rave reviews from the media. Ian Paice himself said, "I have to seriously thank my friends in Purpendicular. They are a fine band of very talented musicians who give me the chance to play when I'm not with Purple. We always have a great time." The band's second studio album, Venus To Volcanus, was released in May 2017.


Over the years, Purpendicular worked with such great musicians as Roger Glover, Tony Carey, Paul Morris, and also Neil Murray.


In 2020, the band began work on the third studio album, Human Mechanic. Robby Walsh and Ian Paice made important decisions regarding the lineup to move forward. Unfortunately, the album itself was delayed by almost two years because of Covid.


Musically, Human Mechanic offers the typical Ian Paice grooves and funky bass lines, but without neglecting the heavy hard rock sound. You won't find a copy of Deep Purple here, but many influences. But Hammonds and guitars are still strongly in the foreground.





Human Mechanic tracklisting:


"The Nothing Box"
"Ghost"
"No One's Getting Out Alive"
"Something Magical"
"Human Mechanic"
"TV Stars & Internet Freaks"
"Made Of Steel"
"Soul To Soul"
"Four Stone Walls"
"Passing Through"


"Human Mechanic" lyric video:





"Ghost":





Purpendicular lineup:


Ian Paice - drums
Nick Fyffe - bass
Robby Thomas Walsh - vocals
Christoph Kogler - Hammond keyboards
Herbert Bucher - guitars


(Photo - Valeria Dimitrova)