Frontiers Music Srl will release Agenda 21, the new studio album from the recently reformed progressive metal band Zero Hour, on May 13.


Original members Jasun Tipton (guitars) and Erik Rosvold (vocals) have recruited bassist Andreas Blomqvist (Seventh Wonder) and drummer Roel van Helden to join them on this new chapter for Zero Hour.


Today, the band has released a drum playthrough video for the song "Stigmata". Watch the video below, and pre-order/save Agenda 21 here.







Originally formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in '90s by Jasun and his brother Troy, Zero Hour released six studio albums from 1998 to 2008. Their self-titled debut (1998), The Towers Of Avarice (2001), Metamorphosis (2003), A Fragile Mind (2005), Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond (2006), and Dark Deceiver (2008). The genesis of Zero Hour was to create heavy, melodic, dark, intricate music with influences from diverse influences like the Dio-led years of Rainbow, The Pat Metheny Group, and Dream Theater.


Zero Hour dissolved after the release of their 2008 album Dark Deceiver, when Troy Tipton suffered an arm injury that prevented him from playing bass. After Jasun and Erik got back together to start the band back up, they recruited drummer Roel van Helden. Jasun and Roel had become friends after Roel’s group at the time, Sun Caged and Zero Hour played a gig as direct support for Liquid Tension Experiment. They stayed in contact and years later, Jasun caught up with Roel overseas and they chatted about making music together. Roel was then instrumental in bringing Andreas into the fold as one of Roel’s former bands had toured with Andreas' band Seventh Wonder.


Jasun structured the music for Agenda 21, tracking the guitars and keys. Roel then arranged the drums and entered Kohlekeller Studios to record the drums with Kai Stahlenberg. Andreas followed by arranging and recording his bass at Cross Back Studios. Erik Rosvold wrote the lyrics for the songs on Agenda 21 with the vocal melodies arranged by Erik and Jasun together as the vocals were recorded.





Agenda 21 tracklisting:


"Democide"
"Technocracy"
"Stigmata"
"Memento Mori"         
"Agenda 21"
"Patient Zero"


"Technocracy" video:





Lineup:


Erik Rosvold - Vocals
Jasun Tipton - Guitars and Keyboards
Andreas Blomqvist- Bass
Roel van Helden - Drums

Static Abyss have premiered a lyric video, created by Matthew Vickerstaff, for the title track of the new album, Labyrinth Of Veins.


"'Labyrinth Of Veins' slowly crawls evolving into a cacophonous wall of gloom. Unlike Jawbone Ritual, this track remains slow and evil from front to back,” explains Greg Wilkinson.







Static Abyss is the new mouthpiece for a rotten age consisting of the duo of Greg Wilkinson (guitars/bass) & Chris Reifert (drums/vocals), both members of legendary American masters of sickness Autopsy, with Greg (also of cult act Deathgrave) recently welcomed as their new bass player.





Static Abyss’ debut studio album, Labyrinth Of Veins, presents an unnerving, multi-layered eerie concoction of dirty doom and death, Chris Reifert states the album themes are to “explore the echoes of insanity manifested through human existence.” The result; a sinister onslaught of, at times, slow and bludgeoning brutal metal whilst at others whipped into a storm of chaotic vile hysterics. The spirit of Autopsy is at times present in the truly titanic riffs swathed in chilling atmospheric guitar leads, whilst Chris’ seemingly bottomless pit of morbid inspiration from the dark & twisted corners of life permeate the release with his highly distinguishable delivery to further the descent into madness.


Labyrinth Of Veins was recorded at Earhammer Studios in Oakland, CA, & Great American Music Hall, with engineering, mixing and mastering overseen by Greg himself. The cover art appears courtesy of All Things Rotten.





On April 22, Labyrinth Of Veins will be released on CD, black vinyl LP with printed sleeve including full lyrics and digitally. Pre-order here.





Labyrinth Of Veins tracklisting:


"Feasting On Eyes"
"Nothing Left To Rot"
"You Are What You Kill"
"Mandatory Cannibalism"
"Labyrinth Of Veins"
"Jawbone Ritual"
"Contort Until Death"
"Tectonic Graveyard"
"Morgue Rat Fever"
"Clawing To The Top Of The Dead"


"Jawbone Ritual" lyric video:





(Photo - Nancy Reifert)

Sonic Perspectives has posted high-quality fan-filmed footage of Sepultura performing their Chaos A.D. track, "Propaganda", at Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 25. Watch below:





Sepultura's 30-day North American Quarda Tour kicked off on March 4 in Sacramento, CA and will conclude on April 8 in Berkeley, CA. Support includes Sacred Reich and Crowbar, with openers Art Of Shock.




General admission tickets and VIP packages are now available for purchase here.





Remaining tour dates:


March
28 - Southport Music Hall - New Orleans, LA
29 - Come and Take It Live - Austin, TX
31 - Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK


April
1 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
2 - GMBG - Dallas, TX
3 - Rockhouse - El Paso, TX
5 - The Nile Theater - Phoenix, AZ
6 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
8 - Belasco Theater - Los Angeles, CA
9 - The UC Theatre - Berkeley, CA

No Remorse Records was working closely on the reissues for years, exchanging many emails and conversations with Frankie Banali who believed that these albums are very important in the legacy of Quiet Riot, since they paved the way of the band's reformation and the success of Metal Health in 1983, that became the first heavy metal album to top the Billboard album chart, reaching a 6x Platinum status in the United States, helping the (new then) generation of '80s hard rock and (pop) metal music to have a wider access on radios and TV shows.


Frankie Banali's passing in August of 2020 put things on hold for a while but No Remorse Records completed the last details with the Banali estate, and the long-awaited reissues of the first Quiet Riot albums will finally be widely available.


Quiet Riot is a phenomenon with a long history. The first incarnation of the band goes way back and in 1975 the name Quiet Riot was born, with the line-up of guitarist Randy Rhoads, vocalist Kevin DuBrow, bassist Kelly Garni, and drummer Drew Forsyth. Despite the local popularity in Los Angeles, California, they didn't manage to secure a record deal in the United States but they released the Suicidal Show EP in 1975, a historical recording that will be also included in the reissues. The first two albums, Quiet Riot and Quiet Riot II, were originally released in Japan, on vinyl only.




After the release of the second album, Randy Rhoads joined Ozzy Osbourne's band and Quiet Riot ended. While the Quiet Riot band that achieved worldwide mega-success is technically a different band than the one on these tracks, one can trace the roots of Kevin DuBrow back to his burgeoning musical awakening here, as well as that of Randy Rhoads, one of the most talented guitarists in the history of heavy metal.


When Frankie Banali and Rudy Sarzo, who played together before this in Florida and Illinois bands, would go on to form an all new band with Kevin DuBrow and Carlos Cavazo, they created a sound that kicked off the pop-metal era of the '80s. Metal Health also included a new version of the song "Slick Black Cadillac", originally released on Quiet Riot II but with the huge success of Metal Health, the early era became a past. Still though, fans and collectors over the years were asking for those albums to be widely reissued at last. That time is coming in 2022.


There will be a new audio mastering by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony, with bonus tracks, and expanded booklets with new liner notes, plus photos by Ron Sobol, photographer of the early years of Quiet Riot.


Exact release date and available formats TBA. Stay tuned.





(Photo - Ron Sobol)

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Jeff Gutt joined CHEAP TRICK on stage in Brisbane, Australia on March 27 during the two bands' joint "Under The Southern Stars" tour to perform the CHEAP TRICK classic "I Want You To Want Me". Fan-filmed video can be seen below.

Prior to the launch of the tour, which also featured BUSH, ROSE TATTOO, ELECTRIC MARY and BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, Gutt told The Rockpit about the prospect of sharing the stage with CHEAP TRICK: "We did a couple of tours with BUSH [before]; they're great guys and it's great to see them again; it's something that never gets old and Gavin's [Rossdale] a great dude, But I've never met or spoken to or even been introduced to anyone in CHEAP TRICK, so I'm psyched and can't wait to get out there and fanboy over that every night. I'll be checking them out from the side stage. It's gonna feel like a successful moment standing there while CHEAP TRICK is playing. It's pretty cool."

In November, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS scrapped the remaining shows on their U.S. tour — including an appearance at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida — after a "member" of the band's "organization" tested positive for COVID-19.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS features three original members — Robert DeLeo, guitarist Dean DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz.

Gutt, a 45-year-old Michigan native who spent time in the early-2000s nu-metal act DRY CELL, among other bands, and was a contestant on "The X Factor", joined STONE TEMPLE PILOTS in 2017 after beating out roughly 15,000 hopefuls during an extended search that began more than a year earlier.

Original STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland, who reunited with the group in 2010 after an eight-year hiatus but was dismissed in 2013, died in December 2015 of a drug overdose.

Chester Bennington, who joined STP in early 2013, departed nearly three years later to spend more time with his main band LINKIN PARK. Bennington committed suicide in July 2017.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS released their first all-acoustic album, titled "Perdida", in February 2020. The disc was Gutt's second with STP. His recording debut with the group was on its self-titled seventh album, which arrived in March 2018.

Last November, Chicago, Illinois-based metal outfit REPENTANCE released its latest EP, "Volume I – Reborn", via Noble Demon. The effort contained five tracks of aggressive, fast-paced and technical compositions, amplified by a tight and sharp production, which were praised by fans and critics alike. From said EP, the band has just released a brand new music video for the song "Down In The Water", which was directed, shot, and edited by Alex Zarek, with lighting design and programming by Brian Olivo.

REPENTANCE vocalist Adam Gilley stated about "Down In The Water": "The song is about trying to overcome the struggles from within and ultimately succumbing to the demons of disease in the end."

REPENTANCE guitarist and band founder Shaun Glass added: "When writing the new material, I really wanted to make sure each song had their own identity yet fit into the sound of the band. With this track, the main verse riff set the pace for a dark heavy groove that doesn't let up and brings the listener in a twisted journey… Adam's King-Kong-sized vocals put the stamp on this song and also this is my first song that I actually also handled the guitar solo, which is a nice tribute to Dimebag Darrell (PANTERA) and Jeff Hanneman (SLAYER) - RIP."

"Volume I - Reborn" will finally be available on vinyl on March 30, after a long wait caused by the current situation in pressing plants worldwide.

REPENTANCE will play its next concert on Saturday, April 2 at Cobra Lounge in Chicago.

Founded in 2018 by former SOIL and DIRGE WITHIN guitarist Shaun Glass and with a critically acclaimed debut album under their belts ("God For A Day", 2020), REPENTANCE soon became known for their distinctive heavy yet dynamic sound, packed with details, groove and intensity. Playing numerous shows with high-profile acts such as TRIVIUM, DEVILDRIVER, JINJER, SKULL FIST, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, SACRED REICH and others, REPENTANCE have taken the heavy scene by storm and represent a sound, which is sure to obliterate fans of extreme music everywhere.

"Volume I - Reborn" was produced by Alex Lackner at Accelerated Sound and mixed by Chris Collier at CMC 21 Productions.

REPENTANCE is:

Adam Gilley - Vocals

Shaun Glass - Guitar

Eric Burns - Guitar

Eric Karol - Bass

Brandon White - Drums

Photo by Alex Zarek

To celebrate 50 years since the release of the debut album, Roxy Music - Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera and Paul Thompson - will be together on stage for the first time since their sold-out and critically acclaimed 2011 For Your Pleasure Tour.


The band's 50th Anniversary Tour 2022 is scheduled to launch on September 7 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON (Canada), and wrap up on October 14 at The O2 in London, England


Tickets go on sale on March 31 at 9 AM in the UK, and April 4 at 10 AM in North America. Get tickets here. Watch a video trailer below.







Tour dates:


September
7 - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON
9 - Capitol One Arena - Washington, DC
12 - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
15 - Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA
17 - TD Garden - Boston, MA
19 - United Center - Chicago, IL
21 - Moody Center - Austin, TX
23 - American Airlines Center Dallas
26 - Chase Center - San Francisco, CA
28 - The Forum - Los Angeles, CA


October
10 - OVO Hydro - Glasgow, UK
12 - AO Arena - Manchester, UK
14 - The O2 -  London, UK

CREED's Scott Stapp has credited STRYPER's Michael Sweet with "inspiring" and "influencing" him "on so many levels".

Stapp made his comments in response to an Instagram post from Sweet in which the STRYPER guitarist/vocalist praised CREED for "bringing back heavy guitars mixed with inspiring lyrics" during the latter band's heyday in the early 2000s.

On Sunday (March 27), Sweet took to the social media platform to share a photo of Stapp and he wrote: "I'm very proud of @scottstapp - not just for what he's accomplished but more importantly, who he's become through those accomplishments.

"When music was changing so dramatically & drastically in the 90's, it was difficult sometimes for me to relate to many bands from that era. @officialcreedpage came along and changed that for me personally. They brought back (IMO) heavy guitars mixed with great melodies and most importantly, inspiring lyrics that changed lives and hearts. There was real value there. That's what matters. Substance. I was always a fan and will always be.

"I'm proud to see Scott doing so well and still releasing powerful and meaningful music.

"God bless you Scott and all that you do".

In response to Sweet's comments, Stapp took to his Twitter this morning to write: "Brother…this means so much to me. You have inspired and influenced me on so many levels you have no idea. Thank you for your “powerful and meaningful” music that helped shape me, encourage me, comfort me, and inspire me.

"Without you and @stryper I can honestly say I would not have followed the path God had for me. You were HIS voice to my heart. You are a LEGEND and I am humbled that you even know who I am. God bless you and your family my friend.

"I am in such awe that someone I admired and STILL admire so much, whose words and voice impacted my heart so deeply, shared this about me and the music I have been blessed to be apart of creating. Thank you & love you brother".

Several years ago, Stapp said that his faith-based lyrics led many to believe CREED was a Christian band. CREED wasn't and Scott's bandmates resented it, eventually contributing to the group's initial breakup.

Even though STRYPER's third album, 1986's "To Hell With The Devil", made Sweet and his bandmates the first contemporary Christian act to score a platinum album, the group has often felt unwelcome in Christian circles, with some members of the church feeling that Christianity and heavy metal are incompatible.

In a 2018 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Michael said that STRYPER was never fully embraced by the heavy metal and hard rock communities, largely because of the band's Christian lyrics.

"We've never been accepted by either side," he said. "The secular side, the mainstream, they've never accepted us to this day. We're probably that band that everyone's going to go to whenever there's a time to mock. We'll be the band used for that in most cases. Now on the Christian side, we've never really had the full support of the Christian side because we don't fit into their little club. We're not wearing suits and ties and going to every church and preaching."

Formed 39 years ago, STRYPER's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil" and the band's latest effort, "Even The Devil Believes".




Brother…this means so much to me. You have inspired and influenced me on so many levels you have no idea. Thank you for your “powerful and meaningful” music that helped shape me, encourage me, comfort me, and inspire me.

— Scott Stapp (@ScottStapp) March 28, 2022








Without you and @stryper I can honestly say I would not have followed the path God had for me. You were HIS voice to my heart. You are a LEGEND and I am humbled that you even know who I am. God bless you and your family my friend.

— Scott Stapp (@ScottStapp) March 28, 2022








I am in such awe that someone I admired and STILL admire so much, whose words and voice impacted my heart so deeply, shared this about me and the music I have been blessed to be apart of creating

?? Thank you & love you brother??

— Scott Stapp (@ScottStapp) March 28, 2022




























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Michael Sweet (@michaelsweetstryper)

KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has confirmed that one of the band's tour buses was hit by gunfire while parked outside a hotel in Davenport, Iowa on Thursday (March 24).

A spokesperson for the Davenport Police Department told TMZ that they got a call Friday morning around 7:41 a.m. for a vehicle that had been hit overnight. A single bullet pierced the exterior wall of the bus — which was parked on the street outside a hotel — and was found inside the cabin. No one was on board at the time of the shooting and no other damage was reported. The incident is currently under investigation.

Early this morning (Monday, March 28), Welch took to his Instagram to share a photo of the bullet hole in the side of the bus, and he included the following message: "A couple days ago in Iowa we received a bullet to one of our buses in the middle of the night, nobody on the bus thank God, and the bullet didn't penetrate the interior of the bus. Well, we're back in Iowa and hoping for a better welcome tonight Des Moines?! How about bringing some Saturday night energy to a Monday night concert for your [email protected]_official".

KORN — with support acts CHEVELLE and CODE ORANGE — played Friday at TaxSlayer Center in Moline. Prior to that, the three bands performed in Saginaw, Michigan on Wednesday.

KORN is touring in support of its latest album, "Requiem", which was released on February 4 via Loma Vista Recordings.

KORN kicked off a short run of shows with SYSTEM OF A DOWN on January 31 in Phoenix, followed by dates in San Diego (February 1) and Los Angeles (February 4 and February 5). KORN's headlining tour with CHEVELLE and CODE ORANGE launched on March 4.
























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Brian Welch (@brianheadwelch)

I AM MORBID, the band featuring formerMORBID ANGEL members David Vincent (bass, vocals) and Pedro "Pete" Sandoval (drums), kicked off its "Morbidfest" 2022 European tour on March 24 in Berlin, Germany. I AM MORBID, which also includes guitarists Bill Hudson (NORTHTALE, DORO) and Kelly McLauchlin, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of MORBID ANGEL's second album, "Blessed Are The Sick".

Fan-filmed video of I AM MORBID's March 26 concert at Streetfood in Aalborg, Denmark can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Immortal Rites

02. Fall From Grace

03. Visions Of The Dark Side

04. Day Of Suffering

05. Blessed Are The Sick

06. Rapture

07. Pain Divine

08. Sworn To The Black

09. Eyes To See, Ears To Hear

10. Dead Shall Rise

11. Maze Of Torment

12. Dominate

13. Where The Slime Live

14. Dawn Of The Angry

15. God Of Emptiness

16. World Of Shit

I AM MORBID's current tour marks the first time Sandoval and Vincent have played together in 12 years.

Sandoval, who now lives his life as a born-again Christian, was forced to leave MORBID ANGEL in 2010 after undergoing surgery for a prolapsed disc.

Vincent told Invisible Oranges in a December 2013 interview that Pete had "found Jesus," which meant that Sandoval and MORBID ANGEL were no longer "compatible."

Sandoval has past the last few years recording and touring with TERRORIZER, whose latest studio album, "Caustic Attack", was released in October 2018 via The End Records.

A year ago, Sandoval released an Instagram video in which he addressed some of the most commonly asked questions regarding his time with MORBID ANGEL. He said: "I've been asked about who's my favorite singer or which era is my favorite one — the era with David Vincent or with Steve Tucker. Well, I wanna tell you that I love both eras. I had fun. I had a great time working with David Vincent, and I had a great time working with Steve Tucker as well. So, from 'Altars Of Madness' [1989] to 'Heretic' [2003], they're all masterpieces for me. We worked hard [on] those albums. So I'm telling you my answer that I don't have a favorite album, I don't have a favorite era, I don't have a favorite singer — I love 'em all. I had a great time in both eras with every album."

Sandoval added: "And as far as the album released in 2011" — referring to MORBID ANGEL's controversial "Illud Divinum Insanus" LP — "please don't ask me any questions about it, because I have no comments about it — no comments at all, man. I stay what I am, I did what I did, and I am so happy and grateful that I did what I did with these guys."

In a 2011 e-mail chat with Brazil's Som Extremo, Sandoval was asked for his opinion of "Illud Divinum Insanus", which incorporated industrial and electronic elements into MORBID ANGEL traditional death metal sound. "No comment! I don't play on that album," he wrote. He was then questioned about what he thought he would have done different on "Illud Divinum Insanus" had he played on the record. "More exreme deathgrind metal and less DJ, boring awful typical I care less industrial experimental same as everybody boring bull!" he said. "This is not what MORBID has been all about! ...Hmmmmmm, and I really care less...!"

Initially announced for 2021, I AM MORBID's "Morbidfest" tour had to be postponed due to the pandemic. But it's finally happening in 2022.

Vincent left MORBID ANGEL in 2015. He has since been replaced by a returning Steve Tucker, who previously handled bass and vocals on MORBID ANGEL's "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh", "Gateways To Annihilation" and "Heretic" LPs.

In a May 2019 interview with Jorge Botas of the "Metal Global" radio show, which airs on the Portuguese public TV and radio broadcaster RTP, Vincent said that he had every right to perform MORBID ANGEL's classic songs with I AM MORBID.

"Times come and life works the way that it does," Vincent said. "And there are times when… It's like a marriage — sometimes they don't always work forever. But that doesn't mean that the children that we've had together, that I don't still love my children. Although Trey [Azagthoth, MORBID ANGEL guitarist and sole remaining original member] and I have some irreconcilable differences, that doesn't in any way preclude me from still having the love and the passion for all of my children."

Asked what he has to say to people who insist that he should not play MORBID ANGEL's early material without the other members of the group's classic lineup, David said: "There's examples of this very situation… I mean, when Ozzy [Osbourne] left BLACK SABBATH, that didn't stop him from playing 'Paranoid' every night, even though he didn't write the song. All of the songs that I'm singing I wrote. So I don't really understand that. But different people become attached to different things. And they have their opinion and I have mine. And I don't really consider this kind of negativity. I don't have it in my life."

In 2019, Vincent released "Something Wicked Marches In", the debut album from his supergroup VLTIMAS, also featuring guitarist Rune Eriksen (formerly of MAYHEM) and CRYPTOPSY drummer Flo Mounier. Two years earlier, Vincent issued his debut country single, "Drinkin' With The Devil".








Thanks to Kent Kirkegaard Jensen with Devilution for these photos from last night’s show in #AalborgDenmark....

Posted by I Am Morbid on Sunday, March 27, 2022

Seven Kingdoms have signed a worldwide record deal with Distortion Music Group for the release of Zenith.


Raising over $50,000, Seven Kingdoms successfully crowdfunded all associated costs with creating Zenith. During the crowdfunding period, Seven Kingdoms was approached by Distortion Music Group. DMG is a new boutique record label helmed by industry veteran and Juno Award Winner, Maurizio Iacono (Kataklysm, Ex Deo). Iacono has also helped build two thriving touring agencies: Continental Touring in North America and Decibel Touring in Europe, giving Distortion Music Group a big advantage in developing musical careers through the touring outlet. Distortion Music Group aims to serve artist needs and create a partnership that benefits everyone involved in this ever-changing musical climate.


DMG CEO Maurizio Iacono comments on the signing: “Today we are proud to announce the signing of Orlando area heroes Seven Kingdoms to the Distortion Music Group family! I watched Camden & Sabrina's dedication and hard work growing the Seven Kingdoms name and music to new heights during the last few years. I was impressed with their support performances during the latest Unleash the Archers tour where the band showed a growing fanbase and a killer live show! After hearing the new album, it was a no-brainer for us to give the band the needed help to get them to the next level. Stand by for an adventurous melodic power metal ride that will rock your world!”




7K guitarist Camden Cruz says, “We are very excited to announce this new partnership with DMG. We were approached by Maurizio about his new label and their new model that allows a band like us to still retain our current working DIY Financing Model - but gaining the power of having a label behind you in promotion. This is basically a distribution partnership where DMG is responsible for getting our CD and Digital releases promoted and released into the worldwide chain again. This is something we lacked as an independent artist. DMG will be pressing and selling our CD. The band will be pressing and selling the vinyl, directly, and we were able to use crowdfunding and handle our own finances until we need to put CDs into the food chain. This is where DMG comes in. Maurizio has been influential in many big bands’ successes, and we are thrilled to open new doors with DMG’s guidance, experience, and push. We will sign the first 400 CDs we receive from DMG and these will be used to send to our backers! We are very excited for this year as we have so many things on the table. Maurizio has already helped us quite a bit, but it's very cool that we get to take that next step forward with his team at DGM / Hard Impact. The future holds a lot of new and amazing opportunities for Seven Kingdoms, and we couldn’t be more excited!”


Zenith was recorded at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, FL, and 8 Arms Audio in Orlando, FL during the summer and fall of 2021. The record was mixed and mastered by Jim Morris at Morrisound Recording in November of 2021. The cover art was done by Jan Yrlund (Battle Beast, Korpiklaani, Windrose).


Zenith is scheduled to be released worldwide in June via Distortion Music Group.





Zenith tracklisting:


"Diamond Handed"
"A Silent Remedy"
"Love Dagger"
"Chasing The Mirage"
"Valonqar"
"Empty Eyes"
"Magic In The Mist"
"Universal Terrestrial"
"The Water Dance"
"Life Signs"
"I Hate Myself For Loving You" (Cover)

The Greco-Brazilian split release from black/death purveyors Mystifier and Lucifer's Child (pictured above) is now available for streaming on YouTube, in advance of its March 25 release on Agonia Records. Listen below:





Put together despite an ocean's distance, Under Satan's Warth displays the borderlessness of black metal in the strict sense. The collision of Brazilian occultism & Hellenic blasphemy ensues blistering sonic impressions in a hellish dance of cultures, robed in a gold black garment from Mitchell Nolte (Aborted, Baest).




George Emmanuel (ex-Rotting Christ), who co-launched Lucifer's Child in 2013, commented: "After almost a year and half of isolation and profound research, we gave birth to a new seed of evil, Under Satan's Wrath' This deep rooted journey contains three new songs from each band, with some special revelations where conspiracies between Mystifier and Lucifer's Child divulge. A further step beyond the borders of safety, a further step into the abyss where our freedom to craft and sculpt our sound liberates."


On behalf of Mystifier, whose been around since 1989, founder Beelzeebubth commented: "It's a pleasure taking part on this monumental split EP with our Greek comrades. It was the right moment to reveal our new band members: Kaverna on lead guitar and Apophys on drums. We met George during a long European tour in 2016. Nice to see him conquer the world with Lucifer's Child. Hope in the next days, after this pandemic lockdown, we can share the stage together again."


All Mystifier tracks where recorded and mixed at Usb Studio (rhythm guitars) and Darkside Studio (drums, lead guitars, bass, keyboards and vocals). All Lucifer's Child tracks where recorded and mixed at Pentagram Studio (Rotting Christ, Septicflesh). The latter mastered the split.





Tracklisting:


"Death Beyond Holy Creation"
"Under Inhumane Evil Spells"
"Worship Her" (Samael cover)
"Satan's Wrath"
"Nova Tenebris"
"Enter The Eternal Fire" (Bathory cover)


"Nova Tenebris" (Lucifer's Child):





"Satan's Wrath" lyric video:





(Photo - Stamos Abatis)

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT, the musical meeting of minds between Grammy-nominated STONE SOUR guitarist Josh Rand and PARALANDRA vocalist/guitarist Casandra Carson, will make its live debut on April 30 at The Riff in Springfield, Missouri. Support at the gig will come from THE MANY COLORED DEATH and ETCHED IN EMBERS.

In a new interview with HardDrive Radio's Lou Brutus, Rand stated about THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "In a sense, it was just something that I started doing a couple of years ago, just writing music myself. And then I just decided I wanted to get a female vocalist, basically, to work on these songs and sing on them. And I found Casandra through a mutual friend — actually, STONE SOUR's A&R person, Dave Rath — and we hit it off. And then we've just been working on stuff for the last two years kind of just here and there. Obviously, with COVID and all that stuff going on in the world, it really restricted going out, so there's really not been a desire to do that up until recently. So now we're gonna end up being a full band and actually play our first show April 30th in Springfield, Missouri, which I'm really excited about finally getting back out there. 'Cause for me, it's been a bit, I guess — like, three years — since I've been on a stage.

"So, that's really what it's about," he continued. "It's just me musically trying different stuff, but also getting back to where I originally came from, as far as my musical journey. So it's kind of getting back to my roots and just having fun with it. That's what THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is for me — it's a different vehicle to express myself, I guess, artistically with truly no boundaries, but leaning more towards, musically, I think, coming at it as an educated teenager. What I mean by that is it's the fire of that teenager — that drive, that style of music that I was playing 30 years ago — but now doing it with the experience, the knowledge and all that. So it's kind of like revisiting the past, in a way, or going home in some ways."

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT released a new four-song EP, titled "Big F.O.U.R.", on March 18 via Bloodblast. The collection features a clutch of cover versions, one each from heavy music's pioneering icons METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX.

Rand previously stated about the EP: "Recording a 'Big F.O.U.R.' cover EP is something that I have wanted to do for a very very long time, and last fall I decided to finally do it with THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT.

"Without these four bands (METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER), my musical career wouldn't be where it is today. In some ways, you could say this project is paying homage to them or, how I see it, a return to where it all started in my parents' house as a teenager trying to learn just a piece of the music.

"Each of the four songs that I picked were pivotal in my development as a musician, whether it was learning the intro to 'One' on guitar, drums on 'Symphony [Of Destruction]' or bass lines in 'Caught In A Mosh'.

"This EP was a true love and passion project for myself. I feel I captured the vibe and the spirit of the original but with THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT sound. Hopefully you hear it too!"

Stylistically, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is a fluid combination of classic metal sensibility and Rand's penchant for pushing the boundaries of contemporary heavy.

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT's debut self-titled EP came out last summer and is available exclusively through the band's webstore or via the Nuclear Blast store.

Josh and Casandra's debut single, "The Nothingness", was featured on several major playlists across streaming platforms, including Rock Hard on Spotify, Breaking Metal on Apple Music, Break Through Rock on Amazon and Metal Radar on Deezer. "The Nothingness" was also included on SiriusXM Octane's "Test Drive" show on release.

"Cower in total surrender / Give in and yield to his name / Abandon to wicked seduction / Agony, torment and strain..."


Roswell Recordings is proud - and honestly a little bit scared -  to blur the lines between reality and darkest fantasy with the release of the self-titled debut EP from Dream Widow, out today. Order/save the EP here, and watch a visualizer for the track "Cold" below. A Spotify EP stream is also available below.


The eponymous (using that word because it sounds like the name of a black metal singer) EP is actually the malevolent creation of Dave Grohl (handling vocals, guitar, bass and drums) and lead guitarist Jim Rota of Fireball Ministry renown. Assisted on a few tracks by keyboardists Rami Jaffee and Oliver Roman, Grohl and Rota make good on the sinister promise of the recently released "March Of The Insane."




The name and mythos of Dream Widow will be familiar to those who've laughed and screamed watching Foo Fighters' horror-comedy feature film Studio 666 - now available on demand for home viewing in the US. In the film, Foo Fighters attempt to record their newest album in the same house where the legendary - and fictional - Dream Widow met its tragic and untimely end - with hilariously horrifying consequences.





Tracklisting:


"Encino"
"Cold"
"March Of The Insane"
"The Sweet Abyss"
"Angel With Severed Wings"
"Come All Ye Unfaithful"
"Becoming"
"Lacrimus dei Ebrius"


"Cold" visualizer:





“March Of The Insane” lyric video:





EP stream:

Polish death metal legends Vader - currently on Final Declaration Northern 2022 Tour with Marduk - have announced Michał Andrzejczyk as their new drummer. They have checked in with the following update:


"Vadermaniax! As many of you already noticed, there is a new drummer in Vader since the beginning of 2022. Michał Andrzejczyk joined Vader on tour in Poland in February (Awakening of Tyrants Tour 2022) and you could watch his debut in Wrocław at the club A2. Michał (vel. Michael) started to work with James Stewart with Vader songs already in 2021, then we rehearsed few times together with whole band in our brand new practice room later on. James decided to leave Vader during our tour in US in 2020, however, he was playing and working with us as long as necessary until the new drummer was ready to replace. Peter did not want to make it official until you could experience in own eyes and ears his high level and spirit of this very young but already very powerful drummer. And this is just the beginning.


James Stewart took a decision and we respect it. He spent over ten years (!!!) with Vader recording many great albums and playing hundreds of crazy shows worldwide. That was the most stable line up in band's history. James will definitely explain all in his own words soon. We wish him best luck in his bands and projects and THX for all those crazy years spent together as a real band."




Vader are currently on Final Declaration Northern 2022 Tour with MARDUK, see the remaining shows below.


March
25 - Glauchau, Germany - Alte Spinnerei
26 - Berlin, Germany - ORWO Haus





Photo by Artur Tarczewski

Progressive metalcore project Oni, have today unleashed another incendiary new track, “War Ender”, via Ironshore Records. The song features special guest vocals from NYC trap metal firebrands, City Morgue.


Speaking about the brand new song, band visionary Jake Oni shares;


"I'm so excited for the world to hear the collaboration of Oni and City Morgue. I've really liked their music for a while now. I was in the studio working with Mark Morton and we had the idea of getting Zilla and SOS on the track and I was so happy with how it came together. I think 'War Ender' is heavy as fuck."







Last month, the band released another new track, “The Lie”. The ferocious new song marked the first new material from Jake Oni, Oni's frontman and creative mastermind, since the band's 2019 standout single, 'Alone' and their highly acclaimed 2016 debut album, Ironshore (Metal Blade). The track was co-produced by Jake's musical ally and good friend, Lamb Of God axe-man, Mark Morton, together with renowned producer Josh Wilbur (Megadeth, Trivium, Gojira).





Jake and Mark previously collaborated on Morton's debut solo album, Anaesthetic, with Jake executive producing and co-writing the collection's #6 Active Rock radio track, “Cross Off” with Morton, Wilbur and the late Chester Bennington.


(Photo – Travis Shinn)

Frontiers Music Srl recently announced the forthcoming release of Poison Rose's debut album, Little Bang Theory, on April 15. Today, fans can get a taste of the new band fronted by Italian vocalist Marco Sivo with the release of the single and lyric video, "Inner Wolf". Watch the video below, and pre-order/save Little Bang Theory here.





Poison Rose is a new project centered around vocalist Marco Sivo, a songwriter and backing vocalist on multiple releases from the Frontiers label. Frontiers' President Serafino Perugino wanted to put him in the spotlight and showcase his talents as a songwriter and singer, thus Poison Rose was born. The debut album, "Little Bang Theory" features 11 contemporary hard rock songs with in-your-face performances and haunting melodies.




Brought to the label's attention by producer Alessandro Del Vecchio, Marco Sivo has written songs for albums by Gioeli-Castronovo, Lovekillers feat. Tony Harnell, and Sweet Oblivion feat. Geoff Tate and has also been featured as backing vocalist on all of the Hell In The Club albums released by the Frontiers label and on Lifeblood by Secret Sphere. When Perugino talked to Del Vecchio about building a new project around Sivo’s voice, it was a natural fit to surround Marco with musicians from his circle of friends: Edo Sala (Sunstorm, Lovekillers), Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere, Edge Of Forever), and Andrea Seveso (Robin McAuley, Jorn). All three deliver the goods, as they always do, on Little Bang Theory, giving it a depth and identity that goes well beyond a mere studio project.


Marco Sivo has been Italy’s best kept secret for years. Since his last time fronting a band was with the prog-metal band Time Machine on their last album Reviviscence in 2004, the time had come to bring him more in the public eye fronting a new, fresh band that would be the right musical vehicle for his vocal and writing abilities. (Sivo’s voice has also been heard on national broadcast Virgin Radio, singing their official 10th anniversary jingle/anthem, so some of you might know his voice without realizing it.)


Songs for Little Bang Theory were written by Sivo with Alessandro Del Vecchio, Pete Alpenborg, Brett Jones, Riccardo Canato, Jonas Erikson, and upcoming talent Stefano Mainini.





Tracklisting:


"Inner Wolf"
"Your Eyes Again"
"Devil (Knock On My Door)"
"Hearts Beat Loud"
"Set Us Free"
"Survive To You"
"Eternally, Wild And Free"
"River Of Dreams"
"Older Now"
"All Along The Way"
"Better Life"


"Inner Wolf" lyric video:





"Devil (Knock On My Door)" video:





Lineup:


Marco Sivo - Vocals
Andrea Seveso - Guitars
Aldo Lonobile - Guitars
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Edo Sala - Drums

Machine Head vocalist / guitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern revisit The Blackening and celebrate its 15th anniversary with a full, in-order, album play-through.


In the video below, they treat us to blistering renditions of all of the now classic album’s eight tracks, along with the inclusions of bonus tracks, Iron Maiden's “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and Metallica’s “Battery”. A must watch for any Head Case! Beers Up!!







Released on March 27, 2007 via Roadrunner Records, The Blackening is the sixth album from Machine Head. 





Tracklisting:


"Clenching The Fists Of Dissent"
"Beautiful Mourning"
"Aesthetics Of Hate"
"Now I Lay Thee Down"
"Slanderous"
"Halo" Flynn
"Wolves"
"A Farewell To Arms"


Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:


"Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Iron Maiden cover)
"Battery" (Metallica cover)


"Aesthetics Of Hate" video:





"Now I Lay Thee Down" video: