Wendy Dio, widow and longtime manager of Ronnie James Dio, spoke to the WSOU radio station about the upcoming career-spanning documentary on the life and times of the legendary rock icon. It is the first documentary about Dio to be fully authorized by the artist's estate. BMG is both financier and executive producer of the film.

"We started working with BMG on that, with these directors that have done quite a lot of things," she said (hear audio below). "And I'm quite happy with them. Of course, everything's on pause now right now [because of the coronavirus pandemic]. But it will go from Ronnie's childhood all the way through [to the end of his life]. I think they interviewed Jack Black, and I think they interviewed all of Ronnie's bandmembers and Doug Aldrich and, I think, Jeff Pilson. They were getting ready to go to Arizona to interview Rob Halford and Lita Ford. And then they were going into England to interview Tony Iommi. They already did Geezer [Butler]. So there will be very interesting stories from different people. I found loads of Super 8 old movies and things, so it will be very, very interesting… I think it'll be a great thing, and it'll show people a lot of things that people have never seen before."

Asked how BMG is planning to roll out the documentary, Wendy said: "Well, we were hoping to take it to [the] Sundance [festival] as a movie. So we are waiting, because, obviously, everything's on hold right now. So we were hoping it would come out early '21. I think it will come out in '21, but I'm not sure exactly when now because of the hold-up. It depends on when they can go back to work. They're sorting through photographs at the moment. I'm still sending them lots of different things for them to sort through. But I think it'll be really a good documentary."

Wendy also offered an update on the long-awaited autobiography of the heavy metal master. Legendary rock journalist Mick Wall is working with Wendy on the book, which was partially written before the singer's death and which was originally scheduled to be published several years ago via MTV Books.

"That is also on hold," she said. "I'm working with Mick Wall, who's quite famous for working with everybody in the industry. If you Google him, you'll see he's done almost everybody, books on everyone. I'm working with him. This will be completely different from the documentary. It will be written in Ronnie's own words, because Ronnie had written up to the end of RAINBOW, and then we found some other stuff after that, little bits and pieces. So we're putting it all together. Mick and I have been very busy looking for interviews during all the different periods of time. And so we'll continue on — we'll finish it and continue on in Ronnie's own words. Ronnie writes up to that point, and then after that, it'll be interviews, so it'll still be his own words of what he's saying at that particular time in his life… The way he writes is very magical, and it's very interesting. The stories he tells are very interesting in the book."

Ronnie James Dio passed away of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67. A few months after his death, MTV Books announced plans to release his memoir, which at the time was going to be called "Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography Of Ronnie James Dio".

Dio was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history. The singer, who was recording and touring with BLACK SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2009. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

STRYPER guitarist Oz Fox was rushed to hospital Thursday night (October 22) after suffering a massive seizure. He later posted a photo on social media of him lying on a hospital bed and giving a thumbs-up, with his wife, Annie Lobért, standing next to him.

"After having a major seizure tonight, I'm doing better," he wrote. "I appreciate your prayers."

Lobért shared a similar picture on her Twitter, writing in an accompanying message: "Tonight my heart almost stopped. The love of my life @SirOzFox had a massive seizure. It was one of THE most terrifying moments of my life with him. But all of you prayed!

"We will pull through no matter what hell is coming against us. You better believe it....we have JESUS!"

Fox is scheduled to undergo brain surgery next month to treat the tumors that were found in his head — one by his ear and the other in the back of his brain — when he suffered his first seizure in August 2018 while performing with SIN CITY SINNERS at Harrah's in Las Vegas.

A year after the tumors were discovered, both had grown and were posing a serious health risk to the guitarist, who turned 59 in June. Specifically, the tumor behind the ear, if it continues to grow, could cause hearing loss, balance, vision and spinal problems, while the tumor in the back of Oz's brain is in the area where left side of his arms, hands and body operate. The risk to remove it will affect the upper left motor function and potential ability to recognize faces and objects.

Within weeks of Fox's original seizure, STRYPER toured Australia and Japan as a three-piece, and later recruited Howie Simon (JEFF SCOTT SOTO, GRAHAM BONNET) to fill in while Fox was unable to go on the road.

Formed 37 years ago, STRYPER is the first overtly Christian metal band to go mainstream. The group'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" and the band's latest effort, "Even The Devil Believes".


After having a major seizure tonight, I’m doing better. I appreciate your prayers. ????

Posted by Oz Fox on Thursday, October 22, 2020





Tonight my heart almost stopped. The love of my life @SirOzFox had a massive seizure.

It was one of THE most terrifying moments of my life with him.

But all of you prayed!

We will pull through no matter what hell is coming against us. You better believe it....we have JESUS! pic.twitter.com/QHVtqWa7V1

— Annie Lobert (@annielobert) October 23, 2020








I love my husband Oz Fox @SirOzFox who doesn’t mind when I change my hair to any color. ?

We have some life changing decisions to make next month. The love of my life will be getting surgery on his brain. Gulp. ?

With God...he will over come. Prayers appreciated.

?????????? pic.twitter.com/9W9B0JSltx

— Annie Lobert (@annielobert) October 19, 2020

MACHINE HEAD will release a new single, "My Hands Are Empty", on November 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. A teaser for the song's official music video is available below.

"My Hands Are Empty" is the latest in a line of singles to be released by MACHINE HEAD, which issued "Do Or Die" in October 2019, "Circle The Drain" in February, and the two-song digital single "Civil Unrest", consisting of "Stop The Bleeding" and "Bulletproof", in June. "Stop The Bleeding" featured guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach, and was written and recorded just days after the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.

This past June, MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn said that there is no pressure for the band to release a full-length album anytime soon. "I'm all about dropping singles right now," he told Knotfest.com's "Mosh Talks With Beez". "I think an album will definitely show up, and some of these songs may end up on that album, but, to me, it's all about just a constant stream of music dropping all the time.

"We're pretty slow with albums — it's already been two and a half years since our last album [2018's 'Catharsis'] — so I just don't wanna wait another year to get music out. The music's here, the music's done; a lot of the lyrics that I've written are very much now, and they need to be heard now, in this moment.

"I do a podcast, and I can record a podcast and have it up an hour later. That's fucking crazy to me. I can finish a song and have it up six hours later on all the fucking digital service providers," he said. "That's fucking amazing. Never in history have we been able to do something like that. And we need to do more of that, especially with songs that are written about this moment and these times. It's important to put 'em out now, not a year and a half from now."

This past July, MACHINE HEAD canceled its previously announced rescheduled 2020 tour dates for Europe and Australia due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

Each show on MACHINE HEAD's "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour consisted of two parts: part one saw Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern performing alongside new recruits, guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (DECAPITATED) and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT); while part two featured "Burn My Eyes" played in its entirety for the first time ever, with original "Burn My Eyes"-era drummer Chris Kontos and guitarist Logan Mader joining in.

In 2020, the legendary self-titled debut of metal giants Iced Earth celebrates its 30th anniversary. Originally released in 1990, “Iced Earth” now returns in a brand-new edition featuring high class remixing and remastering courtesy of Zeuss (Overkill, Queensrÿche etc.), going to be released on December 18 via Century Media Records.

Jon Schaffer comments: “This 30 year old debut classic has been remixed and remastered from the original 2 inch tapes by Zeuss, and it sounds fantastic. It has a modern touch and still retains the dynamics of the original release. This is a big step forward sonically and visually. We’re excited to have our exclusive artwork and blood red vinyl version at icedearthmerch.com.”

Check out the new mix and mastering sound on the first single “Written On The Walls" (Remaster 2020) below.

Iced Earth (30th Anniversary Edition) is available as 180 gram vinyl, limited CD digipak and digital album and can be pre-ordered here.

Tracklisting:

"Iced Earth" (Remaster 2020)
"Written On The Walls" (Remaster 2020)
"Colors" (Remaster 2020)
"Curse The Sky" (Remaster 2020)
"Life And Death" (Remaster 2020)
"Solitude" (Remaster 2020)
"Funeral" (Remaster 2020)
"When The Night Falls" (Remaster 2020)

“Written On The Walls" (Remaster 2020):

Lineup on this recording):

Jon Schaffer - Rhythm & Lead Guitars, Backing Vocals
Gene Adam - Lead Vocals
Dave Abell - Bass Guitars
Mike McGill - Drums
Randy Shawver - Lead Guitar




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Rochester, NY band Ovtlier released their new single "Who We Are" today, October 23rd, via Zoid Entertainment / INgrooves.

“'Who We Are' will hold a special place in the Ovtlier arsenal. A song that skims the surface of a personal hell; I have swept a lot of childhood trauma under the rug and just kept it moving throughout life. It feels damn near impossible to trust or let anyone in so I keep everyone at arms length. Something I am currently working on and because I am determined to re-wire some of my perception pertaining to that, I look forward to the day this song is only an artifact to a past self. Everything we go through starting with day number one is what shapes us into 'Who We Are',” says Ovtlier frontman Joe Arena.

Blast the new "Who We Are" lyric video now, premiered through BraveWords!

Ovtlier has grown into a roaring rock band of stadium ambitions. Led by the enigmatic frontman Joey Arena, Ovtlier has already captured the hearts of more than 60K daily followers online, more than 2.1 million views of fan-curated content on YouTube, over half a million streams on Spotify, appearing on ABC News, and selling out shows around the Northeast. Drawing influences from Breaking Benjamin, 30 Seconds To Mars, Korn, Periphery and others, Ovtlier brings the rock and metal edge to a new height of intensity.

Inspired by everything '80’s to '90s grunge and nu metal, Arena began playing guitar at the age of 11 on an old three-string guitar. After achieving commercial success with his band, Young Bloods, Arena re-centered himself and began traveling eight hours from Rochester to Cleveland in search of an identity. Playing sold-out hometown shows, touring the States and rapidly growing their fan-base among all types of music fans. Housing a hybrid sound that cross-pollinates into other sub-genres, giving a formula to freedom in songwriting and forever being able to validate surprise in their releases to come, Ovtlier has set out to deliver their most personal and intense work yet.

(Photo - Taylor Rambo)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Today, Swedish metal force Soilwork shakes the modern world in its foundations with the announcement of their most daring yet ambitious project to date: 

On December 4th, the band will release the new EP, A Whisp Of The Atlantic, via Nuclear Blast. You can preorder the EP in various formats here.

To give an idea of the overwhelming energy driving Soilwork into the creation of their masterpiece, the band has released the first single of that EP today, "The Nothingness And The Devil". Check out the video below.

Guitarist David Andersson states: "Between 'The Nothingness And The Devil' is a song about how the old concept of a patriarchal God doesn’t work anymore, and how everyone with any logic reasoning must accept that we have to create our own deities, if we need them. Or if we don’t, we’ll have to accept the fact that our lives are essentially meaningless unless we are able to find our meaning and make ourselves feel fulfilled. The video also hints at the emasculation of a male god, and how gender shouldn’t be a factor in any form of religious discourse anymore. Perhaps this is the time to question your beliefs and accept that no God will correct the mess that we all have put ourselves into."

Soilwork's musical and their philosophical approach on the new EP does not only close the circle of the The Feverish Trinity, but also invites the listener to dive deep into the most primal element: Water.

Starting with "Feverish" and ending with "A Whisp Of The Atlantic", the whole EP is a journey from the rage of individuals to the search for something that replaces religion. 

Andersson: “From the desire of 'Feverish', the urge of 'Desperado', the determinism of 'Death Diviner', the insights and questions of 'The Nothingness And The Devil' and the acceptance and spiritual searching of A Whisp of the Atlantic. The whole song and video sequence is like a slightly different take on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It’s all about realising that we’re all stuck on this rock and that we need to find something more inclusive than religion to get through this together. Because in the end, we’re all outsiders, genetically hunter-gatherers trying to fit in in a world that we created but at the same time wasn’t really made for us. The overarching theme is liberation from the extremely low level of the social and cultural debate these days, and it starts with the fundamentals and ends with the phenomenological. From liberation into ascension.”

The tracklist reads as follows:

"A Whisp Of The Atlantic"
"Feverish"
"Desperado"
"Death Diviner"
"The Nothingness And The Devil"




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

A punch in the face is coming right at ya’ in the form of Rockin' Engine’s new album The Wretched And The Damned. This is a follow-up to their 2019 album Midnight Road Rage.

The lyrics and music of this new full length were inspired by the physical and social destruction evolving in this world in the past few years. The listeners will be able to relate these stories with personal experiences, creating a deeper emotional connection with the songs. The tracks all have a different story but they all revolve around the same concept. The band explains the album in their own words:

“This album truly reflects the evolution in our musical genre and the hard work we all put into this. We decided to follow our roots and do what we love most, pure metal! The concept of this record is to bring the listeners into an emotional roller coaster and connect with our music. The lyrics were written in a storytelling fashion, in a post-apocalyptic metaphor, which places everyone in a chaotic world of injustice and control. The message is for people to unite as one and fight oppression, put aside our differences, and strive for a better life."

The video for the single “Let It Burn” is literally a verbal attack on everyone responsible for the problems in the world we live in. They are basically saying, with the devil’s perspective, to just let everything burn because at this point, there’s just no coming back to a peaceful world. It is the band’s opening song and the infectious heavy rock will satisfy even the most particular of headbangers.

Blast the new video now, premiered through BraveWords!

Great chemistry and contagious energy can be found in Rockin’ Engine, they are explosive in their playing and always go full throttle. They are recommended for fans of Pantera, Megadeth, and Slayer.

The full album will be available on Halloween, October 31, 2020. Preorder on Bandcamp.

Tracklisting:

“Let It Burn”
“Mass Hysteria”
“Broken Angel”
“I Sold My Soul To The Devil”
“The Wretched And The Damned”

(Photo by – Dark Moon Productions)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Israeli progressive / symphonic metal band Scardust has unveiled “Gone”, the epic conclusion to their latest two-part music video saga. The new clip – which completes a narrative that began in the video for its companion track, “Stranger” –  can be viewed below. “Gone” and “Stranger” can also be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and other digital platforms starting tomorrow, October 23.

Scardust's new record, Strangers – set to be released on October 30 by M-Theory Audio – is an intriguing concept album built of complementary song pairs working from the outside in. The first taste of the band's unique vision for their second full-length release was unveiled in September, through the music videos for “Tantibus II” and “Addicted.” 

Says vocalist Noa Gruman, “When someone close to your heart is leaving you and you’re breaking down and feeling that you’re left to face the world on your own, the shared memories and moments that you had become 'Stranger.' Being neglected is a fragile and exposed feeling, so in this one song we chose to lose the choir and strings and strip things down to the core musicians. In the video, they are playing the song, but never together, in an obscure, unrealistic location. They are surrounded by concrete pillars and the scene is continuously spinning, leaving the viewer feeling dizzy and uncomfortable. Lyrics pop out here and there to highlight specific parts, and there are also hints of water by the musicians' feet and paint cans lying on the ground. One may wonder why, and it will all be revealed in the other side of the story, told from the side of the neglector.”

Mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Devin Townsend, Arch Enemy), Strangers was written and composed jointly by singer Noa Gruman and composer Orr Didi, who also collaborated with Gruman on Scardust's full-length debut, Sands Of Time, and their 2015 EP Shadow. The album features guest appearances from German folk musician Patty Gurdy, as well as vocals by the Hellscore choir and England’s prestigious Westbrook Hay Prep School Chamber Choir.

Pre-orders for CD and limited-edition gray smoke vinyl editions of Strangers are now live, here.

Scardust recently launched the “Mist Cover Challenge,” an invitation for fans to play or sing along with the final minute of the new song “Mist,” the closing track of Strangers, with the chance of winning a deluxe package of signed CD and vinyl copies of Strangers, a new Scardust t-shirt design and guitar picks. To enter the challenge, follow the instructions at this location and upload your video anywhere on social media, tagging the band and including the hashtag #scardustmist. Entries close on October 25, and winners will be announced by the band during a special livestream on November 1 that will also feature a live performance and a Q&A with special guest Patty Gurdy.

Tracklisting:

"Overture For The Estranged"
"Break The Ice"
"Tantibus II"
"Stranger"
"Concrete Cages" (feat. Patty Gurdy)
"Over"
"Under"
"Huts"
"Gone"
"Addicted"
"Mist"

"Addicted" video:

"Tantibus II":

 




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Legendary Swedish black metal formation, Mörk Gryning, will release their new album, Hinsides Vrede, via Season Of Mist on Friday (October 23), making it the band's debut to the label. The band are streaming the album in full ahead of the official release.

"We are proud to finally present our new album Hinsides Vrede in its entirety to you," comments founding member Goth Gorgon. "It's forged by the elements of our past which have matured during our 15 years break. It's an opus of rage and fury of the world beyond."

Listen below, and pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"The Depths Of Chinnereth"
"Fältherren"
"Existence In A Dream"
"Infernal"
"A Glimpse Of The Sky"
"Hinsides"
"The Night"
"Sleeping In The Embers"
"For Those Departed"
"Without Crown"
"Black Spirit"
"On The Elysian Fields"

Album stream:

"Infernal" visualizer:

"Fältherren" video:

Mörk Gryning will be reissuing four of their previous full-length albums in vinyl and digipak formats, including their seminal debut record. The following records will be available:

Tusen år har gått… (1995) - Out on November 27:

Return Fire (1997) – Out on November 27:

Maelstrom Chaos (2001) – Out on December 11:

Pieces Of Primal Expressionism (2003) – Out on December 11:

Pre-order here.

(Photo - Peter Wendin)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Katatonia will release Dead Air, an extensive and majestic set of fan favourites, captured during their 2020 lockdown session. Watch "Behind The Blood" from the session below:

The Dead Air release will be available on November 13 via Peaceville Records as a gatefold double LP; a limited edition 3-disc set featuring 2 audio discs and DVD format, and digitally. Pre-order now:

- omerch.com
- katatoniaband.lnk.to/DeadAir

Formed in 1991 by Jonas Renkse & Anders Nyström, and transitioning from early pioneers of the rising black/death/doom movement, to powerhouses of the progressive metallic rock genre, 2020 saw Katatonia present their eleventh studio opus, the poignant City Burials, to unanimous acclaim. And so now, following closely in its footsteps, the Swedish dark rock masters present Dead Air to further immortalize the strangest of times.

With a somewhat unforeseen global event transpiring this year which resulted in touring being made all but impossible for artists internationally, Katatonia conducted a more intimate “lockdown” show which was streamed live from Studio Grondahl, Stockholm on May 9. Dead Air offers fans a full 88-minute set containing 20 tracks from the band’s extensive and illustrious repertoire to date, with inclusions spanning two decades of dark progressive greatness, and essentially also debuting three of the City Burials album tracks in a live setting.

"Due to an overwhelming demand, we are proud to confirm that our lockdown livestream from Gröndahl earlier this year will now see a physical release where you can re-experience the #20 most wanted songs exclusively voted by our fans from all around the world. This very special evening of May 9th will forever serve us as a memory of something equally weird as fantastic, so it feels essential to make it available as something you can touch and own forever” - Anders Nyström

The tracklisting itself contains a very literal selection of fan favourites overall, having being voted for exclusively by the band’s worldwide fanbase, flawlessly flirting between earlier singles such as metallic anthems "My Twin" and "July", to the stirring emotional grandeur of new song, "Lacquer".

The recording, mixing & engineering work was orchestrated by David Castillo, notable for his extensive body of work with Katatonia to date, and the performance itself was professionally filmed by Blackbox Video.

Dead Air 2CD + DVD tracklisting:

Disc 1 - Audio
"Lethean" (Dead Air Session)
"Teargas" (Dead Air Session)
"Serein" (Dead Air Session)
"Deliberation" (Dead Air Session)
"The Winter Of Our Passing" (Dead Air Session)
"Ghost Of The Sun" (Dead Air Session)
"The Racing Heart" (Dead Air Session)
"Soil's Song" (Dead Air Session)
"Old Heart Falls" (Dead Air Session)

Disc 2 - Audio
"Forsaker" (Dead Air Session)
"Tonight's Music" (Dead Air Session)
"In The White" (Dead Air Session)
"Leaders" (Dead Air Session)
"Lacquer" (Dead Air Session)
"Omerta" (Dead Air Session)
"My Twin" (Dead Air Session)
"Unfurl" (Dead Air Session)
"July" (Dead Air Session)
"Evidence" (Dead Air Session)
"Behind The Blood" (Dead Air Session)

Disc 3 - DVD
Same running order & timings as the CDs

(Photo - Ester Segarra)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Professionally-filmed footage of British hard rockers, Heaven's Basement, breaking hearts inside Bullhead City Circus at Wacken Open Air 2013 can be seen below.

Setlist:

"Welcome Home"
"Can't Let Go"
"Fire, Fire"
"I Am Electric"
" Heartbraking Son Of A Bitch"
"Executioner's Day"




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Frontiers Music Srl announces the signing of False Memories, an Italian metal quintet, for a multi-album deal. The band is the latest signing from the label's A&R initiative, Frontiers & Beyond.

The band was originally formed in 2015 by guitarist Francesco Savino and soon started working on original material. In 2016, the band released a self-titled EP which included four original tracks and one cover. As time progressed, the band’s soundscapes got more mature and headed towards a more goth rock/metal sound. Invigorated by their new sound, the band started to work on its first full-length release, Chimerical. Originally released independently in January 2018, the album featured eight previously unreleased tracks and three of the original songs from the debut EP, for a total of 11 original songs.

In October 2018, singer Rossella Moscatello joined the band and the band eventually released a new edition of the Chimerical album, including three bonus tracks sung by Rossella.

False Memories are currently putting the finishing touches on their new album, and Frontiers' debut, the musical style of which is leaning towards a prog influenced gothic/doom metal vibe. For this new album, the composers are both Savino and Moscatello, with a line up featuring new drummer Emanuele Cossu, second guitarist Moreno Palmisano, and bassist Gianluca Zaffino.

"We worked hard on the production of this record and it has been very exciting to get positive feedback from people who have heard it. Fate has decided that we had to work with an Italian record company, Frontiers! It is an immense honor for us to join the roster of a label of this prestige and it is a source of great pride to have been chosen. So stay with us and keep following us because all of this has been possible thanks to the album that we are finishing in the coming weeks. 11 tracks of intense gothic/doom metal with strong prog influences! Get ready and see you on the road hopefully soon!” says frontwoman Rossella Moscatello.

The band's label debut is tentatively planned for the summer of 2021.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Metal Blade Records welcome Berlin's Space Chaser to its worldwide roster.

Space Chaser is pure 80s thrash metal - a fast, ripping and in-your-face old school attack. Since their formation in 2011, they've released two full-lengths (2014's Watch The Skies! and 2016's Dead Sun Rising), in addition to numerous EPs and singles - including 2018's split record with Dutch powerhouse Distillator.

Space Chaser comments: "We would all shout in unison 'Metal Blade' when asked what label our number 1 choice would be. Needless to say, we are ridiculously excited that we can call the legendary label our new mothership. With one of the strongest allies in the business, we're ready to launch our most brutal assault yet. Stay tuned!"

Fans can expect Space Chaser's Metal Blade Records debut in 2021. In the meantime, be sure to check out these previously released videos:

(Photo - Daniela Hütter)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

In a new interview with "The SDR Show", Rob Halford explained why he has yet to listen to the two albums JUDAS PRIEST made with his replacement, Tim "Ripper" Owens, 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition".

"Those two PRIEST records, it's not just because it's not my voice, because that would be a silly thing to say; Tim is a very good friend of mine," he said. "I think it's just that with connecting with music, particularly with PRIEST, I know my place and I know where I wanna be. And so there's never really been a sense of [wanting to listen] to those records. Having said that, though, numerous times I've been asked would I ever do a song from 'Jugulator', would I ever do a song from 'Demolition'. Well, absolutely, I would, because those two albums are just as valid as everything else in the PRIEST catalog. So who knows? That day may yet come."

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 after being discovered when the band's drummer, Scott Travis, was given a videotape of him performing with the PRIEST cover act BRITISH STEEL. JUDAS PRIEST at the time was seeking a replacement for Halford.

Owens recorded the two aforementioned studio albums with PRIEST before Halford's return to the group.

Last year year, Owens told Ultimate Guitar that he believes his era of JUDAS PRIEST is largely overlooked.

"Yeah, I think it definitely deserves more [attention]," he said. "I mean, they don't do anything. [Laughs] It's kind of amazing that they just totally erased it that they won't play... I mean, 'Burn In Hell' [off 'Jugulator'], the crowd would like to hear 'Burn In Hell'.

"They don't have to give me a tribute or anything, but it would be nice to play a song from... You know, that was a pretty big thing, I did two studio records, two live records, and a DVD, starting from '96 to 2004. So it's kind of crazy that it's just been erased and they won't even play a song from it live, because it is JUDAS PRIEST."

In October 2019, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner said that "Hell Is Home" is one of his favorite songs from the Owens era. The PRIEST guitarist, who joined the band in 2011 as the replacement for K.K. Downing, offered his opinion during a live video chat. He said: "I was listening to the Ripper albums the other day, and 'Hell Is Home' is such a great track. It's really heavy and the vocal melody is really great. I think Ripper sings it really well. It's probably one of my favorite PRIEST songs of the Ripper era. 'Hell Is Home' — I really like that."

On November 13, Accuser will release their new self-titled album via Metal Blade Records. Watch a guitar playthrough video for the first single, "Phantom Graves",  below:

Since they began flying the flag for German thrash in the 80s, Accuser have gone on to prove themselves one of the most enduring forces in global metal. With eleven full-lengths behind them, they return in 2020 with their latest masterwork: a blistering collection that captures everything that makes the band so vital, produced by longtime collaborator Martin Buchwalter (who has worked on five Accuser albums) and mastered by Dan Swanö.

"You stay fresh through curiosity," states vocalist/guitarist Frank Thoms. "Writing new songs keeps you fresh, and it is always exciting how things develop and how the listener reacts to them afterwards. This process never gets boring. It is always exciting and invites you to try new things."

The result is a dynamic album that is very much rooted in thrash, but still takes the listener through various moods and styles, further cementing Accuser's status as leaders, not followers.

The return of lead guitarist René Schütz to the band's ranks - who appeared on multiple Accuser records prior to 2011 - only served to up the ante on Accuser.

"We are very, very happy to have him back in the band, and as you will be able to hear, his leads are definitely over the top. From my perspective, he is one of the very, very few thrash metal guitarists who are able to combine technique and feeling in a proper way."

With writing for the new record commencing as soon as 2018's The Mastery was completed, Thoms pushed himself until he was in "100% concentration mode", knowing he is on the right path when he forgets his daily routine and normal life falls away. With no structure or plan envisaged, the songs came together naturally, as they always have.

"The Accuser sound is in our DNA, and at the end of the day, it is our own blend of thrash metal. To be honest, that's what I like best during the process of making a record, seeing how the music develops and how the album is taking shape."

The shape Accuser took is definitely versatile, and perhaps sounds simpler than it actually is.

"We managed to make well thought-out songs sound simple. Crazy things don't seem like a disturbance or a foreign body. In addition, we have inconspicuously processed various genres of metal. Ultimately, we just tried to offer the essence of the band, the groove from 'Repent' (1992), the riffs in the veins of Who Dominates Who (1989), plus structures that could be found on the first album The Conviction (1987) and stylistics that could be from Reflections (1994) or Taken By The Throat (1995) - everything put together in catchy songs."

The combination of these elements that shout back to earlier Accuser releases - without repeating or copying themselves - alongside the return of Schütz, led Thoms to believe this album "must be called Accuser".

The record can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- digipak-CD (incl. bonus track)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- golden brown marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- ivory / beige / grey marbled vinyl
- gold / black melt vinyl (Kings Road exclusive - limited to 100 copies)

Accuser tracklisting:

"Misled Obedience"
"Phantom Graves"
"Temple Of All"
"Lux in Tenebris"
"Be None The Wiser"
"Rethink"
"Psychocision"
"Contamination"
"The Eliminator"
"Seven Lives"
"A Cycle's End"

"Phantom Graves" video:

Accuser lineup:

Frank Thoms - vocals/guitars
René Schütz - guitars
Frank Kimpel - bass
Olli Fechner - drums




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

US heavy metal outfit, Spirit Adrift, recently released their new album, Enlightened In Eternity. For the music video for “Battle High” they teamed up with video director Dillon Vaughn.

The band comment on the video and song: “Despite the fact that we are spread across three different states, we made this video happen and we're glad we did. We are finally able to showcase the new US lineup, featuring Preston Bryant on guitar and Sonny DeCarlo on bass. Battle High is a song about the human cost of war. This is an anti-war song, and we made a video to reflect that. It's pretty cliche for metal bands to glorify war, but we wanted to do something more honest and realistic. The stance of this song is more in keeping with the guys who invented metal and wrote songs like 'Hand of Doom' and 'War Pigs'. As always, we're trying to honor that tradition and carry the torch into the future in our own way. They were living in a world with napalm and agent orange, we're living in a world with drone bombing, but the sentiment remains the same. Rest assured, the song and video are still metal as fuck. We hope you enjoy it.”

Order Enlightened In Eternity here.

Tracklisting:

“Ride Into The Light”
“Astral Levitation”
“Cosmic Conquest”
“Screaming From Beyond”
“Harmony Of The Spheres”
“Battle High”
“Stronger Than Your Pain”
“Reunited In The Void”

“Screaming From Beyond” video:

”Astral Levitation” lyric video:

“Harmony Of The Spheres” lyric video:




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Greek symphonic death metal outfit, Septicflesh, took another huge step in completing the recordings of their upcoming studio album. The children choir recordings for the new record are done - adding a unique vibe to the album.

The band states: "The children choir recordings for the new Septicflesh album have been completed with the very good collaboration of the Libro Coro. So you can expect some really emotional parts on the songs,  that thrive on the contrast of the angelic voices with the musical pandemonium surrounding them."

Watch a previously released studio teaser below:

Septicflesh are:

Seth (brutal vocals, bass)
Christos Antoniou (guitars, orchestral parts)
Sotiris V. (guitars, clean vocals)
Kerim "Krimh" Lechner (drums)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Sweden's Demonical will release their new album, World Domination, tomorrow (Friday, October 23) via Agonia Records. In anticipation of the release, the band have unveiled a brand new video for the song "Slipping Apart", featuring guest vocals from heavy metal singer Nils Patrik Johansson (Astral Doors, ex-Civil War).

Watch the video below:

World Domination is a gateway to old and new Demonical. The band's sixth album marks the debut for vocalist Christofer Sätderdal and the return for original drummer Ronnie Bergerstål (2006-2011, 2019-present). There are no major changes to the band's proven formula of brutal, melodic and insolently Swedish death metal. World Domination picks up where 2018's Chaos Manifesto left off, with a touch of extra dynamics and vibrancy that enrich the band's sound.

Demonical commented: "So here we have it, World Domination; our sixth full-length album and the first one to feature new vocalist. Christofer Sätderdal and new-old drummer Ronnie Bergerstål. World Domination continues the same path as our previous Chaos Manifesto slap, in other words, fierce HM-2 driven Swedish death metal, a ravage combination of brutality, melody and darkness. As always on every album, even this time we tried out some new traces and elements we haven’t explored before and have to say that we are stoked about the final outcome. When it comes to the production, this is clearly our most dynamic and vivid album so far. Not only did we use a different way of recording everything, we went also for a much more energetic and breathing sound closer to how albums were produced in the late '80s and early '90s. World Domination was recorded at a few different studios around Sweden, then mixed & mastered by Karl Daniel Lidén - a victorious collaboration we started with on our previous album."

World Domination was recorded in June 2020 at Glashuset and Sellnoise studios by Johan Hjelm and Jonas Arnberg, with production by Demonical. Mixing and mastering were handled by award winning producer Karl Daniel Lidén (Bloodbath, Katatonia) at Tri-Lamb Studios. The cover artwork was created by Susan Wicher.

Pre-order at this location.

Formats:

- Slipcase digipak CD
- Black gatefold LP
- Transparent smoked gatefold LP
- Solid red gatefold LP
- "Plate of puke" gatefold LP
- T-shirt + download code
- Black zip hoodie + download code
- Digital

Tracklisting:

“My Kingdom Done”
“Hellfire Rain”
“Aeons Of Death”
“The Thin Darkness”
“We Stand As One”
“Victorious”
“Slipping Apart”
“Calescent Punishment”

"Aeons Of Death" lyric video:

“My Kingdom Done” video:

(Photo - Jens Ryden)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Sweden-based melodic death/doom metal band, Coldbound, have announced that Liv Kristine (solo, ex-Theatre Of Tragedy, ex-Leaves Eyes), Markus Riihimäki (KanteleScape), and Meiju Enho (Mamyth, Mythrian, Greenrose Faire, ex-Ensiferum) have joined the ranks of Coldbound as full members.

A new album soon will be released including all these incredible musicians plus much more. Stay tuned for updates.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Classical guitar virtuoso, Thomas Zwijsen, has released the new video below, featuring a cover of Iron Maiden's "Empire Of The Clouds". This acoustic/orchestral version has Wiki Krawczyk on violin and Thomas on classical fingerstyle guitar, electric guitar and bass.

Says Thomas: "'Empire Of The Clouds' is the final song of The Book Of Souls album (2015) and was written by Bruce Dickinson. It tells the story of the R101 Zeppelin disaster. It features Bruce Dickinson playing piano and was never performed live (yet)."




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Bay Area thrash giants, Death Angel, recently surprised fans with a remarkably unique rendition of rock legends Queen & David Bowie's iconic song, "Under Pressure", featured on an unannounced digital EP of the same title out now via Nuclear Blast. Watch a new video trailer below:

The Under Pressure EP also includes a brand new original song, "Faded Remains", and two newly recorded acoustic versions of "A Room With A View" and "Revelation Song".

Vocalist Mark Osegueda comments: “The Under Pressure EP is something I feel that we needed to release during these very frustrating times...These are very heavy times...And although it’s an all acoustic EP, It’s heavy in a different sense of the word. And music is how we express ourselves best! These times will eventually pass and we shall all regroup and once again celebrate the other side of HEAVY that is the foundation of our truly fantastic Metal scene! Until then...Stay safe, healthy, and happy! I hope you enjoy!!”

Guitarist Rob Cavestany adds: "What started out as simply expressing emotion through music as a cathartic reaction to the madness engulfing our world has turned into our first EP.  Pure, raw and spontaneous, it’s also our first all acoustic release. Hoping this offering finds you well and brings warmth to your heart and soul.  Together we shall overcome! Thank you for listening."

The Under Pressure EP is out now via Nuclear Blast Records. Listen here (and below).

Tracklisting:

"Under Pressure"
"Faded Remains"
"A Room With A View" (2020 Acoustic Version)
"Revelation Song" (2020 Acoustic Version)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Wind Rose are back with another visual to their epic, story-filled album Wintersaga, releasing the official music video for “We Were Warriors”.

"We Were Warriors" is a follow-up to their popular first singles, “Diggy Diggy Hole” and "Drunken Dwarves", which together racked up well over 20 million views on YouTube. In "We Were Warriors",  Wind Rose take the viewer on an adventurous hunt for gold through dark ruins and caves, passing old relics from a morbid past.

Says the band: "'We Were Warriors' is a song about the Dwarves fallen in battle and their eternal rest inside the great halls of stone. A strong theme needed strong music, so we came up with one of the most astonishing songs we have ever composed: powerful riffs, massive orchestrations and epic choirs. We could not imagine a better epilogue for our latest album Wintersaga.”

Wintersaga can be ordered here, and is available in the following formats:

- Regular Jewel Case Edition
- 1 LP Gatefold (black)
- 1 LP Gatefold (gold) Limited to 200 copies
- Jewel Case & Shirt Bundle
- 1LP Gatefold (black) & Shirt Bundle
- Wooden Deluxe Box: CD, flag & pendant & 7” Single, Limited to 300 copies worldwide

Album artwork by Tom Thiel.

Tracklisting:

“Of Iron And Gold“
“Wintersaga“
“Drunken Dwarves“
“Diggy Diggy Hole“
“Mine Mine Mine!“
“The Art Of War“
“There And Back Again“
“The King Under The Mountain“
“We Were Warriors“

“Wintersaga” lyric video:

“Drunken Dwarves” video:

“Diggy Diggy Hole” video:

“Diggy Diggy Hole” (Dance Remix) video:

Wind Rose are:

Francesco Cavalieri - vocals
Claudio Falconcini - guitars
Federico Meranda - keyboards
Cristiano Bertocchi - bass
Federico Gatti - drums

(Photo - Tommaso Barletta)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Following our recent Streaming For Vengeance show with the Ron Keel Band, BraveWords spoke with the long-running frontman of his namesake Keel, who kicked off his career with Yngwie Malmsteen on the lone Steeler album. Before Keel released their debut album, Lay Down the Law, in late 1984, the singer had signed a contract with Black Sabbath to take the reigns from Ian Gillan after the classic Born Again album and tour. As Ron Keel explains in this BraveWords feature preview, this isn’t an urban metal myth!

“Well it's true,” he confirms. “It's been 36 years and I realize they never actually called or fired me or anything, but it's just a joke. I was a member of the band, I had a signed contract, I had extensive meetings with Tony (Iommi) and Geezer (Butler), and Don Arden who was their Manager at the time. I was really wrapped up in that world and that experience in March of 1984, and just to be a small, tiny thread in the huge, massive tapestry that is Black Sabbath - the original heavy metal band - it's a huge honour. It gave me the chance to record and release a Sabbath tribute album earlier this year called ‘Emerald Sabbath’ where I was able to do three songs on that record, and cover three different vocalists. I got to do an Ozzy (Osbourne) song, ‘Hole In The Sky’, I got to do an Ian Gillan song ‘Trashed’ from the ‘Born Again’ album, and I got to cover Ronnie James Dio with ‘Die Young’ which was a very successful music video that we released a couple of months back. And Rudy Sarzo did the bass track, Vinnie Appice on drums - I mean Vinnie was THE guy, he was on ‘Heaven And Hell’. To be able to do that session with Vinne Appice and Rudy Sarzo, and my guitar player DC (Dave Cothern) it was a dream come true. It's the closest I'm ever going to get to singing on a Sabbath record but I'll take it and I'm very proud of the results.”

BraveWords: But you were really in the eye of a hurricane. Obviously we're Ozzy fans, and huge Dio fans, but I tell you, ‘Born Again’ is one of my favourite records. I love ‘Seventh Star’ and the demos that Ray Gillan put on there. And you're part of that fantastic mix before they finally got their shit together with Tony Martin, at least for consistent singers. Man, that must make your heart pulse.

Keel: “It's nice to look back on what might have been, but I feel privileged that even my small interaction with Tony and Geezer and the Sabbath camp has made me, by default, an extended member of the family. I'm able to do projects like Emerald Sabbath, include a Black Sabbath song or two and the Ron Keel Band show as well.”

STEEL PANTHER singer Michael Starr has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, calling him a "complete rock god." The legendary VAN HALEN axeman died on October 6 at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.

Starr, who fronted the VAN HALEN tribute band ATOMIC PUNKS in the 1990s and early 2000s under the stage name David Lee Ralph, told Rock Titan TV (see video below): "You don't realize how rooted in VAN HALEN one is until one heavy metal hero departs the world, and for me, that's what it's been like. I didn't even know what to post or say or do.

"I didn't realize how much [Eddie] was a part of my life — inspiration, music-wise. That band was everything for me. And I'm sure it's the same for a lot of people. I always wanted to David Lee Roth. I always wanted to be Eddie. I can't play guitar that good, but…

"And thankfully, I got to meet Dave several times, and I also got to meet Eddie a couple of times before he passed away," Starr continued. "And I'm grateful. I only met him briefly, like, 'Hey, what's up?' I met him at a place called Staples, back before Gary Cherone joined [VAN HALEN]. It was him and [his son] Wolfie in the checkout. I'm, like, 'Hey, Eddie. I'm a big fan.' He's, like, 'I know your band. ATOMIC PUNKS. You guys are pretty good.' And I was, like, 'Holy shit! Eddie Van Halen knows our tribute band.' That was a huge deal. Then I went to [VAN HALEN's] dress rehearsal when they first rejoined with Wolfie at the Forum [in Los Angeles]. And I was walking in front of the stage, and I saw Eddie walk up, and I just walked to the stage and shook his hand and said hi, and that was the end of it.

"So, to me, I look at Eddie as this just complete rock god.

"VAN HALEN was everything for me," Starr, whose real name is Ralph Saenz, repeated. "I love SCORPIONS. I love MÖTLEY CRÜE, DEEP PURPLE, CHEAP TRICK, RATT, BON JOVI, WHITE LION… I love all that stuff, but to me, it all started with VAN HALEN. Everyone tried to copy Dave and Eddie."

Eddie died at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. His wife, Janie, was by his side, along with his son Wolfgang, and Alex, Eddie's brother and VAN HALEN drummer.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

Vocalist Dani Filth of British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH spoke to Metal Injection about the progress of the making of the band's follow-up to 2017's "Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness of Decay" LP. He said: "Well, we were actually just at the beginning of the mix. At the moment, the engineer is just doing the the exciting tasks of drum edits and making sure everything's on the right level and everything's in the right pockets.

"It's very hard to say how this album is, but it's fantastic," he continued. "It's probably the best album we've written. We've had the opportunity to really dig deep into it and work hard on the tracks, and, if necessary, rewrite parts, which we have done. I certainly have rewritten parts and have no qualms about [producer] Scott [Atkins] saying this just isn't good enough compared to all the other songs on the record. But I would say it's not very different from 'Cryptoriana'. It's not as intricately laced. That album spoke of the times it was trying to assimilate and represent. This album is about existential terror. The threat of everything. The end of the world, the end of one's life, existential dread. A little hope, I guess in there. It's a CRADLE OF FILTH record. The songs are strong. They're extreme, but it's a mixture of everything."

Regarding what is has been like working with Atkins again, Dani said: "It's very comfortable recording with him. You know, he's very free and easy with how he talks to me. There's no pandering; we're good friends and we can talk to each other how we want. His studio is not far from where I live. It's in the countryside, so during lockdown, I was able to travel to and from the studio. We had less hours to work. We had nothing more that we could do. There was no pubs that we could saddle off to over lunch time — it was just work, work, work. And it was nice, relaxed and, fortunately, lockdown in England's been okay, because we've had some fantastic weather this year. Should the second round [of COVID-19] happen in the winter? I think it's going to hit us a lot harder than it did the first time. But you need to look for the silver lining in the clouds and all that. It's been a pretty shitty year other than that for the fact that nobody can do anything. We should have been on tour now in the States and that's been put back. Now it's looking like it's going to happen next September, just to be safe."

This past February, CRADLE OF FILTH announced the departure of its keyboardist of the past seven years, Lindsay Schoolcraft. A replacement keyboardist has not yet been announced.

CRADLE OF FILTH will play a livestreamed concert from St. Mary's Church, Colchester Art Centre, England on October 30. You can order your tickets for the event at cradleoffilth.veeps.com. Fans will also be able to buy two different exclusive t-shirt bundles as well as an exclusive limited-to-100-people VIP experience graveyard meet-and-greet with the whole band from rehearsal on October 24. If you cannot watch the show live, tickets will be available to watch or re-watch on the site until November 12. The concert will begin 22:00 BST / 23:00 CEST / 3:00 p.m. PST / 6:00 p.m. EST and is the only live performance of CRADLE OF FILTH happening in 2020.

Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe

British rockers BRING ME THE HORIZON have released the official music video for their new single, "Teardrops". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Post Human: Survival Horror", which is due on October 30. The nine-song effort will include the previously released singles "Obey", "Ludens" and "Parasite Eve", as well as new collaborations with NOVA TWINS, BABYMETAL and EVANESCENCE's Amy Lee.

The "Teardrops" clip was directed by frontman Oliver Sykes, who says about the track: "It is my favorite song off the record. I'm so excited to get this single out. It feels like a classic BRING ME THE HORIZON tune but without it feeling like anything we've done before. I feel like 'Teardrops' is some of the best work we've ever done, musically and lyrically as whole."

"Post Human: Survival Horror" track listing:

01. Dear Diary

02. Parasite Eve

03. Teardrops

04. Obey (feat. Yungblud)

05. Itch For The Cure (When We Will Be Free?)

06. IXI (feat. NOVA TWINS)

07. Kingslayer (feat. BABYMETAL)

08. Ludens

09. One Day The Only Butterflies Left Will Be In Your Chest As You March Towards Your Death (feat. Amy Lee)

This past June, Sykes told Kerrang! magazine about the band's new music: "Like [2019's] 'Amo' [album] was very collage-y in terms of it spanning from ballads to poppy songs to heavier songs to electro, we wanted this next record to be a mood. As the pandemic unfolded and everything changed, the mood I had in mind started to not feel right. Basically, I had this idea to make some records — I didn't know how many, but more than one — that all fell under a blanket name of 'Post Human'. Each record would have its own theme and its own message. The first was going to be about compassion and self-love because I wanted to build up to a record about changing ourselves and changing our future because we need to self-evolve. We can't just say, 'We are humans. This is how it is,' because as humans, we've already stepped outside of the food chain by bringing technology into our lives. We need to continue to modify ourselves until we can be proud of what we do on this planet and live harmoniously, not just with ourselves but other creatures. That's the message I wanted to put out there, but I know the world's not ready for that on the grand scale. First, we need people to love themselves. There's too many people out there that hate themselves, and I always think, 'If you don't have compassion for yourselves, how're you going to have compassion for other people?'

"But as the pandemic unfolded, I didn't think the world was ready for that record. Just like everyone else, I'm pissed off, I'm scared, I'm angry… we need to write a record that embodies that. Before we get to compassion, we need to get out the frustration and anger. This first record's going to be battle songs, like a recruitment record — songs of anger and hope. It's not going to offer a solution, it's going to be more about asking people to come and find a solution with us. This first music is to get you back up, get your blood pumping, get you pissed off and thinking about what's going on. The record will follow a similar tone of 'Ludens' and 'Parasite Eve' and that's going to be the first record of four. We're going to release four different records over the next year, all under this name 'Post Human', and they'll all be very different. There'll be a thread, and the lyrical themes will progress as a story, but in terms of the tone, it'll be quite different."

BRING ME THE HORIZON spent the last few months writing and recording new music remotely, releasing a series of videos that show how the band has managed to work on the songs during the coronavirus pandemic.

BRING ME THE HORIZON's acclaimed sixth album, "Amo", came out nearly two years ago.

During a recent Book Soup virtual event hosted by Rolling Stone's Kory Grow, JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford elaborated on his comment in his autobiography "Confess" where he referred to "British Steel" and "Painkiller" as PRIEST's "masterpieces." Asked what makes a "perfect" PRIEST album, Halford said (see video below): "It's the same as like the 'Avengers'. What was the best 'Avenger'? Which was the best 'Iron Man'? They're all good, they're all great, but some of them push forward a little bit more more than the others. And that's the case with PRIEST. I could equally include 'Sad Wings Of Destiny', or even 'Rocka Rolla', the first album we ever made. But there are times that you get to as a band, as musicians, where all the pieces fit and everything connects in a very special way, like they did with 'British Steel', which is a standalone kind of PRIEST album, and 'Painkiller'. And now, most recently, 'Firepower', equally. 'Screaming For Vengeance'. I mean, every one has its worth. It's just that some of 'em push ahead a little bit more than the rest."

Released in March 2018, "Firepower" was the second PRIEST LP to feature Richie Faulkner, who was selected to fill the void left by founding guitarist K.K. Downing following his exit in 2011.

"Firepower" entered the Billboard 200 chart at position No. 5, making it PRIEST's highest-charting album ever. "Redeemer Of Souls" debuted and peaked at No. 6, while 2008's "Nostradamus" landed at No. 11 and 2005's "Angel Of Retribution" came in at No. 13.

"Firepower" moved 49,000 equivalent album units in first week of release. Of that sum, 48,000 were in traditional album sales, just shy of the 54,000 copies sold by "Angel Of Retribution" in that album's first week. The "Firepower" chart position was bolstered by sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer in association with the band's spring 2018 North American tour.

Across the pond, "Firepower" landed at position No. 5 on the U.K. album chart. It marked the band's highest ranking, and first time in the Top 10, since "British Steel" reached No. 4 in 1980. Elsewhere, "Firepower" also became PRIEST's first-ever No. 1 in Sweden.

Last month, JUDAS PRIEST and Rufus Publications announced the publication of the first-ever official JUDAS PRIEST book documenting the band's extensive history over the last 50 years. Titled "Judas Priest - 50 Heavy Metal Years", the book has been put together by David Silver, Ross Halfin and Jayne Andrews.

"Judas Priest - 50 Heavy Metal Years" can be exclusively pre-ordered at www.rufuspublications.com.

"Confess" arrived on September 29 via Hachette Books.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Gene Simmons is putting his house in the Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles on the market for $22 million. The KISS bassist/vocalist and his wife, Shannon Simmons, are moving to a 24-acre estate in Washington, near Mount Rainier, to escape the tax burden of living in California.

"California and Beverly Hills have been treating folks that create jobs badly and the tax rates are unacceptable," Gene told The Wall Street Journal. "I work hard and pay my taxes and I don't want to cry the Beverly Hills blues, but enough is enough."

Gene bought the house in 1984 for $1.35 million and put as much as $12 million into the property over the last three and a half decades. In addition to a 16,000-square-foot mansion, there is a swimming pool with a 60-foot slide, a tennis court and parking for 35 cars.

Check out pictures of the property at Los Angeles Times.

This past summer, Simmons put his hillside home in Laurel Canyon on the market for $2.2 million.

Gene and Shannon, a former Playboy Playmate Of The Year in 1982, were married in 2011 after dating since 1975. They have two children, Nick, 31, and Sophie, 28.

Gene, Shannon and their kids all appeared on the reality TV series "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" from 2006 until 2012.

For the past few months, Gene has been vocal about people taking the COVID-19 outbreak seriously. He has also blasted Americans who are defiantly skeptical of mask wearing, saying that their refusal to follow the rules is putting all of our health at risk.

In its 47-year career, KISS has accumulated 23 gold and platinum albums — more than any other U.S. band.




Gene Simmons' Beverly Hills home https://t.co/yio0jKkndx

— LA Times Real Estate (@LATrealestate) October 22, 2020

Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY have released the official Mike Rodway-directed music video for their new song "In Love With The Pain". The track is taken from the band's upcoming seventh studio album, "The Human Condition", which is due on October 30 via Mascot Label Group. The collection will be available in digital, deluxe CD and vinyl formats, with an array of music and merch bundle options and a U.K.-exclusive purple vinyl, which you can pre-order now at this location.

BLACK STONE CHERRY states: "'In Love With The Pain' is one of the unexpected classics that we didn’t even know we needed! We wrote that song years ago with a couple friends of ours, Scott Lindsey and Stephen Styles, with the intention to pitch it to another artist. However, it kept making its way back into our minds while listening to old demos. So we decided to give it a chance and re-worked it to put our BSC stamp on it, and we are so happy we did! It’s now a favorite!"

"The Human Condition" was produced by the bandmembers themselves and tracked in BSC bassist Jon Lawhon's recording facility, Monocle Studios. The release was completed mere days before the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed and as events progressed, it became apparent that the album the band was completing featured lyrics that were eerily prescient.

"There was a real urgency and fear of the unknown during those sessions — it was a scary time," recalls drummer John Fred Young. "Every song on this album tells a story of the experiences we all go through — our happiness, our struggles, and how we have to adapt."

Guitarist Ben Wells says: "With this one, we cranked up the amps, the drums are in your face, and there are some really heavy riffs. After 19 years and seven albums, we wanted to prove that we still kick ass. This album feels like a rebirth."

Adds Lawhon: "When I listen back to this record, I feel all these different emotions. We started when we were teens, and life has taken its course, especially now. Through it all, your heart and your perspectives change, but one thing that hasn't changed is our connection as friends."

BLACK STONE CHERRY vocalist/guitarist Chris Robertson discussed the band's new disc during an episode of "Cherry Chat", also featuring SHINEDOWN. Speaking about the making of the new LP, Chris said: "We were literally finishing [the] record right when all the stay-at-home stuff came down [due to the coronavirus pandemic]. We were scheduled to go back in on a Monday, 'cause we were taking weekends off. We worked through the weekend and finished everything up, because come Monday, you couldn't do shit anymore, man. We got really lucky that it came down that close. But now we're sitting here with a record, finishing to get it mixed, and you can't go tour, you can't do shit."

He continued: "Our monitor engineer, Jordan [Westfall], came down and engineered the whole record, and we decided to have him mix the thing, man. He took the record home with him to his studio to mix and fucking killed it, man."

Robertson also talked about the inspiration for BLACK STONE CHERRY's new album, saying: "The last record we did, 'Family Tree', it was way more 'jam band'-y and kind of classic rock-oriented, to where the new record is nothing like that. The new record, it's funny — when Jordan was mixing it, we were, like, 'Hey, man, when you reference it, make sure you reference your all's last record" — referring to SHINEDOWN's "Attention Attention" — "and a bunch of other records, man, because the last couple of records we've done haven't been necessarily in the same kind of genre, per se, as what you guys do. We haven't been in that heavy rock category on the last couple of releases we've done; we've done more of a blues-oriented thing. And it's been a lot of fun, man. But with the new record, we decided to kick the shit back up a notch again. And it's awesome, man. We're excited for people to hear it."

"The Human Condition" track listing:

01. Ringin' In My Head

02. Again

03. Push Down & Turn

04. When Angels Learn To Fly

05. Live This Way

06. In Love With The Pain

07. The Chain

08. Ride

09. If My Heart Had Wings

10. Don't Bring Me Down

11. Some Stories

12. Devil In Your Eyes

13. Keep On Keepin' On

Legendary rock musician Ann Wilson has dropped the official lyric video for "The Revolution Starts Now", her first release in two years. The song is available for digital download on AnnWilson.com.

"The Revolution Starts Now" was originally recorded by Steve Earle and first appeared as the title track of his Grammy-nominated 2004 album "The Revolution Starts Now".

Ann stated about the song: "'The Revolution Starts Now' came to me as a message about unity… a call to step up from the polarization and derision of this moment; to choose evolution of spirit over the poison of hatred and pride. To remember and feel that we are all connected… to think higher."

In an interview with Rolling Stone, she added: "Things are just building and have been building for a long time for this sort of fever pitch before the election, and I have never seen a time when people have been so divided. Even with the pandemic, which could have been a real unifier, it seems like there's the lowest common denominator in human nature at play, where everyone's just all split up and divided and hating each other. So this song talks about thinking higher."

The single artwork for Ann's "The Revolution Starts Now" was designed by American street artist and activist Shepard Fairey, who first emerged with his "Andre The Giant Has A Posse" sticker campaign before becoming widely known during the 2008 U.S. presidential election for his Barack Obama "Hope" poster.

Wilson is one of the greatest voices in the history of rock and roll. For the past 40 years, Ann has been the lead singer for the rock band HEART (35 million records sold), thrilling audiences with her vocal power and natural gift to wrap her voice around an emotion in a song and lay it at the listener's feet. Ann carved out a place for women to dominate a rock stage, and her icon status was cemented when HEART was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.

After an extensive 2019 with HEART, Ann's looking forward to bringing the same musicians on the road to perform all the great songs, and others, that she's made famous since she founded her band in 1973.