In a new interview with the "Thunder Underground" podcast, TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick was asked if has any reservations about performing live amid the coronavirus pandemic or if he will be "ready when the time comes." He responded (hear audio below): "I'm ready when it's safe, when there's a vaccine and when we can do it responsibly.

"I'm shocked by people that are clamoring to open up and 'get back to normal' and people who don't wanna wear a mask. You're seeing the rate of people being infected rising like crazy. And it's pretty shocking. I don't wanna mess with that. I don't wanna get sick. I don't wanna get anybody else sick.

"We've had pandemics before — not in our lifetimes, but they happen every hundred years or so, and then you get past it," he added. "So we'll be past it at some point. And once we are definitely past it, I'll be more than ready to get back to live music. But not before then."

Last month, Skolnick blasted people who politicize mask wearing, calling it "the stupidest thing I've ever heard." He said: "You're gonna make it political, wearing a mask? Wearing a mask and going indoors to restaurants and breathing on everybody, making that political? I have to say it's the dumbest thing I've heard since Freedom Fries," referring to the "patriotism" fad from the early 2000s — refusing to eat french fries to protest France's opposition to the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

Skolnick lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York, which was one of the hardest-hit areas in terms of COVID-19 cases.

TESTAMENT's latest album, "Titans Of Creation", was released on April 3 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by guitarist Eric Peterson and singer Chuck Billy and while Juan Urteaga of Trident Studios handled co-producing, recording and engineering. Andy Sneap was responsible for the mixing and mastering of the album. Eliran Kantor stepped up once again to create a new masterpiece of artwork for the cover of this release.

This past March, TESTAMENT completed "The Bay Strikes Back 2020" European tour with EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL.

SCORPIONS frontman Klaus Meine spoke to Pat's Soundbytes Unplugged about the band's upcoming studio album. Tentatively due in 2021, the disc will mark the German hard rock legends' first release since 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", which was an anthology of SCORPIONS' new and classic material.

"It's such a bummer," Meine said. 'Right now, we were supposed to be in Las Vegas to play a residency at Planet Hollywood. And we were so excited about this plan. And since, in 2020, we are focusing on making a new album, the plan was to go to Los Angeles in May and June to work with our producer Greg Fidelman, who used to work with all those great bands like METALLICA and SLIPKNOT. So we wanted to be in L.A. in May and June, and then go over to Vegas, play the shows. And for the off days, we booked a studio in Vegas already for the guitar players to go in and lay some tracks down and then maybe go back to L.A. in August. So now we're here, we're stuck in the lockdown and we're stuck in Germany, and it's not so easy. It's pretty crazy. But the good thing is, through this Zoom thing, there is a way to work.

"The whole month of May until early June, we were working in a studio in Hannover — just the three of us: Rudolf [Schenker, guitar], Matthias [Jabs, guitar] and myself — with Greg coming in via Zoom every night," he continued. "For us, at dinner time, and for him, it was, like, around breakfast. And we worked together, going through the songs, talking about the arrangements and everything: 'I like this song', 'Maybe this we'll keep for later.' And we made great progress with the record, believe it or not. So it's pretty crazy, but it's been working so far very well.

"I must say, especially in this COVID-19 pandemic, it's a blessing, as artists and musicians, we can take a deep dive in our creative world and create some new stuff, some new songs — to write lyrics, to compose songs. It feels so good that we can work and not sit at home, staring out of the window. So it's wonderful that we can be very active and very creative, hopefully to do something where all the fans hopefully will enjoy next year when we come back out on the road again with hopefully a couple of great new songs."

Meine also addressed his previous comment that SCORPIONS' upcoming album will see him and his bandmates returning to the heavier edge of the group's early offerings.

"The thing is, when you make a decision to make a new album, it's kind of crazy," he said. "After so many years, in 2020, to talk about, in a band to say, 'Guys, we do a new record.' 'Really?' It's quite a challenge, to tell the truth. And you ask yourself, can I really, after all these years, write another great rock song? Can Rudolf come up with cool rock riffs? Is he still the riff master? And Matthias coming in with all those beautiful solos and lead guitar stuff in there. And now with Mikkey Dee [drums] in the band, and Pawel [Mąciwoda], our bass player. So that's the first thing you ask yourself. And once you make the decision we make a new album, then you ask yourself, so what do you wanna say? What is this all about? And also with a producer like Greg Fidelman, who comes really from working with bands like SLIPKNOT and METALLICA, this is the road we go — it's gonna be on the rough side. SCORPIONS always [made albums with] a couple of ballads, but we try to focus on the DNA from the early days. So many years later, who knows what it comes out at the end of the day. You never know. But we try to catch the attitude and we try to find the DNA of the early days, find the DNA of songs [like] 'The Zoo', 'Make It Real', 'Lovedrive', 'Blackout', 'Animal Magnetism' — the heaviness of songs like 'The Zoo' and 'Animal Magnetism'. We have a new song that picks up the vibe with the heaviness. We might be missing one or two more really fast songs. I think Rudolf is working on it right now, or Matthias. And I wrote tons of lyrics. And we worked the other way around this time. Normally, I would wait for Rudolf to come with the songs, like a demo. So he would sing a couple of lines, but then I would write the lyrics on the track. And this time, I started with writing lyrics and gave them to Rudolf. I said, 'This is what I wanna say. This is what you're gonna do.' And he said he felt inspired, the other way around, to pick it up that way and write a great song to the words, which inspired him."

According to Meine, SCORPIONS' new LP will feature "no outside writers at all," unlike 2015's "Return To Forever", which was largely co-written by the album's producers, Mikael Nord Andersson and Martin Hansen.

"This is a hundred percent SCORPIONS DNA," Klaus said. "And we wanted to keep it that way and make it really something that is pure SCORPIONS. And with Greg on our side, he's a fantastic producer and a great guy. It's so inspiring to work with him. So far, it's such a great journey to make this album. But now we're on a very important crossroads, because we cannot go to the U.S., [he] cannot come over here, so how can we work this out? Mikkey is in Sweden, Pawel is in Poland, in Krakow. Until now, there were heavy travel restrictions. It's kind of complicated, but it's a crazy journey so far. In some place in my heart, [I feel] we'll get through this and we'll find a way out of this to make it work, and it will be even more special at the end of the day."

Fidelman began his career as the guitarist and songwriter for RHINO BUCKET before launching his career as a producer, engineer and mixer, finding an early mentor in Rick Rubin.

SCORPIONS' last full-length collection of new recordings was the aforementioned "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016.

Watch as Baroness give a remote performance of their song “Borderlines” as part of the Fender Artist Check-In. For each artist that generously contributes their time for an Artist Check-In, Fender will make a donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. 

“Borderlines” originally appeared on Baroness' 2019 album, Gold & Grey.




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Finnish war-machine Front has released their new video, "Venom & Salt". The track hails from the band's new mini-album, Antichrist Militia, released June 5th via Iron Bonehead Productions.

Guitarist / songwriter Von Bastard states: "As we made the Antichrist Militia record by ourselves all the way - produced, engineered, recorded, mixed - we wanted to try if we could pull out a video also. We didn't want to do another easy lyric video with a few still images looping around mindlessly like the trend is today. We wanted to do the video in an old-school way, and I think we captured that spirit. The video was made with zero budget, DIY all the way. It really is an honest attempt, despite its warts and all. It was clear to us that the place where to shoot the video should be in the very same place where the record was created."

"This song is an all-out attack on sheep mentality spread by Abrahamic religions. Their ignorance shall be reduced to ashes and scattered into the scorched ground with all the venom and salt," vocalist / lyricist Kaosbringer rasps out.  

Antichrist Militia cover art, courtesy of Jenglot Hitam, and tracklisting are as follows:

"Doom Cult Legion"
"Antichrist Militia"
"Iron Front"
"Venom & Salt"
"Mouths Of War"
"Machinegun Blasphemy"

Get your copy of Antichrist Militia now at this location.

 




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North Dakota death metal / grind faction Gorgatron has unveiled a lyric video for "Insurmountable". The latest hymn comes by way of the band's Pathogenic Automation, set for release this August via Blood Blast Distribution.

"I write a lot of lyrics about cybernetic organisms," elaborates vocalist Karl Schmidt of the track's themes. "This tune is about a person who puts his brain into a robot to escape his crippling existential doubt. Somehow, he finds solace in mechanization."

Comments guitarist Paul Johnson of the music, "'Insurmountable' opens up with riff that is undeniably influenced by a certain band of morbid fellas from Florida with some shifting harmonies thrown in to get things real creepy and make you feel gross. Bingo bongo, verse hits, riff descends into chunkville and drums thrash, keeping things moving. Pre chorus a frantic exercise in octave chords and string skipping commences, building more tension. Just when you're about to jump out a window, it drops back into the main riff with a windmill headbang inducing groove. Repeat said formula for another verse then we come to the bridge. This riff is a bit uncharacteristic for me, but I still got some tricks up my sleeve. We're going to let this dissonant, dare I say mysterious riff with an ominous trudging drumbeat set in for a minute while you question reality. Now that you question whether life has meaning or not, we'll drop a spastic monster truck of a riff on you with some furious double bass. We'll take that formula one more time around, rip a pick squeal, throw in a drum fill that's tasty as a dry aged ribeye, and close out with a call back to that main riff that will be stuck your head while you're trying to bang your significant other. Larry David might say this song is pretty... pretty... pretty... pretty... good."

Adds bassist Cameron Dewald of the clip itself, "It wouldn't be a proper lyric video without having Scott Rudd putting in some work! He did a killer job with the leftover artwork we had made for our new album. The song has riffs for days and the video will keep your attention even if you're a goldfish. Enjoy, share, and most importantly, keep supporting death metal!"

Anchored in the old-school stylings of death and thrash, the nine-track Pathogenic Automation was recorded by the band, mixed and mastered by Gorgatron guitarist Neal Stein (El Supremo, Egypt), and spews forth a 41-minute maelstrom of sonic brutality punctuated by a variety of introspective themes.

Pathogenic Automation, which includes cover art by Aghy R Purakusuma (Pure Wrath, Stillbirth, Numen), will see CD release independently on August 28th with worldwide digital distribution by Blood Blast, a new service powered by Nuclear Blast and Believe Music. Find pre-orders at the Gorgatron website and Indiemerch. Fans of Suffocation, Morbid Angel, and Hate Eternal pay heed.

Tracklisting:

"Atrophy"
"Usurpation"
"Reactor"
"Insurmountable"
"Impostor Syndrome"
"Noxious"
"Pathogenic Automation"
"Frostbitten Amputation"
"Pierced From All Angles"

"Impostor Syndrome":

"Usurpation":

For further details, visit Gorgatron on Facebook.

(Photo by Danny James Virchow)

 




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Norwegian doom / goth metal pioneers Theatre Of Tragedy, who called it quits in 2010 and played their final show on October 2nd of that year, have announced that a special 25th anniversary vinyl edition of the band's self-titled debut is currently in the works. Details are forthcoming, but BraveWords can confirm that the package will feature bonus material and exclusive liner notes penned by our very own Carl Begai in cooperation with members of the original ToT line-up. More information will be revealed soon.

Tracklist (original release)

"A Hamlet For A Slothful Vassal"
"Cheerful Dirge"
"To These Words I Beheld No Tongue"
"Hollow-Heartèd, Heart-Departèd"
"...A Distance There Is..."
"Sweet Art Thou"
"Mïre"
"Dying - I Only Feel Apathy"
"Monotonë"

Line-up:

Raymond I. Rohonyi - vocals, lyrics
Liv Kristine - vocals
Pål Bjåstad - guitar
Tommy Lindal - guitar
Eirik T. Saltrø - bass guitar
Lorentz Aspen - keyboards
Hein Frode Hansen - drums

The album was engineered  by Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity, Nightingale) at Unisound Studios.




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Baltimore rockers Signal 13 have recently completed filming a video for the song “Stay With Me” – one of the standout tracks from their recently-released EP, Destination Unknown. The video was filmed in a Victorian mansion built in 1838 just outside of Gettysburg, PA – called the Lookout House. Directed and edited by Wade Spencer, the house is listed as one of the 10 most haunted homes in the United States – the property has many photos and relics from the past of people who lived and died in the home. BraveWords is premiering “Stay With Me”, check it out below!

“We scouted the location a week before the video, and they told us it used to be a funeral home during the Civil War,” explains Signal 13’s singer, Vicky Starr. “That made it very fascinating, but at the same time it really freaked me out. I asked if they could put away all the dolls and clowns before the shoot…I’m not a fan of clowns. Doing a video in one of the most haunted houses in the States was a big step for me – it didn’t help that our crew and manager kept moving items, making me believe ‘something’ or ‘someone else’ may have moved it. They thought they were being funny.” 

“Even the pictures hanging on the walls were creepy – when the video lights were on it they looked like a film negative with a blue glow about them which made it more eerie. The guys suggested we do some filming in the attic – which only included me! The attic was really freaky – it was a big empty, dark, and dusty room with floors that creaked with the ‘classic’ haunted mansion style arched windows. I was so scared. The day of the shoot, the sky was overcast and dark most of the day which added to the mood of the video.” 

“We set the band up in the ‘parlor’ which used to the be the viewing room for funerals in the 1860’s. We put dozens of white roses around and got a few 1860-era vintage candle holders and set up candles everywhere – just like a funeral. Everyone had the option to stay the night at the house, but not surprisingly, NO ONE stayed.”

Starr elaborates on the topic of “Stay With Me”: “‘Stay With Me’ was inspired and written about loss. We’ve experienced a lot of loss this year because of COVID-19 - family members, friends, loss of our freedom. It music has an eerie feeling and we hope that everyone hears that and feels like we did when we wrote this song.”

Issued on April 17, the Destination Unknown EP is available for order through the band’s website. Joining Vicky in the band are guitarists Johnathan Lassier and Chris Starr, bassist Patrick Jenkins, and drummer Johnny Sexx.

Tracklisting:

“Dirty”
“Karma”
“Make It Rain”
“Stay With Me”
“All Fired Up”




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DEF LEPPARD has launched a new video series called "30 Day Fitness Challenge With Phil Collen". Join the guitarist for the month of July as he takes on a 30-day fitness challenge. Use the hashtag #PhilCollen30Days to follow along as Phil works on his exercises, his diet and overall health.

At 62 years old, Collen is a prime example of the "no-excuse" rule when it comes to being active, fit and healthy.

As a rock and roll guitarist in an internationally successful rock band, Collen didn't start out as a health and fitness enthusiast. After years of playing hard, partying hard, and leading a self-described "very unhealthy lifestyle," Phil decided to make a change. In his early thirties, Collen decided to quit drinking and partying. His live-saving conversion came just before his DEF LEPPARD bandmate and "terror twin" of the party scene, Steve Clark, died of a prescription drug and alcohol overdose in early 1991. Inspired to lead a healthier lifestyle, the sober Collen no longer needed to "recover" each day from the previous night's debauchery, and instead found himself with numerous free hours in his day. Collen began exercising, running to start, and later taking up the martial art of Muay Thai kick boxing.

Collen stopped eating meat in the early 1980s and went vegan in 2011. He told the Los Angeles Times: "I always thought it was a bit weird eating dead bodies even though my parents said it was all right. But I saw 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre', and that did it. In the movie, they're doing the same thing to people that they do to animals, and so I gradually got off eating meat.... The health thing came way later. Veganism came [nine] years ago, and it was more of a health decision."

The video for hard rockers STEELHEART's timely, powerful, anthemic ballad "My Freedom" can be seen below. The song will be released digitally worldwide on Friday, July 3. Originally available on their most recent studio album, 2017's "Through Worlds Of Stardust", this newly recorded, stripped-down, solo acoustic version of the song and corresponding video exemplify the potency of lead singer Miljenko Matijevic's impressive vocals and impassioned delivery and message.

Of the track, Matijevic avowed: "I wrote this song back in 2006 and recorded a full-band version which was released on my last STEELHEART album. Considering all that has been going on in our world and the way I/we have been isolated, the lyrics kept haunting me night after night, and I was compelled to re-record the song acoustically. The recording was effortless but deeply emotional, bringing me to tears at times singing these lyrics. This new version of 'My Freedom' feels like it captures the (essence) and frustrations that we have all been experiencing these past several months."

The aptly named STEELHEART is the rock n' roll band fronted by internationally known Croatian-American musician Miljenko Matijevic. Platinum- and gold-certified around the world, STEELHEART burst on the scene in 1990 with its self-titled debut. The album featured such global hits as "She's Gone" and "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)". Several years into its red-hot career, which included worldwide tours and massive radio success, on Halloween Eve in 1992, Matijevic suffered a freak accident when a 1000 lb. lighting rig fell on him during a show, breaking his nose, cheekbone, jaw and twisting his spine.

Four years and much physical rehabilitation later, Matijevic and a new line-up of STEELHEART returned with a new album (STEELHEART's third), "Wait", which sky-rocketed the band to new heights. In 2001 a song from that album, "We All Die Young", was featured in the smash hit movie "Rock Star", starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. Not only was the song prominently featured in the film, but Matijevic himself played an integral role lending his soaring lead vocals to Wahlberg's character, Chris Cole, first in his cover band STEEL DRAGON and then in STEEL DRAGON itself as per the triumphant story line.

STEELHEART went on to release several more albums and DVDs, including 2017's critically acclaimed "Through Worlds Of Stardust" album. The band boasts upwards of 340,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and more than 170,000 followers. In between STEELHEART world tours, Matijevic has also taken on such high-profile "side" gigs as singing for the legendary THE DOORS with Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek during two world tours and becoming a superstar in Asia, performing at numerous festivals in Korea, including one to an audience of 60,000 and appearing as a mainstay on Korean television.

Norway’s Gaia Epicus has announced the addition of drummer Mike Terrana (Tarja, Rage, Axel Rudi Pell, Vision Divine) for the upcoming new album, Seventh Rising.

Says mainman Thomas Chr. Hansen: "I am very honored and proud to annouce that Mike Terrana is the drummer for the new Gaia Epicus album, Seventh Rising.
Mike has done a great job in making this album come to life.

"It's also a great honor to announce that Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth) Is making a guest performance on the track called 'Gods Of Metal'.

"We are about to start mixing the album in the upcoming weeks. I am looking to make a deal with a bigger label so if anyone is interested get in touch with me. If no new deal is made then the album will be released through Epicus Records later this year.

Gaia Epicus recently revealed the tracklist for Seventh Rising. This is the follow-up to the band’s latest album Alpha & Omega which was released in December 2018. The new album is the seventh studio album from Gaia Epicus and it will contain 11 tracks. Release is expected by the end of 2020.

Tracklisting:

“Like A Phoenix”
“Rising”
“Nothing To Lose”
“From Ashes To Fire”
“The Dream”
“Invisible Enemy”
“Dr. Madman”
“Number One”
“Gods Of Metal”
“We Are The Ones”
“Eye Of RA”

Album lineup:

Thomas Chr. Hansen - guitars, bass and vocals
Lukky Sparxx - lead guitars
Mike Terrana - drums

Special guest:

Tim "Ripper" Owens - vocals




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Night Demon have announced their new single, "Vysteria", for worldwide release via Century Media Records. A music video can be found below.

The "Vysteria" single marks Night Demon’s fourth 7” vinyl release of 2020. The song title is a fictitious word conjured by the band’s own darkened fertile imagination. It is defined as “exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement incited by the media, especially among a group of people during a pandemic.”

Lyrically, the song is a clear-eyed, unflinching examination of what life has become during the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. “Vysteria” is not a political statement for these emotionally charged times; however, it does single out for critical scrutiny the mass media’s role in igniting, fueling and exacerbating the virus-related fears that have gripped so many from all different walks of life, socioeconomic statuses, and cultural backgrounds. The band penned this song in late March 2020, and ensuing events have only served to reinforce and validate their observations.

Musically, “Vysteria” is as savage, hard-charging and relentlessly uncompromising as anything in Night Demon’s catalog. It has to be, really. The song channels all of our collective anger and frustration with the present state of affairs into a mighty roar, a cathartic primal scream from the rooftops.

As a special treat, the 7” vinyl version of the song features an exclusive mix by legendary producer Randy Burns, whose credits include Megadeth's Peace Sells … But Who’s Buying?, as well as thrashterpieces by Possessed, Nuclear Assault, Dark Angel, Kreator and Death, among others. The Randy Burns vinyl mix is completely different than that featured on the digital / video version of “Vysteria,” which was mixed by Kurt Ballou, guitarist of seminal hardcore punk pioneers Converge. The vinyl also includes a highly prized B-side, in the form of a live rendition of Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years”. Although “Wasted Years” has sporadically been featured as an electrifying encore to Night Demon’s live performances, this version holds particular significance for die-hard fans. You see, this recording is the lone previously unreleased track from the band’s historic set at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio on December 2, 2017, which became the acclaimed triple-live opus Live Darkness. “Wasted Years” was Night Demon’s final encore on that magical winter’s night, and the Vysteria 7” vinyl is the only place where it can be re-lived in all of its unvarnished glory.

The single will be available as:

- Lilac 7” (200 - High Roller / Band Shop)
- Transparent green 7” (300 Band Shop)
- Digital Audio Bundle (all platforms)

Get your copy via the links below:

- US
- EU
- Stream/download

Night Demon is:

Jarvis Leatherby - Vocals, Bass
Armand John Anthony - Guitars
Dusty Squires - Drums




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Today, Powerwolf are celebrating the release of their Best Of The Blessed album. And this special record isn't just another Best Of album:  Best Of The Blessed is featuring 16 metal anthems and timeless classics by the band shrouded in a brand new shape, and includes several new versions of hits such as “We Drink Your Blood”, “Werewolves of Armenia”, “Sanctified with Dynamite”, or the most celebrated festival hymn of all time, “Resurrection by Erection”.

To celebrate their new album and last year's 15th band anniversary in glorious style, the high priests of metal have just premiered a lyric video to the brand new version of the ultimate sing-along classic, which belongs into every Powerwolf live set of their phenomenal stage performances.

Says Matthew Greywolf: "Today is the day - finally Best Of The Blessed is available! Let's celebrate this day with a brand new lyric video to the new version of 'Resurrection by Erection'!"

Best Of The Blessed is available here.

Tracklisting:

CD 1:
"We Drink Your Blood "(New Version 2020)
"Army Of The Night"
"Demons Are A Girl‘s Best Friend"
"Werewolves Of Armenia" (New Version 2020)
"Saturday Satan" (New Version 2020)
"Amen & Attack"
"Where The Wild Wolves Have Gone"
"Resurrection By Erection" (New Version 2020)
"Sanctified With Dynamite" (New Version 2020)
"Kreuzfeuer"
"Armata Strigoi"
"Kiss Of The Cobra King" (New Version 2019)
"Killers With The Cross "
"Sacred & Wild"
"In Blood We Trust" (New Version 2020)
"Let There Be Night"

CD 2 - The Live Sacrament (Wolfsnächte 2018):
"Fire & Forgive"
"Incense & Iron"
"Amen & Attack"
"Demons Are A Girl’s Best Friend"
"Killers With The Cross"
"Armata Strigoi"
"Blessed & Possessed"
"Where The Wild Wolves Have Gone"
"Resurrection By Erection"
"Stossgebet"
"All We Need Is Blood"
"We Drink Your Blood"
"Werewolves Of Armenia"
"Lupus Die"

Earbook & LP Box (The Live Bonus Sacrament):
"Sanctified with Dynamite"
"Army Of The Night"
"Coleus Sanctus"
"Let There Be Night"

"Sanctified With Dynamite":

"Kiss Of The Cobra King" (2019) video:




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Polish female-fronted heavy metal act, Crystal Viper, have released a special lockdown version of "Still Alive", the single taken from their last studio album, Tales Of Fire And Ice.

"All our recent live shows got canceled or moved to 2021, so we decided to work on new music, and to give our fans something extra in the meantime", says Crystal Viper frontwoman Marta Gabriel. "All the tracks were recorded live at our homes. It's also worth mentioning that it's the very first Crystal Viper recording with 3 guitarists," she adds.




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Sweden’s influential and long revered heavy metal giants, In Flames, are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal, critically acclaimed album Clayman this year with a special edition that's due out on August 28 via Nuclear Blast Records. Pre-order here.

Nuclear Blast has released the new video below, along with the following message:

"Thanks for the awesome birthday wishes Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage), Markus Vanhala (Omnium Gatherum), Max Cavalera (Soulfly), Eric Peterson (Testament), Oscar Dronjak (HammerFall), Karl Buechner (Earth Crisis), Mike Schleibaum (Darkest Hour), Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity), Fernando Ribeiro (Moonspell), Jordan Mancino (As I Lay Dying), Ryan Downey (Burn It Down), JF Dagenais (Kataklysm), Matt Heafy (Trivium), Niilo Sevänen (Insomnium)."

In Flames frontman Anders Fridén says of the 20th Anniversary Edition of Clayman: "This record changed our career in a number of ways. Being the 20th anniversary this year, we had to do something massive for the fans. Going back into the studio to re-record some of the original tracks took us right back in time to when we first recorded them. Every detail of the new artwork and visuals was deeply thought out keeping in mind what the Jesterheads would want to see most. This one’s for you. Thank you for 20 years of Clayman."

Clayman 20th Anniversary Edition comes entirely remastered by Ted Jensen (Pantera, Deftones, Gojira) and features all new artwork in a 16-page booklet, a brand-new instrumental medley plus four re-recorded versions of fan-favorites such as “Only For The Weak” and “Pinball Map”. Re-recorded songs were produced by Howard Benson and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge. The record will be released digitally as well as on CD Digipak and a 2xLP colored vinyl packaged in a deluxe trifold that includes an oversized booklet, 11 remastered tracks on a 12” record and 5 bonus tracks on a 10” record in a printed sleeve.

Clayman 20th Anniversary Edition tracklisting:

"Bullet Ride"
"Pinball Map"
"Only For The Weak"
"...As The Future Repeats Today"
"Square Nothing"
"Clayman"
"Satellites And Astronauts"
"Brush The Dust Away"
"Swim"
"Suburban Me"
"Another Day In Quicksand"
"Themes And Variations In D-Minor" (instrumental)
"Only For The Weak" (Re-recorded)
"Bullet Ride" (Re-recorded)
"Pinball Map" (Re-recorded)
"Clayman" (Re-recorded)

"Clayman" (Re-Recorded) lyric video:

Trailer:

Preceding the physical release of Clayman 20th Anniversary Edition, In Flames will digitally release the Clayman 2020 EP on July 24, which features the 2020 versions of “Only For The Weak”, “Bullet Ride”, “Pinball Map”, “Clayman” and a new instrumental track, “Themes And Variations In D-Minor”.




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Legendary Deep Purple drummer, Ian Paice, has released another video via his Ian Paice Drumtribe channel... "Some incredible rare footage of The 'Chief' rehearsing and playing with the legendary Buddy Rich Orchestra."

Deep Purple will release their 21st studio album, Whoosh! on August 7 via earMusic. Whoosh! will be available as a Standard CD, a Digital Album, a Limited Edition CD+DVD Mediabook (including the 1 hour feature “Roger Glover And Bob Ezrin In Conversation” and, for the first time, the full live performance at Hellfest 2017 video), and a Vinyl 2LP+DVD edition (earMUSIC). Pre-order here.

Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Steve Morse, and Don Airey were invited by Bob Ezrin to Nashville to write and record, during which the band were inspired to push their creative boundaries. Letting go of any artistic limitations, they adopted the motto “Deep Purple is putting the Deep back in Purple”. Whoosh! embodies that freedom, with lyrics that reflect their sentiments on the current situation of the world.

“We’ve included everything that made the whole band smile, including Bob Ezrin,” exclaims Morse. “We’ve always enjoyed making music and having the incredible luxury of a loyal audience.”

Whoosh! marks Deep Purple’s third album produced by Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd). The first - 2013’s Now What?! - charted at #1 in five European countries, as well as Top 10 in over 15 countries worldwide. Cementing itself as one of their most successful albums, inFinite, released in 2017, broke chart records the band accumulated over their 50+year history. With chemistry this electric, it only made sense for Deep Purple and Ezrin to collaborate a third time.

“Another album?! Whoosh?!! Gordon Bennett!!!” -Ian Gillan

One of the most important rock bands of all time, Deep Purple has built a legacy that is nothing short of immeasurable. The band continues to evolve and elevate the possibilities within hard rock, which is fully displayed on Whoosh!

“When the Deep Purple falls
Over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle
In the night…” - Ian Gillan

Whoosh! tracklisting:

"Throw My Bones"
"Drop The Weapon"
"We're All The Same In The Dark"
"Nothing At All"
"No Need To Shout"
"Step By Step"
"What The What"
"The Long Way Around"
"The Power Of The Moon"
"Remission Possible"
"Man Alive"
"And The Address"
"Dancing In My Sleep"

Vinyl Side Split:

Side A:
"Throw My Bones"
"Drop The Weapon"
"We’re All The Same In The Dark"
"Nothing At All"

Side B:
"No Need To Shout"
"Step By Step"
"What The What"

Side C:
"The Long Way Round"
"The Power Of The Moon"
"Remission Possible"
"Man Alive"

Side D:
"And The Address"
"Dancing In My Sleep"

"Man Alive" video:

"Throw My Bones" video:




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Veteran San Francisco Bay Area metallers VICIOUS RUMORS will release their new album, "Celebration Decay", on August 21 via SPV/Steamhammer. The official lyric video for the disc's first single, "Death Eternal", can be seen below.

Every new album has its own history, and the latest recording by VICIOUS RUMORS has a pretty unusual one at that. Originally, the band had planned only twenty concerts to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1988 classic "Digital Dictator". "The reactions were so enthusiastic that the twenty shows turned into an amazing 108 gigs in the end," remembers band mastermind Geoff Thorpe, still a little awed. "We really hadn't expected that. Of course, this jumbled the original time schedule for our current album a little."

The release date may have suffered a slight delay due to the extended anniversary tour, but at the end of the day, few other VICIOUS RUMORS releases have benefited so much from a prior tour. Because, as Thorpe points out: "On the one hand, the new VICIOUS RUMORS studio lineup had an opportunity to grow into a really tight unit during that long tour, which is one of the reasons why 'Celebration Decay' sounds as dynamic and vibrant as any other of our best recordings in our long career. On the other hand, the 'Digital Dictator' shows ensured that we came into contact with our early influences again and again. Both factors together have resulted in an album that sounds like typical VICIOUS RUMORS and oozes lots of energy and momentum. I must admit, I couldn't be prouder."

It's obvious that 41 years into the band's history, Thorpe is still brim-full of zest and artistic enthusiasm. "Celebration Decay" is a kind of best-of-both-worlds recording, he beams: "There are classic VICIOUS RUMORS numbers such as 'Pulse Of The Dead', 'Arrival Of Desolation', 'Death Eternal' and 'Collision Course Disaster'. And then there's a song like 'Darkness Devine' with a structure that's very unusual for us."

Along with Thorpe and his long-standing drummer Larry Howe, two new discoveries were instrumental in the recording of "Celebration Decay": lead vocalist Nick Courtney and guitarist Gunnar Dügrey, who passed their baptism of fire with distinction during the "Digital Dictator" tour.

Says Thorpe: "Nick delivered some awesome performances during the gigs and was celebrated by our fans. Gunnar is a real virtuoso. I enlisted him as an 18-year-old, straight out of high school. Today he's 21 and already an absolute world-class musician. VICIOUS RUMORS now has a guitar team on caliber with the times of the legendary Mark McGee. Of course, in this context Greg Christian (TESTAMENT, TRAUMA) was a special guest. Greg is a longtime friend; it was a pleasure to work with him. He really contributed to a thundering rhythm section with Larry." Guitarist Cody Green, who contributed two haunting solos on "Long Way Home" and "Any Last Words", also deserve a mention. Green also helped out on bass during the tour.

Says Thorpe: "Cody will always be part of the VICIOUS RUMORS family. Robin Utbult from Sweden will be handling the bass on the 'Celebration Decay' tour."

"Celebration Decay" was recorded and mixed between November 2019 and February 2020 at the Trident Studios in Pacheco, California by Thorpe and Juan Urteaga.

"There's no other VICIOUS RUMORS release that I worked as hard on as I did on 'Celebration Decay'," says Thorpe. "After all, when you get the opportunity to bring out a new album, you really have to give it your best shot. Of course, that's what I did with all other VICIOUS RUMORS cuts, but with a perfectly oiled metal machine like our current lineup, it was even more fun than usual."

Track listing:

01. Celebration Decay

02. Pulse Of The Dead

03. Arrival Of Desolation

04. Any Last Words

05. Asylum Of Blood

06. Darkness Divine

07. Long Way Home

08. Cold Blooded

09. Death Eternal

10. Collision Course Disaster

11. Masquerade Of Good Intentions

Photo credit: Heike Saß

LINKIN PARK's music video for the song "In The End" has surpassed one billion views on YouTube. It is the second LINKIN PARK track to reach the milestone; back in November 2018, "Numb" achieved the same feat.

The official "In The End" clip that has hit the one-billion wasn't uploaded to YouTube until October 2009, almost a decade after the video's original release.

LINKIN PARK's Mike Shinoda spoke about the creation of "In The End" in an interview with Linkin Park Web. He said: "I came up with the piano and the chorus music and chorus lyrics. Then Brad [Delson, guitar] came up with the guitar in the verse and we worked on the bassline and composition. From there, I think everybody in the band began chipping in and adding their parts and critiquing each other's parts. And right before we went into the studio to record it, we scrapped the beat I had originally written for the verse, and had Rob [Bourdon, drums] do a new one, which is the one that we recorded."

Surprisingly, LINKIN PARK frontman Chester Bennington didn't care for "In The End" when it was first recorded. "I was never a fan of 'In The End' and I didn't even want it to be on the record, honestly," he told VMusic back in 2012. "How wrong could I have possibly been? I basically decided at that point I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about, so I leave that to other people who are actually talented at somehow picking songs that people are going to like the most. It also gave me a good lesson, as an artist, that I don't necessarily have to only make music, in my band, that I want to listen to. More often than not, something that I like, very few other people like, and something that those people like is something that I kind of like, or don't like at all. And that's cool, it gives me a new appreciation for the songs. But, you know, now I love 'In The End' and I think it's such a great song. I actually see how good of a song it is, it was just hard for me to see it at the time."

LINKIN PARK recently said it had some "special things planned" this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its debut album, "Hybrid Theory".

The band's YouTube channel boasts more than 16 million subscribers, and the highest-viewed video on the channel is the aforementioned official clip for "Numb", which has been seen 1.4 billion times.

LINKIN PARK has not performed together in public since October 2017, when the surviving members staged a tribute concert in Los Angeles to Bennington.

The band has not officially announced whether it intends to carry on following the death of the singer, who committed suicide at the age of 41.

MEGADETH drummer Dirk Verbeuren has released a new song from his long-running BENT SEA project.

"Sycophant Legions", a collaboration with FEASTEM's Petri Eskelinen on vocals and NASUM's Jesper Liveröd on bass, is the second in a series of songs Dirk has dubbed "Instagrind".

Two months ago, Verbeuren released the first "Instagrind" song from BENT SEA, "Grind To A Halt", a collaboration with MIDNIGHT mastermind Athenar on vocals.

In a 2016 interview with All About The Rock, Dirk stated about BENT SEA: "BENT SEA is a spur-of-the-moment type thing without any business plan. The idea from the get-go was basically 'no pressure' and I intend to keep it that way."

Back in 2012, Dirk told PureGrainAudio about BENT SEA's formation: "It just sort of happened. I used to play guitar, but in recent years my focus was exclusively on drums. My wife had been encouraging me to write my own music, so I decided to give it a shot. The result turned out to be BENT SEA."

Regarding the project's name, the 45-year-old Belgian-born-and-now-Los-Angeles-based musician said: "It's taken from a song by British experimental duo ENDVRA which I accidentally came across in my tape-trading days. Their music has absolutely nothing to do with grindcore, but somehow BENT SEA popped up in my mind. I like that it's atypical, and that it conjures apocalyptic images echoing the intensity of my music."

Verbeuren had been playing with SOILWORK for more than a decade before joining MEGADETH in 2016 as the replacement for Chris Adler (LAMB OF GOD), who called Dirk "probably [one of the] top three drummers in the world."

In interview with the KATT Rock 100.5 FM radio station, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine described Dirk as "one of the most pleasant, easy-to-get-along-with guys I've ever met in my life. I'll walk up to him and he'll smile and lean forward and pat me on the back. He goes [adopts thin accent], 'How's it going, buddy?' I could say, 'Oh, man…'… anything. 'Oh, okay, buddy.' [He] smiles and pats me, 'cause he's just a happy guy. I've never, ever, ever seen him not smile."

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT recently launched a new video series called "Roadies In Lockdown". You can now watch the second episode below.

The band writes: "Jez Webb, Bass Tech, who's relatively new to the QUEEN Family, appears to share a 'bromance' with his charge, QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT's long-standing bass player, Neil Fairclough from Manchester, England. We see their interaction on stage during a Q + AL show and watch them catch up with each other on Zoom during lockdown and learn and laugh with them as to why at times it is all about the bass and that solo. As well as looking after Neil, Jez is also responsible for Brian's set up for his acoustic performance on the B-Stage.

"Tour Video Director, Steve Price has worked with QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT since 2014 and at this time should be manning the controls behind the stage as he directs all the video elements of the show for the band on their sold out European summer tour. However, as we all know, the band and crew are currently off the road, so to keep him in the groove we set him the task of creating a ‘lockumentary' focusing on what it is like being part of the 'Rhapsody Road Crew'...

"This exclusive series, only available on QUEEN's Official channel, explores the roles of various crew members on the road and behind the scenes with one of the world's most successful touring acts. Enjoy a VIP AAA pass and get to see at close quarters the backstage and front of house complexities, magic and hard work that goes in to putting on these huge productions that are a QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT live show. They explain what they do to make the shows happen. Look out also for a few well known faces and cameo appearances along the way.

"The backstage footage has been shot at different venues across the globe, however due to the recent pandemic the interviews with the crew have taken place at home during lockdown and further demonstrates the effect the shutdown has had on the live music business, not just for musicians and fans, but the often unseen and unsung heroes that make up the touring crew.

"Setting out to highlight their individual and collaborative skills, it soon becomes obvious one thing clearly binds them together — a sense of humour."

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT recently recorded a new version of "We Are The Champions" — retitled "You Are The Champions" — as a tribute to workers on the frontline fighting coronavirus.

All proceeds made from the song will go towards the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.

Since Adam Lambert first shared the stage with QUEEN for the 2009 "American Idol" final, his dynamic performances have reinvigorated the band and delighted fans worldwide. Starting as they meant to go on, their first full show together in June 2012 thrilled a crowd of half a million strong in the Ukraine capital city of Kiev. Since then, May and Taylor's musical fireworks have been matched by Lambert's vocal prowess and stage presence, making for an explosive combination. Over 200 gigs later, the partnership has remained a commercial and critical triumph, playing to enraptured full houses in every corner of the world.

Photograph by Xavier Vila

SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian spoke to famous Armenian-American TV host and producer Sona Oganesyan about the band's stalled attempts to record a follow-up to its "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" LPs, which came out in 2005.

"I think we all see eye to eye and we respect each other as friends and bandmembers, which is why we tour, which is why we have fun together, we rehearse together, we're in the same space, we crack jokes," Serj said during the chat, which was recorded in August 2019 and only now uploaded to YouTube. "Our only problem is [not] seeing eye to eye artistically, and that's not a bad thing. That's what artists are.

"Your dad's an amazing painter. If he was to have to paint with someone else, who may be one of his best friends, but if they were doing a piece together, and even if your dad respected that guy's work and if they were doing it together but your dad really wasn't into the piece, and they just couldn't agree on it, that's okay — they can still remain friends and just not agree on the piece," he continued.

"So that's really what happened with us ultimately. There were woes of the past, which were aired, and I'm glad they were aired, because it needed to get out — not in public, but amongst us. And they were, and that happened. So that's fine. The truth is all out there. You can go read it. I don't need to regurgitate it. But the important thing is that we've gone beyond that.

"And the question is, will there be another SYSTEM record? I don't know. But the important thing is that we enjoy each other.

"My friendship to Daron [Malakian, SYSTEM guitarist] and the rest of the guys has always meant more than SYSTEM OF A DOWN to me. Not everyone will say that to you, but I've always said that. Because that, to me, is more important. Because that's where it started. The music was a by-product of our friendship; our friendship wasn't a by-product of our music."

"Everyone has a different way of looking at stuff. We're four quite different personalities, and irrespective of being friends and all being Armenian, we're quite different from each other, all of us. And that's okay. That's what's made the music great. So it's done that. But at the same time, we're not all the same, we're not always on the same page, and we'll never be, really. And that's okay."

In 2018, Malakian publicly accused Tankian of not wanting to record, with Tankian responding that creative and financial issues with Malakian led to the stalemate. In a message on Facebook, Tankian wrote that Malakian wanted to control SYSTEM's creative process, take more of the publishing money and be the only band member to speak to the press.

Last year, Serj told Rolling Stone that the public airing of his dispute with Daron didn't open up any more conversations about SYSTEM's future. "I think it released a lot of tension and negativity," he said. "Everything became more public and open, and that was that. There were no further discussions."

SYSTEM OF A DOWN played a couple of live shows in May 2019, including headlining slots at Columbus, Ohio's Sonic Temple festival and Chicago Open Air.

The band was scheduled to play a number of European festivals this summer, but all of those shows have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

As previously reported, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, KORN and FAITH NO MORE's two concerts at Banc Of California stadium in Los Angeles, California, which were originally set to to take place on May 22 and May 23, 2020, have been rescheduled for May 21 and May 22, 2021. Existing tickets will be honored for the new dates.

Today is the day... Destruction ends their absence from the stage and tear down the legendary Z7 in Pratteln with two murderous shows, today and tomorrow. To celebrate this occasion, the German thrash titans release a new live video from their live album Born To Thrash - Live In Germany. Check it out below:

Destruction released the digital version of Born To Thrash - Live In Germany last month. The physical version of Born To Thrash - Live In Germany comes July 17, with a world map, the fans named the destination of their very first Destruction concert in a previously launched campaign. The album will be available within the digipak and vinyl-version in black, red, transparent and picture vinyl.

The pre-sale for the digipak and vinyl versions of Born To Thrash - Live In Germany is underway here. Download/ stream here.

Tracklisting:

"Curse The Gods"
"Nailed To The Cross"
"Born To Perish"
"Mad Butcher"
"Life Without Sense"
"Betrayal"
"Total Desaster"
"The Butcher Strikes Back"
"Thrash Till Death"
"Bestial Invasion"




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EVANESCENCE has released an iPhone-shot, neon nightmare of a music video for "The Game Is Over", the second song from its upcoming album, "The Bitter Truth" (BMG). The band's first collection of new original music in nine years, "The Bitter Truth" will be made available incrementally throughout 2020.

A guitar-driven anthem commanded by Lee's peerless mezzo-soprano and Will Hunt's heavy arena percussion, "The Game Is Over" is a protest against the facades we are pressured to put on by society. In the face of depression and anxiety — and especially in a world that seems to crumble further each day — it's a cry to end the charade that everything’s fine.

The accompanying video is a nightmarish, effects-laden look at the emotional havoc that this period has wrought. Despite being restricted to shooting themselves on iPhones, the band, in collaboration with director P.R. Brown, managed to achieve a highly stylized production literalizing the metaphorical monsters within us. The video is astonishing proof of the creative spark of working with limited resources and a testament to the band's commitment to its craft. Spotlighting the mental darkness behind the false smiles, it's a disturbing, technicolor tribute to the light at the end of the tunnel — if you're willing to face the terrors that line its walls.

EVANESCENCE bassist Tim McCord comments: "This was by far and away the most difficult video I've ever been a part of, emotionally. In order to capture the raw emotion of what life really is for us these days, I had to get to some really dark places. I hope we can all view this video and heal together."

Lee says of "The Game Is Over": "This song is about being sick of the facade. The disguises we wear for others to make them feel comfortable, the inside feelings being so different than what we show on the outside to fit within the boundaries of what's socially acceptable, or what's not going to make you unpleasant or too 'weird' to be around.

"'The Game Is Over' is a promise to myself and out loud that I'm going to be more of my real, inner self on the outside — not lock her up because she can't be contained anymore. It's also a prayer to become better, to not feel so messed up, locked up, and hurt inside."

EVANESCENCE's new music is being produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who also worked on 2011's self-titled LP.

Lee told Loudwire about the musical direction of the new EVANESCENCE material: "It's a combination of a lot of things. It's definitely one hundred percent us, but it's also taking risks. And I think it's meaningful — it's deeply meaningful. But at the same time, a lot of it has attitude. I don't know if I can explain that super well, but some of our music is like that. If you can listen back and think about, especially some of the later music, like 'What You Want' or 'Call Me When You're Sober', there's a track or two in there that is the next step from that in its feeling, I would say."

This past January, EVANESCENCE returned with its first new rock recording in eight years, "The Chain (From Gears 5)". The band recorded its signature-rock version of the FLEETWOOD MAC classic following Lee having lent her vocals to the launch trailer for the Xbox Game Studios' "Gears 5" for Xbox One, Windows 10, and Steam, from the massively popular "Gears Of War" series.

EVANESCENCE spent much of the last two years recording and touring in support of 2017's "Synthesis", which contained some of the band's best-loved songs — as well as a couple of new ones — reinvented with full orchestra over a deep electronic landscape.

The official music video for "Yes, I Have Ghosts", the first new song from David Gilmour in five years, can be seen below. The track, which was inspired by Polly Samson's new novel "A Theatre For Dreamers", features the voice and harp playing of David's daughter Romany.

Of "Yes, I Have Ghosts", Gilmour says: "I was working on this song just as we went into lockdown and had to cancel a session with backing singers, but, as it turned out, the solution was right here and I couldn't be happier with the way Romany's voice blends with mine and her beautiful harp playing has been another revelation."

The song has previously only been available as part of the ground-breaking audiobook for the novel. Samson, who wrote the lyrics, says: "Collaborating with David — as I have done many times over the last 30 years, writing songs for both PINK FLOYD and his solo albums — we were able to bring together the worlds of literature and music to enhance the listening experience and connect with audiences in a way which I don't think has been done before."

Set on the idyllic Greek island of Hydra in 1960, "A Theatre For Dreamers" captures the hazy, sun-drenched days of an expat bohemian community of poets, painters, and musicians, including a 25-year-old Leonard Cohen.

Before the COVID-19 lockdown, David, Polly and family were about to take "A Theatre For Dreamers" on the road for a short series of shows blending words and music. Sadly, these dates have had to be postponed until June 2021 but the "Von Trapped Family," as they dubbed themselves, took to Facebook to livestream adapted versions of the shows. Viewers found themselves transported to the Greek island of Hydra in 1960, with readings from the book, poetry, question-and-answer sessions and music from and inspired by the novel, including instrumental sections of "Yes, I Have Ghosts" and songs by Leonard Cohen.

The Sunday Times bestseller "A Theatre For Dreamers" by Samson is out now and published by Bloomsbury.

Norwegian rock outfit, Leprous, continue to promote their newest album, Pitfalls, released last October worldwide via InsideOutMusic. The band have released a special live video for the epic final song on the album, “The Sky Is Red”.

The clip, created by João Filipe and Creative Productions, was recorded on March 1, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal, coincidentally the last show of the latest European tour, but also the very last regular live-show before the current general halt of live-activities.

Check out the clip below:

Having recently performed a successful online streaming concert, Leprous are now pleased to return to stages next week, July 10 at Sentralen in Oslo, Norway for two very specials live-shows with different setlists. For details, head here, or here.




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MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro has released a new solo single, "Overflow". It is the third single from Loureiro's fifth solo album, "Open Source", which will arrive on July 10.

Last week, Loureiro released "Imminent Threat", the LP's second single, featuring a guest appearance by former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman.

The cover artwork for "Overflow", "Imminent Threat" and "Open Source" was created by Gustavo Sazes (MACHINE HEAD, AMARANTHE, ARCH ENEMY).

"Open Source" will include an instrumental titled "EDM (e-Dependent Mind)", which was released as a single last month. The track features Loureiro on guitar and keyboards, as well as Felipe Andreoli on bass and Bruno Valverde on drums.

"Open Source" will be the follow-up to "Sounds Of Innocence", which was released in June 2012.

Loureiro said: "By definition, 'open source' is related to softwares which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. It brings us a higher sense of community, enhances our creativity and creates new possibilities. So why not take this concept to our art, our music? How much richer a song could be if others had access to its source code? What if the song's original composition wasn't the final product? What if it was just the beginning? Something that could be constantly updated and evolve over time. And as well as a machine, we as humans are also minded to enhancements, being an open source ourselves, constantly moving and growing, through technology, science, spirituality… and art."

"This is the mindset which I bring now to my fifth solo album, that was named... guess what? OPEN SOURCE!

"My compositions and recordings are not the final objective of the album, but rather the start. I want you to have access to the way I created the album concept, to the songs and to how I played them. In addition, I will make the stems available for download. So you can remix, recreate and make new versions of it. And I can't wait to see what you're gonna create from that. I can expect different approaches and better versions than mine.

"To make all this possible, I'm doing a crowdfunding campaignand stretching goals to be able to create and share even more with you. Some of the perks are unique. Brings us closer, we can collaborate together and I'm very excited to have this possibility through this campaign.

"When you participate in this limited-time exclusive crowdfund, you officially become a partner of mine. And you're helping to launch this album worldwide. And if you're not the composer kind, don't worry, the backing tracks will also be available. So weather you play an instrument or are a music producer, you can put your own spin on it."

"I'm looking forward to sharing this project with the world. Stay healthy and stay safe!"

Kiko started composing his new solo album last year. The recordings started in September 2019 and he has been working on the LP ever since, in between MEGADETH's activities.

"Sounds Of Innocence" featured guest appearances by Virgil Donati on drums and Felipe Andreoli (ANGRA, ALMAH) on bass. One track also featured LIVING COLOUR bassist Doug Wimbish. The effort was produced by Kiko, mixed by Dennis Ward and mastered by Jürgen Lusky.

Kiko made his recording debut with MEGADETH on 2016's "Dystopia" album. The "Dystopia" title track was honored in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine told Revolver magazine that finding Loureiro "was really a mind-blower. It was the first time since Marty Friedman joined the band that I was really intimidated as a player," he said. "He's such an amazing talent, and he's been coming in with all of these fresh ideas." Mustaine has also called Loureiro the "best guitarist we've ever had," adding that he was a good fit personality wise. "Chris [Broderick] and I had a good chemistry, but we weren't really as close as I would have wanted us to be," Mustaine explained. "Kiko, I feel like I've known him for years."

In the new video below, Novembers Doom bassist, Mike Feldman, performs a newly recorded live playthrough for the song "The Clearing Blind" from the Nephilim Grove album (Prophecy Productions).

Nephilim Grove is available as as digipak CD, 2CD artbook with two bonus tracks, 2LP (400 black, 200 red) and box set, containing the artbook and double vinyl (silver) alongside posters. Order here.

Tracklisting:

"Petrichor"
"The Witness Marks"
"Nephilim Grove"
"What We Become"
"Adagio"
"Black Light"
"The Clearing Blind"
"Still Wrath"
"The Obelus"

"What We Become" video:

"Nephilim Grove" lyric video:

"Petrichor" studio video:




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UK symphonic metal band Damnation Angels have released their new single and video for "A Sum Of Our Parts". The track is taken from their impending third album, Fiber Of Our Being, which is due for release on July 31.

The music video was directed by Sitcom Soldiers (The Darkness, Feeder), and can be viewed below:

Fiber Of Our Being is the band's first album to feature vocal powerhouse Iggy Rod (Azeroth) and bassist Nic Southwood who joined after the release of the album The Valiant Fire. Alongside the release will be the band’s first ever music video, directed by Sitcom Soldiers (The Darkness, Feeder). 2020 promises to be their biggest year yet.

Fiber Of Our Being was mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios (Cradle Of Filth, Vader, Amon Amarth). The cover art was made by Sabercore23art. Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

“More Than Human”
“Railrunner”
“Fiber Of Our Being”
“Our Last Night”
“Rewrite The Future”
“Fractured Amygdala”
“Greed And Extinction”
“Remnants Of A Dying Star”
“A Sum Of Our Parts”

"More Than Human" lyric video:

“Fiber Of Our Being”:




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New York City-based avant-garde metal outfit, Imperial Triumphant, have released their mesmerizing yet disturbing video for “City Swine”, from their fourth studio album Alphaville, out July 31.

The band comments: “In the depths of the big city lurking beneath the lowest forms is a wretched swine that can be of no use. Laughing somewhere above is an equally wretched swine, that dumps on everything in its path. Both serve no purpose, are ineffective, and remain unprofitable in the eyes of the big machine.”

Alphaville will be available in the following formats and can be pre-ordered here.

- Gatefold Empire Black 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (black Vinyl)
- Gatefold Atomic Sunrise 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (transp. sun yellow Vinyl) – SOLD OUT
- Gatefold Statue of Verdigris 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (mint colored Vinyl)
- Ltd. CD Edition
- Digital Album

Tracklisting:

"Rotted Futures"
"Excelsior"
"City Swine"
"Atomic Age"
"Transmission To Mercury"
"Alphaville"
"The Greater Good"
 
Bonus tracks:
"Experiment" (Voivod)
"Happy Home" (The Residents)

"Rotted Futures" video:

The band had a number of guest visiting them in the studio:

- Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) - Taiko drums
- Phlegeton (Wormed) - Vocals
- Yoshiko Ohara (ex-Bloody Panda) - Choirs
- RK Halvorson - Barbershop quartet
- Sarai Chrzanowski - Choirs
- Andromeda Anarchia (Folterkammer, Dark Matters) - Choirs
- J Walter Hawke - Trombone
- Colin Marston - Guitars

Imperial Triumphant is:

Zachary Ilya Ezrin - Vocals, guitars
Steven Blanco - Bass, vocals, piano, mellotron, synths, taiko drums
Kenny Grohowski - Drums, taiko drums

(Photo - Alex Krauss)




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Guitarist Thomas Zwijsen has released an acoustic cover of Iron Maiden's "The Clansman". Watch the clip below.

"The Clansman" is on Iron Maiden's Virtual XI album with Blaze Bayley on vocals. Thomas also released "The Clansman" with Blaze Bayley on the first Nylon Maiden album and performed the song live with Blaze all over the world. "The Clansman" was also performed with Bruce Dickinson on vocals, on the Rock in Rio Live album, and is part of the current Legacy Of The Beast setlist.

Watch some of Zwijsen's previous Iron Maiden covers below:




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U.D.O. and the Musikkorps der Bundeswehr/Band of the German Armed Forces have released their second single and video, "Neon Diamond". Watch the clip below.

In "Neon Diamond", Udo Dirkschneider  shows his entire vocal range in a ballad-like duet with the exceptional singer, Manuela Markewitz.

“The guitar riff immediately reminds you of the time of Metal Heart, plus the incredible voice of the charming Lady Manuela in a duet with Udo, which ensures a great, unique timbre and puts the icing on the cake!"

The new album, We Are One, is due for release on July 17 and can be pre-ordered here.

U.D.O, featuring icon Udo Dirkschneider (the original voice of Accept) presents, together with the renowned Concert Band of the German Armed Forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Scheibling, a unique worldwide musical project.

The album contains 15 new songs that will be released through AFM Records/Soulfood Music. All songs have been developed and arranged by U.D.O. together with Christoph Scheibling. The two former Accept musicians Stefan Kaufmann and Peter Baltes have been part of the songwriting too - as well as the German Armed Forces' composers Guido Rennert and Alexander Reuber. The title of the album, We Are One has been the driving force for everyone involved.

Whatever anyone might think about the 'rock band meets orchestra' collaborations that already exist in the music world, this is far from what We Are One really is. This is one of the most elaborate concept albums the market has ever seen, the hard rocking sound of U.D.O. has not only been intensified by a 60 piece orchestra, but contains some unique arrangements that underline how characteristic yet versatile U.D.O. is.

This project surprises the listener in every aspect, and is a project with a clear statement: We Are One is a critical reflection of a world in which we all leave our mark, and in which we all have to show responsibility.

The songs on We Are One are about the different challenges we are currently facing, climate change ("Future Is The Reason Why"), the worldwide refugee movements ("Live Or Die", "Fridays For Future", "Children Of The World") or the pollution of the environment ("Mother Earth"). With the track "Pandemonium", both parties, U.D.O. as well as the German Armed Forces, also take a clear position against society's right wing. The song "Rebel Town" is a hymn for a 30 years reunited Germany.

This is a project that has made all participants think deeply about the challenges not only for the world, but for their own futures. For Udo Dirkschneider We Are One is a dream that he has had for a long time. Since the show with the Concert Band of the German Armed Forces in Wacken (2015) as well as the Navy Metal Night in Tuttlingen (2014), he fervently wanted to continue and grow the collaboration.

Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Scheibling also agrees: "All composers have done a fantastic job. The songs are excellent and really show the very best of orchestra and band. The album offers a variety that reaches from speed metal to classical metal, from ballad to funk style. As an orchestra, we brought in everything we could, a solo singer, a pipe, a drumline and some oriental percussions included."

Scheibling has been on stage together with U.D.O. in Wacken 2015 already. "The motto back then was Metal, mud and military music", he resumes. "An event that definitely awoke the wish to work together more intensely. Now our crossover project really finds its highlight with We Are One."

U.D.O. and the German Armed Forces are also talking the same language when it comes to the message of We Are One. For the German Armed Forces international, engagements as well as the protection of the environment are two major focus points. Former military areas are becoming integral nature reserves. Soldiers are recruited to fight forest fires and ecological disasters. The German Armed Forces are also supporting the protection of Germany's coastal regions by monitoring the air space to protect it from people polluting the ocean.

"Several songs are pointing out the problems we have with pollution of our environment. We really have some heavy words about our global responsibilty", Christoph Scheibling says. "Never before critical words agains worldwide exaggeration of consumption or all this cyber insanity have been this loud. Never before the voice against protectionism, nationalism and against the right wing have been that intense. Let us join forces for a better planet! We are one!"

Tracklisting:

"Pandemonium"
"We Are One"
"Love And Sin"
"Future Is The Reason Why"
"Children Of The World"
"Blindfold (The Last Defender)"
"Blackout"
"Mother Earth"
"Rebel Town"
"Natural Forces"
"Neon Diamond"
"Beyond Gravity"
"Here We Go Again"
"We Strike Back"
"Beyond Good And Evil"

"We Are One" video:




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