French plague doctors, Abduction, have just finished recording their parts for their as-yet-unnamed third album. They checked in with an excluisve studio update for BraveWords.

“Just as we did with A L’Heure Du Crépuscule, all the instruments (apart from drums) have been done in Brussels (Belgium), at Déhà’s Opus Magnum Studios.” comments singer François Blanc. “Now, we are waiting for the guests – yes, there will be guests! – to send their parts, and Déhà will start working on the mix. We’re all very pleased by the way the album has turned out, and very excited”. 

This third opus – that should see the light of day before summer 2020 – is Abduction’s very first concept album. 

“It deals with an historical and fascinating French figure… but more on that later” adds the vocalist. 

As usual with the band, expect some atmospheric and introspective clean parts intertwined with epic and tempestuous black metal assaults. 

“I won’t say it’s our darkest or heaviest album as everybody does, but it's definitely our most ambitious work to date."

Dubbed autumnal black metal, Abduction features Angellore vocalist François Blanc and is recommended for fans of Dissection, Primordial and Opeth. 

For information and updates on Abduction go to this location.




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Gone In April, the symphonic melodic death metal ensemble including Testament bassist Steve Di Giorgio, have contacted BraveWords with the following update:

"We have worked tirelessly over the past year and a half to compose and record our new album, Shards Of Light. We just released a new music video, 'If You Join Me', featuring a track from the upcoming album. Shards Of Light is scheduled to be released on September 6th, just before we leave for a four-week North American tour in support for Eluveitie & Korpiklaani."

Earlier this year, Gone In April unveiled a music video for the song “The Curtain Will Rise", which was filmed and edited by Norwegian artist Thomas Mortveit. The track is taken from the band's second album, Threads of Existence, recorded at WaveTransform Studio, USA.

Commented by Gone in April: “This track is a very special one for the band and for the fans. In addition to carrying the theme of the second album, the fight to stay alive, it possesses a certain elegance that we wished to portray. We found the perfect blend of strength and elegance in the Historic Southern Railway Station, an old train station from 1903 located in Tennessee.”

Gone In April features musicians from Testament, Death, Quo Vadis, Märchenbilder and Vivaldi Metal Project and combines elements of symphonic, death, speed and folk metal in a compelling and aggressive blend sure to please a wide audience.

“Our Future Line” video:

“As Hope Welcomes Death" video:

Photo by Joshua Winstead Photography




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KISS have posted more pro-shot from the End Of The Road tour. Check out the opening and the finale from their August 23rd stop at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Center, NY

Find the band's complete End Of The Road tour itinerary here.




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DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler recently spoke to "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" about a collaboration project he began with MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine but never finished.

Asked how the idea for the project came about and what became of it, Tatler said (hear audio below): "You remember [Mustaine] did an album called MD.45 [in 1996]? So he did that, and then maybe a year later, we got in touch with each other. And he said about that album, he said, 'I'd like to do another album like that, with yourself,' and he named a couple of other players. And I thought, 'That sounds fantastic. I'm up for that.' So I started writing material, and I would send stuff over, and he'd say, 'Yup. I like that. And I don't like that. And I like this.' And on it went for maybe a year or so. And every now and again, he'd apologize and say, 'I'm ever so busy. I'm doing the MEGADETH album,' and this, that and the other, and it seemed to drag on a little. And eventually, he said, 'I'm not gonna be able to do it.'"

Tatler continued: "Do you remember [Dave] hurt his arm [in 2002]? He went to sleep on his arm. And so he couldn't play guitar anymore. He sold his gear. MEGADETH stopped playing. That was the end of it. So he couldn't do our project either. So I just thought, 'Oh, okay. That's life.' One good thing: it forced me to write some songs, so I had about 30-odd song ideas that I wouldn't have otherwise, had I not had this opportunity. I had a fantastic reason to get my fingers out and start writing. And so some of these songs I've used on various albums that I've done since. That's the good thing that I took from that, negative. And we stayed friends, and MEGADETH offered us a support tour in 2005 — we did 22 dates all across Europe, opening for MEGADETH. So they did us a favor in the end — a return favor. And that went really well. It's all good."

Tatler also commented on Mustaine's throat cancer battle, which has forced the cancelation of all of MEGADETH's touring activities for the remainder of 2019.

"It's a shock," Brian said. "I didn't see that coming at all. It was just out of the blue, I think, for everybody. We just saw that picture and the news. I mean, I've had cancer in my family — I lost my sister, and my brother's got it at the moment — so I know it's a tough place to be. But I just immediately wanted to wish him all the best. You've got the best treatment in the U.S., and he's got plenty of money, so he can afford the best of the best [doctors]. So hopefully he'll be able to get on top of it and conquer it. And he's a fighter, isn't he, Dave. So God bless him, and let's hope he pulls through and gets rid of that shit."

Mustaine has been very vocal about what a "massive influence" DIAMOND HEAD and Tatler were on him and the music he wrote for both MEGADETH and METALLICA.

Tatler, for his part, has repeatedly expressed his gratitude over the years to METALLICA, who have covered four DIAMOND HEAD songs and kept the band in the spotlight.

DIAMOND HEAD's latest album, "The Coffin Train", was released in May via Silver Lining Music.

Ozzy Osbourne says "The Ultimate Sin" is his least favorite album he has ever released as a solo artist. Although it's currently out of print physically (but available on streaming services), the 1986 LP contains one of his biggest hits, "Shot In The Dark", and has been certified double platinum. "[Producer] Ron Nevison didn't really do a great production job," Ozzy tells Rolling Stone in a new interview. "The songs weren't bad; they were just put down weird. Everything felt and sounded the fucking same. There was no imagination. If there was ever an album I'd like to remix and do better, it would be 'The Ultimate Sin'."

"The Ultimate Sin" reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum in the United States on May 14, 1986, by the RIAA and and double platinum in October 1994. It was the follow-up to "Bark At The Moon", which was the first Ozzy album to feature Jake E. Lee on guitar following the tragic death of Randy Rhoads.

The writing sessions for "The Ultimate Sin" were by disagreements over songwriting, with Lee, who claimed he had been cheated out of the credits he deserved on "Bark At The Moon", later telling Ultimate Classic Rock that he demanded a revised contract before agreeing to contribute. Bassist Bob Daisley was dismissed during the making of the LP and Phil Soussan was brought in as is his replacement. Ozzy later invited Daisley to come back to help with the lyric writing, which Bob had shouldered the bulk of since the start of the singer's solo career.

In a 1986 interview with Guitar World, Lee stated about about the writing process for "The Ultimate Sin": "While Ozzy was in the Betty Ford clinic, I got a drum machine, one of those mini-studios, a bass from Charvel — a really shitty one — and I more or less wrote entire songs. I didn't write melodies or lyrics because Ozzy is bound to do a lot of changing if I was to do that; I just write the music. I write the riff and I'll come up with a chorus, verse, bridge and solo section, and I'll write the drum and bass parts I had in mind. I put about 12 songs like that down on tape, and when he got out of the Betty Ford clinic, it was, 'Here ya go. Here's what I've got so far.' And I'd say half of it ended up on the album."

Daisley, who is credited with all the lyrics on "The Ultimate Sin" apart from "Shot In The Dark" (which is credited to Soussan and Osbourne), later said he was also heavily involved with the music writing on the LP.

"I did write the album with Jake and then Ozzy and I had a falling out and he fired me and he was going to fire Jake as well," he explained in an interview. "I've never been a 'yes' man. So a few weeks later, he called me and he had Phil Soussan on bass but I'd already written a lot of the music with Jake, so they knew they had to credit me on the songs anyway, so I guess he thought he may as well get his money's worth and asked me to come back and write the lyrics also. I did that as sort of a paid job. I write it, you pay me and take it and go. So I spent a few weeks writing the lyrics for the whole album. Then they recorded it. In a way, I am glad I am not on that album. It's the one album I didn't really like."

Earlier this week, it was announced that Ozzy will be celebrated with the first-ever definitive vinyl collection of all his original solo material. Due out November 29 on Sony Legacy, "See You On The Other Side" contains each of his studio albums on multi-color splattered, 180-gram vinyl, as well as otherwise out-of-print rarities like his "Mr. Crowley" and "Just Say Ozzy" EPs. It also features a collection of rarities, "Flippin' The B Side", a seven-inch flexi disc containing the previously unreleased "See You On The Other Side" demo, 10 posters, 12 augmented-reality experiences that allow fans to interact with the singer, and an autographed certificate.

Prior to OPETH's performance at Belgium's recent Alcatraz Metal Festival, vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt spoke with Lilo of Headbangers LifeStyle. The full conversation can be seen below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On why the group will release both English- and Swedish-language editions of its upcoming album, "In Cauda Venenum":

Mikael: "It was meant just to be a Swedish version first, but I got a bit insecure, I guess, because I had problems with music that was sung in not English when I was growing up. Now, it's not a problem for me anymore — I got into the whole Italian prog scene, and most of those bands sing in their native tongue. But I figured there might be people who have problems with that, so at the last minute, I decided I'd do an English version as well. But the Swedish version is the main one."

On how much extra work recording two versions created:

Mikael: "We kept the same settings for the English version, so the only thing I had to do — which was a lot of work — [was that] I had to translate the lyrics from Swedish to English, and then record vocals all over again. That was a bit of a daunting task, but it came out well, I think."

On whether he thinks both versions capture the same "emotion":

Mikael: "The English version is secondary. You can't escape the fact that it's a copy of the Swedish version. The Swedish version was done in my studio, just really relaxed, and I didn't have to think of time or money issues. While I was doing the English version, we had booked a studio, and I was in there and I needed to be done in time. It's a bit more... I wouldn't say it's a lesser version, but it's a copy. The first one, it's like painting a great painting, and then, 'Wow, I'm going to do that again exactly the same,' and you would probably look what you did before and it would be a bit more contrived. With that said, I think it depends on which version you pick up first. If you pick up the English version first, that will be your version, but I'm hoping people will check out the Swedish version, because that's the best one."

On whether he'll do two versions of future OPETH releases:

Mikael: "I don't know. Why not? It's a different climate now for music. It's not so boxed in. You don't have to follow the rules as much as you did in the early days. You wanted to fit in to a certain extent, and it sounds crass, but I wanted the records to sell. Now, it's a different climate. I think I don't really care as much, as long as the music is great."

On whether, as an established artist, he feels more freedom to be able to take creative risks:

Mikael: "Risks, for me, it's a positive word. I like taking risks, but I never see them as risks. It's just what we felt like doing at the time. We don't cater to our career — maintaining the career by putting out records that we think will sell and that everybody will like. We put out records, like, 'This is what we want to do now. Here it is. If you like it, that's great. If not, sorry.'"

On "In Cauda Venenum":

Mikael: "I'm really happy with it, but my taste is very eclectic, I think. I listen to so many different genres of music. People ask, 'What's your guilty pleasure?' I don't have any guilty pleasures. I can listen to whatever, and that finds its way into our own music. I think it will maybe be a bit difficult and a bit of a test to people who are just listening to metal music, maybe, but there are metal moments in there. I'd like to think we wouldn't have been able to write these type of songs if we didn't have that background, so to speak. But there's a lot of stuff going on. It's really hard for me to say, because I wrote it, but it's epic and big and overblown and pompous — stuff that I like."

On how OPETH should be defined in 2019:

Mikael: "Free-form. Going with the flow, and not the flow of public opinion — our own little stream."

On how he feels prior to an OPETH tour:

Mikael: "Agony. Sitting at home not wanting to go... Generally, it's a terrible thing for me to be facing a tour. I have a girlfriend and two daughters back home [and] two cats that I don't want to leave, but this is what I do. I love to play with the guys [and] be on stage, but you're in a fragile state of mind — or I am, at least — when you're on tour. You have, like, a little family away from home, which is the guys in the band, but the moment someone else steps in, that circle is broken, and you're insecure and you want to go home, basically. My best moments on tour is when we're on stage playing and when we're in the dressing room afterwards talking about the show. The rest I can definitely live without."

On how he copes with touring:

Mikael: "Back in the day, you got sedated by vodka. Drinking and listening to music, and we still do that. That's fun, but it gets very samey after how many years we've been together. I try to walk out — whatever town we're in, I wake up, check where's the record shops. 'It's 20 kilometers that way.' Can I walk that distance? Maybe, maybe not. [I] find the record shops, go for a coffee, walk around town, do that and find some records. That's my motivation apart from the show itself."

On OPETH's remaining goals:

Mikael: "Every record is, like, 'Wow — that was insane that we managed to do a record.' Every tour is like, 'Wow.' Every show, you walk off, you're like, 'Wow — we're alive. We made it.' That immediate future, to make it through, is on my bucket list, but I don't have dreams of doing a triple album with an orchestra... My biggest idol is Ritchie Blackmore and Joni Mitchell. If I could just sit with them, the last thing on my mind [would be], 'Let's write a song, Joni.' That's not going to happen. They're up there, and I just idolize these people too much. When I idolize someone, I get not that creative. I can write stuff on my own, but together with idols, that wouldn't work."

OPETH's 13th album, "In Cauda Venenum" will be released on September 27 via Moderbolaget / Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

FOZZY played the first of two shows as the support act for NICKELBACK this past Thursday (August 22) at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

When FOZZY performed in Canada last November, several concert-goers accused frontman Chris Jericho of singing along to pre-recorded tracks. After a video of FOZZY's Toronto gig surfaced online, former SKID ROW frontman weighed in, writing from his personal Facebook account: "Wow he mimes to a tape very well"

Earlier this year, Jericho defended Paul Stanley when the KISS frontman was accused of using pre-recorded vocal tracks on "End Of The Road" tour, saying that the "Star Child" "has nothing to prove to anybody." Jericho explained: "He's one of the greatest rock and roll singers of all time. I think that's something that anybody would say. I would much rather have him use the technology that's available to not sound like he's hurting himself, which then makes me not enjoy the show as much."

A new FOZZY song, "Nowhere To Run", received its world premiere yesterday (Friday, August 23) on Jericho's SiriusXM show "The Rock Of Jericho".

FOZZY has spent the last few months recording the follow-up to 2017's "Judas" album.

Jericho recently said that FOZZY would have a new single out in time for the band's September 14 concert in Los Angeles with IRON MAIDEN and a new full-length record in January or February of 2020.

FOZZY's fall tour starts on September 5 in Denver and wraps on September 28 in Atlanta.

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has released a video for "Sleeping Giants", the title track of his debut solo release, in stores now via Combat Records. "Sleeping Giants" is a companion release to Ellefson's new memoir, "More Life With Deth", in stores now via Jawbone Press. The track features lead vocals by Ellefson's partner, and "More Life With Deth" co-author, Thom Hazaert, and legendary hip-hop MC Daryl "DMC" McDaniels, plus guest appearances by Steve Conley (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), Ethan Brosh, ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, and Ilias Papadakis (MEMORAIN).

Says Hazaert: "David had all these great instrumental songs laying around, and 'Sleeping Giants' was one of them. He suggested I write and record some vocals parts for them, so I called up DMC and asked if he'd want to collaborate with us on a track, and we got to work. I've always loved off the wall metal/hip-hop collaborations, 'Judgement Night', etc. And I think 'Giants' definitely draws from that. The song and video both ended up with a really cool aggressive, old-school New York hardcore/hip-hop. feel. It my book, it doesn't get any more legendary than RUN DMC. And this was definitely one for the history books."

Ellefson adds: "It was truly an honor to collaborate with DMC, and I think the track came out great. When Thom said DMC wanted to do a collaboration with us, I instantly thought of 'Sleeping Giants'. And when he came out to Revolution in Amityville to perform with us, and shoot the video, it was an awesome energy. I think everyone there got a show they won't ever forget."

"Sleeping Giants" will be released in Europe in November, as Ellefson and Hazaert cross the pond for a string of European shows and signings on their "Sleeping Giants"/"More Life With Deth" tour.

Shot on location in Amityville, New York; Phoenix, Arizona, and The Salton Sea in California, the video, directed by Melody Myers and Thom Hazaert, and filmed and edited by Melody Myers/Designed By Melody (ALTITUDES AND ATTITUDE, ESCAPE THE FATE), can be viewed below.

Ellefson and Hazaert also recently collaborated with legendary producer Max Norman (MEGADETH, OZZY OSBOURNE), who put his stamp on "Sleeping Giants" track "Vultures", with the "Max Norman Mix", released last week on all digital platforms.

Ellefson and Hazaert, with backing band Dave Sharpe and Opus Lawrence of DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, and special guest Steve Conley of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, will wrap up the summer leg of their "Basstory More Life With Deth" 2019 tour next week with shows in Phoenix, Orange County, and San Diego.

"More Life With Deth" is the follow up to Ellefson's celebrated "My Life With Deth", and delves deeper into the later stages of Ellefson's career, as well as a thorough exploration of the earliest days of MEGADETH and beyond.

"Sleeping Giants" is a retrospective featuring several new tracks, plus a collection of demos, and unreleased material spanning David's career outside of MEGADETH, including the unreleased demo "If You Were God", featuring John Bush (ANTHRAX, ARMORED SAINT), and several unreleased demos featuring former HOUSE OF LORDS/GIUFFRIA vocalist David Glen Eisley. The CD version will also include a second bonus disc, featuring a compilation of EMP and Combat Records artists, including WRATH, LAST CRACK, DOYLE, ARISE IN CHAOS, SUNFLOWER DEAD, Marc Rizzo, and more.

Produced by Ellefson and Hazaert, with additional production from ICON guitarist John Aquilino at the Platinum Underground in Phoenix, "Sleeping Giants" also features a multitude of guests including former MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland, Ken Mary (ALICE COOPER, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), Steve Conley (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, F5), Eric AK (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), Ethan Brosh, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Dave Sharpe and Opus Lawrence of DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, Mark Tremonti, Illias Papadakis (MEMORAIN), Dave McClain (MACHINE HEAD, SACRED REICH), Joey Radziwill (SACRED REICH), and a remix by "Game Of Thrones" star Kristian Nairn (Hodor).

When you're a two-time Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, you don't have a lot to prove. But legendary singer-songwriter and keyboardist Gregg Rolie, who holds that rare distinction as a founding member and original lead vocalist of both SANTANA and JOURNEY, and who has also been a mainstay of RINGO STARR'S ALL-STARR BAND since 2012, demonstrates that he's at the top of his game with the release of "Sonic Ranch" (Megaforce Records), his first feature-length studio album in 18 years.


"I didn't plan on taking so long to record a new album," Rolie says. "The simple fact is, I've been working. I've been writing songs over the years, and we recorded half of them by 2013. Then I got busy touring with Ringo, and I took part in the SANTANA reunion, 'Santana IV'. Everything took time. Finally, when 'Santana IV' was done, I could get back to finishing the record."


Rolie recorded the album at several studios in Texas: RMG Studio and Arylyn Studios in Austin, and the Sonic Ranch in Tornillo (the latter of which inspired the record's title). His son, Sean, served as the main producer, with addition production handled by Chris "Frenchie" Smith and Daniel Sahad.


A wide range of Rolie's illustrious musician friends contributed to "Sonic Ranch" — among them are his onetime SANTANA mate Michael Shrieve on drums, as well as bass extraordinaire Alphonso Johnson. And he features not one, but two guitar heroes: Steve Lukather, who plays on the gutsy blues rocker "They Want It All" and the stunning album opener, "Give Me Tomorrow", and fellow JOURNEY alum Neal Schon, who appears on the soulful ballad "Breaking My Heart" and the sinuous groover "Lift Me Up".

"Sonic Ranch"'s first single is "What About Love". The thunderous sing-along epic sees Sean Rolie displaying his own formidable guitar chops. "The song inspired by Ringo Starr and his message of peace and love," Rolie explains. "I had started writing it, and I would and play around with it at soundchecks with Ringo. It sounded really good, so I took it home, found the bassline, and Sean produced and engineered it. There's 15 lead vocals on it. Sean played the guitar solo and said, 'It's a little out of tune.' I said, 'It's perfectly out of tune. Let's go!' He's such a great player."

Rolie wrote all of the 13 tracks on the album, with the exception of "They Want It All", which he penned with Andre Pessis and Kevin Chalfont, and the piano-driven show stopper "Look Into The Future", which he co-wrote with Diane Valory and Neal Schon — the song originally appeared on JOURNEY's album of the same name in 1976. "I always liked that track and was waiting for a chance to re-arrange it and record my own version of it," he says.


In addition, Rolie re-imagines Elvis Presley's classic "Don't Be Cruel" as a mid-tempo gospel tune, and his spine-tingling vocal performance would draw a nod of approval from the King. "I used to play it in the same manner for encores with my quartet, and it always went over beautifully, so I decided to end the record with it," Rolie says. "I've got the same group of guys on it — Alan Haynes on guitar, drummer Ron Wikso and bassist Sticky Lopez."

"I'm pretty fortunate to have such good friends who are also some of the best musicians on earth," says Rolie. "These songs mean a lot to me, and I'm very proud to be putting them out. To have such amazing players helping me to make them a reality is an amazing thing. The album wouldn't have turned out so well without them."


"What About Love" can be streamed at Spotify.

U.S. metal act SILVERTOMB will release its debut album, "Edge Of Existence", on November 1 via the German independent label Long Branch Records/SPV.

The first single from the disc, "Love You Without No Lies", can be streamed below.

SILVERTOMB is the latest musical endeavor of guitarist-vocalist Kenny Hickey (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEVENTH VOID), drummer Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE, DANZIG), bassist Hank Hell (SEVENTH VOID, INHUMAN), New York City hardcore veteran Joseph James (AGNOSTIC FRONT, INHUMAN) on guitar and Aaron Joos (AWAKEN THE SHADOW, EMPYREON) on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals.


Hickey comments: "The first song written for the record 'Edge Of Existence', 'Love You Without No Lies' was conceived before keyboardist Aaron Joos was added to the lineup. Keyboard was then retrofitted into the song. The piano intro was originally a guitar intro played by Joe James and distorted keys were added to the verses and Hammond organs to the choruses. The lyrics question wether love is possible without some degree of conscious concealment or dishonesty."

"Edge Of Existence" explores Hickey's personal struggles with addiction, love, and suicide, and the death of his singer and frontman Peter Steele in 2010 and subsequent disbandment of TYPE O NEGATIVE. The album cover art was conceived by James and Hickey. The idea was to capture the classic black light, sci-fi poster art popular in the 1970s. The central skeletal figure on the front cover was modeled after the famous images of the ascension of Christ, with Hickey posing for the image and the artist Rodrigo Canteras sketching the image of the robed skeleton over his proportions.

SILVERTOMB combines the musical styles of bands such as PINK FLOYD and BLACK SABBATH with a bone-crushing, mind-blowing sonic experience.

Kelly told Antihero about SILVERTOMB's sound: "There's elements of what we were doing with SEVENTH VOID. It seems like it's a continuation from that, but the songs and the song structures really took a life of its own. It's more layered and textured — not to the extent that we would do in TYPE O NEGATIVE, but it has a little bit of that flavor to it. It doesn't sound like TYPE O, but, obviously, you have two guys from TYPE O NEGATIVE in the band. It's going to have resemblance. It's still a more rock-oriented approach than the slow-paced, doomy aspect that TYPE O had. Now that we've added a keyboard player, there's a lot more layers and textures to it than what SEVENTH VOID was."

Regarding how SILVERTOMB started, Kelly said: "With SEVENTH VOID, the record that we put out, that came out on 2009. It's been eight years. There were points in time where there really wasn't anything going on. The last couple years, things started moving a little bit. We got a solid lineup. We had the guys that we knew that were going to be in the band and stuff. It started moving along a little bit. Some of these songs were written quite a while ago. Once we added a keyboard player… he's been in the band almost a year. That kind of changed everything. The music that we were writing was starting to go more towards that kind of stuff, and then we were revisiting songs that were written a while ago that didn't have keyboards in them, then we started adding stuff to that too. It's, like, 'Oh, wow.' Now it's really becoming something you can… more special to us."

THE CIRCLE, Sammy Hagar's critically acclaimed supergroup also featuring Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson, has released the official music video for the song "No Worries". The track is taken from THE CIRCLE's first album of all-original material, "Space Between", which came out on May 10 via BMG.

Hagar told Forbes about "No Worries": "It's like a metaphor. In the album 'Space Between', I wrote a concept record about money, greed, enlightenment and truth. What happens is, in the songs, the guy lost everything. He was on top of the world, kicking ass, but he was an asshole and greedy and it went to his head. Then he got bumped out of everything and it took that to have the enlightenment moment cause the enlightenment moment is when you are sitting there with nothing and you realize it's not so bad. 'This is better than when I was rich and powerful and all the hassles I had and fucking people and getting fucked and all that stuff.' When you got nothing, you're just sitting there going, 'Wow, I don't have any worries.' I came from that place so I know that it does exist. It's not where I am today, but it was important in my story. And the video cracks me up because we took a businessman and took his tie and put it around his head, he starts doing cartwheels down the street. I love it, I love enlightenment, that song to me is about that. You can really live that way if you can figure it out, but otherwise you gotta go through some shit to get there. Most people start there, but they don't realize it was a pretty good place to be, 'No Worries.' It's kind of my lifestyle now, but I didn't have to go through all that to get it."

Formed in 2014, SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE quickly established itself as one of the most emphatic and exciting live acts on tour today, seamlessly ripping through career-spanning hits from MONTROSE, VAN HALEN, SAMMY HAGAR AND THE WABORITAS and LED ZEPPELIN.

BMG signed a worldwide label deal with SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE for "Space Between", and will also include select Hagar catalog titles.

Lyrically and musically, the collection of songs on "Space Between" build from intimate and introspective eye-openers to heart-pumping anthems. The music draws on the bands' substantial careers independently and collaboratively; presenting a veteran band still at the peak of its game.

THE CIRCLE released a concert album, "At Your Service", in May 2015. Recorded on tour in 2014, it featured live performances of hits from Sammy's four decades of rock (MONTROSE, solo, VAN HALEN, THE WABORITAS, CHICKENFOOT) as well as classic tracks from the LED ZEPPELIN catalog.

Photo credit: Leah Steiger

The first trailer for KING DIAMOND's first studio album in 12 years, "The Institute", is available below. The disc will be released in 2020 via Metal Blade Records.

KING DIAMOND's namesake frontman comments: "For reasons unknown to you, it is clear that you have no way of making it to 'The Institute' on your own at this point. Therefore, we will bring 'The Institute' to you. You don't want to miss this special opportunity for treatment only we can give you. It could be for your own good, you know…"

"The Institute" is expected to include the song "Masquerade Of Madness" which KING DIAMOND has been performing at its recent shows.

In support of "The Institute" project, KING DIAMOND will embark on a North American tour with UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS and IDLE HANDS in November/December.

King Diamond comments: "Watch out North America, we are coming for you this winter. I'm very proud to bring two special and amazing guests to you. Their names are UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS, plus IDLE HANDS. Make an appointment now."

This past March, King Diamond told Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show that the next album from his namesake band will be "absolutely gruesome. The storyline is… well, it's in a way where I can't even put it into just one album," he said. "So, it has to be over two albums. And it's really planned out to work in a very special way with the show as well. So the show is being built right now in Denmark and it's built around that story, so that it really can go hand in hand. Right now, I already know how the production will develop for the next tour, after this tour, so that when we do part two of that story, I know how the whole thing ends, of course, already, and I know how the production is gonna change and how it's gonna be culminating in one very, very big thing. So it's a long project, several years. Actually, the next three years are gonna be very, very intense for us. There is a lot of things that is in the planning. Also, after we signed up with 5B [artist] management, a lot of good stuff is coming out of that, piece by piece. We are getting a plan that is gonna be amazing for our fans for the next three years — something that's gonna come that they would not expect, I think. So some very, very cool prospects.

"[The album] has something to do with parallel worlds and punishment, and other stuff like that. You'll see us torture our dear little Abigail on stage. It's part of the story; you'll see it. But it's great to be here enjoying life. And [my son] Byron, it's been almost two years now [since he was born], and it's incredible. But it hasn't changed me very much when it comes to what I stand for and the stories that's coming and the musical style that's coming. It's total, utter KING DIAMOND."

KING DIAMOND's next album is said to be a story set in a 1920s mental institution. "I chose that because I think it's a very creepy scenario," King told Full Metal Jackie. "And the thing is that I know that somebody has talked about that, but that's not the setting, actually. There's a lot of other things involved, but the setting looks as if it was a 1920s asylum — that's exactly what it looks like. And some of the things that go on that we're gonna show onstage is also things that certainly was going on back then, when medicine was beginning to take a beneficial turn in history and actually being able to help human beings live longer. But there was some experimentation going on, too, that was absolutely gruesome. Some of that is involved in the story, but it's something totally different. Once you get to the second part of the story, you will begin to suddenly understand that, 'What the hell is going on here? What is this really about?' 'Cause there's a whole different story that will not come to you till second part. But in the first part, you're gonna get to know a lot people at a certain place.

"Instead of telling the story — it's way too much — but some of it takes place here, this world, and some of it takes place in a parallel world. And there's a correlation between what happened to me and what happens to some people in this place and where they suddenly appear. And you will find out why they are there, how they appear there and the places down the road. I won't say too much right now, but it's gonna be very creepy."

KING DIAMOND received a Grammy nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category for the track "Never Ending Hill" off the band's last album, 2007's "Give Me Your Soul … Please".

"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 174 on The Billboard 200 chart.

KING DIAMOND released a DVD/Blu-ray, "Songs For The Dead Live", in January via Metal Blade Records. The set captures 1987's seminal "Abigail" album in its entirety, twice, and in very different locales: Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting in June 2016 and Philadelphia's Fillmore in November 2015. The performances feature KING DIAMOND's current band, comprising of guitarists Andy LaRocque and Mike Wead, bassist Pontus Egberg and drummer Matt Thompson.

The official lyric video for "Get The F*ck Out Of Here", a brand new song from the Calgary-based hard rock quintet KOBRA AND THE LOTUS, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming studio album, "Evolution", which will be released on September 20 via Napalm Records. The upcoming LP sees the band imbued with a new fire that comes through by way of undeniable hooks, soaring guitar riffs, marching drum beats, and the soulful, bombastic vocal delivery of lead singer Kobra Paige. No longer bound by old formulas and expectations from the past, "Evolution" comes through with a sound that is expansive and, at times, borders on outright swagger. Each song feels like an Active Rock hit in the making, while still having the grit and feverish intensity that longtime fans have come to admire from KOBRA AND THE LOTUS.


Kobra talks about the meaning behind the song: "'Get The F*ck Out Of Here'! Time to get stoked, because this track was made for pumping people up and we're going to keep whipping out the unexpected on this new album. Bad juju... no way. This track is meant to put a fun spin on wiping your life of the predatory relationships that suck your energy dry and to charge you up so you can GTFO! Use it daily."

"Evolution" boasts the band's most cohesive and confident material to date. For the new record, KOBRA AND THE LOTUS enlisted the services of producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette (ALTER BRIDGE, LINKIN PARK, SLASH, SEVENDUST).

"The new body of work sets the tone for the music going forward," says Paige. "Sonically, it's still heavy. It highlights the showmanship and maintains the edge. At the same time, it's approachable. It pays tribute to our influences, but it takes the next step. So, it's a reintroduction to us and a rebirth. A firm goal was to build a strong identity and update everything. We just want to be KOBRA AND THE LOTUS; that's what we're doing.

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The first single, "Burn!", ignites this chapter. A hummable riff snaps into a visceral verse as the frontwoman directly declares, "I really hate you, yes I do." The track builds towards an incendiary and infectious chorus, hinging on a seesawing guttural groove and hitting like a sledgehammer.

"It's about all of the reasons you hold yourself back," Paige explains. "You literally need to burn all of those feelings, stories, excuses, and obstacles keeping you from being your own authentic self. It's super personal. It's a product of growing and arriving as a person. I'm realizing who I am. It's symbolic of the rebirth."

"Evolution" track listing:

01. Evolution

02. Burn!

03. We Come Undone

04. Wounds

05. Thundersmith

06. Circus

07. Wash Away

08. Liar

09. Get The F*ck Out Of Here

10. In The End

11. Tokyo (Japan version only)

Going further into the process behind "Evolution", Kobra comments: "We've never done a record like 'Evolution'. We've flown demos over the Internet back and forth or started a few ideas prior to hitting the studio. This time, we were all working together in the flesh for the full duration of the writing process. It's a collision of everything we love. We feel like it's the freshest and most timeless thing we've brought to the table."

In addition to the release of their new record, KOBRA AND THE LOTUS will hit the road starting at the end of the month. The trek kicks off on August 29 in Nashville, Tennessee and concludes on November 1 in Ft. Myers, Florida.

The official lyric video for "Divide And Conquer", a new song from Arizona thrash metal veterans SACRED REICH, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Awakening", which is being released today (Friday, August 23) via Metal Blade Records. SACRED REICH's first LP in 23 years was produced by Arthur Rizk, who has previously worked with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, POWER TRIP and CODE ORANGE, among others. The album marks SACRED REICH's first release since the return of drummer Dave McClain.

"Awakening" is described in a press release as "a timeless collection comprised of blistering thrash, crushing grooves, killer solos and socially conscious lyrics that demonstrate a true understanding of everything that matters most in the world today."

SACRED REICH guitarist and founding member Jason Rainey recently exited the band for "health reasons" and was replaced by Joey Radziwill.

Speaking about SACRED REICH's current lineup, Rind said: "Dave is such a killer drummer and person. He works every day to become a better drummer, and I mean every day. His work ethic is inspiring. As much as he has accomplished, he is still open to what comes. Joey brings a higher level of musicianship and tightness to our band, and he brings a freshness to us. He gives us an opportunity for us to see things from a different perspective, and all of us were blown away by what he can do with a guitar and how effortlessly he does it."

"Awakening" was engineered by John Aquilino and was mastered by Maor Appelbaum.

Regarding the new LP's musical direction, Rind said: "Going into it, we had a loose idea as far as knowing that we wanted some fast, heavy songs to honor the old school fans that have supported us and gotten us to this point. We wanted everything to happen naturally. We didn't want to force anything and we are super stoked with every song. It is easily the best thing we have ever done. Regardless of what happens with the record, the experience of making it was enough to satisfy us. Obviously, we hope people like it, but even if it tanked, it could not change the way we feel about it. We know what we did."


"Awakening" track listing:

01. Awakening

02. Divide And Conquer

03. Salvation

04. Manifest Reality

05. Killing Machine

06. Death Valley

07. Revolution

08. Something To Believe

"Hallowed Sound", a brand new song from New Orleans-based thrash metal pioneers EXHORDER, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's first album in 27 years, "Mourn The Southern Skies", which will be released on September 20 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band now features founding members Vinnie La Bella (guitar) and Kyle Thomas (vocals) along with Jason Viebrooks (HEATHEN) on bass, Marzi Montazeri (ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS) on guitar and Sasha Horn (FORBIDDEN) on drums.

Commenting on the new track, guitarist La Bella says: "'Hallowed Sound' is one that keeps in the tradition of 'The Law' era with some new twists and turns. Mid-tempo/slow, heavy grooves with a mean-yet-soulful Kyle Thomas singing about our beloved NOLA music history, and future!"

EXHORDER made its long-awaited return last year with a string of reunion shows and festival appearances and is now launching a full-on comeback with "Mourn The Southern Skies". Recorded by Duane Simoneaux at OCD Recording And Production and working with producer Jens Bogren (AMON AMARTH, OPETH, SEPULTURA) at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden for mix/master, EXHORDER is armed with more fury and vigor than bands half their age, concocting an intoxicating amalgam of old-school thrashers and groovers blended with a modern, mature approach.

From the opening of the first track of "Mourn The Southern Skies", listeners are reminded immediately just what EXHORDER is exactly through the spitting rage "My Time" forces upon their ears. It is evident that the anger remains prevalent, with perhaps a different point of view that younger men could not possibly have understood on earlier albums. Horn's energy and punk influence fire the engines, with VieBrooks locking down the foundation tightly. La Bella once again has proven himself "The Godfather" of thrash riffs, which cut through like a high-speed drill bit thanks to the stellar production. A lead guitar face-off in the solo not only exhibits Vinnie's sometimes under-appreciated skills as a shredder, but also showcases newcomer Montazeri ("The High Priest Of Distortion"). If anyone ever doubted EXHORDER's skill set regarding guitar soloing, those days are gone forever! And finally, as if riding a runaway garbage truck with fireworks exploding off of its roof top, Thomas invokes venom and energy with familiar passion. All in all, the truth is apparent — EXHORDER means business once again!

La Bella says of EXHORDER's resurgence: "You can plot and scheme for years, even decades (as is in our case). You can work hard, keep grinding, bang the square peg in the round hole until it looks somewhat presentable. But sometimes you just need to let time tell you it's time.

"EXHORDER has its own soul. And it pokes me in the ribs ever so often as if to remind me, 'Hey asshole, we ain't done yet!'

"Kyle and myself had a dream as teenagers. And as cliche as it may seem, we never woke up from it. EXHORDER has always crept in and out of our lives. So no magic bullet or formula here. It was only a simple matter of time before the right guys, the right songs, the right manager/label would finally come to the party.

"It's been damn near 35 years since we first uttered the name EXHORDER. 27 years since our last record, and a whole lot of breaking up and making up in between. So why is this time different? Why start again at 50 years of age instead of retiring? Simple... because it's finally TIME!"

"Mourn The Southern Skies" track listing:

01. My Time

02. Asunder

03. Hallowed Sound

04. Beware The Wolf

05. Yesterday's Bones

06. All She Wrote

07. Rumination

08. The Arms Of Man

09. Ripping Flesh

10. Mourn The Southern Skies

EXHORDER will tour North America with KATAKLYSM in September.

EXHORDER released two albums in the early 1990s through the Roadrunner label — 1990's "Slaughter In The Vatican" and 1992's "The Law" — before breaking up, with Kyle going on to form FLOODGATE and also briefly appearing live as the vocalist for TROUBLE, which he later joined on a full-time basis (and is still a member of).

EXHORDER is cited by many as the originator of the riff-heavy power-groove approach popularized by PANTERA.

"The Devil We Know", a new song from alternative rockers COLD, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's sixth studio album, "The Things We Can't Stop", which will be released on September 13 via Napalm Records.

Of the song, COLD frontman Scooter Ward says: "It evolved from me seeing people fighting on social media and on the news. People getting gaslighted daily. I had enough of all the noise from it. It's basically a siren for the silent majority to stand up and take control back. A revolution."

COLD has always documented memories and moments in song, etching them forever in diaristic lyrics, cinematic production, and airy guitars. Since their 1997 self-titled debut, the group fronted by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ward, has consistently converted pain into poetry consumed by a legion of diehard fans affectionately dubbed "Cold Army."

After a dormant two-year period, 2017 saw Ward turn his attention to COLD through once again surveying the events of an ever-changing journey and relying on the same internal compass responsible for his catalog thus far.

"I needed life to happen to be able to create," he admits. "There were probably around 15 years where all I did was live and breathe the band. I needed to separate from that to remember what it was like to not have it anymore. It was extremely important for me to spend time with my family. I did experience writer's block for the first time in my life during the process though. It was brutal, because the one thing I've always had — left me. It seemed the series of events in my life had taken away my soul. It turned around. I've remained adamant about evolving a bit with each record. Approaching every chapter as a new beginning is paramount and necessary for it to be a true COLD album."

That's exactly what he made with his 2019 debut for Napalm Records, "The Things We Can't Stop". In order to overcome the drought, he returned to his "alternative roots," spinning favorite records from THE NATIONAL, INTERPOL and PLACEBO in addition to reading musician biographies. Discovering Nick Cave's "One More Time With Feeling" documentary proved eye-opening. Not only did he watch the film over twenty times and develop a deeper appreciation for the artist, but Ward credits him for "breaking my block."

He recorded the album in multiple locations. Drums and bass would be cut in Phoenix with Jeremy Parker at Equinox Studios joined by Nick Coyle (guitar, keys, backing vocals), Lindsay Manfredi (bass) and Aaron Fulton (drums). The rest of the material came to life at Ward's home studio in California and in the woods of Pennsylvania at Nick's.

With instrumentation in place, his vision unfolded in classic COLD fashion.

"Every time we begin a record, I wait for the music to tell me what the songs will be about," he explains. "I can never start a record with a preconceived notion of how it will end. The notes from the piano dictate the stories within the songs. I needed this to be an album with elements from all of the past albums…along with a new sound. As songs started forming, I felt they helped me deal with things happening in my life. They were therapeutic. It seemed powerful in that it took all of the bad things going in my head and gave me hope."

In the end, "The Things We Can't Stop" shines a light on life's tragedy only to color it with beauty as COLD has always done.

"When you listen to this, if you're going through something tragic, maybe you can take a small bit of hope that you're not alone," Ward leaves off. "To me, COLD means family. The fans who have stayed with us throughout the years and the people who have worked with us and are all connected through the music. The shows are reunions. These people have become my life. I'm extremely thankful."

"The Things We Can't Stop" track listing:

01. Intro

02. Shine

03. Snowblind

04. The Devil We Know

05. Run (SNOW PATROL cover)

06. Better Human

07. Without You

08. Quiet Now

09. The One That Got Away

10. Systems Fail

11. Beautiful Life

12. We All Love

BAD WOLVES will release their sophomore album, "N.A.T.I.O.N.", on October 25 via Eleven Seven Music. Pre-order the disc and receive an immediate download of tracks "Killing Me Slowly" and "I'll Be There".

BAD WOLVES have proven to be the unprecedented global breakthrough rock act of 2018 and aim to continue that momentum with "N.A.T.I.O.N." The stunning 12-track follow-up to their debut album, "Disobey", is a bit of a departure — staying in the same realm musically, but breaking beyond. As vocalist Tommy Vext explains: "We've honed it in and really delivered a more focused version of BAD WOLVES' sound. Basically, it's like pouring steroids on everything we love about the first record to create an album that's a roller coaster of emotional experience."

Founding member and drummer John Boecklin adds: "'N.A.T.I.O.N.' is definitely a big step in the right direction. We're still evolving. It's only our second record and I'm very excited about it."

Stream the newly released melodic rock anthem "Killing Me Slowly" below.

BAD WOLVES is wrapping up the last stretch of their summer tour with PAPA ROACH, which ends on Sunday, September 1st, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They will support FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on their headlining arena tour, beginning Friday, November 1, in Las Vegas, through its 28 dates, culminating on Wednesday, December 18, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Vext recently revealed that BAD WOLVES have recorded another cover, following the band's massive breakout success last year with its rendition of the 1993 CRANBERRIES classic "Zombie".

Originally scheduled to feature a guest appearance from late CRANBERRIES frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan, "Zombie" launched shortly after her death in January of 2018 and went on to top the rock radio chart and sell a million copies.

"Zombie" surfaced on "Disobey", which came out in May 2018 and has also yielded the follow-up single "Hear Me Now", featuring Diamante, which reached No. 2 on the rock chart.

Guitarist Doc Coyle spoke to Australia's Loud about the musical direction of the band's second album. He explained: "It's diverse. There's stuff that's probably heavier, as or more heavy than the last record... And then there's some really catchy, kind of more mainstream stuff to cover that end of it, and a lot of stuff in the middle."

BAD WOLVES was formed in 2017, comprised of former members of DEVILDRIVER, GOD FORBID, DIVINE HERESY and IN THIS MOMENT.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Ozzy Osbourne will be celebrated with the first-ever definitive vinyl collection of all his original solo material.

Due out Friday, November 29 on Sony Legacy, "See You On The Other Side" includes:

Vinyl: 173 songs total on 16 albums, each of which is 150-gram, hand-pressed multi-colored splatter vinyl, making each pressing unique. Many of the albums are previously unavailable or are currently out of print on vinyl. The collection also includes "Flippin' The B Side", a new collection of non-album tracks, which has never been pressed to vinyl. In addition, "Black Rain", "Down To Earth" and "Scream" have never been pressed in the U.S., while "No More Tears" was remastered from the original flat analog album masters and is offered as a two-LP set which will allow the album's songs to be uncompressed for the very first time ever on vinyl. (Full list of albums is below.)


Art: 10 newly designed 24"x36" posters (including some never-before-seen images) each accompany the 10 studio albums released between 1981-2010.


AR: Twelve AR (Augmented Reality) experiences will be included throughout the package. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.


Signed Certificate: Each collection features an individually numbered vellum certificate of authenticity hand-signed by Ozzy.


"This one's the most elaborate collection so far," Ozzy says. "It's very well thought-out and well put together. It's got everything in there that you possibly could want and some surprises along the way. The sound of a vinyl record is different, and I do believe that vinyl sounds better."


The full list of vinyl (all of which contain the original track listings) is as follows:


* "Blizzard Of Ozz", 1980

* "Mr. Crowley" (EP), 45 RPM 1980

* "Diary Of A Madman", 1981

* "Bark At The Moon", 1983

* "The Ultimate Sin", 1986

* "Tribute" (2 LPs), 1987

* "No Rest For The Wicked", 1988

* "Just Say Ozzy" (EP), 1990

* "No More Tears", 1991

* "Live & Loud" (3 LPs), 1993

* "Ozzmosis" (2 LPs), 1995

* "Down To Earth", 2001

* "Live At Budokan", (2 LPs) 2002

* "Black Rain" (2 LPs), 2007

* "Scream" (2 LPs), 2010


Bonus features include:


* "Flippin' The B Side" (a new collection of non-LP tracks)


Side A

* "You Looking At Me Looking At You"

Originally from the "Crazy Train" UK 7" single, released 1980


* "One Up The B Side"

Originally from "Bark At The Moon" 7" single,released 1983


* "Spiders"

Originally from "Bark At The Moon," 7" single,released 1983


* "Hero"

Originally a hidden track from the "No Rest For The Wicked" US CD and cassette release, released 1988


* "The Liar"

Originally from the "Miracle Man" UK 12" single, released 1988


* "Don't Blame Me"

Originally from the "Mama I'm Coming Home" UK 7" single, released 1991


Side B

* "Party With The Animals"

Originally from the "Mama I'm Coming Home" US CD single, released 1992


* "Living With The Enemy"

Originally from the "Perry Mason" UK CD single, released 1995


* "Voodoo Dancer"

Originally from the "I Just Want You" UK CD single, released 1996


* "Back On Earth"

Originally from "The Ozzman Cometh" compilation, released 1997


* "No Place For Angels"

Originally from the "Gets Me Through" CD single, released 2001


* "Walk On Water"

Originally released on "Prince Of Darkness," released 2005


* Flexi Disc, 7" (45 RPM) Unreleased version of "See You On The Other Side" (Demo)

Watch a clip about the set with special guest star Zakk Wylde below.

On October 25th, Alcest will once again open the gateways to the otherworldly and release their sixth studio album titled Spiritual Instinct. Recorded at the French Drudenhaus Studios and written in bursts both during and after a prolonged period of touring in support of 2016’s hugely successful Kodama, the new album - the first to be released via Nuclear Blast - will lead the blackgaze pioneers into dark soundscapes full of spiritual catharsis.

Today, the wait is over as singer/multi-instrumentalist Neige and drummer Winterhalter have revealed the first single "Protection" from the band's upcoming album. 

Frontman Neige comments:

"'Protection' is the first track I wrote for Spiritual Instinct. It’s probably one of our most heavy, spontaneous songs. It is about inner conflict, the tension between the spiritual and darker sides of a person, facing your own anguishes in order to embrace them and then fight them. Like the other tracks on the album, writing it was a very cathartic, healing process for me."

The music video for "Protection" was filmed by director Craig Murray (Mogwai, Blood Red Shoes).

The album is now available for pre-order in the following formats:
- digipak in O-card
- 36 pages earbook including 2 CD + 180g LP (stone effect) (limited to 2000 copies)
- 180g LP in sleeve available in the colors:
black (retail)
ocean green (NB mailorder + wholesale, limited to 500 copies)
burgundy (NB mailorder exclusive, limited to 300 copies)
polar white (Rough Trade exclusive, limited to 300 copies)
royal blue (band shop exclusive, limited to 300 copies)
- Boxset collector's edition including 2 CDs + 180g LP (stone effect), earbook, bonus mini LP (violet sparkle, etched) in sleeve, art prints and patch (limited to 500 copies)
Digital

USA exclusive vinyl colors:
mint green (retail, limited to 1.700 copies)
clear+blue/bone splatter (indie exclusive, limited to 300 copies)
blood red (NB mailorder exclusive, limited to 500 copies)

Find preorders at this location.




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Dutch metal titans, Epica, recently released a lyric video for "Kingdom Of Heaven" (see below), which is taken from the band’s upcoming re-release of Design Your Universe - Gold Edition. Today, the band  has revealed the first album trailer, in which they share memories about the album, including the lineup changes that happened during Design Your Universe, how the title came to be and the touring, that followed the album.

Design Your Universe - Gold edition contains a remastered and remixed version of the album and a newly recorded acoustic bonus disc and will be released October 4. The album and exclusive merchandise bundles are now available for pre-order, here.

Tracklisting:

CD1: Album

"Samadhi - Prelude"
"Resign To Surrender - A New Age Dawns - Pt IV"
"Unleashed"
"Martyr Of The Free Word"
"Our Destiny"
"Kingdom Of Heaven - A New Age Dawns - Pt V"
"The Price Of Freedom - interlude"
"Burn To A Cinder"
"Tides Of Time"
"Deconstruct"
"Semblance Of Liberty"
"White Waters"
"Design Your Universe - A New Age Dawns - Pt VI"
"Incentive" (bonus)

CD2: The Acoustic Universe / Bonus CD

"Burn To A Cinder"
"Our Destiny"
"Unleashed"
"Martyr Of The Free Word"
"Design Your Universe"

"Kingdom Of Heaven" lyric video:

To coincide with this release, Epica will perform a number of exclusive Design Your Universe 10th anniversary shows around the globe. Details and tickets here.




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Metallica have released the new video below, featuring professionally-filmed footage of the band performing "The Day That Never Comes" during their concert at Letňany Airport in Prague, Czech Republic on August 18.

Metallica performs tonight, Friday, August 23, at Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany. Find the complete tour itinerary here.




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German epic metal pioneers, Equilibrium, have released a video for "Final Tear", a song from their sixth studio album, Renegades, out today via Nuclear Blast. Watch the clip below, and order the album here.

Renegades was recorded and produced from September 2018 through March 2019 by the band itself and Swedish producer Robin Leijon. It's the first Equilibrium album to feature Skar with his clean vocals and Skadi Rosehurst on synths.

Tracklisting:

"Renegades - A Lost Generation"
"Tornado"
"Himmel und Feuer"
"Path Of Destiny" (feat. The Butcher Sisters)
"Moonlight"
"Kawaakari - The Periphery Of The Mind"
"Johnny B"
"Final Tear"
"Hype Train" (feat. Julie Elven)
"Rise Of The Phoenix"

"Path Of Destiny" video:

"Renegades - A Lost Generation" video:

"Renegades - A Lost Generation" (8-Bit Version) video:




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True Norwegian black metal legends, Mayhem will release their sixth studio album, entitled Daemon, on October 25. Last week they revealed the cover and tracklisting for the standard version of the album, which you can see below.

Daemon tracklisting:

"The Dying False King"
"Agenda Ignis"
"Bad Blood "
"Malum"
"Falsified And Hated"
"Aeon Daemonium"
"Worthless Abomination Destroyed"
"Daemon Spawn"
"Of Worms And Ruins"
"Invoke The Oath"

However, as a special treat for fans, there will also be a Ltd. Deluxe 2LP Box set available featuring alternate cover artwork and a few special bonus songs on a separate one-sided LP, as well as some extra items for die-hard fans.

Here are all the details of the Ltd. Deluxe 2LP Box Set for Daemon, which comes in a noble box with linen optic and golden silk-screen print featuring the alternate artwork.

Tracklisting:

Gatefold LP (colored /w 12 page booklet):

"The Dying False King                                        
"Agenda Ignis                                                       
"Bad Blood                                                            
"Malum                                                                  
"Falsified and Hated                                            
"Aeon Daemonium                                              
"Worthless Abominations Destroyed                
"Daemon Spawn                                                  
"Of Worms and Ruins                                          
"Invoke the Oath                                                   

Bonus LP (in separate sleeve & with an etched D-side):

"Everlasting Dying Flame" (Bonus Track)             
"Black Glass Communion" (Bonus Track)            
"Evil Dead" (Death Cover)*         
"The Truth" (Death Strike Cover)*    
"Disgusting Semla" (Morbid Cover)*

(*) only available within the Ltd. Deluxe LP Box Set

CD (in mini gatefold sleeve):

"The Dying False King"                                        
"Agenda Ignis"                                                       
"Bad Blood"                                                            
"Malum"                                                                  
"Falsified and Hated"                                            
"Aeon Daemonium"                                              
"Worthless Abominations Destroyed"                
"Daemon Spawn"                                                  
"Of Worms and Ruins"                                          
"Invoke the Oath"                                               
"Everlasting Dying Flame" (Bonus Track)       
"Black Glass Communion" (Bonus Track)       

The Box Set also contains the following items:

- two red candles with exclusive Mayhem print
- a metallic sigil pin
- three noble art prints
- a 90 x 60 poster of the original cover artwork

The box is strictly limited to 2,500 copies worldwide, split into five different colors of 500 units each.

Beside the LP Box Set there will also be a Ltd. CD Mediabook in a noble slipcase featuring a similar alternate artwork, which also contains the two original bonus tracks.

Tracklisting:

"The Dying False King"                                        
"Agenda Ignis"                                                       
"Bad Blood"                                                            
"Malum"                                                                  
"Falsified and Hated"                                            
"Aeon Daemonium"                                             
"Worthless Abominations Destroyed"                
"Daemon Spawn"                                                  
"Of Worms and Ruins"                                          
"Invoke the Oath"                                                   
"Everlasting Dying Flame" (Bonus Track)       
"Black Glass Communion" (Bonus Track)       

Lineup:

Necrobutcher - Bass
Hellhammer - Drums
Attila - Vocals
Teloch - Guitar
Ghul - Guitar




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The Defiants are back with their sophomore album, Zokusho. Comprised of Paul Laine, Bruno Ravel, and Rob Marcello, The Defiants are three fabulous musicians who, as fans in the know will immediately recognize, all have ties to popular hard rockers, Danger Danger.

Pre-order Zokusho here, and watch a music video for the track "U X'd My Heart" below.

On how the new album compares to their debut, bassist Bruno Ravel says, "I think the “sound” of the album, while very similar to the debut, is a bit more focused. I also think that the songs, as a collection, are stronger than the debut."

Vocalist/guitarist Paul Laine says, "I think the sound of the record is a natural progression from the first record. I think both Bruno and I felt pressure to deliver a record that we could feel as proud of as the first one. On a personal note, I feel the Bruno really outdid himself on the mix of the album. To me, it is sonically beautiful."

Guitarist Rob Marcello adds, "It’s basically more of the same. Why mess with a winning concept! Haha I’m very proud of the last one, but I feel the songs are stronger on the new album."

The songwriting process for Zokusho was, "the same as the debut. Paul and I sift through ideas, refine them and what you hear is the end result," tells Ravel. "Bruno and I tossed the idea ball back and forth until the album was completed. Discipline and hard work, with a focus on the same passion that we had making the first album," adds Laine. Marcello chimes in that, "Bruno and Paul have such a great formula for writing songs, so when I get to them they’re pretty much complete. Then I get to decorate them with some Scandinavian flavor!"

The Defiants debut album was greeted with a great acclaim as a glorious return to the “in your face” melodic hard rock that enraptured millions of fans back in the '80s and '90s and is currently enjoying a renaissance here in the 21st century, so a follow-up album was a no-brainer. The brand new album, Zokusho, a Japanese word meaning "sequel” or "the next chapter”, is now set for release on September 13. This album also features Steve West of D2 on drums. Needless to say, this album has all the ingredients to thrill D2 and The Defiants fans. A BIG melodic rock album with big choruses, hooks and soaring guitars and vocals.

Best known for being the D2 vocalist on four studio albums over the course of 12 years, Paul Laine came back to work with his former bandmates Bruno Ravel and Rob Marcello, who are the other two pillars of The Defiants, for the band’s self-titled debut album in 2015. The guys reunited at the suggestion of Frontiers' President Serafino Perugino, who really wanted these current and former Danger Danger members to offer fans of that band some new music. The resulting album was pleasing not only to the D2 fans, but also to ALL the fans out there who are into the classic sound of the era from which D2 emerged.

Tracklisting:

"Love Is The Killer"
"Standing On The Edge"
"Hollywood In Headlights"
"Fallin' For You"
"Hold On Tonite"
"Allnighter"
"U X'd My Heart"
"It Goes Fast"
"Stay"
"Alive"
"Drink Up!"

"U X'd My Heart" video:

"Hollywood In Headlights":

"Fallin' For You" video:

Lineup:

Bruno Ravel: Bass
Paul Laine: Vocals, Guitar
Rob Marcello: Guitar
Steve West: Drums




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In a recent interview with Rock Feed, SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor was asked what musicians can do to better facilitate opportunities for higher royalty rates for artists from music-streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. He responded: "I'll tell you what they can do; they can start by all of them banding together and pushing the streaming services to stop appealing the legislation that's already been put in place to pay us better. There's a reason that TOOL waited as long as they did to put their stuff up on streaming services, 'cause they knew they weren't gonna be compensated for something that they worked their asses off for. To me, it smells of two things, with TOOL: a) it's perfect timing, because they have a new album coming out; and b) they probably worked out a deal with their label to make sure that they got a piece of the money that the label's automatically going to get because of the money that's being generated from streaming.

He continued: "That's what people don't understand. The difference between streaming and radio is you make money off radio because of the publishing that's involved. With streaming, there really is no publishing that is promised. That money goes directly to — and technically it's mechanicals — goes directly to the label. So the label is making huge amounts of money. And they are not contractually bound to pay us for that, because of what they call 'new technology.' And unless you have been able to renegotiate your contracts in a way that makes it viable for you — which we haven't; which a lot of people haven't, because you can't keep up with the technology. Unless you are able to adapt with that — and legally, a lot of labels won't let you do that — you get screwed. So from a publishing standpoint, the only way for us to make money, like that, off of the streaming is for that legislation to actually be signed into law. Which the fact that they are appealing it — most of them are, anyway — is just a smack in the face."

Taylor added: "We don't have a problem with streaming. We don't have a problem with people listening to our music. What we have a problem with is these streaming services basically treating it like we owe them, which is not the way it should be."

According to Corey, the vast majority of artists don't own their masters (original or master recordings before the revenue split is calculated between involved groups) — the record labels do — which has affected their bottom line greatly.

"It's a very occurrence [that a group will own its masters]," he said. "I can think of maybe three bands that have been able to do that. METALLICA is one. MÖTLEY [CRÜE] is the other. I'm not sure about AC/DC. But I know there are a handful of bands that actually own the masters and the rights for them. But we are talking about bands that not only own their masters, they also own the label that they release stuff out of. METALLICA has Blackened; MÖTLEY has Motley Records. It's a very small class or group. You have to be done with your contracts — the original that you signed in the first place — and ready to go on to an independent basis to be able to do anything like that. And for bands like us, and probably a million other bands out there, you just simply don't have the money to do it."

This past January, the Copyright Royalty Board ruled the royalties songwriters receive from on-demand subscription streaming would jump 44 percent over the next five years. Spotify, Google, Pandora and Amazon — four of the major U.S. streaming services — later appealed the ruling, saying that it "harms music licensees and copyright owners."

Back in 2015, Taylor said that record labels were continuing to lose the digital music battle or piracy war because they couldn't "catch up with the technology." He said during an appearance on the "Eddie Trunk Podcast": "On one hand, you've got people who are streaming, but then they use that to decide whether or not they wanna buy the album, as opposed to illegal downloading. But then there's the other side of it where people are kind of using it as, basically, satellite radio, where it's, like, 'I'm just gonna listen to this.' But people still pay a subscription for it. So, in one way or another, the economy is still working. It's just that… We can't catch up with the technology; that's the problem. There's so many innovations that the powers that be can't figure out… they can't get ahead of it."

SLIPKNOT's sixth album, "We Are Not Your Kind", was released on August 9 via Roadrunner Records.

Just shy of an incredible 50 years into their career, Uriah Heep are one of rock's true originators. Currently touring their Living The Dream album from 2018, they are in the planning stages for next year’s mammoth five-decade milestone celebration. eonmusic caught up with band leader / guitarist Mick Box and singer Bernie Shaw at the Steelhouse Festival for a chat about all of the above. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

eonmusic: The band have had released twenty-five studio albums now; what would you say are the stand outs for you?

Mick Box: "It’s a very hard thing to say because, you know, there’s been markers, of course, like Demons And Wizards (1972) was the album that took us onto the world’s stage, but then you go back to our first album (...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble -1970) which created all the start of everything, and then you get all the progressive rock things we went into with Salisbury (1971), and then Look at Yourself (1971) which had ‘July Morning’ on it, which is a mainstay in our set for many years. But you know, Demons and Wizards with Easy Livin’ really took us onto the world’s stage, and it just great and grew and grew. And then, of course, when we did Abominog (1982), which went Top 40 in America, and that went huge too, so we’ve had so many highs and troughs. But I think it’s the strength in character of the band that we get through all those highs and lows and come out fighting strong again."

eonmusic: What about for you Bernie; you’ve recorded quite a few albums with the band?

Bernie Shaw: "The thing is, each one has its own strength. You can’t say; 'Oh, that was a poor album'; they all had something special at that time. Like, right now, when people say; 'What’s your favourite album?', I have to say 'Living the Dream.' With songs like ‘Grazed by Heaven’ to sing every night, it’s got so much energy, it’s got a new sound. But Wake the Sleeper for me, was one of those pinnacle points. Really, the songwriting on there, I just really got my teeth into. Lyrically, and melodically, it’s a really strong album for me."

eonmusic: Have you plans to celebrate the band’s fiftieth anniversary in place?

Bernie Shaw: "Absolutely."

Mick Box: "I don’t think there’s enough alcohol in the world yet to warrant that celebration! But yeah, we’ll be able to celebrate in many, many ways. But if I’m absolutely truthful, our management’s desk is full of ideas, and he’s working through them now to see which ones will come to fruition. The one thing we won’t be doing is looking back too much, because although we’re very proud of our history, we’re a forward-looking band, and I think that’s the most important thing to make on our fiftieth anniversary; that the band is still alive and kicking, is creative, and writing great music."

Read the complete interview here.




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"Valediction", the new video from Finnish melodic death metal masters INSOMNIUM, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Heart Like A Grave", which will be released on October 4 via Century Media Records.

The impressive video was shot by Vesa Ranta and Aapo Lahtela of Kaira Films, who filmed two videos in the same session with the band in the beginning of summer. These two videos are bound together, so they form one longer story.

The band comments: "When the album theme is to dive deep into the black waters of Finnish melancholy, then Vesa Ranta is truly the right man to visualize the story. Album booklet is crafted from Vesa's epic landscape photos and these same themes continue in the two videos that we shot at Koli national park. Woods and lakes, sorrow and longing. That's the heart of INSOMNIUM."

Ranta and Lahtela add: "INSOMNIUM is one of those bands that have been inspiring us. We have wanted to work with them for long time. 'Valediction' is the beginning that sets the mood and presents the characters. The story will unfold in the next music video that will be released later. And as the album theme demands this tale here is grim indeed."

Consisting of 10 songs and over an hour of music, "Heart Like A Grave" evolved to be an epic tour de force of Finnish melancholy.

With four composers in the band, the sound of INSOMNIUM is now richer and more versatile than ever before.

In the name of Nordic collaboration, the Swedish wizard Jens Bogren has been doing the mixing and mastering and made "Heart Like A Grave" the best-sounding INSOMNIUM album ever.

INSOMNIUM said: "The concept of the album is to delve deep into the heart of the Finnish melancholy. We've been inspired by some of the bleakest and saddest songs, poems and tales that truly capture the essence of northern gloom. Land where the frost ravages the harvest and creeps inside the souls, summer ends before it even starts, wife leaves, little brother dies in snow on a Christmas morning, and the golden days of youth are forever gone. So there are echoes of Harmaja, Rautavaara, Vainio, Peltoniemen Hintriikka and, of course, our own petty, miserable lives."

"Heart Like A Grave" track listing:

01. Wail Of The North

02. Valediction

03. Neverlast

04. Pale Morning Star

05. And Bells They Toll

06. The Offering

07. Mute Is My Sorrow

08. Twilight Trails

09. Heart Like A Grave

10. Karelia


INSOMNIUM recently announced the addition of guitarist Jani Liimatainen to the group's ranks.

In November, INSOMNIUM will embark on a comprehensive European tour with the support from the U.S. extreme metal kings THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and Finland’s fiercest quintet STAM1NA.

"Lines Of Your Hands", a brand new song from THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The Act", which will be released on October 11 via Solid State Records.

The members of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA consistently choose to both challenge themselves and the world around them. The group — Mike Hranica (vocals), Jeremy DePoyster (vocals, guitar), Andy Trick (bass), Kyle Sipress (guitar), Jonathan Gering (keys, synthesizers) and Giuseppe Capolupo (drums) — bends and breaks all boundaries on its seventh full-length and debut for Solid State Records. Pulling plain-spoken poetry through distorted discord and dissonance, the six-piece delivers a dynamic and definitive statement.

"'Lines Of Your Hands' is a love song that includes a written dialogue we got our pal Sierra to sing on," says Hranica. "She totally nailed it and it certainly enhances the song's storyline and thematic nature. Sonically, we feel that 'Lines Of Your Hands' checks the right boxes for first single released from this album. What is upcoming really moves away from where PRADA has been the last 10 years."

Regarding the album, Hranica says: "'The Act' is our seventh full-length and the most detailed effort of our career. The process was scrupulous in every facet. Jon, who's played keyboard with the band for the last seven or eight years, produced the album; which is a decision that's insurmountably snowballed over the past few releases. There is no common theme surrounding every song on the record, although there are notions that inhale and exhale through the LP's timeline."

"This just feels very make it, or break it for us," says Hranica. "All bets are in on 'The Act'. We tried to make something outside of the norm for rock, metalcore, or heavy music. We often hear commentary that 'rock is dead' now; I don't think it has to be that way though. Look at the corners pop and hip-hop turn. Artists just need to reinvent themselves and make something creative and inventive again. Reinvention is what we're driving towards."

"The Act" track listing:

01. Switchblade

02. Lines Of Your Hands

03. Chemical

04. Wave Of Youth

05. Please Say No

06. The Thread

07. Numb

08. Isn't It Strange?

09. Diamond Lost

10. As Kids

11. Even Though

12. Spiderhead

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA will embark on a headline tour this fall in support of "The Act". NORMA JEAN and GIDEON will also appear.

Finnish hard rock quartet SANTA CRUZ will release its fourth album, "Katharsis", via M-Theory Audio on October 18, two days before the group hits the road with ATREYU on a month-long North American tour.

Today, the group — which has recently shared European stages with the likes of BON JOVI, STEEL PANTHER and WHITESNAKE, and whose current single, "Tell Me Why", continues to gain traction on America's active rock radio charts — unveils the third advance taste of the new album, the uplifting and anthemic "Into The War". A lyric video for the song, designed by Rafael Ortega of Ecliptic Visions, can be seen below.

"Into The War" is also available for streaming across all digital platforms and is one of three "instant-grat" tracks that are being offered with digital pre-orders of "Katharsis". The album features cover art designed by Tim LeNoir (GUNS N' ROSES, THE ROLLING STONES, IMAGINE DRAGONS).

Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Kane Churko (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, OZZY OSBOURNE, PAPA ROACH), "Katharsis" marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the story of SANTA CRUZ, which made impressive waves on both sides of the Atlantic in the five-year period following the release of its acclaimed 2013 debut. In Europe, the group scored two Top 5 albums in their home country, supported the likes of AC/DC and delivered memorable performances at major events such as the U.K.'s Download festival. In America, meanwhile, the band appeared on the AXS TV program "Breaking Band", played notable gigs such as Rock On The Range and the inaugural Motörboat cruise and toured alongside I PREVAIL, THROUGH FIRE, AMARANTHE and Sebastian Bach.

Halfway through an American tour with FOZZY last year, however, founding member Archie Cruz and his then-bandmates parted ways. Soon after, Archie temporarily relocated to Las Vegas to write and record "Katharsis" with Churko at the city's Hideout Recording Studio (IN THIS MOMENT, DISTURBED, HALESTORM). "The whole year was very spiritual for me," Archie recently told Kaaos TV. "I had to reevaluate myself, my goals, what I wanted to do... When the whole fallout happened, I saw this as a great opportunity for me to finally put myself out there creatively, the way I wanted to do it for the longest time. It was a blessing in disguise, really."

While "Katharsis" is not a concept album per se, several of the album's 11 tracks ("Changing Of Seasons", "True Believer", "Salvation") address Archie's journey to rebuild SANTA CRUZ. Other songs tackle relationships, for better ("Testify") or worse ("It Was You"). Perhaps the album's most eye-opening moments, meanwhile, are its two riveting power ballads, the plaintive "I Want You To Mean It" and the soaring "Smoke Signals". And lest anyone think that the group has lost its affinity for the music of the 1980s, the album's closing track is a faithful but adrenalized cover of Cyndi Lauper's iconic No. 1 hit "Time After Time". As a whole, "Katharsis" is an exciting, diverse and — dare we say? — mature album that should appeal to fans of classic Sunset Strip hard rock and modern hard rock alike.

"Katharsis" track listing:

01. Changing of Seasons

02. Bang Bang

03. Into The War

04. I Want You To Mean It

05. True Believer

06. Tell Me Why

07. Testify

08. Smoke Signals

09. It Was You

10. Salvation

11. Time After Time

Prior to hitting the road with ATREYU, SANTA CRUZ — which earlier this month played its first-ever concerts in Mexico and Brazil — will appear at two of the fall's biggest rock festivals, Louder Than Life (Louisville, Kentucky) and Aftershock (Sacramento, California), where they will perform alongside the likes of GUNS N' ROSES, SLIPKNOT and TOOL. European tour dates will be announced in the near future.

SANTA CRUZ is (left to right):

Archie Cruz: lead vocals, guitar

Toxy Cruz: drums

Ero Cruz: bass guitar, backing vocals

Pav Cruz: lead guitar, backing vocals

Stoner death metal icons CANNABIS CORPSE will release "Nug So Vile" on November 1 via Season Of Mist. The album was mixed and mastered at Blaze Of Torment Studio by Jarrett Pritchard. The artwork, which was created by Pär Olofsson, and track listing have been revealed and can be found below.

In conjunction with this announcement, CANNABIS CORPSE has premiered the gory, animated music video for the first single, "Cylinders Of Madness". The video, which was created entirely by CANNABIS CORPSE drummer Josh "Hallhammer" Hall, can be seen below.

CANNABIS CORPSE vocalist/bassist Phil "Landphil" Hall comments on the clip: "My brother Hallhammer and I are excited to premiere the animated video for 'Cylinders Of Madness'. This video is Hallhammer's very first foray into animation and marks the starting point for a lot of amazing content in the future. This medium opens up a whole new world of possibilities for insane content for CANNABIS CORPSE! Stay tuned!"

"Nug So Vile" track listing:

01. Conquerors Of Chronageddon (03:15)

02. Nug So Vile (03:08)

03. Blunt Force Domain (03:43)

04. Cylinders Of Madness (02:42)

05. Blasphemy Made Hash (03:40)

06. Cheeba Jigsore Quandary (03:23)

07. Edibles Autopsy (03:14)

08. Dawn Of Weed Possession (03:27)

09. The Cone Is Red (Long Live The Cone) (02:21)

10. The Ultimate Indicantation (03:57)

11. From Enslavement To Hydrobliteration (02:53) (bonus track)

CANNABIS CORPSE's latest strain of weed-metal is another potent dose of bong ripping brutality laced with tasty riffs, vicious drumming, and dank THC. With a title inspired by CRYPTOPSY's seminal album, "Nug So Vile" is a horrifying look into the mind of a hardcore marijuana abuser with the demented fantasies of a reefer addict fully on display. The record is more than just a mere follow up to 2017's "Left Hand Pass", but rather serves as a solid companion piece, seamlessly picking up right where the band left off.

Sharing a passion for marijuana and death metal, brothers Phil "Landphil" Hall (MUNICIPAL WASTE, IRON REAGAN) and Josh "Hallhammer" Hall formed CANNABIS CORPSE in 2006 in Richmond, Virginia as a loving homage to the genre's forefathers. The brothers decided from the start to separate themselves from the pack by infusing a green sense of humor into their horror-inspired lyrics. Meanwhile, it has become a badge of honor for many of the Halls' idols to have one of their titles parodied by the Richmond outfit.

Now, CANNABIS CORPSE has returned as a three-piece and despite slimming the lineup down since "Left Hand Pass", "Nug So Vile" still sounds as full and thick as ever, solidifying its place among death metal's elite.

CANNABIS CORPSE is:

Phil "Landphil" Hall: vocals, bass

Josh "HallHammer" Hall: drums

Adam Gulliams: guitars