Robert Plant performed "Immigrant Song" during his June 23 set at the Secret Solstice festival in Iceland. According to Led Zeppelin News, the song's surprise airing marked the first time the singer has played the LED ZEPPELIN classic since he performed it with Jimmy Page in Tokyo, Japan in February 1996.

Plant likely chose to close his Secret Solstice set with "Immigrant Song" because the song was inspired by LED ZEPPELIN's visit to Iceland — "the land of ice and snow" — in 1970.

As quoted in Chris Welch's "Led Zeppelin Dazed And Confused", Plant had this to say about his lyrical inspiration: "We weren't being pompous. We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be canceled. The university prepared a concert hall for us and it was phenomenal. The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time. 'Immigrant Song' was about that trip and it was the opening track on the album that was intended to be incredibly different."

Plant has spent the last two decades exploring different sounds, from the Americana-tinged "Raising Sand", a Grammy-winning collaboration with Alison Krauss in 2007, to 2017's world music-influenced "Carry Fire".

In concert, Plant and the SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS often perform a cosmic, bluesy rendition of LED ZEPPELIN's "Black Dog", and also run through ZEPPELIN's "The Lemon Song", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" and a rendition of "Whole Lotta Love" that integrates the Willie Dixon-penned blues classic "I Just Want To Make Love To You".

AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler joined Paul McCartney on stage Friday night (June 28) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to perform THE BEATLES classic "Helter Skelter". Video footage of his appearance can be seen below (courtesy of Monkeytail Studios).

McCartney, who turned 77 a little more than a week ago, returns to T-Mobile for a second show on Saturday.

Las Vegas is the only city with back-to-back dates on the U.S. leg of McCartney's "Freshen Up" tour.

McCartney is touring in support of his 17th solo album, "Egypt Station", which came out last September, and "Freshen Up" is billed as a nearly three-hour ride through the singer's epic career.

AEROSMITH returned to the stage at Park Theater in Las Vegas on June 19 to start the second leg of its "Deuces Are Wild" residency.

The band is scheduled to play 22 more shows in Las Vegas dates before the end of the year — one in June, four in July, four in September, four in October, seven in November, and two in December. The band also has multiple-night "Deuces Are Wild" engagements booked at MGM properties in National Harbor, Maryland; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Springfield, Massachusetts.

In addition to the "Deuces Are Wild" shows, AEROSMITH is slated to make two festival appearances this summer: July 14 at the Roxodus Music Fest in Edenvale, Canada; and July 19 at the Twin Cities Summer Jam in Shakopee, Minnesota.

Paul McCartney & Steven Tyler- 6/28/19
NEED I SAY MORE? ? Paul McCartney #FreshenUpTourPosted by Steven Tyler on Saturday, June 29, 2019

Swedish masters of progressive heavy rock OPETH will release their 13th album, "In Cauda Venenum", in the fall via Moderbolaget / Nuclear Blast Entertainment.


Recorded last year at Stockholm's Park Studios, "In Cauda Venenum" will be released in two versions, in both Swedish and English languages. Various physical and digital formats will be available and additional details will be announced in the coming months.


"In Cauda Venenum" track listing:

01. Livet's Trädgård / Garden Of Earthly Delights (Intro)

02. Svekets Prins / Dignity

03. Hjärtat Vet Vad Handen Gör / Heart In Hand

04. De Närmast Sörjande / Next Of Kin

05. Minnets Yta / Lovelorn Crime

06. Charlatan

07. Ingen Sanning Är Allas / Universal Truth

08. Banemannen / The Garroter

09. Kontinuerlig Drift / Continuum

10. Allting Tar Slut / All Things Will Pass

A new OPETH tour trailer has just been released, including a snippet of the song "Hjärtat Vet Vad Handen Gör". Check it out below.

In anticipation for the impending release, OPETH will perform shows around the world through the end of the year. Additional touring will be announced soon.

OPETH's last album, "Sorceress", was released in September 2016. For the band's first effort for Nuclear Blast via OPETH's imprint label Moderbolaget Records, the group returned to Rockfield Studios in Wales, also home to pivotal releases from QUEEN, RUSH and JUDAS PRIEST, where the Swedes had tracked "Pale Communion" in 2014 with Tom Dalgety.

Last November, OPETH released a live album, "Garden Of The Titans: Live At Red Rocks Amphitheatre".

K.K. Downing says that he is "open to any conversations" with his former bandmates in JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the group's upcoming 50th-anniversary celebration.

The guitarist, who left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance, was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

Asked by DJ Yentonian in a new interview if he would welcome the opportunity to commemorate the half-century milestone with PRIEST, Downing said (hear audio below): "Well, I'm certainly open to any conversations, as I always say to those guys. I've said it pretty openly — what's happened has happened. Everybody in the band knew why I left the band, quit the band. Everybody in the band knew I had good reason to quit the band, because nobody, nobody quits a lifetime of invested time and energy into something and walks away from it that easily."

He continued: "Can I draw you guys a comparison? And it might be a rubbish comparison, but I always think that if any of you guys ever left your girlfriend or your wife, or whatever, and your parents had gone, 'Oh, but she was lovely. You guys were made for each other. You got on so well.' And you think, 'No, she was evil' — can I say 'evil bitch'? Because I've been there. But only you understand, because you are the ones behind closed doors having to deal with it all. On the outside, you put on a good face for everybody. But the thing is, just because everybody tells you that person is good and you shouldn't leave and you should go back, you know better, don't you? And you can't do it. As much as you'd like to, you can't do it — until circumstances change. And, obviously, circumstances [in PRIEST] did change, which left an opening for me. But all the guys decided not to keep the door open for me. Because the controlling entity still had control — unfortunately."

Bassist Ian Hill recently said that there were no plans for PRIEST to invite Downing to return to the band.

"Richie took over from Ken," Hill told Riff Magazine. "He's done an absolutely tremendous job, he really has. And he's made Ken's parts his own now. He's got his own angle on the lead breaks. Ken's part's been taken, and there's no plans to have Ken back, really. Hey, listen, never say never. But at the moment, we're going along quite well without Ken, so it could stay like that, I think, at least for the foreseeable future."

During the same chat, Hill confirmed that PRIEST is planning to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020. "That'll come next year; we're planning on a celebratory tour next year," he said. "We weren't actually known as JUDAS PRIEST in 1969. Ken Downing, myself and a guy called John Ellis formed in '69, but we weren't called JUDAS PRIEST, actually, until 1970, so we'll start celebrating next year."

Last fall, Downing dismissed as a "load of bollocks" Hill's explanation for why K.K. wasn't invited to rejoin the band after Tipton's Parkinson's diagnosis was made public.

"We were like brothers; we went to infant school together and secondary school together, and we lived our career together," Downing said. "But I'm not totally happy about what's being said. Ian seems to be [saying] things like, 'None of the fans are missing K.K.,' and, 'Richie has brought a new energy to the band.' And I'm going, 'Ian, dude, on that last tour, I was the energy. I slowed down because people weren't keeping up with me.'… So I'm thinking, Ian, get a grip with yourself, mate. You've just replaced the energy with some energy. Fine — well, great. But that's not moving forward, Ian."

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease five years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — but announced in February 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of PRIEST's latest album, "Firepower".

Last summer, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Downing's autobiography, "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", was released last September via Da Capo Press.

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has released a lyric video for "Hammer (Comes Down)", from his upcoming debut solo album, "Sleeping Giants". Due on July 19 via Combat Records, it is a companion release to his new memoir "More Life With Deth", in stores July 16 via Jawbone Press.

"Hammer (Comes Down)" features lead vocals by Ellefson's "More Life With Deth" co-author Thom Hazaert and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM vocalist Eric "A.K.." Knutson, plus guest appearances by Mark Tremonti (ALTER BRIDGE), Chris Poland (ex-MEGADETH), Dave McClain (SACRED REICH, ex-MACHINE HEAD), Joey Radziwill (SACRED REICH) and Andy Martongelli (ALTITUDES AND ATTITUDE).

The "Hammer (Comes Down)" video was directed and edited by Melody Myers.

Produced by Ellefson and Hazaert, with additional production from ICON guitarist John Aquilino at the Platinum Underground in Phoenix, "Sleeping Giants" will feature a multitude of other guests, including legendary MC Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, who shares vocals with Hazaert on the title track, Ken Mary (ALICE COOPER, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), Steve Conley (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, F5), Ethan Brosh, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES), Dave Sharpe and Opus Lawrence of DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, Illias Papadakis (MEMORAIN), and more, plus a remix by "Game Of Thones" star Kristian Nairn (HODOR), and unreleased songwriting demos featuring vocals by John Bush (ARMORED SAINT, ex-ANTHRAX), and David Glen Eisley (HOUSE OF LORDS, GIUFFRIA).

"Hammer (Comes Down)" features a long-awaited fan reunion of Ellefson and Poland, making their first commercially released collaboration since MEGADETH's iconic "Peace Sells.. But Who's Buying?" album.

Says Ellefson: "It was great to reconnect with Chris, musically and personally, who is still, and always has been, one of the most innovative players in metal.

"When we were working on putting together the record, Thom had brought up the idea to Chris of him playing on a track, and somehow it all worked out," he continues. "Add some killer solos from Chris Poland, on to a song that already features Mark Tremonti, Dave McClain, and Eric AK from FLOTSAM, and you can only imagine how incredible it came out. It's truly an epic collaboration, and we couldn't be more excited about it."

"Sleeping Giants" track listing:

Disc 1:

Ellefson/Hazaert 2019

01. Vultures

02. Sleeping Giants (ft. DMC)

03. Hammer (Comes Down) (ft. Mark Tremonti, Chris Poland, and Eric AK)

04. Vultures (Kristian Nairn Remix)

05. If You Were God (ft. John Bush) *

F5 Demos

06. Deadman Rise

07. I Fall

08. Bleeding

09. Why Can't We Die

10. Dying On The Vine

11. Faded

12. Undeniable

13. Feel Your Pain

14. Out In The Rain (ft. David Glen Eisley) *

15. Voices (ft. David Glen Eisley) *

* Previously unreleased demo

Disc 2: EMP/Combat Artist Sampler

01. LAST CRACK - "Golden Age"

02. CO-OP (ft. Joe Perry) - "Howl"

03. GREEN DEATH (ft. David Ellefson) - "Pure Torture"

04. SEMBLANT - "Scarlet Heritage - Legacy of Blood Pt. III"

05. HATCHET - "Back Into Dust"

06. MARC RIZZO - "Downside Up"

07. MARK SLAUGHTER - "Conspiracy"

08. DOYLE (ft. Alissa White-Gluz) - "Kiss Me As We Die"

09. DEAD BY WEDNESDAY - "You & Die"

10. EVIL UNITED (ft. Jason McMaster) - "Operation Overlord"

11. SUNFLOWER DEAD - "Turn Away" (Radio Edit)

12. ARISE IN CHAOS - "The Divine"

13. DOLL SKIN - "Daughter"

14. PSYKOTRIBE (ft. David Ellefson) - "End It"

15. ARCHER NATION - "Severed"

16. RON KEEL BAND - "Fight Like A Band"

17. WRATH - "Draw Blood"

Ellefson and Hazaert, with backing band Dave Sharpe and Opus Lawrence of DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, and Clayton Cagle of HATCHET, will kick off the "Basstory More Life With Deth" tour next week with shows throughout the East Coast and Midwest, plus coast-to-coast book signing and in-store events.

ALTER BRIDGE will release its sixth studio album, titled "Walk The Sky", on October 18 via Napalm Records. According to a press release, the 14-track follow-up to 2016's "The Last Hero" is a "complete career retrospective drawing upon elements from each of the band's previous releases to create something new."

The official music video for the first single from the LP, called "Wouldn't You Rather", can be seen below. Other songs included on the record include "Dying Light", "Godspeed", "Native Son" and "Walking On The Sky". A song called "Forever Falling" features guitarist Mark Tremonti on lead vocals.

Tremonti told Kerrang! magazine about "Walk The Sky": "It's kinda like a [revered horror maestro] John Carpenter movie — this old-school synth-wave kind of vibe. Somebody might hear the record and have no idea that was intended, but for a batch of songs, I tapped into some old loops that I either created or found randomly online, and worked with them in the background to inspire me to go in a different direction. I loved working like that. We challenge ourselves to not repeat ourselves and find new inspiration to add a different layer to what we do. It's particularly challenging when you've had so many records, but when I showed Myles [Kennedy, vocals/guitar] what I was thinking, he absolutely loved it and was on board right away."

As for how "Walk The Sky" compares to the rest of ALTER BRIDGE's discography, Mark said: "It's hard to completely get away from who we are — the same four guys in the band — but everyone who's heard the record says it has its own personality and doesn't sound like any particular ALTER BRIDGE record. But that being said, it's familiar ALTER BRIDGE territory, and Myles has said it's kind of the answer to 'AB III'. That was a very brooding and dark lyrical record, whereas this one is the yang to the yin of that. 'AB III' was kind of about a loss of faith and not believing. Myles was having a dark moment in that time and he wrote the majority of the lyrics. This is more of an enlightening, Zen kind of record. It's not a preachy record by any means; it's more of a free-spirited kind of thing."

ALTER BRIDGE and SKILLET will embark on a co-headline tour this fall. The "Victorious Sky" trek kicks off on September 22 in Baltimore and runs through October 25 in Orlando. DIRTY HONEY will also appear.

Photo credit: Dan Sturgess

Swedish collective Thenighttimeproject - founded by current and former members of Katatonia, October Tide, and Letters From The Colony - have released their second album, Pale Season, via Debemur Morti Productions. A full audio stream can be found below.

Order the album in North America and Europe. Order digitally here.

Thenighttimeproject is comprised of Fredrik and Mattias Norrman, (guitars and bass, respectively), who spent fifteen years in Katatonia, and are now also active in October Tide, as well as guitarist/vocalist Alexander Backlund and drummer Jonas Sköld, who both also currently hold rank in Letters From The Colony.

The album title, Pale Season - despite what some might think - does not refer to the eight months where the weather in Sweden is a signature grey. Instead, it refers to those less-colorful patches of memory - years that fly by without anything spectacular happening, which pale in comparison to the vividness of one's childhood or the early days of romance. This, in other words, is an album for all those moments lost in between the extremes of the emotional spectrum. Elements of Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Anathema, Katatonia, and A Perfect Circle combine to create a record that is sublime in every way. A paean to melancholia, Pale Season is also not without its moments of physical and emotional heft and will launch Thenighttimeproject on to the international stage.

Pale Season was recorded at Valley Sound Studio/Nailvillage, mixed by Alexander Backlund at Nailvillage, mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, and completed with cover art by Denis Forkas and design by Kadriel Betsen.

Tracklisting:

“Hound”
“Rotting Eden”
“Binary”
“Final Light”
“Embers”
“Pale Season”
“Anti Meridian”
“Signals In The Sky”
“Meridian”

Album stream:

"Final Light" video:

“Anti Meridian” video:

Thenighttimeproject:

Alexander Backlund - guitars, vocals
Fredrik Norrman - guitars
Mattias Norrman - bass
Jonas Sköld - drums




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Swedish classic doom metal outfit Isole are streaming "Written In The Sand", taken from their upcoming album Dystopia. Listen to the new track on Spotify or Bandcamp. 

Dystopia is due out on August 23rd on CD/LP/MC/Digital. Physical packages will be available for pre-order soon at Hammerheart.

Dystopia by Isole

Isole will tour Europe alongside In The Woods, Ereb Altor and Shores Of Null. Check out the dates below.




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On December 4, 2015, California-based extreme metal titans SUICIDE SILENCE headlined a special benefit show in support of Mental Health America Of Los Angeles (MHLA) at The Observatory in Santa Ana. Today, the band has announced that the live recordings from the night will be released under the album "Live & Mental" on July 12 via Nuclear Blast.

SUICIDE SILENCE comments: "Although this benefit show was recorded way back in 2015, with mental health issues as relevant as ever in society today, we felt the desire to further propel the conversation throughout the metal scene, while also allowing fans to share in this special night of unreleased material with us."

In celebration of the announcement the band released a cover of KORN's "Blind". Watch the live video below.

"Live & Mental" was produced by the band while mixing was handled by Josh Gilbert (WOVENWAR, AS I LAY DYING). The cover photos were shot by Jerry John Nicholl.

Hosted by SiriusXM metal DJ Jose Mangin and co-presented as an "Affliction Metal Night", the night brought together the community to raise funds for the Mental Health America Of Los Angeles. The sold-out show raised nearly $17,000 towards the creation of a homeless healthcare center where "where people living on the streets with mental illness can come and get their needs met."

"Live & Mental" track listing:

01. Unanswered (Live)

02. No Pity For A Coward (Live)

03. Inherit The Crown (Live)

04. Wake Up (Live)

05. Fuck Everything (Live)

06. Cease To Exist (Live)

07. Sacred Words (Live)

08. Disengage (Live)

09. Slaves To Substance (Live)

10. You Can't Stop Me (Live)

11. Destruction Of A Statue (Live)

12. Blind (Live)

13. Bludgeoned To Death (Live)

14. You Only Live Once (Live)

Swedish heavy metal heroes Sabaton are set to release their new album The Great War on July 19th. Today the band is proud to announce their European tour dates for The Great Tour, with fellow Swedes Amaranthe and Finnish cello rockers Apocalyptica supporting. On top of this, Sabaton are proud to release the third single from the new album and title track, "Great War".

 

"It is with great anticipation that we can finally reveal that The Great Tour is also coming to arenas in Europe. I wish it was already January the 17th and we entered the stage at Hallenstadion in Zürich, but time will pass quickly," announces Pär Sundstöm and adds: "You know by now how much we care about the bands we choose to bring with us on tour, this is no exception. Amaranthe is a rising star on the metal sky bringing such energy and passion rarely seen on stage and will open the evening. After that comes the big surprise for a lot of people who are not familiar with the cello rock band Apocalyptica, but trust us that their emotional show will definitively create magic in the arenas.

Finally, what we are bringing, except for our biggest touring production we ever did… is a promise to deliver a show that you never could imagine and the biggest announcement regarding this tour is still to come."

Amaranthe currently released their fifth album, Helix, and are more than happy to open up the battle: 

"It is with absolutely massive levels of excitement that we announce our part in Sabaton's monster of a European tour next year! We have proudly watched as Sabaton has risen through the metal ranks, and with honor we finally join our Swedish brothers in this Cyclopean campaign set to steamroll across the continent. Although Amaranthe will open these night you can expect a more energetic and mesmerizing show than ever before, that will fill the arenas with pure modern metal madness! Do not miss this infernal machine of a tour, as lightning might not strike twice!"

Apocalyptica are currently working on their follow-up album to the successful Shadowmaker record. The Finnish cello rockers surprised by releasing their own version of the Sabaton single "Fields Of Verdun". Eicca Toppinnen states: 

"As people may know we love to collaborate with other artists. We love the energy developing out of this and we embrace the learning from other professionals. Doing this incredible tour with Sabaton is something special for us. It is not only about writing and producing new music together, but also about the energy on stage. We are super excited and very much looking forward to this tour!‘ 

Tour dates are as follows:

January
17 - Zürich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion
18 - Stuttgart, Germany - Schleyer-Halle
19 - Munich, Germany - Olympiahalle
21 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
22 - Budapest, Hungary - Arena
24 - Warsaw, Poland - Arena COS Torwar
25 - Berlin, Germany - Max-Schmeling-Halle
26 - Prague, Czech Republic - O2 Arena
28 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
31 - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle

February
1 - Oberhausen, Germany - König-Pilsener-ARENA
2 - Antwerp, Belgium - Lotto Arena
4 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
5 - Madrid, Spain - Vistalegre
7 - Paris, France - Zénith
8 - London, UK - Wembley Arena
9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - AFAS Live
11 - Hamburg, Germany - Sporthalle
12 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Forum Black Box
14 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Scandinavium
15 - Stockholm, Sweden - Hovet
16 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum




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FAITH NO MORE singer Mike Patton and renowned French composer Jean-Claude Vannier have shared the video for "Chansons D'Amour". The song is taken from the pair's recently announced collaboration, "Corpse Flower", which will be released on September 13 via Ipecac Recordings. Pre-orders, which include instant downloads of both "Chansons D'Amour" and "On Top Of The World", can be found here.

"When I was a little boy, love songs terrified me, with their stupid Ophelias, faded flowers of melodramatics singers, quavering vocalists of another time, barbaric rituals, screams of impatient sexes, furious and bloody refrains, like in this beautiful and poisonous video," said Vannier. "Afterwards, I lived some love stories and it was even worse, all a bazaar puppet show that moved me despite myself, took me hostage and blames me for these crimes that I did not commit."

Director Eric Livingston added: "The melody on 'Chansons D'Amour' chased me around in the back of my head for a few days after listening. I found it to be a haunting and unapologetically honest version of Vannier's original piece. When I was given the choice between a few songs to shoot a video accompaniment for, I gravitated towards this one. Mainly, because I knew it would be a challenge for me. To film something that is subtle, yet demands attention."

A variety of musicians, both in Los Angeles and Paris, took part in the recording of "Corpse Flower", with the Los Angeles team including Smokey Hormel (BECK, JOHNNY CASH), Justin Meldal-Johnsen (BECK, AIR, NINE INCH NAILS) and James Gadson (BECK, JAMIE LIDELL). The Parisian players are Denys Lable, Bernard Paganotti (MAGMA), Daniel Ciampolini, Didier Malherbe, Léonard Le Cloarec and the BÉCON PALACE STRING ENSEMBLE. The lyrics for "Ballad C.3.3." are drawn from Oscar Wilde's "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" poem, which was initially published using the name C.3.3.

"Corpse Flower" track listing:

01. Ballad C.3.3.

02. Camion

03. Chansons D'Amour

04. Cold Sun Warm Beer

05. Browning

06. Ghost

07. Corpse Flower

08. Insolubles

09. On Top Of The World

10. A Schoolgirl's Day

11. Pink And Bleue

12. Yard Bull

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Hardwired" on June 20 at Twickenham Stadium in London, England can be viewed below.

"Hardwired" is the opening track on METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which was certified platinum in April 2017 by the RIAA (Recording Association Of America). The platinum certification reflects a million equivalent album units, which blends traditional album sales, tracks sold from an album and on-demand audio and video streams.

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield told Guitar World: "'Hardwired' is the first song on the album, but it was actually the last song we wrote. In my mind, it's more of a summary of the whole album than an opening statement. Lyrically, I wanted it to be really simple, fast, quick and punk rock. The idea is to make it communal. You know, we're fucked. All of us. But we're blessed as well, because we're all in this together."

"Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" debuted as expected at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart in November 2016, selling 291,000 copies in its first week of release. Both of the band's previous outings, 2008's "Death Magnetic" and 2003's "St. Anger", sold more copies in shortened sales weeks. "Death Magnetic" moved 490,000 copies in a three-day window, while "St. Anger" shifted 418,000 copies in a similar frame.

"Hardwired... To Self-Destruct" consists of two discs, containing a dozen songs and nearly 80 minutes of music.

METALLICA's "WorldWired" tour has played more than 130 shows across the world since its 2016 kick-off.

Last November, drummer Lars Ulrich told The Mercury News that the trek could last through early 2020.

German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN have released behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the official video for their song "Radio". The track is taken from the band's seventh, untitled album, which came out on May 17 via UME/Spinefarm in Europe and Caroline Records in the U.S. The band's first studio disc since 2009's "Liebe Ist Für Alle Da" was produced by Olsen Involtini with RAMMSTEIN and was mixed at a Santa Monica, California studio with Rich Costey, an American producer who has previously worked with MUSE, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and FRANZ FERDINAND, among others.

RAMMSTEIN guitarist Richard Kruspe told Metal Wani about the making of the band's new album: "Well, when I thought to do another RAMMSTEIN record, I was like, 'No, I'm going to do that. I'm not going through more suffering.' That was four years ago. But what we did in the beginning is we said 'Let's get together and try to come up with three or four songs.' We didn't really put any pressure on us, which was very important at this time. While we were starting to rehearse and stuff and getting ideas, I thought, 'Wow, it's actually very good. Things have changed.' All of a sudden, there's a certain kind of respect that I always missed a little bit. We just had good chemistry, which reminded me of the first time when we started. Then I felt, like, 'What would interest me on a new RAMMSTEIN record?' I thought, 'Every time people talk RAMMSTEIN, it's about fire. It's all about the show.' Nobody talks about the music anymore for RAMMSTEIN, and it kind of bothered me. I was thinking, 'I want to do another record. It has to be musical in a way that can really stand out from other records.' That was my goal, or our goal."

As for the disc's musical direction and how it compares to the band's previous efforts, Kruspe said: "It's so hard to say it, because I'm working four years on the record, I'm so close. I think when I listen to the record — it's almost 'RAMMSTEIN 3D' is how I describe it."

RAMMSTEIN will embark on a European stadium tour in 2020. The trek will kick off next May and include shows in Germany, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Northern Ireland.

The band launched its 2019 European tour on May 27 at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

RAMMSTEIN's current European tour is scheduled to conclude on August 23 in Vienna, Austria.

Photo credit: Jens Koch

Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA have signed a deal with Silver Lining Music. The band's new all-instrumental album was recorded over a three-month period at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki and was mixed by Andrew Scheps (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, LANA DEL REY, METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH). An early 2020 release is expected.

"We are excited to learn how a slim record company structure plus all the marketing instruments of perhaps the biggest metal music powerhouse (with festivals, touring business, merchandise, etc) are set up for 2020," APOCALYPTICA says in a statement. "This feels like the absolute right company for the times we are in. We are very excited about our new album and we have the strongest belief that Silver Lining is the right partner for our music."

Silver Lining Music is equally ecstatic to have APOCALYPTICA as a part of its roster. Thomas Jensen, owner and founder of Silver Lining Music, says: "I have always been amazed at the sheer talent and visionary trait of APOCALYPTICA. It's a dream come true to be able to work with them. With the leadership of Serena Furlan and the forward-thinking A&R direction of Rod S. Kukla, Silver Lining Music offer APOCALYTICA a unique and exceptional partnership. The best is yet to come."

Hot off the heels of signing with Silver Lining Music, APOCALYPTICA is excited to announce that it will be going on a comprehensive European tour with SABATON as "special guests" starting on January 17, 2020 in Zurich, Switzerland. Embracing fifteen countries over one month of dates — including Berlin’s Max Schmeling Halle on January 25 and London's Wembley Arena on February 8 — "The Great Tour" will bring together two of Europe's most successful, and unique, metal acts for what promises to be a night of unrelenting power.

In a recent interview with Ghost Cult, APOCALYPTICA drummer Mikko Sirén said that "it's been really fun to go back" to the band's roots with the new LP, explaining that APOCALYPTICA's musical direction has been influenced by the ongoing tour behind the re-release of its epic debut, "Plays Metallica By Four Cellos".

According to Sirén, APOCALYPTICA's last three studio albums — "Worlds Collide" (2007), "7th Symphony" (2010) and "Shadowmaker" (2015) — "are siblings to each other" in the sense that "they follow each other the same kind of a way," with the band releasing "a lot of singles, doing radio stuff, playing radio festivals, then after a tour, going back to the studio, writing music again. And it was fantastic, and we really think they are great albums, but then, all of a sudden, to have a break from all that — it was a four-year gap between the latest studio [album] until now — it's kind of like a breath of fresh air and it really impacted a lot to the way we wanted to compose the new album," he explained.

"Shadowmaker" was APOCALYPTICA's first album to feature just one singer — former SCARS ON BROADWAY guitarist Franky Perez — instead of guest collaborators. The disc was recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES, MASTODON).

Prior to enlisting Perez, APOCALYPTICA released eight albums that melded the classically trained cello mastery of the three core bandmembers with the harder elements of the rock world, including drums and guest vocalists, such as Gavin Rossdale from BUSH and Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR fame.

Last July, APOCALYPTICA's Eicca Toppinen stated about the band's decision to make an all-instrumental album at this point in the group's career: "On the previous ones, we always combined the instrumental songs with the vocal songs, and it was great to have the featuring artists, it was great to work with Frank Perez for the 'Shadowmaker' album. But then, on the other hand, it became a bigger interest for us, like, okay, it would be interesting to make a full instrumental album, so there's no compromise with anything. So maybe it's gonna be something really, really crazy… that nobody did before."

DELAIN frontwoman Charlotte Wessels spoke to U.K.'s Ticketmaster about the musical direction of the band's next album, tentatively due in early 2020. She said (see video below): "The music on the new album is going to be really big and bombastic. I think it's going to be more symphonic as a whole and more uptempo as a whole."

Charlotte continued: "I think that over the years, the music that we've written has become more and more suitable to perform live, which is kind of logical, because we've been going on and offstage and writing in between, so also when you're writing, you're more in the mindset of imagining ourselves live on a stage and playing this."

Wessels recently confirmed that DELAIN is putting the finishing touches on its new disc. "We are recording," she told Metal Wani at the U.K.'s Download festival. "This whole [summer] festival season for us is recording, performing, recording, performing, recording, performing. And it's kind of peak time now. I think we've got three-quarters of it done. But in the fall, we're going on tour a lot, so we've got to take that into account. So let's say I hope that by the time we hit the U.K. in February [2020] that there'll be a new album."

DELAIN's latest release was "Hunter's Moon", which came out in February via Napalm Records. The effort consisted of new studio tracks accompanied by a live Blu-ray from the band's sold-out "Danse Macabre" 2017 European tour.

"Hunter's Moon" is the final in the trilogy, and follows on from DELAIN's EP "Lunar Prelude" and the full-length album "Moonbathers".

Last week, guitarist Merel Bechtold announced that she was leaving DELAIN to focus on different musical ambitions. Her final performance with DELAIN took place on June 23 at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium.

Former SCORPIONS and current KINGDOM COME drummer James Kottak says that America should take care of its "homeless problem" before accepting any more "outsiders."

Earlier today, the 56-year-old musician tweeted: "I wrote a new song.... 'Get out of My Kountry' ie: stay out of my space! We don't need anymore outsiders. We can't even fix the homeless problems?! When homeless problem is solved we take care everyone else..."

A day earlier, Kottak expressed his dissatisfaction over the fact the first night of the first Democratic presidential debate did not include any discussion of the homelessness problem in the U.S.

"Dem debate...not one brought up the homeless issue...Lame", he tweeted.

Kottak has spent much of the last year touring with the reunited KINGDOM COME, also featuring guitarists Danny Stag and Rick Steier, bassist Johnny B. Frank and singer Keith St. John (formerly of MONTROSE and LYNCH MOB).

In September 2016, Kottak was dismissed from SCORPIONS during his well-publicized battle with alcoholism and was replaced by former MOTÖRHEAD member Mikkey Dee.

SCORPIONS guitarist Matthias Jabs later said that he and his bandmates "had to make" the decision to fire Kottak, explaining that they gave the drummer "all the chances" to get better. "We reached the point — or he reached the point — where it was just not worth it," Jabs said.

Last fall, Kottak told Detroit's 101 WRIF radio station that his recovery was "a work in progress." He explained: "Over the last 10 years, I would say I was 90 percent sober, and then I'd have these struggles and I'd go through a bad two- or three-week period. So right now it's, like I said, to use a cliché, it's one day at a time and I work the program. I still go out, and if you wanna drink a bottle of Jack in front of me, go for it — [it's] no big deal — but it is, like I said, a work in progress."

I wrote a new song.... 'Get out of My Kountry' ie: stay out of my space! We don't need anymore outsiders. We can't even fix the homeless problems?!
When homeless problem is solved we take care everyone else...— James Kottak (@JKottak) June 27, 2019



Dem debate...not one brought up the homeless issue...Lame— James Kottak (@JKottak) June 27, 2019

Former JUDAS PRIEST and ICED EARTH singer Tim "Ripper" Owens recently discussed the "Dio Returns" hologram tour with RadioactiveMike Z, host of the Riverside, California radio station 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire". The full conversation can be streamed below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On the preparation that went into the "Dio Returns" tour:

Tim: "We've got a few songs we sing with the hologram and we've got to figure out where to stand, things like that. The pre-production was really long and right to the last minute. You're syncing everything together, and it's not just a hologram — it's a giant light show and video screens and all this stuff going on. There was a lot [that went] into it."

On the structure of the show:

Tim: "It really just goes itself. We don't want to talk too much, to be honest. I think we just want the show to run into each other. I'll come out and sing a couple, and Oni [Logan] will sing a couple. Obviously, in between, the hologram songs are going on, which are unbelievable, and then Oni and I will sing some together. I try not to do too much talking. For some reason, this show, it doesn't seem like I should... It's a special show. It's an amazing show. It's a very big production — a semi and two tour buses — and we got this thing out there. A lot of money is being spent to try and bring happiness and enjoyment to fans. Some fans don't like the idea because they think [it's] a cash grab, which is the stupidest thing I've heard because it's actually a cash grab in the opposite. It's a cash giveaway, because [Wendy Dio, Ronnie James Dio's widow and longtime manager] is throwing money out to do this thing. It's really an amazing show. It's a spectacle, entertainment, and it's unbelievable."

On his favorite DIO song to perform:

Tim: "I love singing 'Don't Talk To Strangers' because I haven't sang it in a long time. Oni starts off with the slow part, and then I come in and sing the rest of the song. I really love singing all of them. I actually love opening the show, when I come out opening with '[The] Mob Rules'. I love singing that. One of my favorites always to sing, which I'm not singing on this tour, is 'Heaven And Hell'. I love singing 'Heaven And Hell' — its ups and downs, and so much feel. Some are them are pretty hard, singing. Luckily, Ronnie's taking care of 'Rainbow In The Dark', because that one was always a tough one. Ronnie's a tough singer to sing. That's why Oni and I aren't pretending to be Ronnie Dio. We're our own singers."

On where things stand in regard to a DIO DISCIPLES studio album:

Tim: "I really haven't heard anything new on it. I've been busy making my own records, and I'm waiting to see what's going on. I don't know if it's still out there, if we're going to do it. I'm not sure. This past year, I've released [the] A NEW REVENGE record; I did SPIRITS OF FIRE; and then I released THE THREE TREMORS. I have three different types of music out there for myself, so I'm just waiting to see what's going to go out with the DIO DISCIPLES stuff."

On juggling multiple projects:

Tim: "It's a blast. It makes me be able to make a living. I do a lot; I stay busy; I do music. I'd rather do that than put a roof on right now in my life. To be out there in the hot sun tarring roofs, I think I'd rather be singing in a studio."

On CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, his project with heavy metal drummer-turned-Howard Stern sidekick Richard Christy:

Tim: "I don't know what Richard's plans are. I'm extremely busy, but I'll always have room to do make a new CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED record. Richard's busy as well, but I would love for us to do it, because they're successful records. I know that we're not paid a lot to make the records, so it's not a very big investment that's put into it, and it's on a fantastic record label — Metal Blade. Brian [Slagel] and everybody at the record label is great. It's a low-cost record, so I know they'd have to be making some money back, so I think we definitely would be making another one."

On his favorite JUDAS PRIEST song to sing live:

Tim: "I loved singing the ones I did. I loved singing 'One On One' and 'Burn In Hell', but I loved singing the classics. I loved singing 'The Sentinel', but I probably loved singing songs like 'Metal Gods' and 'Grinder' [more] so I could get a break. Some of those songs off 'British Steel' would give me a nice break, or 'Hell Bent For Leather'... All those songs are so great to sing for a certain reason. Another one I do love singing is 'Electric Eye'. That's what got me sold on JUDAS PRIEST was that song. When I heard Rob [Halford] change his voice about three or four times at the beginning of the song, I was like, 'That guy's awesome.'"

The current leg of the "Dio Returns" hologram tour will wrap up on June 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Earlier today, METALLICA shared a video of frontman James Hetfield rocking out and singing along to SLAYER's classic song "Angel Of Death" while driving in his car and flashing the "devil horns" hand gesture. James wrote in an accompanying message: "SLAYING makes me smile!"

In a 2013 interview with Decibel magazine, Hetfield paid tribute to late SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hannemann, saying: "I'm grateful to have been in the same lifetime as Jeff. We share common ground. One being shy kids that found music to speak for us. Also grateful to have shared the stage at the 'Big Four' celebrations. Ironically, one of the best metal riffs ever, 'Angel Of Death', has taken him to yet an even better place."

In a 2011 interview with Revolver, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich praised SLAYER's original skinsman Dave Lombardo, saying "when it comes to [thrash metal] drums, Dave Lombardo is, by far and away, God. There's no competitive edge [between the 'Big Four' bands], but if there was, Dave would win. Lombardo could kick the rest of our asses with just a whip of his little finger."

The so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — played together for the first time in history on June 16, 2010 in front of 81,000 fans at the Sonisphere festival at Bemowo Airport in Warsaw, Poland and shared a bill again for six more shows as part of the Sonisphere series that same year. They reunited again for several dates in 2011, including the last "Big Four" concert, which was held on September 14, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Since then, METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX have played a number of shows together, including the 2013 Soundwave festival in Australia. They also performed at the 2014 Heavy MTL festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

After a technical issue stopped LACUNA COIL's June 27 show in Bologna, Italy for a couple of minutes, frontwoman Cristina Scabbia used the time to perform an a cappella version of the AC/DC classic "Highway To Hell". Fan-filmed video footage of her rendition can be seen below (courtesy of BlogMusicaMetal).

LACUNA COIL recently entered the studio to begin recording its new album. The follow-up to 2016's "Delirium" is tentatively due before the end of the year via Century Media.

This past March, Scabbia said that LACUNA COIL's next album would be "heavy and dark." Her comments echoed those she made two years earlier when she said that LACUNA COIL's next disc could see the band pursuing a more aggressive musical direction, just as was the case with "Delirium". "I believe that it could definitely be even way heavier, because that's what we like to perform on stage," she told Metal Wani. "Of course, we like the ballads and the mellow songs, but we like better to perform songs that are heavier. And we love that music."

2018 marked the 20th anniversary of LACUNA COIL's debut. To celebrate the occasion, they played an exceptional show in January 2018 in London at the O2 Forum Kentish Town. The unique, one-time event was filmed and recorded for "The 119 Show - Live In London", which was released last November.

A representative for former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steve Adler has denied that the musician tried to kill himself.

Adler was hospitalized on Thursday after local authorities responded to a call shortly after 6:30 p.m. for a possible suicide attempt at a Studio City, California, home.

A spokesperson at the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to People that they were called to the address for a possible stabbing and transported one patient to the local hospital via ambulance

Earlier today, Adler's representative told TMZ that the stabbing was not a suicide attempt and was simply an accident. The rep would not specify what caused the accident except to describe it as a "very minor, superficial wound."

Adler — who, the rep says, has been sober for several years — is still planning to perform on July 12 at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

Steven was the drummer for GUNS N' ROSES from 1985 to 1990. He was eventually fired from the band due to his drug addiction, which caused him to spiral down into depression and more drug use.


Adler's autobiography, "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses", came out in July 2010. In the book, Adler tells all, fearlessly addressing his struggles with heroin and crack addiction; his financial ruin after being kicked out of GN'R; his shattered marriage; and the severe health problems that nearly claimed his life on several occasions.

GUNS N' ROSES was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. Adler, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan attended the ceremony, while singer Axl Rose and founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin stayed home.

According to Sinner frontman and namesake Mat Sinner, the band will release the first single from the forthcoming Santa Muerte album, entitled "Fiesta Y Copas", on Friday, July 5th. The song features guest vocals by Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, ex-Lords Of Black)

Mat Sinner previously issued the following album update:

"For the first time I will split the vocals with the wonderful Giorgia Colleluori (Eternal Idol), and in addition Sascha Krebs (Rock Meets Classic) will be in the studio, too. Markus Kullmann will pound the drums, and my long time partners Tom Naumann (Primal Fear) and Alexander Scholpp (Tarja) will rocking out the riffs. Dennis Ward will be recording with us and we will announce some spectacular guests soon! Thx to AFM Records in your trust - let's rock!"

Guests on the album also include Romero, Primal Fear guitarist Magnus Karlsson, and Black Star Riders frontman Ricky Warwick

Sinner was launched in 1982. They have released 18 studio albums to date, the latest one being Tequila Suicide in 2017.




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Halestorm's single "I Miss The Misery", taken from the 2012 album The Strange Case Of..., has officially been certified Platinum. The video for the track has garnered nearly 65 million views on YouTube to date. 

. 

Halestorm have announced a month-long North American tour with Godsmack, following their summer run with rock icon Alice Cooper. The dates kick off September 20thin Green Bay, WI and run through October 18thin Tulsa, OK.

Halestorm is currently wrapping up an international run, with a show tonight in Warsaw, Poland, followed by visits to Norway, Sweden, and Finland before they return to the US and kick off dates with Alice Cooper on July 17.

Halestorm tour dates:

June
30 - Helsinki, Finland - Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 2019

July (with Alice Cooper)
17 - Allentown, PA - PPL Center
19 - Burgettstown, PA - Keybank Pavilion
20 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Music Energy Theatre
21 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
23 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
25 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
26 - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre
28 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Zoo Amphitheatre
29 - Cedar Park, TX - H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
31 - Irving, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

August  (with Alice Cooper)
1 - The Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
3 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena, University of Tennessee
4 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry House
7 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands PAC: CMAC
8 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
10 - Westbrook, ME - Maine Savings Pavilion at Rock Row
11 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
13 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
15 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
16 - Camden, NJ - BB&T Pavilion

August
30 - Pueblo, CO - Colorado State Fair Events Center

September (with Godsmack, except *)
20 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
21 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center
22 - Moline, IL - TaxSlayer Center
24 - Sioux Falls, SD - Denny Sanford Premier Center
25 - Wichita, KS - In-Trust Arena
27 - Cape Girardeau, MO - Show Me Center
28 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life Festival 2019*
29 - Alpharetta, GA - Alpharetta Amphitheatre

October (with Godsmack, except *)
1 - West Palm Beach, FL - Coral Sky Amphitheatre at the South Florida Fairgrounds
2 - Estero, FL - Hertz Arena
4 - Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Civic Center
5 - Southaven, MS - Landers Center
6 - Rogers, AR - Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
8 - Loveland, CO - Budweiser Arena
9 - Salt Lake City, UT - Usana Pavilion
11 - Sacramento, CA - Discovery Park*
12 - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
13 - Ontario, CA - Citizen’s Bank Arena
15 - San Diego, CA - Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
16 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Pavilion
18 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center

November
13 - Paris, France - Salle Pleyel
14 - Cologne, Germany - Palladium
16 - Munich, Germany - Tonhalle – Kultfabrik
18 - Offenbach, Germany - Capitol Offenbach
19 - Hamburg, Germany - Grosse Freheit
20 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - AFAS Live
24 - Glasgow, UK - The SSE Hydro
25 - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
27 - Cardiff, UK - Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
28 - London, UK - Alexandra Palace

December
2 - Tokyo, Japan - Tsutaya O-East
3 - Osaka, Japan - Umeda Club Quattro
6 - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Enmore Theatre
7 - Brisbane, QLD, Australia - The Tivoli
9 - Adelaide, SA, Australia - The Gov
10 - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Forum Melbourne




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Germany’s first female hard rock act Rosy Vista has released their new single and video for "Sadistic Lover". The song is taken from the new album Unbelievable.

A statement about the video reads: “A song about strong women, narcissistic and arrogant machos and the dilemma, when women don’t want to play that game. But how does that work? ‘Sex sells’ has been said in traditional language. Is that really true? In this clip the four ladies from Rosy Vista "Turned the Tables"! So fasten your seat bells, dear gentlemen!”

Unbelievable was released through SPV/Steamhammer on February 8th on CD DigiPak, LP, download and stream. Order here.

"Crazy" lyric video:

Catch the band live on February 9th at Musikzentrum in Hannover, Germany.

(Photo - Martin Huch)




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Finnish metallers Bloodred Hourglass’ brand new album Godsend is out today via Out Of Line Music. New video, “The Unfinished Story”, is available below.

Of Godsend, BRHG’s frontman Jarkko Koukonen commented, “Godsend is so far the best version of a band called Bloodred Hourglass. This album modernizes our sound and the output is fresh and diverse. Expect an album full of harsh attacking metal!” 

Godsend was recorded at Soundspiral Audio (Before The Dawn, Gloria Morti) with Juho Raiha and mixed and mastered by Henrik Udd (Bring Me The Horizon, Architects). The album artwork was designed by Tuomas Koivurinne, in cooperation with Miika Saari.

Last year, Bloodred Hourglass visited several different festivals outside Finnish borders and returned to Europe in March-April for a full-length tour with Swedish metallers Evergrey. Additionally, in May the band will be performing in Japan for the first time. Going international doesn’t mean BRHG would forget their home country: during spring and summer the band will perform in various Finnish events and festivals.

Tracklisting:

“Waves Of Black”
“The Unfinished Story”
“Devourer”
“Alysia”
“My Route”
“Pieces”
“Ask _ You Shall Receive”
“August”
“On My Throne”
“White Feather”

"Waves Of Black" video:




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MANOWAR has released a new statement regarding the cancelation of the band's appearance at this past weekend's Hellfest.

In was reported on Friday (June 21) that MANOWAR's performance at the annual event in Clisson, France was called off just hours before the band was supposed to take the stage.

The Hellfest organizers later issued a statement saying that the MANOWAR members "decided to leave the site" and insisting that the cancelation was caused by "reasons beyond our will."

Earlier today, MANOWAR released the following statement via social media:

"Regarding Hellfest cancellation

"Our performance at Hellfest scheduled for June 21, 2019 was NOT cancelled by the band; it was cancelled by the Hellfest organizers in their announcement that appeared on their websites.

"In the days prior to Hellfest, Switzerland, Greece, and Bulgaria all witnessed our massive production that brought The Kingdom Of Steel to life. We brought it to Hellfest because we came to play.

"We fought to give our fans the performance we promised last year at Hellfest, but we will not be pushed around by the Hellfest promoters who chose not to honor their contractual obligations and think they can do wrong to us and to our fans.

"Those of you who have requested information regarding ticket refunds should contact the outlet where you purchased your ticket or the Hellfest organizers directly, as they are responsible.

"We are currently seeking every legal remedy available to us by law."

Last month, MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio said that the band was "not retiring," despite the fact that it announced its "final" tour more than three years ago. " I'm too young to retire," he told Bulgaria's Z Rock Radio. I'm like Peter Pan — I'm a boy in a man's body. I'm, like, 15 years old in my mind."

Back in May 2016, MANOWAR revealed that it would say "thank you", "farewell" and "goodbye" to its fans on a world tour that would be "bigger and beyond anything" the group had ever done.

MANOWAR released a new EP, "The Final Battle I", in March. Parts II and III of the trilogy will arrive at a later date, inspired by MANOWAR's adventures on the remainder of "The Final Battle".


Regarding Hellfest cancellation

Our performance at Hellfest scheduled for June 21, 2019 was NOT cancelled by the band;...Posted by MANOWAR on Monday, June 24, 2019

Japanese pop metal act BABYMETAL will release its third album, "Metal Galaxy", on October 11 via earMUSIC/Edel. The follow-up to 2016's "Metal Resistance" will reportedly include the four singles that have been released over the course of the last few months: "Pa Pa Ya!!", "Starlight", "Distortion" and "Elevator Girl".

BABYMETAL said in a statement: "We're excited to announce BABYMETAL's third album, 'Metal Galaxy'!! The album's main theme is that BABYMETAL are on an odyssey to the Metal Galaxy and a different variety of songs are packed within the album. We are on an odyssey to the Metal Galaxy. Welcome to the world of BABYMETAL!!"

The cover artwork for "Metal Galaxy" can be seen below.

Right after the release of "Metal Resistance", BABYMETAL performed at London's prominent venue SSE Arena, Wembley and became the first Japanese act to have ever headlined there, breaking the all-time merchandising sales record at the venue. BABYMETAL also had successful back-to-back performances at the massive Tokyo Dome thereafter, playing to 110,000 people over two nights.


"Metal Resistance" debuted at No. 15 on the official U.K. chart, the highest rank for a Japanese artist in recorded history. The album was very well-received in all other territories as well, including another record-breaking position for a Japanese artist in the U.S. with a No. 39 position on the Billboard chart.

Last fall, BABYMETAL digitally released a new song called "Starlight". It marked the rebirth of the band in which Su-Metal and Moametal form the core.

BABYMETAL spent all of 2018 touring without Yuimetal, who was formerly one of the members of the group's core trio. She later exited the band, explaining in a statement that she would go on to pursue a solo career as Mizuno Yu.

Over the last few years, BABYMETAL has established itself as the most globally successful J-pop group of the past decade.

The band describes itself as kawaii metal, kawaii meaning "cute" in Japanese.

BABYMETAL will embark on a fall 2019 U.S. headlining tour in support of its upcoming album. The band's first-ever full-scale headlining U.S. tour will kick off on September 4 in Orlando, Florida, and run through an October 16 in Seattle, Washington. The trek includes the previously announced October 11 gig at The Forum in Los Angeles, which will mark BABYMETAL's first headlining arena show in the States.

Support on the BABYMETAL tour through the October 4 show in San Francisco will come from the Swedish metal band AVATAR. The last two dates will feature THE H as opening act.

The CRO-MAGS, the seminal hardcore punk crossover New York City outfit, founded and fronted by Harley Flanagan, has signed with Arising Empire for Europe and Victory Records for the U.S. A new EP, "Don't Give In", has just been released on all digital platforms. Pre-orders are also available for the limited seven-inch EP vinyls coming in three different colors on August 2.

Comments Flanagan: "In late 2018 I went in to the studio to start working on a new CRO-MAGS album. After recording the first few songs, I got a strange phone call in the middle of the night, that turned out to be from Tony Brummel, Victory Records (to this day I have no idea where or how he got my number). I thought it was a prank call; it turned out not to be, and I started negotiating a record deal with Victory Records. Arising Empire in Europe later got in touch and with a team of lawyers including Donna Tobin (Frankfurt Kurnit), Dave Stein etc. and the help of Robert Kampf, former CEO of Century Media and his team, we negotiated deals that we are all very happy with. Mike Gitter from Century made the introduction to engineer John Ferrara and producer Arthur Rizk, and the recording process went into full swing.

"One of the many things that makes me happy about signing with Victory and Arising Empire, is that they are genuinely fans of my music and know my history; they are not just labels trying to make money off me or the genre. I know that I am working with the best team, and the best musicians to launch the next era of CRO-MAGS."

"Don't Give In" track listing:

01. Don't Give In

02. Drag You Under

03. No One's Victim

The single and album feature, along with Harley Flanagan, Gabby Abularach (GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA, amongst many other projects) who played on CRO-MAGS' "Alpha Omega" (1992) and "Near Death Experience" (1993); Rocky George (formerly of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and FISHBONE) who played on CRO-MAGS' "Revenge" (2000); and Gary "GMan" Sullivan (who has played with everyone from the B-52'S, Berny Worrel of PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC, TM Stevens, etc.), who joined CRO-MAGS in the 90s.

The CRO-MAGS have announced headlining dates across Europe in support of their landmark album "Best Wishes". Staring September 27 in Essen, Germany, the trek will also see the band make appearances in the United Kingdom, France and Austria, among other countries, as well as a stop at Belgium's Lumburg Hardcore Fest. Support will come from RED DEATH.

Comments Flanagan: "I'm looking forward to going to Europe and performing songs from 'Best Wishes' and the rest of the entire CRO-MAGS catalogue. I am currently in the studio working on a new album and we may surprise you with some new music as well."

CRO-MAGS "Best Wishes" 30th-anniversary tour dates:

Sep. 27 - Essen, Germany @ Turock

Sep. 28 - Limburg, Belgium @ Limburg Hardcore Fest

Sep. 29 - London, United Kingdom @ Underworld

Sep. 30 - Paris, France @ Gibus

Oct. 01 - Stuttgart, Germany @ De Keller Klub

Oct. 02 - Prague, Czech Rep @ Futurum

Oct. 03 - Budapest, Hungary @ Hu Dürer Kert

Oct. 04 - Graz, Austria @ Explosiv

Oct. 05 - Leipzig, Germany @ Naumanns

Oct. 06 - Berlin, Germany @ Musik & Frieden


The history of the CRO-MAGS is integral to the history ofhHardcore, its evolution from punk and the development of alternative music genres such as hardcore, cross-over, thrash metal, post punk and grunge, to name a few. Numerous iconic bands from METALLICA to GREEN DAY, and individuals such as Dave Grohl have credited CRO-MAGS with having had a primal influence on their development.

Born out of the violence and depravity of the Lower East Side of New York in the late '70s and early '80s, the CRO-MAGS was the brainchild of a very young Harley Flanagan (at the time 14 years old) when still playing with THE STIMULATORS. By 1982/83 he wrote and recorded the very first CRO-MAGS demos consisting of four songs that would become the blueprint for the seminal 1986 "Age Of Quarrel". He wrote all of the music, played each instrument and sang. Before long, he connected with Parris Mayhew and the two started writing music and auditioning band members.

Flanagan recently reached a settlement with singer John Joseph and drummer Mackie Jayson regarding ownership of the CRO-MAGS name. Flanagan will now perform under the name CRO-MAGS while Joseph and Jayson will perform as CRO-MAGS "JM".

The official music video for the song "Oh My God" from HELLYEAH can be seen below. The clip was directed by William "Wombat" Felch and second DP Sebastien Paquet.

"Oh My God" is taken fromHELLYEAH's sixth studio album, "Welcome Home", which will be released on September 27 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc contains the final recordings by late HELLYEAH drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who died in June 2018 after laying down his drum tracks for the LP.

HELLYEAH singer Chad Gray and guitarist Christian Brady told Kilpop how it felt to play live again last month, nearly a year after Vinnie Paul's death.

Brady remarked: "Why don't you just take all of the emotions that you think someone can feel, and that's where we're at right now... We're happy and excited to play together again, happy and excited to be on stage together again, terrified to be on stage together without our fucking brother, even though we know he's here [in spirit]."

HELLYEAH played its first show since Vinnie's passing on May 11 in Las Vegas, with STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga making his debut as the former PANTERA drummer's replacement.

Gray said about Mayorga's involvement: "He's been rehearsing six hours a day for a month and a half... He's just helping us carry this torch for Vin. And that's his job. He's such a brother, though, man — he's such a beautiful human being. We had a very short list of people, and it was just, like, nobody can sit on that kit that didn't respect who Vinnie Paul [was] and vice versa. And we nailed it."

HELLYEAH will kick off an 18-city headlining tour on July 23 in Atlanta and wrap it up on August 17 with a "special celebration" in Dallas, the area where Vinnie and his late brother, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, spent their formative years.

Bassist Kyle Sanders stated: "While Vinnie Paul is obviously irreplaceable, one thing we can't not do is tour. As easy as it would be to say we're not going on the road, we have to. Vinnie would be extremely disappointed in us if we didn't promote this record properly. He'd be pissed off at all of us... and we know that."

Vinnie Paul died in June 2018 of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Not long before his death, Vinnie laid down the drum tracks for "Welcome Home".

Like the last two records, 2016's "Unden!able" and 2014's "Blood For Blood", the new disc was recorded at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with producer Kevin Churko.

Photo credit: William Felch

Technical death metal champions NILE have completed work on their ninth studio album. The follow-up to 2015's "What Should Not Be Unearthed", which is tentatively due in the fall, will mark the band's first release with new guitarist/vocalist Brian Kingsland, who replaced Dallas Toler-Wade in 2017.

On Wednesday, drummer George Kollias took to his Facebook page to write: "Listening to the new album mixed/mastered as i type, i cannot find the words to tell you how fucking great this album sounds!!! Mark Lewis nailed it, best production we ever had!!!! Prepare for this release, this album is a classic one…..mark my words!! #nileband #newalbum2019"

NILE will embark on the "A Vile Caustic Attack" tour in the fall. The 39-date trek, featuring special guests TERRORIZER, will kick off at the Loft at Centerstage in Atlanta, Georgia on November 1 and will conclude on December 14 at The Firmament in Greenville, South Carolina.


Speaking to Metal Mad TV at last year's Hellfest in Clisson, France, guitarist/vocalist Karl Sanders stated about the writing sessions for NILE's next disc: "It's not an overly complicated process. We start writing the songs, and we share demos back and forth, and we all contribute and try to shape the music. But we've been interrupting the process with tours here and there. So we start on a few songs, we tour, come home, work on a few more, then go back on tour, come home, work on a few more."

According to Karl, NILE's forthcoming album will feature vocals from him and bassist Brad Parris in addition to those of Kingsland.

"Brian is a very talented vocalist," Sanders told Metal Wani. "Right now, we have more of the triple vocal attack [which is something] that had kind of fallen off in recent years. But now we're doing that, where all three of us are sharing. It's more equally balanced. I find it more interesting. I'm really happy about that too."

Karl previously described Kingsland as "a seriously talented extreme metal guitar shredder" with "a great brutal metal voice [and] a very versatile range." He added that "Brian is also a genuine, down-to-earth, hard-working and motivated guy who has helped reignite and re-establish a sense of team work back into NILE."


"What Should Not Be Unearthed" was released in August 2015 via Nuclear Blast.


Listening to the new album mixed/mastered as i type, i cannot find the words to tell you how fucking great this album...Posted by George Kollias Official on Wednesday, June 26, 2019