An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "Flesh & Blood", the upcoming studio album from WHITESNAKE, can be seen below. Due on May 10 via Frontiers Music Srl, the disc follows the 2011 critically acclaimed studio album "Forevermore" and 2015's "The Purple Album", a reimagining of DEEP PURPLE classics from WHITESNAKE mastermind's David Coverdale's time in that band. The 13 original, visceral tracks on "Flesh & Blood", the band's 13th studio album, are, luckily for you dear reader, "all killer, no filler", as the saying goes.

Joining Coverdale on "Flesh & Blood" is the powerhouse band comprised of Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra on guitar, Michael Devin on bass, Tommy Aldridge on drums, and Michele Luppi on keyboards.


Since joining the band four years ago, and just in time for 2015's "The Purple Album", Chicago native Joel Hoekstra has really come into his own, not only as a highly impressive axe-slinger, but also as a very accomplished songwriter too, co-writing six of the songs for "Flesh & Blood" with singer David Coverdale. Of course, Joel's talents are hardly surprising, considering he's the son of two classical musicians.


Guitarist Reb Beach, who originally joined WHITESNAKE in 2002, has stepped up to become the group's bandleader and guides the band to implement Coverdale's musical vision. As well as bringing his impressive musical chops to the band, Reb has co-written five songs on the new album, the fourth studio album he has appeared on, commencing with 2008's highly acclaimed "Good To Be Bad".


It was the "Good To Be Bad" follow-up, "Forevermore" (2011), that saw the debut of bassist Michael Devin. The New Englander's four-string-depth-charge-bass-bombs definitively underpin and drive the sound of WHITESNAKE in the 21st century.


Rounding out the rhythm section is David's longest serving 'Snake, the renowned drummer and unstoppable percussionist Tommy Aldridge, who has been with WHITESNAKE in some capacity for 30 years. Tommy made his debut with WHITESNAKE way back in 1987 in the "Still Of The Night" video, becoming a mainstay behind the kit for successive albums and tours.


Last, but certainly not least, the band is completed by the inventive keyboards and vocals of Italian maestro Michele Luppi, who made his live debut in 2015, as documented on "The Purple Tour" live CD/DVD (2018).

The current incarnation of the band carries on the long and unwavering tradition of mainman David Coverdale being surrounded by cream of the crop players who go all in to bring fans the best hard rock humanly possible.

Track listing:

01. Good To See You Again

02. Gonna Be Alright

03. Shut Up & Kiss Me

04. Hey You (You Make Me Rock)

05. Always & Forever

06. When I Think Of You (Color Me Blue)

07. Trouble Is Your Middle Name

08. Flesh & Blood

09. Well I Never

10. Heart Of Stone

11. Get Up

12. After All

13. Sands Of Time

Bonus Tracks Appearing on CD+DVD Deluxe Edition and Digital Version:

14. Can't Do Right For Doing Wrong (bonus track - new studio song)

15. If I Can't Have You (bonus track - new studio song)

16. Gonna Be Alright (X-Tendo Mix) (DVD audio track)

17. Sands Of Time (Radio Mix) (DVD audio track)

18. Shut Up And Kiss Me (Video Mix) (DVD audio track)

WHITESNAKE has already announced its first shows of the 2019 "Flesh & Blood" world tour, which will feature songs from the new studio record alongside its biggest hits and songs from one of the greatest back catalogues in rock 'n' roll history, spanning over 40 years.

Called the "harshest band in America" by The Guardian, NAILS has returned to unleash their relentless fury once again with the release of a new song, "I Don't Want To Know You". The digital single out now is accompanied by the ripping B-side "Endless Resistance", which features guest Max Cavalera (SEPULTURA, SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY). Pre-orders are now available for a limited-edition seven-inch vinyl that will be released on June 7 and will include an additional remix of "Endless Resistance" by Petbrick (Wayne Adams, Igor Cavalera).


"I Don't Want To Know You" was tracked by NAILS drummer Taylor Young, mixed by Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE) at GodCity Studio, and is the band's first recording to feature their second guitarist Leon del Muerte (MURDER CONSTRUCT, NAUSEA, EXHUMED). NAILS has also unveiled a music video for the new single that was directed by Nico Poalillo (GHOST, CHELSEA WOLFE). Watch it below.


News of NAILS' single coincides with the announcement of the band's North American headline tour with support from MISERY INDEX, DEVOURMENT and OUTERHEAVEN that will take place in June.


NAILS tour dates:

June 07 - St. Louis, MO – The Firebird

June 08 - Chicago, IL - Metro

June 09 - Detroit, MI - The Shelter

June 10 - Toronto, ON - Opera House

June 11 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda

June 12 - Boston, MA - Middle East

June 13 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

June 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer

June 15 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage

June 16 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater

311 has released the first two tracks — "Good Feeling" and "Don't You Worry" — from its upcoming album, "Voyager" (BMG).

Both "Good Feeling" and "Don't You Worry" are available as instant downloads when you pre-order "Voyager" ahead of its June 28 release. In addition, everyone who pre-orders the album is automatically eligible to win numerous 311 prizes, including concert tickets, meet-and-greet passes, handwritten lyrics, autographed goods, etc.

"Voyager" is 311's 13th studio album and features (appropriately enough) 13 new songs — four of which were recorded with Grammy-nominated producer John Feldmann (BLINK-182, PANIC! AT THE DISCO) and nine of which were recorded with longtime collaborator/live engineer Scotch Ralston, who produced 311 albums "Transistor", "Soundsystem" and "Stereolithic".

The new album was mixed by Grammy winner Neal Avron (WEEZER, TWENTY ONE PILOTS, LINKIN PARK) and 311 drummer Chad Sexton, who's done mix work on several previous 311 releases.

"Voyager" is the second consecutive 311 album to feature production work by both Feldmann and Ralston following 2017's "Mosaic", which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 6, making it the band's 10th straight Top 10 album.

About naming the album "Voyager", 311 vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum says: "Our albums have become almost like a captain's log documenting our band's ongoing voyage through musical styles, while also capturing our feelings and life experiences. With each album, 311 continues to voyage, explore and push our musicality into new dimensions."

Hexum on "Good Feeling": "The songtitle says it all — being about the best stuff in life; celebrating joy with loved ones. This song is an antidote to all the fear, anger, and division so prevalent in society today. Musically, the song is equally influenced by the pounding rhythms that SA [Doug Martinez] and I discovered when exploring the dancehall street scenes in Jamaica, as well as Paul Simon's world beat records like 'Graceland' and 'Rhythm Of The Saints'. This song is a three-minute party jam meant to feel like a vacation."

Hexum on "Don't You Worry": "We all go through highs and lows. And lows can often lead to confusion, despair and loneliness. 'Don't You Worry' is about how a friend should react when we sense someone is going through a hard time: 'Don't You Worry, you can count on me to help you through your dark hours.' It's a song validating personal connection and leaning on one another to turn things for the better."

311 has also revealed "Voyager"'s cover art, which was created by U.K. artist Sam Williams of MagicTorch.

As with every 311 album, "Voyager" features 311's unique hybrid sound of rock, reggae, pop, hip-hop and funk that the band have come to blend so seamlessly.

"I think this album is very eclectic, from simple songs to wild studio adventures that get into weird, stoney outer-space material," says Hexum. "It's another step forward for us and we love the adventure, love the journey, love the process and we can't wait for people to hear it."

Along with a setlist packed with classic hits and fan favorites, 311 will be playing select tracks from the new album on its upcoming summer tour 2019, a 34-date amphitheater tour that will feature DIRTY HEADS and special guests THE INTERRUPTERS, DREAMERS and BIKINI TRILL. All shows are now on sale.

311's feature film "Enlarged To Show Detail 3" was in 240 cinemas nationwide for a one-night showing on 311 Day (March 11). Over 16,000 fans turned out to watch the film, which was largely focused on the band and fan relationship with live show footage and behind the scenes content. The special Los Angeles screening with the band took place at the Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Blvd.

Photo credit: Brian Bowen Smith

U.K.-based outfit TRONOS has released an EPK-style interview video for its debut album, "Celestial Mechanics", which has just been made available via Century Media Records. In the clip, TRONOS members Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH, BRUJERIA) and Russ Russell (AT THE GATES, DIMMU BORGIR, NAPALM DEATH) discuss the formation of the group as well as exclusive details about "Celestial Mechanics". The project sees them teaming up with drummer Dirk Verbeuren (MEGADETH, SOILWORK) for a rocketing load of dark fractured colossal and apocalyptic metal.

The greatest, most enduring music often emerges from a meeting of mercurial minds. Having worked closely for decades, Embury and Russell have long since established an instinctive creative rapport. After deciding upon the core ideals of their new venture, the task creating the music for what after long years of work is now TRONOS's debut album, "Celestial Mechanics", sent these two maverick extremists into mind-altering cosmic realms. With firm roots in avant-garde extremity and psychedelic sludge, "Celestial Mechanics" is a record with spectral grit and ornate disquiet hidden in its dizzying, deftly-assembled layers. Such is the strength of the material on this wildly eccentric slab of heaviness.

"Celestial Mechanics" also features a string of illustrious guest appearances: Denis "Snake" Belanger (VOIVOD), Erica Nockalls (THE WONDER STUFF; vocals and violin) as well as no fewer than three legendary bass players, Gould, Troy Sanders (MASTODON) and Dan Lilker (NUCLEAR ASSAULT, S.O.D.). Also featuring the BLACK SABBATH cover version "Johnny Blade" as final album track, the album was mixed by Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, SOLSTAFIR, PARADISE LOST, ULVER) as well as Russ Russell.

"Celestial Mechanics" track listing:

01. Walk Among The Dead Things

02. Judas Cradle

03. The Ancient Deceit

04. The Past Will Wither And Die

05. A Treaty With Reality

06. Voyeurs Of Nature's Tragedies

07. Birth Womb

08. Premonition

09. Beyond The Stream Of Conciousness

10. Johnny Blade (BLACK SABBATH cover)

TRONOS lineup:

Shane Embury - Vocals, Guitar

Russ Russell - Vocals, Guitar, Synths

Dirk Verbeuren - Drums

Ian Hill says that it's up to Andy Sneap to decide if he wants to carry on playing guitar for JUDAS PRIEST after the completion of the band's "Firepower" world tour.

When Glenn Tipton was forced to retire from full-time touring activities due to his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, he and his PRIEST bandmates opted to hire Sneap to fill in, having gotten to know the British-born, 49-year-old producer when he helmed the group's latest album, "Firepower".

Asked in a brand new interview with "Talking Metal" if Andy will stay on as a touring member of PRIEST even after the "Firepower" trek is finished, Hill said (hear audio below): "It is something to be discussed, really. I mean, Andy is now, these days, first and foremost a producer. Whether he wants to go back and do that full time or not, it'll be a mutual decision when the time comes. Andy will be more than welcome to stay. He's done a tremendous job over the last year or so, really. He's done a great job stepping in for Glenn. It would have been very difficult if he hadn't been there, on such short notice, because we didn't realize that Glenn couldn't handle the intensity of touring anymore until… We were only about three weeks away from starting the tour [laughs], and Andy stepped in and did a great job. He pulled a real rabbit out of the hat in learning a complete setlist of songs in such a short period of time. He pulled it off anyway. And as time's gone on, obviously, his stage presence, he got more comfortable with that, and he's performing great now. So when the time comes… We'll give it to the end of this run and then see what everybody wants to do. As I say, he'll be more than welcome to carry on with us if that's his plan."

Pressed about whether the final decision will be left up to Andy — who was guitarist for cult U.K. thrashers SABBAT and currently plays with NWOBHM revivalists HELL — Hill responded: "Yeah. Pretty much so. I mean, we'll understand either way. He put some work aside to do this, and obviously, he's anxious to get back and finish that off. He's probably doing some of that now as we speak, in this short break that we've got. Like I say, if he wants to continue, that's entirely up to him, really."

Asked if PRIEST has anyone else in mind for the guitarist slot if Sneap ever decides to return to full-time producing, Hill said: "No, not at the time being. I mean, the plan at the moment is to go to the end of the year. The U.S. run, that'll take us up to the end of June. And we were gonna do some rearranged Ozzy Osbourne dates; we were special guesting with him, but he, unfortunately, got rather sick and had to cancel. And that's now being pushed back to February, so we've pretty much got the rest of the year off to sit back and see where we go from here. The plan is to tour next year with 50-year celebrations. And if Andy's with us, great. If he wants to carry on with producing, we'll more than understand that. He's done a tremendous job and he'll go with everyone's blessing. But, like I say, it will be time to consider that over the next few months or so."

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease five years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — but didn't announce he was going to sit out touring activities in support of "Firepower" until February 2018. The guitarist, who is now 71 and has performed on every PRIEST record since the band's 1974 debut set, "Rocka Rolla", is not quitting the band, but simply cannot handle the rigorous challenges of performing live.

Taking his first professional steps into the world of metal during his teen years, the U.K.-based Sneap has spent decades as one of the most respected musicians and music producers in heavy music, having worked with such bands as EXODUS, TESTAMENT, KREATOR, ARCH ENEMY, SAXON, MEGADETH and, most recently, PRIEST.

JUDAS PRIEST will return to the United States this spring for a run with fellow classic heavy rockers URIAH HEEP. The 32-date trek will kick off on May 3 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida and wrap on June 29 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Californian death metal pioneers POSSESSED will release their first full-length album in over three decades, "Revelatons Of Oblivion", on May 10 via Nuclear Blast.

Today, the band has unveiled the disc's second single, "Shadowcult", with a live clip from its performance at the Bloodstock Open Air festival.

POSSESSED frontman Jeff Becerra comments: "We had such a fantastic time at Bloodstock. The audience was on fire and we could just feel the excitement in the air. While England has always been an exciting place for POSSESSED, this concert felt extra special. Very much looking forward to our next trip across the pond."

"Revelations Of Oblivion" was recorded at NRG studios and Titan Studios with Becerra as executive producer and Daniel Gonzalez as co-producer for the album. Mixing and mastering was handled by Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN, BLOODBATH) at Abyss Studios in Sweden. For the artwork, the band enlisted Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak (PARADISE LOST, DIMMU BORGIR, DEICIDE, GHOST, GORGUTS) to create a piece that brought back the notion of true fear that was once associated with the idea of evil.

Said Jeff: "Working with Peter was a fantastic experience. We put a great deal of thought into who we wanted to produce our new album. Since we hadn't made an all-new material release in well over 30 years, it was essential that we found the right person. Peter's name kept coming up over and over, and after speaking with my bandmates they all really liked Peter as he is more organic, and somebody we felt would fit in well with our process."

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Chant Of Oblivion

02. No More Room In Hell

03. Dominion

04. Damned

05. Demon

06. Abandoned

07. Shadowcult

08. Omen

09. Ritual

10. The Word

11. Graven

12. Temple Of Samael

The cover artwork can be seen below. Also available is the official visualizer for the song "No More Room In Hell".

Back in 2017, Becerra told Antihero Magazine that the band's upcoming studio album, which will be their first full-length effort since 1986's "Beyond The Gates", would contain "some really fucking good death metal. I'm really happy with a lot of the tracks," he said. "I'm collaborating with [new POSSESSED members] Daniel [Gonzalez, guitar] and Claudeous [Creamer, guitar]. We're working together hard to create something that we really like. We're hoping that translates well to other people and beyond. We're hoping people like it. If they don't, then fuck them."

Regarding the musical direction of POSSESSED's new material, Jeff said: "Well, it's me. I'm still me. I would say…it's very POSSESSED-y, but it's not so dated. I think as much as I love the first three albums, they're a little dated, so we're trying to bring it back into this century. We're not going to over-produce it or do anything but straight death metal. It's just what I want to play and what the band wants to play."

Becerra remains the only member from POSSESSED's classic lineup, which dissolved entirely in 1987 after the "Eyes Of Horror" EP.

RAINBOW will release a newly recorded version of its song "Black Sheep Of The Family" on April 26.

The original recording of "Black Sheep Of The Family" — a cover of a track by the band QUATERMASS from 1970 — was included on RAINBOW's debut album, 1975's "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow". Like the rest of the LP, the song was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany.

The first new RAINBOW single since 1996, "Waiting For A Sign", was released in March 2018. The song was penned by Ritchie Blackmore, with lyrics by his wife Candice Night and vocals from RAINBOW's current singer, Ronnie Romero, who is originally from Chile but is now settled in Madrid.

The latest incarnation of RAINBOW released two new studio recordings in 2017, but they weren't original compositions; one was an instrumental song called "Land Of Hope And Glory", which was a reworking of the 1902 British patriotic song of the same name from Edward Elgar's "Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1", while the other was a re-recording of the RAINBOW classic "I Surrender", which was written by Russ Ballard and was first released by RAINBOW in 1981.

"Waiting For A Sign" is included on "Memories in Rock II", which was released in April 2018 via Minstrel Hall/Soulfood. The set also contains a double CD of the June 2017 U.K. RAINBOW concerts, a DVD containing over 80 minutes of interview footage with the band and crew, an additional backstage clip and a video for the 2017 studio version of "I Surrender".

Blackmore stepped away from his Renaissance-inspired brand of music with BLACKMORE'S NIGHT in 2016 to perform a handful of shows with a brand-new lineup of the band he had formed after quitting DEEP PURPLE.

Although Ritchie initially said that he had no plans to make a new RAINBOW album — explaining in early 2016 that he wanted to "just get back to playing the old songs one more time" — he revealed to Japan's Burrn! magazine that he changed his mind.

In addition to Blackmore and Romero, the current incarnation of RAINBOW includes STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith, bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT), and backing singers Candice Night and Lady Lynn.

The two shows RAINBOW played in Germany in June 2016 were caught on camera to produce "Memories In Rock - Live In Germany", which was released in November 2016 via Eagle Rock Entertainment on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, and digital formats.

After Ritchie left DEEP PURPLE for the final time in 1993, he reformed RAINBOW for one album (1995's "Stranger In Us All") and one tour, ending things in Denmark in 1997.

Swedish hard rock veterans EUROPE have released a new video for "Turn To Dust", a song from their critically acclaimed eleventh studio album, "Walk The Earth".


"Turn To Dust" is the third single from "Walk The Earth", which was released in October 2017 via Hell & Back Recordings (Silver Lining Music). It was recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios in London with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (RIVAL SONS, Shooter Jennings, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton). The Craig Hooper-directed clip can now be seen below.


"This song idea has been brewing for over ten years," explains singer Joey Tempest. "When recording our latest album, 'Walk The Earth', in Abbey Road Studios, the inspiration finally kicked in to finish it. Originally an idea and labor of love of our keyboards player Mic Michaeli, the video was meant to touch on emotions and observations related to the life and death of your near and dear ones, the circle of life, if you will, but it turned out to be much more than that as it follows the dramatic journey of the character taken from the artwork on our album cover.

"Working with Craig Hooper and his animation team was a real pleasure, and after seeing their work on DEEP PURPLE's 'The Surprising', we knew we were dealing with true visionaries. We're very proud of the result, especially since it's our first-ever animated video."

Hooper states: "A video like this is a very difficult thing to get right. The song is layered with emotion and meaning and to capture that in images is tricky, to say the least. The band decided the only way to do the song justice was through animation, where images are limited only by your imagination and together we roughed out a treatment. I then took that to Pete Rogers and Helen Pooler at Bait Studio in Cardiff, Wales, who are amongst the best in the world at this kind of thing and we'd already worked with them before for a video for DEEP PURPLE. They brought on board artist Matt Rooke, who immediately 'got it,' and between them, they gave life to these ideas and images. It wasn't until the final frame was finished that we saw we had produced something special, something that I hope does a good enough job of representing such an amazing and heartfelt song. That's up to viewers to decide."

Photo credit: Brian Cannon

With "The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa" tour set to kick off next week — April 19 at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York — tour producers Eyellusion and the Zappa Family Trust have shared a new preview clip (from last week's tour rehearsals) of the immersive, multimedia two-hour experience. In the clip, which can be seen below, a holographic version of Zappa plays guitar in front of glowing flames. Watch it below.


Capturing the artistic visions of Frank Zappa, the first of its kind live show pairs performances — comprised of a band that's a who's-who of Zappa fan favorite musicians — alongside various incarnations of the tour's namesake. "The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa" tour band is comprised of former Zappa bandmates for this monumental series of shows. The touring unit boasts guitarists Ray White and Mike Keneally, bassist Scott Thunes, multi-instrumentalist Robert Martin, percussionist Ed Mann, and drummer and Zappa archivist Joe "Vaultmeister" Travers.


Many of the images stem from a 1974 session when Frank Zappa transformed his Los Angeles rehearsal space into a sound stage and cranked out some unbelievable performances seen and heard only by the camera operators in the room. The audio from these performances — locked away in the Zappa vaults for 44 years — will serve as the basis for the show.


The nine U.S. shows kick off Friday, April 19, with seven European shows in May to follow. Additional dates will be announced in the coming months.

For more information, visit www.zappa.com.

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of ARDOURS, a new alternative gothic metal band featuring lead vocalist Mariangela Demurtas (TRISTANIA) and multi-instrumentalist and producer Kris Laurent.

Originally formed in 2015, ARDOURS was the product of Mariangela and Kris's longstanding friendship from both of their involvements in the Sardinian (Italian) metal scene. In 2006, Mariangela moved from Italy and joined the Norwegian band TRISTANIA, but she and Kris always kept in touch. In late 2015, having always admired one another's musical talents, they decided to join forces. Hard work and dedication have been the key for their upcoming debut album, "Last Place On Earth", which is due out later this year.

"When I joined TRISTANIA," says Mariangela, "the band had already a strong identity and so I had to fit with their style, but also had to bring something new and fresh to the sound, and I think we worked that out very well. I am very proud of the two albums we released together.

"TRISTANIA is more of an introspective and articulated sound in comparison to ARDOURS.

"I feel very grateful and thankful to the band for what I have learned throughout these years. But, on the other hand, I needed to do something different, something where I could be the main singer, where I could sing the words with passion and with the warmth of my voice.

"ARDOURS has more rock and '80s influences compared to TRISTANIA, including a bit of new wave sound which is something that me and Kris love.

"When I chose to be part of this project, I knew I wanted to sound very expressive without being technical so that I could give a more nostalgic sound to the words. This is the way I saw ARDOURS sounding and I cannot wait for people to hear it!"

Since Mariangela wanted ARDOURS to be a melting pot of different personalities to add to the unique flavor of the songwriting, she decided to ask TRISTANIA's drummer/lyricist Tarald Lie to write the lyrics and record the drums for the album. The mix of these three elements has resulted in a fresh and promising style, straddling the lines between rock, metal, and goth. The gothic atmosphere created in the mesh of the lyrics and the catchy melodies immediately caught the attention of Frontiers A&R team, who snapped up the band as soon as they heard the music.

"I sent the music to Frontiers presenting our work and they have been very positive about it since the beginning, giving us strong feedback and collaborating with us in any kind of decision regarding this project. I loved the fact that they really liked our music, so we decided to sign with them," concludes Mariangela.

Fans of THE GATHERING, LACUNA COIL, latter-era TIAMAT and the like should keep their ears open for ARDOURS. The band has begun releasing samples of their songs ahead of the first single debut (scheduled for later this year) starting today, so be sure to follow them on social media to get a taste of what's in store.

ARDOURS' first live show will happen on September 7 at La Cueva Rock in Quartucciu (Cagliari) Italy.

The official lyric video for "We Come Alive", a song from DEVIL'S HAND, the new project featuring the amazing talents of two outstanding musicians — famed producer/guitarist/songwriter Mike Slamer and singer Andrew Freeman of LAST IN LINE — can be seen below. The track is taken from the project's self-titled debut album, which was released in December via Frontiers Music Srl.

Mike Slamer has been behind some of the most amazing melodic hard rock releases of the past two decades. The list includes, but is not limited to, STEELHOUSE LANE, SEVENTH KEY, SLAMER and Terry Brock. And let's not forget his past work in the '80s with STREETS (featuring KANSAS singer Steve Walsh) and in the '70s with CITY BOY. The quality of his songwriting and production work is unsurpassed as the records he has produced and been involved in have more than stood the test of time.

Mike says: "This new record has some great stuff. I don't want to make direct comparisons because STEELHOUSE LANE, SEVENTH KEY, my solo album, and the new one all have great singers, but different styles, qualities, and levels of collaboration."

Freeman is simply one of the most gifted singers of the current hard rock scene. With his performance on LAST IN LINE's debut album (and their forthcoming 2019 release), he made heads turn with the power of his vocals. His unbelievable set of pipes adds an undeniable fire to the DEVIL'S HAND album.

Andrew adds that his "approach on singing the songs was the same as all the recordings I've done. I try to bring the same amount of passion and conviction in everything I write and perform.

"This group of songs that Mike and I wrote are a bit more commercial, but they have the same amount of intensity and anthemic spirit as the LAST IN LINE record. Lots of big sing-along choruses and screaming guitars!

"I think the title track, 'Devil's Hand', encompasses the entire vibe of the record. It has elements of all the greatest rock 'n' roll songs I've ever heard. 'Heartbeat Away' will give you the feels. It's pensive, dramatic, and optimistic. All of the emotion that encompasses life. It's just a really well-rounded record."

"Devil's Hand" track listing:

01. We Come Alive

02. Falling In

03. One More Time

04. Another Way To Fly

05. Drive Away

06. Justified

07. Rise Above It All

08. Devil's Hand

09. Unified

10. Heartbeat Away

11. Push Comes To Shove

DEVIL'S HAND bandmembers:

Andrew Freeman - Lead Vocals

Mike Slamer - Guitars, bass, keyboards

Chet Wynd - Drums

Photo credit: Robert Knight (Andrew Freeman), Nicole Slamer Higdon (Mike Slamer)

MIXHELL — the DJ/hip-hop/electro project featuring former SEPULTURA and current CAVALERA CONSPIRACY drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera and his wife Laima Leyton — and HOT CHIP's Joe Goddard have released the official video for their collaborative song "Killer Whale". The clip, created by the politically driven São Paulo collective Brechó Replay, can be seen below.

After being away from home for so many years, MIXHELL decided to work with Brechó Replay to help try and get back in touch with what's going on in their home country. "Through our longtime collaborators Planalto, we heard about this upcoming crew," MIXHELL told The Skinny. "They are a collective of artists, stylists, video makers and second hand clothes sellers. We trusted them to create their story and were amazed by the spontaneity of the result. It is honest, it shows them in their environment, the city where MIXHELL came from, and it's crazy fun. It is great to see a crew developing like they are."

Now living in London, Laima and Igor have been producing and performing together since 2004 and have toured Europe and the U.S. since 2007. After collaborating with artists such as Diplo, MSTRKRFT, 2manydjs and DJ Hell, among others, they have built a solid underground career in electronic music, in which they perform with live instruments. Their latest release, "Strong And Wrong", features Goddard and Mutado Pintado of PARANOID LONDON fame.

In a 2009 interview, Igor was asked if SEPULTURA and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY fans will like MIXHELL, Igor — who plays live drums in MIXHELL while Laima is the DJ — replied, "I don't know. I really enjoy it, because for me it's still very, very extreme. My drumming is very energetic. It just has different grooves to it than what I do with CAVALERA."

When asked how his metal background has affected his work with MIXHELL, Igor replied, "For me, even when I was playing metal, I always tried new things, I was never stuck to one [thing]. It was always, like, very open-minded. Anybody who followed the SEPULTURA years knows that we tried new things; it was not about being stuck in time; it was about moving up, always. So, for me, MIXHELL is a continuation of my career."

Igor Cavalera left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their son (who was born in January 2006).

"Sometimes", a brand new song from Alan Parsons, can be streamed below. The track, which includes guest vocals by FOREIGNER legend Lou Gramm, is taken from Alan's upcoming studio album, "The Secret", which will be released on April 26 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Alan and Frontiers' relationship began in 2010 when the label released "Eye 2 Eye - Live in Madrid". They have kept in close contact since, with the ultimate goal to release another album together. Alan wanted it to be a really special album and only recently have the right plans and ideas fallen into place where Alan felt ready to enter the studio to record what he had in mind.

"The writing and recording sessions are going incredibly well," says Alan. "The album already has a working title, which is 'The Secret', and it will include musical and lyrical themes that are very close to my heart and my own interests and passions. I do not really want to reveal a lot about it, except that for the moment everything that surrounds 'The Secret' is going to be just that… a secret!"

The overall musical approach of the album is expected to be in keeping with the symphonic rock that Alan explored on his earlier solo records and the "Project" albums. But, of course, there will be new twists and turns and robust new creative inspiration behind the album. Some special guests will be on the album, but those will be revealed later... again, in keeping with the working title of the album, "The Secret".

Frontiers president Serafino Perugino commented: "This is pretty much a dream come true for me. For Frontiers being able to represent the artistry and the talent of such a huge artist is a magnificent opportunity. We look forward to this release as much as Alan's fans and it will see the light of day in multiple exciting formats. Stay tuned!".

Parsons said: "I wish to thank Serafino and the team for the commitment and the patience to make this happen. To the fans… we'll see you soon on a world tour!"

The track listing for the disc is as follows:


01. The Sorcerer's Apprentice (instrumental)

02. Miracle (lead vocal: Jason Mraz)

03. As Lights Fall (lead vocal: Alan Parsons)

04. One Note Symphony (lead vocal: Todd Cooper)

05. Sometimes (lead vocal: Lou Gramm)

06. Soirée Fantastique (lead vocal: Todd Cooper, Alan Parsons)

07. Fly To Me (lead vocal: Mark Mikel)

08. Requiem (lead vocal: Todd Cooper)

09. Years Of Glory (lead vocal: PJ Olsson)

10. The Limelight Fades Away (lead vocal: Jordan Huffman)

11. I Can't Get There From Here (lead vocal: Jared Mahone)

Check out the cover artwork below.

Parsons's music career started at 19 when he earned one of his his first credits as assistant engineer on THE BEATLES' "Abbey Road", an album recorded in the legendary London studios of the same name. He soon become a well-respected studio engineer, working for Paul McCartney, THE HOLLIES, and many others. He is particularly renowned for his work as recording engineer on the PINK FLOYD masterpiece "The Dark Side of The Moon". This classic album was recorded in 1972 and Parsons experimented with many of the most advanced recording techniques of the time. As a producer, he enjoyed many successes with PILOT, STEVE HARLEY AND COCKNEY REBEL, John Miles, and Al Stewart, including the masterwork "Year Of The Cat".

In 1975, Alan Parsons formed THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT along with principal songwriter (and occasional singer) Eric Woolfson. The PROJECT consisted of a group of studio musicians and vocalists, often involving the members of three bands Alan produced: PILOT (Ian Bairnson, Stuart Tosh and David Paton), COCKNEY REBEL's Stuart Elliott on drums, and (on the first album) American progressive pop/rock band AMBROSIA.

THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT released ten acclaimed studio albums, but never performed live during the heyday of the albums, even after several U.S. and European Top 20 hits. The PROJECT made its final album at the end of the '80s with the album "Gaudi". Since then, Alan has released a number of recordings under his own name using several musicians that also appeared on the "Project" releases.

As well as receiving gold and platinum awards from countless countries, Parsons has received eleven Grammy Award nominations for his engineering and production work. In 2007, he was nominated for "Best Surround Sound Album" for his studio album "A Valid Path".

In 1994, Alan Parsons started touring regularly as THE ALAN PARSONS LIVE PROJECT and has released a number of live releases in audio and video. His live concerts continue to this day.

Swedish melodic death metal pioneers AT THE GATES continue to promote their acclaimed album "To Drink From The Night Itself" by launching a video for the track "The Colours Of The Beast", created by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight13Media.

AT THE GATES vocalist Tomas Lindberg commented: "Right in time for the prestigious Roadburn festival appearance, we decided to release yet another video from the latest album. This time we want to focus on the heavier, grittier sound of the band, hence 'The Colours Of The Beast'. We once again worked together with Costin on this one. We talked with him that we wanted him to try to capture the dark, gloomy side of the band's music. And he succeeded, creating the, by far, most dark and twisted video we have ever released. We are very happy to present to you the new AT THE GATES video clip: 'The Colours Of The Beast'!"

"To Drink From The Night Itself" was released last May via Century Media. Produced with Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, THE HAUNTED, DIMMU BORGIR) at Parlour Studios in the U.K., the follow-up 2014's "At War With Reality" features conceptual artwork created by Chioreanu, who previously worked with AT THE GATES on the band's last disc.

Singer Tomas Lindberg spoke to Decibel magazine about how the departure of longtime AT THE GATES guitarist and primary songwriter Anders Björler has affected the band's sound. "It is true that there is a big shift in the lineup," he said. "What you have to take into consideration is that Jonas Björler [bass] wrote 40 percent of both 'Slaughter Of The Soul' and 'At War With Reality'. Some people seem to forget this. They just assume that the lead guitarist is the sole songwriter. Jonas had to take a lot more responsibility this time around, but me and him have had a really great and creative time writing this album. There is a slight change of direction, maybe, but AT THE GATES fans shouldn't be worried — it is still an AT THE GATES record. If anything, it is heavier and more death metal than the last one."

Lindberg said that new AT THE GATES guitarist Jonas Stålhammar came into the band too late to be involved in the composing process for the new disc. "This one is basically Jonas [Björler] and me when it comes to the writing. All the guys have contributed in some way, but the main writing comes from Jonas and me. Most of the songs were already in the finishing stages when Jonas Stålhammar joined, so there wasn't much time for him to contribute, but we look forward to having him more involved next time around."

AT THE GATES 2019 is:

Adrian Erlandsson - Drums

Jonas Björler - Bass

Tomas Lindberg - Vocals

Jonas Stålhammar - Guitar

Martin Larsson - Guitar

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson will release "Sleeping Giants" on July 5 via Combat Records. The effort will coincide with the release of Ellefson's upcoming memoir, "More Life With Deth", in stores July 16 via Jawbone Press. Co-written with Ellefson's business partner Thom Hazaert, "More Life With Deth" is the follow-up to Ellefson's "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", featuring cover art by Melody Myers (ALTITUDES AND ATTITUDE, MARC RIZZO, ESCAPE THE FATE) , will be a retrospective featuring several new tracks recorded by Ellefson and Hazaert, plus a collection of demos, and unreleased material, from F5 and David's other projects, including the unreleased demo "If You Were God", featuring John Bush (ANTHRAX, ARMORED SAINT), plus several unreleased demos featuring HOUSE OF LORDS and GIUFFRIA vocalist David Glen Eisley. The CD version will also include a second bonus disc, featuring a compilation of EMP and Combat Records artists.

Produced by Ellefson and Hazaert, with additional production from ICON guitarist John Aquilino at the Platinum Underground in Phoenix, "Sleeping Giants" is tentatively set to include a multitude of guests including: legendary MC Daryl "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, Mark Tremonti, Juan Garcia (ABBATOIR, BODY COUNT), Illias Papadakis (MEMORAIN), Dave McClain (MACHINE HEAD, SACRED REICH), a remix by "Game Of Thrones" star Kristian Nairn, and more.

Says Hazaert: "David and I were in Tampa for PBX - Playback Independent Music Expo, and had just finished an amazing run of 'Basstory', where I ended up performing with him, and several of our friends including Bumblefoot, and Dave Sharpe and Opus from DEAD BY WEDNESDAY. We capped it off with an amazing all-star 'Basstory' jam at the Brass Mug in Tampa with Dirk Verbeuren, Troy Sanders from MASTODON, Jason Bieler of SAIGON KICK, Head from KORN, Kyle Sanders from HELLYEAH. It was insane. So, we went into a local studio, Mastersound in Tampa, with the DEAD BY WEDNESDAY guys, and ended up writing and tracking 'Vultures'."

He adds: "David had all these other amazing instrumental songs, and parts, laying around, that I had always loved, and we just ended up getting a bunch of guests to play on them, polished some of them up, I wrote lyrics, laid down vocals, and the rest is history."

Says Ellefson: "I love to collaborate and it's timely and fitting to work up these song ideas with my friends, and get to break out and release some of these great demos and oddities from over the years, the stories behind many of which are told in the book. And to be able to include many of the EMP and Combat artists, I think it really brings another dimension to the stories we're telling in 'More Life With Deth'."

Adds Hazaert: "It truly was just writing and making music from the purest place of writing and making music, like buddies in the garage jamming on songs. And while everyone knows him as a bassist, David is such an incredible guitar player, and songwriter, and I love that we can finally showcase that. And to have a bunch of our friends who are in the book play on it, and for me and David to collaborate the way we did. I think it's really special. And, at first, we really didn't know what to do with it, or if we would even do anything with it, for that matter. We'd discussed the idea of releasing the new tracks as singles, then an EP, and then we came up with the idea to create a sort of 'island of misfit toys' b-sides, with all this killer stuff David had been involved with over the years, and it really all just kinda fell into place."

Photo by Melody Myers

Legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker was recently interviewed by "The Five Count" radio show in Mankato, Minnesota. You can now listen to the chat below.

Speaking about his current tour with MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST, which sees him teaming up with four different vocalists — Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley and Doogie White — Schenker said: "The funny thing is the older I get, the more I work. It's incredible. It used to be the other way around 50 years ago. People [would] get pension and stuff like that. But it's different today. So, for me, I didn't do any commercial stuff or wasn't in the machine in the middle years, so I guess I'm making up for it now, and celebrat[ing].

"As they say, if you're true to yourself, everything else will be added on to you and more, and that's exactly what happens to me," he continued. "So I guess that's why it's celebration time, with all the four singers.

"All my energy I've spread over on to the different eras or sections of my life, it's all combined onto one stage. It's like having one band but instead of one singer, it's four singers. And so it's all the people from the past. And it's just fantastic. It's something that I only was able to do with each individual singer in that particular time when it happened — with Gary in the early '80s and so on, and then with Robin McAuley in '85, '86 and '87, and then with Graham, of course, in between, in '82 and '81. And now you have them all on stage together — on one stage in one night in one show. Seeing the audience and seeing their eyes and their reaction, it says 'celebration.'"

MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST project will release its second studio album, "Revelation", on August 23 through Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss and was recorded and mixed by Voss at Kidpool Studio Greven & Kidwood Studio in Münstertal, Germany between December 2018 and March 2019.

The follow-up to 2018's "Resurrection", "Revelation" was mastered by Christoph "Doc" Stickel for CS Mastering in Vienna, Austria. Additional recordings were completed as follows: Simon Phillips's drums were recorded by Jason Mariani at Brotherynstudios in Ojai, California. Bodo Schopf's drums recorded by Rolf Munkes at Empire Studios in Bensheim, Germany. Graham Bonnet's and Robin McAuley's vocals were recorded by Jimmy Waldo at Where's That Track Studio in Los Angeles, California.


MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST will kick off its U.S. tour on April 15 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. The trek will include performances in Vancouver, Chicago, and New York before concluding on May 18 in Austin, Texas.

Former VIXEN singer Janet Gardner will release a new solo album, "Your Place In The Sun", on May 31 via Pavement Entertainment.

Like her 2017 debut self-titled solo album, the new disc is a collaboration with her husband, guitarist/producer Justin James, who has previously worked with STAIND, COLLECTIVE SOUL and TYKETTO.

Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "Your Place In The Sun" can be seen below.

Gardner announced her departure from VIXEN in January, saying in a statement that it was time for her to step aside and let drummer Roxy Petrucci and bassist Share Ross "pursue their vision for the future of VIXEN."

Gardner, Petrucci and Ross are considered to be part of VIXEN's classic lineup, along with founding guitarist Jan Kuehnemund, who died of cancer in October 2013.

Gardner contributed lead vocals to VIXEN's most commercially successful studio albums — "Vixen" (1988), "Rev It Up" (1990) and "Tangerine" (1998) — as well as the group's latest release, last year's live album "Live Fire".

In January 2018, Gardner underwent surgery to remove blood clots in her brain, a condition known as a subdural hematoma.

While Gardner was recovering from her surgery, VIXEN played a show in Durant, Oklahoma in March 2018 with a fill-in singer, Lorraine Lewis of FEMME FATALE. This past January, Lewis was announced as Gardner's official replacement.

Gardner described her solo debut to Unrated Magazine as "a very diverse collection of music. Justin and I combined forces with hard rock influences from the last four decades," she said.

Two singles from SHINEDOWN's 2015 album "Threat To Survival" have been freshly certfified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).

On Apri 3, "Cut The Cord" achieved platinum status (one million units; each unit is equal to 1 paid download or 150 streams) while "State Of My Head" officially went gold (500,000 units; each unit is equal to 1 paid download or 150 streams).

In February 2016, the RIAA began including on-demand audio and video streams and a track sale equivalent in determining which releases get the coveted album awards, a change that followed a similar tweak in 2013 to include on-demand streams for its Digital Single Award.

As part of the new rules, 1,500 streams count as an album unit. This move came on the heels of its 2013 alteration to its Gold Single award where it announced that 100 streams would count as a single download, and in January 2016 had upped that ratio to 150 streams in recognition of how streaming had grown.

SHINEDOWN's follow-up to "Threat To Survival", "Attention Attention", debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart back in May 2018.

SHINEDOWN kicked off its 2019 "Attention Attention" world tour on February 20 in Estero, Florida at Hertz Arena.


Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine

MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil performed with his solo band on April 7 at The Rose in Pasadena, California. Video footage of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of YouTube user "susan goepfert").

Neil is continuing to tour the world with his backing group, which includes Dana Strum and Jeff Blando from SLAUGHTER, along with drummer Zoltan Chaney.

Speaking to "Trunk Nation", Vince acknowledged that he is currently the only member of MÖTLEY CRÜE who is waving the flag for the band's music by performing CRÜE songs as a solo artist.

"It's a cool thing, because I love MÖTLEY CRÜE, I love MÖTLEY CRÜE's music, and I love singing, and I love the fans' reactions when they hear the songs," he said. "Whether we're playing in front of a thousand people or twenty thousand people, I can only see the front row anyway. So I'm happy for me and for the fans to be able to still hear that music after MÖTLEY CRÜE is finished."

The film adaptation of MÖTLEY CRÜE's biography, "The Dirt", was released on March 22. The movie, which was helmed by "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa" director Jeff Tremaine, was picked up by Netflix after being previously developed at Focus Features and before that at Paramount.

Last year, MÖTLEY CRÜE recorded four new songs for "The Dirt" movie, including the single "The Dirt (Est. 1981) (Feat. Machine Gun Kelly)", "Ride With The Devil", "Crash And Burn" and the band's own spin on Madonna's "Like A Virgin".

MÖTLEY CRÜE's last studio album was 2008's "Saints Of Los Angeles", which was followed by a 2009 "Greatest Hits" compilation.

In 2015, MÖTLEY CRÜE completed "The Final Tour", closing the book on the band's iconic career after performing a total of 164 shows in 72 markets, grossing over $100 million.

To cement the sense of finality, the four members of MÖTLEY CRÜE in 2014 publicly signed a "cessation of touring" contract that prevents any of them from performing under the CRÜE name in the future.

A tour film about MÖTLEY CRÜE's final shows, "The End", came out in 2016.

Geezer Butler sent his longtime friend and BLACK SABBATH bandmate Ozzy Osbourne a get-well gift following the news that the singer had canceled all of his tour dates for 2019.

"I had just gotten back from hiking through the desert in Utah when I saw the news that Ozzy had cancelled a whole year of touring. I didn't know what it was all about, so I sent him a get-well thing," Geezer told Kerrang! magazine. "[Ozzy's wife and manager] Sharon said she passed it on to Ozzy and he was very thankful that I'd been thinking of him and was wishing him better. I really hope he starts feeling better soon… I think the fact we're all still alive, just about, is pretty impressive.

"We haven't really seen much of each other since the SABBATH tour finished, only because the farewell tour ended and most of us have been enjoying some time off. Well, I thought I'd retire and love every day of not having to do anything — it was great for the first year — but then I started getting really bored, to be honest.

"I was stuck in my studio writing by myself with no kind of direction and no-one to bounce my ideas with, bored stiff. Then [former GUNS N' ROSES drummer] Matt Sorum got in touch asking if I would be interested in starting a new band with [Billy Idol guitarist] Steve Stevens, who is an incredible guitarist, and I said, 'Yeah!'"

Butler, Sorum and Stevens have since announced the formation of DEADLAND RITUAL, which has a number of shows scheduled for this spring and summer. Completing the band's lineup is singer Franky Perez.

Last week, Ozzy postponed all his 2019 tour dates, both in North America and Europe, as he recovers from an injury sustained while dealing with his recent bout of pneumonia. The BLACK SABBATH frontman fell at his Los Angeles home, aggravating years-old injuries from his 2003 ATV accident that required surgery last month. Ozzy will remain under doctor's care in Los Angeles as he recovers.

Sharon Osbourne says that Ozzy "feels terrible" for the recent health struggles that forced him to cancel all of his live appearances through the end of the year.

Last week, Ozzy postponed all his 2019 tour dates, both in North America and Europe, as he recovers from an injury sustained while dealing with his recent bout of pneumonia. The BLACK SABBATH frontman fell at his Los Angeles home, aggravating years-old injuries from his 2003 ATV accident that required surgery last month. Ozzy will remain under doctor's care in Los Angeles as he recovers.

On today's (Monday, April 8) episode of the CBS daytime talk show "The Talk", Sharon teared up as she discussed her husband's latest health scare, saying that he is doing "great" but that he is sorry to disappoint his legions of fans.

She said (see video below): "Ozzy is… Oh, Lord, I don't know where to begin, and I have to make this quick... He, at the beginning of the year, had a bad flu that went to bronchitis, that went to pneumonia. And then when he had the flu, he came out of hospital and he had a bad accident at home. He fell. And he fell in the middle of the night. And years ago, previously, he had a motorbike accident, where he was in a coma for days. And what he'd done was he reinjured his back and neck and shoulders. And all of the metal rods and everything that were put in his body were dislodged. So we had to cancel his year events. But he's good, he's fine, he's great."

Fighting back tears, she added: "He just feels terrible. He says it's the only thing he's ever done right in his life, his performing, and he just feels terrible."

Ozzy was in a coma for eight days in December of 2003 when he accidentally crashed an ATV while riding on the grounds of his English estate. He broke his collarbone, several ribs and a neck vertebra in the incident, of which he told The Pulse Of Radio he had very little memory. "All I remember was getting on the quad bike and that was it I don't remember anything else," he said. "I didn't know what was real, I didn't know whether I was dreaming. I kept believing, when I'd come in and out of this coma, that they were moving me around from different hospitals, so it was really weird. It was like going on this incredible journey."

In his book "I Am Ozzy", the singer said that he eventually "made a full recovery" from the ATV accident. "My short-term memory seemed worse, but maybe that was just age, or the sleeping pills," he wrote. "And my ribcage is still full of screws and bolts and metal rods. When I walk through an airport metal detector these days, a klaxon goes off in the Pentagon. But I can't complain, y'know?

"I remember when I first went back to America after the crash, and I had to go to the doc for a check-up. He took all these X-rays of my chest, put

them up on the viewing box, and started to whistle through his teeth. 'Nice work,' he said. 'Must have been a bit pricey, though. What did it cost ya? Seven figures? Eight?' 'Nothing, actually,' I said. He couldn't believe it. 'What d'you mean?' 'National Health Service,' I said, and shrugged. 'Holy crap,' he went. 'No wonder you guys put up with the weather.'"

Most of the 2019 shows on Ozzy's last full world tour will be rescheduled beginning in February 2020. Fans are being asked to hold onto their original tickets, as they will be honored for the rescheduled dates. Because some of the 2019 dates were festival appearances, not all will be rescheduled.

Guitarist Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) has checked in with the following:

"On my Europe trip I was often asked what my favorite solo (of mine) is. I can never give a good answer, because anytime I`ve released anything, it means it was the best I could do, and I like it even more than whatever I had done previously. That said, a solo from a kinda rare song always pops up in my head when I get asked this question. There is so much that happened on this that I liked, that I think it`s worth a listen to those who are interested in my playing." 

Speaking with Colorado Springs radio station KILO 94.3 about Megadeth's new compilation release, Warheads On Foreheads, frontman Dave Mustaine looked back on the Risk album and the departure of guitarist Marty Friedman, which Mustaine believes was ultimately due to a solo that should have been but did not make it into the song "Breadline".

Mustaine: "Had Risk maybe not been recorded by Marty and recorded by somebody else, it could have been a different record. Probably the definitive straw that broke the camel's back was when Marty had a solo on a song called 'Breadline' and the label and management took it off and put a solo I had on there. And he freaked. That was it. It was sad. I love Marty. They (the label) didn't like his solo on 'Breadline'. I said 'There's three ways to do it: You either mute it, you have him come back, or I do it,' and they said, 'Well, he's not coming back, we're not paying for him to come back, and there needs to be a solo there, so you have to do it.' I said, 'I'll do it, but you have to tell him.' When we were listening to the final mixes, he's sitting there and he's totally excited, ready to listen to his solo on 'Breadline' because he loved that song and he loved the solo he did. It was a really beautiful solo, too, but it wasn't right. The solo went down and he heard my solo, and I looked over and he had tears going down his face. And I thought, 'You bastards. You didn't tell him.' And that was it. That was all it took for Marty. He quit. Although he stayed... on the outside, his body was there, but on the inside, his soul was gone."

Check out the interview clip here.




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

WHITESNAKE leader David Coverdale, who had both his knees replaced with titanium in 2017 after suffering from degenerative arthritis, spoke to the "Appetite For Distortion" podcast about the treatment offered to U.S. patients who are stricken by the condition. "It needs to be addressed," the British-born singer, who has lived in America since the mid-1980s, said (hear audio below). "I don't wanna get into any politics, but the American medical system, for a European to see, is just bizarre. It's that of a fourth world. Everybody should be entitled to first-class health care, and particularly for arthritis — not just putting masks on it with medications. That just keeps the pharmaceutical companies happy; it doesn't really do anything for you. I proved that over my 10 years of degenerative arthritis. They're Band-Aids — they're just masks that disguise it for a little bit. And my body has supported me. I'm 67 years old, and I'm still working out with new knees. It's crazy, but it was totally necessary, brother."

Coverdale went on to say that he became aware of the symptoms more than a decade ago. "I do yoga, so I couldn't get into a Child's Pose, which is like a crouch, in 2008," he said. "And I'm going, 'What's this?' I couldn't work it out. And then it just got worse and worse and worse. I was getting shots for all those years, and that's terrible, for instance, on your kidneys."

In a 2018 interview, Coverdale explained that he was in so much pain with arthritis in his knees that it hampered his ability to play live. "It got to the point it was hurting so much, it was pulling me out of the zone I needed to be in for my performance," he said.

David isn't the only former DEEP PURPLE member to undergo a double-knee replacement. Glenn Hughes revealed in 2016 that he also had both his knees replaced. Glenn later told Classic Rock Revisited that it was "a brutal operation" and described it as "almost like they amputate your bloody leg."

WHITESNAKE's new studio album, "Flesh & Blood", will be released on May 10 via Frontiers Music Srl. The disc follows the 2011 critically acclaimed studio album "Forevermore" and 2015's "The Purple Album", a reimagining of DEEP PURPLE classics from Coverdale's time in that band

In 2010, RUSH took a break from recording what would become the band's final studio album — "Clockwork Angels" — to launch its "Time Machine Tour". During that tour, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers recorded their April 15, 2011 performance in Cleveland. It was a fitting tribute to the city, which was the first to play RUSH's music on the radio.

That epic concert was released on CD in 2011, but the full show has never come out on vinyl, until now. "Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" will be available on June 7 as a four-LP set.

The "Time Machine Tour" was a fan favorite thanks in part to the tour's incredible set list, which encompassed songs from the group's entire career. Another reason is that Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart did something during these shows that they'd never done before, which was to play their quadruple-platinum album "Moving Pictures" (1981) in its entirety.

It remains the band's best-selling record in the United States where it reached No. 3 on the album chart. In the band's native Canada, it hit No. 1. In addition to the singles, "Limelight", "Tom Sawyer" and "Vital Signs", "Moving Pictures" also earned the band a Grammy nomination for the instrumental track "YYZ". Named for the airport code in Toronto, the song's rhythm is based on the letters Y-Y-Z played in Morse code.

"Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" covers a lot of musical ground over 26 tracks. RUSH's early days are represented by songs like "Working Man" from the trio's 1974 self-titled debut, "2112 Overture" from the 1976 classic "2112", and "Closer To The Heart" from "A Farewell To Kings" (1977).

The group's fantastic output from the 1980s gets its due with performances of "Subdivisions" ("Signals", 1982), "Marathon" ("Power Windows", 1985), "Time Stand Still" ("Hold Your Fire", 1987) and the title track from 1989's "Presto".

During the concert, RUSH also showcased its then-most recent work — 2007's "Snakes & Arrows" — by playing three songs from that album: "Far Cry", "Workin' Them Angels" and "Faithless". The band also took the opportunity to treat fans to a preview of "Caravan" and "BU2B", two songs that would eventually appear on "Clockwork Angels" (2012), the band's nineteenth, and final, studio album.

"Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland" LP track listing

Side A

01. The Spirit of Radio

02. Time Stand Still

03. Presto

04. Stick It Out

Side B

01. Workin' Them Angels

02. Leave That Thing Alone

03. Faithless

04. BU2B

Side C

01. Freewill

02. Marathon

03. Subdivisions

Side D

01. Tom Sawyer

02. Red Barchetta

03. YYZ

04. Limelight

Side E

01. The Camera Eye

02. Witch Hunt

03. Vital Signs

Side F

01. Caravan

02. Moto Perpetuo – featuring “Love For Sale

Side G

01. O'Malley's Break

02. Closer to the Heart

03. 2112 Overture/The Temples of Syrinx

04. Far Cry

Side H

01. La Villa Strangiato

02. Working Man

Swiss metal stars, Eluveitie, have released their new studio album, Ategnatos, via Nuclear Blast. The band has released a brand new performance/lyric video of the song "The Slumber", found below.

Order Ategnatos here..

Recordings of Ategnatos took place in their beloved New Sound Studio with their engineer of choice Tommy Vetterli. “Yet it was radically different as we only had four weeks to record this time around - as compared to the eight weeks we had for Origins.” By taking mixing duties to the skilled hand of renowned studio wizard Jens Bogren in his Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden, Eluveitie returned to the very spot where they mixed their now legendary Slania album more than ten years ago.

With Ategnatos, the dedicated nine-piece not only worked with a real string quartet (a premiere!) and granted Fabienne Erni’s sublime mastery of the harp the room it deserved; they also undertook a holistic upgrade resulting in some of the most catchy, most aggressive or most epic tunes the Swiss metal nobility has ever offered.

Tracklisting:

"Ategnatos"
"Ancus"
"Deathwalker"
"Black Water Dawn"
"A Cry in the Wilderness"
"The Raven Hill"
"The Silvern Glow"
"Ambiramus"
"Mine Is the Fury"
"The Slumber"
"Worship"
"Trinoxtion"
"Threefold Death"
"Breathe"
"Rebirth"
"Eclipse"

“Ambiramus” video:

"Ategnatos" video:

The Swiss folk metal leaders also announced their European tour in support of the new album.

Eluveitie will join forces with Lacuna Coil and Infected Rain. The band states: "Our last few months have been extremely intense, creating Ategnatos. Now we simply cannot wait to bring our new songs to the stages and to share our passion, pure fucking metal and heartfelt Celtic mysticism with you all! And all the more we're excited to bring such great bands with us! We feel honoured to team up with our fellows of the heavyweight institution called Lacuna Coil and also with the amazing wizkid that is Infected Rain, whom we've shared festival stages with a few times already!"

Lacuna Coil adds: "Transformation is a process and as life happens you need tons of new music! That’s why we are really excited to team up with Eluveitie and our buddies in Infected Rain for this fantastic tour package. The bill is pretty diverse and interesting and we can’t wait to bring it around Europe. We will play some of our classic songs and introduce some new tunes! We know this tour is going to be rocking, and we know the fans are going to enjoy this as much as we are!"

November
2 - Bari, Italy - Demode
3 - Rome, Italy - Orion
5 - Bologna, Italy - Estragon
6 - Milan, Italy - Live Club
8 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
9 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle II
10 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
12 - Manchester, England - O2 Ritz
13 - Glasgow, Scotland - Garage
15 - Bristol, England - SWX
16 - London, England - O2 Forum Kentish Town
17 - Nottingham, England - Rock City
19 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
20 - Hannover, Germany - Capitol
21 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys
22 - Leipzig, Germany - Felsenkeller
23 - Munich, Germany - Tonhalle
24 - Dornbirn, Austria - Conrad Sohm
26 - Bordeaux, France - Le Rocher de Palmer
27 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz II
28 - Madrid, Spain - Mon Live
29 -Toulouse, France - Le Bikini
30 - Rennes, France - L'Etage

December
1 - Paris, France - Elysée-Montmartre
3 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
4 - Nürnberg, Germany - Hirsch
5 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Kino Siska
8 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
12 - Riga, Latvia - Melna Piektdiena
13 - Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia
14 - Tampere, Finland - Pakkahuone
15 - Tallinn, Estonia - Rock Cafe
17 - Stockholm, Sweden - Klubben Fryshuset
18 - Oslo, Norway - Vulkan Arena
19 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Trädgarn
21 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks

Lineup:

Jonas Wolf - guitars
Matteo Sisti - whistles, bagpipes, mandola, bodhran
Nicole Ansperger - fiddle
Alain Ackermann - drums
Chrigel Glanzmann - vocals, whistles, mandola, bagpipes
Fabienne Erni - vocals, celtic harp
Kay Brem - bass
Michalina Malisz - hurdy gurdy
Rafael Salzmann - guitars




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

Georgia-based Vainglory, featuring former Chastain vocalist Kate French and guitarist Corbin King, have posted audio samples from their new album, Manifesting Destiny. Check them out below.

Pre-order the album here.

Vainglory have been more or less inactive since 2014. Watch their official Facebook page here for further updates.

Vainglory released their self-titled debut in April 2007. Kate French recorded three album with Chastain between 1995 and 2004: Sick Society ('95), In Dementia ('97) and In An Outrage ('04)




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

On March 27th, Avantasia brought their Moonglow tour to Mestská Športová Hala in Prešov, Slovakia. Fan-filmed footage below features the odd pairing of former Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate and Mr. Big singer Eric Martin on a fan favourite, "Twisted Mind".

"Twisted Mind" is taken from Avantasia's 2008 album, The Scarecrow, and featured former Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan alongside mastermind Tobias Sammet.

After triumphantly storming the worldwide charts with new album Moonglow, Tobias Sammet's Avantasia are premiering an official lyric video for the track "Alchemy", which features the distinctive vocals of ex-Queensrÿche singer Geoff Tate.

Says Tobias: "When I wrote 'Alchemy' I had no one but Geoff Tate in mind. He is one of the most influential singers in the history of Melodic Metal and I have always adored albums like Queensrÿche’s Rage For Order and Operation: Mindcrime. And that type of singing was exactly what I imagined to hear in Avantasia. When we were in the studio there was magic in the air, Geoff delivered and even though thousands of singers have been inspired by him, there is only one Geoff Tate. What a great addition to the Avantasia family. I can‘t wait to travel around the globe with Geoff and the team in a couple of days."

Order the album here.

Comprising 11 tracks, the new opus once again features several guest vocalists. This time round, Tobias worked not only with well-known faces such as Ronnie Atkins, Jørn Lande, Eric Martin, Geoff Tate, Michael Kiske and Bob Catley, but also with new singers like Candice Night, Hansi Kürsch as well as Mille Petrozza who help to vitalize the new Avantasia record. Its cover artwork was created by Alexander Jansson.

Moonglow tracklisting:

"Ghost In The Moon"
"Book Of Shallows"
"Moonglow"
"The Raven Child"
"Starlight"
"Invincible"
"Alchemy"
"The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn"
"Lavender"
"Requiem For A Dream"
"Maniac"

Bonus Track:
"Heart"

"Starlight" lyric video:

"Moonglow" video:

"Moonglow" lyric video:

"The Raven Child" lyric video:

The Moonglow World Tour 2019:

April
12 - Osnabrueck, Germany - Stadthalle
13 - Hamburg, Germany - Mehr! Theater
14 - Oberhausen, Germany - Koenig Pilsener Arena
16 - London, UK - The Forum
18 - Offenbach, Germany - Stadthalle
19 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
20 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
24 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27
26 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 1
27 - Madrid, Spain - Palacio Vistalegre

May
2 - Stockholm, Sweden - Arenan
4 - Moscow, Russia - Glav
6 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra




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

BraveWords bring listeners Nitroville's apocalypse 10th pre-anniversary video for Apophis space rock 99942, impacting earth on Friday, April 13th, 2029 – named after ancient Egypt's god of destruction and bringer of the apocalypse. Be prepared to take cover with the new track from the UK southern rockers.

Nitroville live:

April
13 – London, UK – Big Red

May
4 – Devon, K – BMAD Bike, Beer, & Music Festival

July
5 – Hamburg, Germany – Insel Hammer Rock Fest
7 – Hamburg, Germany Freibeuter Lutjensee

September
13 – Edinburgh, UK – Bannermans
14 – Trillians, UK – Newcastle 




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

"Basilisk - The Infinite Corpse" is the new track from Brooklyn, New York-based avant/post-metal collective Vaura. The Scott Walker-inspired new tune comes by way of the band's impending Sables full-length, slated to drop via Profound Lore later this month.

Featuring Josh Strawn (Azar Swan) on vocals, guitar and synthesizers, Kevin Hufnagel (Gorguts, Dysrhythmia) on guitar, Toby Driver (Kayo Dot) on bass, and Charlie Schmid (Tombs) on drums and electronics, Vaura's first output since 2013's lauded The Missing engages ever more with their UK and German prog/art rock influences to grandiose and eerie effect.

Sables serves as Vaura's most refined and contemplative release yet. Introspective and somber, the record finds the band shedding much of its post-metal heaviness in favor of experiments with brooding kosmische musik and the more avant-garde elements of new wave. While still retaining the distinctive and specific style carved out on the band's first two releases - Selenelion in 2010 and the The Missing one year later - Sables is the all-vital third LP, a concise collection of meditative compositions on endings and extinctions. Brilliantly complemented by the mixing and production work of legendary UK producer Peter Walsh (Scott Walker, Peter Gabriel), Vaura has delivered their best sounding, most intricate and realized album yet.




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

Canada’s West Of Hell recently released their new album Blood Of The Infidel on April 1st, 2019, which is now being supported by "The Infidels Tour" across Canada. Delivering a unique form of heavy metal with a wide range of influences from power, death and prog metal to thrash, groove and classic metal, West Of Hell ignores genre standards and puts their all into an insane live show.  For those who have never seen a West Of Hell performance, it’s not one to be missed. The combination of thrash metal riffs with modern progressive elements and power metal-esque vocals from Chris 'The Heathen' Valagao command the stage with a magnificent presence while literal sparks fly everywhere.

Blood of The Infidel is the band’s sophomore album, following the well-received Spiral Empire from 2012. The band's next video “The Machine” follows their three videos “Chrome Eternal”, “Infidels” and “Hammer And Hand” to show fans an idea of the madness that will come from this powerhouse of a record.

The band comments: 

"The video for 'The Machine' is a visual interpretation of the rise of the machine brain. The band itself is digitized and become pawns of the Titan digital overlord. Chris (Heathen) Valagao along with Joseph Klymkiw produced and directed a unique vision of our cyber overlord. VR, 3D modeling, pyrotechnics, extreme body modification, suspension and traditional cinematography all come together in an extraordinary way to tell the tale of humanities uncertain future."

Dates:

April
10 - Peterborough, ON - Simcoe
11 - Toronto, ON - Duffy's Tavern
12 - Ottawa, ON - Cafe Dekcuf
13 - Guelph, ON - Dstrct
14 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar
15 - Quebec City, QC - La Source de la Martiniere
16 - North Bay, ON - The Fraser 
17 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - The New American
18 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub
19 - Selkirk, MB - The Merch
20 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
21 - Calgary, AB - Dickens
22 - Drumheller, AB - Neighbour's Corner Pub
23 - Banff, AB - Bruno's Bar and Grill
24 - Kelowna, BC - Munnin's Post
26 - Vancouver, BC - The Rickshaw Theatre
27 - Victoria, BC - V-Lounge

Rife with old-school influences, yet evolved with a modern sound, Blood Of The Infidel blends with deftness traditional metal, thrash, and death metal, built on a foundation of penetrating melodies and progressive song structures. Vocalist Chris Valagao (Zimmers Hole) has reached new heights here, ranging from thick death metal growls to the soaring notes of epic power metal, even adding the occasional harmony. Buttressed with shredding guitar solos, the album benefits as well from focused studio time that resulted in a crushing riff tone, sharp, sinewy bass lines, and a drum performance (studio only) by Vancouver brother Ash Pearson that is as taut as it is tough.

Blood Of The Infidel was produced, mixed and engineered by Rob Shallcross, and mastered by Greg Reely. Vocals, guitars, and bass were recorded at Infinity Studios in Victoria, BC, while drums were recorded at the legendary Armoury Studios in Vancouver.

The glorious album cover was crafted by band favorite Travis Smith, with album liner design/layout by Kevin Moore at Soft Surrogate.

Tracklisting:

"Hammer And Hand"
"Chrome Eternal"
"Infidels"
"The Machine"
"Dying Tomorrow"
"The Dark Turn"
"Mankind Commands"

"Chrome Eternal" video:

    
"Infidels" video:

West Of Hell is:

Chris Valagao - Vocals
Sean Parkinson - Lead Guitar
Kris Schulz - Lead Guitar
Jordan Kemp - Bass
Paul Drummond - Drums




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