Entertainment One (eOne) has signed Detroit metal act, Plague Years, to a worldwide deal, with plans to release an all-new LP later this year.

"We are honored to be a part of the eOne team and its stacked lineup of artists," says the band. "Go check out our EP Unholy Infestation, and keep an eye out for the new LP coming later this year. ALL FOR HELLBORN."

The band will be heading into the studio with Nick Morris at Elaire Studios (The Black Dahlia Murder) to begin work on their follow-up to the Unholy Infestation EP, now available on all streaming services and available for the first time on vinyl in the coming weeks.

Plague Years call Detroit their home. They are Tim Engelhardt (vocals), Eric Lauder (guitar), Rian Staber (bass), and Mike Jurysta (drums). Unholy Infestation is the band’s second album and is the follow up to their first self-titled album that was released in 2017. Unholy Infestation sees the group refining their attack and taking aim at their contemporaries.

An eerie alien intro crashes into a full frontal assault of crunchy guitars and pounding double bass on the opening track. The pace chugs into low gear with wailing guitars before charging forward with ruthless brutality.

Listeners will find Plague Years reminding them of the punishing music of Obituary, Sepultura, and Destruction. The intent is to lay waste to your senses on every song.

The bludgeoning power of Plague Years stands tall on “Outer Darkness” and “Aeon of the Serpent”. The caustic vocals, crushing guitars, punishing drums, and strong bass come together in a fantastic mix despite this initially being an independent release. Plague Years does a marvelous job of mixing up the pace with fast charging riffs balanced by slower paced skull smashers. The music dares you not to headbang. There is no point in resisting, just let it fly.

Unholy Infestation incites the need within every metalhead to thrash. This EP conjures up all that you love about fist clenching thrash metal. Explosive rhythms, caustic vocals, and flesh-searing guitars invigorate the amygdala and elevate the listener into a state of teeth gnashing bliss. Grab some friends, throw them around the room, and let the power swell of Plague Years wash you free of all your rage and pain.

Tracklisting:

"Unholy Infestation"
"Outer Darkness"
"Hellborn"
"Aeon Of The Serpent"
"Taker Of Life"
"Infernal Torment"

"Unholy Infestation":




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Flotsam And Jetsam guitarist Michael Gilbert has uploaded GoPro footage of the band on the road during Killfest 2019, also featuring Overkill, Destruction and Chronosphere.

Gilbert states: “Everyone who knows me knows I have a GoPro in my pocket at all times. I try to capture everything I can on the Flotsam tours and no one is safe from ending up some sort of footage. LOL! These are some fun times on Flotsam And Jetsam’s European tour with Overkill, Destruction and Chronosphere. Fun times with some old friends and new friends….\m/“

Flotsam And Jetsam are supporting, The End Of Chaos, the band's fourteenth album in their more than 30-year history. Find the band's live itinerary here.

 




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BraveWords is premiering the new video for “New World Disorder” from Venice, Italy’s Tonight We Stand! 

Alessandro Murello (drums and clean vocals) comments: “‘New World Disorder’ is the first single and video to be taken from our upcoming debut album called by the same name New World Disorder (mixed by Lucas D'angelo from Betraying The Martyrs and mastered by Ermin Hamidovic). A meaningful and deep video plus a powerful and catchy song with sing-a-long melodies, right in our style, even being just a taste of our full capabilities.” 

On October 2018, the band entered the studio to record their debut album called New World Disorder mixed by Lucas D’angelo (Guitarist of Betraying The Martyrs) at D’angelo Sounds studios in France and mastered by Ermin Hamidovic at Systematic Productions Studios in Australia.
Tonight We Stand is ready to make their own way into the so-called modern metal scene with its unique sound, never meant to be the "clone" of somebody else.

Tonight We Stand already started to play in international venues around Europe (such as Tapper Klub in Estonia, Nabaklab in Latvia, Re:Public club in Belarus, Bingo Club in Ukraine etc..) and shared the stage with international acts (such as “Our Last Night”, “I Set My Friends On Fire”, Extrema etc..).

And this is just the beginning; the band can already count on a thick and loyal army of fans. The band's focus of "straight to the point music" is really the selling point, not messing around with pointless stuff, just being great metal music to sing along to and bang your head to.




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In a new interview with "The Liquid Conversations", BUCKCHERRY frontman Josh Todd admitted that he listens to a lot more hip-hop than he does new rock artists. "I just think that hip-hop is so exciting right now," he said. "There's a lot of risk taking. It's just nasty, and it's fucking intimidating sometimes… It's just awesome. And they're fearless.

"I listen to whatever I'm feeling at the time, but I've been listening to a lot of pop and hip-hop," he continued. "I just haven't gravitated to a lot of new rock records, because they're just… I don't know… I don't wanna poo-poo the rock genre right now, but when I try to listen to Active Rock radio, it's like the same song for 45 minutes. And there's not a whole lot of risk taking, and there's not a lot of rock stars, there's not a lot of diversity between bands. It's become this G-rated, forgettable-type stuff. And it's kind of on a formula too — it's cut to a grid, and all the songs have the same formula.

"If you go back just to the '90s, we had all these amazing rock stars," Todd added. "We had Layne Staley and Chris Cornell and Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder and Jonathan Davis and Zack De La Rocha — all these incredible frontmen. And it's just gone — nothing."

Josh went on to say that he has drawn inspiration from hip-hop artists who have focused on independence and sidestepped mainstream record companies, in turn giving them a level of freedom most major label artists would likely envy.

"They're creating their own language," Todd said. "They have all their own audience. And guys like Chance The Rapper, he won three Grammys with no record label. He sold out the Hollywood Bowl with no record label. I was, like, 'This is where it's at. This is amazing!'"

Todd said that he doesn't hold out much hope for the rock landscape improving anytime soon. "I don't know how it's going to change unless some of these radio programmers take a risk," he said. "But it's affecting rock across the board, 'cause you don't see rock at award shows anymore — nothing; you don't see it anywhere."

BUCKCHERRY's latest album, "Warpaint", was released on March 8 via Century Media/RED Music. The 12-song disc, featuring 11 new BUCKCHERRY songs along with a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Head Like A Hole", was produced by Mike Plotnikoff, whose last collaboration with the band was the platinum-certified album "15".

BUCKCHERRY has announced the dates for leg two of its "Warpaint" North American tour. The trek starts on May 18 in Waco, Texas and runs through August 15 in Kansas City. On top of touring all major markets in the U.S., the band will visit ten Eastern Canadian cities on this run. JOYOUS WOLF, which supported BUCKCHERRY on leg one, will remain on the bill on most of the leg-two dates. BUCKCHERRY will also open for AEROSMITH in Shakopee, Minnesota and be direct support for NICKELBACK for two shows in Ravinia, Illinois.

"Hallowed Be Thy Name", the new video from Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's latest album, "The Heretics", which was released on February 15 via Season Of Mist. The artwork for the disc was created by Greek artist Maximos Manolis.

With "The Heretics", ROTTING CHRIST is opening a brand new chapter. Frontman Sakis Tolis, in collaboration with his brother Themis on drums, achieves a perfect balance of amalgamating the band's classic and unique style of riffing and rhythm with exciting new elements sprinkled in to keep its material exciting and fresh. The experience is enhanced by Jens Bogren's equally clear and transparent yet also massive as well as sombre mix and mastering at his widely renowned Fascination Street Studios (AMORPHIS, BORKNAGAR, MOONSPELL, DEVIN TOWNSEND).


With more than 30 years, 13 studio albums, a dozen EPs, singles and split releases, as well as more than 1,250 shows under their belt, 2018 marked the year of ROTTING CHRIST's "Their Greatest Spells", where the band musically revisited its exciting legacy to connect its past with the present.

Sakis recently told Distorted Sound magazine that it is "always hard" for him to find inspiration for new material. "I'm 30 years into the scene, I have created thirteen albums, but yeah, I struggle very hard with my demons," he said. "You see, do I have something to say to people? It took me more than a year to come up with this album, and I'm very happy that I'm still active and that I can still create something. I want to create something soulful and that is why I read a lot before I started work on this album. I read a lot, I play a lot and I talk with myself a lot."

ROTTING CHRIST is:

Sakis Tolis: vocals, guitar, keys

Themis Tolis: drums

George Emmanouil: lead guitar

Van Ace: bass

Pink Floyd continue to roll out rare video footage. Below is a performance of "A Saucerful Of Secrets" on Forum Musiques in Paris, France on January 22, 1969.

Pink Floyd performed "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" on the same program:

Available below is the restored promo video for Pink Floyd's "Point Me At The Sky". It was the fifth UK single by the British band, released on December 17, 1968.




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Italian orchestral-death giants FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE have released the official lyric video for their new single, "Carnivorous Lamb", from the band's forthcoming, album "Veleno", due on May 24 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commenting on the new single, Francesco Paoli says: "How's the saying? Never judge a book by its cover? Well, that's the point of this song. We are constantly surrounded by fake people and opportunists, we can't stand it anymore. We can't stand the hypocrisy and unending lament of these a**holes. It's a strategy. Even the most adorable and inoffensive lamb can become the fiercest of the wolves when something menaces its interests. Lack of foresight and scarce maturity drive these people overwhelmingly; they will be left behind, tasting life for what it is, where their 'spoiled' certainties become the deepest doubts of existence and nobody will hear their call anymore."

Italian for "venom," "Veleno" marks FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's first record in three years, since the release of the band's critically acclaimed record "King" (2016). The "metal part" of "Veleno" was recorded in Rome, Italy at Bloom Recording Studio and Kick Studio with long-standing collaborator Marco Mastrobuono, while the "orchestral part" — the ensembles — were tracked at Musica Teclas Studio in Perugia. FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE then took the effort over to Grammy-nominated Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, EPICA) at Hansen Studios in Denmark for mixing and mastering. The entire production of "Veleno" took, according to Paoli, about three months. Artwork for the album was created by Travis Smith (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, OPETH, KATATONIA).

Paoli on "Veleno": "What you see is the harvest of three years of sweat, revolutions, intense emotions and extreme challenges. We proved ourselves to be stronger than ever, despising compromises, setting the bar higher no matter what. The album is massive to say the least. Every song is a unique piece, literally alive and breathing. Can't wait for you guys to hear the rest..."

"Veleno" track listing:

01. Fury

02. Carnivorous Lamb

03. Sugar

04. The Praying Mantis Strategy

05. Monnalisa

06. Worship And Forget

07. Absinthe

08. Pissing On The Score

09. The Day We'll Be Gone

10. Embrace The Oblivion

11. Veleno

Bonus tracks (digi, digital & digital deluxe)

12. Reise, Reise (RAMMSTEIN cover)

13. The Forsaking (Nocturnal Version)

U.K.-based outfit TRONOS has released its third single, "Premonition". The song, which features Denis "Snake" Belanger (VOIVOD) on guest vocals and Billy Gould (FAITH NO MORE) on bass, is taken from TRONOS's debut album, "Celestial Mechanics", which will be released on April 12 via Century Media Records.

TRONOS marks a true collision between two unstoppably creative heroes of the metal underground: Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH, BRUJERIA) and producer Russ Russell (AT THE GATES, DIMMU BORGIR, NAPALM DEATH). The project sees them teaming up with drummer Dirk Verbeuren (MEGADETH, SOILWORK) for a rocketing load of dark fractured colossal and apocalyptic metal.

Embury had the following to say about the track: "I wrote the words to 'Premonition' on tour one year on a day off in Portugal. I think it might have been on one of my birthdays away from home. I mean, when I am ever at home? The words are reflections on the life I have led — how any of our lives, I suppose, start small and how at times it feels dark and scary, but at times there's the happiness of achievement. Life feels continuously insecure sometimes, but I know that I feel my strongest when I gaze at the life I have in part helped to create in my children. I have no regrets and as life speeds faster onwards. I am prepared to leave one day knowing I have achieved more than was ever expected of me.

"To add, also having the chance to have Snake from VOIVOD singing on this track with me and Billy playing bass was an honor and I couldn't have thought of any other people more perfect for this track. It captures the emotion of a journey onwards and towards a higher plane of existence and has a special meaning for me."

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: Belanger, 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)

"Celestial Mechanics" will be available as standard CD jewelcase, black 180-gram LP or as digital album.

TRONOS lineup:

Shane Embury - Vocals, Guitar

Russ Russell - Vocals, Guitar, Synths

Dirk Verbeuren - Drums

On March 30th, Queensrÿche performed in Sacramento, California at Ace Of Spades. a three camera edit of "Empire" from the show courtesy of Capital Chaos TV is available below.

While on their headlining tour through the US, Queensrÿche announced further European tour dates for late fall 2019. They will be joined by Greek power metallers Firewind. Prior to that, Queensrÿche will be playing some of the most renowned European festivals alongside selected club shows in support of their new album The Verdict. New dates are listed below.

November
15 - Fix Factory Of Sound - Thessaloniki, Greece *
16 - Fuzz Club - Athens, Greece *
19 - Kwadrat - Krakow, Poland
21 - RathausSaal Telfs - Telfs, Austria
23 - Fryshuset Klubben - Stockholm, Sweden
24 - Tradgarn - Gothenburg, Sweden
25 - Vulkan - Oslo, Norway
26 - Pumpehuset - Copenhagen, Denmark

December
4 - MS Connexion Complex - Mannheim, Germany
5 - Conrad Sohm - Dornbirn, Austria
6 - Christmas Bash - Geiselwind, Germany *
7 - Ruhrpott Metal Meeting - Oberhausen, Germany *

* Firewind do not appear                        

Queensrÿche have released a video for "Light-Years", a track from  The Verdict, out now via Century Media Records.

"We're very excited to unveil our new video for the song 'Light-Years', from our new album The Verdict, directed by David Brodsky and Allison Woest of MyGoodEye Music Visuals," states Queensrÿche bassist Eddie Jackson about the music video.

Get the new album here.

2CD edition tracklisting:

Disc 1
"Blood Of The Levant"
"Man The Machine"
"Light-Years"
"Inside Out "
"Propaganda Fashion"
"Dark Reverie"
"Inner Unrest"
"Launder The Conscience"
"Portrait"

Disc 2
"I Dream In Infrared" (Acoustic)
"Open Road" (Acoustic)
"46° North"
"Mercury Rising"
"Espiritu Muerto"
"Queen Of The Reich" (live) (Live 2012)
"En Force" (live) (Live 2012)
"Prophecy" (live) (Live 2012)
"Eyes Of A Stranger" (Live 2012)

"Blood Of The Levant" video:

"Man The Machine" lyric video:




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The Greek heavy/power metal band Diviner have released a music video for "Heaven Falls", the first single from their new album Realms Of Time.

Realms Of Time is out on June 7th via Ulterium Records. The album will be available on CD, LP and digital.

The band's debut album Fallen Empires was released in November 2015 and received very good reviews and feedback from around the world. After the release of the album the band played many shows and big festivals in Greece and also in Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland, and became known for being a great and energetic live band gaining a strong following.

Diviner entered Devasoundz Studios in Athens last year to record Realms Of Time. The final result show improvements on every level since the band's debut album and the album won't leave fans of heavy and power metal disappointed. The album is heavy, melodic and epic and it’s full of energy, power and emotion. 

Realms Of Time was produced and mixed by Fotis Benardo (SepticFlesh), mastered by Henrik Udd (Powerwolf, Hammerfall, Myrath) and the artwork was created by Jan Yrlund (Battle Beast, Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani).

Tracklisting:

“Against The Grain”
“Heaven Falls”
“Set Me Free”
“The Earth, The Moon, The Sun”
“Cast Down In Fire”
“Beyond The Border”
“King Of Masquerade”
“Time”
“The Voice From Within”
“Stargate”

"Heaven Falls" video:

Diviner is:
Yiannis Papanikolaou - Vocals
George Maroulees - Guitar
Kostas Fitos - Guitar
Herc Booze - Bass
Fragiskos Samoilis - Drums




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Spokane, WA-based metal band, Enterprise Earth, have released a video for "The Failsafe Fallacy", featured on their new album, Luciferous, out today via Entertainment One (eOne) / Good Fight Music. Once again directed by The Beast, this is the third music video we've seen from the band off their new album.

Vocalist Dan Watkins states, "Society feels safe. Like walls lining the perimeter, protecting us from danger around the clock, so we remain focused on our day to day lives. In today’s world, we trade our freedoms for security. It makes one think, “was it designed to protect us, or was it designed to keep us imprisoned?”. There is no failsafe. This world is a prison."

Order the new album here.

Tracklisting:

"Behold, Malevolence"
"Sleep Is For The Dead"
"He Exists"
"Scars Of The Past"
"Ashamed To Be Human"
"Requiem"
"The Failsafe Fallacy"
"Infernal Suffering"
"Luciferous"
"Nightfallen"
"We Are Immortal"
"There Is No Tomorrow"

“Sleep Is For The Dead” video:

Find the band's tour dates here.

Enterprise Earth was founded in 2014 by ex-Infant Annihilator vocalist Dan Watson and ex-Takeover guitarist BJ Sampson. Taking their name from a confluence of Illuminati and other conspiracy theories, the band released their a debut EP titled XXIII and a full length, Patient Ø, in 2015. Patient Ø featured Oceano vocalist Adam Warren and debuted at number five on Billboard's Heatseekers/Top New Artist Chart. Last year the band released Embodiment, their second LP and have since shared the stage with Chelsea Grin, Whitechapel, and Winds of Plague with a highlighted appearance on the 2016 Summer Slaughter Tour.

(Photo - Dana Willax)




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Swedish metallers, Enforcer, have released a lyric video for "Searching For You", featured on their forthcoming studio album, Zenith, out on April 26 through Nuclear Blast. Watch below:

Enforcer recently revealed a big surprise for their Spanish speaking fans: although Zenith was originally written and recorded in English, the band has decided to record a version in Spanish too. Watch and listen to the official lyric video for the album opener, "Muere Por El Diablo", below.

Guitarist/vocalist Olof Wikstrand states, "Here’s something special for you! This is a tribute to our Latin American fans for being the best fans in the world!"

Purchase the song here.

Zenith (Spanish Version) tracklisting:

"Muere Por El Diablo"
"Zenith Del Sol Negro"
"Voy A Encontrarte"
"Ecos"
"El Fin De Un Universo"
"Navego"
"Mil Años En Las Sombras"
"Rendido Al Trueno Infernal"
"Por Siempre Seguimos La Oscuridad"
"Oda A La Muerte"

Zenith can be pre-ordered at this location. Pre-order the album digitally to receive "Die For The Devil"/"Muere Por El Diablo" instantly (Amazon and iTunes only)!

Tracklisting:

“Die For The Devil”
“Zenith Of The Black Sun”
“Searching For You”
“Regrets”
“The End Of A Universe”
“Sail On”
“One Thousand Years Of Darkness”
“Thunder And Hell”
“Forever We Worship The Dark”
“Ode To Death”
“To Another World” (Digipak bonus track)

"Die For The Devil" video:

Enforcer have announced their co-headlining North American tour with Warbringer. The trek will kick off September 5th at Brick By Brick in San Diego, California and conclude on October 28th at Club Red in Tempe, Arizona.

This is not the first time the two bands have shared the stage together, as they previously co-headlined a North American tour in early 2016. Since then, both acts have hoped for another opportunity to perform together - and this fall, they'll have 54.

Enforcer vocalist Olof Wikstrand comments, ”Extremely excited to announce our immediate return to the shores of North America! Expect a show full of energy, and a broad variety of songs from our new album as well as older stuff!”

“We are pleased to announce an extensive North American tour for Fall 2019,” says Warbringer vocalist John Kevill. “We will be hitting the road for 54 consecutive dates with our Swedish speed metal brothers, Enforcer. Looking forward to seeing you guys again and wrecking whatever place we are in!"

Tour dates:

September
5 - Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA
6 - Whisky A Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
7 - Malones - Santa Ana, CA
8 - Strummers - Fresno, CA
9 - Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA
10 - Holy Diver - Sacramento, CA
11 - Hawthorne - Portland, OR
12 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
13 - Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, BC
14 - The Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB
15 - Dickens - Calgary, AB
16 - The Exchange - Regina, SK
17 - Park Theatre - Winnipeg, MB
18 - Lee’s Liquor Lounge - Minneapolis, MN
19 - Lookout Lounge - Omaha, NE
20 - Vanderville Mews - Des Moines, IA
21 - RT 20 - Racine, WI
22 - The Forge - Joliet, IL
23 - Token Lounge - Westland, MI
24 - Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY
25 - Velvet Underground - Toronto, ON
26 - Mavericks - Ottawa, ON
27 - Rock Cafe Le Stage - Trois-Rivieres, QC
28 - Bar Le Magog - Sherbrooke, QC
29 - L’Anti - Quebec City,  QC
30 - FouFounes - Montreal, QC

October
1 - The Foundry - Philadelphia, PA
2 - Dingbatz - Clifton, NY
3 - The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY
4 - Kingsland - Brooklyn, NY
5 - Blackthorn 51 - Elmhurst, NY
6 - Fish Head Cantina - Halethorpe, MD
7 - Cattivo - Pittsburgh, PA
8 - Canal Club - Richmond, VA
9 - Black Circle - Indianapolis, IN
10 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
11 - Motorco - Durham, NC
12 - The Haven - Winter Park, FL
13 - O’Malley's - Margate, FL
14 - Crowbar - Ybor City, FL
15 - Southport Hall - New Orleans, LA
16 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
17 - Rock Box - San Antonio, TX
18 - Come And Take It Live - Austin, TX
19 - Trees - Dallas, TX
20 - Aftershock - Merriam, KS
21 - The Shrine - Tulsa, OK
22 - 89th Street Collective - Oklahoma City, OK
23 - Launch Pad - Albuquerque, NM
24 - Herman's Hideaway - Denver, CO
25 - Liquid Joe’s - Salt Lake City, UT
26 - Backstage Bar and Billiards - Las Vegas, NV
27 - The Rock - Tucson, AZ

Enforcer is:

Olof Wikstrand - vocals, guitars
Jonas Wikstrand - drums, piano & keyboards
Tobias Lindqvist - bass
Jonathan Nordwall - guitars

(Photo - Cintia Regueiro)




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Legendary multinational thrash metallers, Exumer, have released their fifth full-length, Hostile Defiance, via Metal Blade Records. A full album stream can be found below.

Hostile Defiance is exactly what its title suggests. A 42-minute full on attack, the thrash faction hold nothing back as they unleash hell as only they can, yet with more variety and dynamics than ever before. "We wanted to sonically progress, incorporating more melodic elements in the music as well as more rhythmic variety," states vocalist Mem Von Stein. "We are a lot braver trying to create an up to date and relevant sound that can easily stand alone in today's thrash landscape without sounding trite or a throwback, and we're challenging the listener not to get too comfortable with one specific feel, tempo or pace."

Order Hostile Defiance here in the following formats:

- ltd. digipak-CD w/2 bonus tracks
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- orange red marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 400 copies)
- red-brown/black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- pale blackberry marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- orange-black color in color + red splattered (EU exclusive - limited to 120 copies)
- white / blue marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 100 copies)
- clear/red&black splattered vinyl (US exclusive - limited to 120 copies)

Hostile Defiance marks Exumer's third time working with producer Dennis Koehne (Sodom, Melechesh). Tracking the album in studios in Dortmund and Frankfurt, the sessions were marked with "super positive vibes all around with a strong, driven work ethic to create an optimal product." The band plans to tour the record hard, and will be hitting the road in Europe when the album drops, and from that point onward, they will be visiting as many countries as possible. "Our goal is simple: to further establish the band as one of the main German thrash metal acts that began in the 1980s and are now carrying the torch into the 2020s."

Hostile Defiance tracklisting:

"Hostile Defiance"
"Raptor"
"Carnage Rider"
"Dust Eater"
"King's End"
"Descent"
"Trapper"
"The Order Of Shadows"
"Vertical Violence"
"Splinter"
"He's A Woman - She's A Man" (Scorpions cover; CD bonus track)
"Supposed To Rot" (Entombed cover; CD bonus track)

Album stream:

"Hostile Defiance" video:

Tour dates:

April
5 - Pamplona, Spain - Sala Totem
6 - Oviedo, Spain - Sir Laurens
7 - Madrid, Spain - We Rock
9 - Granada, Spain - Salal Planta Baja
10 - Sevilla, Spain - Sala Even
11 - Malaga, Spain - Sala Trinchera
12 - Murcia, Spain - Sala Gramma
13 - Castellon, Spain - Burbuja
14 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Sidecar

June
7 - Muhlteich, Germany - Chronical Moshers Festival
8 - Berlin, Germany - BiNuu
9 - Oschersleben, Germany - Rock & Metal Dayz
21 - Gardelegen, Germany - Metal Frenzy
22 - Bussfeld, Germany - M.i.s.e. Open Air 2019

August
9 - Lisboa Vagos, Portugal - Metal Festival
10 - Jaromer, Czech Republic - Brutal Assault

Exumer lineup:

Mem V. Stein - vocals
Ray Mensh - guitars
T. Schiavo - bass
Matthias Kassner - drums
Marc B. - guitars




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Devin Townsend says that he "still can't listen" to "Sex & Religion", the 1993 album he made with Steve Vai. Released under the band name VAI, the disc saw the legendary guitarist joining forces with a band of "monster musicians" — including drummer Terry Bozzio and bassist T.M. Stevens — to create an effort that was radically different from 1990's "Passion And Warfare". The band split up after the album was finished, and Vai subsequently toured only with Townsend and several session drummers and bassists.

During a question-and-answer session at last month's London screening of the documentary on the making of his latest album, "Empath", Townsend was asked how he feels about "Sex & Religion" more than 25 years after the album's release. "I still can't listen to it," he responded. "And it's not because of the music. It's because of what it resonates with. And it was a beautiful record, and it was a beautiful time.

"I went to L.A. for that record, and I was 20 years old," he continued. "And I had the idealism that I think a lot of musicians have prior to getting involved with it, where, in your mind's eye, you have this impression that if you become a musician, it's easy street — you get videos and you get your albums in stores, and all these sorts of things. And it was compounded with me, I think, by my… I've always been interested in, not spirituality, but how music is an invisible thing; it's connected to the spirit. And I think when I went to L.A., I was so immediately deflowered by the industry, where I was just, like, 'Oh my God! This is all fucking bullshit! It's all bullshit!' All the smoke and mirrors that goes into making someone look like a God, where they'll Photoshop the face and they'll take the photos from that one angle where your teeth aren't fucked up, and they present it… Some 60-year-old guy is, like, 'He's still hot, ladies and gentlemen,' and they airbrush his abs on. And when you're not involved with it, you're thinking, like, 'Wow! These are gods. These are legitimately not like me. These people are not like me.' And when I got there, I realized really quickly everybody's fucked. No one knows. No one's got any answers. Steve doesn't know. The label doesn't know. And I think because my flowery connection to what music was in my own mind was immediately debunked, that's when I started thinking… The Steve Vai record resonates with me with that sort of fundamental paradigm shift, so I don't recognize the music as much as what it did to my connection to music. And ultimately, what it did is I was, like, 'I'm gonna make STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, and I'm gonna make music where everything burns.' They say that quote, 'You can never hate something as much as something that you previously loved.' And music, to me, was something that I felt so connected to that when I felt like, 'Oh, it's all bullshit,' I just wanted it to be horror."

Devin added: "So the music and the album and the experience was a huge thing to me, and the music on it and the performances are all things I'm incredibly proud of, but I can't listen to it, not because of the music but because of what it represents to my life. It was a very complicated time. But Steve plays on 'Empath', and he's one of my best friends in the world. And he's done so much for me. Without Steve, I would not have done any of this. And not only that — I continue to be a huge fan of his work. Before I met him, Steve Vai was everything to me. So, it was one of those complicated relationships that we're very fortunate to have gotten to a point as adults where we share a lot now. And I value him and my relationship with him as much as any intrinsic part of my life. So, hooray for Steve and that record."

More than a decade after their initial musical partnership, Townsend and Vai again crossed paths. In 2005, Vai played a guest guitar solo on Townsend's "Synchestra" album, and in 2013, was cast as narrator on Townsend's "The Retinal Circus" live album. When Vai decided to record 2016's "Modern Primitive", which featured music he wrote in the period between his debut solo album, "Flex-Able", and the aforementioned "Passion and Warfare", he enlisted Townsend to sing on a song called "The Lost Chord".

On May 17th, Black Label Society will release a new, reimagined version of the band’s iconic 1999 debut LP, Sonic Brew, titled Sonic Brew - 20th Anniversary Blend 5.99 - 5.19, original formula with enhanced flavor. 

Speaking to Billboard columnist Mick Stingley, Zakk offered the following: “The whole thing is, I don’t have the two-inches [tapes] — I don’t have all the recordings I’ve ever done, but I own all the masters. But I don’t have them on those, so to actually go in and remix the record, it’s impossible, you know what I mean? So what exists is what exists: just the DAT and the CD of the actual record.”

Therefore, Wylde went into The Black Vatican (his recording studio) and had BLS drummer Jeff Fabb and bassist John DeServio replay certain parts. “We just call it ‘reblended’ because we’re a bunch of doofus hipsters, so that’s what we go with,” he says with a laugh. “So everyone thinks we’re that much more genius!

“The whole thing is that I don’t want to change the performances on the record because the magic that was in those performances is what we all love,” he continues. “I don’t want to hear Robert Plant and Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones going in and rerecording Led Zeppelin II because what’s the point?”

Learn more at this location.

Black Label Society has also announced their 20 Years Of Sonic Brewtality Tour, a brand-new batch of 2019 North American tour dates in conjunction with the release of a new, reimagined version of the band’s iconic 1999 debut LP, Sonic Brew, on May 17th, titled Sonic Brew - 20th Anniversary Blend 5.99 - 5.19, original formula with enhanced flavor.

“The original recording back in 1997 was mastered with high volume, alcohol, and dance," says Wylde from his home studio. “We went in and worked off the existing performances and focused on the high volume and dance while replacing the booze with viagra and anabolic steroids.”

The new re-blended version of Sonic Brew will feature two new bonus tracks, a full band/piano version of “Spoke In The Wheel” and an acoustic version of “Black Pearl.”

Wylde continues, although we wish he would stop, “I wanted to re-blend and re-choreograph this release to be the most brewtal and dance-tactic album since Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive” dominated the dance floor at Studio 54!”

The band will play two shows in each market - the first night will feature Sonic Brew played in its entirety, while the second night will see the band play a set of greatest hits. Support will come from Conan and The Atomic Bitchwax. Black Label Society will also participate in US festivals Sonic Temple, Epicenter, and Welcome To Rockville on this run.

Dates begin April 24th at The Oriental Theater in Denver and wrap up in Los Angeles at the famous El Rey Theater for two nights ending on May 23rd. Tickets are on sale this Friday, February 1st.

Sonic Brew was initially released in Japan on October 28th, 1998, and contained 13 tracks and a free Zakk Wylde guitar pick. The album was subsequently released in North America on May 4th, 1999, with three bonus tracks including a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “No More Tears”, recorded with bassist Mike Inez of Alice in Chains.

Tour dates:

April
24 - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
25 - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
27 - Dallas, TX - Canton Hall
28 - Dallas, TX - Canton Hall
30 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall

May
1 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall
4 - Jacksonville, FL - Welcome To Rockville
6 - New York, NY - The Bowery Ballroom
7 - New York, NY - The Bowery Ballroom
11 - Rockingham, NC - Epicenter
14 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
15 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
17 - Columbus, OH - Sonic Temple
18 - Clarksville, TN - O'Connors
22 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
23 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre

BLS lineup:

Zakk Wylde - Vocals/Guitar
John DeServio - Bass
Dario Lorina - Guitar
Jeff Fabb - Drums

(Photo - Justin Reich)

 

 




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"Hey You (You Make Me Rock)", a brand new song from WHITESNAKE, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming studio album, "Flesh & Blood", which 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 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.

BURNING RAIN, the hard rock band founded by guitarist extraordinaire Doug Aldrich (REVOLUTION SAINTS, THE DEAD DAISIES, WHITESNAKE, DIO) and vocalist Keith St. John (MONTROSE, KINGDOM COME), played a record-release show for its fourth studio album, "Face The Music", on March 29 at Count's Vamp'd in Las Vegas, Navada. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

"Face The Music" came out on March 22 via Frontiers Music Srl.

BURNING RAIN was established in 1998 by Aldrich and St. John. After meeting through mutual friends, Aldrich and St. John commenced work on what would eventually become their self-titled debut album. The 1999 record established BURNING RAIN as a hungry-yet-seasoned group of musicians. Although the album was limited in its release, it did receive rave reviews from fans and critics alike for their take on heavy, bluesy hard rock. The following year, BURNING RAIN released the follow-up, "Pleasure To Burn", which showed a matured Aldrich-St. John collaboration that gained even higher praise than the first album.


In 2001, Aldrich joined DIO and later departed in 2003 as he was approached by David Coverdale to join a newly reformed WHITESNAKE, while St. John joined forces with guitar legend Ronnie Montrose. While still in WHITESNAKE, Aldrich started working on new BURNING RAIN music, which saw the light of day in 2013 as the album "Epic Obsession". Their third release was again met with enthusiams from fans and critics alike. Aldrich would later leave WHITESNAKE and join THE DEAD DAISIES and REVOLUTION SAINTS, which left BURNING RAIN on an extended hiatus.


"Face The Music" is a blues-driven hard rock record which is truly a tour de force. With a renewed lineup featuring Blas Elias (SLAUGHTER) on drums and Brad Lang (Y&T) on bass, the album evokes the sound of the classic '70s hard rock scene, but also stays true to the BURNING RAIN sound.

Danish rockers D-A-D have just released "Burning Star", the first single from their upcoming album. A limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single featuring "Burning Star" with "A Prayer For The Loud" on the B-side will be made available at the band's Danish concerts this week. The single comes in an exquisite poster sleeve and will only be sold at the shows.

D-A-D's new album will be the band's first since "DIC.NII.LAN.DAFT.ERD.ARK", which was released in November 2011.

In an April 2018 interview with Metal Covenant, D-A-D frontman Jesper Binzer stated about the long delay in getting a new studio album completed: "It doesn't really matter how little time or how much time that's passed, I think that's always a danger. So this whole thing about spending five, six, seven years has been about not doing it for the wrong reasons. I mean, the main reasons, just to find out 'Are we there? Do we want to? Are we ready to support it? Do we feel creative? Do we feel artistic?' When you have enough songs, you can listen back to them and say, 'Okay, this is gonna be a great bunch of songs,' and then you know you're not doing it for any other reason than we want to show the world what we've got."

Binzer also talked about some of the most important choices D-A-D made over the course of its nearly four-decade career. He said: "I think when we were signed by Warner Brothers and we went more or less international in that sense, we could have chosen to focus more on going abroad and focus much more on playing America, but we didn't do it, because we were lucky enough to have a really, really safe home base. At some points, it was like we were spending too much time at home, but I think that made us healthy and gave us longevity with D-A-D, that we stayed at home, you know, took it easy, grounded, and redefined ourselves with every album. So, 'Where are we now? We're not gonna live up to what people expect; we gonna do something new.' But on the other hand, we could maybe have had a bigger hit and then gone away in drug addiction, if we had stayed in America and gone for the dream."

In the spring of 2016, guitar heroes Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY), Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME) and Tosin Abasi (ANIMALS AS LEADERS) teamed up for a North American tour called "Generation Axe", in which the five musicians shared a backing band and performed together in addition to playing individual sets.

A year after their successful inaugural tour, the five guitarists reconvened for an 11-city tour of Asia that included a stop in Beijing, China. Select performances from that April 2017 concert appear on the new live recording, "Generation Axe - The Guitars That Destroyed The World: Live In China". The album will be released on June 28 via earMUSIC as a CD digipak, limited colored 2LP+download and digital.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Generation Axe - Foreplay (BOSTON cover)

02. Tosin Abasi - Tempting Time (ANIMALS AS LEADERS cover)

03. Tosin Abasi/Nuno Bettencourt - Physical Education (ANIMALS AS LEADERS cover)

04. Nuno Bettencourt - A Side Of Mash (medley of EXTREME solos)

05. Nuno Bettencourt/Zakk Wylde - Sideways (CITIZEN COPE cover)

06. Zakk Wylde - Whipping Post (THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND cover)

07. Steve Vai - Bad Horsie

08. Yngwie Malmsteen - Valhalla / Baroque n Roll / Overture / From a Thousand Cuts / Arpeggios from Hell / Far Beyond the Sun

09. Yngwie Malmsteen/Steve Vai - Black Star

10. Vai/Wylde/Bettencourt/Abasi - Frankenstein (Edgar Winter cover)

11. Generation Axe - Highway Star (DEEP PURPLE cover)

Check out "Frankenstein" below.

According to a press release, the "Generation Axe" experience goes way beyond simply gathering five guitar greats on one stage. Much of the time when multiple rock guitarists join in jamming, the results are conventional and often even a mess. But the arrangements of some of the classic tracks performed by these five players makes for a magnificent cacophony of organized chaos unlike anything ever presented before.

Vai says the idea behind "Generation Axe" was "to create a seamless show with one backing band and five completely accomplished and astonishing guitarists that take to the stage in various configurations, performing some of their solo music and merging together as cohesive co-creators of lushly orchestrated guitar extravaganzas."

Vai describes "Generation Axe" as "pure controlled chaos." "My favorite thing about 'Generation Axe' is the tour bus," he says. "Between the hours of 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., when we're all hanging out in the lounge just rapping. I wake up in the morning [and] my jaw hurts from laughing so much. These guys, they're out of their minds."

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE singer John Corabi celebrated the 25th anniversary of the band's 1994 self-titled album by performing the LP in its entirety at every show on his four-date Australian tour at the end of March. Fan-filmed video footage of the March 28 concert at The Crowbar in Sydney can be seen below.

Ahead of the trek, Corabi told Australia's Heavy magazine about playing the CRÜE songs again: "I've got to be honest — when I was rehearsing the first time when we did it on the 20th anniversary and going back and listening to the vocals, I was kind of kicking myself in the arse going, 'Holy God, what was I thinking?' The vocals are just so high, full-tilt the whole time, even on the ballads. It was definitely interesting, but you know what? I've got a great band. My son is my drummer. Everybody really came to the table and did a great job learning the stuff. I'm just looking forward to getting down there, revisiting everything and putting the MÖTLEY shows to bed. I think Adelaide is the last show on the trip, so basically, these four shows, it's the last hurrah. This is the last time I'm going to be doing these shows. When we're done, it's time to move on. I want to do a new record, and I want to be able to play [other material]. I've got THE SCREAM, UNION, THE DAISIES, I'll have new material, the MÖTLEY stuff. I've got a ton of albums to pick and choose from, so after the Australian shows, I'm going to put it to bed and move forward and start writing some new material."

Asked about the fact that many consider his work with MÖTLEY CRÜE to be the band's finest hour, John said: "I know for a lot of the fans, they thought it was a great record. I know for some fans, they were just like, 'Nope.' Still to this day, there are some fans who are like, 'I don't want to listen to it. I'm not even going to bother with it. It didn't have Vince [Neil] on it, so it's not a MÖTLEY record.' That's the beauty of choice. It doesn't offend me. To each his own, but at the end of the day, I'm very proud of the record that I did with the guys. I had a great time doing it, and to some degree – not solely because of the MÖTLEY thing — but I think being in MÖTLEY has helped the longevity of my career a bit. I'm always going to be the asterisk — the other guy. [But] life is good, man."

Regarding his split with MÖTLEY CRÜE, John said: "There was some talk that Vince was coming back. It was kind of just brushed aside. I went to rehearsal one day, and when I walked in and saw all the managers and the lawyers, I'm like, 'Uh oh. This isn't going to be good.' That's when they told me. A lot of people don't realize it, but I was in the band [for] five years, and they basically said, 'Hey man, thanks for all your efforts. We love you, but the record label just isn't going to support this version of the band.' Out the door I went. It was sudden, but it really wasn't because there was a lot of rumblings. I'd go to the Rainbow or a club and people were saying, 'I think I saw Tommy and Nikki at this Mexican restaurant with Vince.' I'm like, 'What?' There [were] rumors and people gossiping, so I kind of thought it might be coming, but it was absolutely definite when I saw the lawyers."

The official lyric video for "Come For Me", a brand new song from NEW YEARS DAY, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming fourth studio album, "Unbreakable", which will be released on April 26 via RED Music.

NEW YEARS DAY frontwoman Ash Costello told BUILD Series that "Come For Me" is her favorite song from "Unbreakable". She described the track as "a fight song. It's kind of my invitation to the world that if you've got something to say, come say it to my face, "she explained. "I think we can all use a song like that."

Earlier this week, Costello teased "Come For Me" in an Instagram post, writing: "You guys asked for heavy, I told you to be patient. This heavy enough for ya???? And you were all worried we left out the face-melting heavy riffs on this album, never EVER doubt us again."

The follow-up to 2015's "Malevolence", "Unbreakable" was produced by Mitchell Marlow (ALL THAT REMAINS, IN THIS MOMENT, BUTCHER BABIES) and Scott Stevens (AMERICAN AUTHORS, HALESTORM, SHINEDOWN).

Costello told the BUILD Series about the inspiration for the "Unbreakable" album title: "When I really thought about the year it took to write the record, everything that I've been through, I really felt like came out unbreakable on the other side. As opposed to our record before this one, where I felt almost like I was too breakable. But now with the fans behind us, and our team behind us, and this new music, I really feel like I'm unbreakable."

According to Costello, she was in a much different headspace while writing "Unbreakable" than she was a few years earlier during the making of "Malevolence".

"There was a breakup, and probably the worst breakup you could possibly imagine," Ash said. "I've never talked about who it was or what the exact circumstances are, and I never will. But when I wrote 'Malevolence' in about 2015, '16, it was the darkest time of my life on this planet. I really didn't think I was gonna make it out on the other side alive, and it shows in the songs, especially the title track, 'Malevolence'. It's not a happy record."

"Unbreakable" track listing:

01. Come For Me

02. MissUnderstood

03. Skeletons

04. Unbreakable

05. Shut Up

06. Done With You

07. Poltergeist

08. Break My Body

09. Sorry Not Sorry

10. My Monsters

11. Nocturnal

12. I Survived

Album art credit: Marc Liscio

NEW YEARS DAY will hit the road this spring with FALLING IN REVERSE. The U.S. tour will kick off in Las Vegas on April 20 and will wrap on May 24 in Los Angeles.

Photo credit: Hristo Shindov

Former JUDAS PRIEST frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens says that he doesn't agree with K.K. Downing's comment that Tim is a superior vocalist to Rob Halford.

During a recent interview with All That Shreds, Downing said that "physically and technically," Ripper was "a better singer than Rob, because Tim was always in tune, he was always in key. I mean, Rob was good," the ex-JUDAS PRIEST guitarist added. "Rob got better after he started to wear in-ear monitors. But Tim was stronger. He still is. I mean, the guy is a powerhouse."

Asked by The Metal Voice in a new interview what he thinks about Downing's assessment of the two PRIEST vocalists, Owens said (see video below): "I don't agree. But it's flattering. Listen, I was in absolute top form when I was in JUDAS PRIEST. I get him complimenting me like that, just because I was probably at the top of my game. Plus, I was younger.

"I feel bad that that comment came out, but I'm friends with all the guys in PRIEST," Tim continued. "That's the thing — I'm friends with Rob, I'm friends with Ken, I'm friends with Glenn [Tipton], everybody. So I'll take it as a compliment."

This past January, Owens praised Halford, saying that he has been impressed with Halford's performances on the "Firepower" tour.

"I think Rob's probably singing better now than he has in a long, long time," Tim said. "He sounds absolutely phenomenal. And it's great to hear some of these classic songs that he's singing on stage. That's a great thing… Like I said, Rob is singing so good now — he really is. And he looks good, and I think he feels good."

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band, 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition", before PRIEST reunited with Halford in 2003.

The Ohio-based singer recently told "Talking Metal" that JUDAS PRIEST's management requested that he stop using artwork related to his time with the group to promote his solo shows.

Earlier this year, Owens defended Downing over the comments the ex-PRIEST guitarist made about his former bandmates in his recently released autobiography, explaining that K.K. is "just telling the truth."

Owens currently tours the world as a solo artist and performs as the lead singer of several bands, including SPIRITS OF FIRE, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, A NEW REVENGE, DIO DISCIPLES and THE THREE TREMORS. Additionally, the movie "Rock Star" (Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston) was loosely based on Owens's time in JUDAS PRIEST.

Perla Hudson, the ex-wife of GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash, is selling off exotic and erotic items from their 14 years of marriage.

The collection comes directly from their personal possessions and ranges in date from the early 1980s when he was still a struggling musician on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood to the late 1990s when he was an established rock star living in the glitzy Hollywood Hills.

A few of the treasures ready for you to bid on will include Slash's personal and professional wardrobe (though there is not much of a difference between the two!), dozens of his "cool graphics" t-shirts, numerous leather belts, significant music awards, RIAA gold record awards, unique and gothic-like furniture from his home, artwork related to his career, a single top hat from his massive collection of them, inscribed books from his celebrity friends, and assorted GN'R collectibles that he obtained and saved over the years.

The auction will take place online and at New York's Hard Rock Cafe on May 17 and May 18.

Slash and Perla reached a divorce settlement last September.

As per the settlement — obtained by TMZ — Slash agreed to pay Perla $6.6 million as well as $100,000 per month in spousal support and $39,000 per month in child support.

Slash kept all his guitars and any musical compositions he owns, with future proceeds belonging to the rocker. He also got a 2011 Ford F-150 and the Beverly Hills house. Perla got the house in Los Angeles, a 2014 Range Rover, a 2015 Mercedes AMG and a 2015 Mercedes GL 450.

Perla got primary physical custody of sons London and Cash, and each child will get .09% of Slash's income for the next 20 years.

The couple reportedly did not sign a prenuptial agreement when they married in 2001, meaning that Ferrar would be entitled to half of Slash's income from 2001 to 2014.

She would not, however, be entitled to any of Slash's share of the reported half a billion dollars and counting that the current GUNS N' ROSES reunion tour has raked in.

Back in 2016, Slash claimed that he and Perla were never properly married because Perla's one-month marriage to Carlos Marty in 1993 didn't actually end as divorce documents weren't properly filed. The mistake was uncovered when Slash and Perla applied for dual citizenship for their son Cash.

Perla claimed the couple then hired a real lawyer in 2009 and a judge finalized her divorce from Carlos, making it retroactive to 1994.

GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" trek, which reunited Slash, Axl Rose and Duff McKagan, launched in 2016.

SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil was asked by Rolling Stone to name his favorite albums from the so-called "grunge" music scene that originated in Seattle in the mid-1980s and catapulted acts like NIRVANA, PEARL JAM, ALICE IN CHAINS and SOUNDGARDEN itself to commercial success and critical acclaim.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Rolling Stone recently compiled its own list of the "50 Greatest Grunge Albums," with one EP and four LPs from SOUNDGARDEN making the cut. The band's third studio effort, 1991's "Badmotorfinger", was second only to NIRVANA's "Nevermind" on the list.

Asked for his thoughts on the "grunge" genre, Thayil said: "I think for a number of years, most of the Seattle bands avoided the term 'grunge.' It's kind of hard to recall what might be considered grunge or what might have been referred to as metal or pop or punk. I think the easy way to define it would probably be: Seattle-area music of a particular community and genre during a particular period of time from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s."

Thayil told The Pulse Of Radio a while back what he missed from those days. "I think I miss that sort of camaraderie that was shared with other bands in the music community," he said. "I mean, that kind of started disappearing when all the bands started getting bigger and hitting the road. Of course, it is easier now with e-mail and cell phones, but sometime in the '90s, that really changed, and I kind of miss that sense of community that we had in Seattle back then with a dozen or so bands."

Here are Kim Thayil's favorite "grunge" albums:

* NIRVANA - "Bleach" (1989)

* GREEN RIVER - "Dry As A Bone" (1987)

* MELVINS - "Gluey Porch Treatments" (1987)

* U-MEN - "U-Men" EP (1984)

* MALFUNKSHUN - various tracks

* SKIN YARD - "Hallowed Ground" (1988)

* MUDHONEY - "Superfuzz Bigmuff" (1988)

* TAD - "God's Balls" (1989)

* SCREAMING TREES - "Clairvoyance" (1986)

* ALICE IN CHAINS - "Facelift" (1990)

* PEARL JAM - "Ten" (1991)

ALICE IN CHAINS has released the fourth episode of "Black Antenna", a dark sci-fi thriller set against the backdrop of the band's Grammy-nominated album "Rainier Fog" (BMG). Further episodes will be released throughout the coming months.


The dramatic films come ahead of the band's highly anticipated European tour in May and June, which starts with arena shows in London, Birmingham and Glasgow.


"Black Antenna" tells the story of Alpha (played by "Green Book" actor Paul Sloan) and his 21-year-old daughter, Beta (Viktoriya Dov), who drive their beat-up truck across California in silence, speaking only telepathically. Together they rob and steal from the men the girl seduces, taking phones, laptops and whatever they can find.


Alpha is trying to build something — an antenna — desperately trying to find a way to get a message to their people back home. Meanwhile there are unspeakably dark forces who have discovered their existence and are now hell-bent on tracking them down and eradicating them before more of their kind can come and join them.


"Black Antenna" was directed by Adam Mason, written by Paul Sloan and Adam Mason and produced by Elizabeth Mason and Nick Vallelonga, who recently won two Oscars ("Best Original Screenplay" and "Best Picture") for "Green Book".


"This movie came out of nowhere for me," says Mason. "As soon as I heard the album, the music and lyrics spoke to me on a profoundly personal level and the film and subject matter was born directly out of that. I've always been a huge fan of ALICE IN CHAINS, and this has been a dream come true for me. 'Black Antenna' is a perfect synergy of the band's lyrics, and 'Black Antenna' paints a dark and beautiful canvas of the deeply conflicted world we live in today."


The release comes ahead of ALICE IN CHAINS' European tour this summer, which sees them play numerous dates and festivals including three arena shows in the U.K., starting at Glasgow's Braehead Arena on May 23 before a show at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on May 24, and ending with a date at London's Wembley Arena on May 25. The shows will be the biggest headline shows the band have played to date in the U.K.


ALICE IN CHAINS is touring in support of its latest album, "Rainier Fog", which became the group's first Top 10 U.K. album, hit No.1 across Billboard's Rock, Alternative and Hard Music charts and the iTunes Rock Album chart, and earned the band a ninth Grammy nod for "Best Rock Album."


Photo credit: Pamela Littky

In a brand new interview with U.K.'s Kerrang!, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx spoke about how the rise of grunge in the early 1990s forced most hard rock bands off the radio and MTV, with album and tour sales plummeting. Asked if it was fair that CRÜE was lumped in with bands such as POISON and WARRANT, Nikki replied: "I have to say that I don't think that NIRVANA and PEARL JAM killed the bands you mention, I think that they killed themselves. They were making copycat music. We, on the other hand, simply imploded."

He continued: "Forget about the lifestyle for a minute — the thing that ultimately allowed us to pull ourselves through was the music that we made, and how good we can be when we really put it together. Every great band has hills and valleys; they start at the bottom and if they're lucky they make it to the top of the mountain. But eventually you have to go down. Very few bands are lucky enough to become popular and stay popular forever. That's just the way music is — it changes, technology changes, fashion changes, and social outlooks change. But again, today a lot of bands are just so fucking safe."

Upon release in September 1991, NIRVANA's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" wreaked confusion upon the hair metal vanguard, putting an end to an era dominated by glamorous, androgynous and sparkly rock stars who absolutely saturated the radio waves and were almost exclusively what aired on MTV.

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE singer John Corabi told Newsday in a 2014 interview that the CRÜE album he sang on was a commercial disappointment because the music scene had changed, with hair metal brushed aside for grunge.

"Everybody was listening to ALICE IN CHAINS and SOUNDGARDEN," Corabi said. "At that point, we were considered passé."

According to Corabi, CRÜE's ill-fated 1994 American tour " was a nightmare. We weren't selling tickets. It was just horrible," he said.

After working with Corabi for two years on a follow-up album, "Generation Swine", CRÜE dropped the singer and reunited with Vince Neil.

Despite Neil's return, "Generation Swine" sold poorly when it was released in 1997.

NORTHTALE, the new Swedish-American power metal band featuring guitarist Bill Hudson (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, I AM MORBID, ex-U.D.O./ DIRKSCHNEIDER), vocalist Christian Eriksson (ex-TWILIGHT FORCE), and drummer Patrick Johansson (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-W.A.S.P.) — has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast. The group, which is completed by bassist Mikael Planefeldt and keyboardist Jimmy Pitts, will release its debut album, "Welcome To Paradise", this summer.

Formed in late 2017, NORTHTALE delivers a load of (largely) fast-paced anthems, imbued with Eriksson's soaring vocals, which will not only please fans of titans such as HELLOWEEN, SONATA ARCTICA, GAMMA RAY and STRATOVARIUS, among others, but draw new fans to the genre too.

NORTHTALE's very first gig will take place at SABATON's open-air festival in August and will be followed by two concerts in Tokyo, Japan as part of the Evoken festival.

Listen to the band's 2018 version of the song "Shape Your Reality" below. The track is also available on Spotify, iTunes and other digital music platforms.

Bill Hudson and Christian Eriksson said in a statement: "We are beyond thrilled to announce that we have signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. Growing up listening to records they have put out has greatly influenced music and the way we look at it. It is beyond humbling to be able to have our first album out on such an influential record label, one that has from the very beginning embraced us as family. Being a part of the Nuclear Blast family will allow us to put our music in front of every single heavy metal fan willing to listen, as well as give us the opportunity to play for them live. We cannot wait to play as many shows as we can and bring our music out on tour with us. See you on the road."

Nuclear Blast A&R/head of promotion Markus Wosgien said: "We've been following NORTHTALE since their formation as we've always had huge power metal fans in our company. Of course, we expected nothing but irresistible tracks from the group — just take a look at the amazing pedigree of their lineup… How can you expect anything else? And we were not only proven right, the result easily exceeded our hopes! Since the arrival of 'Welcome To Paradise', we've been spinning them endlessly. We're happy to introduce NORTHTALE to the metal world and to be able to unleash their refreshing debut album upon the world very soon."

NORTHTALE is:

Christian Eriksson - vocals

Bill Hudson - guitar

Mikael Planefeldt - bass

Jimmy Pitts - keyboards

Patrick Johansson – drums

Collage credit: Felipe Machado Franco

STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet has finished recording vocals for his new solo album, "Ten". The disc, which will be mixed starting next week, is due later in the year via Rat Pak Records.

In a social media post earlier today, Sweet stated about the follow-up to 2016's "One Sided War": "It's an amazing album and I want to thank all the incredible musicians who were a part of making this solo album the best one yet!"

Michael recently told Daily Boom that the songs on his next solo album "have incredible energy. I've got Will Hunt playing drums on it and John O'Boyle is playing bass," he said. "The rhythm section is phenomenal and the guitar tones are great. I'm going to have a different guest guitar player on every song, with a solo, of course. I've got Todd La Torre of QUEENSRŸCHE joining me on a song and it's just turning out to be a really cool album. I think that it's going to surpass my last solo album and that did really well, but I think this one is going to be even better."

As for a possible release date for "Ten", Sweet said: "I'm still not sure. It's definitely going to be this year. We're talking about a summer release, and I'm turning it all in by the end of April, and so we're probably looking at a July or August release. It depends on how much setup we need with licensing deals worldwide and those kinds of things. But I would say hopefully July-August."

Other guest musicians who will appear on Sweet's new disc include guitarists Joel Hoekstra (WHITESNAKE, NIGHT RANGER), Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE), Marzi Montazeri (EXHORDER, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS), Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE) and Andy James.

Sweet previously stated about his new solo album: "There are old-school, straight-ahead metal ideas à la [JUDAS] PRIEST and DIO, as well as a few uptempo riffs à la [IRON] MAIDEN. There's also a few ballads with a bit of a [LED] ZEPPELIN vibe.

"I'm really excited about the musical direction. I'm bringing back a few of those classic hooks and melodies that some of you have asked for. Ask and you shall receive."

"One Sided War" was released in August 2016 via Rat Pak Records. Backing Michael on the record were Hoekstra, Hunt, O'Boyle and East Coast shred-master Ethan Brosh.

In a 2016 interview with The Aquarian Weekly, Sweet said that he enjoyed making solo albums "because it's an opportunity to free myself up a little bit more, experiment a little bit more, and try some things that STRYPER may not be able to try."

STRYPER's latest album, "God Damn Evil", was released in April 2018 via Frontiers Music Srl.


I finished recording vocals for “Ten” - We start mixing next week. I wish you all could hear it!! It’s an amazing album...Posted by Michael Sweet on Thursday, April 4, 2019

Video footage of LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton performing an acoustic version of his song "Reveal" at the studios of Boston's WAAF radio station can be seen below. Joining Morton for the performance were two members of his solo touring band, vocalist Mark Morales (SONS OF TEXAS) and guitarist Doc Coyle (BAD WOLVES, ex-GOD FORBID).

Morton tour in support of his debut solo album, "Anesthetic", kicked off on March 13 in Richmond, Virginia and concluded on March 23 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Also backing Morton on the trek were bassist Nick Villarreal (SONS OF TEXAS) and drummer Art Cruz (PRONG, Cruz and Coyle have both played with LAMB OF GOD in the past. Cruz filled in for LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler on tour last year while Chris recovered from a motorcycle accident, and Coyle subbed for Morton when LAMB OF GOD opened for METALLICA in 2009.

"Anesthetic" was released on March 1. The first single from the album, "Cross Off", features late LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington.

Other singers on the album include Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY), Jacoby Shaddix (PAPA ROACH), Myles Kennedy (SLASH, ALTER BRIDGE), Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Mark Lanegan, Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT), Jake Oni, Josh Todd (BUCKCHERRY), Mark Morales, and Naeemah Maddox. Musically, Morton performs all guitars, with Roy Mayorga (STONE SOUR), David Ellefson (MEGADETH), Ray Luzier (KORN), Gregoletto and Bent, Mike Inez (ALICE IN CHAINS), Jean-Paul Gaster (CLUTCH), Steve Gorman and Marc Paul rounding out the band.

British rockers THE DARKNESS will release a new studio album, "Easter Is Cancelled", on October 4 via via Cooking Vinyl.

Frontman Justin Hawkins said about the follow-up to 2017's "Pinewood Smile": "We live in dark times. As power-hungry clowns cast a shadow of despair across this land, our people cower in tumbledown hovels. The birds do not sing and the children do not dance. Hope is crushed.

"Where are the heroes that this world needs? Where are the heroes that this world deserves? Cast aside despair, people, for the tide will turn!

"We are men in tight costumes and we are ready to fight with every weapon that our forefathers have bequeathed — the guitar axe, the drum hammer, the bejewelled codpiece and the banshee wail of righteous anger.

"Nor shall we be cowed by the naysayers, nor shall we be bought off by the money lenders, nor gagged by the reeking stench of pious indifference that pours from the orifices of the clown-lords.

"Cometh the time, cometh the band. We are THE DARKNESS and we bring you light."


THE DARKNESS's new tour starts later this year. Full tour dates will be revealed next week, and go on general sale on Friday, April 12, but to get the earliest opportunity to purchase tickets, fans who pre-order the album will receive an exclusive link to the advance pre-sale.


Another of the exclusive items available within special fan bundles is a strictly limited-edition T-shirt featuring Justin Hawkins as an Easter Bunny. If ordered before April 16, it will be delivered to U.K. addresses in time to be a very Good Friday gift. And for fans in farther corners of the planet, it will make a magnificent May Day present.


The album will be released digitally and in full technicolour physical glory as a standard CD, digipak CD with bonus tracks, gatefold LP, limited-edition color vinyl gatefold LP and cassette. The album is available to pre-order now from the band's official store with special signed copies and exclusive album bundle offers.