Fan-filmed video footage of MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine performing during the March 21 "Experience Hendrix" concert at Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin can be seen below (courtesy of YouTube user "tristanfabriani").

Mustaine is taking part in the 2019 edition of the "Experience Hendrix" tour. The 30-date trek, a celebration of Jimi Hendrix's legacy and musical genius, kicked off in Pompano Beach, Florida on March 3 and will run through April 6 when it finishes in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Along with Mustaine, shredders like Joe Satriana, Zakk Wylde, Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang and Dweezil Zappa are performing with the all-star tribute led by Jimi's BAND OF GYPSYS bandmate Billy Cox.

Asked by "The Opus" podcast how he got involved with "Experience Hendrix", Mustaine said: "Just like doing the classical performance with the [San Diego] Symphony [in April 2014], it's getting out of my wheelhouse. When these guys asked me to do this, I myself was very flattered, because, to me, Jimi is the status which I aspired to be my whole life. I wanted to be a guitar legend, and granted, I am considered a legend right now, but I still think Jimi is so much more grand than I am. I love his legend, I love how people revere him, and this is one of the, if not the most flattering thing outside of MEGADETH I've ever been able to do."

Mustaine admitted that he didn't immediately jump at the opportunity to take part in the trek.

"I think when you look at the people who are playing here, paying respect to Jimi, it can't help but pique your curiosity," he said. "It certainly piques my curiosity. I was a little bit apprehensive to take this gig, because knowing how extremely talented Joe Satriani is, and I've been a fan of Eric Johnson's for years — ever since the 'Cliffs Of Dover' song came out. So I was a little bit nervous, but then I thought, 'God, I'm gonna be in the presence of these guys walking the earth and the spirit of Jimi Hendrix. How can I lose?'"

Since its inception as a single tribute show at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000, "Experience Hendrix"has become an anticipated fan experience.


"The tour is more than a series of concerts," Experience Hendrix LLC CEO Janie Hendrix, Jimi's stepsister, said in a statement. "It's a celebration of a man whose amazing gift changed the face of music and informed an entire culture. His influences were varied and diverse. And this year we're shining a light on that diversity with artists who represent it across cultures and who also share a love for Jimi and his music. It's exciting to be able to honor Jimi's enduring legacy in this way."

Jon Anderson says that he is "very open" to a YES reunion.

Anderson sang "Roundabout" and "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" with YES at the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction two years ago, and his former bandmate Steve Howe makes a guest appearance on a song called "Now And Again" on Jon's upcoming solo album, "1000 Hands".

Asked by Rolling Stone whether he and Howe might they team up for some sort of reunion once his solo tour, "1000 Hands - Past Present Future", ends, Anderson replied: "I'm very open to it. It's been 50 years now. You think something has got to happen. To me, a great album has to be made. That's what I think. I don't know how it's going to be made, but the final YES event should happen."

He continued: "I've talked to a couple of people about it and they get it. I really want to do this. I've even written eight songs for the record that I'm thinking would work with a full orchestra and a choir."

Pressed about whether Steve Howe is also into the idea, Anderson replied: "I don't know. Maybe he'll read this article and say 'Yes' or 'No.' I don't know."

In the Rolling Stone interview, Anderson also confirmed that YES FEATURING JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN, RICK WAKEMAN is on indefinite hiatus, explaining that the project with Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman enjoyed "a good couple of years" together. He added: "Onstage, we were just killing it every show. It was magic. But there was, dare I say it, mismanagement of the situation.

"I love the guys — we're musical brothers," he continued. "I just thought, 'I need to breathe.' I couldn't breathe towards the end. It felt like too much weight on me. Also, there was too much of, 'Should we do an album?' We couldn't agree on that. As soon as I said I didn't want to tour this year and just make my own album, I could finally breathe again."

Due on March 31, "1000 Hands" features additional guest appearances by JETHRO TULL's Ian Anderson, Steve Morse, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Pat Travers, Jonathan Cain and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty.

You can watch the video for Anderson's new song "Ramalama" below.

The official music video for the new QUEENSRŸCHE song "Light-Years" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "The Verdict", which was released on March 1 via Century Media Records. The disc was produced, mixed, and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, ICED EARTH, HATEBREED) at Uberbeatz in Lynwood, Washington; Planet-Z in Wilbraham, Massachusetts; and Watershed Studio in Seattle, Washington.

Says QUEENSRŸCHE bassist Eddie Jackson: "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."

"The Verdict" marks QUEENSRŸCHE's third full-length release with singer Todd La Torre, following the departure of Geoff Tate in 2012.

For the past two years, drummer Scott Rockenfield has been taking time off from QUEENSRŸCHE's touring activities to spend time with his young son, who was born in early 2017. Filling in for him is former KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo.

La Torre, who has played drums since the age of 13, laid down the drum tracks on "The Verdict".

La Torre spoke about "The Verdict"'s musical direction with Eclectic Arts, saying: "It's got more driving songs on this record than the last one… I think there's elements that are more progressive — some different time signatures. It's a good-flowing album. There's some slow, kind of haunting, creepy, cool stuff on this record," he continued. "Really good lyrical content — thought-provoking stuff. Certainly never trying to tell anyone what to think, but to think. Again, a lot of it deals with things that are happening in the world that everyone can identify with and relate to. I tried to have some really good vocal acrobatics on this [album]. There's not a ton of high singing, but there's some high stuff on there vocally. I mean, it just sounds like a great QUEENSRŸCHE album to me."

QUEENSRŸCHE's spring U.S. headline tour with special guests FATES WARNING kicked off on March 2 in Orlando, making stops in major markets such as New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles, before wrapping on April 3 in Seattle.

PAPA ROACH's official music video for the song "Elevate" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's tenth studio album, "Who Do You Trust?" , which was released in January.

Guitarist Jerry Horton said: "The song 'Elevate' is about someone who's stuck in a depression and feels isolated and alone and is looking for something to bring them out of that. I love how the mood and the music goes along with that sentiment as it moves from sadness into hope."

"Who Do You Trust?" features the band's signature heavy rhythmic guitars and catchy hooks on the title track and "Renegade Music", with "Not The Only One" supplying melody and emotionally charged lyrics. The album is produced by Nick "RAS" Furlong and Colin Cunningham except for "Top Of The World", which is produced by Jason Evigan.


Asked why PAPA ROACH decided to work on new music so soon after the release of 2017's "Crooked Teeth", Horton told the Milwaukee radio station 102.9 The Hog: "Normally, we give it a couple of years to two and a half years, just because the touring cycles usually take a pretty long time. And then six months we'll do [in the studio] for the record. This time it was, like, a year on tour and maybe three months [in the studio]. We got in with the same guys [producers Nicholas 'RAS' Furlong and Colin Brittain] that we did 'Crooked Teeth' with, and we have this flow together, and it just went really quick."

He continued: "We've been doing this for so long that we kind of know if we get to a certain point with a song that it's not happening naturally, then we just kind of set it aside and move on to something else and then maybe come back to it later. But we don't try and sit there and force it for days on end like we used to."

PAPA ROACH's summer 2019 headlining tour with ASKING ALEXANDRIA and BAD WOLVES will kick off July 27 in Dallas, Texas and make new stops in Bethlehem, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Denver, Phoenix and Los Angeles, before wrapping September 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Professor Esa Lijla of Helsinki University recently spoke to CNN's Richard Quest about why he thinks Finns love heavy metal.

He said (see video below): "We are a small country. Such a small country that many times, we only have one thing at a time. So, let's say, in the '80s, it was heavy metal; in the '90s, it certainly wasn't heavy metal — it was Euro-dance pop. Nowadays, it seems that heavy metal is more or less in the popular mainstream.

"We have private music schools, which are funded by government mostly," he continued. "The ideal behind that was that everyone should be able to learn music in a high level, if they wanted."

When the interviewer pointed out that Finland's love of headbanging heavy metal music appears to be counterculture to everything else the country is known for, Lijla responded: "It's a bit like a myth that also maybe Finnish musicians, or Finnish people in general, like to think or like to advertise that we are a strange country and strange people living in the woods."

Back in 2013, Slate reported that Finland had the most heavy metal bands per capita in the world. While Sweden and Norway were said to have had only 27 heavy metal bands per 100,000 inhabitants, Finland boasted double as much, 54 bands per 100,000.

Some even claimed that Finland was the only country in the world where metal was "mainstream," and people actually studied Finnish and Norwegian to better understand heavy metal music.

People have speculated that the climate in Finland, which is characterized by cold, and sometimes severe, winters and relatively warm summers, has contributed to the population's disproportionately high interest in heavier forms of rock. Says the A Metal State Of Mind web site: "When someone is surrounded by cold and dark for long periods of time, it is only natural that some form of depression will start to set in. And how do many Finns combat this depression, release the negative energy, and make themselves feel more positive? Well, I can't think of one form of music more tailored to the release of the negative more than metal."

Although the suicide rates of Finland are higher than those of other Nordic countries, the number of suicides among Finnish men has gone down by 48 percent since the '90s, according to a July 2014 report in the Helsinki Times.

Former DIO guitarist Doug Aldrich says that he would "definitely" pay money to go see the Ronnie James Dio hologram even though he doesn't believe the the legendary heavy metal singer would be pleased about having a a life-size digital version of him touring the world.

The former vocalist in BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW, who died in 2010 at the age of 67, is now the subject of a touring show in which his three-dimensional representation is backed by members of his band DIO.

"I'm fine with it," Aldrich, who was in DIO between 2002 and 2006, told Totally Driven Radio (hear audio below). "I'd like to see it. It definitely would never compare to the real thing. It wouldn't even scratch the itch at all. But I would support it, just because those guys are all friends of mine and stuff. To be honest, I don't think Ronnie would be into it that much. But at least people are getting something and it keeps his music alive. And like I said, I would go see it. I'd pay money to go see it — definitely."

The Dio hologram was created by a company called Eyeillusion and made its debut at the Wacken Open Air festival in August 2016 in front of more than 75,000 fans.

The Dio hologram production uses audio of Ronnie's live performances from throughout his career, with the DIO band playing live, consisting of Craig Goldy on guitar, Simon Wright on drums and Scott Warren on keyboards, along with Bjorn Englen on bass. Also appearing with them are former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens and ex-LYNCH MOB frontman Oni Logan.

After the tour's initial seven-date run was completed in December 2017, Ronnie's hologram is undergoing "some changes" before the launch of the next leg of the "Dio Returns" world tour, scheduled for this spring.

Former DIO keyboardist Claude Schnell has slammed the Ronnie James Dio hologram, calling it a "travesty" and "disrespectful" to the singer's memory.

Wendy Dio, who is a member of the Eyellusion team, recently said that the people that criticize the Ronnie James Dio hologram should at least see it in person before voicing their disapproval. "Don't criticize it if you haven't seen it," she told "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie. "It's done with love. The band love doing it. And we just wanna keep Ronnie's memory and his music alive."

She added that a digital version of Dio makes perfect sense. "I think that Ronnie was an innovator of heavy metal music, so why not be an innovator of technology?" she said. "And I think technology is coming a long way with holograms — a lot of people are doing it now. And I think the reason is because we are losing all of our innovators; everybody is getting older. And we need to keep them alive and keep their memory and their music alive. I think it's a new way. It's like when people first came out with a CD or a cassette: 'Ooh, we don't want that.' But then it was the way of technology."

Borknagar founder Øystein G. Brun has checked in with the following update:

"Friday night, I drove the 800 km from the woods of Örebro in the midst of Sweden to the shores Bergen, in one intense drive. Through the endless woods of Sweden, wintry Oslo, over the stormy (!!) mountains of Hemsedal and finally waiting my way through a billion of tunnels here in west, as many of them were under construction / upgrade work. Quite an ordeal for an tired old fart, but I was indeed smiling all the way back home.

The new Borknagar album is finally done. I am so proud of what we have achieved musically this time around. Hard work always pays off, and this time we all pushed it to the extreme.

I want to share my sincere gratitude to everybody involved in this production so far. First and foremost this goes to my brothers in music Lars, Simen, Jostein and Bjørn. And not to forget my always supportive family making all this possible.

Moreover, I would like to thank Jens, Linus and Tony at Fascination Street Studio, Marius at Strand Studio and John Ryan from Cruachan. Thank you for being a part of this journey!

Now, onward!"

Borknagar recently announced that vocalist Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund has left the band. They issued the following statement:

"Due to personal reasons, Andreas 'Vintersorg' Hedlund has decided to step down as the lead vocalist of Borknagar. The decision is based on mutual understanding, respect and in a friendly manner with the rest of the band. Borknagar would like to express their sincere gratitude for the musical brotherhood we have shared throughout the years and wish Andreas the very best in his future endeavours. There is no drama to this situation, and our friendship will remain. No one should be too surprised if Vintersorg reappears as a guest vocalist on a future record.

As a natural consequence, I.C.S Vortex will take a step forward into the role as the band´s lead vocalist, and will, together with Lars Nedland, carry on Borknagar's legacy of vocal brilliance."

Founder / mastermind Øystein G. Brun comments:

"It is with a lot of respect, gratitude and good memories I see one of my brothers in music set sails for new shores. Times are changing, and we both saw this coming for a while. Even though we are splitting as partners in Borknagar, I am happy to say that we have decided to carry on our musical brotherhood in Cronian. A new album will be released whenever time allows for that."

Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund issued the following statement:

"Time has come to make some tough decisions and let reality set the rules. It is with both a light and heavy heart I leave Borknagar as the lead vocalist. The light part is that it´s done in an amicable way and that this is the right thing to do for me, in respect for the fans and Borknagar. The heavy part is that it’s hard to leave something this meaningful and beautiful. My situation after the accident makes it hard to tour, and my job situation complicates things further. So in a way I’m not 'leaving' as such, it’s more like I’m putting some oil into the Borknagar machinery so the band can keep their busy schedule, get out on the road and meet you guys. Borknagar will always have a special place in my heart and mind, and I hope that I can do some guest performances further down the road. The guys in the band are fantastic musicians and persons and I wish them the best of luck. However, Cronian is not dead and may shake its head before you know it."




(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);
})();

Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum songwriter, vocalist, and frontman Scott Stapp has will release his new album, "The Space Between The Shadows", in July via Napalm Records. The visualizer video for the disc's bombastic first single, "Purpose For Pain", can be seen below.

"The Space Between The Shadows" documents a five-year journey to find meaning — and redemption — in a world where shadows lurk and the space between is a gauntlet towards the light. It is Scott's manifesto of lessons learned in the six years since his last release, yet listeners will find their own solace, hear their own frustrations, feel hope, revelations, victories and losses.

"'Purpose For Pain' is about seeking a higher meaning, a spiritual mentality when dealing with our struggles and life’s painful moments," says Scott. "There are unexplainable, dark times that everyone goes through, and that pain is real. If we can dig deep and hold on to hope during the most difficult situations, believing there is a purpose waiting for us on the others side, we can find meaning and clarity that gives us the strength to keep fighting."

Stapp is known as frontman for CREED (over 50 million albums sold worldwide), and for his work as a solo artist who released the platinum-certified "The Great Divide" (2005) and "Proof Of Life" (2013), which featured his first solo Billboard No. 1, "Slow Suicide".

Scott will embark on a cross-country summer tour in late June. Tickets for the first leg go on sale Monday, March 25.

Tour dates (more to be added):

Jun. 20 - Oshkosh, WI @ Waterfest Concert Series

Jun. 21 - New Buffalo, MI @ Four Winds Casino Resort - Silver Creek Event Center (on sale March 29)

Jun. 22 - St. Charles, IL @ The Arcada Theatre

Jun. 27 - Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall

Jun. 28 - Toledo, OH @ Civic Music Hall

Jun. 29 - Boardman, OH @ Ribs-N-Rock Festival

Jul. 10 - San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theater

Jul. 12 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues

Jul. 13 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues

Jul. 14 - Oklahoma City @ Tower Theatre

Jul. 25 - New York City @ Sony Hall

Aug. 02 - Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theatre (on sale March 29)

Stapp went through a highly publicized, drug-inflamed meltdown in 2014, after which he entered into an intensive rehab program. Stapp also lost custody of his three children during this period, while also missing a court hearing and allegedly threatening to kill President Obama.

Stapp is now sober and in intensive therapy. He takes medication for bipolar disorder — a condition that causes unexpected shifts in mood, energy and activity levels — works through a twelve-step program, and meets with a sponsor, saying, "Nothing is more important than my sobriety."

PANTERA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of "Far Beyond Driven" by releasing a name generator that enables you to create your own personalized logo in the style of the band's logo as it appears on that classic album. Simply head to this location, enter your name, and you're all set.

Both METALLICA and JUDAS PRIEST have previously provided their own logo generators.

The 20th-anniversary reissue of "Far Beyond Driven", which still stands as the heaviest LP to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, was made available in 2014. Singer Philip Anselmo told TV Rock Live about the chart achievement: "I don't think any of us had any idea at all that we would have a No. 1 record or anything like that. As a matter of fact, when I was first told about it, I didn't even believe it. My dad told me. 'Hey, son, your record's No. 1.' I was, like, 'You're drunk.' But then I found out later, of course, it was true."

Anselmo told ARTISTdirect.com about the making of "Far Beyond Driven": "I think, at that time, we were all very much on the same page, so to speak.

"PANTERA had a lot of success before I was in the band. When I first joined the band, I was singing fucking tracks on 'Power Metal' after two weeks of being with them. Then, we wrote 'Cowboys From Hell' all throughout the rest of 1987 and 1988. We had been playing those songs live. We had been through a lot up to the point as far as personalities go and getting to know each other.

"Becoming a trusted member and true singer for this band was a process to where I didn't have the rest of the band peeking over my shoulder like, 'What are you writing about?' By the time I got to 'Far Beyond Driven', it was, 'I'm going to write what the fuck I'm going to write.' So, I was very comfortable at the time. I guess the rest of the guys were like, 'Leave Phil alone. Let him do his job.' [Laughs] It felt so fucking natural."

Asked if those "Far Beyond Driven" sessions were particularly intense, Anselmo said: "Well, I knew that's what I wanted. There was a lot of speculation out there about what type of record we were going to make. I definitely had a chip on my fucking shoulder because there was no way in hell I was going to go the fucking commercial route. At the time, I think we were very aware of other heavy metal bands that had found a little bit of fame and taken that 'commercial route,' so to speak, with their music. I very much instilled that there was no fucking way I was doing that into the other guys. I think they were on board quite a bit. It's like when you have a favorite band, you follow their entire career, you wait anxiously to buy their new record, you open up it, you put it on, and it's a letdown. That's a shitty feeling. We knew what our fan base wanted. We were very focused on delivering what our fan base had come to know and come to know of us. A lot of people like to say we did things in reverse. Meaning, we didn't start out this heavy fucking band and get more commercialized. It was kind of the other way around. That was the main focus there. When I laid my vocals on that fucking record, I wanted people to feel the fucking spit on their faces coming out of the speakers. [Laughs] I meant every fucking second."

Lindsay Schoolcraft (Cradle Of Filth, Antiqva) has checked in with the following update:

"Finally getting some content up on YouTube! To start, here is a live video from my solo tour through Australia thanks to Incursion Alternative Parties. Big thank you to Tim and Tash of Ne Obliviscaris for joining me on stage with your talents. Enjoy!"

UK's legendary extreme metal icons Cradle Of Filth will perform their 1998 album, Cruelty And The Beast, on a string of exclusive European dates in April. Support on the shows listed below comes from The Spirit.

April
24 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage
25 - Paris, France - La Machine
26 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z-7
27 - Parma, Italy - Campus Industry
29 - Warszaw, Poland - Progresja
30 - Bratislava, Slovakia - MMC

Tickets at cradleoffilth.com/tour.

Cradle Of Filth recently announced their return to North America in support of their latest album Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness of Decay. For the second leg of their North American onslaught, the band has enlisted industrial/metal shock rocker Wednesday 13 as well as theatrical metal new comers Raven Black. Check out a trailer promoting the tour:

For the first time in years, Cradle Of Filth's set will feature an all new, massive stage production.

Comments Cradle Of Filth vocalist Dani Filth: "As a band, we are very much looking forward to the upcoming second leg of our US/Canadian Cryptoriana World tour. The first, at the beginning of last year, was such a success that we decided to come back armed with a bigger, better show coupled with two awesome bands in support. We can’t wait to bring the noise back to our favorite hunting ground! Ia! Ia! Cthulhu Fhtagn!"

Tickets on-sale here. Confirmed dates are listed below.

March
25 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
26 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
27 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
29 - Guelph, ON - Guelph Concert Theatre
30 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
31 - Quebec City, QC - L'Imperial Bell

April
1 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
2 - Huntington, NY - Paramount Theater
3 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
5 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
6 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
7 - Newport News, VA - Boathouse Live
9 - Greensboro, NC - Cone Denim Entertainment Center
10 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm
12 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
13 - Pensacola, FL - Vinyl Music Hall
14 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
15 - San Antonio, TX - Aztec Theatre
17 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
18 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues




(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);
})();

Primal Fear bassist Mat Sinner has checked in with the following update:

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

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




(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);
})();

Breaking three years of silence, Trailight bassist and mastermind Omer Cordell has returned with new music. He has issued the following update:

"I am very proud to present to you my latest musical effort - Endure The Fire. Over the past three years I've had the great fortune of practicing with traditional Amazonian plant medicine. It has been a remarkable process of transformation for myself and for the people who are close to me. My life has altered in ways that I could never have imagined on a conscious level.

The purpose of this album is to try and encapsulate my personal journey throughout the past three years and perhaps give the listener a mere short glimpse of what this work is about though I must stress, the process of working with such medicine is experiential by nature and so each person will indeed have their own unique experience. Healing is easy, it's just that the mind gets in the way. 

One light, many candles, I would implore anyone to seek their own inner journeys."

Endure The Fire by Trailight

The album is one track clocking in at 33:16. It features the following sections:

"Towards Infinity" 
"Death"
"Endure The Fire" 
"Epiphanies In The Dead Of Night" 
"Apotheosis" 
"Train Of Thought" 
"As Within, So Without" 

Cordell: "Dedicated with reverence to all indigenous traditions and medicines around the world. To get the most out of this experience, I would highly recommend creating the space to listen to this album. Best experienced through headphones in a quiet space." 

Photo by Tony Hoare Photography




(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);
})();

Since 1996, Toronto-based Juno Award winning musician Adam Sewell has used Def Con Sound System as a catch-all band name for various miscellaneous musical projects; including soundtracks, one-off live performances, and even a short lived full-on touring band. Metal fans know him best as the frontman of Monster Voodoo Machine, which was active from 1991 - 1998.

He has released the new Def Con Sound System track "Fool's Gold" from the Silver Bullets album along with the following update:

"The brand new Def Con Sound System single AND video ‘Fool’s Gold’ is out today! I know that I’m not supposed to say this… but I’m really proud of this track. It's a song that I've always wanted to write but never had the confidence or abilities to create. I started writing it back in 2008, and in a lot ways it would become the song that after many, many years got me refocused, and back on track creatively. Additionally, having Justin Allen McWilliams and Simone Denny add their incredible talents was the magic that truly helped to bring the song to life after sitting on my hard drives for 10 years. 'Fool’s Gold' is available now on all major digital retail, and streaming services."

Adam Sewell: vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion
Justin Allen McWilliams: guitars, keyboards
Simone Denny: vocals

Sewell: "I started writing the Silver Bullets album back in 2008. Whenever I had a few spare minutes to myself, or could find some spare change in the back of the couch, I’d record whatever rough ideas I could piece together into songs.

By 2011, it was painfully obvious that Silver Bullets was shaping up to be something other than a regular album. My love of spy film soundtracks, dub punk, trip hop, noisy blues, and dark soul music had left me with a collection of songs that all sounded like they had been written and recorded by different artists. It was at that point that I decided that this would be best presented as a fake soundtrack compilation for a film called Silver Bullets. Sort of like what you might encounter with The Walking Dead, or True Detective soundtrack compilation albums… but, y’know… without there being an actual movie, or TV show called Silver Bullets. (LOL)

Every song on the album is different. There really aren’t two songs that sound the same, or singularly define the album. From one song to the next, you could never know what to expect. I suppose that’s a lot to ask of people, to listen to something that can be so varied, and (in this case) at times challenging. I can only hope that anyone who listens can find one or two songs in this collection that they like. That would be cool, and make this album feel like a success.

There are no 'radio songs' and no commercial singles. Just 11 tracks that make up this fake movie soundtrack compilation album; with me howling like a wounded animal, and my good friends adding their incredible musicianship, and voices to the mix.

Which brings us today: Friday, February 15th. And, we might as well just start at the beginning. The opening track to the album: 'Theme From Silver Bullets'. It’s raw, dark, ridiculous, unstructured, unbridled, and undisciplined. The more we piled on top of it, and let the song’s structure meander at will, the more hilarious I thought it was – and the less I wanted clean it up, or reign it in. Sonically, it’s maybe the most (*insert air quotes) 'punk rock' song on the album? Plus, the addition of so many fantastic guests appearing on the song really put it over the top.

I really do appreciate everyone who takes the time to check out this first track from the ‘Silver Bullets’ album. And, I hope that some of you dig it.

Please feel free to share the link, or tell your local barista about the track."

Theme From Silver Bullets by Def Con Sound System

Monster Voodoo Machine finally saw their 1995 Juno Award winning album, Suffersystem, re-released on June 30th, 2017 via RCA. The album, which highlighted the band's signature blend of heavy Black Sabbath-inspired guitar riffs, hardcore vocal intensity, and electronic sampling flourishes has been unavailable commercially for over 20 years.

Recorded in early 1994 at the legendary Chicago Trax Studios with producers Critter (Ministry, Guns N Roses, A Perfect Circle, Blink 182) and Howie Beno (Ministry, Depeche Mode, Tom Jones), Suffersystem features guest appearances from Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum ("Fetal Position"), the late Wesley Willis ("Defense Mechanism"), Ruby's Leslie Rankine ("Fetal Position"), and cover artwork by legendary illustrator Pushead.

The album would go on to win the Canadian 1995 Juno Award for "Hard Rock Album Of The Year".

"History was, ummm... not particularly kind to that band," says Sewell, laughing. "We worked very hard, and accomplished a lot musically with that record. And then... it just disappeared, as though it never existed. It was like having an important part of your young life erased. I want to thank everyone at RCA, and Sony Music Canada who have helped to have the album re-released. It really means a lot to us. And we're very happy to finally have it made available world wide for the first time."      

Between 1994, and 1995 the band spent close to 18 months on the road in North America touring in support of the Suffersystem album, including tours with Marilyn Manson, Carcass, Life Of Agony, Fear Factory, SNFU, Pigface, Fight, Skrew, and Soulstorm.

"We spent a lot of years on the road promoting our releases," adds guitarist Darren Quinn. "Everything was word of mouth, pre-Facebook, MySpace and all of the media services... so this is very exciting for us!"

Suffersystem tracklisting:

“Threat By Example”
“Copper Theft”
“Bastard Is As Bastard Does”
“Motionless”
“Inside These Walls (Salvaged & Recycled)”
“Fetal Position”
“Adding Insult To Injury”
“Slowburn”
“Removal”
“Temple”
“Defense Mechanism”
“Sunspots”

Monster Voodoo Machine, the heavy, genre defying experimental band formed in 1991 released several EPs: Burn (Epidemic Records, 1992), State Voodoo / State Control (RCA Records, 1994), Pirate Satellite (45 Revolutions Records, 1995), and two full-length albums Suffersystem (RCA Records, 1994), and Direct Reaction Now! (Mercury / Dr. Dream Records,1998).

The band's Suffersystem album won the 1995 Canadian Juno Award for "Hard Rock Album Of The Year" and they would become the first Canadian band invited on to the massive hard rock touring juggernaut Ozzfest (1998).  

After splitting in late 1998, the band reformed for a potential new album in 2007. However, a third album was never recorded, and they have since performed only a handful of times, mostly for charity, benefit, and memorial concerts.      

Monster Voodoo Machine (Suffersystem lineup):

Adam Sewell - vocals / keyboards
Jason Cuddy - guitar
Terry Landry - bass
Darren Quinn - guitar
Dean Dallas Bentley - drums
Stacey Hoskin - keyboards




(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);
})();

With the departure of percussionist / vocalist Chris Fehn, Slipknot have an open slot in their line-up that a fan suggest be filled by original vocalist Anders Colsefni. This suggestion picked up momentum once frontman Corey Taylor responded with "Fuck, I would LOVE that..." but Colsefni shot the possibility down via a Facebook post, found below.

"Hello fellow Earthlings!
I’m going to take away the uncomfortable conversations that Slipknot might have regarding myself and reported band vacancy by saying:
I will NOT be rejoining Slipknot.
It is certainly not for any animosity I have-I simply don’t know those guys anymore. I generally give those I don’t know the benefit of the doubt.
I’ve spent the last 27 years (through each and every band) working concrete construction to support my family but still allow time for my “Real Job” lol.
After many years of failed bands, failed marriages, and plenty of others, I’ve settled into an occupation that I can retire from. I’m gonna need the bennies-my body is going to shit! Lol!
As much as I had dreamed of rejoining my creation (shut up- I know it’s a different band now!) it is not enough of a dream anymore to risk being homeless when the tour is over!
That being said, Painface is still working behind the scenes. Look for us sometime this year!"

Colsefni, one of Slipknot's founding members, left the band in 1997, but did lay down vocals for the independently released Mate Feed Kill Repeat album, released that same year.

Mate Feed Kill Repeat line-up:

# ? Anders Colsefini - vocals, percussion
# 1 Joey Jordison - drums
# 2 Paul Gray - bass, backing Vocal
# 4 Josh Brainard - guitar, backing vocals
# 5 Craig Jones - samples 
# 6 Shawn Crahan - percussion, secondary vocals
# 7 Mick Thomson - guitar

Last week, The Blast reported that Chris Fehn, who has been performing with Slipknot since 1998, and is known for wearing a Pinocchio-style mask, believes he may have been drummed out of payment for his years of touring, so he’s taking his bandmates to court. He claims to have always been told that the money from merchandise and touring is funnelled through one sole company that splits profits and pays the members of the band. However, Fehn claims he recently discovered that his bandmates have set up several other Slipknot affiliated business entities in different states that appear to be collecting money from the band.

Fehn says he was unaware of the separate companies, and claims to have never received a dime from them. He’s specifically calling out band leaders Shawn Crahan and Corey Taylor of the shady business dealings. Fehn wants a full forensic accounting done on Slipknot’s companies and assets, and to collect the damages and profits he believes he’s owed.

Slipknot's official website has since been updated with the following statement: "Slipknot’s focus is on making album #6, and our upcoming shows around the world, our best ever. Chris knows why he is no longer a part of Slipknot. We are disappointed that he chose to point fingers and manufacture claims, rather than doing what was necessary to continue to be a part of Slipknot. We would have preferred he not take the path that he has, but evolution in all things is a necessary part of this life. Long Live The Knot."




(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);
})();

This month, Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals made their way down under on the Thrash Blast Grind tour with Australian grind practitioners and Housecore Records labelmates King Parrot. The journey marks Anselmo's first visit to Australia in over five years and includes a headlining set at Slayfest in Perth on March 23rd. Additional support is being provided by Palm (Japan) and Potion (Australia).

Check out video from the Slayerfest show below.

Stuff.co.nz reports that  Phil Anselmo, former frontman for Pantera, and his band was booked to play a Christchurch show on March 26, then one in Auckland on March 27, but in the wake of terror attacks which left 50 dead at Christchurch mosques, venues in both cities have now publicly announced they won't be hosting the show.

At a Hollywood concert in 2016, Anselmo was filmed pulling the white power sign and then yelling "white power" at the crowd. He has denied believing in white supremacy, saying the incident was a mistake.

According to posters, the Christchurch show was originally scheduled for inner city venue Empire. It is understood the gig was then shifted to the Club Tavern, which has now publicly announced it will not go ahead.

"The Philip Anselmo gig has been cancel (sic)," a Facebook post said. "We do not and will not support white supremacy or racism!"

The venue declined to comment further.

Auckland venue Galatos also posted on Facebook, informing people of their decision to pull the pin on the gig. A spokeswoman for the venue also declined to comment further.

Read more at Stuff.co.nz.

Tour dates:

March
24 - Enigma Bar - Adelaide, Australia
29 - The Back Room - Brisbane, Australia
30 - The Factory - Sydney, Australia
31 - The Cambridge - Newcastle, Australia

June
20 - Graspop Metal Meeting 2019 - Dessel, Belgium
23 - Hellfest 2019 - Clisson, France

July
13 - Rock Maraton - Balaton, Hungary
19 - Gefle Metal Fest - Gefle, Sweden
24 - Metaldays - Tolmin, Slovenia

August
21 - Teatro Cariola - Santiago, Chile
22 - Pirkas - Cipolletti, Argentina
24 - CC Festiva - Lima, Peru
25 - Samper Mendoza - Bogotá, Columbia
29 - Peppers Club - San Jose, Costa Rica
31 - Circo Bolador - Mexico City, Mexico

(Photo - Jody Dorignac)




(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);
})();

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich recently spoke with The Courier Mail and opened up about how the band's take care of their mental health while they're on the road. Following is an excerpt from the discussion.

Lars: We do two week shifts and then we go home and recharge the batteries. The great thing about this model is you can always count on the fact you will be at home and rejuvenated after a couple of weeks. We put some checks and balances in there for both the physical and mental stability. We don’t have to do what other people do."

Read more here.

MetallicaTV has uploaded two new pro-shot live videos from recent Metallica concerts. Watch the heavy metal legends perform the classics “Phantom Lord” from Grand Rapids, MI from March 13th and “Fight Fire With Fire” from Indianapolis, IN from March 11th.

According to Ticket News, the upcoming Metallica concert with the San Francisco Symphony this fall took the top spot on yesterday’s best-selling events list, Ticket Club sales data reveals. View the complete list at Ticket News.

"In celebration of the historic Grand Opening of San Francisco’s Chase Center, we are beyond honored to be joining together with the San Francisco Symphony for the first time in 20 years!," states a recent message from Metallica. "Join us on Friday, September 6th for S&M²: a one-night-only show featuring the SF Symphony and legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas."

James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich joined Michael Tilson Thomas, along with representatives from the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco mayor London Breed, to make the announcement at the Chase Center. Watch the announcement here.

The original S&M concerts were performed by Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony conducted by the late Michael Kamen in spring of 1999 at the Berkeley Community Theatre. The S&M² concert will feature the first live performances of these arrangements in 20 years, plus the first ever Metallica/San Francisco Symphony renditions of songs written and released since the original S&M, with new orchestral charts by Bruce Coughlin.

Tickets went on sale the general public on Friday, March 22nd 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);
})();

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Enter Sandman" on March 9 at Louisville, Kentucky's KFC Yum! Center can be seen below.

METALLICA's concert at KFC Yum! Center shattered the venue's attendance record with a crowd of 23,084 fans on hand. The previous record was held by country legend George Strait, who drew 21,700 fans in 2014.

"METALLICA was incredible from start to finish. The fans' excitement and energy could be felt throughout the arena all evening," said Eric Granger, KFC Yum! Center general manager. "We are proud to continue to work with the world's leading live entertainment companies to bring the world's largest touring acts to Louisville and grateful for the community's continued support of the KFC Yum! Center and artists who play the venue."

The METALLICA show was staged in the round, with one square stage in the center of the arena floor, and a chair-free floor filled with fans.

METALLICA's sold-out concert in Louisville was also the highest-selling stop on the latest leg of the band's 35-city "WorldWired" tour.

METALLICA had never played at the Yum Center and hadn't played in Louisville since 2004, when it played at Freedom Hall.

The second North American leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" features a few firsts, including a "Light It Up" pre-show party hosted by the band's friend, comedian Jim Breuer; and a "Wherever I May Roam Black Ticket" that gives a limited number of fans floor access to any show on the tour.

The "WorldWired" set and stage design, designed by the show's director, Dan Braun, features an immersive concert experience with a 44' x 44' square main-stage equipped with several prop lifts located in the center of the arena.

The "WorldWired" show features the touring industry's first autonomous indoor drone swarm, with 99 micro drones dancing like fireflies for the song "Moth Into Flame".

Toronto bashers Scarlet Sins, who called it quits in 2009 after several years together and only one album (released in 2008), recently broke their silence via their official Facebook page, which was never deactivated. On March 6th someone in the camp posted the following message along with a band photo:

"Happy International Womens Day! 2019 will bring some surprises.... stay tuned!"

They have since followed up this announcent with the original press reel that was released with their self-titled debut album.

Scarlet Sins have now re-released their debut album via Bandcamp with the following message:

"Time to be reborn... our album is available on BandCamp. Stream or download. Happy Spring!"

It is available for streaming and for purchase below.

Scarlet Sins by Scarlet Sins

The tracklist is as follows:
"Let Go" 
"Drown" 
"Above Ground" 
"Own Truth" 
"With You" 
"Reborn" 
"Strangelove" 
"Are You Worth It" 
"Backstabber"  
"Broken" 
"Fire Inside"  
"Entre" 
"No Arguments"

Watch the band's official Facebook page for updates here.

Following is the original statement issued by Scarlet Sins in November 2009 announcing their disbanding:

"To our faithful Sinners,

It is with a heavy heart that we're announcing the end of Scarlet Sins.

Sadly, in spite of all that we've accomplished prior to and beyond the release of our debut album, we've come to a point where it no longer makes sense to continue as a band. Scarlet Sins is made up of four individuals with their own ideas of where we should take our music. The deeper we got into making our second record it became more and more obvious that the dynamics just weren't there. Some of the ideas gelled, some didn't, and unfortunately some of the gaps in our thinking were too far and too deep to bridge.

Rather than make a mockery of our debut album and everything we've accomplished we've decided it's best if we move on to other things. We part as friends, and we're eternally grateful to the people that have stood by us and made Scarlet Sins something worth remembering.

We would like to thank all of our fans for the unconditional support and for every email, note, message, letter, comment you ever left us encouraging us to do what we love to do. Each of us fed off your strength and support, and, hopefully, we've given that back to you through our music.

Also, thank you to every DJ, journalist, sponsor, producer, promoter, agent, manager, publicist, band, roadie, tech, former band member, friend and relative who helped us along the way. Without you, we wouldn't be able to cherish the memories we will have forever.

The four of us will continue to make music, of course.

We came, we saw, we kicked ass, we went out on a high note."

Sylv, Cris, Tanya, Elie




(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);
})();

Video footage of JUDAS PRIEST rehearsing the band's classic song "Rapid Fire" on March 3 can be seen below.

This past January, JUDAS PRIEST's European tour with Ozzy Osbourne was postponed after the BLACK SABBATH singer fell ill. Those dates have been rescheduled to begin in September.

Bassist Ian Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Singer Rob Halford joined the group in 1973 and guitarist Glenn Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003.

Tipton, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease five years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — announced in early 2018 that he was going to sit out touring activities in support of PRIEST's latest album, "Firepower". 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. He is being replaced on tour by "Firepower" album producer Andy Sneap, also known for his work as the guitar player in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

"Firepower" was released in March 2018 via Epic.

PRIEST will return to the United States in May for a run with fellow classic heavy rockers URIAH HEEP.

NOCTURNUS AD will release its debut album, "Paradox", on May 24 via Profound Lore Records.


Resurrected from the ashes of influential death metal band NOCTURNUS, NOCTURNUS AD was initiated by founding mastermind/death metal legend Mike Browning (also co-founder of MORBID ANGEL). His intention? To continue the path laid down 28 years earlier, by the legendary Florida death metal band's seminal 1990 full-length "The Key", an album recognized as one of the most important death metal albums of all time.


NOCTURNUS AD's "Paradox" is the direct and proper follow-up to "The Key", both musically and thematically where the story and themes vocalist/drummer Browning initially laid out continue through the lens of the occult. "Paradox"'s story follows the journey of Dr. Allen William Magus (a.k.a. Dr. Magus), a scientist ravaged by a war plague disease and kept alive by creating a bio suit; the aftermath of the events revealed on "The Key".


On a musical plane, "Paradox"'s atmospheric, technical, and dark occult death metal blueprint harnesses the energy of "The Key" and the overall death metal vibe of the early '90s in the same forward-thinking way that NOCTURNUS exhibited. Indeed, "Paradox" is true sci-fi death metal reclaiming its throne.

With Browning commanding the craft alongside guitarists Demian Heftel and Belial Koblak, bassist Daniel Tucker (ex-OBITUARY), and keyboardist Josh Holdren — a lineup that also forms Browning's other band, AFTER DEATH — the NOCTURNUS legacy marches on.


"Paradox" was produced by Jarrett Pritchard (GOATWHORE, 1349, GRUESOME, WOLVHAMMER) at New Constellation Studios and features artwork by Timbul Cahyono (PYREXIA, AVULSED, TERRORIZER). Boasting the blazing and fervent guitar work agilities of Heftel and Koblak and some of the most carefully-orchestrated keyboard sounds of any NOCTURNUS-related release to date, all punctuated by Browning's distinctly devouring vocal incantations, the classic sound of "The Key" is here wholly revived.


In advance of the release of "Paradox", NOCTURNUS AD unleashes first single, "Precession Of The Equinoxes", for communal feasting. Notes Browning: "I think 'Paradox' is a great successor to 'The Key'. I didn't want to try and compete with what I did on that record or try and recreate it. I wanted to continue with the ideas and themes I never got to do back then.

"'Precession Of The Equinoxes' is a brand new song that talks about the shifting of the magnetic poles of Earth. And, in fact, right now the magnetic poles are shifting faster than ever; it has been in the news just in the last couple of months. It happens in 26,000-year cycles, so we humans have never experienced a pole shift to where its effects were recorded. It could be a huge, disastrous occurrence when they shift completely."

"Paradox" will be issued on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats.


Track listing:

01. Seizing The Throne

02. The Bandar Sign

03. Paleolithic

04. Precession Of The Equinoxes

05. The Antechamber

06. The Return Of The Lost Key

07. Apotheosis

08. Aeon Of The Ancient Ones

09. Number 9

Rockway.gr has uploaded video footage of ARMORED SAINT's March 15 performance at the Up The Hammers XIV festival at the Gagarin 205 club in Athens, Greece. Check it out below.

Last fall, ARMORED SAINT singer John Bush confirmed to the 96.7 KCAL-FM radio show "Wired In The Empire" that the band has started work on the follow-up to 2015's "Win Hands Down" album. "We have written some songs," he said. "We don't want to wait too long before we put out a record, but on the same token, we thought 'Win Hands Down' is an amazing record and we're going to be hard-press to surpass it. ARMORED SAINT, it's kind of the way our career has gone. The way I see it, it's all about the quality, not the quantity, and I say that because I have to say that. It's true. I'd rather have 25, 30 years when we're all dead and gone and people look back on us and go, 'That was a cool band and they made some really cool records.' It's not like 'They made 20 records and maybe five of them were good and there's 15 bombs.' I don't want people to feel that way about ARMORED SAINT. I say that because we kind of have to do that because it's what our career has turned into. It would be cool to get out a record in less than five years. We went from 'Revelations' in 2000, to 'La Raza' in 2010. Granted, I was in ANTHRAX during that time. 'Win Hands Down' we cut in half and put it out in five. I think it's possible we can get a record out [in 2019]. The tunes so far sound killer."

"Win Hands Down" was released in June 2015 via Metal Blade Records.

Last summer, ARMORED SAINT completed a North American tour commemorating the band's classic "Symbol Of Salvation" album. On this special run, the group performed "Symbol Of Salvation" in its entirety, with select shows recorded for a live DVD.

KISS have posted video of their "Black Diamond" performance at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT on March 24th. Check it out below.

KISS icons Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley recently spoke with Guitar World about the band's ongoing End Of The Road tour. An excerpt from the interview is available below.

GW: It’s no secret that fans are hoping to see the original KISS lineup, with Ace and Peter, reunite somehow, somewhere, on this tour.

Simmons: "Well, let me address that. You know, in life, mother nature is nonjudgmental. Whether you’re a baby and have never experienced life or whether you’re old and grey and have gone through the trials and tribulations, both of you, when you put your hand into the fire, get burned equally. So life doesn’t give you three chances. You get one chance. But Ace and Peter have gotten three chances. They were in and out of the band — fired — three times. For drugs, alcohol, bad behavior, being unprofessional… all the clichés are clichés. Even suicide is overrated. It’s been done many times. So the only reason Ace and Peter were let go the first time, and then the second time and then the third time, is that they weren’t carrying their load. You can’t be in a car with two flat tires. It’s not going to go anywhere. It’s your responsibility to change the fucking tires so that the whole car doesn’t stop. It’s nothing personal. Because remember — being in a band is a gift. You hardly work. Physically, anyway. So the short answer to your question is we’d love to have Ace and Peter join us here and there. And if they don’t, it’s not going to be because of us. But they’re never going to be in KISS again."

GW: That’s pretty definitive.

Simmons: "Three times is the charm. 'I promise I’ll pull out' doesn’t work. It’s the boy who cried wolf : 'Oh, I’ve been straight for a million years.' Terrific! Have a good life! Would we welcome Ace or Peter to jump up onstage for a song or two? Of course. Could we depend on either Ace or Peter to do a full set night after night? Not on your fucking life."

Read the complete interview here.

Find the End Of The Road tour itinerary 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);
})();

Lee McKinney is already well-known, per his band Born Of Osiris, but now McKinney showcases his true well-rounded guitar song-writing arsenal with the expansive solo release Infinite Mind, which is set for a March 29th via Sumerian Records. With Infinite Mind, McKinney taps into a number of varied musical styles with each track and this all-instrumental offering is an exciting ride from start to finish.

The "heaviest" track on the record, "A Neverending Explosion", is now available for streaming below. 

McKinney: "'A Neverending Explosion' is a song that I feel really showcases a lot of what Infinite Mind is. This track has the 'heaviest' metal style vibe by far, but it also showcases the soft and emotional feelings that really make this record personal and special to me. There’s also a ton of clean guitar and saxophone on the record. There are heavy and aggressive moments as well. This specific track gives you a lot the elements of Infinite Mind wrapped into a 3 minute and 45 second package."

"The Sun And The Wind"

Find pre-order bundles at Sumerian Records.




(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);
})();

Fan-filmed video footage of PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, the project led by the former PANTERA and current DOWN/SUPERJOINT frontman, performing the PANTERA classic "I'm Broken" on March 22 in Melbourne, Australia can be seen below. Joining THE ILLEGALS on backing vocals were Matt Young of KING PARROT and Toshihiko Takahashi of PALM.

Anselmo spoke to Australia's Heavy magazine about his decision to play a number of PANTERA songs during the recent North American tour with PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS.

"This past year has been pretty rough as far as the PANTERA camp goes," he said. "So, with Vinnie's [Paul, PANTERA drummer] passing, I figure, this past year, why not play some of the old songs that people wanna hear and have been asking to hear for a long time. So that's been a different spin on the set, man. And once again, I can't say enough about my guys around me… Mike DeLeon, my guitar player, is really a death metal player, and Blue [José Manuel Gonzalez], my drummer, he comes from death metal roots, and everybody expands, but to ask them to do this PANTERA stuff, it was big, man — it was really big. So, big props to them, man."

Asked if performing classic PANTERA songs brings up good memories or bad memories for him, Anselmo said: "When I'm onstage, it's all good. And I will say there have been some bizarre moments. What freaks me out is the younger audience — the kids whose parents grew up as PANTERA fans in the house. It's amazing. Seeing the youngsters come in and go bananas, man — it's inspiring, man. Yeah, you know, strange feelings here and there, but overall, the payoff's been great."

Up until his death in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for the death of PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was his brother.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Video credit: Housecore Man

Crowned In Frost is the new album from Frozen Crown, coming a year after the debut The Fallen King, which gave the band huge media exposure and brought a deal with international booking agency Nine Lives Entertainment, amongst many other accomplishments.

This time, mastermind and songwriter Federico Mondelli amplified the classic/heavy and power metal components of the band, making Crowned In Frost an aggressive and monolithic album from the very beginning, still keeping the listener engaged with its rich sound and wide variety of songs, including instrumental interludes and outstanding female vocals, brought to life by talented Giada "Jade" Etro.

Check out the official video for new song "Neverending" below.

As with the first album, Federico wrote the music and recorded all guitars and keyboards (being an all-round artist he designed the beautiful artwork as well) for Crowwned In Frost, whilst the drum parts were arranged by drummer Alberto Mezzanotte. Lyrics are once again the result of the joint efforts of Giada and Federico. Production duties have been handled by Andrea Fusini.

Crowned In Frost broadens Frozen Crown’s musical landscape still keeping intact an uncommon taste for melody and catchy refrains. The album was released on March 22nd via Scarlet Records.

Tracklisting:

"Arctic Gales"
"Neverending"
"In The Dark"
"Battles In The Night"
"Winterfall"
"Unspoken"
"Lost In Time"
"The Wolf And The Maiden"
"Forever"
"Enthroned"
"Crowned In Frost"

(Photo - Frozen Crown Facebook)




(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);
})();

Original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward performed the band's classic song "Children Of The Grave" live for the first time in 13 years last night (Tuesday, March 19) at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California as part of a tribute to Randy Rhoads's last concert. He was joined on stage by bassist James LoMenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY), guitarist Ira Black (DARK SKY CHOIR, I AM MORBID, METAL CHURCH) and vocalist Dewey Bragg (KILL DEVIL HILL, DAY OF ERRORS).

Video footage of Ward's appearance can be seen below (courtesy of Jessica Chase).

Also appearing on the bill were Frankie Banali (QUIET RIOT), Phil Sandoval (ARMORED SAINT), Steve Smyth (TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE, ONE MACHINE), Derek Abrams (MINISTRY), "Ultimate Jam Night" founder Chuck Wright (QUIET RIOT), Monte Pittman (PRONG, MADONNA) and Matt Starr (MR. BIG, ACE FREHLEY). Kelle and Kathy Rhoads were surprise guests. The program was hosted by THE SWEET's Paulie Z.

Ward was on board for the SABBATH reunion when it was first announced more than seven years ago, but backed out soon after. He later claimed that he sat out the recording and touring sessions because of unfair contractual terms, although the members of SABBATH have hinted in other interviews that he wasn't physically up to the task.

All four original members of SABBATH were present when the band announced its reunion in late 2011. But Ward split from the group in 2012, citing an "unsignable" contract, and singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler carried on with their Rick Rubin–produced "13" LP and extensive international touring without him. The final BLACK SABBATH tour, which concluded in February 2017 in Birmingham, saw the founding member replaced by session drummer Tommy Clufetos.

It was rumored that SABBATH wanted to bring a second drummer on the road to share duties with Ward, something that Iommi confirmed in 2017 during a question-and-answer session about SABBATH's "Ten Year War" box set.

Back in June 2017, Ward told Rolling Stone magazine that he had "gone through a lot of tears" over his split with SABBATH. "I've grieved the loss of three of my best friends," he said. "I've grieved the loss of their company, their words, their laughter, their joy, and above all, their music... I've grieved the loss of the fans, and I've grieved the pain of what all this has created."

But he claimed at the time to have come out the other side. "I can't afford to have resentment," he explained. "I can't afford to be angry. I can't afford these things spiritually or physically. So I knew I had to be rid of them."

SLIPKNOT's singles "Snuff", "Before I Forget" and "Wait And Bleed" have just been certified platinum (one million units; each unit is equal to 1 paid download or 150 streams) by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America). These mark the first-ever platinum single certifications for the Iowa-based masked metallers.

"Snuff" is taken off SLIPKNOT's platinum-certified 2008 album "All Hope Is Gone". It was the final single released from the band before the death of bassist Paul Gray and the departure of drummer Joey Jordison. During recent solo acoustic shows, Corey Taylor has performed an acoustic version of "Snuff" as a tribute to Paul Gray.

"Before I Forget" was included on 2004's "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" album. The track went on win the 2006 Grammy Award in the "Best Metal Performance" category.

"Wait And Bleed" originally appeared on SLIPKNOT's 1999 double-platinum self-titled debut album. The song earned SLIPKNOT its first Grammy nomination in 2001 for "Best Metal Performance," though it lost to DEFTONES' "Elite".

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.

SLIPKNOT's long-awaited sixth album is due on August 9. The disc is once again being recorded at a Los Angeles studio with producer Greg Fidelman, who engineered and mixed "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" and helmed 2014's ".5: The Gray Chapter".

SLIPKNOT's "Knotfest Roadshow" headline tour will take place in North America this summer. VOLBEAT, GOJIRA and BEHEMOTH will join as special guests on all dates.

Produced by Live Nation, the 29-city outing will kick off July 26 in Mountain View, California at Shoreline Amphitheater and continue through September 8 where it will conclude with a performance at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas.

Switzerland's Cellar Darling performed songs from their upcoming album, The Spell, live in an exclusive and intimate setting, at the YouTube Space London, followed by a Q&A session. Watch the video below:

Cellar Darling will release their new concept masterpiece, The Spell, which tells the story of a girl who falls in love with death, on March 22nd.

Pre-orders for The Spell are available now; you can get the album as a 2 CD-digibook (featuring 13 songs + an audiobook of Anna Murphy telling the story behind the concept), black vinyl or digitally at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Pain"
"Death"
"Love"
"The Spell"
"Burn"
"Hang"
"Sleep"
"Insomnia"
"Freeze"
"Fall"
"Drown"
"Love Pt. II"
"Death Pt. II"

"Drown" video:

"Death" video:

"The Spell" video:

"Insomnia" video:

Grab the first chance to see the songs performed live on the March/April 2019 European tour, with more shows being confirmed. Tickets are available here.

Tour dates:

March
21 - Sheffield, UK - Studio
22 - Pwllheli, UK - Hammerfest
23 - Cardiff, UK - The Globe
24 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds
26 - Norwich, UK - The Waterfront Studio
27 - Hull, UK - The Welly 2
28 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
29 - Dublin, Ireland - On The Rox
30 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3
31 - London, UK - The Jazz Café Camden

April
2 - Utrecht, Netherlands - De Helling
7 - Retorbido (PV), Italy - Dagda Live Club
9 - Rome, Italy - Traffic Live
27 - Bruguières, France - Echoes & Merveilles Festival

May
2- Winterthur, Switzerland - Salzhaus
4 - Solothurn, Switzerland - Kulturfabrik Kofmehl

June
13 - Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield Festival




(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);
})();

Shadow Kingdom Records has announce the signing of Savage Master. The first fruit of this union shall be the American band's third album, titled Myth, Magic & Steel, which is expected to see release through Shadow Kingdom this autumn on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.

One of the most exciting and electrifying bands in today's occult heavy metal scene, for the past six years, Savage Master have swiftly built an impressive canon of work over the course of two cult albums, one EP, one single, and especially their over-the-top live shows.

The band was founded in 2013 by guitarist Adam Neal and vocalist Stacey Savage, so inspired by their love of heavy metal and horror. Soon enough, a mysterious spectacle was created, and it bore the name Savage Master. From there, the band began their assured ascent through the underground, touring non-stop across North America and Europe, playing such festivals: as Keep It True, Hell Over Hammaburg, Legions Of Metal, Frost and Fire, Ragnarokkr, Hells Heroes and many more, and now landing themselves an album deal with longtime fans Shadow Kingdom.

"Savage Master is proud to announce signing with Shadow Kingdom Records," says Stacey Savage. "We feel this label is a great fit for our vision as we look onward toward the journey ahead with our third full-length album, Myth, Magic & Steel."

The release date, cover art, and tracklisting for Savage Master's Myth, Magic & Steel will be announced shortly.

For further details, visit Savage Master on Facebook.




(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);
})();