Founded in Ottawa in 2010 with a singular purpose to transform raw aggression into music, Accursed Spawn mixes influences from old and new forms of extreme metal, resulting to date in a renowned energetic live show, and a handful of recorded songs. 

Set to unleash their debut infection The Virulent Host on March 22nd, 2019, via PRC Music, the band is spreading their virus of extreme metal with the new music video for the album's title track.

"‘The Virulent Host’ grapples with a hypothetical human extinction, told from the perspective of the last person on earth. It is one of our favorite songs on the album and always gets people moving in the pit. Joe and James from Dark Moon Productions did a fantastic job with the video, and Capital Rehearsal Studios was gracious enough to let us take up not one, but both sides of the building." - Adam Pell (vocals/guitar).

"'The Virulent Host represents a huge step up in all ways for Accursed Spawn: the production is exceptional (thanks to Christian Donaldson and The Grid), the hooks are quite memorable, the string work is phenomenal (between the blistering solos and fretless bass, there’s quite a lot in there for string players), and the delivery is both consistent but also fresh. It’s our first ever “full length” record and fans that have been with the band since our inception should be quite pleased with the delivery. We’ve road-tested most of the songs at this point, and the mosh pits speak for themselves.” says drummer Jay Cross.

The Virulent Host is a fiery and passionate take on modern death metal, influenced by thrash and brutal death that stands head and shoulders above many of their contemporaries. The production quality truly stands among the titans of death metal, thanks to Chris Donaldson, guitarist for legendary death metal unit Cryptopsy applying his talents and experience to mix and master the album at The Grid Studios in Montreal, QC. Donaldson has previously worked on records for high profile names such as Cryptopsy, Beyond Creation, Despised Icon, The Agonist, Beneath The Massacre, and Neuraxis. The artwork was done by highly esteemed artist Remy Cooper of Headsplit Design (Origin, Beyond Creation, Psycroptic, Pig Destroyer, Whitechapel, Thy Art Is Murder, Cryptopsy, Suicide Silence, Arch Enemy).

Tracklisting:

“Bhopal ‘84”
“Bloodforged”
“Interrogated Bludgeonment”
“The Virulent Host”
“Cesium 137”
“The Ageless Curse”
“Shotgun Facelift”
“Mass Glossectomy”
“Dogmatic Affliction”

"The Virulent Host" video:

“Bhopal ‘84” lyric video:




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On April 5th, AntropomorphiA will release their new album, Merciless Savagery, via Metal Blade Records. New single and video for "Womb Ov Thorns" is streaming below. Find preorders at MetalBlade.com.

Album formats:
–Digipak-CD
–180g black vinyl (EU exclusive) 
–grey marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies) 
–dead gold marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies) 
–black/white splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 120 copies) 
–brown marbled vinyl (US exclusive - limited to 100 copies)

In the year marking the 10th anniversary of their reunion, AntropomorphiA has delivered an extreme metal opus that more than maintains the high standards upheld over the course of their storied career. Further building on the monstrous sounds of 2017's Sermon Ov Wrath, Merciless Savagery lives up to its name, attacking with unrepentant ferocity and holding nothing back. Vocalist/guitarist Ferry Damen comments: "'Sermon Ov Wrath was our most raw and honest statement and an album where we transcended certain genre limitations, capturing the essence of AntropomorphiA, and I would say the new record's atmosphere is darker, heavier and more punishing, but still has hooky riffs and grooves. I think it's the logical step forward. It’s a different chapter, even more diverse while being very cohesive, but you can immediately hear it’s AntropomorphiA." 

Prior to Sermon Ov Wrath, Damen never felt that AntropomorphiA's music called for female vocals, but this time around, he had the specific intention to bring in someone to add this extra dimension: the track "Luciferian Tempest" features a guest appearance from Farida Lemouchi (The Devil's Blood, Molasses), bringing a different feel to the song. "I think our fans know what to expect from us, they know our sound and know that we are not that generic extreme metal band," Damen explains. "We paint with a dark pallet, but we paint with lots of shades of darkness."

Tracklisting:

“Merciless Savagery”
“Requiem Diabolica”
“Womb Ov Thorns”
“Cahtedral Ov Tombs”
“Apocalyptic Scourge”
“Wailing Chorus Ov The Damned”
“Luciferian Tempest”
“The Darkest Light”
“Unsettling Voices”

"Womb Ov Thorns" video:

“Merciless Savagery”:

AntropomorphiA line-up:
Ferry Damen - vocals, guitar
Jos van den Brand - guitar
Jeroen Pleunis - bass
Marco Stubbe – drums




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Italy's The Modern Age Slavery, who recently signed a new management deal with K2Music, are streaming their cover of the Slayer track, "Disciple".

Says the band: "Slayer is one of the bands that the most had an impact on us, like probably on every metalhead! Being this the last year of Slayer around the world, we thought to honour their music and career with this cover. We hope you'll enjoy it and headbang like hell!"

You can also listen to the song via Spotify.




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Richmond's Inter Arma, reigning masters of the slow build, unveil the second single from Sulphur English. Listen to the epic 12-minute track, “The Atavist’s Meridian”, below.

Additionally, IInter Arma have announced US headline tour dates throughout May and June with Thantifaxath, and will see additional support by Ken Mode and Wayfarer on select dates. Inter Arma is slated to perform two exclusive shows in April. These include Decibel’s Metal & Beer Fest Pre-Fest and Saint Vitus Bar’s 8th Anniversary concert. A full list of confirmed tour dates are available below.

Tour dates:

April
12 - Philadelphia, PA - Decibel Metal & Beer Fest
13 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus - 8th Anniversary

May (with Thantifaxath)
14 - Asheville, NC - Mothlight
15 - Nashville, TN - Drkmttr
16 - Memphis, TN  - Hi Tone
17 - Little Rock, AR - Vino's
18 - St Louis, MO - Fubar
21 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
22 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive
23 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister Bar
24 - Flagstaff, AZ - Green Room
25 - Phoenix, AZ - Yucca Tap Room
26 - San Diego, CA - Space Bar
28 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Metro #
29 - Eugene, OR - Old Nick's #
30 - Portland, OR - High Water Mark #
31 - Seattle, WA - Northwest Terror Fest

June (with Thantifaxath)
1 - Boise, ID - Bump HQ * + #
2 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court * + #
4 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
5 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
6 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's
7 - Lexington, KY - Cosmic Charlie's

* with Ken Mode
# with Wayfarer

Sulphur English is due out April 12th on CD/2xLP/Digital. Physical packages are available for preorder via Relapse.com. Digital Downloads / Streaming Services are available here.

Tracklisting:

“Bumgardner”
“A Waxen Sea”
“Citadel”
“Howling Lands”
“Stillness”
“Observances Of The Path”
“The Atavist’s Meridian”
“Blood On The Lupines”
“Sulphur English”

“The Atavist’s Meridian”:

“Citadel”:

(Photo - Joey Wharton)




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Speaking with Jimmy Black, Misfits guitarist Doyle discussed working his girlfriend, Arch Enemy vocalist Alissa White-Gluz, hinting that there might be music from the pair somewhere down the line.

On Alissa's upcoming solo album

Doyle: "I wrote two things, I think she's going to use one of them, and she just has to write the vocals on it. And I didn't record the guitars for real yet, but I made a demo and I don't know what key she wants it in, that's what I'll tune it to and do that."

On working together

Doyle: "It's so easy. She was going to the studio to do somebody's something, she's working on something, she's like, 'Hey, I'll just do that song.' She gets there, she's like, 'Okay, what do you want?'.... 'I want some kind of angelic, creepy, scary vampire shit.' They roll it, she does it and, 'You like it?'.' 'Yes, exactly.'"




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Paul Stanley says that he is open to having former KISS members join the band on stage for guest appearances during the "End Of The Road" tour but insists that "the idea of bringing back former members as present members is ridiculous."

KISS fans have persistently called for a reunion of the original quartet that became one of rock's biggest attractions in the 1970s, including guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss. Those calls got even louder after Frehley, who quit in 2002, had seemingly reconciled with Stanley and Gene Simmons, both of whom have guested on some of Ace's recent solo albums. Frehley even publicly lobbied to return as a full member, saying that he would only consider coming back if his replacement, Tommy Thayer, was not involved.

But in a new interview with the Chicago Tribune, Stanley says a full-fledged reunion or KISS's original lineup was never in the cards.

"This was never going to be a reunion tour of any members," he said. "This is a celebration of the history of this band and the success of this band. The lineup is as it is has been seventeen years. [Guitarist Tommy Thayer] has been with us that long, and [drummer Eric Singer] has been with us 25 years, so the idea of bringing back former members as present members is ridiculous. Certainly, I've always been open to the idea of former members being part of an evening in a one-off form, but it has nothing to do with KISS as entity. I celebrate the past, but I don't want to live in it. When I was watching the Super Bowl, at the end I saw Joe Namath carrying the trophy up to the stand. It was great to see him, but I don't think anybody wanted him to suit up and get on the field."

KISS's "End Of The Road" farewell tour launched in late January in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The first leg of the global trek, which could last three years, will wrap April 13 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Stanley recently said that KISS's iconic "Spaceman" and "Catman" characters created by Frehley and drummer Peter Criss were actually sold back to him and Simmons. Over the years, since Thayer and Singer took to donning the legendary costumes, fans have been split feeling that the show must go on, or that it's sacrilege for anyone other than Frehley or Criss to wear the iconic greasepaint.

Metal Wani's Katia Filipovic recently conducted an interview with guitarist Björn Gelotte of Swedish melodic metallers IN FLAMES about their new "I, The Mask" studio album. You can listen to the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether social media has allowed fans to get to know bands better:

Björn: "Sure, if you really like a band in this day and age, it's so much better in a way than it was, say, ten years ago. Because, as you said, you sort of get to know the band you like. If you see them interacting on social media, you can basically reach out and talk to people if you want to, if they're willing to answer. I do the same thing. If I see a colleague, I might drop a private message or send a picture of us meeting or something like that. It's fantastic. That wasn't possible a bunch of years ago. But also, it comes with drawbacks. All of the sudden everybody is a critic as well, even without knowing about a band, they could just start saying bad things. I don't know…the ability is great. It's sort of like freedom under your own responsibility. I think it is also that easy for bands. It's really hard for up-and-coming bands to stand out in the throngs of bands out there because everybody has a super-nice Internet platform like Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. I think it's way harder for new, up-and-coming bands than it is for us old walruses."

On working with producer Howard Benson, who is based out of Los Angeles:

Björn: "Basically, what we did was we recorded 'Siren Charms', the album before 'Battles', in Berlin during the winter. It was in November, December and it was super-cold, wet and gray and that sort of trickled into the album and we didn't realize until afterward that we had created something very…kind of a sad, dark vibe throughout the album. We didn't think about it because it didn't occur to us when we were writing it because it was done back at home. As soon as we had the end result: 'Wow, this is a very sad piece.' The environment must have something to do with it. That's why we went 'Okay, let's see. Let's go somewhere else and see if that affects the album.' Then we had a bunch of interviews with different producers and Howard just said the right things and luckily, he was based in L.A. For us, it was a perfect mix and that process was so good and so easy and inspiring and eye-opening for us. We never really understood how to work with a producer because we've had people trying to produce us in the past, but they always got demoted to engineers, which is nothing bad; that's not what I'm saying. But it's not like producing. We were really protective of our music, but he opened that up and made us work together in a way more open way, me and Anders [Fridén, vocals] especially. This is something that we really enjoyed. Talking about recording 'I, The Mask', it was, like, 'Okay, we know exactly what we want to do. We've done it once before, so we don't need to be as prepared as we were for 'Battles'.' We can go there and write and then sort of seamlessly go from the demo stage, writing stuff, into the actual recording with the same team, same setup, with the only difference we had Chris Lord-Alge mix it. For us, it was like coming home, in a way, and it was amazing."

On writing "Battles" and "I, The Mask" together with Fridén, a first for IN FLAMES:

Björn: "That was basically Howard who said that... well, we understood the necessity of it. If we're going to work with a producer like Howard Benson, who has done all of these productions and bands, anything from MOTÖRHEAD to rock and pop, maybe we should listen to him and [for] the first time listen to a producer. That included us having to work more openly with each other. We found that our setup in the house was perfect. I could work with Anders on the vocal ideas — obviously he writes all the lyrics and basically, I could work with Anders on the vocal lines and he could work with me on the guitar parts and arrangements and everything. It was a give-and-take, which means, all of a sudden, we could have a really cool vocal line, which means I need to change my riff. We changed it and it turned into something better. We could take care of all the bumps and glitches during the demo stage instead of recording everything solid instead of him having to record his vocals on top of it. It's way more integrated this way. It's something we hadn't done before. We did that on 'Battles' and even more so on 'I, The Mask'."

"I, The Mask" was released March 1 via Nuclear Blast (worldwide, excluding North America) and Eleven Seven Music (North America). The album artwork was created by artist Blake Armstrong and depicts a unique interpretation of the band's mascot, The Jesterhead.

Mark Morton, the prolific guitarist of LAMB OF GOD, has released the video for the Top 10 track "Cross Off", featuring late LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington. The clip, directed by Roboshobo, includes performance footage of Morton with Paolo Gregoletto and Alex Bent (TRIVIUM) who also performed on the recording of song.

Morton released the 10-track album "Anesthetic" on March 1 via WPP Records/Spinefarm. The record, produced by Josh Wilbur and executive produced by Jake Oni, sees him further explore his creative drive for writing and collaboration. Other guest artists on the LP include Jacoby Shaddix of PAPA ROACH, ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy, STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga, KORN drummer Ray Luzier, ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Inez and more.

Morton will embark on a U.S. co-headline tour with LIGHT THE TORCH this spring. MOON TOOTH will also appear. The live configuration of Morton's band will include Mark Morales (SONS OF TEXAS) on lead vocals, Doc Coyle (BAD WOLVES, GOD FORBID) on guitar, Nick Villarreal (SONS OF TEXAS) on bass, and Art Cruz (PRONG, WINDS OF PLAGUE) on drums, plus additional special guest appearances along the way.

Morton said: "'Anesthetic' is finally out! I'm excited for everybody to hear the whole thing. We've gotten some great feedback in these first few days, so thanks to everyone that's checked it out already. The guys are coming in this week to start rehearsals for the U.S. tour with LIGHT THE TORCH and MOON TOOTH. We're all looking forward to bringing these songs to you live so come and get loud with us! We are also premiering the video for 'Cross Off'. Thanks to Paulo Gregoletto and Alex Bent for being a part of the shoot. Thanks for the continued support and I hope you enjoy the video and the album."

Bennington worked on "Cross Off" in spring of 2017, just a few months before he hanged himself at his Los Angeles-area home.

Morton told Lazer 103.3: "I'm so grateful to have had that experience with him and had that time with him and been able to collaborate with him and write a song with Chester. He was just great to be around, awesome to work with. [He was] very, very prepared [with] lots of ideas. [He was] very excited for his fans to hear him scream again; it had been some time since he'd done that. And that was a thrill for him, knowing that people would get to hear him scream on a track again. And just to work with him and watch him sing that song and see his technical ability in real time, it was amazing. [He was] just a great dude."

Asked if he felt the need to pursue the blessing of anyone close to Chester before releasing the song, Mark said: "I don't wanna get too deep into that, but yeah, for sure. There were certain people that needed to be okay with it, and they were. And I'm grateful, mainly because I know how much Chester loved the song. He didn't need to be working with Mark Morton from LAMB OF GOD. But he treated it like it was the most important thing he was working on in that moment, for sure. But he really loved the song, and that's why he was there. And I think you can hear it in the track."

Publisher Mark Booth has acquired English-language rights for THE WHO guitarist Pete Townshend's debut novel, "The Age Of Anxiety", from Georgie Mellor at the Blair Partnership. It will be published globally on November 5.

"The Age Of Anxiety" is described as "a great rock novel which "captures the craziness of the music business" through the eyes of a narrator who is, "cultured, witty and unreliable." The book "explores the anxiety of modern life and madness in a story that stretches across two generations of a London family, their lovers, collaborators, and friends."

The opera version is in development, with an album and art installation to follow.

Townshend explained: "Ten years ago, I decided to create a magnum opus that would combine opera, art installation and novel. Suddenly here I am with a completed novel ready to publish. I am an avid reader and have really enjoyed writing it. I am also happy to say the majority of the music is composed, ready to be polished up for release and performance. It's tremendously exciting."

Booth said: "'The Age Of Anxiety' is a great rock novel, but that is one of the less important things about it. The narrator is a brilliant creation — cultured, witty and unreliable. The novel captures the craziness of the music business and displays Pete Townshend's sly sense of humour and sharp ear for dialogue. First conceived as an opera, 'The Age Of Anxiety' deals with mythic and operatic themes including a maze, divine madness and long-lost children. Hallucinations and soundscapes haunt this novel, which on one level is an extended meditation on manic genius and the dark art of creativity."

Townshend is the lead guitarist and principal songwriter of THE WHO, which has sold over 100 million records worldwide. He also composed the group's rock operas "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia".

Pete's short story collection, "Horse's Neck", was released in 1985. A novella, "The Boy Who Heard Music", came out in 2005. His autobiography, "Who I Am", was published in 2012.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, NIRVANA's famed "Live At The Paramount" concert is being released on vinyl. The concert took place about a month after the release of the album "Nevermind".

The double LP will include bonus features such as a 12x24" poster insert and a replica of an original backstage pass which will be presented as a download card.

In 2011, a DVD and Blu-ray of the concert was released to coincide with the 20th anniversary of "Nevermind".

The original show took place in Seattle on Halloween 1991 and the vinyl release is set for April 12.

Track listing:

01. Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam

02. Aneurysm

03. Drain You

04. School

05. Floyd The Barber

06. Smells Like Teen Spirit

07. About A Girl

08. Polly

09. Breed

10. Sliver

11. Love Buzz

12. Lithium

13. Been A Son

14. Negative Creep

15. On A Plain

16. Blew

17. Rape Me

18. Territorial Pissings

19. Endless, Nameless

NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain shot himself to death on April 5, 1994 at his home in Seattle, after injecting himself with heroin.

The 20th anniversary of his death led to a resurgence of interest in its circumstances, which was heightened by the release of never-before-seen photos from the scene.

The anniversary fell just a few days before NIRVANA was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The surviving members of the band gave a four-song performance at the ceremony, with Joan Jett, SONIC YOUTH's Kim Gordon, Lorde and St. Vincent singing in place of Cobain.

'Live At The Paramount' – recorded at the Halloween, ’91 show at Seattle’s historic Paramount Theater -- will be released for the first time ever on 2LP vinyl on April 12th, 2019.

Available as 180g black & ltd ed. 180g orange vinyl w/poster.

Pre-Order: https://t.co/5lGeVZU3Sa pic.twitter.com/DqWiZNkFFz— Nirvana (@Nirvana) March 1, 2019

In celebration of March 3rd, 1986 release of Master Of Puppets, Metallica posed the following question to the fans via Twitter:

“Master of Puppets” was released #OnThisDay in 1986. What’s your favorite song on the album? https://t.co/dq9JOwV4eC
— Metallica (@Metallica) 3. März 2019

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett took part and offered the following:

@Metallica Still all great songs, but personally? The Thing That Should Not Be / Orion. Those are my faves from Master of Puppets. ⚡️🎸🤘
— Kirk Hammett (@KirkHammett) 3. März 2019




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30 years into their storied career, Cleveland’s metallic hardcore legends Ringworm return to take the world by force with their 8th studio offering Death Becomes My Voice, coming May 3rd on Relapse Records. The album opener and title track is streaming below.

Death Becomes My Voice is due out May 3rd on CD/LP/Digital. Physical packages are available for preorder via Relapse.com. Limited to 100 physical bundle includes an album art flag designed by Human Furnace. Digital downloads / streaming services available here.

Ringworm ascend to new levels of hostility with 35+ minutes and 11 tracks of no-holds-barred aggression on Death Becomes My Voice. Tracks such as “Let It Burn”, “Acquiesce”, and the band’s explosive title track unleash Ringworm’s visceral urgency, spawning one of the band’s most chaotic albums to date. Death Becomes My Voice was recorded at Mercenary Studios & Spider Studios, Mixed by Taylor Young (Nails, Twitching Tongues, Cannabis Corpse) and mastered at Audiosiege (Integrity, Full of Hell, Iron Reagan).

Tracklisting:

“Death Becomes My Voice”
“Carnivores”
“Acquiesce”
“Do Not Resuscitate”
“Dead To Me”
“The God Of New Flesh”
“I Want To Tear The World Apart”
“Dying By Design”
“Separate Realities”
“Let It Burn”
“Final Division”
“I Hide In You” (Bonus Track)
“I’m Not Right” (Bonus Track)

“Death Becomes My Voice”:

(Photo by: Barb Merritt)




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Lords Of Black guitarist Tony Hernando is one of the most exciting guitarists, writers, and producers in the European metal and rock scene today. With his many talents, it was a natural next step for him to stretch out and work on a solo album after the promotional cycle for Lords Of Black's third album, Icons Of The New Days, wrapped up. Hernando has always been passionate about melodic hard rock music, so the idea of pairing him with some of the best singers from his fellow labelmates' bands to lay their vocals over his songwriting seemed not only logical, but destiny. Thus, Restless Spirits was born and the self-titled debut will now be released on May 17th via Frontiers Music Srl.

Pre-order the album here, and listen to the song "I Remember Your Name" featuring Perfect Plan's Kent Hilli, below.

Aside from Hilli, guest vocalists include none other than Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell), Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, ex-Journey), Dino Jelusic (Animal Drive), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline), and Diego Valdez (Dream Child and now, the new vocalist for Hernando's main project, Lords Of Black). In addition to vocal duties, Deen Castronovo also takes care of drums on every track.

Hernando says, "Restless Spirits is a melodic hard rock record featuring several singers that showcases some different sides of my playing and songwriting. We have rockers, ballads, and everything in between. I had the opportunity to work and co-write with some of the best guys in the business. I hope everyone can enjoy this album as much as I did recording it!”

Restless Spirits is an album that showcases some of the most outstanding vocal talents operating in the melodic hard rock scene right now, while also offering truly exciting and adventurous melodic hard rock songwriting. Enjoy!

Tracklisting:

"Stop Livin' To Live Online" (Johnny Gioeli on vocals)
"Unbreakable" (Deen Castronovo on vocals)
"I Remember Your Name" (Kent Hilli on vocals)
"'Cause I Know You're The One" (Dino Jelusic on vocals)
"Nothing I Could Give To You "(Johnny Gioeli on vocals)
"Calling You" (Deen Castronovo on vocals)
"Live To Win" (Deen Castronovo on vocals)
"You And I" (Alessandro Del Vecchio on vocals)
"When It Comes To You" (Alessandro Del Vecchio on vocals)
"Lost Time (Not To Be Found Again)" (Dino Jelusic on vocals)
"In The Realm Of The Black Rose" (Diego Valdez on vocals)

"I Remember Your Name":




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On April 5th, legendary multinational thrash metallers Exumer will release their fifth full-length, Hostile Defiance, via Metal Blade Records.

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."

For a preview of the album, the second single, "Raptor", can be seen below.

Fans can pre-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)

"Raptor":

"Hostile Defiance" video:

Exumer will be touring Europe around album release and will present new songs, plus their classics, on the road. See below for all dates.

March
29 - Drachten, Netherlands - Iduna
30 - Hamburg, Germany - Bambi Galore
31 - Essen, Germany - Turock

April
2 - Montpellier, France - Secret Place
3 - Irun, Spain - Sala Tunk
4 - Valladolid, Spain - Porta Caeli
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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Century Media Records announces the worldwide signing of Portland, Oregon based death metal trio, Vitriol, who were formed back in 2011 and consist of Kyle Rasmussen (vocals/guitars), Adam Roethlisberger (vocals/bass) and Scott Walker (drums).

By blending jaw-dropping technicality, ferocious riffs at savage paces with a brute dual vocal attack, and sinister vibe throughout, Vitriol are destined to become one of death metal’s most promising newcomers and are already working hard on the forthcoming debut album.

Kyle Rasmussen states: "We are very pleased to announce Vitriol's signing to Century Media Records. Much time, devotion, and patience has gone into discovering what Vitriol has become. We have approached determining our partnerships with no less resolute scrutiny. The only noble future for death metal is one of strenuous personal responsibility, intolerance for mediocrity, and reverence without novelty. Century Media believes in that future where death metal demands more. We will show you what that looks like."

Philipp Schulte, Director Century Media Records, adds: “Vitriol is the essence of what death metal should be: Primal, brutal and relentless music. The band’s Pain Will Define Their Death EP is an excellent example of how to capture the spirit of the scene’s monumental early days and transport it to the here and now as something wilder, something sicker. And something new. Finally. Vitriol is visionary death metal with an extraordinary musical proficiency to make this vision become reality. We are very happy to welcome Vitriol to Century Media Records, and we are excited to start working with the band on their debut album. Hunt those who run!”

Vitriol released the Pain Will Define Their Death EP independently in late 2017, followed by an official release on CD/7inch/Digital via Everlasting Spew in November 2018.

Lineup:

Kyle Rasmussen (vocals/guitars)
Adam Roethlisberger (vocals/bass)
Scott Walker (drums)

(Photo - Charlotte Little Wolf)




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KISS launched the first leg of the End Of The Road World Tour back in January in Vancouver, BC. The band have now uploaded this pro-shot footage of their performance of "Psycho Circus", filmed last night (March 4th) at the Target Center in Minneapolis:

The next End Of The Road tour stop is on March 6th at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Find the tour itinerary here, and see more pro-shot footage from the tour below:

A once in a lifetime concert experience like no band has offered before; the KISS ultimate VIPs are rock and roll royalty at their shows on the End Of The Road World Tour.

Ultimate VIP Package Includes:

- Private backstage Meet & Greet with KISS
- Personal Photo Opportunity with KISS
- Watch the whole show from the Pit (no fans have ever had access to the Pit)
- Backstage Tour with your personal KISS Concierge including;
- Your tour will take you to areas that only the band and limited members of the crew can visit!
- Start out by stepping foot on the holy ground that is the KISS stage
- Sit on Eric Singer’s drum stool at his drum kit
- Stand at Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer’s Microphones
- Hold Paul's legendary Cracked mirror guitar. Gene's classic Axe bass and Tommy's signature Epiphone guitar
- Visit KISS wardrobe where you can see the bands outfits up close and try on the REAL KISS boots
- Along the way we'll visit all areas of the KISS production and you'll meet many members of the crew that keeps the KISS machine going strong
- Autographed "End of the Road" Limited Edition Framed Lithograph, specific to your show. -Hand numbered, 1 of 15, and shipped directly to your home
- Lifetime Membership for the Official KISS ARMY Fan Club
- Exclusive Access to the KISS Army Captain’s Hospitality Lounge including;
- VIP Bar with wine, beer and the KISS "End of the Road" Signature Cocktail
- Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and a dessert bar
- Dedicated VIP entrance
- Commemorative KISS Meet & Greet laminate
- Access to crowd free merchandise shopping
- On Site VIP Host




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Long-running Italian groove thrash metallers, Extrema, will release their seventh studio album, Headbanging Forever, on May 10th via Rockshots Records. The album will be available in CD digipack deluxe or vinyl gatefold limited coloured edition. Pre-order here.

Founding member and guitarist Tommy Massara comments: “It’s a 100% metal abum that leaves the listeners breathless. The songs are well balanced, there’s a lot of double bass, tempo changes and screaming lead guitar solos like in the old days. The songwriting of the album reminds of something classic with a modern production.”

Today, the band reveals the first single, "For The Loved And The Lost". Listen below. New frontman Tiziano Spigno states: “I’m really excited for 'For The Loved And The Lost' being the first single taken from the new album, as it's one of my favorite tracks. It is a tribute to the friends and the great artists who left us in the last years. The lyrics is full of quotes and I believe that fans will have fun trying to sort them out. The chorus take inspiration from the viking’s prayer to odin before the battle and I really hope this will become a great aggregation moment during the next shows, with all the fans raising their glasses of beer, paying tribute to all these terrific artists and their immortal art.”

For this album, the band enlisted Gustavo Sazes to create the album artwork. Tommy commented on the cover, “We had a list of artists in mind with which we would like to work with, in the end we decided for two. With one it didn’t work, with Gustavo, after some emails and some ideas exchange, we decided to leave him blank paper to let his own vision and concept free,  and the result is awesome! A cover with a strong impact.”

Headbanging Forever was produced by Tommy Massara and Gabriele Ravaglia. Recorded and mixed by Gabriele Ravaglia and Maxx Canali at the Fear Studio in Italy, it was mastered by Alberto Cutolo at Massive Arts studios in Milan.

Headbanging Forever tracklisting:

"The Call"
"Borders Of Fire"
"For The Loved And The Lost"
"Heavens Blind"
"Pitch Black Eyes"
"Headbanging Forever"
"Believer"
"Invisible"
"Paralyzed"
"The Showdown"

"For The Loved And The Lost":

Extrema’s original lineup was established between 1985 and 1986 in Milan, Italy. In a very short time, the band led by guitars player Tommy Massara achieved a huge success. Tommy is the only remaining member of the original lineup, and over the years he also played the role of artistic and executive producer.

Hundreds of concerts made the band more and more close-knit and open towards a constant growth path, capable from the beginning of welcoming influences external to heavy metal, a consistent choice within an evolutionary framework which saw Extremas tart from the rebellious attitude of Motörhead to later incorporate the style of Californian thrash metal, a scene with which the band shared the utmost care for the technical side of music and a devastating presence on stage.

The band’s reputation as musicians and performers kept growing in a perpetual live context, with extensive tours and the participation to prestigious festivals with the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Motörhead, and Korn, among many others.

Extraneous from the beginning to political and ideological implications of any kind, Extrema’s lyrics have always strived to alternate challenging and contemporary themes with lighter subjects, true to rock 'n' roll form.

In May 2017 the band welcomed the new frontman Tiziano Spigno. Thanks to his entry, Extrema can finally release all the creativity repressed in recent years: a violent, direct and engaging approach which is -at the same time- also varied, courageous and experimental, resulting in the new album Headbanging Forever.

Lineup:

Tiziano “Titian” Spigno - Vocals
Tommy Massara - Guitars
Gabri Giovanna - Bass
Francesco “Frullo” Larosa - Drums




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LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton will release a solo album titled "Anesthetic" on March 1 via WPP Records and Spinefarm Records. The disc's third single, "Save Defiance", featuring guest vocals by Myles Kennedy (ALTER BRIDGE, Slash), can be streamed below.

Mark told Kerrang! magazine about "Save Defiance": "Myles Kennedy is a super-talented musician. I don't think people realize what a great guitar player he is, as well as having that amazing voice. He was so cool and professional about the whole process and really easy to work with. He's another one who came instantly into our minds when thinking about which singers would be right. Myles wrote the lyrics and had been asking me what kind of things I wanted. I had to just tell him, 'Do what you do. That's why we want you on the track.'That's what I love about collaborating musically."


"Anesthetic" was made alongside a dream team of highly respected musicians from a multitude of musical worlds; some friends and some who would never be expected to collaborate with metal genre leaders LAMB OF GOD.


Starting as idea between Jake (leader of heavy rock band ONI and founder of WPP Records), producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM, ONI, GOJIRA), and Morton, the project quickly gathered steam — with Mark at the creative center, Josh Wilbur co-writing, recording, mixing, and producing, and Jake Oni also co-writing and performing.


Morton had been writing some of this debut for years. "This album wasn't a concerted effort to start something outside LAMB OF GOD," he explains. "Music is always in my head, and until I write and record it, it's stuck there. But once I record it, it's out. It's a catharsis, more for my own sanity."


Other singers on the album include Chester Bennington (LINKIN PARK), Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Jacoby Shaddix (PAPA ROACH), Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY), 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), Paolo Gregoletto (TRIVIUM) and Alex Bent (TRIVIUM), Mike Inez (ALICE IN CHAINS), Jean-Paul Gaster (CLUTCH), Steve Gorman and Marc Paul rounding out the band.

"Anesthetic" track listing:

01. Cross Off (feat. Chester Bennington)

02. Sworn Apart (feat. Jacoby Shaddix)

03. Axis (feat. Mark Lanegan)

04. The Never (feat. Chuck Billy + Jake Oni)

05. Save Defiance (feat. Myles Kennedy)

06. Blur (feat. Mark Morales)

07. Back From The Dead (feat. Josh Todd)

08. Reveal (feat. Naeemah Maddox)

09. Imaginary Days

10. Truth Is Dead (feat. Randy Blythe + Alissa White-Gluz)

During a brand new interview with Audio Ink Radio, DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie was asked for his opinion on the current state of heavy metal music. He responded: "One of my favorite bands is DEFTONES. And then I also love IN FLAMES. And then I also love PERIPHERY, and I love NORTHLANE. But I also love SWITCHFOOT. Even ALICE IN CHAINS, the new stuff. I flip all over, basically. There's so many great musicians and great bands that are out there that I think that metal never really goes away."

He continued: "Whenever I hear someone say, 'Well, metal's not what it used to be,' I'm thinking, 'Well, what was it?' Because it wasn't the flavor of the month, and it never has been and it never will be. But it's big enough that those bands that do represent that approach musically are doing very well. They are playing the sizeable venues that can warrant or justify that they are who they are musically. So, to me, I think it's always gonna be something that is a big piece and part of the music industry. I think it has to be, because not everybody is into the pop thing."

LaBrie added: "The best way for any one of us to be is to appreciate the diversity of music, from whatever genre. I think the only music I can't wrap my head around is country music. But with anything else, I can appreciate it. Whether I wanna listen to U2 or COLDPLAY. Or, like I said, if I'm gonna go and listen to some STONE SOUR or if I'm gonna listen to TOOL… whatever. I think that it depends on the mood. As long as the music's great… There's two kinds of music — there's good music and then there's bad music. It's a cliché — whatever — but that's the truth of it, though. So it doesn't really matter what the genre is — it doesn't matter if it's metal or rock or hard rock or soft rock or pop… whatever. I mean, one of my favorite bands is ONEREPUBLIC. Amazing songs, amazing writing, incredible melodies, great lyrics, great singer, great players. So it doesn't have to be something that's in my face and melting my face at that particular moment. That's what I wanna listen to — something that's hitting me and making me groove in a more laid-back kind of cool-down vibe kind of way, instead of throwing on, like I said, whether it's IN FLAMES or whatever… or EMBER'S FALL. That's another band that's great. So, yeah, there's all sorts of great music, and I think metal has and always will be well represented."

DREAM THEATER's 14th studio album, "Distance Over Time", was released on February 22. The disc, which marks the band's first for their new label InsideOut Music, was produced by guitarist John Petrucci, mixed by Ben Grosse and mastered by Tom Baker.

The "Distance Over Time" tour of North America will kick off on March 20 in San Diego, California and will run for seven weeks before wrapping up on May 4 in Mexico City.

Exhibiting their elegant and gloomy music around the world, Palma, Spain's melancholic doom outfit Helevorn have posted their new lyric video "Aurora". The video is in support of their fourth album Aamamata released this past January via Solitude Productions / Bad Moon Music.

Vocalist Josep Brunet explains the track:

"This song is about an extraordinary woman who fought for the civil rights of the working class and was murdered during the fascist military coup in 1936-37 in Spain. She was only 25 years old and her body has still not been found."

Tracklisting:

"A Sail To Sanity"
"Goodbye, Hope"
"Blackened Waves"
"Aurora"
"Forgotten Fields"
"Nostrum Mare (Et deixo un pont de mar blava)"
"Once Upon A War"
"The Path To Puya"
"La Sibil·la"

"Nostrum Mare" lyric video:

"A Sail To Sanity" lyric video:

"Blackened Waves" video:




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Swedish-based progressive metal collective Soen is delighted to unveil their brand-new video for "Covenant." Directed by RISK and Maxi Muniz and produced by Carolina Sosa, the track comes courtesy of the band's stunning Lotus full-length, released last month via Silver Lining Music.

Comments drummer Martin Lopez, "Sometimes we choose to believe that we live in a well-adjusted society, but often than not, the truth differs. There are secrets everywhere, concealed carefully behind closed doors. Secrets that hide your despair and feed on your hopelessness, mistreated and misled by the people that are supposed to protect you. 'Covenant' talks about one's inner strength to fight back: it takes courage for one individual to take a stance, but it is necessary in order to survive. The true hero is not who's called so by society's standards, but the one that finds that inner strength and lead others by example."

Produced by David Castillo and Iñaki Marconi at Ghostward Studios and Studio 6, the album features the first recorded Soen material with newest recruit, Canadian-born guitarist Cody Ford, whilst the center-point of the album remains those trademark, snap-heavy, progressive Soen riffs. Songs such as "Rival," "Covenant," and "Martyrs" are dissertations on modern societies, fraught with poetic, finitely designed confusion and chaos, yet as the name Lotus suggests, there is still strength, beauty, and purity to be extracted from what at times seems like an endless cycle of human regression.

Lotus is out now on CD, LP, and digital formats. For orders, head here.

"Martyrs" video:

"Rival":

Soen will bring Lotus to European stages this spring on a near-three-week headlining tour from March 12th through April 6th. Support will be provided by Finland's Wheel and Denmark's Ghost Iris. For ticket info visit facebook.com/SoenMusic.

Lineup:

Joel Ekelöf - vocals
Martin Lopez - drums
Lars Åhlund - keys, guitar
Stefan Stenberg - bass
Cody Ford - lead guitar




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Modern classic rock outfit, N’Tribe, have released a video for their debut single, "Staring Down The Barrel". The clip can be found below. The track is the first single from the band's Root 'N' Branch EP, out on April 19th via NorthPoint Productions.

N'Tribe (yes, short for the Nordic Tribe) is a living and kicking example of that: this new band was founded in 2018 by three highly esteemed professionals - André Andersen, Jonas Larsen, Henrik Brockmann - initially bonded through their original band Royal Hunt; all participated in numerous bands/projects, all received various accolades from the industry, sold tons of albums and toured the world countless times.

Message from the band: "We're very proud to be able to announce April 19th as the release date for our first EP, Root 'N' Branch. Hope you'll enjoy our take on “contemporary classic rock”, because if you will - we have a plethora of songs, just waiting for the chance to pound on your eardrums."

Tracklisting:

"Staring Down The Barrel"
"Down On My Knees"
"What Goes Around Comes Around"
"Paint It Black"

"Staring Down The Barrel" video:

Soundbites are available at ntribe.dk.




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SLEEPKILLERS, the band featuring Damien Starkey (PUDDLE OF MUDD) on vocals, Sam Rivers (LIMP BIZKIT) on bass, Adam Latiff (PUDDLE OF MUDD) on guitars and Bobby Amaru (SALIVA) on drums, has unveiled a new music video for the single "Drown". It was directed by David Borges, who did the same honors for the band's debut video and single, "Dirty Foot".

"Drown" and "Dirty Foot" are both taken from SLEEPKILLERS' self-titled debut album, which was released on March 1.

Sam told Media Mikes about how SLEEPKILLERS was formed: "As far as the writing that went into this first record goes, it was me and Damien Starkey. I was living in Jacksonville at the time and we had been talking on the phone about getting together and doing some jamming. I ended up going over to his studio, and after a couple of hours of just having fun, we had the basis of three songs. We wanted to keep going so we just dove in. Soon after that, LIMP BIZKIT was going back on tour and Damien had some stuff of his own going and we kind of lost touch. During that time, we had both played the tracks for people and they kept saying we should turn what we had into a full-length record. About a year and a half later, we reconnected and after a couple bumps in the road we are here now with a finished record."

As for how the rest of the band came into the picture, Sam said: "Bobby Amaru came in when we were still working on some of the songs. He helped us really turn things around. Adam Latiff didn't come in until later. This was going to be just a small project for Damien and me, but we took it further and needed people to play live. Bobby wanted to play drums and we couldn't disagree. He may be the singer of SALIVA but he is one hell of a drummer. Adam was a friend of Damien's for a long time and now he and I are friends and he is just a great fit and an amazing guitarist."

Photo credit: David Borges

Singer David Lee Roth spent nearly three hours with the Joe Rogan Experience last week and discussed everything but (!) a Van Halen reunion. Although he hasn’t seen the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, he did share a Freddie Mercury story from his youth:

“I saw Freddie (Mercury) live at the L.A. Forum, I was probably in the 20th row, when 'Bohemian Rhapsody' had just come out. I saw him at his major, major prime there. Stagecraft is one thing, but what Freddie was and what he brought was way more than what you saw on stage. His sensibilities in terms of music weren’t just three chords and an attitude. Freddie brought a whole wealth of listening to different kinds of music, whether it was orchestral, big band or bistro. He didn’t try to sing black, he sang European non-black. What we are very used to, even in country. I had a very famous African American producer say to me, ‘do you know what it means to be a black man in the United States today?’ I said ‘every time I step up to a mic!’”




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"Garden In The Bones", a brand new song from PERIPHERY, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's fifth album, "Periphery IV: Hail Stan", which will be released on April 5 via the band's own 3DOT Recordings.

"Periphery IV: Hail Stan" marks two significant firsts for the band: the first PERIPHERY release on 3DOT Recordings, as well as a change in the way they approached writing and recording.

"We finally spent a year on a record," explains guitar player/programmer Jake Bowen. "We've never been able to do that. The quality and pacing of the work show we took our time with this one. That's an important note about this. We really got to do everything we wanted to do in the space we had to do it." Mark adds: "I think you can hear the adventurous intent behind much of this material as a result. We're all the happiest we've ever been with a release, and it's no coincidence. Can't wait for you all to hear it."

Pre-orders, which include several limited-edition vinyl and merch bundles, are available now. Digital pre-orders include an immediate download of "Blood Eagle".

"Periphery IV: Hail Stan" is the first release to follow the band's 2017 Grammy Award nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category, for "Periphery III: Select Difficulty" album opener "The Price Is Wrong". The 2016 album tallied 35 million cumulative streams and marked their third consecutive debut in the Top 25 of the Billboard Top 200. It represented the apex of a tireless decade-long grind. Along the way, the band graced the covers of Guitar World, Revolver, Modern Drummer, Bass Player and more. In between the touring, endorsements and appearances, they also launched a summer camp of their own, "Periphery Summer Jam".

"Periphery IV: Hail Stan" track listing:

01. Reptile

02. Blood Eagle

03. CHVRCH BVRNER

04. Garden In The Bones

05. It's Only Smiles

06. Follow Your Ghost

07. Crush

08. Sentient Glow

09. Satellites

PERIPHERY will embark on a brief tour to coincide with the release, joining DANCE GAVIN DANCE for a 15-date North American trek on March 30.

PERIPHERY is Jake Bowen (guitar, programming), Matt Halpern (drums), Mark Holcomb (guitar), Misha Mansoor (guitar, programming) and Spencer Sotelo (vocals).

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

Video footage of NEW YEARS DAY performing an acoustic cover version of the PANTERA classic "Fucking Hostile" on February 7 at Sony Music Studios in New York City can be seen below.

NEW YEARS DAY previously recorded an electric rendition of "Fucking Hostile" for the "Diary Of A Creep" EP, which came out in January 2018. At the time, singer Ash Costello told Alternative Press that she first became a fan of PANTERA while she was still a teenager.

"When I was in high school, there were different groups of kids," she explained. "The goth kids. The ska kids. The punk kids. The metal kids. I had ins with all of them. The metal gang was all about the music. Every lunchtime, it was only about listening to each other’s favorite metal songs together at our table in the school quad. The bands we played ranged from IRON MAIDEN and MEGADETH to SLAYER and CRADLE OF FILTH. But one band really did it for me. Fucking PANTERA. The guitar riffs. The guitar tone. The songs' subject matter. The way they looked. Something about it just felt like mine. And above all the other songs, after all this time, 'Fucking Hostile' still makes every single one of my 'before I hit the stage' playlists. It has shaped a lot of my musical songwriting preferences, and it's what I base a lot of NEW YEARS DAY's music on."

NEW YEARS DAY will release its fourth studio album, "Unbreakable", on April 26 via RED Music. The follow-up to 2015's "Malevolence" was produced by Mitchell Marlow (ALL THAT REMAINS, IN THIS MOMENT, BUTCHER BABIES) and Scott Stevens (AMERICAN AUTHORS, HALESTORM, SHINEDOWN).

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.

METALLICA played the song "Here Comes Revenge" live for the first time last night (Saturday, March 2) at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield told Virgin Radio that "Here Comes Revenge" was inspired by the tragic death of a fan of the band. Hetfield explained: "There's a couple that showed up at so many shows, and they got into METALLICA because their young daughter was a big fan, and she had gotten killed by a drunk driver."

Hetfield continued: "It just hit me: 'How can you guys find something positive in the world to connect you to your daughter again' — which was METALLICA, the music she loved — 'instead of just snapping and wanting to just become bitter and attack whoever did this?' So I'm kinda putting myself in those shoes and how revenge must feel really powerful and great to do, but it doesn't satisfy that urge."

Hetfield previously told Australia's Rolling Stone about the first time he met the couple: "[The guy] said, 'My wife and I weren't fans of the band, but we are now. Because our daughter was a big fan, and she got killed by a drunk driver.'

"She was young. How could you not be pissed off? How could you not want to go after somebody? But what they chose to do was embrace the music she loved and get to know her through the music and connect that way instead. They continue to show up at shows, which I love. We're friends now. And they've gotten through something that I don't think I could get through."

"Here Comes Revenge" is taken from METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", which came out in November 2016.

METALLICA kicked off the 2018/2019 U.S. leg of the "WorldWired" arena tour last September at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

The second North American leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" features in-the-round production and 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.

Carach Angren will be performing select festival dates across Europe this summer as well as a few off-dates with support from Wolfheart. The band will first be hitting up Inferno Metal Festival 2019 in Oslo, Norway on April 21st and as of now, will wrap up their run during the weekend of July 19th at Gefle Metal Festival in Gavle, Sweden. The full run is as follows:

April
21 - Oslo, Norway - Inferno Metal Festival
26-27 - Lichtenfels, Bayern, Germany - Ragnarök Festival

June
22 - Clisson, France - Hellfest Open Air
28-30 - Ferropolis, Germany - Full Force Festival
28-29 - Dokkum, The Netherlands - Dokk'Em Open Air

July
12 - Warsaw, Poland - Klub Proxima (with Wolfheart supporting)
16 - Tampere, Finland - Klubi (with Wolfheart supporting)
17 - Helsinki, Finland - On The Rocks (with Wolfheart supporting)
19-20 - Gavle, Sweden - Gefle Metal Festival

Additionally, the band will be reissuing 2012's Where The Corpses Sink Forever on gold and black LP formats. This was not only the band's third studio album, but their debut to Season Of Mist.

Dutch horror masters Carach Angren take you to the hell of war with Where The Corpses Sink Forever. The trio's dark, black metal-based sound is bombastic, theatrical, and perfectly portrays the groups' cinematic horror concepts. Artwork and tracklisting can be found below.

"An Ominous Recording"
"Lingering In An Imprint Haunting"
"Bitte Tötet Mich"
"The Funerary Dirge Of A Violinist"
"Sir John"
"Spectral Infantry Battalions"
"General Nightmare"
"Little Hector, What Have You Done?"
"These Fields Are Lurking (Seven Pairs Of Demon Eyes)" 

Where The Corpses Sink Forever can be pre-ordered on vinyl at this location.

 




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Los Angeles born guitarist, Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper, The Iron Maidens), has announced that her debut album, Controlled Chaos (Sumerian Records) will be released on vinyl on April 12th with several variants available. Nita has also announced that she will be hitting the road this spring for a run of US tour dates.

Controlled Chaos will be available on vinyl in the following color variants:

• Worldwide retail version features red vinyl and is available from all usual outlets


• Yellow with black splatter variant exclusively available from NitaStrauss.com


• Clear vinyl with black and gold splatter variant exclusively available from SumerianMerch.com


• Red transparent vinyl with white splatter variant exclusively available from Guitar Centre


• Nordic exclusive transparent yellow vinyl available from select retailers

The critically acclaimed debut is an epic, 11-track journey of jaw-dropping technical proficiency and highly emotive songwriting. It went straight into the top ten on the iTunes Rock chart upon release on November 16, 2018 and debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top New Artists Chart, #3 on the Billboard Label Independent Chart and #4 on Billboard's Top Hard Rock chart.

Having wowed fans across the US on her co-headline tour with Angel Vivaldi at the end of 2018, Nita has announced a new run of US tour dates. Starting in Hermosa Beach, CA on April 10th and continuing across the country with a further 19 dates culminating in Poughkeepsie, NY on June 8th.

Nita will also be playing a special vinyl release show in her home town of Los Angeles at the world famous Whisky A Go Go on April 11th with special guests Vigil Of War.

Catch Nita Strauss live in concert:

April
10 - Hermosa Beach, CA - Saint Rocke
11 - Los Angeles, CA - Whisky A Go Go
14 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick (with John 5)

May
14 - Charlotte, NC - Amos Southend        
15 - Greenville, SC - The Firmament (with Fozzy)
16 - Greensboro, NC - The Cone Denim Center (with Fozzy)
17 - Virgina Beach, VA - Lunatic Luau         
19 - New York, NY - Iridium
21 - Teaneck, NJ - Debonair Music Hall 
22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Hard Rock Café
24 - Detroit, MI - Token Lounge
25 - Ft Wayne, IN - The Club at The Clyde
26 - Evanston, IL - Evanston Rocks
29 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall     
31 - Louisville, KY - Zanzibar        

June
1 - Cleveland, OH - The Winchester        
2 - Buffalo, NY - Ironworks      
4 - New Bedford, MA - Vault at Greasy Luck 
5 - Stafford, CT - Palace Theater          
6 - Ardmore, PA - The Ardmore Music Hall (with Paul Gilbert)     
8 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance (with Paul Gilbert)

Tracklisting:

"Prepare For War"
"Alegria"
"Our Most Desperate Hour"
"Mariana Trench"
"Here With You"
"The Stillness At The End"
"The Quest"
"Hope Grows"
"Lion Among Wolves"
"Pandemonium 2.0"
"The Show Must Go On"

"Mariana Trench"

"The Quest":

"Pandemonium 2.0"

"Our Most Desperate Hour" video:

(Photo by Larry Dimarzio)




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