Biff Byford has confirmed that SAXON has commenced work on its 23rd studio album.

The singer checked in via video message on his Twitter account — his first since undergoing an emergency triple bypass surgery last month.

"I want to thank everybody for the brilliant messages you've sent," he said. "Brilliant. Thank you very much. [It's] cheered me up. Some of the funny ones were great.

"I'm feeling okay," he continued. "I'm really sore obviously from the operation and [my] breathing is still a bit dodgy sometimes, but apart from that, I'm getting better and better every day. So I go for walks every day a little bit longer, so that should be good.

"Nigel [Glockler] has started drums on the next album this week in Germany. Next week, Paul [Quinn] and Doug [Scarratt] start doing the guitars and the plan is for me to start doing vocals around January, February, and that will help me get into shape for the shows coming up [in March]."

Byford also confirmed that his long-awaited solo album is "finished," but offered no further details on its possible release date.

SAXON was forced to postpone all its previously announced 2019 shows so that Byford could undergo the heart procedure. His post-op recovery period will last into 2020.

Formed in 1977, SAXON didn't release its debut album until two years later.

Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in the group's current lineup, which issued its 22nd LP, "Thunderbolt", in February 2018.

Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather", "Princess Of The Night", "Wheels Of Steel" and "Power And Glory".

In addition to Byford, Glockler, Quinn and Scarratt, SAXON's current lineup includes bassist Nibbs Carter.




Update from Biff today! pic.twitter.com/fDMELtzzWz

— Saxon (@SaxonOfficial) October 9, 2019

DEVILDRIVER has canceled its appearance on the inaugural Megacruise after frontman Dez Fafara's wife was diagnosed with cancer.

Dez broke the news of his wife's diagnosis in a social media post earlier today. He wrote (via ThePRP): "Today my world is BLACK my wife and best friend @mrsfafara was told yesterday she has cancer . Please send positive vibes for our family while we go through this difficult time . #FuckCancer. AT THIS TIME @devildriver IS CANCELLING @themegacruise SO I can be by my wife’s side . Thank you for your understanding ."

Dez's wife of 20 years, Anahstasia Fafara is involved in several business ventures with her husband, including The Oracle Management, The Oracle Merchandise Company and the SunCult clothing brand.

In a 2013 interview with Loudwire, Dez said: "My family is so important. Raising three boys, the difficult thing about being a musician is that you're gone a lot. What I do I do for my family so they can keep a roof over their head so they can have a normal life… I'm really happy that they support me, because I am gone on the road a lot. I have a great wife at home and a nice normal life."

Megacruise, hosted by metal veterans MEGADETH, will depart from Los Angeles on October 13 on a round-trip voyage to San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.

This past July, Dez confirmed that DEVILDRIVER had completed work on its new album with producer Steve Evetts (EVERY TIME I DIE, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). The follow-up to 2016's "Trust No One" will be a staggered-release double album, with the first part scheduled to arrive in early 2020.

DEVILDRIVER's full-length collection of outlaw country-gone-metal anthems, "Outlaws 'Til The End", was released in July 2018 via Napalm Records.

Season Of Mist announce the signing of black metal outfit, Gaerea. The band will release their brand new album in 2020.

Regarding the signing, the band comments: "The Vortex Society is very pleased to announce that Gaerea has sealed a new record deal with Season of Mist! It’s an absolute honour to join the ranks of such high demand label and alongside very influential artists who have deserved our absolute respect since the void’s first glimpse of existence. Expect Gaerea’s mental horror at a level never seen before."

As an introduction, you can listen to the band's previous album 'Unsettling Whispers' (2018) on their Bandcamp page.

Gaerea is a black metal quintet from Portugal. Emerging in the beginning of 2016, the band released its first EP on November 11, 2016 through Everlasting Spew Records, receiving many praises from the worldwide press

With the release of the bands first full length album Unsettling Whispers (June 22 via Transcending Obscurity Records in 2018), Gaerea had the pleasure to perform and tour festivals in Europe and China, including performances with Jupiterian in April 2019 and a Headlining Chinese tour in May 2019. The band already performed on festivals like SWR Barroselas Metalfest (PT), De Mortem et Diabolum (DE), Throne Fest (BE), Frantic Fest (IT), Eresia Metal Fest (IT), Amplifest (PT) and many more.

During this fall, the band will do a 21-show tour with Numenorean under the Doomstar Bookings wing throughout Europe.

(Photo - Catarina Rocha)




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Stoner death metal icons, Cannabis Corpse, unleash true stoner terror with their music video for the new song, "Dawn Of Weed Possession". The track is taken from the band's upcoming release, Nug So Vile, out on November 1 via Season Of Mist. The video, which was created by David Brodsky for MyGoodEye, can be seen below.

Vocalist/bassist Phil "Landphil" Hall comments: "Here it is folks! I am thrilled with how amazing this horror music video came out, I absolutely love what David Brodsky has done with our concept. It has the perfect old school vibe. This is exactly what Cannabis Corpse has tried to achieve since day one and it has finally come to fruition. Feast your eyes on true stoner terror!"

Nug So Vile was mixed and mastered at Blaze of Torment Studio by Jarrett Pritchard. The artwork was created by Par Olofson. The album can be pre-ordered here.

Tracklisting:

"Conquerors Of Chronageddon"
"Nug So Vile"
"Blunt Force Domain"
"Cylinders Of Madness"
"Blasphemy Made Hash"
"Cheeba Jigsore Quandary"
"Edibles Autopsy"
"Dawn Of Weed Possession"
"The Cone Is Red (Long Live The Cone)"
"The Ultimate Indicantation"
"From Enslavement To Hydrobliteration" (Bonus Track)

"Blunt Force Domain" lyric video:

"Cylinders Of Madness" video:

Cannabis Corpse’s latest strain of weed-metal is another potent dose of bong ripping brutality laced with tasty riffs, vicious drumming, and dank THC. With a title inspired by Cryptopsy's seminal album, Nug So Vile is a horrifying look into the mind of a hardcore marijuana abuser with the demented fantasies of a reefer addict fully on display. The record is more than just a mere follow up to 2017’s Left Hand Pass, but rather serves as a solid companion piece, seamlessly picking up right where the band left off.

Sharing a passion for marijuana and death metal, brothers Phil “Landphil” Hall and Josh “Hallhammer” Hall formed Cannabis Corpse in 2006 in Richmond, VA as a loving homage to the genre’s forefathers. The brothers decided from the start to separate themselves from the pack by infusing a green sense of humor into their horror-inspired lyrics. Meanwhile, it has become a badge of honor for many of the Halls’ idols to have one of their titles parodied by the Richmond outfit.

Now, Cannabis Corpse has returned as a three-piece and despite slimming the lineup down since Left Hand Pass, Nug So Vile still sounds as full and thick as ever, solidifying their place among death metal’s elite. So, roll a blunt, grab a neckbrace, and get prepare yourself for another nasty assault from the kings of weed metal.

Lineup:

Phil "Landphil" Hall: vocals, bass
Josh "HallHammer" Hall: drums
Adam Gulliams: guitars

(Photo - Kip Dawkins)




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German progressive death metal masters, Obscura, have released a video for "Emergent Evolution", a track from the band's fifth studio album, Diluvium, released in 2018 via Relapse Records.

Steffen Kummerer comments: “With the production of 'Emergent Evolution', we just released the, up to this date, most ambitious music video of Obscura. Earlier this year, the entire team flew to Sicily for a week to capture astonishing shots on top of a volcano, in the middle of sulphur springs, within lithified lava streams and inside of natural vaults. We knew this video turns into something unique and special when we sorted the raw material months ago. 'Emergent Evolution' exceeded our expectations by far!”

Diluvium physical packages are available via Relapse.com here, and digital downloads / streaming services here.




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Bay Area natives, Aenimus, have released drummer Cody Pulliam's new playthrough for the song "Between Iron And Silver", from their sophomore album, Dreamcatcher.

Cody Pulliam comments, “Real stoked to present my playthrough for one of our favorite songs off of Dreamcatcher, 'Between Iron And Silver'! This song challenged me to focus on when it’s appropriate, to be fast and flashy as a drummer, and when to sit back and compliment the song and let the other instruments speak. Thank you to Chris P. Billz and Jeremy Klein at Abyssal Lair Studios for helping me track and film this playthrough. Hope you all enjoy it 🤘”

Get your tickets now to watch Aenimus perform this song every night on their upcoming tour with Ensiferum, Kalmah, and Abigail Williams.

Tour dates:

November
14 - Richmond, VA - The Broadberry
15 - Reading, PA - Reverb
16 - Ottawa, ON - Maverick's
17 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theater
18 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
19 - Chicago, IL - Reggies
20 - Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room
21 - Denver, CO - Oriental Theater
23 - Calgary, AB - Dickens
24 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater
25 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
26 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom
27 - Oakland, CA - Metro Opera House
29 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex
30 - San Diego, CA - Brick by Brick

December
1 - Mesa, AZ - Club Red
2 - El Paso, TX - Rockhouse Bar & Grill
3 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live!
5 - Lexington, KY - Manchester Music Hall
6 - TBA
7 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
8 - Brooklyn, NY - The Warsaw




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Cyhra will release their sophomore album, No Halos In Hell, on November 15 via Nuclear Blast.

Founded by vocalist Jake E (ex-Amaranthe) and guitarist Jesper Strömblad (ex-In Flames), Cyhra has gone from being reminiscent of the duo's former bands to having a unique identity. In fact, No Halos In Hell is one of those rare albums that defies being neatly placed in a genre box; coming out heavy and dynamic, the record is loaded with melodic vocal hooks that stay nailed to the brain for days, achieving maximum impact throughout. Fusing a relentless energy and heaviness the best way possible was Cyhra's main focus this time out. The addition of guitarist Euge Valovirta (ex-Shining) as a full member has raised the creative process to a level where, according to Jake E, "Everyone is playing to the point of what is best for the song.” No Halos In Hell is one of those rare albums that defies being neatly placed in a genre box: delivering tunes that are both heavy and dynamic, the record is loaded with melodic vocal hooks and musical ear-worms.

Today, the band unveils its first album trailer, in which Jake E, Jesper Strömblad, Euge Valovirta and Alex Landenburg tell their own story about how they first discovered their musical talents and nurtured those talents. Watch the new teaser, directed, filmed & edited by KJ Melgoza, below:

Produced by Jacob Hansen and co-produced by the band's very own Jake E, the album is filled with 12 live-oriented songs, ensuring maximum catchiness.

No Halos In Hell will be available as 2 CD digipak, black vinyl or download on November 15. The bonus CD included in the limited digipak includes six additional songs, three of them being exclusive acoustic versions. You can pre-order the format of your choice here.

Tracklisting:

"Out Of My Life"
"No Halos In Hell"
"Battle From Within"
"I Am The One"
"Bye Bye Forever"
"Dreams Gone Wrong"
"Lost In Time"
"Kings Tonight"
"I Had Your Back"
"Blood Brothers"
"Hit Me"
"Man Of Eternal Rain"

"Out Of My Life" video:

CyHra have announced a European tour together with their new label mates Battle Beast that will kick off in Sweden on November 15th - tickets are already on sale. Catch the band live on one of the following dates:

November
15 - Karlstad, Sweden - Nöjesfabriken**
17 - Kiel, Germany - Orange Club**
19 - Aschaffenburg, Germany  - Colos-Saal**
21 - Braunschweig, Germany  - Westand**
22 - Bremen, Germany  - Aladin Music Hall**
23 - Herford, Germany  - X**
24 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Dynamo
25 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy 2
27 - Dublin, Ireland - Button Factory
28 - Manchester, UK - Club Academy
29 - Glasgow, Scotland - Slay
30 - London, UK - ULU Live

December
1 - Kortrijk, Belgium - De Kreun
3 - Wörgl, Austria - Komma
4 - Ravensburg - OberschwabenKlub
6 - Geiselwind - Christmas Bash
8 - Augsburg - Kantine
9 - Jena - F-Haus
11 - Salzburg, Austria - Rockhouse
12 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks
13 - Zurich, Switzerland - Dynamo

**w/ Brymir

(Photo - Linda Florin)




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Before a packed show in Hamburg, German, Freedom Call received a special "20th Anniversary" award from their record company, SPV/Steamhammer. This year marks their 20th year as a band and they are also now 20 years at SPV/Steamhammer. In these years they have sold over 250,000 records and have now reached over 60,000,000 streams.

The band's new album, M.E.T.A.L., was released in August on CD digipak, 2LP gatefold, download and stream. Get it here.

The band released a great video for the song "M.E.T.A.L.", which has achieved over 160,000 views on YouTube. Watch below:

Upcoming tour dates:

October
9 - Berlin, Germany - Musik & Frieden
10 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos-Saal
11 - Prague, Czech Republic - MeetFactory
12 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Masters Of Rock Cafe
13 - Budapest, Hungary - Dürer Kert
15 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
16 - Cologne, Germany - Club Volta
17 - Stuttgart, Germany - Club Cann
18 - Erfurt, Germany - HsD
19 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
20 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
25 - Colmar, France - Le Grillen
26 - Vouziers, France - Festival de Vouziers

November
1 - Finspang, Sweden - Hugo
2 - Lulea, Sweden - Kuturens Hus
3 - Stockholm, Sweden - Nalen Klubb
6 - Lyon, France - Rock N' Eat
7 - Milan, Italy - Legend Club
8 - San Dona Di Piave, Italy - Revolver Club
9 - Roma, Italy - Wishlist Club
10 - Firenze, Italy - Circus Club

February
21 - Pamplona, Spain - Sala Totem
22 - Madrid, Spain - Nazca Music Club
23 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Boveda

March
13 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
28 - London, England - The Underworld

August
14-15 - Graz, Austria - Metal On The Hill

(Pictured above, from left to right: Björn von Oettingen (Head of Promotion Steamhammer), Francesco Ferraro (Freedom Call, bass), Timi Breideband (Freedom Call, drums), Chris Bay (Freedom Call, guitars/vocals), Olly Hahn (Head of Steamhammer), Lars Rettkowitz (Freedom Call, guitars) - Photo: Christoph Speidel)




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Sharon Osbourne has blasted tabloid reports about her husband Ozzy's ailing health, with the National Enquirer claiming he "will be dead by Christmas" and Radar Online saying he is "on a crazy train to an early death."

Sharon addressed the headlines during today's episode of her daytime talk show "The Talk". She said (see video below): "I'm actually not lost for words a lot, as you all know, but why do people just say this was true? How cold and callous are those headlines? Where's people's empathy?"

According to Sharon "it's not" true "by any stretch of the imagination" that Ozzy is near death. "I've been open with everyone and so has Ozzy," she said. "He had a terrible, terrible bout of bad luck with his health, one thing after another. And then after his fall that he had, it's been awful for him. But he's getting better. He's recuperating. Why be, like, 'He's [on a] crazy train,'... It's, like, how disrespectful to anyone…"

She added: "And I'd just like to say something: Ozzy ain't going nowhere."

Co-host Sheryl Underwood responded: "You just told me that you went to the studio to hear Ozzy's new music that he's working on. He can't be that sick if he's working on new music in the studio."

In early April, Ozzy postponed all his 2019 tour dates, both in North America and Europe, as he recovered from an injury sustained while dealing with his recent bout of pneumonia. The singer fell at his Los Angeles home, aggravating years-old injuries from his 2003 ATV accident that required new surgery.

Last month, Ozzy told U.K. tabloid The Sun that he has completed work on a new solo album, his first since 2010's "Scream".

Ozzy confirmed that he took just four weeks to record the new disc, saying: "This is my first [solo] recording in a studio for 10 years, so I do feel a bit out of touch." He told the Boston Herald last year that he had "a bunch of songs written" but was unsure when or how he would end up recording them.

Ozzy was in a coma for eight days in December of 2003 when he accidentally crashed an ATV while riding on the grounds of his English estate. He broke his collarbone, several ribs and a neck vertebra in the incident, of which he told The Pulse Of Radio he had very little memory.

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

Ozzy will release a box set featuring his entire catalog of solo material on vinyl later this year. The 16-disc, 173-song limited edition package is titled "See You On The Other Side" and it will arrive on November 29.

In a recent question-and-answer session posted on the YouTube channel of Nuclear Blast Records, OPETH mastermind Mikael Åkerfeldt was asked about the possibility of a second album from STORM CORROSION, his collaboration with PORCUPINE TREE's Steven Wilson.

"I had dinner with Steve yesterday, and we talked a little bit about it," Mikael said (see video below). "We always talk a little bit about it, if we're gonna do another one. But yeah, I think we'll try; at some point, we'll try. I can almost say a hundred percent that we will try, without really knowing — but just judging from how we talk about this project. That was a fun thing for both of us and a new thing for both of us. But the problem, when you have one record, is that there's a reference point. So it's likely that if we do another record, maybe there'll be another name for that project. And it's likely it will sound completely different.

"We wanna make another record, [and] if we do that, it has to be on the same premise as how we did the first one," he continued. "Nobody knows. There's no record label that knows. We don't even know if it's gonna work out and we don't know what we're doing, basically. I mean, that was almost written in real time and recorded in real time. We just had a riff. 'Okay, let's record that riff, that part, and then piece it together.' And then, in the end, it was, like, 'My God, this is strange. But we love it. What is it?'

"We had some common inspirations and common artists and bands that we said, 'Maybe around there, that's where we meet up and do something,'" Mikael added. "And it ended up sounding like nothing I can compare it to, to be honest. For good and worse, for fans. It's a weird record. And it sold a lot in the first couple of weeks, because Roadrunner picked that up. And I assume it sold a lot to fans of PORCUPINE TREE and Steven Wilson fans, who must have gone, 'What the hell is this?'

"I love that album — love it. But, yeah, we're gonna do something, I'm sure. But it's probably gonna be different."

Åkerfeldt and Wilson have been friends since the late '90s, when Wilson co-produced OPETH's revered "Blackwater Park" album. Over the years, they'd often spoken of working on a project together, but it wasn't until about a decade ago that they managed to make something happen, when Mikael flew over to visit Steven in the U.K. and they ended up in Wilson's home studio throwing ideas around. That visit was the nascence of a whole self-titled album, written and produced by the pair, and mixed by Wilson.

Issued in 2012, the self-titled debut album from STORM CORROSION sold 9,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 47 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD also landed at No. 45 on the official U.K. chart.

SLAYER, along with Trafalgar Releasing, Nuclear Blast Records and Prime Zero Productions, have shared the theatrical trailer for "Slayer: The Repentless Killogy", coming to theaters worldwide for a one-night-only event on November 6. In addition to the new trailer, fans can now find local theaters and purchase tickets at Slayer.Film.

Revenge, murder, bloodshed and retribution. "The Repentless Killogy" film was written and directed by BJ McDonnell, who conceived and directed the three brutal music videos — "You Against You", "Repentless" and "Pride In Prejudice" — for SLAYER's final studio album, "Repentless" (2015).

"When we set out to do these initial three videos," said McDonnell, "we had the intention of continuing the next adventures of SLAYER and Wyatt on a following album. But SLAYER announced that 'Repentless' was the final album and tour, so this story, the videos, and finally a full live concert at the end is a perfect wrap up of the 'Repentless' final tour. This is the finale of SLAYER. This is the end of the monsters."

"The Repentless Trilogy" motion picture opens with the three music videos assembled as one chronological storyline and introduces the narrative's main character, Wyatt, a former Neo Nazi associated with a gang known as "The Hand Brotherhood," whose signature mark was a bloody handprint left after a murder had taken place. Prior to the first music video, Wyatt had left the gang after he fell in love with Gina. The two had gone into hiding to escape his grisly past and start a family, but The Hand Brotherhood was not going to allow that to happen, and Gina, pregnant with their first child, was savagely murdered as Wyatt was forced to look on. The film then segues into the present-time narrative that sees Wyatt on the run from law enforcement and the Nazi gang, but now dedicated to eliminating The Hand Brotherhood and seeking retribution wherever he can.

"The Repentless Killogy" stars many of the actors who appeared in the original video series: Jason Trost ("Beats of Rage", "Hatchet III") as Wyatt, Danny Trejo ("Machete", "From Dusk Til Dawn"), Richard Speight ("Band of Brothers", "Supernatural"), Derek Mears ("Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D."), Jessica Pimentel ("Orange Is The New Black"), Tyler Mane ("X-Men", "Halloween II"), Bill Moseley ("The Devil's Rejects", "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2"), Caroline Williams ("The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2", "Sharknado 4"), and Sean Whalen ("Twister", "The People Under The Stairs").

Part two of "The Repentless Killogy" features SLAYER's entire live set performed at the Los Angeles Forum on August 5, 2017, and was directed by Wayne Isham who has directed videos for artists including METALLICA, FOO FIGHTERS, Michael Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, and Britney Spears. Presented in front of one of the most striking stage productions of the band's career, SLAYER performs fan favorites, including "South Of Heaven", "War Ensemble", "Mandatory Suicide", "Dead Skin Mask", "Raining Blood" and "Angel Of Death".

Following the global theatrical premiere, on November 8, the film will be available digitally and on Blu-ray, and the soundtrack from that concert will be released as both a two-disc vinyl and two CD packages.

Gerardo Martinez of Nuclear Blast Records said: "When SLAYER, the RSE family, BJ and I were talking about how thrilled we were with the outcome of the three videos from 'Repentless', never did we imagine that what we had in our hands was basically this piece of brutality that would end up in movie theaters worldwide. Everything from matching SLAYER's ferocity and heaviness in video form, to expanding into a longer narrative and live show has created the perfect SLAYER atmosphere. We are beyond thrilled to give fans around the world the opportunity to join us on November 6 to witness a pure slab of f*ckin' insanity!"

Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, added: "Trafalgar Releasing are pleased to be collaborating with SLAYER, the team at Nuclear Blast and the RSE Group on the upcoming global cinema release of 'Slayer: The Repentless Killogy'. The film expertly demonstrates how SLAYER has become one of the most influential metal bands of the last three decades, bringing together the creative forces of film and music to create a must-see on the big screen. We look forward to seeing how fans react when they come together for this unique experience."

Metal Exhumator conducted an interview with frontman Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth of New Jersey thrash veterans OVERKILL prior to the band's September 15 concert at Le Metronum in Toulouse, France. You can watch the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On what OVERKILL's "next steps" are after the release of this year's "The Wings Of War" studio album:

Bobby: "We had just a different chemistry. I think that's what is portrayed on this record, and that obviously is Jason [Bittner, drums] and what he brought into the band. We're not the kind of people who are going to say, 'Do it this way.' We wanted to see what he had. I think that I don't know if it's a step, but I do think that we got different results with pretty much the same formula, then add Jason. What's going to happen next? I couldn't even tell you. I think the fun part of doing this is that there is a surprise still. I think this record is a surprise. It's full of melody, but it's full of a certain kind of committed brutality that has melody injected into it. I think they were the good results we got out of it with Jason."

On whether it was important for OVERKILL to inject new blood into the band:

Bobby: "It never hurts. To have new chemistry, you need to have fresh blood. You can't have new chemistry with the same old members. By having somebody like Jason come in, it just changes everything instantly. We think differently. We play differently. The old songs are a little bit different. Things that we take for granted are no longer there. It keeps your game sharp. It keeps the whole thinking about, it's not just another day, but it's another situation by having a new member. New blood can be good sometimes."

On the new song "Distortion":

Bobby: "When I first heard the main riff, I knew there was something special. I think although the band excels at speed, one of our hidden talents is the mid-tempo songs. The mid-tempos are the ones that can be the ones that are the most gratifying because they're harder to put together and still get the same kind of an impact than you would get with speed. So, when I heard this as being the dynamic on the record or one of the dynamics or changes, it was obviously exciting. As it grew, for instance, the introduction, for instance, the chorus being, and making it simple and not overthinking it. It's probably one of the more simple songs on the record. I think it gave us the opportunity to, let's say, re-inject the old days of 'Horrorscope', or something like that, but with a modern twist to it, with 2019 in mind, and with Jason Bittner in mind. It's one of the standout songs based on its contrast to what's the norm for us."

On whether he discusses songwriting ideas with bassist D.D. Verni while on tour:

Bobby: "We just sat down and talked about starting to write in the spring. Maybe late spring, early summer, just say maybe we should just schedule some time to do it. But there's been no ideas with regard to where it's going to go. I think the fun part is that it's kind of a surprise. We know what it's going to be. To us, each record is very different. I think to a lot of people, they say, 'Oh, they never change.' To me, it's always, 'Every record feels different.' You could have never found 'Distortion' on [1994's] 'W.F.O.'. You could have never of found 'Last Man Standing' or '[Welcome To The] Garden State' on 'The Electric Age' [2012]. You can't. It's whatever comes of that era. I think that's the fun thing about still making records, is that it's a representation of what we are at the time when we're writing it. Not about all this thought that goes into it. It's more about action versus reaction: 'That's a great riff. Let me hear that vocal line again.' It's real creation. It's not, 'Okay, here's the plan and here's the map.' It's not that. It just happens. I think that's the most natural way to get the best results."

"The Wings Of War" was released in February via Nuclear Blast.

Video footage has surfaced of ock legends, Scorpions, performing "Backstage Queen" live at the Reading Festival in August 1979. The song was featured on the album Virgin Killer, which was released on this day in 1976. This is one of the few filmed live performances of any song from this album.

Scorpions' upcoming 2019 tour dates are listed below. For ticket links, head to the band's official website.

October
10 - Movistar Arena - Bogotá, Colombia
12 - Coliseo General Rumiñahui - Quito, Ecuador
31 - KRK Uralez - Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation         

November
3 - Basket Hall - Krasnodar, Russian Federation
5 - ZSKA-Arena - Москва, Russian Federation
7 - Ice Palace - St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
10 - Yubileyny Sports Palace - Voronezh, Russian Federation
12 - Palace of Sports - Kiev, Ukraine
15 - Minsk Arena - Minsk, Belarus
18 - Papp László Budapest Sportaréna - Budapest, Hungary
20 - Zimný štadión Ondreja Nepelu - Bratislava, Slovakia




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NYC hard rockers Opulence will unleash their debut album Black Magic on November 15. The album will be released via Blacklight Media Records, in conjunction with Station House Recordings.

Fans won't have to wait that long to hear new music. Opulence will be releasing the first single "Ritual" and accompanying video later this week.

"We are beyond excited to finally share the sounds and visuals of this spectral exercise in malevolent excess," says Opulence guitarist Sean Pierce. "INDULGE yourself and join the party!"

Opulence will be joining labelmates Gozu and Eyes of the Sun for a show presented by Blacklight Media and Revolver Magazine at Lucky 13 in Brooklyn, NY on October 18.

Tracklisting:

“Forever”
“Cursed”
“Ritual”
“Captain Balls”
“Black Magic”
“Sea Whore”
“Impaled”
“Chaka Fight”
“Judas & Thomas”




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Crystal Viper's Marta Gabriel has joined forces with Riot V's Todd Michael Hall to record a version "Shallow", the Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper hit from A Star Is Born. Watch a video below.

Says Marta: "I recorded many songs in duet in my life, but this one here, is very, very special. Todd Michael Hall , whom you mainly know as the Riot V singer, is not only a great friend of mine and a wonderful person, but also an incredibly talented vocalist. Few weeks ago we were talking about how great this Lady Gaga / Bradley Cooper song is, and that we should record it... And guess what, here it is!

"I'm very proud of how it sounds (special thanks to our producer Bart Gabriel , and sound engineer Rafał Kossakowski), but first of all, I hope it will bring a bit of attention to the problem which many people ignore... September was the suicide prevention month, however, the problem didn't disappear with the end of the month... It can be difficult to know when someone is struggling. Learn how to recognize the warning signs of a crisis, as it might happen to someone close to you. You can be the difference in getting them the help they need. Reach out for assistance. You are not alone." suicidepreventionlifeline.org




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Canada’s Morgan Rider And The Deep Dark River are announcing their new album and the second installment in The Deep Dark River quadrilogy saga - Leviathan and The Deep Dark Blue.

The first chapter was released King of The Forest (North Soul Records) this past June and now Leviathan and The Deep Dark Blue (North Soul Records) is ready to be experienced by listeners this coming November 22nd. The first single is “The Seafaerers”, which also comes in an acoustic version on the album.

Melodic, dreamy and folky, “The Seafaerers” tells the story of the Ocean God and his desire and attempts to destroy the shore dwellers, who in turn take up arms and set forth to claim the ocean as their own. An excellent excerpt from the story the whole album will detail, the single is being premiered by BraveWords! 

Morgan Rider And The Deep Dark River combine all the humble qualities of blues, folk and classical into a well-balanced, artfully crafted musical reflection on life, hope and old-fashioned storytelling while delivering a uniquely fresh and uplifting listening experience.

Tracklisting:

“Beneath The Crushing Tides”
“The Immeasurable Fathoms”
“Dread”
“Ignite The Tempests”
“The Seafaerers”
“When The Waves Are Stilled”
“Where The Light May Never Reach”
“The Immeasurable Fathoms” (acoustic)
“Dread” (acoustic)
“Ignite The Tempests” (acoustic)
“The Seafaerers” (acoustic)
“When The Waves Are Stilled” (acoustic)

Morgan Rider of The Deep Dark River embarks this fall to play 15 solo dates across Ontario before the album release concert on December 28. 

Dates:

October
13 – Pickering, ON – OpenStudio Art Café
15 – Whitby, ON – The Pearson
16 – Lindsay, ON – Coach & Horses
19 – Whitby, ON – Town Brewery
24 – Oshawa, ON – Cork & Bean*
26 – Waterloo, ON – The Beat Goes On
29 – Gravenhurst, ON – The Oar

November
1 – Campbellford, ON – Church Key Grindhouse
2 – Pickering ON – OpenStudio Art Café*
3 – Peterborough, ON – The Black Horse
15 – Bowmanville, ON – Manantler Craft Brewing
16 – Huntsville, ON – Huntsville Alehouse
21 – Kingston, ON – Musiikki
22 – Lindsay, ON – Boiling Over’s
27 – Perth, ON – Fiddleheads
28 – Toronto, ON – Cherry Cola’s (Leviathan album release party)

*duo




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Emerging rock band Last Kiss Goodnight (LKG), has revealed that their album Immortal will be released Friday, October 11 on all major digital platforms. 

According to LKG Lead Singer Ray Patricks, developing the signature LKG sound was a delicate balance between taking cues from such iconic grunge and rock bands as The Cult, Stone Temple Pilots, The Smashing Pumpkins and more, and shaping these with their own experiences. 

“When writing Immortal, we tried to stay as true to ourselves while still paying homage to the music that we all grew up with and were heavily influenced by”, Stroud said. “Very much like ‘Love Separation,’ listeners can expect to hear traces of grunge, alt and hard rock with undeniable hooks and unforgettable choruses throughout the album.” 

Last Kiss Goodnight’s mature tone and confident songwriting comes from its members more than two decades of experience on the Mid-Atlantic scene. Hailing from such esteemed bands as Agents Of The Sun, Live Alien Broadcast and The Mayan Factor, the Maryland-based quintet agrees that their debut effort is “the embodiment of [their] individual journeys and musical experiences from the past combined with a collective consciousness that is solely reflective of the band’s unparalleled passion and creativity.”

“Last Kiss Goodnight is a much more sophisticated representation of us individually and together,” said Robert Lasky, drummer for LKG. “It took us all being in several past projects in order to finally fall into a group that we each feel very confident about”. 

Working with long-time friend and Co-Producer/Engineer Frank Marchand of Waterford Digital Studios, in addition to mastering engineer Alan Douches of West West Side Music, the band’s inaugural effort features 12 songs that they wrote and produced themselves. To celebrate the success of “Love Separation,” Last Kiss Goodnight is also releasing an innovative, animated video directed by Francisco Enciso and hosting an album release party at The Metro Gallery in Baltimore, MD (1700 N. Charles St.) on Saturday, November 9. Tickets are available here.

Tracklisting:

“Love Separation”
“Miss Anything”
“These Bones”
“Maybe Someday”
“Son Of A Gun”
“Stitches”
“Bellview”
“Drowning”
“Blackbird”
“What Does It Mean”
“All That Was Beautiful” 




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Atlanta black 'n' rollers Cloak have shared the bewitching, occult-inspired music video for their latest single, "A Voice In The Night," which is taken from the band's upcoming sophomore record, The Burning Dawn. The video, which was once again created entirely by the band, can be seen below.

Cloak comment: "'A Voice In The Night' is a song about following the road of true freedom, which in turn is a road of constant strife. It's about venturing into the darkest corners of this doomed world and carving your own path until the end. This song is dedicated to those who have heard this voice, and those especially who were brave enough to heed its call."

Cloak will be supporting black metal masters 1349 on the band's upcoming North American tour. Cloak is first of the three band lineup, which will feature direct support from Uada. The trek will kick off on October 25, which is also the same day that Cloak's sophomore album, The Burning Dawn, will be released.

Cloak comment on the upcoming dates, "To coincide with the release of our new album The Burning Dawn, we will join 1349 and Uada on a blazing trail across the US and Canada. A new dawn beckons and the black flame burns high! See you on the road.”

Tour dates:

October
25 - Jacksonville, FL - 1904 Music Hall
26 - Asheville, NC - Mothlight
27 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
28 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
29 - Somerville, MA - ONCE Ballroom
30 - Quebec City, QC - L'Anti
31 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar

November
1 - Toronto, ON - Velvet Underground
2 - Chicago, IL - Cobra Lounge
3 - St Paul, MN - Turf Club
4 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
5 - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
6 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister Bar
7 - Las Vegas, NV    - Bunkhouse
8 - Los Angeles, CA - The Hi-Hat
9 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Metro Operahouse
10 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
11 - Mesa, AZ - Club Red
12 - El Paso, TX - Rockhouse
13 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
14 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey
15 - Memphis, TN - The Hi Tone
16 - Atlanta, GA - 529

Cloak comments on The Burning Dawn album: "We have spent the last two years meticulously crafting our new album that we have come to name The Burning Dawn. This process has changed us by giving way to a very different representation of our art, one that this album embodies completely. It is more of an attack than a reflection, and we feel that 'Tempter's Call' is the perfect introduction into this new chapter. Join us!"

The Burning Dawn can be pre-ordered in various formats here.

Conceptually, the record comes from a place below the surface where the sleepless and sinister dwell, and is absorbed by the darkest of dreams and the most primal desires. Musically, this exploration takes the gothic nuances of its predecessor while abandoning any hesitation in exchange for a more aggressive and vehement spirit.

While rippers like “On Poisoned Ground” and “Into The Storm” deliver a fury of soulful aggression, songs like “Lifeless Silence” and “The Fire, The Faith, The Void” offer a darker, gothic essence, ultimately displaying Cloak’s multi-faceted and dynamic musical diversity.

The artwork of The Burning Dawn was created by Adam Burke.

Tracklisting:

"March Of The Adversary"
"The Cleansing Fire"
"A Voice In The Night"
"Tempter’s Call"
"Into The Storm"
"Lifeless Silence"
"The Fire, The Faith, The Void"
"On Poisoned Ground"
"Where The Horrors Thrive"

"A Voice In The Night" video:

"Tempter’s Call" video:

"Into The Storm" video:

Lineup:

Scott Taysom - Vocals & Guitar
Max Brigham - Guitar
Sean Bruneau - Drums
Billy Robinson - Bass




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On October 25, Metal Blade Records will finish reissuing the Neaera catalogue chronologically on vinyl. After releasing the first four albums - The Rising Tide Of Oblivion, Let The Tempest Come, Armamentarium and Omnicide - it's time for Forging The Eclipse and Ours Is The Storm to get the Metal Blade vinyl treatment.

Both albums are available for pre-order here.

Available versions:

Forging The Eclipse
- 180g black vinyl
- white vinyl (ltd. 300 - EU-exclusive)
- red-black marbled vinyl (ltd. 200 - EU-exclusive)
- black/white split vinyl (ltd. 100 - MB Shop-exclusive)
- white/black marbled vinyl (ltd. 100 - US-exclusive)

Ours Is The Storm
- 180 g black vinyl
- ice-blue black marbled vinyl (ltd. 300 - EU-exclusive)
- white vinyl (ltd. 200 - EU-exclusive)
- black-white splatter vinyl (ltd. 100 - MB Shop-exclusive)
- grey-black marbled (ltd. 100 - US-exclusive)




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KISS has teamed up with Dynamite Comics for a KISS Zombies comic, in stores November 6.

A plot synopsis: “Decades after a zombie invasion has made humans an endangered species, the city of New Detroit is under siege. The people in charge have banned music, as the undead are attracted to sound, and have tried to rid the world of evidence that the greatest band in history have ever existed. Unwilling to live this way and take the leadership at their word, a group of teenagers set out on a dangerous trip to find KISS!

“From Ethan Sacks (Old Man Hawkeye, Old Man Quill) and Rodney Buchemi (Death of Hawkman, Uncanny X-Men) comes a story of survival and rebellion in a post-apocalyptic landscape devoid of rock ‘n’ roll!”

KISS' End Of The Road tour landed in Indianapolis on Saturday, August 31. The band have released new footage from the show. Watch "Black Diamond" below:

KISS are scheduled to perform next on November 16 at RAC Arena in Perth, WA. Find the band's End Of The Road tour itinerary here.

This November, KISS will play the first-ever show for great white sharks. (Turns out, they’re big fans.) Human fans can reserve their spot for this one-time-only concert event starting October 14. Brought to you in partnership with Animals on Airbnbexperiences!

What you'll do: Welcome to “Shark Rock City,” where KISS will perform a live set off the southern coast of Australia to entice sharks, who love the low-frequency sounds of rock and roll.

This once-in-a-lifetime ocean concert takes place on November 18, in Port Lincoln, where you’ll board a boat at 6:30 AM and cruise along the coastline looking for birds, dolphins, and other wildlife. For the main event, you’ll head out to the deep waters of the Indian Ocean - one of the biggest feeding grounds for great whites.

As KISS rocks out above water, you'll also get to see what's down under it. Watch from a glass bottom boat as the music attracts the legendary band's biggest (underwater) fans. KISS has played plenty of wild shows in the past, but this one will top them all.

Spots go on sale October 14, at 6 PM, EDT. Watch a video trailer below, and get more information here.




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Arizona death metal band, Gatecreeper, released their new album, Deserted, last Friday (October 4) via Relapse Records. You can now hear the full album below.

Deserted is out on CD/LP/CS/Digital. Physical packages are available here. Digital Downloads / Streaming Services are available here.

Deserted was recorded at Homewrecker Studios in Tucson, where Gatecreeper co-produced the album with engineer Ryan Bram. Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou handled the mix at Godcity in Salem, MA, and Brad Boatright mastered the album at Audiosiege in Portland, OR. Deserted’s hallucinatory cover art was created by Brad Moore.

Tracklisting:

"Deserted"
"Puncture Wounds"
"From The Ashes"
"Ruthless"
"Everlasting"
"Barbaric Pleasure"
"Sweltering Madness"
"Boiled Over"
"In Chains"
"Absence Of Light"

Album stream:

"From The Ashes" video:

Exhumed and Gatecreeper have announced a co-headlining North American tour through the fall. The tour begins on October 31 in Austin, TX and ends December 4 in Las Vegas, NV. Additional support by Necrot & Judiciary. All confirmed tour dates are available below.

Tour dates:

October
31 - Austin, TX - Barracuda

November
1 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
2 - Houston, TX - The Secret Group
4 - Tampa, FL - Crowbar
5 - Miami, FL - Chuchill’s
6 - Winter Park, FL - The Haven Lounge
7 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade - Hell Stage
8 - Lexington, KY - Cosmic Charlie’s
9 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
10 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
11 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry - The Fillmore
12 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bazaar
13 - Somerville, MA - ONCE Ballroom
15 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
16 - Lakewood, OH - Foundry
17 - Hamtramck, MI - Sanctuary
18 - Madison, WI - The Crucible
19 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry
20 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
22 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre
23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
24 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
25 - Bozeman, MT - The Eagles Ballroom
27 - Bellingham, WA - The Shakedown
28 - Vancouver, BC - The Fox Cabaret (No Exhumed/Necrot)
29 - Seattle, WA - Substation
30 - Portland, OR - Dante’s

December
1 - Arcata, CA - Rampart Skatepark
2 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Shop
3 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s
4 - Las Vegas, NV - Bunkhouse Saloon

(Photo - Joseph Maddon)




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French atmospheric doom metallers Angellore have checked in with the following update:

"Great news everyone! Angellore has signed a contract with the French label Finisterian Dead End! It feels great to share a label with our brothers in Ixion and Abduction. Expect some updates about our third album in the very near future!"

Frontman Walran recently spoke with Steel Interviews, offering a look at the band's history and goals. Following is an excerpt.

Q: What bands inspired you?

Walran: "As I mentioned earlier, although we listen to all kind of stuff, often non-metal related, when it comes to primary influences, I can only name
melodic/atmospheric doom/gothic metal bands. Saturnus, Draconian, Shape Of Despair would be our “top-3”, but I must also name Empyrium, Tristania, My Dying Bride, Theatre Of Tragedy, Ophelia, Uaral… And plenty of others. To give you a few concrete examples, 'Dans Les Vallées Éternelles' takes inspiration from While Heaven Wept’s 'The Drowning Years' and Draconian’s 'The Cry Of Silence', 'Tears Of Snow' is slightly inspired by Saturnus 'Descending', 'Still Glowing Ashes' is trying to recreate the very unique atmosphere of Within Temptation’s 'Enter'… Sometimes, a little something triggers our interest and we try to rekindle the same magical atmosphere in our own compositions."

Q: When is your new music coming?

Walran: "We were hoping that our third album would be out this year – the music has been ready for quite some time now – but it will most probably be released early next year, as we still have some work to do on the design, layout and booklet. There should be an announcement in the very near future so stay tuned! It’s going to be a great moment of joy to share new music with the world. We are really pleased and eager to read what people will think about our six new songs."

Check out the complete interview here.




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During an appearance on the latest episode of the "Appetite For Distortion" podcast, Jeff Gutt confirmed that he came close to auditioning for the singer position in ALICE IN CHAINS back in the early 2000s, just a couple of years after the death of the band's original frontman, Layne Staley.

"It's different than people think," the current STONE TEMPLE PILOTS vocalist said. "I was really good friends with John Corabi, who was the guy that took Vince Neil's spot [in MÖTLEY CRÜE]. He was working along the DRY CELL guys, when I was doing that. And I ran into him at a club once, and he was playing in a cover band. And at the time, he was doing a thing called CARDBOARD VAMPYRES, I believe, and it was basically ALICE IN CHAINS with John Corabi singing, and they were opening up festivals. And Corabi was, like, 'Dude, do you think you can fill in for me for the VAMPYRES thing?' And I'm, like, 'Yeah. 'Cause if I can get in a room and just sing with these guys, I'll get the gig.' It's kind of how I felt with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. And he goes, 'Well, [ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist/vocalist] Jerry's [Cantrell] right behind you.' And I was, like, 'What?' So that's the first time I met Jerry Cantrell. And he took my number and paid for my drinks the whole night. He was, like, 'Man, you really remind me of Layne.' And I was, like, 'I don't know if that's a compliment.' But he never called me. If he would have called me and I went and did that, things might have worked out differently. But, yeah, I joke with them now, because I actually just saw them in Detroit a week or two ago. I'm really good friends with [ALICE IN CHAINS bassist] Mike Inez. So I'm always saying hi to those guys and giving them a little poke every now and then… But Will [ALICE IN CHAINS singer William DuVall] is great. I love Will. He's amazing. And he's a good guy too. So, much respect to them."

ALICE IN CHAINS split after losing Staley in 2002, but reformed in 2005. The band is fronted by Cantrell and DuVall, who joined in 2006. Last year, ALICE released "Rainer Fog", its sixth album and third without Staley.

Gutt recently confirmed to "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS has completed work on a new album. The disc, which is not expected to arrive before 2020, will be Gutt's second with STP after joining the band two years ago. His recording debut with the group was on its self-titled seventh LP, which arrived in March 2018.

Gutt, a 43-year-old Michigan native who spent time in the early-2000s nu-metal act DRY CELL, among other bands, and was a contestant on "The X Factor", joined STONE TEMPLE PILOTS in 2017 after beating out roughly 15,000 hopefuls during an extended search that began more than a year earlier.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and RIVAL SONS will co-headline a North American tour this fall. The 12-city tour will kick off in Baltimore on September 13, with stops in Philadelphia, New York City, New Orleans and more, before wrapping up in STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' former hometown of San Diego on October 9.

Australian electro prog sensation, Voyager, have released a music video for their new single, "Entropy", which features Einar Solberg from Leprous.

Vocalist Danny Estrin comments on the video: "Touring with Leprous around Europe and Australia, we became good friends with the guys - they are fantastic musicians and fantastic human beings. Einar has one of the most unique styles and grasp for vocal melodies in progressive music today and it would have been remiss of me not to ask him to guest on this track. I gave Einar free reign to do what he wanted - a risky move usually, but not with Mr Solberg. The end result is stunning - a truly catchy Voyager track with some soaring Solberg - it doesn't get better than that!

Solberg adds: “I was super happy to participate on 'Entropy' with my good friends from Voyager. Very groovy stuff! Danny gave me some guidelines for vocals but I didn’t even listen to them."

Danny continues: "I can confirm that Einar definitely didn't listen to the reference track. #surprisevocals"

"Entropy" is taken from the band's upcoming new album, Colours In The Sun, which is due on November 1 via Season Of Mist. Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"Colours"
"Severomance"
"Brightstar"
"Saccharine Dream"
"Entropy"
"Reconnected"
"Now Or Never"
"Sign Of The Times"
"Water Over The Bridge"
"Runaway"

"Water Over The Bridge" playthrough video:

"Colours" video:

Lineup:

Danny Estrin - Vocals
Simone Dow - Guitars
Alex Canion - Bass
Scott Kay - Guitars
Ash Doodkorte - Drums




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Nanowar Of Steel, international masters of parody-metal, have pushed it to the next level and signed a worldwide contract with Napalm Records.

Humor in metal is a rarity, but Nanowar Of Steel impressively boost its existence by mixing contrasting musical styles like ska and true metal, crafting a genre-fluid fun formation. The band was formed in 2003 in Rome (Italy) and has been dedicated to tongue-in-cheek metal ever since.

The band’s unique sense of humor is rooted somewhere between the Italian sun and the darkness of the Norwegian winter. Their latest release, “Norwegian Reggaeton”, combines all well-known clichés of both cultures, creating a new, unprecedented offering.

After four full length studio albums, the band is now ready to take the next step on the Stairway to Valhalla. Beware: Nanowar Of Steel take “parody very seriously”!

Nanowar Of Steel on the signing: “We are proud to show the world that we are not just a bunch of uneducated clowns, but a bunch of uneducated clowns with writing and reading skills, as the reading and signing of an actual music contract shows. For the first time in our 15-year career, this record deal will allow us to show the world that our idiocy truly has no boundaries. Thanks, Napalm, for believing in us and in our special brand of genre-fluid metal!"

With their latest release, “Norwegian Reggaeton”, Nanowar Of Steel have created the first metaltón (metal + reggaeton) song in the history of summer hits. After the digital release in July, a limited 7” single, which contains the songs "Norwegian Reggaeton" and "Bestie di Seitan", will be released on November 22. Pre-order here.
 
Nanowar Of Steel live dates:

October
31 - Milan, Italy - Slaughter Club

November
1 - Florence, Italy - Viper
28 - Athens, Greece - Gagarin 205
29 - Thessaloníki, Greece - Eightball Club
30 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Mixtape 5

December
1 - Belgrade, Russia - Klub Fest Zemun
2 - Zagreb, Croatia - Boogaloo

February
28 - L‘Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain - Salamandra
29 - Murcia, Spain - Garaje Beat Club

March
7 - Madrid, Spain - Fosa de Frikis

Nanowar Of Steel are:

Mohammed Abdul - guitar and keyboards, vocals
Gattopanceri666 - guitar and bass
Uinona Raider - drums, guitars, vocals
Potowotominimak  - vocals
Baffo - miscellaneous sound effects, DJ




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Belgian symphonic speed metallers, Magic Kingdom, have released a lyric video for "Fear My Fury", featured on the band's MetAlmighty album, out via AFM Records on November 22. Watch the clip below, and pre order the album here.

The new album delivers 100% of what the fans are expecting, Dushan's splendid guitar work combined with the strong vocal performance of Michael Vescera puts flesh on the songs and zests artfulness.

"Michael's vocals are very expressive and passionate," notes Petrossi. "He always gives 100% and holds nothing back. We needed someone like him and are very glad that he is part of the band now.”

The bands sound has iron balls, is deeply rooted in melodic metal, and definitively has a mind of its own. The furious playing of Petrossi especially adds the neo-classical touch, no wonder that the excellent guitarist is compared to greats like Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Romeo.

And so the new album MetAlmighty will hook up right there where Savage Requiem ended. The production of the new album delights with flawless and nuanced sound, which develops an amazing amount of pressure and an arc of suspense at the same time.

Tracklisting:

"Unleash The Dragon"
"Wizards And Witches"
"In The Den Of The Mountain Trolls"
"Fear My Fury"
"Rise From The Ashes, Demon"
"Metalmighty"
"So Fragile"
"Temple Of No Gods"
"Just A Good Man"
"Dark Night, Dark Thoughts"
"King Without A Crown"

"Fear My Fury" lyric video:

"Wizards And Witches":

Lineup:

Dushan Petrossi (guitars)
Michael Vescera (vocals)
Vassili Moltchanov (bass)
Michael Brush (drums)

 




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ARTE Concert has uploaded professionally filmed video footage of DEATH ANGEL's entire August 14 performance at the Summer Breeze festival in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. Check it out below.

DEATH ANGEL recently announced a fall 2019 North American headlining tour with openers EXMORTUS and HELLFIRE. The month-long trek will kick off on November 16 in Seattle and end on December 19 in West Hollywood.

DEATH ANGEL is continuing to tour in support of its ninth full-length album, "Humanicide", which was released in May via Nuclear Blast Records.

With "Humanicide", DEATH ANGEL has maintained its throne in the universe of thrash while still managing to remain progressive in their style. They apply a wide variety of different elements to their music, always pushing to add newness to their sound. This time around they've included everything from acoustic bits to guest musicians to even (for the first time) the notes of a piano. All 10 songs flow seamlessly yet each leaves its own distinct impression.

For the fourth album cycle in a row, DEATH ANGEL returned to producer and friend Jason Suecof (DEICIDE, TRIVIUM) of Audiohammer studios for the recording and mixing, along with the mastering of the legendary Ted Jensen (SLIPKNOT, PANTERA) of Sterling Sound, who added the final touches and brought it all to life, with artist Brent Elliott White (LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH) providing the ominous cover artwork.

Edge Of Thorns have released a lyric video for 'Controller Of Our Destiny", the first single from the band's new album, out in 2020.

Says the band: "The song includes everything Edge Of Thorns stands for. Power metal at its best! The fantastic drum recording was done by Martin Buchwalter at Gernhart Studios (Tankard, Destruction, Perzonal War, Paul Dianno, Victor Smolski) and mix and master was done by the one and only Achim Köhler (Brainstorm, Primal Fear, Amon Amarth, Sodom, At Vance, Sinner, Symphorce).




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On October 25, Cirith Ungol will release their new live album/DVD, I'm Alive, via Metal Blade Records. Capturing Cirith Ungol at the peak of their darkened, mystical powers before a rapturous crowd at the Up the Hammers festival in Athens, Greece, this recording showcases the magic and might of the band onstage. It's accompanied by additional performances recorded at the Hammer of Doom (2017) and Rock Hard Festivals (2018) in Germany. For this monumental release, a special in-depth documentary spanning 2 hours in length was recorded, which includes exclusive interviews about the history and legacy of the band, as told by the current and original members.

For a preview of I'm Alive, a video for "Join The Legion" (live at Up The Hammers Fest) can be seen below:

Once again, acclaimed fantasy artist Michael Whelan (whose images adorn each cover of Cirith Ungol's four studio albums) has created the perfect visual accompaniment for the musical content. It's only fitting as Whelan's breathtaking artwork is inextricably intertwined with the music and mythology of Cirith Ungol in the hearts and imaginations of metalheads worldwide.

Pre-order the album/DVD here in the following formats:

- digipak 2CD/2DVD
- deluxe box set (digipak 2CD/2DVD, bonus DVD, purple marbled vinyl, bonus 10", drum stick, mini mic, picks, backpatch, keychain, laminate, autographed photocard, setlist, A1 poster - limited to 1000 copies)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- ultraviolet marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 500 copies)
- red rust marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- emerald green marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- pink w/ purple splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 100 copies)
- plum marbled vinyl (US exclusive - limited to 250 copies)
- white marbled vinyl (US exclusive - limited to 250 copies)

* digital options are also available

Tracklisting 2CD/2DVD:

CD 1:
- Live Audio from Up The Hammers Festival, May 27, 2017, Gagarin 205, Athens, Greece

CD2:
- Bonus Tracks - Hammer Of Doom Festival - Nov 18, 2017, Posthalle, Würzburg, Germany

DVD 1:
- Up The Hammers Festival 2017 (Full live set)
- Hammer Of Doom Festival 2018 (Full live set)

DVD 2:
- Documentary approx. 2:00:00
- Rock Hard Festival 2018 (Full live set): 00:57:34
- Rock Hard Interview: 00:10:48




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