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




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

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)

 




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

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).




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

On 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




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

Canadian “trash-n-roll” band, Rebel Priest, has set November 22 as the release date for R’lyeh Heavy, their first release with Scrape Records.

Recorded in early 2019, R’lyeh Heavy showcases the band’s diverse brand of heavy rock, combining elements of classic metal (“The Summoning”, “Emperor”); biker rock (“Electric Lady”); 80s sleaze (“Hangman”, “Dead End World”), and even a dash of reggae (“Lighten The Load”). Lyrical highlights include “Elm Street”, the speed metal-tinged tribute to Freddy Krueger, and “Snake Eyes” - an ode to gambling which would make Lemmy proud.

A video for "Electric Lady", produced by R.D.Cane, can be found below.

Guitarist Benny Kemp comments: “It's finally time to announce what we've been spending the better part of a year putting our hearts and insanity into - this is the culmination of all the sounds we love with all the topics that move us. This project couldn't have happened without some of the most amazing people we have ever worked with, and we are forever grateful for the honesty and loyalty along the way!”

Pre-orders of the album are available here in various formats, including CD (digipak), Limited Edition Vinyl (various colour options) and merchandise bundles.

Tracklisting:

"The Summoning"
"Electric Lady"
"Hangman"
"Elm Street"
"Snake Eyes"
"Emperor"
"Lighten The Load"
"Dead End World"

"Electric Lady" video:

Rebel Priest launched a Japanese tour on October 8, which will include an appearance at Kappunk, the annual Tokyo punk festival.




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

The official lyric video for "This Is How We Roll", the title track of the third studio album from DOWN 'N' OUTZ, the project headed up by DEF LEPPARD frontman and 2019 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Joe Elliott, can be seen below. The disc will be released on October 11 via UMC.

The band, featuring THE QUIREBOYS' Paul Guerin (guitar), Guy Griffin (guitar) and Keith Weir (keyboards), plus Share Ross (bass, VIXEN) and Phil Martini (drums, WAYWARD SONS), takes a different approach on "This Is How We Roll" to its previous album. This new album only features one cover version — THE TUBES' "White Punks On Dope" — alongside 11 original Elliott-penned tracks.

Griffin says: "'This Is How We Roll' is absolutely fantastic, probably one of the best records I've worked on. It doesn't sound like LEPPARD or the first two DOWN 'N' OUTZ records. It's kind of all the stuff Joe grew up with, a lot of piano-type stuff, a bit Elton John, one track a bit 10CC, a couple of good rockers… a real mix of stuff. Joe's voice sounds amazing and it's great fun to do."

Elliott says: "Boy, has this has been a long time coming?! Recorded in infrequent bursts of activity over a five-year period whenever our respective motherships allowed, I'm extremely proud of what we've achieved with this album. I'm blessed to have worked with such a superb bunch of musicians on this collection of songs. To a man, and woman (!), they completely got my vision of what I wanted us to convey on this record and, as usual, working with a world-class producer/engineer in Ronan McHugh, has guaranteed the sound of the record to be top-notch! I couldn't be more proud."

From breathless opener "Another Man's War" to the lush "Last Man Standing", to the epic six-minute "Let It Shine", this is an album that draws on all the influences that have shaped both Joe Elliott and the previous DOWN 'N' OUTZ albums to create a stunning collection of original songs.

"This Is How We Roll" was produced by Joe Elliott with co-production by Ronan McHugh. The album was recorded at Joe Elliott's own studio Joe's Garage.

The album will be available on CD, LP, digitally and also on limited-edition 12-inch picture disc LP.

The DOWN 'N' OUTZ project was born in 2009 when MOTT THE HOOPLE reformed and asked long-time friend and fan Elliott to get involved. Joe formed the DOWN 'N' OUTZ with Paul, Guy, Keith and Phil. Together they looked to bring songs by MOTT THE HOOPLE and spin off projects of MOTT, Ian Hunter and BRITISH LIONS to a wider audience.

In 2009, DOWN 'N' OUTZ supported MOTT THE HOOPLE at one of the band's five Hammersmith Apollo shows. The fan interest eventually led to the band looking to put together an album and. 2011 saw the release of the critically acclaimed debut "My Re-Generation" through Mailboat Records (Joe Perry, Walter Becker, Chris Isaak, Jeff Bridges). "My Re-Generation" included the singles "England Rocks" and "Overnight Angels" that reached No. 4 and No. 1, respectively, on the U.S. Mediabase rock chart — keeping Eric Clapton's new single off the top of the chart for two weeks. The band then released a live DVD taken from those initial shows called "Live At Hammersmith Apollo". A second studio album, "The Further Adventures Of…", was released in 2014 and featured the single "Rock And Roll Queen". New bassist Share Ross debuted on 2017's live album and DVD "The Further Live Adventures Of…"

A stunning live act — having toured with the likes of Paul Rodgers across the U.K. (including the Royal Albert Hall) and festival performances including High Voltage and Planet Rockstock, DOWN 'N' OUTZ is planning live dates to support "This Is How We Roll".

"This Is How We Roll" track listing:

CD

01. Another Man's War

02. This Is How We Roll

03. Goodnight Mr. Jones

04. Creatures

05. Last Man Standing

06. Music Box

07. Boys Don't Cry

08. Walking To Babylon

09. Let It Shine

10. Music Box Reprise/Griff's Lament

11. White Punks On Dope

12. The Destruction Of Hideous Objects Part 3

LP / Picture Disc

Side One

01. Another Man's War

02. This Is How We Roll

03. Goodnight Mr. Jones

04. Creatures

05. Last Man Standing

Side Two



01. Music Box

02. Boys Don't Cry

03. Walking To Babylon

04. Let It Shine

05. Music Box Reprise/Griff's Lament*

06. White Punks On Dope

07. The Destruction Of Hideous Objects Part 3

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of one of the hottest new AOR bands to come out of the underground European scene, Stardust. Signed after some fans put the band to the attention of label staff during one of the Frontiers Rock Festivals, Stardust are preparing to release their label debut in 2020.

“Our first EP got really good feedback from the fans, not only from Hungary, but from around the world,” says singer Adam Stewart. “I expect that our debut album, that is currently underway, will be enjoyed by a much bigger amount of melodic rock fans thanks to our new cooperation with Frontiers. Stardust plays AOR/Melodic Rock with catchy melodies and lyrics, so Frontiers is truly a perfect home for us. We look forward to releasing our album and planning more tours, shows, and videos to be shared with the fans!"

Of notable mention is that none other than the mighty Mark Spiro (Bad English, House Of Lords, Giant) and the legendary Tommy Denander helped the guys with songwriting and production for their debut album.

Founded by two friends, Adam Stewart (lead vocals) and Tim Keeley (drums) in 2015, the band is rounded out by Facey (lead guitar and vocals), Dave Legrand (keyboard), and Ben Martin (bass and vocals). The group's style is an amalgam of the classic melodic hard rock and AOR genres, with hooky choruses, beautiful keyboards and vocal harmonies, and loud guitars in the style of their favorite mid-80's bands, bringing to life this well beloved music in the 21st century.

The band independently released the Shine EP, from which this single and video for the track "Shout it Out!" was lifted. For a taste of what's in store from Stardust, check the clip below.

Stardust is:

Adam Stewart - Vocals
Dave Legrand - Keyboards
Ben Martin - Bass
Tim Keeley - Drums
Facey - Guitars




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

Frontiers Music Srl will release The Ferrymen's sophomore album, A New Evil, on October 11. Pre-order the album here, and watch a video for the song "No Matter How Hard We Fall" below.

The Ferrymen, featuring Ronnie Romero (vocals), Magnus Karlsson (guitar) and Mike Terrana (drums), released their debut album in June 2017 and took fans of the European melodic metal sound by surprise as they seemingly came out of nowhere. With songwriting and fretwork handled by ace Swedish guitarist Magnus Karlsson (Primal Fear, Magnus Karlsson's Free Fall), the awesome vocals of singer Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, CoreLeoni), and drummer Mike Terrana (Axel Rudi Pell, Tarja, Rage) bringing the heavy metal thunder, the band quickly found their home in the hearts of fans of the classic DIO sound combined with heavier, updated songwriting textures and arrangements.

Musically, fans can expect in A New Evil a very heavy, melodic metal album fusing the songwriting and epic structures of the widely praised Allen/Lande records (guitarist Magnus Karlsson was the main architect of the first three critically acclaimed releases) with the powerful vocal approach of Romero (let's not forget that Romero was hand-picked by legendary Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to be the lead vocalist for Rainbow's recent reunion shows). True heavy metal fans are of course quite familiar with the well regarded Terrana and what his drumming skill set brings to the table on a heavy metal album of this nature. And what metal album would be complete without some stunning artwork? Renowned artist Stan W. Decker's album cover rounds out this colossal heavy metal offering.

"A New Evil is a bit heavier and more progressive,” says Magnus Karlsson. "I’m always learning and try to improve my songs and productions each time out. Working with Ronnie and Mike is a such a great experience. I can concentrate on the writing and whatever I will come up with I know they will nail it! This time Jacob Hansen (Pretty Maids, Volbeat, etc.) did the mix and it works really well with the heavy style.”

“I think it's a great album and people are gonna love it as they did with the first one,” adds Romero. “Everybody knows Magnus' skills to write great music, so it’s really easy to like every song on the album. This time was maybe even easier to work together because is the second album and we know each other better, he knew how to get my best performances, so I’m very proud about my work and grateful to have Magnus working side by side with me.”

"I have a few favourites like 'Don’t Stand In My Way', 'Bring Me Home', and 'A New Evil'. But a very special song for me is 'No Matter How Hard We Fall'. When you hear Ronnie in that chorus you will get goosebumps,” continues Magnus. Ronnie’s favourite is 'Bring Me Home', but I’m really looking forward to when people can hear the whole album because I'm sure they are gonna love every second of music on it!”

Tracklisting:

"Don’t Stand In My Way"
"Bring Me Home"
"A New Evil"
"The Night People Rise"
"Save Your Prayers"
"Heartbeat"
"Your Own Hero"
"No Matter How Hard We Fall"
"My Dearest Fear"
"You Against The World"
"All We Got"

"No Matter How Hard We Fall" video:

"Bring Me Home" lyric video:

"A New Evil" video:

Lineup:

Ronnie Romero - Vocals
Magnus Karlsson - Guitars, Bass & Keyboards
Mike Terrana - Drum




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

Ozzy Osbourne has once again postponed his European tour.

In early April, Ozzy scrapped 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. The European leg of his "No More Tours 2" trek was then rescheduled for January-March 2020, with the North American dates set to follow in May 2020.

Earlier today, Ozzy's social media was update with a video message from the BLACK SABBATH legend in which he announced the postponement of the 2020 European tour and addressed his health status.

He said: "I'm here to give you an update on my condition. As you probably know, or you may not know, at the beginning of this year, I had a bad fall. I screwed all the vertebrae in my neck and had to have surgery. I've got a lot more nuts and bolts in my neck now than in my car. I'm not dying, I am recovering — it's just taking a little bit longer than everyone thought it would. I'm bored stiff of being stuck on a fucking bed all day. I can't wait to get off my ass and get going again. But you're just gonna have to be a little bit more patient. I'm postponing the European tour because I'm not ready. I'm not retiring — I've still got gigs to do — but when I do come back on an American tour, I wanna be one hundred percent ready to come out and knock your fucking socks off. And also, there's a new album on the way."

He added: "Thank you to my band and my crew and [promoter] Live Nation, and most of all, [support act] JUDAS PRIEST.

"I just wanna say one thing to the fans: I sincerely thank you for your patience and your loyalty. I love you. Now, will you fuck off and let me get better."

According to Live Nation Sweden, the new European tour dates will now take place "in the first half of 2021."

Ozzy previously admitted that he thought he was "done" and was "scared" that his latest illness was going to be the end for him. Speaking to The Sun, he said: "Sharon [Ozzy's wife and manager] was saying, 'You've got to get out of bed.' I would say, 'What's the point? I'm dying.' There were many times I thought: 'I'm done.' I was scared. I thought that was it."

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 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.

HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS will release a collection of B-sides and rarities titled "Lost Frequencies" on November 8 via Pure Noise Records. The band has also released a brand new single and music video for "Hard To Breathe".

Vocalist JT Woodruff states about the personal track: "I grew up in a home built on a fractured marriage, alcoholism, and a mother who loved us, but just didn't know how to articulate it into words. We packed up all of our things and left my father behind in the winter of 1989, and never looked back. I didn't see him again, until he was in a coffin."

"'Hard To Breathe' is the story of my youth from 1988-1992. I spent a lot of time with quiet resentment until I found my circle of friends and felt outside love for the first time. While the story has some dark twists and turns, it's really just an articulation of some of the coldest nights of my life."

"Lost Frequencies" is the follow-up release to HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS' latest full-length, "Bad Frequencies", which was released last year via Pure Noise Records. It was the band's first full-length release since 2013 and gave fans a look back on why HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS has maintained such a strong presence in the genre while continuously growing, maturing and reflecting on life as musicians and as men. The album was produced by HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS along with Nick Ingram, and mixed by Cameron Webb.

HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS is composed of JT Woodruff (vocals, guitar), Mark McMillon (guitar, backing vocals), Matt Ridenour (bass, backing vocals), Chris Popadak (drums). The band has remained dedicated to its fans and has maintained a hard-working DIY mentality over the course of its 14-year career while delivering monumental albums like "The Silence In Black And White" and "If Only You Were Lonely".

HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS will support NEW FOUND GLORY on the "From The Screen To Your Stereo To Your Town" tour.

Photo credit: Kat Nijmeddin

YES, one of the most innovative of all prog-rock bands, has announced an eight-date U.K. tour for May and June of 2020. "The Album Series 2020 Tour" will feature YES's 1974 "Relayer" album performed in its entirety together with a selection of other classic YES favorites. An extensive European tour will be announced soon.

This tour follows YES's 2018 highly successful "#YES50" anniversary trek and again features the lineup of Steve Howe (guitars), Alan White (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals), Jon Davison (vocals) and Jay Schellen (additional drums and percussion).

The show will comprise two sets by the band with full production and a high-definition video wall. The first will feature favorite classic tracks from YES's extensive catalog. The second will feature "Relayer", the seventh studio album by YES, and one of the band's most distinctive. "Relayer" marked a slight change in direction as Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman on keyboards, bringing an edgier, avant-garde feel to the album. This was perfect for the opening track "Gates Of Delirium", almost 22 minutes in length, with its battle scene featuring the keyboard of Moraz and Steve Howe's guitar. The battle gives way to the beautiful closing ballad "Soon", a prayer for peace and hope. The album continues with "Sound Chaser", a prog-rock-jazz fusion experiment heavily influenced by Moraz's style, and "To Be Over", a calm and gentle conclusion to the album, based on a melody by Steve Howe.

Released in late 1974 on Atlantic Records, "Relayer" continued YES's success, reaching No. 4 in the U.K. album chart and No. 5 in the U.S. Billboard chart.

"We are really looking forward to playing ALL of the 'Relayer' album," says Steve Howe. "Having premiered 'The Gates Of Delirium' this year, we continue by expanding our 'Album Series' with all the tracks: 'The Gates Of Delirium', 'Sound Chaser' and 'To Be Over'." Howe goes on to say: "During the first half of the evening, we'll be performing a refined selection from YES's enormous 50-year-plus repertoire. See you there!"

Alan White comments: "I always enjoy coming home to England so I'm especially looking forward to YES's upcoming 'Album Series 2020' tour. 'Relayer', I believe, is one of the most creative and interesting musical compilations in the band's repertoire. Challenging and extremely enjoyable to play, I'm happy to be bringing this music back to live stages throughout Europe. I hope all who attend our shows will enjoy these cuts as much as we like performing them for our audiences."

U.K. dates are as follows:

May 26 - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

May 27 - Nottingham Royal Concert Hall

May 29 - York Barbican

May 30 - Gateshead The Sage

May 31 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Jun. 02 - Birmingham Symphony Hall

Jun. 03 - Manchester Bridgewater Hall

Jun. 05 - London Royal Albert Hall

Tickets go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10:00 a.m.

Roger Dean will attend every show on European dates, and will have an exhibition of his iconic art, will be available to chat with fans front of house and sign merch, plus will be in the VIP meet-and-greets.

Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late and much-missed Chris Squire, YES has been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history. Their 1970s albums "The Yes Album", "Fragile", "Close To The Edge", "Yessongs" (a triple live album set), "Tales From Topographic Oceans", "Relayer" and "Going For The One" were ground-breaking in musical style and content. Their music also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean, whose distinctive YES logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many YES albums.

With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy-award winning YES was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, where they performed "Roundabout" from the album "Fragile" and the FM radio-friendly "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" from the 1985 album "90125".

Finnish hard rock/heavy metal monsters LORDI will release their new album, "Killection", on January 31, 2020 via AFM Records. Once more Mr. Lordi, the master of the masquerade, presents us with one of his ideas, absurd and genius at the same time, and comes up with a concept that has never been done before in the music industry: This is a compilation album that simply says "what if" LORDI had been in existence since the early 1970s. It contains all LORDI's imaginary hit singles from different periods done with painstaking attention to detail using authentic studios and vintage technology. This is how they would have sounded if LORDI had made music back then and therefore would have had the hit material to release this compilation now.

Mr. Lordi comments: "'Killection' is a fictional compilation album. It contains songs that LORDI would have written between the early '70s through the mid-'90s. The compilation contains one 'brand new' song from 2019 as well, 'cause that’s somehow always typical for compilations."

"Killection" track listing:

01. Radio SCG 10

02. Horror For Hire

03. Shake The Baby Silent

04. Like A Bee To The Honey

05. Apollyon

06. SCG10 The Last Hour

07. Blow My Fuse

08. I Dug A Hole In The Yard For You

09. Zombimbo

10. Up To No Good

11. SCG10 Demonic Semitones

12. Cutterfly

13. Evil

14. Scream Demon

15. SCG10 I Am Here

LORDI won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" and remains the first and only winner from Finland in the history of the competition. Since then, the band has gone through several lineup changes. The original members who are still active with the band are Mr. Lordi and guitarist Amen.

Wymer Publishing has set a December 6 release date for "Ian Gillan: A Visual Biography".

Without doubt, Ian Gillan has proven to be one of the greatest and most enduring rock singers of all time. From his early career in sixties pop band EPISODE SIX, through to DEEP PURPLE, as well as a brief period with BLACK SABBATH, he has continued to surprise and delight millions of fans around the world.

Forays into unchartered territory, such as his role in the original "Jesus Christ Superstar", as well as a variety of solo projects, including the jazz-inspired IAN GILLAN BAND, have proven that time and again Ian Gillan is more than just the lead singer with DEEP PURPLE.

This publication plots his career from the early sixties through to the present day in a visual timeline that charts his extraordinary and colorful career.

Digging deep into the archives, we have managed to pull together a vast array of photos and imagery, much of which has never been seen before. This includes many previously unpublished photos from his days with EPISODE SIX and beyond. Offstage and backstage photos from his early career through to DEEP PURPLE and his solo projects are all included, alongside onstage photos capturing Ian doing what he does best.

"A Visual Biography" also includes many rare items of memorabilia, including a full itinerary from the IAN GILLAN BAND's 1977 Japanese tour, plus posters and cuttings that help to document over fifty years as one of rock's most iconic frontmen.

For more information, click here.

The Zappa Trust has announced the release of two books honoring legendary musician and composer Frank Zappa's legacy: "Zappa Gear: The Unique Guitars, Amplifiers, Effects Units, Keyboards And Studio Equipment" by Mick Ekers with foreword by Dweezil Zappa; and "The Hot Rats Book", in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Frank Zappa's "Hot Rats" album by Bill Gubbins and Ahmet Zappa.

"These books provide another way for fans to connect with Frank Zappa," Ahmet Zappa says. "They give a fascinating window into Frank's mind and the ideas he came up with throughout his career."

First up, the November 29 release of "Zappa Gear: The Unique Guitars, Amplifiers, Effects Units, Keyboards And Studio Equipment". "Zappa Gear" offers an unprecedented inside look at the machinery behind the legendary music. In addition to a detailed presentation of the equipment, "Zappa Gear" also introduces some of the pioneering inventors, engineers, and entrepreneurs without whom the instruments would not exist.

Frank Zappa was an unremitting musical innovator and experimenter, always looking for ways to exploit the latest advances in technology. His working life coincided with the explosive development of music technology that ran from the 1960s through the following three decades. Without such inventions as the Marshall amplifier, the Gibson SG, the wah-wah pedal, and the Synclavier — much of it modified to Zappa's requirements and used in ways for which they had never been designed — Zappa's "air sculptures," as his music has been described, would have had a significantly different shape and texture. Lavishly illustrated, the book includes over 180 unique photographs of Frank Zappa's guitars and equipment taken by the author at Zappa's UMRK studio in Los Angeles. "Zappa Gear" is an official Frank Zappa book produced and written with the full cooperation and endorsement of Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family Trust.

The following month will see the release of "The Hot Rats Book", out December 15. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the much-loved "Hot Rats" LP, Ahmet Zappa and the Zappa Trust have teamed with Backbeat Books and Bill Gubbins, the only photographer to document the "Hot Rats" sessions, to create "The Hot Rats Book", a deluxe, commemorative book packed with never-before-seen photos and an interview between Ahmet and Gubbins documenting the "Hot Rats" sessions and last U.S. show of the original MOTHERS OF INVENTION on August 10, 1969 at Cleveland's Musicarnival in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. "A movie for your ears" is how rock icon Frank Zappa first described his album "Hot Rats", which remains, 50 years after its release, not only one of Zappa's most critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums, but a stunning tour-de-force of the totality of his musical genius and legendary skills as a composer, lyricist, producer, arranger, studio innovator and virtuoso guitar player. "The Hot Rats Book" is an official Frank Zappa book produced and written with the full cooperation and endorsement of the Zappa Trust.

About Ahmet Zappa: Ahmet Zappa, the second son of Frank and Gail Zappa, is, in addition to being a co-trustee of the Zappa Family Trust, a successful entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, and film and television screenwriter and producer.

About Mick Ekers: Mick Ekers is a lifelong Frank Zappa enthusiast, first seeing the original MOTHERS OF INVENTION at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 1968. A musician and self-confessed equipment geek, in the 1970s he worked as a sound engineer and also sold sound equipment and early synthesizers.

About Bill Gubbins: Bill Gubbins's photographs have appeared in the New York Times and Rolling Stone and have been exhibited in the United States (Detroit, Nashville, Philadelphia, and soon, Los Angeles) as well as internationally (Bad Doberan, Germany; Klagenfurt, Austria). Gubbins had just turned 19 when Zappa invited him to document the "Hot Rats" sessions after being interviewed by him following the Musicarnival show.

About Backbeat Books: Since 1991, Backbeat Books have been favorites among passionate music fans and musicians own for their depth, spirit, and authority, Backbeat offers a diverse range of books — from biographies and memoirs, critical examinations and histories, to authoritative volumes on musical instruments and instruction — covering all areas of rock 'n' roll, jazz, and beyond.

Video footage of GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna and guitarist Tony Rombola performing an acoustic version of the song "Under Your Scars" on SiriusXM's Octane Unleaded can be seen below.

"Under Your Scars" is taken from GODSMACK's latest album, "When Legends Rise", which came out last year. The disc was recorded at GODSMACK's headquarters (GSHQ) in Derry, New Hampshire and produced by Erik Ron and Erna.

Erna stated about the track: "'Under Your Scars' has become such an important song to me for so many reasons. It's the first time GODSMACK has decided to put this kind of a ballad on an album, which was pretty ballsy for us. I'm so happy that the fans have embraced it in the way they have, because the meaning behind it is so much bigger than any of us. It reminds me that taking all the credit without acknowledging the people or events that have touched our lives deeply enough to inspire songs like these, and so many others would just be wrong."

He continued: "So humbly I will say, this song came to me shortly after I had spent some quality time with someone who I consider a dear friend, and have grown to admire and respect as one of the smartest and most talented artists today, Stephanie Germanotta, who most of you may know as Lady Gaga. In the short amount of time we hung out, she made me realize that we all have these imperfections, these wounds that we carry (whether they're physical or emotional) that cut so deep they can cripple us. These feelings leave us vulnerable, or embarrassed, or even unworthy at times. And our human nature — when they're exposed — is to shut down, rather than embrace them and realize that not only can we overcome them, but we can also become an inspiration to inspire others to have a voice and find their inner strength to show their scars off loudly and proudly to the world. Our 'Scars' are nothing more than our battle wounds from life and they helped mold you into who you are today."

Erna added: "All of this is what drove us to create The Scars Foundation, our new non-profit organization battling everything from severe depression to addiction, bullying, suicide prevention and so on. Finding acceptance, that's what 'Under Your Scars' and what The Scars Foundation are about. We're all imperfect — that's what makes us perfect!"

Just prior to the release of "When Legends Rise", Erna told Classic Rock that "Under Your Scars" was "probably the most important song on this record where comes to expanding, because it's the first time we've really put a legitimate ballad on a GODSMACK record. It was the first time we introduced piano to the brand," he explained. "It was taking a little bit of what I've done over the years with my solo stuff, and hybriding it to come up with a more classic ballad, like the 'Dream On's and the 'Stairway To Heaven's and the 'November Rain's. I can't say it competes with those songs — obviously it's too new, and those songs are legendary — but I feel like it kind of has those elements of an epic ballad. It starts off very slow and keeps on growing and growing and growing into this big epic finale, and it has some of the deepest lyrics on the record."

He continued: "I think the biggest craving a human being needs to satisfy is the need to be loved, and as corny as that sounds we all carry these scars. What's important is that the connection is strong, and as long as you understand that you're willing to live with these scars, then you don't have to run away when something scares you."

HELLYEAH guitarist Tom Maxwell has admitted to "The Brutally Delicious Podcast" that he and his bandmates were contemplating calling it quits immediately after getting the news that their drummer, Vinnie Paul Abbott, had died. "We didn't know what to do," he said. "We were, like, 'How [do we keep going]? How do we do this?' It's more than just a drummer — it's our best friend, our brother. And there was a lot of doubt and a lot of anxiety towards the thought of doing it again. I mean, we didn't have a finished record, and I think going in and finishing the album helped us kind of break that ice a little bit. And then, when we agreed to do the one-off show in [Las] Vegas [in May], it was either gonna be awesome, or it really wasn't gonna be awesome. And it turned out to be fantastic, and it really kind of cemented that we had to keep it going.

"I knew in the back of my mind that Vince would have been extremely disappointed and probably heartbroken if we didn't honor the record and honor what he would want us to do," Tom continued.

According to Maxwell, HELLYEAH hasn't made any long-term plans yet "because we're just not at that door yet. We're still trying to ease into getting back on the road," he explained. "We've done one tour so far, and it was great. It really broke a lot of the chains that were holding us back, I guess, to wanna keep [going].

"I was talking to a friend of mine who's a counselor," Tom continued. "And I was, like, 'You know, I've lost my mom, I've lost relatives, I've lost close, close people in my life, but this affects me so much different and hard.' And he's, like, 'Well, you've gotta look at it like this, man — it's like losing a spouse. You guys were living together for over a decade, touring the world, involved intimately in each other's lives every day.' And it made sense, and that little bit helped me understand that kind of pain and anxiety I was having."

Tom said that he was "panicking out" prior to the start of HELLYEAH's recent U.S. tour — the group's first with STONE SOUR's Roy Mayorga, who has stepped in as Vinnie Paul's replacement. "I remember the morning that we were about to leave, I was melting in emotions," he said. "But I'm glad we did it. I was stronger with every day that went by — we all were. The band was playing great, man. Roy just came in and just did us a solid and really pulled us together and made it fun.

"We know what's going on. We know that [Vinnie] is not back there anymore. But we're doing it one day at a time," he added.

HELLYEAH's sixth studio album, "Welcome Home", was released on September 27 via Eleven Seven Music.

Like the last two records, 2016's "Unden!able" and 2014's "Blood For Blood", "Welcome Home" was recorded at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with producer Kevin Churko.

Vinnie Paul died in June 2018 at the age of 54 in his sleep at his home in Las Vegas. The official cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease.

In a brand new interview with NME, KORN frontman Jonathan Davis elaborated on his comment that his band is "far from done." He explained: "You know, this is a strange world right now. The world is just absolutely out of control. Donald fucking Trump is president! Think about that! I think that when I get up every morning and every morning I think, 'I might just go back to bed…' Back in the day, things were amazing. There was so much artistic freedom, record labels had money and you could do cool shit, bands were all over the radio and TV, everything felt so big and exciting and fresh, ideas were everywhere. It's just not like that anymore. And it's hard with metal because the world is just so fucking pussified right now. But I think the thing with KORN is we've always done what we've wanted to and never followed anyone else. I think we'll work out a way to make sense going forward. We're survivors. We transcend."

Asked where the light comes in his life, Davis, whose estranged wife Deven died in August 2018, said: "Being a father. From being someone who's gone through a lot of shit and come out the other side — as have many of my bandmates — who kids can look up to and take strength from. I want them to think, 'Hey, this motherfucker has fought through stuff. I think I can too…' That's why we keep doing KORN. It isn't about doing a job. It's about putting some light into people's lives. Be the change you want to see, y'know?"

KORN's new studio album, "The Nothing", arrived on September 13. It is the band's 13th studio offering and follows up 2016's "The Serenity Of Suffering".

KORN and ALICE IN CHAINS recently completed a North American co-headlining amphitheater tour. KORN will play a string of "Ticket To Rock" shows over the course of the next few months.

In a recent interview with RockSverige, former HANOI ROCKS singer Michael Monroe was asked if he still gets money from his contributions to the GUNS N' ROSES songs "Ain't it Fun" (off 1993's "The Spaghetti Incident") and "Bad Obsession" (off 1991's "Use Your Illusion"). He responded: "I got a session payment for playing the saxophone and harmonica on 'Bad Obsession'. The song 'Ain't It Fun' came about when Axl [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES singer] had told me that he had not heard THE DEAD BOYS. I made him a tape of THE DEAD BOYS' first two albums and then I gave him a tape when we were in Hollywood. We were listening to the tape in his car and when the song 'Ain't It Fun' came on, he went, 'Wow! Wait a minute. I recognize this song! We've got do this as a duet. We're doing a compilation album of cover songs next.' He called Slash and said, 'Put the band together! We're doing this song.' We did it as a duet and I said, 'Could it say on the record, 'In memory of Stiv Bators (1949-1990)'?' And he said, 'Of course.' That was the first single of the album and it was a magical take and Stiv was definitely there in spirit.

"But my point was that I never wanted any money," he continued. "It was a scumbag manager I had anyway, so I didn't want to touch it. I didn't want them guys to change their minds about the song, so all I asked for what to have on the record, 'In memory of Stiv Bators,' and to spell my name right. That was all I wanted. I had heard through the grapevine that some of the old band members had gotten greedy and claimed that they wrote some of the songs that they hadn't really written."

Even though HANOI ROCKS was formed in Finland, their trashy, hedonistic, decadent hard rock/pop-metal boogie influenced many Los Angeles acts, including GUNS N' ROSES and MÖTLEY CRÜE.

Asked in a 2007 interview if he ever felt jealous of GUNS N' ROSES' commercial success, considering that GN'R openly cited HANOI ROCKS as a huge influence in the Axl Rose-fronted band's early days, Monroe said: "No, I never felt that. Not at all. I was always happy for their success and they definitely earned it themselves. I'm thankful for them recognizing the HANOI ROCKS influence and talking about it in the press."

He continued: "A lot of bands weren't really that talented and they sold a lot of records and really just deliberately tried to fake something out of it with the looks and not having much to back it up with. But GUNS N' ROSES really had their own thing and they were secure enough in themselves to quote HANOI ROCKS as an influence. Also, they released a lot of the old [HANOI ROCKS] catalog in America with their Uzi Suicide label. So they were definitely paying homage to us and they were being very cool.

"I've never been envious of their success — quite the opposite; I've been very happy for them. I was part of it. I played on their records and I was happy to be part of it. It's always fun working with those guys. Slash played the right kind of guitar because he grew up with HANOI and mine and Andy's [McCoy, HANOI ROCKS guitarist] playing. I actually did something with him for the movie 'Coneheads'."

MEGADETH's David Ellefson says that he never got the call to audition for the bassist position in METALLICA after Jason Newsted left the band over 18 years ago.

Newsted exited METALLICA in January 2001, after he clashed with James Hetfield over the release of an album by ECHOBRAIN, Jason's side project. He was replaced by producer Bob Rock in the studio, for the recording of 2003's "St. Anger" album, and then permanently by former OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Robert Trujillo.

In a new interview with Italy's Linea Rock, Ellefson was asked if it's true that he was considered for the METALLICA bassist position once it was announced that Newsted had split with the group.

"When Jason had left, there was a phone call made over to our side about… I was, I guess, on a short list," Dave said. "I never did get a call. It's funny — I actually sat down for the first time and learned… kind of dug deep, as a musician, into some METALLICA songs. 'Cause I'm a METALLICA fan, especially the early records — I love them. And they're our friends.

"I was always go back to my METALLICA, that I was introduced to, [which] was pre-'Kill 'Em All', the 'No Life 'Til Leather' METALLICA, which is what Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] had played me when I first met him. 'Cause I met him in June '83, and I don't think 'Kill 'Em All' came out till, what, maybe August or something. I just remember listening to 'Mechanix' and 'Phantom Lord' and 'Hit The Lights', all that stuff off that 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo — which had a different bass player, Ron McGovney, who I love. He's a great bass player. He played with a pick. I play his bass line on 'Mechanix'. I play it the way he played it on the 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo. So I have kind of even a different experience with METALLICA. But as we've gotten to know them… I love their band. And I just look at them, too, even just as a musician — man, the doors they broke down and the things they accomplished, with not only great songs, but just as a team and their organization. It's unbelievable that a metal band could be as big as U2. 'Cause that's how big they are — they are that massive.

"As brothers in our genre, and I guess by default playing with Dave [Mustaine], I'm now a branch off that family tree," Ellefson continued. "I mean, what an honor — to be even part of that, and to be part of the genre and everything that we've done. The 'Big Four' [shows in 2010 and 2011], I think, was the big celebration of that.

"I look at it kind of like we were all fighting our way up the hill in our early career, and then we all got to the top of the hill and we got to enjoy the view and have our success, and now, all these years later, we can come together as the 'Big Four,' as brothers, and share war stories," he added.

"The truth of it is inside all of our bands, we're all just the same — I mean, we really are. Despite the platinum records and accolades and that stuff, the truth of it is inside every band, we're all just the same — we really are. There's so many similarities between all of us."

Back in 2011, Mustaine said that he was relieved that Ellefson wasn't invited to join METALLICA after the tragic death of Cliff Burton.

Burton died on tour in 1986 in a tour bus crash, three years after Mustaine was kicked out of METALLICA and went on to form MEGADETH.

Mustaine told CBS: "When Cliff died, there was a moment where Dave's name had come up [as Burton's possible replacement in METALLICA] and I was a little concerned. I didn't want to lose my bassist and I certainly didn't want to have another reason to be upset. God knows I had my reasons, even though they weren't all real. A lot of them were caused by myself."

He admitted: "I just don't think I would have done well if I'd have known that had happened. Fortunately for me, I think those guys took that into account and just said, 'Let's find someone else.'"

SLAYER publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald has shot down suggestion that the short-term publicity created by Kendall Jenner being photographed wearing one of the group's t-shirts contributed in any meaningful way to the $10 million merchandise haul on the legendary thrash metal act's farewell tour.

"As this is SLAYER's final tour, more fans likely want something to remember the experience, so more merch is sold, and this is a very extensive itinerary, even for SLAYER," she told CNBC.

Ernie Gonzalez of Rick Sales Entertainment Group, which manages SLAYER told Pollstar that the SLAYER fashion phenomenon may have exceeded expectations.

"You're not supposed to see SLAYER shirts on Kardashians, or basketball players rocking SLAYER t-shirts as they walk into the arena on TV. That wasn't supposed to happen," he said. "If you said that 30 years ago, nobody could have fathomed that. The awesome thing is they never had to sacrifice any artistic integrity, never tried to tone themselves down to conform or meet the standards of what the music business feels is the best path to success."

Three years ago, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was asked by Buzzfeed Mexico to evaluate one of Hollywood's hottest fashion trends — celebrities wearing distressed METALLICA tees. Commenting on Kim Kardashian West — or "Kanye West in drag," as Hetfield called her — sporting a cleavage-exposing "Metal Up Your Ass" tee, Hetfield said: "It's obviously a little large for her, as there is more skin showing than I would let my daughter do. If she was around before 'Kill 'Em All' and bought that shirt, I'd be pretty impressed."

On a recent episode of Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live", "The Real Housewives Of Potomac" star Candiace Dillard was unable to name three METALLICA songs despite the fact that she was wearing an "... And Justice For All" t-shirt that was customized to look like a short dress.

After Kanye West was seen wearing a TESTAMENT t-shirt in 2016, the band's guitarist Alex Skolnick reacted negatively in an online post, writing: "Goodness gracious. This whole decrepit clan must have picked up a pile of old concert t-shirts (the same pile Kourtney K's SLAYER shirt came from) which have somehow become a 'thing' in trendy fashion (who'd have thought?!!). Inconceivable that any of these pop-culture vultures know who the heck any of the bands are. My guess is he thinks it's a religious group (not the first time that's happened)."

Dave Lawrence of Hawaii Public Radio's "All Things Considered" recently conducted an interview with DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen. You can listen to the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether DEP LEPPARD has invited musical guests onstage during their live performances:

Phil: "Not really. I mean, usually the songs are pretty complex. We've done a CREDENCE [CLEARWATER REVIVAL] song once and brought Brian May out from QUEEN and [Jon] Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora another time, that was pretty simple. Stuff like 'Photograph' and those songs are very specific and the harmonies and that, we don't want someone messing them up. We traditionally don't do that. Having said that, I just got off the G3 tour with Joe Satriani and John Petrucci and we would have a jam session every night, about half an hour and three songs and we'd invite guitar players. That was amazing, really fun. In DEF LEPPARD, it's a very different structure, if you like. We use backing vocals as an instrument and all of the sudden, you can't just let anyone in on that. It's going to change the dynamic."

On whether his MAN RAZE and DELTA DEEP side-projects allow him to satisfy some of the things he can't do while in DEF LEPPARD:

b>Phil: "Absolutely, because it doesn't have this structure. Like I said, we have our instruments and that's the backing vocals: Me, Rick Savage [bass] and Vivian Campbell [guitar], we kind of lock in. It's almost spiritual the way we do things. I love it. It's just a very special thing. Yeah, the other bands don't do it. Me and Debbi Blackwell-Cook [DELTA DEEP] we do harmonies all the time, but a lot of the time, we can do it on the fly. On live radio this morning, we were just breaking out a song acoustically. We naturally can do that. With DEF LEPPARD, we have three-part harmonies, very structured. It is like an instrument. We tend not to do that. Yeah, DELTA DEEP and MAN RAZE, we're able to drift off and do a jam thing. Not necessarily an old blues jam, but literally go off on a tangent like THE POLICE used to do, just that whole three-piece and four-piece in DELTA DEEP's case. It's really fun and you can't do that with DEF LEPPARD because it would be like a house of cards, all come tumbling down. [Laughs]"

On drummer Rick Allen still playing drums at a high level with just one arm:

Phil: "What's really cool about it is you do get used to it from a sound point of view. But you never take it for granted. You really go, 'Wow, this is amazing what he's doing!' Then I hear other drummers and go, 'My guy can do that with one arm tied behind his back.' Literally, he can. He does this stuff. He's really worked at it to make it. Again, he consistently pushes it out there like we all do. With him, it's obviously a lot more because he has a physical disability, but he's able to keep getting better. He got a brand-new Yamaha acoustic kit the other day and this thing was a monster and it just sounded incredible. He was playing it and you would never have known that's a drummer with one arm. He has his special kit that's got a bunch of different pedals on it, but when you're on a regular kit, he sounds amazing. The dynamics are just all there. The sound of the snare, a lot of the time, it's how you tune it, but also how you play it. That's what I really dug hearing him play an acoustic kit. Hopefully we'll persuade him to do a couple of songs on this thing, but it was like, 'Whoa, this is great!' I love him hearing play like that. He's a hero. He does just amazing stuff."

On what made him start playing guitar:

Phil: "I thought it was completely out of reach, something like that when you'd hear [LED] ZEPPELIN, [DEEP] PURPLE and all of this stuff, and [Jimi] Hendrix and go 'These guys are gods.' I went to my first show. I was 14, it was DEEP PURPLE, I said 'That's all I want to do.' I pestered my mom and dad, got this guitar. I also got this album, it was called 'The Guitar Album'. It had Roy Buchanan, Jimi Hendrix, Jan Akkerman, Freddie King, Albert King, B.B. King, just everyone on it. There was something about it, it really touched me and I just followed it all the way through, but what was really interesting, I never played slide guitar, but I listened to Joe Walsh, Duane Allman for years. I had an injury, this is about five years ago, my tendon tore off the knuckle. It's kind of like a boxer's knuckle they call it. I was over-training and it just happened, it just went off. I learned to play slide because I was six weeks in a cast and everything, my wrist went all limp, I couldn't do anything, so I learned slide. What was interesting, because of years and years of listening to the stuff, I could pretty much play, when I got the technique I literally went on a Joe Walsh link for ten minutes, he said 'This is how you play slide guitar.' He tuned it up, he put the finger where he said and all of the sudden all the licks were just coming out because I had heard them for years. I was a Ray Cooper fan, Duane Allman and Joe Walsh. The slide stuff almost started immediately, so I think it was something similar with guitar, even the regular guitar. I heard all this stuff; same with singing. You hear all this stuff. I was a huge fan of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Paul Rodgers, just blues, soul-oriented stuff and when I did start, I got a little bit of a singing technique on the go and guitar playing, it almost felt like I had been doing it for years because I had been listening to that stuff for years. It was just locking into the tool of that expression. For me, it was guitar and voice. I was surprised I didn't realize that until way later. I think that absolutely has something to do with it, starting so late, but being able to do all this stuff. Kind of earlier on, it was interesting, but if you intellectualize it, that's really what was going on. I heard this stuff and I knew it in my head and could feel it. It was very soulful and everything. From that point, I got to put it out."

DEF LEPPARD recently completed a co-headlining North American tour with JOURNEY.

A new DEF LEPPARD greatest-hits collection, "The Story So Far - The Best Of" will arrive in stores and online November 30. It will be available in multiple configurations: a 2-CD set comprised of 35 tracks, 1-CD set comprised of 17 tracks, 2-LP vinyl, and digital.

Last year, BABYMETAL announced the departure of Yuimetal, who was formerly one of the members of the Japanese group's core trio. She exited the band, explaining in a statement that she would go on to pursue a solo career as Mizuno Yu.

Speaking to Kerrang! magazine, BABYMETAL's Su-metal said that she and Moametal are still on good terms with their former bandmate.

"Yuimetal has been someone very special to us," she said. "So obviously it's been very difficult, but we want to fully support what she wants to pursue."

BABYMETAL hasn't officially replaced Yuimetal, opting instead to introduce a rotating trio of back-up dancers, known as the Avengers.

"We wanted to continue BABYMETAL and continue the tradition," Su-metal said. "Also, there's just no one like Yuimetal, so it's not an easy replacement. And that's why we decided — Su-metal and Moametal — to form the core of BABYMETAL."

BABYMETAL's producer and manager Kobametal credited Su-metal and Moametal with having the confidence to take the band into the next chapter of its career.

"Obviously, Yuimetal's departure was something that they'd never experienced before," he told Kerrang! "It was a difficult moment for BABYMETAL, but it was more that Su-metal and Moametal had their strong desire to continue [the band]. They wanted to become the core of the group. I think it was a time where BABYMETAL continued to evolve."

Yuimetal had been absent from BABYMETAL's activities since December 2017, when she was a no-show at a concert in Hiroshima.

BABYMETAL's fall 2019 U.S. headlining tour kicked off on September 4 in Orlando, Florida, and will run through October 16 in Seattle, Washington. The trek includes the previously announced October 11 gig at The Forum in Los Angeles, which will mark BABYMETAL's first headlining arena show in the States.

BABYMETAL's third album, "Metal Galaxy", will be released on October 11 via earMUSIC/Edel. The follow-up to 2016's "Metal Resistance" is based on the concept of "The Odyssey Of Metal Galaxy".

Danish/American rockers VOLBEAT have explained why they abandoned a concert after playing half of one song last Thursday (October 2) at Belfast, Ireland's Ulster Hall. The band launched into set opener "Pelvis On Fire", only for frontman Michael Poulsen to walk off the stage a couple of minutes into the track. He came back out and told the crowd: "We're having technical issues with the guitars and I can't really hear what's going on, which means I can't play. But we're going to give it a shot, okay?" But after launching briefly into the song again, Poulsen stopped and left the stage a second time, saying, "Sorry, sorry. It's not going to work."

In a brand new interview with France's Loud TV, guitarist Rob Caggiano said that Poulsen "didn't lose his voice. The problem was we had technical issues. If he had continued singing with those technical issues, he would have blown his voice out — that's the problem," Rob said (see video below). "And then we would have been canceling other shows, which would have been a nightmare; that would have been a real nightmare. Obviously, it sucked, but I really don't think this situation is unique to VOLBEAT. I mean, it happens. It was beyond our control. Obviously, it sucks. We love Ireland. We wanna go back and make that right. But at that given time, we had no choice, really — we had no choice."

Caggiano continued: "The crazy thing is the next show, in Dublin, I had the crazy sound in my ear — it was absolutely terrible. But I continued the show. I wasn't singing. If I was singing, it would have been very bad. So I feel his pain — I understand what he was going through and what happened. And to make it even more funny, the Belfast show, the sound for me in my ears was probably the best it's been in the last year and a half. I was so excited to play the show, and then, 30 seconds [later], we stopped. [Laughs]"

Asked if they can understand why some of VOLBEAT's fans were upset at having the show canceled in such a way, drummer Jon Larsen said: "Of course. It's a natural thing. People, of course, get frustrated and get upset. They maybe have been looking forward to the show for a couple of months, or whatever, and wanna see the band play, and then, all of a sudden, the band can't play. So, of course, we get it. And they're disappointed. We've all probably gone to shows when we were kids where the band canceled an hour before, or the day before. You do get bummed out, like, 'Ah, really? Why?' But it happens. I mean, whole tours get canceled. It's not like this is the first time in music history that a band has canceled a show. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens. And we are just as sad and upset as everybody else. But it was, like Rob said, beyond our control."

The aborted performance came just days after VOLBEAT were forced to cancel a show in Bristol "due to illness," but the band is continuing with the rest of its European trek for now.

VOLBEAT is touring in support of its seventh album, "Rewind, Replay, Rebound", which was released on August 2 via Republic Records. The disc was produced by longtime collaborator Jacob Hansen and co-produced by Caggiano and Poulsen. This marks the first studio album with Kaspar Boye Larsen on bass.

Irish Mirror is reporting that An Post - the state-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland - is marking the 50th anniversary of Thin Lizzy a year early.

The firm is issuing two stamps on Thursday (October 3) and holding a ceremony at the GPO to mark the event, with a live performance by the band’s drummer, Brian Downey.

However, the Jailbreak rockers’ first manager Terry O’Neill is telling fans: “Don’t Believe A Word.” He insists the band wasn’t formed until 1970, making this year the 49th anniversary. And Terry thinks An Post took their information from the band’s Wikipedia page.

The Dubliner, who became the band’s manager aged just 18, told the Irish Mirror: “Wikipedia have it that they formed in December 1969 when they met up. This happened, I met them, I already knew them. We talked about a band but nothing happened. In 1969, there was no band called Thin Lizzy, it was only an idea."

Read more at Irish Mirror.




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

Austin, Texas based rock band Black Heart Saints has released the official music video for "Crazy", the second single off of their newest EP, Misery. "Crazy" picks up where the last single, "Lines", left off: We've seen the band get lost in the Texas Hill Country, and now, in this second part of the story, the guys encounter a strange recording studio with an even stranger producer. Watch as mayhem unfolds during the recording process.

The music video, directed by Static Heart Productions, features the acting of Omar Vallejo (bassist for Sony Music band Vallejo), who is actually the band's real-life producer.

"'Crazy' has sort of a modern rock meets Mötley Crüe vibe. The video was inspired by Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, and things get really weird when an unexpected acid trip interferes with the recording process. Every video in this film series seems to get better and better, and we are excited to share with our fans." - Black Heart Saints

Tracklisting:

"Lines"
"Crazy"
"Addicted To Love"
"Misery"

For further details, visit Black Heart Saints on Facebook.




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

Professionally filmed video footage of SLAYER's entire October 4 performance at the Rock In Rio festival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Delusions Of Saviour (intro, played over PA)

02. Repentless

03. Postmortem

04. Hate Worldwide

05. War Ensemble

06. Disciple

07. Seasons In The Abyss

08. Mandatory Suicide

09. Hell Awaits

10. South Of Heaven

11. Raining Blood

12. Black Magic

13. Dead Skin Mask

14. Angel Of Death

SLAYER's short narrative film and concert "Slayer: The Repentless Killogy" will be screened in cinemas around the world on November 6. Tickets are on sale from October 9 at www.slayer.film, where fans can find the most up-to-date information regarding participating theaters and sign up for event alerts

"The Repentless Killogy" 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).

"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.

MEGADETH will join FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH as special guest on the latter band's 2020 European winter tour, with BAD WOLVES in the opening slot. The trek will visit 14 European countries starting on January 20 at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland and ending on February 20 at the Budapest Sportarena in Budapest, Hungary.

Speaking about MEGADETH's decision to support FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH as opposed to headlining its own tour, Ellefson told Danny Stoakes in a new interview (hear audio below): "The FIVE FINGER guys have been good friends of ours. We've seen 'em come up the ranks behind us. But they're doing great. They're very successful. They worked very hard. Their success is every bit deserved for them. And I think it's kind of cool.

"Normally, we come over [to Europe] and we do the festivals," he continued. "We've been looking at ways to headline or do some kind of a package tour that gets us much more penetrated across Europe instead of only doing the festival circuit. And I think it's a good way to do it. Obviously, it's big halls and arenas, and a lot of people will be there, and I think it'll be a good celebration."

MEGADETH's tour with FIVE FINGER will mark the first shows since frontman Dave Mustaine announced his throat cancer diagnosis this past spring. According to Ellefson, the MEGADETH leader is "excited" to get back on the road. "I talked to him last week," the bassist said. "I think it's important to have something to look forward to in these times and a good motivation. Dave is a fighter, and he's going through his recovery now, which is great. So we appreciate everybody's thoughts and prayers. And yeah, look, I think having something to look forward to in the New Year is a very optimistic, cool thing for all of us."

The 58-year-old Mustaine revealed his cancer diagnosis on June 17 on social media. He has since issued an update, saying that his doctors "are feeling very positive" regarding the progress of his treatment.

Although most of MEGADETH's previously announced 2019 tour dates have been canceled as Mustaine battles the disease, the MEGADETH-curated Megacruise — which is set to take place October 13-19 — will still depart as scheduled, and the band will be a part of it in some form.

Mustaine and Ellefson are the two remaining original members of MEGADETH, which was formed in 1983, following Mustaine's dismissal from METALLICA.

MEGADETH is considered to be one of the "Big Four" bands of 1980s thrash metal — a list that includes METALLICA, ANTHRAX and SLAYER.

MEGADETH has recently spent time in the studio working on material for the follow-up to 2016's "Dystopia" album.

According to CBC, a man has been charged with manslaughter following a fatal stabbing Monday night after AMON AMARTH's concert in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The 36-year-old is accused of killing 34-year-old David Cox.

Cox left the Edmonton Convention Centre venue around 10:30 p.m. when he was involved in an "altercation" and stabbed. He later died in hospital.

The suspect was arrested by bystanders and held until police arrived. He is scheduled to appear in court on October 10.

AMON AMARTH is touring North America in support of its latest album, "Berserker", which was released in May via Metal Blade Records. Also appearing on the bill are ARCH ENEMY, AT THE GATES and GRAND MAGUS.

Cradle Of Filth backing vocalist / keyboardist Lindsay Schoolcraft has issued the following update:

"The Shop is now open!!! You can finally own vinyls, CDs, shirts, hoodies, and so much more at SchoolcraftShop.com! There are also digital downloads of the album available here, too, and even some limited bundle deals of exclusive merch! 

I can't believe the shop is finally here! Martyr is available on all digital platforms this Friday October 11th!"

Martyr is now available for streaming via Spotify here.

The limited edition storybook digipack version of the album includes extra pages in the booklet that tell the tale of the album’s beginnings and a page signed by Lindsay. Each copy is auto-numbered and will not be printed again. It is limited to 500 copies.

Tracklist

"Savior"
"Dangerous Game"
"Stranger"
"Into The Night"
"Blood From A Stone"
"Dawn"
"Remember"
"See The Light" (feat. Xenoyr)
"Where I Fall"
"My Way Without You"
"Lullaby"

Bonus tracks:
"Warn Me"
"Betrayal"

Martyr was co-written with former Evanescence drummer Rocky Gray.

For further details, visit Lindsay Schoolcraft on Facebook.




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