RATT singer Stephen Pearcy will release his fifth solo album, "View To A Thrill" on November 9 via Frontiers Music Srl. The follow-up to 2017's "Smash" was produced by Matt Thorne and Pearcy and was mixed and mastered by Thorne and Stephen's longtime guitarist and collaborator, Erik Ferentinos.

The fist single from "View To A Thrill", a song called "I'm A Ratt", can be streamed below.

"View To A Thrill" includes 11 superb songs written by Pearcy, together with guitarist Ferentinos, that will surely please fans of his last solo effort, "Smash", as well as fans of RATT. The track listing flows perfectly and takes you on an audio journey through blistering rockers mixed with slower, more measured numbers. Like RATT's catalog, this is a record that showcases the art of the riff. Ferentinos is truly Pearcy's secret weapon, as displayed by the mind-bending solos throughout "View To A Thrill".

"View To A Thrill" track listing:

01. U Only Live Twice

02. Sky Falling

03. Malibu

04. One In A Million

05. Double Shot

06. Secrets To Tell

07. Not Killin’ Me

08. Dangerous Thing

09. I'm A Ratt

10. From The Inside

11. Violator

Pearcy's solo band:

Stephen Pearcy - Lead Vocals

Erik Ferentinos - Guitars, Back-Up Vocals, Keys

Matt Thorne - Bass, Keys, Back-Up Vocals

Scot Coogan - Drums

Speaking about the songwriting process for his solo material, Pearcy told Music Existence: "RATT's music is its own entity and animal, and it has its own schematics. With my solo stuff, I tend to do whatever I like — an acoustic song, a really heavy song — and go places and talk about things that I want to. It's my freedom of speech. That's one thing I like about it, and I'm always writing, so what else can I do, you know? Just try to get it out and get it heard! I don't care if it sells ten million or nil million; it's just what I do. You do the best that you can."

Pearcy and bassist Juan Croucier are the sole remaining original members in RATT's current lineup, which made its live debut on July 7 in Mulvane, Kansas. Joining them in the band are drummer Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE, RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER) and guitarists Jordan Ziff (RAZER) and Chris Sanders (BRITNY FOX, KNIGHT FURY).

Japanese pop metal act BABYMETAL will release a new digital live video on Friday, August 24. "Legend - S - Baptism XX" includes the band's two-day performance at the Hiroshima Green Arena on December 2 and December 3, 2017. This concert was the first headline show for BABYMETAL to perform in Hiroshima, which is the vocalist Su-Metal's birthplace and a special concert to celebrate Su-Metal's 20th birthday.

This new digital live video contains all 16 songs, including BABYMETAL's new song "In The Name Of".

Track listing:

01. In The Name Of

02. Ijime, Dame, Zettai

03. Gimme Chocolate!!

04. Doki Doki ☆ Morning

05. Akatsuki

06. Gj!

07. Syncopation

08. Meta Taro

09. No Rain, No Rainbow

10. Song 4

11. Megitsune

12. Karate

13. Road Of Resistance

14. Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!

15. Babymetal Death

16. The One (English version)

Earlier this year, spokesperson for BABYMETAL's American management company confirmed Yui Mizuno (a.k.a. Yuimetal) remained a member of the group after she was a no-show at the first two concerts of BABYMETAL's U.S. tour. A 5B Artist Management representative released a statement saying that "there is a new narrative for the future of the band which is currently evolving. The storyline has changed. This was the basis of the 'Metal Resistance Episode 7: The Revelation' video."

The representative went on to explain that the seven hooded figures in the bombastic clip represent a new era for the band, with the addition of new characters. "The who, when, where, and how of The Chosen Seven will be presented as the concept unfolds," the spokesperson said.

Formed in 2010, BABYMETAL is the offshoot of the Japanese pop idol group SAKURA GAKUIN that performs a distinctly Japanese mix of schoolgirl J-pop and heavy metal.

Photo courtesy of earMUSIC

Grammy Award-winning, acclaimed alternative rock luminaries SMASHING PUMPKINS have announced that their "Shiny And Oh So Bright" tour will be live-streamed to the world via the "Live Nation Concert Series" on Twitter on Friday, August 24 at 8:15 PT from Seattle, Washington. Fans outside of the U.S. can access the livestream at this location.

The "Shiny And Oh So Bright" North American arena tour is SMASHING PUMPKINS' first in nearly 20 years to feature founding members Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Longtime SMASHING PUMPKINS guitarist Jeff Schroeder, bassist Jack Bates, and keyboardist Katie Cole are also taking part, as the band moves to a three-guitar lineup to better emulate the signature tones and textures of their albums.

In June, SMASHING PUMPKINS dropped "Solara", the first recording in over 18 years to feature founding Corgan, Iha and Chamberlin. Recorded in Malibu, California at Shangri La Studios with producer Rick Rubin and guitarist Jeff Schroeder, "Solara" is available now to stream and download on all digital music platforms via Martha's Music under license to Napalm Records.

Corgan, Iha and Chamberlin last played together on 2000's "Untitled". "Untitled" was Iha's last PUMPKINS recording prior to "Solara", while Chamberlin's was 2009's "FOL".

Original SMASHING PUMPKINS bassist D'Arcy Wretzky is is not taking part at all in the band's reunion after recently claiming that Corgan offered to have her come out and do sporadic appearances on the current reunion tour.

Formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988, SMASHING PUMPKINS released their heralded debut album, "Gish", in 1991 and found mainstream success with 1993's four-times-platinum "Siamese Dream" and 1995's 10-times-platinum "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness".

Photo credit: Olivia Bee

In a new interview with CBS San Francisco, Anthrax bassist Frank Bello reveals that the band are gearing up to work on new music.

Asked if he, Scott (Ian) and Charlie (Benante) try to work on new material for their next album while they're on the road, Frank responds, "What happens on the road, you can’t really get together right. You just have your own personal thing, maybe putting down some ideas on your iPhone or tape recorder or whatever you write with. I usually just use my iPhone. So if you have riffs and you have melodies, you remember them; what’s good and what’s going to stick. So that’s what I do.

"We have some tentative time that we’ve got booked in January to try to get together, Charlie Scott and I. But I also have another record coming out with this side project coming up in January. It’s with Dave Ellefson from Megadeth called Altitudes & Attitude. I have to deal with that too, so I’m going to be a little bit busy. But I like that kind of busy."

Read the full interview at CBS San Francisco.

In live news, Anthrax is currently supporting Slayer on their Farewell Tour, remaining dates are listed below:

August
23 - Sunlight Supply Amphitheater - Portland, OR
26 - SAP Center - San Jose, CA

November
1 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena
3 - London, England - Wembley Arena
5 - Cardiff, Wales - Motorpoint Arena
7 - Birmingham, England - BCA
9 - Manchester, England - Arena
10 - Newcastle, England - Metro Radio Arena
12 - Glasgow, Scotland - The Hydro SSE
14 - Dortmund, Germany - Westfalenhalle
15 - Zwolle, Netherlands - IJsselhallen
17 - Madrid, Spain - Palacio Vistalegre
18 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
20 - Milan, Italy - Mediolanum Forum
21 - Zurich, Switzerland - Halle 622
23 - Vienna, Austria - Stadthalle
24 - Freiburg, Germany - SICK-ARENA
26 - Hamburg, Germany - Barclaycard Arena
27 - Lodz, Poland - Atlas Arena
29 - Munich, Germany - Olympiahalle
30 - Erfurt, Germany - Messehalle

December
2 - Berlin, Germany - Mercedes-Benz Arena
3 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Royal Arena
5 - Stockholm, Sweden - Hovet
6 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
8 - Helsinki, Finland - Helsingin Jäähalli

MEGADETH drummer Dirk Verbeuren's drum playthrough video of the song "Rattlehead", which originally appeared on the band's 1985 album " Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!", can be seen below.

Last November, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine was asked by the RQP 104.3 FM radio how the band goes about the process of choosing a new drummer. He responded: "It's very difficult. The drumming is the hardest part in the band, because you need to be really physically fit every night — every night, no matter what. You can't be sick. And I think that drumming is a thankless position. A lot of times, the drummers go without being recognized for how hard their job is. Consequently, you get drummers that have bad attitudes after a while. It's hard to be around them, because a lot of drummers don't get the recognition they deserve, and they get bitter. For us, we've been really lucky with the last two drummers we had — with Chris [Adler] and with Dirk [Verbeuren]. And even the guy before Chris, Shawn [Drover], was an easy-going kind of guy. But it's not always like that. And Chris helped us find Dirk. Dirk is a lot like [late MEGADETH drummer] Gar Samuelson, which is really refreshing, because that's how this whole thing started. I was playing jazz-metal-type riffs, because I didn't wanna sound like my last band [METALLICA]. I wrote that shit, I can write whatever I want, so I knew what not to do, so I did something different, and that's how MEGADETH was born. I wanted to do something a little bit different, and I needed a different kind of drummer to do that."

The 43-year-old Belgian-born-and-now-Los-Angeles-based Verbeuren had been playing with SOILWORK for more than a decade before being recommended for the MEGADETH gig by Adler, who called Dirk "probably [one of the] top three drummers in the world."

Verbeuren told All About The Rock about learning MEGADETH's material for a live performance: "The current live set is based on 'Dystopia' and the early albums, from Gar Samuelson to Nick Menza. These guys really had their own style. Nick was actually one of my influences as a young drummer.

"I had ten days to study eighteen songs. I tried to capture the intention behind the drum parts in order to respect the band's vision. Gar and Nick have a more old-school swing whereas Chris Adler's approach is more contemporary. I stay true to the originals while injecting some of my own groove and flair. Chris was very helpful in guiding me as to what the band would expect from me, which is super cool of him. It made the rehearsal and first shows a lot easier."

In interview with the KATT Rock 100.5 FM radio station, Mustaine described Dirk as "is one of the most pleasant, easy-to-get-along-with guys I've ever met in my life. I'll walk up to him and he'll smile and lean forward and pat me on the back. He goes [adopts thin accent], 'How's it going, buddy?' I could say, 'Oh, man…'… anything. 'Oh, okay, buddy.' [He] smiles and pats me, 'cause he's just a happy guy. I've never, ever, ever seen him not smile."

Immortal Guardian – the Texas-based “super metal” quartet featuring acclaimed guitarist/keyboardist Gabriel Guardian and powerhouse vocalist Carlos Zema (ex-Outworld) – has premiered a music video for their new song, “Aeolian.” The clip, which BraveWords is premiering, includes footage of the group's high-energy live performances during their recent summer tour.

The lyrics of “Aeolian” describe the difficulties of being a struggling musician, something which Gabriel – who is currently filling in on guitar and keyboards for Powerglove during their ongoing summer tour – has recently experienced firsthand. Soon after the group arrived in Portland, Oregon last weekend, he was rushed to a local hospital, where he had emergency appendicitis surgery. Not wanting to leave Powerglove hanging, he returned to the stage the following night and hasn't missed a show since.

“Aeolian” – which is also now available for streaming on Apple Music, Spotify and other digital platforms – is featured prominently on Immortal Guardian's full-length debut, Age Of Revolution, which will be released via M-Theory Audio on September 28th. Fans who preorder digital copies of the album via Amazon, iTunes and Bandcamp will receive the song – as well as the previously released “Zephon” – as instant downloads. Physical copies of Age Of Reasoning are available for preorder via the M-Theory Audio webshop.

Immortal Guardian will support the album's release by hitting the road once again with recent tour mates Exmortus, with Hatchet also appearing on select dates. A complete list of the group's upcoming tour dates appears below, with more shows to be confirmed in the near future.

Hailing from the same state as guitar greats Dimebag Darrell and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Immortal Guardian proudly fly the flag of musical innovation and virtuosity for the Lone Star State. Over the past few years, the group has released two acclaimed EPs, Revolution Part I (produced by Roy Z of Halford/Bruce Dickinson fame) and Super Metal: Edition Z, that showcased a full-frontal metal assault of anthemic melodies, technical rhythms, furious shred and high-flying vocals by Brazilian singer Carlos Zema (Outworld).

In support of their EPs, the group has made jaws drop on stages in not only their home state - where they've performed alongside some of the biggest names in metal, including Judas Priest, Dragonforce, Kamelot, Symphony X, Sonata Arctica, Slayer, Metal Church, Soilwork and Steve Vai - but also abroad in countries such as Brazil and Russia, and during high-profile performances at ESPN's X Games, South By Southwest and the Fun Fun Fun Fest.

In addition, Gabriel Guardian has developed an extensive following on YouTube, where his unique dual-instrument covers of classics by the likes of Iron Maiden, Pantera and Guns N' Roses have garnered hundreds of thousands of views. His virtuosity was also recently showcased on the MTV program Amazingness.

Tracklisting:

“Excitare”
“Zephon”
“Aeolian”
“Trail Of Tears”
“Never To Return”
“Stardust”
“Hunters”
“Fall”
“State Of Emergency”
“Awake”

“Zephon” lyric video:

Immortal Guardian live:

September
18 – Margate, FL – O’Malley’s
19 – Orlando, FL – The Haven
20 – New Orleans, LA – Southport Hall
23 – Laredo, TX – Ethos Live
24 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse Bar And Grill
25 – Gallup, NM – Juggernaut Music
26 – Mesa, AZ – Club Red
27 – Flagstaff, AZ – Green Room
28 – Las Vegas, NV – Dive Bar

Deathrite return with their fourth and most sophisticated album yet. Nightmares Reign is due to be released via Century Media Records on November 9th. Today the band reveals the artwork by Wæik and announces the tracklisting, featuring eight crushing new songs that are taking their uncompromising signature sound to new heights.

Having already stirred up the cauldron of death metal quite a bit with Deathrite (2011), Into Extinction (2013) and Revelation Of Chaos (2015), Deathrite's newest album Nightmares Reign blends immensely heavy riffs, ferocious vocals and haunting lead guitars into a grooving mix that heaves through your stereo. Produced by Richard Behrens at Big Snuff Studios, Nightmares Reign is sure to become a standout record for existing and new fans alike.

Nightmares Reign will be available in the following formats:

· Ltd. CD Digipak
· Gatefold LP+CD & Poster
· Digital

Tracklisting:

"When Nightmares Reign"
"Appetite For Murder"
"Invoke Nocturnal Light"
"Demon Soul"
"Devils Poison"
"Bloodlust"
"Obscure Shades"
"Temptation Calls"

Lineup:

Andy Heinrich - Guitar
Anton Hoyer - Bass
Stefan Heinz - Drums
Tom Michalis - Guitar
Tony Heinrich - Vocals

(Photo - Manuel Danger, Big Snuff Studio)

"I Am Your King," the debut single from Texas/Florida duo Invasion It is now available for streaming. Originally included on RockMetalTalk.com's Bands to Burn Vol. 1 compilation CD, the single offers fans of fiery, memorable metal a taste of what's to come on the band's forthcoming debut EP, targeted for release later this year. In addition to band members Jay Stone (former Isle 9, Warfly Army, Lost Appetite) and John Ortega (The Enemy Within), the song features the female vocals of Melinda Kay who is also credited as co-writer.

Former Isle 9, Warfly Army, and Lost Appetite frontman Jay Stone joins The Enemy Within's John Ortega to form Invasion It. With a range of influences from Metallica, Manson, Opeth, and many others, Invasion It crafts its own style of heavy metal. Invasion It's first release "I am your King" was showcased on Bands to Burn To Vol. 1 along with members of Marilyn Manson, Fear Factory, Davey Suicide, Green Jello, BILE to name a few, as well as being a favorite and featured on dozens of Internet Radio programs worldwide. Invasion It also plan on finishing and releasing a 5-song EP late 2018 and performing several live dates in 2019.

Saigon Kick guitarist Jason Bieler has released a new solo song entitled "Honestly". Check it out and purchase it below.

Honestly by Jason Bieler

On July 14th, Bieler performed a solo acoustic show at Rockwood Music Hall in New York, NY. He has released a live album to showcase the night, available via the Bandcamp player below. This is a live direct feed from the board at Rockwood Music Hall.

Jason Bieler Live in NYC by Jason Bieler

The tracklist is as follows:

"Indian Intro"
"All I Want"
"Coming Home"
"Close To You" 
"Down By The Ocean"
"Edgar"
"God Of 42nd Street" 
"Russian Girl" 
"One Step Closer"
"Satellite" 
"Hostile" 
"Sgt. Steve" 
"The Lizard"

Bieler recently checked in with the following update:

"I gotta take a sec and tell you these solo gigs have been some of the most unexpectedly wonderful experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure to partake in. We all get together, sing a bunch of songs, a wee bit of cutting the rug, and I regale you with tales from my pirating days. How this applies to you or your life, well, I’m not sure…but I guess the idea that you are kind of toying with, the one that excites you but then the rational 'you' makes up a myriad of excuses and obligations to prevent you from taking the plunge… well, take the damn plunge. Life is strange and wonderful and sometimes shorter than you think; who has time for anything but food, love, music, and dreams? Now back to your regularly scheduled nonsense. Have a great weekend!"

Bieler's solo tour schedule is currently as follows:

September
28 - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
30 - 80's In The Park - Cocoa Beach, FL

October
13 - The Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles, CA

November 
2 - The Attic - Ybor City, FL

"What on earth was THAT, guys?" asks The Dead Daisies. "Our first week in The US has been a massive success, and we’re having an absolute blast playing for you!"

"Naturally, our shows at Guitar Center are quickly becoming a staple in our repertoire and you guys are all over those RSVPs. We love catching up and seeing a ton of new faces as well. These shows really give us a chance to get to know all of you even better, and doing it with a partner like Guitar Center gives us a chance to connect with even more people. Can’t wait for the rest of these dates!"

"After hitting Cleveland OH, Fort Wayne IN, Joliet IL, Flint MI, and Louisville KY, we’re concluding the first part of our US tour with a show in Rochester NY tonight before crossing the border to Canada. Before we do so, check out this awesome footage from week one of our US tour, and don’t worry - there’s lots more where that came from."

The Dead Daisies are currently touring North America, in support of their new album Burn It Down, alongside special guests Dizzy Reed's Hookers & Blow. Remaining dates are as listed:

August
22 - Rochester, NY - Montage Music Hall
23 - London, ON - Harris Park
24 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Theatre
25 - Ottawa, ON - The Brass Monkey
26 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques
28 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom
29 - Warrendale, PA - Jergel's
30 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
31 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club

September
1 - Albany, NY - Upstate Concert Hall
4 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge
6 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
7 - Dallas, TX - Trees
8 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live
12 - Las Vegas, NV - Fremont Country Club
13 - San Diego, CA - Brick by Brick
14 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House
15 - Phoenix, AZ - The Marquee
16 - Los Angeles, CA - Roxy Theatre

 

Hailing from Boston Massachusetts, 'regressive metal' quartet Chuggernaut puts a modern twist on classic riff-driven metal songwriting, blending elements of doom, thrash, groove and post-hardcore into a massive, organic sound all their own.  This Friday the band will unleash their new EP Kodiak. A full EP stream can be found below:

Kodiak is available for pre-order in multiple formats:

- Physical Packages
- Digital Pre-Order

Formed in 2013 by guitarist Dave Cohen and vocalist Jeff Gard, Chuggernaut was born out of a mutual need for raw, irreverent and fundamentally heavy music. With the addition of Blaize Collard on drums and Eric Alper (Replacire) on bass, Chuggernaut began playing basements and stages across Massachusetts, and quickly became entrenched in the underground New England metal scene.

In late 2014, Chuggernaut entered the now defunct Mortal Music studio in Charlestown, MA to begin pre-production for their debut EP, First Batch, which would be recorded in installments over the course of the following year. Prior to the record's release, however, Alper left the band to focus on other projects and in winter of 2015 was replaced with Berklee College of Music professor and former Ice Nine Kills bassist David Marvuglio. First Batch was released in May of 2016, followed by an east coast tour.

Once the summer touring had ended, Chuggernaut traveled down to Providence, RI and tracked a reinterpretation of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" in the old Columbus Theater and adjacent studio, Eyeland - produced, mixed and mastered by Andrew Nault (Arms & Sleepers / Lesser Glow / Long Time.) The band loved the vibe of the studio and working with Nault such that they returned to Eyeland in April 2017 to record their sophomore EP. However, due to mounting tensions between Gard and the rest of the band leading up to the studio session, Jeff and Chuggernaut parted ways shortly afterward. In the months that followed; Cohen, Collard and Marvuglio held vocal auditions and by July, they welcomed pyrotechnic vocalist and performer David Benites into the fold. In November 2017, Cohen, Collard and Marvuglio re-entered Eyeland studio with Benites to record vocals and finish what they started back in April.

Now with their new EP Kodiak available everywhere on August 24th, and an electrifying stage show Chuggernaut is primed and excited to share the next chapter with fans everywhere.

Kodiak EP tracklisting:

"Stranglehold"
"Control Burn"
"Disposable Moments"
"Black Lung"
"Aftermath"

"Stranglehold" video:

In support of the release, Chuggernaut will be hitting the road starting in August on a short record release tour.  A complete list of dates can be found below.

August
23 - Cambridge, MA - Hardcore Stadium
25 - Philadelphia, PA - The Nail
29 - Chicago, IL - Underground Lounge
31 - Lafayette, IN - North End Pub**

September
1 - Nashville, TN - Spring Water Lounge
2 - Greensboro, NC - New York Pizza
5 - Baltimore, MD - The Depot
8 - Connecticut - TBA

Adelitas Way have entered into a management deal with FM Music Management. The band will be joinging FM Music Management’s roster which includes Nonpoint, Kataklysm, Through Fire, Royal Bliss, Deadset Society, Keith Wallen, Spoken and more. In addition, the band has announced that they will be on tour this summer in support of Fozzy beginning August 25th at the Saturn Stone Broken in Birmingham, AL.

"My Vision for Adelitas Way is clear and the mission is real, we are going to continue to master our craft and grow to a point that is part of setting a example for all artists who see our story! That takes a great team, I’m excited for Fuel Music/ The Vegas Syn to combine powers with an innovative forward thinking company with my friend Frank Mastalerz leading the way with FM Music Management. He has built a amazing team of music peers I’ve been working with for many years, and I’m looking forward to more exciting opportunities to grow. Let’s do what we do best." - Rick DeJesus, Adelitas Way

"We are excited to bring Adelitas Way into the FM Music Management family. Adelita's Way continues to evolve and push the envelope in rock, and Rick's passion and work ethic is unrivaled. We look forward to helping them continue to climb." - Dino Kourelis (FMM Partner/Manager)

Jimmy Kay from Canada's The Metal Voice recently spoke to Udo Dirkschneider about the upcoming U.D.O. album  Steelfactory and the band finding a new guitarist.

When asked about the status on finding a new guitarist to replace Bill Hudson, and what qualities they are looking for in a new guitarist, Udo reveals: "The last two guitarist I had were Kasperi Heikkinen and Bill Hudson, and both of them were not really team players. In U.D.O. I am not a solo artist, we want to work as a team and that is what we did on this new album and this is very important for us. These two guys were definitely not team players. Bill was not interested in coming up with ideas when we were recording the album. For me, I didn't want to have the same situation again and I needed more time to look for a new second guitar player. So I asked Stefan Kaufmann to fill in and help us out. We now know which guitar player it will be, but we will announce this in the middle of September 2018."

Asked about the possibility of bringing in former Accept guitarist Herman Frank, Udo states: "No, I don't want to have these old memories, I want to keep going forward. I can tell you our new U.D.O. guitarist is 26 years old and unknown and this is what I am looking for, someone more modern and someone young so they can add fresh blood into the band. Nothing against Herman, he has his style, but I want to have fresh blood into the band."

U.D.O. will release Steelfactory on August 31st worldwide via AFM Records. A lyric video for the new song "Make That Move" is available for streaming below.

With Steelfactory, U.D.O return to their core competence, clearly influenced by their past shows with Dirkschneider, the songs in their rousingly simple straightness have a hymn character, as it is only known from the past.

Steelfactory has become a timeless metal album and thus the impressive statement of a master of his craft. With its earthy, punchy and handmade sound - with the participation of the Danish producer Jacob Hansen (among others Volbeat) - Steelfactory meets the nerve of the time, which may be triggered again since the successful Dirkschneider tour worldwide.

Steelfactory will available in the following formats:

- Ltd. Boxset
- Ltd. Digipak
- Gtf. Red/Yellow Splatter 2-Vinyl / AFM Exclusive
- Gtf. Silver/Black Marbled 2-Vinyl / AFM Exclusive
- Gtf. Clear Red 2-Vinyl
- Gtf. Clear Yellow 2-Vinyl
- Gtf. Black 2-Vinyl
- CD Jewelcase
- Download & Streaming

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Tongue Reaper"
"Make The Move"
"Keeper Of My Soul"
"In The Heat Of The Night"
"Raise The Game"
"Blood On Fire"
"Rising High"
"The Devil Is An Angel" (Bonus Digipak)
"Hungry And Angry"
"One Heart One Soul"
"Pictures In My Dreams" (Bonus Digipak)
"A Bite Of Evil"
"Eraser"
"Rose In The Desert"
"The Way"

"Make The Move" lyric video:

"One Heart One Soul" video:

"Rising High":

EPK:

Founding father and current member of renowned death metal band BROKEN HOPE and author of Barnes & Noble Top 10 Paperback Bestseller The Armageddon Chord, Jeremy Wagner, will release his new horror novel, Rabid Heart - a novel about the depth of undying love in the midst of a zombie apocalypse - available internationally in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, Digital, and Audio formats on October 3rd via the Afraid Horror Imprint of Riverdale Avenue Books.

Synopsis:

How far would you go for love when all you love is DEAD?

Six months after the Necro Rabies pandemic turned the world into hordes of rabid undead known as "Cujos," 21-year-old Rhonda Driscoll discovers her zombified fiancé, Brad, in her old hometown. Fearing that her Marine Colonel father will kill undead Brad, Rhonda flees, taking a road-trip with Brad in tow in hopes of starting a new life in a frightening and uncertain world complicated by numerous perils, pure horror, and unconditional love.

Rabid Heart author Jeremy Wagner says, "I had a solid draft of Rabid Heart cooling for a while as I worked on some other projects for a couple years. Once I came back to revise and polish Rabid Heart, I fell hard for it all over again and knew I had something special. I love f-ed up stories... I write f-ed up things. My style of fiction and my personal tastes in what I read all leans towards really dark fiction and usually has protagonists who go through hell - there's a lot of that in Rabid Heart. The things that my main character Rhonda Driscoll goes through might fit in nicely with say, McCarthy's The Road pairing with 28 Days Later or Romero's Day of the Dead. I hope you all enjoy the ride.

"Thanks to Lori Perkins and Afraid/Riverdale Avenue Books for really getting behind this novel and making me an offer I couldn't refuse. Watch for Afraid/Riverdale Avenue Books to also re-release my first novel, The Armageddon Chord, in December. Thanks for reading! Support horror fiction!"

Pre-order Rabid Heart now:

Paperback

- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble

Hardcover

- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble

Digital

- Amazon
- Kobo
- Barnes & Noble
- iTunes
- Google Play
- Smashwords
- Riverdale Avenue Books

(Rabid Heart cover design by Claudio Bergamin (Judas Priest, Nocturnal Rites, Rata Blanca), Jeremy Wagner photo by Gene Ambo)

The first DragonLord album in 12 years, Dominion, is out September 21st via Spinefarm Records. Pre-order the album and merch here.

Today, Eric Peterson is thrilled to reveal the brand new fantasy-driven music video for the new song "Northlanders" - a track about the brutality of 11th century Northmen - chock full of massive ships, piercing swords, dark landscapes, and beyond. The video was edited by Jan Yrlund and features hand-drawn art depicting the lyrical content of the track by Christian Sloan Hall. Watch the music video below.

Eric Peterson says about "Northlanders", "This is one of the first songs I wrote for the Dominion album, way back when the History Channel first put out Vikings, which it's clearly inspired by! While I wish I had a Vikings-level budget for this music video, I actually love how this video came out because it encompasses what black metal is all about - grit and straightforward rawness! Peterson adds, "It's worth noting that this song also spawned the character dubbed "The Burner" from my comic that I first put out at this year's San Diego Comic Con, which will soon be available through a bundle pack and the web store at enterthedragonlord.com!"

A decade after the release of Black Wings Of Destiny - the most recent full-length release by DragonLord, the passion project of Testament guitarist Eric Peterson - the wait is finally over for fans of the high-fantasy symphonic black/death metal project. Peterson is thrilled to reveal details regarding the long-awaited third album, which will feature eight tracks of devastatingly unrelenting black and death metal assault.

Eric Peterson says: "I'm super stoked for you all to finally hear "Dominion"! This song has all the arsenal to engage any metal appetite! From the first drum cannon-walloping performed by Alex Bent, to the melodic discorded sounds of my guitars and haunting choirs performed by Celtic singer Leah, entering in my lyrical blackened satanic tongue followed by unholy orchestrated strings and violas performed by Mr. Livingston - this song has it all! A beautiful violent storm whirls your way! Breaking down to two old school influenced guitar solos voiced before and after some cleaner melodic singing, only to be sucked back into the vortex... Enjoy!"

Dominion features Eric Peterson on vocals, guitar and bass, Lyle Livingston (Psypheria) on orchestrated keys and pianos, Alex Bent (Trivium) on drums, and notable fantasy metal singer Leah - who has performed/recorded with members of Blind Guardian, Nightwish, Delain and others - on female vocals and choirs.

As aural the gates to Dominion creak open on the first track, "Entrance," you descend into the dark world of DragonLord and there's no turning back. Dominion explores themes of darkness owning and influencing these times we now live in, and things that have come to pass. It also delves into other eras, real and imagined. The pummeling begins with the title track, "Dominion", welcoming all who dare enter into an eternity of misfortune. Then it's into "Ominous Premonition", which Peterson likens to "the soundtrack to the gates of hell". The track "The Northlanders" is about brutal 11th century Northmen, while "The Discord Of Melkor" will thrill Lord of the Rings fans with an untold tale - "my take on Tolkien's Silmarillion, the first age of the Lord of the Rings saga genesis," says Peterson. Then there's the surprise of the slower, Black Sabbath-influenced duet with "my amazing Celtic vocalist friend and collaborator Leah," Peterson explains about "Love Of The Damned," an abstract piece that still explores a love story - with the devil, of course. "Almost like a switch-up story of if Beatrice from Dante's Inferno did fall for the Prince of Darkness!"

Dominion's eight songs create a deep and heady musical journey rife with meaning and menace, from the blackest and loudest recesses of Eric Peterson's mind.

 

Album artwork painted by artist Eliran Kantor (Testament, Iced Earth, Sodom)

 

Tracklisting:

"Entrance"
"Dominion"
"Ominous Premonition"
"Lamia"
"Love Of The Damned"
"Northlanders"
"The Discord Of Melkor"
"Serpents Of Fire"

Making of Part 1:

Making of Part 2:

"Dominion" lyric video:

Recorded at Trident Studios near Peterson's Northern California home, Dominion took about four years to complete, between Testament tours and albums. Peterson produced the album with an assist from engineer/mixer Juan Urteaga (Testament, Machine Head, M.O.D.), and mastering by famed producer/engineer Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studios in Sweden.

If the road to Dominion was long, it's only because Peterson strives for perfection. He says, "The biggest obstacle was getting the vocal patterns and lyrics right; telling the story of the music. Maybe I was a little too picky, but at the end of the day I'm glad we didn't settle for things that I wasn't feeling right about."

Eric Peterson is tuned to E Flat on Dominion, and used his two favorite Les Pauls for rhythm and some solos; his Ritchie Blackmore Fender Strat for other solos, as well as his signature Dean Old Skull Flying V. "I used a lot of different guitars to get various sounds. I didn't want my tone to be too close to Testament, but wanted to still maintain my signature sound. I really felt I needed to lay down the kind of stuff I do on my own - but not necessarily on records," he explains. "I'm pretty stoked of the outcome on the soloing end."

Peterson formed DragonLord in 2000 as its singer and guitarist (with keyboardist Lyle Livingston and now-ex-members Steve Di Giorgio of Testament and Jon Allen of Sadus), and notes that the growth from DragonLord's first two records to the cinematic triumph and brutal blast-beats of Dominion has been immense. Dominion's stellar, complex, brutally symphonic metal is triumphant in its execution, bringing together layers of meaning and musicality into an unholy whole.

Dominion will more than satisfy the legions greedy for DragonLord's beautifully pulverizing metal. Within the highly detail-driven but heavy-as-hell band, Peterson has total dominion.

On September 7th, Led Zeppelin conclude their reissue campaign with a new edition of the soundtrack to the concert film The Song Remains The Same, originally released in 1976 and featuring newly remastered audio supervised by Jimmy Page. Pre-order this title at ledzeppelin.com, and watch a new unboxing video for the deluxe edition below.

The album was recorded in July 1973 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and the new version is due to be released as a Super Deluxe Boxed Set, CD, vinyl, digital versions, plus the full album’s debut release in Hi-Res 5.1 surround sound on Blu-ray.

Tracklistings:

CD/Digital:

"Rock And Roll"
"Celebration Day"
"Black Dog"
"Over The Hills And Far Away"
"Misty Mountain Hop"
"Since I've Been Loving You"
"No Quarter"
"The Song Remains The Same"
"The Rain Song"
"The Ocean"
"Dazed And Confused"
"Stairway To Heaven"
"Moby Dick"
"Heartbreaker"
"Whole Lotta Love"

LP:

Disc One
"Rock And Roll"
"Celebration Day"
"Black Dog"
"Over The Hills And Far Away"
"Misty Mountain Hop"
"Since I've Been Loving You"
"The Ocean"

Disc Two
"The Song Remains The Same"
"The Rain Song"
"No Quarter"

Disc Three
"Dazed And Confused"
"Moby Dick"

Disc Four
"Stairway To Heaven"
"Heartbreaker"

Deluxe Edition unboxing video:

Trailer:

Dark Star Records has announced that Conquest have unveiled the artwork and tracklisting for The World Has Gone To Hell, the bands upcoming ninth release, date to be announced soon.

The artwork was created by Drake Mefestta with Drake Mefestta Designs and shows a decaying Statue Of Liberty. The songs are amongst the tightest and strongest that the band has ever released.

Tracklisting:

"The World Has Gone To Hell"
"The Creator"
"New August"
"Hell To Pay"
"Black Skies"
"American Blood"
"Demons And Angels"
"Heart Of Gold"
"Snowman"
"Red"
"Mississippi Queen"

"New August" video:

Milwaukee black metal group Prezir have released a lyric video for the title track from forthcoming album As Rats Devour Lions. Prezir will release As Rats Devour Lions on September 17th through Godz ov War Productions. Preorders are available now at this location.

The follow up to 2017 debut EP Contempt, As Rats Devour Lions delivers a scornful blow to the wasteland of safe metal modernity. A contemptuous rebuke of all extremist ideologies, both present and historical, Prezir epitomizes black metal ferocity (Destroyer 666, Dawn, Emperor) laden with thrash (Megadeth, Slayer) and death metal (Morbid Angel, Immolation, Deicide) influences. This record is a faster, more melodic, and heavier auditory assault than their previous effort. The title track is streaming below.

A black metal cyclone, Prezir features guitarists Rory Heikkila (Shroud Of Despondency) and Tyler Okrzesik (Shroud Of Despondency), vocalist and lyricist Luka Djordjevic (Khazaddum), drummer Brian Serzynski (Pigs Blood), and bassist Jerry Hauppa (Ara/Northless)

As Rats Devour Lions was skillfully recorded and mixed by Shane Hochstetler at Howl Street Recordings. Bass recorded by J.Hauppa; artwork and layout by L.Djordjevic; and photography by David Warner.

Tracklisting:

“As Rats Devour Lions”
“Ideologue Alchemy”
“Janičari”
“Dar al-Harb”
“Serpents In The House Of Ra”
“Hamatsa Death Ritual”
“Plagiarized Infamy”
“Oedipus Context”

“As Rats Devour Lions” lyric video:

Italian heavy metal band Stonewall will release new studio album entitled Never Fall, on September 28th, on No Remorse Records. The band was formed in 2006, and in its early incarnation, except doing own songs, used to play cover songs of acts such as Fifth Angel, Omen, Judas Priest and Metal Church - acts which they list as their main influences. 

Their first album, Victims Of Evil, was released in 2011, but due to line up complications, wasn't supported on a live tour. In 2015 the band returned with new line up, and from 20 new songs, 11 were chosen to be recorded for the second studio album, Never Fall.

New track “Tears Of The Earth”:

Entertainment One (eOne) has signed Portland, Oregon's Lord Dying to a worldwide deal with plans to release an all-new LP next year. Hailing from a region of the country that's abundant with purveyors of the heavy riff, both parties are eager to get started.

"We are very excited to announce our signing with eOne," says guitarist and vocalist Erik Olson. "We’re in good company here with the likes of Crowbar, High On Fire and Black Fast."

Lord Dying will head into the studio next week with producer/engineer Mike Plotnikoff (Fear Factory, In Flames) at West Valley Recording Studios.

"We're excited to start working on our third album with Mike. We’ve been working tirelessly the last couple years on this album and in some ways, it’s one Chris and I have wanted to make for the last 15+ years."  

The new, yet to be titled LP will serve as the follow-up to Poisoned Altars, released in 2015.

"We are about to hit the road in the UK & Europe in support of our latest album The Missing Peace and have released a video for a track 'A Drop Of Bleach'," reads a message from L.A. Guns.

Check out the video below and see all upcoming tour dates and ticket info for the upcoming shows in the UK, Europe, and US here.

Prior to headlining The Rockpile in Toronto, Ontario, L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns - who recently reunited with vocalist Phil Lewis - invited BraveWords scribe Aaron Small on board the band’s tour bus for an exclusive chat about all things LAG.

First matter of discussion was the recent L.A. Guns lineup change. In March of 2018, guitarist Michael Grant (who had been with the group since 2013) and LAG parted ways. Then Johnny Monaco (Enuff Z’nuff) joined the band for a very brief stint, and now Adam Hamilton - who played bass on LAG albums Waking The Dead, and Tales From The Strip - is the new rhythm guitarist. “We had (guitar) pics made that just say Stage Right on them; we never know who’s coming or going on that side of the stage,” jokes Tracii. “Adam’s been in the band forever (from 2001 - 2007). I just thought it would be really cool to have this kind of shredder guitar player on the other side; make a spectacle of it. But I guess in the end, that’s not really what L.A. Guns is. Having Adam, even at rehearsal before the shows, it was like, ‘oh, that’s solid!’ I’m always trying to improve things that don’t need to be improved. Right now, it’s nice.”

Last month Tracii took to Instagram saying he was about to record “what has to be the best guitar work I have ever done.” Reflecting upon that posting, Tracii admits, “That’s where the stress lies. People are paying attention to me all of a sudden, which they really didn’t for years. It’s got to be good, it’s got to be something. I think we managed to raise the bar a little bit with the one that’s going to be out next.”

That next album is nearly complete, with all the music in the can. “Just waiting for Phil to finish (his vocals). Everything’s done. All the lyrics are written, all the melodies. The songs are done, he’s got five in the bag, so he’s got to do seven more.” We’re looking at a twelve-track album then? “I think it’s going to be eleven with a bonus track. Wait, no, no, it’s 13 songs; all original, no covers. No ballads. There’s something close to a ballad; it’s a murder ballad, ‘One More Season In Hell’. We have a song that is like The Cult - Sonic Temple, it’s called ‘Gone Honey’ - that’s a really cool, different kind of thing. A lot of the album’s really heavy. There’s ‘The Devil You Know’, ‘Loaded Bomb’, ‘Boom’, ‘Rage’ - we have some with one-word titles and some with all these words in the title. The album’s going to be called Wasn’t Tomorrow Great.”

When it comes to artwork, that title lends itself to so many different possibilities. “Yeah, we were thinking about calling the album Gravity’s In Control. But, last minute change. Phil’s wife was coming up with this concept for the globe hanging in space, but it was the L.A. Guns logo. I think that’s still in order, cause you’re looking at the world - Wasn’t Tomorrow Great - when you dream, it’s always about something that’s going to happen. The dreams are usually great.”

Tracii handles all of the guitar parts on Wasn’t Tomorrow Great; lead and rhythm. “It was recorded just me, Johnny (Martin - bass), and Shane (Fitzgibbon - drums),” confirms the six-stringer. Wasn’t Tomorrow Great is coming out really quickly as the previous studio album, The Missing Peace, was released in October 2017, and the live album, Made In Milan, was just released in March 2018. New material is always welcome, but why such a rush? Why not tour on The Missing Peace more? “Because we toured so much before The Missing Peace,” answers Tracii. “And, people have a short attention span. It’s nice to hear now - today - how much people are still listening to The Missing Peace. We weren’t going to do one this quick, we were going to wait about another six months from this point, but we had a break and I was home, and I wrote all the music really quickly; not intentionally. I didn’t sit down and say, ‘ok, got to write an album now.’ It was like, ‘we’re supposed to start writing soon…’ Then all this really, really cool stuff came out. Me and Phil, we have a co-writer, this guy Mitch Davis. I just started sending him demos and he was like, ‘Holy Shit!’ I was like, ‘Jesus Christ, let’s just do this.’” And the potential release date? “We’re looking at March through Frontiers Music.”

Once again, Tracii is producing the album. “I did the last one, I did this one. I don’t wanna fuck with the system; the system works. We did do an upgrade on this. We went to a really nice studio - Big Bad Sound LA - to record drums, to record all the instruments. Where on the last album, we went to pretty nice studios to do the drums, and then everything was done in my studio after that. But I managed to get 95% of the guitar done in the same room where we recorded drums, which adds a certain kind of togetherness. I used the same room mics for the guitars that we used for the drums. It’s like, wow! You just pull the faders up and it doesn’t need to be mixed, everything fits. It was like a Godsend.”

All counted, there’s seven L.A. Guns albums of original material featuring both Tracii and Phil. Does that mean the songs found on Tales From The Strip (2005) and Hollywood Forever (2012) - which featured guitarist Stacey Blades in place of Tracii Guns - are dead and buried, never to be played live again? “Fuck those songs man. That’s not L.A. Guns, I’m not on those records.” To be fair, the unexpected does happen occasionally. Case in point, Guns N’ Roses performing “Slither” by Velvet Revolver live. Of course, Velvet Revolver featured GN’R members Slash and Duff McKagan, along with Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland. No one ever thought Axl Rose would sing that song, but he is. “I think Axl’s being nice,” offers Tracii. “It is a good song, it was massive on radio. But nobody knows shit off those fucking L.A. Guns records; it’s the truth. Nobody knows shit off half the records I did with L.A. Guns either. The first three, maybe a glimpse of Vicious Circle, a glimpse of Waking The Dead. Those are records we love, and there’s certain songs from those that the audience knows, but overall, to be realistic, the first two records and ‘Kiss My Love Goodbye’ and ‘Over The Edge’ off Hollywood Vampires - that is by far and away the most popular stuff. Then there’s The Missing Peace - it came out of nowhere.”

Catch L.A. Guns live in concert at the following shows:

August
31 - O2 Academy Islington - London, United Kingdom

September
1 - O2 Academy Sheffield - Sheffield, United Kingdom - SOLD OUT
2 - Riverside - Newcastle, United Kingdom
4 - The Robin 2 - Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
5 - The Craufurd Arms - Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
6 - Rebellion - Manchester, United Kingdom
8 - The Tivoli - Buckley, United Kingdom
10 - Cacaofabriek - Helmond, Netherlands
11 - Turock - Essen, Germany
12 - Colos-Saal - Aschaffenburg, Germany
14 - L’empreint - Savigny-Le-Temple, France
15 - Castle of Princess d'Arenberg - Raismes, France
16 - Hair Metal Heaven Festival - Hull, United Kingdom

October
6 - Streeters - Traverse City, MI
12 - Riverside Ballroom - Green Bay, WI

November
29 - Proof Rooftop Lounge - Houston, TX

December
7 - The State Theatre - Harrah, OK
8 - IDL Ballroom - Tulsa, OK

(L.A. Guns photo by Amy Maglieri, Tracii Guns photo by Aaron Small)

Swiss rockers Stoneman will release their new album Geil und Elektrisch on September 7th via Massacre Records. The band has released a video for the title track, which can be found below. Order the album here.

The upcoming album might rub some upholders of moral standards the wrong way - just like before. The tour, that accompanies the album and includes dates in Germany only, kicks off on September 6th.

Geil und Elektrisch tracklisting:

"Dein General"
"Niemandsland"
"Fremd"
"Tiefschwarz"
"Tanzmusik"
"Geil und Elektrisch"
"Fass mich nicht an"
"Alles Gute"
"Für immer"
"Worte"
"Dein General" (Elektro Edit)
"Geil und Elektrisch" (Elektro Edit)

"Geil und Elektrisch" video:

"Dein General" video:

(Photo - Matteo Fabiani)

On September 7, 2018, Eagle Vision will release "Yes: 50th Anniversary Live At The Apollo" on DVD, Blu-ray, 2CD and 3LP.

A performance clip of the song "Rhythm Of Love", taken from "Yes: 50th Anniversary Live At The Apollo", can be seen below.

In 2016, Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman combined their incredible talents and the heritage of YES to take to the road for a series of concerts celebrating the band's musical legacy from the seventies to the nineties. YES FEATURING JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN, RICK WAKEMAN brought their live show to the U.K. in early 2017, including this sell-out performance, captured live at the Manchester Apollo.

With a setlist embracing the spectrum of their career, including classics "Roundabout", "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", "And You And I", "Hold On", "Heart Of The Sunrise", "Rhythm Of Love", "I've Seen All Good People", "Awaken" and many more, the band were on superb form. Wakeman's keyboard sorcery wove its spell alongside Rabin's masterly guitar skills and founding member Jon Anderson's unique vocal and lyrical prowess to create a special night of musical alchemy for their fans. This glorious show captures the true, enduring nature of this ever-powerful band.

Grammy Award winners YES have sold more than 35 million albums and have been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Lineup:

Jon Anderson (vocals, guitar, harp)

Trevor Rabin (guitar, vocals)

Rick Wakeman (keyboards)

Lee Pomeroy (bass)

Lou Molino III (drums)

Audio mixed by: Paul Linford and Trevor Rabin

Track listing:

01. Orchestral arr. Perpetual Change (Rabin) / Cinema (Rabin/Kaye/Squire/White) / Perpetual Change (Anderson/Squire)

02. Hold On (Rabin/Anderson/Squire

03. I've Seen All Good People: (i) Your Move (ii) All Good People (Anderson/Squire)

04. Lift Me Up (Rabin/Squire)

05. And You & I (i) Cord Of Life (ii) Eclipse (iii) The Preacher, The Teacher (iv) Apocalypse (Anderson/Bruford/Howe/Squire

06. Rhythm Of Love (Rabin/Anderson/Kaye/Squire/White)

07. Heart Of The Sunrise (Anderson/Bruford/Squire)

(CD Disc 2)

08. Changes (Rabin/Anderson/White)

09. Long Distance Runaround (Anderson) / The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) (Squire)

10. Orchestral Shade (Rabin) / Awaken (Anderson/Howe)

11. Make It Easy (Rabin) / Owner Of A Lonely Heart (Rabin/Anderson/Howe/Squire)

12. Roundabout (Anderson/Howe)

Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED will release their 13th full-length album, "The Hunt For White Christ", on October 26 via Napalm Records.

When it comes to Swedish death metal, the traditional Stockholm way and death metal per se, there is one band you have to mention: UNLEASHED! Formed in 1989 by vocalist/bass player Johnny Hedlund, UNLEASHED has been delivering supreme death metal from day one. Dealing with Viking traditions and values, and honing their craft, they have become extreme metal pioneers, musically and lyrically, inspiring legions of other bands with their sound.

"The Hunt For White Christ" is the fourth album in the continued story line of the World of Odalheim and their Midgard warriors — a story authored by Johnny Hedlund himself, comprising of the past, present, and what Hedlund’s deems as the future of the Viking traditions and values. The album was recorded in the spring of 2018 at Chrome Studios, and does not simply mark the Swedes' 13th full-length album, it also solidifies the band's impact on history, paving the way to their 30th anniversary in 2019. Three decades of metal onslaught, and they have neither lost their bite, nor their love for pure death metal mayhem.

Hedlund states about "The Hunt For White Christ": "On our way towards the bands 30th anniversary in 2019 comes the release of our 13th full-length album, 'The Hunt For White Christ'.

"The band is very much looking forward to meeting our warriors all over the world on tours and festivals to hear your comments on the new album. And make no mistake, Odalheim will be ours! Let the hunt begin!"

Napalm Records states: "We are more than happy about the upcoming release of 'The Hunt For White Christ' by the Swedish death metal institution UNLEASHED. Beeing in business almost three decades, they proofed their standing and excellence to fans all over the world. Brace yourself for this brutal monument by the Swedish chief vikings!"

"The Hunt For White Christ" track listing:

01. Lead Us Into War

02. You Will Fall

03. Stand Your Ground

04. Gram

05. Terror Christ

06. They Rape The Land

07. The City Of Jorsala Shall Fall

08. The Hunt For White Christ

09. Vidaurgelmthul

10. By The Western Wall

11. Open To All The World

UNLEASHED is:

Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals

Tomas Måsgard: Guitar

Fredrik Folkare: Guitar

Anders Schultz: Drums

According to Variety, AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler has once again asked President Donald Trump stop using the band's songs at political events.

AEROSMITH's 1993 hit "Livin' On The Edge" was reportedly played at Trump rallies, like the one held at the Charleston Civic Center in West Virginia on Tuesday (August 21), as the president's supporters entered the venue.

Tyler's attorney has sent a "cease and desist" letter to the White House accusing the President of willful infringement in broadcasting the song. The singer is citing the Lanham Act, which states that trademark infringement can occur if the use of a song by a politician is likely to create confusion in the marketplace that the musician endorses the politician, especially if this association harms the musician's reputation (referred to as "dilution by tarnishment").

This isn't the first time Trump has used Tyler's music, with the AEROSMITH frontman previously writing a similar letter regarding his song "Dream On", which Trump used during his 2015 election campaign.

The latest letter sent to the White House by Steven Tyler's attorney reads as follows:

"It has come to our attention that President Donald J. Trump and/or The Trump Organization (collectively, 'Mr. Trump') have been using our client's song 'Livin' On The Edge' in connection with political rally events (the Rallies"), including at an event held yesterday at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia on August 21, 2018. As expressly outlined in the Previous Letters, Mr. Trump does not have our client's permission to use any of our client's music, including 'Livin' On The Edge'.

"What makes this violation even more egregious is that Mr. Trump's use of our client's music was previously shut down, not once, but two times, during his campaign for presidency in 2015. Please see the Previous Letters sent on behalf of our client attached here as Exhibit A. Due to your receipt of the Previous Letters, such conduct is clearly willful, subjecting Mr. Trump to the maximum penalty under the law.

"As we have made clear numerous times, Mr. Trump is creating the false impression that our client has given his consent for the use of his music, and even that he endorses the presidency of Mr. Trump. By using 'Livin' On The Edge' without our client's permission, Mr. Trump is falsely implying that our client, once again, endorses his campaign and/or his presidency, as evidenced by actual confusion seen from the reactions of our client's fans all over social media. This specifically violates Section 43 of the Lanham Act, as it 'is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association of such person with another person.'

"Further, as we have also made clear, Mr. Trump needs our client's express written permission in order to use his music. We demanded Mr. Tyler's public performance societies terminate their licenses with you in 2015 in connection with 'Dream On' and any other musical compositions written or co-written by Mr. Tyler. As such, we are unaware of any remaining public performance license still in existence which grants Mr. Trump the right use his music in connection with the Rallies or any other purpose. If Mr. Trump has any such license, please forward it to our attention immediately.

"In addition, Mr. Tyler's voice is easily recognizable and central to his identity, and any use thereof wrongfully misappropriates his rights of publicity. Mr. Trump does not have any right to use the name, image, voice or likeness of our client, without his express written permission."

Tyler is a registered Republican and attended the first GOP debate back in August 2015. The Hollywood Reporter posted three years ago that Tyler's attorney, Dina LaPolt, explained that Tyler's problem with Trump's use of the music goes beyond politics, and has to do with copyright control. "Steven works tirelessly with both Republicans and Democrats regarding copyright reform and his position has always been consistent regarding copyright and intellectual property," she wrote. "Simply, one must get permission from the music creators. Steven wrote 100 percent of 'Dream On', and this is about the unauthorized use of his property."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tyler and Trump are friendly: "Tyler was once a judge at Trump's Miss USA pageant and they reportedly once traveled to Russia together." Trump tweeted about attending an AEROSMITH concert and raved about the show.

Eric Clapton’s latest release will feature a range of Christmas classics along with new track For Love On Christmas Day

Titled Happy Xmas, it’ll be released on October 12 and will feature a range of festive songs along with the new track For Love On Christmas Day.

Clapton tells Billboard: “I had in my head that these holiday songs could be done with a slight blues tinge, and I started to figure out how to play the blues lines in between the vocals.

“I got it down and one of the most identifiable songs on the album, the one that became the foundational style, is Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

Clapton co-produced Happy Xmas with Simon Climie and designed the cover art, which can be seen below along with a full tracklist.

The album will be Slowhand’s first release since 2016’s I Still Do.

Clapton will play two shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden on October 6 and 7.



Eric Clapton - Happy Xmas
1. White Christmas
2. Away In A Manger (Once In Royal David’s City)
3. For Love On Christmas Day
4. Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday
5. Christmas Tears
6. Home For The Holidays
7. Jingle Bells (In Memory Of Avicii)
8. Christmas In My Hometown
9. It’s Christmas
10. Sentimental Moments
11. Lonesome Christmas
12. Silent Night
13. Merry Christmas Baby
14. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

On August 21, ALICE IN CHAINS performed atop Seattle's iconic Space Needle. The quartet — vocalist/guitarist Jerry Cantrell, vocalist/guitarist William DuVall, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney — was the first band ever to play on the Space Needle's brand-new "The Loupe," the world's first and only revolving glass floor located 500 feet in the air. It's powered by 12 motors and offers 360-degree views over the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. The Space Needle has been a defining landmark of Seattle's skyline since 1962 and The Loupe is part of its recent $100 million renovation.

A clip of the performance can be seen below.

Said Cantrell in a statement prior to the gig: "I've visited the Space Needle many times in my life and it's going to be a real honor and a total trip for us to play there. We're so proud of this album and to be able to celebrate its release with a performance at one of our town's most iconic landmarks is really special. It sorta reminds me of the time we did the 'Again' video, but instead of being six feet in the air rocking out on a glass floor, we'll be 50 stories high… slight difference."

The Space Needle show was for an audience of SiriusXM subscribers; the satellite radio company will broadcast ALICE IN CHAINS' acoustic performance exclusively on Friday, August 31 at 5 p.m. ET and PT via satellite and through the SiriusXM app on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com.

The Space Needle performance is part of a week of ALICE IN CHAINS-themed events in Seattle to celebrate Friday's (August 24) release of the band's new album, "Rainier Fog". On Monday night (August 20), the Seattle Mariners hosted "Alice In Chains Night" at Safeco Field, while a pop-up shop and retrospective exhibit will open on Thursday (August 23) and Friday at the Crocodile, featuring limited-edition merchandise, rare photos, memorabilia, music gear and more.

Photo credit: Pamela Littky

Sammy Hagar makes an appearance in Fontana Police Department's lip-sync video. The four-minute clip shows scenes of officers going after speeders and also of them rocking out to Hagar's "I Can't Drive 55" song.

"All these years, I still can't drive 55," the former VAN HALEN frontman says as he exits his 1982 Ferrari 512BB, the same he drove in the original 1984 music video. "This time I got away with it! Woooo!"

According to The Mercury News, Hagar — a Fontana native — agreed to be part of the lip-sync challenge after Officer Tim Frydendall reached out to the rocker for use of his 1984 song.

"A Sammy Hagar song is a natural fit for Fontana, but I didn't think we would ever end up with an appearance from Sammy Hagar," Frydendall said.

Frydendall ended up reaching out to Orange County-based event producer John Oakes, who is working with Hagar on the HighTide Beach Party, which is slated to be held in October in Huntington Beach.

"When Tim and I spoke on the phone, I was happy to connect a few dots to support his request. My younger brother works in law enforcement, so this was a fun opportunity to cross our careers," said Oakes.

The video, which was filmed and edited by the Southern California video-production company Attain Media, features more than a dozen officers and staffers participating in the lip-sync challenge.