Former WHITE LION singer Mike Tramp's debut album as a solo artist, "Capricorn", saw the light of day 20 years ago back in 1998. Now the right time has come properly reissue the LP.

Tramp says: "22 years ago, I walked into a recording studio in Reno, Nevada to record my first solo album. I was both curious and nervous. Did I have style, did I have a sound. Now looking back after 10 solo albums. 'Capricorn' is the foundation of every album I have done ever since, it is Mike Tramp, it makes me proud".

The 2018 reissue of "Capricorn" will be made available on November 2 via Target Records in the following formats: white limited-edition LP (500 copies only), CD and digital. The album has been remastered at Medley Studios in Copenhagen and the artwork carefully restored and refreshed.

In connection with the release of "Capricorn", Tramp will perform two exclusive "Capricorn" shows at Zeppelin Rock Bar in Copenhagen on October 31 and November 1. Only 50 tickets available each day (contact [email protected] to purchase tickets).

The "Capricorn" 2018 version can be pre-ordered now on limited white LP, CD (signed personally by Tramp) and also a new "Capricorn" t-shirt design is available at the official Mike Tramp webshop.

AEROSMITH announced its upcoming Las Vegas residency during an appearance this morning on the "Today" show before the group performed its classic songs "Love In An Elevator" and "Sweet Emotion" for fans at New York's Rockefeller Plaza.

The "Deuces Are Wild" show, named for AEROSMITH's 1994 single, will kick off April 6, 2019 at the Park Theater at MGM Grand.

A total of 18 shows will take place during the months of April, June and July. Tickets range from $75 to $750 and go on sale to the general public August 24.

"I feel like we've been out of the wind for a while and it seems like it would be a really cool thing to bring some of the history back, so the production is gonna look like that," guitarist Joe Perry said. "We want to bring a show we can't do when we're on the road on a regular tour. A show that still has AEROSMITH and all the guts of AEROSMITH."

Drummer Joey Cramer added: "The history behind our almost 50 years of being together. As soon as you walk into the Park Theater in Vegas, you're gonna feel it."

Singer Steven Tyler promised a special show for Vegas.

"We're going to keep it raw," he said. "It's going to be beautiful, we're going to rock out and we’re going to use some special effects we haven't used before."

AEROSMITH officially formed in Boston in 1970 and last performed on May 5 at the New Orleans Jazz Fest.

In 2017, AEROSMITH announced a run of dates called "Aero-Vederci Baby!", but stopped short of calling it a final tour.

AEROSMITH hasn't released a new studio album since 2012's "Music From Another Dimension!"

Photo credit: Zack Whitford

A new photo of AC/DC members Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd sitting on the deck of Vancouver's Warehouse Studio with the band's longtime mixer, engineer, and producer Mike Fraser has been posted on the Ear Of Newt web site and can be seen below.

Fraser has mixed and engineered several albums by AC/DC, including the last three — 2000's "Stiff Upper Lip", 2008's "Black Ice" and 2014's "Rock Or Bust" — all of which were recorded at Warehouse.

According to Canadian journalist Steve Newton, Vancouver resident — and hardcore AC/DC fan — Crystal Lambert has an apartment located near Warehouse, and she and longtime friend Glenn Slavens have been keeping an eye on the studio's outside deck, where various bandmembers seemingly retreat to get some air and get a drink. Angus and Stevie Young were also spotted at the studio earlier in the month.

The assumption is that AC/DC is in the midst of making — or at least planning — another album, with Rudd and Johnson both back in the lineup.

Ever since AC/DC completed the tour cycle for its 2014 album "Rock Or Bust" nearly two years ago — a turbulent trek that weathered the forced retirement and eventual death of co-founder Malcolm Young, plus the departures of Johnson, Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams — fans have wondered whether sole remaining founding member Angus Young would keep the band going or decide it was time for AC/DC to pack it in.

Johnson was forced to leave AC/DC mid-tour due to a dangerous level of hearing loss, and was eventually replaced on the road by GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose, while Williams decided to retire at the end of the cycle.

Rudd's spot behind the kit for AC/DC's "Rock Or Bust" world tour was taken by Chris Slade in 2015 after Rudd was arrested for drug possession and threatening to kill an employee.

Angus has not said publicly what he has planned for the future of AC/DC.

AC/DC in Vancouver: Mike Fraser spotted with Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd, maybe calling Cliff Williams on his phone? https://t.co/OYquDvgitg— Andrew Kahofer (@Mustangguy68) August 15, 2018

The heavy metal world was shocked by last month's unexpected death of one of its legends: Mark "The Shark" Shelton, a founding member of the legendary epic metal band MANILLA ROAD. Mark was a musician with many projects and one of his last ones was the long-forgotten idea to release songs he did many years ago with David T. Chastain.

In February 2018, Mark and Chastain began discussions about releasing some music they had recorded together in the late '80s. Over the following months, they worked together in getting everything ready for release in late 2018. Just two days before Mark's passing, he was sending in thoughts and comments to be included in the final product. Everyone involved knew how excited Mark was about this release and we wanted to make sure it was released exactly in the way Mark wanted.

Two extraordinary musicians working together on great songs with the '80s spirit: epic, melodic, heavy, unique! Of course MANILLA ROAD and CHASTAIN joining in the '80s means nothing less than a masterwork! So you will be able to listen to a long hidden treasure of heavy metal history!!!! In remembrance of Mark Shelton, David T. Chastain and Pure Steel Records want to give these songs a place in metal history to complete the incredible life work of a metal master!

Lineup:

Mark Shelton - vocals, lyrics, melodies

David T. Chastain - guitars, bass, drum programming

OTEP's lyric video for the anti-hate group, Nazi-stomping anthem "Molotov" can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's most uncompromising, candid, all-inclusive and controversial assessment of the current residing political regime that it has ever released — the new album "Kult 45".

Throughout the span of her career, OTEP frontwoman Otep Shamaya has been an undeniable force in bringing awareness via various acclaimed mediums to social and political injustices felt by various communities and subcultures. For years, publications such as Revolver magazine have lauded Shamaya for "following in the footsteps of outspoken musicians from folk singer Woody Guthrie to RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Zach de la Rocha, dubbing her "one of music's catalysts for social change". So, with the political climate as it is today, it's prime time for OTEP to make their voices heard in their primary medium — song.


"Kult 45" was recorded at The Lair in Los Angeles, completely utilizing the same equipment used for OTEP's first album, "Sevas Tra" (down to Shamaya's vocal microphone, a SHURE Beta 58), in order to create a sound reminiscent of their roots. "Kult 45" was self-produced by the band, with assistant engineering from Larry Goetz, Nicolas Schilke and Lizzy Ostro.


Shamaya explained that "Kult 45" is the most authentic album OTEP has ever released, at least since their first record, and producing it themselves helped achieve this result. "We had the freedom to be able to write, record and exist within the songs on 'Kult 45'," she said. "Things needed to be said and songs needed to be written that reflect the times. We weren't under anyone else's agenda, there was no pressure to create a 'single' or a song for radio, and the band was really able to shine."

"Invasion", a new song from American grindcore icons TERRORIZER, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's long-anticipated new full-length, "Caustic Attack", which will be released on October 12 via The End Records. Produced by Jason Suecof (DEICIDE, ALL THAT REMAINS, KATAKLYSM, BATTLECROSS) at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida and featuring the apocalyptic cover art of Timbul Cahyono (ROTTING CORPSE, PYREXIA), the record serves as the band's first studio offering in six years.

TERRORIZER guitarist Lee Harrison commented: "We are proud to finally unveil the new track from 'Caustic Attack'. We made sure this album is unrelenting and 'Invasion' is a good start on the journey. This album is a punisher so be warned. A short and fast blasting dose of Pete Sandoval in his element. We look forward to playing this one live."


"Caustic Attack" track listing:

01. Turbulence

02. Invasion

03. Conflict And Despair

04. Devastate

05. Crisis

06. Infiltration

07. The Downtrodden

08. Trench Of Corruption

09. Sharp Knives

10. Failed Assassin

11. Caustic Attack

12. Poison Gas Tsunami

13. Terror Cycles

14. Wasteland


Before drummer Pete Sandoval recorded MORBID ANGEL's first album, 1989's "Altars Of Madness", he performed on two demos and a split album with his original band TERRORIZER. Today, the group's 1989 full-length debut "World Downfall" is still considered a pinnacle for death metal and grindcore, featuring impossibly fast blast-beats and double-bass drumming along with a blitzkrieg attack by late guitarist Jesse Pintado (NAPALM DEATH), and ex-vocalist Oscar Garcia (NAUSEA). The 1989 lineup was rounded out by Sandoval and then-fellow MORBID ANGEL bandmate David Vincent on bass.


Over the next twenty-three years, Sandoval took time between MORBID ANGEL albums to continue working with TERRORIZER, recording two more cataclysmic full-lengths, 2006's "Darker Days Ahead" and 2012's "Hordes Of Zombies". And now, another six years down the burning highway, TERRORIZER is back with "Caustic Attack", their heaviest and most eclectic album to date.


TERRORIZER started working on "Caustic Attack" in 2014, but before they could lay down a single bar of music, Sandoval had to make sure he was healthy enough to work on a new album — which was far from a sure thing. Rewind to 2009 when Sandoval's suffered a severe back injury caused by decades of Olympic-class death metal drumming. After seeing different doctors and exploring his options, Sandoval opted for invasive surgery to repair the deteriorated discs between interlocking vertebrae in his spine.


By 2013, Sandoval was feeling pretty good, so he got together with multi-instrumentalist Lee Harrison, who played on MALEVOLENT CREATION's 1989 demo a year before giving birth to metal veterans MONSTROSITY, which have released five full-length albums to date. In 2007, Lee joined up with fabled CRIMSON GLORY singer Midnight, with whom he worked until the vocalist died in 2009. Lee has also played guitar with OBITUARY on tour in South America in 2012. Now, he's deadly serious about his role in TERRORIZER, but at first playing with Sandoval was more like a hobby.


"We started playing some songs just for fun," Sandoval explains. "We did some of the 'World Downfall' songs, and then we learned a few cover songs and we did our first show as a party. That's how everything started."


Feeling confident and comfortable again behind the kit, Sandoval invited Sam Molina, who played with Harrison in MONSTROSITY, to join them on bass, and the trio started working on songs for "Caustic Attack". A violently explosive album for increasingly turbulent times, "Caustic Attack" is the sound of a world nearing apocalypse. The songs conjure images of warplanes on bombing runs, giant tanks obliterating small villages and the endless rattle of machine guns mowing down everyone in sight.


Sandoval has long been known as one of the fastest players in death metal — the pioneer of blast beats — and he doesn't hold back on "Caustic Attack". At the same time, even the fastest songs are tighter and more precise than TERRORIZER have ever been thanks to veteran producer Jason Suecof, who's painstaking method of recording showcases Sandoval and his team at peak capacity. The only minor hitch in the process was deciding whether or not to include guitar solos.


"The original TERRORIZER didn't have solos, so we took the same approach," Harrison says. "It was just riff after killer riff. That was an interesting challenge for me — to keep the music fresh without relying on solos. But the great thing about not having solos is it allows us to keep a dense sound as a three-piece. When you put leads in there, you need a second guitar or else the bottom falls out. Staying a three-piece makes it easier to travel and tour, and we didn't want to mess with that formula."


Now that Sandoval is devoting all his time and effort to TERRORIZER (he left MORBID ANGEL in 2013), he plans to tour extensively and then record another album. The six-year curse is officially broken. "It feels so great to be back playing every day," Sandoval says. "I worked really hard on my recovery and all that work is really paying off now because when I play these songs I feel the same way I did in 1990 or 2000. I feel young again and I can play with no problem. And that's hard to do because this new album has a lot of changes, double-bass, fast blast beats. You name it."


TERRORIZER is:

Pete Sandoval - drums

Lee Harrison - guitar

Sam Molina - bass/vocals

The first trailer for "Ritual", the forthcoming eleventh album from SOULFLY, can be seen below. Due on October 19 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, the follow-up to 2015's "Archangel" was produced, recorded and mixed by Josh Wilbur (KILLER BE KILLED, LAMB OF GOD, GOJIRA). Cover artwork was painted by artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH, SODOM). Additional booklet art was handled by Marcelo Vasco (SLAYER, HATEBREED, KREATOR), who also handled the package design. The album features multiple guests, including Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD) and Ross Dolan (IMMOLATION).

The first single from the disc, "Evil Empowered", can be streamed below.

Comments guitarist/vocalist Max Cavalera: "I am really stoked to be working again with two of my favorite artists, Eliran Kantor and Marcelo Vasco!

"The 'Ritual' artwork is very mystic and captures the vibe of the album perfectly. For this one, we really tried to retain the groove of early SOULFLY as well as my love for the heavy, fast stuff I'm into, like death and black metal and some hardcore.

"Working with Josh Wilbur for SOULFLY this time around has been amazing. He's a huge fan and added a lot to the record. I would fight for the fast songs and he would always push me to add more groove. I think in the end we created a really cool mix of songs that covers a lot of ground in my career. Let the Ritual begin!"

Wilbur adds: "Before I had ever recorded a record, in my formidable years, Max released the holy trinity that was (at least to me) 'Chaos A.D.', 'Roots' and 'Soulfly'. I wanted to make a record that captured what I loved about those when I was growing up! Those records inspired me and introduced me to heavy metal. Fast forward to now and I was given the opportunity to make the record I wanted as a fan! So I set up some mics, recorded some riffs, we banged on some galvanized metal, roto toms, djembes, and anything else we could get, then I told Max to 'BRING DA SHIT'!"

"Ritual" track listing:

01. Ritual

02. Dead Behind The Eyes (feat. Randy Blythe)

03. The Summoning

04. Evil Empowered

05. Under Rapture (feat. Ross Dolan)

06. Demonized

07. Blood On The Street

08. Bite The Bullet

09. Feedback!

10. Soulfly XI

According to Amazon, Post Hill Press has set a December 11 release date for "Megalife: The Autobiography Of Nick Menza" by J. Marshall Craig.

Official book synopsis: "With Nick Menza behind the kit, MEGADETH transitioned from celebrated cult band to international superstars. 'Rust In Peace', the first album to feature Menza and Marty Friedman, was instantly considered a classic, sold over a million copies, got nominated for a Grammy Award, and established what many consider to be the definitive MEGADETH lineup. It was the beginning of a remarkable run in which the band would release three career-defining albums and tour the world many times over.

"Success was a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows: sobriety and addiction, peace and tension, laughter and anger. Until one day it all came crashing down. Despite his contributions to the band’s most iconic and enduring work, when Menza was forced to seek treatment for a debilitating tumor in his knee, he awoke from surgery to learn he was being fired from the band by the man he considered a brother and mentor, the ever-enigmatic Dave Mustaine. The devastating news sent him into a spiral of anger and frustration, followed by a dark period of self-medication that nearly killed him.

"'Megalife: The Autobiography Of Nick Menza' is an unflinching look at life inside of one of metal's most successful bands, from the back of the stage to the bunks on the bus, as well as a blow-by-blow account of the tumultuous, complicated relationship between Menza and Mustaine. It is also the singular story of a self-taught musician who achieved his dreams through sheer will and determination, watched it all disintegrate, and then rebuilt himself from scratch."

Last year, Menza's family, management and biographer promised some shattering public disclosures about Nick's final months — and the disgraceful treatment they've received since the musician's sudden death.

Late in the evening on May 21, 2016, Nick collapsed after suffering a heart attack during a concert with Chris Poland and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari in their band OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said Menza died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Little more than a year later, the Menza camp has its crosshairs on MEGADETH founder Dave Mustaine, according to author J. Marshall Craig, manager Robert Bolger and Rose Menza, Nick's mother, who is now guarding and caring for the drummer's estate and legacy.

Shortly after Nick's passing, Rose expressed her "enormous gratitude for the outpouring of love and condolences from Nick's many friends and fans," adding that she was "so happy and excited" that "Dave Mustaine has chosen to help celebrate Nick's life and help the boys (Nick's two surviving sons)" with a benefit memorial concert that was proposed to feature all willing former members of MEGADETH.

In the days after Nick's death, Mustaine told Kerrang! magazine that, "The Nick that I know, at the end, I think that he… he went to heaven doing what he wanted to do: play drums. And I think that instead of us all mourning, we should celebrate his life, celebrate his legacy."

Mustaine insisted in interviews that he had a "very, very close" relationship with the drummer, despite Menza's public accusation that the MEGADETH frontman sent him a "ridiculous proposal" for a failed 2015 reunion of the band's classic "Rust In Peace"-era lineup. In interviews and public posts on his social media, Nick revealed that Mustaine refused to pay for him rehearsals or even recording the next record, and offered an insulting weekly touring rate. When Nick's attorney and management submitted a counter-proposal, Mustaine allegedly lost his temper and scuttled the reunion, changing his phone number and e-mail address. Nick and Mustaine never spoke again, which Craig says is explored fully in the upcoming book.

"Dave's betrayal was really a huge blow to Nick," Craig said. "But I can say that not long after, Nick was as sure as ever that he was better off and far more musically satisfied playing with Chris and Pag. He absolutely loved those guys. He was far more excited about the prospect of playing Europe with OHM: than he ever seemed to me when the subject of MEGADETH came up. He told me he wanted the reunion for what it could have and should have been — a celebration of a band at its zenith, regrouping one more time for the fans.

"Yeah, it would have been great. And who's to say it still can't be sometime in the future," Nick said in his final interview with Craig, at Rose Lane Studio in Carpinteria less than a month before his death. "It sure doesn't look good now but I'll never say never; it's all up to Dave. It always has been."

In the year since Menza's death, sadly, Mustaine has failed to not only stage a memorial concert featuring surviving MEGADETH alumni and for the benefit of Nick's sons — he has reportedly yet to call Menza's parents or even send a condolence letter.

"He never called," Rose said from the family home in Studio City. "I am really upset at him (Mustaine). They were NOT good friends, no matter what he says now that Nick's not here to answer what's being said about him."

Mustaine told the Q103 radio station a couple of days after Menza's death: "People think that we had this failed reunion attempt. There were several times that we tried to reconcile stuff, and it just didn't happen for whatever reason — I don't know why, but it didn't."

Said biographer Craig: "Dave knows exactly why there was no reunion, since he pulled the plug — again — as can be clearly seen in mail exchanges between him and Nick, which Nick gave me complete access to. I've put the conversations in the book, unabridged," Craig said. "Dave's at once friendly and encouraging and then, in an instant, childish and rude; Nick comes across like, well Nick: polite, agreeable and accommodating, trying his best to get along and make it work.

"I've been telling media before and after Nick's passing that he never sought to call out Dave for the things he did and said, which is completely true. Nick wanted to take the high road and, indeed, he always did, and we're honoring that legacy.

"Believe me — there is A LOT that Nick revealed to me that is not in the book … though what is most fans will find pretty shocking, but not a surprise.

"In consultation with Nick's mom and dad and sister and ex, his manager Rob and Nick's closest friends, we're unanimous in the decision to not censor anything now."

Craig, best known for his deeply behind-the-scenes books with THE ANIMALS frontman Eric Burdon and THE ROLLING STONES keyboardist and musical director Chuck Leavell, believes the most disgraceful incident so far is the MEGADETH frontman's treatment of Menza's surviving young boys.

As for repeated declarations from Mustaine that he "sang almost every single note of Marty Friedman's guitar solos, and I wrote the majority of Nick's drum parts, and I wrote almost every bass note that Ellefson played" and "I did it to [former guitarists] Jeff [Young], Chris [Poland] and Al [Pitrelli], too," Craig said that long before Nick's death, he held nothing back on discussing his time in MEGADETH and how the band's management treated him in years since. "I've been privy to it all," Craig said, "the e-mails, the attorneys' and managers' correspondence on both sides. I think it paints an ugly picture, but fans will be able to make that assessment for themselves when they see the book.

"Nick didn't want a tell-all, and nothing about this book can be considered salacious in the least," Craig concluded. "But that doesn't mean it's not going to be controversial and perhaps bruise a few feelings that deserve to have the wind knocked out of them: This book is the truth — Nick Menza's true MegaLife."

Active since 2015, Sacremento, California-based progressive melodic death metal outfit The Odious Construct are a young band relatively speaking. Yet in their brief existence, they've moved at blinding speeds to continually refine their craft live and in the studio in order to reach the next level. After hashing out two single song demos in 2015, the band quickly released their well-received self-titled EP in July of 2016. 

Now in 2018, The Odious Construct have evolved as musicians and songwriters and are primed to release their strongest music to date on Shrine of the Obscene. Recently signed to The Artisan Era, Shrine of the Obscene will be The Odious Construct's first effort on the label and is set for release on Friday, October 12th through The Artisan Era.

Throughout the five swift and deadly songs on Shrine Of The Obscene, The Odious Construct carves out a path beyond the typical "complex for complexities sake" approach with a focus built upon catchy guitar melodies, straightforward brutality, and enhanced by orchestral flair to ensure the songs remain stuck in your head.

The Odious Construct had the following to say about the upcoming release of Shrine of the Obscene

"This upcoming EP is a progression from the previous self-titled EP.  While still melodic, there is more speed and technicality involved, and there is more experimentation with orchestra instruments. Thematically, the writing is still dark. The lyrics revolve around psychological disorders, horror, suicide, etc. The goal of this EP was to include more dynamics musically and more diverse instrumentation. We are still a melodic death metal band but we are incorporating more modern elements to the music stylistically."

Tracklisting:

“Vortex Of Self”
“Descension”
“They Came Through The Mirrors”
“Cyanide Eyes”
“Shrine Of The Obscene”

Teaser:

Gates Of Hell Records (a Cruz Del Sur Music imprint) has announced the forthcoming release of Chevalier's Chapitre II on 12" vinyl MLP.  The sold-out 2018 EP was specially remastered for this vinyl release and features an exclusive Brocas Helm cover version of "Fly High." The MLP is limited to 500 green vinyl copies and includes one A4 insert. Layout by Annick Giroux. 

The MLP will be released on September 21st, concurrently with Chevalier's show at Harder Than Steel festival with Omen, Oliver Dawson Saxon, Ashbury, Cauldron and more. Preorders available here.

Too often, hitting the "rewind" button on speed or thrash metal reveals bands more interested in rehashing past glories than offering something new. The speed/thrash explosion of the mid-'00s displayed that if anything, it's far too easy to slap on a jean jacket, queue up Bonded by Blood, form a band, "borrow" some riffs and release subpar, uninspired material. Which brings us to Helsinki, Finland for an introduction to Chevalier, one of the most fiery and unique bands to hit the speed metal pavement in recent memory.

Formed a mere two years ago, Chevalier (who consist of vocalist Emma Grönqvist, the guitar tandem of Tommi and Mikko, bassist Sebastian Bergman and drummer Joel), immediately got to work in their rehearsal room, whereupon they recorded their A Call to Arms debut EP. While their recent split with Legionnaire recorded in a traditional studio, the band opted to return to the comfortable environs of their rehearsal room for the tracking of Chaptire II. Sure enough, it has given Chevalier a throttling, reverb-soaked sound that catapults speak not only to the band's speedy roots, but the labyrinthine song constructions similar to NWOBHM upstarts Hell and Mercyful Fate.

Chapitre II is the band's most diverse release to date, as evidenced by the expanded song lengths and oftentimes adventurous song layouts. Grönqvist, in her banshee-wailing, scream-queen glory, turns in a riveting performance, holding steady against relentless thrash beats and triumphant gallops. The songs themselves tackle a wealth of topics: "The Messenger" is about the rush to deliver a crucial message to one's kingdom before paranoia kicks in; "Wrath Of Steel" details a warrior's thoughts on a bloody battlefield, and "The Curse Of The Dead Star" is about impending doom from outer space.

The combination of fantasy and science fiction lyrics along with urgent, challenging, melody-laden speed metal instantly sets Chevalier apart from the pack, where every song is more than just a simple headbang-a-thon - they are journeys onto themselves.

Tracklisting:

“The Messenger”
“Wrath Of Steel”
“The Curse Of The Dead Star”
“Fly High” (Brocas Helm cover)

Professionally filmed video footage of Metallica performing "Hardwired", the opening track of their latest studio album Hardwired... To Self-Destruct at BC Place in Vancouver, BC on August 14th, 2017 can be seen below:

Metallica are currently taking a break from the road. The band launch a North American arena tour on September 2nd at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Find their live itinerary here.
 
Support Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation and you could win a Wherever I May Roam Black Ticket - the one ticket that will allow you floor access to as many shows as you want to attend on the 2018/2019 North American tour (festivals and special events excluded from promotion). That's up to 35 gigs! You pick the shows, register no less than 48 hours before the gig, and you're in.

Find complete details and enter now at this location.

AWMH is a non-profit philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. 100% of donations go to support the organizations that work with the Foundation. Please visit allwithinmyhands.org for more information.

Vicious Italian death metal group Bloodtruth are set to unleash their blistering sophomore full length Martyrium on September 28th via Unique Leader. The ferocious and uncompromising 10-track album was mixed and mastered by Italian producer Stefano Morabito at 16th Cellar Studios (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance) and features artwork by Jose Sabogal (Beheaded, Inferno). A new lyric video for "The Last Prophet" is streaming below.

Martyrium sees Bloodtruth, who were formed in 2009 as a side project of Fleshgod Apocalypse members but now features the lineup of vocalist Luis Maggio, guitarists Stefano Ciucci and Stefano Clementini, bassist Riccardo Rogari, and drummer Giacomo Torti, truly coming into their own as a force to be reckoned with in extreme music. Martyrium is 10 tracks of pure death metal aggression, unrelenting musical intensity, and powerful, acidic, hateful vocals.

The band commented on the album, "The main themes interlinking the wide range of subjects covered in Martyrium are human sacrifice, carnage and slaughter which the Christian Church carried out against all those found guilty of being “heretics”. In this album, historical and ethical relevance are both firmly bonded to the circumstances and facts mentioned in the lyrics. Bloodtruth decided to take into account some of the events narrated in the famous bestseller The Name Of The Rose (Umberto Eco, 1980) and its vast number of historical and philosophical references, mostly focusing on the martyrdom topic too. The new artwork masterpiece, done by the highly acclaimed Peruvian artist Josè Gabriel Alegria Sabogal (Beheaded, Inferno) fits perfectly with this concept."

Guitarist and co-songwriter Stefano Rossi Ciucci added, "Martyrium is a concept album. We took a really long time to release it but we believe that's a sign of more maturity and determination within the band. We always follow our feelings and try to express our state of mind through our music, and what we have in our hands now is the darkest and brutal Bloodtruth album ever!"

Martyrium tracklisting:

"1184 P.C."
"Centuries Of Intolerance (Danse Macabre)"
"Schismatical Crusades "
"Inner Resurrection "
"Peste Noire"
"Prelude To Havoc"
"The Tome Of Suffering"
"Persecution"
"The Last Prophet"
"Martyrium"

"The Last Prophet" lyric video:

Pre-orders and more Bloodtruth news will be forthcoming very soon.

Athens, GA based alternative rock band Lullwater has released the official music video for their cover of Pearl Jam's "Release," off of the 1991 hit album TEN. "Release" features live footage with Dave Krusen (Pearl Jam, Candlebox) and Kevin Martin (Candlebox), and was recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, WA, where TEN was originally recorded, with engineering and mixing by Justin Davis.

"The entire experience of recording Pearl Jam's ‘Release' in London Bridge Studios was so surreal. Pearl Jam is one of my favorite bands and to cover that song in the same room as they did, was very emotional for me. I had no idea that a couple of years later we would be performing it live with Dave Krusen and Kevin Martin on the Candlebox tour; it’s such an odd and incredible feeling of living and experiencing the moments we've made because of ‘Release.' It's by far the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me as a musician. Thinking back to when I was in my adolescent years playing that song over and over and then one day to be performing it live with the original drummer, is simply crazy for me. ‘Release' has a special place in my heart and is one of my favorite songs to play live.” - John Strickland (Vocals/Guitar)

Just one week ago, Tacoma, Washington natives Aethereus finally released their new album Absentia through The Artisan Era. The group's take on progressive death metal deftly combines elements of atmospheric death metal, ferocious technical death metal, and more overtly melodic death metal focused ends of the spectrum into a sound all their own. Aethereus cites influences ranging from Obscura, Spawn of Possession, Cynic, and Gorod which rightly shows in the ambitious and smartly crafted songs found on Absentia.

The band has premiered the new video for “That Which Is Left Behind”:

Guitarist Kyle Chapman comments on the release of Absentia: “Work on Absentia started back in January of 2016 shortly after the release of Ego Futurus. Shaun and Kyle had already been working on mapping out new songs and developing potential lyrical concepts. However, because of Shaun’s untimely passing, the album became something completely different. It went from a sort of weird self-indulgent sci-fi story to be about depression and loss, becoming both a point of frustration and catharsis. Absentia is loosely structured around the Kübler-Ross Five Stages of Grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance). Musically, lyrically, and conceptually, the album follows the stages of grief and describes the experience of losing a loved one and the lasting impact that person’s absence has on an individual, a group, and life as a whole. It begins in a chaotic and bombastic manner, goes into some somber places, but ultimately ends on a somewhat hopeful note."

Order the album via Bandcamp, or The Artisan Era.

Tracklisting:

“Cascades Of Light”
“Writhe”
“Mortal Abrogation”
“Fluorescent Halls Of Decay” (feat. Brody Uttley of Rivers Of Nihil)
“Absentia”
“That Which Is Left Behind”
“The Black Circle”
“With You, I Walk”
“The Pale Beast”

"Cascades Of Light":

“The Pale Beast” lyric video:

German-American power/thrash metal act Them will release their sophomore album, Manor Of The Se7en Gables, on October 26th via SPV/ Steamhammer. The first single, "Witchfinder", will be available on September 7th.

With an impressive concept that combines the most significant components of US power and thrash metal and songs that focus on lyrics about spooks and horror, Them are one of the most unusual new metal acts. Their debut album Sweet Hollow (2016) already more than hinted at the artistic potential of the six-piece. Their successor release Manor Of The Se7en Gables sees the group surrounding frontman KK Fossor present an album that takes up thematically where its predecessor left off but goes on to explore the stylistic extremes of this musical genre even further.

“Manor Of The Se7en Gables sounds harder, darker and technically more sophisticated than Sweet Hollow,” main songwriter Markus Ullrich sketches the benchmark data of the latest release, adding: “At the same time, fans may be taken by surprise by a number of changes because we have unmistakably continued to evolve as a band during the past two years.”

The German guitarist, who was among the founder members of prog metal band Lanfear before joining Them in fall 2013 and continues to be a member of speed/thrash metal act Septagon and instrumental project A Cosmic Trail, values this evolvement: “I like it when songs also live up to certain technical standards. Luckily, we can easily fulfil those technical standards thanks to this outstanding line-up.”

Ullrich speaks respectfully of his American colleagues KK Fossor, guitarist Markus Johansson (Sylencer, 4ARM) and drummer Angel Cotte (Demolition Hammer), and the German contingent consisting of bassist Alexander Palma and keyboardist Richie Seibel (Lanfear, Ivanhoe). Courtesy of their impressive technical skills, they have as little difficulty mastering the demanding songs on Manor Of The Se7en Gables as American bassist Mike Lepond (Symphony X, Ross The Boss), who supported Them during the studio production as a guest musician and – as on Sweet Hollow – put the icing on the cake (or rather the songs) with his musical experience. Not forgetting Paul Sabu (Alice Cooper, David Bowie), who further refined the material as a chorus vocalist.

Manor Of The Se7en Gables was mixed by Dave Otero at the Flatline Audio studios in Denver. The band will then go on to strike on all fronts at the same time. Ullrich: “We played 30 shows to support the release of our debut. Now we’re set to top that number with the new songs.” An ambitious target which definitely seems realistic in view of this fantastic recording.

Manor Of The Se7en Gables will be released on CD DigiPak, 2LP Gatefold, download and stream.

Tracklisting:

"Residuum" (Intro)
"Circuitous"
"Refuge in the Manor"
"Witchfinder"
"A Scullery Maid" (Interlude 1)
"Ravna"
"As the Sage Burns"
"The Secret Stairs"
"Peine Forte Et Dure" (Interlude 2)
"Maleficium"
"Seven Gables to Ash"
"Punishment By Fire"

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen has revealed the latest song from her brand new live-art-album and video "Act II".

"Die Alive" was recorded live in Milan, Italy and can be seen below.

Filmed during Tarja's world tour "The Shadow Shows", during which the influential heavy rock singer circled the world 7.5 times with over 300,000 km travelled and played over 200 shows in 40 countries in front of 1 million people, "Act II" consists of the singer's very intimate 75-minute set filmed and recorded live at the Metropolis Studio in London, England and the breathtaking live performance of one of her shows in Milan, Italy, and previously unreleased interviews and photo galleries.

The theatrical rock adventure "Act II" combines two incredible-yet-slightly-different live performances on video: The first chapter, "Metropolis Alive", has been filmed two months prior to the release of Tarja's 2016 success "The Shadow Self". Twenty winners from all over Europe were lucky to witness Tarja's set at Metropolis Studios in London, where the singer performed songs from her then unreleased album — for the first time in front of an audience.


"Act II" is the second chapter and was recorded on November 29, 2016 at the magnificent Teatro della Luna Allago in Milan, Italy and includes numerous hits from all four Tarja albums such as "Innocence", "Die Alive", "Until My Last Breath", as well as an incredible cover of MUSE's classic "Supremacy". That night's setlist also enchants the soprano's long-time fans with a medley consisting of the distinctive NIGHTWISH evergreens: "Ever Dream", "Slaying The Dreamer" and "The Riddler". It was all topped off with a remarkable acoustic set, which presented Tarja classics in a brand new way.


Even though the shows deliberately differ in look, sound, approach to the music and adrenaline, both have one thing in common: from the very first to the very last tune, the state of the art production displays Tarja's energetic performance and her graceful, charming presence.


"Act II" was released on July 27 on earMUSIC as 2CD digipak, 3LP gatefold (180g, black), DVD, Blu-ray, limited mediabook 2CD+2BD (including two full live shows filmed at Hellfest in France and Woodstock Festival in Poland as bonus) and digital.

"Act I", Tarja's first-ever live release, charted Top 10 all over Europe as well as almost all over the world, with a sensational No. 5 in Germany. The video version even remained for over two months at the peak of the Finnish music video charts.

THE DARK ELEMENT, the new project featuring former NIGHTWISH vocalist Anette Olzon and Finnish guitarist and songwriter Jani Liimatainen, is about to commence pre-production for its second album.

Anette wrote on her Facebook page: "Next weekend I go to the studio to start demo recordings for our new THE DARK ELEMENT album and just wanna say Jani has done it again! Excited!"

THE DARK ELEMENT's self-titled debut album was released last November via Frontiers Music Srl.

Since word of this project got out, fans have been frothing at the mouth with anticipation for its arrival. And no wonder considering the talent involved. Anette is widely known for being the immaculate voice on the hit albums from NIGHTWISH, "Dark Passion Play" and "Imaginareum". Jani has been busy in CAIN'S OFFERING alongside STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto, but left a deep mark on the minds of all power metal fans thanks to his time in SONATA ARCTICA.

Jani told That Drummer Guy about how THE DARK ELEMENT came together: "It was actually kind of a coincidence. I was in northern Lapland doing an acoustic tour with [STRATOVARIUS/CAIN'S OFFERING vocalist] Mr. [Timo] Kotipelto and I got a message from Frontiers [Music Srl] and they asked me if I would contribute as a songwriter for one album and just write songs. I told them that I'm pretty busy at the moment, but in two weeks I could try. I just made the deadline and set them one song. I guess they liked it, because it went on the album. Then it took like one week, Serafino [Perugino] from Frontiers asked if I wanted to write and produce a whole album. I said 'Sure, why not?' Then they asked me if I wanted to work with Anette. I've been lucky to work with a lot of great male singers like Timo Kotipelto and Tony Kakko [SONATA ARCTICA] and all those guys. I said I wanted to work with a female singer for a change. They were like 'Okay, do you have someone in mind?' 'Actually, no.' They were like 'Okay, let's see about this.' It took a few days and they got back to me and asked, 'Anette Olzon. How do you feel about her?' I said 'Yeah, I remember her from NIGHTWISH. She has a really cool, pop sound. That would work perfectly. Let's do this.' It just happened. It was just one of those things that happened. I never would have thought of making an album with Anette. Now, it seems obvious, like 'Why not?' But back then, this thought would have never crossed my mind. When they got back to me with it, I was like 'Sure, it's a great idea. I love her voice.'"

Regarding how he approached songwriting for THE DARK ELEMENT, Jani said: "I had a rough idea, of course, that I wanted to make, how would you say, a not-too-complicated album. Make songs that go straight to the point that are catchy, but still heavy. Already at this point, I knew Anette would be singing on this, but then when I started communicating with her and sending demos and when I got the first demos back with her vocals, I was, like, 'Oh yeah! This is how it's going to sound. This sounds cool. Now I know what we're doing.'"

As for his thoughts on the band's self-titled debut album now that it's released, Jani said: "Of course, it's the same as with every album, when it's actually finished and you get the master, you listen to it once or twice and check that it's okay, then you kind of push it back a bit. For instance, this album, when I got the master, I had been working on it for almost one and a half years already, so I was pretty sick and tired of the songs. [Laughs] Then I gave myself some time and went to do something different, like I was away for a while and now that the promotion cycle is starting, I went back, I was at the gym and I listened to it for a while during my workout and said, 'Hell, this sounds pretty good. There is nothing to be ashamed about.'"

THE DARK ELEMENT made its live debut on June 7 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

The band will next perform at the Frontiers Rock Sweden festival on Saturday, October 13 at Fryshuset Klubben in Stockholm. Also scheduled to appear are ECLIPSE, CRAZY LIXX, ONE DESIRE, PERFECT PLAN and CREYE.

With the band's new single, "When The Curtain Falls", already Top 10 at rock radio and nearly eight million streams to its credit, GRETA VAN FLEET presents the companion music video, a performance piece that finds the band in an esoteric foreign landscape filled with mystical symbolism, celestial events and otherworldly psychedelia. Filmed in Southern California and conceived and directed by acclaimed visual effects artist Benjamin Kutsko ("The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button", "Iron Man"), it can be seen below.

GRETA VAN FLEET performed "When The Curtain Falls" on the July 26 episode of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon".

The band's full-length debut is tentatively due before the end of the year.

Asked how the making of the new disc was different to the way GRETA VAN FLEET recorded its first two EPs, "Black Smoke Rising" and "From The Fires", guitarist Jake Kiszka told the DOMKcast: "It has some commonalities, but as far as [how] those two things differ, we had the ability to sit down with all the material that have written and go, 'Okay, now we have the ability to put something together that is a complete thought.' Whereas EPs are just kind of concepts — just short pieces — where now we have something that is one full complete thought.

"Because we'd stopped touring — we had pretty much been rigorously touring for the last maybe year and a half — we had these two weeks where all of this material started to kind of come to us," he continued. "I'd say about 50 percent of the album was material that was spontaneously written within the actual recording process of the album. So we started tracking a bunch of things that we've been writing while recording, and we'd just throw it down at the end of the night and have [basic] tracks to work from.

"In the similar light to 'Black Smoke Rising' and 'From The Fires', there was a collection of material that spanned probably about three years ago and material that was written right on the spot. And as we went along, [we would go], 'Okay, this song kind of fits here, and that leads to this,' and that helped us navigate what we wanted to put on the album."

GRETA VAN FLEET played in Michigan clubs for six years before rocketing to the top of the rock radio charts last year with "Highway Tune". The track is taken from the "Black Smoke Rising" EP.

Photo credit: Tyler Macey

America's all-time top-selling rock 'n' roll band AEROSMITH is bringing the heat to the Las Vegas Strip with their headlining residency, "Aerosmith: Deuces Are Wild". Shows begin Saturday, April 6, 2019 at Park Theater at the new Park MGM resort.

AEROSMITH's Las Vegas residency, promoted by Live Nation and MGM Resorts International, will bring you face to face with America's greatest rock 'n' roll band in one of the most immersive, state-of-the art audio and video technology experiences in Las Vegas. The show features never-seen-before visuals and audio from AEROSMITH recording sessions. Grammy Award-winning producer Giles Martin, known for creating the soundscape for "The Beatles Love" by Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, will create a spectacular show experience.

AEROSMITH has teamed up with THX and L-Acoustics for their upcoming breakthrough residency at Park Theater to deliver the world's first THX Certified live performance presented in L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound.

Members of AEROSMITH's "Aero Force One" paid fan club will receive access to an exclusive presale beginning Thursday, August 16 at 9 a.m. PT.

Citi is the official presale credit card of AEROSMITH's residency at Park Theater. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Monday, August 20 at 10 a.m. PT through Citi's Private Pass program.

M life Rewards loyalty members as well as Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers will receive access to a presale beginning Wednesday, August 22 at 10 a.m. PT.

All presales end Thursday, August 23 at 10 p.m. PT. Tickets starting at $75 go on sale Friday, August 24 at 10 a.m. PT. VIP packages and on-stage seating will also be available. All shows are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

The 18 performances going on sale are:

April 2019: 6, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 21, 23, 26

June 2019: 19, 22, 24, 27, 29

July 2019: 2, 4, 7, 9

The news of AEROSMITH's residency was broken by guitarist Joe Perry, who told SiriusXM's Beatles Channel that AEROSMITH will hit Sin City in 2019 leading up to the band's 50th anniversary. Perry said: "We're going to be doing a residency in Vegas starting next spring. What we want to do is something that I haven't seen before… just downsizing our live show, just playing in a smaller place. We want to do something different. We're in the middle of the production now. What we're talking about is having an experience that you wouldn't be able to see on a regular AEROSMITH tour."

He continued: "I feel like we've been out of the wind for a while and it seems like it would be a really cool thing to bring some of the history back, so the production is gonna look like that. But without losing what we are: a hardcore rock and roll band.

"We're having almost weekly conversations about the production and how we're gonna keep it true and honest to the heartbeat of the rock and roll that we play but still add an element that people will want to see. I haven't been this excited about a project with AEROSMITH in quite a while."

AEROSMITH officially formed in Boston in 1970 and last performed on May 5 at the New Orleans Jazz Fest.

In 2017, AEROSMITH announced a run of dates called "Aero-Vederci Baby!", but stopped short of calling it a final tour.

AEROSMITH hasn't released a new studio album since 2012's "Music From Another Dimension!"

Park Theater is the entertainment centerpiece of Park MGM, a partnership between MGM Resorts International and New York-based Sydell Group which features two distinct hotel experiences including a Las Vegas version of Sydell's widely acclaimed NoMad Hotel. The 5,200-seat Park Theater, with its cutting-edge audio and visual technology, provides artists of diverse talents with a dynamic space to create one-of-a-kind productions where every seat allows guests to feel up close and personal. From comedy shows and live concerts, to sporting events and award shows, the theater is specially designed to transform seamlessly for any occasion. 

Las Vegas ResidencyWe’re taking Sin City by storm with our Deuces Are Wild Las Vegas Residency, opening April of 2019 at Park Theater at Park MGM! Citi presale begins Monday 8/20 at 10am PT before public on sale Friday 8/24 at 10am! For all dates, VIP info & ticket options click “Learn More” below!Posted by Aerosmith on Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Finland’s Shiraz Lane have released an official music video for "The Crown", a track from the band's Carnival Days album, released back in February. Watch below.

Tracklisting:

"Carnival Days"
"The Crown"
"Harder To Breathe"
"Tidal Wave"
"Gotta Be Real"
"People Like Us"
"Shangri-La"
"War Of Mine"
"Shot Of Life"
"Hope"
"Reincarnation"

"The Crown" video:

"People Like Us" video:

"Harder To Breathe” video:

US black metal band Imperialist are all set to release their debut full-length album on Transcending Obscurity Records. Their brand of black metal is inspired by the Swedish black metal scene and is furthermore worked upon to exude a thrash vibe.

Imperialist have conjured up a brilliant sci-fi themed album that stands out both conceptually as well as musically. Rooted in the early Swedish black metal sound of luminaries like Necrophobic, Dissection and Sacramentum, Imperialist hone it up further to suit their futuristic theme by adding touches of thrash metal without diluting the rich aura. Cipher is backed by a visually stunning artwork by Adam Burke (Vektor, Lurk) that extends into a continuous two-panel work depicting the grand theme. It's rare to find bands that have a bold vision and at the same time creating the perfect blend for music that is at once atavistic and forward-thinking. This is one of the finest examples of meticulously written black metal counterbalancing aggression with melodies and thrashy sections.

Cipher release formats:
-LP box set
-Gatefold LP
-Digipak CD box set
-8-Panel digipak CD
-Digital

Tracklisting:

“Continuum”
“The Singularity”
“Advent Anathema”
“Splendor Beneath An Ancient Permafrost”
“Umbra Tempest”
“Chronoclasm”
“Binary Coalescence”
“The Dark Below”
“Mercurian Dusk”

“The Singularity”:

Midnattsol vocalist Carmen Elise Espenaes has checked in with the following update:

"Comeback-time! A brand new song called 'Fri' and its music video will be released this Friday (August 17th). The song will be available on our YouTube channel, Homepage, iTunes, Amazon. Counting down the days!"

Savn was launched by Carmen and The Sins Of Thy Beloved members Stig Johansen and Anders Thue. Their self-titled debut album was released in April / May 2014. Details of their new album and line-up will be available soon. Go to this location for updates.

Midnattsol recently released an official lyric video for the title track of their new album, The Aftermath.

Midnattsol now has true full sister power featuring Liv Kristine and Carmen Elise. The name Espenæs rightfully makes a lot of people swoon - as  both sisters have been a vital part of a magnitude of gothic / symphonic / folk metal milestones. Until  this point a supergroup involving both sisters sharing microphone duties was only the stuff only dreams were made of. Now it is a reality.

The band comments on the track: “As a huge thank you for waiting for us all these years, here is another song for you before the release of our new album! It contains a message that we want to reach out with; What do you think it is?”  

“The Aftermath” relies much more heavily on folk influences lending atmospheric density to the melancholic symphonic metal compositions. A sumptuous and sensual affair and a shimmering highlight in the discography of this German / Norwegian team.

Tracklisting:

"The Purple Sky"
"Syns sang"
"Vem kan segla"
"Ikje glem meg"
"Herr Mannelig"
"The Aftermath"
"The Unveiled Truth"
"Evaluation Of Time"
"Forsaken"
"Eitrdropar" (Bonus Track)

"Herr Mannelig" video:

Teaser:

Midnattsol is

Carmen Elise Espenæs - vocals
Liv Kristine Espenæs - vocals
Alex Kautz - guitar
Daniel Fischer - bass
Stephan Adolph - guitar
Michael Kapelle - session drummer

More fan-filmed live footage of Canada's reunited Sven Gali has been posted online and can be viewed below. Check out "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" from th eband#s debut album along with two previously release clips courtesy of drummer Dan Fila.

Formed in 1987 in Hamilton and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Sven Gali brought the '80s and '90s hard rock / metal wave home to Canada. They delivered their high-energy live show from St. Johns to Victoria, and across the US and Europe for the next nine years. Back in March the band announced they had reunited; the 2018 lineup includes all three remaining original members: Dave Wanless (vocals), Andy Frank (guitar), Shawn Maher (bass), new drummer Dan Fila (Varga), and new guitarist Sean Williamson.

The band has two shows under their belt and are continuing with a string of dates for the summer, including a return to the UK in September. Liane Conway has since checked in with the following:

"To anyone that is going to any of the Sven Gali shows, please make sure to check out the merch table. The guys are selling cool guitar pics and necklaces with the Sven logo and Dee Cernile’s signature on the back; 100% of the proceeds are being donated to The Patterson Institute for Integrative Cancer Care in Dee’s name. I will add pictures and info about the charity in the comment section. Also, proceeds from the sale of their new single 'Kill The Lies' produced by my dear friend David Bendeth will be donated as well."

Dee Cernile was a founding member of Sven Gali. He died on February 25th, 2012 after battling lung cancer. He was 46.

Sven Gali's schedeule is now as follow:

September
14 - Hull Metal Heaven Festival - Kingston upon Hull, UK

Sven Gali have released an official lyric video for their brand new single, "Kill The Lies". Check it out below.

Sven Gali built a name fast with their live shows; drawing growing crowds on the Canadian and US circuit while building their songwriting chops and a wild reputation. David Bendeth (Paramore, Breaking Benjamin) signed the band to BMG Music Canada in 1991 and produced the self-titled debut, released in 1992.

The album included singles and videos for "Under The Influence", "Tie Dyed Skies", "In My Garden", and the ballad, "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (#6 CanCon song of 1993). It included a cover of Teenage Head’s "Disgusteen" featuring guest vocals by Frankie Venom. The video for "Under The Influence" won the MuchMusic Best Metal Video award in 1993. The band was nominated for Hard Rock Album of the Year and Most Promising Band at the Junos. Sven Gali went gold in Canada.

Sven Gali toured extensively throughout Canada and the USA, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the UK, headlining and on the bill with acts including: April Wine, Foreigner, Candlebox, Pearl Jam and Def Leppard.

Their follow up album, Inwire (1995), recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, was produced by Kelly Grey (Candlebox, Brother Kane, Dokken) and featured guest musicians Christopher Thorn of Blind Melon, and Candlebox's Kevin Martin and Scott Mercado.

The band toured for the next year before disbanding in 1996.

Look for Sven Gali in 2018. Booking inquiries can be directed to blackmoonent@rogers.com

Germany's Double Crush Syndrome are gearing up to release a new EP entitled Flash & Blood. The tracklist is as follows:

"Rebel Yell" (Billy Idol cover)
"I Don't Like You"
"Riot Act" (Skid Row cover featuring Scotti Hill)
"Breakin' The Law" (Judas Priest cover)
DCS Live In Madrid - May 27th, 2018
- "She's A Pistol"
- "Yeah! Pain!"
- "Blood On My Shirt"
- "Die For Rock N' Roll"
- "Gimme Everything"

The band recently announced their Flash & Blood Tour 2018 for September. The first dates are as follows:

September
15 - Essen, Germany - Zeche
22 - München, Germany - Backstage
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Indra
29 - Berlin, Germany - Maze

US-based hard rock/metal band Vandallus have released an official live video for the song "Heart Attacker", taken from the album Bad Disease, out on September 28th via Pure Steel Records. Watch the video below. The album will be available as CD, DL and limited edition vinyl.

With Shaun Vanek (guitars and vocals), aka Vanik, and Steve Dukuslow (drums) Vandallus from Cleveland, Ohio do indeed feature the core of the mighty Midnight in their ranks. The current line-up is completed by Jason Vanek (vocals, guitar), with Tyler Harvey (Deadiron) on guitar and Tim Frederick (Wretch, Eternal Legacy, Destructor) on bass respectively. Although the band is Jason’s baby, Midnight boss Jamie Walters also contributed a few songs to Vandallus' debut effort On The High Side, which saw the light of day on High Roller Records in 2016.

“Vandallus is a totally different project from Midnight,” states Jason Vanek, “basically the idea came about of recording material in the vein of late 1970s/early 1980s hard rock. I've always wanted to do a project like this, so it came together very quickly.”

“We just wanted to write another batch of great hard rock songs!” comments Vanek on the second full-length Vandallus album Bad Disease. With songs like the uplifting “Heart Attacker”, the infectious speedster “Infected” (sounding very much like 1979 Dokken) and “Trash Talk'n”, a groovy rocker carried by a strong vocal performance, the new album carries on where the critically acclaimed On The High Side has left off.

Tracklisting:

“Infected”
“Trash Talk’n”
“Sundown Haze”
“Heart Attacker”
“Shock”
“Shake Down”
“Loaded”
“Vandallus”
“Bad Disease”

“Heart Attacker” video:

Lineup:

Jason Vanek - vocals, guitars
Vanik - guitars, drums, bass
Tyler Harvey - guitars
Tim Frederick - bass
Steve Dukuslow - drums

Swedish death/black metal hellhounds Unanimated have issued an unboxing video for their brand new Annihilation EP, out now. Watch the clip below.

Offering four new songs, the band’s first studio recordings since the release of their last album In The Light Of Darkness (2009), Annihilation is a raw and dirty pre-taste of Unanimated’s upcoming studio album, which is planned to be released in late 2018/early 2019.

Annihilation is available on 12” MLP (with 180 gr vinyl and etching on side B) and CD slimcase as well as digitally. The MLP version is worldwide limited to 1,000 copies, the CD version to 2,000 hand-numbered copies only (one time print).

The vinyl version is available in the following colours:

- Black vinyl - limited to 600 copies
- Clear vinyl - limited to 200 copies
- Red vinyl - limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at Cudgel mailorder
- Silver vinyl - limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at CM Distro

Order the EP here.

Annihilation EP tracklisting:

"Adversarial Fire"
"From A Throne Below"
"Of Fire And Obliteration"
"Annihilation"

Unboxing video:

The release of the comeback album from Swedish melodic rockers Snakes In Paradise, entitled Step Into The Light, is set for September 14th. The song "Things" is available for streaming below, and you can pre-order the album here.

Snakes In Paradise came to the attention of melodic rock fans in 1993 when they acted as the back-up band for Mark Free. The band introduced the world to their original material soon thereafter when their self-titled debut album was released in 1994. Produced by the late Brett Walker (Alias, Jeff Paris, Mitch Malloy), the album showcased a combination of British hard rock mixed with American AOR delivered by a soulful blues rock singer and four outstanding musicians. It was truly a dynamic record with immediately hummable melodies while simultaneously not sacrificing the heaviness and power of hard rock.

The band’s second album Garden Of Eden followed in 1999 and was inspired by Whitesnake’s more popular and most well-known material, thus satisfying fans of the musical formula on the band's debut. After the release of Dangerous Love in 2002, another album chock full of hooks and harmonies, the band called it a day.

Singer Stefan Berggren wound up working with Company Of Snakes (a band formed by former Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, and Neil Murray), Lee Kerslake (ex-Uriah Heep, Ozzy Osbourne) and Razorback for a stretch of time, but in 2016, the members of Snakes In Paradise reconvened to discuss making more music together.

"I started to get more and more questions from journalists about a new Snakes In Paradise album,” tells singer Stefan Bergreen. “I was also asked to write some songs in the Snakes style by a few different musicans. One of them was Alessandro Del Vecchio, with whom I did an album called Revolution Road. On that album, some of the Snakes guys were guests. The album turned out great and eventually, Snakes started to get lots of show offers. One being from the Rockweekend in Stockholm. After the show, I decided to send one of the songs I wrote to Serafino, the President of the Frontiers label. He liked what he heard and offered us a record deal immediately. And here we are."

Step Into The Light is the band's first album in 16 years and again melds the melodies of classic US AOR of the 80’s with some truly exquisite hard rock. Stefan Berggren’s voice is better than ever and the songwriting is more refined than ever.

“Fans should expect a Snakes In Paradise album with a familiar sound,” continues Stefan Bergreen. "Not much has changed musically from the first albums, really. Still the same drum kit and same guys playing together. That makes this our signature sound, but perhaps this time a bit beefier and more mature. We are better musicians now and with a little more depth to the songwriting."

"We always have a special magic when we play and write together,” concludes Stefan. "We poured our hearts into this album and we hope you like it as much as we do. This could be the strongest album of all the albums we have done. We also hope to see the fans on the road some day soon!”

Tracklisting:

"Wings Of Steel"
"Silent Sky"
"Will You Remember Me"
"Angelin"
"Living Without Your Love"
"If I Ever See The Sun Again"
"After The Fire Is Gone"
"Love On The Other Side"
"Things"
"Liza"
"Life's Been Good To You & Me"
"Step Into The Light"

"Things":

"Will You Remember Me" lyric video:

Lineup:

Stefan Berggren - Lead vocals, acoustic guitar & keyboards
Thomas Jakobsson - Electric guitar & acoustic guitar
Stefan Zimman Jonsson - Lead guitar
Tomas Pomma Thorberg - Bass
Peter Petterson - Drums

"Weird World", a new song from DREAM CHILD, the band featuring former members of DIO, AC/DC and QUIET RIOT, can be seen below. The song is taken from DREAM CHILD's debut album, "Until Death Do We Meet Again", which will be released on September 14 via Frontiers Music Srl.

DREAM CHILD is:


* Craig Goldy (DIO, GIUFFRIA): Guitar

* Wayne Findlay (MSG): Guitar, Keyboards

* Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, OPERATION: MINDCRIME): Drums

* Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE, DIO): Bass

* Diego Valdez (HELKER): Vocals

Goldy stated about DREAM CHILD's formation: "The band DREAM CHILD was conceived during a brainstorming session with Serafino (president of Frontiers) and I one day while discussing other matters.

"I had been listening to my favorite bands a lot recently, DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW's 'Rising' album, among others in that style, and had noticed that many people who also love those bands often have the very same comments as one another: 'They don't make music like that anymore!' Even though I said that in passing, Serafino asked me a question that would forever shape my future. He simply asked, "Well, can you?" and I said, 'Yes!!!'


"During the very first public memorial for our most beloved Ronnie James Dio, I had mentioned that whenever I do start writing original material again that I would utilize everything that I had learned from working side by side with the Master for so many years in such a way that I would hope to make him proud... and here it is! The name is inspired by one of his lyrics on the 'Dream Evil' album and the nickname he gave me at the time, Dream Child!


"We are so very fortunate to have bassist Rudy Sarzo as a featured guest, Simon Wright on drums, Wayne Findlay on guitars and keyboards, and a surprise vocal discovery from Argentina, Diego Valdez, whose voice will send shivers up your spine!


"This album will bring back memories of the days most people have thought were long gone and never to return, yet it is also new and fresh enough to be unique with some unexpected twists and turns!! No more 'same old, same old' here, no fillers. Every song is an oasis in the desert and a rare gem in the coalmines of life in this new world that thinks the past greatness of rock would remain in the past. We've brought it back to life once again!!


"I am very proud of this album and all who have made this become a reality. There are some big names who've lent a hand in the writing and I am amazed at the new and aggressive sound that producer Alessandro Del Vecchio has brought to these songs! I hope you all agree...."


"Until Death Do We Meet Again" track listing:

01. Under The Wire

02. You Can't Take Me Down

03. Game Of Shadows

04. It Is What It Is

05. Playin' With Fire

06. Light Of The Dark

07. Midnight Song

08. Until Death Do We Meet Again

09. Washed Upon The Shore

10. In A World So Cold

11. Weird World

12. One Step Beyond The Grave

Former ANNIHILATOR frontman Randy Rampage passed away on August 14 at the age of 58. The singer, whose real name was Randall Desmond Archibald, was also a founding member, bass player and occasional vocalist of the Canadian hardcore band D.O.A.

Rampage appeared on ANNIHILATOR's debut album, 1988's "Alice In Hell", before leaving the band. In 1999, he returned to the group and recorded one more album called "Criteria For A Black Widow" after which he left once again to rejoin D.O.A.

The news of Randy's passing was confirmed by the Facebook page of the documentary "Bloodied But UnBowed", a historical look at the evolution of punk rock on the West coast of North America during the 1978-1983 timeframe. Randy made an appearance in the documentary, which was narrated by Billy Hopeless (formerly of THE BLACK HALOS) and released in 2010.

"Tonight sometime after 7pm Randy Rampage left us to reign in the heavens," a message from "Bloodied But UnBowed" read. "A punk legend has moved on. And because he shared himself with you, please share a moment and think of Randy Desmond Archibald aka Rampage. We love you Randy."

In a 2017 interview with Metal Insider, ANNIHILATOR mainman Jeff Waters stated about Rampage: "He couldn't sing, but he was the coolest attitude guy we've ever had in the band, because he was like a punk rocker. He played bass in a band called D.O.A., and had this attitude that was second to none."

Rampage told Punk Globe that singing for ANNIHILATOR "was a fuckin' blast. It was like this metal band that was really hot at the time but didn't have a frontman, so their manager — a local music and porn promoter who D.O.A. had played for many times — recruited me," he said. "I had never really done any serious vocal work before, so when Gary asked me if I knew of any heavy metal singers who were looking for a gig, I opened my mouth and said I was the guy, and then we were in a recording studio. Next thing I was in Fiasco Brothers [studio] recording. ANNIHILATOR was a good run, especially in Europe. I got fired for beating up the guitar player songwriter."

Dear friends,

Tonight sometime after 7pm Randy Rampage left us to reign in the heavens. A punk legend has moved on. And...Posted by Bloodied But Unbowed on Wednesday, August 15, 2018