Necroart’s Caino album will be released November 30th, 2018 by The Goatmancer Records.

Formed in 1999 and after releasing three demos and three critically acclaimed full lengths, Necroart are finally back.

Born and grown up taking influences from the ‘90 extreme metal sonorities (read Moonspell and the early Swedish death metal scene), the band renewed its sound focusing on a more progressive yet extreme approach in the vein of Arcturus and Schammasch, starting a new journey into obscure territories and esoteric themes.

“Mastodon Rising”:

Montreal prog quartet Fractal Cypher are getting ready to release their mini-album Prelude To An Impending Outcome on November 8th and have just unveiled the artwork and the track listing. This four song mini-album promises to be a roller coaster of genres across completely different sounding songs with intimate lyrics influenced by personal experiences.

“Prelude To An Impending Outcome is a mini album of four songs that are completely different from one to another to create a maximum roller coaster effect and make it nonlinear and interesting to listen to. The clash of style is more important and more obvious than our previous album, but the songs have gained in maturity in term of songwriting and sound. The vibe of this album is really more intimate, due to the lyrics and the overall ambiance/universe of the songs. The melodic side of the band is still really present, offering catchy vocal lines and outstanding solos all over the songs.” - Fractal Cypher

Each track has a different prominent genre influence from power ballad, blues, djent and jazz with the band’s heavy and melodic base as an anchor. The album artwork was done by Silent Q Design out of Montreal and foreshadows the moody and existential prog metal that lies within. Although this album is more intimate with different textures and influences, the reception to its predecessor should be a prime indication of the talents of Fractal Cypher; this next release is sure to be a masterwork.  

Tracklisting:

“Coming Back To Life”
“The Grandeur Of It All”
“From The Above And To The Stars”
“Red Lady”

"New Bethlehem/Mass Death Futures", a new song from Birmingham extreme metal miscreants ANAAL NATHRAKH, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's 10th full-length album, "A New Kind Of Horror", which will be released on September 28 via Metal Blade Records.

When writing about "A New Kind Of Horror" in the record's liner notes, ANAAL NATHRAKH vocalist Dave Hunt is succinct in his description: "This is not a happy album; it is bitter, vengeful, sarcastic, sardonic, violent, terrified and horrified, terrifying and horrifying in equal measure. Above all, it is human, and all that that entails. It's as sincere as we could make it."

Those exposed to the ten tracks comprising the band's tenth full-length will be unable to deny the truth to these words, for lyrically, musically and sonically it is a punishing listen mired in darkness and seething with raw emotion. With multi-instrumentalist Mick Kenney pushing their distinctive hybrid of symphonic black metal, death metal, industrial and grindcore ever forward, Hunt draws lyrical inspiration primarily from the horrors of the First World War, contemporary politics, and the letters of D.H. Lawrence, creating one of the most powerful, timely and unique releases of 2018.

"There's a lot that goes into our albums, of course, but it all comes about as a natural result of who we are, and for 'A New Kind of Horror' we felt early on that it was clearly its own thing," Hunt says. "It doesn't have to stand in comparison with anything, because to us it's in a class of its own."

b>"A New Kind of Horror" track listing

01. The Road To...

02. Obscene As Cancer

03. The Reek Of Fear

04. Forward!

05. New Bethlehem/Mass Death Futures

06. The Apocalypse Is About You!

07. Vi Coactus

08. Mother Of Satan

09. The Horrid Strife

10. Are We Fit For Glory Yet? (The War To End Nothing)

Legendary death metal band Master have set November 28th as the release date for their new album Vindictive Miscreant, via Transcending Obscurity Records. Listen to new track, "Replaced", below.

Vindictive Miscreant is the perfect encapsulation of the band's trademark gritty sound backed with experience and skills. Few bands were able to continue on the path they carved in, and over three and a half decades later, Master still do it with remarkable aplomb. They've set standards for bands, old and new, to follow. There's nothing here that doesn't reek of pure integrity, passion for the art form and flawless execution in delivering what they've set out to achieve. They've been doing it for decades and they're only honing their craft. This time they're hungry. Vindictive Miscreant is among Master's strongest albums and it will blow you away with its vitriolic intensity, riffing prowess and memorability. It makes death metal relevant again.

Tracklisting:

"Vindictive Miscreant"
"Actions Speak Louder Than Words"
"Replaced"
"The Inner Strength Of The Demon"
"The Book"
"Engulfed In Paranoia"
"The Impossible Of Dreams"
"Stand Up And Be Counted"

"Replaced":

"Stand Up And Be Counted":

"Vindictive Miscreant":

Band lineup:

Paul Speckmann - Vocals, Bass
Zdenek Pradlovsky - Drums
Aleš Nejezchleba - Guitars and solos

Blending a sound that is a complex mix of classical orchestrations, cosmic synths, and extreme metal to portray the epics of parallel worlds, Hickory, NC, based Rapheumets Well (Ra-few-mets) bring forth a voyage enriched with lore, fabricated from scratch to show the depth in which represents them as artists. From the birth of organic matter to great wars that tear the fabric of space/time, the story of Rapheumets Well’s music serves to immerse you into a world of oddities.

Inspired by the fictitious universe of the Atai, Rapheumets Well have unleashed three albums over the years, Dimensions (2014), Exile (2016) and Enders Door (2017) that progressively told a larger story portrayed in a complex saga of the Atai (ancient architects) who aid in the propagation of sentient life throughout the multi-verse. Returning in 2018, the sci-fi metallers are releasing their epic “The Elder’s Anthology” on October 26th on Test Your Metal Records. The release is a trilogy of sorts featuring selective tracks remixed and remastered from their three previous albums.

The band comments:

"The Elder's Anthology is a collection of songs (we felt) are important in re-igniting the lore of the previous albums. With new changes and new members, we felt it was important to transpose their skills into the foundation of the band. The Elder's Anthology is remastered with updated guitars, vocals, and baselines and we fell this was appropriate for moving forward with the next full-length album!"

Rapheumets Well have a new video "Witch of Darkspire" to present to fans in two versions, one is NSFW uncensored and the other censored. 

Tracklisting:

“Resurrecting The Blood Gate”
“Dimensions”
“Crucible Of Titans”
“Resurgence”
“Witch Of Darkspire”
“The Betrayer (Part One)”
“They Cometh In Fire”
“Distress On The Aberrant Planet”
“Ghost Walkers Exodus” 

“Witch Of Darkspire” NSFW video:

Athens, GA based alternative rock band Lullwater has release the official music video for their socially critical single "American Glutton." Directed by Jason Thrasher, the song is off of the band's Revival album, released in 2015.

"No matter your age or political beliefs, we hope this video inspires you to continue to challenge the status quo and always question the "fake world on the TV screen." - John Strickland (vocals, guitar)

Back in August, Lullwater issued 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)

With their recently released full-length debut Warmageddon turning (and banging) heads around the globe, the Oakland-based thrash quintet Cultural Warfare has unveiled a music video for a song from the new album, “Eyes Of The Land.” The clip, which was directed by Mike Sloat (Testament, Machine Head), captures the spirit of the song's lyrics, which celebrate the Native American heritage of vocalist Jacques Serrano.

Says Serrano, “Cultural Warfare are very proud to have created a song that represents Native Americans. The song captures their spirit and strength and puts them in a light that is positive. It was fun to tell a story about them and the video encapsulates the lyrics while showing the performance aspect of the band. The entire process from music to video was very rewarding to all of us.”

Physical copies are available to order via M-Theory Audio.

Warmageddon is the follow-up to the Cultural Warfare's 2017 debut EP Future Kill. Recorded at California's Trident Studios with producer Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Exodus) and mastered at Sweden's Fascination Street Studios by Jens Bogren (Sepultura, Kreator), Warmageddon is a “look into the future” where a “new world chaos” reigns supreme, according to the band. The album's artwork was designed by Brian Lewis (DevilDriver, Black Label Society).

Guitarist Billy Garoutte details the concept of Warmageddon further: “Decade after decade, humanity has been in constant battle. Now set in a post-apocalyptic time, there is a new form of humanity now known as the blood machines and the eye of the future that live off of what once was. The extinction of mankind has brought forth the Warmageddon and a new world order.”

Cultural Warfare create music that stays true to the classic Bay Area while creating a modern twist in the music to create a melodic, yet aggressive sound. With all five members of the band having long-standing roots in the Bay Area dating back to the golden age of thrash metal, Cultural Warfare understands the rich history and lineage of the classic bands that paved the way for the heavy bands of the modern age. With that said, the group has created a sound of their own while flying the flag for the legendary music that inspired them along the way.

Upon releasing Future Kill last year, the group performed throughout the Western United States alongside the likes of Warbringer, Apothesary, The Agonist, Hatriot and others. Whereas the EP found Kevin Doughty playing drums, Warmageddon sees him join Billy Garouette on guitar to make room for new percussionist Bones Padilla, a former tech for Biohazard.

The Bay Area has a legacy for great music throughout the decades, and the influence of the region’s thrash metal bands on the international scene is unparalleled. With their unique combination of traditional metal and aggressive, melodic thrash, Cultural Warfare furthers the area's legacy and proves that thrash is undoubtedly alive and well.

“Divided We Crawl” lyric video:

Eisregen, the German masters of the macabre, have released a lyric video for the new song "Knochentorte", featured on their upcoming 13th studio album, Fegefeuer, out on October 26th via Massacre Records. Watch the clip below.

From a musical point of view, Eisregen stayed true to themselves. The macabre and genius lyrics by M. Roth will once again cause mixed reactions - you'll either love them or find them distasteful... there's no middle ground.

Fegefeuer will be available as CD, limited 2CD Digipak (Mediabook format), limited vinyl LP, stream, download as well as limited box-set with exclusive content.

Standard cover:

Digipak cover:

Tracklisting:

“Vorhölle”
“Fegefeuer”
“Knochentorte”
“Oben auf dem Leichenberg”
“Alice im Wundenland”
“Axtmann”
“Es lauert”
“Opfer”
“Die Bruderschaft des 7. Tages”
“Fahlmondmörder”
“Ich mach dich bleich”

Digipak bonus tracks:

“The Gate Of Nanna” (Beherit cover)
“Black Magic Mushrooms” (Mysticum cover)
“Das 4. Tier aß den Mutterwitz” (Bethlehem cover)

“Knochentorte” lyric video:

On November 16th, Metal Blade Records will finally release Skull Pit, the self-titled debut album from the American/Japanese collaboration. For a preview of Skull Pit, the video for the first single, "Fire Breather", can be found below.

Skull Pit is a tale of two musicians from opposite sides of the heavy metal spectrum and the planet: Tatsu, hailing from Tokyo/Japan, is the bassist and mastermind behind the internationally acclaimed doom outfit Church Of Misery; Mem, from New York/USA, is the singer and front-man of German thrash pioneers Exumer.

The album can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- ltd. Digipak-CD
- 180 g black vinyl
- silver/black marbled vinyl (ltd. 200 - EU-exclusive)
- red/black marbled vinyl (ltd. 200 - EU-exclusive)
- gold/black splattered vinyl (ltd. 100 - EU-exclusive)
- gold/silver splattered vinyl (ltd. 100 - US-exclusive)

Skull Pit vocalist Mem comments: "This album perfectly captures the entire spectrum of what we were passionate about as youths and now as adults: unfiltered, honest and straight-forward heavy metal. The 'Fire Breather' video clip basically combines all the key elements of Skull Pit's global sonic attack in every frame. Shot in and around the desert of Las Vegas/Nevada, the clip was edited by known Japanese director Kazuaki Kimura, who immediately came on board after listening to the Skull Pit album!"

The two veterans endeavoured to combine their favourite elements of bands like Motörhead along with the countless outfits of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal into one blistering and highly energetic nine-track album. The songs on Skull Pit's debut are a clear departure from what Exumer or Church Of Misery usually sound like. Stepping away from Exumer's lighting fast rhythms and Church of Misery's slowed down, Iommi-inspired riffs, Skull Pit creates melodies in the vein of 70s hard rock and 80s NWOBHM with Lemmy's punk attitude.

Mixed in Tokyo by O-mi Kihara, Skull Pit was recorded in New York and Japan during Exumer's and Church of Misery's time off from playing live around the globe. The result is a free-flowing album that switches effortlessly between genres and boundaries, but always with the intent to deliver a razor sharp riff or a memorable hook.

Skull Pit didn't shy away from further expanding their all-inclusive attitude when it came to choosing and recording a cover song as a bonus track: Rose Tattoo's "All The Lessons". The song features Brian "Mitts" Daniels (ex-Madball), who produced Mem's vocal tracks in New York.

Skull Pit tracklisting:

"Double Cross"
"Roller"
"Fire Breather"
"Year Of The Dog"
"Soul Raiders"
"Blood Titan"
"Marauders"
"The Line"
"Wolf Spirit"
"All The Lessons" (bonus track)

"Fire Breather" video:

(Photo - Nikos Mixas)

K.K. Downing has confirmed to the "Focus On Metal" podcast that Scott Travis was the only member of JUDAS PRIEST to contact him following his 2011 announcement that he was leaving the band. Asked if he was surprised to hear from the drummer, Downing replied (hear audio below): "No, not really. I was surprised that the other guys didn't [get in touch]. But Scott did acknowledge [my departure] and wished me well and said some nice things, and that was good."

The guitarist went on to say that he thought he was friends with all the other members of PRIEST before his exit from the group and singled out bassist Ian Hill as the former bandmate he is "particularly" disappointed in. "We went to infant school, junior school, secondary school… Ian was just like a brother [to me]," K.K. said. "And that's why I was kind of shocked, really, that certain announcements were made just that far left that came from Ian. And the relationship just soured in general. I don't know what prompted that, really; I really don't."

He continued: "Rob [Halford, vocals], Ian and Scott knew that I was suffering [toward the end of my tenure with PRIEST], and we all were — it really was getting to be hard work; the rigors of touring and recording and playing shows weren't enjoyable so much for me. But people do things different ways, and I just felt that we just weren't… I knew we were all getting older, but that's when we have to try harder, I think, and I didn't really see that. I felt that I was trying as much as I possibly could to do what I've always done before… It's probably just one of those things — people getting older, slowing down, Glenn [Tipton, guitar] liking to drink beer before [the show] and on stage, and everything slowed down — the performance slowed down. And it wasn't really as tight musically as it could have been. I was just getting a bit nervy, really, going out there every night."

K.K. announced his retirement from PRIEST in April 2011. He has since been replaced by Richie Faulkner, who was once the guitarist in the backing group for Lauren Harris, daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.

b>Downing's autobiography, "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", was released on September 18 via Da Capo Press. The book was co-written by the Scottish author and journalist Mark Eglinton, whose previous collaborations include "Official Truth, 101 Proof" with Rex Brown of PANTERA and "Confessions Of A Heretic" with BEHEMOTH's Adam "Nergal" Darski.

Interview (audio):

Norwegian death metallers Obliteration will release their fourth studio album titled Cenotaph Obscure on November 23rd. The record’s first single “Detestation Rite” is streaming here.

The band will also hit European roads this Winter, together with The Ugliest Band in the World, Aura Noir, and Norwegian thrash force Vorbid.

"Cenotaph Obscure is the fourth album from Norway's death metal custodians Obliteration. Following their now classic Nekropsalms (2009) and the harrowing Black Death Horizon (2013), the latest offering further expands on the quartet's trademark sound; lead heavy old-school death metal with distinct flavours of both doom and black metal. Inventive yet never difficult to grasp, technical without wankery and obscure without being diffuse, Obliteration are masters at their craft. Cenotaph Obscure was recorded in Studio Cobra, Stockholm with Martin "Konie" Ehrencrona at the helm, lending the album an organic yet in your face production. In perfect keeping with the music, the lyrics deal with dystopic, apocalyptic themes, extinct civilizations and interdimensional portals etc. With Cenotaph Obscure, Obliteration cement their status as leaders in the Norwegian death metal scene, delivering a grizzly yet flawless monument to Death metal the way it was meant to be; obscure, ominous and unpredictable."- Einar Sjursø (Virus, Infernö. Duplicate Records)

Tracklisting:

“Cenotaph Obscure”
“Tumulus Of Ancient Bones
“Orb”
“Eldritch Summoning”
“Detestation Rite”
“Onto Damnation”
“Charnel Plains”

In a brand new interview with the "DOMKcast", TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy was asked to weigh in on the current state of the heavy metal scene. He responded: "Metal is alive and well. There's too many records to even list of how many incredible bands there are. There is no shortage of incredible bands making incredible music.

"Anyone saying that metal is not making anything good right now is incorrect; it means they're not looking and they're not listening to the pulse of what's going on," he continued. "There's this record label called Holy Roar Records out of the U.K.; they're releasing countless insane records. This band called CONJURER — it's like post-death metal, kind of sludgy, hardcore tech-death. It's freakin' awesome; I think it's one of the best records of the year. This band called MØL from Denmark — they mix black and shoegaze, weird atmospheric rock. POWER TRIP is definitely a band that deserves so much of the [recognition] they're getting. CODE ORANGE was nominated for a freakin' Grammy.

"There is no shortage of metal, there is no shortage of fantastic records," he added. "And anyone who needs to know what records to listen to, just look at my Spotify. For any guy that's, like, 'There's nothing good going on in heavy music,' go to my Spotify right now and look at the top records of 2018, 2017, 2016, and I will show you otherwise."

Heafy, however, was less enthusiastic about the rock scene as a whole, insisting that originality is sadly lacking with many of the newer bands.

There still are some really great bands doing great things in rock, but I do feel like there are some bands trying to fit into a specific thing," he said. "They are maybe looking across platforms, they are saying, like, 'Oh, this is doing really well on alt rock [radio stations]', or, 'This is doing really well on indie rock. We should make our rock band sound like these bands who are singing alt rock and indie rock.' And that's where it starts to get scary for rock; that's where it starts to make things kind of go the wrong direction versus trying to break out and be different. Look at a band like AVENGED [SEVENFOLD], look at a band like SLIPKNOT — they totally break the formula. Or even now GHOST — it's so awesome that GHOST is doing well at rock radio, because they're doing something that's so different.

"I feel rock is supposed to be rebelling against the other formats, and it's supposed to be the answer to being away from that stuff," he continued. "And that's why I love metal so much, 'cause metal is even more so the rebellion against everything else. So I would just encourage individualism in bands. And if you wanna be a rock band, make stuff but different. Make songs that you love that [are] gonna connect with people, but don't feel like you have to try to sound like something else that's a success.

"I think the same thing happens in metal and the same thing happens in pop where genres will see something that is a success and go, 'We need to do that,'" he added. "But when you say that, that person is already on the next step… So you'll see things like that where that happens in heavy music, and, obviously, that'll happen in rock as well where people see, like I said, an alt-rock band do really, really well and they're, like, 'We should try to make a song that sounds like that so that we can get those people to come over.' But that's not the answer. The answer is to keep making something that's different than what the other guys are doing. And that's a band like SLIPKNOT, I feel, [has become] a household name — they do something that's so different than everyone else is doing. Or when DISTURBED first came out, it was such a different thing. So there are those bands that are riding that line between being heavy and rock, where they can get [non-metal fans] into it. And I feel like that's where we fit in as well — we're absolutely a metal band first, but we are able to cross over and bring some people to the dark side, show people who like rock, 'Hey, here's metal. Come check this out. And there's a lot more genres within it.' And that's a very good thing."

TRIVIUM will continue its successful "The Sin And The Sentence" world tour with another leg of North American dates this fall. The band will hit the road on a headline run this October. The bill will feature very special guest AVATAR and LIGHT THE TORCH. The 25-date trek kicks off on October 3 in Tampa, Florida and runs through November 3 in Berkeley, California, with several stops in Canada.

TRIVIUM's latest album, "The Sin And The Sentence", was released last October via Roadrunner. The disc was recorded with producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, GOJIRA) at Santa Ana, California's Hybrid Studios. The LP features the band's first recordings with new drummer Alex Bent, who joined the band in 2016.

Listen to "Matt Heafy Of Trivium Defends The Metal Genre" on Spreaker.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and PROPHETS OF RAGE guitarist Tom Morello has released his cover version of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap". The reworked "Dirty Deeds" will appear on "Appleseed's 21st Anniversary: Roots And Branches", an upcoming compilation celebrating protest music label Appleseed Recordings. Bruce Springsteen, Donovan, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and Tim Robbins also contributed to the 57-track set, due out October 19.

Morello tweaked AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" to include references to "fake news" and U.S. foreign policy. "You got a head of state; you want him gone, but you ain't got the guts," he sings. "They won't do what Uncle Sam says, drives the world bank nuts."

Appleseed founder-president Jim Musselman told Rolling Stone about Morello's cover: "Tom is someone I deeply admire for his music and commitment to social justice. 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' is a parody of the original song; Tom wrote it to reflect U.S. foreign policy. It hits at the core of so many things our country is dealing with.

"With the new songs on the first CD of 'Roots And Branches', I wanted to cover many major issues facing this country: gun control, heroin deaths, the U.S. border, anti-war and violence, the environment, racism and so much more.

We as a label have taken stances on so many issues over the 21 years we have been around. We are proud of being on the right side of so many of those issues with our music and our artists."

Morello will release a new solo album, "The Atlas Underground", on October 12 through Mom + Pop Music. The guitarist recruited a number of other guest artists to appear on the 12-track LP, including GZA, Gary Clark Jr., K. Flay, Pretty Lights, Portugal. The Man, Whethan, Marcus Mumford, RISE AGAINST's Tim McIlrath, Carl Restivo, Nico Stadi, Leikeli47 and Herobust.

U.S. metal veterans VIRGIN STEELE will release, "Seven Devils Moonshine", a special five-CD box set, for their 35th anniversary.


Founder and mastermind David DeFeis states: "As some of you may know, we have been reissuing the VIRGIN STEELE catalog bit by bit over the past several years, and in doing so we have consistently been adding copious amounts of bonus material to accompany all these various reissue offerings. The last two albums scheduled as part of the reissue campaign we began are the albums 'The Book Of Burning' and 'Hymns To Victory'. When those two albums first appeared, they were released simultaneously. Therefore, we thought why not once again issue them at the exact same time, but, this time, let's include a brand new album and create a kind of box set package. Well, once we began planning and recording for such an endeavor, we very soon accumulated far more material than what could possibly fit on one disc, so we thought, 'Okay, fine. We'll plan on releasing two new discs chock-full of new material to go along with these last two reissues, and, shortly after that decision was made, we managed to record even more new material, so now we have in addition to the two reissues (which, by the way, do contain one bonus track each), well, friends, we now have actually three brand new discs of VIRGIN STEELE material included within this special box set release.


"I wish to stress the fact that what we have done here with our box set is include three brand new albums, not bundle in merely a collection of old bonus tracks we had hanging around for ages and ages. These three new discs contain either brand new original songs written and recorded within just these past few months, or brand new rewritten covers of songs that we enjoy and felt could be re-cast in the VIRGIN STEELE style, or new recordings of classic VIRGIN STEELE material done either in a special orchestral type setting or stripped way down and reimagined in vastly different form. Again, at the risk of repetition, these aren't tracks that have been sitting around in the vaults waiting — these are all newly recorded tracks completed specifically for this particular box set release. I don't know if anyone has ever done this kind of thing before, but we felt that for us it was absolutely necessary to do this, and it makes perfect sense for where we are... at this moment.


SPV/Steamhammer will release "Seven Devils Moonshine" on November 23, including five CDs (a total of 88 songs), where three CDs contain totally new songs and new versions. The package will also include a sticker and a 24-page booklet with new lyrics and photos by David DeFeis.

rack listing:


CD 1 "Ghost Harvest (The Spectral Vintage Sessions)" Vintage 1 - Black Wine For Mourning (new album)

01. Seven Dead Within

02. Green Dusk Blues

03. Psychic Slaughter

04. Bonedust (Orchestral Version)

05. Hearts On Fire

06. Child Of The Morning Star

07. Murder In High-Gloss Relief

08. Feral

09. Justine

10. Princess Amy

11. Wicked Game

Clouds Of Oblivion Medley (Tracks 12 & 13)

12. Little Wing

13. The Gods Don't Remember...


CD 2 "Ghost Harvest (The Spectral Vintage Sessions)" Vintage 2 - Red Wine For Warning (new album)

01. The Evil In Her Eyes (Piano & Vocal Version)

02. Feelin' Alright

03. Sister Moon

Summertime Darkness Suite (Tracks 4, 5, & 6)

04. Sweating Into Dawn

05. Summertime

06. Black Leaves Swirl Down My Street

07. Rip Off

The Gods Are Hungry Triptych (Tracks 8, 9, & 10)

08. The Gods Are Hungry Poem

09. The Poisoned Wound

10. The Birth Of Beauty

11. Profession Of Violence...

12. Rock Steady

13. Nutshell

14. Slow & Easy "Intro"

15. Jesus Just Left Chicago

Late Night Barroom Hoodoo Medley (Tracks 16, 17, 18, & 19)

16. Soul Kitchen

17. When The Music's Over

18. Crawling King Snake

19. When The Music's Over "Reprise"

20. Imhullu

The Drained White Suite (Tracks 21, 22, & 23)

21. After Dark

22. Wake The Dead

23. The Graveyard Dance

24. The Triple Goddess

25. Twilight Of The Gods (Live Acoustic Rehearsal Version)

26. Transfiguration (Live Acoustic Rehearsal Version)


CD 3 "Gothic Voodoo Anthems" (new album)

01. I Will Come For You (Orchestral Version)

02. Queen Of The Dead (Orchestral Version)

03. The Orpheus Taboo (Orchestral Version)

04. Kingdom Of The Fearless (The Destruction Of Troy) (Orchestral Version)

05. The Black Light Bacchanalia (Orchestral Version)

06. Zeus Ascendant

07. By The Hammer Of Zeus (And The Wrecking Ball Of Thor) (Orchestral Version)

The Gothic Voodoo Suite (Tracks 8, 9 & 10)

08. Rumanian Folk Dance No. 3 "Pe Loc"

09. Delirium "Excerpt"

10. Snakeskin Voodoo Man (Orchestral Version)

11. The Enchanter

The Fire & Ice Medley (Tracks 12, 13 & 14)

12. Bone China

13. No Quarter

14. Bone China "Reprise"

Passion In The French Quarter Medley (Tracks 15 & 16)

15. Chloe Dancer

16. Gentle Groove

17. Darkness-Darkness

18. Death Letter Blues

19. Spoonful


CD 4 "Hymns To Victory" (re-release)

01. Flames Of Thy Power (From Blood They Rise)

02. Through The Ring Of Fire

03. Invictus

04. Crown Of Glory (Unscarred) (In Fury Mix)

05. Kingdom Of The Fearless (The Destruction Of Troy)

06. The Spirit Of Steele (Acoustic Version)

07. A Symphony Of Steele (Battle Mix)

08. The Burning Of Rome (Cry For Pompeii)

09. I Will Come For You

10. Dust From The Burning & Amaranth (Orchestral Versions) (Bonus Tracks)

11. Noble Savage (Long Lost Early Mix)

12. Mists Of Avalon

13. Emalaith

CD 5 "The Book Of Burning" (Re-Release)

01. Conjurtion Of The Watcher

02. Don't Say Goodbye (Tonight)

03. Rain Of Fire

04. Annihilation

05. Hellfire Woman

06. Children Of The Storm

07. The Chosen Ones

08. The Succubus

09. Minuet In G Minor

10. The Redeemer

11. I Am The One

12. Hot And Wild

13. Birth Through Fire

14. Guardians Of The Flame

15. The Final Days

16. A Cry In The Night

17. Queen Of The Dead (Nordic Twilight Version) (Bonus Track)

Former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo has penned a moving tribute to the band's late guitarist Jeff Hanneman. Hanneman died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

Lombardo, who was the founding drummer in SLAYER and has played with them off and on since their formation, told Metal Hammer: "Towards the end of his time in SLAYER, [Jeff] had gotten to a point where his performance wasn't up to par with the rest of the band. The alcohol was taking its toll, and so were the operations he had had. It was sad, but we had to make the decision and break the news to him. I know that it crushed him.

"Before all that went on, we didn't know how long Tom [Araya, bass/vocals] wanted to continue, 'Cause he was contemplating retiring even back then. So Kerry [King, guitar] and I were talking about putting a band together, and we said, 'We need to recruit Gary Holt,' 'cause we knew him from EXODUS. As it turned out, Gary became the guitar player that took Jeff's place, and that was approved by Jeff. He was a big fan of Gary's playing — Gary had that feel and soul that Jeff loved in guitar players."

According to Lombardo, Hannemann would have been the against the idea of SLAYER calling it quits. "If Jeff was still here and still in SLAYER, he wouldn't want to retire," the drummer said. "He'd fight to keep the band going. He'd have taken the band by the horns and driven it on. His love and his passion was music and being onstage. That passion was dampened by toxins, but it was still there."

n a 2013 interview with Guitar World magazine, Lombardo stated about Hanneman's battle with the bottle: "Jeff was always a drinker. He always had a Coors Light tall can in his hand. Always."

"Jeff and I always drank," King added. "They called Steven Tyler and Joe Perry the Toxic Twins. We were the Drunk Brothers." He laughed. "The difference being that I don't wake up in the morning and need a beer. Jeff didn't know how not to drink."

Hanneman's SLAYER bandmates also revealed that Hanneman had been battling an arthritic condition for many years that was progressively worsening to the point of interfering with his playing.


Lombardo's most recent stint with SLAYER ended in 2013 when he made allegations about the way the group's financial bookkeeping was handled. He has since been replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band.

Holt, who is still a member of San Francisco Bay Area thrash icons EXODUS, has been the touring guitarist for SLAYER since January 2011 when Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard.

One day after concluding the second North American leg of its farewell tour in late August, SLAYER announced plans to continue the trek into 2019. The legendary thrash band is planning shows for South America, Australia and Japan, with more dates to be revealed.

Photo credit: Alex Solca

Welsh "ragga metal" band SKINDRED has been forced to cancel its previously announced U.S. tour in support of its new album, "Big Tings". The trek was scheduled to kick off on September 26 in Jacksonville, Florida and run through October 12 in Tempe, Arizona.

SKINDRED said in a statement: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, beyond our control. We have unfortunately had to cancel our run of upcoming U.S. tour dates, which were due to start in Florida later this week. We sincerely apologise to you who have bought tickets for any inconvenience caused and hope to reschedule some of these shows back in for 2019."

The Chameleon Club in Harrisburg, Pennasylvania, where SKINDRED was scheduled to perform on October 3, offered more information on the band's cancelation, writing in a tweet: "We have just been advised that SKINDRED's visas have been delayed and will not be approved 'for at least another few weeks.' Unfortunately, this means we will have to cancel the upcoming tour date at the Chameleon Club. Refunds can be received at your point of purchase."

"Big Tings" was released on April 27 via Napalm Records. The disc was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World studio in the village of Box, Wiltshire, England,

b>SKINDRED recently released a music video for its "Machine" single. The clip features actor and stuntman Neil Chapelhow, best known for his work in the films "Wonder Woman" and "Fantastic Beasts".


"Machine" features vocals by REEF frontman Gary Stringer and guitar by Phil Campbell of MOTÖRHEAD. The track was previously used as both the intro and outro theme to AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson's TV show "Cars That Rock".


Due to unforeseen circumstances, beyond our control. We have unfortunately had to cancel our run of upcoming US tour...Posted by Skindred on Monday, September 24, 2018

We have just been advised that Skindred's visas have been delayed and will not be approved "for at least another few weeks". Unfortunately this means we will have to cancel the upcoming tour date at the Chameleon Club. Refunds can be received at your point of purchase.— The Chameleon Club (@Chameleon_Club) September 24, 2018

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan revealed in a new interview with Beats 1 that original bassist D'Arcy Wretzky made additional attempts to return to the group even after publicly falling out with Corgan during negotiations prior to the band's recent reunion tour.

As widely reported, Wretzky was offered a chance to participate in the reunion in a limited capacity, since Corgan had reservations about her ability to play a full three-hour show after years of musical inactivity. Corgan explained: "The goal was to see the four of us on a stage. I was cool if it was going to be one song or a whole show, and the whole thing broke down when we had to start talking about time and reality and opportunity, and, of course, the business part of it all."

Saying he was concerned that Wretzky had not performed live in 19 years, Corgan continued: "The difference between what I saw as a very sympathetic and empathetic opportunity was: 'No, it has to be like this'... The reaction wasn't, 'Well, let's get together in a room and play, and let me show you you're wrong.' It was, 'No.' Then the threats started, then the mendacity started."

Wretzky went public with her version of how the conversations went, leading Corgan to sever all ties. He remarked: "Even after the bridge was blown up, and it was blown up for good, there was a backchannel communication through an intermediator: 'Can I still come back?' That just shows you the level of craziness."

b>Wretzky reportedly commented on Corgan's remarks, saying briefly, "I don't want to be in his fucking clown car."

The PUMPKINS will release a new album titled "Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun." on November 16. The eight-song LP is the band's first in over 18 years to feature founding members Corgan, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and guitarist James Iha, along with longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder.

ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann has confirmed to The Foundry in a new interview that the band has commenced the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2017's "The Rise Of Chaos" album. "We started putting down some riffs here and there, but the majority of the stuff will happen after we stop touring, because it's really hard to do this on the road for me," he said (hear audio below). "I really need to lock the doors, throw away the keys and then really force myself into it and stay with it for weeks at a time. And that's the only way that I can actually get anything meaningful done. And that process hasn't started yet, because we've been so busy with what we've been doing. We're getting ready to release a live DVD in November from that show last year in Germany where we played with an orchestra. It's gonna be called 'Symphonic Terror', and it's gonna be a full two-hour DVD of that live show at the Wacken festival there in front of 80 thousand people with a 50-piece orchestra on stage. So that took quite a bit of time to get that mixed and mastered and all that. So that's gonna come out next. And after that, we're gonna go out on the road all over the world with more orchestra shows. So it seems like we've got so much going on. But before too long, we definitely have to start working on a new album, and we will."

"The Rise Of Chaos" was released in August 2017 via Nuclear Blast. The cover artwork for the disc was created by the Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák.

The follow-up to 2014's "Blind Rage" ws the first ACCEPT album to feature the band's latest additions, guitarist Uwe Lulis (GRAVE DIGGER, REBELLION) and drummer Christopher Williams.

ACCEPT parted ways with guitarist Herman Frank and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann in December 2014.

b>"Symphonic Terror - Live At Wacken 2017" will be released on November 23 via Nuclear Blast.

Hoffmann told Finland's Kaaos TV that ACCEPT's goal is to continue writing music as if it sounded like it was created 30 years ago. "Absolutely, and if you want it to sound like it sounded back then, you've gotta use what you know worked back then," he said. "That's how we've been doing it back then, so we're doing it still the exact same way. I want it to sound somewhat old-school and '80s, only with a modern touch and modern sound, fresh ideas and all of that. But, really, the core of the music should be like back in the '80s."

Interview (audio):

TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy spoke to Inquisitr about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2016's "Brotherhood Of The Snake" album. He said: "I think because we're feeling good about the new record and what we did on this new record — we have a continuance of what we've been writing. We've still got some songs on us that probably could have been on the 'Brotherhood Of The Snake' album. So I think we'll head down that road first, and see where it goes."

He continued: "Eric [Peterson, TESTAMENT guitarist] has told me, 'I've got a ballad on this record, so be ready!' I was, like, 'All right…,' because we haven't done a ballad in 20-something years probably. I mean, a full-on ballad. 'Born In A Rut', off the other one ['Brotherhood Of The Snake'], it's soft and has melody, but it's not really a true ballad.

"I'm excited," Billy added. "We only finished our tour a few weeks ago, but I'm gonna start going out there next week. They'll start showing me riffs and I'll start putting my head to them. So it's the beginning."

Chuck also talked about TESTAMENT's musical evolution, saying: "I think we're fortunate — TESTAMENT as a band — we're lucky to have Eric Peterson. He writes most of the music. He doesn't really follow a lot of other things. He has his black metal that he enjoys, and he likes his DRAGONLORD [Eric Peterson's side project] and loves playing that stuff. But he doesn't really listen to something current — that which is playing out there — which I think keeps him in his own creative groove. His own 'Eric Peterson TESTAMENT writing blinders' on. Which is good for us, because it's always kept TESTAMENT sounding like TESTAMENT. But, you know, Eric is also trying to squeeze things in there. Sort of like 'The Gathering' record. Elements of black metal with the blast beats and different elements that he enjoys — he's tried to work them into TESTAMENT. I think it's really kind of expanded us, and I'd say from that 'Gathering' point, we really kind of found our identity as a heavy metal band. It's kind of like a culmination of everything we did up to that point. Thrash, death, melodic vocals. Death vocals. And then when we came to 'The Gathering', all of it kind of got put in there. And the songwriting just started getting better."

e added: "I don't know. As with anything you do in life, the more that you do it, you're only gonna get better. So, I don't know. I'm glad that I have Eric as a writing partner."

"Brotherhood Of The Snake" was recorded under the watchful eyes of producer Juan Urteaga (EXODUS, HEATHEN, MACHINE HEAD), Peterson and Billy and was mixed and mastered by Sneap.

TESTAMENT's U.S. tour as the support act for SLAYER wrapped on August 26 in San Jose, California.

Tim "Ripper" Owens has once again defended DIO DISCIPLES' decision to go on the road with a hologram of Ronnie James Dio, saying that and and his bandmates are only doing it to "make fans happy."

Dio died in 2010 at the age of 67 from stomach cancer. His hologram was created by a company called Eyeillusion and made its debut at the Wacken Open Air festival in August 2016 in front of more than 75,000 fans.

The "Dio Returns: The World Tour" production uses audio of Ronnie's live performances from throughout his career, with the DIO DISCIPLES band playing live, consisting of Craig Goldy on guitar, Simon Wright on drums and Scott Warren on keyboards, along with Bjorn Englen on bass. Also appearing with them are Owens and LYNCH MOB's Oni Logan.

Based on video footage of the first leg of last year's tour, Dio fans had mixed reactions to the apparition of their favorite singer, with some loving it and others thinking the performance didn't live up to the real thing or that it was just plain creepy.

peaking to Greece's Rock Overdose about some fans' unwillingness to embrace the Dio hologram, the former JUDAS PRIEST singer said: "I don't understand why someone wouldn't like it. Myself, before I wouldn't like it, at least I would go and see it or give it a chance. We're doing it because we're friends and we're celebrating him. It's an amazing event, to be at it, to hear Ronnie's voice… It's a hologram… People have no problem going to movies or seeing movies about somebody and somebody acting and playing this person. I mean, this is just something we're trying to do to make fans happy.

"I would love to go see a hologram of Elvis [Presley] or David Bowie; I think it would be an amazing night to watch some kind of show," he continued. "I mean, it's a show — it's just a show. It's entertainment. It's a great idea. It cost [Ronnie's widow and manager] Wendy Dio a lot of money. She spent a lot of money trying to do a hologram to make fans happy. She's always trying to think of an idea to make fans happy, really — just like Ronnie. 'Cause that's what Ronnie was like — Ronnie always wanted to make fans happy."

After the tour's initial seven-date run was completed last December, Ronnie's hologram is undergoing "some changes" before the launch of the next leg of the "Dio Returns" world tour, scheduled for 2019.

Wendy Dio, who is a member of the Eyellusion team, said that the people that criticize the Ronnie James Dio hologram should at least see it in person before voicing their disapproval. "Don't criticize it if you haven't seen it," she told "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie. "It's done with love. The band love doing it. And we just wanna keep Ronnie's memory and his music alive."

She added that a digital version of Dio makes perfect sense. "I think that Ronnie was an innovator of heavy metal music, so why not be an innovator of technology?" she said. "And I think technology is coming a long way with holograms — a lot of people are doing it now. And I think the reason is because we are losing all of our innovators; everybody is getting older. And we need to keep them alive and keep their memory and their music alive. I think it's a new way. It's like when people first came out with a CD or a cassette: 'Ooh, we don't want that.' But then it was the way of technology."

The Rolling Stones today announced release details of an archive concert film, Voodoo Lounge Uncut. Filmed in Miami on the world tour supporting the Voodoo Lounge album, this restored, remixed and remastered film contains ten previously unreleased performances. Featuring guest appearances from Sheryl Crow, Robert Cray and Bo Diddley, this new version also includes five bonus performances on all visual formats.

Voodoo Lounge Uncut will be released by Eagle Vision on November 16th on multiple physical and digital formats. Watch a video trailer for the upcoming release below.

It’s in the cauldron of a Rolling Stones gig that the sheer heft of their legacy truly knocks you sideways, and soon the Miami crowd were roaring in appreciation as Jagger bounded on stage to the opener "Not Fade Away". Later in the proceedings, their B-stage excursion brilliantly set them up close with fans who suddenly realized that they had the best tickets in the house during an acoustic, three-song mini-set - which spoke volumes about the band’s ability to strip everything back to its essential core.

Filmed on November 25th, 1994 at Miami’s Joe Robbie stadium, the show’s stunningly futuristic staging was way ahead of its time and set a new high watermark in production for stadium shows through the rest of the decade, helping it become the biggest grossing tour ever at that point. This new version, which has been recut and restored from the original rushes and includes newly remixed and remastered audio, reinstates the ten tracks cut from the original video release in the 1990s back in their original running order here for the first time.

Bonus features for visual formats include five tracks from an earlier show at Giants Stadium, New Jersey, that were not performed in Miami, making this the definitive record of The Rolling Stones on the road in the mid-nineties.

Pre-orders for DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, triple vinyl, digital video, digital audio and HD digital audio are here. Pre-orders for the limited edition triple red vinyl and Voodoo Lounge Uncut t-shirt are here.

Tracklistings:

Visual Formats

Whoopi Goldberg Intro
"Not Fade Away"
"Tumbling Dice"
"You Got Me Rocking"
"Rocks Off"*
"Sparks Will Fly"*
"Live With Me"*
"(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction"
"Beast Of Burden"*
"Angie"
"Dead Flowers"*
"Sweet Virginia"
"Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)"*
"It’s All Over Now"
"Stop Breakin’ Down Blues"
"Who Do You Love?"
"I Go Wild"*
"Miss You"
"Honky Tonk Women"
"Before They Make Me Run"*
"The Worst"
"Sympathy For The Devil"
"Monkey Man"*
"Street Fighting Man"*
"Start Me Up"
"It’s Only Rock’n’Roll (But I Like It)"
"Brown Sugar"
"Jumpin’ Jack Flash"

Bonus Performances From Giants Stadium, New Jersey

"Shattered"
"Out Of Tears"
"All Down The Line"
"I Can't Get Next To You"
"Happy"

Audio Formats (2CD, 3LP)

Whoopi Goldberg Intro
"Not Fade Away"
"Tumbling Dice"
"You Got Me Rocking"
"Rocks Off"*
"Sparks Will Fly"*
"Live With Me"*
"(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction"
"Beast Of Burden"*
"Angie"
"Dead Flowers"*
"Sweet Virginia"
"Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)"*
"It’s All Over Now"
"Stop Breakin’ Down Blues"
"Who Do You Love?"
"I Go Wild"*
"Miss You"
"Honky Tonk Women"
"Before They Make Me Run"*
"The Worst"
"Sympathy For The Devil"
"Monkey Man"*
"Street Fighting Man"*
"Start Me Up"
"It’s Only Rock’n’Roll (But I Like It)"
"Brown Sugar"
"Jumpin’ Jack Flash"

* previously unreleased

Trailer:

Greek black metallers Lucifer's Child have released a video for "The Order", the title track of their upcoming second studio album, out on November 9th via Agonia Records. Watch the clip below.

The band, featuring members of Rotting Christ, Nightfall and Chaostar, recorded eight new songs clad in artwork by Daniele Valeriani (Dark Funeral, Dissection, Mayhem).

Lucifer's Child originates from Athens. Its music is a bridge to the world of atmospheric black metal, and a vessel for spiritual self-expression through lyrics. The goal of unifying these two elements gleamed clearly in the eyes of George Emmanuel, a prolific guitarist primarily known for his work as part of Rotting Christ (and a former guitarist of Chaostar), when he formed the band together with bassist Stathis Ridis (a member of another long-running Hellenic metal unit, Nightfall) in 2013. Born from a partnership between two talented musicians, the duo quickly expanded to take in vocalist Marios Dupont (Karma Violens) and drummer Nick Vell (Chaostar), and delivered their debut album The Wiccan in 2015. Encouraged by the album's keen reception, followed by several festival appearences (incl. Inferno Festival, Blastfest and Incineration Festival), Lucifer's Child returns in a darker, more extreme shade, passionate in outperforming its bold debut.

The Order was recorded, mixed and mastered in Emmanuel's own recording studio, Pentagram. He commented on the new album: "After three years of converging and sculpting our ideas and sounds we are ready to present our second full length album entitled The Order. Lucifer awaits!"

Album formats:

- Digipack CD
- Black LP
- Transparent Yellow LP
- T-shirt
- Digital

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Viva Morte"
"The Order"
"Fall Of The Rebel Angels"
"Through Fire We Burn"
"El Dragón"
"Black Heart"
"Haraya"
"Siste Farvel"

"The Order" video:

"Viva Morte":

Lineup:

George Emmanuel - guitars
Stathis Ridis - bass
Marios Dupont - vocals
Nick Vell - drums

German metal ensemble Hammer King have released the official video for "The King Is A Deadly Machine", the first single from their forthcoming album, Poseidon Will Carry Us Home. 

Hammer King will release their third full-length, Poseidon Will Carry Us Home, on October 5th via Cruz Del Sur Music. Recorded at Studio Greywolf with Powerwolf bassist Charles Greywolf at the helm, Poseidon Will Carry Us Home is an unabashed bow to classic, anthemic, hook-laden metal, proving Hammer King was more than up to the task of meeting the often-high expectations that come with a band's third album. 

The album will be available on CD, digital, and black (300 copies) and blue (200 copies) vinyl LP formats. Pre-order Poseidon Will Carry Us Home at this location.

Variety abounds on Poseidon Will Carry Us Home, with Hammer King engaging in strident, call-to-arms jaunts like the opening title track and "Battle Of Wars". Twin guitar harmonies and fierce gallops highlight "7 Days And 7 Kings" and "Where The Hammer Hangs", while the true metal call is heeded on the mid-tempo "Warriors Of Angelhill" and "Glorious Nights Of Glory." Hammer King's progression is best exemplified on album standout "We Sail Cape Horn," an adventurous, sea-faring number that is equal nods to classic Iron Maiden and progressive rock.

An album stocked with future anthems at every corner, Poseidon Will Carry Us Home is representative of a band now hitting its creative stride - and fully realizing it. 

For further details, visit Hammer King on Facebook.

 

 

New Jersey noisemakers Toothgrinder have released their cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain." Listen via one of the services here, or with the YouTube clip below.

"As a child, my father's three favorite groups were Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Fleetwood Mac, and The Allman Brothers," said singer Justin Matthews. "I grew accustomed to southern rock from an early age. As a lyricist, I subconsciously write in that frame of mind. I LOVE a good story written through song. Fleetwood Mac in particular has always held a special place in my heart."

The singer put things in perspective and further revealed how Fleetwood Mac impacted his process as a lyricist, saying, "During the making of Phantom Amour, I needed a break from the recording process to go clear my head. I cruised down to Luray, Virginia through the skyline drive to get some perspective on what I was doing. I parked myself on a stool at an Irish pub somewhere in town. Half in the bag, I listened to Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain.' I then began writing the lyrics to our ballad 'Jubilee.' There is something about associating music with my surroundings that has always captivated me. Music to me has always seemed like a fantastical theme song to a particular point in time. I wanted to pay homage to the legends that helped me write my favorite and most personal song yet."

He finished, "Considering the impact Fleetwood Mac had on the Phantom Amour writing process, 'The Chain' was the obvious choice. It has this beautiful twang that is so far from anything we have ever done, that I wanted to capture that as well as we could. I hope we did it justice, and without a doubt I am extremely grateful we had an opportunity to do something like this. Gratitude is everything."

With Metallica set to reissue their classic album ...And Justice For All (available everywhere on November 2nd), the band are posting live versions of each song from the album from over the years. In the video below, Metallica performs "The Shortest Straw" at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on July 17th, 1992.

More rare live videos can be found at the bottom of this article.

"We’re guessing that this one is coming as absolutely no surprise to anyone," says Metallica; "next up in our line of reissues is …And Justice For All! As many of you know, we’ve been rereleasing our albums remastered for the most advanced sound quality possible along with special deluxe editions including previously unreleased audio and video recordings. Next up is …Justice, coming to your favourite music retailer, Metallica.com and the Probity Merch UK/EU Metallica Shop on November 2nd with pre-orders beginning today.

"Available in both physical and digital versions, there will be multiple options to suit your taste... double LP on 180-gram vinyl, CD, cassette, 3-CD expanded edition and deluxe box set, all remastered as overseen by Greg Fidelman. The 3-CD set includes the remastered album, two discs including never before released rough mixes, demos and live tracks, and an expanded booklet including unseen photos taken by the master, Ross Halfin. The limited edition, one-pressing-only deluxe box set includes the remastered CD and double LP versions of the album, “One” 10” vinyl picture disc, triple live LP set featuring a newly mixed version of the band's iconic show from Seattle ‘89 by Greg Fidelman, 4 DVDs, 11 CDs of unreleased demos, rough mixes, interviews and live tracks, many of which have never been available and were pulled from our personal collections. There’s also a 120-page hardcover book with rare and never-before-seen photos from Ross Halfin’s vaults and friends and family, along with essays by those who were with us for the madness. Still not enough? The box also includes a set of four patches, a Pushead print, a tour laminate, lyric sheets and a download card for all the audio goodies included.

"Pre-order your copy now and we’ll send you a digital remastered version of “Dyers Eve” (streaming below), while pre-orders of the expanded and deluxe editions will receive an additional instant download of “Eye Of The Beholder" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – October 10, 1988) (streaming below). Several additional instant grats will be sent to all pre-orders between now and November 2nd.

"Deluxe box sets are limited edition collectors’ items, so get yours before they are gone! You may pre-order all the configurations in the Met Store now and also our store serving European fans and beyond, and of course …And Justice For All will be available at your local record stores around the world on Friday, November 2nd."

Tracklistings:

...And Justice For All (Remastered) - Available on Vinyl, CD, Cassette and Digitally

"Blackened"
"...And Justice For All"
"Eye Of The Beholder"
"One"
"The Shortest Straw"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity"
"To Live Is To Die"
"Dyers Eve"

Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA

...And Justice For All (Remastered): 3-CD Expanded Edition

Disc One: ...And Justice For All (Remastered)

"Blackened"
"...And Justice For All"
"Eye Of The Beholder"
"One"
"The Shortest Straw"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity"
"To Live Is To Die"
"Dyers Eve"

Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA.

Disc Two: Demos & Rough Mixes - Previously Unreleased

"Blackened" (November 1987 Demo)
"...And Justice For All" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"One" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Shortest Straw" (December 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (November 1987 Demo)
"To Live Is To Die" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Dyers Eve" (January 1988 Demo)

Disc Three: Live from the Damaged Justice Tour - Previously Unreleased except where noted

"Blackened" (Live – Seattle ’89) - Previously released on Live Shit: Binge & Purge. Newly mixed by Greg Fidelman.
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA – December 7th, 1988)
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – October 10th, 1988)
"Leper Messiah" (Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA – December 7th, 1988)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – October 10th, 1988)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – October 10th, 1988)
"Seek & Destroy" (Live at the Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA – May 24th, 1988)
"Creeping Death" (Live at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX – February 5th, 1989) - Previously released as a b-side to one of the many singles for One. Newly remastered.
"One" (Live – Seattle ’89) - Previously released on Live Shit: Binge & Purge. Newly mixed by Greg Fidelman.
"…And Justice For All" (Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA – December 7th, 1988)
"Whiplash" (Live at the Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA – May 24th, 1988)
"Breadfan" (Live at Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA – August 30th, 1989) - Previously released on The 6 1/2 Year Anniversary EP as part of The Good, The Bad & The Live box set. Newly remastered.

...And Justice For All (Remastered): Deluxe Box Set

LP 1 & 2: ...And Justice For All (Remastered)

Side One
"Blackened"
"...And Justice For All"

Side Two
"Eye Of The Beholder"
"One"

Side Three
"The Shortest Straw"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity"

Side Four
"To Live Is To Die"
"Dyers Eve"

Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Vinyl lacquers by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA

LP 3: "One" 10" Picture Disc

Side One
"One"

Side Two
"Seek & Destroy" (Live at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX – February 5th, 1989)

Artwork by Pushead
Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA

LP 4, 5 & 6: Seattle ‘89

Side One
"The Ecstasy of Gold"
"Blackened" (Live)
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live)
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live)

Side Two
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live)
"The Four Horsemen" (Live)
"The Thing That Should Not Be" (Live)

Side Three
Bass Solo (Live)
"Master of Puppets" (Live)
"Fade to Black" (Live)

Side Four
"Seek & Destroy" (Live)
"...And Justice For All" (Live)
"One" (Live)

Side Five
"Creeping Death" (Live)
Guitar Solo (Live)
"Battery" (Live)

Side Six
Encore Jam (Live)
"Last Caress" (Live)
"Am I Evil?" (Live)
"Whiplash" (Live)
"Breadfan" (Live)

Recorded live on August 29th and August 30th, 1989 at Seattle Coliseum in Seattle, WA
Mixed by Greg Fidelman
Mastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Vinyl lacquers by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA

CD 1: ...And Justice For All (Remastered)

"Blackened"
"...And Justice For All"
"Eye Of The Beholder"
"One"
"The Shortest Straw"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity"
"To Live Is To Die"
"Dyers Eve"

CD 2: Interviews

KSDT Interview with Jason
Circus Magazine Interview with James
KNAC Report from LA Monsters of Rock
KHDX Interview with Kirk
Metal Forces Magazine Interview with Lars

CD 3 & 4: Riffs, Jams & Demos

Disc One

"Blackened" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Blackened" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes II)
"…And Justice For All" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"…And Justice For All" (1988, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes II)
"One" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"The Shortest Straw" (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"The Shortest Straw" (1986, from James’ Riff Tapes II)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"To Live Is To Die" (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"To Live Is To Die" (1988, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Dyers Eve" (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Dyers Eve" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Blackened" (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
"…And Justice For All" (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
"…And Justice For All" (October 1987, Writing in Progress II)
"One" (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
"The Shortest Straw" (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
"…And Justice For All" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"One" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Dyers Eve" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"To Live Is To Die" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"The Shortest Straw" (December 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (December 1987, Writing in Progress)

Disc Two

"Blackened" (November 1987 Demo)
"…And Justice For All" (November 1987 Demo)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (November 1987 Demo)
"One" (November 1987 Demo)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (November 1987 Demo)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (January 1988 Demo)
"The Shortest Straw" (January 1988 Demo)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (January 1988 Demo)
"Dyers Eve" (January 1988 Demo)
"To Live Is To Die" (January 1988 Demo)

CD 5: Rough Mixes from the Vault

"Blackened" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"…And Justice For All" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"One" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Shortest Straw" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"To Live Is To Die" (Acoustic Intro) (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"To Live Is To Die" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Dyers Eve" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Breadfan" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Prince" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)

CD 6 & 7: Live at the Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA - May 24th, 1988 + B-Sides

Disc One

"Creeping Death" (Live)
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live)
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live)
"The Four Horsemen" (Live)
"Whiplash" (Live)
"Fade to Black" (Live)
"Seek & Destroy" (Live)
"Master of Puppets" (Live)
"Encore Jam (Live)
"Last Caress" (Live)
"Am I Evil?" (Live)
"Battery" (Live)

Disc Two

Encore Jam #2 (Live)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live)
"Leper Messiah" (Live)
"Blitzkrieg" (Live)

B-Sides
"Breadfan" (Remastered)
"The Prince" (Remastered)
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live) *
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live) *
"Seek & Destroy" (Live) *
"Creeping Death" (Live) *
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live) **
"One" (Live) **
"Breadfan" (Live) ***
"Last Caress" (Live) ***

* Recorded live at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX on February 5th, 1989
** Recorded live at Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA on August 29th, 1989
*** Recorded live at Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA on August 30th, 1989

CD 8 & 9: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, England - October 10th, 1988 + Radio Edits

Disc One

"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live)
"The Four Horsemen" (Live)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Live)
Bass Solo (Live)
"Master of Puppets" (Live)
"Damage, Inc." (Live)
"One" (Live)
"Seek & Destroy" (Live)
"…And Justice For All" (Live) * Note: there is a tape cut on this track

Disc Two

"Encore Jam (Live)
"Creeping Death" (Live)
"Fade to Black" (Live)
Guitar Solo (Live)
"Battery" (Live)
Encore Jam #2 (Live)
"Last Caress" (Live)
"Am I Evil?" (Live)
"Whiplash" (Live)

Radio Edits
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Radio Edit)
"One" (Radio Edit)
"...And Justice For All" (Radio Edit)

CD 10 & 11: Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA - December 7, 1988 + More

Disc One

"Blackened" (Live) *Note: there is a tape cut on this track
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live)
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live)
"Leper Messiah" (Live)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Live)
Bass Solo (Live)
"Master of Puppets" (Live)
"One" (Live)
"Seek & Destroy" (Live)

Disc Two

"…And Justice For All" (Live)
Encore Jam (Live)
"Creeping Death" (Live)
"Fade to Black" (Live)
Guitar Solo (Live)
"Battery" (Live)

Live at UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL - November 18th, 1988
"Last Caress" (Live)
"Am I Evil?" (Live)
"Whiplash" (Live)

DVD 1: ...And Camcorder for All & "One"

...And Camcorders For All - Featuring previously unreleased footage shot on Lars' camcorder

Intro
Barcelona
Leiden
San Francisco
San Antonio
Dallas
Philadelphia
Buffalo
Auckland
Osaka
Hoffman Estates
Richfield
Thornville
Greenville
Atlanta
Biloxi
Concord
Irvine (Night #2)
Irvine (Night #3)
São Paulo (Night #1)
São Paulo (Night #2)

"One"

2 of One Introduction with Lars
"One"
"One" (Jammin’ Version)
"One" (Live at the 31st Annual GRAMMY® Awards)

"One" B-Roll - Previously Unreleased

Intro
Band
Lars
Kirk
James
Jason
More Band

DVD 2: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA - September 15th, 1989 - Previously Unreleased

"The Ecstasy of Gold"
"Blackened"
"For Whom The Bell Tolls"
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Four Horsemen"
"The Thing That Should Not Be"
Bass Solo
"Master of Puppets"
"Fade to Black"
"Seek & Destroy"
"…And Justice For All"
"One"
"Creeping Death"
Guitar Solo
"Battery"
Encore Jam
"Last Caress"
"Am I Evil?"
"Damage, Inc."
"Blitzkrieg"
"Breadfan"

DVD 3: Live at the Stone Balloon, Newark, DE - August 7th, 1989 - Previously Unreleased Fan-Shot Footage

Backstage Shit
"The Ecstasy of Gold"
"Creeping Death"
"For Whom The Bell Tolls"
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
"The Four Horsemen"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"Phantom Lord"
Bass Solo
"Master of Puppets"
"Fade to Black"
"No Remorse"
"Seek & Destroy"
"Last Caress"
"Am I Evil?"
"Motorbreath"
"Hit the Lights"
"Blitzkrieg"
"Damage, Inc."
"Breadfan"

DVD 4: Justice On Wheels, Masa Ito Interviews, Raw Live Footage

Justice On Wheels - A MuchMusic Documentary

Intro
The Road Crew
The Fans
The Band
The Video

Masa Ito Interviews - Previously Unreleased

Lars
James
Jason
Kirk

Raw Live Footage (Live at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, PA – June 11th, 1988) - Previously Unreleased

"Whiplash"
"Fade to Black"
"Seek & Destroy"

Raw Live Footage (Live at RPI Field House, Troy, NY – March 15th, 1989) - Previously Unreleased

"Master of Puppets"
"One"

Raw Live Footage (Live at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario – April 8th, 1989) -Previously Unreleased

"Master of Puppets"
"One"
"Seek & Destroy"

Unboxing video:

"Eye Of The Beholder" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England - October 10th, 1988):

"Dyers Eve" (Remastered):

Rare live videos:

"Harvester Of Sorrow at the Monsters of Rock Festival in Donington, England on August 17th, 1991:

"Blackened" in Mountain View, California on September 15th, 1989:

"Eye Of The Beholder", filmed live on a camcorder at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA on December 10, 1988:

Australian, progressive metal outfit, Divine Ascension, have returned, unleashing their brand-new album, The Uncovering, upon the world. This is the band’s third album and is set for global release on November 16th.

The Uncovering screams modern, fast-paced and powerful. It synthesizes heavy, pounding rhythms, passionate, memorable vocals and eerie, cinematic layers with simply brilliant songwriting. All enveloped within clever arrangements that listeners and supporters will instantly recognize as Divine Ascension’s unique sound. You will also find the brilliant Tom S. Englund (Evergrey) putting some vocals on the song “Pursuit Of Desire”.

The song “Evermore” will be the first single out from the album and will be released on all digital platforms on October 12th.

Divine Ascension’s second release, Liberator launched them on a 30+ date tour of Europe supporting Stratovarius with Gloryhammer. They conquered their own shores nationally, supporting Blind Guardian on their full national tour and then went on to complete a lengthy headline tour of Australia. The band showcased their unique and energetic performance to a swathe of passionate and expressive fans across the globe while refining and further enhancing their product.

Tracklisting:

"Evermore"
"Prisoner"
"The Fallen"
"Pursuit Of Desire"
"New World"
"Revolution Phase"
"Beyond The Line"
"One Step From Here"
"Bittersweet Divide"
"Vultures"

For further details, visit Divine Ascension on Facebook.

 

SAGA's performance video for the song "Humble Stance" can be seen below. The track is taken from "So Good So Far - Live At Rock Of Ages", which will be released as a 2CD digipak, 2LP gatefold+download code, DVD, Blu-ray and digital on September 28 via earMUSIC.

2017 marked SAGA's 40th anniversary. The band that has combined hard rock, progressive rock and pop like no other celebrated their anniversary with a tour around the globe, saying thank you and farewell to the fans… for now. Now, one year later, the exciting live recording "So Good So Far - Live At Rock Of Ages" sees its release.

Featuring the most iconic of songs that SAGA has been known and loved for by fans for more than 40 years, "So Good So Far" delivers the epitome of the band's long and proud history — all recorded at the Rock Of Ages festival in Seebronn, Germany in 2017 on both audio and video. SAGA, the headliner of the evening played, an energetic one-and-a-half-hour set in front of thousands of festival goers, featuring the best of 21 SAGA studio albums with classics such as "On The Loose", "Humble Stance", "Wind Him Up" and "Don't Be Late".

Says Michael Sadler: "SAGA has a very special history with the legendary Rock Of Ages festival in Seebronn, Germany. Founder Horst Franz invited us to perform for the very first one in 2006! Fast forward to 2017 — SAGA returns to the coveted Saturday night stage by special request, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary with our 'Final Chapter' tour.

This release captures the sound and atmosphere of that spectacular night with our musical family and friends that will never be repeated... or will it?"

Adds Ian Crichton: "Over the years, it's been a privilege to play to audiences in Europe; it all started in Germany!"

Track listing:

CD1

01. Take A Chance

02. On The Loose

03. Help Me Out

04. Keep It Reel

05. Time's Up

06. Will It Be You? (Chapter Four)

07. Careful Where You Step

08. Frog Bite (Drum Solo)

09. What's It Gonna Be?

CD2

01. Someone Should

02. Humble Stance

03. Scratching The Surface

04. You're Not Alone

05. Don't Be Late

06. The Flyer

07. Wind Him Up

DVD/Blu-ray

01. Take A Chance

02. On The Loose

03. Help Me Out

04. Keep It Reel

05. Time's Up

06. Will It Be You? (Chapter Four)

07. Careful Where You Step

08. Frog Bite (Drum Solo)

09. What's It Gonna Be?

10. Someone Should

11. Humble Stance

12. Scratching The Surface

13. You're Not Alone

14. Don't Be Late

15. The Flyer

16. Wind Him Up

2LP

Side A

01. Take A Chance

02. On The Loose

03. Help Me Out

04. Keep It Reel

Side B

01. Time's Up

02. Will It Be You? (Chapter Four)

03. Careful Where You Step

04. Frog Bite (Drum Solo)

Side C

01. What's It Gonna Be?

02. Someone Should

03. Humble Stance

04. Scratching The Surface

Side D

01. You're Not Alone

02. Don't Be Late

03. The Flyer

04. Wind Him Up

Beyond Celestial Echoes, the new album from Greek speedsters Sacral Rage, is scheduled for release on October 19th via Cruz Del Sur Music. The album track “Samsara (L.C.E.)” can be streamed below, and CD and limited edition vinyl pre-orders are now available at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Progenitor”
“Eternal Solstice”
“Vaguely Decoded”
“Suspended Privilege”
“Samsara (L.C.E.)”
“Necropia”
“Onward To Nucleus”
“The Glass”

“Samsara (L.C.E.)”:

"Necropia":

Beyond Celestial Echoes by Sacral Rage