Iconic Bay Area rockers Y&T have pulled out of SAXON's upcoming European tour due to frontman Dave Meniketti's back injury. The guitarist/vocalist is adhering to his doctor's advice and giving himself the necessary time to heal and recover.

Says Dave: "It is with great disappointment that I announce Y&T's decision to withdraw from SAXON's upcoming fall Europe/U.K. tour.

"As many of you already know, I severely injured my back in July and have been under the care of a sports doctor/back specialist ever since. After I received two rounds of cortisone injections to reduce the inflammation, we all had high hopes I'd get 'back on the field' in time for this tour. But as many people know, recovering from this kind of back injury takes time.

"Given the advice of my doctor and the urging of everyone around me, really, the only course of action for my long-term health is to stay home and properly complete my recovery. This decision has weighed heavily on me — and believe me, I'd much rather be on tour playing for all of you — but getting on an 11-hour flight and sitting for five weeks on drives of up to 10+ hours every day in a van traveling 11,000 miles/18,000 km would be a reckless approach at this stage of my recovery. I can't risk another setback like I experienced last month when I played a show against my doctor's advice.

"I apologize to the fans and to our buddies in SAXON for any inconveniences and disappointments that this has caused. We're big fans of SAXON and consider them to be one of the best live straight-ahead rock bands out there, so we're all disappointed to miss what surely would've been a great time on tour with them.

"For my part, and for Y&T going forward, I'm on the mend and can't wait to get back up on stage later this year. To our amazing fans in Europe and the U.K., again, my apologies. We'll be back in 2019."

Meniketti is the only surviving member of the Y&T lineup — then known as YESTERDAY AND TODAY — that recorded the band's self-titled debut album.

Original Y&T rhythm guitarist Joey Alves died in March 2017 at the age of 63. Two founding Y&T musicians — Haze, 61, and bassist Phil Kennemore, 57, who both had left the lineup — died from complications of lung cancer: Kennemore on January 7, 2011, and Haze on September 11, 2016.

Y&T's current lineup is rounded out by guitarist John Nymann, drummer Mike Vanderhule and bassist Aaron Leigh.

Y&T released its first-ever acoustic EP, "Acoustic Classix Vol. 1", in January.

No Life Til Metal Records has announced that they have partnered with Canadian rockers Helix to release not one but two very special limited edition releases.

First up this holiday season you are going to want to pick up what is sure to be a brand new hard rock Christmas classic for years to come. This holiday season join us as we celebrate Christmas with Helix with this brand new Christmas collection entitled A Helix Christmas.

A Helix Christmas is a compilation of Christmas classics that encompasses all of the bands Christmas classic tracks as well as two previously unreleased tracks on limited edition CD and vinyl. The two previously unreleased tracks are a brand new recording of the classic Christmas tune "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer", which has been given the Helix treatment. As well as the track "All I Want For Christmas (Is The Leafs To Win The Cup)", which was released as a limited edition 7” only prior which is now out of print.

Next we have a very special limited edition first time on vinyl pressing of the bands latest album entitled Bastard Of The Blues. Bastard Of The Blues is the bands latest and 13th studio album and is a shout out to everyone everywhere letting them know that heavy metal truly is a Bastard Of The Blues. Helix wear that metal label loud and clear, which is why No Life Til Metal Records is very excited to be bringing this limited edition vinyl to you for the very first time.

Get ready to spend this holiday season rocking with Helix. Officially releasing October 5th worldwide. Visit nolifetilmetalrecords.com to see the various packages which include limited edition stickers and the first 50 orders of Bastard Of The Blues will come with a free DCD (Download CD).

Holter's Vlad the Impaler album will be released on November 9th. A video for the first single “I’ll Die for You” can be found below. Pre-order the album  CD/LP/Digital here. An exclusive limited edition version is available on 180g red vinyl here.

Born as a one-off musical extravaganza between two Norwegian metal and hard rock giants, Trond Holter (ex-Wig Wam) and vocalist Jorn Lande, the Dracula Rock Opera has now morphed into a full-time musical project with guitarist, producer, and songwriter Trond Holter at the helm.

While the original plan was to leave Swing Of Death as a unique one-off recording, the success Trond had staging the album as a musical in front of audiences in Norwegian theaters convinced him that a follow up was not only possible, but maybe even mandatory. He was sitting on plenty of material anyway and felt inspired to tell the stories of Dracula and other vampires that did not find a home on the debut album's storyline.

"The first round of the Dracula Rock Opera was, in terms of live shows, only half the story with about 45 minutes of music. So, I added some additional songs for the live shows in Norway, which completed the story,” tells Trond Holter. "It was my intention all along to make this into a big show, even if it took some years to complete. When I started working on the songs for the new album, I found parts of them were outdated, so I rewrote parts of them and that inspired me to write new songs as well. It's a bit hard for me to say being so close to the material, but it's a few steps up the ladder sound wise. You can easily recognize the spirit of the first album, only with more energy. The "Vlad the Impaler" album was made to fill out the musicals being performed for the first album, so it is in fact pretty much the sophomore album from Dracula."

The result of this new inspiration is Vlad The Impaler. Vlad, also known as Vlad Dracula, was Voivode (or prince) of Wallachia three times and is the historical figure that inspired the famous legends about Dracula.

With an outstanding lineup featuring singers Nils K Rue (Pagan's Mind) and Eva Iselin Erichsen, Bernt Jansen on bass, Per Morten Bergseth on drums, and Erling Henanger on keyboards, Vlad The Impaler starts where Swing Of Death left off. Musically, it is an album that gets straight to the point while simultaneously utilizing diverse musical landscapes and includes catchy and melodic songs in a similar style to it's predecessor. Think Savatage meets Meat Loaf meets Queen meets Alice Cooper with contemporary hard rock in the mix and you'll have a sense of what's in store.

"We all know Nils K Rue's great work with Pagan's Mind. The vocals and theatrics he delivers both live and on record are simply amazing! And the higher he gets, the better he sounds!! I came across Eva Iselin Erichsen in 2016 and later, when I got the chance to have her audition, I was blown away. She's all over the place, live and on record, giving everything that she's got. She is an amazing singer and a real star in the making. We are ready to take the whole Rock Opera live across the European continent!” concludes Trond.

The album will be presented in the live setting in Halden, Norway with a special release show on November 10th. More shows are in the works including an appearance in spring at Karmøygeddon Festival (May 3rd. 2019).

Tracklisting:

"Worlds On Fire"
"Awakened"
"Drums Of Doom"
"The Last Generation"
"I'll Die For You"
"Shadows Of Love"
"Without You"
"Under My Skin"
"Vlad The Impaler"
"Save Me Part II"

"I'll Die For You" video:

Lineup:

Nils K. Rue: Male lead vocals
Eva Iselin Erichsen: Female lead vocals
Trond Holter: Guitars
Bernt Jansen: Bass
Per Morten Bergseth: Drums
Erling Henanger: Synth/Keyboards

San Diego, California-based rockers P.O.D. (PAYABLE ON DEATH) will release their 10th studio album, "Circles", on November 16 via Mascot Label Group. The disc features the previously released single "Soundboy Killa" as well as "Rockin' With The Best", which can be heard below.

On "Circles", P.O.D. collaborated with the Los Angeles-based production duo called the Heavy (Jason Bell and Jordan Miller), who ensured the album is contemporary sounding without losing any of the band's core sonic signifiers. The rap-driven "Rockin' With The Best" has an old-school P.O.D. sound that nods to the BEASTIE BOYS, while "Always Southern California" is a reggae-inflected rocker and the groove-heavy "Soundboy Killa" is a hip-hop/metal hybrid. The dynamic title track even boasts moody electronic flourishes, glassy piano, and laid-back rapping verses.

"On 'Circles', we didn't limit ourselves and say, 'Hey, we need to please the metal crowd, or the hardcore crowd, or the punk crowd,'" says frontman Sonny Sandoval. "We just wanted to play and write songs that we hope are relevant and catchy to a new audience, while, at the same time, still being true to ourselves."

From a lyrical standpoint, P.O.D. kept a similar open mind, while turning to optimism for inspiration. The title track addresses trying to get out of an unhealthy cycle in which someone feels stuck, while "Dreaming" envisions seeking out a brighter future even if the present day is tough. Other songs grapple with how to navigate life's biggest challenges. "Home" emerged after Sandoval suddenly lost a close friend who was more like a brother to him. "Fly Away", meanwhile, acknowledges that all of us sometimes struggle, and need to rely on others for help.

"We're looking for answers — and we're going to people to help us get through things — but at the same time, no one's perfect," Sandoval says. "Everybody's going through stuff, and we're all kind of on this same level and the same journey of experience and just trying to figure out our course of life."

The idea of searching for a bright side has been a constant theme for P.O.D. over the years, both on newer songs such as "Lost In Forever" and "Beautiful" and on early hits "Alive", "Youth Of The Nation" and "Boom". Through it all, the members of P.O.D. — Sandoval, lead guitarist Marcos Curiel, bassist Traa Daniels and drummer Wuv Bernardo — have leaned on one another for support and creative inspiration.

"We are touring and making music because it still means something to the people that are coming out to see us, and people that are still listening to our music," Sandoval says. "We're humbled, we're grateful, and we're thankful for people that still enjoy what we're doing."

"Circles" track listing:

01. Rockin' With The Best

02. Always Southern California

03. Circles

04. Panic Attack

05. On The Radio

06. Fly Away

07. Listening For The Silence

08. Dreaming

09. Domino

10. Soundboy Killa

11. Home

Over the span of two decades, P.O.D. has released 10 studio albums, including the triple-platinum "Satellite". They have had several hit songs, including "Southtown", "Alive", "Youth Of The Nation" and "Boom", and most recently with their Active Rock singles "Higher", "Beautiful" and "Lost In Forever", which reached No. 1. The band has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, racked up four #1 music videos, and contributed songs to numerous major motion picture soundtracks.

The members of P.O.D. are also active members of a tight-knit music community, having collaborated with a diverse list of artists including Katy Perry, H.R. (BAD BRAINS), Mike Muir (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES), Sen Dog (CYPRESS HILL), and more. The band's tenth studio album, "The Awakening", was released in 2015.

WESTFIELD MASSACRE has released the official lyric video for "Love To Hate" created by designer Ciao Macbeserra . This is the second official single from the band's forthcoming album, "Salvation", which will arrive on October 26 via Nerve Strike Records.

"Salvation" was mixed and mastered at The Mouse House Studio in Altadena, California by veteran producer/engineer Rich Mouser, known for his work with Robert Trujillo (METALLICA, OZZY OSBOURNE), Chris Vrenna (MARILYN MANSON, NINE INCH NAILS, TWEAKER), Chris Cornell, WEEZER and DREAM THEATER. Pre-orders for "Salvation", along with additional singles from the album, will also be made available in September.

WESTFIELD MASSACRE's recent single, "Famine", debuted at No. 86 on the iTunes Metal chart and has received over 130,000 views on YouTube in the three weeks since its release.

Seann Nicols (formerly of ADLER'S APPETITE, QUIET RIOT, Bobby Blotzer's RATT) took over as the lead vocalist for WESTFIELD MASSACRE in June 2017 when the band parted ways with Tommy Vext (ex-SNOT, DIVINE HERESY), who currently sings for BAD WOLVES. Rounding out WESTFIELD MASSACRE's current lineup are Stephen Brewer on guitar, Erik Tisinger (ex-OTEP) on bass, Dio Britto on drums, and Luis Kalil on guitar.

WESTFIELD MASSACRE has a sound that can be described as a bridge between modern American and European metal. With aggressive growls, high soaring vocal melodies, impossibly fast drums, classically inspired passages and harmonized guitar leads, WESTFIELD MASSACRE aims to make their modern metal accessible to fans of all music genres.

WESTFIELD MASSACRE's self-titled debut album was released in April 2016 on Urban Yeti Records. The album made it to No. 3 on iTunes Metal chart and debuted at No. 14 on Billboard's Heatseeker chart, where it stayed in the Top 20 for several weeks. The band has toured with SEVENDUST, TRIVIUM and CANDIRIA and also performed at festivals, including Ozzfest Meets Knotfest and Dirtfest.


Photo by: Kaelan Barowsky

Philip Anselmo paid tribute to his late PANTERA bandmates Vinnie Paul Abbott and "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott during last night's (Saturday, Sepember 8) PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS concert at Trees in Dallas, Texas. Just before launching into a medley of classic PANTERA songs, Anselmo told the crowd: "This goes out to the un-fucking-touchable memory of both Abbott brothers, Vince and Dimebag."

Fan-filmed video footage of the dedication and the medley — which consisted of the tracks "Domination" and "Hollow" — can be seen below (courtesy of Lance Lyon).

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS' current U.S. tour marks the band's first run of dates since a video message from the Anselmo was played at the public memorial for Vinnie Paul Abbott. It was the first time the singer had publicly commented on his former bandmate's death.

The event, which was held on July 1 at Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas, included emotional tributes from a number of Abbott's fellow musicians, some of whom appeared in person while others sent short video speeches expressing their affection for the fallen PANTERA and HELLYEAH drummer.

Anselmo's tribute was a few seconds long and saw him speaking in his trademark deep voice. "Vince, always have love in my heart for you, man," he said. "Rest in peace."

Vinnie Paul and his brother "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Up until his death, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo.

Vinnie and Anselmo's relationship got more acrimonious when Vinnie indirectly blamed Philip for Dimebag's death, suggesting that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Back in October 2016, Vinnie Paul said in an interview that it was "sad" to see Anselmo doing "a lot of things" that have tarnished PANTERA's image in the decade and a half since the band's split.

Vinnie passed away on June 22 at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 54.

The PANTERA and HELLYEAH drummer was buried on June 30 next to his brother and their mother, Carolyn, at Moore Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Texas.

George Lynch joined DOKKEN members Don Dokken (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Brown (drums, backing vocals) and Chris McCarvill (bass, backing vocals) on stage this past Friday night (September 7) at the Grand RockTember VI festival at Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater in Hinckley, Minnesota to perform set of the band's classic songs. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Kiss Of Death

02. The Hunter

03. Don't Close Your Eyes

04. Into The Fire

05. Dream Warriors

06. Breaking The Chains

07. Alone Again

08. Just Got Lucky

09. In My Dreams

10. Tooth And Nail

DOKKEN's classic lineup reunited for a short Japanese tour in the fall of 2016. The trek marked the first time in 21 years the four musicians had hit the road together.

Since completing the reunion dates, DOKKEN has continued to perform with the group's current lineup — featuring Dokken, Brown, McCarvill and guitarist Jon Levin — save for a handful of shows in late 2017 and earlier this year that saw guitarist Ira Black (LIZZY BORDEN, VICIOUS RUMORS) fill in for Levin.

This past July, Don confirmed to SiriusXM's Eddie Trunk that DOKKEN had "an offer on the table" to play Grand RockTember VI with George but he stated at the time that he and his bandmates hadn't "made up our mind yet" about whether to take the gig. He explained: "I have to protect the franchise — of the [current band, featuring] Mick Brown, Don Dokken, Jon Levin, [our guitarist of] over 20 years, [and] Chris McCarvill [who has] been in the band a long time. I have to protect the franchise, and [George's] got LYNCH MOB. But, you know when these, we call 'em, 'honeypot' shows come up, and they say, 'Would you mind if George played, and we'll give you a crazy amount of money?'…

"We did the Japanese tour, but we now have maybe a gig coming up on September 7 in Minneapolis at a big casino festival — a huge festival — and I haven't talked to Jon about it yet," Don added. "But I have to keep my respect for Jon Levin; I don't wanna step on Jon Levin's toes, 'cause he's my brother, and he's one of my best friends.

"So they made an offer," he said. "And I said, 'I'll play with George. We don't mind playing with George. But it's gonna have to be George and Jon [playing together at the same time].' … We're DOKKEN," referring to the lineup featuring Don, Mick, Jon and Chris. "He can come on our stage. It'll be an Internet, Facebook, YouTube sensation, video-wise, 'cause he's gonna do six to eight songs. And if you're listening, George, I'm not bagging on you, but he'd have to remember them."

Nothing have released a video for “I Hate The Flowers”, a track from their new album, Dance On The Blacktop, out now via Relapse Records. Order your copy here, and watch the new clip below.

Tracklisting:

“Zero Day”
“Blue Line Baby”
“Plastic Migraine”
“Us/We/Are”
“Hail On Palace Pier”
“I Hate The Flowers”
“The Carpenter's Son”
“(HOPE) Is Just Another Word With A Hole In It”

“I Hate The Flowers” video:

“The Carpenter's Son”:

(Photo - Ryan Lowry|)

Swedish metallers EVERGREY have confirmed "The Atlantic" as the title of their 11th studio album. The follow-up to 2016's "The Storm Within" is tentatively due in January via AFM.

In an interview with Marielle Tengström of Metal Casino at this year's Skogsröjet festival which was held last month in Finspång, Sweden, frontman and founding member Tom S. Englund stated about the progress of the recording sessions for EVERGREY's next studio album (see video below): "We just finished recording and then some asshole broke in [to our studio] and stole a bunch of important stuff. We had a bit of a setback, so we're trying to figure that out still. It's going to be okay in the end, of course."

Regarding how their music has evolved since "The Storm Within", which was the second album since the return of longtime guitarist Henrik Danhage and drummer Jonas Ekdahl, Jonas said: "I think we're constantly progressing as musicians and songwriters. We don't feel that we have any boundaries. The boundaries are getting stretched more and more for every album that we do. I think it's awesome that we kind of have taken advantage of that and, of course, we always write what we feel like writing or are inspired by. On this album, we've stepped it up an extra notch, I think."

"That's the cool thing about being in EVERGREY as well," added Tom. "We don't have those boundaries. We can pretty much write whatever we want, whenever we want. That's the nice thing. We don't have this formula. Maybe that's also hindering us in a way, but, we prefer to do that and write whatever we want."

Asked whether he thought EVERGREY would still be around 23 years after their 1995 formation, Englund said: "Of course not. The first goal was to record one album then we kept on going. We're extremely proud to be around and still evolve, as Jonas said, but also still grow. We're not getting smaller. We're getting bigger. That's the huge advantage of not being huge. You can always go up a tad more. Yeah, but it's just great. We're enjoying ourselves. We're on our 11th album now and we still have much more within us. It's cool."

On the topic of EVERGREY's plans for the rest of the year, once the band has finished its current run of summer festival dates, Tom said: "This coming fall, we are taking a break, a well-needed one. Then we start to rehearse for upcoming tours that start on January 25, which is also the day we release 'The Atlantic'."

"The Storm Within" included a guest appearance by NIGHTWISH frontwoman Floor Jansen on the song "In Orbit".

Dahnage and Ekdahl both left EVERGREY in 2010 before returning in 2014. The band is rounded out by keyboardist Rikard Zander and bassist Johan Niemann.

ONCE HUMAN will release its first-ever live album, "Stage Of Evolution", on September 28 via earMUSIC. The disc's second single, "Eye Of Chaos", can now be streamed below.

Having made waves with its 2015 debut, "The Life I Remember", ONCE HUMAN has dramatically progressed beyond the melodic death metal sound of that release into something more complex, emotional, distinct, and devastatingly heavy.

"Evolution" was not just the title of ONCE HUMAN's sophomore release last year — it was an armor-plated declaration. And it evolved into something big.

The video for their lead-off single "Eye Of Chaos" has had more than 7.5 million views on YouTube alone.

"Stage Of Evolution" is the consequential mutation of the "Evolution" album from studio to stage. It was recorded during last year's U.S. tour and features songs from the studio album. It also includes a cover of MACHINE HEAD's "Davidian", a track from that band's 1994 debut album "Burn My Eyes", co-written by ONCE HUMAN's Logan Mader, whose name will be familiar to metalheads not only as the original guitarist in MACHINE HEAD and his late '90s stint in SOULFLY, but also for his production and mixing work on records from the likes of GOJIRA, FEAR FACTORY and DEVILDRIVER.

Beside singer Lauren Hart unleashing her forceful voice, the track also features guest vocals by Frédéric Leclercq of SINSAENEUM and DRAGONFORCE.

"I know it's uncommon for a band who is not headlining to record a live album," said Mader. "We were able to pull it off because today's technology and compact size of the necessary gear is a part of our everyday monitoring system. We had loads of fun on tour with DRAGONFORCE. I'm so glad we captured a nice piece of it to share with all our fans."

With the lineup rounded out by drummer Dillon Trollope, bassist Damien Rainaud, and guitarist Max Karon, everything about "Evolution" and its live counterpart "Stage Of Evolution" makes it clear that this is a band pushing itself to deliver something that truly stands apart.

"Stage Of Evolution" track listing:

01. Eye Of Chaos

02. Killers For The Cure

03. Mass Murder Frenzy

04. Gravity

05. Passenger

06. Pick Your Poison

07. Paragon

08. Davidian (feat. Frédéric Leclercq)

09. Flock Of Flesh

"Culture Shock", the new video from ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO, the jazz ensemble led by TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick, can be seen below. The song is taken from ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO's latest album, "Conundrum", which was released on September 7 via Palmetto/MRI.

If you've attempted to keep up with the news cycle in recent years, then the "Conundrum" title should be a no-brainer. "It represents the sense of confusion many of us are feeling in the midst of the strangest sociopolitical upheavals of our lifetimes," says Skolnick, the guitarist and composer who helped define thrash metal as a founding member of TESTAMENT, before establishing himself on the international jazz scene. "This album captures many styles in an effort to channel that angst into art and inspire others to do likewise."

Ironically, given its globally pertinent message, "Conundrum" is in many ways Skolnick's most intimate record yet. It is the trio's first new studio album since 2011's "Veritas", and it features original music almost exclusively, with six compositions by Skolnick, one apiece by bassist Nathan Peck and drummer Matt Zebroski, and a gorgeous interpretation of Erik Satie's "Gymnopédie No. 1".

Far removed from the musical tunnel vision of "guitar" or "shred" albums, "Conundrum" reflects Skolnick's wide-ranging knowledge as a player and, even more important, as a listener. "What would I want to hear, regardless of the instrument and regardless of technique?" he asks. "That's the type of music I try to create as an improviser and composer."

The multi-layer, multi-section songs that resulted are, in a word, sweeping — and include plenty for guitar heads to dig into after all. Skolnick's "Unbound", part of which originated on piano, kicks off "Conundrum" with springy slapped harmonics. Beautiful chordal work follows, as well as soloing that lays out the guitarist's m.o. as a lead player: to tell a story by varying his attack, tone, intensity and harmonic approach with masterful control.

Born in 1968 and raised in the Bay Area, Skolnick was still a teenager when he made heavy-metal history on TESTAMENT's essential debut, "The Legacy". The band remained a major touring act in heavy music. Most recently TESTAMENT has been hitting arenas and amphitheaters as part of SLAYER's blockbuster final world tour.

Skolnick immersed himself in jazz at Manhattan's venerable New School. It was there that he dug even deeper into recordings by Miles, Trane, Wes, Jim Hall, Scofield, Metheny and more; studied with jazz greats like saxophonist George Garzone and bassist Reggie Workman; and formed his trio, which debuted on record in 2002 with "Goodbye To Romance: Standards For A New Generation".

And while TESTAMENT continues to thrive, it's the trio and its repertoire that Skolnick can see growing old with. "These days I still love playing screaming, loud guitar and heavy metal, though I don't think I'm going to be one of these guys who's past social-security age and in a rock band and touring," he says. "But I can see myself doing these songs with the trio for many years to come."

"Conundrum" track listing:

01. Unbound

02. Django Tango

03. Conundrum

04. Gymnopédie, No. 1

05. Culture Shock

06. Dodge The Bambula

07. Key Of Sea

08. A Question Of Moral Ambiguity

09. Protect The Dream

"Conundrum" is available on vinyl, CD and all streaming services.

Photo credit: Tom Couture

The official lyric video for the song "Can You Hear Me" from FIFTH ANGEL can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's first new album in almost 30 years, "The Third Secret", which will be released on October 26 through Nuclear Blast Records.

"The Third Secret" features the incredible talents of guitarist and lead vocalist Kendall Bechtel, bassist John Macko and drummer and backing vocalist Ken Mary.

Macko says: "When we began this process, we always were mindful to write songs that moved us as a band first. We felt that if we achieved that, then the music will most likely touch our fans as well." Bechtel adds: "We are very proud of the new album! We hope the fans will hear the classic threads of the FIFTH ANGEL they know and love, along with the growth and maturity the individuals of the band have gone through over the years. We hope they love the new songs as much as we do."

The cover artwork for "The Third Secret" was created by Zsofia Dankova (POWERWOLF) and can be seen below.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:


01. Stars Are Falling

02. We Will Rise

03. Queen Of Thieves

04. Dust To Dust

05. Can You Hear Me

06. This Is War

07. Fatima

08. Third Secret

09. Shame On You

10. Hearts Of Stone


Guitarist Ed Archer, who had already been a part of the band in the past (1983–1989, 2010, 2017), recently rejoined FIFTH ANGEL as a permanent member and completed the quartet.

Drummer Ken Mary stated: "We are very excited to announce the return of rhythm guitarist Ed Archer to FIFTH ANGEL. Ed is a very important part of the band and to have him back with us is amazing!"

Added Ed Archer: "I'm thrilled to be back in the fold with my friends and fellow musicians in FIFTH ANGEL, and I'm very excited about upcoming events!"

The Seattle music scene in the mid 1980s was a breeding ground of exceptional talent. Heavy metal was a new wave of music that was beginning to sweep the globe, and FIFTH ANGEL was one of the forefathers of the legendary Seattle music scene that also produced iconic bands such as QUEENSRŸCHE and METAL CHURCH. In 1984, high school friends Ted Pilot (vocalist) and Ed Archer (guitarist) teamed up with lead guitarist James Byrd. They filled out the lineup with drummer Ken Mary (ALICE COOPER, HOUSE OF LORDS) and bassist John Macko. Inspired by the success of QUEENSRŸCHE, who shunned playing clubs for the sake of writing, recording and releasing their own music independently, FIFTH ANGEL followed a similar path.


Concentrating on honing their writing and recording skills, FIFTH ANGEL crafted the incredible debut album, "Fifth Angel". This recording was initially an independent release funded and produced by the band, and co-produced by the famed Terry Date. "Fifth Angel" was Date's first-ever production, and Date later went on to produce platinum artists such as PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN, WHITE ZOMBIE and DEFTONES. The album was first released in Europe through a fledgling label named Roadrunner Records based in the Netherlands and instantly became a cult classic in the European metal community.


Epic Records in New York City caught wind of the band and were so impressed with "Fifth Angel", they signed the band to a seven-album deal. Remastering the original independent recording and re-releasing the album, Epic introduced FIFTH ANGEL on to the worldwide stage in 1988. The band received rave reviews and was touted in the press as the "next big thing" in all the major metal magazines of the day, including Hit Parader, Kerrang!, RIP, Metal Edge, Metal Forces and many others. Kerrang! went as far as attaching a flexi disc of the band's music onto their cover and giving the center fold-out of the magazine to the band. During this same time period, Ken Mary was covering the drumming duties with Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame artist Alice Cooper on the "Constrictor" and "Raise Your Fist and Yell" tours. While on these world tours with Alice, Ken promoted FIFTH ANGEL in both press and radio interviews, which gave some additional momentum to the release.


The band entered the studio once again in late 1988, this time with producer Terry Brown (RUSH) and Epic released "Time Will Tell" in August of 1989. "Time Will Tell" saw the departure of lead guitarist James Byrd, and the introduction of guitar prodigy Kendall Bechtel. The video for "Time Will Tell" was released from the album and went into rotation on MTV, and the track "Midnight Love" became the theme song for shock jock Howard Stern's radio show for over four years. However, the winds of change were beginning to stir over the music industry and when grunge music hit hard in the early '90s, (ironically based out of Seattle as well), FIFTH ANGEL disbanded. But that's not the end of the story…


In 2010, some 22 years after the Epic release of "Fifth Angel", the band was asked to headline the Keep It True festival in Lauda-Koenigshofen, Germany. Gathering many of the core members and adding HEIR APPARENT vocalist Peter Orullian (Ted Pilot is now an endodontist practicing in Seattle and was not able to sing for the reunion), the band prepared a blistering set of songs from the first two albums. The reception was incredible, with the sold-out crowd singing the lyrics to every song.


FIFTH ANGEL again headlined the sold out 2017 Keep It True festival as well and this positive momentum planted the seeds for a new album. Jaap Wagemaker from Nuclear Blast Records, one of the most successful metal labels of all time, listened to a couple of demos Kendall Bechtel had been working on and expressed interest in hearing more. A few of the members began writing and recording together and the collective enthusiasm was very strong over the music that was being created. Nuclear Blast signed the band to a new record contract based on a three-song demo that was submitted.

FIFTH ANGEL is:

Ken Mary - drums

John Macko - bass

Kendall Bechtel - vocals, guitars

Ed Archer - Guitar

On October 5, Polish black/death overlords BEHEMOTH will unleash their new album, "I Loved You At Your Darkest", upon the world via Metal Blade Records in North America and Nuclear Blast in Europe. In the clip below, frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski discusses the disc's latest single, "Wolves Ov Siberia".

Of course, BEHEMOTH is no stranger to blasphemy. Over the course of the last 27 years, they've pushed the boundaries of black metal and heresy alike. While anti-Christian sentiment might seem like stale bread where most metal bands are concerned, for BEHEMOTH such ideas represent a very real threat to their physical freedom. Time and again, the government of their native Poland has charged them with various "crimes" such as tearing up a bible onstage in 2007 and using the Polish coat of arms on a BEHEMOTH t-shirt in 2017. "Obviously, stuff like that can piss you off. But I think it's good to be pissed off," Nergal says with a laugh. "Anger can be a massive driving force, especially when you make extreme music. But politically and socially, Poland is a very disparate country. You can never feel totally safe here. That makes it easier for me to get inspiration. If I lived in Holland or Australia, I don't think I'd be doing what I do now. You can do or be anything you want there. I'm a huge fan of that kind of freedom, but I don't really have it here. Struggling with that on a daily basis makes me who I am, and fuels my passion for this music."

Nergal and his bandmates — Orion (bass) and Inferno (drums) — have channeled that passion into "I Loved You At Your Darkest". A crushing salvo of black metal majesty replete with hellish riffs, thundering drum cannonades and soaring liturgical choirs reminiscent of classic horror cinema, the album is also bejeweled with nimble-fingered rock guitar solos on songs like "God = Dog", "Ecclesia Diabolica Catholica" and "Sabbath Mater".

"I really wanted to redefine ourselves with this record," Nergal explains. "'I Loved You At Your Darkest' is a more dynamic record. It's extreme and radical on one hand, but it's also more rock-oriented than any other BEHEMOTH record."

Nergal doesn't view the heightened rock influence as a conscious creative decision so much as a renewed interest in the historical origins of the music he makes. "We don't give consideration to musical direction, we simply create what naturally comes to us," he says. "But 15 years ago, if you had asked me who I thought was the best band on the planet, I probably would have said MAYHEM or MORBID ANGEL. Today if you asked me, I'd say AC/DC. That should give you a clear indication of why this album is more rock-based. It all comes down to the songwriting."

Lyrically, "I Loved You At Your Darkest" revels in the kind of religious provocation that BEHEMOTH do best. "It's very religion-driven, maybe more than anything we've done before," Nergal offers. "But it's not just cheap goading. I believe this is some deeper metal language. It's art."

Unlike "The Satanist", which was primarily recorded in one studio, "I Loved You At Your Darkest" saw its production spread across Poland and the United States. It was produced by the bandmembers themselves, with drum co-production by Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES), mixing by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, CHILDREN OF BODOM) and mastering by Tom Baker (NINE INCH NAILS, MARILYN MANSON). Which is to say nothing of the 17-piece Polish orchestra arranged by Jan Stoklosa and engineered by Tomasz Budkiewicz. Or as Nergal sums it up: "Pretty much every instrument was recorded in a different studio, and a lot of amazing people were involved."

"I Loved You At Your Darkest" track listing:

01. Solve

02. Wolves Ov Siberia

03. God = Dog

04. Ecclesia Diabolica Catholica

05. Bartzabel

06. If Crucifixion Was Not Enough...

07. Angelvs XIII

08. Sabbath Mater

09. Havohej Pantocrator

10. Rom 5:8

11. We Are The Next 1000 Years

12. Coagvla

Irish thrashers GAMA BOMB have released a music video for new single "Bring Out The Monster". The track is taken from the band's sixth album, "Speed Between The Lines", due out October 12 via AFM Records.

"Speed Between The Lines" was produced by longtime GAMA BOMB collaborator Scott Atkins (CRADLE OF FILTH, SYLOSIS). The album's retro cover art is by New York-based artist Jarred Hageman a.k.a. Chrome And Lightning and Rory McGuigan (Villagers), and the video also features scenes from 1950s public information movies.

Bassist Joe McGuigan on "Speed Between The Lines": "Our aim with this record was keep refining the GAMA BOMB thrash formula. It's got faster and more punky riffing, battling axes and catchy, memorable choruses from Philly, who's back with the Halford / Belladona notes after injuring his voice a few years back."

"Speed Between The Lines" is the sixth studio album from GAMA BOMB in 16 years. The album will be available as CD, clear yellow gatefold vinyl (limited to 250 units), turquoise gatefold vinyl (limited to 250 units), clear/red gatefold and vinyl red/black splatter (limited to 100 units) which is exclusively available in the AFM webshop.

"Speed Between The Lines" track listing:

01. Give Me Leather

02. A Hanging

03. 666teen

04. Bring Out The Monster

05. R.I.P. U

06. Motorgeist

07. Alt-Reich

08. Stay Rotten

09. We R Going 2 Eat U

10. Kurt Russell

11. World Gone To Hell

12. Faceblaster

GAMA BOMB is:

Philly Byrne - Vocals

Domo Dixon - Lead Guitar

John Roche - Lead Guitar

Joe McGuigan - Bass, Vocals

Paul Caffrey - Drums

"Nothingness Of Being", a new song from Florida-based death metal extremists HATE ETERNAL, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Upon Desolate Sands", which will be released on October 26 via Season Of Mist. The spectacular artwork for the disc was created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, ARCHSPIRE) and can be seen below.

Mastermind Erik Rutan comments: "For years I have wanted to add a heavier and darker element into HATE ETERNAL, and for years that vibe just never came to me. For this album, the inspiration came and the heaviness followed. Using a lower tuning then our norm for a few songs on 'Upon Desolate Sands' and going through some personal life experiences, helped create a depth of darkness and sense of despair to inspire me to write 'Nothingness Of Being'. I never have forced anything when it comes to the writing process, we just let the songs flow naturally and write and play what we feel. Crafting a couple of songs with a completely different tuning really helped direct a different path and direction for the writing process. This song amongst some of the more traditional chaotic tunes on the album helps really create a sense of dynamics in a dramatic way. Every song on this album has its own unique texture creating a vast landscape of musical expression and a multitude of emotions, pushing the envelope in every way we can!"

"Upon Desolate Sands" track listing:

01. The Violent Fury (3:55)

02. What Lies Beyond (3:09)

03. Vengeance Striketh (4:39)

04. Nothingness Of Being (5:02)

05. All Hope Destroyed (5:45)

06. Portal Of Myriad (4:13)

07. Dark Age Of Ruin (3:58)

08. Upon Desolate Sands (5:02)

09. For Whom We Have Lost (3:18)

"Upon Desolate Sands" can be pre-ordered at this location.

Founded in St. Petersburg, Florida in the year 1997, HATE ETERNAL is the brainchild of extreme metal luminary Erik Rutan, who created a charging death metal juggernaut. In the United States this style has been virtually synonymous with Florida and especially the Tampa Bay Area for a long time.


More aggressive and technically complex than its Swedish counterpart, Floridian death metal grew out of thrash during the mid-1980s and was founded by such as the legendary DEATH, OBITUARY and MORBID ANGEL. While many of its early protagonists went on experimental paths, HATE ETERNAL remains true to the original formula, while continuously pushing the boundaries of this extreme style.


HATE ETERNAL's new full-length doubles down on their patented, high-velocity assault of dizzying ferocity combined with wide-range dynamics, outstanding songwriting and skull-crushing brutality. HATE ETERNAL delivers extreme music at the highest level.

HATE ETERNAL is:

Erik Rutan - vocals, guitar

J.J. Hrubovcak - bass, vocals

Hannes Grossmann - drums

Tasmanian extreme metal stalwarts PSYCROPTIC have announced the details of their seventh full-length studio album, "As The Kingdom Drowns". The disc will be out November 9 and will be available on all digital outlets, compact disc, limited-edition cassette and on five different colored LPs.

Formed by brothers Dave and Joe Haley, PSYCROPTIC has always lived in that very small space between technical and metal. The over-the-top insanity peaked with their third album, 2006's "Symbols Of Failure". From there, the band looked to smooth things out a bit, whether it was with some ambience or industrial elements in 2008's "Ob(Servant)" or focusing in on the groove on 2012's "The Inherited Repression". 2015's "Psycroptic" seemed to encompass all that the band had done, so where does one go from there? For the band, it was somewhat easy.

The self-titled album gave the band a new and solid platform to launch off of, making experimentation easier. The hard part was where to go and just how far to take it. Singer Jason Peppiatt comments: "As always with this band, we wanted it to have the distinctive sound of a PSYCROPTIC album but wanted to push ourselves further with adding new elements and having a darker vibe than on previous releases. I think we achieved our goal and this is something we are all very proud of."

The new album was once again produced by J. Haley and was mixed and mastered by Will Putney. Artwork was handled by Mariusz Lewandowsky.


"As The Kingdom Drowns" track listing:

01. We Were The Keepers

02. Frozen Gaze

03. Directive

04. Deadlands

05. As The Kingdom Drowns

06. Beyond The Black

07. Upon These Stones

08. Momentum of the Void

09. You Belong Here, Below

As PSYCROPTIC approaches its 20th anniversary, it's nice to see them sounding as fresh as ever. With age comes wisdom and maturity. All the band's previous work got them to where they are at today. Comfortable in their own shoes, nothing to prove, being able to look back at their earlier years with pride and seeing a long road ahead that they know they are ready to tackle.

PSYCROPTIC is:

Dave Haley - drums

Joe Haley - guitar

Jason Peppiatt - vocals

Todd Stern - bass guitar

The official lyric video for "Lost In The Underground", a new song from OVERKILL bassist and main songwriter D.D. Verni, can be seen below. The track is taken from Verni's first solo album, "Barricade", which will be released on October 12 via Mighty Music. The record, which was mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, QUEENSRŸCHE, HATEBREED), is said to be a mix of all of Verni's influences. "There's some metal, punk, and classic rock... it's all in there, from QUEEN to GREEN DAY to METALLICA, I think we covered all the basses!" declares D.D.

"Barricade" track listing:

01. Fire Up

02. Miracle Drug

03. Off My Leash

04. (We are) The Broken Ones

05. Lost In The Underground

06. The Party Of No

07. Night of the Swamp King

08. We Were Young

09. Slow My Ride

10. Heaven Calling

Verni's first effort features a host of guitar players doing guest spots, including Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY), Angus Clark (TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR), Bruce Franklin (TROUBLE), Mike Romeo (SYMPHONY X), Mike Orlando (ADRENALINE MOB), Steve Leonard (ALMOST QUEEN), and Andre "Virus" Karkos (DOPE), who also contributed the rhythm guitar tracks. Rounding out the recording lineup is former OVERKILL drummer Ron Lipnicki.

In addition to OVERKILL's 18 full-length albums, Verni has four releases with his side band THE BRONX CASKET CO.. Verni states: "So, why do a solo record... well I never really stop writing material, and after some time, it starts to pile up and take shape and I wonder what it will be. In the past, anything that was not OVERKILL material I would put aside for my other band THE BRONX CASKET CO., but when I starting pulling these songs together, it was clearly not that, and I thought, 'Okay, I guess it's a solo record.' The material was kinda metal and kinda rock and kinda punk, so those really are my basic influences. In OVERKILL, I take all that background and funnel it into our thrash sound. But these songs were not thrash but a combination of the other stuff.

"I would never really have an interest in doing a record that was thrash-sounding outside of OVERKILL; I just don't think it could be any better. The fun is trying new shit and seeing where it goes for me.

"I could always do all the instruments myself, as I have in the past on projects, but thought this could be a good opportunity to try working with some new people. My wife was hearing me thinking out loud and basically said, 'Why don't you just call some guys whose work you like and see if they would be interested?' And so that's what I did."


For more information, visit www.ddverni.com.

METAL ALLEGIANCE has released the official "beer visualizer" video for "The Accuser", featuring THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's Trevor Strnad. The song is taken from METAL ALLEGIANCE's sophomore album, "Volume II - Power Drunk Majesty", out now via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

Strnad comments: "I am super honored to have been asked to join METAL ALLEGIANCE as a guest vocalist for the track 'The Accuser'! The list of greats that have contributed to this union of might and metal over the course of these two albums is truly staggering. To be considered a peer to any of these musicians is a high bench mark for achievement. I spit out my coffee when I saw that they chose the song I contributed to to be the opening track for the album… I was simply shocked!"

METAL ALLEGIANCE guitarist Alex Skolnick (also of TESTAMENT) states: "We'd been searching all over for a vocalist on our opening track 'The Accuser' — someone who fit the tune but who could also kick off this album right. One day, while getting ready to go on at Ozzfest/Knotfest, I heard THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER way off in the distance. Trevor Strnad was using many vocal tones and a few felt perfect for the song. I suggested him to [METAL ALLEGIANCE's] Mark [Menghi], and as it turned out, we not only found the right guy for our most aggressive track yet, we also got to bring someone from a new generation of metal into the fold; it's great to have him on board."

Adds Menghi: "The vocalist for 'The Accuser' had to fit a certain mold and sing these lyrics with honest conviction — he or she had to be willing to dig deep and understand what we were speaking of lyrically. Enter Trevor Strnad, who absolutely nailed it.

"It seems that in today's society, it's very easy to blame a person (or persons) for something in order to save their own ass and cover up their own lies with heinous accusations. Someone once told me that the greatest fiction novels are the ones with the most detail; unfortunately, that's how society works today and it's sad for the people that truly need the help."

METAL ALLEGIANCE — with its four core members: David Ellefson (MEGADETH), Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT), Mike Portnoy (THE WINERY DOGS, ex-DREAM THEATER) and Mark Menghi — began as a celebration of heavy metal, powered by the almost tribal bond shared between the extreme music community's most revered trailblazers, armed with a list of contributors onstage (and off) that read like a Wikipedia entry on the genre itself.

Other guest musicians on "Volume II - Power Drunk Majesty" include John Bush (ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX), Max Cavalera (SOULFLY), Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (OVERKILL), Mark Tornillo (ACCEPT), Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH) and Johan Hegg (AMON). The album also marks the return of Mark Oseguesda (DEATH ANGEL) and Troy Sanders (MASTODON).

"Volume II - Power Drunk Majesty" was produced by Menghi and Skolnick while Mark Lewis of MRL Studios handled the mixing and mastering. The cover artwork was created by renowned artist Marcelo Vasco (SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY, HATEBREED) and Rafael Tavares.

"Volume II - Power Drunk Majesty" track listing:

01. The Accuser (feat. Trevor Strnad)

02. Bound By Silence (feat. John Bush)

03. Mother Of Sin (feat. Bobby Blitz)

04. Terminal Illusion (feat. Mark Tornillo)

05. King With A Paper Crown (feat. Johan Hegg)

06. Voodoo Of The Godsend (feat. Max Cavalera)

07. Liars & Thieves (feat. Troy Sanders)

08. Impulse Control (feat. Mark Osegueda)

09. Power Drunk Majesty (Part I) (feat. Mark Osegueda)

10. Power Drunk Majesty (Part II) (feat. Floor Jansen)

Italian metallers Elvenking have released a music video for "The One We Shall Follow", a track from their Secrets Of The Magick Grimoire album, released last year via AFM Records. Order the album in various formats at this location, and check out the new video below.

Tracklisting:

“Invoking The Woodland Spirit”
“Draugen’s Maelstrom”
“The One We Shall Follow”
“The Horned Ghost And The Sorcerer”
“A Grain Of Truth”
“The Wolves Will Be Howling Your Name”
“3 Ways To Magick”
“Straight Inside Your Winter”
“The Voynich Manuscript”
“Summon The Dawn Light”
“At The Court Of The Wild Hunt”
“A Cloak Of Dusk”

Bonus tracks for digi and vinyl (gold and clear green limited) versions:

“Petalstorm”
“The Open Breach”
“Jigsaw Puzzle” (2010 Version)
“Skywards” (2008 Version)

“The One We Shall Follow” video:

“Invoking The Woodland Spirit” video:

“The Horned Ghost And The Sorcerer”:

“Draugen’s Maelstrom” lyric video:

"What Am I?", a new song from AUDIOTOPSY, the American heavy rock quartet featuring the deft musical talents of guitarist Greg Tribbett and drummer Matt McDonough — both of Grammy-nominated metal band MUDVAYNE — as well as SKRAPE vocalist Billy Keeton and bassist Perry Stern, can be streamed below. The track is taken from AUDIOTOPSY's second full-length album, "The Real Now", which will be released on November 2 via Megaforce Records. Produced by the band with vocal production and mixing by Dave Fortman (EVANESCENCE, SLIPKNOT, MUDVAYNE), "The Real Now" is available for pre-order now.

Tribbett says: "'What Am I?' touches upon finding yourself and the true meaning of life. Life is ever-changing and you never know what is around the corner. Musically, I really wanted to concentrate on single note riffs in the verses. Something easy but mesmerizing. Then to a wide-open chorus. The bridge is single-noted as well with underlying picking patterns leaving room for vocal melodies."

According to the band, "The Real Now" explores the journey of life. Tribbett states: "This album deals with life — from addiction to depression to death. Life is a journey of unforeseen experiences."


AUDIOTOPSY began writing together in 2014 with the goal of setting themselves apart with their songwriting and dynamic presentation. Upon quickly recognizing the chemistry, they began the journey of recording their debut album, "Natural Causes".

Featuring both fast-paced headbangers and melodic, grooving anthems, "The Real Now" conjures nostalgic turn-of-the-century alt-metal influences while never sacrificing crystal clean, modern metallic drive and swagger. Heart-clenching vocals and unforgettable guitar riffs grip the listener from track one. Tracks like "Panic On The Airwaves" and "What Am I?" summon deep, numbing grooves while driving anthems like "Hologram" feature non-stop power rhythms and energy. No AUDIOTOPSY release would be complete without a melodic climax, which comes in the form of the chill-inspiring track "Hurt Down".


"The Real Now" track listing:

01. War

02. Hologram

03. Panic On The Airwaves

04. Fade Away

05. Hurt Down

06. What Am I?

07. If Only

08. A Death Benefit

The official music video for the song "Take Away My Soul" from British classic rock icons URIAH HEEP can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's 25th studio album, "Living The Dream", which will be released on September 14 via Frontiers Music Srl.

In conjunction with this release through Frontiers Music Srl, the band is offering some once-in-a-lifetime experience packages as well as signed copies of the album and many other wonderful things. Check it out today at PledgeMusic.


For this album, the band teamed up with famed Canadian engineer Jay Ruston.


"Working with Jay was amazing!" says Mick Box. "He totally understood what we were going for on this album and he delivered big time. We wanted a HEEP album that the band and the fans would be proud of, and with Jay at the helm, we have delivered that."


When asked what people can expect from the new album, Box says "There are rock songs, rock ballads, and a couple of prog songs encompassing everything HEEP."


Shaw adds that fans should also be ready for "a full-blown rockin' URIAH HEEP record. All the traits that made HEEP famous in the past are here on this new album. Passion, power, harmony and substance. HEEP trademarks from the first riff."


The band is beyond excited with the material written for the new album, which will include some epic additions to the band's huge catalog of rock staples and looks forward to sharing it with its fans around the world.


The band has announced a full world tour which will last until the whole first quarter of 2019.

"The mighty HEEP are proudly able to tour in over 61 countries and we look forward to a packed touring schedule in 2018 and 2019. Touring is in our blood and what we have a passion to do, and so 2018 is no exception," concludes Box.

Track listing:

01. Grazed By Heaven

02. Living The Dream

03. Take Away My Soul

04. Knocking At My Door

05. Rocks In The Road

06. Waters Flowin'

07. It's All Been Said

08. Goodbye To Innocence

09. Falling Under Your Spell

10. Dreams Of Yesteryear

11. Take Away My Soul (alternate version) (bonus track; CD/DVD deluxe edition)


Bonus DVD track listing:

* "Grazed By Heaven" music video

* "Take Away My Soul" music video

* "Making The Dream" documentary

The lyrics for "Grazed By Heaven" were written by SONS OF APOLLO frontman Jeff Scott Soto and the music was written by bassist Dave Rimmer.


Says Jeff Scott Soto: "The song is clearly about sexual tension and desire, very much in the form of 'Fifty Shades Of Grey', putting oneself at ease with the person who is taking control of the situation and trusting you will be in absolute bliss. Fantasy and lust is the calling card here; it's quite black and white, really. The song is very sexy so naturally called for a sexy lyric."


Rimmer adds: "'Grazed' was born out of my desire to write a blazing HEEP rock track. I put together the music and arrangement but needed a very strong melody line/lyric to match the music and the riff... I have been a fan of Jeff Scott Soto's voice and writing for many years so asked Jeff about a collaboration. He loved the song and came up with the perfect and powerful lyric/melody… a very natural seamless collaboration between Jeff and I. A true 'Living The Dream' moment for me."

URIAH HEEP is:

Mick Box - Lead Guitar/Vocals

Phil Lanzon - Keyboards/Vocals

Bernie Shaw - Lead Vocals

Dave Rimmer - Bass Guitar/Vocals

Russell Gilbrook - Drums, Percussion

Swedish progressive metal veterans OPETH will release "Garden Of The Titans: Live At Red Rocks Amphitheatre" on November 2 via Moderbolaget Records/Nuclear Blast Entertainment. This historic event was captured for the DVD, Blu-ray and vinyl formats during the band's May 11, 2017 performance at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado. Both the DVD and Blu-ray formats include CDs containing the audio as well.

A performance clip of the song "Demon Of The Fall", taken from "Garden Of The Titans: Live At Red Rocks Amphitheatre", can be seen below.

Video footage for "Garden Of The Titans" was overseen by The Deka Brothers (CARPENTER BRUT, THE PRODIGY) and audio was mixed by David Castillo (KATATONIA, BLOODBATH). All versions feature the masterful artwork of revered artist Travis Smith (NEVERMORE, KATATONIA, TESTAMENT).

"Garden Of The Titans: Live At Red Rocks Amphitheatre" track listing:

01. Sorceress (live)

02. Ghost Of Perdition (live)

03. Demon Of The Fall (live)

04. The Wilde Flowers (live)

05. In My Time Of Need (live)

06. The Devil's Orchard (live)

07. Cusp Of Eternity (live)

08. Heir Apparent (live)

09. Era (live)

10. Deliverance (live)

OPETH will release the limited 10inch vinyl "Ghost Of Perdition (Live)" on October 19 in the following formats:

* 10" pink sparkle in sleeve (limited to 700)

* 10" violet sparkle in sleeve (NB mailorder exclusive, limited to 300)

* 10" toffee in sleeve (NB mailorder exclusive, limited to 250)

* 10" summer bronze in sleeve (NB mailorder exclusive, limited to 250)

Side A contains the haunting live version of the band's classic "Ghost Of Perdition" (live), while the previously released "Sorceress" (live) can be found on Side B.

OPETH guitarist Fredrik Åkesson recently told FaceCulture that the band has commenced the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2016's "Sorceress" album. "We're very much into the demoing," he said. "I've recorded a lot of solos so far. And Mikael [Åkerfeldt, guitar/vocals] has almost already written 12 songs for the new album, so we have more material than enough for an album. But I think we will at least try to finish 15 songs. So hopefully we'll work on song ideas very soon."

According to Åkesson, OPETH is hoping to release its 13th studio album in the first quarter of 2019. "I'm not sure if it's gonna happen, but we're working towards that, and the songwriting goes very well," he said. "Mikael has been very productive these last… since January, basically. We did the last touring for 'Sorceress' in November."

Regarding the musical direction of the new OPETH material, Fredrik said: "Compared to the last three albums, I would say, if I can reveal anything, this album is more complex, more energetic, and I think it's gonna be something."

Åkesson went on to say that OPETH always tries to explore new ground with every album and it isn't overly concerned with how its music will be received by its fans. "The first filter is the guys in the band, I would say," he said. "If we enjoy it, we can only hope that people that enjoy listening to OPETH will enjoy it; that would be nice. But if we're happy with it, we will release it; it's quite simple. I think this is kind of a Mikael question in a way, since he's the creative director for the band, so I know, speaking for him a little bit here, that he always tries to push everything into something new. And I think people will enjoy this new album."

"Sorceress" was released in September 2016. For the band's first effort for Nuclear Blast via OPETH's imprint label Moderbolaget Records, the group returned to Rockfield Studios in Wales, also home to pivotal releases from QUEEN, RUSH and JUDAS PRIEST, where the Swedes had tracked "Pale Communion" in 2014 with Tom Dalgety.

PRIMAL FEAR and Nuclear Blast have teamed up once again! The relationship between the German metal commandos and the label from southern Germany goes back over 20 years, since PRIMAL FEAR released its self-titled debut in February 1998 via Nuclear Blast. The record hit the Top 50 in the German Media Control chart, where it stayed for a sensational three weeks. They later released classics such as "Jaws Of Death" (1999), "Nuclear Fire" (2001), "Black Sun" (2002), "Devil's Ground" (2004) and "Seven Seals" (2005) before parting ways with Nuclear Blast for a while and releasing another six very successful albums, including their recent Top 10 record "Apocalypse".


Founding member of the band Mat Sinner commented: "We are coming home to the No. 1 metal label and we‘re really looking forward to working with Markus Staiger and his team. All the incredibly positive reactions to the most recent PRIMAL FEAR album 'Apocalypse' from fans and the press have been a great motivation for us to get started with songwriting for another amazing new album, in collaboration with Nuclear Blast."


Markus Staiger, owner of Nuclear Blast, is just as pleased and stated: "We had a perfect start back then; all the metal fans were hungry for some traditional heavy metal. Together we realised six excellent albums and had a really exciting time. Even during the time after 'Seven Seals', the contact and amity between us and the band never ended. In the end, it was the last few PRIMAL FEAR albums that really convinced me, so we started discussing a new contract and I‘m happy that we reached an agreement quite fast and without complications. I think that PRIMAL FEAR are one of the most powerful and innovative metal bands in Europe and I love their unique, massive and heavy sound. Also, it's really impressive how PRIMAL FEAR have never lost any of their quality and have never stopped being an awesome live act over the last 20 years."

To fittingly celebrate the signing, PRIMAL FEAR will release a seven-inch vinyl single — limited to just 1,000 copies — on September 28, featuring a new, previously unreleased track titled "Crucify Me" plus a live version of the classic "Nuclear Fire".

Vocalist Ralf Scheepers proudly comments: "It's time to release the beast once more with the combined strength of a record company which is motivated to the max and us musicians of PRIMAL FEAR, who stand like a wall of unity and loyalty. Back to the roots with Nuclear Blast and a heavy tune — 'Crucify Me'!"


Later this month, PRIMAL FEAR wil launch the "Apocalypse Over Europe" tour, with labelmates RIOT V as very special guests. The trek, which will include stops in 12 European countries, will kick off on September 28 in Mannheim and end on January 27 in Geiselwind.

Standing in photo below (from left to right): Marcus Hammer (label manager, Nuclear Blast), Tom Naumann (PRIMAL FEAR), Markus Wosgien (A&R, head of promotion, Nuclear Blast), Yorck Eysel (label manager, Nuclear Blast), Michael Langbein (head of production, Nuclear Blast)

Sitting in photo below (from left to right): Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR), Markus Staiger (owner, Nuclear Blast), Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR)

Actor Bradley Cooper has revealed that the look of his new film "A Star Is Born", which he co-wrote and directed, was inspired by a METALLICA concert.

"I'm a huge fan of METALLICA," he said. "About six years ago I was at METALLICA concert [standing behind the drum kit] and I saw the scope of it… and thought, wow, this composition is incredible and that's what it feels to be on stage, to be a rock star… So in the movie you're always on the stage."

A remake of the 1937 film of the same name, "A Star Is Born" stars Cooper as an alcoholic musician who discovers, and falls in love with, a struggling young singer played by pop superstar Lady Gaga, who co-wrote the film's original music with Cooper and a team of songwriters that includes Mark Ronson.

Back in 2013, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said that he had become "good friends" with Cooper. "[He is a] huge METALLICA fan," Ulrich told HuffPost Live. "[He] actually flies and comes and sees us play if he's got a day off. Like, 'Where are you playing a gig?' And he'll jump on a plane and bring his lady [Suki Waterhouse] and hang out."

Cooper was reportedly spotted at METALLICA's very exclusive concert during the 2013 Comic-Con at the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego, California.

Last year's METALLICA/Lady Gaga collaboration at the Grammy Awards was borne out of a chance meeting between the pop superstar and Ulrich at Cooper's house.

Horror-obsessed, underground cult Ilsa share the official video for “Old Maid” off the recently, released album Corpse Fortress. The song features guest vocals by Amy KC Oden. Watch the Jeffrey Sisson (Exhumed, Gruesome) music video below.

Additionally, Ilsa have announced fall North American tour dates with Fister. The tour begins November 16th in San Diego, CA and ends November 22nd in Vancouver, BC. Ilsa will also perform select shows in the coming weeks with Monolord, labelmates Usnea and All Pigs Must Die.

Corpse Fortress physical packages are available at Relapse.com and digital downloads via all retail outlets here.

Dates:

November
16 – San Diego, CA – Space
17 – Los Angeles, CA – Midnite Communion V
18 – Oakland, CA – Elbow Room
19 – Sacramento, CA – Blue Lamp
20 – Portland, OR – High Water Mark
21 – Seattle, WA – High Line
22 – Vancouver, BC – Astoria 

Norwegian metallers VREID will release their new album, "Lifehunger", on September 28 via Season Of Mist. The disc's new single, "One Hundred Years", can be streamed below.

VREID comments: "Sometimes everything is so dark that you only see life.

"This album is all about the primordial hunger that keeps us marching forward. It's a celebration of the creative spirit, and a big fuck off to every obstacle on the way."

"Lifehunger" track listing:

01. Flowers & Blood (1:50)

02. One Hundred Years (5:39)

03. Lifehunger (5:36)

04. The Dead White (4:59)

05. Hello Darkness (4:39)

06. Black Rites In The Black Nights (6:26)

07. Sokrates Must Die (3:29)

08. Heimatt (6:01)

VREID has announced a string of Norwegian tour dates with ENSLAVED and GAAHLS WYRD.


VREID was formed in 2004. The Norwegian metal brigade rose from the ashes of WINDIR after the tragic perishing of the "Sognametal" legends with the declared mission of exploring new musical paths.


The Norsemen proved true to their words and have so far delivered seven albums and one DVD, each of which received high praise from critics and fans alike. VREID chose a course of constant evolution that is marked by thematically denoted phases regarding their often historically inspired lyrics.


This became particularly clear with albums "I Krig" (2007) and "Milorg" (2009), which both revolved around concepts dealing with resistance and liberation of Norway during World War II. With their following three records, VREID returned to their Norse roots, especially on latest full-length, "Sólverv", which received high critical acclaim in 2015.


VREID has hammered out its success partly by being a heavily touring band. The four-piece performed more than 500 shows in 25 countries so far. Their everlasting march to conquer new territories has led the Norwegians to headline tours in Europe, North America, Japan, and India.


VREID's style is often referred to as black 'n roll and Metal Hammer described their music as "a unique time travel in metal" as elements of '70s rock, '80s classic metal and Norwegian black metal are all clearly audible.

Swedish metallers SOILWORK have completed work on their 11th studio album for an early 2019 release via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2015's "The Ride Majestic" was recorded at Nordic Sound Lab studios in Skara, Sweden with producer Thomas "Plec" Johansson.

"The Ride Majestic" was SOILWORK's last album to feature longtime drummer Dirk Verbeuren, who left the band in July 2016 to join MEGADETH. He was replaced in SOILWORK by Bastian Thusgaard of THE ARCANE ORDER.

The first studio webisode in which the members of SOILWORK talk about the recording and production process of the album can be seen below.

SOILWORK singer Björn "Speed" Strid told United Rock Nations about the disc. "I'm really, really pleased with it — it's really, really cool. [It's] possibly the most epic and darkest album we've done. And it's also very melancholic, but it's also very sort of uplifting. It's huge. I'm really happy with it."

Asked if the musical direction of the new SOILWORK material is similar to that on the last album, Strid said: "I would say a mixture between 'The Ride Majestic' and [2013's] 'The Living Infinite'."

SOILWORK will embark on an extensive European co-headlining run with labelmates AMORPHIS in early 2019. Support on the trek will come from NAILED TO OBSCURITY and JINJER.

SOILWORK is now a quintet, following the departure of bassist Markus Wibom in late 2016 due to "other commitments." He has since been replaced by touring bassist Taylor Nordberg (THE ABSENCE).

In 2016, SOILWORK released a special collection of rarities titled "Death Resonance" via Nuclear Blast.

SOILWORK is:

Björn "Speed" Strid - Vocals

Sven Karlsson - Keyboards

David Andersson - Guitars

Sylvain Coudret - Guitars

Bastian Thusgaard - Drums

Strid's THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA side project released its fourth studio album, "Sometimes The World Ain't Enough", on June 29 via Nuclear Blast.

Photo credit: Stephansdotter Photography

LEADER OF DOWN, the brainchild of Grammy-nominated former MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Michael "Würzel" Burston and bass player Tim Atkinson, will release its debut album, "Cascade Into Chaos", on September 28 via Cleopatra Records.

LEADER OF DOWN was formed in 2008 by Würzel and Atkinson, who busied themselves in a London rehearsal studio writing dozens of tracks in preparation for recording an album. They then recruited drummer Steve Clarke (ex-FASTWAY) to join the ranks and continue preparing for the studio sessions.

The name LEADER OF DOWN came from Würzel mishearing the lyrics to the STATUS QUO track "Down, Down". Würzel found this extremely funny as he had been singing the wrong words "Down Down, Leader Of Down" for over 30 years.

"Cascade Into Chaos" is named after a phrase that Würzel and Tim liked during the initial songwriting sessions. It seemed a very obvious choice and was the only title that the two of them ever really discussed.

The band started recording the initial tracks for the album which included a reworking of Würzel's solo release from the '80s, "People Say I'm Crazy". These initial sessions also included a track that was always intended for Lemmy to sing on, as Würzel said, "We think it would suit him". This track eventually became "Paradise Turned Into Dust", with Lemmy finishing his recording at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles in 2015 shortly before his own passing, at a very emotional session with Tim Atkinson and Steve Clarke. It is unmistakably Lemmy Kilmister with his unique voice on "Laugh At The Devil".

Although there are several guest vocalists on the album such as Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE), the lineup of LEADER OF DOWN is completed by vocalist Matt Baker and guitarist Alex Ward.

After Würzel's tragic death in 2011, LEADER OF DOWN continued to finish the album and enlisted the help of some friends to honor the great man, including Lemmy, Phil Campbell (who joined MOTÖRHEAD on the same day as Würzel in 1984), "Fast" Eddie Clarke (who has also sadly passed away beginning of 2018), Crane, Lee Richards (ex-GODSMACK), Bruce Foxton from THE JAM, and Cliff Evans from TANK.

Says Tim Atkinson: "It is a very bittersweet feeling now that the album is being released.

"It feels very strange without Würzel being here, and I know he would be thrilled with the final result.

"It was a real pleasure writing with Würzel, as we instinctively knew what both of us were thinking when we put our ideas forward.

"We always wanted Lemmy to sing on 'Paradise Turned Into Dust', and it was a very emotional session in Los Angeles when Lemmy completed the track and I just wish that Würz had been there to see it.

"It was amazing that so many friends helped us to finish the album with guest appearances and I can only thank them from the bottom of my heart.

"To hear Phil playing with Würzel again was absolutely fantastic."

"Cascade Into Chaos" features 10 blockbusting tracks, all mixed by MOTÖRHEAD's Grammy-winning producer Cameron Webb at Maple Studios in California.

The album is, of course, a tribute to Würzel and the other fallen MOTÖRHEAD heroes but it is also just the beginning for LEADER OF DOWN, who, after a successful appearance at Hard Rock Hell, will embark on a tour with PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS in November 2018, and will be very busy next year, with live shows already planned.

"Cascade Into Chaos" track listing:

01. Paradise Turned Into Dust (Lemmy on vocals, Tim Atkinson on additional bass)

02. Cascade Into Chaos

03. People Say I'm Crazy

04. Serial Killjoy (Bruce Foxton on additional bass with Tim Atkinson)

05. Children Of Disease (Whitfield Crane on vocals, Lee Richards and Whitfield Crane on backing vocals, Phil Campbell on second guitar solo)

06. Snakebite ("Fast" Eddie Clarke on all guitars and vocals)

07. Punch And Geordie

08. Feel Good (Cliff Evans on first guitar solo)

09. The Killing Rain (the last song Würzel ever recorded)

10. Laugh At The Devil (Lemmy on vocals and all guitars by "Fast" Eddie Clarke)

The Cranberries front woman Dolores O'Riordan died by drowning due to alcohol intoxication, an inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court has heard.

The singer, who died suddenly on 15 January aged 46, was found submerged in the bath in her room at a London's Park Lane Hilton hotel.

O'Riordan died as a result of a "tragic accident", the coroner said.

She had no injuries or evidence of self harm, and had drunk an excessive amount of alcohol, expert witnesses said.

She had been in the Park Lane Hilton hotel as part of a recording trip ahead of a 2018 tour.

PC Natalie Smart, who attended the scene, told the inquest: "I saw Mrs O'Riordan submerged in the bath with her nose and mouth fully under the water."

The inquest heard that there were empty bottles in the room - five miniature bottles and a bottle of champagne - as well as containers of prescription drugs with a quantity of tablets in each container.

Toxicology tests showed only "therapeutic" amounts of medication in O'Riordan's blood, but showed up 330mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - meaning she was more than four times over the 80mg legal limit for driving.

The inquest was attended by O'Riordan's mother, brother and sister-in-law. She split from her husband of 20 years, Don Burton in 2014.

She and Burton, who is the former tour manager of Duran Duran, have three children together.

The inquest heard that the singer checked into the hotel on 14 January. was in touch with room service at around midnight and phoned her mother at around 03:00 GMT.

She was later found unresponsive in the bathroom and confirmed dead at 09:16.

The inquest heard that O'Riordan had bipolar disorder but responded well to treatment.

The hearing was also told that she went through periods of abstention and periods of excessive drinking.

She had spoken to psychiatrist Dr Seamus O Ceallaigh on 9 January and was in "good spirits".

The inquest coincided with the day that would have been O'Riordan's 47th birthday.

In a statement issued after the hearing, The Cranberries said : "Dolores will live on eternally in her music."