Dani Filth and his fellow ghouls returned to Wacken Open Air in summer 2015 to turn the Black Stage into a gloomy temple of horror. Pro-shot footage of the band performing the tracks "Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych", "Her Ghost In The Fog", and "From The Cradle To Enslave" can be seen below:

Cradle Of Filth leader Dani Filth and keyboardist / backing vocalist Lindsay Schoolcraft took part in a game of Jenga at this year's Download Festival. The pair answer some interesting questions in the video below:

Cradle Of Filth will hit the road once again in Europe this winter in support of their latest album, Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness Of Decay. The first round of dates has been announced, with more due to be confirmed soon.

November
10 - Winter Invasion Festival - Bindlach, Germany

December
1 - Masters of Rock - Zlin, Czech Republic
8 - Oskorei Midvinter Festival - Kyiv, Ukraine
12 - Melna Piektdiena - Riga, Latvia
13 - Klubbis Tapper - Tallinn, Estonia

"Welcome To The Machine" is the second song on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. The song is said to be inspired by George Orwell's book 1984, in which a man is trying to escape the government which is brainwashing its citizens with TV shows and oppressive rules. The iconic video was created by Gerald Scarfe initially as a backdrop film for when the band played the track on its 1977 In The Flesh tour.

''See Emily Play'' was the second single released by Pink Floyd. Published in 1967, it was initially thought to be a non-album single but was later included on the US debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. Watch a video for the song below:

''Arnold Layne'' was Pink Floyd's first single, released in 1967. The video, directed by Derek Nice, was made in late February 1967 and was filmed on the beach in East Wittering, West Sussex, England. The song was later published on the 1971 album Relics, the 1983 Works and the album Echoes: The Best Of Pink Floyd. It is also included in the Early Years box set.

Pink Floyd's "Not Now John" was released in 1983 and was the only single released from the album The Final Cut. "Not Now John" is the only song on the album with David Gilmour as the lead vocalist singing the verses and Roger Waters singing the refrains and interludes. Watch this rare video:

"One of These Days" is the opening track from Pink Floyd's 1971 album Meddle. The song is instrumental and only has one spoken/sung sentence by drummer Nick Mason, "One of these days I'm going to cut you into little pieces." This video was created the British artist and filmmaker Ian Emes who became widely known for his creative animations and for being the original animator for Pink Floyd.

Pink Floyd released "Point Me At The Sky" as their fifth UK single in 1968. The song has become one of the rarest official recordings of Pink Floyd and was not successful at the time, with it's B-side "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" becoming more popular.

Pink Floyd's "Paintbox'', written and sung by keyboardist Richard Wright, was first released in 1967 as the B-side to the single "Apples And Oranges". The promotional film was shot for a Belgian television programme. In the video, the band is miming to the song on a bridge in Brussels. This is David Gilmour's first appearance on film with Pink Floyd.

"Apples And Oranges" is the third UK single by Pink Floyd, released in 1967. It was the final song written by Syd Barrett with the group. After David Gilmour replaced Syd Barrett, the band recorded a promotional video in Belgium in a fruit market with Roger Waters lip-synching to the song.

All of the above tracks are included in The Early Years 1965–1972. Get it here.

On September 28th, Pink Floyd Records will release, for the first time on vinyl,  A Foot In The Door - The Best Of Pink Floyd, a collection of classic Pink Floyd tracks, chosen by members of the band.

Originally released in 2011 on CD only, the artwork for this compilation is the last work of long-term Floyd designer, the late Storm Thorgerson. This is the perfect Pink Floyd album for both devoted fans and those discovering their music for the very first time.

The career-spanning compilation features some of the best-known album tracks from 1967 - 1994, including the band’s first UK Top 10 single "See Emily Play", and the iconic "Wish You Were Here", "Comfortably Numb", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "High Hopes".

The tracks have been newly mastered for vinyl by longstanding Pink Floyd associate James Guthrie, with Joel Plante, and with lacquers cut by Bernie Grundman of Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles, California. The 2-LP version features the reinstated version of "Time", with the ringing alarm clocks at the start of the track restored, after being omitted on the CD release.

The original sleeve design, has been amended by Pink Floyd Creative Director Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis and Peter Curzon, to include alternate versions of the photographs used in the original CD version. The album package comes in a gatefold outer sleeve, with two separate printed inner bags, and is pressed on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl.  

Tracklisting:

LP1 Side A
"Hey You"
"See Emily Play"
"The Happiest Days Of Our Lives"
"Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2"
"Have A Cigar"

LP1 Side B
"Wish You Were Here"
"Time" / "Breathe" (Reprise)
"The Great Gig In The Sky"
"Money"

LP2 Side A
"Comfortably Numb"
"High Hopes"
"Learning To Fly"

LP2 Side B
"The Fletcher Memorial Home"
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond"
"Brain Damage"
"Eclipse"

Australian power metal band Black Majesty return with their seventh studio album, Children Of The Abyss, slotted for worldwide release on September 21st via their German label Pride & Joy. This will directly follow with a short spell of headline live shows in Europe hitting Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium and then returning back home for album launches in Australia. See dates on the flyer below.

The first single off the album, “Something’s Going On", has also just been launched. Watch an official lyric video below:

Tracklisting:

"Dragons Unite"    
"Something's Going On"    
"Children Of The Abyss"    
"Hideaway"
"Wars Greed"    
"Always Running"    
"Lonely"    
"Sanctified"
"Nothing Forever"     
"Reach Into Darkness"  

"Something's Going On" lyric video:

The band is also putting together their first tour for the US and South America for 2019. More news to follow soon.

 

Out on November 2nd via Peaceville is the brutal new studio album from the reinvigorated UK death metal legends Cancer. The release reunites the core original trio of John Walker, Carl Stokes, and Ian Buchanan.

The release includes a free exclusive bonus track download of "Crocodile Itch", delivered on release date with each CD or vinyl pre-order.

One of the UK’s premiere death metal purveyors of the late 80’s and early 90’s, and responsible for such genre classics as To the Gory End (1990) and Death Shall Rise (1991), Cancer marks 30 years of existence with their sixth full length studio album, reuniting all three original core members - John Walker on guitar/vocals, Ian Buchanan on bass and Carl Stokes on drums - for the first time since 1995.

Shadow Gripped features ten songs of brutal old school death metal, and was recorded at Foel studios, with Simon Efemey (Paradise Lost, Napalm Death, Amorphis) handling production and mixing duties alongside the band.

Also features a guest appearance from Anders Nyström of Swedish deathlords, Bloodbath, who comments: “Believe it or not, but Katatonia used to play a Cancer cover in our early live sets, yup that’s right ’Burning Casket’! We then saw ourselves go on and form a little death metal band based on the opening track of To The Gory End, and hey we all know that one, don’t we? Last year we ended up recording this song and put it out on a 7” EP and I thought it probably won’t get any better than this, but it did, as I was given the honour to put down a guest solo on their new ball-cutting album! CFC is back and it has me even more stoked than Carl is Stokes!”

Tracklisting:

"Down The Steps"
"Garrotte"
"Ballcutter"
"Organ Snatcher"
"The Infocidal"
"Half Man Half Beast"
"Crimes So Vile"
"Thou Shalt Kill"
"Shadow Gripped"
"Disposer"

Brazilian bashers Angra have released their "Light Of Transcendence" music video. The track is featured on the band's latest album ØMNI. Watch  below.

ØMNI is a concept album, a set of science fiction short stories that take place at various places in time, simultaneously. The backbone of the plot is based on the idea that in 2046 an artificial intelligence system will change human perception and cognition. It is a system which will allow conscious communication between present and future human beings. Characters such as time travellers, cavemen, warriors, among others, help tell this story.

The album connects the concepts of previous albums (Holy Land, Rebirth, Temple of Shadows) to one main system, ØMNI, which in Latin means "everything." ØMNI fabricates an interconnectivity that shines light towards a universal truth: everything that has happened, led to what the band is today. ØMNI celebrates and unites the whole history of Angra to this exact, current moment.

Angra's trademark formula, a Brazilian style mixed with classical music and heavy metal, is enhanced by different influences such as progressive rock, thrash metal, Latin music, and djent, which transforms the albums into a swirl of modern and familiar. The conjoined moods and dynamics put a special spin on the lyrics and therefore increase deep sense of immersion in the story.

The cover artwork was hand-drawn by Daniel Martin Diaz, a unique American artist who dedicates his life to mixing scientific and philosophical concepts such as Anatomy, Computer Science, Mathematics, Cosmology, Sacred Geometry, Symbolism and Esotericism. The designer Gustavo Sazes was responsible for integrating such an organic art piece to the visual concept of the album as a whole.

Even in a cultural environment increasingly sterile and unfavourable for music with soul and identity, the band gathers eleven tracks that completely differ from each other, but at the same time tell a cohesive story, and wander through all styles and nuances that have made Angra a worldwide reference. A very well bonded line-up, both personally and musically, overflowing with creativity, was the necessary fuel to bring these songs to life, songs which are undoubtedly among the best in the band's discography.

ØMNI certainly is a milestone, not only in the history of the band, but also for Brazilian metal and its recognition worldwide.

Tracklisting:

"Light Of Transcendence"
"Travelers Of Time"
"Black Widow's Web"
"Insania"
"The Bottom Of My Soul"
"War Horns"
"Caveman"
"Magic Mirror"
"Always More"
"ØMNI - Silence Inside"
"ØMNI - Infinite Nothing"

"Light Of Transcendence" video:

"Black Widow's Web" video:

"Insania" video:

"War Horns" video:

"Travelers Of Time" lyric video:

Haken's fifth studio album Vector is due out on October 26th. A video for the album’s first single "The Good Doctor", directed by Stuart White, can be seen below.

The band says of the track: “Finally, the prescription you’ve all been waiting for... This dose of Haken is the result of one of the earliest tests we conducted during the Vector experimental process. Best taken aurally three times a day before meals. ‘The Good Doctor' will see you now!”

They add on the video: “Making this video was a very cool, creative experience for us. Our director Stuart White presented his interpretation of the song in which we follow a man experiencing a manic, psychotic episode. Combined with the band footage, it encapsulates the energy of the song splendidly.”

The album was produced by the band themselves, and recorded and mixed by Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood (Periphery, Devin Townsend Project), with the artwork once again being handled by Blacklake.

The band comments: “On the back of celebrating the 10 year anniversary of our conception, all of us here in the Haken camp are extremely excited to begin this new chapter of our career and share Vector with the world.”

The album will be available as limited edition 2CD Digipak (including instrumental versions), gatefold vinyl 2LP + CD, & as digital download.

Tracklisting:

"Clear"
"The Good Doctor"
"Puzzle Box"
"Veil"
"Nil By Mouth"
"Host"
"A Cell Divides"

Since their inception in 2007, Haken have shown over four previous studio albums, one EP and a live release that they never stand still, merely satisfied to rely on past triumphs. Rather, Haken always look for ways to challenge themselves as musicians and artists, and also to keep the listeners on their collective toes. “We don't like to make simple music,” laughs vocalist Ross Jennings. “We always aim to defy expectations, and I believe we've surpassed what we aimed to achieve with our new album.”
 
Their fifth studio record sees the band going in a heavier direction with the music. “We’ve always had a heavy influence”, explains guitarist Charlie Griffiths, “but it was obvious from the riffs that were naturally coming out of us early in the writing process that this would be a more metal album. These are some of the most riff driven songs we’ve ever written.” As is usual, Haken produced the album themselves, but for the first time they have enlisted Adam 'Nolly' Getgood during the recording and mixing stages. Formerly bassist with Periphery, in the last couple of years he has built a reputation as a fine producer. “We produced the album ourselves, as we always do,” insists Jennings. “But we're fans of what Adam has done with Periphery, Sikth and Devin Townsend. He has a great reputation for the heavier end of our genre”.
 
But if this album is musically heavy, then there's an underlying theme running through the seven songs which is certainly esoteric and fascinating. “The scene is set with the track The Good Doctor, which was a really fun song. Musically it feels like a logical step from 'Affinity', but lyrically it’s a bit more theatrical and about as ‘rock opera’ as Haken has ever got”, explains Griffiths. “It’s about a Doctor with an intriguing, perhaps sinister interest in a particular patient. From there the story enters the point-of-view of the patient - who appears to be catatonic, but his mind is sparking with what could be memories, or delusions brought on by the treatment he’s receiving - we leave this up to the listeners to decide. Although we don’t want to give too much away, people who are familiar with our back catalogue will have fun discovering further clues we’ve planted throughout the album. And that's the challenge for the fans - to find out for themselves their own meaning for 'Vector' as an album”.
 
Haken recently announced North American co-headline dates alongside Norway’s Leprous, and labelmates Bent Knee, in what is an all InsideOutMusic bill. These will be the first live shows in support of Vector, and you can find the full list of dates below:

Dates:

October
30 - The Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI
31 - Opera House - Toronto, ON

November
2 - Underground Arts - Philadelphia, PA
3 - Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
4 - The Sinclair - Boston, MA
6 - Soundstage - Baltimore, MD
7 - Cat’s Cradle - Carrboro, NC
8 - The Orpheum - Tampa, FL
9 - Revolution - Fort Lauderdale, FL
10 - The Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
11 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA
13 - Gas Monkey - Dallas, TX
14 - Barracuda - Austin, TX
16 - Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ
17 - Glasshouse - Pomona, CA
18 - August Hall - San Francisco, CA
19 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
20 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
21 - Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, BC
23 - Metro Music Hall - Salt Lake City, UT
24 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
25 - Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
26 - Delmar Hall - St Louis, MO
27 - Exit/In - Nashville, TN
29 - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA
30 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH

December
1 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL

Tickets available here.

Haken have also announced European and Latin American live dates in support of the new album.

The band comments: “We’re thrilled to be bringing our Vector Studies tour to Europe. We had immense fun celebrating our 10 year anniversary across Europe in 2017 with incredible turnouts and warm receptions. This time around we will be focusing on performing tracks from our new album Vector along with some live favourites of ours. For your health and wellbeing, the good doctor prescribes you some live Haken.”

The band add on the Latin America shows: "A visit to South America has been long overdue. Many of our dedicated South American fans have made epic trips around the world to experience our shows in Europe and North America and now we're ecstatic to reveal we will finally be returning the favour! See you in January! As for Mexico City and Cruise To The Edge, well... we cannot wait to return!"

Latin America 2019

January
26 - Teatro Teleton - Santiago, Chile
27 - Groove - Buenos Aires, Argentina
29 - Caricoa Club - Sao Paolo, Brazil
30 - Auditorio Centro De La Amistad Peruano China - Lima, Peru

February
1 - Lunar - Mexico City, Mexico

Europe 2019

February
15 - Academy 3 - Manchester, UK
16 - St Luke’s - Glasgow, UK
17 - The Fleece - Bristol, UK
19 - Essigfabrik - Cologne, Germany
20 - Batschkapp - Frankfurt, Germany
21 - Übel & Gefährlich - Hamburg, Germany
22 - Lille Vega - Copenhagen, Denmark
23 - John Dee - Oslo, Norway
24 - Debaser Strand - Stockholm, Sweden
26 - Columbia Theater - Berlin, Germany
27 - Kwadrat - Krakow, Poland
28 - A38 - Budapest, Hungary

March
2 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
3 - Futurum - Prague, Czech Republic
4 - Conne Island - Leipzig, Germany
6 - Im Wizemann - Stuttgart, Germany
7 - Backstage Halle - Munich, Germany
8 - Kiff - Aarau, Switzerland
9 - Magazzini Generali - Milan, Italy
10 - Transbordeur - Lyon, France
12 - Mon Live - Madrid, Spain
13 - Kafe Antzokia - Bilbao, Spain
14 - La Maroquinerie - Paris, France
15 - De Boerderij - Zoetermeer, Netherlands
16 - Islington Assembly Hall - London, UK
23 - Tavastia - Helsinki, Finland

Full ticket details here.

(Photo - Will Ireland)

Italy's Temperance have released a new single, "The Last Hope In A World Of Hopes", featuring new vocalist Alessia Scolletti. It is taken from their new album, Of Jupiter and Moons. The official video is available below. 

In late 2017, Temperance announced the decision to move ahead without singer Chiara Tricarico. Chiara sang on Temperance’s 2014 self-titled debut release up until the latest DVD, Maschere: A Night At The Theater, and together they toured the world extensively.

Tricarico has issued the following statement:

"Dear all, after a show and after almost four years of live and studio activity together, I was told by the guys from Temperance about their decision to change line up, in which I am officially not included anymore. Of course I am sorry to be no more part of a project I have put so much effort and passion in through the years, but I wish them all the best with the new line up.

Feel your power, limitless. Be yourself, not someone else!"

Temperance's tour schedule is currently as follows:

September (with Serenity and Alight)
1 - Sheffield, UK - Corporation
2 - Newcastle, UK - Trillians
3 - Edinburgh, UK - Bannermans
4 - Stoke, UK - Eleven
5 - London, UK - Underworld
6 - Grimbsy, UK - Yardbirds
7 - Chapelle, Belgium - Le Cercle
8 - Kufstein, Austtia - Kufa
9 - Monfalcone, Italy - CG
13 - Nice, France - Altherax Music
14 - Bellinzona, Switzerland - Woodstock
15 - Padova, Italy - Teatrò

Los Angeles hard rockers Sunflower Dead recently signed to EMP Label Group, who will release the band’s upcoming third album C O M A on October 19th. The band have released a video for the track "Victim" from the upcoming release. Watch below, and pre-order the album here.

The album, produced by Dave Fortman (Slipknot, Evanescence) features an updated lineup of the band, including founding members vocalist (and accordion player) Michael Del Pizzo, guitarist Jaboo, and Jamie Teissere (Droid), rounded out by Powerflo/former Fear Factory bassist Christian Olde Wolbers, and Brian “Brett” Weir, formerly of Starset, on drums.

The follow up to 2015’s It’s Time To Get Weird, which featured the Active Rock Top 40 hit, and title track, “It’s Time To Get Weird”, featuring Jonathan Davis of Korn, C O M A is a stripped down, raw beast of a modern har rock record, to match the band’s recently stripped down image. Starting life, and continuing through two records with intricate costumes and heavy, zombie-esque, stage makeup, C O M A sees the band step out from behind the image, and put the focus on the songs.

Says vocalist Del Pizzo, “Though we are extremely proud of what we have accomplished on our own with the more theatrical version of the band, SFD has grown considerably. The entire process of writing and recording this album was fueled by a sense of aggression unlike anything in our previous output. It was clear to everyone involved that this was the moment to strip off the makeup, sign with a label and let the music speak for itself. So we did. And when it came down to it, EMP was definitely the right place.”

He adds, “We have known Thom (Hazaert) forever. He actually helped launch SFD’s first album and got us our first national tour back in 2012. Combine that with having David Ellefson on our side, and this was an easy decision."

Adds guitarist Jaboo, “The music on C O M A is more focused, vicious and emotionally dialled in than any of our previous work. This record is like the rebirth of the band similar to what Christopher Nolan did with the Batman saga. That rebirth is that much stronger with the addition of Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory, Poweflo) on bass and Brian “Brett” Weir (Downplay, Starset) on drums.”

Says EMP’s David Ellefson, “Sunflower Dead is a great, hardworking band who truly embodies the type of DIY ethos that EMP was built on. They have not only released their own records and had great success at radio, but also managed to tour the World supporting major artists, all without the support of a label. We’re proud to welcome them into the EMP Family!”

Sunflower Dead spent the last three years on the road supporting Weird including dates with Snot and Korn in the UK, both legs of In This Moment’s Hellpop Tour, as well as runs supporting Avatar, Hellyeah, and Mushroomhead. The band will hit the road again in the fall to support C O M A.

(Photo - Janelle Rominski, Janelle Rominski Music Photography)

Devin Townsend has released the second part of the Eras Vinyl Collection. This set includes the much sought-after albums Ocean Machine, Physicist, Terria, Synchestra, and Infinity all in gatefold sleeves across 8 pieces of vinyl, contained inside a sturdy 2-piece box with an extensive LP booklet containing liner notes and comments from Devin himself. Watch an unboxing video below.

All the albums have been mastered for vinyl for the optimal listening experience. You can order the collection here.

Devin comments: “It has been over 25 years since I started this professional trip of mine with music as the anchor. In that time, I have spent a fair amount of energy describing the albums, rationalizing the albums, or just trying to basically explain the motivation behind them all. This Eras box set series is a kind of monumental way for me to do it at one time, in one place. The intent of these albums from the beginning, has not changed. Music has been the outlet to describe my experience with life, and obviously my experience is far from 'unique'. I like to think all this music describes my point of view on things we all participate in. Life is crazy, and each step of the way offers new things, births, deaths, failures, successes, heartache, confusion, anger etc etc etc... I don't have it figured out, but the music has helped me deal with it in my own way.

"The albums were just snapshots of different periods in my life, and although it’s just music, they mean a lot to me. The process that drew them out has helped me move on to each consecutive project and my hope is that with these boxsets, it makes what I do in the future make a little more sense.

"I really appreciate having the opportunity to present them in one place with such attention to detail. It’s such an honour to be able to do this and I thank everyone involved for the support and passion in making these box sets happen."

The official lyric video for "Standing Around Crying" from ZZ TOP legend Billy F Gibbons can be seen below. The song is taken from his second-ever solo effort, "The Big Bad Blues", which will be released on September 21 via Concord Records. This is the follow-up to his acclaimed 2015 Afro-Cuban-flavored solo album "Perfectamundo".

"The Big Bad Blues", as the title suggests, focuses on Gibbons's lifelong love of the blues and rock and roll, showcasing the blues-influenced vocals and guitar licks that have together served as the foundation for his numerous hits over the past five decades. The album features 11 tracks balancing some classic covers like "Rollin' And Tumblin'" and "Standing Around Crying", along with some of Billy's signature new blues originals.

"We successfully made our way through those uncharted waters with the Cubano flavor of 'Perfectamundo' and completed the journey," says Gibbons in distinguishing "The Big Bad Blues" from its predecessor. "The shift back to the blues is a natural. It's something which our followers can enjoy with the satisfaction of experiencing the roots tradition and, at the same time, feeling the richness of stretching the art form."

Gibbons, of course, has long been one of the most important and influential artists to emerge from the blues traditions, carrying it forward in a career honored by his 2004 induction, with ZZ TOP, into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. As he notes, he was blues-influenced "right from the beginning — and it's never let up."

"There's something very primordial within the art form," he says. "Nobody gets away from the infectious allure of those straight-ahead licks!"

He notes it would take many hours just to scratch the surface surrounding this enduring love affair: "I suspect Jimmy Reed did me in early on. The inventiveness of that high and lonesome sound remains solid and stridently strong to this day. We could go on to mention the lineup of usual suspects, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy, all three Kings [B.B., Albert and Freddie]. The lengthy list of champions are forever carved in stone."

After the success of "Perfectamundo", Concord Records president John Burk expressed his intent on following up with another artistic offering with a more familiar, bluesy kind of content. "Billy has an incredibly deep knowledge of the great blues tradition and has carried that tradition forward in his music throughout his incredible career. Therefore, it seemed natural to do a project that centered on his musical roots, and the music that so inspired him from the very beginning."

Gibbons remarked, "We were delighted to follow suit: It's steeped in the tradition of 'BFG meets blues giants' with an adventurous expression to keep it fresh."

BFG and Burk met in an underground parking garage of a favorite Hollywood bistro from the comforts of JB's top-down ride, playing some tracks, LOUD, with the music bouncing off the walls beneath a couple floors of raw concrete."… Gibbons got the nod. He and his "greasy" gang of unbridled players were delivering the goods.

"From deep in the heart of Texas, our Hammond organ specialist, Mr. Mike Flanigin, stepped forward and accepted the invitation to step from the B3 bench to take on the task of pounding the ivory 88s," says Gibbons, adding, "Great piano stuff from Mike 'The Drifter' Flanigin.

"Master of the Fender Bass-guitar, Joe Hardy lent his low-down sound with his fearless funkiness, SO fine!

"Also, in the mash-up mix, the man-with-the-backbeat-plan, Greg Morrow. G keeps the skins alive and kickin'. And while we're on that backbeat thang…

"Matt Sorum steps forward with his super-syncopation, thrashing the skins like no buddies business.

"Alabama–come-California soulster Austin Hanks, roughs up the riffs with his left-handed six-string electric. Have mercy!"

Gibbons himself shares the harmonica chops with James Harman who has appeared over the years doin' that Mississippi-sounding thing. "James is the fastidiously fierce follower of the real deal when it comes to blowing' the harp.

"As for the album content, check it out… Hey now!

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," he says. "It's no secret there are several favorites from the way-back starting with not one, but two, from the Bo Diddley catalog ['Bring It To Jerome' and 'Crackin' Up']. We dusted off an old Gretsch Duo-Jet guitar which put it squarely with that infamous Bo Diddley sound. Once covered, we made way into another side — a much earlier number from Muddy Waters, 'Standing Around Crying'. The ragged edges with the meanness of James's bad self on harp seemed to fit the bill to enter the lineup."

As for favorites, Gibbons notes, "'Missin' Yo' Kissin' is a gift from Miz Gibbons. She knows what girls want and laid it out cold. And 'Second Line' is a definite throwback to many good days and nights down New Orleans way.

"Other tracks on 'The Big Bad Blues' are easy pickin', sayin' it all. It's a street affair."

Track listing (all songs by Billy F Gibbons except where noted):

01. Missin' Yo' Kissin' (Gilly Stillwater)

02. My Baby She Rocks

03. Second Line

04. Standing Around Crying (Muddy Waters)

05. Let The Left Hand Know…

06. Bring It To Jerome (Jerome Green)

07. That's What She Said

08. Mo' Slower Blues

09. Hollywood 151

10. Rollin' And Tumblin' (Muddy Waters)

11. Crackin' Up (Bo Diddley)

METALLICA is teasing a deluxe remastered version of its "…And Justice For All" (1988) album. A short video clip of the reissue being manufactured has been posted to the band's official Twitter account along with the hashtag #comingsoon.

In addition to the original album and other rarities, the deluxe edition will apparently include a 1989 METALLICA concert in Seattle, recorded during the "…And Justice For All" tour.

While "...And Justice For All" is considered one of METALLICA's classics, it has been criticized almost since the day it was released in 1988 for the lack of any bass guitar on the record. Jason Newsted's playing is virtually buried in the mix — and many fans feel that drummer Lars Ulrich, who had very specific ideas for how he wanted his drums to sound, is to blame.

"...And Justice For All" was Jason Newsted's first full-length album with METALLICA after he replaced late bassist Cliff Burton in 1986.

The album was the first by the band to sell more than a million copies and featured their first radio hit, "One", which was also the basis of the group's first music video.

The record was nominated for the first-ever Grammy for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance", but infamously lost to JETHRO TULL's "Crest Of A Knave".

In a 2015 interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com, one of the "...And Justice For All" album mixers, Steve Thompson, revealed that Ulrich was the culprit for the lack of any bass guitar on the record. Ulrich apparently wanted his drums to sound a certain way — even if it meant cutting out the bass.

Thompson explained: "We had to get the drum sound up the way he had it. I wasn't a fan of it. So now he goes, 'See the bass guitar?' and I said, 'Yeah, great part, man. [Newsted] killed it.' He said, 'I want you to bring down the bass where you can barely, audibly hear it in the mix.' I said, 'You're kidding. Right?' He said, 'No. Bring it down.' I bring it down to that level and he says, 'Now drop it down another 5 dB.' I turned around and looked at [guitarist/vocalist James] Hetfield and said, 'He's serious?' It just blew me away."

Thompson added that a terrific performance by Newsted was wasted due to Ulrich's meddling, saying: "My only regret is that we didn't have enough time to at least mix it the way we heard it… It was all there but I think they were looking for more garagey-type sound without bass. And the bass was great; it was perfect."

Thompson said that he spoke out because he was tired of being blamed for the lack of bass. He remarked: "They flew us out [to METALLICA's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2009] and I'm sitting with Lars. He goes, 'Hey, what happened to the bass in 'Justice'?' He actually asked me that. I wanted to cold cock him right there. It was a shame because I'm the one getting the shit for the lack of bass."

Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that fans were extremely vocal about the sound of the album at the time of its release. "I mean, it was unbelievable, you know, '...And Justice For All', " he said. "People were saying, 'That's the worst-sounding record, where's the bass, and it sounds like it was recorded in a garage, and...' But, you know, listen, you do the best you can in the moment and then you move on."

Ozzy Osbourne kicked off the main North American leg of "No More Tours 2" last night (Thursday, August 30) at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Osbourne, who will turn 70 in December, came out in a purple-sequined robe and performed a one-hour-and-35 minute set that touched on solo gems and BLACK SABBATH classics.

The setlist was as follows:

01. Bark At The Moon

02. Mr. Crowley

03. I Don't Know

04. Fairies Wear Boots (BLACK SABBATH song)

05. Suicide Solution

06. No More Tears

07. Road To Nowhere

08. War Pigs (BLACK SABBATH song) (with extended Zakk Wylde guitar solo)

09. Miracle Man / Crazy Babies / Desire / Perry Mason

10. Drum Solo

11. I Don't Want To Change The World

12. Shot In The Dark

13. Crazy Train

Encore:

14. Mama, I'm Coming Home

15. Paranoid (BLACK SABBATH song)

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Despite the fact that "No More Tours 2" is being billed as his farewell tour, Ozzy Osbourne insists that he is not calling it quits. "I'm not retiring," he told Rolling Stone in an interview. "It's 'No More Tours', so I'm just not doing world tours anymore. I'm still going to be doing gigs, but I'm not going on tour for six months at a time anymore. I'd like to spend some time at home."

Osbourne, who spent the last few years touring with BLACK SABBATH before the legendary heavy metal act retired from the road, said that he wanted to "slow it down a little" and be there for his family. "I enjoy being a grandfather. I don't want to go through another generation of Osbournes without seeing them grow up."

After he completes the tour, Ozzy said that he would consider possibly making a new album. He told Rolling Stone that he had "eight or nine good song ideas" for the follow-up to 2010's "Scream", including "Mr. Armageddon" and "Crack Cocaine"." He will also play sporadic one-off shows but will not stay on the road for months at a time.

"It's what I do," Ozzy said. "It's my job. And when I say, 'It's my job,' I mean it's a passion for me. It's the greatest love affair I ever had, being in a rock band and playing for the people who come to the shows."

"No More Tours 2" is a reference to Ozzy's 1992 "No More Tours" trek, which marked the first time the singer announced the end of his days as a touring artist. The tour name was a pun based on the title of his then-most recent solo album, "No More Tears". Ozzy returned to action three years later and has been on the road ever since.

Ozzy has previously made conflicting statements about whether or not he intends to record a new studio album, telling The Orange County Register last fall that "it's not cost-effective" to release full-length collections of tracks. "You actually lose money because people aren't buying records anymore," he said. "A couple of songs, maybe I'll do that and put that out. I'll go to Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] and say, 'I want to do an album' and then I'll go to her and say, 'I don't want to do an album.' I really can't make up my mind."

Last year, Ozzy reunited with guitarist Zakk Wylde, who played on studio albums such as "No Rest For The Wicked", "No More Tears" and "Ozzmosis" and who has toured on and off with Ozzy for nearly thirty years.

Ozzy has played a number of solo shows since doing his final concerts with BLACK SABBATH a year and a half ago. The legendary band wrapped up its forty-nine-year career with a year-long farewell tour, ending with two shows in its hometown of Birmingham, England.

Due to "illness, manufacturing and scheduling factors," the release date of ROCK GODDESS's comeback album, "This Time", has been pushed back to February 22, 2019 from the previously announced October 5, 2018. The effort, which will be made available via the band's own label, Bite You To Death Records, in conjunction with partners worldwide and digitally via Cargo Records, was recorded earlier this year at a London studio with producer Wes Maebe (UB40, Robert Plant, NEW MODEL ARMY, PRAYING MANTIS).

ROCK GODDESS guitarist/vocalist Jody Turner said: "Really sorry we have had to push back on release. But I got ill with a terrible cold and lost my voice, so had to delay finishing my vocals. Meanwhile, our producer had other commitments so rescheduling was delayed. This is life, I guess!! Pesky bugs!! But I'm scheduled back in the studio in a couple of weeks to finish everything off. Then it's on to rehearsals with our new bass player."

The "This Time" cover artwork can be seen below. The album can be exclusively pre-ordered now on Pledge Music.

ROCK GODDESS recently parted ways with bassist Tracey Lamb. The band announced her departure after saying that she would be "unable to perform" with the group at Denmark's Metal Magic festival due to "unforeseen personal circumstances." A replacement bassist has already been found but has not yet been announced.

ROCK GODDESS's last release was a three-song EP, "It's More Than Rock And Roll", which arrived in May 2017.

The official video for the "It's More Than Rock And Roll" title track can be seen below.

ROCK GODDESS was formed in 1977 in Wandsworth South London by Jody Turner (guitar and vocals) and Julie Turner (drums) when they were thirteen and nine years old, respectively. They recruited school friend Tracey Lamb on bass guitar.

ROCK GODDESS first rose to the nation's awareness when they were first featured in Kerrang! No. 5 in 1981 in the "Armed And Ready" section as one of the bands to watch out for. After recording a four-track demo tape and an appearance at the Reading Festival in 1982, sharing a bill with IRON MAIDEN, plus regular shows at the Marquee club, the band landed a contract with the A&M label. They recorded their eponymous debut album with producer Vic Maile in 1983 and hit the lower end of the charts. A follow-up album, "Hell Hath No Fury", arrived a year later, by which time Lamb had left the band to form SHE and later to join GIRLSCHOOL.

After their contract with A&M expired in 1987, ROCK GODDESS' already recorded (in 1985) third album, titled "Young And Free", was released only in France. The effort saw the band taking on a more commercial sound.

ROCK GODDESS' career was cut short by financial and contractual problems, which forced them to disband shortly thereafter.

ROCK GODDESS did briefly reform in 2009 and was due to play Hard Rock Hell festival in Prestatyn, and was also booked to perform at the Headbangers Open Air festival in Germany the following summer, but split before they had a chance to appear at either event.

In March 2013, it was announced that the original ROCK GODDESS lineup had reunited and would start recording a new album.

The official lyric video for the song "Lead Us Into War" from Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's 13th full-length album, "The Hunt For White Christ", which will be released on October 26 via Napalm Records.

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

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

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

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

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

"The Hunt For White Christ" track listing:

01. Lead Us Into War

02. You Will Fall

03. Stand Your Ground

04. Gram

05. Terror Christ

06. They Rape The Land

07. The City Of Jorsala Shall Fall

08. The Hunt For White Christ

09. Vidaurgelmthul

10. By The Western Wall

11. Open To All The World

UNLEASHED is:

Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals

Tomas Måsgard: Guitar

Fredrik Folkare: Guitar

Anders Schultz: Drums

Former ACCEPT and BONFIRE singer David Reece will release his long-awaited new solo album, "Resilient Heart", on November 9 through Mighty Music. The follow-up to 2013's "Compromise" is an LP "rich on full-blown melodic heavy metal," according to a press release.

The first single from "Resilient Heart", "Any Time At All", is a wonderful heavy rocker with a touch of David Coverdale and WHITESNAKE inspiration — a song with a powerful riff and a strong verse leading up to a bombastic singalong chorus, whereas a song like "Perfect Apocalypse" stands out with its progressive PRETTY MAIDS-inspired elements.

Reece says about the single: "'Any Time At All' is the first song of the new album and also the first single.

"I'm a person about challenges. Lyrically, it speaks about how to stand up against anything someone will throw at me. So, you got the challenge — I got the will — any time at all."

On "Resilient Heart", Reece has teamed up with the Danish musicians Marco Angioni (guitar), Martin J. Andersen (guitar), Malte Frederik Burkert (bass) and Sigurd J. Jensen (drums).

"Resilient Heart" comes with two different track listings — one for CD/digital and one for the limited blood-red vinyl edition (500 copies).

CD/digital track listing:

01. Any Time At All

02. Wicked City Blues

03. Karma

04. Desire

05. I Don't Know Why

06. Two Coins

07. Ain't Got The Balls

08. Forest Through The Trees

09. Perfect Apocalypse

10. Live Before You Die

11. I'm The One

Vinyl track listing:

Side A

01. Karma

02. Any Time At All

03. I Don't Know Why

04. I'm The One

05. Forest Through The Trees

Side B

06. Perfect Apocalypse

07. Heart Of Stone

08. What About Yesterday

09. Two Coins

10. Live Before You Die

Tour dates:

Oct. 26 - Rock 'N' Skull, Peoria, IL (USA)

Oct. 31 - Krater Rock City, Puertollona (ESP)

Nov. 01 - Sala Utopia, Zaragoza (ESP)

Nov. 02 - -Urban Rock Concepts, Vitoria (ESP)

Nov. 03 - Cool Stage, Madrid (ESP)

Nov. 09 - High Voltage, Copenhagen (DK)

Nov. 10 - Charles Dicken’s, Helsingborg (SWE)

Nov. 15 - Sternensall, Schiers (CH)

Nov. 16 - Ölfleck Event-Bar, Frauenfeld (CH)

Nov. 17 - Johnny’s Lion Cave, Trübbach (CH)

Nov. 24 - Backstage Bar, Trollhaten (SWE)

Lineup:

Vocals: David Reece

Guitar: Marco Angioni

Guitar: Martin J. Andersen

Bass: Malte Frederik Burkert

Drums: Sigurd J. Jensen

CHEAP TRICK guitarist Rick Nielsen has confirmed to the Lazer 103.3 radio station that the band is putting the finishing touches on a new studio album, to be released in late 2018 or early 2019. "Robin [Zander] just finished the last of the vocals about three days ago," he said (hear audio below). "And I'm going next week or the week after — I'm not sure — back to finish the last three guitar solos. So wish me luck."

Earlier in the year, CHEAP TRICK released a brand-new single called "The Summer Looks Good On You" via Big Machine Records. The band co-produced the song with longtime collaborator Julian Raymond, who also worked on CHEAP TRICK's last three albums, 2016's "Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello" and 2017's "We're All Alright!" and "Christmas Christmas".

CHEAP TRICK recently took part in the "Nothin' But A Good Time Tour" with POISON.

The band has released nearly 20 studio records, including three in the past two years.

A career highpoint for the quartet was its 2016 induction into the Rock And Roll Of Fame, where it accepted its award before performing three of its hits — "I Want You to Want Me", "Dream Police" and "Surrender".

CHEAP TRICK's current lineup includes three of its original members. Drummer Bun E. Carlos stopped touring with the band in 2010.

Ozzy Osbourne has told Boston Herald in a new interview that he is hoping to return to the studio after he completes his "No More Tours 2" farewell tour to record some new music. "I have a bunch of songs written and have plenty of ideas and really want to do a new album, but as to when and how it will come together, I do not really know," he said.

Earlier in the year, Ozzy told Rolling Stone that he doesn't normally work on music while on tour. "When I'm on the road, when I take a day off, I should try to rest my voice, so it's not a good idea to go and start singing and writing songs," he said. "But I've done that in the past."

Osbourne hasn't issued a solo album since 2010's "Scream" and has spent the last few years touring with BLACK SABBATH before the legendary heavy metal act retired from the road.

"No More Tours 2" is a reference to Ozzy's 1992 "No More Tours" trek, which marked the first time the singer announced the end of his days as a touring artist. The tour name was a pun based on the title of his then-most recent solo album, "No More Tears". Ozzy returned to action three years later and has been on the road ever since.

Ozzy has previously made conflicting statements about whether or not he intends to record a new studio album, telling The Orange County Register last fall that "it's not cost-effective" to release full-length collections of tracks. "You actually lose money because people aren't buying records anymore," he said. "A couple of songs, maybe I'll do that and put that out. I'll go to Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] and say, 'I want to do an album' and then I'll go to her and say, 'I don't want to do an album.' I really can't make up my mind."

Last year, Ozzy reunited with guitarist Zakk Wylde, who played on studio albums such as "No Rest For The Wicked", "No More Tears" and "Ozzmosis" and who has toured on and off with Ozzy for nearly thirty years.

Ozzy has played a number of solo shows since doing his final concerts with BLACK SABBATH a year and a half ago. The legendary band wrapped up its forty-nine-year career with a year-long farewell tour, ending with two shows in its hometown of Birmingham, England.

Ozzy kicked off the main North American leg of "No More Tours 2" last night (Thursday, August 30) at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

New York hardcore legends SICK OF IT ALL will release their twelfth studio album, "Wake The Sleeping Dragon!", on November 2. The follow-up to 2014's "The Last Act Of Defiance" was produced by Jerry Farley (EVERY TIME I DIE, DEMON HUNTER) over a two-and-a-half-week period at Nova Studios in Staten Island, New York and was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (MESHUGGAH, THE HAUNTED, MADBALL). The cover artwork was created by Ernie Parada and can be seen below.

The official lyric video for the first single from "Wake The Sleeping Dragon!", a song called "Inner Vision", can be seen below.

Drummer Armand Majidi comments: "It's a blasting, screamer of a song in the vein of early DISCHARGE or EXPLOITED, and the lyrics deal with reacting to the horrors of the world by looking inward to find peace in difficult times."

"Wake The Sleeping Dragon!" features guest appearances by RISE AGAINST vocalist/guitarist Tim McIlrath and HOT WATER MUSIC frontman Chuck Ragan.

Working with friends is one of the key factors that are very important to SICK OF IT ALL, so asking Parada for the striking front cover was an obvious choice. "There is no reason to burn bridges in this business," says drummer drummer Armand Majidi. "Our history with Ernie Parada goes back to the late eighties, so working with him, there is a kinship that makes things easier to communicate."

Singer Lou Koller and Parada came up with the idea of doing monster-movie styled art as the cover. "The dragon climbing the Empire State was a concept I always wanted to see brought to life, so the two ideas were destined to come together this way," Lou says.

SICK OF IT ALL and Tue Madsen, who mixed and mastered "Wake The Sleeping Dragon!", have maintained a long-lasting relationship based on understanding, friendship and most importantly, good results — three factors any band would be very happy with. Jerry Farley also became a very important part of the creation of this album. After working with him at Nova Studios in Staten Island, New York, they went for a closer approach on this album. "This is the first time we've ever had a producer involved from start to finish, including the songwriting process," the band says. "His objective viewpoints helped settle a lot of little issues that could have easily become stumbling blocks, and the songs themselves ended up benefitting from them."

SICK OF IT ALL's latest release was the "When The Smoke Clears" EP, which came out in November 2016 via Century Media Records.

Photo credit: Montecruz Foto

Swedish metallers ENTOMBED A.D. have returned with a new single, "Fit For A King". The song is taken from the band's forthcoming third album, which is currently in the works.

ENTOMBED A.D.'s second album, "Dead Dawn", was released in February 2016 via Century Media.

Last fall, vocalist Lars-Göran "LG" Petrov spoke to Finland's Rauta about ENTOMBED's decision to release change its name to ENTOMBED A.D. in order to avoid a legal battle with ENTOMBED guitarist Alex Hellid who didn't want his former bandmates to use the ENTOMBED moniker.

"[ENTOMBED and ENTOMBED A.D. are] the same thing — just some minor complications on the way," he said. "But we are here and playing music and headbanging, and that's the most important. But it's the same. It's the same."

Petrov added that he and his bandmates "don't think about" the slight alteration in the group's name. "We just let it roll. As long as we are out, nobody can stop us."

Asked what inspires him to make music and write lyrics these days, Petrov said: "It's boring to sit at home. [Laughs] No, you can always be productive and be out on tour and have no sleep. But that all doesn't matter when you come to the show and you see your brothers in metal. Then it's all worth it."

On the topic of ENTOMBED's musical evolution over the years, Petrov said: "As you go on in life, you experience new things, you wanna try out other things, and ENTOMBED has always tried to do that. Maybe more than for our own good sometimes, but now we're just going straightforward and we just do it again — over and over again. And as long as you don't get tired of it, you just continue. If you get tired of it, you should quit. You don't do it because… If you don't like it, step aside and let it roll."

ENTOMBED A.D. is:

Lars-Göran Petrov - Vocals

Nico Elgstrand - Guitar

Victor Brandt - Bass

Olle Dahlstedt - Drums

Guilherme Miranda - Guitar

The official lyric video for "Executed", the new single from the Swiss all-girl heavy metal outfit BURNING WITCHES, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's second album, "Hexenhammer", which will be released on November 9 via Nuclear Blast Records. The disc was produced at the Little Creek Studio in Switzerland by the same team as its predecessor: V.O. Pulver (PRO-PAIN, DESTRUCTION, NERVOSA, PÄNZER) and DESTRUCTION frontman Schmier, who helped and advised as a close friend of the band.

BURNING WITCHES commented: "We are very proud to show you our first lyric and performance video for the song 'Executed'. It is a very powerful and speedy track that tells the story of the 'last Witch' Anna Göldi from Switzerland and her harrowing life. A tragic and true story that fits into our 'Hexenhammer' album theme!"

The cover artwork for "Hexenhammer" was created by acclaimed artist Gyula Havancsák from Hungary, who has also created artwork for DESTRUCTION, ANNIHLATOR, GRAVE DIGGER, STRATOVARIUS, TANKARD and many more.

The band states: "We are very proud to present you our new album cover for 'Hexenhammer'. The topic is the 'Malleus Maleficarum' book that legalized the extermination of the so-called 'witches' in the medieval times. The justification of murder against the weak is still a sad subject nowadays. So we wanna pay respect and remember — most of the lyrics are dealing with this dark chapter of our history as well. Of course, we also wanted a classic and mystical metal layout that reflects our music perfectly — so it is a great mix. We hope the fans will enjoy it."

Gyula adds: "It is not too easy to make a 'metal' cover when the main character and focus is an attractive woman. It is much easier to create gory images with monsters or devils for me. But I remembered that my first original casette was the WARLOCK 'Triumph And Agony' album, so I felt very motivated to incorporate both of those aspects: some black magic and some beautiful ladies. I got some instructions and a sketch from the band — so I painted the witch and the altar first as a main focus and everybody loved the character and the feeling of the image. When I added the ghost images of the girls, it all aligned into a dark magic artwork with beautiful ladies."

"Hexenhammer" track listing:

01. The Witch Circle

02. Executed

03. Lords Of War

04. Open Your Mind

05. Don't Cry My Tears

06. Maiden Of Steel

07. Dungeon Of Infamy

08. Dead Ender

09. Hexenhammer

10. Possession

11. Maneater

12. Holy Diver

Bonus tracks:

13. Self Sacrifice

14. Don't Cry My Tears (acoustic)

Schmier previously stated about BURNING WITCHES: "Those ladies sound original, fresh and heavy! I love the classical heavy metal influence and the [Rob] Halford-inspired vocals!

He continued: "The BURNING WITCHES will sure get their fans. Their sound, in between classical [JUDAS] PRIEST and U.S. power metal like ICED EARTH, caught my attention right away."

BURNING WITCHES was founded during spring 2015 in Brugg, Switzerland, by guitar player Romana Kalkuhl. It has always been her big dream to perform with a women's heavy metal band on stage. During the music university studies, she already started her first group together with Kevin Schaffer, with whom she has recorded two albums and played several concerts.

In 2015, Romana started to look for talented ladies for the new combo. Jeanine Grob (bass), a longtime friend, became the first official member. At a party at a festival, Romana met Seraina Telli (singer) for the first time. It clicked right away between the two girls, on a musical and on a personal level. Seraina brought in many ideas and a lot of experience because of her studies at the Music Academy and her band SURRILIUM. The guitarist and the singer became a great songwriting team right away.

Romana wrote Schmier from DESTRUCTION about her new project, and the ladies brought him onboard as a producer/consultant.

After an intensive search and different auditions, BURNING WITCHES found Lala Frischknecht the perfect drummer for the all-girl metal band.

BURNING WITCHES' latest addition is guitarist Sonia Nusselder, who joined the band in January 2018.

BURNING WITCHES is:

Seraina Telli (Vocals)

Romana Kalkuhl (Guitars)

Sonia Nusselder (Guitars)

Jeanine Grob (Bass)

Lala Frischknecht (Drums)

On December 13, 2017, the worldwide metal community mourned the passing of a truly unique voice, an extremely gifted songwriter, and above all a wonderful human being, that will be dearly missed: Warrel Dane, who died of a heart attack during the recordings of his second solo album in São Paulo, Brazil.

Renowned for his work in SANCTUARY and NEVERMORE as well as a solo artist, in 2014 Warrel had teamed up with Brazilian musicians Johnny Moraes (guitar), Thiago Oliveira (guitar), Fabio Carito (bass) and Marcus Dotta (drums) as his touring band and ultimately this successful collaboration led to plans for a new studio album. Recordings for "Shadow Work", the follow-up to 2008's "Praises To The War Machine", started in fall 2017 at Orra Meu Studio, São Paulo, and Travis Smith commenced to create the artwork following a concept and ideas previously discussed with Warrel.

Then he passed away, left his fellow musicians, fans, friends and family as well as his label in shock putting the status of "Shadow Work" in limbo for a while.

After reviewing the material that could actually be completed using vocals from various studio and pre-production sessions with Warrel, the decision was made to release his final recordings as "Shadow Work" on October 26.

The first single from "Shadow Work", a song called "Disconnection System", can be streamed below.

Jens Prüter, head of A&R, and Stefan Franke, product manager of Century Media Records, say: "We are looking forward to release these 40 minutes of music in October. We and many other workmates at Century Media Records have known Warrel for years, have been through thick and thin, and are fans of his art just like the many, many people supporting him since the '80s. The dedication his band, Travis Smith and our team invested in completing 'Shadow Work' was astonishing and the entire record carries an eerie atmosphere of Warrel already feeling that this might be his last work. It is heartbreaking that he was right in the end. Rest in peace, friend."

"Shadow Work" will be released as special edition CD mediabook offering a 44-page booklet, as gatefold LP plus CD and 12-page LP booklet and on all digital platforms. Each song is illustrated by Travis Smith's art, created as his personal tribute to Warrel and further explained in his personal liner notes. Furthermore, photos, lyrics and moving statements from the musicians are included as well.

Smith said: "[Warrel] told me he wanted the cover for this one to be a personification of one of its songs, affectionately titled 'Sweet Madame Satan, And Why.' I dug up the skeleton of an old idea we'd talked about once before, and with a few details and alterations of his own, it was exactly what he had envisioned. He 'loved it,' approved it, and then gave me an outline for what he wanted to do for the back cover to complement it as a sort of prologue.

"I finished the additional artwork taking inspiration from old conversations, titles, absorbing passages from his notebooks, and some lyrics that he'd passed along earlier...

"Thank you for everything these past 20 years... It was an honor. It will be missed. You are missed. I know we did you proud."

Added Thiago, Johnny, Fabio and Marcus: "To give birth to a work like this, is for us a tribute to someone that was like family and honor his memory by sharing some of the savage poetry that he created and was ultimately so proud of.

"Warrel came into our lives like a storm, took us into a very intense ride, we roamed endless roads into the unknown, into places that we never dreamed of both inside and outside our minds, and left. He was someone who lived with us, dreamed with us and enjoyed our hospitality, and in return gave us so much back. Some of us acted like his mother, some of us saw him as a father figure, some of us took care of him in some of his darkest moments. Yet he was a friend, and somehow, will be always there.

"To record such an album, and to work alongside an artist as gifted as Warrel, is somehow like being enthralled by his brightest light, and, at the same time being engulfed by his darkest shadow. There is so much to say, and yet nothing to say. In the meantime, we are proud to share this portrait of the storm we went through in form of art. Light, peace and love."

"Shadow Work" track listing:

01. Ethereal Blessing

02. Madame Satan

03. Disconnection System

04. As Fast As The Others

05. Shadow Work

06. The Hanging Garden (THE CURE cover)

07. Rain

08. Mother Is The Word For God

FIFTH ANGEL recently put the finishing touches on its first new album in almost 30 years, "The Third Secret", which will be released on October 26 through Nuclear Blast Records. But before their fans can put their hands on the new record, there's more news to announce from the FIFTH ANGEL camp. Guitarist Ed Archer, who has already been a part of the band in the past (1983–1989, 2010, 2017), rejoins the group as a permanent member and completes the quartet.

Drummer Ken Mary states: "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!"

Adds 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 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


FIFTH ANGEL will release the new digital single and lyric video for "Can You Hear Me" on September 7.

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

"The Grey", the new video from the Swedish melodic hard rock band DYNAZTY, which features in its ranks current AMARANTHE singer Nils Molin, can be seen below. The song is taken from DYNAZTY's sixth album, "Firesign", which will be released on September 28 via AFM Records.

"Firesign" will be available as a digipak, clear yellow vinyl (limited to 200 units), clear orange vinyl (limited to 200 units) and blue/yellow splatter (limited to 100 units), which is exclusively available in the AFM webshop.

"Firesign" track listing:

01. Breathe With Me

02. The Grey

03. In The Arms Of A Devil

04. My Darkest Hour

05. Ascension

06. Firesign

07. Closing Doors

08. Follow Me

09. Let Me Dream Forever

10. Starfall

11. The Light Inside The Tunnel

DYNAZTY was founded in 2007 and reached its current formation a year later with the addition of Molin. To date the band has released five albums, toured internationally, zigzagged Sweden and performed in the insanely popular Swedish Eurovision song contest qualification, Melodifestivalen event.


DYNAZTY garnered international praise and scored notable domestic chart positions with its more traditionally hard-rocking "Knock You Down" album (2011) and its successor "Sultans Of Sin" (2012). Criminally overlooked "Renatus" (2013), saw the band shedding its old-school melodic hard rock skin for a sound more modern, more defined and more addictive. Fittingly for its Latin name ("Rebirth"), "Renatus" saw the band's sound grow tighter with an arsenal of rapid rhythm patterns and machine-gun riffs, Molin's ever-present soaring vocals plus huge choruses that stuck in your head like horseflies and featuring melodic hooklines lesser bands would die for to have written. Sugar-pasted with massive arrangements, "Renatus" was an album the like of which most bands never manage to write. Yet somehow it managed to fly under the radar.


2016's "Titanic Mass" saw the Swedes present the next logical step in the never-ending flux that is the sound of DYNAZTY. This time choosing to maintain the overall bite and tightness of "Renatus" and taking a courteous nod in the direction of power metal finally, and adding a symphonic element, the band succeeded in making the songs, if possible, yet another notch more addictive than before.

DYNAZTY is:

Nils Molin - vocals

Love Magnusson - guitar

Mike Lavér - guitars

Jonathan Olsson - bass

George Egg - drums

Molin officially joined AMARANTHE in July 2017 as the replacement for Jake E.

Having previously used Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye from the band SMASH INTO PIECES as a stand-in for Jake on some of the shows in 2016 and in early 2017, AMARANTHE recruited Molin for three Swedish concerts in March 2017 and he has been part of the group's live appearances ever since.

Photo by: Tallee Savage

"AD/HD", the new Max Ljungberg-directed video from Gothenburg, Sweden-based rockers HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's 11th studio album, "You Can't Kill My Rock 'N Roll", which will be released on September 21 via Gain Music Entertainment. The disc consists of 12 ear-splitting anthems that drive home the fact that rock isn't dead; it is, in fact, alive and well and thriving in Sweden.

Recorded throughout 2017 and early 2018 at the beautiful Österlyckan (Wooden Hybrid) studios near Gothenburg, the album was produced by the bandmembers themselves and mixed in Stockholm by Dino Medanhodzic.


Celebrated worldwide for its explosive and uplifting live performances that are bursting with integrity and passion, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR has managed to somehow harness and capture all that passion and raw energy and translate it into the 12 songs that make up "You Can't Kill My Rock 'N Roll". This is a huge sounding album on all levels, overflowing with sure fire hits and guaranteed future fan favorites.

The album's first single, "Have Mercy On Me", was released to great critical acclaim at the end of 2017 and quickly became play listed on radio stations all over the Europe, making it a runaway success. The following singles, "Bring The House Down", "Electric Rider" and "Baboon", have built enormously on this success, creating massive amounts of excitement and anticipation amongst the fans and media in preparation for the album's release. Further singles are also planned to coincide with the band's ambitious world tour that will see them playing to audiences far and wide throughout all of 2018 and 2019.


It's safe to say "You Can't Kill My Rock 'N Roll" is an unapologetically confident and assured album full of big hooks, attitude and aggression that doesn't let up from the moment the opening track "AD/HD" kicks in all the way through to the closing track "Goodbye", with the title track being an uplifting, rallying call to arms for all fans of rock music to stand proud, united in the celebration of who we are and the music we love.

All the elements that that make up a great HARDCORE SUPERSTAR album are here in abundance. At its core, there is the great song writing and big choruses that are synonymous with every HARDCORE SUPERSTAR release. However, each song stands on its own as well as complementing the album as a whole, taking the listener through a rollercoaster of snarling riffs, heavy bass lines and relentlessly driving drums, all of which are intertwined with enslaving melodies and Jocke Berg's unmistakeable vocals.

Said the band: "'You Can't Kill My Rock 'N Roll' isn't just a statement of confrontation and rebellion, it's a celebration of everything we love, the music, the lifestyle, this is our religion, it's our choice, and it's everything we believe in."

"You Can't Kill My Rock 'N Roll" track listing:

01. AD/HD

02. Electric Rider

03. My Sanctuary

04. Hit Me Where It Hurts

05. You Can't Kill My Rock 'N Roll

06. The Others

07. Have Mercy On Me

08. Never Cared For Snobbery

09. Baboon

10. Bring The House Down

11. Medicine Man

12. Goodbye

Hagen, Germany based death grind shredders Stillbirth have unleashed their new album Annihilation Of Mankind via Unique Leader. The blistering album shows Stillbirth at their most sickeningly extreme. Get the release here, and find a full album stream below.

Annihilation Of Mankind tracklisting:

"Fictional Entertainment"
"Enemy Of The Enemy"
"Hypnotized By Lies"
"Psychological Manipulation"
"Firststrike"
"Highest Of Malice"
"Torturized"
"Plague Of Warfare"
"Torn Apart"
"Nuclear Stench"
"The Sky Turns Black"
"Annihilation Of Mankind"

Album stream:

"Highest Of Malice" lyric video:

"Psychological Manipulation" lyric video: