It's alive! Inspired by Universal's original cinematic Monsters and the studio that invented the horror film, Universal Studios Hollywood unearths an all-new "Halloween Horror Nights" maze based on the original "Universal Monsters"… with a terrifying contemporary twist on these classic horror icons.

The new maze will also feature an original score produced and composed by celebrated Grammy Award-winning musician and GUNS N' ROSES member Slash, long hailed as one of the 10 best electric guitar players of all time.

"Halloween Horror Nights" begins on Friday, September 14.

At its core, "Halloween Horror Nights" is an extension of the horror film legacy originated by Universal Pictures and introduced to audiences in the 1920s… with a staple of classic Universal Monsters that dominated the silver screen, including "Dracula", "The Phantom Of The Opera", "Frankenstein's Monster" and "The Wolf Man".

"Halloween Horror Nights" continues to pay homage to these creatures of the night in this new maze by reawakening more than a dozen of these iconic classic Monsters. The essence of the maze will underscore each of their unique attributes and reimagine them into terrifying modern-day characters. At a glance, resurrected monsters will include The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, The Phantom Of The Opera, Dracula, Dracula's Bride, Frankenstein's Monster, The Bride Of Frankenstein and The Mummy, to name a few.

By giving each character a unique, complex composition, Slash's original score will add a haunting dimension to the experience and help define each of the characters.

"As a fan of horror movies and of 'Halloween Horror Nights', I jumped at the chance to once again collaborate with Universal Studios Hollywood to produce what might be interpreted as a soundtrack for the maze," said Slash. "Similar to the way music affects a film, I wanted to compose a score for the legions of infamous characters featured in the maze to elicit a greater sense of terror for the guests. In the end, the goal is to ultimately make the guests feel as if they are playing an integral role in a classic Monster movie."

"This maze is the ultimate melding of two of history's greatest icons — classic monsters and the top guitar player of all time," said John Murdy, creative director at Universal Studios Hollywood and executive producer of "Halloween Horror Nights". "Slash's intuitive understanding of the characters' struggles brings enormous depth to the maze to epitomize a living-movie experience for our guests.

"This is the second time we've had the great fortune to collaborate with Slash on a 'Halloween Horror Nights' maze," Murdy continued, "and it is a distinct honor to bring his expertise to the event where guests can enjoy a truly exclusive opportunity."

"Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror. Featuring an all-new slate of unrivaled film production quality mazes, frightful scare zones and a fully re-imagined "Terror Tram" experience uniquely themed to today's most definitive horror properties, "Halloween Horror Nights" will taunt, terrorize and torment guests with spine-chilling haunted attractions as part of Southern California's most extreme Halloween experience.

Only two weeks are left until Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI release their new studio album, "Kulkija" ("Wanderer"), through Nuclear Blast. To celebrate, the band has unleashed the fourth single from the record, titled "Aallon Alla". It's accompanied by a lyric video, including studio material as well as live footage from their latest show at Summer Breeze (Dinkelsbühl, Germany), filmed by WDR's "Rockpalast". Watch it below.

Founding member Jonne Järvelä commented: "The melody of this song was written first, then I added the chords. First there was too much, but then I fixed that by simplifying it as much as possible. The electric guitar plays no riff of any kind, but it's included with the bass only to support the violin, accordion and vocal melodies.

"This song definitely wouldn't work for Yngwie Malmsteen since this is a prime example of a song where less is more. Of course, there is a slight exception to that rule; it has a bit of a progressive part after the first verse, which is also something new and previously unheard on a KORPIKLAANI album. The drum arrangement however is very complicated through the whole song, although it may seem rather simple at first."

About "Aallon Alla" ("Under The Wave"): A song of the drowning one. The lake and the sea are unpredictable. They are the oarsman's grave. No wings or riches are of help when the drowning man falls into waves. The oarsman in the story cannot hear the cry of the drowning one. The waves can sometimes feel safe: they drift you silently towards eternity.

With 14 tracks and a total running time of over 71 minutes, "Kulkija" is the group's longest album to date. Working with producer Janne Saksa for the first time, the album was recorded at Petrax Studio (Hollola, Finland) and mixed at Sound Supreme Studios (Hämeenlinna, Finland). Mastering duties were handled by renowned engineer Svante Forsbäck (RAMMSTEIN). The cover was designed by Jan Yrlund (BATTLE BEAST, MANOWAR), who has already created several artworks for previous albums and singles for the band.

Jonne commented: "We've never been as satisfied with a final result as we are with 'Kulkija'. We tried to keep it very natural. Like the wanderer, this album is a journey, one that makes you feel good."

Accordionist Sami Perttula added: "'Kulkija' isn't just a collection of songs, it's a 'real' album with a unique atmosphere guiding the listeners through a long journey. All songs were well prepared in advance and nothing needed to be arranged in the studio. Tuomas [fiddle] and I had lots of space to develop and play the folk arrangements."

KORPIKLAANI will return to the U.S. for a 25-date tour dubbed "The Wayfarer" in October and November. Russian pagan/folk metallers ARKONA will be joining them as direct support act.

Photo credit: Peero Lakanen

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 first single, "God = Dog". The song's official video was directed by BEHEMOTH's longtime visual collaborators Grupa 13.

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

With the release of the previous two live videos for “Addicted To Pain” and “Words Darker Than Their Wings” from Alter Bridge’s career-defining live release Live At The Royal Albert Hall Featuring The Parallax Orchestra, fans have been patiently waiting for something new from those historical concerts. The band has released another rarity from their catalog, a live performance of “The End Is Here” from their 2004 debut release One Day Remains.

“The End Is Here” is the last song on the album that introduced Alter Bridge to the masses and is a track the band hasn’t performed since their first touring cycle. The live performance from Royal Albert Hall also showcases one of the rare moments in an Alter Bridge concert where frontman Myles Kennedy puts down his guitar and his only instrument is the voice that makes him one of the most recognizable performers in rock music. The video for the track can be seen below, and the audio is available via all streaming partners.

After 14 years performing together, five full-length studio albums, and countless sold-out shows around the globe, there aren’t many items left on a band’s bucket list. For Alter Bridge, one of the remaining list items was crossed off in October 2017 when the band performed two sold-out shows at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall backed by the 52-piece Parallax Orchestra led by conductor Simon Dobson. Those career-defining shows were captured and combined in the upcoming Napalm Records worldwide release Live At The Royal Albert Hall on September 7th. An official video trailer can be found below.

“I think out of all the years of doing this [music], this experience is the top two or three highlights without a doubt. It’s something that none of us are going to forgot,” explains Myles Kennedy in a recently released trailer that can be seen below.

Live At The Royal Albert Hall is a 21-song collection that features some of Alter Bridge’s biggest hits, fan favorites and even a couple of rarities including “Words Darker Than Their Wings” - a song the band had never played live previously. Songs like “Before Tomorrow Comes,” “Ghost Of Days Gone By,” “The Last Hero,” and “Broken Wings” all find new life with the unique arrangements presented by Dobson and the Parallax Orchestra performing alongside the band.

The pre-order for the release is live and fans can order various audio and video configurations including Blu-Ray, DVD, CD and Vinyl as well as other unique bundles with exclusive content. Pre-order various audio and video configurations here, or here. A portion of the proceeds from all sales will go to the Future Song Foundation; an organization that Myles Kennedy is closely involved with.

Live At The Royal Albert Hall tracklisting:
    
"Slip To The Void”               
"Addicted To Pain”               
"Before Tomorrow Comes”           
"The Writing On The Wall”           
"Cry Of Achilles”              
"In Loving Memory”             
"Fortress”                  
"Ties That Bind”              
"The Other Side”               
"Brand New Start”               
"Ghost Of Days Gone By”
"The Last Hero”
"The End Is Here”
"Words Darker Than Their Wings”
"Waters Rising”
"Lover”
"Wonderful Life/Watch Over You”
"This Side Of Fate”
"Broken Wings”
"Blackbird”
"Open Your Eyes”

“Words Darker Than Their Wings” video:

“Addicted To Pain” video:

Trailer:

On September 7th, Eagle Vision will release YES - 50th Anniversary Live At The Apollo on DVD, Blu-ray, 2CD & 3LP. Watch a video for "Roundabout" below.

In 2016, Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman combined their incredible talents and the heritage of Yes to take to the road for a series of concerts celebrating the band’s musical legacy from the seventies to the nineties. YES, featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman brought their live show to the UK in early 2017, including this sell-out performance, captured live at the Manchester Apollo.

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

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

Tracklisting:

Orchestral arr. "Perpetual Change" (Rabin) / "Cinema" (Rabin/Kaye/Squire/White) / "Perpetual Change" (Anderson/Squire)
"Hold On" (Rabin/Anderson/Squire)
"I've Seen All Good People": (i) "Your Move" (ii) "All Good People" (Anderson/Squire)
"Lift Me Up" (Rabin/Squire)
"And You & I" (i) "Cord Of Life" (ii) "Eclipse" (iii) "The Preacher, The Teacher" (iv) "Apocalypse" (Anderson/Bruford/Howe/Squire
"Rhythm Of Love" (Rabin/Anderson/Kaye/Squire/White)
"Heart Of The Sunrise" (Anderson/Bruford/Squire)

(CD Disc 2)

"Changes" (Rabin/Anderson/White)
"Long Distance Runaround" (Anderson) / "The Fish" (Schindleria Praematurus) (Squire)
"Orchestral Shade" (Rabin) / "Awaken" (Anderson/Howe)
"Make It Easy" (Rabin) / "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" (Rabin/Anderson/Howe/Squire)
"Roundabout" (Anderson/Howe)

"Roundabout" video:

"Rhythm Of Love" video:

Trailer:

Lineup:

Jon Anderson (vocals, guitar, harp); Trevor Rabin (guitar, vocals); Rick Wakeman (keyboards)

With Lee Pomeroy (bass) and Lou Molino III (drums)

Audio Mixed By: Paul Linford and Trevor Rabin

Maryland rockers Clutch have unveiled another new track from their forthcoming album Book Of Bad Decisions, out September 7th. Watch the video for the new song, titled "In Walks Barbarella", below.

Fans can get hold of "In Walks Barbarella" as an instant gratification track via Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify.

In addition, a very limited 7” Picture Disc in a transparent PVC pocket will hit stores today. “In Walks Barbarella” is on the red & blue side and previous new single “Hot Bottom Feeder” on the reverse, green side. To order a physical copy of the new single directly from Clutch go to clutchmerch.com.

“In Walks Barbarella” is two stories woven into one. An adult man talks to a boy, maybe his son, about events that occurred 20 years ago. Now add visions of Jane Fonda as Barbarella, ray guns, and tractor beams. It’s one of Book of Bad Decisions’ signature songs and it includes a horn section that truly turns this song into weaponized funk.

Each of the single releases from Book Of Bad Decisions is accompanied by a Spotify playlist put together by one of the band members. This time around Jean-Paul Gaster is responsible for the playlist: “The playlist contains funk songs. I took some of my favourite songs, stuff that was recorded all the way back from the 50s into the 60s and 70s. These are some songs that I find a lot of inspiration from, both in the drumming and the way that the songs are put together.”

As the September 7th release date of “Book of Bad Decisions” approaches, this weekend is the final weekend to purchase Clutch pre-order bundles directly at clutchmerch.com. Bundle sales will close Wednesday, August 29th, and stand-alone items will then be available.

Book Of Bad Decisions was recorded at Sputnik Sound in Nashville, TN by producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather) and consists of 15 new tracks.

The album cover was designed by renowned photographer Dan Winters.

Book Of Bad Decisions tracklisting:

"Gimme The Keys"
"Spirit Of ’76"
"Book Of Bad Decisions"
"How To Shake Hands"
"In Walks Barbarella"
"Vision Quest"
"Weird Times"
"Emily Dickinson"
"Sonic Counselor"
"A Good Fire"
"Ghoul Wrangler"
"HB Is In Control"
"Hot Bottom Feeder"
"Paper & Strife"
"Lorelei"

"Hot Bottom Feeder" video:

"How To Shake Hands" video:

"Gimme The Keys" lyric video:

Trailers:

Clutch recently announced US/Canada fall tour dates for their Book Of Bad Decisions Tour 2018.

Clutch is making the following special offer for this tour: The price of a ticket when purchased in advance online includes a physical CD copy of Clutch's new album Book Of Bad Decisions. Fans will receive information on how to redeem the album after purchasing the advance ticket online. Offer valid through 10/29/18, open to US residents only. Not valid on resale tickets. Offer only valid for Clutch headline dates. Festivals, Canadian headline dates and the October 13th date with System Of A Down are exempt from this offer.

Tickets are on sale at pro-rock.com and facebook.com/clutchband.
 
Supporting the tour will be Sevendust and Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown.

Dates:

September
16 - Chicago IL - Riotfest **
18 - St Paul, MN - Myth Live
19 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
21 - Houston TX - House of Blues
22 - San Antonio TX - River City Rock Fest **
23 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live
25 - Orlando, FL - House Of Blues
27 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
28 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
29 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade *
30 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life **

October
2 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
3 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
5 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
6 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
7 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SODO
8 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
9 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
11 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom
12 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater
13 - San Bernardino, CA - Glen Helen Amphitheater w/SOAD ***
14 - San Diego, CA - North Park/Observatory
15 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
17 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom
18 - Sauget, IL - Pop’s Nightclub
19 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe Live
20 - Detroit, MI - The Filmore Detroit
21 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
23 - Toronto, ON - Rebel
25 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
26 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
27 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
28 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory

* no Sevendust
** festival date / Clutch and festival bill only
*** date with System Of A Down/ no Sevendust

Clutch recently announced that The Picturebooks and The Inspector Cluzo will support the band on their upcoming UK headline dates.

Dates:

December
18 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy
19 - Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy
20 - Manchester, UK - Academy
21 - London, UK - O2 Academy Brixton
22 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy

Clutch:

Neil Fallon - Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult - Guitar
Dan Maines - Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster - Drums/Percussion

Canadian metal maniacs Skull Fist have released a music video for the first single "You Belong To Me", from their much-anticipated third studio album Way Of The Road, which will be out October 26th, via NoiseArt Records (Europe), Napalm Records (North America), and October 24th, 2018 on Spiritual Beast (Asia).

Frontman Zach Slaughter comments: "This is the first record without all of the graphic art, It just felt right to do something a little more real this time around. The sound is more natural, I wanted the cover to be more natural as well. Raw, nothing to hide behind. The songs and lyrics can probably give you an idea on why we choose to present it all like this. We released "You belong to me" first since it's got more of a staple Skull Fist sound. If you've ever stood in a room and been told the walls are red even though you hear that voice of reason sayings its blue then you'll get this track. There's a lot of different extremes in songwriting on this record and I don't think any one song is standout on this thing. I think if you've got the time and are interested in how we see things then just listen to the whole record from start to finish. Do people still sit and listen to albums at this point?"

Watch the video below:

A strong moral compass in battle with even stronger drinks...

When Skull Fist set off their first riffs and deliver their third studio album full of authenticity, honesty and shady lyrics, it feels like drowning in a sea of confusing heavy metal morality. The quartet from Toronto, Canada are locked in a life long struggle with a twist on nostalgic heavy metal and a persistent desire for spiritual glory and personal peace. Relight the fire that was started with the debut record and take another step further with every note and word of the new nine song album Way Of The Road.

With their second album Chasing The Dream from 2014, the young Canadians already proved that the album title said it all and that they didn't allow any throwbacks in their career, even though more and more obstacles seemed to appear in their way. After multiple lineup rotations, a broken neck and frontman Zach Slaughter's vocal cord surgery, it temporarily seemed, as if the Fist itself was a double edged knife.

But resigning has never been an option: "It's been 3 years of surgeries and injections", Zach recalls. "I can sing in the studio but I'm still working towards getting together for live gigs. I think I can hack it though, it's a ton of workout and that's ok. I dug myself into the hole so it's up to me to climb back out of the fucker!"

Obviously, Zach somehow took advantage of this forced break by investing his recovery time into songwriting and the development of new ideas resulting in diverse and lyrically as well as musically ambitious tracks.

Mixed by Eric Ratz, Way Of The Road will see the light of day in October, and for some, the title might sound like a logical sequel to Chasing The Dream. Zach himself sees it as perfect description for the rollercoaster of emotions that had him between disillusionment and hope in the past years: "For me it's a realization that every trait is in you at all times. I guess the balance between compassion and reason. Trying to figure out what is inside your head is a real thought or emotion and what is just social circumstance behavior. I'm just trying to sort out what the flaws are, where they are coming from and how to accept it.”

And although the new album is filled with sing-alongs and passionate anthems, a genuine pain and struggle is omnipresent and seems to find salvation in the music itself: "I think all of the songs are either loosely based on something that happened or was directly motivated by a specific event in the last few years. I'm trying to take stuff that needs to be buried in the ground. Music is a lot of fun to do, but I think it's a solid way to clear up space in my head. Take all the thoughts and emotion I have about it, shove it onto a track and then try to stop thinking about it, turn them into grave markers. Make room for some nice stuff", he laughs.

(Photo - Stefanie Meyer)

Progressive metal pioneers Fates Warning continue promoting their new live album Live Over Europe, recently released via InsideOutMusic worldwide. A new lyric video created by John Kaimakamis and the Nightwatchers for the track “Point Of View“ can be seen below:

Coming up next, Fates Warning will be playing a string of shows in South America:
 
October
9 - Santiago, Chile - Club Subterráneo
11 - Arequipa, Peru - Jarawa / Lima Metal Fest Sideshow
13 - Lima, Peru - Lima Metal Fest III

Unfortunately, due to prior commitments dummer Bobby Jarzombek will not be with the group for these dates, but instead Craig Anderson (Ignite, Crescent Shield) will be filling in during these shows.

To order for Live Over Europe, check here for your format of preference. Or order the 2CD or 3LP (+ 2CD as bonus) from the InsideOutMusic webshop here.

Gathered during the group’s most recent European headlining run for their latest studio album Theories Of Flight in January 2018, Live Over Europe includes recordings from eight different cities (Aschaffenburg, Germany, Belgrade, Serbia, Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece, Rome and Milan, Italy, Budapest, Hungary as well as Ljubljana, Slovenia) and a total of 23 songs in over 138 minutes of playing time, spanning 30 years of the group’s seminal career.

Live Over Europe was mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Kreator, Symphony X) and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden and will be available as limited 2CD Mediabook, Gatefold 3LP + Bonus-2CD or as Digital Album.

Tracklisting:

CD 1:
"From The Rooftops"
"Life In Still Water"
"One"
"Pale Fire"
"Seven Stars"
"SOS"
"Pieces Of Me"
"Firefly"
"The Light And Shade Of Things"
"Wish"
"Another Perfect Day"
"Silent Cries"
"And Yet It Moves"

CD 2:
"Still Remains"
"Nothing Left To Say"
"Acquiescence"
"The Eleventh Hour"
"Point Of View"
"Falling"
"A Pleasant Shade Of Gray, Pt. IX"
"Through Different Eyes"
"Monument"
"Eye To Eye"

“Life In Still Water”

“The Light And Shade Of Things”:

"Firefly":

Unboxing video:

(Photo - Stephanie Cabral)

The Icelandic Viking metal heroes Skálmöld present the first video from their upcoming album Sorgir (eng.: sorrow). Skálmöld, known for their unique sound, taking you with “Sverðið” (eng.: sword) right into one of the four stories full of tragedy and death. But beware, there are two sides! As every story is told from two perspectives, first called “Sagnir” (tales) and second “Svipir” (ghosts), the last four songs of Sorgir will give you a different view of the previous experience.

While Skálmöld are currently playing their sold out shows together with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra (Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands) in their hometown Reykjavík in front of fans from 37 different countries, you can be amongst the first to listen to “Sverðið”.

Skálmöld states: “We are happy to share with you the first single from our album “Sorgir” (“sorrow”). This (quite folky) song is an epic tale of a brave viking fighting a battle and winning against the odds, until his sword brakes in half and he is killed.”

Sorgir is a dark, cold and tragic album dealing with Icelandic myths of superstition, shadows, spectre and despair. Look elsewhere for something light, warm and comforting. Soaring melodies, folk elements and harsh outbursts remind of the chilly beauty of Skálmöld's home country - Iceland, the eternal and awe-inspiring source of inspiration for neck breakers such as "Gangari" and the gripping epic "Mara".

Due for release on October 12th via Napalm Records, the album is available for pre-order in the following formats:

- 1 CD Digipak + Bonus Track
- 2 LP Gatefold in different colors

Tracklisting:

"Ljósið"
"Sverðið"
"Brúnin"
"Barnið"
"Skotta"
"Gangári"
"Móri"
"Mara"

Skálmöld are:

Baldur Ragnarsson - Guitar/Vocals
Björgvin Sigurðsson - Vocals/Guitar
Gunnar Ben - Keyboards/Vocals/Oboe
Jón Geir Jóhannsson - Drums/Vocals
Snæbjörn Ragnarsson - Bass/Vocals
Þráinn Árni Baldvinsson - Guitar/Vocal

(Photo - Gupbi Hannesson)

Hagen, Germany based death grind shredders Stillbirth have unleashed a new lyric video for their song "Highest Of Malice" off of their new album Annihilation Of Mankind which will be released next Friday, August 31st on Unique Leader. The blistering album shows Stillbirth at their most sickeningly extreme. 

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"

"Psychological Manipulation" lyric video:

 

I See What I Became is the impending new full-length from Mirrors For Psychic Warfare, the industrial collaboration between Neurosis' Scott Kelly and Buried At Sea's Sanford Parker. Produced by Seward Fairbury (Corrections House) and Negative Soldier, mastered by Collin Jordan (Eyehategod, Indian, Wovenhand, Voivod), with decibel manipulation by Dave French (Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth, The Anunnaki), the duo's follow-up to 2016's self-titled debut boasts eight tracks of unsettling and unapologetic audio demolition.

In advance of its release, check out the video for "Crooked Teeth", created by Chariot Of Black Moth. Issues producer Seward Fairbury of the clip, "This is exactly the kind of mind disgracing garbage I have come to expect from these two fuckers. It's not nice, so go fuck yourselves this is the real Death Disco."

Tracklisting:

“Animal Coffins”
“Tomb Puncher”
“Body Ash”
“Flat Rats In The Alley”
“Thing Of Knives”
“Crooked Teeth”
“Death Cart”
“Coward Heat”

Trailer:

Leipzig, Germany's Walking Dead On Broadway performed at this year's edition of Wacken Open Air. Pro-shot video of the band's full set can be seen below:

Setlist:

"Haunted "
"Sleeping Titans"
"Last Existence"
"Pitch Black"
"Gospel Of The Kingdom"
"Song Of Courage"

Walking Dead On Broadway will release their third studio album, Dead Era, on September 28th via Long Branch Records. Dead Era is about twitching skeletons in the closet of history, which ultimately never were dead. Dead Era is a synonym for their musical evolution because of the deathcore roots of the band. This chapter will be closed with this album.

Pre-order Dead Era here, and watch a video for the album track "Gospel Of The Kingdom" below.

Tracklisting:

"Dead Era"
"Red Alert"
"Hostage To The Empire"
"Our Labour, Our Idol, Our Pride"
"Punish The Poor"
"Gospel Of The Kingdom"
"Song Of Courage"
"The Fire Never Lies"
"Anti-Partisan"
"Standstill"
"Dead End Utopia"
"Your God Is A Tyrant"
"Benevolent Warfare"

"Gospel Of The Kingdom" video:

"Hostage To The Empire" video:

Find the band's tour itinerary here.

Lineup:

Nils Richber - Vocals
Michael Kalusche - Guitars
Maximilian Kette - Guitars
Kevin Klemm - Bass
Stephan Hoffmann - Drums

Light The Torch (formerly known as Devil You Know) performed their debut live show at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY on July 9th. The full set can now be seen below:

Light The Torch will be touring with Trivium and Avatar in October and November.

October
3 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz Ybor
4 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theater
5 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
6 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
8 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
9 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
11 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
12 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
13 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
14 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
16 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
17 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
19 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
20 - Sauget, IL - Pop's Nightclub
21 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
22 - St. Paul, MN - Myth Live
23 - Fargo, ND - Sanctuary
25 - Edmonton, AB - The Ranch Roadhouse
26 - Calgary, AB - The Palace Theater
28 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
29 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SODO
30 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
31 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory

November
2 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
3 - Berkeley, CA - UC Theatre

The Man Who Loves To Hurt Himself, the powerful documentary film about Today Is The Day's Steve Austin, will see official release through global entertainment distribution operation Gravitas Ventures on August 28th. Watch a new clip from the film below.

Steve Austin, whose noise-laden, experimental and fiercely aggressive musical output over two decades has served as testimony, touched hearts and myriad troubled lives. Not many people can say they have so fully dedicated themselves to what they love and believe as Steve Austin has. To many, he defines the word "legend." The loose but subdued methodical subtlety of the movie stands in sharp contrast to an artist known in the worldwide underground of extreme music for abrasive, loud, chaotic spectacle and neo-violent imagery through a slow, brooding and emotional ninety-three minutes that covers a year of conversations and ride-a-longs with the casual aesthetic of natural conversation supported by raw grainy fan shot footage, old pictures, personal home videos, career spanning amulets, in a self-examination of the psyche of a modern-day "madman" and "master." Ride along as Austin's first-person account brings balance to these opposing forces, reckoning and stretching himself from the drive to create his musical vision, engaging and performing intense shows around the world, to being home with his wife and children. How one near-death experience led him to connect with the love of his life and begin the transition, fulfilling his destiny as a loving family man while completing his mission to bring relief his followers, and overcome being the man who loves to hurt himself.

The Man Who Loves To Hurt Himself is not your typical music documentary, but rather a film that focuses on the story of the artist himself, and what it means to express yourself on an existential level no matter what the cost. The trailer for this film on YouTube had over twenty-thousand hits within three months of being posted and has received a wide array of awards through its screenings at various international film festivals over the past year.

Gravitas Ventures is releasing The Man Who Loves To Hurt Himself on DVD and across all video on demand and digital platforms beginning on August 28th. Pre-orders can be placed at iTunes here. Barnes & Noble DVD pre-orders here and Blu-ray here.

See the trailer for The Man Who Loves To Hurt Himself below:

Fifth Angel recently put the finishing touches on their first new album in almost 30 years The Third Secret, which will be released on October 26th. The album features the incredible talents of guitarist and lead vocalist Kendall Bechtel, bassist John Macko and drummer and backing vocalist Ken Mary.

Says bassist John Macko, “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.” Adds lead vocalist and guitarist Kendall Bechtel, “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!”

Today the band reveals the album cover artwork, created by  Zsofia Dankova as well as the tracklisting.

Tracklisting:

"Stars Are Falling"
"We Will Rise"
"Queen Of Thieves"
"Dust To Dust"
"Can You Hear Me"
"This Is War"
"Fatima"
"Third Secret"
"Shame On You"
"Hearts Of Stone"

Fifth Angel will release their first digital single and lyric video for “Can You Hear Me” on September 7th. Also on that day will the the start of the album pre-order.

Lineup:

Ken Mary - drums
John Macko - bass
Kendall Bechtel - vocals, guitars

Finnish melodic metallers SoulHealer have released a lyric video for "Fly Away", featured on the band's upcoming album Up From The Ashes, out on September 14th via Rockshots Records. Find the clip below.

SoulHealer play traditional heavy and power metal with no compromises, with an old fashioned attitude to the 80's blended with a modern metal sound. Catchy lyrics and unforgettable guitar riffs will deliver a perfect record to both the 80's lovers and the new listeners looking for great melodies and easy-to-remember songs.

Tracklisting:

“Up From The Ashes”
“Through Fire And Ice”
“Fly Away”
“Sins Of My Father”
“Prepare For War”
“Pitch Black”
“The Final Judgement”
“Behind Closed Doors”
“Am I In Hell”
“Land Of The Free”

“Fly Away” lyric video:

"The Final Judgement":

Finland's Arion will release their new album, Life Is Not Beautiful, on October 19th via AFM Records. Pre-order the album here, and watch a video for the single "Unforgivable" below.

The idea for symphonic metal band Arion was hatched in the fall of 2011 in the famed music school Sibelius Lukio in Helsinki, where drummer Topias Kupiainen and keyboardist Arttu Vauhkonen got together with guitar whiz kid Iivo Kaipainen. In short order, the threesome found bass player Georgi Velinov and vocalist Viljami Holopainen to round out the band.

Musically astonishingly accomplished, the newcomers raised some serious waves right off the bat in January 2013 when they debuted their debut song “Lost”, a symphonic metal gem in its own right, on television, participating in Finnish television’s UMK song contest.

Soon enough the 17–18 year old teen prodigies’ exceptionally impressive musical chops caught the attention of Mr. Riku Pääkkönen, the owner of Ranka Kustannus and the mastermind behind the overnight success stories of Children Of Bodom, Nightwish, Sonata Arctica and several others. In May 2013 Arion signed a recording deal with Ranka and entered the studio to record their debut EP New Dawn. New Dawn was released in November 2013 the same year to critical acclaim, while the band was already forging one of the most jaw-dropping metal debuts in Finland ever, Last Of Us.

There’s probably no other nation as vigilant for melodic metal music as Japan, where the love for beauty and aesthetics has blanketed all sorts of art for millennia. The Japanese are famous for their appetite for power metal, so, as crazy as it might sound, it shouldn’t even surprise anyone that Arion played their first concerts in Tokyo and Nagoya already before releasing their debut album. Ergo, it’s only fitting that Arion became one of those ultra-rare European artists whose debut album was released in Japan before its domestic release. Grandiose yet heartfelt, Last Of Us still stands as a one of a kind jewel in its genre, an album that hasn’t lost one iota of its splendour since the day of its release in July 2014.

A year later, in August 2015, singer Viljami Holopainen amicably left the band stating that his heart lies in other kind of music, and the band announced their new singer, Lassi Vääränen. In March 2016 Vääränen’s mettle was tested and proven worthy with his recording debut as a member of Arion on the explosive duet “At The Break Of Dawn” with Elize Ryd of Amaranthe fame. To date “At The Break Of Dawn” still is in heavy radio rotation in the nationwide Finnish Radio Rock and stands as the most streamed Arion song across all digital platforms.

After three more powerhouse singles; the thought-provoking "Unforgivable”, the heartrending ballad “Through Your Falling Tears” and the clarion call “No One Stands In My Way”, scattered through the next 2.5 years bring us now to the brink of release of Arion’s sophomore album Life Is Not Beautiful. And as potent the singles quadrilogy is, Life Is Not Beautiful is much more than a hit singles compilation. No, we would venture to claim that songs such as the in-your-face “Punish You” and the bombastic, melodic bullet train of “The Last Sacrifice”, lest we forget the album’s closing statement “Life Is Not Beautiful”, will squish some rivalling songwriters’ self-confidence for years to come.

Crafted every bit as meticulously as its predecessor, Life Is Not Beautiful is Arion’s declaration of independence. On their debut largely guided by their kind colleagues Matias Kupiainen (Stratovarius) and Jani Liimatainen (The Dark Element, Cain’s Offering), Arion now proudly demonstrate the next level in their musical progress and band leader Iivo Kaipainen’s newly found lyrical prowess.

World of metal beware! Arion are not the curiosity of a band of green-horned teenager prodigies anymore. Having faced just the right amount of adversity to gel as a band and improved in leaps and bounds, Arion are not just able - they’re ready and raring to go.

Tracklisting:

"The End Of The Fall"
"No One Stands In My Way"
"At The Break Of Dawn" (Feat. Elize Ryd)
"The Last Sacrifice"
"Through Your Falling Tears"
"Unforgivable"
"Punish You"
"Life Is Not Beautiful"
"Last One Falls"

"Unforgivable" video:

Lineup:

Lassi Vääränen (Vocals)
Iivo Kaipainen (Guitars)
Arttu Vauhkonen (Keyboards)
Georgi Velinov (Bass)
Topias Kupianen (Drums)

Greek black metallers Lucifer's Child will release their second studio album The Order on November 9th via Agonia Records. The band, featuring members of Rotting Christ, Nightfall and Chaostar, recorded eight new songs clad in artwork by Daniele Valeriani (Dark Funeral, Dissection, Mayhem).

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

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

Tracklisting:

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

Album formats:

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

Pre-orders will be announced soon.

Lineup:

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

On Sunday, October 7, Vicky Cornell and the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) will celebrate Seattle's son, music icon and late Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Chris Cornell, with the public unveiling of a commemorative statue. Following the unveiling, footage of SOUNDGARDEN's performance at The Wiltern, captured by the Artist Den, will be screened inside MoPOP's Sky Church.

Since announcing plans for the statue, MoPOP and the Cornell family have received an overwhelming response from the community wanting to honor Chris's life. The decision was made to move the statue unveiling from Wednesday, August 29 to Sunday, October 7 to accommodate crowds.

The life-size bronze statue was commissioned and donated to MoPOP by the late musician's wife, Vicky Cornell. The statue sculpted by artist Nick Marras showcases the rock legend in one of his iconic poses with his signature boots, dog tag, layers and long locks.

"As an artist, my husband was not only one of the greatest voices in rock history but also one of the greatest and most prolific poets of his time- his contribution to music birthed a movement that would leave an indelible mark on popular music forever. It only makes sense that I donate this statue to MoPop with their dedication to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary popular culture," said Vicky Cornell. "Like my husband and his music, MoPop reaches multigenerational audiences, and this is the perfect place where people near and far can come together to not only support the museum and its programs, but also celebrate the legacy that my husband left behind, not only in Seattle but around the world."

"MoPOP is honored to receive this gift from Vicky Cornell and pay tribute to one of the most powerful and important voices in popular music," says Jasen Emmons, artistic director, MoPOP. "MoPOP serves to celebrate the Seattle music scene and the luminaries who have emerged from the Northwest and Chris was a key figure who has made a lasting impact on generations worldwide."

Vicky and MoPOP invite the community to attend the statue unveiling and RSVP to attend the screening. Both events are free to the public. Space is limited for the screening.

Sunday, October 7, 2018

5:30 p.m.: Public Statue Unveiling

Speakers will include representatives from Cornell family, MoPOP and special guests

6 p.m.: Members of SOUNDGARDEN host special screening of "Live From The Artist's Den: Soundgarden" filmed at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, California.

RSVP Required

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Statue unveiling will take place on the northwest corner of 5th Avenue N and Thomas Street

Screening will take place in MoPOP's Sky Church

The event is free and open to the public.

RSVP is required to attend the screening: MoPOP.org/ChrisCornell

All ages. 21+ to drink.

Cornell was pronounced dead on May 18, 2017 after being found unresponsive in his Detroit hotel room the previous night. SOUNDGARDEN had played a show earlier that evening.

The 52-year-old had sedatives and an anxiety drug in his system on the night he died by hanging himself. According to a completed toxicology report released by Michigan's Wayne County Medical Examiner, the drugs didn't contribute to the cause of death.

In addition to SOUNDGARDEN, Cornell sang with AUDIOSLAVE and TEMPLE OF THE DOG, while also recording four solo studio albums and one live set on his own.

WAR OF THRONES's official music video for the song "Savior" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's debut album, "Conflict In Creation", which was released in March via Sonic Night Music Club. The disc was recorded and mixed by James Fox at Sweet Spot Studio in Seminole, Florida and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, ARMORED SAINT, FAITH NO MORE) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California.

Forged in steel, WAR OF THRONES was formed when vocalist Wade Black and virtuoso guitarist Rick Renstrom joined forces in 2012. Previously, the two had worked together in LEASH LAW, releasing "Dogface" in 2005.


Wade is no stranger to metal. For more than two decades, he has thrilled audiences worldwide, fronting such metal bands as CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES and LEATHERWOLF. Rick entered the scene in 2000, joining vocalist Rob Rock's touring and recording band. Having toured around the world, Rick's incredible and inspiring guitar playing has been witnessed by thousands of people.

WAR OF THRONES' lineup is rounded out by bass player Rich Marks (VIVALDI METAL PROJECT) and former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN drummer Patrick Johansson.


WAR OF THRONES has shared the stage with such bands as KAMELOT, DROWNING POOL, ANVIL and MUSHROOMHEAD.

CATTLE DECAPITATION will play two special shows in Southern California next week supporting NAPALM DEATH, at San Diego's Brick By Brick and Los Angeles' Teragram Ballroom. The performances serve as a precursor to the band's month-long North American tour this fall supporting SUFFOCATION. The journey runs from October 21 through November 17. Additional support will be provided by KRISIUN and SOREPTION.


Currently working on the follow-up to 2015's "The Anthropocene Extinction" album, CATTLE DECAPITATION has officially welcomed guitarist Belisario Dimuzio (EUKARYST) and bassist Olivier Pinard (CRYPTOPSY) to its ranks.

Comments the band: "We're pleased to announce the new lineup that will appear on our next album, due out in fall 2019!

"Many of you who have come to our shows in the past couple of years have seen that we have had a second guitarist on stage with us for the first time in the band's existence. We proudly welcome Belisario Dimuzio from San Diego's EUKARYST as a full-time member, and he will appear on the next album. We are also happy to announce Olivier Pinard (CRYPTOPSY) as our new bassist, who will be appearing on our next album as well. Oli has filled in on shows with us in the past. The chemistry we have with both him and Bel is undeniable, and we're excited to have them with us.

"Be sure to keep an eye out for CRYPTOPSY's next release entitled 'The Book Of Suffering: Tome 2'. Also, be on the lookout for a huge announcement coming in September regarding a super-cool CATTLE DECAPITATION release that has been in the works for a decade now. It's an exciting time for the DECAP!"

"The Anthropocene Extinction" came out in August 2015 via Metal Blade. The CD was once again helmed by Dave Otero (ALLEGAEON, CEPHALIC CARNAGE), who worked on 2012's "Monolith Of Inhumanity".


Photo by Pablo Montano

On October 19, Canadian guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer Aldo Nova will release his first new album release in over three decades. Titled "2.0" (Megaforce), it's a collection of supercharged reinventions of six classic songs off his self-titled smash debut, plus one new original, "I'm A Survivor", initially written for FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm.


"2.0" stands as a testament to the extraordinary integrity and continuing imagination of an uncompromising artist who would only make his comeback on his terms. "I thought, 'I'm gonna become visible again when I have something to say, and when I have something that's good enough that I can present it to my fans,'" Nova says. "Because that's always been my priority."


The idea for "2.0" was set in motion in late 2016. "When I turned 60, I told myself I was going to turn the page," Nova says. "I realized I had to shut the book and write a completely new book." He wanted to celebrate his debut's 35th anniversary in some fashion, but rather than simply remaster and reissue the album, he thought to "bring the songs into the 22nd century." He was sober, calm, confident, full of faith and in the best shape of his life. As it turned out, the angst, ego and hunger of his younger days were overrated.


A Montreal native, Nova was approached by a 15-year-old Celine Dion to producer her first album, and released "Blood On The Bricks" on Jon Bon Jovi's Jambco label in 1991. It stood as the culmination of a long-running friendship and, as any knowledgeable rock fan might argue, a thank-you note of sorts: the rock superstar lifting up the personal hero whose sound provided the blueprint for his own hits.


Nova provided guitar, keys and background vocals for the demo of BON JOVI's first hit, "Runaway", and ended up playing with an assemblage of session musicians throughout BON JOVI's 1984 self-titled debut. Nova's imprint is also all over Jon Bon Jovi's debut solo album, "Blaze Of Glory" — especially the chart-topping title track, on which Nova's writing and producing went uncredited but were absolutely essential.


"Blood On The Bricks" was released alongside "Smells Like Teen Spirit", and the landscape changed completely. "NIRVANA was amazing," he says. "Just the way Kurt Cobain could rip his own soul out when he sang."


Over the next three decades, Nova's journey would take him through great professional highs and painful personal lows, and eventually into self-discovery and spiritual contentment. He decided again to focus on his roles as a writer, producer and session musician, capitalizing on the goodwill he'd generated in the industry to put food on the table for his family.


During the '90s and 2000s, in addition to tracks for popular foreign-language artists, Nova collaborated with Carole King, Jon Bon Jovi, Faith Hill and Clay Aiken (he co-wrote his hit "This Is the Night"), and did hugely successful work with Celine Dion. In 1997, Nova won a Grammy for Dion's blockbuster album "Falling Into You" and co-produced/co-wrote later Dion singles like the global smash "A New Day Has Come" and "You And I", the latter chosen as Hillary Clinton's campaign song in 2008.


Canadian music-industry bigwig Paola Simonetto became the love of Nova's life, as well as his advocate and catalyst. Simonetto continues to inspire and support Nova, though not from this earthly plane. "During the time that I was working on '2.0', my wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer," he explains. "I managed to finish the album right before she passed away on Christmas Day. I still was able to take care of every doctor's appointment, every chemo treatment. I was cooking and cleaning and at night I worked on my album.


"She always had very good ears. She gave me a lot of pointers on what to do with the music and what not to do," he continues. "She was a big part of why '2.0' sounds as good as it does."


"With '2.0', my goal has already been achieved, as far as I'm concerned," Nova says. "I wanted to beat the 1.0 to death. The second thing is to reintroduce my music to the old fans, and play to a new generation of fans who just developed an interest. I don't think that young generation has heard music like this ever before. I'm on top of my game now. I'm ready for it."


"2.0" track listing


01. Fantasy 2.0

02. Ball and Chain 2.0

03. Heart to Heart 2.0

04. It's Too Late 2.0

05. Can't Stop Lovin' You 2.0

06. Foolin' Yourself 2.0

07. I'm a Survivor

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Former LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist Ed King died Wednesday. He was 68 years old. Although a cause of death has not yet been revealed, he had been reportedly been battling lung cancer and had recently been hospitalized.

King's family confirmed his passing on his Facebook page. They wrote: "It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018. We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career."

LYNYRD SKYNYRD founder Gary Rossington said he was "shocked and saddened" by King's passing. "Ed was our brother, and a great songwriter and guitar player," he wrote. "I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in rock and roll heaven. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sharon and his family."

King — known for co-writing LYNYRD SKYNYRD's classic song "Sweet Home Alabama" — was also a founding member of '60s psychedelic band STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006 as a member of LYNYRD SKYNYRD. King performed on the band's first three albums — "Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd" (1973), 1974's "Second Helping" (1974) and "Nuthin' Fancy" (1975). He played with LYNYRD SKYNYRD from 1972 to 1975, and again from 1987 to 1996.

AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler has explained his decision to take Donald Trump to task once again for using AEROSMITH's songs at his rallies. On Tuesday (August 21), during his appearance at West Virginia's Charleston Civic Center, AEROSMITH's "Livin' On The Edge" was blasted through the arena as the crowd filed in. Tyler's attorney has in turn sent a "cease and desist" letter to the White House accusing the President of willful infringement in broadcasting the song. The singer is citing the Lanham Act, which states that trademark infringement can occur if the use of a song by a politician is likely to create confusion in the marketplace that the musician endorses the politician, especially if this association harms the musician's reputation (referred to as "dilution by tarnishment").

Tyler denied that his move was politically biased, writing in a tweet: "This is not about Dems vs. Repub. I do not let anyone use my songs without my permission. My music is for causes, not for political campaigns or rallies. Protecting copyright and songwriters is what I've been fighting for even before this current administration took office."

He added in a separate tweet: "This is one of the reasons why [AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry] and i have been pushing the senate to pass the Music Modernization Act," referring to a bill that could ensure digital music services pay fair royalties to rights holders while giving streaming companies certainty, legal protection and more efficient payment tools

"No is a complete sentence," he concluded.

Back in 2015, Trump and Tyler butted heads over the same issue when AEROSMITH's 1973 classic "Dream On" was used at Trump rallies, in which Tyler formally pressed the campaign to stop using his songs as it violated his copyright. BMI eventually squashed the issue by pulling the performance rights for the song. There is no word as to whether Tyler will demand the rights to "Livin' On The Edge" — which is administered through ASCAP — to also be pulled.

Tyler is reportedly a registered Republican and attended the first GOP debate back in August 2015.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT DEMS VS. REPUB. I DO NOT LET ANYONE USE MY SONGS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. MY MUSIC IS FOR CAUSES NOT FOR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS OR RALLIES. PROTECTING COPYRIGHT AND SONGWRITERS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR EVEN BEFORE THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TOOK OFFICE.— Steven Tyler (@IamStevenT) August 22, 2018



THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY @JOEPERRY AND I HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE SENATE TO PASS THE MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT.

NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE.— Steven Tyler (@IamStevenT) August 22, 2018

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman will release a new live album, "One Bad M.F. Live!!", on October 19 via via Prosthetic Records.

A track from the disc, "Whiteworm", can be streamed below.

"One Bad M.F. Live!!" was recorded at the final concert of Friedman's most recent tour, on April 14 at "Guitarfest 2018", which was held at Centro Cultural Roberto Cantoral in Mexico City.

"This live album is a tip of the hat to the live albums that blew my mind when I was a kid," explains Friedman. "The musical content itself is modern and atomic-powered, but the presentation is decidedly old school. The pacing of the show, the audience participation stuff, the special live arrangements of the songs, these are the things that got me all jacked up as a kid. I like to give the audience the feeling that they are really getting something unique, something that only happens at their show, not just a recital of the songs exactly as they know them. There are lots of happy accidents, once-in-a-lifetime ad libs, things that could have only happened because we were high on that particular audience's energy."


"One Bad M.F. Live!!" was recorded on the tour in support of Friedman's latest solo album, "Wall Of Sound", which was released in August 2017 on Prosthetic Records, and debuted on Billboard's Heatseekers chart at No. 12.

"I've had albums that have charted higher, sold more, and got more attention over my career," says Friedman, "but 'Wall Of Sound' is the album I've been striving to make ever since I picked up a guitar. I have an almost unhealthy amount of pride towards that album. The thrill I get from playing the 'Wall Of Sound' stuff live is something that I wanted documented, and that's what 'One Bad M.F. Live!!' is."

Joining Friedman on "One Bad M.F. Live!!" are his bandmates Kiyoshi on bass, Jordan Ziff on guitar and Chargeeee on drums.

Friedman will celebrate the release of the disc with an October 21 show at The Viper Room in Los Angeles. A full U.S. tour will take place in 2019.

"One Bad M.F. Live!!" track listing:

01. Street Demon

02. Elixir

03. Amagi Goe

04. Inferno

05. Self Pollution

06. Devil Take Tomorrow

07. Mutation Medley (featuring "Asche zu Asche", "My Oh My", "Forbidden City", "Tornado Of Souls")

08. Ripped

09. Whiteworm

10. Undertow

11. Dragon Mistress

12. Kaeritakunatta Yo

"Wall Of Sound" was produced by Friedman, engineered by Paul Fig (GHOST, RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS) and mixed by Jens Bogren (KREATOR, OPETH, SEPULTURA). The disc was recorded in part at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in California and was previously described by Friedman as "a way more intense version" of 2014's "Inferno": "deeper, sadder, happier and more aggressive."

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

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

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

"View To A Thrill" track listing:

01. U Only Live Twice

02. Sky Falling

03. Malibu

04. One In A Million

05. Double Shot

06. Secrets To Tell

07. Not Killin’ Me

08. Dangerous Thing

09. I'm A Ratt

10. From The Inside

11. Violator

Pearcy's solo band:

Stephen Pearcy - Lead Vocals

Erik Ferentinos - Guitars, Back-Up Vocals, Keys

Matt Thorne - Bass, Keys, Back-Up Vocals

Scot Coogan - Drums

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

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

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

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

Track listing:

01. In The Name Of

02. Ijime, Dame, Zettai

03. Gimme Chocolate!!

04. Doki Doki ☆ Morning

05. Akatsuki

06. Gj!

07. Syncopation

08. Meta Taro

09. No Rain, No Rainbow

10. Song 4

11. Megitsune

12. Karate

13. Road Of Resistance

14. Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!

15. Babymetal Death

16. The One (English version)

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

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

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

Photo courtesy of earMUSIC