California heavy rockers HIGH ON FIRE have released the title track of their upcoming album, "Electric Messiah", via NPR. The disc will be issued on October 5 via Entertainment One (eOne).

"I had a dream about Lemmy," says HIGH ON FIRE frontman Matt Pike, explaining the inspiration behind the title of the band's new album. "When Lemmy was still alive, I always got compared to Lemmy, so I had this dream where he got pissed at me. He gave me a bunch of shit, basically, and was hazing me. Not that he didn't approve of me, but like I was being hazed. The song is me telling the world that I could never fill Lemmy's shoes because Lemmy's Lemmy. I wanted to pay homage to him in a great way. And it turned out to be such a good title that the guys said we should call the album 'Electric Messiah'."

"Electric Messiah" reunites the band with producer Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, TORCHE, KVELERTAK) for the third time. "Kurt just has a knack for us, man," Pike says. "We all work really well with him. Even if we have differences about how we want to record something, he works with us and understands what we do. We've been sticking with him because we haven't made a bad record with him yet."

It feels absurd to think that this late into their career HIGH ON FIRE has hit a new career peak, but that's what happens when you have a trio that works this well together. For all of Ballou's sonic wizardry, "Electric Messiah" is all about the evolution of Pike, Des Kensel and Jeff Matz.

"This band keeps evolving," Pike enthuses. "This is by far the best record I've ever made with the HIGH ON FIRE stamp. It just keeps getting better and better. We just try to outdo ourselves. I'm not saying the old work is progressively worse, it's just that we get better every time instead of burning out, which is a common finality for a lot of bands. This album is fucking excellent. I just love everything on it; I'm not bummed about anything. It's great when you think that about your record."

"Electric Messiah" track listing:

01. Spewn From The Earth

02. Steps Of The Ziggurat/House Of Enlil

03. Electric Messiah

04. Sanctioned Annihilation

05. The Pallid Mask

06. God Of The Godless

07. Freebooter

08. The Witch And The Christ

09. Drowning Dog

Photo credit: Jen Rosenstein

Wargaming — the company behind free-to-play titles World Of Tanks (2010), World Of Warplanes (2013) and World Of Warships (2015) — recently announced that IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson is hosting 10 online educational warplanes diaries. This free-to-view series is being released weekly on the World Of Warplanes official portal and YouTube channel across June, July and August, alongside an exclusive World Of Warplanes video tribute to the classic IRON MAIDEN song "Aces High".

As an avid enthusiast of military aviation, pilot, and supporter of World Of Warplanes' dedication to historical accuracy, Bruce has recorded "The Bruce Dickinson Warplanes Diaries" about the classic WW2 fighter and bomber aircraft such as the Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109. As an extra treat for MAIDEN and Warplanes fans, World Of Warplanes have created, with many of the graphics from their in-game engine and some classic archive footage, a tribute video clip to the epic "Aces High" music video. Featuring many of the Battle Of Britain planes that Bruce profiles in the series, viewers can see the machines really brought to life.

"We are all delighted that Bruce has brought his enthusiasm and expertise to World Of Warplanes with these informative videos which he has delivered in his own inimitable style," commented Wargaming's global marketing director, Al King. "As well as the diaries and the 'Aces High' tribute, we are also introducing a renovated hangar subtly branded with iconic IRON MAIDEN imagery. It's unlike anything the game’s ever had before and we hope MAIDEN fans will have fun spotting the various Easter eggs hidden throughout!"

Dickinson's eighth video sees him talking about the Spitfire, British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other allied countries before, during and after World War II.

On August 10, German a cappella metal band VAN CANTO will release its seventh studio album, "Trust In Rust", via Napalm Records. The official video for the song "Neverland" can be seen below.

Since 2006, they have brought pure vocal power to the metal world. Now made up of seven members, VAN VANTO's "Trust In Rust" covers a wide stylistic range, from melodic to bombastic, showcasing the band's takes on ballads, hard rock ballbreakers and speed metal anthems. Covers, ranging from HELLOWEEN's "Ride The Sky" (featuring HELLOWEEN's Kai Hansen) to AC/DC's "Hells Bells", give listeners a completely fresh glimpse at the vocal crew. The sound of "Trust In Rust" reflects VAN CANTO's varied experiences on the road with unbroken power and passion for the human voice in heavy metal.

VAN VANTO comments on the new album: "If you release seven albums in 12 years, you aren't able to rust. Nevertheless, the new album is rougher and more metal. It's a composite work of all seven bandmembers, full of new ideas but without losing the good old VAN CANTO style. We are still excited about what we are doing and believe in ourselves — 'Trust in Rust'!"


"Trust In Rust" track listing:

01. Back In The Lead

02. Javelin

03. Trust In Rust

04. Ride The Sky (feat. Kai Hansen)

05. Melody

06. Neverland

07. Desert Snake

08. Darkest Days

09. Infinity

10. Hells Bells

11. Heading Home

CD 2: Best Of - Orchestral Versions (available in the digipack)

01. The Mission (Orchestral Version)

02. Rain (Orchestral Version)

03. Hero (Orchestral Version)

04. Take To The Sky (Orchestral Version)

05. Water Fire Heaven Earth (Orchestral Version)

06. My Voice (Orchestral Version)

07. If I Die In Battle (Orchestral Version)

08. The Higher Flight (Orchestral Version)

09. Unholy (Orchestral Version)

10. The Other Ones (Orchestral Version)

American power trio PRONG has released a lyric video for the song "However It May End", created by TheCutCartel in Toronto, Canada. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Zero Days", which was released in July 2017 via Steamhammer/SPV. The disc was once again produced by PRONG mainman Tommy Victor, with trusted collaborator Chris Collier as co-producer and engineer.

Victor said about the song and the video: "Hey, PRONG has a new lyric video for the song 'However It May End' from our 'Zero Days' album. I threw some Eastern philosophical ideas in with a Western doomsday outlook for the concept of the song. The video depicts the transcendence with violence. It came out great; check it out!"

PRONG is continuing to tour in support of "Zero Days". After a solid year of shows with the likes of TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, SEPULTURA and EXODUS, as well as having key slots on the European summer festival circuit in 2017, the band recently completed a headline run with POWERFLO and a highly coveted, co-headline run with HELMET.

Last month, Victor told the "Thunder Underground" podcast that he has already begun working on material for the follow-up to "Zero Days".

SIEGE OF POWER's music video for the song "Mushroom Cloud Altar" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's debut album, "Warning Blast", which will be released on September 7 via Metal Blade.

SIEGE OF POWER comments: "'Mushroom Cloud Altar' is a more punky track on the album 'Warning Blast'. Straight-forward D-Beat DISCHARGE without blah blah!"

"Warning Blast" track listing:

01. Conquest For What?

02. For The Pain

03. Bulldozing Skulls

04. Born Into Hate

05. Torture Lab

06. Uglification

07. Trapped And Blinded

08. Diatribe

09. Warning Blast

10. Mushroom Cloud Altar

11. Lost And Insane

12. Bleeding For The Cause

13. Escalation 'Til Extermination

14. Privileged Prick

15. Short Fuse

16. Violence In The Air

17. It Will Never Happen

18. The Cold Room

SIEGE OF POWER started in 2013 as a project without any expectations. Shortly after releasing a split album, it was left for dead, buried and almost forgotten until the rotten corpse was exhumed in 2017. This resulted in a no-nonsense extreme metal album mixed with several doomdozers. Influences vary from CARNIVORE and STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH to DISCHARGE and AMEBIX, done in their own style.

SIEGE OF POWER is:

* Chris Reifert (AUTOPSY, VIOLATION WOUND, ABSCESS, PAINTED DOLL) - Vocals

* Paul Baayens (ASPHYX, HAIL OF BULLETS, THANATOS) - Guitars

* Theo van Eekelen (HAIL OF BULLETS, HOUWITSER, GRAND SUPREME BLOOD COURT) - Bass

* Bob Bagchus (ASPHYX, SOULBURN, GRAND SUPREME BLOOD COURT) - Drums

Comments Chris Reifert on the Metal Blade signing: "Well, this is pretty fucking cool. Metal Blade was one of the early metal labels I discovered as a young teenager while questing for the next heavy thing and I discovered tons of bands through their regular album and EP releases as well as the highly influential 'Metal Massacre' series. My history with MB is deep, whether they know it or not and here we are now working together at last. Hell yeah!"

Bob Bagchus: "The name Metal Blade is metal magic to me. Always has been since my early pubic years. Names such as METALLICA, SLAYER, TROUBLE, HALLOWS EVE are as strongly connected to Metal Blade as to my childhood when I first got into metal. Being signed by them with SIEGE OF POWER is a great feeling and perhaps the crown of my 'musical' career!"

Photo credit: Martijn Peters

FOREIGNER received a little help from local students in the Stevens High School choir when the band performed Saturday night (August 4) at The Sturgis Buffalo Chip in Sturgis, South Dakota.

The legendary rockers were joined on stage by the high school choir during one of the band's biggest hits, "I Want To Know What Love Is".

Although FOREIGNER had played the largest stage at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally before, this was the group's first appearance with a choir. In addition, FOREIGNER's current lineup was expanded with the addition of several other original members — singer Lou Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood, multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald along with longtime bassist Rick Wills.

FOREIGNER has announced four more concerts featuring all current bandmembers plus the original bandmembers who helped to put the iconic group on the map more than forty years ago. Dubbed "Double Vision: Then And Now", the shows are November 9 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California; November 10 at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California; November 30 at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and December 1 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

"Time has healed a lot, so onwards and upwards," Gramm recently told Rapid City Journal of the renewed friendship he has with his former bandmates.

"We just go out there and have a lot of fun," guitarist Mick Jones, who is the sole remaining founding member in FOREIGNER's current lineup. told the Daily Herald. "The old members love it. Lou and our present singer, Kelly Hansen, get along like a house on fire… In the end, both Lou and Kelly really respect each other's vocal ability. You know, they push each other on. It's great to see it; I'm so happy. Because what Lou and I did together, it's a separate entity in a way, but to be able to look back and to see actually how much we did achieve together, I think it's been really great for that recognition."

The reunion shows come on the heels of the 40th anniversary of FOREIGNER's best-selling album, "Double Vision".

Canadian metal trio Cauldron are streaming "Never Be Found", a track from their new album New Gods, out September 7th through The End Records (North America) and Dissonance Productions (Europe). Listen

For the follow up to their critically-acclaimed 2016 album In Ruin, Jason Decay (lead vocals/bass), Ian Chains (guitar) and Myles Deck (drums) together with producer Chris Stringer (Timber Timbre, Wooden Sky) honed and recorded the songs at Union Sound in Toronto for what would become New Gods.

New Gods, the group’s fifth full-length studio record, once again promises a strong emphasis on songwriting and melody, complete with high-end organic production to match. “We have always prioritized songwriting above anything else. For me personally, I have always felt more confident writing than as a "musician" and for the first time I think we have found the production that best suits our songs,” says Decay.

"I am very proud of the songwriting, performances and production on this one, and it is definitely the most confident I have been in a finished album of ours.  It is dark, it’s heavy and it has a very melodic sense of AOR. Most importantly, it still sounds very Cauldron. I’m pretty sure people who were into In Ruin will like this one just as much if not more!”



Tracklisting:

“Prisoner Of The Past”
“Letting Go”
“No Longer”
“Save The Truth / Syracuse”
“Never Be Found”
“Drown”
“Together As One”
“Isolation”
“Last Request”

“Letting Go”:



Cauldron have announced a set of shows with support act Barrow Wight to celebrate the new album.



Dates:

September
6 - Boston, MA - The Middle East
7 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
8 - Brooklyn, NY - The Kingsland

The band also has a headline release show planned in their hometown of Toronto set for September 15th at Junction City Music Hall.

To coincide with the start of their upcoming North American co-headline tour with Pallbearer, Swedish Metallers Tribulation will release a new 7 inch / Digital EP on September 14th. The Nightbound 7 inch features both a recent live recording and a previously unreleased instrumental demo version of the song “Nightbound”, off their latest album “Down Below”. A new promotional video clip for “Nightbound” is currently being worked on by director Robert Piehl, who previously worked with the band on the video for “The Lament”.

The Nightbound EP will be available in the following vinyl colors and worldwide limitations:
 
Transparent blue vinyl – 100 copies / CM Webshop Europe
White vinyl – 200 copies / CM Distro Europe
Dark green vinyl –100 copies / At band’s webstore via Kingsroad
Transparent red vinyl – 100 copies / From the band on tour
Black vinyl – 500 copies / CM Distro Europe

More details about the Digital version of the EP will be available soon.

Tribulation recently announced a fall tour of North America, the band’s first visit since the release of their album Down Below. The trek, which kicks off on September 14th in Montreal, features a mix of headlining performances as well as a number of co-headlining dates with Pallbearer.   

Tribulation, collectively, said of the upcoming outing: "We are at last heading back over the Atlantic Ocean to the New World, this time to its northerly part that is the great North America. How we've waited! Along for the ride this time we have the mighty and the very heavy Pallbearer to close each evening, deepening the Dionysian spirit that we, hopefully, have managed to spark in you. Montreal, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Orleans and the East Coast will see us playing without Pallbearer with support acts yet to be announced and with us closing each night. We urge you to join us in these nocturnal festivities where both bands will be playing long sets. The tickets go on sale on Friday, get yours while you can!"

Pallbearer added, "After a long period of constant touring behind Heartless, it’s almost time for us to settle into the cold season and begin crafting our next musical endeavor. But before that, we are heading out once more across North America to bring this chapter to its conclusion. We look forward to stretching out our sets each night on this double bill with Tribulation, revisiting some songs from our past and adding extra layers to newer material."

Tour dates:

September
14 - Montreal, QC - Petit Campus *
15 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace
16 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
18 - Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
19 - Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club
20 - Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room *
21 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro
24 - Calgary, AB - Dickens
25 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite
27 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw
28 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
29 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne

October
1 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s
2 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room *
3 - Phoenix, AZ - Rebel Lounge
5 - Austin, TX - Barracuda
6 - Dallas, TX - Trees
7 - Houston, TX - White Oak
8 - New Orleans, LA - Santos Bar *
9 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade *
10 - Greensboro, NC - Blind Tiger *
11 - Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel *
12 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere *
13 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall *

* - Headlining date (all non-headlining dates are co-headlines with Pallbearer)

Tribulation released their Down Below album in January via Century Media Records. The hauntingly beautiful cover painting for Down Below was done by Tribulation guitarist Jonathan Hultén.

Down Below tracklisting:

"The Lament"
"Nightbound"
"Lady Death"
"Subterranea"
"Purgatorio"
"Cries From The Underworld"
"Lacrimosa"
"The World"
"Here Be Dragons"
"Come, Become, To Be" (Bonus Track)

"The World" visualizer:

"The Lament" video:

(Photo - Ester Segarra)

Courtesy of the XTV Podcast, multi-camera footage of KISS' July 8th show in Madrid, Spain is available below. The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Deuce"  
"War Machine" 
"Firehouse" 
"Shock Me" 
"I Love It Loud" 
"Flaming Youth" 
"Dr. Love" 
"Lick It Up"  
"God Of Thunder" 
"I Was Made For Lovin' You" 
"Love Gun" 
"Black Diamond"
"Cold Gin" 
"Detroit Rock City"
"Rock And Roll All Nite"

Dynamite is thrilled to announce a new comic book series featuring KISS. Writer Bryan Edward Hill (Detective Comics, Postal) and artist Rodney Buchemi (Death of Hawkman) crank the volume high as they bring you the KISS series we have all been waiting for this October.

In KISS: Blood And Stardust, an immortal cabal is taking the lives of innocents and the only ones who can stop them are KISS! The only problem…they are dead. And now they have to make a deal with a demon to save their souls and return to Earth to fight evil!

"KISS was the soundtrack of a time in my life where I had tons of ambition and few rules. Endless nights in dive bars in New York City, watching sunrises on the rooftops of Brooklyn. I might have discovered them in the aughts, but I was filled with the spirit of the 70's,” remarked author Bryan Hill. "The 1970's was a special decade, a decade of fame and magic where guitar riffs and drum solos were your co-pilots and the devil MAY have cared, but he couldn't stop your shine. "

"As one of rock's most celebrated bands, KISS continues to be a staple in the comic book industry," said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. "Bryan Hill has really built a name for himself, so we’re thrilled to have him penning KISS: Blood & Stardust as part of our fall lineup."

The origins of KISS comic books date almost as far back as the inception as the band itself, having been an integral part of comics culture since their 1977 appearance in Howard the Duck #12 and 1978's Marvel Comics Super Special: KISS. Today, nearly 40 years later, Dynamite Entertainment is the proud home to the comic book series KISS, KISS: The Demon, KISS/Vampirella, KISS/Army of Darkness and now KISS: Blood & Stardust.

Read more here

Dynamite Entertainment is bringing a Deluxe-Premiere trading card set to specialty retailers this fall, featuring a select group of KISS’s fan-favorite photos and artists portraying the world-renown rock band in all their glory, plus Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley signed cards.

“KISS trading cards are some of the most collectible memorabilia out there, they’ve been around since the early days of the band,” said KISS co-founder Gene Simmons. “These new cards add to the tradition and the lore of KISS and I can’t wait for fans to get their hands on them.”

In 1978, Donruss released the first set of KISS trading cards and Dynamite Entertainment continues the tradition 40 years later with the KISS Deluxe Ultra-Premium Trading Card Set from America’s #1 Gold Record Award-winning group of all time.

“KISS continues to be one of the greatest bands of the century, their logo, makeup and songs are instantly recognizable and after 40 years, fans are collecting their memorabilia more than ever,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “We’ve been publishing KISS comics, but the fans wanted more so now we give you the hottest trading card set on shelves this fall!”

Dynamite’s KISS Deluxe Ultra-Premium Trading Card Set includes an 18-card base set, plus Dynamite chase cards that include: 6 autographed cards, 3 B&W art cards, 9-card puzzle cards, 2-box-topper special cards, and hand-drawn original art signed sketch cards.  Every autographed card featuring a color ink or ultra-rare, gold ink signature!

Every individual foil pack includes 2 Base Cards, 2 Sketch Cards, 1 B&W Art Card, 1 Puzzle Card, and 1 Autographed Card.  Additionally, every specially designed, 4-color box includes 12 foil packs.

The KISS Deluxe Ultra-Premium Trading Card Set will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August 2018 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in October.

Grammy Award-winning band Ghost performed at the Dynamo Metal Fest in Eindhoven, Netherlands on July 14th. Multi-cam footage of "Rats" live can be viewed below

Ghost’s fourth sacred psalm, Prequelle, debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart,  #2 Top Current Album, #1 Rock, and #2 Vinyl, with 65,653 albums sold. Word has since come down from Billboard that the band's "Rats"single has landed at #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs airplay chart. Check it out here.

Prequelle also debuted at  #1 in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, #1 at Rock in the UK, and in the Top 10 overall in the UK, Germany (#2), France (#4), Australia, and Mexico. This follows over 25,000 album pre-orders (the highest in their career), over 5 million pre-release streams of first single, "Rats", and the announcement of their first ever headline arena dates. "Rats" is currently #4 at Active Rock Radio, and was the #1 National Rock Song of the Week (Music Choice).

Released on June 1st, Prequelle is now available digitally and physically via Loma Vista Recordings. On June 14th, Ghost will join Candlemass to honour Metallica by performing one of their songs as members Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo are presented with the Polar Music Prize by the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf.

Additionally, Ghost announced a massive North American fall tour including their previously announced headline arena dates at The Forum in Los Angeles, CA and Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY that will kick off on November 1st in Chicago, IL and wrap on December 15th in Brooklyn, NY. The band will stop in Canada for shows in Toronto, ON and Laval, QC in December. Pre-sale tickets for the tour will be available beginning June 12th at 10:00 am local time and general tickets will be available to the public beginning June 15th at 10:00 am local time. Pre-sale and VIP packages can be found here. A complete list of upcoming live dates are listed below.

October
26 - Tulsa, OK - Cox Business Center Ballroom
29 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre
30 - Indianapolis, IN - The Murat Theatre

November
1 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
2 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center - Theatre
3 - Madison, WI - The Sylvee
4 - Ames, IA - Stephens Auditorium
6 - Omaha, NE - Orpheum Theater
8 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium
9 - El Paso, TX - Abraham Chavez Theatre
10 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
12 - San Diego, CA - Spreckels Theatre
13 - Sacramento, CA - Sacramento Community Center Theater
15 - San Jose, CA - City National Civic Center
16 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
17 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint
19 - Midland, TX - Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
20 - Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall
21 - New Orleans, LA - Orpheum Theatre
23 - Orlando, FL - Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - Walt Disney Theater
24 - Miami Beach, FL - The Fillmore at Jackie Gleason Theater
25 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
27 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Performing Arts Center
29 - Mobile, AL - Saenger Theatre
30 - Atlanta, GA - Roxy Theatre

December
1 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
2 - Charlotte, NC - Ovens Auditorium
4 - Richmond, VA - Dominion Energy Center
5 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
7 - Laval, QC - Place Bell
8 - Toronto, ON - Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
10 - Baltimore, MD - The Hippodrome
11 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theater
13 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
14 - Boston, MA - Wang Theatre
15 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center

Just Before Dawn, the war metal machine comprised of ex-members of Bolt Thrower, Benediction, Amon Amarth, Blood Mortized, and current members of Down Among The Dead Men, Wombbath and many more, have further expanded their deal with OSDM label Raw Skull Records.

From the band’s label: "We are very proud to announce that we have arranged a multiple release deal with Swedish/Danish/English death metal war machine Just Before Dawn. What can you expect:

- split release including Decaying 
- split release including Supreme Carnage
- CD including unreleased tracks
- new full length album in 2019

And last but not least, check them out live in 2019. They will come to drop some devastating ordnance to conquer your world!"

Frontman Dave Ingram comments: “We just played a bunch of highly successful festivals this year, and now that we’re beginning work on our next release we’re looking to totally devastate a lot more venues in 2019. And who knows, maybe we’ll treat the crowds to a tribute of a very known and much missed band of war masters, whom we hold in high esteem." 

Band line-up:
Dave Ingram - vocals
Anders Biazzi - guitar
Jonny Pettersson - bass, backing vocals
Gustav Myrin - guitar
Jon Rudin - drums

Phoenix-based hard rock/alternative metal band Mourning Grey have released a video for "Scarred", from the band's new Hollow EP, which is available now on digital outlets worldwide via Pavement Entertainment.

The video focuses on the foursome playing to the backdrop of a harsh desert with a plane covered in graffiti. Clearly, the emotions in "Scarred" are as raw as the elements of the barren landscape in the video. Mourning Grey does not hold back, belting out the vocals and instrumentals in this gutsy track about heartbreak.

While the song talks about the scars and depression heartbreak leaves you with, vocalist Benjamin Chapman notes, "In the end, 'Scarred' talks about living with the sickness. Even a person who has been destroyed and terrorized can overcome it."

Lineup:

Benjamin Chapman - Vocals
Chris Jeter - Drums
Dave Vaughan - Bass

Extreme blackened metal quartet Infera Bruo have unveiled the second single from their forthcoming album, Cerement. Listen to “Endnotes” below.

Cerement is the band’s third full-length LP and will be released on September 7th. Produced by Baudhuin and mastered by Brad Boatright; Cerement contains eight tracks of multifaceted, smoldering blackened metal rooted in a wide array of influences drawn from the diverse backgrounds of each band member. Experience dissonance colliding with exquisiteness as Infera Bruo continue to hone in on their unique musical landscape while invoking elements of classic second wave black metal.

Cerement will be available on all digital outlets, compact disc and limited LP. Preorders available at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Poison Waters”
“Shroud Enigma”
“Effigy Of Reason”
“Endnotes”
“The Lunar Pass”
“Draped In Sky”
“Scorne”
“Temporial”

“Endnotes”:

Greek heavy/stoner rock band, Beggars, have released a new lyric video for “Medusa”, the track is taken from their fifth studio album The Day I Lost My Head to be out on August 10th as digipack CD and black vinyl via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records.

The album was produced by Nikos (Lizard) Chalkousis & Yannis Passas. Recorded and mixed by Nikos (Lizard) Chalkousis at Prova Music Studios, Athens Greece. Engineered by Nikos (Lizard) Chalkousis and mastered by Bill Lagos. Artwork design by SUGAHTANK. Photos by Danai Fokiou.

Tracklisting:

“Book Of Days”
“The Day I Lost My Head”
“Intersolar Traveller”
“Game”
“Medusa”
“Blind”
“You Break Me”
“Chief Commander (1945 – 2015)”
“Genesis”

"Medusa" lyric video:

England’s The Meads Of Asphodel have joined forces with Chinese folk metal exponents, Song Of Chu, for a unique split CD, featuring new material from both bands. (Also featuring Mirai (Sigh), Alan Davey (Hawkwind, Gunslinger)

This split cements the Meads commitment to the underground scene, and also celebrates the bands 20th year anniversary.

Formed in 10 years ago hailing from Tianjin, Song Of Chu descends from ancient warriors dominating the stage with classical Chinese tunes supported heavy grooves, the strength of 7-string metal guitars and a mighty voice that’s unique in the scene.

The Meads Of Asphodel’s sixth album, Running Out Of Time Doing Nothing, will be released in November 2018, and will feature a further ten new songs.

Spanish heavy metal band Valkyria, have revealed cover art, first advance single and tracklist of their second album Tierra Hostil (Hostile Land) that will be released October 10th through Fighter Records. Single “Abatido” is streaming below.

Tierra Hostil was recorded, mixed and mastered under the production of Pedro J. Monje (Vhäldemar) at his own Chromacity Studios where Valkyria recorded their debut album Principio y Fin (Beginning & End) in 2016. This new work shows a natural development and a more mature sound in their own style of melodic, catchy and powerful heavy metal that blends both modern and classic influences with a charming voice that creates killer vocal lines.

Tracklisting:

“Código de Honor”
“Abatido”
“Tierra Hostil”
“Rencor”
“Selenelion”
“Identidad Perdida”
“Vida Eterna”
“Ecos Del Mañana”
“Dunas De Sal”
“Tuareg”

“Abatido”:

Houston, TX energetic melodic hard rock band Love And War has released the new free advance title track "Edge Of The World" from their upcoming second album of the same name. Download the track at this location.

The band has checked in with the following comments:

Guitarist John Adams:

“The process has been a Journey well deserved for us! Recording in Beautiful Arcadia Valley Missouri, south of St. Louis, at Endeavor Studios with engineer/producer Greg Gill, former guitarist for Z-LOT-Z. Greg recorded our first record Up The Annie in Houston and has been a longtime friend and we welcomed him back with open arms in recording our latest record Edge Of The World! It’s going to be a MONSTER and we can’t wait for everyone to hear it! We expect to release it in the coming months.

“Writing the song/title track ‘Edge Of The World’ started in bits and pieces, I had the Intro already written for a while along with the main riff of the song, not knowing right away where to go with it. I was practicing one day and the chorus came together, I had read a quote about Standing on the Edge of the World, where the world is your ‘Reality’, where you stand and Look over the edge into your spirit world, by combining the two you will be whole! I wrote the chorus with that in mind, I turned it over to Jeff from there and said ‘write the verses’ and he finished it off. We are very happy with the way it came out, it’s a monster song!”

Vocalist Jeff VandenBerghe:

“Recording our new album Edge Of The Word at Endevor Studio with Greg Gill has been amazing. The raw tracks were laid down first with the guys then John and I went back and I added the main vocal tracks and harmony vocals…John put down rhythm guitar tracks and laid down his scorching leads. Working with Greg is awesome, he’s got a great ear and knows his way around the console. He had done such a great job on our first CD, Up The Annie it was a no brainer. This album is gonna be a monster; can’t wait for the world to hear it!

Some song lyrics come easier than others; ‘Edge Of The World’ just sort of flowed out once I had an idea of a thought process behind the title, sometimes I write about things that I've done good or bad or things that I don't want to do or places I don't want to go emotionally sometimes life's frustrations or situations make you feel like you're standing at the edge of a cliff looking down into a huge chasm; it's times like that you have to take a step back reevaluate and prioritize to make it through it. It sort of came from there. Then I just put a Twist on it John's music brought it to life. I love this song and the way it came out; coming up with a good melody line is always a challenge to make it work with the music John comes up with...that's what I love about working with him. We’ve worked together writing songs for years; it always just seems to come together we know each other styles.”

Bassist Ray Soliz:

“The recording process for me was quite easy. We had been playing the tunes for the new record live for quite some time. Leaving Houston and traveling to the beautiful town of Ironton, MO. was a much needed change of scenery. I actually recorded all my tracks within a few hours the first trip to Endeavor studios. Most of them are first takes, and I had very few fixes and punch ins. Greg Gill, our producer, was such a pleasure to work with and has such an awesome ear for music. He allowed me to just flow and play the songs as I had played them live. I'm looking forward to the new release. The first release was already recorded when I joined the band, so to be a part of this project with my friends has been special. The song ‘Edge Of The World’ was written rather quickly. John Adams already had the riffs, some lyrics, and of course guitar solo ideas. This is one of my favorites off the new release. It's got great riffs and hooks. Jeff did an awesome job on the vocals, and the guitar solo is blistering. Donny's double kick work really drives the tune.”

Drummer Donny Bragg:

This is the third time I've worked with Greg Gill and he always makes me feel comfortable in the studio. I couldn't imagine working with anyone else in the studio! He captured me at my best, as he did John, Ray, and Jeff. The new record, Edge Of The World, is something that I'm extremely proud and I feel that it's going set our fan base on fire! I think it's heavier and more groove oriented than Up The Annie. I'm really looking forward to EOTW being released soon! I really hope everyone loves it as much we do!”

According to Ham & High, British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have responded to a lawsuit filed by their former singer Dennis Willcock in which he accused them of stealing the lyrics to some of their classic early songs.

Willcock claims to have written the words to the tracks "Prowler", "Charlotte The Harlot", "Phantom Of The Opera", "Iron Maiden" and "Prodigal Son", which were recorded and released by MAIDEN on their first two albums, 1980's self-titled effort and 1981's "Killers".

In a formal written response to Willcock's legal action, IRON MAIDEN claims bassist Steve Harris, not Willcock, actually penned the lyrics in question. In addition, the band admits the songwriting credit on "Charlotte The Harlot" is wrong.

Since it first appeared on MAIDEN's debut LP, the track has been solely credited to guitarist Dave Murray. But in the documents served to the High Court, Harris and publisher Imagem state: "The lyrics for [the song] were written by Mr Harris in or around 1977 to accompany music written by Mr Murray, who had joined IRON MAIDEN in late 1976."

IRON MAIDEN has admitted that Willcock changed three words of "Prowler" and two of "Charlotte The Harlot" but has questioned whether he can remember writing them.

The band states: "[He] was, when he was a member of IRON MAIDEN, notorious for forgetting lyrics for the band's songs, or missing out words, or singing the wrong words. He… even had to sing from lyric sheets at live performances. Accordingly it is implausible that Mr Willcock can now remember lyrics he allegedly wrote some 40 years ago."

Willcock's lawsuit was filed by retired rock band manager Barry McKay, who previously took Harris and Murray to court over "Hallowed Be Thy Name", claiming MAIDEN reproduced major parts of another song, "Life's Shadow", co-written nearly a decade earlier by musician Brian Quinn, under the name Brian Ingham. That case was settled for around £100,000, according to a MAIDEN representative, who also referred to McKay as "a serial litigant." McKay later fired back, calling Harris and Murray and their managers "bad losers."

Willcock, who fronted MAIDEN from 1976 to 1978, was replaced in the band by Paul Di'Anno. Dennis claims never knew his lyrics were used because he never listened to the band's albums.

Willcock's lawsuit seeks damages in excess of £2 million (approximately $2.6 million).

Willcock was MAIDEN's second singer. The band's original vocalist, Paul Day, co-founded the group in 1976 along with Harris.

San Francisco Bay Area metal titans MACHINE HEAD have released a video for the song "Volatile". The track is the opening cut on the band's new album, "Catharsis", which was made available in January via Nuclear Blast. The clip, which was created by Fiaz Farrelly, was filmed earlier in the year during the U.K. leg of MACHINE HEAD's "Catharsis" tour.

"Volatile", featuring sociocritical lyrics, is dedicated to Heather D. Heyer, who lost her life during a protest against neo-nazism and white supremacy in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017.

"The lyrics were written on the same day as Charlottesville," MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn revealed last year. "We watched that video of Heather Heyer getting run over and killed and I was just, like, 'What the fuck is going on, man?' You just got a snapshot of me pissed off and raw anger and frustration and confusion. White supremacists are marching every two weeks in the U.S. now and it's pretty fucking insane."

The follow-up to 2014's "Bloodstone & Diamonds", "Catharsis" was produced by Flynn and was recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Zack Ohren (FALLUJAH, ALL SHALL PERISH) at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California. Mastering was handled by Ted Jensen (HATEBREED, ALICE IN CHAINS, DEFTONES) at Sterling Sound in New York. Cover photography was created by Seanen Middleton.

MACHINE HEAD recently announced the second leg of its North American tour in support of "Catharsis". The upcoming dates also include the six rescheduled dates from the first leg where Flynn contracted a severe viral bronchitis lung infection. The band will once again will be giving fans "An Evening With" MACHINE HEAD, playing over two and a half hours of classic and new material.

Ann Wilson of HEART, one of rock's most distinctive and powerful vocalists, has released "You Don't Own Me" as the second track from her new album that's due out September 14 on BMG. Fittingly titled "Immortal", the album features 10 musically diverse tracks that pay tribute to some of Ann's influences and friends who've recently passed and whose music poignantly lives on.


Ann's hard-hitting and timely interpretation of Lesley Gore's fearless 1963 hit "You Don't Own Me" — featuring the esteemed Warren Haynes on guitar — was released today (August 3) across all digital platforms after its premiere yesterday at Billboard. The song is also available as an instant-grat track with album pre-orders, starting today.


"I think that song has come to be way more universal now," the iconic Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee told Billboard. "It could be the anthem of anyone who wants respect, anyone at all, not just women. I think we're in a time where we're having a discourse now as a culture about who people really are and how it's important to accept people, and so I thought the song really fits. I think it's really meaningful in today's world."

For "Immortal", which marks her debut for BMG, Ann has teamed with original HEART producer Mike Flicker. "Mike was the first producer to believe in me," Ann says. "He was my first teacher in the studio and knows how to provide that special support needed to bring out my soul in the recording process. It is exciting to work with him for the first time since 1980. I have traveled many, many miles since then but the old feeling is still there and fresh on 'Immortal'. He has fearlessly helped me bring my ideas to life once again and it's been a great collaboration."


Ann chose the album title "Immortal" after revealing some working titles early on in the project. "The original working titles evolved as the concept for the album evolved; a little bit at a time," explains Ann. "As my understanding of what I had undertaken grew and clarified, I realized a larger truth; that the souls may have departed but the songs will forever be their resonances. These are the poets of our time and their expressions must be handed down. Poetry is lasting and elemental like carvings in rock."


The finely etched tracks that comprise "Immortal" cover a lot of musical ground, with many highlights including songs by Leonard Cohen ("A Thousand Kisses Deep"), Amy Winehouse ("Back To Black"), David Bowie ("I'm Afraid Of Americans"), Lesley Gore ("You Don't Own Me") and Tom Petty ("Luna"). Ann says the criteria for choosing this collection of songs was easy. "First of all, I had to love them! They had to be songs I could get inside of authentically as a singer. Lyrics are important to me but the most important thing is always the marriage of words and melody that makes the song magic!"


"Immortal" includes some very special guests as well. "Warren Haynes plays on Tom Petty's 'Luna' and 'You Don't Own Me'," Ann reveals. "Ben Mink is featured on Leonard Cohen's 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' and Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black'. They are both musicians and great people whom I admire. It's always a pleasure and an honor to work with them. Their souls shine through on these songs!"

"Immortal" track listing:

01. A Different Corner (George Michael)

02. A Thousand Kisses Deep (Leonard Cohen)

03. Back To Black (Amy Winehouse)

04. Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)

05. I Am The Highway (Chris Cornell, AUDIOSLAVE)

06. I'm Afraid Of Americans (David Bowie)

07. Life In The Fast Lane (Joe Walsh, THE EAGLES) (in honor of Glenn Frey)

08. Luna (Tom Petty)

09. Politician (CREAM) (in honor of Jack Bruce)

10. You Don't Own Me (Lesley Gore)


Ann is on the road all summer on the in-progress "Stars Align Tour" with Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers, which kicked off July 18 in West Valley City, Utah and stops in over 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada, including Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Toronto and Nashville, before wrapping August 26 in Tampa. Ann's setlist this summer will include songs from "Immortal". The songs will also be featured in Ann's first-ever solo television special (details to be announced), taped this past April at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois, to coincide with the album's release.

Photo credit: Kimberly Adamis

ONKEL TOM — the solo project of Thomas "Angelripper" Such, bassist/vocalist of veteran German thrashers SODOM — will release a new album, "Bier Ernst", on September 28 via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will consist of 21 tracks on two CDs, titled — in accordance with their lyrical content — "Bier" and "Ernst," respectively.

The official video for the song "Ich Finde Nur Metal Geil" can be seen below.

The band comments: "The song 'Ich Finde Nur Metal Geil' ('I Like Metal Music Only') speaks to us from the bottom of our hearts. It owns everything that we like in metal music. Some classical stuff, some thrash metal, melodic guitars and a strong chorus. The video is the perfect movie, put in scene stylish and costly by Moritz 'Mumpi' Künster, to show what we meant with the song. It's about the love to metal music, friendship, and a little bit of anarchy. We are metal extremists!"

"Bier Ernst" will be available on digipak double CD, double vinyl LP (gatefold) and for digital download. As hinted on "Zwischen Emscher & Lippe", ONKEL TOM presents itself on "Bier Ernst" more diverse and autonomous than ever before. Along with rock versions of the popular drinking and party ditties that ONKEL TOM and his band are renowned for, Tom and his four comrades-in-arms — drummer Cornelius Rambadt, guitarists Marcel Mönnig and Klaus Nicodem, and bassist Marc Beste — have recorded a dozen original numbers.

Tom reveals what his fans can look forward to: "The title track of our recent EP and eight additional numbers on the 'Ernst' CD present the band from a slightly different perspective. They're songs full of passion for music, but, of course, also full of anger about people's indifference that's bound to destroy the world. But don't worry: the twelve songs on the 'Bier' CD celebrate life, having a good time and sophisticated drinking. Our fans can rest assured that we're as thirsty as ever and that we will quench that thirst with them at our shows."

Track listing:

CD1 - "Bier"

01. Ich Steh' An Der Bar Und Ich Habe Kein Geld (2:12)

02. Flasche Zu Flasche (4:26)

03. Wir Trinken Wenig (3:05)

04. Bier, Bier, Bier Ist Die Seele Vom Klavier (2:09)

05. Durst Ist Schlimmer Als Heimweh (3:53)

06. Hätten Wir Lieber Das Geld Vergraben... (3:11)

07. Was Sind Wir Männer Doch Für'n Lustiger Verein (3:03)

08. Jacky Cola (3:54)

09. Durst Wird Duch Bier Erst Schön (1:58)

10. Trunkenbold (2:48)

11. Bier, Bier, Bier (3:02)

12. Prost (1:11)

CD2 - "Ernst"

01. Ich Finde Nur Metal Geil (5:19)

02. Todgeweiht (3:45)

03. Ich Muss Hier Raus (3:44)

04. Egal (4:16)

05. Von Arschlöchern Für Arschlöcher (5:05)

06. Zwischen Emscher & Lippe (05:45)

07. Auf Dünnem Eis (3:24)

08. Das Blaue Buch Des Lebens (3:44)

09. Polizisten (04:28)

ABORTED's new album, "TerrorVision", will be released on September 21 via Century Media Records. The artwork was created by Pär Olofsson (EXODUS, IMMOLATION, IMMORTAL).

The official lyric video for the "TerrorVision" title track can be seen below.

Comments ABORTED frontman Sven De Caluwé: "This song is the title track of the record first off and has Seth Siro Anton from SEPTICFLESH as guest vocalist. Basically, we chose it as a single because it has the dark, dirty vicious atmosphere the album has — it's fast but also has hooks and a heavy part. Lyrically, it captures the whole concept of the album, which is let's say looking at the media these days as if it were an ancient 'evil' entity in an '80s horror film that is manipulating the world as puppets.

"The album and song talk about a lot of things that have been happening in the last couple of years where the public opinion is clearly being molded and manipulated. There have been studies in communication showing that 55% of communication is non-verbal impact, 38% is verbal communication and the actual message is only important for about 7% of it. I know retarded figures that don't mean much by themselves, if not telling us that people don't give a fuck about what you're selling, as long as you package it right and the media/politicians know this all too well. The rise of ISIS has a lot to thank to the media as well, bigotry, racism all tools used by media to remove the eye on the actual problems for the human race as a whole and our planet.

"It’s not so death metal in itself, but it’s all packaged in our depraved little ABORTED sauce of dark humor and gross thesaurus bullshit language while containing a pretty strong message! Enjoy!”

With "The Necrotic Manifesto" and ABORTED's last album, "Retrogore", already showcasing what the band is capable of, "TerrorVision" lifts death metal to a higher level of intensity, atmosphere and brutality. Produced by Kristian "Kohle" Kohlmannslehner at Kohlekeller Studios, "TerrorVision" is not just a new chunk of high-class brutal death metal, it's a piece of art pushing the boundaries of the entire genre by combining over-the-top musicianship with skilled songwriting, a clear yet organic production and inexorable brutality that has no equals.

"TerrorVision" will be available in the following formats:

* Standard CD jewelcase

* Gatefold LP+CD

* Limited box set (with digipak CD, bonus CD with the tracks of the "Bathos" EP, black belt with metal belt buckle, sticker set and button set)

* Digital

"TerrorVision" track listing:

01. Lasciate Ogne Speranza (0:57)

02. TerrorVision (4:33)

03. Farewell To The Flesh (4:41)

04. Vespertine Decay (6:00)

05. Squalor Opera (4:01)

06. Visceral Despondency (3:32)

07. Deep Red (3:20)

08. Exquisite Covinous Drama (5:01)

09. Altro Inferno (4:49)

10. A Whore D'oeuvre Macabre (3:01)

11. The Final Absolution (5:07)

Tom Morello has released the official music video for his solo song "We Don't Need You". The track, which features a guest appearance by Vic Mensa, is taken from the RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE and PROPHETS OF RAGE guitarist's upcoming solo album, "The Atlas Underground", which will be released on October 12 through Mom + Pop Music.

Morello recruited a number of other guest artists to appear on the 12-track LP, including GZA, Gary Clark Jr., K. Flay, Pretty Lights, Portugal. The Man, Whethan, Marcus Mumford, RISE AGAINST's Tim McIlrath, Carl Restivo, Nico Stadi, Leikeli47 and Herobust.

During an appearance on METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich's Beats 1 radio show "It's Electric!", Morello said about "The Atlas Underground": "I wanted to make a record that was the [Jimi] Hendrix of now, guitar playing that is outside of the norm and is extraordinary," creating "radio songs" that "connected with a mass audience" and fashioning a "new genre of music."

In a statement announcing the album, Morello said: "The riffs and the beats led the way, but the extraordinary talents of the collaborators set my creativity into uncharted territory.

"I've been devoted both musically and as an activist to fighting injustice at every turn," he added. "Amid this heightened sense of impending doom, it's now time to rally the troops in a last-ditch effort to save the planet, and our artistic souls. By challenging the boundaries of what music is and has sounded like before, you can open people's eyes to changing the status quo in society."

"The Atlas Underground" track listing:

01. Battle Sirens (feat. Knife Party)

02. Rabbit's Revenge (feat. Bassnectar, Big Boi, Killer Mike)

03. Every Step That I Take (feat. Portugal. The Man, Whethan)

04. We Don't Need You (feat. Vic Mensa)

05. Find Another Way (feat. Marcus Mumford)

06. How Long (feat. Steve Aoki, Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath)

07. Lucky One (feat. K. Flay)

08. One Nation (feat. Pretty Lights)

09. Vigilante Nocturno (feat. Carl Restivo)

10. Where It's At Ain't What It Is (feat. Gary Clark Jr., Nico Stadi)

11. Roadrunner (feat. Leikeli47)

12. Lead Poisoning (feat. GZA, RZA, Herobust)

According to Deutsche Welle, two elderly elderly German men escaped from their nursing home on Friday (August 3) to attend the Wacken Open Air festival.

The nursing home contacted the police after it discovered that the men were missing from the facility. The men were later found at 3 a.m. at the heavy metal festival, which is celebrating its 29th anniversary this year in Wacken, Germany.

Police escorted the men home with the help of a taxi and a patrol car.

This year's Wacken Open Air is sold out, with more than 75,000 metal fans in attendance. Headliners include JUDAS PRIEST, DANZIG, HATEBREED, IN FLAMES, RUNNING WILD and ARCH ENEMY.

Although Wacken has the reputation of being the muddiest festival in the world, this year's event has reportedly seen no rain so far.

Last year, it was reported that the fans who attend Wacken Open Air each year consume an average of about 5.1 liters of beer over the festival, according to the statistics portal Statista. This compares to 3.1 liters per person for the less heavy metal-centric Rock Am Ring festival.

For the 2018 installment of Wacken Open Air, organizers have joined forces with the Electronic Sports League (ESL) to create an esports arena.

The 1,800 square-meter esports village invites festivalgoers to compete in the daily amateur tournaments of popular games, including League Of Legends and Playerunknown's Battlegrounds.

ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO, the jazz ensemble led by TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick, will release its new album, "Conundrum", on September 7 via Palmetto/MRI.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Conundrum" track listing:

01. Unbound

02. Django Tango

03. Conundrum

04. Gymnopédie, No. 1

05. Culture Shock

06. Dodge The Bambula

07. Key Of Sea

08. A Question Of Moral Ambiguity

09. Protect The Dream

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

ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO tour dates:

Sep. 09 - Chicago, IL @ Reggies

Sep. 12-13 - New York, NY @ Iridium

Sep. 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Baked Potato (w/ Stu Hamm)

Sep. 16 - San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick

Oct. 17 - The Woodlands, TX @ Dosey Doe

Oct. 18 - San Antonio, TX @ Fitzgerald's

Oct. 20 - McKinney, TX @ The Guitar Sanctuary

Faroese folk metallers TÝR have recruited former NEVERMORE and SATYRICON guitarist Attila Vörös as the replacement for the recently departed Terji Skibenæs.

Said Vörös in a statement: "After the end of a very successful world tour off SATYRICON's latest record, 'Deep Calleth Upon Deep', the time has come for me to call it for a change and look for new adventures with my friends at TÝR. We'll be hitting the road together in South America in October 2018."

Terji announced his exit from TÝR earlier in the week, explaining in a statement that he had "no desire whatsoever to play in TÝR anymore.

"There's no drama or anything going on between me and the others," he added. "It's just me not having any joy to play the music in the style of TÝR anymore."

TÝR recently completed a North American tour with ORPHANED LAND, GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS and AETERNAM.

TÝR's latest album, "Valkyrja", was released in 2013 by Metal Blade. It featured covers of IRON MAIDEN's "Where Eagles Dare" and PANTERA's "Cemetery Gates".

Terji Skibenæs, longtime guitarist of Faroese folk metal band TÝR, has announced his departure from the group.

He said in a statement: "This is it. I am now officially leaving the band TÝR after 17 years.

"After months of thinking this through carefully, I've finally come to the decision that it's time for me to quit. The reason is very simple: I have no desire whatsoever to play in TÝR anymore.

"There's no drama or anything going on between me and the others. It's just me not having any joy to play the music in the style of TÝR anymore.

"I want to thank Heri Joensen and Gunnar Thomsen for the all the time we had and I wish TÝR all the best in the future. And thanks to all the fans for the support through the years.

"My last show with TÝR will be at Sabaton Open Air in August.

"More news to follow soon about my future projects."

TÝR recently completed a North American tour with ORPHANED LAND, GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS and AETERNAM.

TÝR's latest album, "Valkyrja", was released in 2013 by Metal Blade. It featured covers of IRON MAIDEN's "Where Eagles Dare" and PANTERA's "Cemetery Gates".

This is it. I am now officially leaving the band TÝR after 17 years. After months of thinking this through carefully,...Posted by TerjI on Thursday, August 2, 2018

German symphonic metal/power metal band BEYOND THE BLACK will release its new album, "Heart Of The Hurricane", on August 31 via Napalm Records (GSA via Airforce1).

The official music video for the song "Million Lightyears", taken from "Heart Of The Hurricane", can be seen below.

BEYOND THE BLACK's debut album, "Songs Of Love And Death" (2015) entered the German album chart at No. 12 and was followed by 2016's "Lost In Forever", which landed in the Top 5.

"Full Heart Of The Hurricane" track listing:

01. Hysteria

02. Heart Of The Hurricane

03. Through The Mirror

04. Million Lightyears

05. Song For The Godless

06. Escape From The Earth

07. Beneath A Blackened Sky

08. Fairytale Of Doom

09. My God Is Dead

10. Dear Death

11. Scream For Me

12. Freedom

13. Breeze

Bonus tracks:

14. Echo From The Past

15. Parade

BEYOND THE BLACK has already played countless shows in Germany and other parts of Europe with such bands as SAXON, POWERWOLF and EPICA. They also served as the support act for the SCORPIONS' 50th-anniversary tour.

BEYOND THE BLACK singer Jennifer Haben told Distorted Sound about the experience of touring with SCORPIONS: "I often tried to describe it, but I guess I will never find the right words to tell somebody how it feels like to share the stage with the SCORPIONS. When I was a small child, you found me singing and dancing on the table to 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' sometimes. It's crazy to think about something like this, while you are talking to them. They were very nice to us. I talked a lot with Klaus [Meine] and the last part with Mikkey Dee, too. We were at Mikkey Dee's private after-show party. Another surreal experience of that tour. Our drummer was bubbling over with joy! All in all, it was an incredible tour."

Photo credit: Heilemania

"The Rock Writer's Ramble" podcast recently conducted an interview with vocalist Ralf Scheepers of German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR about the band's forthcoming "Apocalypse" studio album. You can listen to the entire chat via the Spreaker widget below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether it's becoming more difficult for PRIMAL FEAR to write new material with 12 studio albums under their belt:

Ralf: "We don't put ourselves too much under pressure, actually. We are, somehow, five writing members. That's a big advantage here. We are experienced and have been doing this for many, many years now. We are really packed with a lot of self-esteem here when it comes to writing songs. We have 15 songs this time. We were choosing, somehow, in our opinion, which would make a lineup on the album. The other three which didn't make it on the album will be used, of course, because they are good composed songs. Basically, we are in a good position. That's a good point to start from. It's a good start."

On whether he can detect early on which new songs will translate well both on record and live:

Ralf: "We have a good feeling about that. That really is what happened in the studio already: 'This song is getting on really well.' I can only speak for me right now. When I sing the songs, I have a good feeling and I get these goosebumps when I sing the songs, that's a good sign. When you hear it during recording and when you somehow, 'witness' the process of recording it and also put harmonies on it, it's just amazing how it still gets you when you have a good feeling about the song. I don't want to talk about whether it can be live. First of all, it's important to get it good yourselves in the studio. Then, of course, we're always talking about what we're going to do live as a team and then we rehearse. Some songs are going better in the rehearsal studio, some don't. These arguments and these factors, they have to be somehow played through. Yeah, it's actually, that's a good procedure to start from."

On PRIMAL FEAR's every-other-year release schedule and whether they've ever thought of taking a break in order to recharge their creative batteries:

Ralf: "We also keep kicking each other's asses. Somehow, whenever, of course it's hard when you just came back from a tour and have already a deadline of possible new album. Of course, sometimes, you might think, 'Well, I need some more time.' You know, also as being a pro, you have your off-time and you have the time to recharge your batteries. Sometimes it takes weeks, sometimes it's only hours, sometimes it's only days. It depends on the condition you're in. Then, of course, it comes back straight back in terms of being creative and also in terms of being ready for me to sing again."

On PRIMAL FEAR recently celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first self-titled album:

Ralf: "First of all, it's really interesting how quick that was. It was so fast. I really didn't think it was 20 years already. But that's also because we were in different bands before. I was in GAMMA RAY and SINNER was there in the scene already and still is. We started late with PRIMAL FEAR. In 1998, I was 33 already. Anyway, to answer your question, yes, I mean, we are somehow, guys who are not looking so much back. We always look forward. Like I said, it was really quick now and now while it's 20 years, yes, we have to celebrate it somehow and that's what we'll do on this tour, which is offer the fans a different setlist this time. Of course, we always change the setlist for the next tour, but we think about a little bit more about playing some old songs which we haven't played in a long time or never played and also, we also have to think about the album, the new album, we also have to promote that one and we'll play a lot of songs from that one that too. As you would imagine, it's not so easy anymore to put together a setlist. But, in the end, you can't please everybody. It's the same as when you release an album, people bitch about this or that. You can't please everybody."

On PRIMAL FEAR's growth and development over the years:

Ralf: "I would never say we had difficult times. That always happens in every band. It's just like a relationship to a woman: there's ups and downs, like in marriages. You always have this, but in the end, I'm always a guy who thinks, 'Well, this is too precious to just call it a day.' Whenever you had a bad time or whenever things are, maybe there is quiet times here and there sometimes, but you always somehow, sort it out because we are also grown-up people and we can always speak about everything and if not, then, of course, yeah, then there are some people maybe not somehow agreeing anymore to what is going on or how things are handled. But, this never happened to Mat [Sinner, bass] and me because we knew this PRIMAL FEAR baby is a very precious one and we always want to keep it. It's also the reason I have this [tattoo] on my arm. It's the reason why you're tattooing a band name on your arm. People ask me 'How can you do that?' But I knew from the beginning that will last from until I stop, until I die. [Laughs]"

On the lack of new metal vocalists in the vein of Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN), Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST) and himself:

Ralf: "I don't know — I can't answer because I'm not so much listening to too many new bands anymore. I try my very best to do so. Yeah, when I hear bands at festivals, I totally agree with you that there's a lot of growling coming up. There's also a lot of combination singing, like growling and singing beautiful. But, to answer your question, yes, I mean, there are not so many out there anymore who are singing the '80s style of power metal. It wasn't even there, power metal, it's just an expression of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. It's just a label we're talking about. It's also not an easy way to sing. I can speak for myself only again, I use two registers: I use the chest voice and I have the belt-to-head voice, the shrieking, loud screams. That physically, it's not healthy. Every teacher, every classical teacher would tell you, 'You're wearing your voice out.' Like I said before you can somehow do a lot of maintenance work around it to keep it in shape for a long time and this belting and screaming is a very hard way to sing. As I can hear on Bruce's singing, he's lifting up his chest voice pretty high, same [Ronnie James] Dio did, he had a very high chest voice and just a phenomenal support from the stamina from the diaphragm. That's all a very important thing."

"Apocalypse" will be released August 10 via Frontiers Music Srl. Production of the record started at the end of 2017 and was wrapped by spring 2018 at Hansen Studios in Denmark with producer Sinner and engineer/mixer Jacob Hansen.

PRIMAL FEAR lineup:

Ralf Scheepers - Lead Vocals

Tom Naumann - Guitars

Alex Beyrodt - Guitars

Magnus Karlsson - Guitars & Keyboards

Francesco Jovino - Drums

Mat Sinner - Bass & Vocals

Listen to "Ralf Scheepers of Primal Fear July 2018 interview" on Spreaker.

The Celtic metal songstress Leah will release her new album, "The Quest", on October 5 in Europe and North America through Inner Wound Recordings. The disc, which was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, EVERGREY), features guest appearances by Troy Donockley (NIGHTWISH), Timo Somers (DELAIN), Chen Balbus (ORPHANED LAND), Barend Courbois (BLIND GUARDIAN) and Sander Zoer (ex-DELAIN).

The concept for "The Quest" is very simple: we're all on a journey, and sometimes we lose our way. There are adventures, wildernesses, treasures, monsters, looters, people out to send us down the wrong path. Through it all, we must grow in wisdom and experience, find our compass once again and find our way back to the true path in order to reach our full potential: our destiny.

With a strong Celtic and fantasy connection, some prog rock elements, ethereal ambiance, combined with traditional symphonic metal elements, this is an album Leah is very proud to present.

Leah sets the bar for both independent artists and the symphonic metal genre alike, which is often dependent on touring as the primary means of gaining new fans and marketing.

Being a full-time mother and family woman, Leah achieves all her success having never done a tour in her entire musical career. She hopes to tour one day, but in the meantime plans to continue her path as a recording artist and songwriter, as well as help other artists achieve success in the independent music arena.

"The Quest" track listing:

01. The Quest

02. Edge Of Your Sword

03. Lion Arises

04. Heir

05. Ruins Of Illusion

06. Labyrinth

07. Abyss

08. Oblivion (Between Two Worlds)

09. Ghost Upon A Throne

10. The Water Is Wide