METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich says that he was "stunned" by Miley Cyrus's take on the TEMPLE OF THE DOG classic "Say Hello 2 Heaven" at this past Wednesday's (January 16) "I Am The Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell" concert at the Forum in Los Angeles.

Cyrus, whose addition to the show earlier in the week raised a few eyebrows, first hit the stage in a sparkly minidress for an acoustic cover of Cornell's "Two Drink Minimum", then returned later in the night to join TEMPLE OF THE DOG for the aforementioned "Say Hello 2 Heaven".

"Thank you, everybody," she said at the end. "I fucking wanted to sing this song tonight. We love you, Chris. Thank you for bringing us all together like you always have. It's a fucking honor. This was the fucking best day."

On Friday, Ulrich took to his Instagram to post a photo of him backstage with Cyrus, along with the message: "Still stunned by your next level version of 'Say Hello 2 Heaven' for Chris! Beyond inspiring."

The marathon concert also featured METALLICA, FOO FIGHTERS, Adam Levine, Fiona Apple, Ryan Adams, Ziggy Marley, THE MELVINS and the surviving members of AUDIOSLAVE and SOUNDGARDEN.

Introduced by comedian Jack Black, METALLICA opened its four-song set with a cover of SOUNDGARDEN's "All Your Lies", followed by two of its own classic tracks, "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and "Master Of Puppets", before closing with SOUNDGARDEN's "Head Injury".

The show climaxed with the three surviving members of SOUNDGARDEN joined by a rotating selection of singers and musicians, including Taylor Momsen (THE PRETTY RECKLESS), Marcus Durant, Taylor Hawkins (FOO FIGHTERS), Buzz Osborne (THE MELVINS) and others, for a run through eight of their songs, including "Rusty Cage", "Flower", "Outshined" and "Black Hole Sun".

View this post on Instagram Miley, still stunned by your next level version of “Say Hello 2 Heaven” for Chris! Beyond inspiring...? #IAmTheHighway ? by @rosshalfin A post shared by Lars Ulrich (@larsulrich) on Jan 18, 2019 at 2:07pm PST

The flashy band in the style of the eighties John Diva & The Rockets Of Love have released their second single and video for the song "Rock N' Roll Heaven" today.

John Diva says: 
"This is a song for all our Rock N' Roll heroes, who have passed away as well as an anthem for those who will follow. Let's carry on the torch, let’s light up the sky and find our Rock N' Roll heaven right here, right now on earth….it’s just around the corner: at the next John Diva show."

At John Diva’s side are the guitarists Snake Rocket and J.J. Love, bassist Remmie Martin and drummer Lee Stingray Jr. who, in previous years, have pulled off their spectacular performances in front of thousands of fans, three times at the Wacken Open Air alone, amongst others. Once you have witnessed this band on stage, you know how exciting and stimulating strenuous rock’n’roll can be.

All twelve songs were produced by Michael Voss (Mad Max, Michael Schenker, Tony Carey etc..) in the Gizmo 7 Studios in Malaga, Spain, the Principal Studios and the Kidroom Studio in Münster, with Chris von Rohr (Krokus, Gotthard) as creative supervisor. A dream team of international renown with the experience of real rock’n’rollers.

Hence: Welcome to an album that will revive your rock’n’roll life as well!

Mama Said Rock Is Dead will be released through SPV/Steamhammer on February 8th on CD DigiPak, 2LP Gatefold, download and stream. 

Mama Said Rock Is Dead tracklisting:

"Whiplash"
"Lolita"
"Rock N' Roll Heaven"
"Wild Life"
"Blinded"
"Dance Dirty"
"Just A Night Away"
"Fire Eyes"
"Get It On"
"Long Legs"
"Toxic"
"Rocket Of Love"

"Rock N' Roll Heaven" video:

"Lolita" video:

Find the band's tour schedule here.

Swedish thrash metal veterans, Carnal Forge, have released a new single/video for the song “Bound In Flames”, directed by Owe Lingvall (Meshuggah, Sabaton, Dark Funeral). The song is taken from the bands up-coming album, Gun To Mouth Salvation, out on January 25th via ViciSolum Productions. 

Gun To Mouth Salvation is Carnal Forge's first album since 2007's Testify For My Victims. Cover artwork by Federico Boss at Abstract Chaos Design.

Tracklisting:

"Parasites"
"Reforged"
"Aftermath"
"Endless War"
"Bound In Flames"
"King Chaos"
"The Order"
"Hellride"
"State Of Pain"
"Sin Feast Paradise"
"The Stench"

"Reforged" lyric video:

“Parasites” lyric video:

Carnal Forge 2018 are:

Tommie Wahlberg - Vocals
Petri Kuusisto - Lead Guitar
Jari Kuusisto - Rhythm Guitar
Lars Lindén - Bass
Lawrence Dinamarca - Drums

Introducing Climate Of Fear, a new UK-based, melodic death metal five-piece. For fans of At The Gates, Carcass, early Arch Enemy, and Stampin' Ground, the band's debut full-length The Onset Of Eternal Darkness will be out March 1st via Demons Run Amok; pre-orders can be placed here. Melodic and terrific, Climate Of Fear combine the best of death metal, beatdown, and hardcore.

Formed in 2017, Climate Of Fear have already toured relentlessly throughout The UK and across Europe (from Spain to The Czech Republic), supporting US veterans Merauder and playing with Leeched. In their short history, Climate Of Fear have also played with Vein, Sick Of It All, Malevolence, and Twitching Tongues.

The band are staunch anti-capitalists, anti-religion, and anti-propagandists, whose lyrical themes found within The Onset Of Eternal Darkness include environmental nihilism and anti-exploitation. The cover art and tracklisting for The Onset Of Eternal Darkness can be seen below.

"Rapture"
"The Cult Of Retribution"
"Shadow & Flame"
"Centuries Of Torment"
"Storming The Heavens"
"De Conflictu Noctis Aeternae Obruat"
"Slaves Of Capital"
"From Enslavement To Extinction"
"Divide & Conquer"

Check out "From Enslavement To Extinction" and "The Cult Of Retribution" now:

For further details, visit Climate Of Fear on Facebook.

 

"Memoirs Of An Uprising", the new album from singer/songwriter/guitarist Damon Johnson, will be released on March 8 via Double Dragon Records.

Fans who pre-order the disc will receive the debut single, "Shivering Shivering", as an instant-grat track.

After incredible runs with the bands he co-founded, BLACK STAR RIDERS and '90's chart-toppers BROTHER CANE, Damon Johnson found himself in spring of 2018 in a surprising position. Johnson had just completed a coast-to-coast tour with BLACK STAR RIDERS supporting JUDAS PRIEST, as well as select reunion performances with THIN LIZZY, when he realized there were two things he couldn't stop thinking about: his family and his music. Would 2019 finally be the year Johnson gives full focus to the music he kept hearing in his mind, composing an album, a true collection of songs that represented his personal vision, plus have the final say about his tour calendar? The answer was a resounding yes.

Johnson explains: "After that PRIEST tour, I was feeling anxious about some things: getting older, where my career would be in 10 years, how much time I was continually spending (mostly in foreign countries) away from my wife and our two youngest kids... plus I was sitting on a near completed solo album of the most honest music I've ever made. Ignoring some hard truths could not be a part of my deal anymore." So Johnson made the decision to part ways with BLACK STAR RIDERS, finish his album, and start over… this time completely on his own name.

The resulting album, "Memoirs Of An Uprising", is a collection that is both fierce and diverse — a powerful springboard for the musician to start his next chapter. Collaborating with his longtime friend and songwriter Jim "Johnny Blade" Troglen, Johnson began assembling a group of songs in divergent tempos and grooves that appealed to his musical side and then laced them with lyrical themes of betrayal and revenge.

"The first two songs we put together were 'Shivering Shivering' and 'Dallas Coulda Been A Beatdown' and I knew we were off to a great start," Johnson says.

Throughout "Memoirs Of An Uprising", there are musical events that are strictly meant to get bodies moving, like "Dallas…" and "Making Peace With This Wicked Beast". There are some truly challenged literary actors in "We Got A System" and "The World Keeps Spinning Round". When it is suggested that this could be a concept album, Johnson says: "As much as I'd prefer to steer clear of that label, there is no denying these 10 songs can be consumed in one listen and feel like a complete story."

Listen to sample of the thunderous first single, "Shivering Shivering", at this location.

"Memoirs Of An Uprising" track listing:

01. Shivering Shivering

02. Dallas Coulda Been A Beatdown

03. Down On Me

04. We Got A System

05. Call It A Trade

06. Rage With Me

07. So Brutal

08. The World Keeps Spinning Round

09. Making Peace With This Wicked Beast

10. Glorious

With a busy year ahead, Johnson will perform his first shows of 2019 at the end of January and continue throughout the year.

Photography by Stephen Jensen for F3 Studios

Old Wounds have released another visually stunning video, this time for their track “Stripes”. Directed once again by The Widow Brothers, this is the second we’ve seen from the band off their latest release, Glow. 

“‘Stripes’ was one of the first songs we wrote for Glow," says vocalist Kevin Iavaroni. "I knew that it would be a single based on the huge chorus that Ben had written. I think overall the song sets the tone for the album."

Old Wounds will set out on a nine-show trek with Revenge Season next month hitting stops all along the east coast.

"We are looking forward to playing some new songs as well as some oldies on our upcoming run with Revenge Season."

Old Wounds released Glow on Friday, November 9th, 2018, via Good Fight Music serving as the follow up to The Suffering Spirit released in 2015.

(Photo by: Ellie Mitchell)

German heavy/power Metal machine Steel Engraved, have released a new single & music video for 'Rebellion', the song is taken of their new self-titled album, out on January 25th, 2019 via ROAR Rock Of Angels Records. Steel Engraved’s third studio outing will comprise 13 tracks guaranteed to please the fans of majestic, melodic, modern yet old-school metal. Find pre-orders here.

The album was produced by Mario Lochert (Serious Black) and Jan Vacik (Serious Black) at Dreamsound Studios. All vocals produced by Ralf Scheepers at RS Vocal Works. Mixed and mastered by Jan Vacik at Dreamsound Studios. Guest Vocals on “Searching For Regret” by Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear). Artwork & illustration by Dušan Marković (Dragony, Thor, Jag Panzer).

After the release of their two previous full-length albums State Of Siege (debut in 2009) and On High Wings We Fly (2012) it was about time for Steel Engraved to record their third album. Within those six years, many things happened; the band was very busy touring across Europe as well as playing a couple of one-off shows on different festivals and concerts. So it was never seriously discussed when to start recordings the predecessor of On High Wings We Fly. After a change in the line-up in 2016, the band felt that the time was right to get the spirit alive again.

Tracklisting:

“Where Shadows Remain”
“Generation Headless”
“The Oppressed Will Fly”
“Slave To Yourself”
“Nightwarriors”
“Rebellion”
“Searching For Regret”
“One By One”
“Heat”
“Your Inner Self”
“Close Your Eyes”
“We Will Follow” (bonus track)
“All That Lies Below” (bonus track)

"Rebellion" video:

“Where Shadows Remain” video:

Phear guitarist Graham Stirrett will unleash his debut solo record, Masquerade, on February 19th. The album will be available on all main digital download and streaming platforms! 

Stirrett says: “This epic artwork was a joint effort between Ludovic Cordelières of Rusalkadesign and Bahrull Marta of Abomination Imagery. Logo design done by Lucas McArthur. Get stoked! Videos coming soon! 

Masquerade tracklisting:
“Blood Sacrifice” 
“Heart Desire”
“Masquerade” 
“Carnival Of The Damned”
“Die Rot Burn”
“Name Your Sacrifice” (featuring Phear singer Patrick Mulock)
“Not Alone”
“Soul Searching” 
“Truth Through The Lie” (featuring Threat Signal’s Jon Howard)
“I Would”

Finland's Hexvessel will release their new album, All Tree, on February 22nd via their own imprint Secret Trees, in an exclusive partnership with Century Media and Prophecy Productions for North America. The record will be available as Digipak CD and Gatefold LP with an exclusive bonus track. New video, "Son Of The Sky", is streaming below.

The video is a family home-video collage of pagan ritual, which perfectly reflects the mystical atmosphere and very personal nature of the song. It was filmed by Mat and Marja from Hexvessel in Avebury, West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, England during their ritual for the Winter Solstice 2018. Additional footage was filmed in Hämeenkyrö, Finland at an ancient sacrificial fir, Timin Mänty that has been used to hang bear skulls in the past. Even more footage comes from the woodland of a ruined manor in Hertfordshire, the haunted ruins of Minsden Chapel in the fields above the hamlet of Chapelfoot in England & at the Teufelsstein in Bad Dürkheim in Germany.

Singer Mat McNerney comments on the video for "Son Of The Sky":

“This video for our new song ‘Son Of The Sky’ is a collection of family home movies that we made when we were celebrating Winter Solstice at Avebury, offering a sacrifice at an ancient pine tree called Timin Mänty here in Finland and when visiting various pagan sites in England and Germany. As with Hexvessel’s music, it is a story of our personal spiritual journey. Son of the Sky is a song about a traditional Finnish Karhunpeijaiset ritual celebration where the spirit of the bear was venerated after a hunt. It’s a song about tradition, community and family. Rituals are enactments of mythology, and stories that have been passed down from our ancestors. When we become part of this great tradition, we become aware of our origins and the meaning of life. Family, culture and kin are so important. It’s our community that connects us to the earth that gives us a sense of purpose, understanding and place in the world. It is through that wisdom of mythology that we will become better able to survive and prosper.”

Founded in the magical forests of Finland, via the green and pleasant lands of England and Ireland, Hexvessel are wyrd folk. Formed in 2009 by Mat "Kvohst" McNerney, who having already made a name for himself in extreme metal bands in the UK where he was born and raised, and again in the Norwegian black metal scene, finally found his home in the land of the midnight sun. Settling in a country where mythology, tradition and pre-Christian heritage is still alive, McNerney, (who also fronts 1980s-excess-tinged gothic pop band Grave Pleasures), found solace in the constant reflection of Finland's pagan past, awakening secret knowledge that led to the formation of Hexvessel.

Since acclaimed debut album Dawnbearer (2011), Hexvessel have released two further albums of forest folk and bewitching psychedelia. They have played sold out headline tours in their homeland, been nominated for two Finnish Grammy awards, toured Europe together with bands like Sabbath Assembly and Alcest, graced the main stage at Roadburn in Holland and performed at SXSW in Texas, seeing their music on the charts and on many critics lists. They embellished their sonic rituals with mushroom-induced psychedelia on third and most recent best-selling album When We Are Death to widespread critical acclaim and continue to develop their sound.

Their new album All Tree sees the band expand upon McNerney's personal spiritual journey. Reunited with his co-songwriter from Dawnbearer, Andrew McIvor, they unfurl their primordial storytelling with a contemporary command of song-craft. During the writing of All Tree, as he sat by the fire in his summerhouse in the Finnish wilderness, McNerney recalled the summers of his youth, spent listening to Celtic ghost stories on his father’s family farm in Galway, Ireland. He began to write music that grew out of that connection between myth and nature and wanted the album to symbolize a pathway toward a spiritual revival of the old fables. From a youth spent in pastoral England to the boggy marsh woods of Ireland, to his homeland forests of Finland, McNerney’s Hexvessel reveals nature’s universal tales of hidden spirits.

The pagan wilds are portals to reality. You go through them and you enter the universe. Hexvessel write songs in the oral tradition of the old balladeers. They weave everyman stories that create a bond between the teller and the audience, bringing alive a sense of shared purpose and spiritual history. With wife and collaborator Marja Konttinen, like-minded troubadour and co-writer Kimmo Helén, guitarist Jesse Heikkinen, the primal rhythms of Jukka Rämänen (Dark Buddha Rising), and the occult found-sounds of Antti Haapapuro (Aural Hypnox/Arktau Eos), Hexvessel has truly become a melting cauldron or “vessel,” a potent “hex” of spellwork.

By drawing on older folk acts like Shirley Collins, Vashti Bunyan, later folk rock bands such as Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention and King Crimson, to more recent artists such as Nick Cave and Coil, imbued with Karelian and Nordic folklore rhythms, Hexvessel have created a sound that is both ancient and modern. All Tree is about connection and roots, bringing the spirits of the past that we all share to a more mystical and fulfilling vision of the future.

Tracklisting:

"Blessing"
"Son Of The Sky"
"Old Tree"
"Changeling"
"Ancient Astronaut"
"Visions Of A.O.S."
"A Sylvan Sign"
"Wilderness Spirit"
"Otherworld Envoy"
"Birthmark"
"Journey To Carnac"
"Liminal Night"
"Closing Circles"
"Summer Fires" (bonus track)

"Son Of The Sky" video:

“Old Tree”:

“Closing Circles” live:

Swedish extreme tech-metal pioneers, Meshuggah​, are releasing an exclusive collection of vinyl reissues celebrating the bands legacy. The collection offers a limited, one-time only pressing that includes re-imagined cover artwork, redesigned gatefold jackets, and audio mastered for vinyl.

Reissues for Nothing, I, Catch Thirty-Three, obZen and Koloss will be released on March 22nd via Nuclear Blast Records and are now available to pre-order here. Watch a video trailer below.

The re-designed album artwork was completed by Keerych Luminokaya who created the artwork for the band's 2012 release of Koloss. For the remastering of the albums, the band returned to Thomas Eberger of Stockholm Mastering who worked with the band on The Violent Sleep Of Reason which secured the band their first Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance".

(Photo - Olle Carlsson)

U.K.-based blackened death metal group HECATE ENTHRONED will release "Embrace Of The Godless Aeon", its first album in five years (and its debut for new label M-Theory Audio), on January 25. The LP — which features cover artwork by Nestor Avalos (BLOODBATH, ROTTING CHRIST, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) — can be pre-ordered now on CD and red splatter vinyl at this location. A limited-edition deluxe box set that includes exclusive purple vinyl and cassette editions of the album, a signed photo card and other collectibles is also available.


The official video for a new song from the album, "Revelations In Autumn Flame", can be seen below. Portions of the clip were shot during the group's recent performance at the Tabernacl Chapel in Llandundo, North Wales, which bassist Dylan Hughes says provided an epic setting in which to film.

"Where better to shoot this video than in a chapel during a dark cold December in North Wales?" he says. "The show was set up on the pulpit in front of pews filled with a congregation of metal-fueled blasphemers, their breath visible in the cold, dank air. The atmosphere created the malevolent and darkly energetic performance caught in the video, recorded by our good friend Dan Cookson and edited by Jeff Grindstopher of Grindstopher Productions. Watch closely throughout for the ongoing threat from the enveloping icy embrace of Cthulhu."

According to Hughes, "Revelations In Autumn Flame" was written "about modern religious fundamentalism being a reaction to a rise of secularism, and a rise in people being more educated about the universe and abandoning belief in God because of it. It's about theistic religion being almost in its death throes and becoming more extreme because of it, but a more enlightened mankind will come through this and 'rise like a phoenix from the flames.'"

One of the U.K. underground's longest-running and most respected acts, HECATE ENTHRONED has been praised by the likes of Terrorizer for its "mixture of death metal aggression with black metal atmosphere." "Embrace Of The Godless Aeon" — the band's first recording with vocalist Joe Stamps, who joined the band in 2015 — sees the group continue to deftly mix black with death, modern with classic and extreme with symphonic. The album, which features guest vocals on three songs by Sarah Jezebel Deva (CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS), was co-produced by Dan Abela (VOICES, THE ANTICHRIST IMPERIUM).


Says Hughes: "This album with its epic sweeping orchestration and heavy aggression represents a new chapter for us cementing the chemistry of the current lineup and our partnership with M-Theory. A welcome return from Sarah Jezebel Deva hints to the grandiose flavor of earlier releases, but this time, it's tempered with a guitar and drum sound forged from solid steel and then edged by a razor-sharp production from Dan Abela. The summoning of unholy flame and terror that is the cover art is an oil painting commissioned from in-demand satanic artist Nestor Avalos and begins your visceral journey through cold bleak landscapes, crushing tormented seas and searing shards of heavy metal."


Originally co-founded in Wales by guitarist Nigel Dennen in the mid-1990s, HECATE ENTHRONED is dedicated to delivering their own brand of evil metal with little regard to politics or the trends of popular demand. The group's 1997 debut, the Andy Sneap-produced "The Slaughter Of Innocence, A Requiem For The Mighty" (Blackend Records), was a seminal release in the then-burgeoning orchestral black metal movement. Since then, several full-lengths and EPs and numerous live performances have firmly established the band as one of extreme metal's most important voices, a sentiment that "Embrace Of The Godless Aeon" firmly reinforces.

Scottish drummer Edward "Ted" McKenna, who has played with THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND, Rory Gallagher, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP and Ian Gillan, has died at the age of 68.

The news of McKenna's passing was confirmed on Facebook by a friend, who wrote: "For everyone who loved him, Ted died this morning from a haemorrhage during elective surgery. Freak occurrence and a huge surgical team fought for 10 hours to save him.

"Unfortunately, there was no solution to stop the bleeding and he faded away without ever knowing. I'm going to miss him so much."

Earlier today, Michael Schenker wrote on Facebook: "We are totally heartbroken to hear about Ted McKenna, our amazing drummer and dearest friend, passing away this morning. Its a massive shock and a huge loss to lose Ted so suddenly.

"He always had a smile on his face and was one of the most sincerely genuine people you could ever have the pleasure of meeting. One of the great rock drummers, he always played from the heart and his heart was music.

"Rest in peace, Ted. We will miss you."

Former MSG bass player Chris Glen also reacted to the reports, writing: "Awoke this morning to the terrible news that our beloved brother Ted has left us. Seemingly he passed away during complications with his operation for his hernia. My most heartfelt condolences to all his friends and family... Just can't believe it."

Ex-MARILLION frontman and prog rock legend Fish mourned the death of his friend, saying: "I just heard the tragic news today that my dear friend Ted McKenna passed away this morning. A fabulous musician and one of the all-time greats who inspired so many rock drummers across generations he was a truly legendary stick man who graced so many kits behind so many world-famous bands. I had the enormous pleasure of not only working in the studio with him but also sharing stages in various incarnations over the years. He was a monster drummer with endless energies who played with so much soul and passion and drove songs with a power and grace like no other.

"But it wasn't only his playing that made him such a legend. He was a beautiful man who could drift from the comic to the serious, abound with stories and anecdotes, a perpetual smile despite all the difficulties he encountered and suffered over the years with never a bad word to say about anyone. I loved his bear hugs and his enthusiasm for everything. Always positive and always there for you if you needed him. He was a man's man and I am honoured to have had him as a true friend.

"My heart goes out to his family and his friends, of which he had so many and to all the people he touched with the music over his long years with us. He will be deeply missed and never replaced.

"Love you, Ted. RIP brother."

Former STATUS QUO drummer John Coghlan wrote: "Very sorry to receive the sad news of our dear friend Ted McKenna. Fab drummer and such a great guy. We shall miss you."

Bassist Neil Murray, who is best known for his work in WHITESNAKE, BLACK SABBATH and Gary Moore, said: "Completely shocked by the very sad news of the sudden death of drummer Ted McKenna (SAHB, Michael Schenker, Rory Gallagher and many others) who I spent time with only three weeks ago at the Cozy Powell Birthday Bash. A lovely guy and great drummer who will be much missed."

Although primarily known as a rock musician, Ted has also worked with jazz maestro John Etheridge, Juno Award-winning Canadian blues guitarist Amos Garrett and American soul duo WOMACK & WOMACK. Most recently, he toured and recorded with Gerry McAvoy, Marcel Scherpenzeel and Davy Knowles in BAND OF FRIENDS, a celebration of the music of Rory Gallagher, and MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST, which reunited the legendary German guitarist with three former MSG singers, Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley.

In a 2013 interview with Hit Channel, McKenna said that he had "many influences" as a drummer. "The early ones were Fred Astaire's feet; Sandy Nelson. Tony Meehan and Brian Bennett of THE SHADOWS, Bobby Elliot from THE HOLLIES. Later, Mitch Mitchell [Jimi Hendrix], Carmine Appice of VANILLA FUDGE, then jazz drummers Buddy Rich and Tony Williams [Miles Davis], to name only two. Too many great drummers to mention, but my band supported Robert Plant and the BAND OF JOY in 1967 and I saw and met John Bonham. We both raved about Carmine Appice but watching him play changed my attitude towards the drum kit."

Asked if he felt any pressure replacing Cozy Powell (RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH) in MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, Ted said: "No. I felt very comfortable joining MSG. Michael's excessive behavior could be quite difficult to deal with in those days but he was always pretty professional when it came to playing. He was much more together when I toured Japan with him in 2008."


We are totally heartbroken to hear about Ted McKenna, our amazing drummer and dearest friend, passing away this morning....Posted by Michael Schenker on Saturday, January 19, 2019


I just heard the tragic news today that my dear friend Ted McKenna passed away this morning. A fabulous musician and one...Posted by Fish on Saturday, January 19, 2019


Awoke this morning to the terrible news that our beloved brother Ted has left us,seemingly he passed away during...Posted by Chris Glen on Saturday, January 19, 2019


Very sorry to receive the sad news of our dear friend Ted McKenna... Fab drummer and such a great guy. We shall miss you.

Photograph by Gerard RappardPosted by John Coghlan on Saturday, January 19, 2019


Completely shocked by the very sad news of the sudden death of drummer Ted McKenna (SAHB, Michael Schenker, Rory...Posted by Neil Murray on Saturday, January 19, 2019


Its with the heaviest of hearts that reports that Ted Mckenna had passed away are indeed true,we just cant believe...Posted by Official SAHB News on Saturday, January 19, 2019


Wow!... Sad to hear the passing of Ted McKenna :( Drummer MSG and Alex Harvey band... Glad we got to work together at Cozy Powells birthday bash just a couple of weeks ago!! … Rest mate.Posted by Tony Martin on Saturday, January 19, 2019

Former OZZY OSBOURNE drummer Lee Kerslake, who has reportedly been given less than eight months to live after battling cancer for several years, has received two platinum discs for his work with the BLACK SABBATH frontman.

Lee was a member of Ozzy's band in 1980 and 1981 during the Randy Rhoads era, performing on the singer's first two solo albums.

During an interview with The Metal Voice in December, the drummer revealed that after all these years, he just wanted platinum album certifications for both "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman", so he can feel some acknowledgement for his work before he dies.

"I really wrote a nice letter to them and I hope they will come to terms with it and say yes," he told The Metal Voice of his appeal to Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.

Kerslake has now apparently been granted his wish as Ozzy shared a photo earlier today of Lee sitting on a sofa and holding the "Blizzard" and "Madman" platinum discs, a handwritten letter from Ozzy placed on his chest.

"I'm so glad that Lee Kerslake is enjoying his Blizzard and Diary platinum albums," Osbourne wrote in an accompanying caption. "I hope you feel better. Love, Ozzy"

According to the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA), 1980's "Blizzard Of Ozz" has been certified quadruple platinum for shipments in excess of four million copies, while 1981's "Diary Of A Madman" has been certified triple platinum for more three million units sold.

Kerslake and bassist Bob Daisley have been embroiled in a legal battle with the Osbournes for many years, which has taken a massive financial toll on the drummer.

"I went belly-up bankrupt when I lost the case to Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne in the courts," Lee told The Metal Voice. "It cost me hundreds of thousands and I had to sell the house and then started to get ill. I never managed to get back up, but a platinum certification on my wall for these albums would be fantastic and it would say I helped create those albums."


Kerslake and Daisley were fired before "Diary of A Madman" was released and in the process had their names removed from the album. Bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge are credited in the album's liner notes and featured in the photo on the inner sleeve. The tracks played by Kerslake and Daisley on both albums were replaced on a reissue (by current METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo and FAITH NO MORE drummer Mike Bordin) after the duo sued Ozzy and Sharon over royalties. Daisley and Kerslake's original performances were restored in the 2011 reissues of the albums.

Kerslake told The Metal Voice that his prostate cancer has spread to the rest of his body. "I have now have bone cancer, which is a nasty one, so the doctor gave me about eight months to live," he said. "But I've been fighting all the way. Five years ago, they gave me four years to live, and so that gives you an idea."

He added that he was remaining positive. "I'm fighting it and there's no telling what can happen," he said. "They might have a new drug come out, and I'll experiment with it if it keeps me alive… All this time I have had this terminal cancer, but I have defied it because the music kept me fighting."

Kerslake has been working on an autobiographical documentary as well as a new album called "Eleventeen", which he hopes will come out this year.


I’m so glad that Lee Kerslake is enjoying his Blizzard and Diary platinum albums. I hope you feel better.

Love, OzzyPosted by Ozzy Osbourne on Friday, January 18, 2019

During an appearance on SiriusXM Volume's "Debatable", DEF LEPPARD drummer Rick Allen shared with hosts Mark Goodman and Alan Light how excited he is to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame , and how appreciative he is of the fans for voting for him and his bandmates.

"Right at the end of the last tour, I remember sitting in a car with Joe [Elliott, DEF LEPPARD singer] and just going, 'Wow! This is so cool that people are acknowledging us,'" Rick said. "And the amount of e-mails and people reaching out to congratulate — it's a big deal."

DEF LEPPARD beat out Stevie Nicks, Todd Rundgren, THE ZOMBIES and THE CURE to win the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Fan Vote. The British rockers band had 547,647 votes, followed by Stevie Nicks (427,844), Todd Rundgren (365,370), THE ZOMBIES (329,052) and THE CURE (264,443).

According to the Hall's rules, the five top vote-getters in the fan vote are put on a single ballot, which counts no more than a ballot submitted by one of the Hall's 900 or so regular voters, consisting of artists, music historians and music industry insiders. That means that each single fan vote for DEF LEPPARD was worth 0.00182599 actual ballots, as reported by Cleveland.com.

Despite this, Allen told "Debatable": "I'm hoping that the fan vote influenced the decision that was made — because there were so many people that voted for that."

The current lineup of DEF LEPPARD — with the late Steve Clark and original guitarist Pete Willis — will be inducted. So far there's been no announcement as to who will officially induct the band into the Hall.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony with take place on March 29 at Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center. HBO will broadcast a truncated version of the ceremony later in the year.

One of the top-selling rock acts of of all time, DEF LEPPARD has been eligible for the Rock Hall since 2004.

DEF LEPPARD's brand new greatest-hits collection titled "The Story So Far - The Best Of", was released in November.

Vocalist Cristian Machado, lead guitarist Ahrue Luster and rhythm guitarist Diego Verduzco have dismissed reports that they have left ILL NIÑO and have vowed to continue with their own version of the band.

The trio broke their silence one day after drummer Dave Chavarri announced that he and bassist Laz Pina had recruited vocalist Marcos Leal (SHATTERED SUN), lead guitarist Jes DeHoyos (SONS OF TEXAS) and rhythm guitarist Sal Dominguez (UPON A BURNING BODY) to be in their new incarnation of ILL NIÑO. The Chavarri-led ILL NIÑO also issued a new song called "Sangre".

Earlier today, Machado released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "To all our family, friends, and fans, contrary to what you may have heard, Ahrue, Diego and I have NOT left ILL NIÑO and remain very dedicated to the band and all our fans. We're excited to be working on new music, partnerships, and opportunities. We will have more info for you all soon."

Public records indicate that Machado, Luster and Verduzco — comprising the majority of the band's company, ILL NIÑO LLC — filed a trademark application on November 6, 2018 in the United States to gain protection for the ILL NIÑO name. One week later, Pina filed a request for express abandonment "without the authorization, knowledge and consent of the LLC." According to Machado, Luster and Verduzco, the request for express abandonment was submitted in bad faith with the purpose of assisting Chavarri claim sole ownership of ILL NIÑO. Chavarri had filed shortly after the LLC a separate application alleging that he alone is the owner of the mark ILL NIÑO. Machado, Luster and Verduzco have since petitioned the director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to withdraw the express abandonment filed by Pina and reinstate the LLC's original application.

In a statement announcing the launch of his new version of ILL NIÑO, Chavarri said about the split with his former bandmates: "Being in a band is much like being married, and sometimes people grow apart, and no longer see eye to eye, and a separation becomes inevitable."

ILL NIÑO hasn't released a full-length record since 2014's "Till Death, La Familia".

In 2016 and 2017, the band celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of its debut LP, "Revolution Revolución", with European and Australian tour dates.

Former BUTCHER BABIES drummer Chris Warner has joined forces with VALOR & VENGEANCE members Adam Ryan (vocals) and Mike Muenzer (guitar) in a new band called ALPHAMEGA.

ALPHAMEGA is putting the finishing touches on its first recordings, to be released later in the year.

The announcement of ALPHAMEGA's launch comes nearly three years after Warner exited BUTCHER BABIES. Singer Carla Harvey later told Metal Heads Forever that Chris "got engaged and he couldn't spend much time with the band, and we thought it's best for him to leave the band as family and commitments comes first and we didn't stop him from what he wanted."

Photo credit: Robert Downs

The official lyric video for "The Snake (Break Free)", a new song from New York hardcore legends SICK OF IT ALL, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's twelfth studio album, "Wake The Sleeping Dragon!", which was released on November 2 via Century Media. The follow-up to 2014's "The Last Act Of Defiance" was produced by Jerry Farley (EVERY TIME I DIE, DEMON HUNTER) over a two-and-a-half-week period at Nova Studios in Staten Island, New York and was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (MESHUGGAH, THE HAUNTED, MADBALL). The cover artwork was created by Ernie Parada and can be seen below.

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

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

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

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

"Face Of Fear" encapsulates, in grand form, the prior evolution of Edge Of Paradise as the band turns a page to a whole new world of sound, revealed in the coming months of 2019, in the form of their third album, Universe.

Singer, Margarita Monet states; "I want to dedicate this song/video to a childhood friend of mine who took his own life, and to all those who battle their inner demons. There is a lot of hatred in this world, and the wide reach of internet and social media enables and disguises those behind it. This darkness about our society plays a big role on our mental state. If you experience negativity of others, just remember that all actions are rooted in love or fear, and hate is the face of fear! We can not let this effect us, instead we have to break the cycle and rise above it, be good and support one another regardless of race, social status or place of birth and remember that all life is worth fighting for.

Get the single via iTunes, and listen via Spotify. A video for the song can be found below.

Sponsored by Souls Of Rock Foundation, and directed by Val Rassi, the "Face Of Fear" video was filmed on location in the grandiose landscape of Iceland, in hopes that the beauty and magic of the planet we live on, can inspire and empower. The band chose to film in many vast remote locations, regardless of the difficulty in getting there. Both the film crew and band members embraced this challenge. For that reason, the collective decision was made to refrain from making a video full of special effects, and to focus on the massive, awe inspiring Iceland landscape, captured by our drone pilot and photographer Darren Lafreniere!.

Edge Of Paradise moves forward into 2019, featuring new members, both in the band and throughout the production team and are excited to share "Face Of Fear" as the band transitions to the new world of the upcoming album Universe.  

To enter a giveaway for a Face Of Fear 18X24 metal shifting image poster, just leave a comment in the YouTube comment section. Winner will be picked at random and announced January 27th on the band's Facebook page.

Tour dates:

January
31 - ShinyYokoBell - Yokohama, Japan

February
2 - Shimokitazawa Era - Tokyo, Japan

Vocalist Tony Harnell, who's had several stints fronting the Norwegian band, was recently interviewed by Jason "Bakko" Bakken for the Cobras & Fire Podcast, which can be heard below. At the 29:42 mark, Tony gets into how much he hates the band name TNT, an excerpt has been transcribed as follows: 

“When I joined the band in '84, one of the things I really tried to convince them right off the bat, I tried to convince them to change the name. That was one of the first things. They got sick of it because I wouldn’t let it go. I was like really harping on that quite a bit. I really hated the name. I thought it was generic. I thought we’d have trouble with it in the future. And I just didn’t think it represented the music at all. I thought the music was lush and diverse and interesting and I didn’t think that name did our music justice. So, it is what it is.”

On March 22nd, Frontiers Records will release TNT's Encore - Live In Milano on CD, DVD and Blu-Ray. The show was shot at Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan, Italy on April 30th, 2017 and features original vocalist Tony Harnell.

The tracklisting is as follows:

"Give Me A Sign"
"As Far As The Eye Can See"
"She Needs Me"
"Desperate Nights"
"Invisible Noise"
"Child's Play"
"Ironnic" (Ronni solo)
"Forever Shine On"
"Northern Lights"
"Tonight I'm Falling"
"Intuition"
"Seven Seas"
"Listen To Your Heart"
"10000 Lovers"
"Everyone's A Star"

Back in October 2017, TNT issued the following update:

“After a 35-year career... with a few scattered breaks and temporary line-up changes in that time, it is with a heavy heart that the remaining original members of Norwegian rockers TNT have made the decision to move on in separate musical directions.”

The band's management team expressed how extremely difficult this decision was for the band: “There is no easy way to break up a family.”

TNT’s message continues: “Being together for so long... even though separated by an ocean, they became brothers. Ronni (Le Tekro), Tony (Harnell) and Diesel (Dahl) wish nothing but the best for each other and will always be there for each other... although not musically.

TNT will continue with a new vocalist and new release through Frontiers Records to be announced very soon. The band will then commence international touring in early 2018 in support of the new release.

Tony will immediately start work on a new Starbreaker album, its third, also through Frontiers Records. A solo release is also in the works. Tony will start touring worldwide early in the new year, with Starbreaker shows planned after a solo tour.

You will all be hearing great music from them again very soon!!

Takk og god natt!!
Thank you and good night!!
Anata to yoi yoru o origato!!”

While Y&T was on tour in Japan last weekend, Dave & Jill's Meniketti Wines won two awards at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. This was their first-ever wine competition.

Awards:

- 2017 Temptation Rosé won a Silver medal
- 2016 Forever Pinot Noir won a Bronze medal

Enjoy these award-winning wines for yourself. Meniketti Wines only have a few cases left of their 2017 Rosé, so get yours before it sells out. Order Meniketti Wines shipped directly to your door in 43 states.

Y&T performs next on January 25th at Grand Theatre Center For The Arts in Tracy, CA. Find the band's live itinerary here.

Los Angeles-based five-piece, The Crown Remnant, are gearing up for the release of their new album, The Wicked King: Part II, available tomorrow via Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and Bandcamp. The Wicked King: Part II, takes the listener on a dramatic, energetic joyride from start to finish.

In celebration of tomorrow's album release, the band have revealed a new music video for the epic track "Legacy", in which the band shows off their acting chops. Watch the music video below.

The Crown Remnant have mastered the art of melodic, theatrical, yet hard-hitting heavy metal, and the world is about to take notice. Combining a variety of metallic influences ranging from modern metalcore and prog, thrash and more, The Wicked King: Part II acts as the second part of the band's previous release, The Wicked King: Part I. Within the first month of its release, The Crown Remnant garnered over 10,000 streams of their first single cut from The Wicked King: Part I, entitled "Haunted". The band plans to follow suit and beyond with The Wicked King: Part II.

The Wicked King: Part II is loosely based on thematic concepts of oppression and tyranny. Originally recorded as one long album, the band decided to split it into two releases - with The Wicked King: Part II acting as the "darker" side of the two. Part II addresses tales of betrayal, mortality, exploring the afterlife and more. Intertwined within these ideals are scattered lyrics pertaining to the character designed on the front cover of the album: The Wicked King. He remains an everlasting shadow of a forgotten king set on immortality, with his insatiable lust for never-ending life.

The Wicked King: Part II was recorded in multiple studios throughout Southern California, with the help of S&W Audio, and producer/engineer Tyler Ruehl (Noble, At The Skylines, Taipan, Lion I Am). After a rigorous tracking process, the songs were mixed by Robin Leijon (In Dying Arms, Atena, Eternal Void).

The Wicked King: Part II tracklisting:

"Into The Depths"
"The End"
"Legacy"
"Inferno"
"The Eternal Façade"
"As Faith Fades"
"The Wicked King"

"Legacy" video:

"Inferno" guitar playthrough video:

"Inferno" live video:

Behind-The-Scenes Part 1 - "Into The Depths": https://youtu.be/qjSLgL7Wylk

Lineup:

Geordy Shallan - Lead Vocals
Will Ash - Lead Guitar
Jorge Lopez - Rhythm Guitar
Josue Lara - Bass Guitar
Art Ramirez - Drums

In November 2018, US dark melodic metal act Witherfall released their second studio album, A Prelude To Sorrow. Never resting on its laurels, the group led by the creative duo comprised of vocalist Joseph Michael (Sanctuary) and Jake Dreyer (Iced Earth) now announces the Vintage EP, with the CD, LP, and digital release to be available during the upcoming acoustic tour with Sonata Arctica and released via Century Media Records on March 22nd.

Witherfall reveals: “During the sessions for A Prelude To Sorrow, two cover songs were recorded that showed a different side of Witherfall, originally intended to be bonus tracks. A dark and somber version of Tom Petty’s 'I Won’t Back Down' with vocals recorded with Michael Wagener (Metallica, Skid Row) and an epic version of the Helloween classic 'A Tale That Wasn’t Right'. With the announcement of the Sonata Arctica Acoustic Adventures tour, it was decided to release these covers along with a few acoustic renditions of favorite Witherfall tracks.

"Along with new keyboardist Alex Nasla and session percussionist James “Timbali” Cornwell (Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind & Fire ), Joseph Michael, Jake Dreyer and Anthony Crawford retreated to Harmony Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA (Adele, Miley Cyrus) armed with acoustic guitars and bottles of wine to start working on acoustic arrangements for the tour. The sessions were fruitful and two acoustic versions of past Witherfall songs were recorded: a medley of 'Vintage' and 'Nobody Sleeps Here...' (originally on “Nocturnes and Requiems”) and an alternate arrangement of 'Ode to Despair'. Instead of keeping these as secrets and finally making the rare 'The Long Walk Home (December)' also available to an audience outside of Japan, the Vintage EP offers a collection of music that shows another dimension of the Witherfall sound.”

Mixed and mastered by Christopher “Zeuss” Harris and again featuring artwork by Kristian Wåhlin, Vintage will be released as strictly limited, hand-numbered CD digipak, on black and limited coloured vinyl as well as on all digital platforms.

Tracklisting:

Vintage Medley: "Vintage I", "Nobody Sleeps Here…", "Vintage II"
"A Tale That Wasn't Right" (Helloween cover)
"Ode To Despair" (acoustic)
"The Long Walk Home" (December)
"I Won't Back Down" (Tom Petty cover)
"Vintage" (album version)

Witherfall have kicked off the pre-sale for Vintage at www.witherfall.com/merch whereas the worldwide digital and physical pre-order via Century Media Records starts January 25th.

Furthermore, the Vintage EP also features new keyboardist Alex Nasla who will join Witherfall on the group's upcoming European tour kicking off March 13th in Oslo, Norway. An introductory clip can be viewed below:

VIXEN members Roxy Petrucci (drums), Share Ross (bass) and Brittany Denaro (guitar) have vowed to carry on with the band following the recent departure of singer Janet Gardner.

The trio issued the following statement earlier today: "To all our VIXEN friends and fans… Janet felt the time was right to pursue a solo career and devote more time to family.

"We respect Janet's bold and courageous decision to leave VIXEN and we'll always cherish the memories and music we made together as VIXEN.

"Moving forward as a band, we tip our hat to VAN HALEN who has two of the most recognizable frontmen in rock 'n' roll; Diamond David Lee Roth and the Red Rocker Sammy Hagar!

"With our new lead singer, we too will expand upon the VIXEN legacy while remaining true to our musical roots.

"VIXEN already has an amazing 2019 scheduled with a much-sought-after studio album in the works and a full slate of live performances!!!"

"More official updates and announcements forthcoming!!!"

Gardner, who released her debut self-titled solo album in 2017, broke the news of her exit from the group on January 16.

"After much soul searching and many sleepless nights, I have decided that it's time for me to step aside and let Roxy and Share pursue their vision for the future of VIXEN," she wrote.

"VIXEN will always have a very special place in my heart and I am incredibly grateful to have been a part of it," she continued.

"I would like to thank everyone for the amazing support over the years, and as Roxy and Share continue to keep the heart and soul of VIXEN alive and well and I continue on my path, your continued support to all would be greatly appreciated."

Gardner, Petrucci and Ross are considered to be part of VIXEN's classic lineup, along with founding guitarist Jan Kuehnemund, who died of cancer in October 2013.

Gardner contributed lead vocals to VIXEN's most commercially successful studio albums — "Vixen" (1988), "Rev It Up" (1990) and "Tangerine" (1998) — as well as the group's latest release, last year's live album "Live Fire".

A year ago, Gardner underwent surgery to remove blood clots in her brain, a condition known as a subdural hematoma. At the time, she was touring in support of her solo album, which came out in August 2017 via Pavement Entertainment. The disc was a collaboration between the singer, who works days as a part-time dental hygienist, and her husband, guitarist/producer Justin James, who has previously worked with STAIND, COLLECTIVE SOUL and TYKETTO.

While Gardner was recovering from her surgery, VIXEN played a show in Durant, Oklahoma in March 2018 with a fill-in singer, Lorraine Lewis of FEMME FATALE.


To all our Vixen friends and fans...

Janet felt the time was right to pursue a solo career and devote more time to...Posted by Vixen on Friday, January 18, 2019

MetallicaTV has uploaded this professionally-filmed footage of Metallica performing the ...And Justice For All album track, "Harvester Of Sorrow", at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV on November 26th, 2018:

Metallica's tour schedule, which stretches into August 2019, can be found at this location.

Metallica have teamed up with Stone Brewing imprint, Arrogant Consortia, for Enter Night Pilsner. A 10-minute documentary, The Story Of Enter Night Pilsner, is available for streaming below.

"It’s certainly been no secret, but we are beyond excited to make the official announcement and introduction to Enter Night Pilsner, our collaboration with Arrogant Consortia, a Stone Brewing imprint," states a recent message from Metallica. "If you’ve been to one of our recent arena shows, you may have sipped from the black and red cans or even picked up a few in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Now we’re expanding nationwide, and come spring, taking it international covering Europe, Australia, China and beyond!

"Stone Brewing is the perfect partner for us with endless commonalities in our ideals, outlooks, and paths forward. Our views of the worlds that we each inhabit, of creativity and process, and of sense of place in relation to our peers and “The Man” are almost identical. This collaboration is beyond effortless and pure, and we can’t wait to share this incredible beverage with everyone out there. In conjunction with the leadership of Stone, we have participated throughout every step alongside their talented brewing team. From our HQ outside of San Francisco to Stone’s brewery and HQ in San Diego to many beers backstage at shows, the spirit of collaboration was powerful.

"Keep watching for Enter Night Pilsner at our shows as we fire up the tour again later this week and check out the Arrogant Consortia beer finder to locate Enter Night near you.

"Don’t see it in your neighborhood yet? Check back… our friends at Stone are putting those Enter Night cans and kegs in new locations all the time!"

1979 was a monumentous year for British hard rock with the birth of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and the subsequent rise of future giants of the genre. After 40 years and 22 studio album releases, SAXON remains one of those giants of British heavy metal and to prove the fact, the band is back in 2019 to play three iconic shows in iconic venues.

For the first time since the 1980s, SAXON will return to headlining London's legendary Hammersmith Odeon and Manchester Apollo, together with their largest Scottish show to date at Glasgow's Braehead Arena in October 2019, with a mega show featuring staples of SAXON shows past, the castle set in its enormity together with the classic Eagle Lighting rig!

In addition to the announcement of these shows, the band will release another chapter in the classic "The Eagle Has Landed Live" series of albums with "The Eagle Has Landed 4", out on general release on August 2 via Silver Lining Music. Renamed "The Eagle Has Landed 40" to commemorate the anniversary, the album will be a double CD set (available on other formats including a special box set) containing 40 songs spanning the bands career.

The tour dates are as follows:

October 18 - Glasgow, Braehead Arena

October 19 - London, Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith

October 20 - Manchester, O2 Apollo

To add to an already exciting spectacle, very special guest acts have been included on all shows to make these events no hard rock fan can bear to miss.

For London and Manchester, a four-band bill will include Swiss legends KROKUS who will play their first and only shows in the U.K. for many years together with friends and NWOBHM icons GIRLSCHOOL and DIAMOND HEAD. KROKUS have decided to retire after this year, so these will also be the band's last ever shows in the U.K.

Glasgow will feature special guests BLACK STAR RIDERS, fresh after the release of pending album No 4, together with GIRLSCHOOL opening the show.

Says SAXON frontman Biff Byford: "We are very happy to be celebrating 40 years of SAXON by playing these great venues — to be back at Hammersmith and Manchester Apollo is fantastic and to see all our Scottish friends at Braehead Arena just tops it off! The show will be the biggest and best since the classic era of the band and the set list will be…. Well let's say we'll start with 'Wheels Of Steel' straight into 'Strong Arm Of The Law' into 'Denim & Leather' … that good enough for you?"

KROKUS's Chris Von Rohr adds: "We all have very good memories about the British fans — and SAXON — long stick will go boom! Together we gonna set the damn roof on fire!"

Ricky Warwick from BLACK STAR RIDERS comments: "We are absolutely delighted to be special guests to our good friends SAXON at their Braehead Arena show. Glasgow is very dear to us and I personally … have a huge history with the City! Can't wait to see you all. This will be epic!"

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 25 at 10 a.m.

As a special offer to SAXON fans, the band have an exclusive pre-sale offer for "The Eagle Has Landed 40" from Friday, January 18 at 9 a.m. U.K. time.

Fans who pre-order the album before 8 a.m. on Friday, January 25 will receive exclusive U.K. tour ticket pre-sale access with all copies of the album including an exclusive replica of the band's Donington Monsters Of Rock 1982 set list hand signed by Biff Byford — ready to frame and display!

Metal Blade Records welcomes Tanith to its worldwide roster. Since the release of their debut 7" "Citadel" in February 2018, Brooklyn, New York's Tanith has garnered a swift rise of interest. Formed between a group of musicians and friends, this US/UK collaboration features the stellar musicianship of Russ Tippins (guitar, vocals) of Satan fame, this time around sharing lead vocals with Cindy Maynard (bass, vocals) and lead guitar with Charles Newton. The lineup is completed by Keith Robinson on drums.

Tanith comments: "It is a great honor to be working with Metal Blade. We started this band as friends, trying to make something new and exciting. Just one year later, we find ourselves signed to a label that we grew up with."

While the music is evocative of 70s-era bands like Blue Öyster Cult and Wishbone Ash, the band itself conveys a signature sound, mixing hard rock and folk elements. The dual lead voices and harmonies are warm and melodic, the twin guitars anthemic and soaring, all grounded by Robinson's adept drumming.

Their first release, "Citadel", was recorded 100% analog from tape to mixing to cutting the master direct to lathe, making it a very special record.

According to Russ, "for some time now, I've wanted to make music modelled on the organic sounding bands of the early 1970s. In particular, I wanted to record it entirely on analog tape, the way all music used to be made."

Tracked over two days by Hugh Pool at Excello Studios in Brooklyn, NY, Citadel is the sound of a full band playing live to 2" tape, with none of today's digital editing fixes. The 7" vinyl release of "Citadel" sold out in 10 weeks.

Since then, Hoove Child Records and Antheos Records have both put out cassette versions of the single, while Tanith made live appearances across the US, culminating at the Frost and Fire Festival in Ventura, California in 2018.

Following the initial release and tour, the band has been writing to record enough songs for a full-length. Fans can expect this new Tanith album in spring 2019, so stay tuned for more news coming soon.

(Photo - Chris Shonting)

Malevolent Creation have released an unboxing video for their new album, The 13th Beast, out in Europe on January 18th, and in North America on March 1st. Watch below.

The North American edition of the record - the group's first since the passing of original vocalist Bret Hoffman, who died from colon cancer earlier this year - is available now for pre-order in both CD digipak and exclusive limited-edition Silver colored vinyl (300 copies) and cassette (100 copies), via M-Theory Audio.

The band - who's new lineup consists of Phil Cincilla (drums), Josh Gibbs (bass), Phil Fasciana (guitars) and vocalist/guitarist Lee Wollenschlaeger (Throne Of Nails, Imperial Empire) - premiered a music video for the song “Decimated” last week. Watch the clip below.

Musically, The 13th Beast expands upon 2014’s Dead Man’s Path, yet also incorporates a brutality known from albums such as The Will To Kill and Eternal, which is further accentuated by Wollenschlaeger’s understandable yet deeper vocal tone and songwriting contributions. Just like Dead Man’s Path, the record offers artwork by German Latorres, and was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound.

“We’re pleased to bring you the latest domestic release from a death metal institution,” states M-Theory Audio founder Marco Barbieri. “My experience with Malevolent Creation goes back to reviewing their demos in my fanzine back in college. I have closely followed their career ever since and even worked with the band previously while employed by Century Media. Everyone had concerns about the band’s future after Bret’s passing but I can say the group has laid down another solid and punishing slab worthy of their name.”

The 13th Beast will be released in Europe on January 18th as black and limited coloured LP plus 4-page LP booklet, CD, and digital album - pre-sales are available here.

Limited colored vinyl editions available via the links below:

- 100x clear / 200x transparent red - CMDistro
- 200x transparent green - Nuclear Blast mailorder

The 13th Beast tracklisting:

"End The Torture"
"Mandatory Butchery"
"Agony For The Chosen"
"Canvas Of Flesh"
"Born Of Pain"
"The Beast Awakened"
"Decimated"
"Bleed Us Free"
"Knife At Hand"
"Trapped Inside"
"Release The Soul"

"Decimated" video:

"Mandatory Butchery" lyric video:

Malevolent Creation lineup:

Lee Wollenschlaeger - vocals / guitars
Phil Fasciana - guitars
Phil Cincilla - drums
Josh Gibbs - bass

Sacramento, California rockers TESLA will release their eighth studio album, "Shock", on March 8 via UMC. Produced and co-written by DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen, the follow-up to June 2014's "Simplicity" is available on CD, digital, black vinyl, and limited-edition translucent blue vinyl formats. Fans who pre-order the album will receive the album title track is an instant-grat free download.

"Shock" track listing:

01. You Won't Take Me Alive

02. Taste Like

03. We Can Rule The World

04. Shock

05. Love Is A Fire

06. California Summer Song

07. Forever Loving You

08. The Mission

09. Tied To The Tracks

10. Afterlife

11. I Want Everything

12. Comfort Zone

Collen previously co-wrote and produced the TESLA song "Save That Goodness", which was released in August 2016 and included on the "Mechanical Resonance Live!" album.

TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon told The Metal Voice about "Shock": "It definitely has an '80s kind of polished production... but there is no real direction. I always quote '[This Is] Spinal Tap', when Nigel [Tufnel] says, 'Changing our style is our style.' We don't really pigeonhole ourselves into one sound. We've got elements of metal, country, Americana, a lot of these different directions... This new album, it has the big production, but every song sounds different. Each guy in the band has a different influence. I'm influenced by southern rock a lot, so you're going to hear some slide guitar riffs on there, but there's also, like, [bassist] Brian Wheat, who's influenced by QUEEN and THE BEATLES, so you're going to hear these big Beatle vocals. Phil Collen obviously, you're going to hear some DEF LEPPARD-style influence... It's a combo pizza, man. It's got everything on it."

Regarding Collen's involvement in "Shock", Frank said: "Phil came to us and wanted to produce an album for us... Phil really, really helped us. I'll be honest — we were at a low point after we did [2014's] 'Simplicity'. We were really frustrated, and we were probably not going to make another album. Phil had a bunch of song ideas, and a lot of the writing on the new album is co-written with Phil. He interjected a lot of positive energy for us and helped us get back on our feet. He's bringing production quality and details that we would have not done and haven't done in the past. Some fans may not like it; some fans are probably going love it. This is something that we wanted to try, we've never worked like this before. Mutt Lange is a producer that really has techniques that are very detailed in the studio, and Phil obviously has experienced all that, and he brought that type of approach into making a TESLA record, which we'd never done before. There's a lot of killer sonics. The sound of this new record is really... I don't know how to describe it. It's just awesome; it's produced; and, like, really powerful."

TESLA's current lineup includes four of the five original members: Jeff Keith (vocals), Frank Hannon (guitars), Brian Wheat (bass) and Troy Luccketta (drums). Guitarist Dave Rude joined in 2006 as the replacement for Tommy Skeoch.