Canadian vocalist Nick Walsh (Famous Underground, Classic Albums Live, Slik Toxik) has teamed up once again with Israeli guitarist Avi Rosenfeld, this time for an original song called "Serenade To The Heroes". Check it out below.

Rosenfeld: "From the album Very Heepy Very Purple VIII, my 39th album. Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Rainbow, Dio, Iron Maiden and other classic bands had a huge influence on my music, and together with amazing musicians from all over the world we've created this special album. Hard rock music is full with passion and power, drama and feel. It can tell a story." 

"Serenade To The Heroes" features:

Avi Rosenfeld - guitar, music, lyrics 
Nick Walsh - vocals 
Thomas Lofholm - drums 
George Schiessl - bass 
Alf Shumacher - Hammond 

Very Heepy Very Purple VIII is available for free download (or name your price) at this location.

Walsh and Rosenfeld previously worked together on the song "Battles Rain", which appeared on Rosenfeld's album Very Heepy Very Purple VI in 2017.

Sliptrick Records has announced the signing of Greece’s Simplefeast.

Simplefast is a modern metal/thrash metal band from Athens, Greece. They were formed in late 2011 and after various changes in their line-up, the band began to gig in March 2012. Over the years, they have played numerous shows and supported well-known bands such as the American metal band Defeater and the Greek metal bands Bio-Cancer, Chronosphere, Exarsis and Sonata Antartika.

In 2014, they put out their first independent release with the mini-album Cursed which consisted of six tracks. On May 19th, 2017 they released their second album Apocalypse, through AMAdea Music which gained excellent reviews and currently stands as the best-selling metal record on the AMAdea roster.

From May to December 2017, Simplefast performed around Central Europe, the Balkans and Greece as part of the 1st leg of the Apocalypse Over Europe Tour and they band will continue with the second and third leg of the tour during 2018. On touring breaks the group plan to enter the studio and record their 3rd, as yet untitled album, which is due for release via Sliptrick Records in early to mid-2019.

The modern prog metal band Avelion have released the video-clip for the new single song "Echoes And Fragments", remixed by The Algorithm.

“Echoes And Fragments” was featured on Avelion’s last album, Illusion Of Transparency, released April 2017.

Avelion aims to overpower genre classification thereby creating a new form: modern metal mixed with progressive influences and melody becomes momentum and expression as a whole which reaches the listener directly.

Find the band on Facebook.

Avelion is:

William Verderi - Lead Vocals
Oreste Giacomini - Keyboards and Programming
Leonardo Freggi - Guitars
Danilo Arisi - Bass
Alessandro Ponzi - Drums

Saate has released their second single “Sovereign Plea” through Rockshots Records.

Saate is an upcoming metal band hailing from Sweden, formed by Stefan Rådlund (Guitars) and Robert Ahlenius (Bass) from power/prog metal band Binary Creed. Right after the release of Binary Creed’s latest studio album A Battle Won, released by Rockshots Records in late 2016, Stefan began to compose new music with the talented singer Rickard Thelin, frontman of a young and promising Swedish band called Summoned Tied. Pretty soon the band forged its own style: a heavy, fresh and modern sound with a traditional metal feeling.

“The Conjuring” video:

Saate is:
Rickard Thelin (Vocals) 
Stefan Rådlund (Guitar)
Robert Ahlenius (Bass)
Molgan (Drums)

Composer Vikram Shankar, who recently joined Redemption as their keyboardist, unveiled Lux Terminus in 2017, an instrumental progressive rock band influenced by metal, jazz fusion, and cinematic music. They have checked in with the following update:

"We are honored to announce that legendary vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering, Devin Townsend Project, Ayreon, VUUR, The Gentle Storm, etc.) will appear on our debut record, due for release later this year!"

Lux Terminus recently announced that Dutch guitar wizard Timo Somers (Delain, Vengeance, Arrow Haze) and cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne (Leprous, Kamancello, Musk Ox) will also appear on their debut record. 

U.K. hard rock sensation ASKING ALEXANDRIA has released the video for its hit single "Alone In A Room". Directed by Sumerian Films' Steven Contreras, this video marks the second chapter — the prequel — of the trilogy that began with "Into The Fire" last year, from the band's fifth, self-titled album.


"'Alone In A Room' is one of my favorite songs I have ever written!" says founder and guitarist Ben Bruce. "We are so excited to finally be able to share with you, the long-awaited prequel to 'Into The Fire'! The story continues, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all so much for helping our new album continue to grow into what we feel is our most exciting and daring record to date!"


"Alone In A Room" spent five weeks on the BBC Radio One playlist in the U.K. and is currently spending its fifth consecutive week in the U.S. rock radio Top 40 where it continues to climb.


ASKING ALEXANDRIA recently finished a mammoth five-month co-headline tour with BLACK VEIL BRIDES, including a main-stage appearance at Rock On The Range festival, and is now gearing up for a European festival run which includes an appearance at the U.K.'s prestigious Download festival next month. They return to North America for more festival appearances over the summer, including a handful of special guest slots on the main stage of the last ever Vans Warped Tour.


"Asking Alexandria" is out now via Sumerian Records.

The song "Crimson Bow And Arrow" from Dutch symphonic metal giants EPICA can be streamed below. It is taken from the band's"Attack On Titan", which will be made available outside of Japan on July 20 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Last December, Dutch symphonic metal giants EPICA surprised their fans with a very special covers EP titled "Epica Vs. Attack On Titan". The release, which was only available in Japan, featured metal versions of the theme songs from the highly successful manga-series-turned-worldwide-aired anime "Attack On Titan".

EPICA keyboardist Coen Janssen comments: "The 'Attack On Titan' EP is a project very close to my heart. More than ever, I was involved in arranging and producing and I am very proud of the result! Very cool to see how these Japanese anime songs turned into EPICA songs more and more every step of the way!!! I'm very excited that our 'Attack On Titan' EP will be available outside of Japan!"

"Epica Vs. Attack On Titan" was recorded during the summer of 2017 at Sandlane Recording Facilities by Joost Van Den Broek. The original songs, which were influenced by the music of EPICA, were composed by Revo of popular Japanese band LINKED HORIZON. For the EP, the tracks were adapted by EPICA and produced by Joost Van Den Broek. The choir arrangements and scoring were completed by keyboardist Coen Janssen who also handled the orchestral arrangements with Joost Van Den Broek.

"Epica Vs. Attack On Titan" track listing:

01. Crimson Bow And Arrow

02. Wings Of Freedom

03. If Inside These Walls Was A House

04. Dedicate Your Heart!

05. Crimson Bow And Arrow (Instrumental)

06. Wings Of Freedom (Instrumental)

07. If Inside These Walls Was A House (Instrumental)

08. Dedicate Your Heart! (Instrumental)

Avantasia guitarist Oliver Hartmann's new album, Hand On The Wheel, is now available on CD, vinyl and as a download at this location. An official album trailer is available below.

The complete album tracklist is as follows:

The new single "Simple Man" featuring Eric Martin of Mr Big and The Vardigans has been released, the official video is below. The song is taken from the new hartmann album, Hands On The Wheel, due out on May 18th. It is available now via his online shop here.

Following up the worldwide top 10 video chart success "Act I", former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen and earMUSIC have announced the release of the long-awaited follow-up, "Act II", this summer.


Filmed during Tarja's world tour "The Shadow Shows", during which the influential heavy rock singer circled the world 7.5 times with over 300,000 km travelled and played over 200 shows in 40 countries in front of 1 million people, "Act II" consists of the singer's very intimate 75-minute set filmed and recorded live at the Metropolis Studio in London, U.K. and the breathtaking live performance of one of her shows in Milan, Italy, and previously unreleased interviews and photo galleries.


The theatrical rock adventure "Act II" combines two incredible-yet-slightly-different live performances on video: The first chapter, "Metropolis Alive", has been filmed two months prior to the release of Tarja's 2016 success "The Shadow Self". Twenty winners from all over Europe were lucky to witness Tarja's intimate-yet-rocking set at renowned Metropolis Studios in London, where the singer performed songs from her then unreleased album — for the first time in front of an audience.


"Act II" is the second chapter and was recorded on November 29, 2016 at the magnificent Teatro della Luna Allago in Milan, Italy and includes numerous hits from all four Tarja albums such as "Innocence", "Die Alive", "Until My Last Breath", as well as an incredible cover of MUSE's classic "Supremacy". That night's setlist also enchants the soprano's long-time fans with a medley consisting of the distinctive NIGHTWISH evergreens: "Ever Dream", "Slaying The Dreamer" and "The Riddler". It was all topped off with a remarkable acoustic set, which presented Tarja classics in a brand new way.


Even though the shows deliberately differ in look, sound, approach to the music and adrenaline, both have one thing in common: from the very first to the very last tune, the state of the art production displays Tarja's energetic performance and her graceful, charming presence.


"Act II" will be released on July 27 on earMUSIC as 2CD digipak, 3LP gatefold (180g, black), DVD, Blu-ray, limited mediabook 2CD+2BD (including two full live shows filmed at Hellfest in France and Woodstock Festival in Poland as bonus) and digital.

"Act I", Tarja's first-ever live release, charted Top 10 all over Europe as well as almost all over the world, with a sensational No. 5 in Germany. The video version even remained for over two months at the peak of the Finnish music video charts.

German metallers POWERWOLF will release their seventh album, "The Sacrament Of Sin", on July 20 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2015's "Blessed & Possessed" was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with KREATOR, DRAGONFORCE, SEPULTURA and PARADISE LOST, among others.

The official video for the song "Demons Are A Girl's Best Friend" can be seen below.

POWERWOLF guitarist Matthew Greywolf told Overdrive about "The Sacrament Of Sin": "I would say the approach was to expand the territory a bit. I think 'The Sacrament Of Sin' has become the most diverse POWERWOLF album with the most variation in the music and a lot of new elements in our sound. At the same time, I think it's become a pretty typical POWERWOLF album in terms of atmosphere and power and character."

"The Sacrament Of Sin" also contains POWERWOLF's first ever attempt at a power ballad in the shape of a song called "Where The Wild Wolves Have Gone".

"The idea of writing a proper ballad was growing for a lot of years," Greywolf told Overdrive. "I think it was some years ago that on one of the tours, I was confessing to Attila that I was a big fan of those classic rock and metal ballads and he was confessing the same, so we agreed that one day we would write a ballad, no matter what. But it never worked in the past. The fact that we did as a part of 'Blessed & Possessed' showed us we could go for that, and that we were ready for it. Because, I mean, back then we covered 'Edge Of Thorns' from SAVATAGE, where we had those verses based on piano and vocals; and that was the first time we tried that, and it sounded pretty great! So when we started writing 'The Sacrament Of Sin', I had that in mind and I was quite confident that we could realize that long-planned ballad this time. Luckily, it all came together very well and I think, for me personally, it's one of the highlights of the album, definitely."

"The Sacrament Of Sin" track listing:

01. Fire & Forgive

02. Demons Are A Girl's Best Friend

03. Killers With The Cross

04. Incense And Iron

05. Where The Wild Wolves Have Gone

06. Stossgebet

07. Nightside Of Siberia

08. The Sacrament Of Sin

09. Venom Of Venus

10. Nighttime Rebel

11. Fist By Fist (Sacralize Or Strike)

12. Midnight Madonna (bonus track; only available at EMP and Napalm Records mailorder)

POWERWOLF will embark on the European "Wolfsnächte Tour 2018" in the fall. Swedish melodic metal sensation AMARANTHE and Germany's heavy/glam high flyers KISSIN‘ DYNAMITE will be joining in as special guests.

After 13 years it’s here – the third Dyecrest album Are You Entertained? is released via Inverse Records.

The 13 track album includes previously released singles "First Born Angel", opening track "Fading/Reaching", and "Red Alert" featuring Soilwork singer Björn "Speed" Strid on guest vocals. Strid's voice can be heard on total five tracks on the album, as the band was in a desperate need of a singer while recording the new album.

"We started to record the album with our original singer. On the recording phase however we noticed that the more aggressive parts didn’t work out the way we would have wanted," the band comments.

Dyecrest got a chance to get Strid and Elisa de Boer to sing. Then it took a while that band hooked up with singer Mikael Salo from Helsinki who was interested to try it out with Dyecrest as a lead singer.

"Mikael’s talent became clear to us  really soon. In future the band doesn't need a guest vocalist just to get more aggressive approach on the vocals." 

Are You Entertained? was produced by Jussi Jauhiainen and recorded by Teemu Velin, who both are also familiar working as the background team for Finnish metal act Stam1na. The album was mixed by Miitri Aaltonen and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox studios. 

"Definitely the best Dyecrest album!"

Dyecrest is:

Mikael Salo – vocals
Matti Pasanen – guitar, backing vocals
Henri Arola – guitar, backing vocals
Pirkka Ohlis – guitar, keyboards backing vocals
Jukka Matilainen – bass
Niko Takala – drums
 
For information and updates on Dycrest go to this location.

After four years of silence, the Arctic black-metallers Iskald finally return to the battlefield with more fierce and power than ever before. Iskald will release their fifth studio album Innhøstinga (Norwegian: ‘the Harvest’) on August 31st.

With this album, Iskald continues their art of cold, intense, yet melodic black metal. A video for the first single “The Atrocious Horror” can be seen below.

The band has commented: "Finally the day has come and with great pride we will raise our glasses and present Innhøstinga to you, our first album in over 4 years. Thanks for waiting, and thanks for your passion and dedication. We promise it was worth the wait. Enjoy our new single and music video dropping soon, while bracing for the harvest to come...As you sow so shall you reap!"

Tracklisting:

“The Atrocious Horror”
“No Amen”
“Offer Av Livet”
“Even Dawn Drew Twilight”
“Resting…Not In Peace”
“De Siste Vintre”
“From Traitor To Beast”
“Lysene Som Forsvant”
“Innhøstinga”

“The Atrocious Horror” video:

On May 18th, King Diamond released LP reissues of the classic albums Abigail, Fatal Portrait, and Them via Metal Blade Records. Available as 180g picture discs, these exclusive editions can be purchased now at this location. A full stream of Fatal Portrait can be found below.

"You can spiral yourself into darkness with these classic King Diamond albums, or you can exhibit them on your wall like I will. Either way, enjoy." - King

On June 15th, King Diamond will release LP reissues of the classic albums Conspiracy, The Dark Sides, and The Eye via Metal Blade Records. Available as 180g picture discs, these exclusive editions can be pre-ordered here.

"You can spiral yourself into darkness with these classic King Diamond albums, or you can exhibit them on your wall like I will. Either way, enjoy." - King

The Dark Sides tracklisting:

Side A
"Halloween"
"Them"
"No Presents For Christmas"

Side B
"Shrine"
"The Lake"
"Phone Call"

Conspiracy tracklisting:

Side A
"At The Graves"
"Sleepless Nights"
"Lies"
"A Visit From The Dead"

Side B
"The Wedding Dream"
"Amon Belongs To Them"
"Something Weird"
"Victimized"
"Let It Be Done"
"Cremation"

The Eye tracklisting:

Side A
"Eye Of The Witch"
"The Trial (Chambre Ardente)"
"Burn"
"Two Little Girls"
"Into The Convent"

Side B
"Father Picard"
"Behind These Walls"
"The Meetings"
"Insanity"
"1642 Imprisonment"
"The Curse"

Italian folk metal Kanseil have released a video for “Pojat”, a track from their second full-length album, Fulìsche, out on May 25th in Europe and June 8th in North America via Rockshots Records. Watch below, and pre-order the album here.

Formed in 2010, the band are a 21st century version of their land’s rich-story telling tapestry, they are bards with instruments, musical archaeologists, excavating the sounds and stories of their country’s past to create something new, beguiling and beautiful.

Inspired by Eluveitie, Skyforger, Arkona, Agalloch and Alcest plus having performed with the likes of Korpiklaani, At The Gates, Enslaved, Folkstone, Manegarm, Arkona, and Omnia, Kanseil will be releasing their second full-length Fulìsche in 2018 on May 25th for Europe and June 8th for North America. The album follows their 2015 debut Doin Earde released on Nemeton Records.

The band comments: “'Fulische' are the sparks of a fire moving away from the element they were born from, they shine in their own glow and you can watch them for a few instants before they disappear forever in the dark…In the same way mankind’s stories live in the collective memory until they take flight and you have a limited time to look at them and catch their beauty before they’re lost.”

Tracklisting:

“Ah, Canseja!”
“La Battaglia Del Solstizio”
“Ander De La Mate”
“Pojat”
“Orcolat”
“Serravalle”
“Vallòrch”
“Il Lungo Viaggio”
“Densilòc”

"Pojat" video:

“Densilòc” lyric video:

Kanseil is:

Andrea Facchin (Lead Vocals)
Federico Grillo (Guitars)
Davide Mazzucco (Guitars, Bouzouki)
Dimitri De Poli (Bass)
Luca Rover (Drums)
Luca Zanchettin (Bagpipes, Kantele)
Stefano (Herian) Da Re (Whistles, Rauschpfeife)

Atrocity's 's new album Okkult II will be released on July 6th via Massacre Records. Streaming below is a snippet of the new song “Gates To Oblivion”, featuring former Morgoth singer Marc Grewe:

The new album is a brutal and dark masterpiece. The production was once again handled by producer and Atrocity main man Alex Krull (Mastersound Studio), who made sure that the songs are as heavy as possible, while the atmosphere and energy of the songs let the listener immediately dive into the occult lyrical concept. The fantastic artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann / Heilemania (Lindemann, Pain, Kamelot, Epica).

Atrocity previously revealed the news that the two death metal icons and old friends, LG Petrov of Entombed A.D. and Marc Grewe (ex-Morgoth), have contributed guest vocals to the album.

Okkult II will be available as a limited edition vinyl LP as well as a limited edition mediabook with a different artwork as well as a bonus CD that includes all songs as an instrumental version. You can pre-order it here.

A very special record release show is set to take place at the Sunstorm Open Air in Nordheim, Germany, on July 6th. More news to come soon.

Jewel Case/LP tracklisting:

"Masters Of Darkness”
“Shadowtaker”
“Bloodshed And Triumph”
“Spell Of Blood”
“Menschenschlachthaus”
“Gates To Oblivion” (Feat. Marc Grewe)
“Infernal Sabbath”
“All Men Must Die”
“Phantom Ghost”
“Devil's Covenant” (Feat. LG Petrov)
“The Golden Dawn”

Mediabook with Bonus CD tracklisting:

“Masters Of Darkness”
“Shadowtaker”
“Bloodshed And Triumph”
“Spell Of Blood”
“Menschenschlachthaus”
“Gates To Oblivion” (Feat. Marc Grewe)
“Infernal Sabbath”
“All Men Must Die”
“Phantom Ghost”
“Devil's Covenant” (Feat. LG Petrov)
“The Golden Dawn”

Bonus CD:

“Masters Of Darkness” (Instrumental Version)
“Shadowtaker” (Instrumental Version)
“Bloodshed And Triumph” (Instrumental Version)
“Spell Of Blood” (Instrumental Version)
“Menschenschlachthaus” (Instrumental Version)
“Gates To Oblivion” (Instrumental Version)
“Infernal Sabbath” (Instrumental Version)
“All Men Must Die” (Instrumental Version)
“Phantom Ghost” (Instrumental Version)
“Devil's Covenant” (Instrumental Version)
“The Golden Dawn” (Instrumental Version)

"Menschenschlachthaus" snippet:

"Spell Of Blood" snippet:

“Masters Of Darkness”:

(Photo - Stefan Heilemann / Heilemania)

Suicide Silence is one of the most well known names in the death metal world. The band released their debut record The Cleansing back in 2007 that catapulted the heavy hitters into the scene. Denver based metalcore band, The Anchor (Manic Kat Records), pays homage to original SS vocalist, Mitch Lucker, in their cover of the track.

The Anchor is gaining notoriety for the incredible vocals of Linzey Rae, who proves yet again that she can in fact "hang with the boys" when it comes to intense low vocals and growls. The band is not afraid to push boundaries with their "Scream It Like A Girl" series of videos. Choosing this cover was unanimous as it highlights Rae's abilities and versatility in a predominately male dominated genre. Women in metal are continuing to break stereotypes and show the metal scene their creativity and talents.

Following the success of their latest Billboard charting EP, Make It Last, The Anchor has been busy behind the scenes with new music and getting ready to head out on their first ever East Coast tour. Teaming up with VRSTY, the tour kicks off June 1st in South Bend, IN and ends with a hometown show in Denver on June 17th.

The Make It Last EP is available on all streaming platforms including Spotify with physical merch at Big Cartel.

In the video below from Sweetwater Sound, Jordan Rudess, "Best Keyboardist Of All Time", defends his title in an epic keyboard battle against an unlikely opponent in this Sweetwater exclusive worldwide key-off.

Mascot Label Group recently announce the signing of Jordan Rudess. He is best known as the keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire for platinum-selling Grammy-nominated Dream Theater.

Rudess’ remarkable career began at the age of nine, when he entered The Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division for classical piano training. By his late teens he had grown increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music, and against the counsel of his parents and tutors, he turned away from classical piano and tried his hand as a solo progressive rock keyboardist. After performing in various groups during the 1980s, he was invited to join The Dixie Dregs, with whom he performed until joining Dream Theater in January 1999.

He has been the full-time keyboardist with Dream Theater since the recording of 1999’s Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. He has pursued numerous collaborations and solo projects throughout his career, beginning with his solo debut Listen (1993). A relentless innovator, Rudess released All That Is Now (2013), a solo acoustic piano recording which works interactively with his app, “Jordan Rudess Explores” and his orchestral album, Explorations which features a 50 piece orchestra. The Unforgotten Path (2015) was a collection of original tracks as well as a collection of acoustic piano covers of songs that have inspired his musical life.

He owns the successful App development company Wizdom Music, which has developed numerous award-winning apps. He is also Chief Music Officer at CME Music, creators of the acclaimed XKey mobile keyboard, as well as the Director of Music Experience for the London-based technology company, Roli Labs, creators of the Seaboard and is an active Artist in Residence at Stanford University’s CCRMA (Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics).

"With the Mascot Label Group I have found the perfect home for myself and my music,” Rudess said. "The Mascot Team are bright, dedicated, inspired and are clearly passionate about music and the industry. They create a climate of respect and support for the artist and I couldn’t be more excited about becoming a Mascot artist."

“Jordan is an incredible virtuoso performer and artist,” said Mascot Label Group owner Ed Van Zijl. "I have admired him for a long time and we go back years. He is an exceptional and forward thinking musician and I am very happy that he is putting his faith in us with his new solo album, which will be released on our Music Theories brand.”

(Photo - Elena Arzani)

The SF-Marin Food Bank got a helping hand Wednesday when Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich presented the food bank with a check for $5,000, from the band's foundation All Within My Hands.

But that wasn't all, reports ABC7News, the heavy metal star also jumped in to do some heavy lifting, sorting fruit to be distributed by the food bank. It's a mission the band hopes to spread worldwide.

"Our primary thing for the last year has been, all over where Metallica goes to, to support local food banks. We write checks in every city. We just played a 39-day European tour where we wrote checks to the local food banks," says Ulrich.

Read more and watch video footage at ABC7News.

Says Metallica: "A huge thank you to all of the Metallica fans who participated in our very first All Within My Hands Foundation Day of Service at food banks across the nation. We encourage all of the Metallica family to volunteer your time whenever you can as the good people who run these food banks always need assistance.

Visit FeedingAmerica.org (Feeding America) to find a local food bank in your community in the US and, for those living abroad, ask around to locate a food bank near you to lend a hand. Thank you all for making this happen."

US-based death/black metal act Cast The Stone, comprising original members Mark Kloeppel (Misery Index, Scour), Derek Engemann (ex-Cattle Decapitation, Scour), Jesse Schobel (Legend, ex-Scour) and vocalist Andy Huskey, will re-emerge on August 31st with their new EP on Agonia Records. The band's new EP, titled Empyrean Atrophy, features cover artwork by Gary Ronaldson of Bite Radius Designs (Primordial, Kreator, Napalm Death).

First formations of Cast The Stone began in 2002, long before its protagonists departed for their better known metal-scene mainstays, including death metal bands Misery Index, Cattle Decapitation, and Scour with Phil Anselmo on vocals. While such ties leave a clear mark, Cast The Stone emerge not as some metal supergroup, but as a project of the original and purest intent of its membership.

Each of Cast The Stone members is involved in writing music, and each has varying tastes. But they all seem to have one acquired taste in common: an appetite for American and Swedish death metal. On Empyrean Atrophy, one can distinctly hear sounds similar to Dismember, Grave, At The Gates, and other proponents of the genre. There are also artisan elements one could liken to more dark and progressive Swedish acts such as Opeth, Edge Of Sanity and Dissection. Perhaps this reason alone, Dan Swanö was a clear choice for production (having produced or had been a member of some of the aforementioned bands).

Hybridizing the dark ferocity of Swedish death metal through a lens of American brutality, Cast The Stone hits a creative stride with Empyrean Atrophy. Guitarist Mark Kloeppel commented, "The band's sound is a testament to an enduring spirit that’s driven us to return to our most organic influences, merge them together, incorporate disparate elements, and forge our own sound. Each person has a distinct sound unto themselves, so it's really cool how smooth and cohesive this stuff comes across. You can immediately hear how different this is from the other things we've been involved in, yet it's still very true to our individual styles. Our bassist Derek progressively weaves my guitars and Jesse's uber-creative drumming style together in a way that only he can. This is all crowned off by Andy Huskey's crazy death metal vocals which are... well, just listen."

Tracklisting:

"As The Dead Lie"
"The Burning Horizon"
"Standing In The Shadows"
"A Plague Of Light"
"Empyrean Atrophy"
"Jesusatan"

Empyrean Atrophy will be available on:

- Digipack CD
- Black LP
- White LP (Bandcamp exclusive)
- Purple Splatter LP (Agonia Records Webshop exclusive)
- Digital files

Pre-orders and the first single are scheduled to be released on June 7th.

Lineup:

Andrew Huskey - vocals
Mark Kloeppel - guitars
Derek Engemann - bass
Jesse Schobel - drums

Avantgarde death metal outfit The Antichrist Imperium are set to release their sophomore album, Volume II Every Tongue Shall Praise Satan, on June 29th via Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings. The lead track "The Dreadful Hosanna" is available for streaming below.

Volume II Every Tongue Shall Praise Satan will be released on CD, vinyl, cassette and in digital format. The vinyl version will be available on limited white (100 copies) as well as standard black vinyl.

Pre-orders for vinyl, cassette and digipak CD are available now from the Apocalyptic Witchcraft webstore, links for digital will follow shortly.

(CD artwork)

 

(vinyl artwork)

 

Volume II Every Tongue Shall Praise Satan tracklisting:

"The Dreadful Hosanna"
"Death Ritual"
"Draw Down The Moon"
"Liturgy Of The Iconoclast / Blood Sacrifice"
"Ceremonial Suicide Rites"
"Golgothian Hieros Gamos"
"Sermon Of Small Faith"

"The Dreadful Hosanna":

The Antichrist Imperium's second album presents the quartet with a sound that is unique and well established away from any of the groups other projects, all the while bringing musical composition to this album aiding it to be as diverse as it is unrelenting.

Once again, embalmer of the dead, Matt Wilcock (Abramelin, ex-Akercocke, ex-The Berzerker) brings the hyper-thrash death shreds that can only be contained by funeral director David Gray's (Akercocke, Voices, ex-The Berzerker) masterful blasts and Sam Bean's (The Senseless, ex-The Berzerker) cutting death metal barks that nail the coffins shut.

Last but not least, Samuel Loynes (Akercocke, Shrines, Voices) ties the sound together with vocals atypical to that of the context of the music, delivering the melodic and the emotive to this sonic funeral service.

The Antichrist Imperium lineup:

David Gray - drums
Matt Wilcock - guitars, bass
Sam Bean - vocals
Samuel Loynes - vocals

In celebration of Megadeth's 35th anniversary, today the band premiers “The Skull Beneath The Skin”  from the newly remastered, deluxe reissue of Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good. Hear the track and read a new interview with Dave Mustaine exclusively at Billboard.com.

Century Media and Legacy Recordings will released the 2018 deluxe reissue of Megadeth’s classic debut album, Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good, on June 8th (June 6th in Japan via Sony Japan).

"In 2017, we enlisted Quebec's Utopique Creations to create a new Vic Rattlehead sculpture for the album cover of Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good: The Final Kill," says Megadeth. "Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Vic."

Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good - The Final Kill has been completely restored to Dave Mustaine’s intended vision. Remixed by veteran metal mixer, Mark Lewis (Whitechapel) and remastered by Ted Jensen for an optimal listening experience, the 2018 version reveals unheard parts and performances throughout the record.

This rare gem includes the full album, along with 7 live audio tracks from VHS tapes found in Dave Mustaine’s own attic! In addition to the bonus live tracks, the 2018 reissue also features Megadeth’s 1984 3-track demo and the once removed cover of Lee Hazelwood’s, “The Boots” that has been added back to the record with recut vocals intended to maintain the integrity of both the original song and Megadeth’s own snarling rendition.

The package is further enhanced by a new album cover featuring a fully executed sculpture of the iconic skull that has been lost over the many years since the album’s initial release. The packaging also includes classic flyers and band photos pulled from their archive of timeless metal moments from Megadeth’s storied 35 year history. The Final Kill is the complete vision of main man, Dave Mustaine, who has contributed liner notes delving into the struggles during that time period as well as some of the surprising moments during the remixing sessions.

“I am just as much amazed at the music we made as I am at the pure fact that we survived it all!” - Dave Mustaine

Pre-order various formats here. CD and vinyl tracklistings below.

CD tracklisting:

"Last Rites / Loved To Deth" (Remastered)
"Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" (Remastered)
"The Skull Beneath The Skin" (Remastered)
"Rattlehead" (Remastered) - Explicit Content
"Chosen Ones" (Remastered)
"Looking Down The Cross" (Remastered)
"Mechanix" (Remastered)
"These Boots" (Remastered)
"Last Rites / Loved To Deth" (live) (1987 London, UK)
"Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" (live) (1986 Denver, CO)
"The Skull Beneath The Skin" (live) (1990 London, UK)
"Rattlehead" (live) (1987 Bochum, Germany) - Explicit Content
"Chosen Ones" (live) (1986 Denver, CO)
"Looking Down The Cross (live) (1986 Denver, CO)
"Mechanix" (live) (1986 Denver, CO)
"Last Rites / Loved To Deth" (demo) (Remastered)
"The Skull Beneath The Skin" (demo) (Remastered)
"Mechanix" (demo) (Remastered)

Vinyl tracklisting:

LP1 - Side A
"Last Rites / Loved To Deth" (Remastered)
"Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" (Remastered)
"The Skull Beneath The Skin" (Remastered)
"Rattlehead" (Remastered)

LP2 - Side B
"Chosen Ones" (Remastered)
"Looking Down The Cross" (Remastered)
"Mechanix" (Remastered)
"These Boots" (Remastered)

LP2 - Side A
"Last Rites / Loved To Deth" (live) (1987 London, UK)
"Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!" (live) (1986 Denver, CO)
"The Skull Beneath The Skin" (live) (1990 London, UK)
"Rattlehead" (live) (1987 Bochum, Germany)
"Chosen Ones" (live) (1986 Denver, CO)

LP2 - Side B
"Looking Down The Cross" (live) (1986 Denver, CO)
"Mechanix" (live) (1986 Denver, CO)
"Last Rites / Loved To Deth" (demo) (Remastered)
"The Skull Beneath The Skin" (demo) (Remastered)
"Mechanix" (demo) (Remastered)

The official lyric video for the song "End Us" from reunited California metallers BLEEDING THROUGH can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album disc, "Love Will Kill All", which will be released on May 25 via SharpTone Records.

"Love Will Kill All" track listing:

01. Darkness, A Feeling I Know

02. Fade Into The Ash

03. End Us

04. Cold World

05. Dead Eyes

06. Buried

07. No Friends

08. Set Me Free

09. No One From Nowhere

10. Remains

11. Slave

12. Life

Commented BLEEDING THROUGH vocalist Brandan Schieppati: "After five years away, we realized the heartbeat of BLEEDING THROUGH is still beating.

"We feel one of the best things that we could have done was to step away and concentrate on other aspects of our lives and let the dust settle on BLEEDING THROUGH, as people knew us.

"Our motivation to write the record was purely because of our passion for our music — the creative blood that runs through our veins, which hasn‘t changed since 1999.

"I feel that our creativity and passion is being put on display in this new record, 'Love Will Kill All'. We feel music is the ultimate expression and whether people want it or not we felt the need to express ourselves again. The beauty is that no one can stop it from happening.

"For so many years, I felt that BLEEDING THROUGH was a band that was held back because of other people interests in the band, whether it was business or personal. I just felt trapped by the business of the industry and outside perception.

"BLEEDING THROUGH is all about the music and the people who enjoy it. That was lost for a while and now it's found. "

With nearing an hour's worth of new music on "Love Will Kill All", the band emerges from its slumber with renewed energy, aggression and musical precision. Effortlessly blending scathing, skin-peeling metallic elements with hard-hitting hardcore and jaw-dropping symphonic elements with a brash take-no-prisoners attitude, BLEEDING THROUGH inflicts pain and awe in equal amounts with every razor-sharp cut their forthcoming effort has to offer. Coupled with a new label, BLEEDING THROUGH has been granted a new lease on life — and the ears of the heavy-music loving masses — as "Love Will Kill All" is a collection of coming-home anthems from heavy music's prodigal sons returned to retake their throne.

BLEEDING THROUGH's last album, "The Great Fire", was released in January 2012 via Rise Records.

A PERFECT CIRCLE has a 2D clip of "TalkTalk", taken from the Steven Sebring-directed ("Horses: Patti Smith And Her Band", "Dream Of Life") companion film for the band's recently released album, "Eat The Elephant".

"It is very much a combined experience of the tactile and the visual. I come from an era where the physical pieces of music were something that you cherished… Something like this brings back that visual excitement for people," said Maynard James Keenan in a recent interview with Billboard regarding the hologram film. The 58-minute hologram, which unfolds through the eyes of a young girl over the 12-song album arc, reveals itself when fans place the prism on their smartphones and enter a special code. The prism is part of the "Eat The Elephant" deluxe box set, which can be purchased via the band’s webstore.

"Having Maynard and Billy's trust to create this for A PERFECT CIRCLE was a true artist's dream," said Sebring. "Their 14-year break allowed technology to catch up with their groundbreaking music and gave me the chance to apply new ideas of dimensional capture to this stunning album."

"Eat The Elephant" debuted atop numerous Billboard charts, grabbing the No. 1 spot on the Rock, Independent and Alternative Albums charts, a No. 2 entry on the Top Current Albums chart (for pure album sales) and a No. 3 album debut on the Top 200. This is the band's fourth consecutive Top 5 debut on the Billboard 200.

A PERFECT CIRCLE is in the midst of their first leg of U.S. tour dates in support of the 12-song album, having recently played Rock On The Range and Northern Invasion. The band heads to Europe in June for its first extensive tour of the continent since 2004.

LINKIN PARK vocalist Mike Shinoda has released a music video for the song "Running From My Shadow", taken from his upcoming solo album "Post Traumatic". The clip was directed by Gus Black.

Shinoda spoke with ET Canada about the songwriting process for "Post Traumatic", which is due on June 15. He explained: "It started in a really dark place. In the beginning, I wasn't leaving my house. It felt very claustrophobic, having lost one of my closest friends and collaborators. We associate who we are, to some degree, with what we do, so I felt very lost."

He continued: "The experience of this last year has been crazy, and I wanted to put it into music, not only to just put a stamp on it and say, 'This happened,' but also to allow the fans and the people who have been along for the ride, to guide them on that journey in terms of keeping up with my narrative or understanding where I'm at."

Asked how difficult it was to write the songs for the album, many of which dealt with the death of LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington, Shinoda added: "Life was difficult; music was easy. The music made things easier."

Shinoda also spoke about dealing with his own grief over Bennington's suicide last summer, saying: "I had terrible days, and now I have less bad days. And eventually, I will find a new 'normal,' like a new stasis."

Shinoda played his first solo shows since the death of Bennington on May 12 at the KROQ Weenie Roast in Los Angeles and May 13 at the Identity LA festival, also in L.A. Shinoda mashed up some LINKIN PARK songs along with his solo material, singing some of Chester Bennington's parts from songs like "Bleed It Out". He played "In The End" on piano and let the fans sing most of Chester's vocal parts, though at times he came in and sang his parts.

Belgian/Chilean doomsters King Heavy are streaming the track "(Death Is But An Extreme Form Of) Narcosis", featured on the band's second album Guardian Demons, out on June 8th via Cruz Del Sur Music. Listen below.

Featuring six songs of crushing, epic and mid-paced doom, Guardian Demons was recorded at DM6 Studios in Santiago and features artwork by Alec Zalogin, a close friend of the band.

Comments bassist Daniel Perez Saa: "The cover painting represents the demonic menace and guardian's serenity -  a figure that has two appearances depending on the point of view, but always with a sense of impending doom looming at the back. The layout and art vary for every format of the album."

The follow-up to the band's 2015 self-titled album marks a first for King Heavy: vocalist Luce Veldmark joined the band in the studio instead of recording in his home country of Belgium.

Tracklisting:

"Guardian Demon"
"(Death Is But An Extreme Form Of) Narcosis"
"Doom Shall Rise"
"Cult Of The Cloven Hoof"
"Come My Disciples"
"As In A Nightmare"

"(Death Is But An Extreme Form Of) Narcosis":

King Heavy is already prepping live activity in support of Guardian Demons, with dates planned in Chile and Europe for October and November, as well as an appearance at Austrian's Doom Over Vienna festival, which takes place on November 9th - 10th.

Formed in 2012 after a chance meeting between Veldmark and Saa at the Doom Shall Rise festival in Germany, King Heavy signed to Cruz Del Sur Music in 2015. The band also issued the Live In Malta live effort, which was released last year via Hand Dealt Records.

Disinterred Horror, the new album from Ritual Necromancy, is streaming in its entirety below. Dark Descent Records will release Disinterred Horror on CD, tape and digital formats on May 25th. Pre-order here.

Portland's deadliest death metal band returns with their long-awaited sophomore album Disinterred Horror.  Nearly seven years since their debut full-length Oath of the Abyss and four years since their last recording, Void Manifest EP, Ritual Necromancy have been honing their song-writing skills while showcasing their bludgeoning sounds at live events such as last year's Dark Descent anniversary show and Maryland Death Fest 2018.  

Album cover by Josh McAlear.

Tracklisting:

“To Raise The Writhing Shadows”
“Command The Sigil”
“Discarnate Machination”
“Cymbellum Eosphorous”

Album stream:

French heavy metal band Elvenstorm will release its new album The Conjuring on June 13th via Massacre Records. A lyric video for the track "Ritual Of Summoning" can be seen below.

The band, hailing from Grenoble, has been around since 2008 and has already released two studio albums, among others, and has played countless gigs.

Elvenstorm features vocalist Laura Ferreux, guitarist Michaël Hellström, drummer Antoine Bussiere and bassist Benoit Lecuona. The cover artwork for The Conjuring was created by the Russian artist Andrey Vasilchenko.

Tracklisting:

"The Conjuring"
"Bloodlust"
"Ritual Of Summoning"
"Into The Night"
"Devil Within’"
"Chaos From Beyond"
"Stellar Descension"
"Evil's Dawn"
"Cross Of Damnation"
"Dawn Of Destruction"

"Ritual Of Summoning" lyric video:

American power metallers Sonic Prophecy have released a lyric video for "Man The Guns", featured on their third full length, Savage Gods, out now via Rockshots Records. Watch below.

Savage Gods follows Sonic Prophecy's 2015 sophomore release Apocalyptic Promenade (Maple Metal Records), an album that combined the melody and beauty of symphonic power metal while maintaining the crunch, drive and power of traditional metal plus their 2011 debut A Divine Act Of War, which had its music placed in the television series Rock N’ Lock, the video game Volgarr The Viking, and movie Danny Trejo's Vengeance.

The release lyrically covers many topics, from quests and medieval wars, to mechanized genocide, to the dangers associated with extremist ideologies. Broadening and stretching their musical palate, Savage Gods will give fans an adventurous listening experience. It's an album that combines melodic hard rock, driving heavy metal, and chest pounding anthems in a way that is uniquely Sonic Prophecy.

Tracklisting:

"Savage Gods"
"Night Terror"
"Unholy Blood"
"Dreaming Of The Storm"
"Man The Guns"
"Walk Through The Fire"
"A Prayer Before Battle"
"Iron Clad Heart"
"Man And Machine"
"Chasing The Horizon"

"Man The Guns" lyric video:

"Savage Gods":

"Unholy Blood":

"Night Terror" video:

Sonic Prophecy is:

Shane Provstgaard - vocals
Darrin Goodman - guitar
Sebastian Martin - guitar
Ron Zemanek - bass
Matt LeFevre - drums