The long-running feud between warring neighbours Jimmy Page and Robbie Williams seems have been reignited, according to claims by a local resident.

The pair have been at loggerheads since 2015 over Williams’ plans to build a swimming pool in the basement of his west London home. Page has long argued that if that went ahead, it could have “catastrophic consequences” for the integrity of his home – a Grade 1 listed building which is situated just 13 meters away.

The situation appeared to have reached a conclusion just last month when Kensington and Chelsea Council gave Williams the green light to proceed, with chairman councillor Quentin Marshall also urging the pair to put their differences aside and talk.

At the time, a spokesman for Page said that the guitarist would be happy to meet Williams – but new claims by a local resident, known only as Johnny, make it clear that an amicable resolution could be some way off.

According to The Telegraph, Johnny sent a letter to the council alleging that Williams has been up to several bizarre antics, including playing loud rock music on outside speakers whenever he sees Page.

According to the website, the letter says: “The committee may not have been aware that Robbie Williams has been playing loud 70s rock music on outside speakers when he views Jimmy Page outside his home.

"What's been most annoying is that Mr Williams has played rock arch rival bands Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd and Deep Purple. He obviously knows this upsets Mr Jimmy Page.

"There have also been some reports that Robbie Williams has dressed up to imitate iconic Led Zeppelin frontman and lead singer Robert Plant.”

The Independent say that involved “wearing a long wig and stuffing a pillow up his shirt.”

A spokesperson for Williams has told The Telegraph that the allegations were “a complete fabrication and nonsense.”

Although the pop star was given permission to have the pool built, he can’t begin until the council receives assurances about ground movement and vibration levels, with a further meeting set to discuss asking Williams for a bond which could be forfeited if any damage occurs to Page’s property.

MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine spoke to Metal Wani's Jessie David about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's 16th studio album, tentatively due before the end of the year.

"What we're writing right now is really exciting," Dave said (hear audio below). "Kiko [Loureiro, guitar] and Dirk [Verbeuren, drums] have already come out here [to my home studio in Nashville] to play a little bit, and the stuff that they've done so far, I'm super excited. I can't wait for you to hear it."

Mustaine said that the writing process for MEGADETH's next album is not much different to how the band approached the making of 2016's "Dystopia".

"I've been collecting all the stuff that I've written over my entire career, whether it was written on paper or recorded on anything going as far back as a ghetto blaster," he said. "So we've been carrying all this stuff around forever — ideas — and we just, yesterday, got the very last thing that we've had that I've saved for years and years and years and years, we finished that. And that's kind of how 'Dystopia' was made. We had all these riffs and I just kind of shopped through it and picked out the ones I liked and then wrote stuff to match with it to make everything connect."

Asked how many tracks are going to appear on the upcoming MEGADETH disc, Mustaine said: "Therein lies the rub, because this is our last record for Universal. And the label, the contract with them is for eight songs. The publishing company, the contract with them is for 11 songs. So if I honor the publishing contract, I give them 11 songs. However, the record label, now, because of all of the P2P file transfers and streaming, and blah blah blah blah, they want CDs to contain way more than that. So, the last I heard, the guy [from the record company] wanted, I think it was almost 16 songs. And it's, like, I don't know, man. That's a lot. We gave you 15 on the last record, and it felt to me kind of like a few of those songs just were wasted, 'cause I thought they were really great songs."

According to Mustaine, the response to the new MEGADETH material from those who have heard it has been overwhelmingly positive.

"If it's any indication, our VP from our management was here last week and he heard two working tracks and he said, 'I'm blown away,'" Mustaine said. "So I'm really excited."

The early sessions for the new disc are being co-produced by Chris Rakestraw, who previously worked on "Dystopia", which was described by Record Collector's Joel McIver as a return to form for MEGADETH, and a big improvement over the previous two records.

"When you write a record, it's really interesting," Mustaine said. "It's kind of like making a dish, and if you remember how you did it, you can do it again. If you don't pay attention, you run the risk of not being able to do it again. The last record, I was so focused on what I wanted to do. So, I have a feeling that this is gonna be easily a follow-up to 'Dystopia', and probably a lot heavier."

MEGADETH's upcoming effort will mark the group's first release to feature Verbeuren, who officially joined the band almost three years ago.

Dave told "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" back in June that some of the new MEGADETH music is turning out to be more extreme than anything the band has done in the past. "The stuff that Dirk's been playing along to it is scary," he said. "We've never had any of those blast-beat kind of things on our music before, and some of the drumming on this is so mind-blowing. It's making me a better guitar player again, which I love. But I never thought we were gonna be playing this fast or this aggressive again."

"Dystopia" was MEGADETH's first album with Loureiro, who was previously best known for his work with the Brazilian metal band ANGRA.

As previously reported, MEGADETH will release a greatest-hits album, "Warheads On Foreheads", on March 22. The disc will feature 35 remastered tracks selected by Mustaine.

Prior to the arrival of "Warheads On Foreheads", MEGADETH will reissue two of its iconic records, 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" and 2004's "The System Has Failed", through BMG on February 15.

On the touring front, MEGADETH will support OZZY OSBOURNE on the next North American leg of the BLACK SABBATH singer's "No More Tours 2" in May, June and July. This will be followed by MEGADETH first-ever Megacruise aboard the Norwegian Jewel, which will set sail on October 13 from Los Angeles, California and hit ports of San Diego, California and Ensenada, Mexico before returning on October 18.

Stryper frontman Michael Sweet has checked in with the following update:

"It’s hard to believe that I’m recording my 10th studio solo album! Time flies when you’re having fun. I’m beyond excited to be able to release yet another solo album. Stay tuned as I track, prep and produce what will certainly be my best."

Sweet previously gave an overview of what fans can expect of his next solo record:

"Writing songs has always been part of my DNA. Once I get into that mode the floodgates open. I spent the past few days working on some ideas and so far I have 11 that I like. Now I need to weed through them and arrange them and program drum grooves to make em’ feel right. Joel Hoekstra and I are co-writing 2 songs together so I’m waiting to hear what he comes up with and that will make 13 tracks total (12 for US, one bonus track for overseas).

So far there are old school, straight ahead metal ideas à la Priest and Dio, as well as a few up tempo riffs à la Maiden. There’s also a few ballads with a bit of a Zeppelin vibe. I’m sure there will be a few other ideas to come over the next few weeks as well.

Between now and the first week of January I’ll arrange and fine tune everything as well as compose the lyrics. So far I’m really excited about the musical direction and I’m sure you will be too. I’m bringing back a few of those classic hooks and melodies that some of you have asked for. Ask and you shall receive.

It’s going to be a killer album, friends! We start tracking on 1/14 and it should be turned in by mid April at the latest (it would be sooner but Stryper is going to Japan in early February and rehearsing so I’ll be taking a few weeks off from recording).

The album will of course be released in 2019 via RatPak Records. Thank you all for believing in me and for your undying support. I couldn’t do this without you and I’m blessed to be able to encourage and inspire all of you through music.

God Bless and stay tuned."

A 10-minute documentary about the making of Enter Night Pilsner, the new beer collaboration bweteen METALLICA and Escondido, California-based brewer Stone Brewing Co., can be seen below.

Launching in the U.S. now, and internationally this spring, Enter Night Pilsner is a unique expression of the shared values that have helped define METALLICA and Stone Brewing: fiercely independent, transcending genres, shattering preconceptions and challenging convention.

Enter Night Pilsner is the outcome of a genuine creative spark between two entities that grew to become international forces of nature in their respective worlds, yet came from the fringes. An intensity of vision combined with a shared middle finger to the status quo makes Enter Night Pilsner a chorus of collaboration worth celebrating. The members of METALLICA and the leadership of Stone participated at every step alongside their talented brewing team. From METALLICA's Bay Area HQ and the brewery HQ in San Diego, to many beers backstage at shows, the spirit of collaboration was powerful. METALLICA's Lars Ulrich and Stone co-founder Greg Koch even enjoyed multiple occasions at Lars's home "discussing" (industry speak for "drinking") beers. After all, there was only one chance to get this right, and anything less than an incredible result was not an option.

"The amount of ideals and outlooks that METALLICA and Stone Brewing share are endless," says Lars. "I'm always blown away about how similar our paths forward have been. Our view of the worlds that we each inhabit, of creativity and process, and 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."

"I remember seeing METALLICA on the cover of a magazine just after the Black Album was released," recalls Greg. "On the cover was a quote that resonated with me to this day: 'METALLICA didn't go to number one, number one came to them.' I loved what that meant. Do it your way and never compromise your art. If you're great at what you do, people will come. I view that simple quote as one of the founding philosophical elements of Stone Brewing."

Aside from its intense drinkability, craft enthusiasts will note Enter Night's remarkable flavor and aroma which artfully combine the beauty of a traditional Northern German Pilsner with Arrogant Consortia's (a Stone Brewing imprint) modern overtones of aggression. The resulting genre-defying pilsner is hop forward with sound bitterness on the finish. It first appeared for the most worthy few in exclusive releases at METALLICA's shows this past fall. The beer will gain full U.S. distribution in the first quarter 2019, and its global domination will roll out this spring covering Europe, Australia, China and beyond.

Arrogant Consortia is a wholly owned imprint of Stone Brewing. Its often aggressive and always self-righteous lineup of beers includes Arrogant Bastard Ale and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Arrogant Bastard Ale, among others. The world-renowned brewery is well-known for waving the proud flag of independent craft brewing, while rallying against the bland, boring nature of industrialized, commoditized "fizzy yellow beer." Enter Night Pilsner is brewed to be enjoyed fresh and is best enjoyed with your friends… be it in bars, backyards, or tailgates… with your favorite music.

Swedish death metallers AMON AMARTH have completed work on their new album at Sphere Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER, URIAH HEEP and STONE SOUR. The as-yet-untitled disc is tentatively due this spring via Metal Blade Records.

AMON AMARTH vocalist Johan Hegg told Revolver magazine about the lyrical inspiration for the follow-up to 2016's "Jomsviking": "With the last record, I wrote a complete fucking movie script and we turned it into an album. This time around, I didn't have any of those ideas but we also didn't want to do a concept thing, either. 'Jomsviking' turned out so well, so if you then start working on another concept album and try to top that, it would almost be impossible — unless you have a really great story lined up that you can do that with. But I didn't, so it didn't make sense. I was a bit lazy on this one — I waited for the music to be done so I could see where it would take me."

According to Hegg, the only lyrical idea he had before the music was done was a song called "Berserker At Stamford Bridge".

"A friend of mine told me about the story and said I should write lyrics about it, which I thought was a great idea because it's such an awesome story," he said. " Basically, it's at the end of the Viking era. The Vikings are in England, and they've been very successful in beating the English, because what the Vikings did better than the English is that they moved fast and they moved during the night. But at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, the English used the Vikings' tactics against them, so they caught the Vikings by surprise. The Vikings were too far away from their supply ships, so they had to retreat. The Vikings were about 3000 men, and the English were 15,000. So they retreated over Stamford Bridge, but in order to halt the English army, they sent one guy with an ax out on the bridge."

Asked if there are any other songs based on specific events, Hegg said: "Not specific events, though 'The Shield Wall' is based on a real Viking battle tactic — but it's also about sticking together in the face of adversity. Then there's more introverted stuff, as well — songs that kind of relate to my private life, and I got the ideas for those songs from my wife. I got a lot of ideas from other people on this album, actually. I like working in metaphors, though. Mikael Stanne from DARK TRANQUILLITY told me that when he writes lyrics, he keeps them intentionally vague so that people can interpret the lyrics in a way that benefits them most. I like that, and I realized it's something I've done as well."

"Jomsviking" debuted at No. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart in March 2016. The disc was released via Metal Blade in North America and Sony Music internationally. The first concept record in AMON AMARTH's career was produced and mixed by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, ACCEPT).

AMON AMARTH enlisted a session drummer, Tobias Gustafsson (VOMITORY, CUT UP), during the recording sessions for "Jomsviking", following the departure of longtime drummer Fredrik Andersson. The band tapped OCTOBER TIDE drummer Jocke Wallgren as Andersson's permanent replacement three years ago.

Pictures below are the five musicians from AMON AMARTH at Sphere Studios with producer Jay Ruston and various members of the Metal Blade staff

A performance clip of "Black Horsemen (Live at The Fillmore)", taken from the forthcoming KING DIAMOND DVD/Blu-ray, "Songs For The Dead Live", can be viewed below. The set will be released on January 25 via Metal Blade Records.

There is only one King Diamond, and for more than thirty years the great Dane has been dropping classic albums and putting on shows fans remember for the rest of their lives. Perhaps the only downside to having such a formidable catalogue is that there are just too many great songs to fit into a single set. However, you would be hard-pressed to find a fan who wouldn't want to hear 1987's seminal "Abigail" in its entirety, and "Songs For The Dead Live" captures this, twice, and in very different locales. Boasting eighteen songs per set, each of the two shows — Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting in June 2016 and Philadelphia's Fillmore in November 2015 — features a brace of classic KING DIAMOND and MERCYFUL FATE tracks, including "Welcome Home", "Halloween" and "Eye Of The Witch" before launching into "Abigail". The performances of the all-star lineup of musicians, comprising of guitarists Andy LaRocque and Mike Wead, bassist Pontus Egberg and drummer Matt Thompson, are absolutely ferocious, hammering home every single moment.

"Songs For The Dead Live" can be pre-ordered in the following formats:

* 2DVD/CD 6-Panel Digipak

* Blu-ray (includes audio digital download of Philadelphia Show)

* special edition box set with 5 discs (2DVD, 2CD, 1 Blu-ray) plus poster, flier, laminate, setlist, ticket, sticker, and guitar pick (limited to 3000 copies)

* opaque blue with white splatter vinyl (U.S. retail exclusive - limited to 600 copies)

* opaque red with black splatter vinyl (U.S. webstore exclusive - limited to 200 copies)

* opaque white with black splatter vinyl (U.S. webstore exclusive - limited to 200 copies)

* 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)

* transparent amber marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 700 copies)

* clear ghost white vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 500 copies)

* orange-brown/black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)

* black/purple melt vinyl (Nuclear Blast exclusive - limited to 200 copies)

* orange/red marbled vinyl (Napalm exclusive - limited to 300 copies)

* clear lavender marbled vinyl (EMP exclusive - limited to 200 copies)

* clear ash grey marbled vinyl (Bengan exclusive - limited to 200 copies)

* pink blue marbled vinyl (Ebay exclusive - limited to 200 copies)

Captured on film by director Denise Korycki for Wild Wind Studios, she worked closely with King on every aspect of filming, and throughout the viewer finds themselves front and center as the shows unfold. This includes some inventive camera placement, such as riding in on the back of the wheelchair as it is wheeled out to "Out From The Asylum" at the start of the show, or looking up from the coffin at the commencement of "Abigail" opener "Funeral", which adds an extra dimension to proceedings. Naturally, the theatricality that has become synonymous with KING DIAMOND is there in full force, making for an even more immersive experience. The gothic stage set and the participation of actors playing out certain scenes tying into the songs definitely increases the drama and the sense of complete disconnect from the trappings of reality, ensuring that the shows remain riveting from start to finish.

While the setlists are virtually identical, the drastic difference in the two venues make for distinctly different atmospheres. The sweeping, epic scale of Graspop and the virtual sea of baying metalheads makes for a particularly thrilling spectacle, King holding them all in the palm of his hand. The Fillmore show is immediately more intimate, and rather than a mixed bag of metal lovers drunk on a weekend of the heavy stuff, the audience is comprised entirely of the KING DIAMOND devout, screaming back every word, their love for their hero bleeding from every frame. "Songs For The Dead Live" gives those who missed out on seeing these shows in the flesh a chance to vividly experience them, offering so much deeper an experience than your run of the mill live DVD.

Graspop Metal Meeting track listing

01. Out From The Asylum

02. Welcome Home

03. Sleepless Nights

04. Halloween

05. Eye Of The Witch

06. Melissa

07. Come To The Sabbath

08. Them

09. Funeral

10. Arrival

11. A Mansion In Darkness

12. The Family Ghost

13. The 7th Day Of July 1777

14. Omens

15. The Possession

16. Abigail

17. Black Horsemen

18. Insanity

The Fillmore track listing

01. Out From The Asylum

02. Welcome Home

03. Sleepless Nights

04. Eye Of The Witch

05. Halloween

06. Melissa

07. Come To The Sabbath

08. Them

09. Funeral

10. Arrival

11. A Mansion In Darkness

12. The Family Ghost

13. The 7th Day Of July 1777

14. Omens

15. The Possession

16. Abigail

17. Black Horsemen

18. Insanity

Dez Fafara has begun laying down vocals for the upcoming DEVILDRIVER album with producer Steve Evetts (EVERY TIME I DIE, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). The disc is tentatively due later in the year via Napalm Records.

Even though DEVILDRIVER has spent most of the last couple of years recording its recent full-length collection of outlaw country-gone-metal anthems, "Outlaws 'Til The End", it has also been working on material for the follow-up to 2016's "Trust No One".

Fafara told Metal Wani in a 2018 interview that DEVILDRIVER had written 48 songs for what was planned to be a staggered-release double album. He went on to say that the next DEVILDRIVER LP would be "the record of our career. This will be record that other artists judge us, as well as themselves, on once they hear this," he claimed.

Fafara also promised that DEVILDRIVER fans would "get a record a year" from his band. "You're gonna get a record in 2019, and you're gonna get a record in 2020," he said. "And that's the way art should be… We're not gonna rely on this three-to-four-year-plan that bands are doing. It used to be where you had to go away for a year in order to let the fans catch up to you and this and that, and it is not that way anymore — you need to get art out and you need to be out in everyone's face and you need to be touring, and we're getting ready to kick that up in a big way."

Asked if there is a lot of pressure on him and his bandmates to deliver on their self-imposed goal of releasing a new album every year, Dez said: "I don't think so. The pressure is not there. When the songs are there, when the band is firing off, and when it's just coming together, there's really no pressure. And this is why we're doing a double album with a staggered release. I've always wanted to do a double record with kind of a concept feel. And a staggered release makes sense, 'cause people, every 12 to 17 months, can get a record from you. And that's where I'm at, that's where the music business is at, that's par for the course what every other artist is doing."

"Outlaws 'Til The End" was released last July via Napalm Records. The disc was described in a press release as "both a startling curveball and a ferocious statement of individuality from a band who have been a constant and effective force in the heavy metal world for the best part of two decades now."

E.V. Martel will be the guitarist on MANOWAR's upcoming "Final Battle" world tour 2019.

A musician since the age of 8 and devoted MANOWAR fan, E.V. lives the life of true metal and the music of MANOWAR. He has performed for years in the only official MANOWAR tribute band in the world. E.V. is proud to know every MANOWAR song ever recorded, and his style is a mix of all previous MANOWAR guitarists combined with his own metallic burning.

"I can think of no one more deserving to play with MANOWAR than a fan themselves; one who has dedicated their entire life to our fans and our music and who he has proven to be a true Manowarrior!" said MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio.

"I am honored beyond words to play for the greatest fans in the world!" said E.V. "I live by MANOWAR's message every day of my life: Believe in yourself and even your wildest dreams can come true!"

MANOWAR's "Final Battle" world tour 2019 will kick off on February 25 in Tel Aviv, Israel and will span over 28 cities; from Russia to Germany, Scandinavia and Birmingham, England to the far west of France.

A limited number of Ultimate Fan Experience Upgrades, for the most personal fan experience ever, are available on this tour.

Ultimate Fan Experience Upgrades are upgrades to the general admission tickets. This means owners of an Ultimate Fan Experience Upgrade must also hold a general admission ticket (sold separately).

Upgrades are available exclusively on The Kingdom Of Steel (Europe).

MANOWAR announced in October that its longtime guitarist Karl Logan will not be touring with the group after being arrested on charges of possessing child pornography.

Karl joined MANOWAR in 1994 as the replacement for David Shankle.

Photo courtesy of MANOWAR's Facebook page


Guitarist E.V. Martel Will Join MANOWAR On The Final Battle World Tour 2019

E.V. Martel will be the guitarist on...Posted by MANOWAR on Tuesday, January 1, 2019

MetallicaTV has uploaded this professionally-filmed footage of Metallica performing the Master Of Puppets album track, "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California on December 9th, 2018:

Metallica performs next on January 16th at the I Am the Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell event at The Forum in Los Angeles, CA. The band's complete tour schedule, which stretches into August 2019, can be found at this location.

"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 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!"

 

DIEKLUTE, the new industrial project featuring DIE KRUPPS frontman Jürgen Engler, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares and Danish musician Claus Larsen of LEÆTHER STRIP, will release its debut album, "Planet Fear", on February 1 via Cleopatra Records.

According to a press release, the disc "combines the efforts of all three musicians who prove that they are hard to beat at what they do best. Aggressive electronic beats, sequencers and guitars, that feel like you are getting punched in the face. Lyrics that critically address the current political situations, spat out with conviction and anger."

"Planet Fear" includes 10 original songs plus a supercharged version of PUBLIC ENEMY's 1988 classic "She Watch Channel Zero?!"

The video for the first single, "It's All In Vain", was filmed last July with director Vincente Cordero of Industrialism Films and will be released this week. The video features clips of the upcoming indie film "The Relic", which was produced and written by William Shatner, who also stars in the movie. "All In Vain" will be featured in the film, which was directed by Jared Cohen and is due later in the year.

"Planet Fear" track listing:

01. If I Die

02. Out Of Control

03. The Hangman

04. Rich Kid Loser

05. For Nothing

06. Human Error

07. It's All In Vain

08. Born For A Cause

09. Infectious

10. Push The Limit

11. She Watch Channel Zero?!

"Over a year ago, we got together with some of our friends and shot a video for our song 'Prodigal'," says Blacktop Mojo. "We're very proud to finally be able to put it out in the world. Thank you to all of our friends that helped us bring this song to life. No matter where you go, you always take a little piece of where you come from with you."

"Prodigal" is from Blacktop Mojo's 2017 studio album, Burn The Ships.

"We had fun making the video with some of our good friends from our hometown acting out the main parts," says Blacktop Mojo vocalist Matt James. "We felt like the father-son dynamic in the video really reflected the song's theme. The song is sort of autobiographical. It's about the experience of growing up in a small town and always talking about 'getting out' one day. No matter where or how far you go, though, you always have a little bit of where you came from that you take with you."

Blacktop Mojo will release their third studio album, Under The Sun, later this year. Pre-orders can be placed now via PledgeMusic.

In live news, Blacktop Mojo will open for Monster Truck on January 24th at Warehouse Live in Houston, Texas. 

 

The Pineapple Thief have released a video for "Threatening War", featured on the band's new studio album, Dissolution, released last year. Watch below.

Dissolution features cover art artwork from iconic design agency Stylorouge, who have produced artwork for the likes of Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Blur and the British film Trainspotting.

Dissolution tracklisting:

"Not Naming Any Names"
"Try As I Might"
"Threatening War"
"Uncovering Your Tracks"
"All That You've Got"
"Far Below"
"Pillar of Salt"
"White Mist"
"Shed A Light"

"Threatening War" video:

"Uncovering Your Tracks" (edit):

"Try As I Might" video:

"Far Below":

The undisputed king of Japanese noise, Merzbow, returns as the landmark album Venereology celebrates 25 tinnitus-inducing years with its inaugural vinyl pressing.

Due for release on March 1st, physical vinyl pre-orders and remastered digital downloads / streaming are available via Relapse.com here. Listen to the remastered version of “Slave New Desart” below.

Remastered by James Plotkin (Isis, Electric Wizard, Full Of Hell, etc.) and featuring reworked art, this is the most extreme recording of harsh electronic sickness you will ever own. Venereology features a second LP with more than 20 minutes of unreleased bonus material.

Tracklisting:

"Ananga-Ranga Part 1"
"Ananga-Ranga Part 2"
"Klo Ken Phantasie"
"Last Splash"
"Slave New Desart"
"TD3"
"Outtrack 1"
"Outtrack 2"

"Slave New Desart":

Canadian whiplash tyrants Fallen Legion have unleashed their new music video "Monster Reborn" via BraveWords in support of their latest  EP Downfall (which peaked #7 on the Top 20 July 2018 Canadian College Radio Loud Charts). Released during May 2018, the EP features six energetic, unorthodox, progressive, spirited and memorable tracks along with guest vocals and keyboard from Cradle of Filth's Lindsay Schoolcraft on the song "New Skin". Since their formation in 2008, Fallen Legion have played with bands like Soilwork, Havok, Unearth, Battlecross, and 36 Crazy Fists along with releasing two other well-received EPs Screams From The Dungeon (2012) and Infinite Archive (2015). The band is an eclectic metal brigade of influences from Gojira, Korn, Iron Maiden, Dethklok and Antonio Vivaldi.

The band adds: 

“This time around, we wanted to do a more light-hearted video showing the fun side of Fallen Legion.”

Former Viva and Paganini singer, Marc Paganini, passed away on January 11th, 2019. There are currently no details on the cause of death.

According to Loud And Proud, Paganini recorded six albums between 1985 and 2008, enjoying success with Weapon Of Love in 1985 and It's A Long Way To The Top in 1987, for which he toured with Mötley Crüe on the Girls Girls Girls tour.

Previously, Marc Paganini had been the vocalist of German band Viva, led by keyboardist Barbara Schenker, sister of the Michael and Rudolf Schenker. With Viva he recorded two albums, What The Hell Is Going On in 1981 and Dealers Of The Night in 1982.

Chris Von Rohr from Krokus, a friend of Marc Paganini and a connoisseur of the Swiss scene, commented: "Marc had an incredible voice, he could have achieved much more. But he also always lived on the edge."

QUEENSRŸCHE has confirmed that the drum tracks on the band's upcoming album, "The Verdict", were laid down by singer Todd La Torre.

For the past two years, original QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield has been taking time off from the group's touring activities to spend time with his young son, who was born in early 2017. Filling in for him has been former KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo.

Asked by a fan on Facebook if Rockenfield's lack of involvement with "The Verdict" means that Grillo will handle the drumming duties for QUEENSRŸCHE in the studio going forward, the band responded: "We're just taking it one day at a time and trying not to look too far ahead. Things are always changing and we can't predict what the future will bring. Right now we're just concentrating on getting this album in the hands of our Rÿchers and touring."

La Torre, who has played drums since the age of 13, was asked in a 2013 interview if fans could ever expect to see a little change-up where he is back behind the kit and Rockenfield upfront singing. He responded: "That could be. Scott and I talk about doing something and they've never done that before. They've never been able to do that before. So, I think visually it would be something great for me. It would be awesome, because I love drumming, and miss drumming, in a live situation. And I know the material. So, we've talked about, maybe doing a really cool dual drumming thing. So it wouldn't be impossible to see me out there on a drum set sometime."

"The Verdict" will be released on March 1 via Century Media Records. The disc was produced, mixed, and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, ICED EARTH, HATEBREED) at Uberbeatz in Lynwood, Washington; Planet-Z in Wilbraham, Massachusetts; and Watershed Studio in Seattle, Washington.

QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael "Whip" Wilton recently described "The Verdict" as "the most metal and the most progressive record we have made in a long time." Todd concurred, saying there are "more progressive elements" on "The Verdict" than there were on 2015's "Condition Hüman".

"The Verdict" will mark QUEENSRŸCHE's third full-length release with La Torre, following the departure of Geoff Tate in 2012.

QUEENSRŸCHE's spring U.S. headline tour with special guests FATES WARNING will kick off on March 2 in Orlando, making stops in major markets such as New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and will wrap on April 3 in Seattle. THE CRINGE will be joining both bands on select dates.


#Blabbermouth #Queensryche #TheVerdict #March1st:...Posted by Queensrÿche on Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Out this Friday, January 18th, Covered In Blood by extreme metal titans Arch Enemy is a strictly limited compilation of all cover versions the band has ever recorded, including rock and metal classics by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, KISS, Megadeth, Carcass, Europe, Scorpions, Queensrÿche, Manowar, Pretty Maids, Dream Evil, Mike Oldfield, Tears For Fears, as well as uncompromising punk/hardcore tracks, originally by Discharge, G.B.H., Anti-Cimex and Skitslickers.

Covered In Blood also features liner notes about the cover songs by Michael Amott. The artwork and layout was created by Costin Chioreanu (At The Gates, Ghost, Grave, etc.). All tracks were remastered for vinyl and CD.

Order here, and watch an unboxing video below.

Tracklisting:

Tracklist:

"Shout" (Tears For Fears)
"Back To Back" (Pretty Maids)
"Shadow On The Wall (Mike Oldfield)
"Breaking The Law (Judas Priest)
"Nitad" (Moderat Likvidation)
"When The Innocent Die" (Anti-Cimex)
"Warsystem" (Skitslickers)
"Armed Revolution" (Skitslickers)
"Spräckta Snutskallar" (Skitslickers)
"The Leader (Of the Fuckin' Assholes)" (Skitslickers)
"City Baby Attacked By Rats" (G.B.H.)
"Warning" (Discharge)
"The Zoo" (Scorpions)
"Wings Of Tomorrow" (Europe)
"The Oath" (KISS)
"The Book Of Heavy Metal" (Dream Evil)
"Walk In The Shadows" (Queensryche)
"Incarnated Solvent Abuse" (Carcass)
"Kill With Power" (Manowar)
"Symphony Of Destruction" (Megadeth)
"Aces High" (Iron Maiden)
"Scream Of Anger" (Europe)
"Starbreaker" (Judas Priest)
"The Ides Of March" (Iron Maiden)

Mastodon have released Part 2 of a video series recapping their Emperor Of The Sand tour.

Says the band: "Mastodon’s UK/Euro tour kicks off today! Here’s some more behind the scenes magic from our last tour, featuring Brent!"

Watch Part 1, below:

Mastodon tour dates can be found here.

Tara Lynch (a.k.a. "Gui-Tara") is a guitarist, composer, vocalist and songwriter who delivers heavy metal thunder with prominent melodic guitar riffs, shredding leads and powerhouse vocals. She will release her debut album, Evil Enough, on March 1st in Europe / UK via Cargo Records UK.

Evil Enough is a melodic metal album featuring Lynch on all guitars and vocals along with an all-star lineup of guest performances by: Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), Tony MacAlpine (Planet X), Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol), Mark Boals (Dokken, Yngwie Malmsteen), Brent Woods (Vince Neil, Sebastian Bach), Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper) and Björn Englen (Dio Disciples, Yngwie Malmsteen). Evil Enough is produced by Brent Woods. All words and music written by Tara Lynch.

Tracklisting:

"Evil Enough"
"Antidote"
"Exit The Warrior"
"Kringeworthy"
"Banished From My Kingdom"
"Gui-Tara Rises"
"Unbreakable"
"Enigmatic"
"Trustless"
"Feckless Lock"

Says Tara: "The entire Evil Enough album is a musical autobiography. Very often, the term 'blood, sweat and tears' is used as a metaphor to describe the work one puts in to something that they are 110% invested in. This would be an accurate metaphor where I am concerned. It has been a tremendously emotional journey into my own soul in order to both write the lyrics that explain my experiences, as well as write the melodies to convey the feelings involved within each experience."

Primarily self-taught, Tara played both electric and acoustic guitar and wrote songs in her childhood, picking up the bass, drums and piano along the way. Very serious about her musicianship and the unending desire to improve, Tara has personally studied with Steve Vai (Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot), Björn Englen and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater).

Indeed Tara Lynch has succeeded in recording an outstanding rock album in Evil Enough, which – despite the renowned guest contributions – focuses mainly on her expressive voice, her intelligent, elegant guitar style and her mature songwriting.

Says Tara: “I prefer to think of the guitar as a form of art and not just a tool to create music with, which is why there are four instrumental tracks on Evil Enough. My musical taste varies widely, and though I’m a huge fan of the instrumental guitar genre, my favourite bands have a vocalist and a guitarist that really takes advantage of melodies and not just pure shred.”

For this reason Lynch relies primarily on inspiration and instinct, despite her accomplished technical skill: “What you hear is exactly what comes out of me without any pre-programmed ideas. I have lived quite a colourful life thus far and have lots of things to talk about, so when I write my music I just say it like it is. I do the same with my guitar playing. I’m not out there to impress anybody, just to tell my story and hope that people enjoy what they hear and can even relate.”

For further details, visit TaraLynch.com.

“Antidote” video:

 

Blood Of Christ, an epic dark metal band from London, Ontario, Canada, release a lyric video for a reboot of one of their classic songs, "Murdering A Storyteller", and they don't hold back at all. The nuances in their songwriting coupled with a razor sharp production make for an unrivaled revamp of song that was already unrivaled in sheer heaviness. The band have found a way to increase the relentlessness and brutality of the track, utilizing their two decades of experience to usher forth a sonic rampage that will appeal to any extreme metal lover.

The professional lyric video was put together by YOD Multimedia, and gets right to the point in brilliant fashion.

"Murdering A Storyteller" is one of two songs that Blood Of Christ will be releasing this year as part of their contribution to the split with Deformatory. Entitled Bilateral Carnage, this CDN Records split album will be released on limited edition 7" vinyl records; only 200 copies are being pressed, and will ship March 1st. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.

The eye-popping and deranged album artwork was crafted by Indonesian artist, Ardha Lepa.

Blood Of Christ is:

Jason Longo - drums, cymbals, saw blade
Chris Gooding - guttural aggression
Mark Chandler - the bass player
Jeff Longo - cosmic rhythms, grind chords
 

It’s been nearly four years since the last album from Prion, the savage attack of Uncertain Process, but now they have returned – bringing the nightmares of Aberrant Calamity with them.

Aberrant Calamity is the sound of massive, irreparable damage, a sonic vision of a brutalised reality. The finely crafted odes to terror that make up this mind-rending release are as deadly as they are deftly delivered. Featuring the heart stopping drum assault of Flavio Coscarella for the first time on a Prion recording, the level of intensity captured is frightening. The potential for Prion to utterly devastate has always been apparent, even back on their first ’99 demo, Corpse Dissection, but with Aberrant Calamity all the fearsome potential has been realised. These ten songs represent absolute death metal supremacy.

The task of unleashing the beast that is Aberrant Calamity upon mankind will fall to Comatose Music and the date set for this act of mass destruction is February 22nd 2019.

There will be no place to hide when Prion ride out into the night, no way to safeguard your sleeping minds. Prepare for pure, undiluted, merciless death metal and watch as the pretenders are brought to their knees.

For a first taste of Prion's world of nightmares, watch the lyric video for "Observed Relativity":

 

Maryland (US) based epic heavy metal band Eternal Winter is currently hard at work in the studio completing their upcoming 2nd full-length album, Archaic Lore Enshrined: Songs Of Savage Swords & Dark Mysticism.

Band leader, guitarist / vocalist & songwriter, Matthew Knight has checked in with the following comment:

“The forthcoming opus will be a brand new collection of metal hymns based on various literary themes that have inspired me over the years. The musical elements will be similar to those of the first album, but will feature a somewhat darker, gothic-sounding edge. Many of the songs are a bit more riff-heavy than those of the first record, and some more atmospheric to suit the subject matter at hand... At the same time, the album will most certainly retain all the “epic” ideas we are well-known for, and the ending result will be without a doubt, 100% true heavy metal with no compromises! I believe the songwriting has progressed over the years, and feel that these are some of my best compositions to date... We have been making steady progress in the studio, and are looking forward to sharing the release with everyone in 2019!”

Eternal Winter band line-up (2019):

Matthew Knight - Vocals / Guitars 
Gordon Burchell - Bass 
Keith Moye - Keyboards 
Matt Brookins - Drums

German old school metal bashers Booze Control will release Forgotten Lands, their fourth full-length album (fifth release overall) February 22nd on Gates of Hell Records. 

On their Gates of Hell Records debut Forgotten Lands, Booze Control continue to evolve into classic metal songsmiths with tracks that adopt a more serious tone than previous efforts. Recorded in October 2017 at Overlodge Recording Studio in Harz Mountains, Germany, with Martin Schnella handling engineering duties, Forgotten Lands finds Booze Control successfully bridging the gap between NWOBHM and old-school American and European metal. The band also parlays more serious lyrical content into songs that are filled with spiraling melodies, driving rhythms and catchy vocal lines from Kuri. The band's songwriting diversity is on display with "Of The Deep" as well as "Attack Of The Axeman," songs that peddle an epic flair with a classic metal foundation.

Formed in 2009 in Braunschweig, Germany, Booze Control came together at the spur of the moment when guitarist/vocalist David Kuri, bassist Steffen Kurth and drummer Lauritz "Lord" Jilge, were asked to assemble a band for a local event. The trio quickly gathered in a local rehearsal room to write songs in preparation for the show, thinking all along the band would be short-lived. But, to their surprise, more gigs followed, as did second guitarist Jendrik Seiler. Booze Control started to enjoy their new compositions, which, in comparison to the more technical nature of their previous outfits, was welcome. Soon, their debut EP, Wanted, was released in 2009, followed up by 2011's Don't Touch While Running.

However, leading up to the creation of their 2013 album Heavy Metal, Kuri and Jilge had a revelation while watching Iron Maiden's Beast Over Hammersmith live video. The conviction in which Bruce Dickinson sings, the energy of the band and the charisma they displayed while on stage needed to be followed in Booze Control. Prior, Booze Control was riding the somewhat clichéd boozed-out rock band angle a bit too hard with their first releases. While the songs were there, the delivery wasn't, so the band made a concerted effort to improve their songwriting and stage presentation for Heavy Metal. They succeeded in doing so, setting them on a path for the ensuing 2016 The Lizard Rider album and their latest and first LP for Gates of Hell Records, Forgotten Lands.

Now ten years into their career, Booze Control has already gone well beyond their humble origins and party-time ethos. Booze Control invites you to take part in their continued evolution on Forgotten Lands.  

Tracklisting:

“Forgotten Lands”
“Attack Of The Axeman”
“The Nameless”
“Of The Deep”
“Spellbound”
“Slaying Mantis”
“Playing With Fire”
“Thanatos”
“Doom Of Sargoth”
“Cydonian Sands”

Night Nag make their Horror Pain Gore Death Productions debut with the new EP Insemination Rites Of The Succubus. Hailing from Virginia, Night Hag perform vicious old school death/doom metal that is not for the false. Awakened from an extended slumber, Night Hag returns to kill you in your sleep with this this five track EP that will take you to the depths of your nightmares and back. Prepare to be paralyzed and crushed by the most foul, unpleasant, ugliest bitch of your imagination.

Find preorders on Bandcamp.

Tracklisting:

“Buried In Gore”
“Night Hag”
“Carnal Necromantic Lust Ritual”
“Insemination Rites Of The Succubus”
“Witches’ Coven” (Mortician cover)

“Buried In Gore”:

On March 29, Knoxville, Tennessee death metallers WHITECHAPEL will release their seventh full-length album, "The Valley", via Metal Blade Records. The latest single from the disc, "Third Depth", can be streamed below.

Produced once again by Mark Lewis (CANNIBAL CORPSE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) and featuring artwork by Branca Studio, "The Valley"'s title is a reference to the part of Hardin Valley (west of Knoxville) where vocalist Phil Bozeman grew up. Set against this backdrop, he approaches his subject matter unflinchingly, building upon everything that came before, making it clear that he has survived that which he was forced to endure and is not afraid to confront it.

"Phil has been upfront in his lyrics in the past about hardships he endured in his life as a child, and I believe with this record we tried to paint a better picture of that," says guitarist Alex Wade, who alongside his bandmates, stands a hundred percent behind everything their vocalist has to say. "I feel our music is Phil's release from his past, being able to get it out and speak about it, and hopefully anyone who hears it that may have gone through similar experiences can find some release in it as well."

Anyone throwing "The Valley" on for the first time will immediately recognize it as the work of WHITECHAPEL, yet, as has been the case with each release, there is also evolution in play. "Sound-wise, it's all over the place," Bozeman states plainly. "There's aggression, and then you're hit with ominous and emotional guitar riffs. It's mean, but then transfers to soft and inviting. It's a whirlwind of emotions throughout."

"The Valley" track listing:

01. When A Demon Defiles A Witch

02. Forgiveness Is Weakness

03. Brimstone

04. Hickory Creek

05. Black Bear

06. We Are One

07. The Other Side

08. Third Depth

09. Lovelace

10. Doom Woods

This spring, WHITECHAPEL will co-headline the 2019 edition of the "Chaos & Carnage" U.S. tour with DYING FETUS. Support on the trek will come from REVOCATION, FALLUJAH, SPITE, UNCURED and BURIED ABOVE GROUND.