X JAPAN has recruited Wes Borland (LIMP BIZKIT) to play guitar for the band at this month's Coachella festival in Indio, California. Borland is filling in for X JAPAN's regular guitarist Sugizo, who is unable to make the gig due to visa issues.

Sugizo told Oricon News: "Since they haven't finished processing my visa application yet, there's a chance it won't be ready in time for Coachella. "I'm still not giving up on going to the USA. I'm banking on the chance until the very last minute, but these visa problems don't resolve themselves according to my wishes. If worst comes to worst and the band has to use a support guitarist, I think the positive side is that fans will get to see a special X JAPAN they could only see on that day. I'll be happy if fans can take that positive attitude. Regardless of what happens, fans will get the very best X JAPAN can give."

X JAPAN leader and drummer Yoshiki, who underwent spinal surgery last May to insert an artificial disc in his neck, said that he was anxious about returning to the stage. "I'm in a bit of a panic," the drummer said. "Since I still can't play the drums perfectly, these past few days I've been more worried than I expected about how far I can really push myself. Since I absolutely can't move my neck to feel the rhythm like I used to, it's like playing a completely different instrument."

X JAPAN will play Coachella this Saturday, April 14.

The group played two warm-up shows in Japan on April 10 and April 11, the first since its March 2017 performance at SSE Arena, Wembley, London.

Borland previously performed with X JAPAN at three reunion shows at the Tokyo Dome in March 2008.

Next up in the series of METALLICA reissues is "The $5.98 EP - Garage Days Re-Revisited", to be made available in stores on April 13 in time to celebrate Record Store Day. The long-out-of-print EP included five songs that were later released as a part of the "Garage, Inc." double album, but METALLICA thought it would be fun to bring them back now in the original format straight from 1987.

Keeping with the '80s theme, the remastered EP will not only be released as a CD and download, but also as several vinyl versions including a picture disc, as a cassette, and in a longbox (you youngsters can search the web for that term!). All Metallica.com pre-orders will receive an instant-grat single of the remastered version of "The Wait".

A new trailer for "The $5.98 EP - Garage Days Re-Revisited" can be seen below.

"The $5.98 EP - Garage Days Re-Revisited" track listing:

01. Helpless (originally recorded by DIAMOND HEAD)

02. The Small Hours (originally recorded by HOLOCAUST)

03. The Wait (originally recorded by KILLING JOKE)

04. Crash Course In Brain Surgery (originally recorded by BUDGIE)

05. Last Caress / Green Hell (originally recorded by MISFITS)

"The $5.98 EP - Garage Days Re-Revisited" was remastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, California.

It will be available in the following formats:

* CD

* Limited Edition CD with a Lenticular Longbox

* LP (180-gram black vinyl)

* Limited-Edition Colored LP (180g red-orange vinyl — only available at Metallica.com and at Indie Retail)

* Limited-Edition LP Picture Disc (Metallica.com Exclusive)

* Limited-Edition Cassette (with the entire EP on both sides, just like the original)

* Streaming & Download

Marty Friedman's April 14 "Guitarfest 2018" concert at Centro Cultural Roberto Cantoral in Mexico City will be professionally recorded for a live album.

Friedman is continuing to tour in support of his latest solo LP, "Wall Of Sound", which was released last August via Prosthetic Records. Produced by Friedman, engineered by Paul Fig (GHOST, RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS) and mixed by Jens Bogren (KREATOR, OPETH, SEPULTURA), the disc "expands and destroys any conventional notions of instrumental music," according to a press release. Legendary QUEEN producer Mack came on board to handle the mixing on two tracks, "Streetlight" and "For A Friend", which Friedman proclaimed was "an honor for me, for sure."

Marty's new CD was recorded in part at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in California with engineer Paul Fig (ALICE IN CHAINS, RUSH, DEFTONES) and was previously described by Friedman as "a way more intense version" of its predecessor: "deeper, sadder, happier and more aggressive."

Like "Inferno", Friedman's new album features several guests, including prog-thrashers MUTOID MAN, Jørgen Munkeby of the Norwegian avant-garde jazz-metal outfit SHINING and Jinxx of Los Angeles theatrical rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES.

In an interview with the Cleveland Scene, Friedman said that his unique style of playing "just kind of happened. A very important part of my playing is to never repeat myself," he explained. "That becomes more and more challenge after you release 13 albums. I'm constantly challenging myself and that forces you to come up with stranger and more exotic things. I'm lucky I have that motivation. By nature, I'm kind of a lazy bastard. That motivation makes me want to explore the music I want to make. That's why there are different facets to my playing that thankfully people pick up on and enjoy."

2018 marks the 30th anniversary of VICIOUS RUMORS' critically acclaimed "Digital Dictator" album. To celebrate this epic milestone, the band has decided to perform its metal magnum opus in its entirety on a world tour in a city near you. The "Digital Dictator World Tour" starts September 6 and goes through the month of October in America, presented by Metal Thunder Entertainment, as well as a European tour to follow in October/November, presented by Eternal Rock Agency.

Back in 1988, VICIOUS RUMORS only did a few festivals and hand full of tour dates. Who could have guessed that 30 years later, the band would embark on a full three-month world tour, exposing this landmark album to a whole new generation, as well as a gift for the long time fans.

Like a fine wine, "Digital Dictator" has only gotten better in the last 30 years since its release In 1988. "Digital Dictator" is one of the defining albums of the U.S. power metal genre, which influenced hundreds of bands, and thousands of fans, according to worldwide press and music industry insiders. At the time of its release, the metal experts at german acclaimed Rock Hard magazine voted this album as the "album of the month" over legendary artist like MÖTORHEAD, RUSH, DEF LEPPARD, MSG, BLACK SABBATH, and countless others.

Dates and venues will be announced soon.

VICIOUS RUMORS 2018 is:

Brian Allen - vocals

Geoff Thorpe - guitar

Gunnar DüGrey - guitar

Tilen Hudrap - bass

Larry Howe - drums

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider returned to Broadway on Monday, April 9, joining the company of "Rocktopia" at the Broadway Theatre. Last seen in "Rock Of Ages", Snider will bring down the house through April 15 as he sings his band's classic "We're Not Gonna Take It". In keeping with the theme of "Rocktopia" — a seamless blending of classical music and face-melting rock — Snider's tune is also given an instrumental twist performed by violinist Máiréad Nesbitt and guitarist Tony Bruno. TheaterMania was on hand for his first performance and has posted the video clip below.

An explosive concert event that fuses the most iconic 20th-century rock with world-renowned classical masterpieces, "Rocktopia" features the works of musical innovators across centuries — including JOURNEY, Mozart, QUEEN, Beethoven, AEROSMITH, Handel, LED ZEPPELIN, Tchaikovsky, U2, HEART, Puccini, THE WHO and more — performed by an elite lineup of vocalists, a five-piece rock band, a 30-person choir, and a 20-piece orchestra.

Known for his glam-rock style and larger-than-life persona, Snider became lead singer of the metal band TWISTED SISTER in 1976 and wrote the massive hits "I Wanna Rock" and "We're Not Gonna Take It". He returns to Broadway following his lead performance as "Dennis" in the Tony-nominated smash "Rock Of Ages", which featured both of the above hit songs. His film acting credits include the cult horror movie classic "StrangeLand", which he also wrote, and VH1's "Warning: Parental Advisory", with Jason Priestley and Mariel Hemingway. His many television appearances include three seasons of "Celebrity Apprentice", CMT's hit reality show "Gone Country" and his own A&E reality show "Growing Up Twisted". His eclectic music career began in high school when he was selected as one of the three hundred best voices on the Easter Seaboard and made a member of the All State Choir. It has also spawned a nationally syndicated radio show "House Of Hair" which is heard on more than 200 stations in North America as it celebrates twenty years on the air; "Van Helsing's Curse", a concert that features a five-piece rock band, a six-piece choir, and six-piece string section; and the original musical "Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale".

Snider joins "Rocktopia"'s diverse lineup of celebrated rock, Broadway, and opera vocalists: co-creator Rob Evan (Broadway: "Les Misérables", "Jekyll & Hyde"; TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA); Chloe Lowery (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, Chris Botti, Yanni's Voices); Tony Vincent ("American Idiot", "We Will Rock You", "Rent"); Kimberly Nichole (NBC's "The Voice"); and Alyson Cambridge ("The Merry Widow At The Met Opera", "Madame Butterfly", "La Boheme", "Show Boat"). As previously announced, Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Robin Zander, lead singer of CHEAP TRICK, will perform the final week of the run, April 23–29.


The world-class musicians featured in the "Rocktopia" band include Grammy- and Emmy Award-nominated violinist Máiréad Nesbitt ("Celtic Woman", "Lord Of The Dance"); acclaimed guitarist Tony Bruno (MD and guitar for Enrique Iglesias and Rihanna, "America's Got Talent"); pianist Henry Aronson ("Rock Of Ages", THE WHO's "Tommy"); bass player Mat Fieldes (THE GORILLAZ, "Book Of Mormon"); and drummer Alex Alexander (David Bowie, Jimmy Cliff, Ritchie Blackmore), under the baton of "Rocktopia" co-creator Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer (San Francisco Symphony).

An inaugural performance of the show, "Rocktopia: Live From Budapest", produced by Two Hands Entertainment/Jeff Rowland, was recorded in front of a live audience in June 2016 at the 19th century Hungarian State Opera House for PBS. It was performed with the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra with six vocalists, a five-piece rock band, the Hungarian State Opera Chorus, and the Jazz And More Choir. "Rocktopia" has since toured over 20 cities in the United States, featuring local symphonies and choirs across the country.

"Rocktopia" is produced by Rocktopia Broadway LLC (William Franzblau, executive producer and Maggie Seidel-Laws, associate producer) in association with Hughes Wall LLC.

Swedish progressive metal band SEVENTH WONDER, which features in its ranks current KAMELOT singer Tommy Karevik, will release its fifth studio album, "Tiara", on October 12 via Frontiers Music Srl. It contains SEVENTH WONDER's first batch of new material since "The Great Escape", originally issued in 2010. Having previously released the live album and longform video "Welcome To Atlanta" (recorded at the ProgPower festival in 2014), the group is now ready to "unleash the beast."

Says bassist Andreas Blomqvist: "It has been many years in the making, but it is finally done and we couldn't be happier with it. 'Tiara' is everything you have come to expect from SEVENTH WONDER, but I also hope there are some new flavors in there to keep it interesting. We really didn't think too much about what sound we were going for, nor did we have to force it, it all came natural, albeit slow this time around…We are super proud of this album and we are so much looking forward to sharing it with you!"

Continues Andreas: "'Victorious' was the first song on the album that was completed. It wasn't written first, but it was the first one we sat down and wrote the lyrics for, so it is special to us. I am thrilled to finally be able to share a song off of 'Tiara' with you!"

Originally formed in Stockholm in 2000, SEVENTH WONDER debuted in 2005 with "Become". The second album, "Waiting In The Wings", and first to feature Karevik on vocals, followed in 2006. Two more successful records, the concept album "Mercy Falls" (2008) and "The Great Escape" (2010), followed before the band went on a hiatus of sorts following Karevik being chosen to take Roy Khan's place in KAMELOT.

"Tiara" track listing:

01. Arrival

02. The Everones

03. Dream Machines

04. Against The Grain

05. Victorious

06. Tiara's Song (Farewell Pt. 1)

07. Goodnight (Farewell Pt. 2)

08. Beyond Today (Farewell Pt. 3)

09. The Truth

10. By The Light Of The Funeral Pyres

11. Damnation Below

12. Procession

13. Exhale

SEVENTH WONDER is:

Bass: Andreas Blomqvist

Guitar: Johan Liefvendahl

Vocals: Tommy Karevik

Keys: Andreas Söderin

Drums: Stefan Norgren

New York hardcore veterans MADBALL will release their new album, "For The Cause", on June 15 via Nuclear Blast.

Commented singer Freddy Cricien: "We are beyond excited to finally drop 'For The Cause'. To say we're happy with the end result of all that we put into this is an understatement. This record accurately defines the current state of our band... our sound, our state of mind, our ambitions, our flaws and our attitude!"

The follow-up to 2014's "Hardcore Lives", "For The Cause" was co-produced by Tim Armstrong (RANCID), who is also featured on one song on the album. It was mixed and mastered by renowned producer Tue Madsen (MESHUGGAH, THE HAUNTED, SICK OF IT ALL) at Antfarm Studios in Denmark. Former MADBALL guitarist Matt Henderson laid down the guitar tracks in the studio, but will not join the group on tour.

Commented MADBALL singer Freddy Cricien: "Tim and us go way back. He's an old friend and super-talented guy... across the board! A legend in his own right. He invited us to come record with him and it all fell into place very organically. He's respected our band from day one and was excited to be a part of this. We're honored to have him on board."

Bass player Hoya Roc stated: "We got a real good album. It feels like the movie 'Pulp Fiction'. We've got every style of hardcore in there. It feels like we've got something special."

MADBALL also revealed that legendary rapper, actor and frontman Ice-T (BODY COUNT) guests on one track on "For The Cause".

Commented Ice-T: "It's an honor to record with the legendary MADBALL. BODY COUNT draws its closest similarities to New York hardcore. This is a natural."

Added Cricien: "It's truly an honor to have Ice-T on our record! I grew up on his music from his early hip-hop stuff till now. He's an iconic figure but also a 'class act'; you don't always get both at once. Ice has a great respect for New York hardcore and MADBALL, means the world. This was meant to happen.... real recognizes real."

Last October, MADBALL parted ways with longtime guitarist Brian "Mitts" Daniels. The New York outfit called the split "a very hard and heartbreaking decision for all involved."

The original version of the "For The Cause" title track was released last September via the "Family Biz" split seven-inch single, which saw the Cricien-fronted outfit joining forces with Pennsylvania's blue-collar-core heroes WISDOM IN CHAINS.

Germany's Lord Of The Lost are set to release their sixth studio album, Thornstar, on August 3rd via Napalm Records. The band have also announced European tour dates in October.

Lord Of The Lost are a multi-talented, modern metal band whose music presents itself far beyond genre stereotypes: a solid metal base featuring industrial parts or other dark rock elements - nothing is impossible. This band takes a flying leap beyond genre parameters - better than ever! Their previous releases topped the German album charts already, while the upcoming release Thornstar will in no way be inferior to past efforts. This, their sixth studio album, reveals even more sonic facets of the band, all the while remaining hard and forceful.

The deep and emotional concept behind the album follows the story of a doomed high civilization - Thornstar is a record unique in both sound and concept.

Singer Chris Harms on this concept: “From the beginning it has been a big vision we had with Thornstar - the concept demands a lot of responsibility. And the final result overtook us completely.”

Pre-order Thornstar here.

Tracklisting:

CD1
"On This Rock I Will Build My Church"
"Loreley"
"Black Halo"
"In Our Hands"
"Morgana"
"Haythor"
"Naxxar"
"Cut Me Out"
"The Mortarian"
"Under The Sun"
"In Darkness, In Light"
"Forevermore"
"Ruins"

CD2
"Abracadabra" (feat. Dero Goi)
"Voodoo Doll"
"The Art Of Love"
"Lily Of The Vale"
"Penta"
"Free Radicals"
"Live Pray Die Repeat"

Lord Of The Lost tour dates are listed below. Buy tickets here.

October
4 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
5 - Hannover, Germany - Musikzentrum
6 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Theater
11 - Nuremberg, Germany - Hirsch
12 - Cologne, Germany - Essigfabrik
13 - Dresden, Germany - Alter Schlachthof
18 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
19 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
20 - Stuttgart, Germany - Im Wizemann
26 - Leipzig, Germany - Werk 2
27 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
31 - Barcelona, Spain - Salamandra 1

November
1 - Toulouse, France - Rex
2 - Nantes, France - Ferrailleur
3 - Paris, France - Boule Noire
21 - Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK - The Cluny
22 - Glasgow, UK - Ivory Blacks
23 - Manchester, UK - The Ruby Lounge
24 - London, UK - Electrowerkz
25 - Bristol, UK - The Fleece Bristol

(Photo - Franz Schepers)

Hollywood based rockers Salems Lott have released a new video for the track Royal Desperado from their new album "Mask Of Morality" released on April 6th.

Check out the brand new music video directed by Ian Moore, produced by UWOWI with photography by Hector Puig:

Salems Lott guitarist Jett has checked in with the following comment:

"Mask Of Morality is the story of the individual vs the bloodthirsty mob. ‘Royal Desperado’ is one of the songs that embodies this tale the most and in the story section of the video we see the elements of re-emerging and rabid tribalism vs individualism. If you're paying attention to western society and it's affinity towards consuming repetitive & tranquilized art with little sign of counter movements in addition to our predilection towards mob justice, you should be very alarmed by our increasing tendency towards resentful, robotic and self-enslaving herd-like behavior that risks demolishing the cornerstone of our society (the individual)."

Test Your Metal Records has announced they will unleash North Carolina sci-fi metallers Xael's debut album The Last Arbiter on May 18th.

Combining elements of extreme metal with orchestrations and folk music to create soundscapes for the imagination, the sci-fi inspired band's music focuses on the endeavors of its members in a science fantasy epic.  From the wastelands of war torn planets to the pits where the fallen gods dwell, Xael paints an odd and fantastic world musically and visually.  The band was founded by Nassaru of Rapheumets Well as well as Sorgiem “Daniel Presnell,” Tuurm “Alex Rush”, and Xolotl “Fernando Ortega and is joined by musical artist is Rei Haycraft, Firran “Joshua Morse” and Zabrûz “Chris Hathcock.” 

Nassaru comments:

"Xael started out as a personal project that evolved into a unity of like-minded musicians. The music derives inspiration from extreme metal, folk and tribal music, as well as ‘80s synth and sci-fi textured scores.  We are very excited to for people to see the handwork and detailed time we put into this album given the limited resources we had. Xael The Last Arbiter is not just a musical regurgitation but a unique experience that follows an intrinsic story.  Our characters, emotions, and trials of life are woven throughout the album as we aim to bring a very diverse and immersive album to our growing fan base."

Tracklisting:

“The Last Arbiter”
“Srai ‘The Demon Of Erring’”
“The Wayfarer Of Tymeer”
“Watchers Of Xan”
“Apathy Of The Immortal”
“I Am Pestilence”
“In The Hollows Of Pathos”
“Secrets Of The Third Tribe”
“Harvesting The Elders Genome”

“Apathy Of The Immortal” video:

Crystal Viper's latest studio album Queen Of The Witches is still hot, but the band waste no time and strikes back with a special, limited edition EP entitled At The Edge Of Time, which will be released on June 22nd, on AFM Records. 

The effort, which will be available as a 10" vinyl and digital download, includes five new recordings of those Polish heavy metal stalwarts: three brand new Crystal Viper songs (the title track in both English and Polish version), alternate version of the fan favorite "When The Sun Goes Down", and "Tell Me Why" - previously unreleased cover of the NWOBHM hard rockers Quartz. The cover artwork, once again painted by the amazing Andreas Marschall (Blind Guardian, Running Wild, Kreator), is matching the lyrics which are based on the works of the legendary British fantasy writer Michael Moorcock.

“When The Sun Goes Down”:

(Photo by Danuta Chmielewska)

Buried Above Ground deliver a savage and unrelenting music video for the blistering new track “Sin Eater", which can be viewed below. This is the new face of deathcore, embracing more "aggressive" Americanized heavy metal blended with extreme metal roots.

DJ (guitars) states: "We are extremely excited to share this video with everyone. We have never worked harder or spent more time on a video before. We hope that it is a good visual representation of what we’ve done musically on the album.

"We are currently in Albuquerque NM, and join up to start the Chaos And Carnage Tour tomorrow. Getting to tour with some of the bands we’ve grown up looking up to, is a huge honor to us. We aren’t just on this tour to try and fit in, we want to blow everyone away, and we hope that this tour is just a seed in that process."

The band’s first national tour will be alongside Carnifex, Oceano and Winds of Plague (among many others) on the first annual Chaos And Carnage tour, kicks off today. Dates and additional information can be found here.

"Repulsion For Humanity", the second album by SINSAENUM, the extreme death metal project featuring DRAGONFORCE bassist Frédéric Leclercq and former SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison, will be released on August 10 via earMUSIC.


As the title clearly indicates, this is not for the faint-hearted. It's definitely not something you will hear on the radio or hear your mother hum over dinner. In fact, it's quite the contrary.

"It's radical, it's violent, it's angry — angrier," Frédéric says. "The new album is a continuation of 'Ashes'. In terms of sound and style, we've added more influences to the mix. This album is a hundred percent us — not aimed to please the masses, not following formulas, and not made to fit radio criteria. From the artwork (made by Travis Smith), to the lyrics, to the music itself, there isn't an ounce of commercial compromise."


"Repulsion For Humanity" was recorded during the long, dark winter of 2018 while the band shared a house. With the help of Francis Caste on mixing duties, SINSAENUM sharpened its own sonic identity — far from the typical death or modern metal sound.


Jordison says: "In a way, 'Repulsion…' almost feels like this is our first album, because I had the opportunity to record my drum tracks in France with the band present this time. Them giving me ideas and being able to construct the tracks together as a band made for a killer foundation for the rest to build upon. This album is lethal, and the songwriting has evolved immensely."


"This is by far the heaviest, brutal, most amazing album I've ever been a part of," adds vocalist Sean Zatorsky. "The riffs are so fucking sick that they inspired me to vocally do things I have never been able to do but always wanted to — literally. I held nothing back because the music held nothing back."


For the first time since its formation, SINSAENUM will go on tour in Europe this September.

SINSAENUM's latest release is the "Ashes" EP, which came out last November via earMUSIC.

Joining Leclercq (guitar), Jordison (drums) and Zatorsky (DÅÅTH, ex-CHIMAIRA; vocals) in the band are Stéphane Buriez (guitar), Attila Csihar (MAYHEM) on vocals, and Heimoth (SETH) on bass.

"World Gone Mad", the new video from Spanish melodic progressive metal masters LORDS OF BLACK — who feature in their ranks new RAINBOW singer Ronnie Romero — can be seen below. The song is taken from LORDS OF BLACK's third album, "Icons Of The New Days", which will be released on May 11 via Frontiers Music Srl.

After two critically acclaimed albums, the self-titled debut and sophomore effort "II", it was time for LORDS OF BLACK to craft its all-important third disc. With the anticipation created by the album's predecessors and Romero's selection as the singer for Ritchie Blackmore's RAINBOW reunion, expectations are high and the pressure is on for the band to deliver. Have they?

"Icons Of The New Days" is more than enough proof that yes, the band has indeed delivered in spades. LORDS OF BLACK has crafted a collection of amazing songs that draw from the influences of traditional heavy metal with elements of progressive metal thrown in the mix with robust production showcasing all the member's talents. Guitarist Tony Hernando, drummer Andy C., bassist Dani Criado and Romero are indeed a rising force to be reckoned with in the modern metal scene.

Tracks like the incredible album opener "World Gone Mad" along with "Not In A Place Like This" and the title track set the bar high for an album that is going to be a contender for metal album of the year. "Forevermore" and "The Way I'll Remember" are simply stunning and powerful metal tunes such as "When A Hero Takes A Fall" and "Wait No Prayers For The Dying" will cause you to thrust your fist to the sky. As has become the band's tradition, epic songs like "King's Reborn" and "All I Have Left", the longest song ever written by LORDS OF BLACK, anchor the proceedings.

Once again produced by Tony Hernando and Roland Grapow (who also handled mixing and mastering duties), the album's quality of the song arrangements are another decisive factor in the greatness on display here. Last but not least, Felipe Machado has delivered another stunning album cover.

"Icons Of The New Days" track listing:

01. World Gone Mad

I - History Of Gods

II - The Slaughter Of Innocence

III - World Gone Mad

02. Icons Of The New Days

03. Not In A Place Like This

04. When A Hero Takes A Fall

05. Forevermore

06. The Way I'll Remember

07. Fallin'

08. King's Reborn

09. Long Way To Go

10. The Edge Of Darkness

11. Wait No Prayers For The Dying

12. All I Have Left

Bonus disc track listing (only available on CD/DVD deluxe edition and digital):

01. Innuendo (QUEEN cover)

02. Only (ANTHRAX cover)

03. Tears Of The Dragon (BRUCE DICKINSON cover)

04. Edge Of The Blade (JOURNEY cover)

05. The Maker And The Storm (bonus track)

06. When Nothing Was Wrong (bonus track)

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of German epic melodic death metallers NOTHGARD. The quartet is recording its new album for a late 2018 release.

Comments NOTHGARD singer/guitarist Dom R. Crey: "We are really happy to announce the signing with the renowned label Metal Blade Records. For years, we have had an eye on the countless and fantastic releases Metal Blade has launched. Eventually we can call ourselves part of this family, something that makes us really proud. We are looking forward to a great collaboration and cannot wait to usher into a new era of NOTHGARD."

Dom stated about the upcoming NOTHGARD disc: "In the history of the band, we have never worked harder on an album. And, to be honest, we never had a clearer view on our approach of composing and on our sound. We listened to both our fans and ourselves. We have clearly analyzed our strength and how to transfer this awareness to our material. Right now tons of work are still laying ahead of us and in the end our fans will judge the result. But let me tell you: as a band, we are more than happy about the outcome so far and can't wait to present it to the rest of the world!"

Founded in 2008 by Crey, NOTHGARD dragged along the winning ways since their debut album, "Warhorns Of Midgard", from 2011. The high technical quality of their guitar work and the epic orchestration of their melodic death metal is exciting to fans and critics alike. In 2014, the band released another epic milestone of deadly metal, memorable melodies and influences from both neo-classical and folk music called Age Of Pandora. After the release, NOTHGARD finally signed to Noise Art Records who released the band's latest album, "The Sinner's Sake", their most serious approach yet to enter the melodic death metal throne. On "The Sinner's Sake", deadly riffs meet playful, catchy lead guitars, while the epic orchestration arranges for a cinematic atmosphere that will bring goosebumps to your skin! Completed by Dom R. Crey's raw vocals, NOTHGARD's sound is both stormy-spectacular and full of a sublime atmosphere.

NOTHGARD is:

Dom R. Crey - Vocals, Lead Guitar, Studio Keyboards

Skaahl - Guitar

Nico Kolja - Bass

Felix Indra - Drums

Photo credit: Richter Photoart

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Moth Into Flame" on April 5 at the Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary can be seen below.

METALLICA played 13 shows in Europe since early February and has another 11 dates booked between now and mid-May.

METALLICA recently announced the details of the 2018-2019 North American leg of of its "WorldWired" tour in support of the band's latest album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct".

The 34-date trek kicks off September 2 in Madison, Wisconsin and runs through March 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each ticket purchase will be accompanied by a physical or digital copy of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct".

METALLICA's "WorldWired" trek was the fifth-highest grossing tour of 2017, with 1.5 million tickets sold and $153 million earned. The band was also the top-selling rock act of the year and had the third best-selling rock album.

"Gallows Tree", the new video from Swedish metallers ENGEL, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's fifth studio album, "Abandon All Hope", which will be released on May 11 via Gain.

Recorded and mixed at Crehate Studios in Gothenburg by Oscar Nilsson, Marcus Sunesson, Mikael Sehlin and Steve Drennan, together with musical director Niclas Engelin (also of IN FLAMES), "Abandon All Hope" was mastered at Panic Room by Thomas "Plec" Johansson. The collaboration was fruitful, resulting in what is probably ENGEL's strongest album to date.

Engelin comments: "When people hear this album, I think they're going to instantly know that it's the new ENGEL without us repeating the same song over and over, and that's something the band is incredibly proud of."

"Abandon All Hope" track listing:

01. The Darkest Void

02. The Legacy Of Nothing

03. Book Of Lies

04. As I Fall

05. Buried

06. Untouchable

07. Death Reversed

08. Across The Abyss

09. Gallows Tree

10. Abandon All Hope

11. The Condemned

Strapping Young Lad founder Devin Townsend recently decided to "take a break" from the Devin Townsend Project. Following his announcement that he has put the Devin Townsend Project on indefinite hiatus while he works on other projects, two members of DTP have teamed up with a couple of members of Townsend's former group, Strapping Young Lad, to form a new band. Joining drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen and guitarist Brian "Beav" Waddell (who played bass in DTP) are bassist Byron Stroud, second guitarist Jed Simon and vocalist Jon Howard.

The new band is now officially known as Imonolith. They have checked in with the following update:

"After discussing with our producer and management, we feel it's important to release audio once the album has been professionally mixed and mastered. We really wanted to show a hint of our music now, but we do want it represented in a professional manner. Sorry for the false alarm, stay tuned. Thanks for your patience, we're working hard on the album as we speak!"

Band lineup:
-Jon Howard (Threat Signal) - Vocals
-Jed Simon (Vimic, Strapping Young Lad, Scar The Martyr) - Guitar
-Brian "Beav" Waddell (Devin Townsend Project) - Guitar
-Byron Stroud (Strapping Young Lad) - Bass
-Ryan Van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend Project) - Drums

Photos by LIM SANG Photography

Long-running Hungarian atmospheric black metal band SEAR BLISS has signed with Hammerheart Records. The group, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, will release its eighth album, "Letters From The Edge", in the summer.

SEAR BLISS vocalist and leader András Nagy said: "It's been a while since our last album was released. Many things happened... some good, some bad. Then, since the year 2015 things started to roll again and we built a pretty solid lineup. We had lots of live shows all over Europe and in 2016 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our debut album, 'Phantoms', with a memorable tour. As the chemistry in the band grew, we went to an abandoned castle to write new songs in January 2017. Most of the songs of the album were written there, yet the recordings/mixing took nearly a year by the supervision of producer Viktor Scheer. The album was mastered by mastermind Dan Swanö.

"We have put an enormous amount of effort into these songs, and I know it's lame to say, but I do believe this album is going to be the definitive SEAR BLISS record. I know it, because I only felt this when we made our first album back in 1996.

"To me, 'Letters From The Edge' is kind of a synthesis of all what SEAR BLISS is about. 25 years of exploring our borders.

"We are glad to work with Hammerheart Records on this, a label we always respected."

Hammerheart Records' Guido Heijnens said: "SEAR BLISS is a band that has been around for over 20 years, and I have always kept an eye on them since their legendary demo. I have heard the new record and it is indeed their defnitive recording, a dark and heavy recording, powerful and memorable and anyone into bands as ROTTING CHRIST and TRYPTIKON will embrace it!"

"Letters From The Edge" track listing:

01. Crossing The Frozen River

02. Forbidden Doors

03. Seven Springs

04. A Mirror In The Forest

05. Abandoned Peaks

06. Haven

07. The Main Divide

08. Leaving Forever Land

09. At The Banks Of Lethe

10. Shroud

Doomsday Outlaw will release their new album, Hard Times, on May 11th. The band have released a video for the song "Bring It On Home", which is available for streaming below. Order the album here, or via PledgeMusic.

Doomsday Outlaw is a ten-legged hard rock, blues tinged juggernaut based in darkest Derbyshire. Coupling huge riffs and killer grooves with soaring, soulful vocals to deliver timeless tales of heartbreak and redemption, the group is set to show off its distinctive sound to the legions of hard rock faithful around the globe via a new album, Hard Times, which is set for worldwide release in May.

Doomsday Outlaw vocalist Phil Poole says: "Not wanting to sound clichéd, but we’re so excited to be sharing our new album with the world. We’ve given everything to create something we are really proud of and having the opportunity to share it is really what's it's all about. Whether you buy the record, just listen to it, or come and see us live, getting feedback from fans is amazing and is a feeling that never gets old. This is a big year for us and we can't wait to get cracking. Look out for some big announcements coming your way and we'll see you on the road! Much love."

Drummer John Willis adds : “Phil is our ace in the hole. Everything else was in place with the songwriting and performance, but Phil has helped take the band to the next level.”

Poole joined the already well-oiled quartet of Steve Broughton and Gavin Mills (guitars), John ‘Ironfoot' Willis (drums) and Indy (bass) in June 2015, after which the band really gelled as a cohesive unit. Wasting no time in crafting a killer new set, they subsequently hit the road and have shared stages with the likes of Stone Broken, Warrior Soul, Vintage Caravan and Electric Boys.

Tracklisting:

"Hard Times"
"Over And Over"
"Spirit That Made Me"
"Into The Light"
"Bring It On Home"
"Days Since I Saw The Sun"
"Will You Wait"
"Break You"
"Come My Way"
"Were You Ever Mine"
"Too Far Left To Fall"

"Bring It On Home" video:

Album "making of":

"Over And Over" video:

"Spirit That Made Me":

Lita Ford has told Digital Journal in a new interview that she is planning to release a standalone song this summer. "We have a single that is a surprise for the fans, which is really cool," she revealed. "It will be out on 4th of July and it is bad to the bone, and I am really proud of it. It's a cover tune. It is going to hit home with a lot of people."

Lita has spent the last few months working on new music with guitarist/producer Gary Hoey, who previously collaborated with her on 2012's "Living Like A Runaway" disc.

Last fall, Ford said that her new songs were turning out "pretty badass. It's just been Gary Hoey and I so far," she said. "Him and I get along so well in the studio, it's just ridiculous. I start a sentence and he finishes it. We've really got a feel for music in the studio, so we work well together. And I think he will most likely be the one to finish out the album."

Lita went on to say that she "did write a couple of songs with some other people, which are real good. And we may use them. They need to be remixed — the demos; they're just demos right now — but they do need to be remixed," she said. "Whereas Gary and I, we do a demo and it sounds like a master. So it's going great. I'm excited. I didn't think I was gonna be able to beat 'Living Like A Runaway', but I think I have."

Ford told VintageRock.com in January 2017 that her next album would be "dark" and "riffy" with "lots of guitar." She added: "I'm gonna really let the guitar flow on this one. So that's exciting."

Lita's last release was 2016's "Time Capsule", a collection of songs that were recorded by Ford in the past, but never before made available. "Time Capsule" was tracked after her 1988 "Lita" album — a time when, as Ford put it, "we had a break between recordings and it seemed so many of us were always in the same place, at the same time." Some of the album's featured guests: Billy Sheehan (bass), Rodger Carter (drums), Dave Navarro (mandolin), Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander (backing vocals) and Gene Simmons (bass).

Lita's autobiography, "Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir", was released two years ago via Dey Street Books (formerly It Books), an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

On April 13th, Boston's rock/metal outfit Gozu will release their new album, Equilibrium, via Blacklight Media Records. Check out new single, "Manimal", below.

Pre-order the album here in the following formats:

- CD
- 180g black vinyl + download card
- sky-blue marbled vinyl + download card (limited to 300 copies - USA exclusive)
- magenta marbled vinyl + download card (limited to 200 copies - USA exclusive)
- transparent petrol blue vinyl + download card (limited to 200 copies - EU exclusive)
- olive/black marbled vinyl + download card (limited to 200 copies - EU exclusive)

* exclusive bundles with a shirt, plus digital options are also available.

With roots in 60s psychedelia and classic rock, the fuzzy stoner riffs of the 70s, the grit of 90s grunge and the winning dirty rock n' roll that has in recent years made a resurgence, Gozu has been churning out killer records since 2009. With 2016's Revival they took their sound in a somewhat new and more aggressive direction, and in doing so, dropped the most compulsive, exciting and downright badass release of their career - and Equilibrium has only raised the stakes.

"We wanted these songs to hit a nerve, make people shake their ass and enjoy simply being alive," says vocalist/guitarist Marc "Gaff" Gaffney, who founded the band with lead guitarist Doug Sherman.

Much of the record's strength stems from the unit growing since Revival, the first full-length featuring drummer Mike Hubbard and bassist Joseph Grotto. Having also reunited with Revival producer Dean Baltulonis (Hatebreed/Goes Cube/The Hold Steady) at Wild Arctic Studio in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the record is certainly the catchiest and most instant music dropped by the quartet, embracing their love of pop music but without compromising on any of the other vital elements of their sound.

Equilibrium tracklisting:

"Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat"
"The People vs. Mr. T"
"King Cobra"
"Manimal"
"They Probably Know Karate"
"Prison Elbows"
"Stacy Keach"
"Ballad Of ODB"

"Manimal":

"Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat" video:

Gozu lineup:

Marc Gaffney - guitar and vocals
Joe Grotto - bass
Mike Hubbard - drums
Doug Sherman - lead guitar and sounds

(Photo - Jay Fortin)

WHITESNAKE will release "Shut Up & Kiss Me", the first single from its forthcoming "Flesh & Blood" album, prior to the launch of the band's U.S. tour in June. The follow-up to 2011's "Forevermore" is tentatively due this summer via Frontiers Music Srl.

WHITESNAKE filmed a music video for "Shut Up & Kiss Me" on March 10. "It's a kick-ass song; you're gonna love it," frontman David Coverdale told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation". "But there's gonna some real fun elements paying respect and nod to WHITESNAKE's past, but certainly not as dark and as gritty as [WHITESNAKE's] 'Burn' video [from 'The Purple Album']."

Coverdale said that "Flesh & Blood" will "be the best WHITESNAKE album. I know that's clichéd stuff, but I know what I'm talking about. I should do after almost 50 years," he explained.

According to Coverdale, the new disc "has all the necessary WHITESNAKE elements that I need to call it WHITESNAKE, but with a vibrant, fresh coat of paint." The record will mark the first time he has written with WHITESNAKE guitarists Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra. "The longest-standing member of WHITESNAKE, Reb Beach, [he and I had] never written together until this project," he said. "So it's a family affair. It really is cool. I'm very excited for people to hear it."

Coverdale revealed that recording sessions for the new WHITESNAKE album were halted while he recovered from an illness last year. "I got that horrible H3 flu, which took me out for, I think, about six weeks before I started to feel like myself again," he said. "It was horrifying. It was that strain of flu that the anti-flu vaccination didn't cover. It was just an evil, evil, evil strain of flu."

WHITESNAKE will celebrate the release of "Flesh & Blood" by embarking on the "Juke Box Heroes Tour" this summer with FOREIGNER and Jason Bonham. There are also plans for Coverdale to release a deluxe edition of WHITESNAKE's 1984 album, "Slide It In", in the fall, as well as a collection called "Whitesnake Unzipped: Acoustic Journeys Through The Years" in time for Christmas.

WHITESNAKE's latest studio disc, 2015's "The Purple Album", was billed as "a re-imagination of classic songs from Coverdale's time as the lead singer for DEEP PURPLE's Mark III and Mark IV studio albums." Coverdale was DEEP PURPLE's frontman from late 1973 to early 1976 and sang on the albums "Burn", "Stormbringer" and "Come Taste The Band".

THE SEA WITHIN — the new art-rock collective comprise of Roine Stolt (TRANSATLANTIC, THE FLOWER KINGS), Daniel Gildenlöw (PAIN OF SALVATION), Jonas Reingold (STEVE HACKETT, THE FLOWER KINGS, KARMAKANIC, THE TANGENT), Tom Brislin (YES SYMPHONIC, RENAISSANCE, SPIRALING, DEBORAH HARRY) and Marco Minnemann (THE ARISTOCRATS, STEVEN WILSON, UK, JOE SATRIANI) — will release its debut self-titled album on June 22 via InsideOut Music.


Let's get one thing straight from the start. THE SEA WITHIN is more of an amalgamation of some serious talents than a regular "supergroup." These musicians have come together to create a unique album. Guitarist/vocalist Roine Stolt, bassist Jonas Reingold, keyboard player/vocalist Tom Brislin, drummer/vocalist Marco Minnemann and vocalist/guitarist Daniel Gildenlöw have a vast reservoir of experience.


"I suppose it all began to take shape in the autumn of 2016," explains Stolt. "I had a chat with Thomas Waber, the boss at InsideOut Music, about the idea of putting together a new band. I wanted to move in a fresh direction with new collaborations. So Thomas gave me the 'go-ahead' to seek musicians for a new project." First onboard was THE FLOWER KINGS bass player Jonas Reingold. "He is a longtime bandmate and friend and we were also very keen to get keyboardist Tom involved — after seeing his synth pyrotechnics with legends YES 'Symphonic' and with CAMEL. Then we have been a fans of ARISTOCRATS drummer Marco for a long time; I first heard of him 15 years ago and he is a brilliant drummer, unique energy. Then when we discussed ideas for singers, Daniel's name came up, he has such a great range and dynamic voice and we've worked together on and off over the years." Also added later to the band's lineup for live shows was vocalist and guitarist Casey McPherson of FLYING COLORS and ALPHA REV, who also sings a couple of songs on the album.


Initially the band went to Livingston Studios in London last September to begin the process of assembling all the material and recording it for the debut album. "Most of the material you'll hear are really band compositions," says Stolt. "Of course, ideas were triggered by all of us. Sometimes Jonas would come up with a part, chord sequence or tune and then I or Tom would write melody and lyric and some new riff section and Marco enhancing with further musical metric twists and developments. Then Daniel would add or rewrite some of the lyrics, change or add more melodies. Overall, the vast majority of the tracks have been worked on and developed by all of us in one way or another."


The entire recording situation took about six months, and the band also have some very special guests featured on the album.
"We have got Jordan Rudess from DREAM THEATER playing piano on one song," says Stolt. "The legendary Jon Anderson sings on another track, while 'wind ace' Rob Townsend, who plays saxophone and flute with Steve Hackett, is also on the record. Each of them brings a different flavor to the music.


"People have asked me how I would describe what we have done, and it is almost impossible. I would have to say it sounds like…us, THE SEA WITHIN," continued says Stolt. "Our tastes are very eclectic — from prog to jazz to classical, to heavy rock, folk, punk, electronica and pop. We all come from a different background — so here everything goes. This has been about putting those diverse influences into the music. I feel you will hear all that's good about pop — with great melodies and hooks — plus the rawness of metal, improvisations, symphonic and movie soundtracks. We also left room for each of us to take off on flights of instrumental jamming. That was the basic idea, anyway. But until we all got together, we had no idea where it would lead or if it would actually work." The band ended up recording close to two hours of music, and will release it all in June on what will be a self-titled album.


THE SEA WITHIN as a music collective has plans to perform live, and will make its stage debut at Night Of The Prog in Loreley, Germany which happens from July 13-15 and will bring special guests for that evening. "As far as I am concerned, we will try do as much touring as possible," says Stolt. "We have a great band, great label and our agent Rob Palmen onboard. We have great artwork by Marcela Bolivar, all looks bright. However, Daniel will not be able to join us for touring now, as he has commitments with main band PAIN OF SALVATION. With Casey taking the vocal spot, now with us live, we can go out on the road and play this album and beyond and grow as a band. We have so much to offer musically, on record and on stage and I am sure we will develop a lot over the next few years. But 'The Sea Within' album is a great start. I am excited for everyone to hear what we have done and am now thrilled to start working on the songs for the live show."

The album will be available as a special edition 2CD digipak, gatefold 2LP vinyl and 2CD and as digital download.

You can find the full track listing below:

Disc 1:

01. Ashes Of Dawn

02. They Know My Name

03. The Void

04. An Eye For An Eye For An Eye

05. Goodbye

06. Sea Without

07. Broken Cord

08. The Hiding Of The Truth


Disc 2:

01. The Roaring Silence

02. Where Are You Going?

03. Time

04. Denise

A performance clip of the song "Say You Will" taken from FOREIGNER's upcoming release, "Foreigner With The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus", can be seen below.

"I Want To Know What Love Is", "Cold As Ice", "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Hot Blooded", "Juke Box Hero". FOREIGNER's timeless anthems continue to rock the charts with 10 multi-platinum albums, 16 Top 30 hits and album sales now exceeding 75 million copies. For the first time ever, FOREIGNER will present all its hits with a 58-piece orchestra and a 60-piece choir with "Foreigner With The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus" available on April 27 via earMUSIC.


In May 2017, the band performed two sold-out shows in Lucerne, Switzerland, together with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, conducted by Ernst Van Tiel. "Foreigner With The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus" represents this year-long collaboration between FOREIGNER founding member and lead guitarist Mick Jones and Grammy-nominated composing/arranging team Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer, exploring the deep symphonic potential of these classic and iconic songs. Eggar, Juilliard protégé and cellist/pianist/composer, and Palmer, producer/writer/percussionist, have toured, performed and recorded with artists such as Paul Simon, James Taylor, Patti Smith, COLDPLAY and many more.


Says Mick Jones: "I could never have imagined when I set out to create FOREIGNER 40 years ago, that we'd still be touring around the world and performing the music we love all these years later. Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer's orchestral arrangements have shown us a new symphonic dimension of our music, which I hope our fans will enjoy."


"Foreigner With The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus" CD track listing:

01. Overture

02. Blue Morning, Blue Day

03. Cold As Ice

04. Waiting For A Girl Like You

05. Say You Will

06. When It Comes To Love

07. That Was Yesterday

08. Feels Like The First Time

09. Starrider

10. Double Vision

11. Fool For You Anyway

12. Urgent

13. Juke Box Hero

14. I Want To Know What Love Is


"Foreigner With The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus" DVD track listing:

01. Overture

02. Blue Morning, Blue Day

03. Cold As Ice

04. Waiting For A Girl Like You

05. Head Games

06. When It Comes To Love

07. Say You Will

08. The Flame Still Burns

09. That Was Yesterday

10. Juke Box Hero

11. Starrider

12. Double Vision

13. Fool For You Anyway

14. Hot Blooded

15. Urgent

16. Feels Like The First Time

17. I Want To Know What Love Is

Photo credit: Karsten Staiger

OVERKILL songwriter and bassist D.D. Verni will release his debut solo album in October through Mighty Music. The effort features guest appearances by a number of guitarists, including Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY), Angus Clark (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR), Bruce Franklin (TROUBLE), Mike Romeo (SYMPHONY X), Mike Orlando (ADRENALINE MOB), Steve Leonard (ALMOST QUEEN) and Andre "Virus" Karkos (DOPE) who also contributed the rhythm guitar tracks. Rounding out the group is former OVERKILL drummer Ron Lipnicki. The record was mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, QUEENSRŸCHE, HATEBREED). The first single, "Fire Up", features Orlando.

Verni states: "I'm psyched to get this disc out. We had a lot of fun and a lot of great players contributed.

"There's some metal, punk, classic rock... its all in there," he adds. "From QUEEN to GREEN DAY to METALLICA, I think we covered all the bases."

In addition to 18 OVERKILL albums, Verni has four releases with his side band THE BRONX CASKET CO. So why do a solo record? "Well I never really stop writing material, and after some time, it starts to pile up and take shape and I wonder what it will be," he explains.

"In the past, anything that was not OVERKILL material I would put aside for my other band THE BRONX CASKET CO., but when I starting pulling these songs together, it was clearly not that, and I thought, 'Okay, I guess it's a solo record.' The material was kind of metal and kinda rock and kinda punk, so those really are my basic influences. In OVERKILL, I take all that background and funnel it into our thrash sound. But these songs were not thrash but a combination of the other stuff.

"I would never really have an interest in doing a record that was thrash-sounding outside of OVERKILL; I just don't think it could be any better. The fun is trying new shit and seeing where it goes for me.

"I could always do all the instruments myself, as I have in the past on projects, but thought this could be a good opportunity to try working with some new people. My wife was hearing me thinking out loud and basically said, 'Why don't you just call some guys whose work you like and see if they would be interested?' And so that's what I did."

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of NWOBHM legends SATAN to a multi-album deal.

The heavy metal quintet has just finished recording its new album for a late 2018 release.

Comments SATAN: "Metal Blade is part of SATAN's past and we are super excited for it to be part of our future. It seems so fitting — it's hard to imagine another label that could give us a better platform for our music today."

While standard bearers of the NWOBHM movement and responsible for '83's seminal "Court In the Act" and '87's "Suspended Sentence", with their upcoming album, SATAN make it abundantly clear that in 2018 they are not interested in simply capitalizing on past glories. Comprised of 10 tracks of searing metal, it is blatantly and profoundly the work of the Newcastle upon Tyne natives at their very best, infusing their signature sound with a more raw, wild and spontaneous vibe than they showcased on 2015's mighty "Atom By Atom", in the process displaying more passion and energy than slews of bands half their age.

Having reunited in 2012 and returned to touring duty, SATAN — comprised of six-stringers Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey, bassist Graeme English, drummer Sean Taylor and vocalist Brian Ross — once more proved their collective mettle with 2013's "Life Sentence" and follow-up "Atom By Atom", both records critically acclaimed and maintaining the high standards of their earlier releases. With such a powerful collection in their hands the band were unsurprisingly eager to take it on the road, and they once again had successful tours and festival runs in Europe, North America and South America, culminating with a slot opening for PENTAGRAM in Helsinki, which Tippins counts as a true honor.

SATAN is:

Brian Ross - Vocals

Russ Tippins - Guitars

Steve Ramsey - Guitars

Graeme English - Bass

Sean Taylor - Drums

Photo by Stefan Rosic

KILLING JOKE will embark on a 40th-anniversary world tour, "Laugh At Your Peril", in the fall. The band will kick off the trek in the United States at the Studio Seven in Seattle on Saturday, September 1 before heading into mainland Europe. This run of 45 shows concludes at the Roundhouse in London on Saturday, November 17.

To celebrate this extensive and ambitious tour, KILLING JOKE has announced the release of a career-spanning, strictly limited-edition flight case, which includes 16 colored double vinyls, a set of headphones, a signed lyric book and assorted pieces of art. The collection will also be available on CD.

"Forty years ago this summer I met Big Paul. One year later, we released our first EP," says frontman Jaz Coleman. "Our 40th-anniversary celebrations will therefore be stretched over two years and begin with a world tour, parties and talks by Youth and myself, a new magnum opus by KILLING JOKE, who is, after all this time, recognized as one of the most innovative and influential bands of all time. Love is the law. Let the festivities begin!"

"Forty years in the wilderness... Thought that was supposed to be 40 days," adds bassist Youth. "As Jaz reminds me, 'Survival is success,' and although the band have never been fiscally fat commercially, it has allowed us to have incredible lives, both individually and collectively, and we have created a very rich wealth of uncompromising music. It's a legacy that spans four decades… 40 years of spine-tingling, uncompromising beautiful noise. The band continue to inspire and bludgeon down the bullshit in the world into a white-hot, blast furnace dub of unrelenting passion, a roller-coaster, white-knuckle punch in the face of beautiful agony/reality and timeless cosmic joy and soul.

"To commit to the creative beauty and vision you have as an artist is an almost perverse way to live a life and the cost and consequences are immense... yet this is how we inform ourselves as a society of what is real and important in a world of fake news and fake emotions. Like Shiva dancing the world into existence, we are all simultaneously destroying and creating every moment of our reality. It is not through politics that the world is changed but through art. Art alone can tell us who we really are — emotionally, intellectually and physically — far better than anything else. That is why we have committed so much, for so long to this one idea... KILLING JOKE. Thanks to all the fans and gatherers that have supported and joined us in this endless quest."

"Laugh At Your Peril" world tour dates 2018

Sep. 01 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA

Sep. 02 - Star Theater - Portland, OR

Sep. 04 - DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA

Sep. 05 - Regent Theater - Los Angeles, CA

Sep. 07 - Oriental Theater - Denver, CO

Sep. 09 - Skully's Music Diner - Columbus, OH

Sep. 10 - Soundstage - Baltimore, MD

Sep. 11 - The Paradise - Boston, MA

Sep. 12 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY

Sep. 17 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX

Sep. 18 - The Mohawk - Austin, TX

Sep. 19 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX

Sep. 21 - Lunario del Auditorio Nacional - Mexico City, Mexico

Sep. 23 - Carioca Club - Sao Paolo, Brasil

Sep. 24 - Roxy Live - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Sep. 27 - Blondie - Santiago, Chile

Sep. 29 - Cocos - Lima, Peru

Oct. 15 - Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany

Oct. 16 - Neue Theaterfabrik - Munich, Germany

Oct. 17 - E-Werk (Erlangen) - Hamburg, Germany

Oct. 19 - Huxleys - Berlin, Germany

Oct. 20 - Stodola - Warsaw, Poland

Oct. 21 - The Roxy - Prague, Czech Republic

Oct. 22 - Bratislava - Majestic Music Club, Slovakia

Oct. 23 - Durer Kert - Budapest, Hungary

Oct. 25 - Campus Industry - Parma, Italy

Oct. 26 - L'Usine / PTR - Geneva, Switzerland

Oct. 27 - Cabaret Sauvage - Paris, France

Oct. 28 - Live Music Hall - Cologne, Germany

Oct. 30 - Da Roma - Antwerp, Belgium

Oct. 31 - Melkweg - Amsterdam, Netherlands

Nov. 02 - Rock City - Nottingham, UK

Nov. 03 - O2 Academy - Leeds, UK

Nov. 04 - Northumbria University - Newcastle, UK

Nov. 06 - Barrowland - Glasgow, UK

Nov. 07 - Manchester Academy - Manchester, UK

Nov. 09 - The Institute (The O2) - Birmingham, UK

Nov. 10 - O2 Academy - Bristol, UK

Nov. 11 - Guildhall - Southampton, UK

Nov. 13 - Corn Exchange - Cambridge, UK

Nov. 14 - UEA - Norwich, UK

Nov. 16 - O2 Academy - Oxford, UK

Nov. 17 - Roundhouse - London, UK

KORN frontman Jonathan Davis began his solo tour in support of his forthcoming album, "Black Labyrinth", on Friday (April 6) in Portland, Oregon. Davis's set was weighed heavily in favor of the new LP, along with songs he wrote for the soundtrack of the 2002 movie "Queen Of The Damned" and a cover of Neil Diamond's "Love On The Rocks". He did not perform any material from KORN's catalog.

"Black Labyrinth" will be released on May 25 via Sumerian Records. In addition to the album's well-received first single, "What It Is", which debuted as the No. 1 most added single on rock radio, the new disc includes "Final Days", a melodic and atmospheric track, accentuated by subtle hints of sitar and tabla, the straightforward arena-rock anthem "Underneath My Skin", and 10 other tracks primarily recorded live to tape, a departure from KORN's heavily calculated, meticulous, studio approach to creation. Longtime fans of KORN will still find the familiarity of the band's unique and unforgettable vocals, synths and commanding guitars in key tracks like "What You Believe" and "Everyone".

Inspired in part by the Ganzfeld Experiment, and the out-of-body experiments and hallucinations that often accompany it, Davis focused on religion, consumerism and apathy throughout the album. "There's a level of enlightenment I want to achieve," he confessed regarding "Black Labyrinth". "With all of the bullshit going, everyone is stuck on their fucking cell phones. This takes us way out of that. No matter how hard you try to fight bad things in your life, life will be what it is. It's up to you to accept that, combat it, and move forward, or it's up to you to be in denial. Then it becomes a thorn in your side until you finally deal with it. This is it. Just deal with it."

Asked in a recent interview about the sound of the project, Davis explained: "It's completely different. It's a different thing. It's something I've been working on for 10 years. It's just a crazy, different world music hybrid of all kinds of things, and there are all kinds of different players who play on the record. And I'm really proud of it."

Regarding why it took so long to complete the solo album, Davis said: "I did most of it back in… I started it in '07 and '08. I was signed to another record label, and, unfortunately, the people that signed me left. Some other people came in, they wanted to do it, and they ended up not doing it, so I got the record back. And then, [I went through] a few different managers and stuff, so it's just the same thing — they want the KORN machine moving. [Laughs] So finally I've got a break now, and I'm, like, ' I wanna do this now, guys. Let's do this.' So we're doing it."

Davis also talked about why he chose to make a solo record instead of using the material for KORN. "'Cause it's completely different — it's not for KORN," he said. "You've heard 'What It Is' — that's not a KORN song. So this is stuff that's completely different. There's stuff I've brought to KORN before, like from these sessions, the song 'Take Me', on our last record [2016's 'The Serenity Of Suffering'], was one of these songs, but we took it and the guys — [KORN guitarists] Head and Munky — got it, they tore it apart and made it their own. It's totally different. Sometimes it works. But the majority of the stuff wouldn't have worked for KORN."

The singer's solo North American tour will end on May 18 in Boston. KORN drummer Ray Luzier is part of the backing band.