On April 1, a.k.a. Fox Day, Japanese pop metal act BABYMETAL released a cryptic video to mark the start of "Metal Resistance Episode VII".

According to the clip, "a new era is about to begin," with a voiceover saying: "Light and darkness. Both are considered to be opposites but at the same time, one cannot exist without the other. Until now, we have only experienced the light side — the legend of three metal spirits. An unknown dark side also exists. A legend of seven metal spirits — The Chosen Seven. A new era is about to begin."

BABYMETAL has also announced the release of its two concerts from December 2-3, 2007 at Hiroshima's Green Arena on a new Blu-ray titled "Legend S - Baptism XX". The limited-edition set, featuring 16 songs, a live CD and a booklet, will only be available for members of the band's fan club, The One.

BABYMETAL played the Hiroshima concerts without one of its three female singers. Yui Mizuno (a.k.a. Yuimetal) did not feel well and doctors suggested that it was in her best interest to not join her bandmates on stage.

Established in 2010, BABYMETAL is the offshoot of the Japanese pop idol group SAKURA GAKUIN that performs a distinctly Japanese mix of schoolgirl J-pop and heavy metal.

BABYMETAL's members — Suzuka Nakamoto (a.k.a. Su-Metal, who handles vocals and dancing), Mizuno and Moa Kikuchi (a.k.a. Moametal), the latter of whom both scream and dance — admit that they had never listened to metal before joining the group. The girls wear gothy schoolgirl costumes, do choreographed dance routines and bang their heads violently.

The official lyric video for the song "Cemetary Stillness" from German metallers CREMATORY, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Oblivion", which will be released on April 13.

Like all great rock bands, CREMATORY has based its success on the creativity of a well-rehearsed songwriting team. With Germany's leading gothic metal act, it's drummer Markus Jüllich in collaboration with the producer of each individual album that's kept the group's compositions on course for more than 25 years. At the same time, Markus Jüllich has enough experience to know that the band's evolvement depends on fresh ideas and new influences. So, by enlisting guitarists Tosse Basler and Rolf Munkes and, soon after, bassist Jason Mathias he has ensured that the band has remained contemporary and diverse ever since their 2016 release "Monument", reaping the fruits his efforts on "Oblivion".

"In particular, the sound and the selection of songs reflect the impact our three new band members have had," comments Markus Jüllich. "Tosse is a fantastic rhythm guitarist who adds even more diversity to the material with his clean vocals, and our lead guitarist Rolf enhances the record with his solos. Jason has added lots of drive to the deep frequencies, which is why we've consciously opted for a loud mix of the bass parts."

Along with Markus's wife Katrin (keyboards and samples) and vocalist Felix Stass, the three new additions are important factors that ensure that CREMATORY find themselves in a contemporary and forward-looking position in 2018.

In fact, the band went one step further on "Oblivion": while Markus Jüllich and producer Kristian Bonifer were busy working on the basics of their new recording at the Kohlekellerstudio, Stefan Glass, Dirk Riegner and Walter Stobbe were asked to contribute additional input to the creative process.

"Dirk comes from the indie genre and helped to add an important new nuance to the characteristic CREMATORY approach," Markus Jüllich explains. "Stefan Glass is a specialist for orchestral arrangements and Walter Stobbe is a real riff virtuoso on the guitar." The result is thoroughly compelling as well as ingenious. CREMATORY's unmistakable style manifests itself on programmatic numbers such as "Ghost Of The Past" and "Revenge Is Mine", but also on the anthemnic "Wrong Side" and the melancholy title track. The Stefan Glass-inspired orchestral arrangements can be heard on the dark opener "Salvation" as well as on "Until The Dawn", "Blessed" and "For All Of Us". Walter Stobbe's penchant for heavy metal features on "Cemetary Stillness" and on the album's impressive finale, "Demon Inside".

CREMATORY has rarely sounded as multi-faceted and timeless as on "Oblivion". The group's classic trademarks, such as Felix Stass's deep growls, are still present, at the same time new influences emphasise their great commercial potential. Markus Jüllich says: "So far we've had a special motto to set the direction of each of our albums, but 'Oblivion' simply combines all our strengths and experience. Over the years we've learned to blend different styles into the typical CREMATORY sound without ever losing sight of the importance of playing in a way that benefits our music. The motto 'less is more' applies to our compositions 100 percent. CREMATORY songs never lose themselves in exaggerated effects but always go the whole hog. That's partly due to the fact that we've remained very much down to earth."

Which is exactly what CREMATORY's countless fans will be able to witness when the band embarks on its 15-show tour of Germany at the end of April. As Markus Jüllich aptly puts it: "Even if we know exactly what matters when you tour, we want to learn something new with every new concert."

"Oblivion" track listing:

01. Expectation (1:27)

02. Salvation (4:36)

03. Ghost Of The Past (3:59)

04. Until The Dawn (4:36)

05. Revenge Is Mine (4:50)

06. Wrong Side (4:12)

07. Stay With Me (4:13)

08. For All Of Us (4:06)

09. Immortal (3:32)

10. Oblivion (4:52)

11. Cemetary Stillness (4:50)

12. Blessed (4:02)

13. Demon Inside (4:06)

CREMATORY lineup:

Felix Stass - vocals

Rolf Munkes - guitar

Tosse Basler - guitar

Jason Mathias - bass

Markus Jüllich - drums

Katrin Jüllich - keyboards

Rob Halford says that he doesn't waste his time dealing with negative comments from Internet trolls.

While most of the JUDAS PRIEST singer's social media interactions are positive, he still faces criticism for everything from his vocal performance to being an openly gay leather-clad metal icon.

Speaking to Scuzz TV, Rob said (see video below): "Criticism, maybe cynicism is just rampant in music, in creativity. Everybody has a perception and a set of opinions based on what that piece of music is doing to them internally. If I don't like something, I don't like it. I don't have go on Twitter and go, 'This band sucks,' or blah blah blah, 'I can't wait for them to blow up and be a disaster.' That has absolutely no value whatsoever. And it's unfortunate that in music, it's always the negativity and the criticism that seems to be get the most attention. You very rarely hear good stories about great things; it's always about this went wrong, and that went wrong, and you should have done this, and you should have done that. And that's just very… It's really of no use whatsoever. But that's the world we live in — especially with these things [picks up his phone]."

As for how he handles being attacked by strangers on his own social media sites, Halford said: "If I see stupid stuff said about me, fortunately, I go, 'Delete.' But generally I don't delete now — I just leave it there — because within minutes, somebody will go, 'How dare you say that about Rob? He's blah blah blah. And you're sitting there with a 20-pound bag of chips and drinking two gallons of Coke. He's out there doing…' So this is the beautiful thing about the support that you have with your fanbase, helping you through those moments as they happen."

JUDAS PRIEST kicked off the "Firepower" world tour on March 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

The band's latest album, "Firepower", was released on March 9 via Epic.

The North American leg of the trek will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas.

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen says that Angus Young should resist the urge to make a new AC/DC album with Axl Rose, insisting that the legendary hard rock band "has lots its integrity" through its recent lineup changes.

Ever since AC/DC completed the tour cycle for its 2014 album "Rock Or Bust" nearly two years ago — a turbulent trek that weathered the forced retirement and eventual death of co-founder Malcolm Young, plus the departures of longtime singer Brian Johnson, drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams — fans have wondered whether sole founding member Angus Young would keep the band going or decide it was time for AC/DC to pack it in.

Singer Angry Anderson of the veteran Australian act ROSE TATTOO said in a recent interview with The Rockpit that Angus told him he is at work on new AC/DC music and intends to have GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose — who took Johnson's place on the road in 2016 — sing on the LP.

Asked in a recent interview with Forrest of the Boise radio station 96.9 The Eagle if Angus should record a new AC/DC album with Axl, Phil said: "No. I'm a huge AC/DC fan, and if the whole band's left or gone... Malcolm dead, obviously. Brian Johnson got kicked out. Cliff Williams retired and Phil Rudd got arrested. You've got one person [left], so it's not really AC/DC. Maybe call it 'A, WITH AXL ROSE.' It kind of loses its appeal. It becomes karaoke; it becomes something else, and it's lost its integrity, really."

He continued: "I wouldn't do that, personally, if I was Angus. I thought Axl Rose [did] a great job, by the way. I thought he [did] amazing when he stood in for Brian Johnson. I thought he was amazing, actually. Full power to him — he's done really, really good stuff. But I think as a band, if he was gonna do an album, it may sound good, but it's not really the band anymore."

Johnson was forced to leave AC/DC mid-tour due to a dangerous level of hearing loss, while Rudd was dismissed following a drug arrest and Williams decided to retire at the end of the cycle.

Malcolm Young was diagnosed with dementia several years ago and bowed out before the sessions for "Rock Or Bust" began. He died this past November.

Angus has not said publicly what he has planned for the future of AC/DC. Axl is still touring with GUNS N' ROSES but has indicated a willingness to work with AC/DC again. It is also unknown whether Angus will keep the other members of the last touring lineup — including guitarist Stevie Young and drummer Chris Slade — or revamp the roster again.

Paul Stanley says that he is "going over" his schedule to see when he can join Gene Simmons at one of his "Vault" events.

For the last three months, the KISS bassist/vocalist has has been traveling around the U.S., personally delivering copies of his limited-edition box set, "Gene Simmons - The Vault Experience: 1966-2016", to buyers. The set, including a ticket to one of the "Vault" gatherings, costs $2,000, with the most expensive version going for $50,000.

Although Simmons has been joined by several of his current and former bandmates at various "The Vault" events so far, there has been no sign of his KISS partner Paul Stanley.

A few days after Gene told the attendees at his March 25 "Vault" event in New York City that he has been unable to get Paul to come out to any of the gatherings, Stanley took to his Twitter to address his absence.

"Going over my schedule to see when I can join my 'Brother From Another Mother,' Gene, at one of his Vault events," Paul wrote. "You BET I'm going!"

KISS fans recently speculated that the band would soon embark on a farewell tour following the news that the legendary rock act was attempting to trademark the phrase "The End Of The Road." An application from KISS was filed on February 8 to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which — should it be accepted — means that the band could use it in connection with "live performances by a musical band." As it stands now, no official farewell tour has been announced.

Going over my schedule to see when I can join my “Brother From Another Mother”, Gene at one of his Vault events. You BET I’m going! @genesimmons— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) April 2, 2018

Gene Simmons says that he hasn't been able to get his KISS bandmate Paul Stanley to come out to any of his "Vault" events.

For the last three months, the KISS bassist/vocalist has has been traveling around the U.S., personally delivering copies of his limited-edition box set, "Gene Simmons - The Vault Experience: 1966-2016", to buyers. The set, including a ticket to one of the "Vault" gatherings, costs $2,000, with the most expensive version going for $50,000.

Although Simmons has been joined by several of his current and former bandmates at various "The Vault" events so far, there has been no sign of his KISS partner Paul Stanley.

During the March 25 "Vault" event in New York City, Gene addressed Paul's absence, telling the attendees (see video below): "Along the way, some of our friends and family members who started the band with us came by to say hello to wonderful folks like you. Ace [Frehley, original KISS guitarist] has been to three of the 'Vault' events — Los Angeles and a few others. Ace, by the way, is gonna be opening up for the GENE SIMMONS BAND when we do five shows in Australia. He's gonna be using my back-up band and we're just gonna have a great time. He'll play 'Ozone' and lots of other crazy stuff. And Peter Criss [original KISS drummer] came by yesterday, in case you didn't hear. Vinnie Vincent [former KISS guitarist] is gonna be in Nashville. Paul Stanley, I can't get him to come out yet, but we'll see. Maybe I'll get him some paint brushes," apparently referring to the fact that Stanley has been spending much of his time painting and exhibiting his original artwork at various galleries around the country. Simmons added: "The thing we do is tease each other. Tommy [Thayer, current KISS guitarist] and Eric [Singer, current KISS drummer] came to Los Angeles. Bruce Kulick's [former KISS guitarist] been out. Of course, he likes to go out anywhere."

A few years ago, Simmons told Classic Rock magazine about his relationship with Stanley: "Paul is the soul of KISS and I'm… the cock. Paul is much more emotional, and I'm drier. Paul will go see romantic movies, I'll throw up at them." Singer offered his own perspective, telling the magazine: "Gene loves the sound of his own voice, we all know that. But nothing happens in KISS unless Paul Stanley says it does."

KISS fans recently speculated that the band would soon embark on a farewell tour following the news that the legendary rock act was attempting to trademark the phrase "The End Of The Road." An application from KISS was filed on February 8 to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which — should it be accepted — means that the band could use it in connection with "live performances by a musical band." As it stands now, no official farewell tour has been announced.

TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson has confirmed to RockSverige that he has commenced the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2016's "Brotherhood Of The Snake" album. "It's kind of like the same thing we did last time," he said. "I'm librarying riffs right now and getting ideas. Some of the ideas are on my phone, some are on my Logic [Apple's recording studio software] and a lot of my ideas I have in my notes. I usually always go, 'Oh, I'll remember that,' and then the next day I go, 'Fuck! What the hell was that?' What I do now is if I have an idea, I'll just get my phone out and hit the voice memo and I'll write down what I thought and e-mail it. It seems to work pretty well, because when I go back to it a month later, it's, like, 'All right. That's where it was.' I'll look at my notes, and I hear, like, one little piece of a note somewhere. That's happened to me my whole life. There are so many riffs that have gone through my fingers that would've taken us to another level, but I forgot. I don't know that for sure, but I remember that they were really good. I used to have dreams of a song, with singing and everything, and when I wake up, I remember it, but then I get up and make coffee and it starts fading and it's, like, 'Oh, shit!'"

Peterson expressed hope that TESTAMENT's next album could arrive in 2019. "This is [assuming] that we don't take every tour that comes our way, and Chuck [Billy, TESTAMENT singer] seems to be on that page," he said. "Our plan was to end in August 2018 and maybe get into the studio by the end of 2018 and put the record out in 2019. But, you know, SLAYER's announced [their farewell tour] and they want us to be a part of it. I would imagine, if that stuff happens, then things will get pushed back a little bit, but the initial plan is to have it out in 2019. [We're] ready for summer to do all the A markets for festivals and stuff. This summer we're not doing a lot of festivals; we're actually talking about bowing out of a couple to make other things happen with the SLAYER farewell thing."

According to Peterson, fans shouldn't expect to see TESTAMENT follow SLAYER's lead and announce a final tour anytime soon. "I don't think we're in that position to say goodbye yet," he said. "Who knows whats gonna happen? SLAYER's in a different predictament, but they're not that much older than us. Of course, they're a lot more successfull and they can bow out gracefully. When it does come, we'll probably do something like that. Tour the world for a year and a half, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. I would imagine it's more near than far away. [Laughs] I think we have a couple of records in us."

TESTAMENT will support SLAYER on the first two legs of the Tom Araya-fronted outfit's last-ever North American run of dates. Also scheduled appear on the bill are LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and BEHEMOTH (with NAPALM DEATH replacing BEHEMOTH for the second leg).

TESTAMENT is continuing to tour in support of "Brotherhood Of The Snake", which was released in October 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

DEATH ANGEL guitarist Rob Cavestany says that "it wasn't really a total shock" to find out that SLAYER was planning to embark on a "farewell" tour.

Back in January, SLAYER, one of metal's most popular and influential bands of the past four decades, announced its "final world tour" via a 30-second video. The group also confirmed that the first leg of its last-ever North American run of dates would feature support from LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, BEHEMOTH and TESTAMENT.

Speaking to The Rockpit, Cavestany was asked how he felt about the Tom Araya-fronted outfit calling it quits.

"My thoughts are that some of us could see this coming for various reasons," Rob said. "We've spent a lot of time with SLAYER in the fall of 2016 on the North American tour with SLAYER and ANTHRAX. Those guys are fucking legendary, of course; they're even at the top of their game. I've hardly seen them so tight, putting on such an amazing show and production — everything. However, they're tired, man. They're a little older than us, and you can see that, at some point, you're just going at it to a point that it's going to come to an end, and I can tell that they would want to not fizzle out. They would rather go out while they're still fucking awesome."

Rob went on to say that he didn't expect SLAYER to make to make the farewell-tour announcement "this soon, but I expected it sooner or later, so it wasn't really a total shock, even though it is heartbreaking, because, yeah, they're SLAYER and they're going to go on forever, just like anyone else does. So at this point, my thoughts on that are I hope that we can play on one of the legs of this tour," he said. "It's going to be an amazing tour, and I hope to support those guys one more time before they aren't tourable anymore."

Cavestany also admitted that SLAYER's decision to retire has made him think about the fact his own band will at some point no longer be able to perform its music with the physicality it demands. "As the days go by, eventually you have to realize that there's going to be that day for every one of us [when we are not able to do this anymore], not to mention all these legendary musicians dying," he said. "They're really done, and you're never going to get these people back and they'll never be able to be replaced. It's what's happening to all our gods of music, and you look at your own band and you've just gotta think, 'I've been fortunate that we've been able to do what whatever we did up to this point.' So all that leads me to think about how vital every moment is with your band and one day you're going to be looking back on the old days that you had with this band and running around the world doing all the stuff that we did and it won't be too long from now when that's going to end up happening. So we just take every moment of it for how precious it is. I think it makes everything that much more intense and it's going to make the music we create that much more intense and our shows. We don't take any fucking moment of it for granted. You might not even call it quits; It might call it quits on you, because it happens to people, so you just never know. The way to take that is to just make the most of every moment and put in everything you got in, because, at one point, it will be gone."

SLAYER will kick off the first leg of its farewell world tour with a May 10 concert at San Diego's Valley View Casino Center, with dates running through August 26 at San Jose, California's SAP Center.

DEATH ANGEL's latest studio album, "The Evil Divide", was released in May 2016 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was recorded at AudioHammer studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof, who previously worked on 2010's "Relentless Retribution" and 2013's "The Dream Calls For Blood".

Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett played a cover of MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's "Into The Arena" and UFO's "Rock Bottom" during METALLICA's March 29 concert in Humburg, Germany. Fan-filmed video footage of their performance can be seen below.

Hammett is a featured guest on "Resurrection", the new album from legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker's MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST project. The disc, which was produced by Michael Voss-Schön and recorded in four different locations over a five-month period, was released on March 2 via Nuclear Blast.

Hammett and Schenker first traded licks during the taping of VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" in April 2015 at Metropolis Studios in New York City. Less than a month later, Kirk joined Michael on stage at the RockBar in San Jose, California to perform a couple of songs: UFO's "Natural Thing" and SCORPIONS' "Blackout".

In an interview with Guitar World magazine, Hammett spoke about how his life was changed when he first heard UFO's 1975 album "Force It", which featured Schenker on guitar.

"I was 15 years old and a friend of mine brought it over to my house insisting I had to hear it," Hammett recalled.

"I was still living at my parents' house at the time, and they had a very loud stereo system. My friends would come over and we would blast it up to what we thought was concert level. Boy, was I naïve!

"The first track my friend played was 'Mother Mary', and I thought, wow, these guys are just as heavy as THIN LIZZY, AEROSMITH, MONTROSE and all the other hard rock stuff that I was listening to before I got into heavy metal.

"When it got to the guitar solo, I was just blown away by Michael Schenker's tone, phrasing and technique. By the time the second solo came on with the fastest descending lick I'd ever heard, I was totally hooked! I immediately grabbed the album cover and saw the picture of Schenker playing a Flying V.

"From that point on, I knew there was an entire rock vocabulary out there that was not just based on pentatonic scales, and I set out to learn as many Schenker solos as possible while trying to write heavy riffs just like UFO. I also wanted a Flying V so bad!

"That record taught me a lot about solo structure, phasing and melody, as well as playing for the song. I was amazed how UFO could be so heavy and so melodic in the course of one song. I think the band I was in at the time added two UFO songs to its set that week.

"For me, the standout tracks on 'Force It' are 'Mother Mary', 'Shoot Shoot', 'This Kid's', 'Out On The Street' and 'Let It Roll'. Every time I pick up the guitar and start improvising, I think a lick or two from that album squeaks out subconsciously. I probably spew the most Schenker licks on [METALLICA's 1983 debut album] 'Kill 'Em All' because everything was still kind of new to me at that time."

THE WORD ALIVE will release its fifth studio album, "Violent Noise", on May 4 via Fearless Records. The disc's hypnotic first single, "Red Clouds", which thematically revisits the band's origins, can be streamed below.

"'Red Clouds' is the first single off 'Violent Noise' and tells the story of how THE WORD ALIVE came to be," explains THE WORD ALIVE vocalist Telle Smith.

"Before we knew each other, every step we took into life's unknown led us to each other and to creating the songs we've played across the world to our incredible fans for the last nine years. We've endured every challenge a band can face and have continued to rededicate ourselves to each other as friends throughout. The same passion that ignited this band remains today.

"We're more than individuals because THE WORD ALIVE could never be a single person or a single song. We're a family that includes every single one of you. So as we begin this new chapter together, and we let you into our lives and minds more than ever we hope you're ready to overcome your own challenges and fears to chase your dreams with us. It begins..."

"Violent Noise" track listing:


01. Red Clouds

02. Why Am I Like This?

03. Stare At The Sun (feat. Danny Worsnop)

04. I Fucked Up

05. War Evermore

06. Human (feat. Sincerely Collins)

07. I Don't Mind

08. Real Life

09. Lost In The Dark

10. My Enemy

11. Run Away

12. Lonely

"Violent Noise" was produced and mixed by Matt Good (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, FROM FIRST TO LAST), who also produced THE WORD ALIVE's last offering, "Dark Matter".

"The most distracting noise in life is the one that comes from your head," Telle explains. "We all battle with self-doubt, insecurities, and trust. This record is about the balance. There's light and dark. Nevertheless, you always have control. I want to show everybody that. I'm proof."

THE WORD ALIVE will hit the road on April 8 as direct support to IN THIS MOMENT, with additional support from DED, on "The Witching Hour Tour" through April 28. The band play select dates as support to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, HATEBREED and MEMPHIS MAY FIRE throughout the month of May.

Photo: Vince Dwyer

Swedish metallers SOILWORK have entered Nordic Sound Lab studios in Skara, Sweden to begin recording their eleventh album. The follow-up to 2015's "The Ride Majestic" is tentatively due later this year via Nuclear Blast Records.

"The Ride Majestic" was SOILWORK's last album to feature longtime drummer Dirk Verbeuren, who left the band in July 2016 to join MEGADETH.

In 2016, SOILWORK released a special collection of rarities titled "Death Resonance" via Nuclear Blast.

Verbeuren joined MEGADETH at the recommendation of LAMB OF GOD's Chris Adler who played on MEGADETH's "Dystopia" album.

Verbeuren was replaced in SOILWORK by Bastian Thusgaard of THE ARCANE ORDER.

Photo courtesy of SOILWORK Facebook page

.... and we have entered the studio!!! ??? #sw2018 #newalbum #soilwork #melodicdeathmetal #nordicsoundlab A post shared by Soilwork (@soilwork) on Apr 2, 2018 at 4:38am PDT

Soilwork, 4 songs of drums done! It’s a good idea to read what you play, right? First time I’ve seen this setup take...Posted by Thomas Plec Johansson on Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Long-Running Copenhagen-based power metallers Iron Fire have announced the May 4 release of double-CD Dawn Of Creation: Twentieth Anniversary on Crime Records. The album, which includes a special collection of demos, live tracks, covers, and three new songs, will be available on double-CD Digipack CD and digital formats. The label released the following statement concerning the forthcoming historical metal document:

"So now it's been twenty years since five young guys from the Danish country side decided that power metal should be the first step on their quest to glory. The name Iron Fire came up and carved in stone that these Danes meant to be real, and despite their young age, forge catchy power metal rooted in the classics of Helloween and Running Wild. As the journey continued, ups and downs turned and reformed the band into the trio of today. And now that trio is looking back, and in their wish to celebrate 20 years of power metal, a selection of demo songs has found its way to a double album. Along with three brand new songs Iron Fire provides old songs in the original pre-album versions as well as previously unreleased material. This is the raw and pure, from the heart of Iron Fire. Enjoy!"

Tracklist:

Disc 1

‘Dawn Of Creation’
‘Redux (Coming Home)’
‘The Other Side’
‘A Token Of My Hatred’ (Cover)
‘King At Any Cost’ (Demo)
‘This Kids’ (Cover)
‘Kill For Metal’ (Live)
‘Slaughter Of Souls’ (Live)
‘Final Odyssey’ (Live)
‘Among The Dead’ (Demo)
‘Tornado Of Sickness’ (Demo)
‘Still Alive’ (Demo)
‘My Awakening’ (Demo)
‘Enter Oblivion’ (Demo)

Disc 2

‘Thunderstorm’ (Demo)
‘Glory To The King’ (Demo)
‘Defender Of The Ring’ (Demo)
‘Prophecy Of Pain’ (Demo)
‘Flames Of Revenge’ (Demo)
‘Millennium Warriors’ (Demo)
‘Black Heart’ (Demo)
‘Vengeance From Hell’ (Demo)
‘Days Of Tragedy’ (Demo)
‘Fire God’ (Demo)
‘From The North’ (Demo)
‘Hall Of Heroes’ (Demo)
‘Brothers United’ (Demo)
‘Jerusalem’ (Demo)

Pre-orders for Dawn of Creation: Twentieth Anniversary will be available April 6, along with the release of a lyric video and digital single. Those pre-ordering the album will be rewarded with an official bootleg live recording of Iron Fire’s 2007 Stuttgart show. Digital Download will be available for pre-order at iTunes on the same day here.

Pre-order Bonus CD tracklisting:

‘Intro - Blade of Triumph’
‘Bridges Will Burn’
‘Prince of Agony’
‘Steel Invaders’
‘Thunderstorm’
‘Outro - Odins Call’

Bay Area vocalist Luke Easter, who was TOURNIQUET's lead singer from from 1993 to late 2015, has announced a new solo endeavor. As part of the band TOURNIQUET, he co-wrote a number of songs, released 10 CDs, four home videos/DVDs, and played numerous shows internationally. This is his first solo project, and it is slated for an early summer 2018 release.

Produced by Kris Kanoho (ONE GROOVE, NOMASTERBACKS), the record features a core group of musicians from the Christian hard rock and metal scene — David Bach (GUARDIAN) on bass, Jesse Sprinkle (POOR OLD LU, DEMON HUNTER) on drums, and Josiah Prince (DISCIPLE) on lead guitar. Additionally, the record features an appearance by former STRYPER bass player Tim Gaines. The collection of all-new material was written by Easter, who says: "Up until now, I've been giving voice to someone else's songs… bringing someone else's musical vision to life. These songs are the closest I've come to something truly reflective of me. It's a snapshot of who I am as a singer and songwriter at this point in time."

A pre-order campaign has been launched via Indiegogo.

When he announced his exit from TOURNIQUET in December 2015, Easter said that his time with the band gave him "the opportunity to see the world; to meet and work with amazing people; to contribute to a body of work that I am proud of; and in the process I was able to share Christ with people all over the world."

TOURNIQUET drummer, songwriter and lyricist Ted Kirkpatrick explained that the decision to split with Easter was made because "our musical paths are not quite going in the same direction."

This Sunday (April 1st), AXS TV are traveling back to Cabo to rock with Sammy Hagar and all of his closest friends including Toby Keith, Bob Weir, The Circle, Chad Kroeger, Eddie Money, and more!

"We wrapped the best of a spectacular four-night run at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, into one rocking evening! This event features the best of the performances and party action from the multi-night affair, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the music that spans the career of the one and only Red Rocker!

Red ‘Til I’m Dead airs on AXS TV this Sunday, April 1st at 10/9c. Watch a trailer below along with a sneak peek at "I Can't Drive 55" from the night.

Sammy Hagar and Bob Weir are joining forces for the fifth annual Acoustic-4-A-Cure benefit concert on May 15th at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

Acoustic-4-A-Cure V will be a special 75th birthday celebration for blues icon Taj Mahal, with artists including Joe Satriani, Chad Smith, Michael Anthony, Kevin Cronin, Eddie Money and Vic Johnson already confirmed to perform. The 2018 concert blends veterans and newcomers to the event, with Bob Weir stepping in to co-host the concert which benefits The Pediatric Cancer Program at UCSF's Benioff Children's Hospital.

"I was a fan of Taj Mahal long before I had a record deal in Montrose 1973," said Sammy Hagar. "He's become a dear friend over the years and without a doubt, is one of the few living blues legend left on this planet!!! Having Bob Weir, being on the same page, understanding how important and how much fun this will be much less with a bunch of great artist, for a good cause!!!! It doesn't get any better than this annual event."

Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 30th at 10AM, PDT via livenation.com. Tickets will not be available at The Fillmore box office, charge by phone or outlets.

Now in its fifth year, Acoustic-4-A-Cure has quickly become one of the Bay Area's hottest tickets, with legendary artists performing acoustic sets, epic collaborations and impromptu jams from intimate and equally legendary San Francisco venues like The Fillmore. The benefit was created by Bay Area rock legends Sammy Hagar and James Hetfield, who co-hosted the first three years, who envisioned throwing a straight-up must-see rock concert for fans and donating the proceeds to The Pediatric Cancer Program at UCSF's Benioff Children's Hospital. Artists including Dave Grohl, John Mayer, Sarah McLachlan, Billie Joe Armstrong, Jerry Cantrell, Linda Perry, Chad Smith, Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Joe Satriani, Pat Monahan, Adam Sandler, Nancy Wilson, Vic Johnson, Tommy Lee, Kris Kristofferson and more have performed at the sold-out shows.

Tickets are priced as follows: $150 each for a general admission ticket which this year also include a commemorative poster.

Please note: In an effort to make sure that fans get the best tickets, this concert is a "will call only" event. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the concert begins promptly at 8:00 PM so we encourage guests to arrive early. All ticket orders over the 2-ticket limit will be subject to cancellation without notice. This includes duplicate orders having the same name, billing address, or credit card.

Each customer will need to bring their government issued photo ID and credit card used to purchase the tickets to the box office window on day of show to redeem the tickets. Once the ticket order is redeemed the customer must directly enter The Fillmore. All will call tickets must be picked up by the card holder. Alternate names for Will Call will not be permitted. You cannot leave tickets at will call to be picked up by someone else. No "drop-offs." Live Nation will cancel any and all orders without notice that exceed the ticket limit.

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital creates an environment where children and their families find compassionate care at the forefront of scientific discovery, with more than 150 experts in 50 medical specialties serving patients throughout Northern California and beyond. The hospital admits about 5,000 children each year, including 2,000 babies born in the hospital.

UCSF Medical Center is recognized throughout the world as a leading academic medical center that provides innovative treatments, uses advanced technology, fosters collaboration among clinicians and scientists, and employs a highly compassionate team of doctors, nurses and staff.

Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have set "Gravity" as the title of their sixth studio album, due on June 29.

The first single from the disc, "Over It", received its world premiere earlier tonight (Sunday, April 1) on BBC Radio 1's "Rock Show With Daniel P. Carter" and can now be streamed below.

The follow-up to 2015's "Venom", "Gravity" will mark BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's full-length recording debut with new drummer Jason Bowld (PITCHSHIFTER, AXEWOUND), who has been touring with the group for the past two years, and bassist Jamie Mathias (formerly of REVOKER), who joined the band after the last disc was completed.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck told NME that he "definitely" took the lead in the songwriting department on the band's new album, explaining that he "had a bit more of a vision" than the other guys on what he wanted the record to be like.

The guitarist/vocalist said that he and his bandmates "tried to make [the upcoming BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE disc] a different-sounding record, we've tried to approach songwriting differently, and a bunch of stuff. We don't wanna regurgitate anything we've done in the past," he said. "That's the past — we wanna look forward to the future. We tried to make things bigger by calming things down on the technical side. So we've still got really big, massive heavy groove songs, but instead of being super-thrashy and technical on the guitar, they are far simpler and far more digestible, but it gives you a far bigger sound."

Noting that "every album," for him, "has a purpose, and every album has its own moment in time," Tuck said: "I don't think anything we've ever done sounds like something we've done before already. And as a songwriter and a creative person, that's what excites me and that's what motivates me — to make things different and to challenge ourselves and to challenge myself as a songwriter and a musician and a lyricist and everything, to not do things that are boring and are stale and I've done before. And that is really challenging… That's what keeps me motivated — the challenge of recreating the band's sound and pushing myself creatively."

Consequently, Tuck believes that BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's new album will "initially take a lot of people by surprise by the way it sounds and the instrumentation that we've incorporated into it this time. But I think as soon as the dust settles and people get to live with it, it's a corker — it rocks," he said. "We're very happy with it."

Asked about the lyrical themes covered on "Gravity", Tuck said: "There's a lot of stuff that will be very self-explanatory when people hear it. I don't wanna say too much about it yet 'cause it is very early days, but it's a very personal record for me. It's got highs and it's got very dark lows. But it's very real, and I think people will relate to it."

"Gravity" will be released through BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's new label home, Search And Destroy, the imprint launched in 2014 by Spinefarm and international artist management company Raw Power Management.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE recently completed an extensive American tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BREAKING BENJAMIN.



VI // Gravity // June 29 pic.twitter.com/gq9ljrtoEC— BFMV (@bfmvofficial) April 1, 2018

IN THIS MOMENT's live video for the song "Roots" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Ritual", which was released last July by Atlantic Records in partnership with Roadrunner Records. The disc features a guest appearance from JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford on the song "Black Wedding".

"Ritual" was produced by IN THIS MOMENT's longtime collaborator — and multiple Grammy Award nominee — Kevin Churko (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, OZZY OSBOURNE).

Guitarist Chris Howorth told Lancaster Online about the writing and recording process for "Ritual": "The word 'grueling' comes to mind with that, only because the pressure that we put on ourselves, more than anything else, of wanting it to be great.

"Maria's [Brink, vocals] a real artist. What she sings about has to be something she's connected to or feels, or she feels fake and can't do it. She's always second-guessing and questioning whether something that we did is good enough."

Regarding IN THIS MOMENT's live shows, Howorth told BandsInTown: "Maria is usually at the center of this hurricane directing and planning the whole thing. It starts right when the songs are being written and continues right up to the first show. We are always trying to out do ourselves with our live show and that takes constant planning and working on things.

"We always try to utilize the stage setup to make every song special in its own way. Maria uses the stage design and props to enhance each song and bring the message or story to life for the crowd."

Former KAMELOT singer Roy Khan (full name: Roy Sætre Khantatat) has released his first-ever solo song called "For All". The track, which was written by Khan, was recorded at Stable Studios in Oslo, Norway in March 2018 and features Roy on vocals, piano and keyboards alongside Leif Johansen on fretless bass and Geir Olav Akselsen on all guitars.

After his departure from KAMELOT seven years ago, Khan, who is a devout Christian, joined a church in the coastal town of Moss, Norway. As an employee of Moss Frikirke, Khan worked with the youth, mainly with the choir and the skaters of the village. Roy stopped working at the church in September 2016, but is reportedly still living and working in Moss.

Khan announced his exit from KAMELOT in April 2011 after taking several months off to recover from a "burnout." He explained in a statement at the time: "I told the guys in the band already last fall (well after my burnout) that I was leaving the band. Naturally enough, they were shocked (as was the label and everyone else working with KAMELOT). In addition to risk of dropping ticket sales, they wanted to give me time to think things over, and so I did. My decision still stands; it is finished."

When asked whether religion played a role in Khan's decision to leave the band, KAMELOT guitarist Thomas Youngblood said in a 2011 interview: "I know that there is a religious aspect to it that I can't really 100 percent explain. The religious aspect is something that I wanna let him to kind of talk about, but I know that he had been going to religion classes for whatever reason. Obviously, over the years of working together, being at times best friends and things like that, we have discussed all kind of topics about religion, so it's actually very surprising to me that this is where we are at now with him. But really, I don't really want to talk too much more about it because that's really something I think that he should come out about, in terms of what he believes or doesn't believe or whatever."

KAMELOT officially announced Tommy Karevik as its new lead singer in June 2012. The Florida-based band has recorded three albums so far with the Swedish vocalist: 2012's "Silverthorn", 2015's "Haven" and "The Shadow Theory", which will arrive this Friday, April 6.

Swedish death metallers VOMITORY have reformed and will make their official comeback next year.

The band says in a statement: "For 24 years, Swedish death metal legends VOMITORY laid waste to stages all over the world and released eight successful albums before laying down their arms in 2013. In 2017, they reunited for one show to honor an old friend. The band had such a good time playing again that the thought of future battles together started to grow like a seed in blood-drenched soil. 2019 will mark the 30th anniversary of VOMITORY's supreme death metal and prove to be the perfect year to celebrate by wreaking havok to stages all over the planet again. Death metal supremacy!"

Prior to its 2017 reunion concert at the Summer Breeze festival, VOMITORY played its last gig on December 27, 2013 at Metal Clüb / Nöjesfabriken in Karlstad, Sweden. They were joined on stage by Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES, THE GREAT DECEIVER, LOCKUP, DISFEAR, THE CROWN) for the song "Revelation Nausea".

VOMITORY announced its decision to disband in February 2013, explaining in a statement: "After 24 years, eight albums and hundreds of live shows across 30 countries, we have finally come to the end of the road."

The group's eighth full-length album, "Opus Mortis VIII", was released in 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Leon Music Studios outside Karlstad, Sweden with producer Rikard Löfgren.

Legendary Canadian sci-fi progressive metallers VOIVOD have completed recording their new album. The band's first full-length effort in five years is tentatively due later in 2018 via Century Media Records.

VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin told the Impact metal channel that the band's next record would be "a concept album, very intricate. It's very progressive thrash. Lots of psychedelia as well. The songs are pretty long. There is only one short rocker; all the rest is progressive music. It's a continuation of [2016's] 'Post Society' [EP]."

The "Post Society" EP was issued in February 2016 via Century Media. It was the follow-up to 2013's "Target Earth", which marked VOIVOD's first album of new material written without original guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour's leftover riffs.

VOIVOD singer Denis "Snake" Bélanger told Metal Wani about the passing of Piggy and the eventual addition of Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain prior to the making of "Target Earth": "Of course, the loss of Piggy was a terrible thing. We couldn't do, really, anything for two or three years; we didn't know what would be the future of the band. And we finally found a guy [Chewy] that could play VOIVOD [music]. And it's sort of a mixture of circumstances that happened. It's, like, 'Okay, maybe there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe if we pick up this guy who learned, actually…' The first thing [Chewy] learned [to play] was VOIVOD. The first show he saw was VOIVOD. And the [day after] he saw VOIVOD, he bought a guitar and started playing Piggy's riffs. So, for us, Chewy was the best option."

Snake's ScreamFeel Snake’s reptile anger at RadicArt Recording Studio.

Multi-dimensional music coming in your part of the multiverse soon!Posted by Voivod on Saturday, March 17, 2018

Jacques Landry PLaying the Bones on the next Voivod OpusNow, This is soooo metal!!! Playing the bones on a Metal Album!Posted by Voivod on Thursday, March 22, 2018

Timpani SessionTimpani session with guest Martin Marcotte , Dan "Chewy" Mongrain’s collegue, drum teacher at Département de musique - cégep de Joliette. That’s the perfect little extra to make the song totally Epic! Working very hard to bring this new music at our best to the world and beyond, way beyond. Stay tuned Voivodians!Posted by Voivod on Saturday, March 24, 2018

Almost 10 years have passed since Munich-based Commander released The Enemies We Create. On April 13th they will return with a new album featuring nine brand new songs, Fatalis (The Unbroken Circle). The album was mastered in November 2017 at Temple Of Disharmony by Patrick W. Engel. Artwork was created by Remy Cooper (Headsplit Design), who is also responsible for works with Kreator, Cryptopsy and Arch Enemy. More album details will be released soon.

Fatalis (The Unbroken Circle) will be released via Black Sunset / MDD. Go to this location to pre-order.

The tracklist is as follows:

"Fatalis"
"Locust Infestation"
"Chaos Awakening"
"New Slave Democracy"
"Insidious Greed"
"Invidia"
"Superbia"
"And Death Swings the Scythe"
"Shattered Existence"

Check out the new lyric video for "Locust Infestation" below.

Commander have announced the following live dates for 2018:

March
31 - München, Germany - Backstage (Dark Easter Metal Meeting 2018)

April
28 - Aalen, Germany - Rock It (Death Celebration 2018)

September
22 - Schrobenhausen, Germany - Metal im Woid V Festival

December
28 - München, Germany - 8Below Friday Madness Party

For information and updates on Commander go to this location.

Raleigh, NC progressive deathcore unit Krosis have premiered a Jaiden Frost directed music video for their song "Melting Point".The track is from the group's outstanding Unique Leader debut Solem Vatem which was released on March 9th and shows Krosis pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the genre. 

Drummer Daniel Cece said of the track, "Melting Point' explored the lighter, more atmospheric side of our musical creativity. We are just as much a progressive metal band as we are deathcore or death metal. That allows us to incorporate various experimental elements that might be rarely seen in today's metal genres. This one is a fun, melodic song that still jams, and the video that Jaiden shot for it fits the theme perfectly."

Krosis will headline The Solem Vatem Tour in support of their new album next month with support coming from Silent on Fifth Street and Terraform.

German death metallers Dawn Of Disease have released a new video for “Leprous Thoughts”, taken from their Ascension Gate album, out now via Napalm Records.

Album artwork by Mark Cooper.

“Ascension Gate”:

“Akephalos” video:

“Perimortal”:

The official lyric video for the song "Better The Devil" from BAD WOLVES can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's debut album, "Disobey", which will be released on May 18 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc will include BAD WOLVES' cover of THE CRANBERRIES' "Zombie", which recently hit No. 1 in multiple countries around the globe.

The hit single was first released by THE CRANBERRIES in 1994, the original track hit No. 1 across the globe, including the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart. The song returned to the Top 10 on the U.S. Rock chart shortly after news of Dolores O'Riordan's passing earlier this year.

O'Riordan was slated to record vocals for BAD WOLVES' cover of the track (which she described as "killer") on the day of her passing. The band decided to release the song in her honor with all BAD WOLVES' proceeds going to her children.

BAD WOLVES, which is managed by Zoltan Bathory of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, consists of of vocalist Tommy Vext (ex-DIVINE HERESY, SNOT), drummer John Boecklin (ex-DEVILDRIVER), guitarist Doc Coyle (VAGUS NERVE, ex-GOD FORBID), guitarist Chris Cain (BURY YOUR DEAD) and bassist Kyle Konkiel (ex-IN THIS MOMENT).

"Disobey" track listing:

01. Officer Down

02. Learn To Live

03. No Masters

04. Zombie

05. Run For Your Life

06. Remember When

07. Better The Devil

08. Jesus Slaves

09. Hear Me Now

10. Truth Or Dare

11. The Conversation

12. Shape Shifter

13. Toast To The Ghost

BAD WOLVES burst on to the scene last year with the independently released debut single "Learn To Live".

Boecklin previously described BAD WOLVES' style as "a heavy-slightly prog rock band that tunes low and cuts off most of the fat. Watching FAITH NO MORE on the reunion tour made my thought process change," he explained. "I was standing there, and it hit me that I don't want to be in a metal band with screaming all the time. We're heavy, yet from track-to-track, things change quite a bit."

"More was revealed, so more was required," added Vext. "The overall tonality and approach resonated with me as an opportunity to challenge myself and grow as a vocalist. I was given a platform to tap into some musical influences I hadn't yet explored in previous bands. All in all, it was some of the most diverse, original material I've gotten to wrap my hands around."

In no rush to put together something reminiscent of his musical past, Boecklin quietly wrote over the course of 2015. During summer of 2016, he entered AudioHammer Studios with longtime collaborator Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS) and tracked what would become the group's debut album.

"Starting from scratch is never easy," admitted Boecklin. "Many musical roads were traveled before getting to what you hear today — it's trial and error. I kept reminding myself not to do what I've done before. Eventually, we started to hear what we wanted."

"A Toast To The Ghosts" delivers a searing gut-punch punctuated by sharp succinct fretwork, smart-bomb precise percussion, and another searing vocal performance. Everything culminates on the pensive and punishing "Blood And Bones". Vext added: "It's like an open letter to an abusive relationship partner that no longer serves you or the opposing counterpart. It's left open to interpretation."

Defined by a push-and-pull between incalculable instrumentation and soaring melodies, BAD WOLVES will keep listeners guessing and thinking on their path to hard rock and metal supremacy.

"This is something new for me," Boecklin left off. "It's the most unique drumming I've ever done. Tommy has never sounded so good. The songs are much more diverse than anything from our collective past. I'd love for people to take away some sort of connection emotionally. That's what all of the bands who inspire me do. Everything else doesn't really matter."

BAD WOLVES will tour the U.S. later in the year with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and SHINEDOWN.

HOUSE OF LORDS singer James Christian will release a new solo album, "Craving", on April 20 via Frontiers Music Srl. It is his fourth solo effort, following "Lay It On Me" (2013), "Meet The Man" (2004) and "Rude Awakening" (1995).

Christian's first solo album, "Rude Awakening", is, to this day, regarded as a musical delight for any lover of first-class AOR. After the return of HOUSE OF LORDS in the early 2000s, Christian released another classy melodic rock LP, "Meet The Man", which featured the songwriting of several AOR luminaries such as Stan Bush, Judithe Randall and his then-HOUSE OF LORDS bandmates Chuck Wright and Lanny Cordola. Nine years later, Christian stepped back on the scene with a brand new solo release, "Lay It All On Me", which he recorded and produced in his own studios in Florida during the second part of 2012 and early 2013.

According to a press release, the long wait for "Craving" "has been worth every drop of sweat and tears spilled these past years since Christian's superb vocals can really offer the listener a rewarding experience."

With songwriting contributions from Tommy Denander, Chris Pelcer, Jimi Bell, Clif Magness, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Richard Hymas, Charlie Mason and Jeff Kent, "Craving" is a strong personal statement from Christian: a mature artist, songwriter, producer and performer who meets his fans with another beautifully crafted melodic rock release.

"Craving" track listing:

01. Heaven Is A Place In Hell

02. Wild Boys

03. Craving

04. Jesus Wept

05. World Of Possibility

06. Sidewinder

07. I Won't Cry

08. If There's A God

09. Love Is The Answer

10. Black Wasn't Black

11. Amen

The song "Jesus Wept" can be streamed below.

Recording credits:

* James Christian: Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocals

* Billy Seidman: Additional Acoustic Guitars

* Tommy Denander: Guitars, Bass, Keys ("Wild Boys", "Love Is The Answer", "Sidewinder", "I Won't Cry")

* Jimi Bell: Guitars ("Black Wasn't Black")

* Pete Alpenborg: Guitars, Bass ("Jesus Wept")

* Alessandro Del Vecchio: Keyboards ("Jesus Wept")

* Clif Magness: All instruments ("Craving")

* Josh Freese: Drums ("Craving")

Swedish classic rock connoisseurs GRAVEYARD have released a teaser video for the official music video for "Please Don't", the first single from the band's eagerly anticipated comeback album, "Peace". The disc was recorded at Park Studios in Stockholm with producer Chips Kiesbye (THE HELLACOPTERS, MICHAEL MONROE, THE NOMADS) and engineer Stefan Boman (BURT BACHARACH, ALICE COOPER, DEF LEPPARD, KENT).

"Peace" is now available for pre-order in various formats. The Nuclear Blast mailorder edition will feature the CD as well as a red seven-inch vinyl containing two exclusive and previously unreleased non-album tracks ("Headache City" and "Something Else"). Aside of that the album will be available as digipack CD as well as on black, yellow, mint, beige and clear vinyl.

"Peace" will be released on May 25 via Nuclear Blast.

The disc will contain the following tracks:

01. It Ain't Over Yet

02. Cold Love

03. See The Day

04. Please Don't

05. Del Maniac

06. The Fox

07. Walk On

08. Bird Of Paradise

09. A Sign Of Peace

10. Low (I Wouldn't Mind)

GRAVEYARD announced its return in January 2017, only four months after saying that the band was calling it quits. The group's new lineup does not include drummer Axel Sjöberg, who is apparently focusing on his new outfit called BIG KIZZ. He has since been replaced by Oskar Bergenheim.

GRAVEYARD released four full-length albums, the latest one being 2015's "Innocence & Decadence".

GRAVEYARD's breakup in September 2016 was attributed to "the all-so-classic reason 'differences within the band.'" The group explained at the time: "This is the unfortunate final decision we've had to make after going through a period of struggling and juggling with personal issues. Things have gone out of hand and now our energy is very low."

GRAVEYARD 2018 is:

Joakim Nilsson - vocals, guitar

Truls Mörck - bass

Oskar Bergenheim - drums

Jonatan Ramm - guitar

Today, Raleigh-based rock outfit ALESANA has released a video for its single "The Coward". The track is taken from the band's new EP, "The Lost Chapters", which is available now.

ALESANA vocalist Shawn Milke stated: "'The Lost Chapters' fills in some blanks for fans who enjoy the small details of our concepts. There are some tunes here that introduce new possibilities as to where our stories could have gone, while others expand on some already existing points. Musically and sonically, each song feels like the era in which they were born and really makes 'The Lost Chapters' feel like you are traveling back in time.

"'The Coward' is, lyrically and narratively, my favorite of the bunch because it introduces a chapter in 'The Emptiness' that I loved and was disappointed to cut originally. It takes place in the immediate aftermath of 'The Murderer'."

"The Lost Chapters" was originally included in ALESANA's project "Origins" which came out last year. Alongside the EP, "Origins" contains a USB key full of never before seen footage, photos, and audio tracks from throughout ALESANA's 13 years as a band, five posters, a shirt with the first-ever ALESANA design, a handbook to walk you through the material covered in "Origins", a personalized message from the band, guitar picks with six of the band's favorite designs, and a ticket good voucher for two for one ALESANA performance.

"The Coward" and "The Lost Chapters" EP are available to stream on all digital platforms and for purchase on iTunes.

Swedish sleaze rockers CRASHDÏET played their first official concert with new frontman Gabriel Keyes on March 30 at Kägelbanan in Stockholm.

Video footage of the gig can be seen below.

In December, CRASHDÏET released its first new song with Keyes, "We Are The Legion".

Keyes, a Stockholm-based singer, is CRASHDÏET's fourth vocalist. CRASHDÏET was previously fronted by Dave Lepard (2000-2006), H. Olliver Twisted (2007-2008) and Simon Cruz (2009-2015).

"We Are The Legion" was made available through CRASHDÏET's own label imprint, Diet Records.

"We like to be a bit impulsive and spontaneous at the moment," CRASHDÏET said in a statement. "Now that we can release the song under our own record label, it's just a matter of going with the flow. It's an interesting time and we're learning a lot about the new music business."

"We Are The Legion" was produced by Eric Bazilian, who can also be heard playing the acoustic guitar in the mesmerizing intro of the track. The song was mixed by Chris Laney, who also worked on CRASHDÏET's debut album, "Rest In Sleaze". The drums were recorded by Björn Samuelsson at Samuelsson Music And Sound Studio. It was mastered by Classe Persson. The artwork was created by Christel Mentges.

CRASHDÏET stated about the song: "It's a fight song, relevant to anyone who's going through challenges and setbacks in a world that is judgmental and superficial. We can only stay together and be strong in the battlefield of life."

Cruz, who was previously a member of the Stockholm act JAILBAIT, joined CRASHDÏET in 2009 as the replacement for H. Olliver Twisted (now in RECKLESS LOVE).

CRASHDIET's latest album, "The Savage Playground", entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 2. The CD was released in January 2013 via Frontiers.

A trailer for "Family Tree", the new album from Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY, is available below. The disc will be released on April 20 via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group.

"Family Tree" is the much-anticipated follow up to 2016's "Kentucky". As was the case on "Kentucky", the BLACK STONE CHERRY members opted to produce and track the new disc at David Barrick's Barrick Recording in Glasgow, Kentucky, the same studio where the four-piece recorded its eponymous debut. BLACK STONE CHERRY also chose to not over-rehearse upfront of the album sessions, instead preferring the immediacy and spontaneity of in-the-moment takes. The band also entrusted frontman Chris Robertson to mix the songs, which perfectly fit the loose, creative process that birthed "Family Tree".

"Family Tree" boasts BLACK STONE CHERRY's tried-and-true lucky number with its 13 songs, and like all BLACK STONE CHERRY releases, features songwriting contributions from each member.

"This album's not as heavy," Chris told Classic Rock. "In truth, there was some anger and aggression that came out on some of the 'Kentucky' songs, just from changing record labels and stuff like that. But with this record, we didn't concern ourselves with songs being heavy. We broke down all the barriers we'd put up ourselves — or that anyone else had put up in front of us — and just made a rock 'n' roll record."

Two special guests appear, one bringing the concept of family full circle. Chris's five-year-old son contributes backup vocals on the swaggering "You Got The Blues", while the other, revered jam-band musician Warren Haynes (GOV'T MULE) offers a guitar cameo and vocals on the delta stomp of "Dancing In The Rain". The band first met Warren 17 years ago as freshly signed youngsters on their first visit to New York City.

The concept of family looms large in the world of BLACK STONE CHERRY's four band members. Young's father Richard and his uncle Fred are founding members of the Grammy Award-winning country rock 'n' roots band THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS.

BLACK STONE CHERRY's four high school-aged friends — Young, plus frontman/guitarist Chris Robertson, guitarist Ben Wells and bassist Jon Lawhon — grew up honing their craft in the HEADHUNTERS' Practice House, an abandoned property on the Young family's farmland. John Fred says: "We grew up in THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS' rehearsal space, looking up at posters of CREAM, LED ZEPPELIN, URIAH HEEP, THE [ROLLING] STONES MONTROSE, and THE FACES. We were like kids someone took in a time capsule and put in the woods."

"Family Tree" track listing:

01. Bad Habit

02. Burnin'

03. New Kinda Feelin

04. Carry Me On Down The Road

05. My Last Breath

06. Southern Fried Friday Night

07. Dancin' In The Rain (feat. Warren Haynes)

08. Ain't Nobody

09. James Brown

10. You Got The Blues

11. I Need A Woman

12. Get Me Over You

13. Family Tree

The official lyric/performance video for the song "The Safety Of Disbelief" from LIGHT THE TORCH (formerly DEVIL YOU KNOW), the band fronted by former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones, can be seen below. The trck is taken from LIGHT THE TORCH's debut album, "Revival", which was released today (March 30) via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

In addition to Jones, LIGHT THE TORCH features guitarist Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) and bassist Ryan Wombacher (BLEEDING THROUGH). The Los Angeles, California-based trio drew from five years together as DEVIL YOU KNOW to forge a wholly distinct path. Amidst a myriad struggles, they returned from the brink under a new name.

"2016 was a really tough year for us as a band, both personally and professionally," explained Jones. "While going through some lineup changes, we were also battling some issues with the use of our band name. At the same time, I was trying to deal with the loss of my oldest brother, which really hit me hard. During that time, we just bonded like never before. We all meshed because we faced war together. We survived. At the end, we realized we were a real band and decided to make an album representing that resilience. Honestly, we came out of the dark. The name literally signifies what we went through."

"It was time for a change", the singer continued. "It was time for us to try and stretch our wings. We were really going for songs. The structuring made more sense. I was focused on melody and harmony. I really cut loose. All in all, it was the perfect storm. We had so much fun making this, because there were really no restrictions other than creating a heavy and catchy body of work."

The LIGHT THE TORCH lineup boasts one of the most esteemed pedigrees in modern heavy music. Jones spent a decade at the helm of Grammy Award-nominated and gold-selling titans KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Artusato had much-lauded stint in ALL SHALL PERISH and has attained status as a shred virtuoso. Wombacher was a staple in BLEEDING THROUGH for well over a decade. For "Revival", they are joined by EXTINCTION A.D. drummer Mike "Scuzz" Sciulara.

The album artwork was designed by Artusato.

"Revival" track listing:

01. Die Alone

02. The God I Deserve

03. Calm Before The Storm

04. Raise the Dead

05. The Safety Of Disbelief

06. Virus

07. The Great Divide

08. The Bitter End

09. Lost in the Fire

10. The Sound Of Violence

11. Pull My Heart Out

12. Judas Convention

DEVIL YOU KNOW's name change was prompted by a dispute with the band's former drummer, John Sankey, who left the group in June 2016.

DEVIL YOU KNOW released two albums through Nuclear Blast Entertainment: 2014's "The Beauty Of Destruction" and 2015's "They Bleed Red".

In addition to playing songs from its debut, LIGHT THE TORCH will perform DEVIL YOU KNOW songs at its live shows.