Corey Taylor has called Adam Levine a "schmuck" after the MAROON 5 singer blasted the current rock scene as lacking the "innovation" of hip-hop.

In a brand new interview with Variety, Levine was asked which genre of music he and his bandmates fit into: pop, rock or urban. He responded: "Something unique to this band is that we have always looked to hip-hop, R&B, all rhythmic forms of music, from back when we were writing our first album to now.

"Rock music is nowhere, really," he continued. "I don't know where it is. If it's around, no one's invited me to the party.

"All of the innovation and the incredible things happening in music are in hip-hop. It's better than everything else. Hip-hop is weird and avant-garde and flawed and real, and that's why people love it."

b>Levine added: "My goal is to make songs that don't sound dated 10 years later. My main criteria for a song is, can I live with it forever? And if I can't, I just don't have the heart to do it. It's that simple."

After a fan tagged Taylor on Twitter by saying that Levine's comments "angered" him so much that he needed the SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer "to rip him a new one or something," Corey happily obliged, writing: "Just because you claim to have 'Moves Like Jagger' doesn't mean you come anywhere CLOSE to ROCKING like Jagger. Tell that schmuck to go back to The fucking 'Voice'"

STONE SOUR producer Jay Ruston, who has also worked with ANTHRAX, URIAH HEEP and STEEL PANTHER, chimed in, tweeting: "When Adam Levine or anyone else in that genre can consistently sell out stadiums around the world like METALLICA, MUSE, SLIPKNOT, IRON MAIDEN, RAMMSTEIN, AC/DC, GUNS N' ROSES and THE ROLLING STONES then I'll care what he has to say about the death of rock."

Taylor previously dismissed the notion that rock is dead, telling Tina Smash of the Jacksonville, North Carolina radio station Rock 105.5 in a 2014 interview: "Rock and metal ain't dead. They're just waiting to kill you. And I mean that. It's an ebb and flow. It's like that probably every — what? — ten [or] fifteen years. There's an ebb. But it's definitely coming back."

The 39-year-old Levine has been a judge on "The Voice" since the Emmy award-winning NBC music competition show's very first season.

Just because you claim to have ‘Moves Like Jagger' doesn't mean you come anywhere CLOSE to ROCKING like Jagger. Tell that schmuck to go back to The fucking ‘Voice' ?? https://t.co/tFm0VHvV82— Sofa King Awesome (@CoreyTaylorRock) November 30, 2018



When Adam Levine or anyone else in that genre can consistently sell out stadiums around the world like Metallica, Muse, Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Rammstein, AC/DC, Guns N Roses and the Rolling Stones then I'll care what he has to say about the death of rock. https://t.co/KjWvv8gy7t— Jay Ruston (@jayruston) November 30, 2018

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE and PROPHETS OF RAGE bassist Tim Commerford has confirmed his split with his wife of nearly two decades. According to The Blast, Aleece Commerford filed documents on November 28 to end the couple's 17-year marriage.

Tim Commerford said in a statement: "After 17 years of marriage to Aleece Dimas, I am saddened to announce our divorce. This decision was made after much careful thought and consideration.

"I want to send my deepest appreciation to my family and friends who have supported us through these changes. We remain committed and loving parents to our two boys.

"Our family asks in advance for your kindness and sensitivity at this difficult time."

he 50-year-old rocker and Aleece Commerford were married in 2001 and have two sons together, Xavier and Quentin. In the documents obtained by The Blast, Aleece listed the date of separation as November 27, and is asking for physical custody of the two children. She is also seeking spousal support from Tim.

The family lives in Malibu. Aleece reportedly works in the medical field, and as an AIDS activist. It’s unclear what caused the split between the couple.

In a 2016 interview with Forbes, Tim stated about his family, "I love being a dad, I love my wife and my kids are amazing to me and I love the challenge of making music and family work. They influence me musically and emotionally."

Commerford and the rest of PROPHETS OF RAGE are reportedly preparing to release their second album sometime in early 2019.

"Sweet True Lies", the new video from BEAST IN BLACK, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's sophomore album, "From Hell With Love", which is scheduled for a February 8, 2019 release via Nuclear Blast.

Comments bassist Mate Molnar: "After the huge success of 'Blind And Frozen', we wanted to come out with something more interesting and original as the second official music video of the band. I believe 'Sweet True Lies' is loveable but also shocking at the same time and I'm sure it will move the hearts of our fans!"

BEAST IN BLACK is the Helsinki, Finland-based metal band led by former BATTLE BEAST guitarist and main songwriter Anton Kabanen.

The follow-up to 2017's "Berserker" was once again recorded in Anton's Sound Request Studio, and true to the motto "never change a winning team," the cover artwork was created by Roman Ismailov, who worked on "Berserker" as well as the first record Kabanen wrote with BATTLE BEAST, "Steel" (2012).

b>Anton comments: "This album was forged with passion, fury, love, dedication and I would even dare to say with maniacal obsession. And once again, the stunning artwork by Roman perfectly captures the essence of what it was made of. This album is truly a creation that will burst from hell with love."

Adds Ismailov: "It resembles a love-hate relationship in things that are part of our lives. Some things are like a beast that is almost impossible to tame. Then there is the love in what you do, which can overcome even the hardest obstacles."

BEAST IN BLACK is supporting NIGHTWISH on a European tour, which kicked off on November 2 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Kabanen told Kaaos TV that BEAST IN BLACK was pleased with the reaction to "Berserker". "We had no expectations, basically," he said. "We felt that, 'Okay, we did a good job,' and were happy with the album and the reviews kept coming in and they kept coming and it was more than we expected. Good and bad, but mostly good. YouTube is a big part nowadays for every band and there, we also kind of took a 'rocket launch' beginning. People are watching the video very much, the first music video we released. That also plays a big role nowadays. One song can matter very much. People don't have that much album listening going on in this world nowadays. They listen to single songs in their playlists, so we've had help with that."

Anton went on to say that he was relieved that BEAST IN BLACK has gotten off to such a strong start. "I remember when we finally released the first song and the feedback started to come. It felt like I was out of jail, so to speak. It's been a long process. When you work on something for quite a long time, you don't know any more what's the reality, is it good or bad, you become blind to your own stuff, but you do. When it was out, the first song, it felt like, 'Yes! It's working. People like it.' We did something that's meaningful and that feels rewarding. It's like an out-of-the-jail feeling, although I've never been in jail, but mental jail, mental prison."

Kabanen was dismissed from BATTLE BEAST in February 2015 due to what was described at the time as "insurmountable disagreements" with the other members of the band.

METALLICA, DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY, FOO FIGHTERS and GRETA VAN FLEET are among the nominees at the 30th annual Pollstar Awards honoring the top achievers in the live entertainment industry. The ceremony will conclude the 30th annual Pollstar Live! Conference, which runs February 11-13, 2019 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The awards, presented by Live Nation, recognize the most successful artists, executives, venues, events and companies in the thriving global live entertainment business.

Pollstar Awards nominees for the "Major Tour Of The Year" award include epic treks by Beyonce & Jay-Z, Bruno Mars, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and U2. This year's emergent new talent nominees include Billie Eilish, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Post Malone and Travis Scott who are up for "Best New Headliner" honors.

Other artists recognized for their live achievements include Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Elton John, PANIC! AT THE DISCO, Pink, Travis Scott, Luke Bryan, Shania Twain, J Balvin, Kenny Chesney, Luis Miguel, Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Billy Joel, Billie Eilish and Celine Dion.


The 2018 Pollstar Awards nominees were selected by a panel of more than 2,000 agents, managers, promoters, venue operators and professionals who work in the live entertainment industry. With the largest, most diverse nomination committee in the history of the awards, Pollstar announces several changes to the program for its 30th-anniversary event, both in terms of award categories and in the methodology calculating winners. These changes are geared to increase relevancy, recognize the evolution of the industry, and acknowledge the standard bearers from the preceding touring year.

For 30 years, the Pollstar Awards have been the definitive recognition for achievement in the touring industry, and we are honored and privileged to again recognize the elite artists, venues, and executives in the world of live entertainment," said Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, parent company of Pollstar. "This is a thrilling time to be in the business of live, and we remain inspired by the level of professionalism, creativity and fan engagement exhibited by those who make up our nominees for the 2019 Pollstar Awards, and across the industry."


While the Pollstar Awards will remain predominantly an industry peer-voted honor, Pollstar will for the first time use its industry-leading box office data in designating winners for certain awards with a weighting of 30 percent (15 percent average gross revenue and 15 percent average ticket sales) applied to vote total to determine final winners. Also, certain executives and artists must be affiliated with specific tours, venues and events from the preceding touring year in order to maintain relevance to the year being considered.


Pollstar has also continued its focus on artists, adding new awards in 2018 based on genre, along with categories for a wider range of acts that contribute significantly to the overall touring economy, including "Best Residency", "Best Support/Special Guest", "Best Non-Music Tour", "Best Brand Partnership", "Best Touring Musician" and "Best Soft Ticket Act". Pollstar will also soon announce special awards for lifetime achievement and philanthropy, and engage fans with the first fan-voted award in the history of the event.

In recognition of the 30th anniversary (and in an effort to not take itself too seriously), Pollstar will celebrate the larger-than-life personalities and unique nature of the business via such irreverent categories as "The Unavailable", "Best Hang", "Most Dreaded Phone Call" and "The Back In My Day". The entire slate of awards is geared toward presenting a compelling ceremony that salutes the touring industry's illustrious past while celebrating its current vitality and promising future.


"The changes made for the 2019 Pollstar Awards reflect our ongoing efforts to present the most relevant and accurate representation of the 'year in touring' and the highest-achieving artists and professionals that make up this dynamic, passionate business," said Ray Waddell, president of OVG's Media & Conferences division. "We also wanted to try and have some fun because, while this industry is definitely made up of the hardest working men and women in show business, they also know how to have a good time."


The 2019 Pollstar Live! Conference & Awards runs February 11-13, beginning with a day focused on production with Production Live! (programmed this year with legendary production guru Jake Berry) followed by two days of insightful sessions, keynotes, Q&As and presentations on the most relevant topics facing the global live business.

For a complete list of 2019 Pollstar Awards nominees, visit Pollstar.com.

After a highly successful touring run across North America together with BEHEMOTH and WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, Swedish melodic death metal pioneers AT THE GATES are not only starting a special short run of European dates today in Greece, but also announcing the release of two EPs for early January.

To enhance the beginning of their massive European tour with BEHEMOTH and WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, AT THE GATES will release both a strictly limited seven-inch EP titled "The Mirror Black" and a special digital EP titled "With The Pantheons Blind" on January 11, 2019.

The seven-inch EP features the two songs "The Mirror Black" and "Daggers Of Black Haze" off AT THE GATES' current album "To Drink From The Night Itself" in the versions that come with guest vocals by Rob Miller (AMEBIX, TAU CROSS).

"The Mirror Black" seven-inch EP track listing:

Side A: The Mirror Black (Featuring Rob Miller) (04:38)

Side B: Daggers Of Black Haze (Featuring Rob Miller) (04:47)

This collector's item is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide, as follows:


* Black seven-inch: 400x copies (CM Distro Europe wholesale & online shop)

* Golden seven-inch: 100x copies (CM Europe online shop)

* Clear seven-inch: 300x copies (CM Distro Europe Wholesale & Onlineshop)

* Transparent Red seven-inch: 200x copies (Exclusively from the band on tour)

The digital EP "With The Pantheons Blind" contains all six bonus tracks from "To Drink From The Night Itself" recording sessions, now available digitally for the first time: "Daggers Of Black Haze" and "The Mirror Black" featuring guest vocals by Rob Miller (AMEBIX, TAU CROSS); "The Chasm" featuring guest vocals by Per Boder (GOD MACABRE); "A Labyrinth Of Tombs" featuring guest vocals by Mikael Nox Pettersson (CRAFT); a demo version of "The Chasm" and a merciless re-recorded version of the early AT THE GATES classic "Raped By The Light Of Christ", originally featured on the band's sophomore album "With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness" from 1993.

"With The Pantheons Blind" digital EP track listing:

01. Daggers Of Black Haze (Featuring Rob Miller) (04:47)

02. The Chasm (Featuring Per Boder) (03:21)

03. A Labyrinth Of Tombs (Featuring Mikael Nox Pettersson) (03:32)

04. Raped By The Light Of Christ (2018) (02:57)

05. The Chasm (Demo Version) (03:21)

06. The Mirror Black (Featuring Rob Miller) (04:38)

The pre-order for this digital release starts o December 7.

AT THE GATES vocalist Tomas Lindberg checked in with the following comment about the seven-inch EP release: "The idea of getting guest vocalists on board for the bonus tracks for the album was us trying something new again... This time we wanted to get other artists involved in our music, getting their takes on our new songs. It was a pleasure working with everybody and all songs grew immensely in the process.

"The songs we did with Rob Miller was for me personally something extra. Of course, people who know me know that I am a massive AMEBIX fan. And I love the more recent stuff with TAU CROSS too.

"I had no idea what to expect. But the songs grew so goddamn much together with Rob's powerful voice.

"We decided early on that these versions were worthy of their own release. This is for me personally one of the greatest achievements of my career, to share the vocal space with one of my favorite vocalists of all time. I am so proud of this release. Hope everyone else gets as much joy out of it as I do."

In celebration of their 30th anniversary, British rockers THUNDER revisit and reinterpret their finest songs in a way you've not heard before. Released in North America on Friday, January 18 via BMG, "Please Remain Seated" is the sound of a band taking a strange journey into their own music, but also distilling thirty years of playing together in order to create something truly compelling, taking in flavors of rock, blues, jazz and soul along the way.

"She's So Fine" was the album's first single, and today the band are releasing the second single/video from "Please Remain Seated", for the song "Miracle Man". This version of the track has been given a completely new slant and fully underlines the fresh, innovative and daring approach taken by the band during the "Please Remain Seated" sessions. The video can be viewed below.

"Please Remain Seated" will be available in various formats: standard 1CD, deluxe 2CD (bonus tracks), 180-gram standard black, gatefold double vinyl, limited-edition transparent orange double vinyl (indie store exclusive, limited to 500), Digital - HD, MFiT and standard. The album has been mastered at half speed on vinyl for dynamic range.

Danny Bowes said: "We've never been the kind of band that wanted to make the same album over and over, and we've never been scared to try new things. In fact, making THUNDER music over the past 30 years has taught us that the more we challenge ourselves, the better we get. Having re-imagined and re-recorded 'Love Walked In' in 2017, we were very stimulated by the process, and wanted to try it on other songs. We made it as live as possible, jamming ideas until we found an arrangement that felt good. We set ourselves three rules: work fast, don't aim for perfection, and make it different to the original. Some songs fell together spontaneously, and some took a series of strange left turns before ending up in a place none of us predicted.

By shaking up old tunes in this way, we forced ourselves to rethink how we felt about them. We think it'll probably be the same for fans when they hear them. It's not supposed to be a 'Best Of', and it's not a change of direction, it's just another brief stop along the journey to where we're heading (wherever that is). We really like it, and we hope others will too."

"Please Remain Seated" track listing:

01. Bigger Than Both Of Us

02. Future Train

03. Girl's Going Out Of Her Head

04. I'm Dreaming Again

05. Fly On The Wall

06. Just Another Suicide

07. Empty City

08. Miracle Man

09. Blown Away

10. Loser

11. She's So Fine

12. Low Life In High Places

Since forming in 1989, THUNDER has notched up twenty Top 50 singles, two gold albums, and cultivated a reputation as consummate live performers. Their last album — 2017's "Rip It Up" — hit No. 3 in the U.K. album charts, giving the band their highest chart placing in 22 years. "Please Remain Seated" is the result of all those miles on the clock and represents the sound of a band having fun. The smiles on their faces are almost audible, and the occasional bit of inter-band banter that made the final cut just underlines the d'esprit de corps that has always been there with THUNDER. Half of the tracks feature additional musicians who've performed at the famed Christmas shows and there's even a choir on one track!

"Please Remain Seated" may be a quieter album — the delicate sound of THUNDER if you will — but this collection underlines the strength of the songwriting and musicianship, and it also proves that great [even unexpected] things can happen when a band is prepared to step out of its comfort zone and challenge itself, even after 30 years.

Photo credit: Jason Joyce

Erik Lindmark, CEO and founder of Unique Leader Records and vocalist, guitarist and founding member of DEEDS OF FLESH, has passed away following a several-month battle with sclerosis. He was only 46 years old.

The label has released the following statement:

"It is with great sadness that we must announce that our CEO and founder, Erik Lindmark, passed away today after battling with sclerosis.

"The indelible mark he has left on the death metal genre is monumental, both as a businessman and as a musician. After building this label from scratch with his DEEDS bandmates, Erik took Unique Leader to a level he had never expected it, or the genre, to get to.

During his time in hospital, Erik was absolutely implicit with his instructions to staff to go full steam ahead with the label in his absence — which is exactly what we intend to do. That being said, we will not be releasing anything in January so that we can make the necessary adjustments and delegations within the company.

"We would like to thank you all for your well wishes, support and kindness toward Erik on socials and via private correspondence.

"There is a Gofundme set up for Erik's daughter Bella (5) and his wife.

"Rest in peace, Erik. You were a true warrior."

Guitarist Jesper Strömblad has announced that he will sit out CYHRA's live appearances for the remainder of 2018. He will be temporarily replaced by Marcus Sunesson from ENGEL.

The former IN FLAMES axeman explained in a statement: "Due to personal reasons concerning my family, I must step aside from CYHRA's current activities for the rest of the year. I need to focus on some personal matters, and my family's health. And therefore, I will not be able to give the band the 100% commitment that is needed.

"I'd appreciate a respect of my privacy during this special time.

"I am happy that our friend and great guitarist Marcus Sunesson from ENGEL can fill in for me for the upcoming CYHRA shows. Please welcome him in with open arms and give him the love and respect you all have given to me.

Next year I'll be back with recharged heart and soul, and I can't wait to get back on the road to perform the songs from our new album that I am extremely proud of!

"I'll be back."

The other members of CYHRA added in a separate statement: "We are definitely going to miss our good friend Jesper while he takes some time away from the band. However, we know that he will return very soon, ready to unleash his killer riffs and melodies, and most-likely more tattooed than ever!

"Marcus has already done a few shows with us, and he has done an amazing job. We feel that he is already very much part of the CYHRA family.

"We have two shows left for this year (in Sweden; Eskilstuna on November 30th and Stockholm on December 1st) and those are going to be awesome as always.

"2019 will be a big year for us as our second album will be released, and we are planning to (FINALLY!) tour all over the world.

"Please come and have a good time and hang out with us.

"See you all on the road very soon!"

CYHRA recently finished recording its as-yet-untitled second album for an early 2019 release via Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2017's "Letters To Myself" was laid down at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark and will be mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE).

Regarding the songwriting process for CYHRA's upcoming album, vocalist Jake E told Dhaka Tribune: "I am the main lyricist, but on this album all the others have contributed with ideas as well. Euge [Valovirta, guitar; ex-SHINING] and Jesper are the ones between the solos but it's [the three of us] that usually write most of the songs. Euge has been doing a great job on songs on this album and Euge and I actually sat down and wrote three songs together for this album."

CYHRA's current lineup is completed by drummer Alex Landenburg (LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY).

In a recent interview with Metal Casino, Jake stated about how CYHRA approached the making of its second LP: "When we wrote the first songs [for the debut album], we were just sitting, jamming around, and we had no plans — we had no expectations from fans or labels or anything like that — and now we have. We've been touring a lot — we've been playing a lot of shows — and now we realize that, 'Oh, the new songs, we might have to think a little bit more about how are these songs gonna work out live.' So we continue the same road with this album as the last one — it's a natural progression, music-wise — but we've been putting a little bit more effort into having the songs work out in the live set."

According to Jake, one of the biggest differences between CYHRA's next disc and "Letters To Myself" is the fact that the band no longer has a bass player, having split with former IN FLAMES member Peter Iwers earlier in the year. "We actually have more or less decided — we don't know for the future — but right now, the bass is gonna be handled by Mr. ASUS, as we call him; that's our computer," Jake said.

"Letters To Myself" was recorded at Top Floor Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden.

CYHRA made its live debut in October 2017 at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland.

This past spring, CYHRA completed a successful North American tour opening for SABATON and KREATOR.

Legendary rockers FOREIGNER played the third of four "Double Vision: Then And Now" concerts Friday night (November 30) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show, which marked the 40th anniversary of FOREIGNER's second album, "Double Vision", featured all current bandmembers plus the original musicians who helped to put the iconic group on the map more than forty years ago. Singer Lou Gramm, drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood, guitarist/saxophonist Ian McDonald and bassist Rick Wills joined Mick Jones and FOREIGNER to rock through some of the best-selling songs from the band's albums.

The setlist was as follows:

Current lineup without Mick Jones:

01. Cold As Ice

02. Head Games

03. Waiting For A Girl Like You

04. That Was Yesterday

05. Headknocker

06. Urgent

07. Juke Box Hero

lassic FOREIGNER lineup:

08. Feels Like The First Time

09. Double Vision

10. Blue Morning, Blue Day

11. Long, Long Way From Home

12. Dirty White Boy

Current and classic members performing together:

13. I Want To Know What Love Is

14. Hot Blooded

Asked by USA Today why he chose to commemorate "Double Vision" with these reunion shows, Mick said: "Well, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band's foundation, I wanted to do something special and a little unexpected. We did a couple of shows earlier in the year together and everybody hit it off so well. My two lead singers, Lou Gramm and [current frontman] Kelly Hansen, really hit it off like a house on fire, and the rest of the guys were happy to be a part of it. It was very emotional. It brought up a lot of stuff from the past, but it just felt natural and we fell right back into it."

Gramm said that it wasn't hard to get all the guys back together. "Everybody was actually pretty boned up on their instruments, and with a little bit of practice, it was sounding good," he said. "Everyone was anxious within reason. We didn't want to make more of it than what it was, but it ends up being a lot of fun."

FOREIGNER's first-ever ticketed reunion concert featuring all original members took place in August at The Sturgis Buffalo Chip in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Gramm and Jones's June 2013 performance of "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Juke Box Hero" at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York City marked the first time the pair performed together in a decade after Gramm left FOREIGNER for a second time. Hansen has fronted the group since 2005. Jones is the sole remaining founding member in FOREIGNER's current lineup.

A performance video of "Enter Sandman", taken from APOCALYPTICA's upcoming live set, "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos - A Live Performance", can be seen below.

Two decades ago, APOCALYPTICA's first and most important album, "Plays Metallica By Four Cellos", was released, selling over 1.5 million copies to date and leading to a carefully remastered, critically acclaimed new album version with three bonus tracks in 2016.

In celebration of the trailblazing album's 20th anniversary, the avowed live band is honoring its career-defining release with the extensive "Plays Metallica By Four Cellos" world tour since early 2017.

The highly emotional, all-instrumental shows across the continents feature four cellos and a drum set and METALLICA covers only, taking audiences back to the sound and track listing of the original album as well as thrilling them with more METALLICA songs APOCALYPTICA covered over the years.

how stopping highlights are cello versions of hits such as "Enter Sandman", "Master Of Puppets" and "Seek And Destroy", as well as incredibly dense encores like "Nothing Else Matters" and "One".

Just in time for the tour break, APOCALYPTICA has announced the much-anticipated live recordings, "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos - A Live Performance", to be released as a 2CD+1DVD digipak as well as a digital album version on December 7.

The DVD delivers the band's full two-hour concert at the renowned Finnish Savonlinna Opera Festival in the breathtaking scenery of Olavinlinna Castle, featuring previously unreleased METALLICA covers. The accompanying CD/digital (and later vinyl) formats present the band's slightly heavier rock flavor, displayed at one of the band's three sold-out shows at the iconic Tavastia club in Helsinki in September.

This year's release will be followed by a lavish 3LP+1DVD+download code package dropping in 2019.

"Feed The Fire", the new video from BILLYBIO, the solo project of BIOHAZARD and POWERFLO guitarist Billy Graziadei, can be seen below. The song is the title track of BILLYBIO's debut album, which is being released today (Friday, November 30) via AFM Records.

Music has always been the central, unifying force in Graziadei's life. Early musical training took place on the Graziadei family's old, forever out-of-tune upright piano and he began studying music under the guidance of his grandfather and uncle, both of whom he had always admired. So he expanded his musical vocabulary while growing up, finding inspiration in so many forms of music but it wasn't until he stumbled into the underground world of punk-rock music that his musical taste was really sparked into growth.

Immersing himself in the sounds, perspective, and culture of the punk underground, Billy's desire to create new, innovative music led him to the late-'80s hardcore scene in New York City, from Sunday-matinee hardcore shows at CBGBs to Friday-night metal shows at Brooklyn's L'Amour metal/rock club. It was here that he found his musical home and it was here that Billy helped form a band that would take the metal/hardcore scene by storm. It was the birth of BIOHAZARD. As one of the first bands they combined the urban sounds of hardcore, metal and rap with scorching lyrics describing the forces at work in our modern urban lives.


With an audio-engineering degree and years of experience recording BIOHAZARD, Graziadei opened Firewater Studios. This studio became an incubator for Billy's creativity, where he continues to cultivate his talent while producing upcoming bands. During the years of touring with BIOHAZARD, Graziadei collaborated with many different musicians. As a result of this, the friendship with CYPRESS HILL singer Sen Dog turned in 2016 into the supergroup POWERFLO along with bassist Christian Olde Wolbers (ex-FEAR FACTORY) and guitarist Roy Lozano (DOWNSET). While Graziadei continues to work on new POWERFLO songs as he tours around, he decided that the time finally has come for his solo venture.


b>Billy states: "I've always wanted to do a solo release and the timing of everything that I have been working on just seemed to fall in place.

"I always let the creative juices flow, I don't try and restrict them to fit a certain genre.

"With BILLYBIO, it's 100% me. No influence from anyone else. This is who I am and what I've become. I'm a product of everyone I've met, talked with, shared my stories with… and a bit of their stories as well.

"Anyone who's a fan of what I've done, especially with BIOHAZARD, will love this! There's something there for every fan of heavy underground music!"


According to Billy, "Feed The Fire" is "heavy, fast, groovy and full of energy. I couldn't have it any other way," he says. "It's full of my roots but modern."

Producer Tue Madsen, who worked on "Feed The Fire", agrees. "When I was brought in to mix this record, it was with big expectations, and boy, were they met," he says. "These songs keep the energy level so high and have so much to say. Great deliverance, great songwriting and now me mixing the whole thing. I couldn't be happier."

Photo credit: Melissa Hummel

A four-minute video documentary about the formation of BIAS, the new band featuring former KORN drummer David Silveria, can be seen below. David is joined in the Orange County, California-based group by bassist Chris Dorame, guitarists Joe Taback and Mike Martin and singer Rich Nguyen.

Silveria, Dorame and Taback previously played together in CORE 10, which "imploded" earlier this year after releasing a couple of singles and playing a number of local shows.

Taback said about BIAS: "We received hundreds of submissions from all over the world and heard a lot of amazingly talented people. Rich came in and we just instantly vibed. The songs flowed without a hitch. We were able to get a lot done with him in a very short span of time."

Added Dorame: "I felt that he immediately connected with what we are trying to portray musically; he fit right in. His style is unique, yet familiar enough to be the perfect voice for our music."

b>Silveria concurred. "Rich's work ethic drives us all to work harder in the studio; it's amazing," he said.

As for the name of the band, Silveria said: "We chose BIAS because everyone has their own opinions and preferences that influence their actions in some way or the other. Whether we know it or not, we all have our own version of bias." Nguyen adde: "It's also short and simple."

BIAS is currently in the studio with Chris Collier (KXM, PRONG) writing and recording material for its debut release. "The songs are all a bit different from one another — some are heavy, some melodic and some are both. I think people will be pleasantly surprised," said Nguyen.

BIAS will make its live debut on January 25, 2019 at an as-yet-undisclosed venue in Anaheim, California.

Silveria, who left KORN in late 2006, sued his former bandmates in February 2015, claiming that his exit from the group was merely a hiatus and that he was rebuffed when he tried to return to the band in 2013. Silveria said he still had ownership interest in KORN and was asking a judge to force the band to reveal how much money they've made since he left so that he can get his rightful share.

Silveria was said to be especially upset over the fact that KORN welcomed back guitarist Brian "Head" Welch five years ago but wouldn't do the same for him. Welch left the group in 2005 and continued as a solo artist before rejoining in 2013.

KORN singer Jonathan Davis told The Pulse Of Radio that he believed Silveria had lost his passion for playing music, saying, "The first two albums, I think, he really enjoyed playing drums and then after that he just lost his love for playing drums. It happens."

Silveria told fans in 2013 that KORN was not the same since he left, saying, "Until they have the real 'funky drummer' it's just not gonna groove the way it could. I've made it clear that I would come back and restore the groove."

"You Are So Beautiful", the new video from EMIGRATE, the side project of RAMMSTEIN guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe, can be seen below. The song is taken from EMIGRATE's third album, "A Million Degrees", which is being released today (Friday, November 30) via Spinefarm Records.

The "You Are So Beautiful" clip was shot in Los Angeles with director Bill Yukich and stars Richard's daughter Maxime Alaska Kruspe Bossieux.

If there's a description that, personally and professionally, fits Kruspe like a Savile Row suit, "fired up" would be it… As a member of RAMMSTEIN, the music world's most explosive live act, Kruspe has been part of a ground-breaking global success story that continues to build and to ignite; along the way, he's turned his attention to a number of parallel projects, such as constructing a new studio (and a new home) in his native Berlin, but it's his decision to launch the EMIGRATE setup that has given him the greatest chance to satisfy creative instincts outside of the parent group.

The first EMIGRATE album appeared in 2007 (a self-titled record that went Top 10 in Germany, with single/video "My World" appearing on the soundtrack to the third "Resident Evil" movie); "Silent So Long" followed in 2014, featuring guest vocals from such high-profile artists as Marilyn Manson, Jonathan Davis, Peaches and the legend that will always be Lemmy.

eaturing 11 tracks, a fresh production team plus vocal contributions from RAMMSTEIN's Till Lindemann and BILLY TALENT's Benjamin Kowalewicz, "A Million Degrees" is less a successor to "Silent So Long" and more a re-booted take on the overall concept, continuing Kruspe's desire to craft something personal. He writes the material, including new single/video "1234" (spotlighting Kowalewicz), sings the bulk of the songs (in English) and works hard — sometimes in the face of adversity — to keep everything rubber-stamped as "special," fashioning a body of work that will appeal to both existing supporters and those who appreciate the power of a great song delivered from heart above head…

In this respect, EMIGRATE can't be called either a "side" or a "solo project." A "passion project" might be closer to the mark — a needed extra outlet operating close to the level of therapy for an artist whose energy, vision and quest for perfection are defining factors, keeping him, well… fired up!

"I really want the freedom to collaborate with different people and to explore different kinds of music," Kruspe explains, "to express myself as both a writer and a singer away from deadlines, timelines and other such restrictions. The idea is to keep experimenting and to keep challenging myself. Plus, EMIGRATE works in an organic way, so musicians can come and go, and it's still okay, it's positive…"

After issuing the "Silent So Long" album four years ago, Kruspe considered running with the follow-up sooner rather than later, effectively making it "Silent…" Part 2. He had half a dozen songs up his sleeve, numbers that hadn't quite aligned with the feel of "Silent So Long", and in March 2015, he set about completing these using places and personnel he'd called on successfully in the past…

"I decided to go to Los Angeles to work with Ben Grosse, the mixing engineer on 'Silent So Long'," he recalls, "but for the first time in my professional life I felt that something was missing. I just wasn't inspired, I couldn't give the 120 percent I put into every record I'm involved with, so I decided to stop.

"I had a whole host of issues going on in my personal life, including building the house in Berlin, and then in September 2015 we started thinking about the next steps for RAMMSTEIN…"

Following due discussion, it was agreed that the RAMMSTEIN "kollektiv" would venture back into the rehearsal room; there was no pressure to do anything in particular, just make new music and generally get a sense of how everyone was feeling. Exciting developments for RAMMSTEIN fans, but it meant that EMIGRATE, while never far from Kruspe's mind, had to be temporarily sidelined… and then fate lent a hand…

"In 2016, my house suffered serious water damage; my studio was flooded and half of the equipment, including the hard disk drive, destroyed, so I had to basically start again," he says. "All I had of the songs I'd been working on was my memory."

At the time, this act of God seemed like a major blow; on reflection, however, it gave Kruspe the chance to re-assess the project, to decide just what kind of statement the third EMIGRATE album should be…

"Life gave me a sign!" he laughs.

So… out went the idea of "Silent So Long" Part 2, to be replaced by a bolder, broader view, and the desire to quit any kind of comfort zone. Key to this shift through the gears was the decision to bring in Sky Van Hoff — a young producer / engineer / guitarist from Dusseldorf who had been helping Kruspe to document his RAMMSTEIN ideas. The two found working together both easy and productive, and the result is an enhanced EMIGRATE sound, dripping with detail, that Kruspe describes as "one of the best I've ever been involved with. I'm really proud of it…"

From September 2017 onwards, a re-invigorated Kruspe set about the task of re-writing, re-arranging and re-recording the album tracks, handling the production side himself, with Van Hoff focussing on the engineering and the mix. They used the historic Funkhaus in Berlin's Nalepastrasse (onetime broadcasting base of the GDR) for the drum tracks, with everything else being handled in Kruspe's own studio; the RAMMSTEIN man took charge of the vocals and the guitars, supported by APOCALYPTICA's Mikko Sirén on drums and Arnaud Giraux on bass, both reprising their roles on "Silent…", with Sky also helping out on bass.

Since stepping up to the lead mic back in 2007, Kruspe has been honing his vocals in terms of confidence and power, pushing himself on the presentation side and paying close attention to the lyrics, once again bringing in a friend from the advertising world to act as a sounding board. With fewer guest singers on this new release than its predecessor, his abilities as a performer have ample space to shine, with opening track "War" being a particular case in point…

"I really like the energy, and the heavy, modern, ZEPPELIN kind of groove," he reflects, "and at one point I was taking to Serj [Tankian] from SYSTEM OF A DOWN about fronting the track. He was excited at the idea, then a day later he called me and said that he thought the song was perfect for my voice, he didn't really know what to add, so I left my vocals on there. I took that as a huge compliment."

It's meaningful for RAMMSTEIN fans, and indeed for Kruspe himself, that Lindemann figures on "Let's Go", singing his own lyrics — in German and English — and providing a signature presence; as a performer, he's not known for "extracurricular" activity, which gives this collaboration the feeling of a box being ticked (at last)…

"We've been friends since 1987 and this is the first time we've worked together outside of RAMMSTEIN," confirms Kruspe. "You know, I've had that number for quite a while, and it's about our history and our friendship, which I can sum up like this: I believe I'm the reason he started a career in music, and he's the reason I've witnessed the dark side of life! In two words: beautiful destruction! The song itself is quite different to the world of RAMMSTEIN, though, which I think is a good thing…"

"I have to say, Ben from BILLY TALENT really took things to a new level on '1,2,3,4'," declares Kruspe. "It was my manager who suggested I talk to him; I was more aware of the guitarist in the band, Ian [D'Sa], whose playing I like, but Ben turned out to be an excellent idea, and of course he's in the promo clip, too — along with Ian, Margaux, my friend Joe Letz [COMBICHRIST], who's played drums in EMIGRATE videos before, and myself."

The promos for "1,2,3,4' and "You Are So Beautiful" were shot back to back in Los Angeles by director Bill Yukich, whom Kruspe contacted after seeing a video he made for SHINEDOWN ("Devil"); he was impressed with the flow and the rhythm of the edit, instinctively feeling that Yukich had the range to shoot both the live clip for "1,2,3,4" plus the more expansive, cinematic story he'd put together for "…Beautiful" — a complex piece with connections to Kruspe's life outside of music…

"With that song, I initially had trouble deciding exactly what it was about, then all of a sudden it became obvious," he explains. "It was actually for my daughter. So in the video, which is kind of like a movie, set in the '70s, in the canyons of L.A., I take the role of the father, and you see how relationships can go wrong and how chances to make things better, even for a second time, can be lost.

"Whatever I do with RAMMSTEIN or with EMIGRATE, there's always a bit of my own story in there; there may be exaggerations, there may be extra color added, but essentially it's personal…"

"A Million Degrees" track listing:

01. War

02. 1234 (feat. Ben Kowalewicz)

03. A Million Degrees

04. Lead On You (feat. Margaux Bossieux)

05. You Are So Beautiful

06. Hide And Seek

07. We Are Together

08. Let's Go (feat. Till Lindemann)

09. I'm Not Afraid (feat. Cardinal Copia)

10. Spitfire

11. Eyes Fade Away

MISERY INDEX will release its new album, "Rituals Of Power", on March 8, 2019 via Season Of Mist.

The band comments: "'Rituals Of Power' is a disavowal and warning against the consequences of our so-called 'post-truth' age. Each of the nine songs revolves loosely around this theme, yet each track also stands very much on its own. As an album, however, they are all brought to life as one 'reanimated' monster; it's roughly 35 minutes of unhinged-yet-cohesive riff-driven aural ballistics. We were pissed off and on fire during both the writing and recording, and we think it shows in spades. We set out to write the best album we could, based on what we would want to hear first as fans of this music, and we could not be happier."

The artwork was created by Raphael Gabrio and can be viewed below.

"Rituals Of Power" track listing:

1. Universal Untruths (2:35)

02. Decline And Fall (4:36)

03. The Choir Invisible (4:26)

04. New Salem (3:24)

05. Hammering The Nails (3:46)

06. Rituals Of Power (5:20)

07. They Always Come Back (5:08)

08. I Disavow (4:21)

09. Naysayer (2:26)

MISERY INDEX has also announced new European dates together with WORMROT and TRUTH CORRODED in the spring of 2019. The "Rituals Of Power: Phase 1" tour sees the band traveling through eight countries with a final curtain at the Turock in Essen, Germany.

The official lyric video for the song "The Legend Goes On" from Italian symphonic power metal kings RHAPSODY OF FIRE can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The Eighth Mountain", which will be released on February 22, 2019 via AFM Records. The disc will be the band's first collection of brand new material to feature vocalist Giacomo Voli and drummer Manu Lotter, who joined RHAPSODY OF FIRE in 2016.

The track listing for the disc is as follows:

01. Abyss Of Pain

02. Seven Heroic Deeds

03. Master Of Peace

04. Rain Of Fury

05. White Wizard

06. Warrior Heart

07. The Courage To Forgive

08. March Against The Tyrant

09. Clash Of Times

10. The Legend Goes On

11. The Wind, The Rain And The Moon

12. Tales Of A Hero's Fate

RHAPSODY OF FIRE will perform in more than 17 cities all around Europe in February and March with as-yet-unannounced special guests.

he band's latest release was 2017's "Legendary Years", a compilation album featuring re-recorded versions of songs from "The Emerald Sword Saga", a five-concept-album-long story started on RHAPSODY's first album "Legendary Tales" in 1997 and concluded on "Power Of The Dragonflame" in 2002.

Asked how he chose Giacomo Voli to be the replacement for RHAPSODY OF FIRE's longtime singer Fabio Lione, keyboardist Alessandro "Alex" Staropoli said: "I saw Giacomo performing on TV. I felt he was surely a person I wanted to meet. I contacted him to sing and to gather singers for the epic choir recordings for our latest studio album, 'Into The Legend'. So I finally had the pleasure to meet and work with him for the first time back then. He is one of the sweetest guys I've ever meet. I feel truly blessed. After Fabio left, I immediately thought about Giacomo and called him up. I am very satisfied. As a producer, I tend to push people to their limits and I have to say Giacomo reacted quite well, very professional and dedicated. I am the main composer of RHAPSODY OF FIRE, but lately I have worked with my brother Manuel Staropoli as well, and, of course, also with Roby De Micheli, both for the electric guitar side and for some songwriting. Roby has a lot of talent for guitar riffs especially and I really like to enrich our music with heavy riffs. Said that, I always leave the door open to someone's ideas. So, if Giacomo comes with an idea that literally shocks and excites me, well, that would be great, of course. I'm doing this music genre for more than two decades, so I can openly say that I exactly know what I am doing; I can recognize a great idea that would perfectly fit for this band when I hear it."

Regarding how he writes RHAPSODY OF FIRE songs, Staropoli said: "When I write for RHAPSODY OF FIRE, I often imagine movie landscapes, or natural scenarios. I was born in Trieste, Italy, a beautiful town where mother nature was really generous. We have the sea, the mountains, lakes, rivers, lots of caves and by driving just a few hours we can reach the alps. Trieste is a dream town and all those natural elements are always with me everywhere I go. So my sources of inspiration are strongly radicated in me. I have to sit in my studio, alone, and play my piano keys. Usually I never play randomly, I prefer to sit down with a specific idea and a goal to reach, then the notes come smoothly and fluent. I just do it."

AFI is giving fans another peek at upcoming EP "The Missing Man (Ex Noctem Nacimur)" with today's release of "Trash Bat".

About the song, AFI guitarist Jade Puget — who also produced and mixed the EP — says: "This was the ideal song to kick off the EP. From Adam's big drum fill at the top all the way through to the end, it's just a quick burst of frenetic energy. I brought the song in and was playing it for Davey and he threw out the line, 'my Trash Bat' and I thought, how can you lose with a title like that? What is a Trash Bat anyway? Who cares!"

"Trash Bat" follows the surprise release of "Get Dark", which Brooklyn Vegan praised for being "the kind of catchy, driving punk that will bring you right back to [AFI's 2003 album] 'Sing The Sorrow'." Stereogum called the track a "rager that's both propulsive and thoroughly produced" and Consequence Of Sound described the track as having "a bit of a new wave-meets-SOCIAL DISTORTION vibe."

Both "Get Dark" and "Trash Bat" are available as instant downloads by pre-ordering "The Missing Man" ahead of its December 7 release. On December 8, the band will play KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas, on December 9, they have a sold-out show at the Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, California, and another sold-out show on December 10 at The Observatory North Park in San Diego, California.

b>"The Missing Man" follows last year's "AFI (The Blood Album)", which hit No. 1 on Billboard's Alternative and Hard Rock Albums charts and No. 5 on the Billboard 200. It was the band's second consecutive Top 10 Billboard debut following 2013's "Burials".


Since the release of 1995's debut album "Answer That And Stay Fashionable", AFI (Havok, Puget, drummer Adam Carson and bassist Hunter Burgan) has written and recorded five Top 10 hit singles ("Miss Murder", "Medicate", "Love Like Winter", "Silver And Gold" and "Girl's Not Grey"), hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (with the stunning "Decemberunderground"), garnered worldwide critical acclaim and amassed a fiercely loyal global following whose members number in the millions.

The Guilherme Henriques-created lyric video for "Mandatory Butchery", a brand new song from Florida death metal veterans MALEVOLENT CREATION, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The 13th Beast", which will be released on January 18, 2019 via Century Media.

"The 13th Beast" introduces a new lineup consisting of Phil Cincilla (drums), Josh Gibbs (bass), Phil Fasciana (guitar) and vocalist/guitarist Lee Wollenschlaeger (THRONE OF NAILS, IMPERIAL EMPIRE).

"Because of us all living so far apart, this track is one of the few full collaboration songs on the album," says Lee. "We are all very proud of 'The 13th Beast', and 'Mandatory Butchery' is the perfect song to experience a lot of the elements on the album."

"No one can destroy this MALEVOLENT CREATION" is a legendary line by the late, great Bret Hoffmann, who passed away on July 7, 2018. Renowned and revered for his vicious vocal style and unique onstage presence, Hoffmann is impossible to replace, but co-founder Phil Fasciana decided to face the challenge and affirm the truth behind this lyric from the group's 1991 debut "The Ten Commandments".

This is the biggest honor I could ever be given," says Lee. "The opportunity to front one of my all-time favorite bands, and an even bigger pleasure of jamming with such great people.

"We have created one of the most relentless albums of MALEVOLENT CREATION's history. As a fan, I know we are going to shock a lot of people at how intense this new album is. Done in a way only MALEVOLENT CREATION can.

"I can't wait to see all you guys on the road in 2019 and beyond, playing songs from all the albums, including our new album, 'The 13th Beast'!"

"Lee was the missing link when I was searching for a new vocalist and guitarist," adds Fasciana. "Each new member is a solid musician and songwriter sharing the same passion for extreme music MALEVOLENT CREATION has been striving for since 1987.

"I'm very proud of this album and look forward to present it live as well as songs from our massive back catalog, including stuff that hasn't been played live in a long time or ever."

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

"The 13th Beast" will be released as black and limited colored LP plus four-page LP booklet, CD, and digital album.

Track listing:

01. End The Torture

02. Mandatory Butchery

03. Agony For The Chosen

04. Canvas Of Flesh

05. Born Of Pain

06. The Beast Awakened

07. Decimated

08. Bleed Us Free

09. Knife At Hand

10. Trapped Inside

11. Release The Soul

MALEVOLENT CREATION is (from left to right in photo):

Lee Wollenschlaeger - vocals / guitars

Phil Fasciana - guitars

Phil Cincilla - drums

Josh Gibbs - bass

The official music video for the songs "In Spite Of These Times" and "One More Enemy" from influential hardcore veterans TERROR can be seen below. The tracks are taken from the band's seventh full-length album, "Total Retaliation", which was released on September 28 via Pure Noise Records.


Stated vocalist Scott Vogel: "This is TERROR 2018. This is who we are and how we live. This is our definition of hardcore and the way we see this world for better and for worse."


Known for their unrelenting, furious style of metal infused hardcore, Los Angeles's homegrown TERROR holds nothing back on "Total Retaliation", which features FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY's Will Putney (THY ART IS MURDER, BODY COUNT, KNOCKED LOOSE) in the producer's chair and is the band's first new material since last year's "The Walls Will Fall" EP. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, "Total Retaliation" is a succinct yet intense message of resistance within a world that can inspire little else. It's a helping hand for the disillusioned and a firm middle finger to the authorities that are tearing apart society as we know it. As the band's seventh full-length studio album it serves as yet another example of why TERROR have not only endured, but remained at the top of their game for over 15 years.


"I really proud of this record," said Vogel. "I'm happy that after 16 years, we still have the urgency and aggression , and our youthful spirit is still kicking. Everything — from the lyrics to the riffs to the overall energy — on this album feels right."

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In a dispute alleging that legendary rock band Led Zeppelin copied “Stairway to Heaven” from a song by a different band, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated in part a judgment in favor of Led Zeppelin, citing inadequate jury instructions on the substantive copyright issues of protectable musical elements and originality, reports The National Law Review.

Years after the death of Randy Wolfe, a member of the US rock band Spirit and composer of the 1967 Spirit song “Taurus”, the trustee of Wolf’s estate, Michael Skidmore, brought a suit for copyright infringement against Led Zeppelin, as well as the band’s members, record labels and publishing company, alleging that the opening notes of the hit song “Stairway To Heaven” were copied from and are substantially similar to those in “Taurus”. The case proceeded to a trial in which the jury returned a verdict for the defendants, finding that the two songs were not substantially similar under the “extrinsic test,” which objectively compares the protected areas of a work.

Skidmore appealed, challenging (1) various jury instructions, (2) the district court’s ruling that substantial similarity must be proven using the copyright registration deposit copy, (3) the district court’s ruling that sound recordings could not be played to prove defendants’ access to the song “Taurus”, and (4) certain other evidentiary issues.

The Ninth Circuit began by discussing the copyright owner’s burden to prove copyright infringement and explained that since ownership of the copyright in “Taurus” was not contested, the analysis turned on the second element of infringement, i.e., whether the defendants copied protected aspects of the song’s expression through copying and unlawful appropriation. In cases where there is no direct evidence of copying, the plaintiff can attempt to establish, by circumstantial proof, that defendants had access to the plaintiff’s work and that the two works share substantial similarities with respect to aspects of the plaintiff’s work that are original and therefore protected by copyright.

The Ninth Circuit first addressed the issue of jury instructions and concluded that the district court erred by failing to instruct the jury that the selection and arrangement of unprotectable musical elements are, in fact, protectable. Noting that the extrinsic test for substantial similarity can be difficult to administer in the context of music, the Court concluded that the district court’s failure to instruct the jury that there can be copyright protection in an original combination of otherwise non-protectable music elements was prejudicial.

Read the full report at The National Law Review.

Bon Jovi have released another official live video, shot in Philadelphia, PA on the 2018 This House Is Not For Sale tour. Watch the band perform "You Give Love A Bad Name" below:

More footage from the Philadelphia show can be seen below:

Jon Bon Jovi, will curate two special fan cruise experiences titled Runaway To Paradise, offering 2,200 of his most passionate fans the vacation of a lifetime in two idyllic settings.

The Caribbean trip will set sail April 12th - 16th, 2019 from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, on Norwegian Jade while the Mediterranean excursion follows August 26th - 30th, 2019, from Barcelona to Palma, Majorca, on Norwegian Pearl.

“Ever since we started Runaway Tours, it’s given me such joy to entertain and tell stories of where my songs came from. What I’ve realized after all these years is that my fans have found that these are not only my stories, but their own,” says Jon Bon Jovi. “Hundreds of people have gotten together every time we take off for a destination, and long lasting friendships are born. We want to continue that tradition in Runaway’s fully-immersive vacation trips. Get ready, we’ll see you out there!”

Co-produced by Runaway Tours, creators of world-class intimate artist experiences, and Sixthman, the industry leader in music festival vacations, the Runaway To Paradise immersive fan experience will feature Jon Bon Jovi joining guests on board the ship at each destination port. Guests will be treated to a full rock show on the pool deck starring Jon Bon Jovi and the 11-piece Kings of Suburbia band, a second acoustic storyteller set where cruisers can ask Jon all of their burning questions, multiple shows from support artists (to be announced), and panels with key figures from Bon Jovi’s storied history, all the while sipping Jon and Jesse Bongiovi’s new wine, Hampton Water rosé and enjoying the stunning amenities of Norwegian Cruise Line Jewel class ships.

The action on Runaway To Paradise goes far beyond the music. Guests will get up close with historic memorabilia in the Jon Bon Jovi Gallery, shop for new looks in the Hart N Dagger pop up shop, and even enjoy a meal while giving back to those in need at The JBJ Soul Kitchen that will be brought to life on board. All guests will take home an autographed event lithograph, and fans who book in the first 400 staterooms on each cruise will get an opportunity to take a picture with Jon Bon Jovi.                                       

Watch the invite video from Jon Bon Jovi below:

Double occupancy staterooms on Runaway To Paradise begin at $1,895 (USD) per person for the Caribbean sailing, and $2,221 (USD) per person for the Mediterranean sailing, plus taxes and fees. Prices for the four-night music festivals at sea include access to all shows and activities, all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, customized Jon Bon Jovi Runaway to Paradise gift, commemorative event program, custom event lanyard and laminate. Low deposits and flexible payment plans are available. For the best selection of staterooms, fans are encouraged to register for the cruise pre-sale at runawaytoparadise.com.

Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Pearl are destinations of their own, each offering guests Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature freedom and flexibility, which allows guests to design their ideal cruise vacation on their schedule with no set dining times, a variety of world-class entertainment options and no formal dress codes. The ships also features fourteen onboard bars and lounges, 15 unique dining experiences, a casino, two outdoor pools, five hot tubs, and a full menu of  treatments at the onboard Mandara Spa.

“We are beyond excited to host Runaway To Paradise aboard Norwegian Jade and Pearl,” said Andy Stuart, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Hosting an international rock and roll sensation like Jon Bon Jovi is a testament of our commitment to offering world-class entertainment for all who board our ships. We have been working with Sixthman to host musical experiences at sea for the past six years and believe that our guests are in for the vacation of a lifetime.”

On November 10th, Nightwish performed at the Accorhotels Arena in Paris, France. High quality multicam footage of the entire show is available below.

The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Swanheart"
"Dark Chest of Wonders"
"Wish I Had an Angel"
"10th Man Down"
"Come Cover Me"
"Gethsemane"
"Élan"
"Sacrament of Wilderness"
"Dead Boy's Poem"
"Elvenjig / Elvenpath"
"I Want My Tears Back"
"Last Ride of the Day"
"The Carpenter"
"The Kinslayer"
"Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean"
"Nemo"
"Slaying the Dreamer"
"The Greatest Show on Earth"
"Ghost Love Score"

Grasser Production recently spoke with Nightwish founder/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, who offered an update on the songwriting process for the band's new album, as well as giving an outlook on his new project, Auri.

In regards to the upcoming new Nightwish album, Thomas reveals: "All the songs are now done, musically. I'm still working on some lyrics. And, of course, the arrangement process, the rehearsals are gonna take months... it's gonna take all of next year, actually, But all the songs that are gonna be included on the album, with the titles, with the album title, everything's now there. So from now on, it's just the arranging and polishing the corners."

Watch the interview below:

BraveWords has stumbled across newly uploaded bootleg footage of Metallica's August 19th, 1994 sshow in Atlanta, GA at the Lakewood Amphitheatre. The entire show is available below.

The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Breadfan"
"Master Of Puppets"
"Wherever I May Roam"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
"The God That Failed"
"Kill/Ride Medley"
"For Whom The Bell Tolls"
"Disposable Heroes"
"Seek & Destroy"
- guitar solo -
"Nothing Else Matters"
"Creeping Death"
"Fade To Black"
"Whiplash"
"Sad But True"
"One"
"Enter Sandman"
"So What"

WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale says that he went from the brink of financial ruin to being "richer than I ever was in DEEP PURPLE" in the space of three months when WHITESNAKE's 1987 release "Whitesnake" took the U.S. charts by storm.

Coverdale recently spoke at length with Rock Candy magazine editor Howard Johnson, telling the personal stories behind some of the most revealing photos of his almost-50-year career.

Commenting on a shot of WHITESNAKE at the 1987 MTV Music Awards, Coverdale said: "It was a ridiculous time for around about three years when MTV became this global monster. I'd go into a hotel room, and eight times out of 10, the TV would be showing MTV. And nine times out of 10, it was playing the video for 'Still Of The Night', 'Is This Love' or 'Here I Go Again'.

"Was I prepared for the level of success the '1987' album had? Professionally, yes. It was such a validation of the really hard work that went into that album. It wasn't entirely the guys' fault in earlier versions of WHITESNAKE that we often took six steps forward and four back. Management decisions were made that didn't serve us well and it became incredibly frustrating. But once I took over the running of the operation myself everything changed… and to go from almost three million in debt and within three months be richer than I ever was with PURPLE was very reassuring."

b>Coverdale, of course, was one of the most famous faces in '80s music after starring alongside his soon-to-be-wife Tawny Kitaen in those memorable WHITESNAKE videos. But he admits that the level of fame he experienced at that time was hard to handle.

"I wasn't prepared for that at all," he says. "I was with Tawny in L.A. and we couldn't go anywhere. If we stopped at a red light on Sunset, we'd be chased by the paparazzi like something out of THE BEATLES' 'A Hard Day's Night'. It was whack. That was the primary reason why I moved out of L.A. to Lake Tahoe to live in a village of 5,000 people."

Coverdale is still performing today as the leader of WHITESNAKE, of course. He's no longer with Kitaen, following a 1991 divorce, but has since remarried. And the 67-year-old is perfectly happy to say that the days when he was one half of Hollywood's most in-demand showbiz couple are long behind him now.

"I'm still Mr. Saturday Night on tour even now," he laughs. "But at home, I'm just a husband and a dad."

Read the whole of this revealing article, and many more fascinating features, in Issue 11 of Rock Candy magazine, available in shops worldwide or direct online at this location.

Italian power metallers Frozen Crown, signed to Scarlet Records, have released a video for the song "I Am The Tyrant", the fourth single taken from the band’s debut album, The Fallen King. Check it out below.

Frozen Crown released their debut album The Fallen King on February 9th. They recently checked in with the following update:

"When we started all this, we couldn't expect our debut album to sell so many copies. Your amazing support made it possible for us to go further and give The Fallen King a new incarnation. From today, a limited, 350 copies signed version of our debut album is available in vinyl on our BigCartel store! Thanks for setting this milestone with us. We owe you everything!"

Tracklist:

"Fail No More"
"To Infinity"
"Kings"
"I Am The Tyrant"
"The Shieldmaiden"
"Chasing Lights"
"Queen Of Blades"
"Across The Sea"
"Everwinter"
"Netherstorm"

Check out the band's official Facebook page here.

Frozen Crown are:

Giada "Jade" Etro - lead and backing vocals
Federico Mondelli - vocals, guitars, keys
Talia Bellazecca - guitar
Filippo Zavattari - bass
Alberto Mezzanotte - drums

Phenomena is a rock music concept conceived by record producer Tom Galley and brother, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley and directed by Wilfried Rimensberger. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as: Brian May, John Wetton, Glenn Hughes, Don Airey, Mel Galley, Neil Murray and Cozy Powell amongst others.

Phenomena's production of rock songs based on a story line running through a whole album, attached to artworks and other multi-media aspects was credited for the “return of the concept album” in the 1980s. Phenomena released three albums in the 1980s and early 1990s, and had a number one hit single in South America with “Did It All For Love”, while the album charted across Europe, in Japan and Brazil.

The creator of Phenomena, Tom Galley, said of the re-releases: “I'm happy to see the release of these original recordings. And being in touch with the involved artists, I know they are looking forward to see this happening too. Together with previously never seen material the three albums are well presented.”

Phenomena is an all-star million selling album from 1985, created by Tom Galley, and features:

Glenn Hughes
Cozy Powell
Mel Galley
Neil Murray
Don Airey
Ric Sanders
John Thomas
Ted McKenna

This Definitive Edition has received a 2018 remaster and the booklet features new liner notes, including new comments from Tom Galley, who has provided the newly written track by track descriptions.

Phenomena II – Dream Runner is from 1987, created by Tom Galley, and features the hit single “Did It All For Love” which was a #1 smash across South America, along with artists:

John Wetton
Glenn Hughes
Mel Galley
Neil Murray
Ray Gillen
Max Bacon
Richard Bailey
Michael Sturgis
Scott Gorham
Toshihiro Niimi
John Thomas
Kyoji Yamamoto
Leif Johansen

The booklet features new liner notes, including new comments from Tom Galley, along with alternative artwork and rare pictures. Album cover by Tim Davies (Tim Elcoch).

Phenomena III – Innervision from 1993 completes the all-star Phenomena trilogy, as created by Tom Galley, and features:

Brian May
Scott Gorham
Michael Sturgis
Keith Murrell
Leif Johansen

The booklet features new liner notes, including new comments from Tom Galley, who has supplied the originally intended front cover artwork, which appears for the first time ever!

 

Russian brutal death behemoths Abominable Putridity have unleashed a lyric video for their new song "Supreme Void". The track is the group's first release in nearly seven years and shows that time has done nothing to soften the band's unwavering commitment to absolute crushing heaviness. 

The band commented, “After seven years of silence we are finally able to release this heavy slab of sickness. Prepare for the most powerful and ruthless musick we ever produced. Russian heavy machine is back...” 

"Supreme Void" shows massive things to come from the group, who will release the follow-up to their monstrously devastating 2012 sophomore album The Anomalies Of Artificial Origin, next year on Unique Leader. 

"Supreme Void" can be purchased digitally here. 

Swedish prog/extreme metal architects, Letters From The Colony, released their debut album, Vignette, earlier this year via Nuclear Blast Records. In the video below, the band performs the album opener, "Galax", live at Euroblast 2018:

The Vignette album, which was mastered by Jens Bogren (Dimmu Borgir, Opeth, Paradise Lost), reaches a length of over 55 minutes. Vignette can be ordered here.

Tracklisting:

"Galax"
"Erasing Contrast"
"The Final Warning"
"This Creature Will Haunt Us Forever"
"Cataclysm"
"Terminus"
"Glass Palaces"
"Sunwise"
"Vignette"

"Galax" video:

"Terminus" lyric video:

"Erasing Contrast" video:

Letters From The Colony are:

Alexander Backlund - Vocals
Sebastian Svalland - Guitar
Johan Jönsegård - Guitar
Emil Östberg - Bass
Jonas Sköld - Drums

Italian thrash/death killing machine, Methedras, have released a video for "Stab Me Again". The track is featured on the band's new album, The Ventriloquist, out on December 7th via Massacre Records. Watch the clip below.

The Ventriloquist was mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio. Artwork by Maurizio Piccinelli.

Tracklisting:

"A Deal With The Devil"
"Sham Knockout"
"Blind"
"Dead Silence"
"Fire Within"
"Stab Me Again"
"Alive Or Convict"
"Sleepwalking"
"Into The Maze"
"Watch Me Fall"

"Stab Me Again" video:

"A Deal With The Devil" video:

(Photo - Silvia Belloni Photography)

Cattle Decapitation have released a full stream of  their new rarities collection, Medium Rarities, released last week via Metal Blade Records. Listen below.

Featuring six previously unreleased pre-Human Jerky (1999) demos with frontman Travis Ryan on guitar (while also handling vocal duties), plus the long-sought-after To Serve Man (2002) bonus track, "Rotting Children For Remote Viewing" - in addition to other rarities (including the six songs from 2005's split EP with Caninus) - this compilation spans the band's 22-year long career and is a must-have for any Cattle Decapitation fan.

The collection can be ordered here.

Medium Rarities tracklisting:

"Birth. Cancer. Death."
"No Future"
"Chili Dispenser"
"The Recapitation Of Cattle"
"Thrombosis All-In"
"Turn On The Masters"
"Tripas de Pepe"
"Vino de lo Sanguifero"
"Queso de Cabeza"
"Birth. Cancer. Death." (Unreleased Demo)
"Diarrhea de Dahmer" (Unreleased Demo)
"Human Jerky" (Unreleased Demo)
"Thrombosis All-In" (Unreleased Demo)
"Colon Blo" (Unreleased Demo)
"Flesh-Eating Disease" (Unreleased Demo)
"Burnt To A Crisp"
"Sonny's Burning"
"Rotting Children For Remote Viewing" (Unreleased)
"You People"
"World Full Of Idiots"
"An Exposition Of Insides"
"No Light And No Life"
"Cannibalistic Invasivorism"

Album stream:

Cattle Decapitation will be touring in support of Medium Rarities this fall with The Black Dahlia Murder in Japan and the US with Suffocation (for vocalist Frank Mullen's final tour), Krisiun, and Soreption. See all dates here.

Cattle Decapitation lineup:

Travis Ryan - vocals
Josh Elmore - guitars
Dave McGraw - drums
Belisario Dimuzio - guitars
Olivier Pinard - bass

(Photo - Pablo Montano)