METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich says that he "never lost that sense of being a fan," despite having been a member of one of the most successful rock bands for nearly four decades. "I think I have a lot of passion for life and a lot of passion for living," he tells Kerrang! magazine. "If you open your eyes and take it all in — all of this and playing rock shows — it doesn't douse the fire. There's a perception that the more famous you get, the less you need that, but why would you stop? I don't consider myself any less turned on by the things that turn me on than I did 10, 20, 30 or 40 years ago.

"I absolutely still have this crazy thing about music and art in general," he continues. "When something speaks to me, I've got to shout about it from every rooftop, to envelop myself in it and share it. Ultimately, when all of this is gone, none of it means anything. The basic human need and function is to connect with other people. Nobody wants to be alone."

Asked how he has maintained his energy for discovery after all these years, Ulrich said: "Um… good question. I guess probably the ability to separate all this, maybe? All of us in METALLICA have done a really good job of keeping checks and balances. We allow ourselves to grow, we allow ourselves to experience and to continue on this journey, and despite all the 20,000-people shows, the honors or the platinum discs, it doesn't mean you stop caring. When I hear a great song or see a great film, it turns me on. It's a great question, and I'm not sure I have a soundbite answer for you, but that [fandom] hasn't changed.

"I don't think that our personalities have changed that much either," he adds. "Given the circumstances, we're fairly normal people — given the circumstances! We don't have major basket cases in this band. The DNA and the wheelhouse, or whatever you want to call it, is intact. Within the realm of rock 'n' roll, we got lucky."

METALLICA played eight shows in Europe last month and has another 15 dates booked between now and mid-May.

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

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

Ritchie Blackmore has confirmed to Billboard that he invited Glenn Hughes to be part of the new RAINBOW lineup before the group's comeback two years ago. "Through a mutual friend, a conversation came up saying it would be good to have him in the band," Ritchie recalled. "I said, 'Would he be up for being just the bass player and we would have another singer singing?' My mutual friend said, 'Of course! I've spoken to him and he's up for it.' I said, 'Fine — as long as he knows he isn't the singer, that's great.' Fast forward to day before rehearsals and we contacted Glenn to see when he was going to fly in, and he wasn't aware that he wasn't going to be the lead singer at all. So I understood his situation and I told him we would have to get someone else, and he was fine. We ended it amicably before it even started."

Hughes told Hardrock Haven in 2016 that Blackmore originally asked him to be part of the RAINBOW comeback but that he declined. "I said no because [Ritchie] wanted to, funny enough, he wanted to use an unknown singer, and I said, 'It's not me. It's not me to do that,'" he explained. "I very eloquently said, 'No, thank you. I really would like to see you, but I can't do this at the point where I am right now.'"

In a 2017 interview with Metal Express Radio, Hughes said about Blackmore's decision to bring back RAINBOW for the first time in 20 years, featuring a brand new lineup that included the Chilean-born, Spanish-based Ronnie Romero: "I wasn't really sure. I'm glad he came back for his own sake, and, obviously, he wanted to make some electric rock music again after so long away. It's been 20-something years. It was his choice and his choice who he had playing with him. I wished him all the best and have nothing but total respect for him and he knows that. I hope he continues along the road he's on as his fans want more electric shows from him."

He added: "All I want for Ritchie is happiness. Although I don't see him very often I still have good memories of him and it's all good between us."

Asked if he has seen any footage of Romero performing classic RAINBOW songs that were originally sung by his close friend, the great, late Ronnie James Dio, Hughes said: "I did. Singing Ronnie's [James Dio] songs needs a special kind of singer and I think the young chap did a reasonably good job and I think Ritchie may well have found the guy for him. He was certainly a good fit for RAINBOW."

Hughes was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016 along with fellow DEEP PURPLE members Blackmore, David Coverdale, Jon Lord, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice.

SLAYER will release an exclusive "Repentless" collector's box set that includes six single EPs featuring all the songs off the band's latest album pressed on unique 6.66-inch vinyl. The box set, which will be released on June 6, will be available in black, red, and gold.

This past January, SLAYER announced that it would do one last concert tour around the globe to thank their fans for all of their support over the years, for making the last three and a half decades so packed with good times and unforgettable experiences, and then move on.

SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya talked about his possible retirement in a 2016 interview with Loudwire. He said: "At 35 years, it's time to collect my pension. [Laughs] This is a career move." He continued: "I'm grateful that we've been around for 35 years; that's a really long time. So, yeah, to me, it is. Because when we started off, everything was great, because you're young and invincible. And then there came a time where I became a family man, and I had a tough time flying back and forth. And now, at this stage, at the level we're at now, I can do that; I can fly home when I want to, on days off, and spend some time with my family, which is something I wasn't able to do when [my kids] were growing up. Now they're both older and mature. So now I take advantage of that." Araya added: "Yeah, it just gets harder and harder to come back out on the road. 35 years is a long time."

Tom also revealed another reason for his diminished enjoyment of the touring life. He said: "There's things that have gone on in my life that have made me change how I play as a bass player. I had neck surgery, so I can't headbang anymore. And that was a big part of what I enjoyed doing what I do — singing and headbanging. I liked knowing that I was one of the fucking badass headbangers. That played a big part. Now I just groove with the music, which is cool, because I'm grooving with the music and the feel of the songs, so that's changed a little for me."

SLAYER has been touring in support of its latest album, "Repentless", which was released in September 2015 via Nuclear Blast. That effort marked the band's first release since the death of SLAYER's co-founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman.

Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, in January 2011 from a spider bite in his backyard. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.

Hanneman eventually died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

Original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo was effectively fired from the band after sitting out the group's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other members of SLAYER. He has since been replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band.

Tara Lynch (a.k.a. "Gui-Tara") is a guitarist, composer, vocalist and songwriter who delivers heavy metal thunder with prominent melodic guitar riffs, shredding leads and powerhouse vocals. She will release her debut album, "Evil Enough", on April 13.

"Evil Enough" is a melodic metal album featuring Lynch on all guitars and vocals along with an all-star lineup of guest performances by Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, DIO), Tony MacAlpine (PLANET X), Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE, BILLY IDOL), Mark Boals (DOKKEN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), Brent Woods (VINCE NEIL, SEBASTIAN BACH), Glen Sobel (ALICE COOPER) and Björn Englen (DIO DISCIPLES, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). "Evil Enough" is produced by Brent Woods. All words and music written by Tara Lynch.

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

Primarily self-taught, Tara played both electric and acoustic guitar and wrote songs in her childhood, picking up the bass, drums and piano along the way. Very serious about her musicianship and the unending desire to improve, Tara has personally studied with Steve Vai (FRANK ZAPPA, DAVID LEE ROTH, WHITESNAKE), Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), Björn Englen and Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER).

Featured performers on "Evil Enough" (alphabetically):

* Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, LAST IN LINE) - Drums

* Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DOKKEN, Raiding The Rock Vault) - Vocals

* Björn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TONY MACALPINE, SOUL SIGN, DIO DISCIPLES) - Bass

* Tony MacAlpine (PLANET X) - Keyboards

* Glen Sobel (ALICE COOPER) - Drums

* Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE, BILLY IDOL, LAST IN LINE) - Bass

* Brent Woods (VINCE NEIL, SEBASTIAN BACH, JOHN WAITE) - Producer, Synthesizers, Background Vocals

"I have known Tara for years now and have always been amazed by her grace and poise as a lovely human being and dear friend. Well now it is time for all to be amazed by these divine musical gifts that she also possesses! A great player and singer to not only work with, but to listen and rock to!!" - Tony MacAlpine

"Tara is like discovering an unfound gem. Combining fantastic guitar playing, great songwriting and amazing vocals she is a new force to be listened to!!" - Vinny Appice

"Tara is an as yet greatly undiscovered talent. Writer, guitar player and singer she represents a powerful presence in this mainly male dominated genre. Working with her on her new record it is evident that she is destined for greatness." - Phil Soussan

"Tara Lynch has a beautiful natural vibrato that I have only heard in the very top guitar players." - Derek Sherinian

"Producing Tara's album was an amazing experience. Her music, lyrics, voice and playing are melodic, aggressive, contemporary, classic and honest... It’s refreshing to hear an artist truly pissed off again!" - Brent Woods

"After knowing her as a friend for many years, I knew it would be fun, but working with Tara is like holding a tiger by the tail, she is so full of talent and energy, knows exactly what she wants and is not afraid to go for it! It was a really great experience!!" - Mark Boals

"Tara is just a pure pleasure and honor to work with. She knows what she wants but yet so humble and grateful. And what a talent!" - Björn Englen

"Drummers like to be challenged and Tara's music definitely fits that description. I had a blast recording these songs and it’s an honor to be featured on a record with so many other great players and friends!" - Glen Sobel

In closing, Tara has this to impart: "This album has been a labor of love and an important part of both my personal and musical growth process. At the end of the day, it's an album that I am extremely proud of and I really hope it touches people out there in the world who can relate to it and that it can help them know they're not alone."

BAD WOLVES performed their cover version of THE CRANBERRIES' "Zombie" on this past Friday's (March 23) edition of "The Late Late Show" on Ireland's RTÉ One.

Prior to the performance, BAD WOLVES singer Tommy Vext told host Ryan Tubridy that he and his bandmates were "overwhelmed" by the reaction to their rendition of "Zombie", which they have released in tribute to THE CRANBERRIES' late singer, Dolores O'Riordan.

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.

Vext said the idea of covering "Zombie" came about when he was writing material for BAD WOLVES' debut album.

"I kind of do the same thing every day: I go to the coffee shop, I write lyrics and then we go to the studio. And 'Zombie' came on the radio," Tommy recounted. "It really took me back to a place. I loved THE CRANBERRIES when I was a kid. I started playing music when I was 13 and them and NIRVANA and SOUNDGARDEN were these alternative bands that really, really touched me. And then I looked into the lyrics and really got into it and it felt like we should really do this thing."

After finding out about O'Riordan's passing, "I was devastated," Vext said. "I think the whole band has kind of being going through a process. It's one of those things, it's like: we don't mourn the death of an artist because we knew them; we mourn them because they helped us know ourselves. And that was my experience with her art and her music."

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

BAD WOLVES' debut album, "Disobey", will be released on May 18 via Eleven Seven Music.

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



“We don’t mourn the death of an artist because we knew them, we mourn them because they helped us know ourselves” - Tommy Vext of @BadWolves on hearing the sad news that @The_Cranberries' Dolores O’Riordan had passed away on the day they were due to work together #latelate pic.twitter.com/LaK1lRo82c— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) March 23, 2018

"Embrace The Rub", the new Mackie Osborne-directed video from MELVINS, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Pinkus Abortion Technician", which will be released on April 20 via Ipecac Recordings. The disc features both MELVINS' regular bass player Steven McDonald (REDD KROSS, OFF!) and BUTTHOLE SURFERS' Jeff Pinkus on bass.


"'Embrace The Rub' is a Steven McDonald-penned punker tune throwback to his days as a young Hawthorne, California punk hanging out with BLACK FLAG," explains Dale Crover. "For some reason, I decided that this tune really needed a piano part."

"Pinkus Abortion Technician" track listing:

01. Stop Moving To Florida

02. Embrace The Rub

03. Don't Forget To Breathe

04. Flamboyant Duck

05. Break Bread

06. I Want To Hold Your Hand

07. Prenup Butter

08. Graveyard

"With our upcoming release, we double your bass player with Steven McDonald and Jeff Pinkus holding down the bottom," explains Crover. "It's an experiment in the low end of the aural spectrum where we asked ourselves, 'Would it work?' 'Could it work??' 'Should it work???' The answers were yes, yes and YES!"

"We've never had two bass players," adds Buzz Osborne. "We've had two drummers and two guitar players, so it makes total sense to now have two bass players. We'll be taking this two-prong bass attack on the road as well which should prove to be interesting.

"'Pinkus Abortion Technician' is a radically great record and was a stone groove to record. We drank a lot of coffee and enjoyed each other's company.

"I like Steven and Jeff a great deal. I admire their bass playing and singing and both of them can grill a mean steak."

MELVINS' 10-week North American tour will kick off on April 26 at the Casbah in San Diego. The trek will feature the MELVINS as a four-piece, with both Pinkus and McDonald joining Osborne and Crover.

TREMONTI, the band comprised of Mark Tremonti on vocals/guitars, Eric Friedman on guitars, and Garrett Whitlock on drums, will release its fourth full-length album, "A Dying Machine", on June 8 via Napalm Records. The disc was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has helmed all previous TREMONTI albums along with ALTER BRIDGE's last four long-players.

From the militant drum assault of the album opener "Bringer Of War" to the instrumental closer "Found", "A Dying Machine" is TREMONTI's most-diverse musical offering to date. Songs like "From The Sky", "Throw Them To The Lions" and "A Lot Like Sin" are signature TREMONTI that fans have come to love from the trio. Tracks like "Trust", "The First The Last" and "Desolation" take the listener to new places sonically, all backed by Tremonti's signature vocal style.

A teaser video with music from the album can be seen below.

"A Dying Machine" is the first concept album of Tremonti's career and the music is inspired by a story that came to Mark while on the last ALTER BRIDGE tour. During that time, the epic title track "A Dying Machine" was born. The story, which is being turned into a full-length work of fiction authored by Mark Tremonti and John Shirley, takes place at the turn of the next century where humans and fabricated beings called "vessels" are trying to co-exist. Tremonti and Shirley are working on finishing the novel to release alongside the record.

The track listing for "A Dying Machine" is:

01. Bringer Of War

02. From The Sky

03. A Dying Machine

04. Trust

05. Throw Them To The Lions

06. Make It Hurt

07. Traipse

08. The First The Last

09. A Lot Like Sin

10. The Day When Legions Burned

11. As The Silence Becomes Me

12. Take You With Me

13. Desolation

14. Found


TREMONTI will play a record-release show in Orlando on May 12 at the Social. They are also confirmed for Carolina Rebellion on May 4, the Lunatic Luau on May 5 and headline shows in Savannah on May 2 and Atlanta on May 7. The band heads over to Europe in mid-June for seven weeks of touring that includes dates as direct support for IRON MAIDEN alongside headline shows and European festival appearances.

TREMONTI's third album, "Dust", was released in April 2016 via Fret 12.

"Dust", which was recorded during same sessions as 2015's "Cauterize", featured Tremonti on vocals/guitars, Eric Friedman on guitars, Wolfgang Van Halen on bass and Garrett Whitlock on drums. Baskette produced "Dust".

Although Wolfgang Van Halen was part of TREMONTI's touring band in 2013 and played on "Dust" and "Cauterize", he sat out TREMONTI's tour schedule because of commitments with VAN HALEN.

TREMONTI recruited Tanner Keegan to play bass on its most recent tour.

The first trailer for "Live In Overhausen" from legendary New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL can be seen below. The set will be released on May 18 via Nuclear Blast.

Celebrating the band's history, "Live In Overhausen" captured not one but two album anniversaries. Fans assembled on April 16, 2016 at Turbinenhalle 2 in Oberhausen, Germany for the 25th anniversary of "Horrorscope" and 30th anniversary of where it all began, "Feel The Fire".

OVERKILL singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth comments: "From the stage to your eyes and ears! 'Live in Overhausen', celebrating 'Feel The Fire' and 'Horrorscope' in one filmed/recorded concert in Germany, from 2016. A rare two-hour look at what has transpired over three decades in one of the world's hotbeds of metal. Hang on to your hats, kids, it's going to be a 'thrashy-ride'!"

"Live In Overhausen" will be available in different formats:

* 2 CD + Blu-ray Digipak

* 2 CD + DVD Digipak

* LP (Limited edition Splatter, Green, Black)

* Feel The Fire (Live in Overhausen)

* Horrorscope (Live in Overhausen)

* Mail-Order Edition

"Live In Overhausen" track listing:

01. Coma

02. Infectious

03. Blood Money

04. Thanx For Nothin'

05. Bare Bones

06. Horrorscope

07. New Machine

08. Frankenstein

09. Live Young Die Free

10. Nice Day - for a Funeral

11. Soulitude

12. Raise The Dead

13. Rotten To The Core

14. There's No Tomorrow

15. Second Son

16. Hammerhead

17. Feel The Fire

18. Blood And Iron

19. Kill at Command

20. Overkill

21. Fuck You

OVERKILL utilized a stand-in drummer — the band's soundman Eddy Garcia, who is also a member of the El Paso, Texas act PISSING RAZORS — for the Oberhausen show because the group's then-drummer, Ron Lipnicki, was forced to stay home due to undisclosed family issues.

OVERKILL last year announced the addition of drummer Jason Bittner (SHADOWS FALL, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) to the group's ranks.

OVERKILL recently returned to the studio to resume work on demos for its upcoming album. According to a post on the band's Facebook page, at least four new songs are in varying stages of completion at this point, with more to come.

Ellsworth told Australia's 3D Radio about the band's songwriting and recording process: "Well, for us, coming from the old school, to some degree, it has to be physical. And what I mean by that is standing in a room with the others, splitting a pizza, splitting a beer, sweating, coming up with some good ideas, occasionally, or even more than occasionally, going, 'Oh my God! That sucked.' And then moving from there into what the modern era offers us, and that's the Pro Tools and trading files back and forth over the Internet, because instantaneous ideas can be traded from home now. So we use kind of a combination of the old 'let's sweat it out and tune the guitars up' to the modern day of 'let's get down with the computers and exchange our ideas.' So it works both ways for us. So it's a combination of the old and the new."

Ellsworth went on to say that OVERKILL has "adapted" to the new writing and recording techniques. "But," he added, "we've never abandoned the studio rehearsal space. That, to us, is necessary. I think it gives us a link to how we started. And I think there's something very humbling about saying, 'Sure, this was still worth it back then.' And to some degree, when you think of this type of music — metal in general, aggressive — I think it needs to be presented as a group, or understood as a group, as opposed to invididuals just coming up with ideas. So the combination really works for us. And I think this keeps us grounded."

OVERKILL's latest album, "The Grinding Wheel", was released in February 2017 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by OVERKILL and mixed by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, ACCEPT). The artwork was created again by Travis Smith (NEVERMORE, OPETH, SOILWORK, DEATH).

Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM will enter the studio tomorrow (Wednesday, March 28) to begin recording their tenth album for a late 2018 release. The follow-up to 2015's "I Worship Chaos" will once again be recorded at the band's own Danger Johnny Studios in Helsinki where the group's last two efforts were laid down. Helming the sessions for the new disc is producer Mikko Karmila, who worked on "I Worship Chaos" and 2013's "Halo Of Blood".

CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho previously described Danger Johnny as "kind of like the COB headquarters where everything is. We have a rehearsal space, studio and warehouse where we can keep our backline, our cars, there's a lounge area, so it's pretty awesome. Everything for 'I Worship Chaos' was recorded there, including the drums. It's awesome, because it beats having to book studio time and spend a ton of money on recordings. It's a different vibe compared to recording at home, and that's why I actually moved in there a couple of weeks before we started recording. We were missing two songs and I figured I'd get more done if I'm there all the time. I usually get so much done when I'm in there."

CHILDREN OF BODOM's recent U.S. tour saw the band celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of its debut album, "Something Wild". The 24-date trek included an appearance at last year's Ozzfest Meets Knotfest.

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Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM will enter the studio tomorrow (Wednesday, March 28) to begin recording their tenth album for a late 2018 release. The follow-up to 2015's "I Worship Chaos" will once again be recorded at the band's own Danger Johnny Studios in Helsinki where the group's last two efforts were laid down. Helming the sessions for the new disc is producer Mikko Karmila, who worked on "I Worship Chaos" and 2013's "Halo Of Blood".

CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho previously described Danger Johnny as "kind of like the COB headquarters where everything is. We have a rehearsal space, studio and warehouse where we can keep our backline, our cars, there's a lounge area, so it's pretty awesome. Everything for 'I Worship Chaos' was recorded there, including the drums. It's awesome, because it beats having to book studio time and spend a ton of money on recordings. It's a different vibe compared to recording at home, and that's why I actually moved in there a couple of weeks before we started recording. We were missing two songs and I figured I'd get more done if I'm there all the time. I usually get so much done when I'm in there."

CHILDREN OF BODOM's recent U.S. tour saw the band celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of its debut album, "Something Wild". The 24-date trek included an appearance at last year's Ozzfest Meets Knotfest.



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"Illusive Golden Age", the third full-length album from Montreal-based progressive death metallers AUGURY, can be streamed in its entirety below. Due on March 30 through The Artisan Era, the disc's stunning cover art for was designed by renowned artist Filip Ivanović, who created last year's ORIGIN album art. AUGURY enlisted CRYPTOPSY guitarist Chris Donaldson at The Grid Studios in Montreal with the album's mixing and mastering to ensure a high-quality sounding final product.

The follow-up to "Fragmentary Evidence", "Illusive Golden Age" is certain to be one of 2018's most memorable death metal records, and a strong return to form from one of the modern eras most influential progressive death metal acts.

AUGURY had the following to say about "Illusive Golden Age": "We're proud to present you 'Illusive Golden Age', our new album, which makes the connection musically and lyrically with 'Concealed' and 'Fragmentary Evidence'. It took us quite a long time to concretize so we're eager to see people's reaction to our new music. 'Illusive Golden Age' is a poetic tale about the recurrence of downfall and a glance at some factors that bring down societies, influenced by lost civilizations and their enigmas."

"Illusive Golden Age" track listing:

01. Illusive Golden Age

02. The Living Vault

03. Carrion Tide

04. Mater Dolorosa

05. Maritime

06. Message Sonore

07. Parallel Biospheres

08. Anchorite

AUGURY is:

Patrick Loisel - Vocals, Guitars

Mathieu Marcotte (HUMANOID) - Guitar

Dominic "Forest" Lapointe (FIRST FRAGMENT, ex-BEYOND CREATION) - Bass

Antoine Baril (CONTEMPLATOR) - Drums

DEVILDRIVER's long-awaited full-length album of outlaw country-gone-metal anthems, "Outlaws 'Til The End", will be released on July 6 via Napalm Records. The disc is described in a press release as "both a startling curveball and a ferocious statement of individuality from a band who have been a constant and effective force in the heavy metal world for the best part of two decades now."

"I think real music has always gotten to me, whether it's the blues or even real goth music like BAUHAUS and SISTERS OF MERCY, as well as outlaw country greats like Johnny Cash, Wayne 'The Train' Hancock and Willie Nelson," DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara explains. "That stuff has always attracted me, and this is absolutely the real McCoy. The blues and outlaw country are what made rock 'n' roll. They were around before rock 'n' roll… and in my head, I've always heard these songs heavy."

From the opening seconds of Hank 3's "Country Heroes" onward, "Outlaws 'Til The End" is simply one of the most invigorating records DEVILDRIVER has made so far. More importantly, these evocative, irresistible songs have all been wholly rebuilt from the ground up, powered by the classic DEVILDRIVER sound and embellished with Fafara's unmistakable feral roar.

"Outlaws 'Til The End" was produced, mixed and recorded with Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, SEPULTURA, THE CURE), with DEVILDRIVER guitarist Mike Sprietzer also lending recording talents. The album was mastered by renowned engineer Alan Douches.

Completing this unprecedented project is a host of metal and country luminaries providing unforgettable cameos: horror metal icon Wednesday 13 lends his incensed rasp to George Jones's "If Drinking Don't Kill Me", 36 CRAZYFISTS frontman Brock Lindow brings fire and soul to Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road", and FEAR FACTORY's Burton C. Bell helps to turn Richard Thompson's anti-war classic "Dad's Gonna Kill Me" into a brooding gothic metal extravaganza. Meanwhile, LAMB OF GOD members Randy Blythe and Mark Morton contribute to an exhilarating decimation of Willie Nelson's "Whiskey River" before Randy makes a second appearance on DEVILDRIVER's version of cowboy standard "Ghost Riders In The Sky"; the latter featuring the son of Johnny Cash himself.

"I knew right away that I wanted to have guests on this record, and the first guest I wanted was John Carter Cash," Fafara recalls. "I didn't want this thing to exist without John, without Hank 3 or without Randy. Basically, there were a certain amount of guests that I definitely wanted on it, but as I kept asking people, everyone kept saying yes!

"Randy and Mark are both from the country and they were immediately on board. With John, we wound up talking for two hours when we first met, all about his love of heavy metal and my love of outlaw country and my love of his dad's music. All he wanted to do was talk about metal and all I wanted to do was talk about outlaw country. It was the craziest thing."

Not only just content with a collaboration with John Carter Cash, the album also features the iconic voice of FEAR, U.S. punk rock legend Lee Ving. "Lee has a country band called RANGE WAR and when he first started in music, his mother gave him her mandolin to play, so he played country music before he ever did punk rock," Fafara notes. "I've been fortunate enough in my career to do songs with Ozzy [Osbourne] and some of the greats, but doing a song with Lee Ving? What can I say… he's my ultimate hero in life. I had a FEAR shirt on the first time I ran away from home, you know?"

"Outlaws 'Til The End" track listing:

01. "Country Heroes"

Written by Hank Williams III

Performed by Hank3 & Dez Fafara

02. "Whiskey River"

Written by Johnny Bush and Paul Stroud; recorded by Willie Nelson

Performed by Randy Blythe, Mark Morton of LAMB OF GOD & Dez Fafara

03. "Outlaw Man"

Written by David Blue; recorded by the Eagles

Performed by Dez Fafara & Neal Tiemann of DEVILDRIVER

04. "Ghost Riders In The Sky"

Written by Stan Jones

Performed by John Carter Cash, Ana Cristina Cash, Randy Blythe & Dez Fafara

05. "I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)"

Written by Bobby Bobby Borchers, Wayne Kemp, Mack Vickery; recorded by Johnny Paycheck

Performed by Dez Fafara & DEVILDRIVER

06. "If Drinking Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will)"

Written by Harlan Sanders, Rick Beresford; recorded by George Jones

Performed by Wednesday 13 & Dez Fafara

07. "The Man Comes Around"

Written by Johnny Cash

Performed by Lee Ving of FEAR & Dez Fafara

08. "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere"

Written by Dwight Yoakam

Performed by Dez Fafara & Neal Tiemann of DEVILDRIVER

09. "Copperhead Road"

Written by Steve Earle

Performed by Brock Lindow of 36 CRAZYFISTS & Dez Fafara

10. "Dad's Gonna Kill Me"

Written by Richard Thompson

Performed by Burton C. Bell of FEAR FACTORY & Dez Fafara

11. "A Country Boy Can Survive"

Written by Hank Williams Jr.

Performed by Dez Fafara & DEVILDRIVER

12. "The Ride"

Written by J.B. Detterline Jr., Gary Gentry; recorded by David Allan Coe

Performed by Lee Ving of Fear & Dez Fafara

DEVILDRIVER is:

Dez Fafara - Vocals

Mike Spreitzer - Guitar

Neal Tiemann - Guitar

Diego Ibarra - Bass

Austin D'Amond - Drums

American power trio PRONG has released the official music video for the song "Forced Into Tolerance". The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Zero Days", which was released last July via Steamhammer/SPV. The disc was once again produced by PRONG mainman Tommy Victor, with trusted collaborator Chris Collier as co-producer and engineer.

"PRONG is happy to team with Blabbermouth to premiere the video for 'Forced Into Tolerance' from our latest album, 'Zero Days'," Victor said in a statement. "It represents the no-frills, in-your-face relentlessness of the track. It's our response to being told what to think and believe by everyone. Enjoy!"

PRONG recently announced the continuation of its "Zero Days" tour with a series of West Coast dates alongside POWERFLO. After a solid year of touring with the likes of TESTAMENT, OBITUARY, SEPULTURA and EXODUS, as well as filling key slots on the European summer festival circuit, the band now brings it back home to the states, including a highly coveted, co-headlining run with HELMET.

"PRONG is absolutely ecstatic about this upcoming, quick West Coast run with POWERFLO," Victor said. "We are very happy to announce this run of shows with these guys. It really makes a lot of sense: two hard-hitting bands whose members have a great history together! It seems to me that the shows are going to be high energy and intense!"

PRONG with POWERFLO and special guests:

Mar. 29 - Club Red - Phoenix, AZ

Mar. 30 - Slidebar - Fullerton, CA

Mar. 31 – Slim's - San Francisco, CA

Apr. 02 - The Ritz - San Jose, CA

Apr. 03 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA

Apr. 04 - Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR

Apr. 07 - Backstage Bar - Las Vegas, NV

Apr. 08 - Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA

Victor told AXS about the follow-up to 2016's "X - No Absolutes": "I think the vocals have gotten better and better and that's indicative on the new record. I spent a lot more time on the lyrics. They had to be to be perfect on this one. That's really where I've been moving with the PRONG experience. That's become the centerpiece of my interest — the lyrics and the vocals. Finding riffs is very difficult. That is probably the less enjoyable aspect of making the record, because everything's been done already. These guitar players and kids today are so amazing and outstanding, it's like, how do you compete with that? So finding that is difficult. I think we did a good job, but the pressure to write really good songs every record is of more strategic importance here, because I think that where veterans can somehow stand alone because you know how to write songs. You've done it in the past. The kids might be able to destroy you on their instruments these days, but to write a good ol' rock and roll song, that's something we may be able to do better than them. That's what we have to focus on."

Vocalist Ronnie Atkins of Danish hard rockers PRETTY MAIDS has been hospitalized in Basel, Switzerland after suffering an unfortunate blow to the head. He is currently undergoing tests and being observed by specialists.

According to Ronnie's bandmates: "The latest news is that he is conscious but has to remain in hospital for a while. As a consequence of this, we have to cancel the last three shows on our tour. Once Ronnie is fully recovered, we will come back and play these shows and film the scheduled DVD.

"We apologize for this and know you guys travel far to come to these shows. Our main concern at this time is Ronnie's health."

PRETTY MAIDS was scheduled to film its DVD and Blu-ray on March 30 in Zlin, Czech Republic. The band was planning to perform its classic album "Future World" in its entirety as well as other songs spanning the group's nearly four-decade career.

PRETTY MAIDS' 15th studio album, the Jacob Hansen-produced "Kingmaker", was released in November of 2016 via Frontiers Music Srl. The album debuted at No. 35 on the German chart, making it the group's highest-charting release in the country since 1990's "Jump The Gun".

The band's next album will be their first with drummer Allan Sørensen, who joined the group last year.

Glenn Danzig and his band will perform DANZIG's 1992 album, "Danzig III: How The Gods Kill", live in its entirety exclusively at this year's Psycho Las Vegas festival, set to take place August 17-19 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will mark the only time "Danzig III" will be played in full in the U.S. this year.

Glenn previously played "How The Gods Kill" live at Riot Fest and his own Blackest Of The Black festival last year.

As previously reported, Glenn will celebrate DANZIG's 30th anniversary this year by playing a limited number of special shows in Europe in August.

The run begins August 2 at Wacken Open Air, where DANZIG will headline one of the main stages, and includes stops in the U.K., Germany, Luxembourg and Czech Republic. DANZIG will complete the tour with a headlining performance at Brutal Assault festival on August 11 in Jaromer, Czech Republic.

In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Glenn said: "I don't tour. To me, touring is going out for a month on a bus. I don't do that anymore. [Laughs] What I do now is play shows where I can fly in and out. I'm not bouncing around on a tour bus anymore."

Asked why he dislikes touring, Glenn said: "I've been doing it my whole life. I have so much going on [at home], and I can't get any work done on the road. It's great going out and performing for everybody — that's the only good part of the whole day. But that's two hours, okay? The rest of the day is wasted."

DANZIG was formed in 1987 after Glenn's involvement with horror-punks the MISFITS and gothic hard rockers SAMHAIN.

DANZIG's latest album, "Black Laden Crown", came out in May 2017 via Evilive Records/Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

Sons Of Apollo, featuring former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force), have released  a lyric video for "Tengo Vida", taken from the six-track single "Alive / Tengo Vida", released on March 23rd.

Get the release here, and watch the lyric video below:

Sons Of Apollo tour dates:

April
5 - Monterrey, Mexico – Escena
6 - Mexico City, Mexico - Circo Volador
8 - Santiago, Chile - Teatro Teleton
10 - Buenos Aires, Argentina- Groove
12 - Porto Alegre, Brazil - Opinião Bar
14 - São Paulo, Brazil - Tropical Butanta
15 - Belo Horizonte, Brazil - Music Hall
19 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theater
20 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
21 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
22 - St Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
24 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater
25 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
27 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl
28 - Sacramento, CA - Ace Of Spades
29 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
30 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox

May
2 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
3 - Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco Theater
4 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
5 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theater
7 - San Antonio, TX - Alamo City Music Hall
8 - Dallas, TX - Canton Hall
9 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
11 - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley
12 - St Charles, IL - Arcada Theater
13 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
15 - Cleveland, OH - House Of Blues
16 - Philadelphia, PA - Theater Of Living Arts
18 - New York City, NY - Playstation Theater
19 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
20 - Washington DC - Howard Theater
26 - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Centro De Bellas Arts

June
22 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
23 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop
24 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimbodi
26 - Prague, Czech Republic - Futurum
27 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
30 - Barcelona, Spain - Be Prog My Friend

July
1 - Maidstone, England - Rambling Man Festival
2 - Motherwell, Scotland - Motherwell Concert Hall
3 - Belfast, Northern Ireland - Limelight
4 - Dublin, Ireland - Tivoli
6 - Knislinge, Sweden - Helgeafestivalen
7 - Brighton, UK - Concorde
8 - Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms
14 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Dynamo MetalFest

August
3 - Germany - Wacken
18 - Warsaw, Poland - Prog In The Park
19 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra Track

September
10 - Osaka, Japan - Big Cat
11-12 - Tokyo, Japan - Liquid Room
15 - Raismes, France - Raismes Fest
19 - Moscow, Russia - Glavclub
22 - Plovdiv, Bulgaria - Roman Amphitheater (A Very Special Evening with Sons Of Apollo & The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony)
24 - Athens, Greece - Fuzz Club
26 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Barby Club
30 - Glasgow, Scotland - The Garage

October
8 - Zurich, Switzerland - Complex
12 - Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre
13 - Toulouse, France - Very Prog Festival
15 - Lyon, France - Radiant Bellevue
16 - Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie

Grindcore/death metal outfit Implore have released a video for "Boundary", a track from their new album, Subjugate, released last September. Watch below:

With Subjugate, Implore have delivered a prime example on how to combine the force of death metal with grinding ferocity, the fury of blackened crust with the anger of hardcore.

Known as one of the world’s hardest touring underground band, it is now about time for Implore to join forces with the legendary Exhumed and the mighty Rotten Sound for a touring package that is surely going to leave a trail of chaos and destruction across Europe. Be sure not to miss this killer package!

Tour dates:

April
12 - Paris, France - Gibus Live
13 - Essen, Germany - Turock
14 - Amersfoort, Netherlands - Headbangers Bash
15 - Jena, Germany - Rosenkeller
16 - Rostock, Germany - Alte Zuckerfabrik
17 - Poznan, Poland - Klub U Bazyla
18 - Berlin, Germany - Cassiopeia
19 - Tannheim, Germany - Schwarzer Adler
20 - Vevey, Switzerland - Rocking Chair
21 - Göttingen, Germany - Haus der Kulturen
22 - Vienna, Austria - The Escape
23 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Randal Club
24 - Budapest, Hungary - Dürer Kert
25 - Ostrava, Czech Republic - Barrak
26 - Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang
27 - Erica, Netherlands - Pitfest
28 - Mannheim, Germany - MS Connexion Complex
29 - Antwerp, Belgium - Het Bos

Implore lineup:

Gabriel Dubko - Bass & Vocals
Eduard Petrolillo - Guitars
Guido Montanarini - Drums

(Photo - Ruben Navarro Martin)

Polish black/death overlords Behemoth have released a new trailer video for their new live DVD/Blu-ray, Messe Noire, out on April 13th. Watch below:

Commented singer, guitarist and mainman Nergal: "Messe Noire. Well, that is everything that the Behemoth live magick represents, and we're stoked that we have a true representation on record for everyone out there to enjoy. Messe Noire captures the true intensity of what we do as a band and the energy we share with our fans. This is also an exclamation mark, the perfect way to conclude The Satanist cycle which has been an overwhelming experience and amazing chapter in Behemoth's career and our lives so far! By the release of Messe Noire we would like to hail our legions all around the world for undying support! Now let the art speak..."

Messe Noire includes the band's victorious shows in Warsaw, Poland on October 8th, 2016 and Brutal Assault 2016 as well as The Satanist cinematic archive featuring all official videos associated with the band's globally successful record of the same name.

The following formats are available in North America via Metal Blade Records:

- DVD/CD Hard Cover Digibook with 48-Page Booklet
- Blu-Ray/CD Hard Cover Digibook with 48-Page Booklet
- 2xLP - Green Vinyl with 48-Page Booklet (limited to 750 copies - USA exclusive)

Pre-order here.

DVD/Blu-Ray tracklisting:

Live Satanist (Warsaw 2016)
"Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel"
"Furor Divinus"
"Messe Noire"
"Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer"
"Amen"
"The Satanist"
"Ben Sahar"
"In The Absence Ov Light"
"O Father O Satan O Sun!"
"Ov Fire And The Void"
"Conquer All"
"Pure Evil And Hate"
"At The Left Hand Ov God"
"Slaves Shall Serve"
"Chant For Ezkaton 2000"

Live Assault (Brutal Assault 2016)
"Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel"
"Furor Divinus"
"Messe Noire"
"Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer"
"Amen"
"The Satanist"
"Ben Sahar"
"In The Absence Ov Light"
"O Father O Satan O Sun!"
"Ov Fire And The Void"
"Conquer All"
"Chant For Ezkaton 2000"

The Satanist cinematic archive
"Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel"
"Messe Noire"
"Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer"
"The Satanist"
"Ben Sahar"
"O Father O Satan O Sun!"

CD tracklisting:

Live Satanist (Warsaw 2016)
"Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel"
"Furor Divinus"
"Messe Noire"
"Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer"
"Amen"
"The Satanist"
"Ben Sahar"
"In The Absence Ov Light"
"O Father O Satan O Sun!"

Vinyl tracklisting:

Live Satanist (Warsaw 2016)

Side A:
"Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel"
"Furor Divinus"
"Messe Noire"
"Ora Pro Nobis Luficer"

Side B:
"Amen"
"The Satanist"
"Ben Sahar"
"In The Absence Ov Light"

Side C:
"O Father O Satan O Sun!"
"Ov Fire And The Void"
"Conquer All"
"Pure Evil And Hate"

Side D:
"At The Left Hand Ov God"
"Slaves Shall Serve"
"Chant For Ezkaton 2000"

"The Satanist" video:

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

"Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel":

Devin Townsend has taken to Twitter and offered the fans an update on his current as-yet-untitled project(s) in a series of tweets. Check out the update below. 

March 26th

"I start recording tomorrow. Nice to be working with my friend Morgan on a bunch of this material. We sit in a similar place on the beat and we tend to go pretty deep quite quickly. I like his swing. Lots of talented artists involved in this stuff. It’s an odd phase, but really creative and really personal.

I have about 100 songs in different forms and styles. I'm just going to finish as much of it as budget allows and see what goes where. It's been a change period, similar to between SYL and KI I'd say. I'm hiring people as needed for whatever the song calls for. There will be other drummers too I think. Depends on the track.

I'll be traveling a fair bit to various cities and working with people as I go. Polygamous creativity FTW. I'll certainly keep folks updated as I go, if budget allows, I'll try to do filming of the process.

It seems like much of the material calls for different things. Some orchestral, some metal, some rock, some prog, some bizarre, some funky, some pop, some electronic...I want the best people for what that style needs. I know who I'm interested in working with already, it’s all just about scheduling and budget etc. Everyone is busy all the time :) and that’s a good thing..."

March 27th

"Slowly starting the process today. Its all remote, no 'sessions' per se. Will do a series of videos with @ZimZimY5000 to show the whole process from beginning to end. After a full two years of wanting to get around to it, finally taking the @twonotesaudio Torpedo Studio for a run...pretty damn cool."

Townsend recently decided to "take a break" from the Devin Townsend Project. He checked in with the following:

"So after 8 years of touring with DTP, I've decided to take a break from this band and focus on a number of other projects I've been really wanting to do for some time now. The band have been there with me through thick and thin and we've shared some pretty great moments - I can’t say enough good things about them - And in the future, I'm sure we'll work again.

"I have 4 new albums I am currently working on. I am currently in the finishing stages one of the grandest and most overwhelming projects that I have been fortunate to do. It's certainly my favourite DVD release of them all and is a powerful moment, if I can say so myself. Ocean Machine Live In Plovdiv (tentative name) Mixing the orchestras, choirs, the 'by-request' set and the full Ocean Machine album in that magnificent setting has been hugely rewarding. Seeing this spectacle come to life is a testament to this period of work and I can't wait for you to see and hear it.

"Life is short and I have a lot I need to say in some new and different avenues. I will certainly continue to play live in several new ways (starting next year) and I'm excited about some collaborative things that have also come up as well.

"I salute the band, the team, and the audience for allowing us to do what we have done and the patience to accommodate my persistent morphing. As someone who’s music is connected to his personal growth, I feel an obligation to follow this muse wherever it leads. To not do so would be in direct opposition to what it is I have fundamentally done for all these years. Peace and respect." - Devin Townsend.

If you are interested in working with any of the guys in the DTP, they are working musicians. Contact them via the links in the Facebook post below with requests:

Gone By Sundown originally formed in 2013 by Tonie Rombin and Tomas Pedersen. The idea was to mix styles and inspiration from many different bands among Mustach, Motörhead and newer metal. The band soon recorded its debut single A Wise Mans Linger along with their debut video but shortly after, the members ran into internal problems and the band was put on ice. In early 2017, the project was re-started by Tonie Rombin and after extensive searching a new line-up was ready to write and perform.

The first new track written by the new Gone By Sundown was “Will You Remember” and was quickly followed by a batch of new material and the re-working of some old numbers to suit the new lineup. During September and October 2017, the single and accompanying video was recorded and at the end of December 2017, “Will You Remember” (mixed by talented Brazilian underground producer Marcos Cerutti) was ready for release. The track was mastered by Swedish legendary producer Ronnie Björnström, known for working with heavy acts like Meshuggah, Nagelfar, any many more.

Gone By Sundown are now preparing the release of their new EP The Endless Path on May 22nd via Sliptrick Records.

Tracklisting:

“Intro”
“Will You Remember”
“If I Can’t Feel”
“Stories Around The World”
“Hurt”
“Perdition”

“Will You Remember”:

Cavo is back with a brand new lyric video for "Wreck Me." The song comes from the special edition of Bridges, available now from Pavement Entertainment. While the album has the 12 songs fans fell in love with from the first release, the special edition features the bonus tracks "Wreck Me" and "Hush," as well as an alternate version of "Champagne."

"Wreck Me" is a track that should be in everyone's library. It's a breath of fresh air with a modern vibe. Casey Walker, vocalist for Cavo, has expressed how this special edition of Bridges is a record that "fans will understand" and "one-hundred percent Cavo." It demonstrates the Cavo sound that makes the band so successful while also bringing something new to the table.

Tankard's Thirst album will celebrate its 10th Anniversary this December. The alcoholic thrasher’s 2008 strike was received very well by press and fans alike. Back then only a small run of black vinyl was made available - it was sold out quickly and has never been repressed ever since. 

AFM Records is presenting Thirst in three new colors:
-Neon yellow (100 units only) (only available in the AFM webshop)
-Clear blue (200 units)
-Clear red (200 units)

Tracklisting:

Side A
“Octane Warriors”
“Deposit Pirates”
“Stay Thirsty!”
“Hyperthermia”
“Echoes Of Fear”

Side B
“When Daddy Comes To Play”
“Zodiac Man”
“G.a.l.o.w.”
“Myevilfart”
“Sexy Feet Under”

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions have signed Costa Rica's technical death metal destroyers Advent Of Bedlam and are set to release their new album entitled Human Portal Phenomenon May 4th on CD and Digital formats.

Hailing from Costa Rica, Advent Of Bedlam play intense, progressive and melodic technical death metal. Human Portal Phenomenon is a non-stop journey full of vile melodies, sick drumming and corrosive vocals. A furious manifestation of extreme blackened passages, inspired by different human phenomenon’s such as Nikola Tesla’s poem Fragments Of Olympian Gossip, as well as Orwellian hymns to concepts like debt, synapses and organ traffic. This album is the much anticipated third stereo swarm from Advent Of Bedlam, and was produced at Cavan Studio in Heredia, Costa Rica by the bands own guitarist Max Gutiérrez. VH1’s That Metal Show have proclaimed Advent Of Bedlam as 'Costa Rica’s best metal export', and Human Portal Phenomenon is an album that does that title justice.

Preorders can be found at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Human Portal Phenomenon”
“Olympus Mons”
“Born Of Synapses”
“The Ever Watchful Eye”
“A Liar’s Spit”
“A Human Farm”
“The Vanishing”
“Crown Of Greed”
“Comstockery”
“Vultures Of The World”

“A Human Farm”:

East Coast crossover titans Iron Reagan performed "Bleed The Fifth" / "Condition Evolution" at Brooklyn Bazaar on January 12th. Video footage, filmed by Maximum Volume Silence, is available below:

Iron Reagan and Gatecreeper unite for a split recording of cranium crushing proportions. Across eight new tracks of auditory and lyrical venom, both bands showcase why they're two of the most talked about groups in extreme metal today. The split LP, mixed by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studios, is out now on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records.

Physical packages are available via Relapse.com here and digital downloads via Iron Reagan’s Bandcamp here and Gatecreeper’s Bandcamp here.

Tracklisting:

Side A - Iron Reagan

"Warning"
"Paper Shredder"
"Take The Fall"
"Proudly Unaccountable"
"Burn For This"

"Take The Fall":

"Warning":

"Paper Shredder":

Side B - Gatecreeper

"Daybreak" (Intro)
"Dead Inside"
"War Has Begun"

"Dead Inside":

"War Has Begun":

In December 2018, it was announced that Liv Kristine joined Midnattsol as their official second singer - right next to her very talented sister, Carmen Elise Espenæs.

The name "Espenæs" rightfully makes people swoon: Liv Kristine and Carmen Elise were a vital part of a magnitude of gothic / symphonic / folk metal milestones - but so far a supergroup involving both sisters sharing microphone duties was only the stuff dreams were made of. This truly is full sister power!

The band will release The Aftermath on May 25th via Napalm Records. BraveWords is premiering the new video for "Herr Mannelig!"

Midnattsol remark: "today we have something very special for you: The whole song of 'Herr Mannelig' from our new album “THE AFTERMATH” Including insights into our songwriting- and recording process. Enjoy watching and horns up."

The Aftermath relies much more heavily on folk influences lending atmospheric density to the melancholic symphonic metal compositions. It is a sumptuous and sensual affair and a shimmering highlight in the discography of this German / Norwegian team.

The Aftermath will be released on May 25th via Napalm Records in the following formats:

- 1 CD Digipack
- LP Gatefold, Black
- Digital Album

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"The Purple Sky"
"Syns sang"
"Vem kan segla"
"Ikje glem meg"
"Herr Mannelig"
"The Aftermath"
"The Unveiled Truth"
"Evaluation Of Time"
"Forsaken"
"Eitrdropar" (Bonus Track)

Teaser:

Lineup:

Carmen Elise Espenæs - Vocals
Liv Kristine Espenæs - Second Vocals
Alex Kautz - Guitar
Daniel Fischer - Keyboard
Stephan Adolph - Guitar

Only six months after the Ayreon Universe took to the stage, Mascot Label Group / Music Theories Recordings will release the entire show on a variety of formats on March 30th. A video for “And The Druids Turned To Stone” from the upcoming release can be seen below.

Says Arjen Lucassen: "Here is the last full song preview we’ll give you from the upcoming Ayreon Universe DVD/BD. This is my own personal favorite: 'And The Druids Turned To Stone'. Mainly because of Damian’s amazing performance, he totally owns the stage here. Despite this being a relatively quiet atmospheric track, for me this was one of the highlights of the show. Hope you agree, enjoy!"

Ayreon Universe is the best of Ayreon Live - a unique performance featuring 16 singers, 28 songs, 2+ hour performance, 9000+ fans and a special appearance by Arjen Lucassen. All of this captured by 30 cameras!

This unique performance features 16 singers, 28 songs, an 8 piece band and a special appearance by Arjen. The duration of the show was more than 2 hours. It was filmed with 30 cameras and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray with 5.1 surround audio, with an extensive list of extras, including a behind-the-scenes documentary with interviews with every singer and musician, and a compilation of the try-out show performed a few weeks earlier.

Two years in the making, Ayreon Universe is a full on rock extravaganza, featuring songs from all Ayreon albums, including 2017’s The Source, plus a few fan favorites from Star One. An amazing array of singers appeared on stage to bring the Ayreon Universe to life: Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Damian Wilson (Headspace), Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), Tommy Karevik (Kamelot), Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gentle Storm), Marco Hietala (Nightwish), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Mike Mills (Toehider), Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion), Irene Jansen, Robert Soeterboek (Star One), John Jaycee Cuijpers (Praying Mantis), Edward Reekers (ex-Kayak), Jay van Feggelen, Maggy Luyten (Nightmare) and Lisette van den Berg (Scarlet Stories).

This is the show every Ayreon fan wants to see and hear!

Ayreon Universe will be released on the following formats:

- 5-Disc Earbook with 2CD, 2DVD and Blu-ray

- Blu-ray

- 2DVD

- 2CD

- 3LP (Black vinyl)

- 3LP (Gold vinyl - Ayreon webstore exclusive - limited to 500 copies)

- Digital download / streaming

Vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen) has announced that his Sunstorm project will release their new album, The Road To Hell, on June 8th.

The first single and pre-orders will be available soon. In the meantime, check out the album artwork and tracklisting below.

Tracklisting:

"Only The Good Will Survive"
"The Road To Hell"
"On The Edge"
"Blind The Sky"
"My Eyes On You"
"Future To Come"
"Everywhere"
"Resurrection"
"Calling"
"State Of The Heart"
"Still Fighting"

Greece-based heavy/thrash metal band Sense Of Fear have released a lyric video for “Unbreached Walls”, a track from their upcoming debut album, As The Ages Passing By…, out on April 20th via Rockshots Records. Watch the clip below. Pre-order the album here.

Years in the making, As The Ages Passing By… has an old school heavy metal feel with a modern pounding anvil. Each track was carefully selected for a good old headbanging time along with telling a unique story.

The band comments: "Each song has its own gravity to the album, and all together create Sense Of Fear’s presentation to the world as a band and as musicians. All the lyrics come from personal experiences and emotions. This is our way to express ourselves and fight the personal demons."

As The Ages Passing By… was recorded at Valve Studio in Thessaloniki, Greece by Stratos "Strutter" Karagiannidis (Gus G , Wardrum) with mixing and mastering done at Music Factory and Prophecy Studios in Kempten-ALLGÄU, Germany by R.D. Liapakis (Mystic Prophecy, Devil's Train) & C. Schmid. Album artwork designed and edited by Colin Marks (Nevermore, Exodus, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Kataklysm, Jeff Loomis, Xerath, Sylosis).

Tracklisting:

“Molten Core”
“Slaughter Of Innocence”
“Black Hole”
“Angel Of Steel”
“The Song Of A Nightingale”
“Torture Of Mind”
“Lord Of The World”
“Unbreached Walls”
“Sense Of Fear”
“As The Ages Passing By, Time Still Runs Against Us”

“Unbreached Walls” lyric video:

"Molten Core" lyric video:

“Sense Of Fear” lyric video:

During this past Sunday's 2018 Juno Awards - the most prestigious recognition a musical artist can receive in Canada - Anciients' Voice Of The Void won the award for Metal / Hard Music Album Of The Year.

The band comment: "Wow! We just woke up in Vienna to the news that we have won the Juno award for best metal/hard rock record at the 2018 Juno’s. Needless to say we are stoked, but owe a lot of thanks. First off we want to thanks our families for allowing us to take time away to do what we love to do. Jesse Gander, you’re a magician, thanks to you and Mark for all of your hard work helping us make this record. Sean Palmerston, you’re the man, thanks for everything over the years!
Alison for your amazing artwork, you kill it every time! Thanks to all of our fans for the continued support! Onward and upwards!"

Other nominees in the Metal / Hard Music Album Of The Year category included:

Archspire - Relentless Mutation
Longhouse - II: Vanishing
Metz - Strange Peace 
Striker - Striker